Napper Family

A change

2010-06-30T23:00:00.001-04:00

So I've been contemplating a move. A little more anonymity as I've started posting on some different groups. So I've got everything moved and a slightly new look. Sorry if this messes anyone up. Grandma - I'll get the new site set on your computer when I come visit!

So those of you who have me on your blog list will need to do a little updating.

I am now Embracing His Plan

You Make Me Smile

2010-06-29T21:50:00.000-04:00

Looking through pictures last night and found these that made me laugh. I love these boys!

Reflections on the Childlight Conference

2010-06-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

So I've been home a week from attending the Childlight Charlotte Mason Conference and had some time to process.

It took me a week - and I'm still processing.

There was sooooo much information and so much going on in my brain and heart that it is difficult to put into words but for my sake (and anyone else who cares), I really want to write out some of my thoughts. Bear with me as this will not be a smoothly flowing post but more chunks of thoughts.

First of all I have to admit that part of my excitement at going to this 4 day conference was eating 9 meals that I did not have to cook, clean up or serve and got to eat while the food was still hot. Not to mention that once I sat down to eat I did not have to get up again unless it was to get myself more dessert - which I did several times. I did not have to remind anyone to eat with their mouth closed, tell anyone not to put their feet on the table or explain why we do not use a green bean as a mustache. To those of you who are mothers you will understand my sheer excitement at this aspect of the conference. Mealtime bliss!

I was also excited to be with two of my best friends and be around other women who share my ~~obsession~~ passion for Charlotte Mason.

Funny thing - I thought I was passionate. Some of these ladies were official Charlotte Mason groupies! :)

So after the first group lecture, which reminded me how long it has been since I have had to actually stretch my brain and understand words bigger than 2 syllables, we went to hear the teens/college students talk about their experiences growing up with Charlotte Mason. My hubby particularly wanted me to go to this event as he wants to make sure our kids don't turn out looking too much like the Duggars (I however would love my kids to be like the Duggar kids - think they would just adopt our family? - what's a few more?)

To say we left there blown away would be an understatement. These kids were articulate, poised, funny, down to earth, thoughtful in their speech and excited about their home education. They shared their love for books, authors, their families, extra-curricular activities and education. They answered our questions and encouraged us.

The biggest thing I took away from them was the one thing that ALL the college kids said - the biggest help to them in college was NARRATION!!   Now I have poured over book lists, nature study ideas, composers, timelines, foreign language - all trying to make sure I am well prepared when it comes time for us to start school. But narration? I just thought of it as what we will use to help make sure the boys understand what they are reading - almost like the quiz at the end of the passage.

Boy was I wrong. The kids all talked about how important their narrations were and how as they listened to a professor talk they would narrate to themselves. They didn't need to take a whole lot of notes or have crazy cramming sessions before exams because simply by narrating to themselves they were fermenting the information into their brains and rewording it so they could understand and remember. They talked about how growing up with CM and learning how to listen and read passages (which got longer as they got older) and then narrating the important and meaningful parts to their parents or themselves or in their notebooks had prepared them to listen to long lectures and retain the information. I cannot stress enough how much importance they put on this! I am definitely going to research the narration thing a little more and make sure I understand. Actually, in several sessions I attended the instructors had us narrate and since we haven't started schooling yet, it was particularly helpful for me to get an idea of how narrations works.   I discovered the whole read it once and narrate thing is harder than I thought it would be. You really have to pay attention!!

Another session was about Paper Trails - all the various notebooks that Charlotte talked about. This session was somewhat overwhelming and would have been nice to have in a longer session as there was sooooo much information. It was great to see examples of some of the different notebooks instead of just reading about them, however a little stressful to think about doing all those notebooks. Luckily most are geared towards the older crowd who should be able to do most of them on their own. The biggest "aha" for me in this session was the time line structure. I love time lines and comparing different people and things that happened at the same time - making those connections. However the instructor talked about how to start our kids in the time line/book of centuries process and it made sooo much sense!! When the child is 8 or 9 make a horizontal time line on a poster size piece of paper that starts with their birth year and goes to the current year. Then put in important events in their life that had to do with them, then add family events, then local events, then national and international events. This helps the child see where they are in relation to (1)their family, (2)community, (3)country and (4)world. You can then possibly make a larger timeline that goes back maybe 50 or 100 years and add in events. This takes the child from what they have experienced (their life) to what they have read about. It's all about helping them realize their place in God's plan!

I went to several other great sessions - Drawing for Dummies, Handicrafts, Natural History and Geography and others, however I'm going to end with putting two sessions together as they sum up what I came away with. Dr. Carroll Smith (a professor at Gardner-Webb and the engineer behind this conference) spoke about the principles of a Charlotte Mason Education and Nancy Kelly (love her blog Sage Parnassus) had a session on Citizenship. These two sessions really clarified for me why I love Charlotte Mason's education philosophy. The quotes are loose quotes based on my frantic note taking.

It isn't about filling up my children's brains with information. It isn't about finding the right curriculum. It isn't about whether they can score well on standardized tests or rattle off the President's names in order or know all their capitals. It's about "awakening our children with the knowledge of God, Man and World and turning their minds and souls towards truth."(Dr. Smith)

This is the basis of Charlotte Mason's philosophy and where her educational theories differ from other philosophies and curriculum. She believed that children were born persons, images of God and that our responsibility was to awaken them to this concept. All our books, activities, curriculum choices, field trips - they should all build on this concept of awakening our children to who they are as a child of God, not telling them, but providing them with books that allow them to come to these conclusions on their own - much more meaningful than having an adult tell you it is so! The literature they read should "improve their thoughts and ideas and language as it relates to knowing God, others and themselves." (Dr. Smith) What they learn, this knowledge, is "information touched with emotion" (either Nancy or Charlotte :)   I believe it was Charlotte who said, "magnanimity is the proper outcome of education" (Magnanimity as defined by Noah Webster in his 1828 dictionary - Greatness of mind; that elevation or dignity of soul, which encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, and makes him delight in acts of benevolence, which makes him disdain injustice and meanness, and prompts him to sacrifice personal ease, interest and safety for the accomplishment of useful and noble objects.)

THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR MY CHILDREN!!!

This is why I love Charlotte Mason. When I felt God calling me to homeschool I did not feel inspired at all. I thought, "Well, I guess I'll look at different curriculum and choose one to use." That did not excite me. I am so thankful that before I wasted any time God put Charlotte Mason in front of me. I will never forget that evening that I first started reading about her and her ideas. I was on a high. I was in love. I was excited to homeschool. This is what I wanted for my boys - to love the Lord, love to learn and love good books. To love their fellow man, their country and their duty. I don't want to just educate them, I want to watch God shape them into magnanimous men.

I can't wait.

Thank you Charlotte!!

MIA

2010-06-18T21:59:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've been MIA. I've been busy - baby showers(giving not getting), conferences, VBS. And yes, I'm also lazy. I've been too tired at night to drag my lazy rear end down to the computer to upload pics and so I've just neglected to post.

Sorry.

I'll try to get back on track.

Tomorrow.

For now - a Carter quip.

Today I was telling the boys that Sunday was Father's Day and that we needed to do something special for Daddy. We talked about what we might do and what we might get him and about how we had already had Mother's Day and then Carter paused.

"When is Kid's Day Mommy?"

He just wants a present.

Encouraging God's GIfts

2010-05-17T06:59:00.000-04:00

I don't want this to sound like boasting because that is NOT my intention at all. This has NOTHING to do with anything I have done or not done.

But I really believe that God is in Carter's heart.

Now having said that, I always "poo-pooed" people who claimed their 3 year old had accepted Jesus in their hearts. Not that I don't think God can do that - He can. I just believe most 3 - 5 year olds don't have the understanding yet to know what they are doing but some parents want that assurance of salvation for their kids and so they push them to "pray the prayer".

However as a good Presbyterian (PCA), I believe in predestination and election. I believe that God has chosen those He is going to save from the beginning of time and works in their hearts and lives for His will and purpose.

I see God working in Carter's heart.

He is so attentive to his Bible stories and in Sunday School (at least when I was in there yesterday) is focused and listening and answering the questions. He remembers and has even told me stories he learned in Sunday School that I had to look up in my Bible because I didn't remember them!

He is starting to apply some of the things we have talked about. Not listening to Satan when we get angry - i.e. not hit. Encouraging one another - i.e. help his brother when he gets frustrated. And yesterday in Sunday School I was holding a little boy who was not pleased his grandparents had left him and we were building a Lego tunnel for his trains. I said, "Boys, I don't know if we are going to be able to make this tunnel work or not." Carter said, "We just have to remember that we can do all things through God who strengthens me."

Hmmmm.

He asks these questions that I don't know how to answer in 4.5 year old terms and heck - sometimes don't know how to answer at all!

I feel very humbled and inadequate to guide this little boy. I realized the other day that he hadn't been talking about God as much and then realized that it had been 2 weeks since we had had our morning Bible time. Talk about convicting! If I want God on his mind and heart then I need to read His Word to Carter daily.

Sound familiar? I desire to trust God more, to think of Him more, to go to Him in prayer through out the day, to follow His guidance in my life. And yet my time in His Word has also been missing.

Things God reveals to us through our children!

He is always singing a song (usually about God - LOVE the "Songs for Sapling" CD) and so to end - a made up song from Carter that he sang for me yesterday that luckily I was able to grab a pencil and paper and write down as he was singing.

O God I love you.
We always disobey you.
You love us anyway.
God of Power.
Jesus your son died on the cross for our sin.
Give us the strength to do good and help us to share.
But you just love us so much and you grow fruits and vegetables.

As my friend said, we've got either a minister or a gospel singer.

Kid quotes

2010-05-17T06:30:00.000-04:00

Caleb sitting on the big potty lowers himself down into the potty.
Me - Caleb don't do that you might fall in.
Caleb - Then you flush me?

We are all piling in Caleb's bed for bed time prayers and night night song. He stands at the end and starts fussing.
Me - Caleb, what's wrong?
Caleb (looking at the 3 of us taking up all the room in his bed) - Dere no more parking spots!

We are driving down the road and coming to a 4 way stop see a truck with a canoe on the back.
Carter - Hey there's a canoe!
Caleb - No! It a boat!
Carter - No, it's a canoe. Wait, you're right, a canoe is a different species of boat. No, not species - that's for dinosaurs, not boats.

At my niece's ballet recital with my parents.
Grandma to Carter - Don't put your feet up on the pew, this is a church and that's where they put the Bibles and hymnbooks.
Carter with an incredulous look on his face - This is a church? A ballerina church?

Happy Belated Mother's Day

2010-05-10T07:17:00.000-04:00

I hope all the moms out there had a wonderful day yesterday! Even though this is one of those "Hallmark" holidays, it is a good reminder for us to recognize the women who have influenced us and be inspired to continue our own journey as moms.

So I'm sure your day went the same way mine did. Huge homemade breakfast served in bed by adoring children and husband. Showered with cards full of praise and adulation and mountains of gifts. Attending church with beaming, obedient children by our sides. Another huge family lunch once again made and served by loving family. A long, quiet, uninterrupted nap. Then an evening picnic in a field of flowers with family still praising your virtues and sacrifice.

Wait a minute - that's Hollywood's version.

This is real life.

Real life doesn't work that way. And quite often our sinful hearts tell us it should and that anything less is not good enough. We want to be recognized for our sacrifices (especially the ones no one notices) and told what a great job we are doing, that it is all worth the tears and frustrations. We want to be praised and lifted up.

We want others to see that our family rises up and calls us blessed.

And here is the danger of Mother's Day. Because when we don't get all that, we feel hurt and disappointed and even angry.

