Warning: if you cannot handle poop or the discussion thereof, do not read this post. There's your warning. Really, warning.
I'm reading a new book, Unglued. It's really good. I went to the dotMOM conference a week ago and it literally was one of the best conferences I've been to in my entire life. I picked up this book there and today I am in chapter three. The gist: God using situations to chip away at our character to make something beautiful. Chip, chip, chip. Poop situations are alot of my chipping right now.
This morning started early as normal...Caleb needed milk at 6:15 and then at 6:30 he decided it's time for us to get up. Hello, does this kid not get the Saturday morning memo??? Sleep late, let Mom and Dad along with your brother sleep late!! Linley is up not long after. Trying to let John sleep in on a Saturday after a long work week is not the easiest thing to do with a baby crying through the monitor, two boys running through the house screaming, and then boys climbing into the crib playing with their sister all through the monitor. Needless to say, the whole house was up by 7:30. Luckily. I get to go for a run before John has to run errands so out the door I go, not telling anyone goodbye. At the bottom of the steps, there is a brown rock, but wait,it's not a rock. Hold on, Caleb has not been outside yet. Hmmm. The wheels start turning. Ollie has brought up Caleb's poop that he disposed of himself YESTERDAY. Note to self: do not let the dog lick me. What do I do? Fane ignorance and hit the road. That poop will be dealt with later.
Later on in the morning, John has taken the boys to run "Man errands" aka Lowe's, Tractor Supply, and a quick trip for me to Fred's. So, I get to make a mad dash to clean up the house and sweep. Yes, Linley is all over the place and is like our little vaccuum cleaner so I'm having to sweep costantly. I need to mop but wait til the boys get home with our new floor cleaner. Isn't it sad how happy a new cleaner with a new smell can make your day brighter? So, now I get the floor mopped while Linley is napping. (I'm leaving out all the details I have today with our new embroidery machine. Really, if there is anything that could go wrong with a sewing project, this has been it. That's why it's 10 P.M. and I'm just now blogging.) She gets up and I'm at the table working on that daggum sewing project and Linley is crawling around watching the boys play with batman. She, being at this oral-fixation stage (Yeah, you like my ten-cent word?) is chewing on something. It really can't be anything much, I mean, I have swept AND mopped underneath this table just moments before. Well, she spits it out and it looks like mud so I pick it up to throw it away. Hold on, WHAT IS THAT SMELL? It smells like....dog poop!!! Then, I smell the mud, no wait, it's not mud, it's Ollie's poop!!! Okay, this is mind boggling to me due to the fact that I JUST GOT DONE CLEANING!!!! I guess I shouldn't sweep or mop, she hasn't done this before but now that I'm in cleaning mode she gets poop in her mouth. So, a mini-flip out and I rush Linley to the bathroom and clean her mouth out with her toothbrush. IT's time to go to the Banana Festival so I tell Ethan to run out and get John to come in and change. I hear him yelling out the back, "Dad! It's time to go to the parade and get CANDY!!! Guess what LInley just ate? DOG POOP?" Yes, I'm sure John is wonderin gwhat in the world I do with these children and the house all day.
We make it to the Banana Festival where Ethan yells at the people to throw him candy. One man tells the other onlookers, "Sorry, I'm out." Ethan, looks at him and yells, "THAT'S OKAY!!!" Yes, this 40 year old told Ethan thanks for understanding. We ten saw these lightsabers everywhere. Caleb sees one and, being in the Stars Wars mode right now, he says, "I need my lightsaver." So, after the free banana pudding John grabs two lightsabers and we're on our way to Wal-Mart and home. As you can imagine, giving two lightsabers to a 5 and 3 year old boys was pretty entertaining. Finally, we made a rule that you had to turn it off in the van while driving. Yes, in the dark I'm sure our van looked pretty interesting with two lightsabers being swung all over the back. At one point, Linley is crying and Ethan is needed to give her her pacifier. Ethan, being 5, says he can't see it. He can ONLY see it and get it if he uses his lightsaber. Of course you'll do anything to get the crying baby to quit so I cave and say yes. Lightsaber saved the day and pacifier plugged in the mouth.
