Farm life

Well, it has been a while since I have blogged so I'm going to just update a few things:
1. This fall we raised and slaughtered our own chickens.  The boys were present for this affair however were not very involved. Caleb couldn't handle the smell and therefore stayed far away except when John de-feathered the chickens (John is an engineer, a practical one and he built a chicken plucker that you put the chicken in like a washing machine and all the feathers come off, of course after it's dead.)  The boys were pretty intrigued in this so they always came around to watch the chicken in the "washing machine".  Since we homeschool, I figured might as well add some biology to the mix so Ethan got a couple lessons on anatomy that day.  Example:  Ethan was using a very long plastic baseball bat hitting the "guts" of the chickens.
Me: Ethan, please don't hit the intestines with the baseball bat.
Ethan: Intestines? What's the intestines?
Me: It's this long stringy part that you are hitting. It absorbs the nutrients in the chicken and makes it into waste: poop.
Ethan: This makes the poop?
Me: Yes, please don't hit it with the bat.
That was an interesting day.

2. We castrated our bull calf the other day.
Ethan: What does castrate mean?
John: We have to get rid of his balls.
Ethan: Why?
Me: Your meat won't taste very good later on when we eat him.
Ethan: Is it going to hurt?
Me: It's not going to feel good.
Ethan: So, it's going to hurt?
Me: Well, kind of.
Ethan and Caleb: What are the balls?
John explains the location. We are now inside the barn. Caleb then grabs his man-parts and stays far away from everything going on. Oh, bless it.

3. We are expecting Baby #4.  The kids are more than excited. Caleb wants to call the baby Pooter. No, Caleb, we can't call the baby Pooter.

4.  We went on vacation to Gatlinburg a few weeks ago.  A couple interesting happenings:
       -We went to Dixie Stampede.  While John was buying the tickets Caleb and LC both fell asleep. Ethan had an emergency and really needed to go to the bathroom.  I can't wake everyone up, or leave the sleeping two, or let him go by himself: he has to wait.  Something goes on in the back: Let's just say, a man parks directly beside our van, gets out, sees what is going on in the van, looks at me, shakes his head and laughs.  I didn't turn around and watch the entire scene.
        - At Dixie Stampede you do not use utensils.  My children, even though they get dirty very often, are perfectionists. And getting their hands dirty on the food was not their idea of a fun time.  Ethan eventually talked our waitress into bringing him a plastic set because he couldn't eat his corn on the cob because he is missing his two front teeth.  Seriously?
        -We thought it would be great to go and visit a wonderful pancake house John and I went to a long time ago.  We should have just thrown everyone into a freezing shower and given them a bath.  It would have been less painful.  Linley Claire was in such a bad mood at that point that one lady made the observation to me in the bathroom: Poor thing, she's just not happy this morning is she?
       YOU THINK? WHAT EVER GAVE YOU THAT IMPRESSION?
      Was it:
       A: the throwing of the silverware.
      B: The throwing of one of my blueberry pancakes?  or
      C: The constant screaming?  My answer:
      D- ALL OF THE ABOVE.
        Oh, and that was just LC. Caleb had a meltdown that he wanted OJ instead of apple juice. We get him oj, he doesn't like it and then meltdown because he doesn't have apple juice.  Oh for the love.  Caleb rips his napkin: He tells me I have to put it back together.  In what world?
      -We all slept in one room, which actually worked quite well. Except that Caleb is an early riser...and wants everyone else to be as well.  He would get out of his bed (next to the bathroom), walk all the way over to my side of the opposite bed (next to LC) and inform me had had to go to the bathroom.  At 6:30 in the morning.  Yes, I am very thankful he didn't pee in the bed.
   
 5. Christmas was an awesome time this year.  We had Jesus' birthday party.   Opened presents, and went to many family get-togethers.  We are so blessed.

Note:  I usually only blog about the craziness and sometimes negative things in our life. It's not always like this.  Yes, these crazy times are what make us laugh, and remind us that we are so blessed that we have a loving, healthy family.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Oops, that button does what?

Here are just a few things of daily happenings:

Caleb is now pooping in the potty.  Discussing a toy with Ethan, Caleb informed Ethan he had  to poop in the potty to get some more money to have enough for the toy. Ethan then questions me as to why he doesn't get paid to poop in the potty.  Now, Caleb is cut off.

We are a homeschooling family.  Ethan and Caleb's Bible lately has been on Abram and Lot-learning about the importance of being kind and unselfish.  We've even discussed how hard it is to be kind and unselfish when everyone else around is looking out only for themselves.   Tonight we had an interesting discussion right before bed.  The boys are racing to the toilet to go to the bathroom before bed.  Ethan, being the oldest, always wins.  So, now, at the toilet, the boys are having a knock-down-drag-out over who is going to pee first.  At this point I just close my eyes and shake my head.  Then begins our Bible lesson.

Boys, what did we learn about in Bible this morning and all week? About being UNSELFISH.
Ethan, could you be unselfish and let Caleb pee before you?  Hallelujah, Ethan lets him start first.  Really? You never know when you can apply Scripture to daily life folks.

Last week we were at a friends house...playing Wii...mario cart.  Ethan and Caleb are battling it out and of course Caleb is having trouble with it;we don't have a Wii so he never gets to play.  Then, he throws the remote down and refuses to be nice.  Enter our buddy, his  turn, well now Caleb goes off the deep end because apparently he didn't want anyone to take his remote.  We exit the fun and have a heart-to-heart, that lasts for about 15 minutes.  Then, we leave the bathroom to go rejoin the fun.  And Caleb says in exasperation: WHY DOES EVERBODY HAVE TO BEAT ME?????????  As he bites the dust and hits the floor.  Oh bless him.  Needless to say, they are NOT getting a Wii for Christmas, just sayin.

John is playing basketball with friends on Tuesdays on campus.  We were able to go tonight and walk on the track above it.  After an hour they are starting to drop like flies so we head down to the court to tell John good bye.  As we do, they spot a basketball not being used.  And so it begins,  except you would think it would be Ethan and Caleb fighting. No, not this time, it is ALL THREE. Linley Claire wants in on the action.  The boys take it away, she falls apart and ends up laying on the court every 15 seconds. Caleb takes it from her, she screams, Ethan gets it and gives it back, Caleb tries to talk LInley into giving it to him, Linley wants nothing to do with that, she's running around with a ball that is half her size trying to pass it to Ethan. He gets it then he wants to shoot it the whole time.  Finally, we leave the court as John is running up and down, Linley screaming at the top of her lungs holding her arms open "DADDDDYYYYY!!!" Caleb and Ethan mad because we left.    We get back into the elevator, have a jam session to my radio on my phone, and head into the parking lot.  I'm lifting Linley up the steps and the boys are waiting on my a few feet away.  next thing I hear:

  YOU HAVE JUST CALLED SECURITY. THE POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY. PLEASE PUSH THE RED BUTTON TO SPEAK.  ALERT. YOU HAVE JUST CALLED SECURITY.

Are you kidding me?  The boys, while waiting on me, pushed the security button on the Security Pole and now the police are on their way.  I run up, trying to find that red button (just to let you know, it's silver, not red) to tell them it's a false alarm.  Ethan and caleb have now frozen because they have no idea about that thing, I'm pushing every button on the pole screaming "Hello???  We don't need the police!! It was just my kids!"  After finally getting the button thing worked out and apologizing profusely we had a lesson about what those things really are and why they are there.    Guess I should have done that earlier huh?

It's always fun and never dull.  Thank You Lord, for our blessings.

Another day with the Cole's

Just everyday happenings:

Yesterday we had steaks for dinner.  Our homegrown beef from our farm.

