It makes me kinda wonder....

Hmmm, I just rediscovered this post that I never posted...

Tonight, I was in the mode to make waffles for dinner. But then my tummy started flip flopping. ?? Haven't figured that one out. Unless, of course it was meant for another wonderful blogging tale to share. :) So I am doubled over and not sure what is wrong and I holler for Fun Mom to help start the waffles. Seeing, we have to be on the road in 40 minutes, at least a few of the crew would get started on dinner.

Little while later Fun Mom, comes in to share the time with me. I tell her I will do my best to get her to church on time. Still doubled over.

She comes back about 5 minutes later, very calmly.

"Mom, there was flames shooting out of the back of the waffle iron. I unplugged it, nothing else was damaged. The flames got close to the cookbook and cd player, but they are fine. "

Totally dumbfounded, trying to pull myself together. I had her run some water in the bathtub, put the waffle iron in the water (not plugged in, of course) and out the door we went.

Call Big-O-Daddy-O.

Tell him, I am trying to decide what to do about dinner. Seeing there was a fire in the kitchen, do I go buy a new waffle iron or do a drive-thru?

BODO: "Ummm, is the kitchen ok??"

I had to quickly explain the fire to him.

He is relieved and said it was a drive-thru night.

But what gets me is the calmness of my daughter. I think she has lived in this family too long. Is that possible? Is our life so eventful, that she doesn't freak out when there is a fire in the kitchen? I knew she had first aid down pat when she started bringing the neighbor kids down the street to our house to patch them up, but this...???

So I am trying to figure how many fires we have had in our kitchen...

I can only think of one in the oven. God was gracious and merciful, because shortly before that one happened, I had read an article about kitchen fires. It said if there was a fire in the oven, keep the door shut and it will extinguish itself. It did! !

So now I wonder what God might be preparing Fun Mom for in life?

Disaster Relief

Crisis Intervention/Prevention

Emergency Room Worker of some kind

A mother to a brood of wild and crazy children, more so than her siblings

Late Night Snacking....

This is what happens when the beast is let in while I am working downstairs and not ready to go to bed yet!

Do you think he found the snack he was looking for?

I don't think so...
The trash can was remarkably clean by
the time I got upstairs.

BUT !!

This time he didn't get on top of stove
to get these delightful little
leftovers!

Tears

It has been a teary week.   First it started with realizing this would be Hockey Player's final official year of Awana.  Should he finish his book this year, he will earn his Timothy Award.  That took me down memory lane.  Cause with our club, they always ask parents what they will remember  most.  I can't help but remember Fun Mom's Timothy Award. 
These two kiddos are intrinsically "tied" together when it comes to Awana.  Cubbies came into our life as an answer to desperate momma prayers.  I wanted something to help me teach my sweet toddler "Fun Mom" about Jesus.  Pregnant with Hockey Player, my then 3 year old Fun Mom started going to Cubbies.  Beginning my journey of learning how to sit, walk, and live my life while teaching these precious children about God.  I had no idea, that a month into her first year of Cubbies, I would be laying in a hospital room in organ failure with dangerously high blood pressure, scared doctors and being induced. I was actually admitted, shortly after taking her to Awana.  I thought I was just going to get checked and sent home.  I wasn't scared when they told me I needed to be induced.  All I could think on was the Bible verses I had been helping my little Cubbie to memorize.... "All have sinned.."  "While we were sinners, Christ died for us..."   "God loved us and sent his son..."   I was asked once by my dear sister how it was I had the presence of mind to quote scripture at a time like that.  I had no real answer for her.  Many years later and many more life experiences later, my answer would be different....practice.  When I spend my time focused on God's Word, it is only natural it comes to mind when times are desperate.  Not that I can honestly say, I have done it "right" all these years since.  I have had my times of distraction, to only realize how distracted I have become because when I am desperate again and there are cobwebs where there should not be.  A reminder for why we are encouraged by God's Word to not grow weary in doing what we know is right (Gal. 6:9).

