Body Builder Bubba

James was having quiet time downstairs as I was blogging previous post. He came upstairs to inform me that he lifted the shopping cart up over his head because he is "soooo strong." He then proceeded to show me his muscles whilst sporting his new summer hair cut.

Pick a little, talk a little, pick pick pick, talk a lot, pick a little more...

I was trimming all the kids nails today. I just hate long fingernails on kids. It's disgusting- especially in the Spring and Summer when every speck of dirt they come in contact with seems to magnetize there.
Anyway, Teagan has the wonderful habit of biting her nails. (This too, is something she inherited from her Aunt who shall remain un-named, so we'll just call her, oh....Sarah.) So, I only have the occasional toe clipping for her.
James was up and long over-due for some nail hacking. I popped him up on the counter and cut his fingernails first and then proceeded to his toes. I got to the second foot and he warns me not to cut this one snarly, jagged and asking to be hacked toe nail because he "really wants to pick it off!" He was adamant and sure that he needed to do this. So I told him to go ahead and just be careful not to pull it too close and I'll check to see if we need to cut it after. So he proceeded with caution and intent and upon picked completion felt such satisfaction and thanks. "Oh yeah, that was a good one Mom."

I told him that one day he'd feel that same satisfaction and peace after popping a huge zit or something when he's a teenager.

Anatomy and Phys 101- Teagan Style.

We had a couple cold, wet and rainy days this week, so of course outside time wasn't an option. Plan B: The kids love it when I blow up balloons and we play different games with them and we just go all out nuts! I particularly love to throw the balloons at them and they have to hit it with whatever body part I shout out.

Anyway, this time, one of my "nut-case" children...namely Teagan...turned to me with her balloon in front of her and said: "Look Mom, the balloon looks like my eweterus."

I, of course couldn't contain myself and laughed my uterus off!

"You mean your you-terus?" I replied.

Tea, looking at me as though I'm an ignorant idiot, "Yeah, like my womb... you know!"

Then the thought struck her! She proceeded to relay it to me at a bewildering rate AND all in one breath: "OH, MOMMY....I KNOW!!!!! We could put a little baby balloon inside of it and blow it up and then you could pop this one and it would be like when you pushed Ireson out! Doesn't that sound like a good idea, Mommy?"

I thought to myself amongst my musing: "Yeah...'cause it was that easy."

Only a nurses child! What have I done?

Butt pack

Ireson is having his first sleep over at Aunt Sarah's house this weekend. I asked James if I could use his Thomas the Train Back Pack to pack Ireson's clothes. He gladly obliged as he is excited for his baby brother's big event too!

I gave all the kids a bath and Ireson got out and I wrapped him all snuggly in his big cozy, warm towel. As soon as he saw the "Bek pack" he threw his towel to the side as though he were about to take flight and immediately proceeded to put the back pack on. Then, he must have decided that it was too heavy for take off so he took it off unpacked everything except his precious "B" and then put it back on and started marching around chanting "Bek Pek to Sarah's house...Bek Pek to Sarah's house!"

Now who doesn't envy being able to run around naked and chanting?!

Birthday Boy!

Every Thursday we have gym and swim. This morning before we went to gym we went to the grocery store. I needed to pick up some birthday necessities like candles and balloons. The kids were great as they usually are when we go shopping. We got back in the car and James asked if I was "proud of them for being so responsible and obedient." Absolutely!

I'm a strong believer in shopping with your kids so they can learn how to be well behaved, responsible, know where to shop for the nutritious food, price compare, coupon search, and practice proper life skills. How are they ever going to learn all this if you shove them in the baby sitter's room?! I must say that I also thoroughly enjoy them standing outside the windows of the babysitting room and watch all the kids inside there as though they were animals at the zoo. It cracks me up!

Today, James informed his gym teacher that it was his birthday and all the 30+ other kids cheered him on all day and he got "special" treatment. He scored a goal while they were playing hockey too! He was so proud of himself.

Teagan informed ME that I am "such a great mommy for pushing that great brother of mine out of your belly 6 years ago this very day!" She gave James first pick and let him go first and what not all day.

James asked me yesterday if he could have whatever he wanted for his b'day dinner as long as it was nutritious. He requested "baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and cucumbers" for his birthday dinner. "Oh and a piece of candy for dessert, MOM!...because a little sugar is okay."

Happy Birthday my Sweet Baby James!

Sick-erson

Ireson had RSV when he was 8 days old. Consequently, he is more prone to wheezing if he gets sick and potentially developing asthma as he gets older. Well, the poor boy didn't so much as have more than a measly cold this entire winter. Then his Dad got sick and come mid April he developed a horrendous chest cold and Ireson thought he would enjoy the mucusy fun and get it too!

Come Monday morning he was weak, had a fever, and was wheezing a lot- something he has only done when he had croup a year ago. Luckily, I have a nebulizer from when he had RSV and I whipped it out. I decided to take him to the Dr and get some meds since he obviously couldn't get rid of this thing on his own at this point and just as I thought- it had progressed to a sinus infection. Within 24 hours he was feeling much better. We actually got more than 15 minutes of sleep at a time that night!

He threw an all out fit (very unlike him) the first time I tried to give him a breathing treatment. About the 4th run through though, and a lot of my Pediatric Nurse "distractics", now he will even hold it and turn the nebulizer ("tractor") on himself! He thinks it makes a cool tractor sound. James and Teagan help out a lot by making it a game and playing things with him like dominoes.

