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!!!