There's No Denying It...

I remember being pregnant with my first child (Noah) and dreaming of who he would look like. Then with my 2nd baby (Eli) I wondered if he'd look like Noah...the answer to that was no. Then with Jake I wondered if the baby would look like one of his brothers, or totally different. Turns out, he looks a little like both of them.

Here's a pic of all three (as if you haven't seen them before ;)

The general reaction though, when people see Eli (middle), is "You look like your daddy!"

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he looks like his daddy is generally the reaction in my head :) I think it's adorable that my boys look like their daddy...after all, I happen to think he's quite handsome BUT I did carry each of them for 9 months...puked my guts out the first couple with each baby...gained and lost an enormous amount of weight each time...and managed to push each one out (with the help of an epidural of course.) JUST ONCE it might be nice to hear..."Man, that one really looks like you!"

That doesn't happen.

On Tuesday, Ben's mom sent home these two pictures of Ben when he was a little boy.

And here's Eli (holding his cousin):

And when I saw the pictures, I said "Eli, you look just like daddy!" Go figure ;)

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Carry On...

While Noah was busy scoring his first touchdown in flag football, his brothers were busy doing this...

And this...

No...I did not feel the need to ask Jake if he'd eaten some dirt...I think it's fairly obvious.

I'm the mom who was actually relieved that there was something for them to do so I could watch the game. ;)

Carry on boys...carry on.

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Where Has My Coolness Gone?

How can it be happening already.

Noah, my first grader, is acting like an adolescent.

*gasp*

We were at a restaurant eating, and Eli stood up and did something silly (typical) and Noah said to him, "Eli, people know you're my brother and when you do that, it embarrasses me, STOP."

Ben and I gave each other the "are you kidding me?!?" look.

I did what any loving and totally sympathetic mother would do, I told him "get used to it." and then proceeded to tell him that "someday even mom and dad will embarrass you...on occasion."

And do you know what my child, my 9 lbs 13 oz first born said to me?!?

"you already do sometimes." and then he giggled.

Sucker punched...right in my jiggly mommy belly...by my seven year old.

I proceeded to explain to him exactly how cool his mom and dad were...and he stared at me and then returned the favor of the "are you kidding me?!?" look.

Surely I should be able to keep my cool factor till at least Junior High...but first grade...that hurts :)

Friday night we went to our first home football game and I wanted a picture of them all decked out in there school spirit attire...check out Noah's expression...

It says it all :)

If anyone figures out where my coolness has gone, please let me know...I'd like it back *wink*

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Little is Much...

Where do I start...

• Last night was the kickoff of our Bible Club for kids (for this school year) It was beyond fantastic! 42 kids...and in tiny-town in tiny church...WOW...all because of Him. We also had over twice as many adults helping as we've had in previous years and I can't even begin to describe what a huge blessing/encouragement that is to me! There's a theme God has placed on my heart this year...Little is Much When God is in It :)


• My official ministry roles are wrapped up for the week, and today, I get to just focus in on my family and I love that in a whole different way.


• I always refer to Noah and Eli as "the boys." Ya know...

Boys...come down and eat

Boys...brush your teeth, eat breakfast, get dressed...on and on

Boys...stop hitting/kicking/punching/provoking each other

Yesterday at Target, Jake said to me, "I need to get treats for my boys...my boys like these."

It was cute.

• And now...some visuals of what I'll be tackling today...for your viewing pleasure (seriously, it will make you feel better about the condition of your own home)

I give you example 1: "The boys" room...

And another view:

And another:

And then there's Jake...who can't seem to resist the urge to dig into anything gooey, greasy, or sprayable.

His dresser...who knows what that is smeared on there:

And this concoction is wads of toilet paper that he got soaking wet in the bathroom and then "cleaned" his garage thingy with...

Lovely, isn't it?

My boys are especially gifted in the "making disasters out of anything" department...it makes a mother proud. *wink*

Off to clean...

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My Happy Time...

From now on, Tuesday mornings will be known as "Sarah's Happy Time" just thought you should know.

Me and a friend are swapping kids, so to speak. She is taking Jake for me on Tuesday mornings and I will take hers on Friday afternoons...perfection.

