Sometimes all it takes is a little caffeine...

I hate early mornings.

So does Ellie.

She's been begging me to take her to school for a few days now.

Usually it's daddy's job.

Thank God for Daddy!

I usually get up and help them get out the door...

then go back to bed.

But this morning, I wavered. I gave in to her pleas, and let the daddy sleep in. I drove her to school, and then headed toward home.

Toward two more children, now wide awake.

Toward the dishes and the laundry.

Toward the meal-making and the chaos-managing.

And then, as if it had a mind of its own, my car steered its way into Starbucks.

Seriously!

And then, as I realized where my car was taking me, I saw a familiar and friendly face.

I parked next to Michelle, and we sat, in the comfort of our own cars, and talked.

Without interruption.

Without little voices in the background.

Without fights and screams to distract us.

For 30 minutes.

It was nice. Really nice.

Then I followed her through the drive-thru, and we went our respective ways.

She to teach pre-school, me to my own pre-schoolers.

I arrived home to the happy cries of MOMMY'S HOME!

I smiled.

I felt good.

I felt like I could handle my day.

All thanks to an unexpected visit with a friend/sister-in-law,

and a little caffeine!

Well, what do you think?

I think I like it!

I love customizing stuff! I had so much fun playing with colors and fonts...I guess it's kind of like scrapbooking...which has been sorely neglected lately! I can't wait to add my elements back in. I think I'll stick with this look for awhile, so I'm excited to add some new and fun things! But all that will have to wait for awhile. I'm pretty sure Austin has an ear infection, so we're off to the Doctor...again.

Seriously, I'm starting to feel like I should just go to medical school.

I'm pretty sure by the time I'm done raising my kids, it would be cheaper.

See ya!

Just a moment of my life...

I took this video clip yesterday morning. I love to do this, catch little snippets of "real" life. This video is very real. Maybe a bit too real! Please forgive my gravelly, 80 year old smoker voice. I am still fighting the never ending cold that has plagued me for a month now! Also please overlook the snotty nose that my son has. I did not realize that he had the gunk until I zoomed in with the camera. (and notice how I quickly zoom back out!) This shows my two younger children as they usually are when we're home all day...in PJ's with un-combed hair! The "evil laugh" was inspired by my niece, who absolutely cracked me up the other day when she demonstrated hers for me! My oldest daughter was practicing hers, when Austin started joining in. It was hillarious! I was trying to capture it on video, and he does it a little, but of course not nearly like he had been before the camera came out! The "belly button" thing comes from a Veggie Tales song, that was also introduced to us by our family. The song is too funny, and we just love teaching our kids to immitate it! The reality stops short of me showing myself though. I didn't think anyone really needed to see me in my PJ's! Enjoy!

And I wonder where she gets it...

MOMMY!!!

I jump. I hear this scream come from my nearly 6 year old...

MOMMY COME HERE QUICK!

I run. I fear the worst. As I arrive in the living room I scan the floor, looking for a hurt brother or a sister, possibly blood...

LOOK! She points...not to an injured sibling...but to the TV.

"I want that for my birthday!"

What? I think, That is what you made me almost have a heart attack for!

I walk away, trying to calm my racing heart, and muttering something about "we'll see dear". I am frustrated. This scene has played over and over again throughout the Holiday season. She literally received Everything she wanted this Christmas. How could she be so selfish, to already want More. She has a bad case of the "I wants". I suppose it was brought on by Christmas, by all the people asking her "What do you want for Christmas" over and over again. I'm tired of it. I just want her to be happy with what she has, because she has so much, she is a very blessed child...

Last night after the kids went to bed, I excitedly picked up my new Pottery Barn magazine...I relaxed in a chair, and began to look for new and exciting decorating ideas, something I love to do. I wouldn't consider myself a frequent shopper of Pottery Barn, but I do occasionally order something, or make it to a store. I love to look, to get ideas, and have been known to take a picture of a display now and then (but you do have to be sneaky, they don't really like that!) Anyway, as I looked I began thinking...

I'd really like some new throw pillows for my new couches that we just got. Something with a punch of color...My birthday's coming up...Oh, but I wanted those picture frame magnet boards too...

