Thursday, August 30, 2012

My New Favorite Song



Today I heard this song for the first time.

I am in love with JJ Heller, and this song came on her Pandora station as I got in the van to head to my doctor's appointment. Obviously, it was a sign that Olivia would be making an appearance today!

FAIL.

Actually, epic fail. No baby today.

I still cried as I listened to this song and thought of my kids.

...and I cried the next 10 times I heard the song.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

YUCK.

I'm thinking I should consider changing the name of this blog to "Adventures with Jacob."

So, this afternoon, Jake was banished asked to go to the basement so I could get some work done on the computer that I have been putting off for an upcoming retreat.

After coming upstairs many times and repeated threats that ranged from "lying down in your bed" to "I'll never let you have candy again," Jake finally came up looking sheepishly at me, telling me he had to use the bathroom.

He was in there for a while.

However, he denied he needed help.

So, he skipped out of the bathroom, looking all put together...surprisingly.

My little ninja bounced over to me for a hug....when I realized he smelled STRONGLY of Febreeze Air Freshener.

ME: "Jake...why do you smell like Febreeze?"

JAKE: "WHAT?! I don't smell like Febreeze!"

ME: "Yes, you do...did you spray it on you like perfume?"

JAKE: "Hahaha....no....(starting to rub my arm)...after I missed the toilet and peed on the floor, I sprayed it in the mess to make it smell better. But don't worry: I cleaned it all up with Kleenex."

ME: (Looking at my arm he is now caressing) 
"Did you wash your hands?"

JAKE: "Um....be right back."



YUCK.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Seriously?!

I have a feeling there will be many stories that come from my afternoons with just Jake while Henry & JP are at school and Will is napping.

Today reminded me just how smart and ornery my little ninja is.

Late afternoon, Jake asked for a bag of fruit snacks. We have a box of fruit snacks shaped like circus animals, so I said sure.

He asked if I'd open his bag, and we were just laughing & enjoying each other's company.

Then, he proceeded -- unprompted, mind you -- to tell me they made a shape of ME into a fruit snack.

It was a yellow hippo.

*sigh*

It scares me that he's only 3.

Monday, August 27, 2012

The Monster that Rips Your Pants



Today, as I was bending down in a petite squat to pick up the last load of laundry for the week, something very... delicate happened. 

I ripped my pants.

Not just a small rip, mind you...like, "my pants are ruined," ripped.

I felt very akin to Spongebob Squarepants. 
(Had I a ukelele, I'd have even sung the song.)

The only other person in the house not at work, school or napping was my favorite ninja, Jake.

He ran into the laundry room and asked why I was laughing hysterically.

When I showed him my unfortunate situation, he replied,

"Mom, that's okay! I totally saw this monster that lives in the floor, and sometimes he comes out to rip pants. My pants are just too strong. But, really, it's not your fault!"

I'm really glad there is a pants-ripping monster residing in our floors, because being almost 36 weeks pregnant, I was a little worried that I needed to install  blinkers and a sign on my backside that reads, "WIDE LOAD."

Crisis averted.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

A Few of my Favorite Guys

Here are the guys in the house who are awake at 7:30am, looking sharp!

Jake's first day of preschool
Henry's Orange Day
JP's second day of preschool
Matt's first day taking Jake

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Meet the Teacher

John Paul & Jake were all geared up to go to their preschool Meet the Teacher this morning!

...and, Will did not want to be left out!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Points to Ponder

How is it possible to have not one, not two, but THREE rooms in our house littered with Legos???

The world may never know...

Grandpa's Little Buddies

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Be aggressive! Be! Be! Aggressive!

John Paul, as I was getting the boys ready for their soccer game: "Hey, Mom! I play better when I knock people down to get the ball."

Henry: "You DO play better when you knock people down! You should totally do that today!"

He did.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Fun First Friday

The weather today was so great that it made me not want to miss even one second of it -- it was one of those handful of days each year that is pretty close to perfect.

So, the boys and I had a marathon day to soak up the sheer awesomeness that God gifted us!

