So Much Has Changed

I had vowed to post more often to myself and life seems to happen quicker than we anticipate. I'm hoping to post more often knowing that it may not happen and I'm ok with that because the life that is happening is a wonderful and busy one with my two little munchkins that I adore with all my heart.

Their 3rd year has started out with a bang. We moved on their birthday (to Stewartville) and we are so happy with the decision we made. While there are things we're not crazy about in our new house the things we fell in love with have made it so worth while (I huge back yard that will be completely fenced in come spring, much more family space, a basement that's usable and a 2 1/2 car garage). The day that we moved we were busy moving and took a break to have their party and then went right on moving again. WOW.....I don't know many people that would do that but it worked. However, I'm so glad that we probably won't have to do that again for a VERY LONG TIME.


Christmas has been wonderful and is still in the process of completing itself because we have so many places we have to go that it takes time to get through them all. However, this year we cut off three weeks of celebrating as some families have decided that a gathering isn't feesable in the winter. It was a bummer at first but I now realize that it's a blessing in disguise because then we're not so crazy and have time remember what this holiday season is about.......the birth of Lord and Savior. Mind you; without him none of what we are would be possible.

This first half of the 3rd year is prooving to be challenging as they are learning of their world and questioning everything in it; including authority - mommy's none the less. GGGgggrrrrr! I simply keep reminding myself of that and then smile at them at tell them this has been mommy's favorite job so far. Leslie insists that mommy should get a new job when I get cross with him.

With all this said I'm going to sign off for now and try to post again tomorrow.

May God's love shineth upon you and make your heart warm as mine is!!

Sheer Summer Fun

It's been an unusual week as we've not had any daycare children with us. So this week it's been special outings and a day home with daddy. The boys love it when daddy stays home because there is usually extra fun involved or a special trip. That was the case for Monday; we took a trip to Oxbow with some friends. We packed a picnic lunch, where we got to see our first squirrel mind you. The boys loved it and wanted to chase it so we could bring it home but the mom said "No, dears wild animals need to stay where they are." Then on our entrance to the park we were surprised by a baby squirrel who had gotten lost and decided their mommy was his too. We found one of the park staff people and he moved it to a tree to get on with it's life out of harms way of vehicles. The boys were so thrilled with it and wanted to play with it and take it home but once again the mom said, "No, dears wild animals need to stay where they are."

On Tuesday, we took a trip to Target (there are cookies for the kids there you know) and the park which is always a hit. In the afternoon some serious pool time. Wednesday, was the same for a trip to the store and then to the park. It's amazing; my boys ask to go "Bye, Bye" or to go "shopping" and what mom wouldn't love that. How lucky GOD has given me that.

Today was a "stay-at-home day" and we simply played and played and played some more. These days are fun but by 2pm the request for "Bye, bye" or "shopping" is enough to make a woman have nightmares about it. What will tomorrow bring? I'm not sure but I'm thinking mommy needs to make it a big thing so we end our vacation week out with a bang. Take a vote and let me know what you would like me to do with the boys and we'll post pictures of the favorite activity.

Well for now, it's a posting without a picture because I can't figure out how to get the pictures off my phone.

I'll write again soon!!

May God walk with His hand upon your shoulder and bless with all that there is to give.

I Haven't Fallen From the Face of the Earth

Hello out there; to those that think I've fallen from the face of the earth. One of my great friends asked when I was going to start posting again because she gets humor from the things that seems so frustrating (she's been there). So here I am; now realizing that it's been 8 months since my last post. WOW!!!!!

Since then the household and children have changed so very much. Just look and read:

1. The boys were moved into toddler beds the week of Thanksgiving 2008 and are doing FABULOUS with it



2. The Christmas Tree (with lights and ribbon only) stayed intact for the Christmas Holiday Season



3. The boys had a BLAST opening their presents this year but refused to sit on Santa's lap



4. New Years Eve was uneventful and we were ALL in bed sleeping by 11pm



5. Traveling for the Christmas season finally ended mid-January and by that time the boys were pros at traveling and sleeping in new places (we only started the first week in December)



6. My birthday was just another day for the first time ever



7. The boys had their first sledding outing EVER and LOVED IT!!!



8. Valentines Day was wonderful because I had three sweethearts instead of one this year (that were aware that something special was going on)

The things they learn on a daily basis (colors, letters, numbers, sayings) are AMAZING and it warms my heart that they are our children. I am so THANKFUL that they have been given to me. So when someone says to me, "Better you than me." I would like to say, "I guess you're right. I"m the best mommy for them." God chose me to be the mommy of these two wonderful little men and I'm so lucky that they were chose to be my children.

So with this writting; I make a commitment to myself to post more often because it makes me realize that this is were God wants me to be right now.

I Didn't Realize....

I didn't realize that it has been 8 (yes eight) months since my last post. Oh how time flies when you're having fun with two year olds and babies.

I didn't realize how quickly your children change until you see them in past picture.

Here are some pictures of the last eight months:

December 2008 (Our family Christmas card picture)

January 2009 (Leslie & William - getting ready to go sledding for the first time)

February 2009 (Les & Will - are you ready to jump at daddy?)

March 2009 (William is laughing at Leslie)

April 2009 (Look at what the Easter Bunny brought)

Easter Sunday and picture with mom (a rare one because she's usually behind the camera)

May 2009 (Daddy taking the boys to feed the deer at Oxbow Park)(Leslie feeding the doe)
(William feeding the doe)

June 2009 (Les thinks he cool with his sunglasses)

(Will is my character)


It amazes me how their personalities have developed into the little boys/men that they are instead of the babies they were. How bittersweet it is but that is His design for us; we raise our children to be God loving and abiding "Children of God".

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.