So as I dwell on my second's growing up and the faithfulness of God in his life, my littlest is starting kindergarten at home.  He graduated Cubbies last year and is starting in Sparks.  So ever glad, I am not sending him off on a bus.  I think it would be even harder on this momma .  My littlest girl turned 10.  She will, hopefully, be trying to earn her Timothy Award next year.  Daddy's Buddy is graduating Sparks this year.  So many milestones, so many reflections. 

A blessed reunion with extended family this weekend. Only six of the "greats" (3 + spouses) are still around.  God showed me how very much I am loved by my extended family.  Something I have known, but I saw it with my heart this weekend.  Made me a bit weepier.  With a childhood torn apart by divorce and lies of this world I sometimes can get lost in bad memories and then God so gently reminds me of the good memories and blesses me with the many grandparently hugs I have been missing for so many years.  I have a place where I belong. 

Then a phone call from my dad. 
My heart tells me maybe I shouldn't put off for another year what can be done now.  It is time for some more memory making. 
Tears, a little heart wrenching at times, soothing at others, joyful still.  But never unnoticed by my Heavenly Father.  May I always rest in the palms of His hands.

My Brain made me do it....

I haven't blogged much...
We got a dog.
We started school.
Big O Daddy O hurt his back (We learned yesterday he has a bulging disc in his lower back)
throw in 5 kids and the activity level of mine and there is not much left of this momma at the end of the day.
Nerves are shot. Sense of humor has become quiet concerning. I actually enjoy watching the dog get shocked from either his bark collar or the new electric fence meant to reinforce the command, "Stay".
I tore the back garden out so the fence people could lay the underground fencing/wire.
And Voila, set off a huge allergy flare. Eyes, nose, throat and skin....I am doing okay. Praying I won't need the steroids.
We celebrated one birthday and that post, well it will be coming before she turns 10. LOL. Getting ready to celebrate another.
Just learned hockey season will be starting up for us real quick. Tryouts start in a week. UGH, oooh, I meant YEAH !
Just to add a little more drama into explaining why I haven't been posting, the ghost "NOT ME" stepped in dog doo and tracked it all over the house. "NOT ME" also climbed onto one of the beds and wiped dog doo all over the mattress.
So off to the store to rent a carpet shampoo-er....
Just another month of craziness in my life...
However, I have not even started to explain the title of this post, so lets begin.
I am shampooing the carpet. Hockey Player is finally vaccuuming one of the rooms so I can shampoo it as well. Did I say finally... well the were kids asked, told, and told, and then mom blew. But it got done. Just as the vaccuum started there was a pop, the lights flashed and a slight blurble through the house. Then all was good. I didn't think anything of it.
That was until, Daddy's Buddy has anguish on his face and Big O Daddy O is asking what happened? Show me what happened? So I know something big has happened. I go immediately into denial, because I have plunged toilets this week, the dishwasher has broken, and the garbage disposal needs to be fixed as well...and did I mention BODO has a bulging disc that comes with a lot of back pain and he is pretty much useless in his role as Handy Man of the House right now. Because I am in denial, I keep shampooing. Because...I can do something about disgusting carpets.
Then the story comes tumbling out in BODO's hand lays a burned up, blackened contorted paper clip. 5 burned little fingers with blisters. Pointing at an outlet.... Tears...
"I won't do it again."
I dump the water. Pick up the phone and call the Nurse line. Nurse says, "Get him checked out at the hospital."
Off we go to the doctor's office, closer than the hospital and cheaper. Did I mention everything is falling apart and I just rented a shampoo-er. I am going to penny pinch if I can. He is not in life threatening distress yet. Have to explain he has been electrocuted, to my favorite nurse. The one I haven't seen in a year or so, she laughs and says, "I can see your life hasn't calmed down any." More phone calls. EKG? Protocols... I look at Daddy's Buddy and shake my head.
DB: "I don't think I am going to do that every day." (deadpanned, serious, straight faced. He's not joking."
ME: MY JAW DROPS, AND I LOOK AT HIM LIKE DUH, "HOW ABOUT NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, AGAIN!"
DB: looks at me like I have just crushed his feelings.
DB: I didn't want to do it.
ME: Where did you get the idea to do it?
DB: I didn't get the idea, my brain did. My brain told me to do it. If I didn't do it, my brain would blow up.
ME: Next time your brain tells you something, come tell me. I will talk to your brain.
DB: My brain can't be talked to.
ME: OH yes it can, I gave birth to that brain and I have super mom powers, I can talk to brains.
As we leave the doctor's office with 5 bandaids and a blown over stressed momma who needs some serious chocolate,
DB says, I think my brain got the idea from "Myth Busters"
ME: No more watching "Myth Busters!"

