Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My Baby. . .
I went a little overboard! My mom asked for pictures of Erik Daniel walking, and I got a little carried away! My baby is looking so big!On his tip toes. . .
Now here he is walking around. . .
My sweet, sweet baby boy! He looks so much like Erik! I am so thankful that God gave him to us!!!
I could not love him more!!!!!!!
Labels: My Erik Daniel
Big Middle
I have been thinking so much lately about my "middle men" as I call them. James Christofer and Elijah are sandwiched in between our leader, big brother Joshua, and our cute little baby, Erik Daniel. Several times I have considered buying a book on birth order. I just don't want my middle men to get lost in the middle! This is something I really pray about and work on regularly.
Most of JCT's clothes are hand-me-downs, as well as, his shoes. He has been wearing Joshua's old, torn up, ragged, awful looking tennis shoes since school began this year. And, I have been very convicted about it. Yes, they still work, but they look terrible! I found these great shoes in a Chasing Fireflies catalog a week or two ago, and I knew that they were meant for my JCT. So, I ordered them, and, they came in this week.
So, out of the blue, for no reason at all, a happy came in the mail for JCT!!!! And, he was elated!! "For me??!!!!" he kept saying as he opened the box! And, when he saw what was in the box, he thanked me and thanked me! He was so excited! He loves them so much! Here they are. . .
Perfect for him, absolutely, totally perfect for my dinosaur-loving little boy! And, it felt so good to spoil my big middle man!
Most of JCT's clothes are hand-me-downs, as well as, his shoes. He has been wearing Joshua's old, torn up, ragged, awful looking tennis shoes since school began this year. And, I have been very convicted about it. Yes, they still work, but they look terrible! I found these great shoes in a Chasing Fireflies catalog a week or two ago, and I knew that they were meant for my JCT. So, I ordered them, and, they came in this week.
So, out of the blue, for no reason at all, a happy came in the mail for JCT!!!! And, he was elated!! "For me??!!!!" he kept saying as he opened the box! And, when he saw what was in the box, he thanked me and thanked me! He was so excited! He loves them so much! Here they are. . .
Perfect for him, absolutely, totally perfect for my dinosaur-loving little boy! And, it felt so good to spoil my big middle man!
I love you, my little dinosaur!
Labels: My JCT
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Sea of Leaves
Two things I must say: 1.) Kelly, I can honestly say that I have never quartered a cheerio!!!!! But, your comment made me smile!! At least I know that I am not alone in my irrational fear of choking!!!!! :-) And, 2.) Mary, we are actually doing a Bible study in our Sunday School class by Mark Batterson ~ Chase the Wild Goose! And, I am really enjoying it! I'll have to check out the study that you mentioned! And, I do have a menu plan this week ~ but, it is in my calendar which is in the van!!! Ooops! :-)
In a few weeks when all have fallen the man who cuts our grass will come and mow the leaves, and then the yard will look like normal again! It sure beats raking them!!!! But, don't tell the boys because they love to get their plastic rakes and pretend to put a dent in the backyard! Ha! Did I mention we live on 7 acres??? :-) 
Okay, now, my backyard is literally a sea of leaves! And, the boys have been so excited about playing in them. I liken a yard filled with leaves to a yard filled with snow. The leaves are not cold and wet and not nearly as pretty, but the boys jump and play and throw them! They have a blast!
Last night we played outside late in the evening, so the light in these pictures is not great! But, you can see how they have taken over the pond and the yard!!
In a few weeks when all have fallen the man who cuts our grass will come and mow the leaves, and then the yard will look like normal again! It sure beats raking them!!!! But, don't tell the boys because they love to get their plastic rakes and pretend to put a dent in the backyard! Ha! Did I mention we live on 7 acres??? :-) Sunset through the trees. . .
Our home is pure peace to me as I am sure yours is to you, as well. There truly is no place like home!
Labels: Home Sweet Home
Monday, November 09, 2009
Playing Quarterback. . .
