Little Princess' Ninth Birthday!

So it has been a couple of months, but I finally did it!
The best part of waiting a bit to attack the pictures is the reminiscing. Sweet Memories. So grateful for Uncle Charlie and Aunt Tracy getting out there with the kids and the water balloons. Big-O-Daddy-O had a slipped disc and was out of commission. Lots of smiles and laughter. Good Birthday memories!

The BEST Quote Ever

Courtesy of Flutter Nutter:
" Girls are Gooder!"
"They are smarter"
Me: "Did you just say girls are gooder, cause they are smarter?"
FN: "Yeah! Duh! ! ! "
there you have it... girls are smarter, the words came out of a boy's mouth. :)

Learning a New Language

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself learning this new language.
Testosteronese
I have been a little slow at picking it up. But I had a break through tonight with Daddy's Buddy. He actually understood me the first time I spoke.

I need you to sit down proper in your seat. We are going 64 miles per warp speed. If I get to light speed you might fly out the window.

He sat.

The tension in the suburban was thick. Would Mom make it it time? We were 3 minutes from the start of the new Clone Wars episode. I was doing all sorts of warp speed down the highway. Threatening to slow down out of warp speed if children did not remain safely seated and buckled into their seats.

Then there was "Hold on, I am making a warp speed turn."
To which Fun Mom corrected me, "Light speed turn."
I will rejoice in the one success today. :)

In All Things He Works Good....

I have lived a life that I could easily allow to overwhelm me. I could easily just give up and let the storms overwhelm me. Instead, I have entrusted my life to the One who created it, the One who knew me in my mother's womb, the One who knitted me together. It hasn't always been easy. I find myself often saying to my Lord, "Ok, just use this for Your glory Lord, just use it. It hurts and I don't like it, I wish it wasn't to be this way, please don't waste this hurt, use it for YOUR glory." Through the storms, I hope I have gained wisdom, the ability to extend grace and love. Human as I am, I do struggle with my flesh, but I do long for His good and perfect will and plan for my life.
In the midst of this last week, God has restored unto me what I thought the locusts had eaten and destroyed many years ago. My heart is full. About 20 years ago, there was a great divide in my family. One that left me feeling very alone, orphaned and lost. I felt there wasn't a one who would know if I went missing. Anger abounded, and I felt much of it focused on me. And I didn't know how to fix any of it. Through it all, my Lord knew me, He loved me, and He heard my cries. A couple of years into this season of seperation and anguish he restored unto me memories of happy and wonderful times, memories I had lost in all the pain. Memories, I cherished through the hard times because I knew it wasn't always this way. I knew God heard my cries, I knew his tender loving mercy in giving me back my good memories. In His time and mercy, he has healed the wounds and allowed for restoration over the years. It has been a gradual process. It has never been on my time table or my doing. Never has it occurred as I woul dhave planned it out. Funny how that works.
This past week, I have found myself thanking my Heavenly Father for how he has orchestrated this week. My sister was visiting with her children, when my father needed to be hospitalized. He was in really bad shape there for about 24 hours. Now, we are in the waiting period for his body to heal well enough for him to go home. The two of us, as sisters, were able to join together and take care of things. I wasn't alone in facing this storm of life this time. Not that I would ever have been, my Father is always there, but it is good to have a sister, it is good to have earthly family. God, afterall, put us in families for a reason.
During this time, I have had the opportunity to sit quietly with my dad and sister and visit. There was no way 8 children could join us in the hospital. So with God's arrangement of peace and no distractions from 8 charming children we found ourselves together. So in the midst of pain and suffering, there has been joy, peace and healing. Time to share and heal more than just a broken body. Time to heal a relationship with a grandmother, I have been unable to speak to for 20 years. Time to heal relationships between sisters and a dad. My heart is overwhelmed with the restoration of relationships I had long given up on ever having. Humbled that even though I had given up and lost hope that there would ever be reconciliation, my Heavenly Father IS and Forever WILL BE working all things together for His glory. In His time and my lifetime, I have experienced these reconciliations and my children, will know the ones I have loved throughout my life, for this I find myself in tears, grateful and feeling my humbled, blessed, loved and cared for.

Flutter Nutter and the Girls

We recently celebrated the "end of the year" with our homeschool group.
A family dinner/picnic. I almost backed out at the last minute. Not that I didn't want to go, but getting in the car with my group is the hardest part. Once we are on our way, we have a great time. But the getting out of the driveway is the hardest part. Plus, I was not caffeinated. Caffeinate me and I will be ready to take on whatever I can.
Once there, the kids found their friends and started having a fun time. We (the parents) had to quickly intervene. I had to tell my children no emergency room visits that night, so please keep their feet on the ground.
Flutter Nutter was in his element this particular evening. I think he is the only boy his age in this group and he loves every minute. He is a ladies man and it is quite embarassing to this momma. He knows all of Fun Mom's friends think he is adorable and he works it, oh how he works it. He lived it up this night and was surrounded by girls. One look at his smile and it was easy to tell, he had the situation figured out. Fortunately, he wasn't asking for kisses.
The evening was filled with another suprise. I discovered Hockey Player knows how to play volleyball. He was holding his own very well. Parents/kids broke up into teams. I hung out, took pictures and enjoyed seeing my kids individuality shine through. Often they get lumped into the "Crew", but times like this, I just like to observe and take it all in.