This isn't just about Mother's Day though - we do this through out the year. We want rewards and praise and by golly even just a little acknowledgement would be nice!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23, 24

God gives us children, makes us mothers to glorify Him. NOT OURSELVES! By being good mothers we are serving Him and we will receive our rewards, our praise, our accolades from Him. And while our sinful hearts don't want to wait for that moment - it will be sooooo worth it.

Christ knows about sacrifice - He knows about not being recognized - He knows about being ignored.

He made the ultimate, unappreciated sacrifice for us.

So the next time you are feeling ignored, unappreciated and unrecognized, realize you are in good company.

Some Carter Stories

2010-05-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

A nice day today. Swim lessons this morning. Haircuts afterwards. Made muffins this afternoon. Played in the creek before dinner. Bath and bed. In between a few quips from Carterbugs.

Tonight while in the bathtub Carter served Caleb some "coffee" and then asked him if he wanted some whip cream on it.

Too many trips to Starbucks? :)

A little background to the next story. Sam is in Mississippi working today but is actually driving home tonight after the game as it is graduation at Ole Miss and there are no hotel rooms to be found - if he's lucky he will get home about 4 am.

Tonight saying the blessing I almost fell out of my chair.

"Dear Lord, thank you for this food. Thank you for this good day and don't let there be any policemen on the interstate so Daddy can get home faster to see us. Amen"

Now I swear I don't have a clue how he came up with this - really. He knows that policemen pull people over who are going too fast (not from experience but from me telling him this - honestly Mom), but I've never said anything about Sam getting pulled over or that if there aren't cops around we can go faster.

Is the teenage boy coming out of my 4.5 year old already?

Recent pictures

2010-05-07T22:42:00.000-04:00

Playing a little photo catch up. I'm not doing a great job at taking a picture every day but I'm not sweating it. I'll get what I get and not stress if I miss days. Hey - some is better than none!

#118 - Helping Mommy make toast to go with our eggs. We really like helping and Mommy is trying to be VERY patient and let us help as much as we can.

#121 - Gettin' creative with playdough.

I am slowly letting go of my issues with the colors mixing - there is just no way to prevent it. Sigh.

#122 - Our deck garden. One tomato, two green peppers and two strawberry plants.

We'll see.

#123 - My Commonplace Book. Charlotte Mason recommends that older students keep a Commonplace Book - a place to neatly copy favorite poems, passages, quotes, anything that is meaningful to the student. I have notebooks with scattered favorites written down but decided to buy a pretty red leather notebook and start from scratch.

Can't you just smell it?

#125 - New game - "Egg Hatching".

One child gets on the floor or couch while the other child covers them with pillows. The covered child then loudly (they are boys after all) "hatches" and the "mommy bird" exclaims with delight.

Too cute.

#126 - Strawberry pickin' at a local farm with good friends. Good fresh strawberries coming out of our ears = homemade pound cake with strawberries and whip cream, whole wheat strawberry muffins and tomorrow - strawberry pie with painted chocolate crust.

Yummy.

#127 - Haircuts.

Daddy won't like them.

Okay, okay

2010-05-06T22:46:00.000-04:00

I know I've been MIA. Sorry. I've been working on pictures and then I got a really bad cold. I'm finally startng to feel better but things at my house are a mess. Of course we've been going outside so much that I don't get to clean up.

So I've been slack about the blog.

Here are a few recent moments around our house.

We are trying to get rid of the warts on Carter's hand and are using good old Compound W and duct tape (blue duct tape that he picked out). It was fine for a couple of days until it started burning. I put it on and it started hurting and he started flapping his hands and then he threw back his head and howled. It was like a Sesame Street puppet - mouth wide open - tears flying. I was trying so hard not to laugh but it was all I could do. I couldn't help it - it was so funny. Sam came in and started to fuss at me until Carter did it again and then he too started that pressing of lips, holding of breath when you know you shouldn't laugh at your child.

Several days ago Carter wanted to go to get ice cream after dinner. So I told the boys we could go but they had to eat their dinner. Carter cleaned his plate. Caleb did not.

He played.
I told him multiple times he need to eat so he could get ice cream.
He didn't eat. So he didn't get to go get ice cream.
I got to stay home with him while he screamed, kicked, hit, cried and in general threw a long, loud tantrum.

It's fun being a mom.

On a nicer note - today we went with our friends and picked strawberries from a local farm. We got a basket filled to the top with delicious, sweet strawberries and had a great time with our buddies.

Fresh strawberries call for homemade pound cake and whip cream.

So before bed we had strawberry cake. And three bites in Caleb became "cake drunk". He started hugging Carter and saying, "I wuv you Cayuh" then he would lean over and hug Sam, "I wuv you Daddy" then back to Carter. It was hilarious - I felt like I was watching a scene in a bar.

Of course this was only after 3 bites - he's a lightweight.

Training little boys

2010-04-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

#109 - Chores

One of the things I feel strongly about is children having responsibilities at home - helping keep the house neat and clean. Since this is something I really struggle with, I want to instill this in them at an early age.

~~Every morning~~ Most mornings we get dressed right away and the boys put their pajamas away and make their beds (pull up the comforter). At night after getting our pjs on the boys put their clothes in the appropriate bin in the laundry room (darks, lights, whites) - by the way their clothes are always dirty at night.

Carter has been emptying the silverware container out of the dishwasher each morning for 6 months or so but I thought it was time to move on.

Now after breakfast Caleb empties the silverware and Carter wipes the table off and vacuums under the table, pulling out the chairs so he can get ALL the crumbs.

"the habits of the child produce the character of the man . . .every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend." Charlotte Mason

"The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secrures for herself smooth and easy days; while she who lets their habits take care of themselves has a weary life of endless friction with the children." Charlotte Mason

This is what we are focusing on right now. Carter may still not know all his letters and can't write his name, but those are things that are easily learned later. Right now I am "laying down the rails" for "smooth and easy days".