We watched a good bit of football on Saturday, so I am not sure what game was on when I heard it. If I had to bet, I'd say Alabama/LSU. Though I was cheering and sorely disappointed when LSU lost, something one of the commentators said about the Alabama(I think) quarterback caught my attention. He said, and this is an extremely rough transcription, "I'm proud of him. He took some risks during this game, and he doesn't usually do that. He needs to take more risks. You can't be a great quarterback if you are afraid to take risks. And, yeah, some of the risks hurt him ~ the ball was intercepted, he lost some yards. But, he has to learn that you can make mistakes and move on. The game goes on. And, you know what? You can even be successful after taking some risks and making some mistakes. You can even be successful after making some mistakes in a game against a team like LSU. And, he needs to know that. He'll be a better quarterback having learned that."
I don't remember what I was doing. I was not sitting and watching the game. I was probably cleaning up the kitchen while taking care of boys, etc. And, I had heard nothing before this little quote, and I heard nothing after, but this commentator had my attention and spoke deeply into the hidden fear-filled places of my heart.
First of all, I don't want to play quarterback. Yes, I would enjoy the accolades that a star quarterback receives, but I am perfectionist, and I fear, terribly, making mistakes, doing things wrong, disappointing someone, shouldering the responsibility, and having regrets. Regrets ~ especially terrify me. But, what if later I wish that I had. . . or what if later this leads to. . . And, so I struggle. Because we all have to play quarterback sometimes. There are some decisions that only we can make for ourselves. It is one of the reasons I love to be married. Erik says, "Jump!" And, I say, "How high?" I love to follow. I actually enjoy being told what to do. I have to watch myself because without realizing it at times I let my little ones order me around. They say, "Juice!" And, I say, "Will that be white grape, purple grape, or apple?" I love to please, and I love to serve ~ but making big decisions, taking big risks? No, not so much.
So, today I find myself in the quarterback's cleats, ball in hand, eyes searching the field for open receivers, and I am about to get sacked. I woke up at 2 last night debating the same age old debate, and it kept me awake until 5. I wrestled, prayed, thought, debated, you know the drill. You've done it, I'm sure. And, now I am worn out, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
So, why am I so afraid? Why have I not learned what the above quote says?
I'll tell you why.
Because I believe in playing it safe.
I like safety nets. I like seat belts and car seats and air bags and safety harnesses and fire alarms and helmets and knee pads. I'm not a risk-taker. I feel like I am living on the edge and being risky when I cut my son's grapes into halves instead of into fourths.
Seriously.
I have a huge choking fear, but that is not important here and now in my present state of indecision. I'm just saying. . .
I have issues with risk-taking. But, sometimes, you have to do things that might upset someone else. And, sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing. And, one of these days I am going to sacrifice the pleaser in me. And, then, maybe, finally, I will be able to see clearly without looking through other people's eyes, but rather looking at my situation through my God-given eyes. Why, oh, why do I worry so about what others think? About failing? About perceptions? About not being perfect?
Maybe this is my game. Maybe this time I will take risks instead of playing it safe. Maybe. And, maybe I will learn that the game will go on ~ good decision or big mistake ~ the game will go on, and I will learn that in the end I'm okay, and my kids are okay, and it is all okay.
But, I'll never know if I never take a risk.
Down. Set. Hut. . .
I don't remember what I was doing. I was not sitting and watching the game. I was probably cleaning up the kitchen while taking care of boys, etc. And, I had heard nothing before this little quote, and I heard nothing after, but this commentator had my attention and spoke deeply into the hidden fear-filled places of my heart.
First of all, I don't want to play quarterback. Yes, I would enjoy the accolades that a star quarterback receives, but I am perfectionist, and I fear, terribly, making mistakes, doing things wrong, disappointing someone, shouldering the responsibility, and having regrets. Regrets ~ especially terrify me. But, what if later I wish that I had. . . or what if later this leads to. . . And, so I struggle. Because we all have to play quarterback sometimes. There are some decisions that only we can make for ourselves. It is one of the reasons I love to be married. Erik says, "Jump!" And, I say, "How high?" I love to follow. I actually enjoy being told what to do. I have to watch myself because without realizing it at times I let my little ones order me around. They say, "Juice!" And, I say, "Will that be white grape, purple grape, or apple?" I love to please, and I love to serve ~ but making big decisions, taking big risks? No, not so much.
