Be Careful Out There

Yesterday I showed you how sweet and cuddly James can be.  For the sake of balance, I thought I would show you how destructive he is the rest of the time.  I love this Huggies commercial.  I love the expressions of horror on the adults' faces as the toddler runs gleefully through the house wreaking havoc.  It's such an accurate depiction of what life is like with someone in that age-group that I thought I would share it with you.  The actual commercial as it runs on television ends with someone saying something like, "Be careful out there."  I always try to take that warning to heart.

Love Makes You Real

Last night I read Ella the story of The Velveteen Rabbit, or How Toys Become Real.  I doubt I'm the first to think of how this delightful story of nursery room magic is applicable to people as well.  And I thought about being a mother last night as I read, about the miracle of new life nurtured and carried within my body for nine months, the hours spent providing sustenance for those sweet babies for the first year of their life, 30 pounds of weight gain, 700 hours of lost sleep, circles under my eyes...

Generally, by the time you are Real, 

most of your hair has been loved off,

and your eyes drop out and you get

loose in the joints and very shabby.

But these things don't matter at all,

because once you are Real you can't be ugly,

except to people who don't understand.

What We've Been Doing

This week has been a little busier than normal; thus, the absence of blog posts throughout most of it.  Sometimes it's hard for me to remember what I've been doing, but after sitting here thinking about it I can remember that...


Wednesday I did housework all morning, and T came over for a visit around lunchtime.  She stayed with the kids while I went to buy an ink cartridge for our printer.  I ran it dry last week printing off internet coupons, causing KJ to wonder if it would be worth it financially in the end.  We'll see.  Ella wanted to help T clean out her car, so it was just me and James for the rest of the afternoon.  I had forgotten how peaceful and easy life is with just one child's needs to meet.  We went outside to play for a little while, and I read outside for a little while longer after I put him down for his nap.  It was nice.  I also got cleaned up while he was napping, and we went to church in the evening.  

Pretty Curls

Thursday I decided to go to Birmingham with Hillary to visit her new niece in the hospital.  We took Ella with us, and it was fun to visit with Hillary's family.  Ann Elizabeth was definitely sugar and spice and everything nice.

KJ and I went to our couples Bible study immediately following my return, and then we had a few friends over later that night.  KJ impressed everyone with his knowledge of Tolkien lore as they pored over an atlas of Middle Earth.  Yes, we are that cool.

Friday I spent the morning at the grocery store.  I'm attempting to save money through taking advantage of Buy One Get One deals and using coupons.  It takes a little longer to shop, but I'm hoping it will pay off for me.  By that I mean that KJ has told me whatever is left over from our grocery budget is mine to use as I please.  I'll let you know how it goes.

I cleaned the house throughout the afternoon and prepared to make the amazing Barbecue Pizza we made last spring break.  It was amazing again.  After dinner we went for a walk around the block, enjoying the rise of the full moon.  Kameron and Olivia are in town for the weekend, so we enjoyed hanging out with them after the kids went to bed.  Unfortunately, the battery on my camera was dead, so there are no pictures from that, but here's the moon.

Are my moon pictures becoming repetitive?

I'm sorry.

The glory of the moon never dims for me, though.

Saturday is here already!  KJ is going to watch the kids while I take a walk, and then we'll enjoy some time at home, followed by more hanging out with these fun kids.

My meditation for the day:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow

will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.

- Matthew 6:33-34 -

Memory Verses

Here are the verses I've memorized this week:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, 

but with humility of mind regard one another as

more important than yourselves.  Do not merely

look out for your own personal interests but also

for the interests of others.

- Philippians 2:3-4 -

I just had to ask KJ for help with verse four, so I obviously need to review a little bit more.  Yesterday was  pretty busy, and I need to get to the grocery store.  We're out of milk and juice.  That's a minor emergency at our house.  At least I get to go to the store alone.  It's nice having help.  Oh, what help is that, you ask?  KJ's cousin, Hillary, is in the process of transferring back to school here, and for now will be around off and on for the next three months.  It makes a mother's life so much easier.

Bedtime Routines

Every parenting book out there will tell you the importance of bedtime routines for young children.  Routines provide structure that let children know what is coming next.  They should be calming and relaxing.  A common bedtime routine would be:  bath time, put on p.j.'s, read a book, and go to bed.  Bath time went pretty well.

Little did we know he had an escape plan for after his bath.

I only wish I could show you all the pictures from the chase that ensued.

Maybe if I hide under here, they won't find me.

Let me just pull this chair in so it will be harder to see me.

But eventually, the escapee was captured and diapered.

Oh, the shame.

Now that we've had our relaxing bath it's time to

put on our pajamas.

I'll get away next time.

Let's go, Ella.

Don't patronize them with a smile.

According to the bedtime routine guide, a nice bedtime story should be coming right about now.  But at our house, Ella wanted to play, "Sack."  I had never heard of this game, but Ella explained it to me.  First, you climb into a blanket and get wrapped up in it.

Then you swing around a few times before you wind up on the couch.

Apparently, it's really fun.

Now that everyone is relaxed,

it's time to go to bed.

Night-night, Mama.

The Great Outdoors and My Camera

Yesterday was the first sunny day we've had since I got my new camera. I was so excited to go out and start snapping pictures in all that wonderful sunshine.  Are there any other free-spirited mothers out there who used to say, "Hey, I want to go to the beach." And then you would grab a book and your car keys and head out the door? That's the kind of girl I was in college.  (Thank you, Dad, for paying for my gas.) But now I think to myself, "I want to go outside somewhere nice today. How about that state park I've never been to that's right up the road from my house?" Then, I dress the kids, change diapers, shower and dress, pack up snacks and drinks and diapers and wipes and extra bibs, grab my purse and my camera, and THEN we head out the door. Whew. It almost makes it not worth it. Almost. 


So we drive out to a playground surrounded by a lake sparkling in the sunshine, and I strap James in the baby swing, and he is delighted, and I turn on my camera, and the screen displays this message: "No Card in Camera." Are you kidding me? I left my card in the computer last night. I was so sad. And it wasn't like I could just turn around and go get it; I'd already paid my $3 entrance fee. But THANKFULLY, that is not where this story ends. In the one little square of earth where my phone had reception, I called Hillary who happens to be in town and has a key to my house, and she and her friend, David, so graciously brought me the object of my desire. Aren't you glad they did?

I don't think they were too sorry that they made the trip out.  It was a beautiful day.  We were also joined by another friend who really loves playing with my kids.  I was thankful yesterday for God's providence; I would not have stayed nearly as long or been able to let James run around as much without extra hands on deck.  It would have been no where near as pleasant as yesterday afternoon was.

And it was really pleasant.

Reading some news last night made me remember that not everyone had a pleasant day yesterday.  My thankfulness was multiplied.

Night Life

Hey!  Let's watch a movie.

How about this one?

Can I sit in your lap?

And dance?

Let's get nervous...

even though we've already seen this movie four times.

Then we'll all get really sleepy...

and be so thankful for this night.