Organizational Skills

Ariana loves to organize.  She doesn't like to organize her own stuff (you know, clean her room), but she loves to clean the bathroom, and who am I to argue with that?  She will happily sort through all the hair pretties, placing small bands in one bag, large bands in another, barrettes in another, and fancy ribbons in another. Bobby pins are placed neatly in rows on their original cardboard. Brushes and combs are sorted by size. When she is done, the "pretty drawer" looks fantastic.

Until yesterday, I thought she did this simply to give her something to do while she waited for me to finish my shower. Both girls think Mommy's shower time is an ideal time to trap her and discuss everything from the upcoming "sting" of Conan's birth (yes, Ariana is very worried about me giving birth because it is going to sting...A LOT), hormones, shaving, why boys call girls names, and everything in between. I will be honest and admit that I enjoy talking to the girls during my shower even if it is not the most appropriate of venues.

But I digress...

Until yesterday, I thought she only organized out of boredom. But last night, after dinner, my darling daughter decided to clean out the most disgusting drawer in the entire hall bathroom...the children's teeth brushing drawer.  Disgusting really doesn't fit...more like disastrous. See, the kids don't think there's anything wrong with not putting the lid back on the toothpaste, nor is there a problem with toothpaste smeared on the inside of the drawer and left to dry. I have four children, yet there are at least 9 toothbrushes and multitudes of little teeth flosser tools. And each child requires their own toothpaste (or at least the dentist thinks so and the kids usually find a way to get the toothpaste that I've hidden away back into their drawer...).   That drawer bothered me to no end, but since it isn't one that I use...at all...I figured I would let it go until I really got fed up.

But Ariana beat me to it.

Last night she joyfully conquered the drawer (and straightened up the rest of the room) even going so far as to remove all the dried on toothpaste, put lids on all the toothpaste containers, and sort through all the toothbrushes and flossers until they were all lined up neatly at the bottom of the drawer.  Tonight, after everyone had completed their brushing rituals, she remained to tidy up her drawer.

Have I mentioned that I love my daughter????

Jumpy

Earlier today, Ariana discovered a cute little gecko in with the chickens. She "saved" it in a 5 gallon bucket and asked us if she could keep it.  Daddy said she could keep it for today, but she would have to let it go tonight.  She happily set to work making a temporary terrarium for the little guy.

A few minutes later she came in and told us that "Geckora" had lost her tail.  We knew immediately that she had attempted to pick the gecko up and it had gotten scared, releasing its tail. Daddy told her that she had to put it in the brush pile immediately.

Heartbroken over her new lost friend, Ariana cried for about 30 minutes, until I finally got through to her that wild animals are meant to stay wild and her gecko is happier in the brush pile; that no matter how nice she is to a wild animal, they will never understand that she isn't going to eat them or hurt them in some other way.  She was still quite upset, but the crying stopped.

This evening we were all playing outside when Ariana brought over her new "friend".

"Her name is Jumpy!  Come on Jumpy!" she called as she began walking over to me.

As she came closer, I realized that whatever she was wanting to show me was following her in mid-air.  "What do you have there?" I asked.

"Jumpy.  She's a jumping spider.  Isn't she cute?"

It was then that she finally reached me, holding on tightly to a thin strand of spider web hanging from Jumpy's spinnerets. She placed her hand under Jumpy and the spider sat there for a moment. Then Ariana happily grabbed another piece of web and let Jumpy down like a yo-yo.  She played with Jumpy until the spider no longer produced web for her to grab. Losing interest, Ariana ran to play on the homemade obstacle course with the rest of the kids, leaving Jumpy on a nearby tree.

She is so much like me sometimes it is scary... 

That's a Tough One...

Tonight, for our story time, I read about a boy who had to choose between doing the wrong thing in order to get into a special club, and doing the right thing and possibly being ostracized from his friends. In the end, he chose to stand up for the right thing and that is actually what his friends had wanted and he got into the club.  At the end of the story, there were two discussion questions. The first basically asked how we know the right thing from the wrong thing. We were able to discuss how the Holy Spirit guides us and the kids pretty much all understood that one. 

The second question was: "What is the toughest decision you have ever made?"

Connor and Ariana quickly told stories about when they had to choose to do what was right and they did. 

And then Samuel spoke:

"Sometimes, when I am playing Mario Kart, there are shortcuts and holes that you can drive through and I have to make a tough decision about whether I should stay on the path or go through the shortcut.  That is a hard decision."

Yes it is. 

And I sure hope that is the hardest decision he ever has to make...

New Nephew=New Pregnancy Problem

My beautiful sister-in-law, Steph, gave birth to my newest nephew, Abel, on Friday.  He is a handsome little guy. I am so thankful that everything worked out well with his delivery and subsequent release from the hospital/arrival home.

That being said, now the heat is on me, so to speak.  Since I was officially due two days after her, Conan could arrive any day now.  I am certain things are working in that direction, but every time I make a phone call, the person on the other end assumes I am calling to announce my imminent labor...which of course reminds me that I am NOT in labor, yet. We are both left disappointed.

Oh well...he'll be here when he gets here! 

Race Car Drivers In Love

I love how Samuel randomly declares his future life:

"I will live with you forever...until I become a race car driver and find the girl that I love...then I will come visit you.  I will never ever forget you, Mommy."

I will never forget you either, Baby Boy.