So, today I find myself in the quarterback's cleats, ball in hand, eyes searching the field for open receivers, and I am about to get sacked. I woke up at 2 last night debating the same age old debate, and it kept me awake until 5. I wrestled, prayed, thought, debated, you know the drill. You've done it, I'm sure. And, now I am worn out, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
So, why am I so afraid? Why have I not learned what the above quote says?
I'll tell you why.
Because I believe in playing it safe.
I like safety nets. I like seat belts and car seats and air bags and safety harnesses and fire alarms and helmets and knee pads. I'm not a risk-taker. I feel like I am living on the edge and being risky when I cut my son's grapes into halves instead of into fourths.
Seriously.
I have a huge choking fear, but that is not important here and now in my present state of indecision. I'm just saying. . .
I have issues with risk-taking. But, sometimes, you have to do things that might upset someone else. And, sometimes the right thing to do is the hardest thing. And, one of these days I am going to sacrifice the pleaser in me. And, then, maybe, finally, I will be able to see clearly without looking through other people's eyes, but rather looking at my situation through my God-given eyes. Why, oh, why do I worry so about what others think? About failing? About perceptions? About not being perfect?
Maybe this is my game. Maybe this time I will take risks instead of playing it safe. Maybe. And, maybe I will learn that the game will go on ~ good decision or big mistake ~ the game will go on, and I will learn that in the end I'm okay, and my kids are okay, and it is all okay.
But, I'll never know if I never take a risk.
Down. Set. Hut. . .
Labels: My Heart
Friday, November 06, 2009
The Little Boy Imagination. . .
it is such an amazing and wonderful thing! I thank God that I get to sit back and watch their little ideas come to life!!
Here they are sailing the high seas on the upside down lid of their sandbox using play rakes and hoes as oars!
Arrrgghhhh!!!!!!
How much fun they have!!
My love for little boys continues to grow as they do!!!!!
Labels: Chronicles of a boy mama
When God gives you Bananas (or 4 monkeys, rather), Make Banana Bread Muffins!
Oh, what a day, and it is only halfway over!! These are my favorite days. . .
Calm, quiet, no where to go, nothing that absolutely has to be done right now!! I love it! I slowly drank 2.5 cups of my morning coffee, and mid-morning JCT and I made banana bread muffins and eggs for brunch! Slow and easy ~ just the way I like it!
Oh, but did I mention that I decided to potty train my little middle (Elijah) this morning! And, ya'll he is almost there! He has gone tee tee over and over in the little potty and even went number two in the little potty once! Yay!!!! He has wanted to be potty trained for a while now. I just wasn't ready, but this morning I decided to give it a try. And, I am so glad that I did!
A little bit ago I took the boys down to the swing set to play. Most of the leaves have fallen, so the yard is nearly covered in crunchy brown leaves. We raced down to the swing set, and the sound of all the leaves rustling made my heart sing!!!! JCT and Elijah got their play rakes and attempted to help Daddy with the leaf raking!!! :-) Oh, and, JCT gave a demonstration of how to tinkle in the woods to Elijah, and Elijah very proudly pulled his pants down and successfully watered the woods just like his big brother! Cute!
And, now I have two babes asleep and one immersed in a TV show. I'm about to make a cup of Chai and smile over its warmth! I'm going to make Chili for dinner ~ a comfort food to me! And, I hate to break it to my sweet Joshua-boy, but we are not going to the high school football game tonight! I have a nice evening planned with games and a movie! We are all fighting a little cold, and there is no reason to drag everybody out in the cold weather tonight! It is a cuddle up inside kind of night to me! I can't wait!!
