Ebeth's 4 and no more

My silly girls were stunting after the water play If only every Saturday were as simple as today! My oldest slept the latest he ever has till 9:40 am. This is the child who gets up at 6 or 6:30 MAYBE 7 on a really exceptional day. I was beginning to wonder if I should check on him. Then at 10am we began the necessary function of chores, followed by random lunch choices and more vegetable like behavior. I love his faces!  Post nap we took the fun up a notch by playing in the sprinkler, riding our bikes, watching the last 25 min of Titanic (narrated by our household expert). Even better is the notion that the kids were relating to the emotions of the individuals in the movie, questioning validity and more throughout. I adore them all for thinking like this. It is my prayer that they will be aware that media is more than just entertainment, instead it effects you as a person too. Next was reading devotions, praying and practicing cheering. Ooh don't let me forget that mea...

These kids, they crack me up...drive me crazy and melt my heart. Every....Single.....Day! Parenting is like nonstop thrill rides I tell ya. Today my youngest son now 7 decided that hunting down his missing shoe was not worth the effort. The shoe that was actually lost while sitting on the rack as it is supposed to be but nevertheless the story continues. So instead he chose a too small croc shoe. Yep singular was correct, shoe. To top that off he even had to work to get it on and when I questioned he said, "Ooooh, comfy!" But as if that was not enough he also chose to wear a new found shirt in his closet that has a digger on it with his most favorite camo fleece. In my opinion I am not sure he could have mismatched any more than today. In all that though I loved his confidence and complete innocence. Can I bottle that up to give him a dose in a couple more years please? #1 was blatanly ignoring directions this afternoon and therefore got grounded from electronics fo...

This Easter was a culmination of family, kids and church but not quite in that order. You see I was in charge of the egg hunt itself at two churches. The first one involved moving 92 4-Kindergarten age kids, and 50 2 and 3 year old children from their rooms outside and back in. There was moments of rocky seas but overall we made it through. 250 elementary age kids joined in the ultimate fun and I came home, brushed teeth and climbed into my bed with my 2 girls on each side. I can't recall the last time I did that and wasn't sick!  Here you can see just the beginning of the 20,000 eggs that got stuffed (2500 by me/us). My poor kids worked hard helping with all that I was required to do. Ya know I gotta say when you simply attend church you think you have an idea of what all goes one, but NOPE you really don't have a clue! I am so proud of their nearly constant positive attitudes too.  Here we kicked off the Palm Sunday/ Easter week with Aunt Net and my side of the ...

Somehow those two titles for today (April Fools day and Palm Sunday) do not make much sense. April fool's normally means nothing to me especially since it is the first name written on my birth certificate. Yep, Elizabeth is my chosen name (given as it is my middle name) but April is what the initial A is all about. I hated it for unknown reasons at this point. Though I recall a specific moment when my 1st grade teacher refused to call me Elizabeth. She informed me that unless I went to a judge and changed my name she would not call me anything but April. It could then be said that such a statement to this strong willed child was like I double dog dare you to make it happen another way. So, here I am with a social security card and driver's license that says A. Elizabeth. EVERYTHING I own has that name on it too. Take that Ms. First grade teacher! Now moving on I am grateful my oldest daughter had a better experience with her first cheerleading coach. Take in to accoun...

Around my house things tend to pop up missing from time to time. Mostly this happens because kids are oblivious to the idea that one must put their treasures away. Yet in the last 6 months I have to give credit where credit is due, #4! She idolizes her big sister and adores all that is hers believing that any of it is there for the taking. Well, the taking and the hiding is more like it. Needless to say I think we are to the point that big sis' Ipodtouch can only be charged under the cover of bedtime from this search and rescue mission on..... UGH! Now what seems to turn up during these search parties will never cease to amaze me. If you know me and have been to my house then you know I am pretty crazy about keeping clean. I regularly make my kids vacuum the couches, clean under them and their beds too. BUT well #3 has gotten out of hand with his hidden "clean ups". He is defintely my stuff it all in the closet and pray it stays shut kid. After staying home sick Mond...

Tonight while enjoying American Idol (which by the way we have never been followed like this) they played a commercial for Royal Caribbean. Near the end before it shows what company the commercial is for the couple holds hands and #3 sings, "Every kiss begins with Kay." I cracked up and he proceeded to sing it repeatedly until I finally asked him to stop but the first time was pretty priceless. Kisses are important to a special little girl. #4's favorite part of vacation (well I assume because it is repeated everytime someone asks about our trip) was when Minnie Mouse blew her a kiss. #4 loves to kiss me. Except most kids or really people that aren't in an intimate relationship kiss you on the cheek, forehead or the like. But not her she still insists on kissing me straight on the lips, lingers there even. I am not certain that she is in a place I can explain about kissing just yet so I try my level best to not be uncomfortable with her open display of affection. ...

