After Rain Adventure

After the rain, we decided to go on an adventure. Sage and Kolby decided rain jackets would be best to protect them from all drops.

Mom and Levi braved the weather.

We headed straight to the pond to feed the ducks and look for frogs and turtles. We'd never actually fed the ducks, but the fish and turtles appreciate us.

There were a few drops so I tried to protect Levi. He thought it was more fun to pull it off his head.

We started by not scaring away this lone duck. He ate the bread if it was placed right on the bench. Notice Kolby's flashlight (his left hand)? Just in case.

More ducks came.

And more. We were so excited. We had never fed one duck before! And there were four!

One turtle came to play. The ducks didn't let him get any bread. A few fish would jump up and get the bread too.

After this, my camera battery died.

We never saw any frogs.

We moved on to search for puddles.

We found some by the pool and more along the side of the street.

At first, Sage didn't appreciate the mud seeping into his crocs with the rain water.

But, he got more into it.

Jumping. And splashing.

Kolby preferred to step lightly.

Until.

I saw a huge crack of lightening.

We hurried home.

Happily.

I Might Be Crazy

We're doing yellow, orange and red today. Blue and green will follow later in the week. Maybe. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Somewhat clean. It's the after the fun that gets me. The bad attitudes after we do something really fun. And it took way less time than I anticipated.

I'm hoping to hang them in our house.

My Heavy Heart

I don't know where to begin or how to explain.

It started with sweet Stellan going back to the hospital last Friday.

We had a busy busy weekend and I was not online. I prayed for them whenever the Lord brought them to mind. Which seemed to be often. I woke up today and found out that he had gotten worse. And continued about my day praying.

We went to eat lunch with Drew downtown. Got home, tried to get everyone down for naps. Levi thought his 15 minutes in the van was enough. Got on the computer. Stellan is being airlifted to Boston. I don't know what the plan of action is or if there is one. Lord be with them.

I checked my email. And read an email from my husband about a 9 month old boy who had fallen from his high chair, been taken to the hospital to be checked and everything looked fine. The next day, he just wasn't right. They took him back again. Pneumonia from food being lodged in his throat for too long. It came back up causing him to choke and be without air despite CPR. They took him off life support today.

My mind and heart are trying to process. Except my mind can comprehend but my heart hurts. My mind knows that the Lord is good. My heart sobs.

Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.

My mind feels guilt.

My heart cries.

Psalm 115:1
Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness

Psalm 86:6-7
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

Psalm 61:1
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.

Can I just say?

That these are the bangs I am obsessed with?

Can I have those? I don't think so. I think my hair is too thin.

What do you think? Tell me, honestly. I can handle it. I want to know. My hair is just so boring.

Hair Thursday

Remember when I was featured on Hair Thursday? Way back in February of 2008?

Well, I was. I went with option number one. I was ready for a change. A big change. It wasn't cute.

I blame myself. I went to a new stylist. I didn't have a regular stylist and I was told she was really good. She cut it way too short. Anyway. You have to give me credit for cutting it.

So, Sarah James, who writes Hair Thursday was on Rachel Ray. And guess who else was on their?

That's right, yours truly.

Click here to watch the segment. Look for me at minute marker 1:12 or around there.

Before

After

And now I have to clarify, this is after the stylist fixed it. It just got worse when I tried doing it myself. Man, those were some short bangs. Well, hello nose.

Week Wrap Up

I am so glad today is Friday! And we have nothing on our agenda for the day. Sage requested the pool so after Levi naps this morning, we'll hit the pool, swim, have some lunch and then my favorite part of the day, naps!

This week, we participated in the Houston Project. Sunday, we got to the site at 3:30 to set up for a carnival. There were bounce houses, face painting, ring toss and other fun games. We got home at about 8:30 after we drove through McDonalds for cheeseburgers. And that began our horrible dinners for the week. Part of the Houston Project was serving dinner every night. Monday was corn dogs, chips and cookies. Tuesday was chicken nuggets, chips and cookies. Wednesday was hamburgers, chips and cookies. Thursday was pizza and cookies. There was fruit on the side too. My kids pretty much ate chips and cookies for dinner every night. The entree's weren't what they were used to.

Our site leaders have been in the process of adopting for quite awhile. A couple weeks ago, they got a call about a possible baby. They met with the birth parents and the grandparents. Nothing was decided or confirmed. Until Monday. And on Tuesday, they went to pick up their new little girl, 3 weeks old. We were ecstatic for them!