Bathtime and fighting match time so the boys are playing while we throw Linley in the tub first. I'm fixing her bottle while John is bathing Linley and I look out the window and I see Caleb (this is at 8:30 P.M.) running in the back shed chasing the cats with his lightsaber. Really? The poor cats. Now, Ethan comes running in the kitchen saying, Mom we can't take a bath yet. Me, of course thinking what in the world has happened now. He then informs me that Linley has pooped in the tub. I walk in to assess the situation and John, being the dad, thinks it's quite funny that while bathing Linley she was comfortable enough to poop in the tub. Me, I don't handle poop in water very well so John saved the day and cleaned it up. Ugh.
Now, all are bathed, I'm literally so pooped that I'm laying in the floor of the hallway waiting for John so we can put everyone to bed when I see Ethan run from the kitchen to the living room with his lightsaber screaming, behind him comes Caleb running with his lightsaber, and then behind him crawling on the floor comes Linley after them. This is mayhem. I just laugh my head off. Praise the Lord it's time for bed.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Similarities to cats
We have cats. Several of them. All outside. They serve a purpose: eat mice and moles. My children have an odd relationship with our cats.
You may ask why? Several reasons:
Our cats are somewhat brave/ somewhat stupid. We have Ollie now, and they just hang around letting the dog harrass them and they just swat at him and go on. My children play with the cats. Sometimes, the cats aren't smart enough to run away and hide. For instance, a couple of days ago the boys are outside playing in the yard while I'm watching them from the dining room doing some sewing. All of a sudden, something hits the window. It wasn't a rock. I run outside in a rage and then I see something else flying. It's not our turkeys. Next, comes discipline and a lesson on respecting all of God's creatures. Reasoning, the cat scratched me. My response: I would have scratched you too.
Cats poop outside on the ground, covered up. Today, I walk to the garage after seeing Caleb streak through. What do I find? No, it's not cat poop but kid poop. Are you serious? (I say that alot lately). After cleaning out the "Litter box" of Caleb I see him getting a spoonful of dirt and acting like he is covering up his poop. No, Caleb, you are not a cat, but a boy.
Sidenote: I come inside, I'm working on a project we have going on and the boys, being boys, are banished outside for a time due to their similarity to wild indians while Linley is asleep. So, all of a sudden both boys come marching in the house telling me I had to see something. Uh oh. I walk outside and there, on the roof of the garage, is Ethan's pillow pet "Wild Ears" on the roof. A pillow pet, outside, on the roof. I wouldn't have thought to put him there. Ethan's response: "Can you let me climb up there and get it?" Uh, no, but at least he asked.
An hour or so later we are inside. The boys are playing at the train table and I smell something. Linley is asleep so it can't be her dirty diaper. Next, who's to blame but Caleb.
Me: Caleb, did you poop?
Caleb: very quietly, Uh huh.
Me: You pooped AGAIN? Where?
Caleb: In the kitchen.
Me to myself: 1. Disgusting.
2. How much poop can 1 child have?
3. Disgusting.
4. I've got to clean that up. Or should he have to clean that up? No, I'm too much of a germ-a-phobe to have him clean it up.
5. I think I might cry.
Poop cleaned up, Praise the Lord Mammy has come over so I can go to a yard sale and meet John for a movie, where I don't have to clean up any one or anything's poop, or think about cats.
You may ask why? Several reasons:
Our cats are somewhat brave/ somewhat stupid. We have Ollie now, and they just hang around letting the dog harrass them and they just swat at him and go on. My children play with the cats. Sometimes, the cats aren't smart enough to run away and hide. For instance, a couple of days ago the boys are outside playing in the yard while I'm watching them from the dining room doing some sewing. All of a sudden, something hits the window. It wasn't a rock. I run outside in a rage and then I see something else flying. It's not our turkeys. Next, comes discipline and a lesson on respecting all of God's creatures. Reasoning, the cat scratched me. My response: I would have scratched you too.
Cats poop outside on the ground, covered up. Today, I walk to the garage after seeing Caleb streak through. What do I find? No, it's not cat poop but kid poop. Are you serious? (I say that alot lately). After cleaning out the "Litter box" of Caleb I see him getting a spoonful of dirt and acting like he is covering up his poop. No, Caleb, you are not a cat, but a boy.
Sidenote: I come inside, I'm working on a project we have going on and the boys, being boys, are banished outside for a time due to their similarity to wild indians while Linley is asleep. So, all of a sudden both boys come marching in the house telling me I had to see something. Uh oh. I walk outside and there, on the roof of the garage, is Ethan's pillow pet "Wild Ears" on the roof. A pillow pet, outside, on the roof. I wouldn't have thought to put him there. Ethan's response: "Can you let me climb up there and get it?" Uh, no, but at least he asked.