Help!                                                    I hid my candy corn bag from my kids and cannot find it.  Yep I am serious. I fasted candy for 8 days as part of a fasting and prayer time with my church. Ha! That didn't do much for me in the way of my addiction either because it took one day to be back into the swing of desire to eat it. Thankfully I do not have stashes in every random place so desire without resources is a good thing.  Anyway, apparently I do not really like fresh candy corn. It tastes different after the bag has been opened for awhile. Today I forgot to eat breakfast, didn't have much for lunch since I packed my own in a huge hurry and was home for 10 minutes before leaving again to PTO meeti...

Yay today: Snuggle/one on one time at bedtime with kids was met with many special moments. #4 asked me to put my head on her shoulder as I sang Hush Little Evangelene with her and doted kisses, and kind words like any good mini momma would. Laughing with her quite possibly cures all ailments. #3 snuggled like little man always does more concerned about my comfort and well being than his own. We did have to chat about lying/half truth kinda stuff he has come to readily do but that too was a 2 way conversation. #2 snuggles up close and personal as her love language is CLEARLY touch and words of affirmation. She chatted about her friends and boys they like including her own feelings. I love watching her cautious words, pauses in between waiting for me to drop the ball and act too parent like. Instead I know to listen more to insert advice little in this moment. I am after all setting the ground work for teenage years and a comfortable trust for us two. #1 well he sneaked in on every r...

Isn't it amazing how life can turn on a dime? I mean it is after all the little stuff that is really the big. Friday started out like sheer joy, the whole family together for 3 days! But wait, 3 days together no breaks?! Ah yes I should have spotted the problem right there from 13 years of marriage but nope a rookie we still were. I pray our vacation, 7 days of togetherness no breaks is met with more stress free time since we have no other obligations to distract or weigh us down. Not that there ever really is perfection with 6 people together. Saturday went well as we took my nephew for what could be his last birthday lunch in awhile as he enters the Air Force soon. This included an impromtu snowball fight in the parking lot which was priceless for the memory banks. Next we headed home and shortly after hubby was off to help with the bus ministry at church followed by the rest of us to work at Saturday night service. For the first time since I started this job I didn't leave...

In celebration of Michael! In the effort to bring my family together, motivate the good stuff and all around bring attention to details I enacted a competition. Everyone in the house would strive to be the kindest possible for the remainder of the year (as this started the last 12 days of 2011). I made a chart with all our names (Mommy and Daddy included) and copies for each car and house (Gma and G's plus ours). Everytime someone did or said something nice they could be given a mark from anyone. There also was a column for the opposite actions. My theory was that you cannot be mean without leaving a lasting mark for the other person so you should get credit for that too. Then after the time was up we subtracted the bad from the good and landed a winner. The winner was King/Queen for a day. They did not have any chores, and were to be served for that small amount of time. I wanted that reward! My dear friend happened to be in town for 8 days of that time and she competed along ...

This holiday season has been a whirlwind to say the least. My return to work has marked a barrage of events, activities and demands. It should have been no surprise that school "break" would be just the same. When you couple such things with hosting family and friends there is no true break. BUT it was all worth it and I would hands down do it all again. Maybe. Just kidding :) Up until today I would have been honest in saying non of my children have spoken the ever dreaded I hate you, or you don't love me words. But all good things must come to and end and in my 11th year of parenting it finally did happen. Whom said such you ask... #3. I would have let the whole jackpot ride on number 4 myself. She has her own phrases today too, but one kids story at a time. #3 is tired, T...I..R..E..D, tired! He is a physical kid who needs his sleep and maybe a bit more rest than a typical 7 year old should. I will deal with that via doctor after this "vacation". All the con...

Too tired to be creative I will get to my point. #4 was full of anything and everything from the moment she walked in the door from school. Her first conversation went like this: Mommy where is your car? (I had traded cars with hubby and then G drove mine leaving nothing in the driveway). I didn't. Love her, hot pink boots simply must be worn. Always! How did you get home? (Since I did take her to school in the van this am). I just did. Did you walk? Yes, yes that's what I did. (insert sarcasm here) Really? (hands on hips, shocked and amazed) Yep. Really? (same as above) uh huh On the road? Of course. Cars will bump you Mommy! They didn't. Did you walk on the grass? (head tiled nearly pleading with me to answer correctly) Yes I did. Ok cause if you didn't I would be very mad at you. She then exits the room satisfied. Next conversation hours later: #1 says "What The" at something he saw on tv. Me, annoyed with that slang say his name. Th...

