I just though I would share something Charlie said the other day that had me on the floor laughing.
He has started to fight me at naptime and this new excuse was just over the top. He had been laying down for about 5 minutes when he came out and told me:
"I don't think I can take a nap today."
Me-"Why not?"
"Well, my tummy really hurts!"
Me-"It hurts? Do you have to throw up?"
"No! My tummy doesn't feel like pointing up today."
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Another thought
As most of you know, homeschooling is very important to me. I feel that no one has their children's best interest in mind than the parents. In saying that, I have come to the conclusion that I may not be able to continue homeschooling--Allen, at least.
I often heard my mother say growing up that she was not a good mother staying at home all day. I never understood this, in fact I went completely the opposite direction in my motherhood. Now, two years into schooling Allen I have found that I may be beginning to understand what mom was talking about. I do feel that I can stay home all day and handle that part all right. It is just the constant fight of school. Those of you that know Allen well, know that he is difficult at best to steer and guide. I have come to the conclusion that when most of my day is filled with yelling back and forth with him that day is wasted. It is not the way I want Allen (or the other children) to remember their mommy.
In saying that, I feel extremely guilty. I feel like a failure, but also relieved at making this decision. Larry and I are discussing continuing with homeschooling Charlie and sending Allen to Harlan Christian. The public school is our absolute last choice and we will probably do everything to keep him out of there. That's another story...
I never knew parenting could be so heart-breaking. This is only the beginning! When you factor in their physical health and spiritual health, I know no bigger or harder job in the world!
I often heard my mother say growing up that she was not a good mother staying at home all day. I never understood this, in fact I went completely the opposite direction in my motherhood. Now, two years into schooling Allen I have found that I may be beginning to understand what mom was talking about. I do feel that I can stay home all day and handle that part all right. It is just the constant fight of school. Those of you that know Allen well, know that he is difficult at best to steer and guide. I have come to the conclusion that when most of my day is filled with yelling back and forth with him that day is wasted. It is not the way I want Allen (or the other children) to remember their mommy.
In saying that, I feel extremely guilty. I feel like a failure, but also relieved at making this decision. Larry and I are discussing continuing with homeschooling Charlie and sending Allen to Harlan Christian. The public school is our absolute last choice and we will probably do everything to keep him out of there. That's another story...
I never knew parenting could be so heart-breaking. This is only the beginning! When you factor in their physical health and spiritual health, I know no bigger or harder job in the world!
The plan
As I sit here listening to Dave Ramsey, being a total financial nerd, I can't help but think about how do people get into their financial messes? I know that "our society" has "pushed" us into thinking that we need all kinds of things. No longer do we say "I would want to get that" or "I would like to get that some day". But why? Just a few days ago I heard a used car salesman say "You deserve a better car." Really? I think if our checkbooks were stuck open on our foreheads, we would see that very few of us deserve even a fraction of what we have. I love Dave Ramsey. He is a strong Christian and truly has an eternal perspective on the financial realm. Meaning, give your tithe, pay off all your debt, then save and give even more! If you don't know who Dave Ramsey is, please check him out on daveramsey.com.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Updates, etc.
I realize now that I forgot to write more about our vacation. Well, it was great. I think that this was our first real vacay with the children where we felt like a complete family. It felt wonderful. Larry and I felt like we weren't just "playing" family, but we really were a family. I know it sounds funny--we've been married almost 9 years now. Maybe that is how Selah completes us. It is all pretty cool.
The boys are growing up way too fast and Allen just turned 7. He is getting a little more philosophical about life and his questions and observations are getting harder to answer. Charlie is no longer the happy-go-lucky little kid he used to be--he is Charlie, the kid with an attitude and a mouth. Wow, it is so sad. He is not afraid to tell me no, 5 different ways. He is testing me daily--no, wait--hourly.
Selah is now crawling and she is a force to be reckoned with. She methodically goes around the walls looking for the outlets and testing each one. I guess to make sure the covers are on tightly enough. She has already been in the potted plants and a harsh "no" sends her into a giggle-fit. Where the boys cried when slapped on the hand, she laughs at you. She can take her diaper off through her clothes, looking you straight-faced the whole time. I think we are in trouble.
The boys are growing up way too fast and Allen just turned 7. He is getting a little more philosophical about life and his questions and observations are getting harder to answer. Charlie is no longer the happy-go-lucky little kid he used to be--he is Charlie, the kid with an attitude and a mouth. Wow, it is so sad. He is not afraid to tell me no, 5 different ways. He is testing me daily--no, wait--hourly.
Selah is now crawling and she is a force to be reckoned with. She methodically goes around the walls looking for the outlets and testing each one. I guess to make sure the covers are on tightly enough. She has already been in the potted plants and a harsh "no" sends her into a giggle-fit. Where the boys cried when slapped on the hand, she laughs at you. She can take her diaper off through her clothes, looking you straight-faced the whole time. I think we are in trouble.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Selah's new cry
Well, this vacation has brought something new to our household--a new cry. Selah was in her carseat for so long that she now has a very distinctive cry associated with putting her into it. It reminds me of a small motorcycle starting up. Wwweeeenntttt, nananananananana! wwwweeenntttt nanananananana! Sometimes she'll start up even when I hand her to Larry near the van. It was heartbreaking but now very funny.
More details about the vacation later!
More details about the vacation later!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Great minds think alike...and clash
We are in the middle of a clashing cycle--Allen and I. My firstborn and I are so much alike that the house gets way too small for the both of us. It happens ever three to four months or so and I try to be the adult and stop the cycle, but so far have been unsuccessful. Anyone know what I mean? The boy cannot stop "ruling the roost". He tells his brother what to do, he tells me what to do, he argues with everyone about everything! Then he yells and tells me to stop arguing with him--but he started it! (I know that what I just said sounds extremely juvenile, but that is what I'm thinking.)
