It's been way too long since my last post. However, the days and nights have been so filled that I haven't had much time to do anything. So I"m up late and wanting to write.

Last week was a challenging one as I was watching another 2 year old that I thought I would be watching permanently come the end of December. However, due to personality conflicts between him and Will we all decided that it wasn't a good fit. Wow, that was challenging because I really like the family.

Now that we're daycare child free in the mornings the boys and I have started to experience the library and running errands WITHOUT the stroller and they are impressing their mommy so much because they do so well withing hanging onto each others' hands.

Another tidbit; I've been taking a parenting class using the Love and Logic theories and I absolutely love it. It allows us as parents to offer our children many, many choices throughout the day in the plans to get what we want by creating children who are well prepared adults. Along with that I've been reading a book called Bringing Up Boys by Dr. Dobson and it has answered so many questions for me as our little boys are so boy. I have found that it's ok to say "boys will be boys" because they are so different from their counterparts (girls). While the saying doesn't excuse bad behavior it brings to light who to bring those under wraps and to let them think through things; making the consequences the bad guys and us (the parents) the good guys. They always have a choice just like we do as parents. We can treat our children with respect, and encouragement leaving them ready for adult life or we can always protect them, do things for them and make their choices leaving them unprepared for handling life and all it's challenges. Now I ask you: what type of a child would you rather have.

So the next post will probably not be so long and will be done much sooner.

Gabby Goo

While I'm always writing about my boys I never seem to write about my little girl, my second child. Let me explain as you may be wondering....when did I miss the first child and I thought the boys were their first children. Scoot our cat (who does not like her picture taken) was my first child and Gabby (our wonderful Border Collie) is our second child, which technically makes the boys our third and four children.

Now seriously, our Border Collie is a wonderful dog but hard to photograph as she doesn't typically sit still longer enough to get a good picture of her. However, I was able to get a picture of her Friday while the boys where playing ball with her. Many people said we would have to get rid of her when the boys starting moving around because she would herd them and if you know much about Border Collies the first stare, they then nudge and finally the nip at the heels of what they are herding. Mind you they can be relentless in this instict that nees to be honed and fine tuned. We haven't a bit of a problem with her because we took much time with her to teach that humans are NOT things to herd. So her job has become playing ball and frisbee.

It has been so much fun watching her with the boys from the time they were babies first home from the hospital to the present time where they throw the ball for her. She knows which one is which and will take the ball to whomever I tell her to. The giggles the boys let out when she flies towards them to retrieve the balls is a fabulous and wonderfully happy sound that I never get tired of.

Once again, something that we took the time with has paid off. A dog that is NOT suppose to be good with children adores and loves her boys.

Friday Fun

While a little later than I wanted; this post will still create some laughs. When you have two 2 year olds the mess is quite manageable. However, when you have four 2 year olds the mess takes on a new meaning. What they can do in the time it takes and adult to go to the bathroom just one door away.

Our First Trick-or-Treat

Oh what a wonderful experience our first Trick-or-Treating was! The joy it brings to my heart to see my little ones growing with such manners and fun. The sadness of them growing up too; it makes me realize how short a time they are this little. I want to bottle this time up and shelf it to experience again and again. However, God has lead us to this place to go forth and raise his children to be fine young men in this world.

We went to a friend's home, had pizza with the boys' friends, got dressed in their costumes and then went off to gather some candy! The pictures, while cute, were not the best as once you tell these boys there's candy the waiting is all over and they're gone.

Pictures in order:

• the boys taking pictures
• ok now Matt's had enough so he's getting ready to get down
• Matt's done with pictures so he's off and Will is getting ready to get down
• the boys at their first house learning how to
• Sandra and David (he was just a tad little to get the candy but he had fun any way)

Now all we hear about is candy, candy and candy. You'd think that we feed it to them all the time.

I'm going to bed this day a happy mother knowing that she has given her children another experience which will teach them and let them be children.