Whiner Whiner- go away...come again another day.

We went canoeing with about 50 people from our church family on Saturday. Everyone anxiously looks forward to this fabulously fun day where you get to trek 7 or so miles of the Cuyahoga River and then get back to base camp and eat the ready and waiting feast! Good times are always had by all! However, this year, rather than gorgeous sunny weather that we were expecting, we were graced with rain... and then more rain, and then a deluge of pouring rain about a mile out all the way to the end.





You couldn't have gotten more drenched if you fell in. Teagan and Ireson were in the boat with James and I. Ireson is such the pleasant little passenger. Granted he snacked on banana bread and pretzels and other such delights for the 1st 3/4 of the ride but barely a peep emerged from his frigid and at one point blue little lips....





And then there was Teagan...





Two years ago when we went canoeing, she was 1 week shy of turning 3. She had a grand old time. The weather was quite accommodating that year, but she still tempered the rocking boat and buggy terrain rather well! She had a swell time!





This year- not so much.





Mile 1: "MOM! Don't put the paddle down, get rowing!" - She wanted it to end before we even started.





Mile 2: "Why are you stopping Mom? Don't just sit there- get rowing!" - Last year we'd just sit and enjoy the scenery and chat amongst our fellow boaters. This year you kind of wanted to bypass the chit chat because of the rain and cold. Yet, even if I wanted to get a drink of water- I'd get scorned.





Mile 3: "The wind is making me cold, the rain is making me cold, and YOU are making me cold MOM!" It was pretty stinking cold for at least the last 4 miles or so. The kids were so soaked from just sitting there.


Mile 4: "Come on Mom, let's get there already- row!"


Every time we'd bump someone or rock the boat to adjust your numbing behind, she'd start crying and panicking. I am not raising a wimp! Not even the snacks, bug net, umbrella or hat could appease her!





Mile 5,6,7: At the start, Lil' James went in a boat with my cousin Jen and a friend from Ann Arbor. He was quite the little paddling trouper. There was one point where Jen, the wonderful selfless person that she is, sacrificed herself and fell/tripped/jumped/flipped into the water to save the boat and other passengers from tipping. Lil' James got kind of freaked out there for a minute, as did I watching my son almost get dumped into the water, but he soon recovered with nothing more than a banged up shin and a hard reality check. His butt remained on the floor of the boat for the remaining mile. This of course did not help Teagan's mentality regarding the joys of canoeing. She witnessed the mild nightmare and exclaimed under tears and duress "My brother, my brother!!!" So we hung out ahead after we caught there paddle down stream to make sure all was well and assure Teagan that her dear brother was much more the man than she and that he was fine.





Dockage: We finally docked and went to the car to change our sopping clothes and then headed to the picnic area where we ate like kings.


Teagan informed me later, after hanging out around the camp fire and enjoying the assortment of chocolate desserts, that she "loves this place!...but not the boat part so much" and that she was "glad to have a Mom like me even though you [I] get mad sometimes."





After about the 3rd tirade of demands in the boat, I told Teagan that I was thrilled that she was in the boat because all I could do was laugh at her sweet pathetic-ness.


Her father and I shared many a chuckle that day at the poor, cold, wet, tired, and pathetic child. Though we usually don't tolerate whining and complaining- we made an allowance this time around.


She indeed made this adventure more memorable because of it!
Check back for pics in a week or so. I'm waiting for my cousin to upload them to FB.

No James = No Fun

James has been gone for 3 days at the Gathering and Teagan informed me this morning, as she was being disciplined for not completing her morning chores that, "It's just no fun without James here! When's he going to get home already?!"


A couple weeks ago I had only James and Ireson at home for 2 days while Teagan spent the night at Grandma's house. Life for those 2 days was, well, too easy. It was almost boring. James and Ireson got along great, things got done, life was calm and surprisingly quiet with 2 boys all day. Almost serenity dare I say.

WELL, THE TIMES ARE A CHANGIN'!

Day 1 with no James:
Teagan and Ireson have held a completely different dynamic. Teagan has had the treat and pleasure of sleeping in James' top bunk with Ireson in the bottom. However, on day 1 she got up at 6am to pee and woke up her brother! Day 1 not off to a great start. Bossing around the little brother wasn't received so well by Ireson. He's happy to toddle along with his big brother James since he wants to be just like him- but when Teagan tries to impress her "older sisterly ways" on him- he just won't have it. He thinks that he needs to take over as the big brother apparently. They have their precious moments- but overall they clashed.