And making some lucky lady a great husband :)

Little Boy Heaven

2010-04-27T21:47:00.000-04:00

#107 - Little Boy Heaven

Andy and Sam have been working on the yards getting ready for the sod. We have bermuda grass which needs sun - now that our trees in the backyard have gotten bigger we have no sun. Therefore the grass died and our backyard had become a big dirt/mud area. So the dads planned to get a big load of dirt to even out the yards and then put down fescue sod.

So here is the dirt pile.

Here are the boys climbing, digging, shoveling, wheelbarrowing, driving, dump trucking, tractoring.

Complete heaven.

Their feet were brown for 3 days despite 2 baths a day.

Nature's Alarm Clock

2010-04-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

#103 - Meet Rooster

Meet Rooster - our new alarm clock. He is a Red Bellied Woodpecker. Evidently Red Bellied Woodpeckers like to tap on things that resonate - loudly. They do this to attract mates.

The gutter outside our bedroom window resonates loudly - very loudly.

And evidently the Woodpecker Singles Club is hopping between 6:30 and 7:30 ...... AM!!

Bad guys

2010-04-12T22:10:00.000-04:00

Carter playing in his room during quiet time with his castle and knights (something he doesn't usually play with). I go in to tell him to be a little quieter.

Carter: This is the bad guy. He took all the good guys and put them in the tower so they are shooting the cannons at him.

Me: That's great buddy, just shoot a little quieter.

Carter: This bad guy is really really bad, Mommy. He doesn't love God.

Full of questions - and song

2010-04-09T21:54:00.000-04:00

#98 - Onward Christian Soldier

He is so full of questions about God and Jesus - many of them I just can't answer, or don't know how to answer so he can understand. I love how he talks about God and Jesus all the time. How he loves singing his Bible verse songs and Veggie Tales. He reminds me that we need to read his Bible and will sit and look through the pages asking me questions. Here he sits (pantless :) ) playing the RockBand guitar and singing "Onward Christian Soldiers".

I pray that this interest for God will lead to a heart for God and a heart full of Jesus.

Little Engineers

2010-04-09T21:26:00.000-04:00

#97 - Loving my little train boys

Love even more that he is holding his baby.

Easter bonnets - not

2010-04-05T22:51:00.000-04:00

#92 - Happy Easter

Since I don't have girls - no Easter bonnets yet. But I do believe in matching the boys for holidays at least! We had a beautiful Easter - church, big lunch (yes I am Suzy Q. Homemaker and fixed a big Sunday lunch for the first time), nap, walk around the lake at our State Park. Glorious day to celebrate the Risen Lord!!

We stopped by the grocery store on the way home from the park and I was pushing the cart around with the boys hanging off the sides.

Carter was singing, "I believe that Christ is Risen, I believe He is."
Then he yells, arm raised in the air, " Yea Jesus!"

While I was laughing and a little proud, I was also a little embarrassed.

Luckily no one was in the aisle with us.

Wish I had the guts to go around yelling, "Yea Jesus!" To have the faith of a child.

My buddies

2010-04-05T22:40:00.000-04:00

#92 - Beautiful children of my beautiful friends

7 out of 8 kids looking at the camera is as good as it gets. These are the children of my dearest friends. Friends who every week hear my frustrations and my struggles and still love me. We cry and laugh together and it helps that our children also love each other. I truly look forward to seeing our friendship grow and deepen in the coming years.

Here, also is Carter's beloved Ava and Caleb's "Ne ne" - our arranged marriages.

Love you Jen and Leanne!

Yes you can feed the animals

2010-04-05T22:16:00.000-04:00

#91 - Petit Creek Farms for Jackson's birthday

We had a great time at the Pettit Creek Farm feeding the camels and goats, seeing the porcupines, peacocks, cows, zebras, chickens, parrots, and various other creatures. Hot, but fun.

Me boy - me muddy.

2010-03-31T22:05:00.000-04:00

#89 - 3 little boys + 1 small creek = 3 little happy, muddy boys

This also resulted in a bath before lunch. Dirt in their hair, dirt in their underwear/diaper, dirt on their faces, dirt on their necks, dirt everywhere.

Pictures - finally

2010-03-31T21:59:00.000-04:00

So - we are home and I finally have a chance to post those pictures I've been promising.

#78 - Camping with Grandma and Papa in their motor home while Mommy goes to the church Women's Retreat. Caleb's first "campout" included waterfalls, geese, bike rides and of course - smores!

#79 - Women's Retreat - Pam Hamilton sharing her beautiful music with us.

#80 - Whenever the big boys sit down to play Rockband the little boys all grab instruments and play along - too cute!!

#81 - "Hello Stephanie! Remember me? I'm your vacuum cleaner - long time no see."

#82 - Playing hopscotch on a beautiful spring day!

#83 - Bread, peanut butter cookies with choc chips, zucchini muffins (some with choc chips too!)

Busy baking day.

#87 - Plopping rocks in Great Grandma's pond. This is THE past time of every little kid who has been to my grandparents' house. All the cousins have spent hours plopping rocks here and almost every gray hair on my Grandmother's head has come from worrying about those said kids falling into the pond.

Visiting Grandma

2010-03-27T22:42:00.000-04:00

We are visiting my grandma and she now has DSL!!! So it is not unbelievably, horribly, excruciating to check my email and I can actually post to my blog.

Not that I have anything interesting to post.

Oh - however a week from today I will be the proud owner of ..........................

an iPad!!!!

Woo hoo! So excited that I am going to get the cool new tech toy for once.

I'm lazy

2010-03-24T22:01:00.000-04:00

Okay - I am lazy. Yesterday I went down to the basement and downloaded my recent pics. However, I forgot to email them to myself so after I came back upstairs to write a post on my laptop - I had no pictures.

And I was too lazy to go back down to the basement.

So I didn't write a post.

This evening I once again went downstairs to download some pictures from today. Then turned off the computer, came upstairs and realized I forgot to email ANY of the pics to myself AGAIN!!!

And I"m too lazy to go back downstairs - plus I turned off the computer already.