So things are finally on the mend. Now- it's time to prepare for the big brother's 6th birthday! I'll keep you posted.

He Is Risen Indeed!

On Saturday we celebrated Christian Passover with Laura & Brian Ross and all the kids. As in the past 10+ years they have done it - it was complete with re-enactments; painted back drops; a tub full of feader fish (the Sea of Galilee); unleavend bread, figs and dates; a ton of decked out refrigerator boxes (Egypt)- on which we colored the doors with red crayons; the upper room; the garden of Gethsamane; the tomb and angel (thanks Kaitlin!), and the new live additions this year including a rooster and real lambs (one blemished, one perfect). Don't worry, we didn't eat that one for dinner.

The kids all experienced Passover (dinnerand all) as real as possible as though they were living then. Big James even got to be a soldier and get his ear cut off! I particularly enjoyed seeing Teagan and the other 4 year olds get chained up as a demonstration of how we are slaves to sin. As always, it proves to be an impressive, memorable, solemn, and most spiritual reminder of the meaning of Easter time. I was very proud of James and Teagan when they chimed in with the right answers throughout the event!

James, Teagan and Ireson spent half the visit collecting the 40 some chicken's eggs (that's the extent of what we do with eggs in my house for Easter!), and helping groom the 3 miniature horses; exercising them by running them on a lead and even riding! James got to canter on Misty! Teagan did too but I was especially proud of my introverted and reserved son having the guts to get on her and let her run! At first it looked like he was peeing his pants but then he realized how much fun it was and he was overtaken with pride and excitement. It was so cool! Abigail let him run the baby Stardust on the lead until we left. OF COURSE- I forgot my camera. Argh!

Ireson, in the mean time was getting sicker by the minute with a horrible chest cold that he contracted from his Dad. See next blog entry for those details.

Then on Sunday, we (James, Tea and I) went to Aunt Cindy's to have an Easter dinner. Devone planned an Easter egg hunt for the kids and then they hid them from the adults. I'm not sure which part they enjoyed more! Cousin Rach was there with her leg cast which she was going to have taken off on Monday. She let the kids decorate it with markers and then Teagan had the great idea of using nail polish to make it even more extravagant after she had finished painting Aunt Sue's nails. Oh the fun we had and Oh the cottonballs that they would be needing later!

We are so blessed with such a wonderful spiritual family. Thank you Lord Jesus!

Budha

Teagan was playing in the water with Ireson as he was taking a bath. She took her shirt off so it wouldn't get soaked. All of a sudden she came running in to my bathroom with her pot belly busting out and pants around her ankles and jumped up onto my toilet. She proceeds to tell me, "Mom, can you please go out so I can go poop and leave me alone because I'm meditating."

Well, I'm so sorry to have messed up the Karma of the whole situation. It's not like I EVER get peace and quiet when I want the bathroom to myself! Sheesh.

On a walk about to Columbus...

This past weekend Sarah, Ragan Cline, and the kids and I went down to Columbus to visit my cousin Tracy Pettinger and her family for Lil' James' birthday...that and it was a great excuse to go visit my family! Kyle and Ryan are James' favorite people and getting to spend a weekend with them and spending the night at their house was the ultimate birthday celebration. To him, going there is likened to most kids getting to go to Disney World.

Ireson was coming down with a his Dad's nasty cold and so he was extra snugly and cuddly in bed with Sarah and I Friday night. He and Sarah shared painting each other's face with his "B" and he likewise showed his love and affection to me by whacking me in the head all night, having to sleep on me and staying awake from 1:30-3:00am coughing and stuffy headed! Teagan did her usual annoying moaning thing around 5am and James' said he slept marvelously up in Kyle and Ryan's room.

James had his first experience with video games, namely the Wii, the following morning. He picked up on it quickly and was great at baseball, bowling, race car driving, and tennis. It was a good reminder to me that we will never have one in our own home:)

Teagan enjoyed all the girl toys of cousin Kayla's and having Reggie and Kay at her beckon call. She became all too bossy with them in all the excitement of temporary sisters for the weekend!

Going to the Columbus Zoo was the main agenda item for our Saturday. We heard news of a new born baby elephant that was only 9 days old! We got there around 10 something and stood in the 49 degree, sunny, yet windy cold for almost an hour waiting to see the baby! However, the kids had a blast playing and watching the other elephants. Cleveland Zoo's elephants were there living until we get our Pachyderm building completed. I felt some reassurance that they were doing well and said "hi" from all of us Clevelander's. The rhinos were entertaining, as well as the various other animals and their handlers stationed at different intervals to make the wait seem not so tedious! Finally, we got to see the little un-named gem. It was well worth the wait. He was so precious and just an awesome testament of God's wondrous creation!

The Pettinger kids were like our own personal tour guides- having gone there so many times. Everything is so close together and they have an awesome variety of animals who breed like no other zoo! It's as though all the animals knew we were coming and were on their best and most entertaining behavior and offered us the best seats in the house!

The apes were hilarious, the manatees were mesmerizing, the tiger was roaming and ravenous right next to the glass, there was a scuba diver down in the massive aquarium tank feeding the fish -right in front of us, giant vampire bats, Cammodo dragon breath, and finally the weather cooperated and it turned out to be a perfect day! The kids rode a carousel, pet an owl and armadillo and had a most wonderful time- as did the adults! It seemed there were Kodak moments at every turn!