That 2 1/2 hours on Tuesday mornings is now sacred. It's time set apart for me to work on Bible Club (kids ministry) and women's Bible study stuff and just spend time with Him...uninterrupted time. Priceless.

I need this time. Over the past week I've come to realize that I have a tendency to jump into too many things, all at the same time. All good stuff...that eventually drains the life out of me because it's more than I'm meant to do.

I'm learning to stop running ahead of God, because when I do, I mess up His instructions. Generally, I listen to part of the instruction, and then barrel full speed ahead without giving Him a chance to finish His sentence.

Guess what? That doesn't work out so well :)

So I'm s-l-o-w-i-n-g down. Giving Him time to speak to me...waiting for the full instructions before I plunge ahead and make an idiot of myself :)

More on this tomorrow...

Oh, one more thing...if you look to the left, on my sidebar, I added a new Blogger gadget...if you read often, you can click the "follow" button and your cute little picture (or something) will appear...and frankly, it will make my day. Because as of right now, it just says a big fat 0, which is hurting my feelings...just a little bit ;)

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Love Him

My Eli, who is now a big Kindergartner is passionate about building stuff.

Example:

He cracks me up. It's Saturday morning and he's laying on the couch watching the NASA channel.

Praying he gets his daddy's math and science skills...because if he has mine, all he will be doing for NASA is suggesting what color combination would look the best for the new spacesuits.

Love you Eli...even if you do leave Lego's all over...everywhere ;)

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It Has Begun...

The back to school shopping has begun.

I totally love back to school shopping...well, I love shopping anyways.

We started with shoes. Which may have been a bad place to start. Because ya'll know I have a certain weakness in regards to shoes...even boys shoes (even when the little rascals REFUSE pick the ones I like.) I had (sweet) dreams of my 3 little guys all with matching Converse Chucks (each a different color of course.) They'd be so cute...

They had other things in mind. Skechers. With Airators...which apparently blow air between your toes?!? Anyways, I suppose that's what I get for begging them to watch cartoons so I can have a "second" *cough* to blog. Dang marketing with all their commercials.

The store we went to was having the Buy one get one 1/2 off. Phew.

The Run-down. (Our school requires) The Kindergartner and First Grader each need 2 pairs of shoes. One to wear to school and out to recess (i.e. gets totally trashed) and one pair to wear inside that stays at the school.

The pair in the middle was for the 3 year old...because he still believes me when I say those are the ones he should get (well, sort of, he rejected my first choice.) By Golly, that counts for something.

You should note, that none of them have actual shoe strings...we are

"tie-ing challenged" in our home...do not judge...lest ye be judged. ;)

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One of THOSE Days...

I have resorted to just letting my children act like animals for right now. I am tired...so tired of having to intervene ALL the time. Literally, someone is always crying about the injustice one of the other brothers has caused. Mommy cannot take it anymore. Today, it's survival of the fittest,boys...good luck with that.

With all the screaming, fighting and general rough-housing amongst them, I cannot concentrate...I am (blaming) dedicating this boring post to my children.

It begins with this:

I have lost all control. Obviously. I did have a couple hour break though, to get my hair cut...Thank you, Jesus...and my friend Shanon for watching them.

Before: (Ignore the junk on the counter)

After:

The hair-cut did make me feel better...but eventually I had to go home.

I am normally a total home-body. I love being at home. But the past few weeks, my children seem to turn into crazies here at home...and without a break, the house is a disaster. I've made the best possible choice ;) We're now going to avoid being home as much as possible, until August 18th comes around...which means...school. Hallelujah.

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The Look...

Notice Jake's shirt before...

And a few hours later...

So goes life in the parsonage. My children are always dirty. I gave up trying to keep them clean a long, long time ago. In fact, I'm just so used to them being dirty, I hardly even notice it anymore.

Until the other day that is...I happened to take all of them to run some errands (very bad idea.) Our last stop was the grocery store. They were bugging each other and fighting over who got to ride in the "school bus cart"...I was trying to maintain my composure, and then I met her in the frozen food aisle.

