We Get To

The alarm went off and I wondered when he would turn it off and not press snooze.  It went off again, 10 minutes later and this time it stayed on.  We both rolled over and he said, "Happy Anniversary.  I love you, beautiful wife."  Then we both just laid there, wondering when we actually, physically needed to get up out of our comfortable, cozy bed.  Hubs then said, "I could be here all day."  We held hands, he prayed for our day, we thanked God for 8 years of God's blessing...even for the hard stuff.  Then it was off-to-the-races.
We had to get 3 little people dressed, okay, 2 little people.  Littlest little stayed in his jammies because he gets to take a nap later in the morning.  Hubs and I got Special K's lunch together, he got breakfast on the table, I had to have a talk with the oldest 2 about what it means to honor your Mom and Dad, I had to get ready and coffee, oh how I need LOVE that coffee!  Special K had his 6-year Annual Checkup and would be late for school.  Baby was along for the ride and I knew he would be cranky getting to his nap later than usual.  Hubs had Petunia to take her to Preschool before he went to campus.  Later, I pick up Petunia, lunch and naps for the little peeps and then a Parent-Teacher conference for me and Special K's teacher.  (All said in a really fast, high-pitched voice then collapse on floor.)
We celebrated our 8th Anniversary last Friday, by sharing an amazing meal, doing some shopping, getting a hotel room for the night...TO SLEEP, you all.  Seriously, when we talked about what we would do, we talked about sleep!  We got to the said hotel room and I took pictures of the room, jumped on the bed and turned on the T.V. (We got rid of our DISH and man was it nice to turn the T.V. on!)  Did I forget to mention that I didn't have to cut-up anybody's food into little, teeny-tiny pieces, change any stinky diapers or put little people to bed?  It. was. glorious.
Glorious because Hubs and I gave each other undivided attention.  Glorious because it gave us a chance to hold hands and enjoy each other's company.  Glorious because we remember what God did to bring the two of us together.  It was nothing short of a miracle, people.  And glorious because we get to walk this journey together.  Though, it isn't always pretty.
I remember dreaming about being married.  The bliss it would be.  The breakfasts-in-bed, the gazing-longingly into each others eyes.  Let's just say that:  those things happen, way-few-and-far-between-these-days.  There's the reality of not having enough time when you have to divide it between 5 people in your home, wiping noses, wiping hineys, wiping-off tables, wiping tears and all.
It sounds so glamorous and and romantic, eh?  But for the record, it is pretty stinking awesome.  I get to live life with an amazing man who is imperfect (as am I...as am I) but tries so darn hard to put a smile on my face all-the-while smiling himself.  His heart is huge and man does he love God!  WE get to take care of three little people who drive us crazy yet make us laugh hard enough to pee in our pants, teach them about the AMAZING love of Christ and what it means to live for Him.  We get to live in a home that would not be a home without the 5 of us in it.  And at the end of the day, we get to hold hands at the dinner table, Thank God for all He has done and say, "Amen".  Thanks God.  To You, ALL THE GLORY.  
Happy 8th Anniversary, Sweetheart!
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
      How unsearchable his judgments,
      and his paths beyond tracing out! 
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
      Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
      that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
      To him be the glory forever! Amen."  Romans 11:33-36

Too. Much. Party.