Caleb, laughingly to himself, "I'm eating Spot's peepee.hhehehehehehe"
Me: No you are not eating his peepee. We don't talk about that at the table.
Ethan: What did they do with his peepee?
John: They threw it away.
Ethan: How did they get it off? Did they shoot him or use a knife?
John: They killed him and then took off his hide.  We don't eat peepee's.

Monday: Ethan had one tooth hanging in there in the front after Caleb knocked out the other.  Picture Nanny McPhee here.  Friends were over playing and jumping on the trampoline. All of a sudden they all 5 walk in, Ethan with his head down.

Me: Ethan-where's your tooth?
Ethan: It fell out.  I swallowed it.
Yuck.  We wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy explaining what happened. He still got his money.

Yesterday: Caleb's preschool included a discussion about our home in Heaven one day.  A mansion. Deep discussion on what we will look like.  Will we be kids or adults?  What kind of food there?  Will there be toys? What kind of toys?

Ethan: I'm ready to die.
Me: Really? Why?
Ethan: I'm ready to go to Heaven and see Jesus.
Well said Ethan.

Today at the optometrist Ethan had his first eye exam.  He is sitting in John's lap getting his pictures of his eyes then waits with John while I'm getting mine done.

Ethan: Shew.  Dad. Your breath stinks.

Few minutes later, Ethan talking to our eye doctor:
Ethan:" you know, I had to switch my underwear and wear my brothers."
Optometrist: Really?
Ethan: Yes, and then I had to get some out of the dirty clothes hamper the other day.
Optometrist: Wow.
Ethan: you know, the other day Caleb put his underwear on my head.  ...You know, I wanted to run away today.  I don't like being in timeout.

Seriously?  This is the FIRST time he has ever mentioned anything about running away and now he tells our optometrist? Underwear?  Breath stinking?

I'm blind since I don't have my contacts in but one can only imagine what facial expressions are on his face during this dialogue.

Caleb decided to poop in the potty this morning. Let's just say it wouldn't qualify for 2 dollars so I told him to finish up later in there.  Not 45 minutes later...finished pooping...the whole shebang...in his underwear...down his leg...on his foot...on the floor in the bathroom.

And you wonder why I'm praying for fruits of the Spirit this morning during homeschool?

It went flying

Today, it literally just went flying.

We made it to dinner tonight.  Our favorite Mexican restaurant and Linley screamed basically the entire time.  She emptied the sweeteners, salted her chips numerous times, and basically did a toddler fit.  After John and I took our turns taking her out it was time to leave. The boys helped clean up all the sweeteners off the floor and so earned a quarter for the sucker at the end of the meal.  Excited and joyful are two words to describe them. As we are waiting in line to pay, they are so happy that they are just swinging their arms around chatting about their suckers they are fixing to get.

Slow motion begins: Caleb swings his arm, pops Ethan in the mouth with his fist, something goes flying, Ethan grabs his mouth, my face has  a look of utter terror.  Now, in the floor of the Mexican restaurant is Ethan's front tooth.  I look at Ethan, "Is that your tooth on the floor?"  Seriously, I thought the college kid in front of us was fixing to flip out.  Ethan, just stands there holding his mouth.  He has to get that tooth off the floor, quick.  "Ethan, pick up your tooth off the floor."
 I turn to Caleb: "Caleb, you just knocked Ethan's tooth out!" Starting in on my lecture how we're not to hit one another.
 Caleb responds as only Caleb would:  Both arms go up in the air and he shouts "YES!!!"  Um, not the reaction I was looking for.
The college kid in front of me nearly hit the floor laughing on that one.
"Caleb, tell Ethan you are sorry for hitting him in the mouth."
Caleb offers a quick sorry and now I am holding the tooth in my hand trying to pay for dinner as the boys rush out to the van to tell John what all happened.

Now, Ethan is the snaggle-toothed boy.  And it's adorable.

We had an evening of fun by then hitting the volleyball game and it was great.  When we get home, Caleb informs me: Mom, I hit Ethan's tooth out so he would buy us a .... I don't even remember what it was. But, since he thinks he played such an integral role in getting Ethan's tooth out that Ethan should use his tooth fairy money and buy THEM a toy.  I don't know how that will fly.

007

Today, I was 007.

Our neighbor's dog came and visited today.  You know, the one who peed on Ethan's shoes while he was wearing them?  He is innocent enough and I like him...until he takes off down the road with Ethan's boot.  Then he comes back, and robs my corn from the fall scene.  Oh no you didn't.

So, like any person, I have to go get it.  Enter 007.  I, dressed in 007 attire: bright orange running shirt, workout pants, and garden shoes, stealthily make my way down the road, pushing a toddler, in a winnie the pooh stroller.  The dog sees me...quick I have to hide before I am licked to death.  I, picking up speed, run into the neighbors driveway and try to be polite. 007 has manners.  I knock on the door and no answer. So, like any 007, I scope out the yard, pushing my 20-month old, in a stroller,with a dog following me.  I did find some evidence: the corn was chewed up and shredded all over their yard (I'm sure my neighbor really appreciated that consider his yard is immaculate), a chewed up football that I didn't know we were missing...but no boot.  I stop and have to dart inside the garage to the dog's kennel and see if the boot is hiding in there.  No.  However, while doing this, my partner in crime has now gotten out of the stroller and is walking around trying to play with the neighbor's grandkids' toys.  Smooth, trying to play it off like we were there to play.  007 in training.  Despite her best protesting, I quickly put Linley back in the stroller and head back to our house. With no corn, and no boot.  Oh Harvey, until we meet again.

Today, as normal, I felt like a preacher, on self-control and using kind words. Ugh.

Ethan, responding to Caleb using up all the legos for ship, decides he is going to build a "Ship that is BETTER than yours!"
Caleb to me: Ethan is being shellfish.
Shellfish?  I think we need a little more lessons here.

 Repeat scenario again: Ethan annoying Caleb. Caleb defending his position with a toy in a hand and a threat to throw it.  I enter into the scene.

Me: Caleb, you cannot control him but you can control yourself.  We do NOT throw our toys no matter what your brother does.
Caleb: putting toy down, MOM!  Ethan is talking to me being mean.
Me: Pointing finger at the point-I will talk to Ethan.
Me: turning to Ethan: You are not being kind.  We are to build each other up with our words not tear each other down.  You are saying words that are not kind and not building him up.
Ethan: I'm not going to build him up or tear him down.  I'm going to put him in the middle. I'm going to put him in a dungeon.

Great, what do you say to that? At that point my sermon was over and it's time for bed.

Happenings lately

We've been having thoughts of things going on around here and I have attempted to blog about it. But, that was something in itself.

In the past 3 weeks we have been going through a lot of technology.  Linley Claire dropped our laptop. Several times. Banged on it.  And then it quit working. Shocker I know.  So, we have to get a new computer. One that is refurbished.  We had several issues with it so had to get it worked on...twice.  Then, one week later, John was on a work trip.  I'm cleaning up the kitchen, and then I hear-WHOOSH!!!  I turn around, and to my dismay Linley is standing on a chair and pouring water in different cups and it soaks the NEW computer!!  Flip out mode. But, praise the Lord it ends up working fine.  I was in the middle of a blog post when all this was going on.

Ethan and I went on our first bike ride together.  We went a little over two miles.  The first mile was great.  The was back, iffy.  We had to stop several times, sit underneath a tree for a few minutes, push our bikes up some hills.  But, it was great fun.  We get back and I'm talking to John and what does he see?  Bird poop...in. my. hair.   Please tell me how this happens.

We get back from running errands or something like that and our neighbors' dog comes to greet us. We really like the dog.  However, he likes to make his territory. This time he marks his territory on Ethan's shoes. While he is wearing them.  Seriously? That pair of shoes had to be thrown away.