And I'm tired and going to bed. We were outside ALL day.

I LOVE SPRING!!!

However I dislike having to give my boys a bath every night!! I need a toenail brush - do they make those?

Praying for the future

2010-03-18T22:18:00.000-04:00

A few times during our nightly prayers I have prayed for the boys' future wives. The first time, of course, Carter asked about this new and strange concept. We discussed that God had (possibly) picked a wife for him and that we should start praying for her - whoever she was - that God would protect her and comfort her and that she would know Him. He thought this was interesting but really didn't say much then or again.

Weeks later - tonight - on the way home from the grocery store.

Carter: Mommy? Do I have a wife?
Me: Not yet. But God has her picked out for you when you get to be an adult.
Carter: What is her name?
Me: We don't know that yet, buddy.
Carter: Where does she live?
Me: We don't know that either.

Pause

Carter: I think she probably lives on Earth.

Yep, that's be a good guess.

Recent Random Pictures

2010-03-18T22:03:00.000-04:00

#70 - My weird kid with a glove on his foot

#71 - Homemade donuts - are you drooling?

#72 - My most expensive consignment purchase - $20 tractor with trailer.

Worth it.

#74 - RockBand Carter - he actually attempts to follow the colors on the video game!

#75 - Love how my kids love to look at their Bible!

#77 - Building a train and learning patience - for Carter AND Mommy!!

In loving memory of Brian

2010-03-13T23:32:00.001-05:00

Brian Hanly Leland

June 27, 1978 - March 14, 2000

It was 10 years ago today that we lost my brother Brian to a drunk driving accident. While we usually don't "celebrate" this day, I want to take a moment to remember him.

Brian was always a charmer (Caleb has his "aren't I too cute to be mad at" look). He had a face you just had to love. He was affectionate and loving and irritating and frustrating (he was my LITTLE brother after all). Brian and I fought all the time as kids but I have plenty of good memories as well. Watching "Anne of Green Gables" during college Christmas break every year and seeing him tear up when Matthew died - every year. Singing Broadway songs around the piano. When he tried to dye his hair blond at Bonclarken. The times he let me dress him up in old prom dresses and put make-up on him - or the times he would play Barbies with me and pull all their heads off.

Seriously though, we may have fought but we had that deep sibling bond. When I went to college Brian would call me at least once a week, just to talk. When he was living on his own he would call and I could hear other people there in the background, but he wanted to call and talk to his sister. No matter who was around, he would always say "I love you" at the end of our conversations.

I was always protective of Brian. I so wanted to protect him and keep him safe and hated when he got in trouble and would try and cover for him (not helping him I know). He would call me "Mom" to make me mad when he thought I was being too bossy - but I just wanted him to do the right thing.

He made some bad choices - ones that ended up with him drunk in a car with a drunk driver. I will always miss him deeply and wish I had had more than just 21 years with him. I wish he could have seen my kids - he would have been a great uncle!!

However as a believer, I trust in God's Perfect Plan. Some people get mad when you suggest that God's will includes anything tragic. With sin in the world - bad things happen. However from the beginning of time God has had his perfect plan - we only see a teeny tiny micro piece of this plan. He knew Brian was going to die - his death wasn't some freak accident that surprised God.

Brian's death was part of God's overall plan to bring glory to Himself. I don't know what reasons God had for taking Brian - I pray that one of his friends heard the Gospel at his funeral and became a believer. The reasons may never be known to me personally - but the comfort it brings to me and my family to know that Brian's death wasn't a meaningless accident has brought renewed faith in a God who is Lord over life AND death. People tell me that I'm laid back and optimistic - it's actually peace that I've been given since Brian's death. Peace that I don't have to worry about what is going to happen in my life or to my family or my kids - God knows. Resting in His Plan takes away all worry and fear - His Perfect Plan is perfect for me.

"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!"

(hymn we sang at Brian's funeral - a moment of joy and praise for my mom and me)

HORRIBLE picture of me but this picture is what I thought of the night Brian died. I got out of bed and Sam and I searched the entire house looking for this picture - Grandma found it months later at her house. I love how I am digging my fingers into his shoulder and you can tell by the look on his face that he is squeezing me way too tight!!

Dress up like a book character day at Camden Primary!!

Homemade Halloween costumes - I was 5 and Brian was 3!

If you knew Brian and have a memory or story or anything - leave a comment so others can remember too. (If you don't have a Google account just use the anonymous profile but make sure you put your name in the comment area!)

A few notes

2010-03-11T23:35:00.000-05:00

Sorry I've been away. I'll try and catch you up. Pictures will come later.

Sadly I have to inform you of a passing.

Bruba is no longer with us. It was about a week ago at Monkey Joe's when it first happened. Caleb called out for Carter.

Not "Bruba" but "Cah yuh".

Since then "Bruba" has been no more. He is officially "Cah yuh" now. It kinda makes me sad. I liked "Bruba"!
Also - Jackson is no longer "Ka Ka" but is now "Ja Son".

Carter is going through an unusual stage. At first he was constantly telling me about a wreck happening.
"Mommy, there was a bad wreck in North Carolina because of the snow and ice." He would pile up his cars and have me come look at it and would tell me all about how they wrecked. This was happening multiple times a day. I was a little bothered by this so the next time he started his wreck story I told him wrecks weren't a good thing as people could get hurt and we didn't want to talk about wrecks where people could get hurt.

So then he started saying, "Mommy, there was a bad wreck in North Carolina, but no one got hurt."

Recently he has stopped the wreck stories and is now on to stories about "this guy". Whenever I tell him something - what we are going to do today, what we are going to eat - anything, he starts telling me about "this guy". For example when I told him we were going to take our books to the library and go to the grocery store. Immediately he starts saying, "Mommy, there was this guy and one day he had to go to the library because his books were late and then he had to go to the grocery and get some juice." He always embellishes my info.

It's really strange.