 I DO IT! Don't help she says!  A little dark but captures him so well. My my my.. my youngest kiddos seem to be up to trouble. What is even more interesting to me than a preschooler who is resourceful is that my oldest son didn't do his phase until so much later than the others. After having survived a lie first be honest later phase from one I can smile and deal with ease. That is until #4 ups the anty like she is known to do. Then and only then will I begin to pull hair out. #4 adapts to the ever changing intelligence of those around her. She used to be easy to find and then she began understanding true hiding. Recently all you had to do was look behind the love seat for a makeshift bed of stolen fun. You know, sleeping bag or blanket including pillows with treats and electronics for her pure enjoyment. Another place is behind the recliner in my bedroom. There have been many times that she seemed lost or outside when in fact the chair would sing, play music etc....

A little bit of redneck for this country family that is just too darn much fun! Every year we buy, acquire or this year grow pumpkins (at least one per kid). THEN when Thanksgiving is over and pumpkins are not so "in" we chuck them off the deck. The Sat after Thanksgiving I though for a second they were gonna do it off the rough but Daddy veteod it on this particular day. Back story to fill in those gaps: A few years ago (2009 to be specific) Daddy allowed #1 to join him on the roof for father/son lighting project. Honestly I do not know that year just how much help he was, but proud is the word for how he looked. He taunted the others large and mighty up there too. A couple years later #2 got her turn and she was far bolder about her opportunity. Ya know for being the only kid who broke a bone in a traumatic slow motion golf cart incident you would never know she understands pain! Anyway, the roof was a no go which is probably just as well. #4 would not stop short of get...

Highs, lows, joys, frustrations that is about the story of parenting. Patting myself on the back I once again report that I did not loose my temper even once today. Raise my voice, yes but completely appropriate manner making sure to sandwich the critical with the complimentary still holding "people" accountable. Sigh, yep this is how it should go since it is inevitable they will make mistakes. Highs: (One I forgot to share last week) Unbeknownst to me G-ma and littlest had a moment snuggling in her bed. They prayed together and G-ma introduced speaking in tongues with her. Nothing major came about it until the next day. While playing in the living room she stood on the couch showing off her best challenging grin (since I scowled and the marching on furniture routine). Then she began spouting off random sounds and words like well praying in tongues. I know some of you dear readers just left me here but well it is in fact in the Bible and what I believe. Feel free to ask me ...

Ok forgive me for calling Thanksgiving such but well turkeys and turkey stuff is such fun too. As I sit here with sucker remnants stuck in my hair not quite sure of when I picked that up I have to giggle at the roller coaster of a day. I hate how pictures seem to look. Apple crostada and my first pumpkin pie Clearly being home just one day a week, basically a four day week, would be my dream! I believe I achieved all that needed to be done to keep my ship in shape. Sigh, I could have nearly that if only I didn't work my church job. Alas the time will come when I get that back too. Heck maybe next year   I will have such luck who knows really. Anyway, I slept an hour later this am than normal which was a decent extra. 6 kids later the house is humming with activity. The older girls, (cousin K and #2) sat on 2 computers creating PowerPoint's and wordles then playing educational games in some quirky unspoken competition to learn more. The boys well no surprise that they youn...

Tonight we headed out for a rare treat of dinner at a restaurant. I mean don't get me wrong we have eaten non cooked/purchased food often enough since I have been working. But well this was the true sit down and be waited on kinda meal. Honestly I cannot recall the last time it wasn't family Chinese dinner or Pizza Street. While both we love (well Chinese) but otherwise it is just plain expensive for us now. #1 eats an adult meal and then some these days, growing boy syndrome was bound to hit sometime. Yet, kids eat free seemed as though it would work for the other 3. Sadly, that still meant we spent 30.00 plus tip but hey there are just plain times we need the opportunity to be together like this. Here is a recap which will demonstrate just why I have to keep it real and light these days so I appreciate them all and don't go crazy. Time is relative for sure! Arrival scene: Cheers and crowd excitement as we pull into a parking space, everyone rushes out of the vehicle h...

SO, not sure I mentioned I am on a calm, patient, natural consequences momma train. As in I am trying my level best to get there. No I mean REALLY I am trying more than ever. I admit today was the first day in at least 3 I think that I did raise my voice beyond stern. I did not loose my cool completely nor did I say anything unfair (which I typically don't anyway but we are all human). Instead of letting my lack of sleep, ( 3 hours to be exact due to a shift at dispatch last night), I organized my kitchen cabinets. No not my dishes but the other cabinets, ya know the ones with all the spices, sprinkles etc. Yes ma'am and maybe sir I sure did. But to add the cherry on the pie I even did so while making 5 kids french toast (sleepover friend) too. Ah HA! I was feeling quite proud if I do say so myself! In turn this helped me be flexible with the literal disaster that hit my living room, dining room classroom and entire downstairs! See, aren't they so pretty? Ok well I know no...