Day with Grammie, Pey and Uncle Eric

We spent much of Wednesday with Grammie, Pey and Uncle Eric. Pey called Grammie last week and told her that he would be "in the country" this week and part of next for some business. Anyway, Uncle Eric was told and "secret" plans were made for him to surprise Pey on Tuesday night (my brother hadn't seen his Dad since Christmas)!!!

Anyway, the kids were soo excited to spend the day at Grammie's with Grammie, Pey and Uncle Eric and the pool:) My little fishes were a little slow to warm up to the water and even Pey and Eric... but they did and we had a great day:)



Uncle Eric wasn't feeling well.... kind of stinks that you only see your Dad for a few hours and your feeling sick and exhausted most of the time.... all those slave hours at camp:)So, we're hoping Uncle Eric is feeling better, especially since he is probably already back in the kitchen at camp!!!! Hang in there.... just one more month, or so:)

4 Yrd Old Fun

Well this evening Andrea and Travis had an appointment for Andrea. They had called me about lunch time to see if I was able to come over to help with the kids. They've lived nearby since August of last year and we still haven't traded "nights out" with them.... maybe it's time:)

I brought Anna with me and she had Caleb had a great time together! It was fun to see them playing together, making up new games and listening in on their conversations. 4 yr olds are soo much fun;)

First we did some swimming and playing in the yard. And then the kids were cold so they wrapped up like "hot dogs"... here is Anna trying to figure out what "kind" of "hot dog" Caleb is:)


Then the kids playing with Caleb's kitchen set while I got Taite ready and in bed. He did sneak out a couple of times, but by the time the older kids were cleaned up, quiet and snacking Taite was down for the night;)

Caleb and Anna watched Charlotte's Web.... but before the end of the movie I could tell they were fading..... Caleb was asking for "quiet time" and Anna asked if it was time to go home;)

I got some cute pictures of the kids.... I'm sure you either see them on my blog or Andrea's or maybe in my flickr album soon:) Tomorrow we have a busy but fun day as we head to Grammie's to see her, Pey and Uncle Eric :)

Toddler Tantrums

Anyone who has called recently has heard IT..... the pitiful cries of a little 16-month-old girl desperate to have control of the phone.Or mid-morning the cries of a toddler wanting her paci. Or this afternoon during lunch the wailing of a hungry/tired child who isn't happy with her food selection and is NOT getting her way. We've hit IT.... the whinny stage before the terrible twos. This is when Toddlers know what they want, expect to get it immediately and then pitch a fit when they don't get it!!!

We've been at this stage before. And unfortunately I always feel like I've got my hands tied behind my back. If I give in they're spoiled and if I let them cry then I'm a mean parent. So for these tantrums we've decided to ignore the fussing..... and honestly they do stop crying and usually are quite pleasant (and even eat their dinner, at least part of it).

SO if you call and there is pitiful crying in the background, remember that it will end soon:)And from not getting what they want, when the want it, especially from whinny....soon the crying will be over and we'll have pleasant conversations again:)

We've also have had a funny phenomenon happening lately. When Anna is out with Brian or napping and the two youngest ones are the only ones to keep the dynamic of their relationship changes.... or maybe I just see it more. Yesterday while Brian and Anna did some visiting, I had Christopher and Lydia. Christopher really rose to the occasion and "took care of" Lydia. He was sweet and tried to help her outside and tried to play with her. Instead of grabbing balls out of her hands he would try to play catch with her. It was really funny to see:)

Don't get me wrong, he usually is sweet and tries to help, but it was almost like he tried to be her "big brother". And Lydia who usually winces when she sees Christopher running to her, waiting for him to tackle her, enjoyed the "extra" help from her big brother.

The picture is of him "helping" me bake cookies today. His job was to crush the pecans.... which he enjoyed doing:)

Photos of the Day

Grocery Shopping Antics

Ok, let me start of by saying I adore my children and most days LOVE the stage we're in:) I cherish the sweet moments and still giggle about the funny moments.... but grocery shopping is just a hassle.....

Grocery shopping was OK when I had Christoper in the baby seat, Anna walking and Lydia in the Snuggly.... ha hahaa, I never thought I'd say that!!!!!

But now I have Christopher and Anna both loose (at one time throwing packaged ham into the cart) and Lydia in the seat digging through the groceries, mashing the bread.... it was just a little chaotic... especially when I caught Christopher with a pack of butter in his hands (ALLERGY food) and Anna about to open a case containing bulk peanuts (AHH.. more ALLERGY foods). Let's say the cashier was very gracious as well.... thank goodness, with Christopher hanging off the card reader and spinning the bagging carousel. I'm walking out the door....grateful we haven't broken ANYTHING.... and the door checker stops me and says,

"You have very beautiful children."

AT that time I realize Lydia is quiet because she is calling China on my pay-per-minute cell phone and so I get it back from her. And we leave the store with a wailing baby. She wailed all the way through the parking lot and while I buckled her in the van (as an acquaintance from town who I had just invited to VBS walks pass)! Finally everyone and everything is loaded into the van, I turn on the car and hear :

In this world you will have trouble,
in this world you will have trouble,
take heart, take heart, I have overcome the world,
take heart, take heart, I have overcome the world...... (from John 16:33)

Another translation for trouble is "trials".... and like I started the post. I LOVE my life, where we are and my "trials" are minor and even blessings compared to what others around me are going through!!! But I still have challenges daily and what a blessing to know that our Lord has overcome all and desires for us to have peace.

For those interested... I wasn't listening to the radio but my favorite set of CDs.... they're called Seeds. And I've memorized soo many verses since last Thanksgiving when I started collecting them. Soon, hopefully, I'll be highlighting them on Simple and hopefully have a giveaway and coupons:) They've such a blessing for me, Brian and the children:)

And this is one of the reasons our trip to the grocery store was a little nuts:) This is what happened on our 20 minute trek back home: