The Healing Aroma of Coffee

Admission is so hard at times. Yet one thing is certain. As a mother of active children, I lean on my morning cup of joe for daily support. I take it even farther than  that. I admittedly fall under the label of coffee snob. EEK! I try to buy local flavors, grind it just so at home, and brew it on my fabulous espresso machine.

My children ensure me on a regular basis that I don't lose my attachment to caffeine. For example...

Tim embarked on a Men's Retreat with our church last night as soon as he left work for the week. I was home alone with my boys for 24 hours. I made sure I tucked myself in by 10:30 p.m. so that I'd be rested for a Saturday packed with activity. I tossed and turned but drifted off into dreamland. By midnight, I could feel an extra warm body worming into bed with me. I granted David his own pillow and turned over. He groaned and kicked and muttered, nothing new on his radar. Then at 2:00 am I scramble out of my rem cycle to David puking on my lovely bed. Well, I needed to change the sheets anyway I told myself. I dragged HIS easily cleanable mattress to the bathroom, stacked towels on it, set a large bowl on the floor, and tucked David in for the remainder of the night.

Now I am wide awake, but the night is hardly over.

I pray, nay, beg God for a quick descent into sleep again. No sooner had I fallen asleep and my room lit up from outside the window and my tidy home shook on its foundation. Those forecast-ed thunderstorms finally showed up at 4:00 a.m. Samuel comes scrambling into bed with our cat and dog close behind. Within minutes I am surrounded by warm bodies.. furry and not. Dakota, a Husky mix, is now taking up more space than Tim does. Anya is hogging my pillow. My son is gripping my arm and snuggling close and I am praying the baby keeps on sleeping and thankful he hasn't learned the art of escape yet.

Needless to say, the aroma of my french vanilla latte this morning was a balm to my soul and helped chase away the cobwebs and foggy children dancing with energy and begging for sustenance this Saturday morning.

Epic Fail and Pictures

Just a quick sweep of the past 4 months since I have been silent on here! Hopefully I can carve out some time to get back to writing this year! :)

 Daniel turned one in August! Everyone enjoyed blue coconut cake including the birthday boy!

 This busy little one has a knack for emptying cabinets, sneaking outside and "gathering" leaves, helping me mow, and falling asleep during dinner.

David turned 3 in November! I used a little less food coloring this time so as not to dye every-ones mouth a bright shade of the rainbow and David LOVED his tractor cake.

 Christmas was wonderful! 

Daniel is One!

Happy Birthday to my cuddly spastic climbing little one!

Orange Beach

Our neighbors may live in North Alabama, but I've always suspected their hearts and health still yearn for sea air and coastal living. This year they followed their hearts and purchased a cozy vacation home just a stone's throw from the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico. Since it's not inhabited year round (yet), Tim volunteered to mow the grass while they were away. I just knew he'd be lonely (and hungry) so far from home and working so hard so I volunteered to go with him. Well we couldn't leave the kids to fend for themselves so we decided they needed to come along too. We're quite responsible like that! One excellent quality about vacationing at the beach is.... it's FREE! No charge to get covered in grit sand and green mush seaweed from head to toe 

and in the hair 

and between the toes

and in every nook and cranny.

To top things off we found a family willing to spend a whole week in our awesome presence. So 2 van loads with 4 adults and 7 children spent a week terrorizing soaking up the gulf coast. Here's a picture BLITZ of our wonderful vacation to the coast.

super excited for beach excursions

 family 

 enjoying the boats coming in the harbor while getting our seafood fix

 my honey BOO and me

 need I explain??!

the close up...

its not all sand and waves 

 delight

you never outgrow swinging

sand and diapers leave a messy bum that's why we have stock in oatmeal!

ready for the beach

never ending sand box 

 brave enough to go in the ocean alone!

only brave when daddy is holding me!

shirts are optional even off the sandy shores!

 more sand sand sand...

attempting to avoid sand for a few minutes 

how does it taste?

more sand...

 the ocean swimmer

 heavy equipment at work here

 ready to go crash!

 that's us!

 buh-bye folks!

Just around the corner...

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Buh-Bye

11 Months

One year is sneaking up quick, but thankfully still 29 days away. This time last year I was sweating out the last few weeks of just the 4 of us. I was eagerly awaiting a bundle of pink and had a closet full of pinks, purples, laces, frills, and bloomers washed and hung. Beautiful bedding was ordered and grand schemes danced in my head of what the girly corner of the kids room would unfold to be. Yes, God was chuckling at me. Though I was not given the baby girl I had dreamed about, I  WAS blessed with another wonderful little man to cherish. 

Daniel is busy these days.

I am...

Pulling up on furniture and cruising around without letting go.

Eating table food and baby food

Feeding myself... and the dog... and the floor

Putting EVERYTHING in my mouth

Drooling gallons upon gallons

Sporting 2 front bottom teeth

Drinking whole milk from a bottle but still nursing.

Spastic about bath time. Especially if I bathe with my brothers. I soak them relentlessly. 

My hair is curly on the ends, just like Daddy.

Love to lay on Dakota and swat the cat. They tolerate me.

Not much for snuggling. I'd rather be exploring the kitchen cabinets.

Pretty good escape artist... NOT FUN for mommy.

Can wave and say "bye-bye"

Learning sign language for "all done" and "more"

FINALLY sleeping through the night.

I am 11 months old.

Doctor Ordered Remedies

Poor Daniel. Third in line and sometimes my mommy brains flat line! This past weekend was a whir of activity and Daniel was eating his meals out of squeezable baby food packs. I've tried several varieties and settled on one brand that he seems to enjoy and I like the combination of fruits and veggies.

One such pouch contained pears, beets, and strawberries. Not thinking of his age, I fed it to him thinking how yummy it sounded. I was a bit premature with the strawberries, and I noticed Monday that his bottom was quickly showing an aversion. Nothing I used seemed to ease his obvious discomfort. By Tuesday, I was scrambling for home remedies and finally decided to call the doctor.

I love our doctor. He doesn't jump on the medication wagon unless necessary. I described the problem and how I had been treating his heated and painful rash. I swear he chuckled before responding that Daniel's chubby cheeks needed some sunshine. Dry air and sunlight were in order.

This morning I lugged out a large quilt, several special toys, and a diaperless Daniel to the side yard. He of course loved the freedom and could care less about staying on the quilt with mommy. He roamed and explored and gave his family a good laugh, all while airing out those chubby cheeks.

P.S. I know it looks like autumn in the pictures, but our shade tree thinks it should shed its leaves in July. Happens every year...

Purrrfectly Fuddled

Before there were children, before there was Dakota, before there was even a husband, I was wooed by a white purring fuss ball. Anya the cat was my souvenir on a field trip back in the day of preschool teaching and singleness. My handsome Artist and I were already dating and unbeknownst to me, he almost broke up with me over my snugly fur ball. However he wisely perceived I was worth more than a surprise pet and continued to pursue me.

Now fast forward several years of marriage, a move to the countryside, 3 pregnancies, and incidentally 3 kids! This small purring setback became a part of the family and ultimately a responsibility for my Artist too. Stuck shoveling cat litter during my pregnancies and unwanted midnight cuddles taking up his precious pillow space and I think he started seeing red. I begrudgingly agreed. Change was in order. So the pampered indoor cat became an outdoor transplant.

Occasionally she still comes in to eat and to escape grubby little boys whose definition of love closely resembles torture. She can squeeze into a good hiding place and doesn't always get kicked back outside in a timely fashion. The other night was just one of these times.

 under the crib

 I remember waking up to a loud purring machine snuggled up close to my head. I moved the soft lump of fur to the floor and drifted back to sleep. Persistent and determined, Anya returned several more times before I finally gave up and fell asleep with her on the bed. Undetermined amount of time passes and again I am awakened to her pushing in on my side. I am too foggy to get up and put her outside, but irritated to no end that she is disturbing my precious sleep. Without much more thought to it, I give the fur ball a good shove off the bed to show her whose boss.

"Mooooommmmmmmmmmmmy" was the furry reply. I sat up confused and grabbed the now sobbing Samuel sitting on the floor. Oops!!

4 years old

I'm 4 years old.

I LOVE all things construction and farming.

I can name any piece of heavy equipment. Just test me! :)

I am very quizzical. I ask hundreds of questions. My favorite question is "what kind is that?"

I love order and schedules. I want to know all the events of the day ahead of time, especially when we go places.

I love to swim. I am old enough to start taking lessons this summer and am very eager.

I am beginning to take on responsibilities and chores, such as clearing the supper table, putting away my own laundry, bathing myself, and "making" my bed up. 

I take big brother role very seriously and love to boss around and love on my younger brothers.

I am learning that my actions are watched and duplicated by my brothers.

I understand that there are consequences for wrongdoing and blessings for a sweet and giving spirit.

I am still a bit shy, but am slowing doing better.

I still love fruits and veggies over pizza, but I won't turn down a piece of chocolate!!

I am 4 years old.

Taste Testing

My sweet baby is growing and changing in leaps and bonds. Just recently I've noticed that simple pureed food does not satisfy this baby with chunky legs ripe for tickling. I've begun to dole out cheerios, grapes, watermelon and other hands on food for my nibbler to taste. Most recently we finished up dinner one night and Daniel kept eyeballing his brother's leftover spaghetti. Hummmm, I thought. Is it worth a messy cleanup?!

Of course it was! And as the smile shows he has a happy full belly!

Daniel is  also EVERYWHERE. ALL THE TIME. He has crawling down to a T. Thankfully he adores his brothers enough to tag along behind them instead of wandering off. He is also true to baby form in that everything must pass through his hands into his mouth for testing. Thus far, grass and dog food have been the worst of it.