She was cute, young and pregnant, probably with her first baby. She was strolling the aisles in peace and quiet (alone)...well, until she came upon us.

She gave me the look. I know this look...I too, once gave it to mothers with rowdy, dirty kids. It was the look of idealism. The look that says, "honestly, is it so hard to clean your kids up before you leave the house!?!"

I smiled and her...and I smiled all the way home...because someday, that cute little thing may have three little boys, that 5 minutes after a bath are somehow dirty again...because I know first hand, that's what happens to young ladies who give the look. *smiles*

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Dumbness

I embarked on a series of dumb moves yesterday, regarding my blog. I got the wild idea to get a new free layout. Which is a fantastic idea, if you actually have the skills to accomplish it...I however, do not, and it ended up costing me hours of my life, just to get back my widgets (techi blog term) and same layout. In the process, I also deleted my cute header...but Shell saved the day (again)!



Since I had wasted so much time getting my old stuff back, I also decided to add some new stuff too...which I frankly have no idea how it works, but is doing a fantastic job of junkin' up my page ;) From now on, I'm leaving the blog layouts to the professionals. So, if you hear of any free blog layout giveaways, let me know...I'll totally register!

Oh yeah...this is what my 3 year old was cooking-up while his mommy was on the computer...
Gotta remember to hide that (tampon) box...it's not the first time he's opened them all up...you can bet I'm saving this one for just the right girl someday :)

My blog fiasco yesterday caused me to drink an (extra) excessive amount of caffeine. Last night I laid in bed (forever) trying to come up with some good post ideas...nothing. NOTHING?!? But I did start making a mental list of words that I overuse on my blog & comments...

• totally
• cute
• LOVE
• so
• adorable
• fantastic
• great
• ...
• :)

I think that about covers it. I know it's bad when I start to annoy myself with those words. My vocabulary standard is very, very low...and I'm still annoyed. I need some new phrases...new words of encouragement to share. I've got nothing.

I need your help. Need some new words. Help me.

In real life...I overuse words too. I say Good Grief! all the time...for everything. I'm also notorious for the phrases "It'll be fine" "It'll work out" "Good enough."

The phrases I use with my kids should be a post of its own...the last few days is has been

• turn the hose OFF!!!!
• go to your bed until I tell you to come down.
• stop touching each other...don't even look at each other.
• no you can't have a snack, you just ATE.
• Jake, you go get the diaper and leave Odie alone.

Can you tell we're adjusting to summer vacation!?! *smiles* OK, let me have it...what are you saying?

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Gonna Do Better...

Yesterday was madness in the parsonage... I should have received the
Mommy Loser Award...if there is such a thing. Although, if you would have asked me yesterday, I would have totally blamed it on how wild and outta control my children were being. (In fact, if you talked to me in person yesterday...I did...sorry:)


I have read blog after blog from wonderful moms preparing themselves for summer...just jumping at the chance to have their kids home and spend time with them. Then there's me. I love summer...but I cringe a little bit at the chaos that comes from being with three little boys all the time :) I love them more than life...but it doesn't mean that they don't drive me a little bit crazy now and then ;) Yesterday is proof.


By last night I was already starting to feel the Holy Spirit's conviction about, well, basically my overall behavior yesterday. I realized that I need to switch to summer mode. I need to make a new routine with my children. I need to enjoy them. ENJOY them.


This morning I was reading one of my favorite, FAVORITE blogs. Stephanie is a mom to boys, and one beautiful little girl, and she's a few steps ahead of me in the mommy journey. I am learning so much through her sharing her journey...which is really what blogging is sort of about. I read several of her posts that she had written to her children and each one encouraged me to be a better mommy...starting now. Go give her some blog-love, you'll be a better mom for it. Oh, and take some Kleenex (unless you're unlike me and do not cry at everything :)

Today is Noah's last day of school...let the summer fun and chaos begin. I'm praying for God's guidance in figuring out our new summer groove :)

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Just Do It For Me...

What better to talk about on a Monday than poop?!? I hate potty training. Despise it. I am bad at it. My kids are bad at it. Jake is almost 3...in our house, that means it's that time...the battle is oh-so-on.