I love DB, I love his big head. Seriously, he has a big head. Doctor who delivered him even said so. I love his head. But his brain just might have to go.
And sooo, this is why my posts are far and few between these days. I need to go wind down some so I can sleep tonight and face yet another day tomorrow. Praying and Hoping BODO returns to normal health soon.

Rock River Rapids Water Park !

Yesterday Rock River Rapids offered free admission to the military and their dependents. Big-O-Daddy-O's boss let him have the day off to take the family.
We headed out mid afternoon. Arrived around 3:30 and boy was the park busy!
The excitement, tears, blood, fighting amongst the little brothers yielded to looks of euphoria as they got their first (second, actually since RRR offered this last year as well and maybe the year before) look of the park.
No pictures, I wanted to enjoy this trip with the two little boys and Fun Mom. I didn't want to have to worry about the camera.
We are missing Hockey Player and Little Princess, but this trip to the water park was significantly less stressful. Amazing how when you only have to count 2 instead of 5 regularly how much easier it is. Before you comment on my math, we don't worry so much qbout counting Fun Mom when there are 3 as we do when there are 5. The more taller people there are, the more confusing it can be in the counting when short one person...trying to figure out which one is missing and saying the correct name as well. So much easier than to count to 5 instead of 4. But even easier counting to 2!
My math skills are amazing aren't they.
But back to RRR. Everyone had a great time! This is how I know:
Flutter Nutter was head banging to the tune of Zzzz's within 10 minutes in the car. Flutter Nutter after dinner was sent to get his jammies on. This he did and then disappeared. Found him curled up on his bed with his blankies sawing logs. Slept till 8:30ish this morning. (Roughly 12 hours)
Daddy's Buddy slept 12 hours and didn't argue about going to bed.
Fun Mom at 9:00 am still in bed.
BigODaddyO at 9:00 am still in bed.
THE MOM was in bed at 9 pm and up at 700 am. Anyone who knows me, knows I tend to stay up late...midnight/1:00 AM Late. Not last night. ;)

Before we left for RRR Daddy's Buddy was certain the waterpark would be fun, but not near as much fun as Hockey player was having at camp. Now he thinks RRR is more fun than camp!

The Tests of Friendship

I have a dear friend.
She has a great sense of humor.
She has determination, grit, spunk, humor. She is kind. Her kids are friends with mine. That is an amazing feat in of itself, considering they nicknamed one of my children after the Terminator. We garage sale together.
We laugh together.
But she has learned one thing we don't do together anymore is run.
I love the idea of running. I love the fantasy that flashes through my mind's eyes once or twice a year. Running, alone, no kids, the pavement, the exertion...
However, I am not a teenager anymore. I haven't run consistently in a loooong time.
I have no desire to go through the pain I would have to go through to get there.
I will admit a couple of months ago, every night at 1130 I was having this deep desire to go run. One night, hubby was home and I just decided to go run. His jaw hit the floor. It was great. I did a whole mile never stopped. Felt great. Walked. Showered, went to bed. I could barely move the next day. The second day after was worse. My life doesn't stop while I recover from these crazy whims. My kids though proud of me, didn't like the sore grouchy mom they had around.

So this wonderful friend call me up and tells me she is in need of no children time. She needs adult time. OK. I am a mom, I get it, totally up for it! I even suggest Braums, ice cream is good. I knew her answer... NOOOO, she does no carbs, no sweets, no chocolate. I should be more like her.
"Lets go running." I laughed at her. OH, I laughed at her. Did I ever mention she is the cheerleader type. Super happy, cheerful, exuberant, encouraging, believes you can do it no matter how absolutely insane the idea is... YEP! That is my friend.
She knows I am not going to run, so she pulls out her wild card. You can ride a bike along with me while I run. Now, I won't mention how long it takes her to run a mile... just that slow and steady wins the race. She thinks I can keep pace with her on the bike. She just worries, I will fall over cause I am going so slow.
So thinking it will be a short trek through the neighborhood I agree.