Happy Birthday Papa!

Recently we celebrated Papa's birthday!
We put out a fire, and it wasn't on the cake!
We watched Big-O-Daddy-O rescue a glider with a softball.
Papa had fun with Frick and Frack (aka Fun Mom and Little Princess)
Fun Mom thinks she can take Papa on, he very gently reminds her who Papa is.
Little Princess has a tendency to talk so fast, we wonder what language she is speaking and Papa gets big-eyed and confused!
Ribs were well-done but delicious. 4 little ducks hovered around Big-O-Daddy-O sqwacking for the next bite. One bite for BODO, 8 for the ducklings, and so on...

What to do with a bored 4 year old!

I tried, oh how I tried to entertain him. I thought I had him occupied and I went to clean out my closet. Then I heard Fun Mom exclaiming, "Oh Flutter Nutter ! Oh! You are definitely 4 years old! You are 4 years old! Oh my!"
Not words I really wanted to hear.
I wasn't in a hurry to see what happened.
I could tell it couldn't be good. I knew he wasn't in danger, but I REALLY DIDN'T want to know.
But Fun Mom felt I must...
He found the scissors...
Flutter Nutter told me, "I didn't like the spiky hairs" His bangs and how they laid on his forhead...
We are now 5 for 5 on this wonderful experience of parenthood.

Exploration Place Apr. 2010 part 1

So we went to Exploration Place a couple of days ago with friends.
There will be more photos to share, but for this post, 8 kids and 1 tornado simulation tube equals more laughter and giggles than could be imagined!
We had to pry their fingers from the door so some of the other visitors could experience being blown away.

Valentine's Party 2010

This year I wasn't too excited about Valentine's Day. But my kiddos reminded me through their actions they are getting older. With very little involvement on my own, they made the Valentines and got stuff organized for the party! Sometimes, I just see these fun moments as just more work. So when my kids take the reins and show me they are growing up and can handle some of the details on their own, I get to step back, relax and enjoy the moments of their growing up. I find at times now, I am less "busy" providing them with occassions to do and instead more busy watching them demonstrate what they can do. A nice little twist. A little bittersweet. But I won't get all sad and melancholy about it. They will grow up, that is how it is. I want to enjoy each moment. Even if it means, they are showing me how grown up they are.

Humor on the Road...

So I gotta share this but of humor.
We were in KC this weekend. Near the ice rink we spent most of our time was an assisted living place. This was their sign:

(No pictures...the guys would not have been impressed if I had asked them to stop so I could take a picture...there was hockey to play!)

Sunrise Assisted Living
with a special neighborhood for the memory challenged

Gotta love the very diplomatic way of referencing senility, memory lapses and 'senior moments'.

My next favorite humorous tidbit:

Saturday after 2 vigourous games and a light lunch we went out to dinner.
Hockey Player inhaled his dinner and looked at me and told me he was still hungry.
I gave him half of what was left on my plate.

Then I asked Big O Daddy O if he was going to finish his steak.

Let me preface this with, BODO, has been very supportive and encouraging

to Hockey Player in gaining weight. Want a bowl of ice cream?

Sure, have 2 bowls. Want 2 burgers? Sure, have a third.

So BODO's response to sharing with Hockey Player was a little shocking!

BODO: Yeah, I am going to eat it! No way, I am going to share!
BODO: Hey, Fun Mom, you have anything left? Share with your brother.

Don't let a growing child get in between BODO and his steak.

Flutter Nutter and Hotels...

We recently learned that Flutter Nutter is a "responder".

If we are unhappy he is unhappy. If we are calm, he will be somewhat calmer. Hard at 4 to be calm. :)

No truer is the "Responder" definition than when he stays in a hotel.

Last night, after lights out. He would bounce out of bed saying, "I hear laughing!"
"I hear people!" He can reach the light switches, so on goes the light. Shortly after the light is out again, I think after he realized we were all in bed and ignoring him. A little more bouncing to match the laughing, and "I can't sleep". To which dad finally says, "Lay down and go to sleep."
I try to smother my giggles....he just said, "He couldn't sleep."
This morning as I type....He is snuggled with his blankie, lying down watching tv. A nap in the future?

Happy Birthday Daddy's Buddy!

**a quick side note** Daddy's Buddy dug into the present pile while Flutter Nutter was in his room getting dressed. He started with the present from Kelly cousins.
As soon as the words Indiana Jones were spoke, Flutter Nutter came running. He was soo excited, he couldn't get his shirt on straight, it was backwards and then the arms and the head hole and it was just crazy. Who thought to make shirts so complicated? Didn't they know boys have more important things to figure out, like Indian Jones Legos!

