Grace-Filled Chaos

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

2008-05-29T21:52:00.003-06:00

For weeks now Brandon has been trying to convince me to buzz Caleb's hair, or as he( and apparently ever other male) calls it give him a "summer do". I think the Disney trip was the straw that broke the camel's back when Brandon would constantly point out Caleb's hot, sweaty hair. Reluctantly, I gave in. We went today and I literally teared up and had to leave the store as the woman shaved off my son's beautiful, shiny locks. So, thought I'd share some before and after pics of sweet little Caleb.

Believe it or not I am updating ( if anyone still reads this)

2008-04-20T20:14:00.005-06:00

I am sorry that it has been so long and that I haven't responded to any of your encouraging comments, which I so enjoy! I guess it was right after Christmas I felt like the Lord was leading me to slow down a bit. I had been going so fast and furious for what felt like forever and I was exhausted physically and mentally.
Ever since I found out we were moving I was in overdrive- getting our house ready to sell, house-hunting, packing, finding schools for the kids, moving, remodeling the new house and then trying to acclimate to our new life. I'm such a creature of habit and I completely detest change. I felt like when we moved here I spent the first several months grieving what I had left behind and trying to figure out where me and my family fit in here.
I had forgotten about the "small town" mentality many people still have here- so many cultural and racial prejudices, it's sad. I also sensed a lot of pressure to keep up appearances that I had not felt in years...I'm sure part of it was seeing so many people I had grown up with that I hadn't seen in years- I felt like I was in high school all over again trying to "fit in".
I got caught up in a sinful cycle of trying to be what I thought others expected of me and not what God wanted me to be- bottom line was I was fearing man instead of fearing God. It was affecting every area of my life- especially with my family, so I decided to slow down and listen to what God was trying to teach me. I knew I was wasting a lot of time on the computer trying to keep up with my blog and constantly checking all my friends' blogs. It was one thing I needed to do to make more time for enjoying my kids and getting back in God's word on a more consistent basis .
So, I don't know the future of this blog, but check in from time to time and maybe there will be an update.
In other news- we are all doing great and looking forward to a trip to Disney in May. We haven't been since Daniel was born, so it will be very interesting now that we are outnumbered- Pray for us!!

Please Tell Me You've Been Here Before

2008-01-29T21:38:00.000-06:00

Just thought I'd share some pictures of what my house looked like this morning at 10am! I was getting a meal ready to drop off at Lindsey's (for her to deliver) and I stopped and looked around and felt totally overwhelmed and I thought you know what this is crazy-so I went around my house room by room and took pictures. Why? I don't know exactly- I thought maybe it would make other moms feel better, maybe I'll show them to Brandon and he will tell me that I've GOT to get a house cleaner. Whatever the reason - I did it. When I called Lin to tell her I was on my way, I mentioned the OHMYGOSH state of my house and she said well when you get here you might feel better. You know what? I did. Thanks Lindsey!

I say next time we have a playgroup or dinner- don't clean up and we'll all feel right at home.

Check out my Slide Show!

2008-01-25T11:19:00.001-06:00

Happy Anniversary Blog

2008-01-24T22:35:00.000-06:00

Blog, it's been a great first year. There was the "honeymoon period" where I just thought about you night and day- writing almost everyday, wondering, waiting-will I have comments? oooh, I hope so...yea, that was fun. Then there were periods where I got comfortable, even bored with "us". We've had our ups and downs, but hey, we made it and isn't that what really counts?

Well, friends it's been a whirlwind of a year for our family. But lately I have truly been making a conscious effort to slow down and let the little things go. I've so enjoyed my kids these past few weeks. Emily is now seven!! I cannot believe that I have a child that old-it can't be. We had a fun Pajama Party- I was not quite ready for a full-on sleepover, so this was a great alternative. Caleb is still as sweet as ever- he loves people- he even gave himself a cute moniker of "friendly Caleb". Daniel is such a funny kid- typical third child- knows how to push the buttons of his siblings and always trying to make everyone laugh.

Well, it's late -so hopefully I will update later with pictures from the holidays and Em's party.

Great Games for Kids (and Adults)

2007-12-13T08:50:00.002-06:00

(Part 5 from the Editor-in-Chief) (I gave myself a new position)

As a guy and as a semi- computer geek, I am prone to wasting alot of time on computer games. I have tried my best to squash this temptation by never buying a gaming system as an adult. As a kid, I had the most atari cartridges of anyone on my street (64 to be exact, until Raiders of the Lost Ark got run over).

