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Annie Day Now

You may have noticed a theme this week in my posts.  I'm a bit focused on the matter of being a cohesive unit.  This particular subject is near to my heart because, as I mature, I'm beginning to realize that on my own I am pretty insignificant.  I'm just one piece of a much greater puzzle.  You are a piece as well, and we need to stick together.  As mothers, wives, friends, children of God, we need each other.  God has given us special ties to one another, he has created us to bond.

Body Building

Meet "Amputee Barbie".  She, along with her two identical sisters, are the newest members of Ava's doll collection.  

Help Wanted

At this point, Piper thinks the word "no" is the most hysterical thing she has ever heard.  She already knows how to play innocent when you have caught her with something she shouldn't have, and when she doesn't get her way...oh, she will tell you about it!  She's basically a miniature teenager. 

Running For Office

I'm not the most political person.  I wasn't able to watch the presidential debates and I don't feel like I missed out on much.  Truth be told, I'm not impressed with either candidate.

Eyes Wide Shut

"That's gonna be bad."  Those were the words Josh mumbled as he witnessed Ava run headfirst into the corner of a metal post.  I looked up just in time to see her bounce off of it and fall backwards onto the concrete.  

Oral Report

It's 2:00 AM and I'm wide awake.  If it weren't for two lousy teeth, I'd be snuggled up in my cozy bed fast asleep.    

I Certainly Do

Our first anniversary.
We celebrated by biking 65 miles on our tandem bike...
isn't that too cute?  

I knew the very week I met Joshua, that I was going to marry him.  By week two it dawned on me that marrying a pastor would automatically make me a pastor's wife.  That was a bit overwhelming.  By week three I was willing to wear a head covering, give up pork, and anoint lepers... whatever was expected of a pastor's wife, I was willing to do it!

Liar Liar

I've been believing a lie.  For the past three days my stove has been trying to convince me that I have a burner on.  Usually it's right.  I can't tell you how many times I have left a burner on and sat down to a meal without once thinking to turn it off.  (I know Mom, for such a smart girl...)  But in this case, the burners are indeed off.  I've checked....like a million times!

Troubled Waters

Something happened this weekend, something horrific.  I haven't even mustered up the courage to tell my own husband yet.  Every time I think I have the strength to describe something so disturbing, the scene replays in my head and I am left dumbfounded and speechless all over again.

Bits and Pieces

We are beginning a new season in our household.  For the first time in our history we have a significant age gap between our children that requires special attention.  When Ava and Isaac were tiny, they were tiny together because they are only fourteen months apart.  Piper, however, is three years behind Isaac.  This poses a few challenges.

Not Yes

My kids are under the impression that my favorite word is "no".  I admit that I do use it a lot but it is hardly my favorite word.  I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite word.  Although I do have to thank Snoop Dogg for bringing "izzle" into my vocabulary...that's for rizzle, yo!

Getting to Know You

Today is Isaac's fourth birthday.  He is practically a grown man!  Pretty soon he'll be off to college, getting married, forgetting to call his mommy.  I'm not ready for this!  Judging by this picture, he's not ready either!  

Granny

So, a little tidbit about me...I have a multiple personality disorder, kinda.  It's under control now that I am a very busy wife and mother, I've no spare time to be anybody else but me.  But as a young woman I would often parade around dressed as an old lady.  In fact, I had a whole host of granny disguises and aliases.  Mavis Davis from Avis, Shirley Whirlington, Judith Ann McCallahan, Sister Mary Berry, Loretta Looper of Looper's Super-duper Double-sided Sticky-tape Company...that's just to mention a few.  I called my "troupe", Steeple People, and I would actually go to churches to speak and perform little skits.

Oops!

I have been trying really hard this week to be on top of things.  I've printed off fancy weekly schedules, prepared a monthly menu, and made an all-encompassing grocery list.  My laundry is almost caught up and put away, not just piled atop the dressers.  I have even rearranged the junk drawer...which by definition is supposed to be a hideous hole of assorted crap!

Roots

Our garage after three trees fell on it during the storm.

The spring of 2011 was a doozie.  April showers brought much more than May flowers that year.  Weeks of rain cause the ground to become so saturated that when an actual storm came through with high winds, all the trees surrounding our home fell.

