Thanks Tank Thursday

One more day of school and then summer break. With all of the end of school year activities we've had this week we've been busy. And because we've been so busy the week has gone quickly, at least for me. The kids would tell you it hasn't gone quickly enough since they are looking forward to our trip to Tennessee. I hope you take the time to be thankful this week. It is always so refreshing to me to think of all the things I have to be thankful for. So without further ado here is my list for this week.

1. Flickr: This week we realized that we had several months of pictures that somehow got corrupted since downloading them onto the computer. Tahnkfully, I have been putting a lot of them on Flickr, otherwise we wouldn't have any pictures of Gabriel and Abby's birthday, Easter, or several months of Elizabeth's first year of life.

2. Bible Study: This week I hosted a Bible Study in my home. We talked about 1 Corinthians: 13. One of the questions we spent the most time on was this one; Do you think (1) love is a feeling; (2) love is a choice; (3) love is both? Discuss why you voted as you did. I really enjoyed this conversation.

3. My family being safe: With everything that is going on in the world I am especailly happy that my family is safe. You never know when this could change and it could change in the blink of an eye. So at this moment I am especailly thankful for this.

4. Being able to travel: I am thankful that we are able to travel to visit our family. This next week the kids and I will be traveling to Tennessee to visit both my family and Matt's family. I am so glad that we are able to do this and the kids are extremely excited and keep telling me to start packing even though our departure date is still several days away.

5. Our Pool: I am thankful for our pool. It's really nice to be able to walk out your backdoor and go swimming anytime you want. I am extremely thankful that my father came up last summer and put in a fence around our pool now I don't have to stress as much about the kids playing in the backyard. And now as soon as it warms up we can start swimming.

6. Surgery: I am thankful that the hand surgery Abby will be having soon will be a simple procedure and the trigger thumb won't come back. I am also thankful that the doctor said she wasn't born with it like I was originally told. I was feeling really bad that I didn't notice it before she was almost 4!! Now I can stop beating myself up about it.

7. Everyday Conveniences: There are so many things in my life that make life so much easier. I can't imagine have to hand wash and line dry all my clothes, sweep instead of vaccum, handwash all my dishes, ect. I am so thankful for these luxuries.

8. Playing Games with my kids: I have been getting out several of our board games this week and just playing. It has been refreshing to spend that time just being with my kids doing something fun.

Wordless Wednesday

I am a Christian

By Maya Angelou

A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ
that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin''
I'm whispering 'I wa s lost, Now I'm Found and forgiven.'
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain...
I ha ve my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

Monday Morning Mirth

The Perfect Worker

1 Bob Smith, my assistant programmer, can always be found
2 hard at work in his cubicle. Bob works independently, without
3 wasting company time talking to colleagues. Bob never
4 thinks twice about assisting fellow employees, and he always
5 finishes given assignments on time. Often he takes extended
6 measures to complete his work, sometimes skipping coffee
7 breaks. Bob is a dedicated individual who has absolutely no
8 vanity in spite of his high accomplishments and profound
9 knowledge in his field. I firmly believe that Bob can be
10 classed as a high-caliber employee, the type which cannot be
11 dispensed with. Consequently, I duly recommend that Bob be
12 promoted to executive management, and a proposal will be
13 executed as soon as possible.

Addendum:That idiot was standing over my shoulder while I wrote the report sent to you earlier today. Kindly re-read only the odd numbered lines.

Gabriel's Birthday Party

On Saturday we celebrated Gabriel turning 6 with a party at the local Gymnastics Center. Gabriel had friends from school and friends that we made through MOPs at his party. The day was a huge success with everyone having lots of fun, pizza, and cake. All the kids walked away tired, happy, and sweaty. Birthday parties are a lot of work but I have begun to think that they are totally worth it with the amount of fun the kids have. I hope you enjoy these pictures from his party.

Gabriel's Birthday

Happy 6th Birthday Gabriel!!!

This is Gabriel at school eating cupcakes with his classmates. They have a real cute way to celebrate the kids birthdays. They each receive a birthday with a page from each of their classmates. They sign a Happy Birthday song and then all the kids pretend they are candles and the birthday person walks around blowing them out. Gabriel was especially glad that we (Elizabeth, Abby and I) were there.

Gabriel received his "Birthday Spanking" from Daddy and Elizabeth. He was laughing and wiggling the whole time. Everyone got to "spank" the Birthday Boy.

This was Gabriel's dinner of choice. He chose Hot Dogs, Broccoli and Onion Rings. We had apples for snack so he altered his menu from earlier.