Later on, as I was trying unsuccessfully to go to sleep, I started thinking about the house and the yard. I want to paint the living room. I want to hire someone to get the backyard in better shape. I want a big new swing set for the kids. I want to take a vacation soon. I want...

Wham!

Sometimes it's like God slaps me in the face!

Wow. When did I get the case of the "I wants"? Mercy, and I was annoyed with Ellie! I wonder how God feels. Here I sit in my nice house, with my healthy kids, a great husband, lots of beautiful things. I have incredible friends, and live in a wonderful community. I think I've gotten a little off track in my thinking...Again! That's the sad part. It's not the first time I've caught myself being selfish. Don't get me wrong, I think it's OK to want things. To strive for things. I've posted something like this before...I know God wants us to be happy. Just like we want our kids to be happy. I think it's when we become discontent with out lives, our very blessed lives, that the sin creeps in.

So I prayed, and I thanked God for my incredible blessings, and asked Him to clear my heart of discontent. It's a continuous lesson, for me...and my kids.

Ouch!

I am a graceful swan.

My movements are fluid and gentle.

I glide through life delicately...

and float around corners...

and lose my balance...

and crash into walls...

and slam into the hard wood floor.

I did this while perfecting my "ice skating" skills on our hard wood floors.

Note to self: You are not really all that graceful, and maybe should think about getting socks with "grippers" on the bottom so you don't break something.

Thankfully I'm pretty sure nothing is broken or sprained. However, I do feel the affects this morning.

Ouch.

What we've learned...

We hear at the House O' Craziness believe in learning. Even when school is out of session, we believe that our minds should be continuously challenged. That we should explore new horizons daily. We use every moment of every day to expand our brains and stretch our minds.

Or we watch Dora and Scooby Doo all day long while mommy is curled up in a fetal position rocking and chanting "when does school start?" over and over again.

Anyway. We really have learned some new things over this holiday break, and I thought, being the sharing person that I am, that I would share them with you.

Ellie: My oldest child has an aversion to learning things that she cannot do perfectly the very first time. Fortunately for her, she is naturally smart in most areas, and can often do something very well on her first try. However, when she comes across something that truly challenges her, she...well, freaks out. She screams, she cries, she gets mad, and finally she avoids it all costs. A few months ago when we started kindergarten, I read somewhere that she needed to learn how to tie her shoes. So, I sat her down and showed her how. Then she attempted to tie her laces into a nice neat bow.

KABOOM!

She exploded with anger over the difficulty she was having, and wouldn't hear of trying again. Over the last few months I have tried to sit her down a few times, for a "Learn how to tie your shoes" lesson, but she refused. So, I made a goal. Teach her how to tie her shoes over Christmas break. Yesterday I sat her down, and told her it was time. She balked, of course, but I held strong, and eventually...


WaLa! A (almost) perfectly tied shoe!

Annie: My sweet middle child has a free spirit and a great imagination. She loves to "draw". However, when I try and show her how to really draw something, she shows no interest whatsoever. My goal for her this Christmas break was to learn how to write an A. That's it. Just the first letter of her name! And...


WaLa! A (almost) perfect letter A!

Austin: My sweet baby has an adventurous spirit, to say the least. On Christmas day he accomplished a new task, all on his own...


WaLa! "Look mom! I can climb onto the coffee table now!"

Daddy: Jason learned that when you strain too much to lift something too heavy, in an awkward position, you WILL pull a muscle.

Mommy: I learned today, that on day #14 of a 16 day school "vacation", after we've dealt with cases of Ringworm, had to call Poison Control, Bronchitis, a possibility of a lice outbreak, a husband who likes to be babied when he's in pain, and my never ending cold...my patience runs out. Completely and utterly O-U-T!

2 days left until school starts...

Home...

Home is where the heart is...

along with the piles of dirty laundry,

the sink full of dishes,

the dusty shelves,

the dirty floors,

the piles of toys,

the "coming off a sugar high" kids,

and the decorations of Christmas past, still up.

Can I come over to your house?