Caleb has started playing soccer now. Sweetest thing.  He actually will go and do it, but the last weekends' game didn't go too hot.  Caleb comes to me after about 40 minutes, starts stripping off his shoes, socks, shin-guards.  They were hurting him.  Um, hello?  You have twenty minutes left of soccer.  During this time, Ethan takes a drink of Caleb's Gatorade. Apparently that was not according to Caleb's approval so while I'm trying to convince him to go finish the game Caleb literally whams Ethan on the face.  Seriously?  So, we didn't finish the game, and we had our own "timeout" in the van if you get my drift.

Ethan has lost another tooth.  They just keep coming.

Last week, our mailbox was stolen.  This apparently made a huge impact on Ethan.  During Children's Church that morning he prayed for the people who did it, that they wouldn't sin anymore. Well, they were caught and here's to hoping they learned their lesson. Answered prayer there.

I went on a trip with some dear friends this weekend. It truly was amazing.  We had so much fun, slept little, laughed alot, lost our voices, and ate well. We also learned so much about our Savior and training up our kids.  However, while we are away for that time, at our house this happened: Caleb threw up, Ethan almost had a sympathy hurl, one shin-guard and one sock were still in the van with me in Chattanooga while there was a game here.  Needless to say,  it was a memorable weekend for everyone.

The boys got in their halloween costumes today. I'm cooking pancakes and what happens? I'm literally bombarded with nerf gun bullets.  One whizzed by my head. Rule at the Cole house: you are NOT allowed to hit anyone in the head with a bullet.

Today at the lunch table, the boys start to leave the table.  "Caleb, take your plate to the kitchen." Caleb: "I'm not Caleb, I'm bounty hunter Caleb." Pardon me, my mistake.

Goodnight all.

It's a New Day

Yes, I believe the day has finally arrived...Caleb is pooping in the potty! At a whopping 4 years old!!  For crying out loud, it's finally here.  

Of course, this journey has been long coming.  The 2 years or so of trying have not been without incident.  I have recorded several of them in here, but here is another to add to the list.  Caleb has a distended bowel, I have no idea if I spelled that correctly or not.  Whatever it is, it's in his large intestines therefore our pediatrician informed me that until that got sorted out I should just forget potty training.  So, we've been working on that since May and have finally got that worked out.  Now, he actually knows when he has to use the bathroom. Last week, we were outside playing and he had started using the potty a couple of times.  But, since we were outside he didn't want to take the time to go in. So, what does the child do?  Goes into the garage, pulls down his pants and undies, and poops in the garage floor in the corner.  Seriously?  Why can't he just use the grass like a dog?  At this point, he runs in, informs me of the mishap not that I cannot see it since he's now running into the house sans pants and underwear.  John then comes running in with Linley Claire, she was playing outside, walked into the garage, stepped in the poop, tried to get it off her feet with her hands, and now she has poop on her.  Are you kidding me? I mean seriously?  Oh yeah, failed to mention we were leaving in about 10 minutes to go somewhere.

Mention here: My mom now says that we are going to have to start borrowing money from Caleb. She has given him a dollar everytime he poops in the potty and is giving our inheritance away. I, for one, think it is well worth it.

Yesterday Caleb has pooped in the potty before we go to Homeschool Playgroup at the park.  We are pulling up and Caleb then starts a discussion:
Caleb: Mom, I scratched my butt and now my fingers smell like poop.
Me: Caleb, I wiped you very good, I know you don't have poop on you.
And so goes the discussion downhill from there.  We pull up to the park, and what does the child do? Grab the wipes, pull down his pants and start wiping his tail in the van.  Then:
MOM!! SEE I TOLD YOU YOU DIDN'T WIPE GOOD!!
As he proceeds to show me the wipe.  Now, I think I could have gone all day without that discussion and visual.  If you know me you know my germaphobia, so I grab the trashbag, have him put the wipe in it, then squirt half a bottle of hand sanitizer on him, which he then wipes on the passenger seat.  Mind you, this is the same boy who for a year and a half now has pooped in his underwear and now he can't stand for anything to be on is bottom.  
So, then we play at the park and the boys start getting to that point, you know, when a meltdown is coming up soon.  So, it's burning up and they start whining. I tell them to go grab the water out of the van.  *Note, in school this week we have been talking about the character trait of thoughtfulness and also about firefighters so we made brownies to take to the firemen after the park.  Ethan returns from the van,
Ethan: Mom. Caleb stepped in the brownies.
Me: What?
Ethan: He stepped in the brownies.
Now may I say here that I am surrounded by about 10 other moms and children running everywhere plus I am pushing LC in the swing.
Me: Okay. We'll deal with it.
Inwardly, I am screaming but then I think to myself: Well, there's nothing we can do about it now. So, Caleb returns and I ask him:
Caleb, did you step in the brownies?
Caleb: Yes, I actually did it, (Which means accidentally).
Now, I'm thinking to myself, how can you accidentally step in a 9X13 pan of brownies that have a humongous red lid on top that are also sitting in the passenger seat?  Still baffled by that one.
Meltdown is in full swing so we leave and make a pit stop by the church, where we fuel up on water and a knife to to fix the brownies, luckily he just smooshed the icing on top of pan.  We deliver the brownies, and make it home which is only by the hand of God.

Today has been an extremely hot day. So, we end up outside and what do the kids want to do? Play on the trampoline, naked, with me spraying the waterhose at them.  And you know what? I don't mind doing it one bit.  They giggle and laugh and I spray them with the waterhose.  Of course, who pulls up but the mail man and my mom.  No telling what is going through that mailman's head. I know our usual mail lady, whom we go to church with, says that if she ever is going to see naked kids it's always at our house.

Caleb poops in the potty, mind you he ran inside since we were outside.  I wipe him and I'm so happy about it.  After dinner we are riding bikes and Caleb starts following me.  And now our discussion begins again:
Caleb: Mom, I scratched my butt and it smells like poop.
Me: Caleb, poop comes out of your bottom.  That's why it smells like poop.
Caleb: Nuhuh. Mom, you didn't wipe me good.
Me: Caleb I wiped you with a wipe. Yes I did.
Caleb: Nuhuh.  I'm right and you're wrong you didn't wipe me good.
Me: Get on the trampoline, I'm fixing to spray you again with the waterhose.

Yes, we ended the day with a good jump on the trampoline and water hose.

Beach times and fun times

Snapshots of our children: they crack me up and make me question my sanity.

Went out to eat with our dear friends who have twin boys only a few months older than Linley.  The parents were in the minority: 4-5.  We should have known. We were out-manned for sure.  We eat at a local Mexican restaurant with 3 high chairs, two tables, kids just keep coming. The waiter seriously had fear in his eyes.  Caleb is having major melt-down in the car before we even get there so we should have known.  Then, we get him in there, he is sitting in John's lap-well Linley Claire is the jealous type, so she wanders down the table crying wanting John to hold her.  So now, John has a fighting Caleb and Linley in his arms both wanting his lap. We finally get Linley settled and Caleb in his own seat.  We make it through dinner, which seemed to take forever, and then go to checkout. Note here: LC puts both boys to shame at food.  She eats chips, dip, and all her rice, and then the rest of Ethan's.  While checking out there is a vending machine of sorts for kids, you know-the 25 cent kind that has all kinds of junk stuff.  So, both boys get their quarter and go for the chicklets gum.  Linley can't handle the fact that she can't get some.  So, as the boys drop gum on the floor while trying to get it out of the little hole, Linley goes diving, literally, underneath all of the machines grabbing all the gum that fell on the floor and literally shoves it into her mouth.  So, I have two boys stuffing their mouths full of gum, Linley Claire sprawled out on the floor shoving gum into her mouth, and people walking in staring and smirking at the show being put on.  Apparently Linley really liked the gum, it stuck to her paci for a few days I saw later.