An hour or so later we are inside. The boys are playing at the train table and I smell something. Linley is asleep so it can't be her dirty diaper. Next, who's to blame but Caleb.
Me: Caleb, did you poop?
Caleb: very quietly, Uh huh.
Me: You pooped AGAIN? Where?
Caleb: In the kitchen.
Me to myself: 1. Disgusting.
2. How much poop can 1 child have?
3. Disgusting.
4. I've got to clean that up. Or should he have to clean that up? No, I'm too much of a germ-a-phobe to have him clean it up.
5. I think I might cry.
Poop cleaned up, Praise the Lord Mammy has come over so I can go to a yard sale and meet John for a movie, where I don't have to clean up any one or anything's poop, or think about cats.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Addition
John found Ollie on craigslist and after much debate we decided it was time to get a dog. So, the three kiddos and I took off to Halls, TN, to pick up our pup. The kids fall asleep on the way there, we pull up, they are now awake minus Linley, and the boys flip out because they saw the big dog (A border collie so it really isn't that big). Did I mention our kids are petrified of dogs? Thus, the reason of getting a dog. So, now we have the whole van awake. Two screaming boys and a baby who is supposed to be napping. I'm sure the lady we bought the dog from thought we were crazy.
We put Ollie in our pet carrier and home we go. He was such a trooper in the van, not hardly even making noises. Man, this dog is great. There we are, 15 minutes from home and I smell this terrible smell. What in the world? I look over at Ollie in the pet carrier and he is now circling and there is something in the bottom of it. Could it be? No, no way. Oh,but yes. We now have a dog sitting in the front seat in a pet carrier that has poop in it. At this point numerous thoughts were going through my head:
1. I think I might hurl.
2. Are you kidding me?
3. I just added something else to our family that is not potty trained.
So, I roll the window down and pretend to be a dog myself by holding my head out the window gasping for air all the while loudly gagging as I'm driving. I look in the rearview mirror and I see Ethan holding his nose screaming about how bad it stinks. After I stop gagging a discussion starts up.
" Mom, why did you get a dog? I think we need to take him back... That poop doesn't stink as bad as baby poop."
"Oh yes, I think it's pretty far up there on the poop scale." Then everyone has to rank the stinkiness of the poop we have at our house, baby poop, cow poop, dog poop.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Milestone and Sundays.
Sundays in our house are usually jam packed. Today was no different. But, here is the big news of the day: CALEB POOPED IN THE POTTY!! Yes, it happened. John caught him on the porch trying to poop in his underwear so he just told him to sit on the potty. Yes, I have a potty chair sitting on my back porch. No, I am not redneck. My child poops outside. Yes, I just said my child poops outside.
I started singing praises to the LORD!! Of course, Caleb did not want me to congratulate him at all. "No cheer. No cheer." Even tonight at bedtime I told him how proud I was of him. He retaliated with something about peepee. Oh well.
This morning we start our Sunday morning rush trying to get us out of the door by 9:05. It never works. But, good goal. Why is it on Sundays my children decide to sleep in? I mean, really? Linley woke up early but I fed her and we went back to bed. Then, I finally get out of bed and get our day going trying to be as loud as possible to wake the kids up naturally. Works well for Ethan. Caleb not so much. I finally wake him up at 8:15 with a peace offering of milk and waffles.
Wake Linley up now and feed her some bottle and pears. Get her changed into her Sunday attire, John mans the boys, I finish getting ready and John does so now to load everyone up and off we go.
At church it just turns crazy. Copying for class, drop Ethan off, walk in mine and Caleb's class where I meet John, Caleb, and Linley and off they go to their classes. So, then we have SS where Caleb completely falls apart several times and just finally ends up with us in "big church" due to the falling out. Now it's time for the kids to run to the front of the church for children's church to begin. Well, of course, Ethan races off with some buddies and Caleb is left in the dust so he falls apart AGAIN. Oh my gosh. I mean seriously. So, John takes him to Children's church again. Now, we're fixing to start the sermon and here comes our nursery director. Linley is ticked, they found the bottle with warm water but no formula. Well, great. I run in there and try to calm her down but to no avail. So, crying baby in the sanctuary, grab John's keys, take Linley home where I give her a bottle, pears, and she poops, then off we go again back to church to pick up the boys. This all happened before noon.
Home for the afternoon and now it's time to get our homeschool ready. Wow. I'm pumped and I think Ethan is as well. I know Caleb is. We start school on Wednesday.