The other day, Caleb and I happened upon this neat little website that has about 50 games or so, all original games, and they are all set to calming music. The graphics are great and I think that readers of this blog and their kids would enjoy wasting a little time on this site. At the bottom of the screen is a button that will play acoustic guitar music and rain noises, which is really cool, too.

Caleb's favorite game is the Star Game, located in the second row of the board. Enjoy....

The Double-Edged Sword of Trees

2007-11-27T23:36:00.000-06:00

(Part 4 from the Guest Blogger)

One of the best things about moving back to Louisiana is the abundant number of, and varying species of trees here. In Texas, both sides of the highways were developed with commercial buildings and pavement parking lots as far as the eye could see. Here, our car is darting in and out of the shadows of tall pine trees.

We had 26 trees on our lot when we moved in, and just going into the back yard is like going on a science adventure. We've seen the weirdest bugs and former shells of bugs, hummingbirds, cardinals, and families of squirrels. The house is shaded, and it seemed like we could stay out longer during the summer because of it. It is not uncommon for me to drive up in the evening to find Em and Caleb halfway up the front yard tree.

However....

I have had to work harder than ever just to maintain some even ground when it comes to the maintenance of my yard. I believe there are 3 times as many leaves on the ground than there ever were in the trees themselves. On a good windy day, I can accumulate fallen leaves from 4 houses down. These leaves tend to choke out the grass if you don't quickly remove them (hence the dust cloud that hovers over my house for about a day after mowing). The boys got a trampoline, and I have all but given up trying to keep it clean of leaves. The kids have just learned to bounce in a sea of pine straw and leaves. I cut down 5 of the original 26 trees to try to allow some sunlight into the yard, and spent about 4 weekends in a row hauling tree limbs from the back yard to the front.

I could go on, but when it comes down to it, the experiences of these three make having the trees worth it...

A Wild Imagination

2007-10-30T06:02:00.002-06:00

Caleb has quite the imagination...lately he has us in hysterics almost daily. So...thought I'd share some of my favorites ( most deal with potty humor-oh the joys of little boys)

One day while sitting at the table eating, Caleb kept leaning back in his chair. When I told him to stop he said, I'm not doing that, Mommy, it's those turtles...they just come in and lift up my chair. So now every time he's leaning back in the chair, he says, Ohhhh no, here come those silly turtles again.

After taking a bath, we were letting him sit in the tub until all the water goes down the drain and Brandon and Caleb were having this conversation : Oh great, now I'm going to have to clean that up. Clean what up? Those magical bears just come in and poop in the drain and now I have to clean it up. So, where do these bears fly in from? No, silly Daddy, magical bears don't fly.

Another time while in an empty bath tub, Caleb tooted and it made a loud noise, he said, They're mad at me! Who's mad at you? They are (pointing to his buns) . They make that noise when they get mad at me for sitting on them.

I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, but it is funny...at least to us!

Top 10 Things I Miss About Living in Texas

2007-10-16T20:46:00.000-06:00

It's funny how things change...certainly perspective being one of the big ones. You know how when you don't have children and you see those kids out in public having their little tantrums and you either think to yourself (or say out loud, which i was guilty of) "when I have kids they will never do that." Then you have those sweet little angels and you realize that those sweet little angels aren't always so sweet and angelic, no matter how you parent. Well, it's kinda the same thing with me and Texas. I never thought I'd be one of those obnoxious Texans going on and on about how great The Lone Star State is and I definitely would not let my child go to a Texas school and get brainwashed with all that arrogant hullabaloo. Well...it happened! I guess after you live there for over 6 years it just gets into your blood. So, this list is a bit of a tribute to that great state we called home for many years...I miss it !

10. That great Texas Pride- those people really love their state and it shows!

9. The Schools- It's no secret that the schools are some of the best in the nation and I really miss that you can go to just about any neighborhood school and get an awesome education.

8. No trains- (at least in the DFW metroplex) all the tracks go around the cities as to not interfere with traffic...I get stopped by trains almost daily here.

7. Chipotle Restaurant- the best burritos you'll ever taste and they are as big as Texas.

6. Panera Bread- Ohhh, how I miss that place. They have a turkey artichoke panini to die for...yum!

5. The parks, museums, zoos, and aquariums.

4. THE SHOPPING- Not only is there like a ton of Targets all around you, there is the Allen Outlets- THE best outlet in the South. Oh, and Sam Moons-the meca of cheap, albeit awesome purses, jewelry, etc. And I think my favorite-Stonebriar Centre-I love this mall- it has every store you could want and it has a great play area and it is so family oriented- it even has clean nursing rooms that have rockers and locks on the doors.