These were Gabriel's Birthday Cupcakes. We called them dirt cupcakes. We were a little mean and told him that he was having dirt for his birthday cake... early and often. We told him this morning, we told him at lunch, we told him after nap, we told him before dinner. He was convinced we were having a cake made out of real yucky dirt. As we prepared a special hot dog dinner at the birthday boy's request, I walked over to the counter and picked up two ziplock bags. One was filled with dirt, the other with "dirt." I held up the bags as proof. "What is this, Gabe?" I asked, grinning. "DIRT!" He replied.
I put the bags down, and went back to putting broccoli, er, trees on the plates. Matt decided this would be fun to take a bit further. He went back over to the bags and got out a small spoonful of "dirt," put the bag down, and took the dirt bag over to Gabe. He handed Gabe the bag and had him confirm that it was, indeed, dirt. Then, Matt took a bite of the "dirt." The kids were in awe! Next, I decided Gabe needed some. We put the bags down, got another spoonful of "dirt" and had Gabe stand against the wall. We had him close his eyes, hold his nose and put it in. He spent 10 seconds gagging and trying to spit it out before Matt said, "Gabe, TASTE it!" Gabe stopped freaking out long enough to acknowledge what was in his mouth. He chewed a bit and swallowed, then said "Chocolate!" He was still convinced that, while what he had wasn't dirt, the cake still was.

This is Gabriel blowing out the candles and studying his cake. He is now beginning to realize that we were just kidding when we told him he was having dirt for dessert.

Gabriel was still hesitating when eating his cupcakes. But once he bit in...

HE LIKED IT!!! GABRIEL REALLY LIKED IT!!! CHOCOLATE!!!

Birthday Present time. What could be in those packages that I will Have fun with? Would you stop taking pictures so that I can open them please?

SWEET!! A Wii! More pictures of this fun later......

Happy Birthday, Gabriel!!!

Today Gabriel turns 6. We are celebrating his birthday as a family today. We also are taking cupcakes to share with his classmates at school. Then on Saturday we are having his friend party at the Gymnastics center. It will be a whole lot of fun. Gabriel is so excited to be turning 6. He is growing up so fast and is more like Matt everyday. I can't imagine life without this sweet, handsome boy who has captured my heart. I keep telling him he is growing too fast. And then I have to remind him that he will always be my baby no matter how big he gets. The years have really seemed to fly by. I wish that the years would slow down so that I could enjoy them more. And since they won't I will continue to record snipits of his life and take lots of pictures. And then one day I will put all of those together so that both he and I and the rest of the family can remember them. This morning we started our day by singing him "Happy Birthday" when he got up. He had special birthday badge to wear to school. We will join him at school later and then will meet Matt for the lunch of Gabriel's choice. Tonight we will have a dinner of Hot dogs, broccoli and apples, his choice. And then we will have dirt cupcakes for dessert, he doesn't know about these and I hope to keep it that way. After that we will open presents. I will post pictures of our day later.

Wordless Wednesday

Our Week

This week we have several things going on at our house. Mostly they are because of Gabriel's birthday. In a nut shell here's what's happening.

1. Preschool Board Meeting
2. Zoo Field Trip
3. Pick up cupcakes for Gabriel's class (I was surprised we could do this.)
4. Playdate at park
5. Gabriel's birthday (wrap presents, make cake, and decorate house)
6. Gabriel's birthday party with friends
7. Abby's hand specialist appointment (She has trigger finger on both thumbs, this will require surgery.)
8. Gymnastics class
9. Finish Letter person costume (Mr. B has big, beautiful, buttons)

Motherhood In My Words

This is a post I have been wanting to write for a long time and what better time than just in time for Mother's Day, since it pertains to being a mother.

