Who IS This Child?

So I finally had to get out and do something today. I have been so sick for daaays. I am really tired of being sick, but then again I'm just really tired. I don't even know what I had, I just know I don't want it again, nor do I want anyone in my family to get it. I still don't feel 100% but I am going back to the land of the living tomorrow and going to work.

Preston also had to leave town Monday on top of it all, and thankfully I've had wonderful help from our family. Back to doing something today. Jacob has school pictures tomorrow and he deperately needed a haircut or face a long life of ridicule at his fro-boy hair do eteranlized forever in print. ha! I was like a mad woman looking for a place that could do it quick and Will has been saying for quite sometime (picture it: holding his bangs all the way back), "Mom I want my hair like this!". I really like his hair long, but if he's asking I might as well let him have a little bit of what he wants now, because when he's thirteen he might be asking for a different color and that will be out of the question! I'm trying to be a little flexible in my parenting :) Anyway I let him cut it and he is so cute. In person he looks a lot younger, but after I looked at his pictures he actually look older. You be the judge.

I'm praying for everyone to stay well. There are so many sick people I know and many of them actually have the Swine Flu!

How He Loves Us

I absolutely love this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgeUrD4MHI

I've listened to it over and over on my ipod the last couple of weeks and they sang it in church on Sunday. It's one of those songs that really resonates inside of you. It forces you to take a step back and really think how much He really does loves us. I don't think about God being jealous for me, but he is. He wants to be in everything I do, every day, and how disappointing I must be to him when I go through most days without even acknowledging him whatsoever.

I don't really know the point of this post other than if you haven't heard this song, you should. And to know that He is jealous for you. Oh how He loves us.

Have a terrific week.

Seriously! I Need Your Help!

I need every one's help with this.

A little background...my youngest who is 3 has the hardest time with going to sleep. I know I did it all wrong and for what I thought were the right reasons, but we let him sleep with us in our bed. We then tried to graduate up and at least lay with him in our bed or on the couch until he fell asleep and then move him to his bed. And finally, several weeks ago we had success. He went to bed all by himself in his own room. He would get up immediately and ask to go to the restroom but would always go right back in there where I would tuck him in and then very promptly fall asleep. It was pure bliss. And now, starting last night, he lays in bed and screams. He won't get up, just cry. He cries for me, his dad, pretty much anyone that he thinks might rescue him. Well last night I caved and at almost 11:00 I went in as took him from his bed and put him in bed with me. Justifying it to myself I reasoned with my 3 year old and told him it's "only this one time". And guess where we are tonight? More cries. I don't know what to do. Do I let him cry it our--he is very stubborn!? Do I lay with him on the couch? Or completely cave in and let him sleep in my bed again? They are only little for so long and one day very soon he will want nothing to do with me, but I also know he needs good rest in his own bed. So could you please help me and give me your opinion. I have a poll on the right. I have a feeling this is going to be our new bedtime routine for a while.

It's Raining, It's Pouring, The Old Man Will is Snoring!

I stayed home with Will today because he went to the dentist to get some cavities filled. Since he had cavities on his front two teeth they were going to have to use nitrous on him. When we got there they gave him some medicine to drink that would make him relax a little. I don't know what it is about my kids, but it always takes a little longer to sedate them than usual! So we waited, and waited...finally he relaxed enough to go in. Overall it went well and didn't take long, but when they started on the front two, we saved those for last, he was DONE! He was strapped down so he started fighting it and crying, then his gums were bleeding. I was ready to scoop him up! After he was done they had us wait in the 'toy room' so he could get his bearings a little and he was not happy. He was mad at everything. On our way home, he was convinced he had lost a tooth. About thirty minutes after we got home, he came to me a told me he didn't want pop-tarts for breakfast, he wanted oatmeal! And last of his funny things, when I told him it was nap time, he threw a fit because he had already taken a nap. "Don't you 'member momma? I came in your room after I woke up." Not sure what he was talking about there, but I too had to convince him again that he indeed had not already taken a nap. And that is where he is. Peacefully sleeping away in his bed. I hope he sleeps all that medicine off and wakes up feeling fantastic and forgets the whole thing!

Preston just left on a hunting trip for the entire weekend so I'm flying solo. I hate it when he is gone. And it's supposed to continue to rain the rest of today and tomorrow. We might just stay in bed all day and do nothing at all! But it definitely feels more like fall...or maybe it's that pumpkin spice candle I'm burning. ha! Either way I'm ready for it.

(Yep! It's pouring as I speak type! Thank God for the rain!

Introducing Our Newest Family Member...