     I don't know about other mommas who have it ALL TOGETHER, but THIS momma doesn't sweat over nightly baths. We shoot for 3 baths a week and I am okay if Saturday night is all we get in. That doesn't mean we skip out on teeth, face and hands. BUT the rest we just wipe down or cover up! ;)
     For one reason or another we missed that crucial Saturday night scrub down this past weekend. I was bound and determined this morning, that the summer routine was going to halt long enough for a sudsy soak that left the fingers and toes in true prune form. How else do little boys comply with removing set in dirt in all the crevices and cracks?! Somehow I didn't get the bath started until Daniel had been put down for his morning snooze.
     I don't think the older two minded having more space to play, because normally all three go in the tub at once. So the boys bathed, dressed, and promptly went outside to undo my scouring. I finally got the baby up and ran a fresh bath for him. I didn't catch the fact that the boys had stacked the remaining pieces of their soap in the lower corner of the tub.
     As soon as splashing ceased and momma was soaked, than the exploring began. I promise I only turned for a SECOND, just long enough to grab a towel and a fresh diaper. All I see when I turn back is a baby smacking his lips. I knew instantly that something had been ingested, so I did the tried and true finger sweep, but came back EMPTY. So I shook it off as nothing and pulled my slippery chub of laughter out of the draining tub and began to dry him. However my mothering instinct knew I couldn't let the smacking lips go. One good sniff of his mouth and I was assaulted with sweet lavendar. Yep, this cutie pie swallowed some soap and didn't shed a tear!

No telling what else my curious Daniel will be taste testing in the near future!

Help Wanted

So this weekend my van was DEFACED. It looked like someone had major vengeance with me parking in a shady spot. There was an unending squiggly line all the way around the van. Perfect height for a few boys I know who bunk up at my house.

With this knowledge and the freshly opened sidewalk chalk scattered in the driveway, it was easy to pinpoint the culprits.

Here is where I ran into a problem. Though it's easy to tell a child, "no, no." It is not as effective as a punishment that fits the crime. How do I impress upon the long term memory bank? Telling them to wash the car ISN'T punishment. It's sudsy wet fun on a hot summer day. Nope. That is not the solution.

Come on mommas(and dads too)!!! Throw out some helpful tips for creative EFFECTIVE punishment.

Power of Peesuasion

No the title was not misspelled, but simply a pun on words. I have been diligently, if not begrudgingly, working on eliminating more diaper purchases in our home. David has shown multiple signs of progress, yet for a while I chose to ignore them. I failed so many times when I became over eager with Samuel that even the THOUGHT of forging ahead before the age of 3 was not an option. (David will not be 3 until November).

 Yet I finally could not deny the fact that David was ready for the initiation into little boyhood. The hot months are decidedly easier to tackle saggy pants running around the yard anyways.

So with a little bag of Reese's Pieces and the knowledge that the laundry pile would increase by leaps and bounds, we tackled potty training. I haven't found my groove or formula to use that expels a perfectly trained child within a week, but there is one tried and true measure I lean heavily on. TREATS.

Treats and sacrifice are my rules of thumbs. Reward when the child stays dry and toss the underwear when its to gross to clean out. Get the picture?!?! We don't punish a child for leaving a puddle on the floor because his aim was off or we didn't make it the bathroom in time to help him. We bite our tongue AND pinch our nose when #2 doesn't happen in the toilet. We just try again, and again, and again.

Eventually we stay dry longer, but the true test is venturing from home in Thomas the tank engine clad undies, running errands with mommy, and returning home still dry. THEN and only then do we take a proud picture atop the toilet!!

Dat's a good idea

David is always surprising me. 

And not necessarily in a good way. 

He is keen on finding the muddiest water hole to splash through and you can always check his face for remnants of his last meal. I've begun to arm myself with a good stain remover for his clothes alone. They have more children to adorn and miles to travel. Yet through the mess and muck is a young boy with lots of love to lavish on his family. Each morning he asks for cheese on his yogurt. Sounds a bit gross right?! Let me elaborate! He is actually asking for crunchy wheat germ that I sprinkle in for my blonde boy to stir up, though he definitely throws off the unsuspecting breakfast helper if you do not know what he is referring too.

 (the usual look...dirt and food sprinkled across his sun soaked face.)

David has finally begun to spit out full concise sentences. Throw in exaggerated hand gestures with whatever he is attempting to convey and you have to suppress many a giggle or untimely smile. As per many middle children, he doesn't always relish the privilege to play alone, eat alone, sleep alone, BE alone. As he develops his own personality, one phrase he has coined and I imagine has been pressed into his memory by none other than his mother is the phrase "Dat's a good idea." Whether its the announcement of an impending meal or a trip to town or his favorite cartoon, it's always a "good idea."

Animated, brimming with curiosity, and often coated in God's great creation, his stained clothes and mystery filled pockets always keeps us smiling and wondering what's next.