Back at the home front that evening- us ladies had Guacamole, Margaritas AND Pina Colada's followed by a superb dinner. The perfect end to a perfect day!

Sunday we had a lovely home Church with another family and then we headed home. Come Sunday afternoon, having had no naps and little sleep at night, the kids were spent and I was done with them. They slept most of the way home and went to bed early.....and yet I woke up today wishing we were still there.

Come Lord Jesus quickly come!

Dinner time prayer by Teagan: "Dear God, thank you for this food and help me not to take forever to eat it. And please help Ireson to keep feeling better and for Mommy to get un-sick and to feel better...or maybe could you just send Jesus down to touch her just a little and make her all better so she won't be cranky and so tired...and Jesus name - Amen."

I feel better already and I'm choosing not to be so cranky. Thank you Teagan. I love you daughter! And Jesus- if you could come down anyway- that would be great!

"Vengence is mine," sayeth the 4 year old?

Sarah was over on Monday and I was about to leave to go workout. Sarah, likewise, was headed out the door to go home. Teagan and James decided that they wanted to whine about me leaving and ambushed Sarah and I at the door...about to go out...so close...yet so far....

James kept asking (i.e. whining), "But, WHY do you have to go tonight?! Can't you just go tomorrow?" Whimper, Whimper.

Teagan, chimed in (i.e. higher pitched whining), "Yeah can't you just go tomorrow....I don't want you to go." Snarff, snarff.

Sarah, being the older and wiser sister, thought she should nip this in the bud and tell them very matter-of-factly why I had to go tonight.
"Your Mom has to go tonight. Otherwise, her butt will get big (pause) -er."

I of course just looked at her, busted out a laugh and assumed a retrieval high-five position at my own burned expense.

But- hold the press! Before said high-five could even be delivered, Teagan (the apparent wiser, younger, little sister) said: "Yeah- like you!"

HA! Take that Sister Sarah! I felt such sweet victorious revenge...and it wasn't even of my own accord.

I'm glad Teagan has my back...or butt rather:)

James Jaguar

Whenever there is a scheduled Elders/Deacon's or board meeting at church for James to attend, I try to schedule going over to Sarah's or Lydia's that day/evening. After running around we'll go to Sarah's to take naps and then eagerly await her arrival home after work that evening.

This past Tuesday we had a day of absolute blessed and beauteous weather. James went outside, sat on her stoop, and patiently waited for Sarah's car to pull in to her parking lot.

He sat there for a good 10 minutes or so before coming in and asking me if he could climb that "great climbing tree right outside her door and if I would give him a boost." It was indeed a GREAT climbing tree for a boy. Every kid should climb a tree in their childhood if not have some great ones in their yard at least!

Anyway, I said "sure!" So he commences up the tree and perches himself in an animail-ic sort of style whilst looking at me with these intent and glaring eyes. I had a feeling of what was coming....He let out his quite impressive jaguar snarl/growl. At that moment, it just so happened that Sarah's neighbor was walking to his door. James looked right at him, as though stalking his prey, and let out the same snarl and then proceeds to warn the poor middle-aged man that "I'm going to eat you!"

"What kind of bird are you supposed to be?! " the man asked.

"I'm a jaguar not a bird. (Insert another growl here) -that's what jaguars do," replies my head-case child.

"Oh! I thought you might be an opossum or something," said apparently confused neighbor.

Trying to assure the man that this was typical 6 year old boy behavior, I said: "If he were an opossum, he'd end up my road-kill at the end of the day!"

Well, laughs were had by all and James remained pouncing and perching around in that tree for a good 45 minutes explaining all the different things that a jaguar could do in that tree including: "drag (me) up the tree and eat (me) because he has fully retractable claws."

It's a good thing he chose fajitas for dinner.

Halloweeners

I was a painting fiend all this past week. I did Teagan's room in two days and then my room another two days with some assistance from my painting guru cousin the last day.

In the meantime, the kids were great at entertaining themselves, getting along, taking care of their baby brother, and being all around good little siblings.

On the 3rd day, I heard an awful lot of laughter coming from Teagan's room so I went to investigate. Upon entering I see James all decked out in Teagan's hair paraphernalia like a lion with a headdress and Teagan likewise donned herself like an African princess.

Oh the gaudiness! Oh the somewhat disturbing-ness seeing your son so enjoy the girlish festivities!

I asked them what they were doing and they told me that, "they were dressed up like all those Halloweeners."

"Halloweeners?"- I asked?

"Yeah, ya know...all those kids who are too old to get candy who dress up and look funny on Halloween. They're Halloweeners."

I had comfort in knowing that my kids have never heard the word they didn't intend -"wiener" and have no idea what it could mean. And yet, I thoroughly enjoy that title and description of "all those [dumb and selfish] kids who are too old to get candy [because their parents are morons and let their kids go out T and T-ing] who dress up and look funny [and often very inappropriate] on Halloween."

I too say- "they're Hallow-wieners!!"

Ingenious!

The other day, Ireson was eating a snack (one of his favorite pastimes). He stuck a grape on the end of his pretzel stick and proudly stated, "HA! Look Mom, Sucker!" - I wonder if I could market that?!

Dr. Ross

We took Lexi to a grooming appointment which requires a 35 minute or so car ride to get there. Lexi came to us with a severe car phobia of which it has taken almost 8 years now to break! She does much better now and jumps into the car on command and barely even drools anymore. She happily assumes her seat in the back next to James.

About half way to our destination I asked James how Lexi was doing.
He said: "She's okay. She's only drooling a teeny bit and she's not even shaking. I think she's pretty stable."