We have one bathroom in our house...upstairs. We have one lazy toddler who has decided that it's easier to poop in his diaper DOWNSTAIRS than to have to go UPSTAIRS to sit on the potty. I feel his pain...after all, I'm the one who almost moved her coffee pot to the office...I'm not in denial, I know where he gets his laziness from ;) BUT, I am the mommy. Mommy is tired, and not to mention grossed out by changing the diapers of an almost 3 year old.

Here's my bright idea. We keep his diapers, upstairs in his room. I'm now making him (rather than me) go upstairs to retrieve his own diaper when he needs to be changed, in hopes that he will start to decide that it really would be easier to just go on the potty. Great idea...if my child were not so stinking STUBBORN!

Here's the scenario all day long...

Jake: "I poopy"

Me: "Go upstairs and get a diaper"

Jake: "No, you do it"

Me: "If you want to be changed, you go get the diaper"

Jake: (talking to the dog) "Odie, you do it" (no response from Odie)

Jake: to Eli "Eli, you do it" when this doesn't work, he goes back to me....

It takes around a billion times of this conversation before he eventually heads upstairs and comes down with a diaper. Every. Single. Time. *silent scream*

I have read, watched, you name it, a ton of different stuff on potty training...what I really want, is for you to just take him away and bring him back when he is potty trained. Is that too much to ask?

(I should note...that if there happen to be any weirdos out there (with no sense of humor) reading this...I do Not actually want you to take my child away...ya never know :)

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Love Them

Moms: Love being one...love having one. Happy Mother's Day!

I have managed to make Mother's DAY into a weekend event...I think it should be changed to Mother's Weekend...or better yet, week. Last night, I overheard Eli, my middle one, telling his older brother that he wished there was a

"Kid's Day" then they could get candy. HA! I think I may have muttered under my breath something about Every. Day. Being. Kid's. Day... *smiles*

Happy Mother's Day!

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Don't Go Breakin My Heart

This kid is breaking my heart. Ripping it out of my chest. Sigh.

Eli, the past few weeks, has decided that he does not want to go to preschool. The closer we get to the school, he starts to say, "I don't feel so good" and tears well up in his big eyes. The first day he did this, I thought maybe he really was sick, so I took him home and made him rest. But...it has continued. I have asked him a million questions trying to get to the bottom of it. Nothing definite. His teacher says he's fine after a little while...after I'm gone of course. It's just weird that it's starting now...towards the end of the year. And it's really just "not like him." He's usually mellow and easy going about school! It has made me ponder homeschooling for the rest of the year. I KNOW! ME!?!? *laughing hysterically* I would be doing it for all the wrong reasons. This is something we have to work through together...it's part of life.

Eli, you're killing me here...help me figure this out little man.

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It Doesn't Get Any Better...

Seriously...does it get any better than this for supper!?!

Coco-Puffs with a little Fruit Loops thrown in...only Eli.

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The Consequences...

Remember this? Well, today this is life in the parsonage. Do you think the other pastor's wives that lived in this parsonage had days like this? I have not been feeling so hot the past few days. I think I may have gotten Jake's "sore throat, headache, chills, achy all over, leave me alone so I can get better" sickness. I just needed to rest...who I am kidding...with my children,

You Rest: You Pay the Consequences.

Yes...that is our obese Wiener Dog eating a cheese quesadilla that was prepared by a 2 year old. Good times.

This is Jake playing in his mess of

Cheese.

The boy can get into all kinds of naughty...just give him a chair.

WHY?!? Why the need to eat everything!

My sweet little Jakob, how do you do it? How do you instinctively know you can get away with all kinds of stuff when I am sick OR on the phone or *cough* computer?!? And how do you know to immediately say "I sorry! I sorry!" and then flash me those little dimples that seem to make even the naughtiest of things seem...cute? You are a brilliant little creature, you really are...but mommy is tired...time for Dora :)

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The Pic Says it All...

Today....his $4 shirt from

Wal-Mart says it all.