Housebroken

This past spring my mother in-law helped me sew a simple vest and bow tie for Isaac.  She had made the girls matching dresses for Easter and he wanted one too.  We decided that a vest would be more appropriate... um 'cause he's a boy.
After doing a fairly decent job, I decided that I was ready to venture out on my own and make Ava a jumper for school.  I found a remnant of grey wool for $.99 at the Goodwill store and an easy dress pattern at Walmart.  All I needed to do now was actually make it.  How hard could it be?

Writing on the Wall

Isaac drew on the dog with a black permanent marker today.  Isn't that just... precious?? Howie didn't seem to care.  We were thinking about having his dog license tattooed on his belly but Isaac kind of beat us to the punch.  Either way, Howie's got new ink.

Stranger Danger

Can't get much stranger than us.

We have been teaching our kids about "Stranger Danger".  It's a good thing to do.  It's in the parenting handbook. (What?  Your kids didn't come with a handbook?  That's too bad for you.)

Hunger Pangs

I have nothing to say today...not one thing.  I wish I had a good excuse, but I don't.  In fact, my explanation is really quite sad.  I'm ashamed to even admit it.

Pearl of Wisdom

It's been a rough weekend for our youngest, Piper.  She is nearly nine months old and has yet to cut her first real tooth.  She was born with two floppy little teeth but has since sucked them off.  I've been trying my best to see any emerging teeth pushing their way through but she's remaining quite tight lipped...literally.  I have poked my finger in there, tried to pry her jaws apart, and have even held her upside down while tickling her toes, but no luck.  I can't see a single tooth trying to sprout.  What I can see is her bulging, swollen gums.  She's feverish and fussy, all tale tell signs that teeth are about to arrive.

Saturday Edition

I don't usually write a post on Saturday, so this is a real treat...sorta.  I just wanted to take a moment and share with those of you who take the time to read my silliness each day.  First off, thank you.  Thanks for allowing me to air my feelings and frustrations openly.  Because of you, its been 34 days since I have abused a pine tree.

Gibberish

I'm beginning to  feel like Charlie Brown's mother..."Wah wah wah."  I do a great deal of talking but apparently nothing I say is intelligible, at least to my kids.  I'm confident that they hear me or at least can see my lips moving, but the part where they listen and obey is not happening tonight.  It's been a trying evening, as you can tell.  Even the dog is ignoring me!

Crazy Talk

I've been moonlighting as neurologist lately.  I would have thought the pay would be better, but it turns out that I'm not at all qualified.  Nevertheless, I have discovered that Isaac has some neuro-weirdness and I've  diagnosed him with a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  It's nothing terribly serious, he isn't washing his hands twenty times a day or arranging his underwear by color.  But he is driving me nuts!

The State I'm In

I live in a constant state of chaos.  My husband can testify to that fact, but my house can actually prove it.

Failure to Communicate

Can you hear me now?

Well, this may be so long…for now.  My connection to the world was destroyed yesterday when a lumber truck yanked the internet cable from our house.  He literally snapped it off both the house and the electrical pole.   So, now I have 40 feet of wire neatly coiled on our front steps waiting for the repair man to reconnect us. 

Don't Worry 'bout It

I worry about a lot of things.  I worry that I worry too much.  I worry when I'm not worried enough.  Honestly, in your opinion, do you think I should worry about this? 

So Long Leroy

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to remember our dear friend and faithful companion, Leroy the goldfish.  This morning was met with tears and great sorrow as Leroy was discovered laying at the bottom of his bowl.  A life cut short.  He had only been with us for a day...and he wasn't even ours.

Labor Day

Every mother has a "labor day" story to tell.  Delivering a child into the world is a lot like climbing Mt. Everest.  After accomplishing such a great feat of perseverance and strength you just have to share how you lived to tell about it!  Climbing Everest?!  Ha!  That's for sissies!  Have a baby and then talk to me.

Yo Self

When interviewing for a new position, just be yourself.
When giving a speech or presentation, just be yourself.
When meeting new people, just be yourself.
I have even given Ava the same wise words as she shuffled into school on her first day.  "Just be yourself, Honey."  