So I borrow Fun Mom's bike, much to her dismay when she discovers later. I have yet to mention, when Fun Mom gets in one of her moods, I am a bit of a weenie and take the easiest way out. So this time, to make things a little bit more pleasant when she finds out, I haven't moved the gears or the seat. Well, Fun Mom is a bit SHORT in the leg department. Fun Mom is newly 14 and has the gears set to quite a challenging level.
This dear friend of mine, doesn't tell me until we are halfway, that oh, by the way, we are going to Dillons....
What ? ? ?
But by then, the ride is feeling good. My worst fear is crossing the highway.
All is good until 2 blocks from Dillons. My legs are getting a little tight.
"Know how far we are going?" I am asked.
I am guestimating 3 miles.
"Nope, I will tell you later." and she laughs, not a psychotic crazy laugh, but it might as well have been!

Now all would be good if we were riding through neighborhoods, but NOoOOOoooOOOO we are riding down one of the main streets in our neck of the woods. Not that there are hills in Kansas, but there are occassional inclines along the way. This cheerful, exuberant, fabulously ridiculous friend of mine is cracking jokes. We are making quite a site, me on my bike, she is riding along... and did I say the gears were set for QUITE a workout!

So we would inevitably get to one of those "inclines" when we were laughing so hard, how she could keep running, I had no idea, I looked like I had been sipping the Elderberry juice a bit too much. But I would get stuck, and start laughing all the more. Wouldn't you know, the cheerleader she is, would fall back behind me and start pushing, which would make me laugh all the more. All this is done on this super busy street, which got me to laughing all the more. Not a bit of pride is left in me at this point.

So we are halfway into the return stretch and the hurt is kicking in. I do not want to SIT on a bike anymore! But I don't want to look silly walking a bike home... NoooOOOOooo I don't want to look silly. Because I already look absolutely hysterical laughing and carrying on while trying to ride a bike that my running buddy is pushing from behind.

We finally return to my home. One hour and 24 minutes later. 7.25 miles later.
I could barely stand. I walk and walk and walk and walk. I had to walk more than I did after running. I had to sleep with ice packs all night.

I am laughing. I am crying. I only sit on nice cushy chairs. My knees feel like my sons whacked them with baseball bats.

I think I am done biking... To which the cheerleader says, but if you ride 13 more times, your body will have adjusted and it won't hurt so bad. This pain means you just need to do it more! Have I mentioned she is 7 years younger than me. My daughter turned 14 today. My husband told me I couldn't tell people I was 29 years old, because then he might have to go to jail. My kids have discovered that I am not mid-30s but late 30s now. Friends at church were shocked to hear I was even still in my 30's cause after all my daughter is starting high school next year. Aiy, it is good to have friends, even the young ones who help us to laugh at our aging selves.

** New Looks for Spring **

This past weekend, we had girl time.
I had one girl asking to garage sale. Another wanting/needing shoes. I had a few errands and a hair appointment. While I was having my hair moment the girls checked out the books. Both found styles they just adored.
But there was absolutely no way, I would get their hair cut without consulting Dad. Dad wasn't answering his phone. So we tried Papa. Papa said NO!, he liked long hair. Eventually Dad returned our calls.
If you have seen the recent spring videos of the girls, you will notice their hair was much longer than it is now. I knew these changes would be coming, it would just take a day when we were all ready and could put the girls in hands we could trust. I am chicken when comes to changing hair styles. I just don't want to go for it and have it turn out not like I hoped. But I was the one encouraging shorter, shorter, a little more shorter. Wonderful hair stylists who knew how to compromise between mom and daughter and how to get a cut that works for a girl's/mom's lifestyle and hair type. My girls are thrilled! That is what counts the most!
5 inches and 7 inches later, dad has survived and likes his girls' new looks!
We haven't seen grandpa yet, don't know if he will survive this or not!

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...