They had asked us to be co-site leaders. And we said sure. Thinking they would be there! Well, we jumped in for the week and God blessed our site. Everything ran so smoothly and flawlessly. It was so incredible to see the different parts of the body, the hands, the feet, the eyes, the mouth all work together for one purpose. Everyone that served was using their unique talents to serve the Lord and it showed this week. Seriously, Drew and I did nothing but walk around and talk to people. We really did nothing. Sometimes, I wondered why I was there!

But, it was all so tiring! We got home around 9 every night. And I tried to keep our days low key and make sure Kolby and Levi were taking good naps. And Sage was getting some rest time. But, it seemed like I wasn't getting any rest time!

Monday, we had a few errands to run. Target, HEB and Cinnabon (special breakfast treat for Sage's birthday on Tuesday). And then I had to make 4 dozen cookies. And fix breakfast and lunch and clean up. I seriously, didn't sit down until we got home that night.

Tuesday was Sage's birthday. So I tried to make it a little special. We had already celebrated with friends on Saturday. They came to swim and grill. We had 5 little boys (including our two) and it went really well. It was a lot of fun. We ate Cinnabon for breakfast and opened presents before Drew went to work. Sage got a fishing pole which was his number one requested item. Now he's patiently waiting for Saturday to go fishing with Drew. He also got a super cape and mask with his initial on the back. Kolby had won his for a poopy prize (which he should really relinquish but that's a different post) and they have been so cute playing super heros. I had bought them lunchables and told Sage we could go to the pool. So, it was a little bit of a special day.

Wednesday, they wanted to watch Bolt which Sage had gotten and Levi ended up taking a 2.5 hour morning nap so I mopped the floor. It doesn't look like I did anymore. Futile. Then I got an email saying there is usually a slide show on Thursday. That night, Drew taught me how to use Power Point to make a slide show. And that is what I spent most of the day Thursday doing. It was easy but time consuming. So the boys watched another movie. I even put Levi in his exercauser in front of a Praise Baby dvd. And I let myself off the hook for homemade cookies that night and bought them. While I was paying for them I realized why I make them. They're expensive.

And today, ah, I'm so glad it is Friday. And I'm looking forward to getting out of the house by myself tomorrow. Anyone want to join me?

FIVE

Dear Sage,

Today you turn 5! Happy Birthday buddy!

July 18, 2008, you accepted Jesus into your heart. I didn't write it down, I just kept that date tucked away in my heart. Four days after you turned four. I was getting ready for the day, you were sitting on our bed. You started asking about Jesus. And we ended up praying together. It was so sweet. I was ecstatic and called your dad. He was cautious. But time and time again, we've talked about having Jesus in your heart and you readily state that Jesus is in yours. Last Sunday, Miss Julie from Heartland pulled your dad aside and told him that you have a special gift and a heart for Jesus that makes her think you'll be a worship leader or a pastor. We pray you live passionately for Jesus.

Four has been a really fun year. You make jokes and understand jokes. You get sarcasm. You speak sarcasm. You finally understand my love language!

You're helpful. You're kind. You play well with others. Your hands must be clean at all times. A napkin to wipe them off will not suffice, it must be a wet wipe or wash cloth. But you eat your boogers.

Sage, I have joked with you that I don't want you to turn five. I have so enjoyed you being four. I like four. I can reason with four. Four understands when he isn't patient or kind or needs to control his anger or change his attitude. Four has been so good.

But, I am excited for five. I have great expectations for five. Four was good, five is going to be great.

I love you to the moon, back to earth, around the orbit, back to the moon and back.

Love,

Mom

What Our Morning Looks Like

The boys wanted to play outside this morning. In pajamas, socks, and crocs. And I let them. And took their picture. As I was taking it, Sage said "You're taking our soldier picture, right Mom?" They lasted two minutes before it got too hot in their soft pajamas.


And here's Levi. I fed him mashed avocado for breakfast and have kept dumping handfuls of Cheerios on his tray for entertainment purposes. You can see that by the third or fourth handful, he is unimpressed.


Since I started writing this all of five minutes ago, Sage is now playing Legos and he's kind of hungry. Kolby is out on the deck riding his scooter. He keeps sliding open the door. In the last five minutes, I've said "Shut the door." about 100 times. And Sage is so hungry. He's always hungry.

And now we're on to drawing pictures.