Calm, quiet, no where to go, nothing that absolutely has to be done right now!! I love it! I slowly drank 2.5 cups of my morning coffee, and mid-morning JCT and I made banana bread muffins and eggs for brunch! Slow and easy ~ just the way I like it!
Oh, but did I mention that I decided to potty train my little middle (Elijah) this morning! And, ya'll he is almost there! He has gone tee tee over and over in the little potty and even went number two in the little potty once! Yay!!!! He has wanted to be potty trained for a while now. I just wasn't ready, but this morning I decided to give it a try. And, I am so glad that I did!
A little bit ago I took the boys down to the swing set to play. Most of the leaves have fallen, so the yard is nearly covered in crunchy brown leaves. We raced down to the swing set, and the sound of all the leaves rustling made my heart sing!!!! JCT and Elijah got their play rakes and attempted to help Daddy with the leaf raking!!! :-) Oh, and, JCT gave a demonstration of how to tinkle in the woods to Elijah, and Elijah very proudly pulled his pants down and successfully watered the woods just like his big brother! Cute!
And, now I have two babes asleep and one immersed in a TV show. I'm about to make a cup of Chai and smile over its warmth! I'm going to make Chili for dinner ~ a comfort food to me! And, I hate to break it to my sweet Joshua-boy, but we are not going to the high school football game tonight! I have a nice evening planned with games and a movie! We are all fighting a little cold, and there is no reason to drag everybody out in the cold weather tonight! It is a cuddle up inside kind of night to me! I can't wait!!
Labels: A Day in the Life. . .
Monday, November 02, 2009
Settling into the Week ~ Menu
Last night Erik carried my oldest son into our home sound asleep on his shoulder. It was so sweet, and even though they were only away from me for about 30 hours it felt as if I had not seen Joshua in a year! He looked so grown up even if he was sleeping like a baby in his sweet Daddy's arms! JCT and I fell asleep waiting up for them on the couch. So, Erik and I carried our sweet baby boys up to their rooms and tucked them in bed. I breathed deep of Joshua's clothes as I carried them downstairs to the laundry room ~ I missed him so much!
I missed Erik, too! He came home with gifts for us!! Guess what my gift was?? Two bags of candy corn!! I was so disappointed last week when I discovered that our local Wal-Mart was completely out of Candy Corn! And, now thanks to an Alabama Target, I am overflowing with my favorite seasonal candy!!!!
And, then this morning it was back to business as usual! Get up, get ready, pack a lunch, comb hair, check and double check backpacks, and kiss goodbye! I was left standing at the backdoor with two small children at my feet and literally 6 baskets full of dirty laundry to clean!!!!!! And, it is now after lunch and my beloved, ever-faithful dryer, is still going and going and going, accompanied by his friend the washing machine! Will I ever get caught up on things around here??? I am praying that one day this week I will have time to change out the boys' winter and summer clothes, so we can stop living out of bins! My home feels a bit more chaotic than I like right now, but my hands are tied. One day. . . one day. . . that is what I keep telling myself!!
As for meals this week. . .
Today: Since we didn't get to have a big breakfast together this weekend, I thought we'd have breakfast for dinner tonight! Pancakes, eggs, and fruit!
Tuesday: Chicken Enchilada, corn, and green beans
Wednesday: Church night ~ leftovers
Thursday: I have a late afternoon appointment in the medium sized town near us, so I will probably bring dinner home from one of our favorite restaurants!
Friday: Fall football game night ~ sounds like a good night for chili over yellow rice to me!!
Saturday: I bet we go out to dinner as a family this evening!
Sunday: I'll probably make salsa chicken over yellow rice to use up the rest of the yellow rice from Friday night!
I'm hoping this will be a peaceful, restful, catch-up kind of week for us. Let's see how it goes!
Labels: Weekly Menu
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Way to My Little Man's Heart. . .
We knew it would be hard.
But, we had no idea how hard.