I am a stay at home mom of three children. I always wanted to be a mom. I never had a set number of children in mind but I knew I wanted more than one. I can't remember a time I ever didn't want kids. In fact when Matt and I were dating I asked if he wanted kids. When his answer was yes, my reply to him was, "Good, otherwise our relationship couldn't go any further." I waited for 5 yearsafter Matt and I got married before I had Gabriel. For me it was a long wait. For Matt, he could have waited longer. I worked as a teacher before, during and after my pregancy with Gabriel. With Abby I worked through my pregancy and then quit work to be a full time mom. I love being a stay at home mom. But I struggle with finding time for myself, my kids, my husband, and maintaining my house. I enrolled Gabriel in a Mother's Day Out Program for two days a week when he was 2. I did this inorder to find a little time for myself and to socialize him with kids his age. Abby was still an infant so I was able to run errands and pick up the house while Gabriel was in school. This worked really well. At that time though I did not have a good support network of friends. Most of my friends did not have children of their own so to call them about problems with my children was not really an option. This is not to say they would not listen but they just didn't understand what I was going through. I later started developing new friendships with several moms in Gabriel's Mother's Day Out Program and this helped tremendously. Then we moved to Indiana. There I didn't find a Mother's Day Out Program I found preschools instead. I did manage to find a preschool that would take walking ones. And this was something I really felt I needed. I didn't have any family to fall back on here and I knew no one. Matt was and is working full time and in school for his MBA. I felt that I needed to run errands, pick up the house and just have some time for myself without the kids. I later joined a MOPs group and this proved to be the biggest help of all. My MOPs group doesn't only provide a meeting for the mom's but provides a meeting for the kids as well and then there are off weeks inbetween that allow the moms to drop their child off and then run errands, get together with friends, go shopping or go home and catch up on all the things that fall to the wayside. I also met other women and moms just like me. I was able to discuss topics that all of us were going through, gain insight and suggestions from them as well. This was a dream come true for me. Later I became a Steering Team member and this gave me back something I lost when I left work, a job other than being a mother and a purpose. The kids' preschool also gave me a break as well and just recently also provided me with a purpose and a job. I have taken on both of these positions and love the purpose they give me. But I still struggle. I struggle with balancing housework, taking care of the children and having fun. I really want to be a spontanious, fun, and energetic. But the shrewn toys, clothes and left over dishes beccon me to take care of them as well. I get tired of those clothes, toys and dishes. There are times that I feel like running from the house and never coming back. And then the kids are also calling to me to feed, bathe, play, and help them. And want to do all those things as well but I would love to have the energy to do it. I don't want to feel like I should be doing other things like running a load of clothes or getting the dishes washed, but that is often how I feel. I love my kids and I love being at home with them but I wish I didn't struggle so much with all the faucts of my job. I can't imagine going back to work. I think I would feel like I miss out on so much. I remember thinking that I would miss the first time Gabriel rolled over and worring that his caregiver would see it first. It's hard being a stay at home mom but also so rewarding as well. I wouldn't change it for anything but wish I could make my struggle a little less. Having people over this past week without having cleaned beforehand was new for me. I usually drive everyone nuts with cleaning before I will invite anyone into our house, but I felt this was a need and I went with my gut. It was nice not worrying so much about what my house looked like but enjoying the fact that the kids and I were having such a great time. I think that moms have many different struggles to deal with on a daily basis. I also think that we will have to deal with those to the best of our abilities. We have to rely on our strenghts and our families and then move on from there. Everyone has different strenghts and weaknesses. As a mom in MOPs just recently put it, "I don't have the strength of orginazation but I can play and imagine with my kids with ease. If we could combine both of those what a great mom we would be. We need to look to each other to help us out and to provide us with advice that we can use. And sometimes we just need to accept who we are and move on from there." I am a mom and I am doing the best I can with what I have. I will struggle with making everyone happy because that is part of my personality. I will also struggle with the need to keep the house pickd up and clean and that is a learned behavior, that I am trying to over come and be more relaxed about. But most important I will struggle to make life fun, interesting, exciting, and educational for my kids on a daily basis. This is something I will continue to work on and try to find a happy medium. Motherhood is not an easy job and neither is fatherhood. But it is one that most of us embrace and enjoy. I wouldn't change this for aything.

Gabriel's Says

Lately Gabriel has been saying some funny things to Matt and I.

Last Night's conversation with Matt at bedtime.

Matt pulled back Gabriel's covers and discovered an arsenal of Playmobil knights, soldier men and airplanes.

Matt: "What's this?"
Gabriel: "How did that get there?"
Matt: "Gabriel, I'm not stupid."
Gabriel: (dropping his head) "I know."

Then the other day when we left MOPs to head to our house. Gabriel gets into the car asking if everyone is going to our house. He asks about a little girl in a red car. Here's how that conversation goes.

Gabriel: "Is everyone going to our house?"
Me: "Yes."
Gabriel: "Even the little girl I just met that's in the red car."
Me: "Everyone is going to our house Gabe."
Gabriel: "I like that little girl she's really pretty."
Me: "So you like a little girl? Who is she?"
Gabriel: "She rides in a red car and I think she's 5."