So overall, very busy day, fun day, and alot accomplished today! Praise the Lord!
I started singing praises to the LORD!! Of course, Caleb did not want me to congratulate him at all. "No cheer. No cheer." Even tonight at bedtime I told him how proud I was of him. He retaliated with something about peepee. Oh well.
This morning we start our Sunday morning rush trying to get us out of the door by 9:05. It never works. But, good goal. Why is it on Sundays my children decide to sleep in? I mean, really? Linley woke up early but I fed her and we went back to bed. Then, I finally get out of bed and get our day going trying to be as loud as possible to wake the kids up naturally. Works well for Ethan. Caleb not so much. I finally wake him up at 8:15 with a peace offering of milk and waffles.
Wake Linley up now and feed her some bottle and pears. Get her changed into her Sunday attire, John mans the boys, I finish getting ready and John does so now to load everyone up and off we go.
At church it just turns crazy. Copying for class, drop Ethan off, walk in mine and Caleb's class where I meet John, Caleb, and Linley and off they go to their classes. So, then we have SS where Caleb completely falls apart several times and just finally ends up with us in "big church" due to the falling out. Now it's time for the kids to run to the front of the church for children's church to begin. Well, of course, Ethan races off with some buddies and Caleb is left in the dust so he falls apart AGAIN. Oh my gosh. I mean seriously. So, John takes him to Children's church again. Now, we're fixing to start the sermon and here comes our nursery director. Linley is ticked, they found the bottle with warm water but no formula. Well, great. I run in there and try to calm her down but to no avail. So, crying baby in the sanctuary, grab John's keys, take Linley home where I give her a bottle, pears, and she poops, then off we go again back to church to pick up the boys. This all happened before noon.
Home for the afternoon and now it's time to get our homeschool ready. Wow. I'm pumped and I think Ethan is as well. I know Caleb is. We start school on Wednesday.
So overall, very busy day, fun day, and alot accomplished today! Praise the Lord!
Monday, July 30, 2012
I don't make this up.
Yes, this really happened. No, I did not make it up.
Brief synopsis of our day before the mayhem: Ran, started stairclimbing, kids up at 6:45, fed everyone, played, finished stairclimbing, gardened, tended to animals (farm animals not my kids here), went to Murray and swam with my sister, niece, and nephew, burnt to a crisp (don't call me Tori, call me Tortilla, as in crispy Tortilla), cleaned up house so it didn't look like a tornado had been through, started supper.
Setting: One baby in the crib, one 5 year old on a couch, and one 3 year old ran outside. Mom running around the house.
Ethan is trying to recuperate from a long day swimming, Caleb of course now has energy to go on for hours, and Linley is asleep. I'm on the phone with my twin sister and what do I see? Caleb, entering the house, with black marks all over his entire body, except for his face (thank goodness). Hands, arms, palm of his hands, fingernails, ankles, tops of feet, shirt. What in the world? Oh, I know. He found the KING SIZE BLACK PERMANENT MARKER outside where I had taken it out of the van. Who needs canvas people? Use yourself for body art. Then, here it comes, "Mom, I pooped!" Seriously, so now we have a child covered in black permanent marker with poop in his underwear. I've got to get off with my sister now, after some serious complaining of what I'm fixing to have to do.
Me: "Do not move. Go to the bathroom, and stay there. The wipes are out in the van." Yes, I left them there from our swimming field trip today and I was NOT about to go in Linley's room to get the others and wake her up.
I run outside to the van, grab the wipes, turn around, and now on the top steps of the porch is my partially naked 3 year old, marker and all, with pants off and poop stuck to his rear. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Back to the bathroom we go. But wait, what is that I kicked...in the hall? Oh yes, piece of poop. (I'm sighing as I'm writing this piece). Start to clean the boy up and the next conversation is the kicker.
Caleb:"I want my prize!" In a very whiney voice.
Me: "Prize? For what?"
Caleb:"For pooping."
Huh? Did I miss something? I think we all know that the child can poop. It is the location of the poop that I am more concerned with at this point.
Me:"You don't get a prize for pooping. You get a prize for pooping IN THE POTTY!"
Caleb:"NOOOOOOO!!! I WANT MY PRIZE!!!!!!!!!" Hear whining.
Me: "No Caleb. You poop in the potty to get a prize, not in your UNDERWEAR!!!"