We went to the beach this week.  Very eventful week.  We turned Linley around in her car seat so now everyone gets to watch the dvd.  Oh my.  By the end of the week, Linley is yelling at the top of lungs-"NO!! Nuh-uh!!!" Because Ethan and Caleb would try to direct me operating the dvd player from the front-seat while not being able to see it in the back.

The beach was a fun time for most everyone. The tide was rough so we couldn't really go far out in it at all. But, that didn't stop the boys.  John and I would put them in between us and they would wipeout, ride a wave 10 yards, and John and I would grab one as needed.  It was rough. The last day, we were able to head out. We all four prepare to go out, we're walking into the waves, Ethan is fearful, Caleb is being carried, and I'm praying, "Dear Lord please get us past these waves."  Well, not five feet into it, a big wave comes, Ethan gets slammed into John and he is done. So much for that.  Caleb and John head out and Caleb is completely content.  We built lots of sand castles, played pirates, played football.   We have to work on the football thing, Ethan throws it and completely knocks a lady on her face who is laying out 5 feet from me.  I almost fall out apologizing, and the ladies' husband: laughing his head off!! He had been watching the whole time so I have a feeling he knew it was coming.

Linley Claire didn't handle the beach too well.  Miss Independent is her name we shall say.  As soon as a wave would come in she would chase it out.  The problem was that another wave was right on its heels.  And these waves weren't the soft waves, we had the "red flag" most of the week.  So, Linley would either get splashed in the face by the wave, knocked over,  or picked up by us.  She didn't like any of those three options.  Independent.  At one point she was saying, "No no no no no" as I was right beside her in case she fell and as she was chasing the wave going out then being met by another one.  I finally told her that she is going to have to talk to God about that because that's how waves work.  She was happiest at the pool. Interesting point: Linley actually made a friend at the pool by herself-another girl, and they happily played kitchen. It's amazing how you don't even have to teach that to kids.  She just naturally gravitated to sweet Katherine. She was her buddy the whole week.   

Thankfully Miss Jeanne, aka Mammy, went with us.  Caleb was basically glued to her most of the time.  He can't sit by any girls except Mammy.  Going out to eat was like musical chairs.

We went out one night and caught crabs.  It was exciting. The boys pretended to be Turtle Man and would scream "Live Action!!!" a few times.  We ended up with over 20 crabs. Of course we had to take them in the condo to show Mammy (who is hanging out with a sleeping Linley).  John opens the lid to show her and I just kind of scoot back. They were moving all over the place in the bucket. John gets one out to show the boys some stuff about it.  Now, what do you think happens next? It gets loose and I start jumping up and down in the kitchen. He grabs it after a couple attempts. The boys thought that was absolutely hilarious.

On our way back we had stopped at a gas station.  The boys had their pirate gear out, Caleb swinging his scabbard and Ethan shooting the van, bathroom door, and trashcan with his bow and arrow suction cup. Yes,  we were sight for all to see.  


On our way back we were able to stop in Mobile and visit the USS Alabama and the submarine. Here is a pic of the boys pretending to sleep on the sub. If only...

Today has been a day of hanging out, catching up on laundry, catching up on the garden.   We're outside shucking corn when both boys, naturally decide to use the bathroom outside.  My rule, do it where no one will play in it.  Why would you need a rule like that? For instance-Ethan decided to pee in a hole in the yard that the dog had dug.  Not 15 minutes later what is Linley doing? Having a good ole time playing in the hole stomping and singing.  Seriously?   So, I was her off and now Linley has found the water faucet and for the next 10  minutes she is slurping water dripping off of the water faucet.

We get in, and the boys are wired.  Why does this always happen at bedtime? So, no more jumping off the couch, put the cushions back one, time to quiet down. Ethan is in the floor goofing off and while I start to walk into the hallway he holds up his leg and I almost bite the dust.  So now, I'm doing my best to model self-control and lecture on  how you need to be careful and don't ever try and trip anyone again when.... Ethan picks up a dryer sheet with his foot, holds it in the air, and says "I surrender."  Of course I laughed.

Crazy and blessed. Thank you Lord for a wonderful time and the fun!

Funny

Okay, since we are running our own business, computer time is usually spent on that.  But, here are just a couple quick AFV's- America's Funniest Videos, wannabes.

Linley at lunch time:  In her high chair screaming, throwing utensils, food, anything. I pick her up. Off.  Back in high chair, screaming, throwing food, throwing utensils, plates. I pick her up-quiet.  Ethan made the observation: Mom, it's magic.  You put her down and WAAAAAAA!!!  You pick her up: she's quiet.    Yes, folks, has to be magic.

Today at church, Caleb wants to sit with John but we are headed to the choir.  He and Ethan get to sit with one of our family friends. Caleb protests: Mom.  I'm allergic to girls.   Please stay that way til out of college.

At Snappy's tonight, the boys have been sitting eating with other boys. Well, their time limit was reached and all of a sudden the boys are kicking each other, playing, dumping Sprite on chairs.  And next I hear myself say, Boys, get out of the floor- a little too loudly.  Apparently another church crowd was mortified that my boys were in the floor.  Oh the looks that I got.  

This one is all me.  Friend picked up the last three pieces of our favorite pizza and handed it to me to take back to the table to split with everyone. I'm walking to the table when I hit a wet spot.  I go sliding with a plate in each hand.  Pizza goes flying off of the plate into the floor and I do the splits but am aided by the table next to me.  So, that crowd who just heard me telling my kids to get off the floor gets the entertainment of my acrobatic move.  Somehow, the cheese pizza on the other plate stays on there, but the cheese is no longer on the pizza.  Please tell me how that happened.

We get back home and are getting everyone ready for bed. John is running down to the basement getting some orders ready.  Caleb and Ethan are making paper airplanes.  Well,  John is and they are decorating.  So, Caleb gets his finished ready for John to put it together. He walks into the hallway, I inform him that John is in the basement.  And the child throws his arms up in the air and wilts to the floor screaming.  Yes, please someone put this kid in bed.  Of course, what would any parent do? I start laughing hysterically because Caleb is now like a dead flower laying on the floor in the hallway all because his dad is in the basement.  Caleb did not think it was that funny. I even reenacted for him, I got a little laugh out of him.

They are supposed to be in bed...I hear footsteps.

Good night!

Some days you really wonder

It has been a while since my last post. Our business is in full swing and most nights the computer is very busy filling orders. Tonight, I had to write this down.

Today we went to Lambert's with our Sunday School Class.  It was so much fun because we were able to ride in the big bus with some of the other members of our church. But, the boys had so much fun in this bus that I think we could have driven around Martin and they would have been just as happy.  Oh the joy of getting to walk around in a vehicle that is moving. I cannot tell you how many times we said, "If you get up one more time you're going to have to sit back up here with me."  Did you know that a bus has all kinds of things hiding in it.   For instance, the funny eyed glasses, the ones that only have slits for eyes, s that I'm sure some kid truly enjoyed and left them on the bus accidentally.  Also, some kind of charm was found that Caleb thought was his favorite toy.

At Lambert's we had a great time.  Except for the fact that Linley seemed not too happy that she didn't eat much breakfast and did not understand the concept of waiting.  Then, we get seated and we sit across from one of the single men in our class. Bless his heart. When Linley let out a few wails he almost dropped his silverware.  You see, food was not waiting on us at the table, thus more waiting.  Then, when they threw the roll at us it was burning up. Now, food in front of her, but more waiting.  Patience is not learned at 17 months old here folks.  Finally, a happy baby after tons of rolls, and mashed potatoes.  But, then I look down at the other end of the table and what is occurring? Nothing but a sword fight between the boys with their knives and then when those are taken away their forks.  Really?