Then a little sheepishly he says, "I really like her, she's pretty."

Thanks Tank Thursday

Today's thanks tank will be a short one. I am so thankful for so many things everyday.

1. Being a mom.
2. Being willing to open my home at the spur of the moment.
3. Breakfast with friends.
4. Roses from my husband.
5. My washing machine and dryer.
6. My dishwasher.
7. Girlfriends.
8. My babies. (You will always be my baby.)
9. Books.
10. Summer beginning.

It's a short list but I have several items and my children needing my attention. Have a great weekend and take the time to be thankful.

Crazy, Insane Me

Today we were supose to have our end of the year MOPS picnic. We usually have it on the church playground so the kids can play in a fenced area and we can talk about our summer plans. This year though we got rained out. And me being me invited everyone over to our house to picnic in our garage and to play throughout the entire house. Talk about chaos. We had at least 10 moms with at least 1 child each but most with two eating and playing in our house. When I suggested it everyone was in doubt that I was serious. I don't think any of them would dream of inviting that many to play inside their homes. I didn't see a huge issue with it. The house is child friendly for the most part and everyone does a good job of helping each other out by watching out for each others kids. I even had a mom change Elizabeth's dirty diaper for me. And it all did work out and the house wasn't trashed too badly either. It really doesn't look any worse than any other rainy day when the kids are stuck in the house. We will have to get Matt's opinion on that when he gets home. We had fun and that was really all that mattered.

Wordless Wednesday

Pool Box

This past weekend Matt got out all his manly tools and made a pool box to keep all of our various pool paraphernalia in. Hopefully, this will help us to keep better organized this summer. I am also very impressed with how well it turned out. Now all that is left to be done is to stain it.

One Word Answers

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD! Not as easy as you might think. Now copy or forward, change the answers to suit you and pass it on. It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be sure to send back to the person you received it from.

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your significant other? work
3. Your hair? highlighted
4. Your mother? loving
5. Your father? caring
6. Your favorite thing? kids
7. Your dream last night? disturbing
8. Your favorite drink? Sangria
9. Your dream/goal? happiness
10. The room you're in? kitchen
11. Your hobby? sewing
12. Your fear? failure
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Tennessee
14. Where were you last night? home
15. What you're not? inshape
16. Muffins? Puffin
17. One of your wish list items? table
18. Where you grew up? Tennessee
19. The last thing you did? Lunch
20. What are you wearing? clothes
1. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? cats
23. Your computer? annoying
24. Your life? good
25. Your mood? down
26. Missing someone? parents
27. Your car? garage
28. Something you're not wearing? socks
29. Favorite store? Target
30. Your summer? pool
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? pink
33. When is the last time you laughed? lunch
34. Last time you cried? yesterday
35. Who will resend this? Carrie

Now take the time to answer and put it on your blog or just leave it in the comments. Have a Great Day.

Abby's Green Beans

The other night we had green beans with dinner. All three kids love green beans and always have. That's why when we both looked over to see Abby picking the seeds out of her green beans and putting them on the table we were surprised. We watched her for a bit. She would pick out the seeds put them on the table and then she would eat the shell. After a while we asked her what she was doing. Her answer, "I'm picking the seeds out. I want to grow green beans." Her class at preschool has been learning about the part of a seed and even planted a bean for their class. We had to explain that cooked beans would not grow. I guess at some point I will really need to start that garden we have talked about. This year we are going to try our hand at growing red and yellow bell peppers though. The kids also like these and at $2.50 each it gets expensive fast.

Monday Morning Mirth

Homemaker just never really makes your job sound as important as it really is. I know there are moms out there that work a regular job or even two and are moms too. I am lucky, I know, to be able to stay a home with my kids. I think I like the sound of this job title better than homemaker though. What do you think?


I'm Just a Mother?


A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.
Before I could answer - and I didn't really have one handy she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her "occupation," Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or are you just a ......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."
"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title, like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"And what is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm....a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---age 13, 7, and 3. And upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (six months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt triumphant. I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. And I had gone down on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another......"
Home...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door.



This Baby Blues comic go along with this story.

Sick Children

I'd like a weekend when it's not rainy and cold and when everyone is feeling good. Last weekend Elizabeth was so congested that she had gunk coming out of her eyes and they were running with tears too. She has also been teething and running a low fever. This weekend both girls have a stomach bug. They are both unhappy and I really can't blame them. Everyone was upset that we were missing another weekend of church. Hopefully next weekend will be better for everyone.

