Ebeth's 4 and no more

Many of you are aware that I despise cooking. Yes, loathe would maybe even be a better word. I gladly will shop for the food, organize it in the pantry and fridge and even browse cooking magazine for ideas. But when it comes to the actual stand in the kitchen prep work no way! Why I gladly will clean up the kitchen each night too just don't make me cook it! No idea why I feel that way, nothing traumatic happened. My mother didn't really even teach me much because I must have had a horrible attitude in each attempt. Being a member of a local mom's website means I am bombarded with the carrying points of views and ideas from other mothers. There is no booklet for raising kids, and well many of us have things we strive to do different than our parents, with similar things to do too. My goal in this job has simply been to equip my kids with all they need in the bent God made them for success. Each of their success are different too but basic skills are required of all people al...

Yep I sure am..at it again. By it I mean my grand attempts at systems for extrinsically motivating my children in the hopes it will become intrinsic in the end. Ha, look at me using big words from that fantastic education of mine. Anyway, currently the kids and I brainstormed a plan where they would earn badges for specific skills, for example table manners, courtesy, teamwork etc. I got the badge idea from either Parents magazine or Family Fun. #1 said there should be a level system which I love because then they feel their progress towards the end goal. #3 said it should be 5,4,3,2,1 style. I loved that too because then it works to being number 1. #2 added that one is the littlest number so it makes it feel good to be the best at something. Ah, listening to the teamwork in action makes this momma's heart flutter!! #4 well all the while she was being her troublesome self, getting up and trying to disturb the flow. A big high five to the rest of the kiddos for ignoring her distrac...

Tonight I enjoyed yet another drive with my oldest son but also my oldest daughter. The future is a big theme around here in case you haven't noticed. #1 added another component to his plans..he will be a Senator then President. He told me then he will move us all to the White House. I am guessing being in 4th grade learning the process of gov't is probably the cause of such ideas but this is not the first time he has determined this future either. I asked him what he planned to major in while in college and in between college and being a Senator what else he would do. He stuck with working in contruction as a wrecking ball operator but I couldn't help adding he should think about how he could rebuild too. People who vote like to see what good you can do too. This got him thinking in a new direction. He wanted to know all the causes that he could take up. That is where we ended. Stay tuned because that child never ceases to amaze me in his detailed mind. #2 well she is st...

 Joey's wolf call to tell them to stay away.  Since about November #1 has been getting therapy for his remaining physical weakness. It is exciting to see what can happen when someone who knows about the workings of the body teaches him how to use his. Anyway, this particular day it was just the two of us on the trip to and fro. Sad but true fact that car rides with him right next to me end in my blanking out a little. Star Wars this and that talk gets a bit much. I did choose the right moment to remind him of conversation rules and overtaking the subject matter. We shall see, I didn't dwell just threw it out there for digestion. On the way home I allowed him to play games on my new once a year selfish pleasure, internet friendly phone. I enjoyed random flipping of the music and belting out the words. But somewhere between the Oberweiss treat and milk for #4 stop and home he blurted out the following statement. "Magic is real Mommy because Santa uses it so the reinde...

Wow, how time flies! I somehow missed the passing of my first 100 posts but not this one. If I was some big, more commercialized blog I would do some grand giveaway but well since this is just little ol' me here it is. When I first started this blog I included a synopsis of who I am and where I came from before I delved into the world of 4 kids and more. But upon the invitation to more people I censored them a bit (no worries I do not have that  sorted of a past lol). Anyway, I thought in honor of keeping up with this online journal I would speak of me, myself and I. I am the daughter to parents who despite more challenges than seem possible are still married...sort of. I had 2 great loves in my life prior to getting married. One during the main part of high school and the other at the end up until I became involved with my beloved hubby. I had many friends but just a few close ones, none of which remain any closer than current Facebook friends from my younger days. Now I can...

If you have ever spent any time with my oldest son you would know that he is moved by fear of certain things. Tornadoes were the first of such fears which to this day require his blinds AND shades to be pulled at night. It isn't that he feels one could come anytime (for the hours of factual research has taught him when and how) but the dreams that the dark outside inspire. There was also a short period of time when he was concerned about land sharks. He once said we could never go to Florida because they lived there. Oddly enough we are headed there in Sept. I dare not remind him of this fact. However he has expressed concern for getting in the ocean so we shall see. But this past weekend has added another outdoor concern to his list, bears. A friend of ours lives in Defiance area and had recently found bear tracks in the snow at his house. He took some impressive pictures of these tracks running a long distance on his property. In talking with my husband about them he commented ...