We make it home and are pretty exhausted so we take it easy then we head out to the garden.  Time for some late planting of beans and corn.  Planting a garden reaps tons of rewards.  Their will be food for the kids to eat year round.  You get to work outside.  Watch God make things grow.  So, I think it's  a perfect time to teach the boys some responsibility.  Ethan and Caleb you need to help with getting this grass out of here before I plant.  Well, to their dismay that required something besides running around in the garden in their underwear and chunking dirt clods at each other. My response: Do you like green beans?  (Their favorite veggie)  Then in order to eat you have to help.  
Linley loves helping with the garden too. Especially with her daddy's most expensive seeds.  You see, we keep all of our seeds in different bags and I had several out so I could get them in the ground. Well, I look over and Linley has dumped the green bean bag in the grass and made her own piles.  Then, she mixed the lima bean seed into the corn seeds. Next, she had dumped the corn seeds,  $6/lb, onto the grass. I thought John was going to have a conniption fit. Let's just say it's a good thing she's cute.
As this is going on the boys find this tiny frog in the garden.  For a frog, it is cute I have to say.  That's all I can say.  Caleb has taken this tiny frog under his wing.   He's showing it to me.  Taking it everywhere in the yard.  Then Caleb asks me,
 "Mom? Do you want to come see the frog in sister's room?"  Did I hear that right?
Me: "What?  Did you say your sisters' room?"
Caleb: "YEAH!!  It's his new home."
Me: "Get that frog out of her room.  We do not have any other animals living inside this house!!"
Obviously Caleb doesn't understand my rule:If you can't take care of your own bodily functions then you cannot enter this house. I already have enough children I have to deal with on that.  Finally, he did inform me that the flower bed was  a much better place...because he poops alot.  Eww.
Caleb disappears and so does Linley. He's playing in the water hose.  No big deal, I hope he was cleaning off.  Then Linley appears: drenched.
CALEB!!!! DO NOT SOAK YOUR SISTER!!
Caleb: Mom, she likes it.  

Oh bless them.  

Caleb is 4

Today is a landmark day.  Caleb turned 4.  Much to his regret (Today you have to poop inthe potty and you do not get to drink "warm milk" out of  a sippy cuy).  Poor buddy bear. So, here is a reflection of our year with our Caleb.

1. Caleb-when I think of you I think of laughter. 

Your comedic relief is continual.  Just your attitude about you makes me laugh.  I don't know yet if that is one of your goals in life is to make others laugh, but you are good at it.  You are one silly boy.  I.E.: Sunday you stayed out during the praise and worship part of the church service. John was doing a skit on stage about the building fund.  It's dark.  You are standing, along with Ethan, on the back of the chairs in front of us.  After several times of Betsy and I telling you to get off of them, what happens?  All of a sudden, feet go flying through the air and you are now in the row of chairs in front of us!  Yes, I laughed, but I did have to convince you that I meant serious business if you EVER did that again.

 

 

2. Strong will.  You, My son, are one of the most strong-willed people I have ever met in my life.  You do not accept no for an answer, which absolutely drives me and your dad nuts alot of times right now. But, I know that God has big things in store for you because with that strong-willed attitude you can do mighty things to serve Him.    I.E.: Getting you to apologize and say you are sorry takes about 20-30 minutes plus a meltdown.

 

3.  Courage.  You don't really know too much of fear.  You do the wildest things sometimes and I really am amazed. Yes, you follow along in your brother's footsteps alot, along with your daddy, but what any average child would do you just keep on going.   When discussing defending ourselves from bad guys, you two decided that you would protect us with your nerf guns.  That, and shoot the cats and the bull..literally, with your nerf guns. 

 

4.  Creative and artistic and bright.  I am amazed at how much you pay attention to detail.  Seriously, I have had people tell me about how detailed you are at church. And, if I have to hurry you it does not go well.  Since we have been homeschooling, you have spent the majority of the time listening in on Ethan. And, since you have done that you have picked up so much knowledge even at 3.   Your favorite things right now are lego Star Wars.  I will follow the directions and put it together for you, but in two minutes I turn around and you have taken it apart and you have built something else out of it.  You do not get that from me.  Your imagination is amazing.  Which, sometimes is to your disadvantage since you tried to convince me the other day tha tyour poop was yellow and white and I couldn't see it on the toilet paper. Hmm. 

 

 

Caleb, you are one amazing boy. I love you so much and am so excited about what God has in store for you in the next year and the years that follow!!  You are my Bubby Bear!!



El Matador

No. I don't know spanish. My extent is Tow-Mater and El Materdor. Oh yeah, that and Burrito tipico with rice.

Last Friday we were fixing to head to my twin sister's house for my niece's birthday.  John was taking a half-day at work, I needed to run, shower, devotional, we had school to do, finish packing, load the van, tend the animals, pick up the house (my own personal goal), eat, and be loaded by the time he gets home.  What a morning.

School was fairly trying considering the fact at 7:30 Ethan was already asking if it was time for lunch yet so we could go ahead and leave.  Get that finally finished (like pulling teeth that day), get Linley packed up, me packed, boys are already packed, oven turned on preheating for pizza and it's time to go outside to tend to the animals and load the van. 

Then it happens: MOM!! The bull is in the yard!!! 

No way. That cannot happen today.  He must be confused. 

I look outside, and to my dismay not only is the bull in the yard, but joining him are the goat and the calf.   We are due to leave in one hour, pajamas still on, van not loaded, children not fed. Oh dear.

Out we go, luckily I decide to put on my good running shoes...I was going to need it.
So, mental picture here: 6 year old in boots, 3 year old in flip flops, me in pink fleece pajama pants and pink UK shirt and running shoes, Linley ready to go.  Boys running everywhere trying to herd the cows and goat, and then comes our lovely D O G.  Yes, he is a border collie.  He was the last pick of the litter.  Yes, he is smart but he is stubborn and does not do what normal border collies do. He harrasses the animals.   So, I have that dadgum dog running around nipping at that bulls' hooves while we are trying to get him back in the pen.  Get the goat in.  Not bad.  Get the steer in, not horrible, I could so take him he's not that big.  But then, flash in to El Matador.  The bull and I size each other over. Yes, he could so take me.  However, he does not know that.  The screaming crowd are three children then  abandoned by one to jump on the trampoline.   Instead of a red cape I have my pink UK shirt and pink fleece pjs.  Yes, if we only had a video of this.   Let the sprinting begin.  Now picture, me, baby on my hip, stick as tall as John, 700 lb bull sprinting around the yard and me yelling at the top of my lungs...."GOOOOO!!!"   We're in the front yard, then the side yard, then I think he's heading to the fields, then he's heading to our garden, and then back to the chickens, then prancing around the trampoline.  Mercy, I'm sweating and exhausted. Luckily, Ethan is a good herder.  I get the bull heading back to the gate, Ethan runs ahead and opens the gate, Linley, stick, and I  get him corralled into the fence.  Ethan slams the gate.  Yes, VICTORY!!!  I should have taken a bow after that scene. If only I had a cape. My good running shoes will never be the same. The cow pooped in the yard.  Poor shoes.

I got everything done before John got home except for the fact that the kids were not all in their seats.  Caleb was of course.  Then Ethan and Linley.   Now we're off to Lexington. We get halfway to Lexington and the kids are ready for a stop, we pull over at a gas station, get everyone out, and wait a minute. Caleb, where are your shoes?  What? You don't have any shoes? Since he hung out in the van while I was getting everyone else in there he omitted his shoes (which is so normal for him because everytime the child has to wear shoes it is a meltdown).  Luckily, I grabbed a pair of nice brown shoes for him before we locked the door.  So, the only pair of shoes that child has on the trip is brown dress shoes.  Yeah, let's just say we had a meltdown everytime we had to wear shoes this weekend. 

