He's Home ! !

Dad is home! He was greeted in the airport with 4 smiling faces.
The littlest was napping in the suburban. I enjoyed the quiet!
Once they were all in the suburban there was no quiet.
Out for a late lunch and then home.
I have to tell....at the restaurant I suggested Flutter Nutter go with the guys to the bathroom. Dad eyes crossed and said, "He is in a diaper, that will be difficult." To which I looked at him and responded, "Yeah and your point is...? I have been doing this for how long flying solo."

I was blessed with a delightful nap later, I guess he thought I was a little cranky.

I think I need to follow up ! There is a time to stand against the mother.

Once we knew the house had not burned down I had a serious chat with my older children.
I have very good children.
For the most part well trained, at least the older ones. You might say wisdom comes with experience and age and they have learned obedience is best. As you might recall from an earlier post my eldest quickly submitted to my instructions to get in the car when she had cookies in the oven.
So during our little chat, I informed my older ones, there is a time and place to refuse to obey me. For instance if there are cookies in the oven and I am hurrying everyone out to the car. I warned them, I might get mad. They might get in hot water. However, once I realize they are not "defying" me to defy me but are trying to do the right thing they can count on their mother to apologize. Because, even though they are well trained and good children, it does get chaotic and at times it feels they are dividing and trying to conquer the mother. When I feel like they are all going but, but, but I do fail to stop and listen and just want everyone to do what they are told and NOW!
So with big eyes and new understanding hopefully are home will continue to stand and be here for more years to come.

Mr. Flutter Nutter

Mr. Flutter Nutter gets his name from the Skippyjon Jones books. http://www.skippyjonjones.com/

He likes to bounce and bounce on his big boy bed.

His ears are too big for his head.

His head is too big for his body.

He is not a Siamese cat.

He is a Chihauhau!

Most everyone thinks we are nuts.

However, we just adore these stories. The pictures are a riot! I may not like mice and frijoles. But I sure like jelly frijoles!

It's Like Christmas Eve Here!

14 hours and counting.
Praying for no flight delays. A has graciously offered to miss orchestra tomorrow, so we won't be late picking up dad. However, dad will have to collect luggage so I don't think he will have to wait long. Kids are bouncing off the wall excited! Restless and can't sleep. It is different when they get older though. This time my oldest asked, "Doesn't dad get paid extra for being gone?" "Ummm, sometimes."
Her reply, "Well that makes it worth it."
"So when we go to the Great Wolf Lodge can we get spa treatments and massages?"
To which big brother S replies, "That's a waste of money."
"It is not!"
"What if the massage isn't any good? Then it is a waste of money!"
Hmmm, I think he is calculating how many hockey games he might get to go to should we show him special favor.
Me? I am looking forward to sleep. Someone else to get up early with Flutter Nutter. He likes to get up before 6:00 am! I am looking forward to boys sleeping well cause Daddy is home.

Yep it is a Dot!

Having 5 kids is such an eye opener to life. You read about birth order and the characteristics of children. You think you got it all figured out. "Birth order" characteristics has less to do with the order you were born, but more to do with the fatigue of the parent and the parent's choices in where to direct their dwindling energy resources.

There are these young parents. They're idealists. They are going to read the books. They are going to do their research. They are not going to have kids like umm, you know who. Their kids are always going to do amazing things and be the perfect children. Yep! The first child is so smart, so advanced, cause, well Mom and Dad have no life. Their focus is on that child 100%. The child can't get away with anything. This child is such a dream, the parents think, ahh we have done such a good job. Look at what we have here. We gotta have another.

The planning, the dreaming. The friendship of the two perfect children.
Then baby comes. Your first sign is when the children don't sleep at the same time. The next sign is when your Perfect Firstborn realizes how smart he/she really is. Mom has baby, mom can't move as fast. Lets see how many cookies I can eat before getting caught!

