I didn't forget

I haven't forgotten about my third child! We've been out of town and I didn't have a lot of computer time. Baby Joe will be coming in the next few days. Stay tuned....

Three kids....Three different parenting styles--Jack

Jack. For most of you I could stop right there and big smiles would come to your faces. I have never met someone who loves life more than him. He is my people person and seems to draw everyone into his happy circle. We'll pass old women in a store and he'll yell, "Hi Grandma" and they will stop in surprise and then begin to have an animated conversation with him. He is very touchy and likes to make sure I'm paying attention to what he is saying by touching my face and pulling it toward him. He gives hugs and kisses and is just so incredibly loving. He never stops moving either. He is always running (I should say bouncing) and finding something to get into. He spends his time playing trains and matchbox cars and following his sister around. He loves to wrestle and jump on his daddy. He plays in his poop and drinks rainwater off the trampoline. Well, those were only one time occurrences, but it's something like that everyday! His personality is infectious and it is truly hard to say no to curly blond hair, big blue eyes and his impish little grin!

When my little Jack is in trouble, all I have to do is look at him and he begins to cry. He is heartbroken if I am angry with him and devastated if the crime warrants a spanking. Sometimes, since he can't sit still, I will hold him in my lap and not look at him for a time out. He doesn't like not being able to play and so it does work for him. Then I turn him around to face me and remind him of why he was in time out and his eyes drop and we hug. I always make sure to hug him after he is in trouble because "little bit" needs to be reminded that he is loved.

My prayers for Jack is that he would be able to use his outgoing personality to reach people for Christ. That he would always be sensitive to people's needs when they open up to him. I pray that he will desire to walk the straight and narrow while continuing to be larger than life. And that God would press on his heart the dire need for unselfish servants in this world. I pray that he would be filled with the knowledge of who he is in Christ and that when things come naturally or easy for him that he would act with humility. I desire for him to jump without hesitation when the Lord says, "go." That he will always feel loved by us, but will know there is One who loves him more.

He is my precious little man, and I love him.

Three kids....Three different parenting styles--Addy

Addy is my independent, strong willed child. She sticks to her guns and will question authority when she thinks she is right. She is a little shy in social settings, but quickly makes herself at home after 5 minutes. She loves to wear dresses and fix her hair "in a style." She is brave and cautious at the same time. She is one of the strongest people that I know because she faces needles and finger pricks everyday and rarely complains. She is beginning to know and understand Jesus and it is so incredibly sweet to watch. She loves her brothers, but would rather do her own thing. She has a roomful of toys, but would prefer to color or paint. She laughs and tells jokes. She is forever smiling. She dances and sings when she is happy, and cries when her brothers are hurt. She loves school, but gets in trouble for talking.

Spankings, time outs, taking away privileges don't work for her. What does work is encouragement when she does right, and staying consistent in what we expect of her. For a long time I thought that nothing that we were doing was working, but I can see now that God has slowly been chipping away at the pride that keeps her from listening. And that things we thought went in one ear and out the other have actually sunk in

My prayers for Ad is that she would learn to channel her strong will and independence. That it means never compromising her beliefs in Jesus Christ and standing strong under trials. That she would learn to put others before herself and understand the true value of being a servant. That she would understand that beauty goes beyond frilly dresses and bows and is a matter of the heart. That she would desire to be a wife and mother. That she will always feel loved by us, but will know there is One who loves her more.

She is my beautiful little princess and I love her.

That's Crazy!!

Today was Addy's last day of kindergarten! My 5 year old daughter finished kindergarten today! I don't know how else to say it so that I can wrap my head around that thought. I have a child that has completed a grade. I thought her going to school was tough, but the fact that she completed a grade and is moving on to the next one is so much harder to swallow. Why is that?

She is such an amazing little girl. There is not a person untouched by her bubbly personality in the office at her school--Prairieville Primary. In fact, they can tell she is not feeling well when she doesn't skip or dance into their office. Their walls are covered with her art work and coloring pages. She is a happy constant in their day to day.

Another reason she is amazing is the way she took off in swim lessons these last few weeks. Her report card from her instructor said that, "Adelyn showed the most progress out of all his students. She has an excellent back stroke for her level. Awesome job!!" I mean what kind of boy puts lots of exclamation marks unless he really means them! I was just so proud of her.

Forgive everyone yelling in the background please. There was this little boy who kept jumping in and he kept freaking everyone out each time.

I am so excited about what this summer holds for us. It will be the first time that I will actually have all three kids together for an extended period of time and I am looking forward to the fun that we are going to have.

And then off to first grade.....

Not for the Squeamish....

So my eldest son played in his poop this week. I was too mad to record the damage done to his room, but I'll let you imagine what it looked like after you see the video.

Easter Morning

Jack was soooo excited every time he found an egg! It's blurry, but it captures his expression so well.

Beautiful Joe!

Addy had so much fun discovering that the Easter bunny left an egg with her name on it! And she's a good hunter.

My kids! They are an amazing three.

Feeling like eeyore today!

So...it's been a day today. We had an amazing weekend, but oh so busy. Zoo with Jake on Friday. Saturday morning we had an Easter egg hunt with the Ring. Saturday night was dinner with Angie, Reid and the boys. Sunday morning we hunted eggs and had Orphan Easter '09 with our friends and church Sunday night. It was so full...of fun, sun and family and friends! Today, we are all tired. Jack woke up from his nap on Easter with fever and today spiked at 104.7. I would have ignored that had he not spent all morning on my lap in tears or on the ground screaming because he couldn't get anything to go his way. And if you know my Jack, that is not him. Off to the doctor we went to discover that he has strep throat and double ear infection. Poor buddy!
Addy, sweet girl, went all weekend....without naps and with late bedtimes. She was exhausted today and had the mood to go along with it. She wanted to play, but not on her own. She wanted something to do, but couldn't come up with the perfect game. She irritated Jack, but loved on Joe. She just overall had a tough listening day, with high sugars to boot. I'll tell you that a new bag of pipe cleaners saved the day, as well as her new kick ball that the Easter bunny brought.
And Joe....smiley Joe. He cooed and laughed at Jack's crying. Kicked his little legs as hard as he could anytime Addy ran into the room. Smells so sweet and is sometimes my escape from those who can talk. Is that too harsh to say??
So, it was a day. I think I said that already, but wanted to say it again. I would catch myself saying in my head...in a Eeyore like voice. "Can't believe he's crying again." "Wish all this laundry would just disappear." "Wish that I could catch a break today." Many things like that. Sometimes I think that if I don't say them out loud then I can't really mean them. But I did. I wanted an easy road today. I wanted to take a book to Starbucks, grab a Chi creme frappachino and read for three hours straight.
And just when I thought that this strained patient mother would turn ugly, the Lord tugged at my heart. He reminded me that I hadn't spent time in the Word today. That my desperate prayers of "Help me to have patience" were not cutting it and I needed to really talk to Him. And at last....there was peace.