3+ Dos Charros Restaurant- It was our family's Sunday lunch place- we all loved it...our kids called it the "enchilada place". It was relatively cheap, fast, and plenty loud enough that a screaming child wouldn't be disruptive, not that our kids ever screamed of course. :)

3. The Cleanliness of the towns

2. Downtown McKinney- It's such a hip, yet traditional little downtown with cool antique stores, trendy clothing stores, and quaint coffee shops and restaurants...but I think the thing I miss the most about it is all the memories our little family shared there- walking and going to all the seasonal festivals and events.

1. Of course THE PEOPLE- Our friends and family that live there...so many good times shared together- I really can't express in words the emotions that pour over me as I write this...what would we have done without y'all? I MISS Y'ALL!!

Disclaimer: We are VERY happy to be back in Louisiana and this is in no way meant to be a complaint. ..Just a post to let my Texas readers know that we still love them and think about them often-are you feelin' the love?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... (Part 3 by the Guest Blogger)

2007-10-08T11:20:00.001-06:00

Now that we are back in Louisiana, we decided to take part in one of the annual festivals. The kids behaved themselves better than expected, Daniel walked behind the other two and is showing us that he is growing up, and understands how to be a little duckling, obediently following in line. We partook in the typical festival events: face painting, games, sand art, flashing light-up toys, money-spending (yes, this is an art form, and we can do it with the best of them.)

Emily's only request was that she could fish in the make-shift above-ground swimming pool/fishing pond. I watched a few 5-minute rounds of fishing before it was our turn, and didn't see a single nibble or fish swimming around. Of course, I was curious if there were any fish in the tank at all. It was only $0.50 per kid, so we took our turn. With one minute left, the kid next to Emily caught a little bass fish. And with the time clock on 0:00, Emily hooked a 5-lb catfish. She was so excited, and stood proudly to take pictures of her fish. She then asked us when she got her trophy. The person running the show did have little fish trophys for $10 each, but we explained to Emily that her prize was that she actually caught a big fish. Of course, this was not acceptable, and she let us know that by crying and pouting for about 10 minutes. We threatened to take away her light-up toy if she kept it up, but regardless, what started out as an exciting event took a nose dive.

Parent comments or suggestions accepted!

Updated Pics

2007-10-02T21:33:00.001-06:00

A few pictures to keep you updated

Emily showing her class her frog at "Froggy Friday"

Eating a Froggy cupcake

Mommy & Daughter

Daniel thinks he is sleeping with Caleb in a big boy bed

Bottoms Up!

A Procrastinator in a Perfectonist's Clothing

2007-09-27T20:34:00.000-06:00

Soooo, there are several reasons that I haven't been blogging ( busy, bored with it, etc.) but I think if I am honest, it's mainly my personality. Most of you who know me well know that I am somewhat of a perfectionist. And I am not saying this in an underhanded attempt to give myself a complement. I am saying this more in irritation...it really can be a bothersome trait, and not just for me, I might add ( right, honey?). I wish it didn't bother me when the handles on the coffee cups are not turned the same way or when the towels are not folded just so or that the school project doesn't look awesome. These things don't always get accomplished, but they bother me nontheless.
Another side to perfectionism is that you tend to procrastinate. I've always known that I had a tendency to put things off, a kind of" why do today what you can put off till tomorrow" outlook. However, I never thought that procrastination and perfectionism went together, but recently I read an article stating often the reason for putting things off is because you fear that whatever it is you want to accomplish won't be "perfect". So, many times I don't write because I think it will take too long to try and make it just the way I want it to be. I know that sounds a little silly, but it's true. It also doesn't help that I am constantly comparing myself to others- another character flaw of mine, or should I say- sin. Everyone else has better ideas, wittier writing style, whatever.
Well, this is getting a little too strange and revealing-sooooooooooo, I'll stop. Hopefully I'll put some pics of our new house up soon, but it's not perfect yet! And it never will be and you know that's ok.

Addicted to HGTV (Part 2 in a series from the Guest Blogger)

2007-09-02T21:35:00.000-06:00

I have a female in my house that lives and breathes Home & Garden Television, or channel 41, as we refer to it. I am convinced that decorating homes and hosting one of these shows is her calling. Here are a few reasons why I know she is an addict:

She always sits in the same chair to watch her shows

She knows exactly what shows come on and when

She knows if they are reruns or new episodes

Candice Olsen is her hero, and Divine Design is her favorite show

She freely speaks her mind on what the designers did well, and what didn't work

She is super conscious about color schemes, from the paint on the bedroom wall, down to letting me know that the outfits I pick out don't go together

She wants to call in and vote for the next Design Star contestants

She is wanting to rearrange all the light fixtures and add those girly little lamp shades to them

Yes, Emily is the culprit, and she keeps us laughing at her interest in these shows. And Emily, if you are reading this, no, I won't buy a house to "flip" as your Christmas present.