It. happened.  
This whole past month, we have been running.  One thing after another.  I knew it was coming.  Yet, each year, it takes my breath away.  SEPTEMBER.
We start the month with my sweet Hubs' Birthday.  It is then followed by our eldest boy who shares a birthday with my wonderful MIL.  Then six days later, it is our baby boy's birthday.  Eleven days after that, it is our anniversary.  In the midst of all these birthdays and anniversary celebrations, we sent Special K to Kindergarten and our Princess started Preschool.  People, I need a defibrillator.
We just wanted to get through the parties.  Really, truly we LOVE celebrating the gifts we have in our lives.  But when they're all jammed together in one month, it makes me wonder how we should celebrate.
This year, instead of giving birth, we decided to do 2 birthday parties in ONE DAY.  You all, did anyone consult me on this??  Was anyone listening when I came up with this grand idea?  Afterall, we were away for Special K's birthday weekend.  The obvious solution was to have a Double Grande.  I was thankful that we had Grandparents for Littlest Little's party in the morning.  Later in the afternoon, we had 2 friends and parents over for Special K's party.  Not too much to handle, right?  Food, family, friends.  Keep it simple.  
It wasn't in the details, people.  It. was. just. too. much.  During Special K's party, he was having a great time.  Playing Super Mario Brothers with his buddies, going outside for Jedi Training Camp led by Daddy, Light Saber Cupcakes, Star Wars Cookies (compliments from my beautiful friends, Julia and Gabrielle), Yoda Soda, Light Saber Duals, Yoda and Darth Costumes.  All in a days fun, right?  But then towards the end, before the opening of gifts, this happened...
Special K was bawling his eyes out and screamed, "TOO. MUCH. PARTY."  WHOA, well said, son.  I hear you loud and clear.  Mommy is so sorry.  My introverted, intense and tender-hearted warrior said it all.  He took some time upstairs, came back down and had fun ending the evening with his gifts.  
That night, bedtime didn't come soon enough.  Hubs and I did the least amount of clean-up, possible, and decided to veg in front of a movie.  I fell asleep with 20 minutes in the movie left to spare.  We were in bed by 10PM.  
In the morning, we were looking forward to a relaxing day at home and thankful that church meets in the afternoon.  The day just didn't go so well.  I believe my mind and heart decided to explode all over the day.  Poor family.  Forgive me.  I slept.  I sobbed.  And we didn't make it to church.  We all needed time to chill and not have to go to the next thing.  We went out for dinner, gave the kiddos baths and called it a night.  
Hubs and I had a much-needed time of connecting by talking out the entire month.  Do you ever just run so hard that you just don't have time to talk?  And for me, a quality-time chick, I start to whither if I don't get that.  Don't try to take it away from me, please.  I promise, I am more quality if you give me that QT.  
Slowly but surely, God is giving me space to figure out me.  You would think by now, I would have me figured out, but I don't.  I. am. OKAY. with. that.  Slow down, one day at a time.  Keep giving thanks, keep praying and keep resting.

One Year Ago Today

Dear Baby of the house,


A year ago today, you came to be a part of our family.  Almost 12 hours from the time my water broke, we knew you would come into this world, by God's grace.  What I did not know was how much room I had in my heart for you.  I did not know my heart could expand as much as it did.  
Your Dad and I pray that you grow up knowing the love of Jesus.  We pray that you grow into a man after God's own heart.  Our prayer is that you would know this inexplicable joy.  
We also want you to know that we will make many mistakes as your Mom and Dad.  In spite of this, we will love you.  We will try our hardest to teach you about peace, kindness and faithfulness.
Baby - your big brother and sister love you.  They have ever since they knew you were in my belly.  They talked to you like we did.  They sang to you.  They wondered what you would look like.  
One year later, we praise God for who you are, who the Lord created you to be and for who you will become.  We thank God for your incessant laughter.  We thank God for your sweet smile.  We thank God for your love for climbing and getting into things you should not get into.
We thank God for you, third child of ours.    