We get to Betsy's house and "let the wild rumpous begin!" as Maurice Zendak would say.  Whenever we put our kids together, it's usually a breeze, really it is. They entertain themselves. But, the thing is, you NEVER know what they are going to do.  Move to:  Fashion Show. 

Katie Beth comes downstairs and informs us they are putting on a fashion show. Oh dear.  Katie Beth wearing her fine Christmas gown mc's for us.  First down the runway is Ethan, wearing a lovely red Christmas dress with red and green tulle for a skirt and a Christmas tree of tulle on top.  Next, we have Caleb, wearing a hot pink number and skin tight pants.  Then, Annalee comes in wearing gray workout pants and a t-shirt.  Yes, the boys put on the girls clothes and Annalee put on Caleb's.  Another show: Ethan, sprinting through the show wearing nothing but underwer. And Annalee sprinting, wearing undwear.  Oh dear.  Here comes the kicker. Caleb, sprinting through the how wearing underwear...ON HIS HEAD!!!  Yes, nothing else   "PUT ON YOUR CLOTHES!!" 

These children keep us on our toes and we are so blessed :)  Sorry, kids. I have to blog about this so one day I will be able to show your spouses and your kids what you did:P I love you!

The End of the World as we know it.

Today has been a great day in the Cole household.  We have had several mishaps, of course, and some laugh out loud graceful moments put on by me.  There are a few moments that I have just can't stop singing the song, "It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!!"  Of course,  for Caleb and Linley they didn't feel fine.  So, here are a few of their moments today ending with the laughter of the day.

Relaxing day at the Cole house, raining outside, doing much of nothing inside. I'm sewing, Linley comes and sits in my lap and starts to chew on my arm. Yes, she is 15 months. I say, "No Linley, don't chew on Mommy's arm."  Insert song: It's the end of the world as we know it.  You would have thought I flogged her, poor thing.  She goes into a wail and flails herself out of my lap onto the hardwood. 

Caleb is having a hard time transititioning to actually getting out of his pajamas to go to the warehouse.  He's in his room for timeout for something to do with that and he's crying for "warm milk". Bless him, he's 3 and he has to have warm milk.  So, I get him his warm milk from this morning (it's not even 11 am yet) that he hadn't finished.  It wasn't enough according to him, so what does my son do? Shake his sippy cup all over the room screaming it's not enough.  "It's the End of the world as we know it."   Oh no no no no no you didn't just do that.  Good bye warm milk.  "It's the End of the World as we know it."

Linley is playing with my cell phone. She throws it in the floor because apparently it didn't do as she wanted.  Good bye cell phone.  "It's the End of the world as we know it." 

Caleb has to get dressed to go to Jackson and actually look presentable and wear (dum dum dummmm) SHOES!  "It's the end of the World as we know it!" 

Those are just four of the incidents today.  One day, I think I'm going to throw a fit. 

Tonight we go to Jackson.  We really had so much fun. The kids actually acted civilized at Cheddar's, no one fell apart accept for a minor incident with Linley but overall it was great.  Then we head to Toy's R Us for Ethan's birthday bicycle that he is getting and the spending of two twenty dollar gift cards that they got at Christmas.  Yes, that was almost five months ago. But hey, we don't live too close to  a Toys R Us and they thought it was more than awesome to go to the store and pick out a toy for a Christmas gift.  I think I need to start saving those for halfway through the year from now on.  Now, they actually play with what they got!  What seems like forever we finally get the correct bike and get toys picked out and head to Maggie Moos. 

I'm sure that the fraternity that was there watching everything go down truly got a show.  The boys pick out the brightest blue ice cream I have ever seen in my life.  I, of course, get my usual cake batter with cookie dough and hot fudge. John gets his banana with reeses. I'm holding Linley, passing out ice cream to the boys, and trying to eat my ice cream before it melts out of the cup. Linley didn't have enough patience for me so naturally she tries to start digging in.  Now, we have hot fudge on her and we haven't even paid yet.  I'm trying to feed her to keep her out of it,  Caleb is having issues with his neon ice cream because it's melting so fast and getting him dirty. I'm trying to find napkins for Linley and Caleb before we even make it out of line.  Then, while trying to keep my ice cream from going out, I drop some on Caleb's arm and on the floor. Caleb is talking nonstop asking for napkins all the while Ethan is trying to find us a place to sit down.  We get paid and head out the door and we don't make it ten steps before Caleb just puts his ice cream down on a table and is fixing to melt down on me because he is sticky.  We get to the car, I get Caleb's ice cream set down, get the wipes out, get the blue off (did I mention I'm still holding Linley here and trying to feed her and me with melting ice cream?). Now, Caleb decides he's done with the ice cream (three bites into it) and Linley is such an ice cream hogger that John asks me, "Are you already done?" Yes, I shared but I got all the cookie dough :)  John gets Caleb settled and threatens no more ice cream for him, ever, so he gets it back up and starts eating again after John dumped half of it on the ground so he doesn't get sticky.  Ethan, bless him, is an innocent bystander in all this asking for Caleb's uneaten ice cream because he ate all of his.  Linley then mooches off of John, Caleb is done, Ethan is done, neon ice cream on the parking place and on the van.  That was about as relaxing as getting your legs waxed.  But, it was yummy. 

Now, onto the funny parts:
Picture this: John asking me, "What are you doing?"
1.  Dancing. Duh.  It's Alvin and the Chipmunks on the dvd player 
2.  Singing Alving and the chipmunks, "I told the witch doctor I was in love with you and he said, Ooh Eee Ooh ah aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......." I slipped arms first followed by the rest of me when plugging up the drain in the bathtub for LC.
3.  Trying to get LC in the tub, not paying attention that I am one female verses three males in the bathroom, someone left the lid up, and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!  Mental note: always check the toilet seat even though multitasking. 

It's the End of the World as we know it and I feel fine!!!!  And blessed, what a wonderful day and wonderful family to share it with.  My husband has my utmost respect, he puts up with all the madness and mayhem and never complains or calls us completely crazy.  Thank You God for your blessings!!  Good night!

New days

Linley is now 15 months old as of April 9th.  I had this post on that actual day but accidently deleted it so here we go again.

Linley is a very independent little girl.  I call her my wanderer.  She likes to investigate everything.  Pick u everything, throw away everything, stash everything. I have recently found pacifiers in a box of cereal, in the pots and pans. She is pretty good at being a parrot now.  She will repeat almost everything you say and she is all about voicing what she thinks no matter if you understand or not.  Apparently she sticks up for herself as well. This week in Sunday School a little boy took her toy.  Linley didn't cry, no, she got up and whopped him on the head and then walked off.  Yes, she has two older brothers.   She is tough as nails. Fell at the nursery and has a huge bump and bleeding, never even cried. Then, five minutes later took a soccerball to the belly, knocked her down. She cried on that one though.  Bless her.  She has also found the mudhole: I literally had to pull the shoes out of the mud due to the suction.

Ethan has now started riding his bike without training wheels. Sometimes peer pressure is a good thing: two other friends at church did this so he said, "Well, I guess we'll try it." It only took 5 minutes and he got it down pat.  He's everywhere now.

Funny story:
Linley napping, the boys deciding to get wild, I have to run on the treadmill getting ready for the half-marathon.  I tell the boys they have two options-play quietly inside or head outside (70+ degrees out).  Of course, they head outside.  I'm on the treadmill and watching what's going on outside, I see the waterhose being moved.  Here comes Ethan to tell me Caleb has sprayed the house and him. My response: clean the house, not your brother.  Ethan leaves. Ethan returns: Caleb is butt-naked.  My response: So.  Ethan: Can I?  Me: Yes.  Notice the differences between first and second born: Second born acts and never asks. First born always asks first.   Finish my run and go stand on the porch and watch what has occurred.  Two naked boys, a waterhose, and a trampoline, lots of giggling.  Yes, I got pictures.  Caleb is my helper these days. Feeding the dog, watering the animlas, whatever we need he likes to help!