And so the whining continues as does the discussion of why we have prizes in the first place for bowel movements. Side note here: Yesterday John caught him pooping in his underwear so he got him on the potty and in a round about way he did poop on the potty. To which I jumped up and down and he yelled:"No HAPPY!" I seriously do not think he wants to part with his poop.
Get Caleb cleaned up, no prize, and Linley is awake, dinner needs to be finished, John is home, and the boys have found the Cars tattoos...
At this point I must make two notes:
1. Caleb is the object of a lot of my blogs. This age that he is at is always entertaining and busy, Ethan was just like this, yes, poop and all. I am so thankful for him, and all our children because they keep my life interesting, fun, and never dull.
2. I am so glad I borrowed my sister's Bissell shampoo vaccuum today. God knew I would put it to good use.
Brief synopsis of our day before the mayhem: Ran, started stairclimbing, kids up at 6:45, fed everyone, played, finished stairclimbing, gardened, tended to animals (farm animals not my kids here), went to Murray and swam with my sister, niece, and nephew, burnt to a crisp (don't call me Tori, call me Tortilla, as in crispy Tortilla), cleaned up house so it didn't look like a tornado had been through, started supper.
Setting: One baby in the crib, one 5 year old on a couch, and one 3 year old ran outside. Mom running around the house.
Ethan is trying to recuperate from a long day swimming, Caleb of course now has energy to go on for hours, and Linley is asleep. I'm on the phone with my twin sister and what do I see? Caleb, entering the house, with black marks all over his entire body, except for his face (thank goodness). Hands, arms, palm of his hands, fingernails, ankles, tops of feet, shirt. What in the world? Oh, I know. He found the KING SIZE BLACK PERMANENT MARKER outside where I had taken it out of the van. Who needs canvas people? Use yourself for body art. Then, here it comes, "Mom, I pooped!" Seriously, so now we have a child covered in black permanent marker with poop in his underwear. I've got to get off with my sister now, after some serious complaining of what I'm fixing to have to do.
Me: "Do not move. Go to the bathroom, and stay there. The wipes are out in the van." Yes, I left them there from our swimming field trip today and I was NOT about to go in Linley's room to get the others and wake her up.
I run outside to the van, grab the wipes, turn around, and now on the top steps of the porch is my partially naked 3 year old, marker and all, with pants off and poop stuck to his rear. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Back to the bathroom we go. But wait, what is that I kicked...in the hall? Oh yes, piece of poop. (I'm sighing as I'm writing this piece). Start to clean the boy up and the next conversation is the kicker.
Caleb:"I want my prize!" In a very whiney voice.
Me: "Prize? For what?"
Caleb:"For pooping."
Huh? Did I miss something? I think we all know that the child can poop. It is the location of the poop that I am more concerned with at this point.
Me:"You don't get a prize for pooping. You get a prize for pooping IN THE POTTY!"
Caleb:"NOOOOOOO!!! I WANT MY PRIZE!!!!!!!!!" Hear whining.
Me: "No Caleb. You poop in the potty to get a prize, not in your UNDERWEAR!!!"
And so the whining continues as does the discussion of why we have prizes in the first place for bowel movements. Side note here: Yesterday John caught him pooping in his underwear so he got him on the potty and in a round about way he did poop on the potty. To which I jumped up and down and he yelled:"No HAPPY!" I seriously do not think he wants to part with his poop.
Get Caleb cleaned up, no prize, and Linley is awake, dinner needs to be finished, John is home, and the boys have found the Cars tattoos...
At this point I must make two notes:
1. Caleb is the object of a lot of my blogs. This age that he is at is always entertaining and busy, Ethan was just like this, yes, poop and all. I am so thankful for him, and all our children because they keep my life interesting, fun, and never dull.
2. I am so glad I borrowed my sister's Bissell shampoo vaccuum today. God knew I would put it to good use.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Boys vs Girls
Well, the past couple weeks have been crazy. Our grandmother passed away so it has been a very sad time for our family. But, during this time we were also blessed just because as a family we were able to come together and celebrate her life and enjoy being together. So, we were able to hang out with my two neices for about a week, they are 6 and 3. So we had a 6, 5, 3, 3, and 6 month old for a few days. Hilarious is pretty much descriptive of our time. Here are a few examples along with just a few things have happened at our house since.
Caleb and Annalee are going at it in the pool (these are the two 3 year olds and second borns-Betsy and I have a few theories on second borns :P) They are using the noodles as weapons. After Betsy and I about make our throats sore from, "Be kind to each other" We finally just let them go at it. The difference between boys and girls: Annalee did cry and Caleb screamed "SORRY!" in not the nicest of tones.