Day 2 with no James:
Not much to report. We picked about 100 beans from the garden and Teagan whined about having to weed it with the hoe (James loves to do this daily) and then she didn't take a nap and was nothing short of unpleasant come dinner time. Bike riding helped, thunder storm didn't!

Day 3 with no James:
I had to go blueberry picking because last week it was slim picking and there was much ripening still needed. So I took the 2 kids out to a new fantastic place where blueberries are primarily organically grown. My excitement for the Garden- of -Edenish bounty was soon squelched by dealing with 2 lazy, whiney, bickering bums. Teagan tried to shift the blame to James by telling me that "If he were here, he would be helping out a lot and then you [me] could get all the picking done and not need my [Teagan's] help anyway! You shouldn't have let him go to the Gathering Mom if you need his help soooo much!"

Well! Though right she may be- she would still have had to help and do her annual picking part too. She acted as though this was a surprise to her and she had forgotten all the year past!
I still made her stand there in one spot with one branch and pick till I had had my quota and felt somewhat better about invoking the slave labor since I missed my little helper! I will drive this laziness out of her.

Sigh- sweet baby James- when will you come back to me? We just can't seem to peacefully function without you.

What will day 4 bring?....

Family Fishing and Frogging Fun

Bro. Marvin & Sis. Joan Springer have an awesome 12 acre, pond-equipped property about 10 minutes from our house. They have an anytime open invitation for us to come over and fish and visit. They have a gorgeous layout with a vast array of flowers, an abundant garden, and tons of fun old barns and buildings and woods to explore. There is a large pond and a tiny "frog" pond which is primarily frog inhabited but no fish. Lil' James caught his first fish at their house 3 years ago!

Sunday we went over for a few hours with Jesse and the kids, and my parents. The kids had an awesome time catching fish, catching frogs, blowing bubbles, hooking worms, and getting down and dirty with the cousins.

All the kids caught a countless amount of bluegill and Jesse and James caught the only bass. Teagan caught a tree frog on the hike through the woods. It was soooo cute and only about the size of my thumb nail. She held that thing for over and hour. Jesse wanted to use it as bait the frog bully!

All in all- fishing fun was had by all!

Teagan vs. the Monster Mosquito

The Mosquito Won

There she was minding her own business on Friday. The wrap up day for Bible Day Camp included a giant inflatable bouncer, rocket balloons, a guy from NASA, and pizza! The day was off to a great start...until...Teagan was outside ready to enter the bouncer when she got bitten by a mosquito on her eyelid.

This happens on an annual basis. Yet, this year she seemed to swell even more! This is what she and James do when they get a mosquito bite anywhere. It swells to 50x it's size and takes about 3-5 days to go away, demanding Benadryl around the clock, which seems to do no good anyway!

Besides the general unappealing look and occasional itch-I can't take the child anywhere for fear of someone calling the child protective services. I think in the summer I should just have them wear a sign that says: "Mosquitoes love me, and this is what happens when we meet." I mean any sensible person would think that if she was being beaten that it would be black and blue- but you just never know. Any other parent would probably rush their child to the ER based on the looks of it.

So, needless to say, my children (2 of them anyway) will never be campers or the out-doorsey type. All because of the fall.... I wonder if they'll exist in the Kingdom.

Feel the love

Lil' James is going with Grandma for 6 whole days to the COGAF Gathering this year. He'll have an amazing time with his cousins Kyle and Ryan and special Grammie time too.

On Friday, he was asking me how many more days until he leaves to the Gathering. I said 3 more days. I then made the mistake of asking him if he's going to miss all of us.

He replied, "Well, I'll be fine with Grammie, but I'm really going to miss Lexi."

Lexi is our dog people. Can you feel the love?

Steak Snobs.

Last night I asked the kids to each pick out a vegetable to have with their steak (from our cow) for dinner...a weekly event around here come summer!

Teagan said: "May I have corn and sweet potatoes, please. But I want a T-Bone not a Porterhouse, Mom!"

James: "Yeah sweet potatoes! Just make sure I get a bone too and I'll be happy!"

Sheesh!!- I guess when you eat steak often enough growing up - you learn the proper steak etiquette.

Woof woof...

On the way to cousins house to play...
Teagan: "James, Sadie and I are going to play Princess and dress up!"
James: "Well, I want to play with you guys though!"
Teagan: "Well, okay....but you'll have to be our dog."

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!!"