Birthday Sayings....

Today is Daddy's Buddy's birthday.
He is 6!
He is not my little baby anymore.
It is like pulling toenails to get hugs at bedtime. Don't even ask for kisses.
He does like to surprise me every once in a while with a hug of his own or snuggles.
This morning started with the question,
"Do you feel any different?"
DB: "Yes, bigger."

The morning quoteables didn't stop there.
When asked, "What do you want for lunch?"
DB relpied, "Steak and ribs!"
I just fell over wanting to die. Where did that come from?
Fun Mom asked, "Do you even know what ribs are?"
DB: "Yes"
FM: "Where did you learn about ribs?"
DB: "Last night."
The light bulb clicks on. Fun Mom informs me that while I was at hockey practice they were watching BBQ Pitmasters on TV. The boys were oohing and ahhhin over the food being shown. It didn't suprise me, I had instant flashbacks to Hockey Player a few years back. He loved to watch the cooking shows. He had lots to say and ideas of what to make in the kitchen. He even concocted his own recipe for Sugar Pie, that we just had to make. We did. Fortunately for me, I was pregnant and on a restricted diet so I was unable to try it. :)
Steak and Ribs...my boys are going to kill the grocery budget in a big way.

Then we moved onto presents. He was so excited about his "mother load"
The present to be all presents.
The Spark Scooter.
Mom, "Are you excited?"
DB: "Of course I am, it shoots sparks." all said matter of factly. What could I have been thinking?

Just before going to see Grandpa, he came into my room, hugged me and told me this is the best birthday ever. It isn't even lunch yet. So glad it is the best birthday ever for my young man.

OOOOoooooLa La !

Big~O~Daddy~O took Fun Mom shopping for my anniversary gift.
I don't know who likes it more.
Fun Mom just can't contain her excitement and if she could
she would probably pull me around by the chain to show everyone.

There was no big flourish of presentation by my dear hubby.
Fun Mom just started asking, "Can I get it? Can I get it?"

She just couldn't wait.
She has been hiding the box for almost 2 weeks.
She begged to give it to me sooner.
I couldn't resist torturing here and saying I would wait till my anniversary.
I think it was worth the wait.

15 Years and counting....

I never imagined myself getting married. I never imagined where I would be in 15 years. I always found it hard to imagine and fathom the future. 15 year laters, a few more wrinkles, a few gray hairs (not me of course) and 5 children later I often find myself speechless. The journey the Lord has taken me on has been far beyond anything I could imagine. I am ever so grateful for a loving God who knows the plans He has for me. Ever so grateful for the man he set apart and chose for me. I was challenged once to make a list of what I would want in a husband.

It was a short list. 3 items. I definitely lacked in imagination, dreaming and looking ahead.

1. A man who was good at Math ( I struggled with geometry and calculus. I knew I would like to homeschool and would need some help there.) 2. A man who could cook. 3. A man who would not try to fix or put pressure on me about my broken family and past.

I could add now, a man who loved me with all his heart. Who didn't quit. Who would be his children's champion. A man who would sit and share God's Word with the littlest, the oldest and all in between of his children. A man who would be my opposite and compliment. I the same for him, so we could balance one another. But for what I couldn't imagine and fathom, God knew and He brought us together.

Since this week has been one filled with numbers, here's a few more:

15 years of marriage

14 ~ the day we were married

one 13 year old

12 months of laughter every year

11 bazillion times a day I am grateful my beloved wants me to be able to stay home

one 10 year old

9 hours a day we are apart

one 8 year old

7 days a week I am grateful for my husband

one almost 6 year old

5 amazing children

one 4 year old

3 ~ the number our marriage stands on

2 ~ I DO's

1 Family

It is not so bad...

When you are the mom and sick. You climb into bed with "Max and Ruby" on TV.
Then Flutter Nutter climbs into bed to snuggle with you.
Get a little bit of work done on the computer.
Answer a few school questions.
Get lots of sweet snuggles.
Ahhh, maybe I should milk this for the whole 10 days I am on antibiotics. LOL!

Sinus Infections....

are really annoying.
I have another one. Will have to call the doc tomorrow.
But for now, I feel cruddy and am truly annoyed.
I take my allergy medicine.
I do nasal washes.
I drink elderberry juice.
I got what I thought was a minor cold. 24 hours later I have a full blown sinus infection. What I don't understand is how it is possible to breathe through one's nose and not be able to do a sinus rinse because the swelling is so bad? When I am finally able to reduce the swelling, why is it nothing comes out? The pressure is there, cause all I want to do is bore a hole into my cheek to relieve the pressure. For now, I am giving comic relief to my family. The jokes about my snoring and how hard I am sleeping. The crazy dreams I am having...cruises in the Mediterranean as comic strip characters?!? LOL