We are at our parents' house and the kids are in the living room playing. Ethan runs in the room, bends over, grabs his rear end, and begins making loud pooting noises to no one in particular. Seriously? Of course, Betsy and I bust out laughing and he is confused as to why we are laughing.
Now, to just a few things that happened at our house lately:
It is the sweetest thing ever to hear Ethan and Caleb pretend playing cars and Katie Beth and Annalee are in the other cars.
Linley had a dirty diaper so I tied it up in a Wal-Mart sack. Before heading to church to work on some stuff I actually caught myself saying, "BOYS!! DO NOT THROW THE DIRTY DIAPER AT EACH OTHER!!" Yes, the dirty diaper was thrown everywhere in our house, much to Linley's entertainment.
Yesterday, I looked out the window and my mouth dropped to the ground. John is playing with the boys in the pool. They are being launched like airplanes. Do I see screaming and crying? No, they are going as fast as they possibly can getting back to John saying, "higher, HIGHER!"
I'm giving the boys a bath. Then comes the discussion on male anatomy. What are these? Why are they round? What are they called? What are they for? Do you have them? Does sister? Oh I wish Dad were in here to hear this one!
Today, the boys decided that Thomas the Train needed to fall in a pond. Of course, I say sure. I mean why not, Thomas needs a bath now and then. My rule is that the water has to be on the hardwood. So, after a couple scares of water being dropped all over the floor, Thomas makes it in the pond. Then, Ethan decides that Caleb shouldn't put one of his train cars in the water, too late, so Ethan snatches it out. Caleb of course screams at him and then proceeds to dump the entire "Pond" in the floor. After an almost time out I decide that the "Punishment must fit the crime" (Yes, we love Parent Trap) so all of the towels are put to good use.
Then, we get busy playing basketball. Before the game begins I walk into their room and I see Caleb STANDING on top of the dresser. (Just a picture: this is a 5 drawer dresser with no mirror.) Why? You may ask. Well, I asked the same question...I get the look, duh mom. Then an explanation that Caleb has to be able to hit the basketball goal. My next step, Caleb get off of the dresser. Of course, I thought he would climb down the same way he got up there. Oh no, not Caleb, daredevil jumped off the top of the dresser. I ran in the room and he's rubbing his head. Are you serious? Are you okay? Yeah Mom.
Then, it's time for a wrestling match. I'm telling you, I may be bruised for weeks after this. But, apparently it was a big hit, literally. To be on even ground I have to play on my knees and they get to run at me and try their hardest to tackle me. Yes, it was fun, they had a blast. Scared me to death when one would jump off the bed and try to tack me in the air and the other would run at me from the other side of the room.
John comes home and the boys are talking about their pants being wet. Naturally, John wants to know why.
Me: Thomas took a dip in the pond.
John: On the hardwood.
Me: Yes.
John: Do you think that was the best idea?
Me: Definitely, the floors needed mopping.
John: Oh. What did you mop them with?
Me: The towels on the floor.
I thought my logic was spot on. At least the floors got scrubbed today :)
Caleb and Annalee are going at it in the pool (these are the two 3 year olds and second borns-Betsy and I have a few theories on second borns :P) They are using the noodles as weapons. After Betsy and I about make our throats sore from, "Be kind to each other" We finally just let them go at it. The difference between boys and girls: Annalee did cry and Caleb screamed "SORRY!" in not the nicest of tones.
We are at our parents' house and the kids are in the living room playing. Ethan runs in the room, bends over, grabs his rear end, and begins making loud pooting noises to no one in particular. Seriously? Of course, Betsy and I bust out laughing and he is confused as to why we are laughing.
Now, to just a few things that happened at our house lately:
It is the sweetest thing ever to hear Ethan and Caleb pretend playing cars and Katie Beth and Annalee are in the other cars.
Linley had a dirty diaper so I tied it up in a Wal-Mart sack. Before heading to church to work on some stuff I actually caught myself saying, "BOYS!! DO NOT THROW THE DIRTY DIAPER AT EACH OTHER!!" Yes, the dirty diaper was thrown everywhere in our house, much to Linley's entertainment.
Yesterday, I looked out the window and my mouth dropped to the ground. John is playing with the boys in the pool. They are being launched like airplanes. Do I see screaming and crying? No, they are going as fast as they possibly can getting back to John saying, "higher, HIGHER!"