I'm glad I didn't have to get there Stat!

Rain Man

I asked Teagan if she wanted to take a "B" (blanket) to Sarah's to take a nap. She said "no, she has a blanket there for me to use if I need to." I asked her if she knows where it is and she replied, "Definitely, definitely not. You may have to call her because I definitely don't know where it is."

Man oh Man!

James was down working in the basement today and I gave Lil' James the option to go down there and work with him instead of resting. He heartily replied: "Hmm....(big sigh) Okay- but I might get immersed in doing manly stuff."

I'm glad he warned me!

The Cool Cat in the Hat

Ireson loves to wear hats. Unlike typical kids that will pull them off after a few minutes, he'd wear his all day long and even sleep in it (which he's tried!) The other day he grabbed his hat while sitting on the counter and put it on and said, "COOL!" Then he proceeded to turn it around backwards on his big ol', not to mention same circumference of his brother's head, and said, "Heh, Heh,- Me more cool!"

Only a Lansing would be proud!

Teagan and Ireson were sleeping so I had my "special time" with James since he only needs a nap about 1-2 times a week now. During this time I like to do our 1 on 1 school time. Most of the time it's reading and phonics and is reading has blossomed since it's quiet and he can concentrate without his 2 younger siblings clucking in the background. Today we decided to just play games. Crazy Eights was the game of choice today...a game that we played many a time with my dad when we were all little. This particular deck however, is decked out (no pun intended) with animals. So about the 3rd or 4th game I told James to go ahead and deal the cards while I went and started dinner. I got the meat browning and he called me over when he was done. About a third of the way through the game I realized that the kid had 3 eights (wild in this game) in his hand and he didn't need to draw a card yet! I on the other hand had to keep drawing to find the card tho match what he kept changing it to with all of the eights he had! Finally, he goes out on an eight!

I sarcastically said, "MAN - You didn't shuffle very well! How did you end up with three eights?! Sheesh!"

He just looked at me with this "stop feeling sorry for yourself/matter of fact" look on his face and said: "What?! I gave you one."

Allow yourself to imagine my face in total shock and awe at this point! Uh huh- that little stinker totally stacked the deck.
"You little cheater. James! I can't believe you did that!" He's just laughing and turning red and giggling at his clever little self.

Honestly though, I couldn't help but grin and chuckle to myself and be a little proud thinking about he was following his natural genetic predisposition of becoming a Lansing cheater.

Sucked Dry!

Ireson still nurses about 2-3 time a day: morning, nap, and night. He only goes for about 30 seconds or so on each side. Then he pulls off and looks at me and says, "All gone, Suck dry." I said that to him months and months ago as he looked at me with question and concern and says "all gone?" I simply had to tell him that he drank it all...it's sucked dry! Now it's his affirmation that he's done and all is well.
He loves to be all sweet, loving and fatherly and role play with baby dolls and nurse them, etc. Yesterday he was nursing his baby and patting her back. He pretended to pull her off and said, while shaking his head and giggling, "doh, doh, doh, baby...all gone. Sucked dry."

Packed and Dry

Teagan has this thing where she LOVES to put her baby dolls and stuffed animals in Rubbermaid bins. She packs them in there nice and tight and then snaps the lid on...nice and tight. It just seems wrong on so many levels doesn't it?! I can't help but laugh whenever I see a new stuffed and shoved toy! I asked her what the deal is with doing that - to which she replied: "Oh, it's so they won't get scared and they feel safe."

And yet I can't help but think that her poor little lamb is scared to death of suffocating and feels anything but safe!

To make matters even more interesting. I found one of Teagan's dolls all tied up on her dresser with her jump rope. She told me that she got her wet and that she was "hanging her out to dry." I shudder to think she gets her parenting tactics from me:)

Einstein?

I was helping James build a fort/garage with his Lincoln Logs. We were having a heck of a time trying to figure out the best way to maintain stability for the structure on the carpet. Amidst the assembling and encouraging of each other, James asked me if I knew how to build houses like Daddy does. I told him no but I can still be pretty handy around the house when I need to be. Then I suggested we use a certain piece to brace this other piece, and so on and so forth. James boisterously burst out "Mom, you are a genius!"

Golly- he'd never called me that before! I felt very honored and so smart. Why did a compliment of this caliber, coming from an almost 6 year old, make my day? Well, I don't know- but it did!

Then he concluded: "Even though you can't engineer stuff like Daddy, you're still pretty good at this building stuff...but you're NOT as smart as Daddy is though!"

Huh...pride, warm and fuzzy feelings gone. Sigh. I just convinced myself that he was talking about me not being as smart at building stuff rather than everything in general because...well....come now! I had to retain some semblance of dignity at this point!

It's sad to think that the day is soon coming when my son will realize that I don't know EVERYTHING! I remember thinking my parent's knew EVERYTHING when I was younger. Yet, thank goodness that I don't remember the point when I realized that they didn't know everything...because...well...come now! - that would have been as shocking as me admitting that James is smarter than me at EVERYTHING!

Oh Bother Brother!

Teagan has been saying "Oh, bother" as her personal expletive for a few weeks now. It's so cute how she gets all Pooh-ish when something goes wrong. James was playing with her the other day and accidentally broke whatever she was building with her Krinkle blocks and glumly sighs: "Oh Bother Brother Bear. Just look at what happened. Now you must help me re-assemble it!"