Guest Blogger

2007-08-16T21:15:00.000-06:00

It's Brandon again, just wanting to update the blog with a few pictures. Below are some pictures of some new friends of ours, who came over for dinner and backyard fun one night last week. There are also a few pictures of Em's first day of school. She has had a good first week, and she looks so adorable in her school uniform. The boy's birthday party is this weekend, so we are about to get busy again.

Just Not in the Mood...

2007-08-04T19:54:00.000-06:00

for blogging that is. I know it's been way too long, but sadly, I just don't care right now.

We are doing well and we are feeling more and more like it's home here. Emily will be starting back to school soon and Caleb will be going to preschool for the first time this year...so we're excited(and sad)about all of that. We are also getting ready to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary(!!) and both the boys' birthdays-whew, it makes me tired just thinking about it.

Well, I'll leave you with some pics, the majority of which are from our visit with friends from Texas...we miss those crazy Texans!

It's good to be back

2007-07-06T20:10:00.000-06:00

Move over Brandon, I'm back. Thanks for all the help sweetie, but somehow the "harbor" template just didn't seem too chaotic. Well, after 6 weeks, the BRILLIANT employees at Comcast were able to get our internet service up and running correctly, while at the same time DISCONNECTING OUR PHONE!!! These people our driving me crazy!! When the service technician called he said he'd gotten an order to disconnect our phone, I quickly explained to him that we did not want the phone disconnected, we wanted our stinkin' internet fixed. This morning when I called to get this problem taken care of, the woman said appararently I did not make myself clear, no, APPARANTLY you folks are a bunch of idiots. Sorry for the violent comments, I'm just really frustrated. I am sure you are all thinking, "DROP Comcast and go with another provider." Well, we have tried, but our only options are BellSouth, who apparently is full(whatever that means)and satellite internet, which is very pricey. So, now I can't call anyone, but I can type.

I've missed all my friends in cyberworld, it is indeed good to be back!

Commandeered

2007-06-21T09:00:00.000-06:00

Since we are having difficulties finding a high speed internet provider that wants to take our $50 a month and offer us service, Bekah has been woefully without the internet now for about 3 weeks. Therefore, I am doing my husbandly duty in taking over this blog site and making it my own. Yes, I have changed the layout template, and it will return to normal as soon as Bek finds her cyber-feet.

Things at our house are fairly settled. We can now maneuver through the boxes in the garage to get from the kitchen door to the garage door in less than 2 minutes. Even though our new house is a bit bigger than our old house, we don't have room for everything. I think we accidentally picked up about half of some other family's possessions (a.k.a. crap) during the move.

We needed a break from all the moving in, so we went to the beach for a week. Now, we really need a break from our beach vacation, but I don't think my new boss will give me a second week off, seeing as how I have only worked two weeks in total. Surprisingly, the mess at our house was in the same condition when we returned. Regardless, the beach was a blast, we spent a week with the Alexanders, Hoods, and my parents, and no one threw up! Success! I will post pictures of the beach this morning.

We have enjoyed Springs of Grace Church, but I keep wanting to yell out "And also with you", or "The grass withers and the flowers fade...". I have figured out that the worship music is exactly the same as the top 10 hits on 106.7 KLOVE. Except that they don't play "What if cartoons got saved", which is a big relief for me, since that song is my nemesis.

OK, enough rambling from me. Check in every 2 hours for another post. Just kidding.

Brandon

Become an M&M

2007-06-20T07:09:00.000-06:00

Rebekah and I were watching TV and saw the M&M commercial for making your own M&M. So here is mine.

Bran

Bek

Go to the website at: http://www.becomeanmm.com/ and then post your M&M.

Hijacked!!!

2007-06-07T12:04:00.001-06:00

Bekah is still alive. For some reason, she hasn't made her blog a priority. We've been hounding her for weeks to give us something new. But our pleas have gone unanswered. So we've taken it upon ourselves to let everyone know her business:

1) They are all moved in & still getting settled.
2) The kids are having fun getting reacquainted with old friends.
3) They are going to FL soon, so beach pics WILL be coming!

Love,
L & L

Latest Pics

2007-05-14T20:29:00.000-06:00

If Momma Ain't Happy....