I'm giving the boys a bath. Then comes the discussion on male anatomy. What are these? Why are they round? What are they called? What are they for? Do you have them? Does sister? Oh I wish Dad were in here to hear this one!
Today, the boys decided that Thomas the Train needed to fall in a pond. Of course, I say sure. I mean why not, Thomas needs a bath now and then. My rule is that the water has to be on the hardwood. So, after a couple scares of water being dropped all over the floor, Thomas makes it in the pond. Then, Ethan decides that Caleb shouldn't put one of his train cars in the water, too late, so Ethan snatches it out. Caleb of course screams at him and then proceeds to dump the entire "Pond" in the floor. After an almost time out I decide that the "Punishment must fit the crime" (Yes, we love Parent Trap) so all of the towels are put to good use.
Then, we get busy playing basketball. Before the game begins I walk into their room and I see Caleb STANDING on top of the dresser. (Just a picture: this is a 5 drawer dresser with no mirror.) Why? You may ask. Well, I asked the same question...I get the look, duh mom. Then an explanation that Caleb has to be able to hit the basketball goal. My next step, Caleb get off of the dresser. Of course, I thought he would climb down the same way he got up there. Oh no, not Caleb, daredevil jumped off the top of the dresser. I ran in the room and he's rubbing his head. Are you serious? Are you okay? Yeah Mom.
Then, it's time for a wrestling match. I'm telling you, I may be bruised for weeks after this. But, apparently it was a big hit, literally. To be on even ground I have to play on my knees and they get to run at me and try their hardest to tackle me. Yes, it was fun, they had a blast. Scared me to death when one would jump off the bed and try to tack me in the air and the other would run at me from the other side of the room.
John comes home and the boys are talking about their pants being wet. Naturally, John wants to know why.
Me: Thomas took a dip in the pond.
John: On the hardwood.
Me: Yes.
John: Do you think that was the best idea?
Me: Definitely, the floors needed mopping.
John: Oh. What did you mop them with?
Me: The towels on the floor.
I thought my logic was spot on. At least the floors got scrubbed today :)
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
About time
Yes, so I am a couple days behind, but time has been busy this week. Here are the highlights from the past couple days.
Yesterday morning Linley is up at 5:30 for a bottle then John and I head outside to shuck corn. Yes, at 5:45 in the morning we are shucking corn. Our cows and goat were happy. Then, John thinks he hears one of the kids. I go check and sure enough, Caleb is sitting in the hallway at 6:15 crying. He wants warm milk. Early morning.
Later, I'm doing prayer time in the my room with Ethan snuggling on the bed. We hear the door open and close. Ethan: "I think Caleb just went outside." Yes, he has to have his morning bathroom break outside off the backporch. 20 seconds later here comes Caleb down the hall. "MOM!!" Then Caleb walks into my room in his pj's, kind of. He's got his shirt on but is missing something. His pajama shorts, he has fashioned them as a new hat on his head. Very trendy.
Trip to Radio Shack. Man, I'm proud of my boys, they're walking around the store just staring in amazement while the owner is busy with another customer and I'm waiting. It's my turn. Then, I hear a loud crash. Pride shot down along with two 32" flat screen tv's that Ethan accidently backed into. At least they were in boxes. My nerves now on edge so boys are forced to stand directly behind me during transaction. But wait, there are shelves right there that are just perfect for little boys to step on. More loud crashes. At this point the owner looks at them and says:"Those will throw them off." No kidding? Did he think I was whispering to my kids, "Boys, go jump up and down on those shelves!!" We can't get out of there fast enough. Now, a trip across the street to the post office, park, and now Wal-Mart. I forgot my Lysol. Ugh. So, load the trio up, Linley strapped to me in my knock-off Moby wrap, Caleb in the front of the buggee and then Ethan in the basket. We walk in and what do we always do first? Clean the buggee. So, I pass out wipes and the boys are responsible for scrubbing down their part of the buggee. Man, they scrubbed well. Then, trash those and out comes the handsanitizer. The boys want to eat chicken nuggets while we shop so we have to clean them right? Germaphobe? Yes. But, the three people sitting at the window at Subway in Wal-Mart were having a good laugh at this crazy Mom. So pumped, I didn't have to plank with LInley attached to me in the aisle at Wal-mart.