In education and also in many other areas of life research will tell you that your expectations are how far you rise. The same goes of others, if you expect them to let you down well more often that not they will. The Bible says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. Funny thing is that we as humans think that our desire must come in a specific way. In turn when it doesn't we easily give up. Then we read inspirational stories of people who overcame tremendous obstacles to reach their desire and we go hmmm for about 30 sec. You know the couple who tried for 7 years to have kids, or the family who have battled disease and on and on. It then makes me think how tv sitcoms usually have many of the characters (or several of them) facing a similar situation? My mind goes to 7th Heaven because there were always multiple story lines but it all followed one basic principal or problem. It seems I am surrounded by multiple people...

Upon arriving home from dance and Tae Kwon Do I was greeted by my baby girl. She in her pink Elmo flannel jammies unbuttoned with her wet curly hair. The bright smile on her face, the tight squeeze on my leg and, "Hi Mommy." make a mom's night. Pajamas and brush teeth instructions echo from both hubby and I and the shuffle of feet going from here to there do not reassure obedience. Upon finishing the organization of stuff from car to home I engulf #4. She relaxes completely in my arms and tells me this, "Daddy is going to wrestle right there!" I nod knowing this later hour typically does not allow such play but she repeats herself until I consent. I am commanded to situate myself on the coach, laying back on the pillow she has straightened for me and wait. Daddy ran to and fro in a hide and seek kind of game with #3, his best bud. #3 turns out to be a bit chicken to go down the steps and find Daddy and littlest sis joins in. Bible time was near to commence when ...

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I get bored with things staying the same too long. I can safely say this trait comes directly from my mother. As a child I would come home from school to find the whole house rearranged on a regular basis. It never shook my sense of security but I suppose effected how I view the home. Needless to say being a SAHM has led to a certain amount of restlessness within my home. In the last year I redid the guest bathroom and Michael's room. In making the changes I took down the wallpaper border. #4 was in fact present and aware of such activity since it was only a month or so ago. I don't recall letting her help but well she witnessed me. I take full credit for my naive mode at that time. So, knowing that bit of information combined with the series of events in the past week (spraying food colored water on walls, oil dumped while "helping" G, cat food mixed with water and more) sets the stage for more trials. Today Daddy was on Eva dut...

Often people look upon my "job" as one they would not chose. Even more often when they spend time around my crew they repeat this fact more times than I can count. Yet many a day I say it fits for me, for us. But then every once in awhile something pops up which makes me ponder how being home has changed my perspective. Today #2 enlightened me on one such idea....sick days. My oldest daughter talented in many ways hasn't included faking an illness. It would be far reaching to out and out say she snowed me. What might be more realistic is the stomachache while real beyond belief worked itself aided by a double dose of tummy medicine (Shaklee brand probiotics which work wonders!). All of that took place shortly after the siblings were off to school and she was securely home:)  Yep, the day swiftly went from sicky to sidekick for #4. While I was thankful for the attention she took away from me offering a VERY productive day in re...

Any of you ever watch Gilmore Girls? Well I am a fan, own the whole series on DVD and watch reruns as often as I can. If you watch it you will know that she ( Lauren Graham's character) loves snow about as much as I love Vday. I love hearts, flowers specifically roses, candy of course and fairy tale like love stories. I love the smile you can put on some one's face when you share love with them be it friend or child. I am a romantic at heart yet have rarely ever dated a man that felt the same but that is another story. My dear husband means well in his head but far from a hopeless romantic is terribly true. Anyway, this year from a series of unrelated circumstances most of which small things I feel far from lovey today. In fact it feels like just another Monday with the work of doing my predictable gifts mostly done. I am forcing myself to make heart things for my expecting children but other than that I am over it. So over it! I don't want to attend my children's part...