2007-04-25T18:10:00.000-06:00

...Ain't nobody happy. And let me tell you the last few days ain't nobody been happy over here. I have been in a major funk lately. And the term "lately" is a VERY loose term since I've been oh-so-not my usual self for about 4 months. Really, ever since my sweet hubby told me we were moving I just haven't been able to relax. I have been CONSUMED with selling our house, finding and buying a new house, starting to remodel the new house, finding schools for the kids, packing, getting quotes for movers, etc., etc., etc. I won't bore you with ALL the details, but you get the point. But I think this past week I've just been pushed over the edge.

My aforementioned, sweet hubby quit his old job and started his new job and now has been working from home. SO, all of you girls who think that would be super great to have your sweetie home all day, well... not so much. I mean, it's not that I don't adore his company, it's just not the kind of company I was hoping for. On top of this new adjustment, sweet Daniel has a horrible ear infection, post tubes mind you, AND he also is experiencing painful constipation. Ughhh. But that's not what has been driving me crazy this week. It's my house...I am seriously wondering how it is that one day your house is in order, the laundry is under control, the kids are kindly playing with one another and then BAM, all the sudden it's as if a bomb exploded in your house. The house is covered with toys, cushions are off the couch, food is crusted on every surface in the kitchen, dishes are piled up in the sink and the mountain of laundry is forming legs and walking out of this filth. I know that I've never been a go with the flow kind of gal, but come on, seriously, seriously, what is this phenomenon? It's like someone is playing a sick joke on me.

So, I'm stepping back (ouch, I just tripped on Buzz Lightyear) and asking God for a new perspective. The life of a mother is anything but glamorous, in fact, many times it's downright mundane. We are constantly thrust into the position of servant. But what a wonderful place to be, wonderful because we are allowed to identify with Christ. He did in fact say that he came not to be served, but to serve. So, I plod on with the dishes and the laundry knowing that I am serving not only my precious family, but also the Lord.

Who Are You?

2007-04-05T21:57:00.000-06:00

Grey's Anatomy...I love it!! The writing is brilliant, the characters are so layered and masterfully developed, the music is awesome. It's somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine. I'm quite a fan and I cannot bear to miss an episode, which I wouldn't , if we had TiVo like most people, but that's a whole other subject, possibly worthy of a post. :)

Anyway...my mothering duties completely shut off on Thursday at 8pm. Brandon knows better than to interrupt this sacred hour, so he takes over all the night-time responsibilities and allows his addicted wife to sit totally engrossed.

So, I found this quiz on the show's site and I thought it would be fun to take...it's Which Grey's Character Are You Most Like? I was Miranda, didn't think I was the "Nazi", but apparently I'm somewhat of a perfectionist. What??? Me?? So, go take the test people and I don't want any mistakes!!

http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/quiz/greysdiagnosis/index

Update

2007-03-29T20:50:00.001-06:00

Well, we have a contract on our home!! We actually had 3 offers in 5 days, so that was pretty awesome. Lord willing, we will be closing on April 30th and then do a lease-back until May 23rd. The day we move out, on the 23rd, is B's birthday, and you want to know something weird?? That is the same day we moved out of our little house in Broadmoor and came over to Texas six years ago.

When we sold our home in LA, we sold it on the first day with 3 offers and now selling this house so quickly I was thinking, "Ahhh yea, I can really sell a home." But the Holy Spirit quickly reminded me that I didn't sell this house, the Lord Almighty did. Praise Him for He is greatly to be praised!

Soooo, now that we are under contract, we have supremely trashed this place :) Seriously though, humans cannot live like that for long without cracking...and I was startin' to crack. I was driving my poor sweet babies crazy. They did NOT know who this insane woman was and they wanted her to leave soon!

So, pray for us as we start looking in LA for a home. I know that the Lord already has a place prepared for us. May we follow His lead in ALL we do.

Pictures as Promised

2007-03-27T22:11:00.001-06:00

Okay, so here's the thing....

2007-03-24T19:52:00.000-06:00

Well, Emily's Spring Break is finally over!! Ha! I only wish that I had been busy going to the zoo or frolicking in the flowers, you know, doing Spring Breaky things with the family. No friends, as some of you know, we have been busy getting our house ready to sell. Cleaning, painting, caulking, planting flowers, staging, decluttering, fixing...basically beating our house into submission so that all the potential buyers can't resist and will put down the big bucks.