Back at home, the boys are at each others' throats and I've had enough. off to time-out they go. Door slammed. OH well, at least it's quiet on my end of the house. Then the house begins to shake. Mental note: boys need separate rooms for timeout. It's more of playtime without Mom in the room. The dresser was cleaned off, everything was in the floor. The basketball goal was turned over in the floor. At least the dresser wasn't emptied.
VBS every night this week at church.
Cut off all the corn while the kids had rest time and Linley napped.
At 9:30 I begin boxing all the corn-ended up with 61 quarts at 10:30 p.m. The house smelled good:)
This morning, the boys are going to play at Mammy's. They want to spend the night. BUt wait, you can't, we have VBS again. Then Caleb's fit begins. He no go to church!!!! Yes, you know you've been spending a lot of time at church when your kid doesn't want to go to VBS due to the fact that we have lived there the past week getting ready. Side note-he didn't stay in his class tonight, ended up with Dad and the big kids. Oh well. At least he made it.
Spent the majority of the night with Linley strapped to me. What a workout. At the end of the night I keep smelling something, Man, those kids are stinking. I get home, wait, that's not the kids. It was me. Busy night. VBS is a blast, I love it and I think my kids do too!! Just an overview of out week this week. Never a dull moment!
Yesterday morning Linley is up at 5:30 for a bottle then John and I head outside to shuck corn. Yes, at 5:45 in the morning we are shucking corn. Our cows and goat were happy. Then, John thinks he hears one of the kids. I go check and sure enough, Caleb is sitting in the hallway at 6:15 crying. He wants warm milk. Early morning.
Later, I'm doing prayer time in the my room with Ethan snuggling on the bed. We hear the door open and close. Ethan: "I think Caleb just went outside." Yes, he has to have his morning bathroom break outside off the backporch. 20 seconds later here comes Caleb down the hall. "MOM!!" Then Caleb walks into my room in his pj's, kind of. He's got his shirt on but is missing something. His pajama shorts, he has fashioned them as a new hat on his head. Very trendy.
Trip to Radio Shack. Man, I'm proud of my boys, they're walking around the store just staring in amazement while the owner is busy with another customer and I'm waiting. It's my turn. Then, I hear a loud crash. Pride shot down along with two 32" flat screen tv's that Ethan accidently backed into. At least they were in boxes. My nerves now on edge so boys are forced to stand directly behind me during transaction. But wait, there are shelves right there that are just perfect for little boys to step on. More loud crashes. At this point the owner looks at them and says:"Those will throw them off." No kidding? Did he think I was whispering to my kids, "Boys, go jump up and down on those shelves!!" We can't get out of there fast enough. Now, a trip across the street to the post office, park, and now Wal-Mart. I forgot my Lysol. Ugh. So, load the trio up, Linley strapped to me in my knock-off Moby wrap, Caleb in the front of the buggee and then Ethan in the basket. We walk in and what do we always do first? Clean the buggee. So, I pass out wipes and the boys are responsible for scrubbing down their part of the buggee. Man, they scrubbed well. Then, trash those and out comes the handsanitizer. The boys want to eat chicken nuggets while we shop so we have to clean them right? Germaphobe? Yes. But, the three people sitting at the window at Subway in Wal-Mart were having a good laugh at this crazy Mom. So pumped, I didn't have to plank with LInley attached to me in the aisle at Wal-mart.
Back at home, the boys are at each others' throats and I've had enough. off to time-out they go. Door slammed. OH well, at least it's quiet on my end of the house. Then the house begins to shake. Mental note: boys need separate rooms for timeout. It's more of playtime without Mom in the room. The dresser was cleaned off, everything was in the floor. The basketball goal was turned over in the floor. At least the dresser wasn't emptied.
VBS every night this week at church.
Cut off all the corn while the kids had rest time and Linley napped.
At 9:30 I begin boxing all the corn-ended up with 61 quarts at 10:30 p.m. The house smelled good:)
This morning, the boys are going to play at Mammy's. They want to spend the night. BUt wait, you can't, we have VBS again. Then Caleb's fit begins. He no go to church!!!! Yes, you know you've been spending a lot of time at church when your kid doesn't want to go to VBS due to the fact that we have lived there the past week getting ready. Side note-he didn't stay in his class tonight, ended up with Dad and the big kids. Oh well. At least he made it.
Spent the majority of the night with Linley strapped to me. What a workout. At the end of the night I keep smelling something, Man, those kids are stinking. I get home, wait, that's not the kids. It was me. Busy night. VBS is a blast, I love it and I think my kids do too!! Just an overview of out week this week. Never a dull moment!
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