But I have to say I am really lovin' my boys right now. They are fun and funny and sweet and up until a couple of days ago - really well behaved. We hit a little snag a couple of days ago but we will recover.

A note to Miss Mason who says kids should be outside 4-6 hours a day.
Monday - 6 beautiful hours
Tuesday - 7.5 gorgeous hours
We soaked up every inch of sunshine we could knowing it was going to rain all day yesterday and today. Luckily we got out this afternoon for an hour or so and got really really really muddy - really.

A little light reading

2010-03-05T21:48:00.000-05:00

#65 - Library Book Sale

64 books for $29.75. Why buy books at retail when you can get them for $0.25 - $0.50?

#64 - Brusha! Brusha! Brusha!

2010-03-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Mr. Personality

2010-03-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned before that Caleb has personality.

Well I was wrong - NOW he has personality. This child is going crazy!!! At first we would say - "Oh we shouldn't have given him that cookie (or cake or candy) because he has a sugar rush!"

It wasn't sugar. It was him coming into his own personality. And it is wild! Today I was trying to get him dressed which he usually is great about and lays down on the floor.

This morning however - he was running around and around me with just his diaper on, waving his arms in the air and making a weird noise. And I couldln't get him to stop.

He hasn't been finishing a meal (which is unusual for him) because he is playing with his hands or his food or his hair!! He makes faces at me, teases Carter, won't let you read a page out of a book because he asks 14 questions about the pictures, climbs up on my back if I get down on the floor to pick something up and yells, "Go Mommy, Go!" and throws himself on the floor if he doesn't get his way.

He is 2.5 and doesn't know his colors because he says everything is pink - except green which is his favorite color. Every time I change his dirty diaper he says, "I eat poopy? No, not eat poopy. It yucky. Only eat food." Every time. The other day he got in the van on Carter's side and when I went around to his side and opened the door to strap him in he said, "I not throw up Mommy." OK - I'm glad to know that.

Yet I love him to pieces. I'll go in to get him up in the morning and he'll say, "I want you Mommy." This morning he got his baby doll and sat down in his chair and rocked and patted his baby's back while cuddling her to his chest. How does he know to do that?

I want to kiss him and tickle him all the time.

#62 - Another snow day

2010-03-02T21:42:00.000-05:00

My kids don't believe me when I tell them that snow is unusual for Atlanta. All said and done we got about 1.5 inches.

And yes they have their pjs on. They wanted to go out so badly so I just put their coats, hats and gloves on over their pjs and let them go out on the deck.

Caleb is trying to catch a snowflake on his tongue.

#61 - Muffin Tin Monday

2010-03-02T21:39:00.001-05:00

There is a whole group of moms who started Muffin Tin Mondays where they serve their kids lunch on Mondays in a muffin tin. It's just a fun way to start off the week. I decided to try it this Monday and the boys really got a kick out of it! I think I'll have to start collecting some cute muffin tins to go with our Monday lunches!

Of course I have to say that I had to refill the sections as my boys eat more than fits in a muffin tin! I don't know what we are going to do when they get bigger. The other day I fixed scrambled eggs and toast. I fixed 8 eggs and we ate them all. When they are teenagers I'll have to fix 2 dozen!!

#60 - Love him so much

2010-03-02T21:29:00.001-05:00

I can't believe he is sooo big. Makes me sooooo sad and happy at the same time. He is so affectionate and loving. Becoming creative and imaginative. Loving really playing with Caleb. Finally interested in learning his letters.

Told Sam the other day -
"Daddy, do you know who's my best friend?" (The answer is always Ava.)
"Jesus is my best friend - and God too."

Love him so much.

#59 - The perfect spot

2010-03-02T21:23:00.001-05:00

For our "new to us" chairs?

Construction Zone

2010-03-02T21:21:00.001-05:00

#58 - Construction Zone

Complete with cones (dollar section of Target), dirt from the creek, dump truck and droopy drawers.

I have finally talked Sam into building a sandbox in the back yard as the grass won't grow and the boys just dig in the dirt anyway!

#57 - A Daily Ritual

2010-02-26T22:08:00.000-05:00

Running through the house. Notice Caleb's feet.

#56 - In the closet

2010-02-26T22:04:00.000-05:00

having fun with glow sticks.

An additional note - I went to a consignment sale this particular evening and Sam called me to tell me that Carter had managed to break his blue glow stick, spilling it on the carpet.

He said it looked like Predator had bled on the carpet! :)

Luckily it faded away.

#55 - "Reading"

2010-02-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

"Reading" a nursery rhyme book to Caleb.

#54 - Fun with a blower

2010-02-26T21:45:00.000-05:00

Sam has been trying a new lighting and editing look and decided to add the Shop Vac on blow. I couldn't believe Carter was willing to stand in front of the blower! I couldn't stand being in front of it for more than a second and like Carter couldn't open my eyes.

He looks pretty funny doesn't he - hair standing on end!!

#53 - How long?

2010-02-26T21:41:00.000-05:00

Before he fell in?

One minute later when one of his boots got stuck in the mud and while trying to pull it out he ended up on his tush in the puddle.

Why I love Charlotte Mason

2010-02-20T14:47:00.001-05:00

#50 - A walk in the woods

I've talked before about my love for Charlotte Mason's philosophies. This picture is the reason why I truly praise God for leading me to her.

This inside book reading, never owned a pair of tennis shoes until college, doesn't like to get dirty, doesn't like to be cold, girly Southern girl would never have felt the need to go for a walk in the tall grass and briar filled woods with two little boys if it wasn't for Charlotte.

And that's exactly what two little boys NEED to do.

I want to be a naturalist for them. I want to learn about trees and birds and wildflowers for them. I want them to look around and praise God for the beautiful earth He created. I want them to spend more time in the woods than they do at home.

This is not in my nature. But by showing me Charlotte Mason, God has shown me that what is best for my children is to step out of my comfort zone and into the great outdoors.

For more information about Charlotte Mason visit Ambleside Online and specifically What is CM?

Four year olds say...