Teagan gets to go to her cousins Sadie and Josie's house on Wednesday for a Princess sleepover party- complete with dress up clothes, finger sandwiches, and frills! The excitement has been brewing for weeks and it has finally arrived! She keeps reminding her brother, much to his dismay, that "the party is only for girls. No boys allowed because their stinky and they don't like princess stuff! Only Uncle Jesse is allowed to be there because he lives there." I asked her what she was going to do if Uncle Jesse started to get all ornery. "Well, he better watch it because we'll just have to kick him out," she said with such seriousness that I wouldn't dare mess with her! Then shaking her head in disgust, she concludes, "And if he is all stinky then he will have to sleep upstairs because I am not going to sleep near him, and Aunt Von Von (Devone) can just (insert long sigh) well- sleep with me I guess."
And there you have it.

3 roses for 3 kids. So what does 6 roses mean? Ahhhhh!

So James got home yesterday and was working on the van trying to get the battery charged, with little luck for the first half hour. I was getting nervous that we would have to fold the entire evening's plans. Lil' James is telling me that I'm not allowed to go out there in the garage because I'm not allowed to "see." Finally, James got the van going and he came in to get ready whilst trying to level the temper fumes brewing in his brain. Meanwhile, we're running almost a 1/2 hour late!
All of a sudden I see Ireson toddling over to me yelling "fowers, fowers, fowers!" He handed me 3 roses. I forgot that I had those coming!
Let me explain...Ever since we started having kids, James gets me a rose for each kid for Valentine's Day. I hadn't gotten flowers from him since we were dating and it was almost 6 years into our marriage before we had our first child. So, getting flowers (even one) can be a big deal if I choose to let it! So when we had Lil' James I got one rose, the next year we had Teagan and I got two roses, and so on. Finally, I'm up to three roses now! Well, the first year when we had Lil' James, my husband so elegantly explained to me that if I ever want to get a dozen roses again then "you know what you have to do."- But not in those exact words..funnier, somewhat cruder...but not appropriate to post:)

I have to re-explain this concept to the kids every year. This year, Teagan figures since there is one "for each of my kids" then she should get to have one for herself. "Back off Chucky," was my only response. Hey- I got flowers and I'm gonna save them and dry them like the rest! I at least let her smell them.

So the next day, Valentine's day morning, we went down stairs and there were 3 more roses on the counter! Wait a minute!!! What does this mean?! Have the rules changed?! Is there something I don't know about?! Even if I included the dog as my 4th kid I'd only be up to 4 roses!
Teagan immediately assumes "it's a miracle. God brought them down here- so now I can have one!" Luckily, I was able to appease her with heart balloons from last night's dinner. James, the logical one, says that "someone must have put them there because they could not have grown there overnight Teagan! Use your head!" Ireson, the repeater, exclaims in a somewhat confused state, "God! Here! One! Night!"
I just figured that the florist was only selling roses by the dozen or half a dozen so James had no choice but to bring home 6. So I ask the kids what they think this means if there are only 3 kids and 6 roses now. Lil' James deduces, very matter-of-fact: "Well Mom, you better start having more kids, 'cause you're getting old."

I'll get to the bottom of this eventually.

A day like today...

Today I made special pink Valentine's Day pancakes (made with cherry juice) and cut them into hearts with a cookie cutter. It was a big hit with the kids and they were thoroughly enjoyed by all...including me and my not usually so creative or caring about V-day self!



Summoned to a mother's mundane duty of the wiping of Teagan's booty: "MOM!!! I'm done! It stinks in here and you're just gonna have to deal!" and after said booty call - "Thanks Mom, I appreciate it." - She's been saying that on and off for some time now and it just never gets old for me. - The appreciation bit- not the butt wiping:) Some of you are probably thinking that it's ridiculous that a 4 1/2 year old can't wipe her own butt. I agree- however, my Tea is short appendage challenged, like her mother, and she simply can't reach. We've tried teaching different techniques to help but it just isn't happening....maybe when she's 12?



Teagan and James had to agree on a short spiritual video to watch today before naps.. This usually poses an interesting, yet often confrontational situation between the 2 of them including bribing, flattery, bartering, and the whole nine yards till they get their own way. So finally Teagan pulled one out and boisterously said: "Mom, this one will be popular with both of us! What do you think James?"



All the kids got their own piece of mail today- a special Valentine's Day card, complete with a $1 dollar bill, from Grandma and Grandpa! Ireson opened his, grabbed the dollar and started yelling: "GOD! GOD! GOD!!!"
Translation: "I have money to take to church to put in the envelope in Sunday School class to give to God! Yahoo!"
James asked me: "Mom, after I give part of this to God, can I take the rest of it to buy something at the store?"
Teagan: "Sure you can James, just rip off God's piece and put it in Mommy's purse for church and then you can take the rest."


I went to load up the van for the evening's festivities and saw that the side "automatic" magic door was left open by the kids yesterday around noon! Needless to say the battery was dead beyond dead. I called James and gave him a heads up.

Devone (sister-in-law) planned a "Sweethearts" dinner for our church at one of our member's restaurant with babysitting provided at her house right around the corner! She's always so thoughtful and creative with planning things for our church. I'm so excited to get all dolled up, go on a date with James with my church family and laugh and hang out and do my hair, and have an alcoholic drink! Sounds immature - I know...but hey! For a girl that only consumes alcohol but once every few months or so-this can be a luxury! I'm talking about something fruity, colorful, high-calorie, with whip cream and a cherry on top...oh and don't forget those cute lil' umbrellas. I'll take those home as souvenirs for the kids. The alcohol is just an added perk. Honestly, after 2 sips- I'm toast. It's that almost 6 years of breastfeeding that have left me with no tolerance.