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Hal-le-lu-jah

I experienced a miracle today...a BIG one. You see, I'm in the process of transitioning my 2 year old from the nursery to sitting in church. Yeah...lots of fun. It's a little extra tricky since I'm a single parent during church, since my hubs is the pastor. Three boys, in church, by myself is a challenge. BUT, today, Jake made it through the whole service and fell asleep on my lap! Can I get an AMEN!!!!! WOO HOO!! I was able to actually listen to Ben's sermon...on the four letter word W-A-I-T. (He, by the way, does not call it a 4 letter word. HA!) But I often view waiting that way....I'm not good at it. Today, God knew I needed to hear the message...and now instead of waiting...I am eagerly anticipating...doesn't that sound SO MUCH BETTER! More on that later...

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Another Installment...

Well, it's Thursday, so it's another installment of my "Do you think the other Pastors' wives that lived in this parsonage..." bit. If you're new to this, you should click here and maybe here. If you are returning customer, I must say God Bless You for humoring me...and my husband thanks you, because since I've started sharing my list with you...he doesn't have to hear it as frequently :)

This week, I've been thinking about the former pastor's wives as mothers. I've realized that I seem to be in a constant state of flip-flopping. One moment, I'm wishing my boys were bigger..able to do more on their own, and then in the very next moment I wish I could freeze time and keep them 6,5, & 2 forever. As I look through baby pictures, I long to have that time back. I don't particularly want to have another baby...but I do want to experience my boys as babies again. So realistic, I know! I want so much, to be able to enjoy this time...moment by moment, but I need God's help to do that....boy, do I need His help! Ok, here goes the list...

Do you think the other pastors' wives that lived in this parsonage...

• struggled to find the balance between hanging on and letting go.
• had a 2 year old that always prayed for his favorite cartoons first, and then his family.
• was happy on the Sundays that her children fell asleep during the sermon, because then she could actually listen.
• wanted desperately for her children to grow up with a love for ministry, rather than resentment.
• despised the term "PK's" for pastors kids. Why the label? Wondered if those same people call other peoples kids "TK- teachers kid" and "AK - accountant's kid" etc. (thankfully, no one in my church does this:)
• had expectations for her children based on God's standards alone...not other peoples standards.
• wished her children wouldn't ring the church bell on days there is no church :) rascals.
• needed constant reminding from her Savior that these boys were His...He would take care of them...and He loves them even more than she does.
• had a 5 year old who wanted to "deliver God's messages." Not a pastor...but a prophet, like Jonah :)
• had a child who wore clean clothes to bed, as pajamas, so that he didn't have to waste time getting dressed in the morning.
• had a moment, as she tucked them into bed, where she was overwhelmed with her children's ability to love and forgive...unconditionally.
• had to apologize for yelling and losing her cool.
• loved them more than life.

I know the women before me have lived through circumstances that I can only imagine. I am thankful that I can look back at their lives and see how God has been with them, regardless of the circumstances. What amazing gifts I have been given!

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Funny...But Not Really.

Most of the time, when my 2 1/2 year old pitches a fit, I am not amused. Mostly because it happens often and it's usually because he has a different plan on what he wants than I do. The battle of the wills is on, with this child.

Yesterday, however, was different. Jakob had gone outside to play while my hubs did some grilling for lunch. When it was time to come in...melt down. Oh the drama! Who needs girls!?!? I've got plenty of drama with boys. He threw himself over the dog, laying on the couch...then the floor. It must have been the cute red boots that made this tantrum seem amusing...either that, or the fact that it wasn't in public helped too. I had to get the camera out. This just made him more mad...which made it even funnier to me! What is wrong with me?!? By now, I have learned, that in my life, I either laugh and find the humor in it...or spend a lot of time wanting to cry :)

The rest of us finally sat down for lunch, and Jake, of course snapped out of it as though nothing had ever happened. Sometimes, as I watch him throwing a tantrum, I'm actually a tad bit jealous. Wouldn't it be nice, to just roll around on the floor crying...just get it all out, and then pop back up like every things fine! Truth is...I throw fits too, they're just the grown-up, dignified kind. It dawned on me, that when I do this, (which is hardly ever *cough*) I look as ridiculous as my two year old. So, this week, as my kids are on spring break...I will try to be the grown up who does not throw dignified tantrums. Here's hoping that this week goes by fast!

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