Gone are the days of stillness and quiet, the days of new words and discoveries that boggle the mind. What I now have on my hand is a troublesome toddler. Parent or not you know those kids, the kind that people ooh and aah over at their puffy cheeks and silly antics. Those that wear mismatched clothes and create a scene in their every move, you snicker at their literal sarcasm and open banter, until they kick and scream for no reason. Hearing them say no more than they say yes and then EVERY person that witness' them in such disarray portrays "thank God that's not MINE!" Oh sure from time to time my fireball reared the evil rebellious side. She can be like a firework, bright and beautiful putting a smile on your face. But in that same comparison if you stand too close to the explosion you are bound to get burned. These days the later is true more often than the former. Well alright about 50/50 but the negative seems to stick out like a sore thumb. Alas, I am covered i...

My oldest son is an amazing, frustrating challenge for this opposite personality mom. He resembles a lot of his grandma with his Dad, grandfather and myself mixed all around. Everything that you can pick apart from his personality can be connected to each of us, but well his Gma gets first dibs for sure! In learning about him I am learning so much more about her. Well that and in my own increase of years I am understanding more about why she did things she did. It is harder and harder to say I am nothing like my mother. As long as I take the best parts though that is just fine:) I love her very much and cannot imagine life without her around but it is an interesting tradition of most women to not want to be "just" like their mom. I sooo have digressed. Back to my son oops! Last night upon making my rounds from child to child we chatted. This is not unusual, he in fact has went from a don't touch me syndrome to enjoying a nice back rub and certainly a snuggle on the couch...

Here I sit watching the Biggest Loser on tv eating chips and cheese dip, drinking sweet tea with a chaser of 3 pieces of licorice. This would be the follow up to 2 slices of summer sausage on a cracker with equal pieces of cheese for dinner. Oh and before that I finished off the bag of circus peanuts I purchased just Sunday afternoon. I could go back farther but you can imagine that my day was hardly filled with excellent food choices. Ironic to say the least. I often joke about my sugar addiction finding humor as a justification for allowing it to continue. The only reason I do not weigh equal to my bad habit is I stay active enough and eat few other calories a day. I hold my kids to a greater standard of diet but even that has gotten a bit lax. What was once a treat has been more and more common place, snacks, soda and the like. It is time to go beyond awareness to reality. Time to make a change. Now if you are thinking I am about to say my great plan you are going to be waiting f...

You know you are the only "woman" in the house when you sit down to use the restroom twice in one evening and have to change the toilet paper roll. You know you are the mom of a toddler when you notice your tea tastes minty only to discover at the bottom a chewed up piece of gum. You know you are the mom of a true dancer when she watches a dancing show and just has to put on her jazz shoes and dance too. You know you are the mom of a boy about to begin the early stages of puberty the first time you ask for a hug and get a wrestling match to get it. You know you are the mom of the most chivalrous little boy ever when he asks if there is anything he can do for you after he has rubbed your back and told you he thought he might throw up just because he loves you. You know that you are not perfect when the bedtime routine has its glitches and you snap a time or two. You know that you have taught your children well when they give you grace for your imperfection as you ...

It is indeed a rare Sat night in which hubby was home and we had nowhere to be. In true kid fashion the vote between game night and movie night was closely separated and movie won out. Daddy had not yet scene Despicable Me and How to Train Your Dragon both thanks to fabulous Aunts we own. I overruled with the later because despite one barely noticeable remark about the "gods" (notice no capitalize because there is only one God:) it is a incredible story line for true greatness in unlikely sources. I have likened the story to my oldest son before, but I digress. After showers, random choice leftover dinners and treats were acquired we began what should have been the last activity of the night, that is prior to Bible reading and prayer. Snuggling, shshshshsing of words since it was not knew to all but Daddy and my kids are prone to "tell" what is coming next. #4 engaged in action parts but focus fleeting moved about causing havoc wherever she chose. This is the st...

Snowapocolypse is the best word to describe what is going in the area surrounding my home. I am not quite sure on the inches 10 maybe more, probably more. Last week we had that much snow and it was a piece of cake. I shoveled my driveway a couple times and didn't blink at driving post storm. However this time I had #1 shovel first then I did the same 4 other times to keep up with the amount being dumped an hour (1 to 2 inches an hour). Then there is the lean to, the place the horses stand to get out of the weather. My father took the word of someone on how to build it and well let's just say it is less than certain to withstand the weight of such large amounts of snow coupled with inches of ice first. It withstood last week's storm well but this rare snow extreme is doubtful. My mother and I climbed on top of the roof to push the snow off, once the ice began breaking apart from the salt we first used it created a cracking, slippery footing. I crawled around and shoved snow,...