Public Display of Affliction

So, I want to share a story with you.  Partly because it's a dandy story and partly because I think I need to see it in writing to actually believe it .  Although the scene has been replaying itself in my head for hours I still can't seem to wrap my mind around it.  It's just that surreal to me.

All Growed Up

I am one of those silly moms who counts the hours until her child can master the next major milestone.  Once one skill is grasped we quickly move onto the next as if it was a race to see how fast I can mold my kids into adults.

Rolling: Check
Sitting: Check
Crawling: Check
Driving: Check

In With the New

We have just returned home from purchasing a new dishwasher and garbage disposal.  I'm not sure whether to be delighted or devastated.  In less than one year we have had to replace every appliance we own, with the exception of the stove.  Don't worry though, the stove broke too.  We wouldn't want it to feel left out.  Thankfully though, after anointing it with olive oil, persistent prayer, and a new electrical cord, it was resuscitated.  However, the cord incident led to rewiring most of the house.
In addition, the grill died.  The driveway needed patched and sealed, as well as a hole in the garage roof.  The roof on the house is being inspected tomorrow to determine just how much longer we can expect it to last. 
The list is endless.  

Birds-eye View

It's been a rough year for the birds.  In spite of my weird fear of birds, I even feel sorry for beady-eyed little buggers.  It's not like we are intentionally trying to kill them!

Housebroken

This week on Housebroken, we explore the wonders of corn.
Why corn?  Why not?!  
I watched a documentary about corn once...don't make fun of me, it was interesting.  It said that an average American consumes 1500 pounds a corn per year!  That's over four pounds a day!  It turns out that corn is in just about everything we eat.  Who knew?!

Spare Change

New things are happening around here.  Ava has started school and Piper has begun to crawl...Isaac has learned to eat like a human boy.

Hot Stuff

When I'm not busy being a mother of three, I am my husband's full-time lover...
I can't even type that with a straight face!  
But wouldn't it be nice if that were the truth?  I'm certain he would think so.

Ain't that a Wonder

Ava, our oldest, just turned five.  Of all three kids, she has been the front runner for every new experience and the guinea pig to all our parenting pursuits.  If she turns out wrong it's simply because we broke her first!  

Although I tend to worry about our children's futures, I have a certain measure of peace about Ava.  God has proven himself so big in her little life already.

Stalkers

I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not paranoid.  We are being watched.  Ever since we moved into this house we have been relentlessly stalked.  I see them lurking.  I feel their eyes on me.  I know they're there.  In fact, it has become so bad that they don't even bother to hide anymore!  They chant from outside and taunt our children.  They pound on our doors and scream for our attention.
I don't know how much more I can bear!  I seriously consider moving every single day, yet we're still here enduring the terror.

Housebroken

I'm slowly becoming a domesticated woman.  Josh and I have been married for nearly six years and I can almost flip a dippy egg without losing the dippy!  But my cooking skills, although improved, still have a long way to go.  What I have found is that I'm more of a fix-it kinda girl.  I really enjoy home improvement projects.  And boy did our home need some improvement!

Superman

Isaac is saving the day, but don't be fooled...
Ava is a hero too.  She calls herself,
 SUPERMARKET!

We have one son, Isaac, who is sandwiched between two sisters.  Needless to say, he has played his fair share of tea party and fairy princess...and he is usually delighted to do so.  But inside this little fellow lurks a small man.  This man reveals himself in loud burping noises at the table.  He tells jokes that always have poo in the punchline.  He has even been sighted peeing on my azaleas.

VANity

I believe all women run headlong into motherhood believing three basic lies.

Gettin' My Blog On!

Let me be frank, I'm not a real fan of most blogs.  I have come across a million mommy blogs chronicling the details of their little cherub's lives and though cute, I really can't justify wasting my time reading posts like, "Lucy's Loose Tooth".  I've got things to do. 

But here I am writing my very own blog that is sure to be oozing with silly stories about my own kids.  Why?  Well...as I was knee-deep in the midst of a emotional meltdown yesterday where I found myself beating the trunk of an innocent pine tree with an aluminum baseball bat, it became obvious to me that I need a more positive outlet.  Perhaps writing will help me deal with the daily frustrations of being a mom, as well as spare the pine trees bordering our property!