Normally, Valentine's is not a big deal to us. The reason being that we think that we don't need Hallmark dictating to us when to celebrate our love for each other or the excuse that people have felt "love deprived" all year and Valentine's Day needs to be the day to make up for it.
To James and I- every day is Valentine's Day. That sounds totally cheesy, I realize!!! Rather, we feel such wonderful, complete, blessed love in our marriage on a daily basis that Valentine's Day is just another day of the week. No big whoop. Don't get me wrong though...if the opportunity comes along to do something extra special around this time...then we're game!- I mean, bring on the excuses to have fun and laughter!

Nothing like a sister to encourage you...so I thought.

Sarah, the kids and I all went over to Darryl and Lydia's the other night for some puppy love and family time. Our entire family had received some stressing news that day, and we were all kind of down in the dumps and weary at all the world's workings and these end times that we are experiencing. I was casually discussing some personal stress and concerns about motherhood, work, church, etc. with my sister Sarah.

So Sarah, using her self acquired soft skills, - kindly offered her words of encouragement in a way that only Sarah can pull off:
"Ya know Beck, you are doing the only job that you are supposed to be doing right now and that's being a mother! Your kids are great, they're a joy to be around, everyone loves them and they're so impressed with them (blah, blah, blah)...and you're doing a great job!" Then she points over to Ireson (who is running around rampantly in a circle like a dog chasing his tale and acting like his usually nutty self-amusing self) and she says, "I mean, just look how smart he is!"

Yeah- he must get that from his father.

Permission to pee?

I decided to give all the kids a bath last night. James asked if he could take a bath by himself in my bathtub. This is a special treat for him to get sit and bathe in the "big tub" in deep water. We haven't made a habit of this since a jacuzzi tub takes a lot more water to fill up even if it's for just one teeny, tiny body in there! Usually, I just throw all the kids in their tub and get them in and out in a rotating fashion after they had some play time. He's getting old enough where he needs his own privacy as well. So, I obliged and figured I'd let him play and then do the other 2 kids after him.

Well about 2 minutes after his submersion I hear him yell: "Hey Mom, can I go ahead and pee in your bathtub?!" Gee- I appreciate the thoughtfulness of him actually asking since it's my tub and I forgot to remind him to "go" before he got in!

How do I respond to this?!

Honestly, every kid does this. Every adult has done this at some point or another too! I wasn't sure if I wanted deal with a wet floor and wet toilet seat or just let the kid pee and sit in it. I mean it's sterile, there's so much water that it will just be mostly diluted anyhow, right?!

Sorry for those of you with weak constitutions but...I told him to go ahead but he'll just have to sit in his own pee. To which he responded: "That's okay Mom. It will just make the water warmer anyway." Sheesh...gotta love the logic of kids.

Don't worry people, I drained the water before I put the other kids in...most of it anyway:)

When I grow up...

Today Teagan and I were having our typical and frequent discussion about who she is going to marry when she grows up. She absolutely knows that THE MOST important thing is that they are a "man of God and a child of God, etc."

She was explaining to me her newly elaborated idea of what this guy should be like..."Okay Mom. Listen. So I know that they have to love God and all that stuff. But I'm thinking that since Darryl is married to Lydia, he (as in her husband) has to be funny and act like a dog when I tell him and go to puppy jail!

And since Grandma is married to Grandpa he (future said husband) has to go to Jamaica a lot and be ornery but not scare me like he did my baby brother! AND since Daddy is married to you already and he can't marry me then he (the doesn't know what's going to hit him future husband!) has to be stinky and give me a beat-down. Okay? Don't you think those are good ideas?"

To the average person Teagan's future husband may sound like an abusive, taunting, scruffy guy with bad hygiene... but I think that sounds just swell.

Trick or Treat?

The kids had a great day doing school work Friday. They were enthusiastic, diligent, studious, and James really impressed me with his reading when he was concentrating. Since we were stuck at home all week with Ireson being sick for one day, and me waiting for the rest to get sick too...I was ready to get out and grocery shop! Exciting I know.

So, I decided that I would get the kids a super special treat. I'm talking an all out, nothing like mommy's normal definition of treat, sugar blitzing, blow the kids away, make you sick treat!

On the way to the store I told the kids my plan.
Response: "What kind of treat? A piece of cheese?" (A visit to the deli counter gets kids a free piece of cheese- highlight of the whole outing.) "No", I said, "bigger and better." "A cookie?" "No."

At this point they are at a loss for what I, me, the mother of all nutrition-nazi moms, would give them as a treat. Then I dropped the bomb! "What do you think about a doughnut?!" Insert shrieks, shrills, screams, and shouts of pure elation here- I mean the kind that make your ears hurt and you think someone is hurting them!

Then of course they revert to concerned questions to decipher my honesty on the matter. "Really? Why? Not cheese? Why would you give us a doughnut?"
I told them that I figured that it's close to Valentine's Day and that the store should have the decked out doughnuts and it would be fabulous!!!

So we went to the doughnut area (a place of the store they had never been around before so you can imagine their wide and googley eyes about to pop out of their heads) AND they all picked out their own special doughnut complete with 1000 calories, frosting, sprinkles, preservatives, sugar, processed ingredients, and intestinal distress waiting to happen!