Our Second Fourth in Texas

This year, we didn't spend the fourth with our realtor and his family. Incidentally, that is the last time I've seen him and he's not a realtor anymore.

We did go to a barbque with some friends. We did grill burgers. I did not actually grill the burgers but I did consume a burger and chips and watermelon.

We did sparklers. And snakes. And snap pops. Some swimming. Levi may or may not have swam in an Ariel swim diaper. Beggars can't be choosers.

And had one or maybe two margaritas. Very good margaritas or margarita, for those of you who were counting.

We technically saw fireworks. But we were driving. So it didn't really count.

It didn't fit in my collage but it was too cute to leave out. Levi loves watermelon.

Happy 4th

Usually, I get a little homesick around the fourth. Where I grew up was so fun to walk around downtown and see fireworks over the river.

BUT.

This year, we are painting our bedroom, so my thoughts are consumed.

Hopefully, I'll post a picture on Monday. It probably won't be totally decorated. I still need some frames for some pictures but you'll get the idea.

Dear Dhavood,

Today is your birthday! You are five years old! Five is such a fun age.

I wonder what you're going to do, if anything to celebrate. I wonder if your birthday is just another day? I don't know the traditions of your culture.

If I were with you I would have a balloon for you. And a singing card. I would have presents for you to open. Cupcakes and an ice-cream cake.

I don't know much about you, Dhavood or much about what makes you, you. In the short time that I have known about you, I have fallen in love with you. Your sweet face.

I pray that you come to know Jesus. That you learn that He is your friend.

I hope that someday we can meet you, face to face.

And I would try not to cry. Too much.

Love,
Kristy

I took Levi to the doctor yesterday for his second non-well baby visit.

He's teething.

You would think that with my third child I could have figured that out. We were glad it is only his teeth and nothing more serious.

He's really throwing me through the loop. I can't figure him out. He's never been a great sleeper but he does go 8 hours sometimes. Unfortunately it is from 7ish to 3am. I was feeding him at 10 but didn't one night to see what would happen and he just kept sleeping.

I've tried not feeding him at 3. That doesn't go over so well. For him, Drew, me or the other two boys.

I even got a new book called Good Night, Sleep Tight The Sleep Lady's Gentle Guide to Helping Your Child Go to Sleep, Stay Asleep and Wake Up Happy. The jist is to let them cry while periodically going in to soothe them by patting or shushing. If you'd like, you can sit by the crib while they scream. Um, right. Gentle? Hmm. It is more like torture for my child. "Hey! You're here! You came to save me! Why aren't you picking me up? What is this patting? SHHH yourself! Pick me up!"

All 3 of my kids have woken in the night until they were about a year. This time I told myself we would just roll with it and let it happen. The problem is, I'm tired.

And. (Fair warning-Talk of nursing below!)

I think I have an infection. And it seems worse on the days that I don't get enough sleep. Which I would say we are at about 75% of the nights, he is up more than a desirable amount.

And, it hurts.

I have a call into the doctor. It is just taking a bit for us to connect to see if I need an appointment.

It has hurt for quite a while. Between the biting and the hurting, I've been ready to wean him. But then, it won't hurt and he won't bite and he's so sweet. And, it's free! A friend told me that it costs about $125 per month to formula feed. So, I made a deal with Drew. Every month that I make it past 6 months (since that is how long the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends) I get $75 in a lump sum after his first birthday. Pretty good deal, huh?

I thought that the more babies you have, the easier it gets. Or the babies are supposed to be easier babies. For some reason, that hasn't happened in our family. I joke that no one told Levi that he's the third child and supposed to sit happily in the corner and watch all the commotion. He wants in on every little detail.

And I still want at least one more.

I was trying to get Sage to pray with me for twin sisters but he says he'll only pray for boys. I guess I won't ask him to pray about it!

Why We Eat Together, as much as possible

Sitting around our table yesterday eating lunch, out of nowhere, Sage asks this:

"Why did God create the fruit if he didn't want Adam and Eve to eat it?"

Seriously? He's not even 5.

Too deep for my thinking, I turned it over to Drew.

Free Things We Do

1. Library Story Time.

2. Neighborhood Pool- we like to pack a lunch, do some swimming then eat lunch pool side. If you happen to see me dumping my water bottle full of pool water under the chair where Kolby was sitting, don't ask.

3. Splash Pad (I can't decide how often we'll do this. Levi and I got terribly hot. His poor little face. He has both his parents Scandinavian red face when he gets hot.)