Funny Elizabeth Stories

Elizabeth keeps surprising me over and over again. You would think by the third child I wouldn't be surprised by much but here I am being surprised. The other night at dinner Gabriel and Abby started telling knock, knock jokes. All the jokes were silly, some were completely made up and made no sense and others were old knock, knock jokes. Gabriel and Abby started telling the "Orange you glad I didn't say banana" punch line joke. Elizabeth pipes up with knock, knock, we look at her and reply who's there. She replies back with, "Blaaaah!" Elizabeth told her first knock, knock joke.

The second time I was surprised was in the car after lunch one day. We were dropped Matt back off at work and Matt and I started discussing the rest of our day. I noticed that Abby and Gabriel were pretending to be asleep, eyes closed and snoring. Matt gets out of the car and opens the door to say goodbye and say, "Oh, they're asleep I guess I don't get to say goodbye after all." And they pop up. After I pull out and I'm driving I keep hearing someone in the back snoring. I look in my rear view mirror and who is pretending to be asleep? Elizabeth! She had her head turned sideways, eyes closed, and she was even making snoring sounds.

Abby's Trike-A-Thon Ride

On Wednesday Abby had her Trike-a-thon at school. The purpose of the event is to raise money for the school. Usually the money raised is earmarked for outdoor or indoor physical education. This year was no exception. The money raised is being put towards the purchase and repair of the schools trikes and the purchase of bumpers for the posts in the multi-purpose room. This event always proves to be a lot of fun for the kids. Abby was especially happy because all our attention was on her. She has really been feeling that third child thing, despite our efforts to spend time with just her as much as possible. Here are some pictures of all the fun she had.

Thanks Tank Thursday

Another week has flown by. I just can't understand how it goes by so quickly. Maybe it's because school is almost over and I am not quite ready for summer yet, it's doesn't seem warm enough. Or maybe it's because we have been so busy these last few weeks that all our time has been used up. I don't know what it is but I would like the days to slow down and be enjoyable again, without the question of "Where did the day go, or the week for that matter?" Maybe with summer approaching and fewer activities that will happen. It's time for me to stop rambling and get to the filling up of the tank for this week.

1. Visiting Gabriel at school: Gabriel has wanted me to visit the school and help out in his class all year long. Today I was able to leave Elizabeth in the toddler room at preschool and then I was able to go to lunch with Gabriel's class. This was a big deal sinc none of the kids have eaten in the cafeteria before. Gabriel was excited to have me there and has thanked me several times. When I decided to stay home with the kids this was one of the reasons I chose to do so and with my other obligations and younger siblings I hadn't been able to swing it. Next year I hope it will be better.

2. The Trike-a-Thon: Yesterday Abby rode in the Trike-a-Thon to raise money to purchase new trikes and bumpers for the school. She had such a great time and for her it was even better because it was a day all about her. She is feeling that middle child thing. I'll post some pictures of her tomorrow.

3. Learning Tree School: I am so glad we have found such a loving, caring and educational preschool for the kids. The school was also a big help in the fact that they were able to keep Elizabeth for me today even though she is not an enrolled student. I don't know what I wuld have done without such a wonderful program.

4. MOPs: Yesterday we had our last MOPs meeting of the year. This group of women has become such a lifeline to me. I have met some of the best friends I have through this grou. This group has also helped me to grow spiritually and as a mom. I will miss this group tis summer, but look forward to being nvolved a little less as a Discusion Group leader.

5. Yoga: We recently puchased some yoga cards. For the past several days the kids have asked to get out the cards to do some Yoga. Several pictures are in the previous post. They have had a wonderful time with this and even Elizabeth has tried to join in.

6. Knock Knock Jokes: We got silly at the dinner table with Knock Knock Jokes the other night. Abby is still makig up silly ones and Gabriel is finally remembering and telling good ones. Even Elizabeth told a knock knock joke. I am just waiting on Matt to tell that story.

7. Dinner Time: We always try to eat as a family. Sometimes this proves to be difficult since Matt has class and the kids often have activities but lately we've been doing really well. We have also been having a lot of fun with Knock Knock jokes, silly beats, and just telling each other about our day. I have really enjoyed our dinner time together.

8. Matt's Break: This week Matt has had a break from school. It's been really good for Matt to be able to relax a little at night after work instead of having to head to class or to work on home work.

Okay that's my list for the week. I hope you take the time to be thankful. I know there are many much bigger things in life to be thankful for as well but this is an exercise to see all the little things as well. Enjoy and have a great weekend.