So we got home, unloaded and they all lined up like the traditional, sweet deprived soldiers that they are, and got their doughnut on their plate. The flew over to the table and commenced with the gorging! I kid you not- Ireson had his entire full sized doughnut in his mouth in under 60 seconds. Hands and face caked with white frosting complete with pink and purple sprinkles. There was barely enough room for his jaw to move up and down so he could chew! What was even funnier was him trying to talk to share his gratitude and grins!

Teagan and James were close behind. You could hear all the yums, mmms, and ahhs, and ooohhhhs and expressions of complete and utter satisfaction. Then Teagan, stares me down with the most intent and earnest look and pauses from the gluttony to share this with me: "Mom, I just love this soooo much. I can't tell you how much I love this. It's better than cake with frosting with candy on top of it. It's just so good." You swore she was going to cry from such an intense level of fondness.

Then James pipes up with a rather full and vommitus tone to his voice. "MOM- I don't think this was a good idea! I have a really bad stomach ache. I don't think my stomach is used to this much sugar! YOU (as in me-mom) were NOT responsible."

HA! He was actually trying to make me feel guilty and irresponsible for giving him such a wonderful treat. I of course had to offer to eat it for him. A totally hypocritical moment for me:) I think I enjoyed it almost as much as they did....without the shrieking of course.

Whistle while you work...."whoo whoo whoo whoo" - when you're 2 ?????!!!!!

So we realized almost a year ago that Ireson could whistle. It seemed like a fluke thing because it would only occur once in a while. He couldn't do it on command, and it would happen when he'd be walking around just being goofy and making noises. Then, all of a sudden you'd hear a "whoo" -an authentic whistle! He has only done accidentally since.

James, on the other hand, had perfected whistling last month. He can mimic a tune, whistle a song, call for the dog, and whistle a happy tune at any ol' time. Ireson and Teagan are very proud and try their hardest to achieve that high pitched, little "whoo" that every kid so anticipates! So whenever James starts to whistle, Teagan and Ireson try to chime in. Teagan sounds more like she's singing a "hoo hoo."

Then it happened! The other day, I see Ireson toddling behind James in a parade-ish sort of way- whistling! It's just a little intermittent whistle- but it's still a genuine whistle! If you ask him- he can do it. It's kind of freaky seeing a 2 year old whistle. What's next - blowing bubble gum bubbles, snapping his fingers, tying his shoes? Stop the madness!
Here's a clip of him doing it...this one is faint but it's definitely there! He normally does it louder!

A Right of Passage

Well, in our church, there comes a time in every child's life where they cross the line from being in the Lamb's class (2 years old-preschool) to the Treasure's Class (kindergarten - 2nd grade.) James was privileged enough to graduate to the Treasure's Class this past September. He was more than ready to stop being the leading top dog of the preschool class to the under-dog (and shortest!) of the grade school class. He needed to be more challenged and to be with a more mature group. It's been good for him to be mentored by the older kids and for him to not have the answers all the time anymore. He enjoys the class immensely...though he tells me often that he really misses snack time. - Well yeah! I would too.

One of the early on goals for this class is to learn the books of the Bible. James has been so diligent in learning them. Every time we sit down to a meal together or get in the car he recites them. It's amazing how well kids' brains work to memorize!!! I was quite impressed with how quickly he learned them.

Today was the day he got to recite them ALL to his teacher and get his sticker and his fabulous homemade, giant-sized, personalized coloring book! He was the first one of all the new kids of the class to have learned them!!! AND- there's a chunk of kids who have been in the class for over a year who still haven't learned them all.

His teacher found me after church because she said she had to share the story with me and it made her day. She told me that he stood up, had a sparkle in his eye, a smirk on his face, and told her that "she was in for a treat." James knew that he only had to memorize up to the book of James but he asked me if he could just learn them all this week. So he was happy that he could share this surprise with his teacher. (The teacher's hand out little animal reminder card to the parents every week to let them know where their child is in the list of the books and the next chunk to memorize.) She looked at him with a huge smile and said "I know I didn't tell you that you had to do all of those. You're awesome!" She thought it was adorable. Her first little person to have accomplished that challenge.

I was so proud of him and he was proud of himself too. It's those small milestones that you cherish so deeply because you know that the same milestone will only happen once. AND you see your child growing up in the Lord and developing spiritual maturity and a passion for the Lord through such simple things as memorizing the books of the Bible. I love that my kids LOVE going to worship and that they feel like their church is their second home. I think that's the way it should be and that must be how the people of the Acts 2 church felt too.

SO- needless to say, this called for a celebration. We went with Grandma, Aunt Cindy, and Aunt Sarah out to dinner at Bob Evans for lunch!!! We had a gift card and 2 coupons for free kids meals and James proudly told the waitress and people in the waiting area that he had memorized all the books of the Bible. He is too cool! We all had a "special treat" indeed.

A fine example.

James: "MOM!!! Ireson won't stop chasing me and spanking my butt! It's not funny anymore!"

Me (chuckling): "Well, what do you expect James? He learned it by watching you!"

James (shocked and confused): "Nuh Uh! He learned it by watching Daddy do it to you!"

Gee....no argument there.

Dirty Girl

So when James and Teagan give each other a "beat down" (that means play wrestle in this house) it's not uncommon for the fun and games to escalate into an all out brawl at times. James has the strength, speed and agility, of a cheetah, equipped with animal sound effects and all. Teagan on the other hand is a strong little brute as well but when she gets tired of James pinning her down...well...she starts to play dirty.