2010-02-20T14:32:00.000-05:00

the funniest things.

Carter was in the bathroom with the door shut (he is in to privacy when he uses the bathroom all of a sudden). Caleb was knocking on the door, "Bruba, let me in!"

Carter, "Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin!"

I decided we were going to eat our lunch on the deck as it is such a beautiful day today. However Carter was worried about yellow jackets as we often have them visit our deck picnics in the summer. I told him that yellow jackets aren't around during the winter. He asked why not.

Me, "Yellow jackets don't come out when it is cold."

Pause for thinking.

Carter, "Why not? They have jackets."

#49 - Brotherly Love

2010-02-18T22:08:00.002-05:00

This morning Caleb was constipated and just wanted to lay on the couch with his Ka (his name for his blanket). Carter decided that a present would make him feel better. So he headed up stairs and then called me for help. He had this Lego structure and was trying to wrap it with construction paper. I helped him with the tape and he ran down to give it to Caleb. Caleb excitedly opened it and said, "Dank you, bruba!"

This reaction made Carter decided Caleb needed another present. So he headed back upstairs and then came down a little later with the tape dispenser and a long tangled strip of tape. I helped him get several pieces of tape and he went back up. A few minutes later I had to go up and help with the wrapping. He had several pieces of white paper and I helped him wrap it and then he colored the wrapping paper. Down to deliver to Caleb. Caleb was very excited to unwrap his Thomas and Percy.

Carter, "Mommy, I've decided everybody is going to get 4 presents every day."

I might need to buy some more tape.

#48 - My boys

2010-02-18T21:53:00.001-05:00

I love having boys. Now don't get me wrong - I want a little girl.

But right now I am loving my boys. They are sweet and loving and loud and silly and funny and crazy. They love to talk about poop and toots and tushies and yucky and stinky. They always have a car or a train in hand.

And they are always hungry.

Two funny

2010-02-18T21:50:00.001-05:00

#47 - Two funny

Caleb has always been a ham. He is very expressive and has a great sense of humor beyond his 2 years. He is also a great imitator and will repeat sounds and expressions perfectly. As stubborn and strong willed as he is, he is also that affectionate and spirited. He will randomly come up and grab my legs and say, "I wuv you too Mommy!" and then run off and keep playing. When I give him my "I'm serious" look, he raises those eyebrows and purses his lips and gives it right back to me. He loves his brother to pieces and plays right beside him.

Recently Carter has been expanding his blessing at the table. He has typically been saying, "Heavenly Father, thank you for this food and bless this food to our bodies, Amen." and somehow a bite of food is already half way to his mouth. This week suddenly he has been praying more. This particular evening this was his blessing.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this food. Thank you for this good day that we had. Thank you for the trees and the sun that you gave us. Thank you for having Daddy home with us. Bless this food to our bodies. We love you so much, God. Dear Lord, in your son Jesus' name. Amen."

Then Caleb pipes up - "I do blessing!" So we bow our heads again.

Silence. Silence.

Caleb looks up, "Mine not working!"

#45 - Snow mouth

2010-02-13T20:52:00.007-05:00

Fun to be a kid

2010-02-13T20:51:00.002-05:00

This is the most snow we've had since living in Atlanta and definitely the most the boys have ever seen. They had a blast playing this morning with buddies Jackson and Ellie. Of course Caleb didn't last long as he hates cold. After about an hour he wanted to go in so I took off his jacket and boots and sent him inside by himself. Carter and I went in about 45 minutes later and there he was - cuddled on the couch with his blanket.

Back in our jammies, hot chocolate with marshmallows - life is good.

Not as icy as last time - no sledding this time!

Absolutely beautiful!!

I cold!! I go inside sit on da couch.

But I'm hungry Mommy!

Snow mouth

SNOW!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-12T21:24:00.001-05:00

#44 - A Winter Wonderland

About 3 inches of snow today!!!! It is wonderful heavy snow - perfect for snowballs and snowmen!!! We had a blast playing and came in soaking wet to drink hot chocolate and make snow ice cream.

Wonderful day!!!

Carterbugs

2010-02-12T21:21:00.001-05:00

#41 - My beautiful boy

Since Sam took this I can say that this is a beautiful picture. It IS my child but I am still going to say it anyway. He looks so old though!!

And, yes he looks like his daddy.

Hmmm

2010-02-11T22:03:00.001-05:00

We are trying to work on Carter's self control. He is having issues controlling his anger and so I have been trying to teach him to pray when he gets angry.

He is not really in to it.

When I try and pray for him when he is angry he just looses it. "Don't pray! You can't say that! It's bad to talk to God!"

You could say we are having some anger issues.

So last night the boys were playing great on the couch with their cars while I cleaned up dinner. Then Caleb started crying, "Bruba bite me!"

I go in the living room and Carter is biting his own arm - a sure sign that he bit Caleb and is trying to distract me - weird kid.

So I send him to the couch in the kitchen for time out while I check on Caleb. Then I go in to talk to Carter. I ask him what made him bite Caleb and he tells me he was angry because Caleb wasn't playing the way he wanted him to. I started talking to him about using self control when suddenly he puts his hand over my mouth.

"Stop Mommy, stop. I need to pray."

I stifle a laugh and bow my head very seriously

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this good day. Please forgive me for biting Caleb and help me to not bite other people. Amen."

Now I want him to learn to pray and ask God to help him have self control and to take away the anger in his heart - before he acts out his anger.

But I think he totally just played me.

Seriously

2010-02-06T22:57:00.001-05:00

I am happy to report that Carter had a much better day today. Obedient and respectful - I guess it does pay to stick with it and be consistent.

Caleb on the other hand...

is hoarse from all the crying and screaming. I guess I should be glad they don't have a bad day together.

This evening Caleb had another one of his "I'm not going to think about trying my dinner" tantrums.
After 30 minutes of carrying on he finally ate one bite - gave me a big grin and asked to be excused.