Love always,


Mommy & Daddy

How We Roll

I hate vomit.  I despise it.  I detest it.  And I hate starting sentences with "I hate."
This morning was the first day of Preschool for our little G.  Being our middle child, she's never really known life apart from having siblings.  She is the only girl and proves it by her love for anything-princess, baby dolls and her brother's knowledge of Star Wars, passed down.  
The day started like any first day of Preschool would start.  I had little G's outfit laid out, Special K's outfit laid out and Hubs had been great about bringing me Coffee in bed (that I didn't drink until I drove away from little G's school).  We were working as a team.   You know, the way Team Family should.  After all, that's how we roll.  
In the midst of checking off our list and crossing out the things we needed to get done throughout our day, apparently Little G decided this was the day she was going to pick up the baby's milk cup...and DRINK.FROM.IT.  So you know, Little G is allergic to anything dairy.  We have seen this phenomenon since she was 4-months-old.  We fed her formula ONCE (on the road) and regretted it ever since.  That night, she broke out into hives and vomited the ENTIRE night.  Our Pediatrician encouraged us to try a little bit of formula in her bottle when Little G was 7-months-old.  No such luck.  At 1-year-old, Little G got pricked on her back and got blood drawn.  Yesireebob, we have a Dairy Allergic kid.  At first it was a pain to adjust our whole family to this change.  But now, it is a normal, everyday thing.  We just want her to be well.  
Anyway, back to the milk cup.  Hubs & I asked her, "G, did you drink the milk."  G - "Um, I don't think so."  Mom & Dad - "G, you won't get in trouble."  G says, "Well, maybe."  Mom & Dad - "How much did you drink?"  G - "I don't know."  Everything seemed fine, she let out a cough, here and there and we went on our merry way to drop Special K off.  We said our Goodbyes and as we drove away, Little G vomits all over herself and the car seat.  She is screaming, I'm screaming at Hubs to help her and just thinking, great, we're going to be those lame parents that bring their kid to school late.  
We went home, which was fortunately only 5 minutes away.  Hubs had the misfortune job of cleaning up the puke.  I wiped her off and sat with her hive-ridden, teary-eyed body, singing a song she liked, praying it would cheer her up.  The Benadryl was working and we just kept checking in with her to see if she was well enough to go to school.
An hour later, she is playing in class and I am going back and forth with the teacher about her allergy, what she can and cannot eat.  I even wrote out all the safe snacks she could have.  Hmmm, she seemed a bit nervous.  I even offered to bring Little G's own snacks but she didn't like that idea.  As she is showing me all the sugar-bombed interesting snack options, I say "Thank You" and walk out the door to my Hubs and baby-in-waiting.  Let the bawling begin.  
We go home, scratching out the notion that I would grocery-shop and talk about if this was the right school for Little G.  Listen people, I know I am a bit emotionally-amped but we're talking about a dairy allergy.  I'm not making it up.  I know you've been teaching for 20+ years but you don't love our daughter like we do.
So, here I sit, waiting for the vomit-induced laundry to be done, praying that things settle down.
And wouldn't you know it, Little G is not napping but kicking her bunk bed.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the Hawaiian Punch and Froot Loops she had for her snack.  Ugh.

So happy to be here...love this girl.

Luke, I am Your Father

There are days, I believe, that my eldest might wish that Darth Vader was his father.  He wields his light saber around and says, "I am Darth Vader".  His obsession with anything Star Wars runs pretty deep.  Impressive, if you think about the fact that he has never laid eyes on a single one of the movies, yet.  Today he exclaimed, "I'm six.  I'm going to watch Star Wars".  
Special K's 6th birthday was on Saturday.  Hubs had to work at a retreat camp for the weekend with the students so we came along.  We were not about to celebrate our child's birthday sans his Daddy...albeit, NOT Darth Vader.  His party will be this coming weekend, along with us celebrating our baby turning 1.  Not to mention that Hubs' birthday was this past Wednesday.  (Can we say that September is a BUSY month??)
K's gift was, you guessed it, a Darth Vader costume.  We are SO not those people who feed into every desire and whim of their child.  We know that this love for Star Wars will not be everlasting.  Surely he won't got to college, wearing his costume to class, right??  Whatever the case may be, we love this little boy beyond what words can express.  We know what puts a smile on his face.  How amazing to know that this is just a tiny hint of the expression of the love the Father has for us.  How He loves us.
I am praying that these days go by a lot slower than they are speeding past my eyes.  Special K, more than any costume, more than any toy, more than anything you can imagine in your life...not Darth Vader and not even your Daddy here on earth can satisfy your heart more than our Heavenly Father can.  
On September 11, 2004 at 1:27PM, God saw it fit to place tiny you into our arms and entrust you to our care.  I thank Him for your intense personality and charm.  I thank Him that you were our first child and I see that you are a helper.  Your gift is to help people.  I can only hope and pray that your Heavenly Father will guide and direct you to use your gifts to bless others.  Your passion for life is so sweet.  
The day before Easter, when you were 3.5, you asked Daddy, "Are you the son of God?"  Boy, did we have to explain the story of Jesus again!  Then you said that you wanted to ask Jesus into your heart.  You wanted to have a party.  So we put a candle in a tiny scoop of ice cream and we.had.a.party.  
It is a joy to watch you grow.  It is a joy to know you, love you and be blessed by you, son.  We love you with all our hearts.  Grow strong, tender-hearted one.

  

Oh Summer...

...we will miss you.

                                            Beach Days:  Running into the water

                                                   Date Nights with Mom days

                                                 Hanging out with a friend days

                                 Days of legos and lazing with sister and brothers...

                                                      Picnics inside days

                                                         Days of fishing in the fountain 

                                          Family Picture days...and one just not feeling it
                                                    

Watching the still water at the lake days

Toilet paper mishap days

                                         1st Day of school and not turning back

                      ...and saying 'Goodbye' to the pool and 'see you later summer' days.