Selling a house is no small task, especially with 3 kiddos. I am literally cleaning ALL day, and I don't mean the kind of cleaning that we all do on a normal day, I mean serious cleaning, detailing. I vacuum, swiffer and windex all surfaces, that have already been deep-cleaned mind you, only to open the blinds and see more dust in the light of day. Whew, it's exhausting. And I do this because people expect it, they expect your house to look like no one ever lived there. But the thing is, people do live here. We live here, it's our home. It's where we brought home 2 of our babies, where many birthdays were celebrated, first days of school were seen, deaths of loved ones were mourned, scraped knees were kissed, first words were heard, first steps were taken, many play-dates with treasured friends were had. These walls have witnessed our lives' joys and trials over the last 5 years. That's what makes this whole process even more painful.

Also, for those of you who don't know, we are not only leaving our home, we are moving back to Louisiana. It's very bittersweet for me, we really love it here, yet we're excited about moving closer to our family. I have made so many precious friends here. Most of us don't have immediate family members close by, so we have been family to each other. I seriously don't know what I would have done without these amazing friends these last few years. I truly love these girls and will dearly miss them. Well, that's where I've been, busy cleaning and crying. Oh, and my husband has been "censoring" me until he told his boss that he was leaving. So, to all my adoring fans, I'm back! I'll post some oh-so-not realistic clean pics of our house soon.

M.I.A.

2007-03-12T21:33:00.001-06:00

That's probably what I'll be most of the week...don't cry, please, really. Emily is on Spring Break this week...so, we'll be pretty busy. But don't worry, I'll be back. And no Liz, that's not a quote from Crocodile Dundee!

Yo, the most ANNOYING kids show ever, Yo

2007-03-05T18:14:00.000-06:00

Well, if you haven't ever seen this show, count your blessings. Hip Hop Harry comes on Discovery Kids channel and I seriously think it is the worst show EVER...except for the humor factor. I mean I'm all for cultural and ethnic differences, but come on, a huge bear dancing around with more bling than Flava Flav? Is this how we want to teach our kids about the African -American culture? I'm just saying.... I will say that the kids on the show are pretty talented dancers; it reminds me of the SNL skit with Justin Timberlake called the Hip Hop Kids, now that's FUNNY!

In spite of my strong dislike for the show, my kids do love Hip Hop Harry when they sneak a peak. You should see Daniel dancing hip hop, it's HI-larious...that boy has skills!

Snack-time

2007-02-28T12:16:00.000-06:00

Okay, so it's 10:30am, snack-time at our house, and I'm standing in front of the pantry looking for something good and yet healthy. Aaaaaaaaaaand I'm looking, then I'm looking in the fridge, back to the pantry, then back to the fridge. I GIVE UP!!! The kids are tired of the ol' stand-by's of goldfish, yogurt, raisins, apples, carrots, popcorn, etc., you get the point. SOOOO, what I need here people is your suggestions, and I don't want them to be peeled grapes and wheat germ :) Keep in mind that it also cannot be complicated. I would greatly appreciate the feed-back (especially from our resident nutritionist, Meredith) So, come on, let the commenting begin...

Disclaimer: I know this a little lame and it's not "Perspective" or "Oh Bro", but it's where I am, which obviously is pretty low right now.

Dancing with the "Stars"

2007-02-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

Daniel can get down and boogy with the best of them. He has a natural swivel hip and I caught him tonight dancing to "Stars" by Switchfoot. Enjoy

Just like Daddy

2007-02-23T14:40:00.000-06:00

Caleb adores Brandon and wants to be just like him. Whenever Brandon is working on something around the house, Caleb gets out his little tools and happily "helps" his daddy. He also loves to go see Brandon at work...in fact he has started asking to "go to work with Daddy" lately. So the other day I picked out matching khakis and white button down shirts and sent my boys off to work. Caleb was SO excited!! I don't think Brandon got much "work" accomplished, but I know he made priceless memories with his little boy.

Consistency

2007-02-20T22:28:00.000-06:00

The word Consistent is defined by Merriam-Webster as marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction. According to this definition, the only thing I am consistent in is my inconsistency. I mean whether it's exercise, dieting, disciplining the kiddos, daily schedule, my mood, my relationship with the Lord, whatever, you name it--I cannot stay consistent!!
It's something that became more and more apparent to me after having my second child and has just gotten worse after #3 was born. It REALLY bothers me...and I know that part of the irritation comes from my perfectionistic OCD-ish tendencies. But I long for order, for harmony.
I've read all the time-management, organization books out there...I mean it's not like I don't know what to do, it's that I can't consistently do it. Quite honestly, most of the time, I'm just too dang tired. Does anyone else struggle with this?
Praise the Lord that He NEVER changes. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-02-19T07:45:00.001-06:00