Everyone, meet Benji. Isn't he precious. He and his two brothers were left on the doorstep to one of our barracks over the weekend. And if you know my story, you know I haven't turned down an animal yet that gets left at our school. It's sort of an ongoing joke in the office. ha! I took him and dropped him off at the vet to be checked out and given his shots and flea treatments and we will pick him up tomorrow after school. The kids fell in love with him instantly. The cannot wait til he comes home to stay. Will is a little unsure, but I'm sure he'll get used to having a dog.

On a side note, Will is a rockstar on his bike. He starts and stops and completely rides without training wheels. It is so funny to watch him because he seems so little but he talks about it nonstop and wants to be out there all the time. We really have to watch him now because he is fast down the driveway and he'll be on his way to his cousins house if I'm not careful!

Book Club

I bought this book today. It is the one Angie Smith is doing as a sort of web based book club called The Bloom Book Club. It sounds very interesting and I can't wait to see the discussions as they unfold. Anyone else reading this book too?

Two Wheel Master

This morning Preston and Will decided to take his training wheels off his bike and try two ride it with only two wheels. I was a little nervous and skeptical, he just barely turned 3 two months ago. But he was determined to do it. (He thinks if he can do it he gets a dirt bike...not sure who would have given him that idea but I have my suspicions!) So I ran ahead of the two of them trying to capture it in pictures and he actually did it! He has since practiced all afternoon in the garage so he could show his brother and sister when they got home from school. So cute.

Will working with his dad to take off the training wheels!

The long ride down the driveway...

Daddy helping just a little 'til he feels comfortable...And look! He did it all by himself. And, I might add, he hasn't fallen yet! He's getting so big :(

A Post in Pictures

I was looking back at my last few posts and I can't believe I don't have any pictures in them! So I got out my camera yesterday and realized I haven't taken any since Will's birthday in June! I am a bad mother.

Yesterday the big kids decided they wanted to ride their dirtbikes in the pasture. Let me preface by saying Lauren once said that she wanted to start riding too, so we obliged and got her all the necessary gear and I swear she has put it on maybe 4 times. One of those times being the day it arrived in the box! It takes her literally at least 30 minutes to get all 'suited' up. And I think she wears it appriximately 10 minutes before she is ready to take it off, which in turns takes another 20 minutes at least to get it all off and hung back up. Ugghh! I can't really blame her though because it all looks so hot and you get all sweaty, and us girls don't want any part of all that. As you can see from her pictures though, she is pretty darn cute in it.

I threw one in there of Jacob for good measure.

These pictures are from Will's birthday party. He turned 3. Sniff...sniff.
We rented a huge blow up slip and slide and the kids had a blast on it. The adults threatened to get on too, but we never did. I wish I had. Since the big kids had school today, Preston went into work for one job, then we'll be able to have the rest of the day today with just will. What's on the agenda?? I'm glad you asked because Preston has told Will that they are going to take his training wheels off his bike and let him try to learn to ride without training wheels. I feel the sudden need to run to town and stock up on Band-Aids. Just maybe I'll remember to take the camera out with us to try and capture this momentous occasion. ;)

Bored, for a Change

Today has been so nice. We had nothing we had to do. Everything we did was because we wanted to, when we wanted to. So nice. I need these days to kind of regroup. Lauren and I cleaned the house, and P and Jacob worked on the yard for the morning. Then we went to town for haircuts and grocery shopping. I even cooked a home-cooked meal and bathed the kids. Like I said, this has been a great day. And, I get two more just like it!

Maybe I'm For Real This Time...

I know I've said it before, but this was THE longest I've been without posting. And it was even summer!!! The days go by so fast and in a blur I can't even make sense of it. But... I know I have a responsibilty to grandparents ;) to keep this thing updated so I am back in business.

School has started and we're already off to a roaring start. Gymnastics, football, it's all coming back to me now. (That's a Celine Dion song for those who care, ha!) Anyway. I think we took our last trip for a while. Jake had his last race in Nocona and we had a lot of fun. We rented another camper and stayed at the track. Preston's mom and brother and sister came and we had a blast hanging out and cooking on the grill. It was much better than even I had anticipated. We are definitely ready for a break.

The kids love their teachers and are actually enjoying going to school. That is such a relief when your kids WANT to go instead of the begging and pleading to not make them. Will even seems to be enjoying school now. That makes my heart so much better. I want nothing more than to be able to stay home with him, but I can actually handle dropping him off knowing he wants to be there. He has also graduated and become so big because...he is completely in his bed now at night, and he falls asleep in there all on his own! You have no idea what a difference that makes. I actually have time to talk to my husband! I didn't know what I was missing, he's actually a great guy ;) ha!

Maybe I'll come back again tomorrow for another update.