They are friends, they like to say that's my sister and that's my brother. Ahhh, we have such wonderful children and let's have another. No one stopped to think 3 makes an odd number.
Next thing you know you are on this wonderful roller coaster of life with children and there are 5. You realize you never do the body part game with your youngest like you did with the older ones. By two they could name every body part, count to 10 and recite their ABCs, well almost. We better do the body game to just make sure he is on track developementally.
I ask D "what's that?" He looks at his naked torso. "My booby dot."
Snicker quietly. Again, I ask, "What is that?" Reply, "My booby dot." Hmmm, that accounts for 2 "thats".
Again, "what is that?"
"My booby dot."
By this time all are rolling laughing. he thinks this is great! (Does anyone say belly button? Nooo, it is booby dot!) I take a deep breath and can't help to go with the theme, I snatch him up and say, "NOOOOO, that is your tickle dot!" I'll make sure he knows his anatomy with in the next year. It sure is not an indicator of his intelligence. We know his brain is working. He knows exactly what to do to achieve the exact scream he wants from his sisters. He knows how to annoy his brother at just the perfect time. He can take his oldest brother down when he strategically plans his moves. Somehow, his brother N believes D can shove an eraser up his (N's) nose without him knowing about it until it hurts. That is a skill that just can't be taught. And well, Idon't have kids like you know who. I have my kids, and they are handfuls. They are frustrating and annoying. But they are so endearing, sweet and loving and I am so thankful to have them call me Mom. I am thankful they are growing in stature and wisdom and that they love our Lord, God.

I was never going to tell....

To understand what just happened, I must rewind to last Saturday evening.

The kids were driving me nuts. Someone broke the DVD player. All the clues point to "NOT ME". There was nothing on tv. 3 shaggy boys needed haircuts and at that very moment all appeared healthy. I ordered them all to the car for a mad dash to get haircuts before showers and bed so we could rise early for church.
There was some but...but...but... can I get, .... Any parent knows all those last minute details children have before they could possibly get in the car. However, my children are well trained by the time they reach school age. Mom says get in the car. GET IN THE CAR. So the buts were silenced fairly quickly.
In route I decide if we get done in time we'll go see WALL-E. I so don't want to be alone tonight at home with all of them. ;)
We went to WALLE. Great time by all. We pull out of the parking lot and my ever so very dear 12 yr. asks me, Mom did you take the cookies out of the oven.
Cookies? what are you talking about?
Never made it home so fast.
3 hours later our home stinks, our cookies are a lovely shade of black.
I am saying thank you God for protecting our home.
I am freaked out. One of my worst fears is a house fire and I can't get to my children. They have been taught since wee little how to escape. We go through a quick review. I turn the heater off, open the house and send them running for the covers. As I tuck in N, my 4 yr. old. I tell him if he hears the smoke detector wake brother and climb out the window. He gets a worried look on his face.... Does he get out first or me? Do I have to catch him? It doesn't matter just get out okay. Shall we pray and ask God to protect us tonight? So prayers said and sweethearts tucked in.
Fortunately, nothing else has happened.
Until today.
D needs a nap. N would be on his last life if he were a cat. So D is put down. N is advised to go lie down and rest for an hour. Next thing I know as I sit at the table teaching math to my 9 yr. old there is N in the backyard.
"I'm sorry mom for climbing out the window. I just couldn't sleep, and an hour is soooo long." Mind you it hasn't been 5 minutes yet.
"N, your mommy is so upset right now, the very safest place for you is lying on your bed. Now go."
I walk into the room. D is no where inside. He is outside contemplating his new found freedom in the neighborhood.
My children now have proven they know how to escape in the event of a fire. Now if only I knew how to escape.
Someone tie me up and throw me in the attic till Dad gets home! !