It's always wild here, usually fun, Amazingly blessed. 

Ethan is 6!

Holy cow. I am the mother of a six year old. 

Recap: 6 years ago today we were watching the NCAA tournament and then I thought I was getting the stomach bug. Yes, I was that naive.  Even though it was the day of my due date I still never dreamed I was going to have a baby. I should have figured something was up when we were walking around our neighborhood at 10:30 PM because I was feeling so bad.  Anyway,  after around 12 hours of labor, the beginning rough but after I got my "Drugs" we were good to go. 

Since then Ethan, you have been nothing but a blessing in our lives.  So, since you are six today I thought of six things that I love about you! Here they are:

1. You are caring.  God put you as a big brother for a purpose. The way you care for your sister and brother is really amazing to watch.  If you are around, I don't really worry much because I know you are there caring for them. 
2. You are unselfish.  This is normal for you, you give in to your sister and Caleb constantly.  I caught you the other day in line at games in AWANA letting a little boy in front of you in line just because they were sad they were the last one in line.  You didn't care and let him in front of you.
3. You are funny.  Literally, I laugh with you all the time.  You are getting very sneaky as a little boy and playing all kinds of games on me.  I have to constantly watch out, you put a plastic snake under my pillow one night and after you went to bed I found it!! You little Stink :P  Your dance moves are just plain awesome!
4.  You are thoughtful.  You always ask me if I want some of your drink or some of your candy. 
5.  You are sensitive to God.  You and Caleb are always discussing Bible theology which is very insightful.  Your faith is something I know God loves.  God is loving, He cares for us and that's that. It's very simple for you and I love it.   
6. You are truthful.  You always tell me what really happens no matter if it's your fault or not.  You even admit to me when you've lied.  Plus, you are always there to tell me what Caleb "really did." 

Homeschooling this year has been full of fun and moments of craziness.  You are your daddy made over. You work so hard and have very high expectations of yourself.  You are like me that you are goal oriented.  You have a goal and you work until you get it.  I am so happy to be your mom and you are such a blessing to our family. We love you Baby Bear!!!

Easter Fun and Ethan turning 6

Easter is here as well as spring and we are bringing it in with style. 

This week we have gone from snow showers to windy spring days.  Those windy spring days brought about a day long power outage, which caused our refrigerator to surge, which ended up with losing tons of food but now a fridge that looks that we just got it out of Lowes because we had to throw everything out and clean it (Can we say run-on sentence here because that is what that whole episode felt like.) PIcture John using my heat gun for craft stuff at 9 o'clock one night and something burning in the freezer, which we found out later was the styrofoam but John completely fixed the fridge.  This was Monday through Wednesday. 
Then, we had the spring days where I looked outside on the trampoline and what do I find? Two boys, stripped down to their underwear with ivy-like grass hanging out of it.  Oh yes, this was so cool that they walked in the house and I sent them straight to the bathtub which had a brown color to it when I got them out of there. 

Monday Ethan turns 6.  We are having a bday party at Yayas Island tomorrow with mostly all of our family.  Therefore, all of us sisters got together today for Easter fun.  Betsy, Matt, Katie Beth, Annalee, Mom and Dad all came over today to visit before Easter fun tonight.  John took all the kids outside.  He put them to work, they were able to collect all of the sticks in the front yard and start their own bonfire.  Then, it's time to head to Mom and Dad's house.  Everyone is ready to go but where is Caleb? In the garden.  With no shoes on.  Did I mention it rained today?  Throw the boy in the tub and we're off again.  We had 6 kids lined up in my Mom and Dad's house with a cup full of dye and eggs everywhere. Can you believe it but of course the only one who ended up with completely dyed hands was Caleb?  Bless him.  He had to have another bath. 

Now, it's time for some real fun. Insert Harlem Shake:
http://harlem.shabz.co/l/8E331F30-11FC-47E3-9515-91A0372CA5CF.html

Yes, we talked our Mom and Dad into it.  Yes, it was AWESOME. 

Mom had chocolate stuffed into some of the Easter eggs.  Now having 3 kids I do things with the third I find I NEVER would have done with Ethan or probably Caleb.  Linley is like Hudini. The child finds ways to open things.  And she has good priorities.  All this Easter candy means chocolate.  This afternoon she would not pick up any Easter Eggs because she found two chocolate Hershey eggs, one in each hand. Therefore, she would not pick anything else up because she had to have her chocolate.  Everytime I turn around that girl had chocolate in her mouth or in her hand, or going through Ethan's basket.  (Yes, she knows who to mooch off of, Caleb would knock her down but Ethan won't do a thing to her).  Try to take a piece of chocolate away from that girl and let me tell you: The wrath of Linley is coming. 

Got everyone in bed tonight, time for my shower.  I now notice that there is mud all over the white  shower curtain.  I'm in the shower and it's like I'm at the beach. I am standing on pieces of mud and dirt.  Yes, I had to take leaves off of the drain in the tub so water would go down.  Multitasking and almost used germ-x instead of lotion.  John asked me how that was going to turn out. 

Observations of the week:
Caleb, when mad, yells "Booty Buttcheek!!" at you in his meanest voice.
Linley, when Caleb is taking my lap or John's lap away from her, she hits him, on the head.  He, of course, hits her back.  I think Caleb has met his match.
Ethan teaches Linley how to play things, like trains and whatever else he can think of. His goal is to make her laugh.  She has him wrapped.  
Ethan, when threatened with a spanking, prefers to be honest about it and get spanking done immediately.  Caleb prefers to put it off so he can hopefully talk his wway out of it or hope you forget.  Picture this scenario in TJ Maxx.  
Doing Resurrection Eggs with kids for Devotionals this week.  Eggs were going everywhere, pieces of the Resurrection story being tossed around.   Trying to read the Bible while LInley  is screaming because she rather read a book in my lap than Caleb in my lap reading the Bible.  Not how you would picture a quiet devotional time with the kiddos but hey, God uses everything right?

Happy Easter!!!

Our new normal

Well, life around here is taking on a new normal. Linley is now  almost 15 months and into her independence. Caleb is still three, which if anyone has a three year old boy you can empathize with me here, and Ethan is closing in on six.  Holy moly, he's turning six next week.  Rant: I have a six year old. You know how you put people in categories?  I.E." Oh look, they have a new born, sweet young family.  I.E." Oh, they have a  three year old and another kid, they're getting seasoned." I.E." Oh, they have  a six year old, and two other kids, they're getting on up there." Yep, that's us. Getting on up there.  I'm now in "that box." End rant.

The past two weeks at our house have been um, shall we say "Stressful" for mom? 



Linley is getting more and more independent yet is also turning more and more towards a Momma's girl.  I love seeing her light up when she sees me.  She waves and run towards me. OR, she's playing happily then sees me and immediately starts crying and whining so I will pick her up.  Um, hello, you were fine just three seconds ago and nothing has changed here.  Linley is very accustomed to hearing the word No.  Does that mean she likes it? Absolutely not.  But she hears it alot.   Today, at the Easter Egg hunt there was a table of food set out.  She is running towards it trying to grab stuff and of course I'm saying, No Linley.  After about five of those run-ins she gets over there and I'm not watching. Her aunt sees her and this is what happens: Linley gets to the table. Attempts to grab something off the table.  She turns and looks at me.  I'm not looking at her.  She thinks for a couple seconds, gives a look, puts her hand down, moves on.  Apparently, if I'm not telling her No about it it's not worth trying to get it.  Another example. I was at a friend's house getting my hair cut.  Linley comes to the door crying.  We stop and talk to her and then dismiss it.  She's just whining so we continue with the hair cut.  All of a sudden we stop and look at her because she quit whining.  She then realizes that we are paying attention to her so she immediately starts a fake cry.  Seriously? 