We started out by going to Mass, which was doubly great because we got to see Henry.

Then, we met Matt for lunch in Warsaw for a picnic lunch by Winona Lake.

After we drove back to the old Fort of Fun, we picked up Henry from school and headed right up to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. Thanks to the FW Tourism Kiosk at Jefferson Pointe, we even rode the log ride & train for free. It was glorious!

Especially since I'm so pregnant right now (34 weeks) and it's been so deathly hot this summer, I haven't taken the time I wanted to to just enjoy the boys. We have been inside in the air conditioning most of the summer,
So to just enjoy God's creation and let the boys run and explore and just be boys...it was a fantastic day.

I'm so blessed.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Henry's First Day of First Grade


When did he get so BIG???

All morning, Henry was so nervous about starting first grade.

He hadn't really said much about school starting, except that he was bummed that summer was over. Sounded pretty typical, and Matt and I agreed, but we didn't talk much about school actually starting.

Then...this morning...he was a BUNDLE of nerves.

After some Cheerios and chocolate chips, some pictures with Mom and Dad and some shaky hugs, I was able to take Henry to school, just the two of us.
(Matt very graciously stayed home a while so I could take him to school...what a guy!)

The whole way over to St. Elizabeth's, Henry was quiet and answered my questions with one-word answers.

Then, as we parked way over by the church (due to the high volume of parents walking their kids in for the first day) we held hands and started in on this new adventure.

On the way in to school, a group of 3rd and 4th graders saw us. They waved at me, and went CRAZY when they saw Henry! 

"Hi, Henry! How was your summer?? Want to play soccer at recess?" 

Henry. Lit. Up.

Suddenly, he was skipping down the hallway and up the stairs to Mrs. Peters' room.

As soon as we'd gotten to the door, we saw his best buddy, Finn...and, he was gone.

I had to call him back to get a picture with his teacher!

He found his desk all by himself, and barely said good-bye as I left him to begin the new year.
 
 
...Why is it that I want him to grow up, become an independent kid who loves God, his family and friends...but when it happens, I am a weepy mess??
 
Growing up is weird for everyone, I guess.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Moose & Mollie's

What a fun surprise!

Once we dropped Henry & John Paul off at soccer practice at Roanoke Park last evening, Matt made the surprise suggestion to walk to Moose & Mollie's in downtown Roanoke with Jake & Will.

We had a blast! And, it was really fun just being with the younger two boys. That doesn't happen often.

I love being able to spend time with small groups of our kids, or even better, one-on-one time. My prayer is that all our kids grow up feeling loved for being an individual; not just a number in a big mass of kids.

Nights like last night make that possible. We are so blessed!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Life is good

Here is Jake & JP feeding the fish in our pond on a gorgeous August afternoon.

And, Jake is not wearing pants.

JP also likes to pretend he's Bear Grylls & try to catch "blugies" with his bare hands.

Life is good.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Goodbye, Facebook!

"We just need to constantly remind each other of how amazing the life is that’s been put right in front of our noses," he concludes. "And the most interesting and worthwhile parts of this amazing life involve loving the people we’re privileged to have sitting right in front of us."



I've realized lately how disconnected I've become to my family. I've found myself to be really upset by certain posts on Facebook, and even more disappointed in the person(s) who posted it.

Why am I doing this to myself?!

I have realized that I am not presenting the best version of myself to the most important people in my life -- my husband and kids -- because I'm frustrated with virtual "friends."

While I truly believe that Facebook (and the internet, in general) can be excellent tools for growing into a better person, right now, I've accepted that it's doing just the opposite for me and my walk with Christ.

And, as if precisely on cue, there was a fantastic article in the National Catholic Register today with evidence to back up that decision.

I'm excited to use my little corner of the web to share my thoughts and daily adventures with Matt and the kids...and eliminate a little stress in the process.

And, maybe take that time I used to spend "Facebook stalking" friends to read another book to my kids, or sit on the back porch to watch the sunset over the neighboring farm with my husband.

You know...enjoy real life a little more.

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/choose-face-time-over-screen-time?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2012-08-5