Caught Red-Handed

2007-02-08T22:03:00.000-06:00

Well, this is Daniel's newest fascination--the toilet!! GROSS. In particular, he loves to take toilet paper and dip it in the water and then put it IN HIS MOUTH. I know, I know...just writing this makes me want to gag. One day, I walked in just as he was grabbing his pacifier out of the porcelain throne to put it back in his mouth. I about threw up right there, then I started the stripping of wet potty clothes and quickly put him in the bath. I'm sure you are all thinking just keep the doors closed...however, with 2 other little potty users, the door and the toilet are often left open. When I loudly tell "the others" to please keep the door closed, Caleb just responds, "Mommy, it's otay, I think he must be firsty." Of course, thaaaat's it, let's just leave the door open, then he can come to the "well" whenever he is thirsty and this "well" will never run dry. Are y'all getting the pieced together Biblical illusions?
I guess we can say Daniel has a real Potty Mouth....at least he's building up those immunities. No sir, we don't need the church nursery or Chick-Fil-A play ground , we just need our toilet!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun....

2007-02-06T12:42:00.000-06:00

And there was A LOT of fun happenin' this past weekend. A few of my OLD college friends and I [sans Rachel and Susan:( ] had a Girls' Weekend in the port. We had a rockin time eating, shopping, eating, laughing, eating, etc....well, you get the point. I for one, hope that this will be an annual event. We didn't sleep much and we definitely didn't follow any kind of diet, but it was the most relaxed I've been in awhile. I think for me, the reason for this relaxed attitude can be explained in 2 words- NO KIDS!!! We love our pumpkins, but we can all benefit from a little girl time.

Thanks, girls for an awesome time. No matter how our lives change, one thing remains the same...the love we have for each other in Christ is one of the biggest blessings of my life.

A Celebration of Life

2007-01-31T21:36:00.000-06:00

It was January 30, 2004 when sweet baby Noah came into this world and into the hearts of so many. At birth, Noah was diagnosed with a rare syndrome called KID syndrome (Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome). In spite of his condition and the pain he must have endured, he was truly one of the most precious babies I've ever known.

Elizabeth has shared with me that in the months before Noah was even conceived, God was preparing her and teaching her how to trust Him and cling to Him in what would possibly be her darkest hour. You see, Elizabeth had been reading and studying the book of Job. She told me how that God had revealed to her in a very powerful way the scripture in Job 1:21 that says, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Some might say, "what a coincidence", but we who know the Lord and trust in His sovereignty, understand that is not the case. How great the love the Lord has lavished on us in providentially teaching us and preparing us for all of life's trials.

Apart from all the heartache and unimaginable grief that Chris and Elizabeth have endured in losing their precious child, Liz has assured me many times that this baby, this life, this Noah, brought blessings beyond compare.

Celebrate the life of Noah Christopher Cobb with me today. Let us all remember that no matter how long or how brief our children's lives are that indeed, "Children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward."

Who are You Wearing?

2007-01-29T14:49:00.000-06:00

To borrow a popular catch-phrase from the red carpet...I thought we could all share the beauty products we wear or really love. I saw this done on someone else's blog and I thought it was a fun idea. So here goes.... 1. Face wash: Cetaphil, great for sensitive skin like mine 2. Face lotion: Oil of Olay Regenerist 3. Foundation: Revlon Skinlights, I really love this stuff, makes your skin look maaarvelous 4. Under Eye Concealer: Physician's Formula in yellow, helps cover dark circles 5. Powder: Revlon Skinlights again 6. Blush: Loreal true match in apricot kiss 7. Eyeliner: I don't even know what it is, it's just cheap brown eyeliner 8. Mascara: Loreal Voluminous 9. Lotion: I really love The Body Shop Shea Butter in the Winter and Lubriderm in summer, but I've used Jergen's Shea Butter and it's good 10. Shampoo/Conditioner: Nexxus Color Assure. Well, ladies one thing I noticed is that almost every item I use is like drugstore quality, oh well, guess I'm cheap (Liz would be proud) or as I like to call it low-maintenance. Lauren, maybe that's how I should use all the cash I'm saving from diaper-less Caleb. Alright, now it's y'all's turn

My Boy Wants to Potty All the Time...