Until it was too late. Tickets bought. Deed done. Time to leave. There was nothing we could do.
And, a little boy melted into a puddle of tears on the concrete of our driveway, and I held him back with two hands as he watched Daddy's truck pull off with Daddy and his big brother snug in seats, ready for their weekend adventure. Sweet JCT cried, "Daddy! Wait! Don't leave me! Daddy! I want to go with you! Don't leave me, DADDDYYY!!!" And, with every ounce of 4 year old strength, he tried to push me off of him. He wanted to run after Daddy's truck.
And, I cried with him, and I cried for every precious mother who has had to hold her son and listen to him cry every weekend or every other weekend or every once in a blue moon when his Daddy drops in for a visit and then once again leaves ~ son in tears watching truck pull away. How they handle that kind of pain I'll never know. Breaks my heart to think of it.
After Daddy's truck was out of view, we sat in the driveway, and I held him as he cried until he could literally cry no more. I think the thing that finally broke things up was a silly little dried up worm in our garage. I pointed out to him that the dead dried up worm was in the perfect shape of the letter S. He wanted a closer look. Then, he started looking for other dried up worms. And, as he snubbed and wiped his cheeks we walked around looking for more worms. All was well and good until I called Daddy to let him know that JCT had calmed down. And, while Daddy was on the phone with JCT, he realized that he left his wallet at home. JCT realized that this meant Daddy was coming back, and he wouldn't leave the driveway for fear he might miss Daddy coming back to "get him." I kept assuring him that Daddy was coming back for his wallet only, but he would not hear of it.
You see, the whole story is this. . . Our nephew, Caleb, loves Nascar. So, for Caleb, Jason (Erik's brother), and Pop's (Erik's Dad) birthdays, Erik bought them all tickets to this weekend's race in Talladega. Due to the price of the tickets and the fact that JCT still has trouble sitting still for long periods at ball games, etc., we decided that Erik would just take Joshua. We have always said that we wanted Erik to take trips alone throughout the years with his boys to build individual relationships with them ~ good one on one time. So, we just thought this would be the first. Sounded easy enough months ago, but not today. Oh, no. JCT begged all morning to go along with them. Erik kept assuring him that when he was 6 he would get to go on a trip by himself with Daddy. He assured him that they would do something very fun together, but he just needed to be a little bit older. JCT looked at his Daddy with big eyes and said, "Now, I'm not talking bad about Joshua or anything, but when it is my turn to go on an alone trip with you, I'm going to invite Joshua to come!" Erik's heart was broken for him. I think at that point if he could have gotten a ticket for JCT he'd have done it. He was so sad.
So, as JCT and I sat and waited for Daddy to come back for his wallet, I kept telling him that this was Joshua's weekend, and he just had to be patient his time would come. But, he insisted that he. was. going. "I got a race to go to," he'd tell me. And, I was just so sad for him. But, then I remembered the Pringles BBQ chips I bought for him earlier this week for just this occasion. He loves Pringles BBQ chips, and I almost never buy them. But, I did this week because I knew he would need a happy. So, I opened the back of the van and pulled them out of their hiding place.
His face lit up! "Now, these are for you," I told him, "But, you cannot open them until after Daddy leaves. And, I'm going to let you have one of Daddy's bottles of root beer (another huge treat that rarely happens), but you can't have it until Daddy leaves either."
Daddy came. Daddy left. No tears.
We went inside, opened the Pringles, screwed the lid off an IBC, and this is the sweet face I saw. . .
I guess it is true what they say. . .
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. . .
Happy as a clam.
And, now after a night of trick or treating with his little brothers, my sweet JCT is snug as a bug in my bed. Before I began this post, I went in to check on him and kiss his sweet sleeping face. And, now I sit with a glass of milk and a small stack of Halloween cookies a neighbor brought over earlier today. What a day! I hate it for JCT that he didn't get to go, but he will get his turn and so will Lijah and Erik Daniel. It is good for Daddy to get some alone time with Joshua, and for Joshua to get to hang out with his cousin. And, I'll tell you just like I whispered to JCT as we sat at Pizza Hut (JCT's choice) and ate our dinner tonight. . .