Grilled Cheeses Continued

It has been another leisurely day in Beach Gardens.
Hardy har har,
My princess A, my right hand, my babysitter finally fell to the vicious virus running through our home. She is a cess pool of infectious goo and we are steering clear. She is quite offended and hurt by our yielding of ten foot poles towards her in effort to save ourselves from this plague. We did however allow her to join us in our carriage and we took her to the doctor. While there they determined she needed to rest on the guilotene also known as a CT. "You're not scaring me, Mom. I know better." She has been slightly puny for a month now. So they were wanting a more definitive answer regarding her sinuses. SHe is beside herself with glee about being sick. Sickness means no 3 allergy shots this week. She missed last week cause Mom was sick. 2 weeks in a row. We will have to get her well quick, so we can resume torture and torment, maybe we can bump up to 6 shots a week to get caught up. Nah, she'd do something awful to me while I sleep.
But alas, what does this have to do with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
Since Princess had to go to the doctor. And princess needed medicine and it was late in the afternoon. We were unable to make Grilled Cheeses for dinner. So the next best thing. We went to SONIC! ! !
Went to hockey, and alas! Coach George forgot and stayed home to work on work. Coach George's wife was there and called to let him know his dinner date arrived. So N took his half of the sandwich and ate. Coach George's 1/2 of a sandwich was in the good hands of his family. With a message to N, that Coach would see him on Thursday.

To be continued.....

Talking to Daddy

Technology is a beautiful thing! ! My kiddos really miss their Daddy. (the date is wrong on my camera) A week ago we took these pics of D talking to Daddy on the phone. He didn't want his picture taken so he kept turning his back to us. He wanted HIS time alone with Dad and we were bothering him.
A finally got a shot of his face and he was staring mean at her. I fixed the red -eye, otherwise you might see a more accurate expression of what he thought of all the picture business.

Happy Birthday to ME !

No it is not my bday today! However, my present finally arrived. I received a lovely sum of money for my bday this year. There were many ideas of what to do with it. However, my darling husband told me this year the money was to be used for me. I normally incorporate monetary gifts into household funds or fun. He was adamant I use it for me. My hubby is turning into a techo geek every day. Lots of ideas. My head began to swim. He finally advised me on a laptop. It would be the most practical and helpful tool in my busy days, hopefully it will free me up more. Hopefully, because of my new found mobility I will be able to get my work done earlier in the day and get to bed at a decent hour. We shall see.

For now, IT IS PRETTY! OH SO PRETTY!

I knew the color was called "Blossom" I didn't know it would be Purple. So I am tickled I picked a purple mousie as well. Before, you think I am a nut. I purchased from the Dell Outlet. It lists the color of the computer. However, I was having trouble searching and pulling up a picture that showed me what "Blossom" looked like. Dell Outlet sells refurbished, dented/scratched laptops and New laptops that have been shipped and returned unopened/unused to Dell.

I sure wish there was a smiling, twirly flower to show how excited I am! ! ! Pretty Purple! ! Pretty Purple ! ! !

Grilled Cheese and Technicalities

Tonight we had hockey yet again.
A late practice to be sure.
Dear husband is still in Georgia. Its quiet there. He says he is homesick. I wonder what it is like to be homesick. His kiddos are homesick. They miss their Big-O Daddy-O.

So Big Brother suits up and hits the ice. The younger 3 run and play with friends. N quiets down and joins the adults where mom is chatting and learning details of upcoming practice sessions. N really hits it off with Coach George. He is off duty tonight and watching the practice. Every once in a while I peek at N talking with Coach George. Coach is so very tender and patient and just listening and responding to all the chatter. My heart melts and thanks God for this tender man who is being so kind to my son. My son misses his daddy so, and the last two days have been really rough.
As big brother gets off the ice, I am filled in on the plans for the evening. N has invited Coach over for dinner after practice. Never mind we already ate and it is almost bed time. On the menu : Grilled Cheese, Cow's Milk (cause N doesn't drink Rice Milk anymore! He has outgrown his milk allergy), Chips. And for Dessert --- Lollipops! N has also taken care of the travel arrangements. He was careful to tell Coach we would wait for him and he could follow us home.

Done ! Decided !