Though some may find this to be unacceptable play wrestling terms-I completely understand where she's coming from!!! You feel you have no defenses left against their strength and tickeling and teasing. So then you're forced to pull out all the stops!! Personally, I'm not above hair pulling and eye gouging if necessary- just ask James. If this is warned or even occurs then my husband knows I'm serious and it's time to stop and to alleviate my frustration he should allow me a free jab of 2 to even up the score!

Anyway, today James and Tea were going at it giggles and all....I had a feeling where things were headed and I warned James that he better let up a bit before Teagan brings out "the ugly stick." So of course she got frustrated and pulled out the all powerful "scissor legs" maneuver. This is when she locks him between her scissored legs, either around his chest, belly, and sometimes neck. I taught her this after years of hard learned "legs on" lessons given to me by my own beloved father. James has dealt with this move for a couple years now. However, she has apparently perfected said death grip by adding an even more tortureful tactic....a TOOT!!!

"Listen James!!!..I'm gonna toot on you too if you don't stop it!"
...insert rip, roar, and all here....
"See, I told you...now get off me and leave me alone or I'll do it again!"

She sealed the deal alright. In some weird and twisted way I felt proud. I might have to try that one myself...be warned Babe.

In the city of sisterly love...

James (after ther second encounter with the corner of our fireplace yesterday): "I fear now I'll have 2 bumps on my head. It's unfortunate."
Mom: "Yeah, but it's a good thing that you're still so stinkin' cute."
James: "No I'm not! I'm handsome."

Precedence: I got all the kids' haircuts yesterday and Teagan kept saying how handsome the boys looked. I wonder if he'll continue to appreciate his sister's wise sentiment when he's older.

No thinking allowed!

James wanted to practice his typing and work on what he calls his ongoing "important document." So I set him up on the computer and I told him that this would be a good time to practice his spelling and typing out the words he knows by listening to each sound that makes the word. He replied, "No Mom. I just want to type, not think. Thinking is for when we do school."

Silly me...what ever was I thinking?! I hope this isn't a sign of an under-achiever.

Big Butt Mama!!

Teagan was folding her laundry and pulled out a pair of underware from the pile because she saw a glimpse of the pretty fabric and got excited. "Oooh Mommy, these are so pretty." Then her voice changed to a tone of disgust. "Wait a second!!! These aren't mine they're HUGE!" I of course had to tell her that those were indeed my underware and not hers. Thank goodness I have good self esteem- no thanks to my kids!

Selfless arguing...isn't that an oximoron?

We were all sitting down to our normal routine of reading a billion books late morning and Teagan and James started arguing about who would let who go first with their choice of book.
"No, no, Teagan, I'm going to be selfless and let you go first today." "Nuh-uh James, I'm going to let you go first because I love you." "But you're my younger sister and I love you more so you should go first." "But I think you're the biggest, bestest brother in the whole universe, so you can go first."....and so on and so forth. Someone (I forget who) even ended up quoting scripture about "the first being last and the last being first!" Sheesh.
Well this continued on for a few minutes and even became a heated argument! They were actually getting mad at each other for thinking of the other person first. This is not the first time it has happened either. However, Teagan finally caved and went first after James said, "Okay, Teagan listen. Here's the deal. I will let you go first because that is what a gentleman would do and that is what Daddy would do because he's a gentleman. Okay Teagan?"
Big sigh. "James, okay - I will go first if you just stop talking. Okay?"
James- "Okay. Mommy go."- as in start reading before any other arguments erupt!

For Pete's sake!

Beef! It's what's for dinner...even in the middle of a snow storm?!

So we have a cow in our freezer. More exactly, 1/3 of a whole, grass fed, hormone/antibiotic free, beefy cow in our freezer. We've bought anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 for the past 4-5 years now and we love it and it's been- well...a blessing. The meat just can't be beat! I can totally understand the whole "sweet smelling savor to the Lord" thing!

So I guess you could say we're meat snobs because you just can't compare the quality of a fresh cow to what you'd get from the butcher even. So needless to say we grill all year long. You just can't beat a great steak in the middle of winter to curb the cabin fever! My neighbors even call me to ask if we're eating our cow because you can always smell when someone is grilling steak! So James is fine with braving the chill and the storms and the 2 feet of snow to grill himself a big ol' cow rump.

A few weeks ago, he came in from outside after laying out the meat on the grill, he was all giddy and goofy and asked for the camera. He just HAD to document his dinner preparation tactics and the joy he felt from having so an huge amount of meat grace his grill. I wish I could have gotten a pic of him standing in front of the grill all smiles- it was too cute. Any cow butcher would have been proud!

I need to feed...

Teagan woke up from her nap...marched into my room with a bewildered look on her face and said with a voice of absolute sinister consternation "MOMMY! Look at my belly! It's so small and so hungry you NEED to feed me. It said that."

I don't think she was totally awake because she doesn't usually talk to me like that and as soon as I told her that James was watching Pooh Bear- she snapped out of it, squeezed me and ran downstairs.

However, I can totally sympathize and totally relate. I love to eat! It's one of my favorite past times and I do a lot of it. I want a shirt that says, "I exercise to eat." I get seriously crabby when I need to feed! Unfortunate though that as adults we can't just cry out like a baby when we need to communicate that we're hungry....and now all his hungry business has made me hungry. I'm off to feed!