"I know you were sad not to go with Daddy today. But, I sure am glad you are here with me right now."
And, in response I got the sweetest silliest little sideways grin you ever did see!!!!!
Oh, he has my heart!!! He so completely has. my. heart!!!!!!
Labels: My JCT
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Up a Tree. . .
Kind of like up a creek. . .
That is the way this week started out for me. Too much to do in too little time. And, to be quite honest with you, I really do not like to be busy. I like to sip my coffee and smell the roses. I am not content in the rush, rush, hurry, hurry of life. I much prefer boring. Thus, I began this week stressed, frazzled, and downright unhappy. But, with a view like this out my living room window. . 
combined with several rainy days, how could I not find peace amongst the chaotic.
I don't have to look much farther than the eyes of my sweet children to see peace in the midst of craziness.
I don't know about other children, but mine don't worry much at all. They are quite content to trust my timetable which frees them up to find joy in the moment. They know that I (and their father) are in control, and they are submissive to that control (for the most part :-)). They trust us, and they are content to live freely within the boundaries set for them out of love. I could learn a lesson from them!There is something about this time of year that is so peaceful, so good. Our backyard is not at all fancy. We rarely, if ever, weed our flower beds, and there is a lot of landscaping yet to be done. But, our land is "natural" pretty, to me, anyway, especially this time of year. And, I find myself wandering the yard while the boys play ~ listening to the crunching of leaves beneath my feet and looking at all the brightly colored trees. My backyard is my favorite retreat. It is peaceful country, my sweet home where my children laugh and run and play, and I love it.
I love the swing set in the fall. . .
We have almost enough leaves to rake into piles and play in, but not quite! There are still a few trees that have yet to turn. Won't be long. I love to watch them fall when the wind blows, but I mourn the day when they have all fallen. It always comes much too quickly.
Anyway, I digress. . . Amidst the craziness of our busy week, we had a lot of fun, too. Joshua learned to climb a new tree, and he was so proud of himself! Most of the trees in our yard either have branches too high to climb or the trees, themselves, are too small to climb. He took out several small limbs on his way up this one, so I fear Daddy may put an end to his tree climbing days! That is why I made sure to get a few good pictures!
We discovered that we could make a broom stand up on its own and an egg. I'm not sure why? Maybe it has something to do with the time change? Is it the Equinox? I am not sure, but it was fun!
Thanks to Mrs. Donna for telling us to try it out!In other news. . .
I scream! You scream! We all scream for ICING!!!!
We, also, had a fun visit with an old friend of Erik's, Drew. I really love it when Drew comes to visit! He is so easy to have in our home. He comes about once a year, and he just fits right in with all the fun of our happy household!! The boys adore him! They were all over him, and he was so sweet and playful with them! He has a boy and two girls, and it is easy to tell that he is a great Daddy! 
Three mornings a week I have only two little men to keep me company, and it is sweet time, yes, sweet, sweet time! I love doing baby things with them. Lijah loves the attention he receives from me on those mornings! I took this picture to remember these sweet days. Here are my little buddies eating lunch together! 
And, last night our family went to our church's fall festival! It was very fun! The boys loved the costumes Erik surprised them with!! Go SEC!!!!!
Miss Megan, our faithful and sweet babysitter, made these cute bags for the boys to put their Halloween candy in! She is so artsy! I wish I was!!!!
The week is winding down now. Only one party left! Hooray! I told Erik that I missed the quiet days of old when we didn't have to get up and go, go, go all day ~ when I sat and held Joshua and watched Veggie-tales or played with blocks for hours. He wasn't very sympathetic. He said, "Well, you better get used to it. It won't be that calm and quiet again until they are all in college." And, I am certainly not ready for that! But, seriously where has time gone?
This last picture is for Deana B. She knows why.
Labels: Chronicles of a boy mama