N and Coach go down stairs to the locker rooms. N to get Big Brother, Coach to get his player to take home. Finally, I have all 5 heads counted and together. I begin to herd them to the truck. At which point N stops me. We can't leave. "Wait for the man."
"What man?"
"The one who's coming for dinner."
"Not tonight."
"Yes, he is going to follow us home."
You can't argue with N. He is hard headed, maybe more so than his Dad. :)
"Let's go find him." and I send the rest of the crew to get loaded up.
"He was with that girl!" he says. Fortunately, "that girl" overheard and pointed N in the right direction. Voila, there is Coach!
Coach asks us if everything is okay.
With Mom eyes that say, humor us and help ME! "We are waiting for you, so you can follow us home."
AHHHHHHH, the light and gleam in his eye as he realizes what is going on.
"Ah buddy, I need to take a rain check." (Nathan has no clue what rain check means....he is staring this guy down with tenderness, suprisingly.) I gotta get this guy into bed, he has school tomorrow. I gotta go to bed. Maybe another time." N is not buying it a bit. His eyes tell the story. He is convinced we will be followed home.
I quickly suggest we make a grilled cheese to bring the next practice. AHA! That's the trick. N quickly says, "we'll split it!"
Yes! You can split it! ! ! !
Hurrah ! We are in the car and on our way.
Getting dressed for bed. "Can't go to bed, he is coming for sandwiches." No, not tonight. Remember we are taking a sandwich to practice next time.

Finally, in bed. Big - O Daddy - O please come home soon. Scrambled Eggs and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches desperately need you.

Sometimes I Dread Praying

Caught your attention with that title, didn't I?

Mealtimes here are such an adventure. 5 kids and you never know what will happen at the dinner table. However, I can guarantee there will be an attempt to pray before meals. Sometimes, though I cringe inwardly and think "lets just skip it this time". I am not the only one though. I think dear husband sometimes conveniently forgets as well. Before you begin to think less of us, let me feel you in on our dinner table routine.

Hey kids, set the table. Lets get things on the table.
"I wanted to do the silverware!" "No, I am suppose to do it!" "I want that napkin!" " I want to sit there!" Some where in all the bickering someone will remember to say, "You get what you get and don't through a fit." Then a chorus of you get what you get and don't throw a fit begins, as well as "Fine, if you are going to give me that, then you get this and don't throw a fit."
Before you think we need pointers on how to manage our brood, we do have assigned chores. However, there are ones who envy other chores and will quickly step in and take over if possible. There have been assigned seating positions as well. Yes, there are character training issues here. However, this post happens to be about praying.

Finally we are all the table. There will often be a quieting, as children start to shovel the food in. At which point, the Mom hesitantly says today, "alright lets pray."
"Heavenly Father..."
"Hey, I want to pray!"
"No, I want to pray!"
"Shhh, Mommy is praying." Right over their heads cause the next thing we hear is:
"I am going to pray for Jacob."
"No, I am going to pray for Jacob."
"NO, me!"
"No, he's my Jacob!"
Both of you can pray. Both of you can pray for Jacob. Jacob can use all the prayers you can say. Nothing derogatory meant by that of course.
"Mine!"
At which point, I try to shush and 2 prayers begin. "God, my Jacob, my Brett, my Jacob, my Brett, my daddy, my food, my Jacob, my Brett. AMMMMEEEENNNNN!"
The other one is praying "God, thank you for food, for Jacob, Brett, my Jacob, my Brett, Amen!"
Forks moving.
Mom begins to pray.......
AMEN

Somewhere in there my heart melts as my 2 year old and 4 year old desire to both pray. However, then I begin to cringe as praying has also become a competition. Neither one seems to understand they both can pray and God loves to hear them both pray. Sometimes I wonder if God is just laughing. He created these two and made them brothers. There could be worse things to fight over. And so, again tomorrow I will say "let's pray", knowing the prayer warriors will begin, a deep breath..... Amen

Some day they will understand the prayer warrior is something quite different.