4. Children's Museum. Technically, not free, but we have a membership that is already paid for. Again, we pack our own lunch.

5. The Zoo. Again, not free but paid for membership. Which I will not go back to until September. Or October. Possibly November.

Any other ideas that I'm missing?

Dear Grouchy Old Man,

It's a pool.

You're standing in 3 feet of water. Your magazine might get wet. You might get some splashes on you.

Deal with it.

Quit shooting my kids annoyed glances and shaking your head.

I know it has been a really long time since you were 4.5 but I promise you acted much the same way.

And remember, it's a pool. Say it with me now, it's. a. pool.

Lovingly,
The Mom to the 3 boys

PS. Sorry my 4.5 year old told you to get out of his way, please! That was a little rude, I talked to him about it.

Another Day at the Beach

Isn't this picturesque? Frameable even? Let's see what's really happening.

They're so cute. Does Levi have his hand in his mouth?

Boys! What is Levi doing?!

Yucky, Levi! I'm still framing it.

30 Day Challenge

My husband challenged me not to use the credit card for 30 days.

Here's the back story. He has had a full time job for about a year. Before that, he was in school. Undergrad, then he decided to apply for grad school. For a total of six years (our first six of marriage) we lived on a tight budget. By tight I mean, buying a ten dollar shirt was a big deal.

I think the past year both of us have let loose a little. And by a little I kind of mean a lot. We have money coming in every month! Don't read too much into this, we aren't in debt. (Not counting school loans and our mortgage.) What I mean is that we've been paying off our credit card every month. But we've also been dipping into our savings. Not good.

So, for the next 30 days we are hitting it hard. No credit. Which means, no swimming lessons, no new clothes, no new flip flops, no hair cuts and probably other things I can't think of off the top of my head.

The goal is that if we can do it for 30 days, we can do it for the next 30 and the next.

It's not like it is impossible. It's just that I am so very materialistic. Seriously, I don't want to know how many times a day I think a sentence that starts "I should get...". It would be disgusting. They aren't all things for me, I do think about things for the kids too. And they aren't things that I don't have. I want more flip flops, a new purse, more clothes for Levi (seriously he doesn't have that many- see how I justify things), more shorts, the list continues. And the list doesn't usually get shorter after I cross something off, I just add something else. It's a sickness.

I do want to start buying from more thrift stores. So, here's where you get to throw in your two cents. How do I take 3 kids to a thrift store and actually accomplish looking at things?

And, for those of you that live in Houston, any places I should go?! Know of a Goodwill that has all the good stuff?

Jumbled Mind

I come here to write and I have nothing. No words. Or not the words that I want to write.

I want to write about the bird in our chimney and how Pedro (my hero) got it out. After I convinced him that there was indeed a bird in our chimney. And how scared Sage was. And how it might have been because I told him he was the man of the house since Dad was at work and Papa was sleeping. Oops. And how after Pedro gave be a disbelieving look that there was a bird in our chimney and how he was going to have to open the flue to see and I hurried the kids upstairs with Nana and how Sage ran up the stairs like someone had promised him candy for getting there first. And how before Nana, Kolby, and Levi even made it up the landing the bird had flown out of the fireplace, into the fireplace cover, recovered and then flew smack into the huge window and fell to the floor. And how Pedro nonchalantly got his hankie out, picked up the bird while I opened the front door and then he let it fly away.

I want to write about Levi and his terrible sleeping habits and how I cannot break him of them. It is a viscous cycle.

And how tired I am.

And I just don't have the funny words to say them. They aren't coherent thoughts.

My fingers don't know where to start typing.

I want to tell you about the splash park that we went to this morning with 3 or 4 daycares. And how I would never want my kids in those daycares.

I want to tell you how Levi threw up twice last week, in about twelve hours, and I had myself convinced he was getting the chicken pox. But he didn't.

I want to tell someone but I'm just so tired. And then I wonder who am I telling anyway? Weird. I feel compelled to write these things. But for who?

I guess for my family someday.

Read this family, I am tired. Being your mamma and your wife makes me tired. And I love every minute of it.

One Proud Mama

Sage jumped off the diving board today.

Let me say that again.

Sage jumped off the diving board today into 11 feet of water and swam to the edge.

Let me say that again.

Sage jumped off the diving board today into 11 feet of water and swam to the edge, all by himself!