List Done

I mentioned a few posts back that I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish before Conan arrives...well here is the list:

Clean my side of the bedroom so I have a nice place to set up the rocking chair and bassinet--DONE
Clean my bathroom... because it was gross--DONE
Clean out my junk drawer--DONE
Clean out and organize Conan's eventual room--DONE
Write thank you notes for gifts already received--DONE (I think...)
Sort through baby clothes--DONE
Wash all baby toys that the big kids no longer play with--DONE
Clean out the hall closet so I can easily fit my vacuum inside--DONE
Clean up my kitchen--DONE
Keep up on laundry, dishes, sweeping, dusting--DONE
Clean up and vacuum my office floor (otherwise known as the cat room)--DONE
Vacuum the couch--DONE
Submit my newest article for my writing class--DONE
Write letters to Honor and Connor for their 9th birthday--DONE
Prepare and wrap gifts for the kiddos from Conan for when I go into the hospital--DONE
Finish the chapter on the Skeletal System with the kiddos for science--DONE
Find a new place for all of Connor and Honor's new toys--DONE


I think that my list of things is complete.  You will no longer find rooms of hidden junk anywhere in the house (well, except on Daddy's side of the bed because I don't know what to do with all that stuff). Yes, there is more that I could do, but these were the things that I absolutely wanted accomplished first.  And they are. 

So bring on the kiddo!!!

Toenail Biting

Yep. It's disgusting.  But I have seen my boys chew their toenails.

It is NOT encouraged.

And now we have a new reason to use (since "it is disgusting" and "think of all the icky germs on your feet" don't seem to work).  "Stop chewing your nails or you will get an ingrown toenail and have to go to Urgent Care." 

Well, maybe that's not the best answer. Samuel had an fairly good time at Urgent Care and they didn't have to cut open his skin. They just gave him antibiotics and told us to soak it in Epsom Salts twice a day for a week. If it doesn't get better by Friday, THEN they will cut it open. But the doctor did corroborate my story that he should stop chewing his toenails or he will get another ingrown toenail...

When asked why he chooses to follow this method of nail trimming, here was his response:

"Sometimes I get hungry because Mom doesn't give me my snack in time and so I chew my nails so that I'm not so hungry."

Poor starving children...

Pregnancy Post

Things that I don't necessarily love about being pregnant:

• My feet and hands swelling. I miss my wedding ring. And my shoes.
• Carpel tunnel.
• I miss playing with my animals. And I'm pretty sure they miss me too.  I know my horse does...
• I am typically a fast mover.  Slowing down is not easy for me...but it is good for me.
• The other day I went to a restaurant with Daddy and had to use the restroom.  As I was walking, a waitress came down the same aisle carrying a tray.  I turned sideways as I would normally do to make room for her...then realized I was wider sideways than I was facing front.  
• I hit my belly on counters, chairs, tables...all sorts of inanimate objects and people, really...constantly.
• I'm running out of clothes that fit. Even maternity ones.
• I can no longer bend over and breathe at the same time.  Honor must help me put on my shoes for church.
• Today I dropped the soap in the shower...and couldn't find it to pick it back up.
• The knowledge that soon Conan will be making his arrival in a very painful way...and only God knows when exactly that will be.
• I'm running out of patience to actually SEE the little guy that makes himself known to me any time I take the opportunity to rest.

 Things I love about being pregnant (Really...love):

• Knowing Conan is about as safe as I can make him. He's not going to be running out in front of a car, swallowing small objects, or drowning in an inch of water. 
• Each little kick, punch, and turn is a miracle that only he and I share...unless you happen to be looking at my belly or touching my belly (which honestly doesn't bother me at all).
• I do not have to change diapers, decipher cries or lose sleep to feed him.
• My sister-in-law is pregnant with me. Actually, I have several friends who have shared this pregnancy timeline with me and it feels like we are our own little community.  However, having Steph going through every stage at pretty much the exact same time has been a special blessing. It is nice to have one of my bestest friends to commiserate share this blessing with.
• Surprisingly, this time around I feel very feminine.  This was not the case for Honor or Samuel.
• My family is being VERY supportive.  A little obsessively so.  The children are very protective of Mommy...and Daddy forces me to take a nap every afternoon.  He threatened to carry me into bed on Sunday...even setting his IPad on the table and moving towards me when I didn't move fast enough...
• My kiddos are learning first hand how a baby grows within. I share all the baby center videos with them.  It has made Ariana think twice about how quickly she wants to have a baby...
• I am feeling very supported by the community in general. Doors are opened with smiles. Random people ask to carry things for me. I'm feeling quite pampered, really.
• Listening to Daddy and the kids talk to Conan through my belly. And having Daddy rest his head on my belly just to make Conan kick. He really is very sweet about the whole thing.

No matter what...the best thing about being pregnant is the knowledge that God has entrusted me with another little life for as long as He determines I should have him.  What an AMAZING blessing!

Rainy Days

7 a.m.

Honor: "Mom, did I wake you up?"
 
Mommy: "Yes."
 
Honor: "Oh. Sorry. Can we play in the rain? There's no lightning."
 
Mommy: "It's raining?"
 
Honor: "Yes!!!"
 
Mommy: "Oh good! Then it's a good day to sleep in... Go away."


(Just so you know, I was out of bed ten minutes later and the kids played outside for at least 45 minutes....I have it on video...)

Only for a Little While

My eldest daughter fell off a chair and began crying hard. She wanted me to comfort her. So I did. I pulled the chair up and had her sit in my lap and cuddled her for all I was worth. 

About 10 seconds into the cuddling, I decided I didn't want to let her go.

See, she will be 9 years old in less than two weeks.  It will only be a short while before she is a teenager.  How long will she still WANT me to cuddle her? 

So I am grateful for every chance I have to pull her into my arms and let her know that for at least a little while, she is safe and her mama can still make her feel better.

Because I have no idea how long I have before she no longer needs me...

Cheap College

One of my favorite quotes of the day:

Mommy: "College is very expensive."

Honor: "Yeah! Like two HUNDRED dollars!"

I wish...