So here's the deal. I know that often we treat those closest to us far worse than anyone else. I hate that. I want to change that, but I fail each and every day. I just wish I could glimpse into the future and see what Allen will be like at 25 years old. I want to speak with this adult Allen and see what he remembers of me. I see a picture of his memory of me as a big fire-breathing dragon of a mother that only yells and screams and barks out orders. "Hurry Up", "What do you say?", Hello! Is anyone listening to me!" etc. etc. etc! How horrible.
He brings me to the brink of throwing in the towel. I feel as if there is no way I can raise a sane adult with morals and values if the very person that brought him into this world is the very person that cannot interact rationally with him.
I know this is all extremely normal--at least that is what I hear from close friends, but it shouldn't be. Should it?
So here's the deal. I know that often we treat those closest to us far worse than anyone else. I hate that. I want to change that, but I fail each and every day. I just wish I could glimpse into the future and see what Allen will be like at 25 years old. I want to speak with this adult Allen and see what he remembers of me. I see a picture of his memory of me as a big fire-breathing dragon of a mother that only yells and screams and barks out orders. "Hurry Up", "What do you say?", Hello! Is anyone listening to me!" etc. etc. etc! How horrible.
He brings me to the brink of throwing in the towel. I feel as if there is no way I can raise a sane adult with morals and values if the very person that brought him into this world is the very person that cannot interact rationally with him.
I know this is all extremely normal--at least that is what I hear from close friends, but it shouldn't be. Should it?
Friday, January 30, 2009
What Charlie Says: January 2009
I have begun to write down some of the things that Charlie has been saying. As most of you know, his nickname is "Mr. Obvious" from the Bob and Tom Show. Not only does he make very obvious observations, but the observations have nothing to do with what is around him at the moment. We are often left scratching our heads and then Larry and I look at each other and nod. "Yep, that was another one to write down." Here they are so far:
"I took a little bite of peach for my tummy to eat because I have teeth in my tummy." This came out during the week that Allen was losing his first tooth.
"Before we eat fish, we have to chop off their fins first" This came out while Charlie was in the shower with Larry (yeah, I don't know either).
"I know everything but I didn't know Wal-mart has chocolate bars!" We don't go to Wal-Mart often, obviously.
“Do you know why I keep my eyes open when I sleep at night? Because when I close my eyes, my eyebrows will get red and hot!” He blurted this out as Larry was reading Dr. Seuss's "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut".
I hope you enjoyed this installment as much as Larry and I did. Later!
"I took a little bite of peach for my tummy to eat because I have teeth in my tummy." This came out during the week that Allen was losing his first tooth.
"Before we eat fish, we have to chop off their fins first" This came out while Charlie was in the shower with Larry (yeah, I don't know either).
"I know everything but I didn't know Wal-mart has chocolate bars!" We don't go to Wal-Mart often, obviously.
“Do you know why I keep my eyes open when I sleep at night? Because when I close my eyes, my eyebrows will get red and hot!” He blurted this out as Larry was reading Dr. Seuss's "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut".
I hope you enjoyed this installment as much as Larry and I did. Later!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Our family of 5
How weird does that sound... "Our family of 5" I have suddenly realized (okay, I must be slow--Allen is 6 years old) that Larry and I are parents to 3 children. Seriously! We are responsible to raise them to adulthood in one piece physically, academically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. How crazy is that!
We have been "growing up" a lot the past few months. The most obvious grower has been Selah. Allen has physically been growing like a weed, although I don't know how when he eats the same 3 things and nothing else. He has also just lost his first tooth on Friday. He is now reading and with that comes my realization that I cannot "fake" read things anymore. He is also beginning to ask the harder questions, of a spiritual nature. We had to deal with Nanny and Poppy's dog dying. With that came the questions of heaven and how do we get there. This is very exciting for me, but the daunting task of guiding him spiritually has hit me as I try to find simplified explanations for things without the "religious jargon". Charlie also has begun to grow up quite a bit. He has suddenly grown out of his 3T pants and seems to be shrinking his 4T shirts as well. He has also begun to read and wants so much to be in school like his brother. I have finally relented and he is so happy to work. He says the darndest things and I have begun a file on my computer of the goofball observations he has come up with. He is definately my "thinker". Time will tell how Selah turns out. Right now, she seems to physically resemble Charlie the most, but her temperament is like Allen (not really a good thing as he is very headstrong--like his mother, Larry says).
This blog will be my attempt at recording these "best days of our lives". I hope you enjoy them.
We have been "growing up" a lot the past few months. The most obvious grower has been Selah. Allen has physically been growing like a weed, although I don't know how when he eats the same 3 things and nothing else. He has also just lost his first tooth on Friday. He is now reading and with that comes my realization that I cannot "fake" read things anymore. He is also beginning to ask the harder questions, of a spiritual nature. We had to deal with Nanny and Poppy's dog dying. With that came the questions of heaven and how do we get there. This is very exciting for me, but the daunting task of guiding him spiritually has hit me as I try to find simplified explanations for things without the "religious jargon". Charlie also has begun to grow up quite a bit. He has suddenly grown out of his 3T pants and seems to be shrinking his 4T shirts as well. He has also begun to read and wants so much to be in school like his brother. I have finally relented and he is so happy to work. He says the darndest things and I have begun a file on my computer of the goofball observations he has come up with. He is definately my "thinker". Time will tell how Selah turns out. Right now, she seems to physically resemble Charlie the most, but her temperament is like Allen (not really a good thing as he is very headstrong--like his mother, Larry says).
This blog will be my attempt at recording these "best days of our lives". I hope you enjoy them.
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