2007-01-26T14:37:00.001-06:00

Yeah!! After months of false starts and stops, I think Caleb finally has the hang of this potty thing. In the summer, he was actually trained for about a month or 2, or sooo we thought. Then, Emily started Kindergarten and he totally regressed, it was quite sad actually. After repeated accidents, I said forget it, this is too much stress for all involved.
After all the holiday hoopla settled down I was contemplating starting the training again, but I was REALLY dreading it. But the fact that he kept taking his diapers off pushed my contemplations into reality. Plus the fact that I was motivated by the dollar, I tell you what, having 2 kids in diapers is expeeeensive, not to mention annoying. I mean, people, Caleb is almost 3 1/2 and it was like changing a man's diaper. Gross!!
It's so funny though, because the very thing that I LOVE about Caleb is his laid back nature and the fact that literally nothing bothers him. But on the flip side NOTHING BOTHERS HIM, aka, wet and/or dirty diapers. However, I am proud to say that he has gone a full week with no accidents, oh yea, except for the day he pooped on Emily's rug, braided rug. Yea, that was a lot of fun to clean.

To Blog, or Not to Blog...That is the Question

2007-01-25T13:15:00.000-06:00

Well, now that I have entered the blogosphere, I wonder, should I be doing this? I mean shouldn't blogs be reserved for the comedics or the highly intellectual? In my opinion, there are 2 kinds of people, those who are naturally witty and smart and those who try. I, unfortunately, am in the second category. I know, this may be quite shocking information to you: either because I have you fooled, or because I am actually admitting my demise.

Oh well, at least I have Beautiful children!! That will surely keep you all coming.

This one goes out to all of us Moms...

2007-01-23T08:33:00.000-06:00

Well, I 've FINALLY entered the world of blogging!! It will take me awhile to get things "up and running", but I wanted to share this article with y'all that a dear friend gave me right after Caleb was born. It is HI -LARIOUS! I can defintely identify with the author and I think you will too. Hope you all enjoy...

The Parenting Magazine I Want to See by Christy Lui

Every time I pick up a parenting magazine, I feel so... inadequate. All those pages of cute, well-rested, competent moms with their smiling, clean kids doing fun activities in sunny, clean kitchens. This has absolutely no resemblance to my life. Well, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of magazines that make me feel like everyone has it together but me. What I want is a magazine that loves me and my kids with all our faults and thinks the way I parent is just fine, thank you.

I'm going to call it CHAOS: The Magazine for Real Parents.

First of all, nutrition. Banned forever will be those hateful "sample menus for toddlers" that advise you to feed your child "one quarter cup peeled grapes and three tablespoons wheat germ" for breakfast. Every time I see one of those I wonder who the alien-supermoms are that can actually: 1. Find wheat germ in the supermarket 2. Find a tablespoon (mine are usually in the tub) and 3. Figure out how much went into the gullet and how much is ground into the upholstery. What I want is USEFUL information---like how to use fuzzy logic to improve your child's diet: Wheat is a plant. Vegetables are plants. Therefore, macaroni and cheese is a vegetable. Good-bye, food guilt.

Next, I will be reworking the ever-present advice column. These are just filled with problems I WISH I had. Oh golly, "Sam just won't eat his crunchy cereal, just the soft one. Will he permanently be damaged?" Yeah, take one look in my house. The 3 year old has his FEET in the cereal box, the 1 year old has just poured the milk under the refrigerator. My magazine will shun the experts and take advice only from veteran fellow moms. Most of the answers will be, "He'll get over it in 3 months. Don't sweat it."

Now, crafts. My personal nemesis. Every time I see those projects I think, "Crafts: Just Another Way to Destroy the Furniture." Or "Scissors and Glue: A Cheap and Easy Makeover for Your Brother." What I'll have is "127 Ways to Amuse Your Preschooler fo 30 Seconds or Less" And "How to Keep Your Toddler from Stuffing Play Doh Up His Nose" as a sidebar.

Another heinous guilt-producing section in most parenting magazines is exercise. Don't you just LOVE those articles with the cute (thin) moms using their laughing babies to tone and tighten their arms? Or the fit moms doing deep knee bends behind their jogging strollers? Have you EVER seen this happen? What I need is calorie counts for my everyday activities. Carrying a bucking, biting toddler out of the grocery store = 200 calories. Holding the bedroom door shut while child kicks it = 150 calories. Sitting on child in order to wrestle shoes on his feet = 150 calories.

Also banned from our magazine will be any articles by "so-called" experts making you feel guilty about letting your child watch TV. If I have any hope of trying to cook a meal without having a small boy attached to my leg, it's because TV is my friend. I personally worship the ground the good folks at PBS walk on. Let's see a big celebration of all the great stuff the boob-tube has to offer. Let's see some elected officials and big name celebrities tell us why Sesame Street made them the contributing citizens they are today. Let's hunt down some experts to talk about how Dora is going to increase kids' IQ's by at least 10 points this year.

Now that's the magazine I want to see. I am going to put a picture of my sons jumping on the sofa on the front cover. Anyone want to subscribe?