Caleb is still into this three business.  Meltdown.  All day long.   Yesterday was Bible Study day at church. It's time to go.  Oh but wait, the top button to his shirt is not buttoned.  Mom, you have to come to MY room and button it.  Oh no no no.  Please must be used here.  Button now in place.  Uh oh. My hands were just washed so now he is wet.  He then ensues to call me "Booty Buttcheek!!!!"  Mama don't play that.  Ask Caleb who his new roommate will be if he does that again.  It doesn't walk around on two legs nor does it have a bedroom in this house.
Last night we had some of our good friends over.  We're sitting at the dining room table while the boys and girls are playing.  All of a sudden Ethan appears at the table,smelling like baby powder. Tattling ensues, Caleb has poured baby powder all over the room.  I pass this one over to John, I'm done for the time being.  Then Linley appears in the room. What's in her hair?  What's all over clothes?  What's that strong smell?  Yes, Caleb decorated Linley with baby powder as well.  I then hear the vaccuum cleaner going.  I never went and checked how it looked but when I dusted today, yes please write that one down, that I dusted baby powder off of the front and sides of the dresser. 

So the new norm, Ethan babying Linley,  Caleb still being three, Linley being independent.  It's never calm here and I wouldn't have it any other way, except maybe nap time. Yeah, I could handle a calm house during nap time.

A mess is a mess.

Okay. So I know it's been a long time, but here are a few snapshots of what's been going on lately:

Caleb pooped in the potty...Once.  Long story short, John was at a deacons meeting, Caleb decided he wanted a new toy, Ethan persuaded him, and after about 30 minutes of screaming and whining and sitting on the little potty IN THE LIVING ROOM, he woke Linley up due to the fit, I went and dealt with her and that is when he did it.   Needless to say, John took both boys to Wal-Mart at 8:30 that night for a poop-toy.  It is now hidden since Caleb only pooped in the potty that one time.


Linley is a messer, much like me.  The boys weren't like this.  I'm cooking dinner and she usually is only a few feet away from me.  I'm cooking chili.  I turn around and what is she doing?  Slinging around in her hands the dirty meat wrapper that had the ground beef in it.  Yes, I screamed, she cried, and we sanitized.  


The  boys have decided that Linley is so much fun. For instance: she gets on her pink motorcycle and they can push her around on the hardwood.  She flies everywhere.  The corners are what make it so cool.  She slides all over the place like Lightening McQueen.  She loves it, they love it, until one push too hard and off she goes.  I did get a videotape of this but I was about 30 seconds shy of an AFV award. 


Today was a messy day.  I now know how to make polka dotted sheets.  It's easy...wash bed linens, preferrably white ones, with a blue marker hidden inside the boys sheets.  Then dry.  Poof, out of the dryer comes polka dotted/tie-dyed sheets.  Not to mention a blue dryer.  Did I mention that the reason for my washing our sheets was the fact that Caleb dumped his milk on them? 


Made Mrs. Jeanne's bday cake tonight.  Ethan is my big helper.  Halfway through and I go to put in the oil. Oh wait, I'm about 1 1/4 cups shy.  So he and I jet down to Save-A-Lot.  We get back, wash our hands, and get back to it.  Adding the oil when something falls off the cabinet. I finish pouring the cup of oil when I look to see what fell: brand new container of oil that we just measured out of, spilling all over the kitchen floor.  Let me tell you,  trying to clean up vegetable oil is no easy task.  It just smears everywhere and then you just have to mop anyway.  But it did the trick. 

Are you ready for some Basketballllllll Actioonnnnnnnn???!!!

It is now time for the first time in our household for Upward Basketball.  You know, we are from KY.  We went to UK.  If there is any sport out there that we know about it is basketball.  We have two different basketball goals set up in the boys' room.  We have games all the time.  So, we would naturally think that Ethan will enjoy basketball.  Well, we have had practice three times so far; yesterday we had scrimmage.  Please, let the laughter begin.

The past three practices the kids have been introduced to dribbling, passing, shooting, etc.  The coach asks the question: "Who dribbles with their right hand?"  Ethan raises his hand.  " Who dribbles with their left hand?"  Ethan raises his hand.  Then Ethan starts: "I actually dribble with both hands..."  May I mention here-we play on carpet, not much dribbling period.  But hey, whatever he thinks. 
The kids have been learning defense and offense as well as man-to-man.  Ethan's "man" is a tiny sweet little girl who doesn't even go up to his chin.  They are supposed to stay with each other and guard each other.  During the scrimmage I see Ethan and this little girl talking, standing still with the little girl's hands up in defense mode,  actually Ethan telling this girl what he thinks: you need to scoot back, you need to leave me alone.   Needless to say, Ethan doesn't appreciate the defense that this little girl is giving him.  
Now, we hear the coach tell them, "Get open, get open!!"  Ethan does just that, he runs in circles with this little girl chasing him, ending up on the opposite side of the court-completely OBLIVIOUS  to the fact that there is a ball that is being thown around them and he is needing to catch it and shoot. 
Ethan is a great encourager though.  He ends up with the ball, yes miracle in itself, and instead of shooting he throws it to a little girl on his team that is basically the Michael Jordan of the team.  He tells her, "Shoot McCall!!!  Way to go!!!!"  Um,  shall we say nonselfish player?  I mean, we don't have a ball-hog on our hands, but we have had to talk about being a little bit more aggressive on the court.  At one point the ball was almost in between Ethan's legs and he never even looked down to grab it.  He told me he never saw it.  I don't think we have an Anthony Davis on our hands here, but who knows. 

Tomorrow is Linley's first bday party along with the first bball game. Today we had to decorate at the church so we head there for most of the afternoon.   It didn't go as planned.  I thought, "Hey, I'll let the kids take their scooters, run around, get tired, and we'll be ready to go."  Well, that worked, for about 15 minutes.  But, Linley Claire had a different plan.  She would crawl around crying at the top of her lungs.  How can I hang up anything while holding a baby?  So, snack time.  They are like wolves, they smell it and they all come.  So now, everyone is having snack.  Then, Caleb thinks Linley needs more goldfish, and then Linley thinks Caleb is so funny that she is going to smash her goldfish and toss them about.  Now, everyone has to clean up.  So Ethan grabs a broom, Caleb a mop, and Linley stays in her chair laughing being entertained.  Ugh.  After almost two hours of hanging up and moving stuff around it's finally time to go home.  Caleb and Ethan are of course thirsty so they head to the kitchen.  Linley is drawn to the church kitchen, I don't know what it is, but if that door is open and she is crawling she is in there.  Well, she and Caleb were in there...together...and Caleb found a water bottle.  I run in to get Linley and there is Caleb and Linley, Linley mouth open, Caleb squirting water in it.      WHAT!!!!!!  No telling how long that water bottle had been in that kitchen.   So, being the paranoid Mom, I squirted some in my mouth to make sure it was water and it wasn't poisonous.  Can we please go home now?  Oh, mention here that halfway through the decorating Caleb has an accident and he ends up with no underwear on, surprise surprise I know. 

Tonight after supper Ethan and Caleb are playing forts.  Ethan makes rules up:1. Caleb, you have to wear a shirt to come in the fort. Caleb goes to put on shirt.   2.  Caleb, your underwear must not be on backwards to come in (Caleb likes his underwear on backwards, yes strange).  My reply, Ethan, you don't have to worry about backwards underwear, he's not even wearing any.   

Tomorrow shall be an entertaining day with the first ball game and first birthday party for Linley.