Then he proceeded to scream for 30 more minutes because he didn't want to put his pajamas on. When he does this he is promptly put on his bed. I periodically go in and ask him if he is ready to obey - to which he says "uh uh".

After a while he finally says "Yeh muh" (Yes ma'am) and we move on.

Pajamas on and he goes to pick out a book.

Guess what he picks?

"Green Eggs and Ham" - yes he did.

I just laughed. I then proceeded to read the entire book substituting "Chicken Tetrazzini" for "Green Eggs and Ham".

He thought that was funny,

These are the times that try the parenting soul

2010-02-05T20:44:00.000-05:00

I thought having two sick children and being sick was bad.

I was wrong.

Having one sick child, being sick myself and having a child who feels much better and has been trapped inside for a week is WAY worse.

Tonight I need to pour out my heart - bear with me.

Today has been wearing. Caleb and I are not feeling well at all. At this point we are all on antibiotics and I feel I am getting worse. At least last night I was able to sleep for the first time in 3 days thanks to the Robutussin with codeine my doctor gave me. Prior to last night I have been up several times a night for 1-2 hours coughing. My stomach muscles and back are so sore that I have to crouch down to cough now. I am so sleep deprived I can barely see. Last night was better - I only got up once and was able to take more medicine and get back in bed with in 30 minutes. Of course I also had to get up once and take Caleb's temp as before he went to bed he was running 103 for over 2 hours and Tylenol was doing nothing to bring it down. Luckily the on call nurse told me I could go ahead and give him ibuprofen to bring it down but that I needed to check him during the night. I cried a little when she said that. Not that I didn't want to make sure he was okay - it was just that I was really excited about my cough syrup with codeine.

Anyway - he and I made it through the night. I didn't know that was going to be the easy part.

Carter is 4.5 and I have discovered that my boys don't do well with the halves. They must be having growth and hormone changes at the 6 month mark because every time that half comes it is brutal.

Now I confess that I have often taken pride in my parenting. It is easy to look at others' children and feel that I have done the right thing and that my kids are better than theirs.

Isn't that a laugh? God quickly humbles me and reminds me that I don't have a clue. I am a horrible parent without Him. I try and do things my way and do not seek His counsel and I end up with a day like today.

By the end of the day I was on my knees - "Please Lord, don't let me lose it."

Disrespect, yelling, trying to physically hurt me, kicking, purposely bothering Caleb.

Is this my child? Is this my sensitive, loving Carter?

I truly am at a loss.

I try very hard to be consistent. Offenses have consequences. Disrespectful talk is not allowed. Obedience is required at once - no excuses, no "not hearing", no whining. Say "Yes ma'am" and obey with a respectful attitude.

Now I know he is only 4.5. I understand he will not be perfect at this. I know that I am training. I know that I must parent with love and grace and patience. I do not expect him to be perfect.

I understand that he will push back - hard.

But I must prevail.

For a child who does not understand obedience towards his parent will never understand a need for obedience towards his Heavenly Father.

Boy, I wish God would just come down and handle this one for me.

We'll be back after these messages

2010-02-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

We are in recovery mode. The boys and I are sick. Carter is on antibiotics with in the doctor's words "a severe ear infection" and I have that nice congested chest cough. Caleb has a little cough, a little crusty nose and a fever. Today was a little better for the boys - a low grade fever for both but Carter is still coughing a good deal.

However tomorrow afternoon - we are going outside. I don't care if we are sick or not.

5 days in the house = 2 CRAZY boys.

And a quickly going crazy Mommy.

It's Sunday

2010-01-31T21:47:00.000-05:00

#31 - My weekly reminder of the calendar

As of this morning I now have not one but two sick children and a trying-to-get sick Me. Carter started a fever on Thursday night and has run one on and off since then with a cough and sniffly nose. Caleb started the fever this morning. As Sam is out of town with work I had already determined that we were not going to be going to church. As a stay at home mom with a hubby who doesn't work a M - F schedule, I tend to lose track of the days. However church on Sunday reminds me that it is indeed Sunday and of course, my newspapers.

I, Stephanie, am an extreme couponer.

I get 2 double papers every Sunday (that's 4 papers) purely for the coupons and ads.

I love my deals!!! This past week I spent $30 at Kroger and got $120 worth of groceries. Free bread and $.49 bags of shredded cheese. Woo hoo!! (Check out Southern Savers blog on my sidebar if you want to join the cult).

So on a day where I don't have church to remind me it is Sunday - I still have my papers.

Just sit still

2010-01-31T21:37:00.000-05:00

#30 - Bible storytelling

Too many times I am run by the clock and my to do list. Funny thing though - when I am wasting time on what I want to waste time on I am oblivious to my to do list. However, when the boys want me to do something with them it seems like I always have one eye on the clock and this little voice in my head saying, "You need to get going on your chores!"

This particular morning I ignored that voice and just sat still.

We had our usual morning calendar time and Bible story and then Caleb ran off to play. Carter, however, started flipping through the Bible and asking me questions.

"Who is this?"

"Why is he cross?" ( I love how he says cross instead of angry - I think that is a Little Bear term)

"Why are they sad?"

"Are they the bad guys?"

So we went through most of our Bible and I paraphrased the stories and answered his questions. At first my eye kept going to the clock but after 10 minutes I realized that I was having one of "those moments."

So I turned away from the clock and focused on Carter.

We talked for almost 30 minutes and I loved every minute. These are the moments that make "mommyhood" worth every scream, tear and tantrum. These are the times that I get to look into my child's heart and place little treasures there. I get to mold and polish. What a privilege.

The other day after our Bible time Carter was cuddled in Sam's lap and said, "Mommy, I love Jesus. I love God too."

Better than a symphony to my ears!!!

In Memory

2010-01-30T13:04:00.005-05:00

Sherman Arthur Rogers
January 30, 1927 - May 24, 2009

Today would have been my Papa's 83rd birthday. He passed away this summer after a long battle with a heart that couldn't keep up. We miss him greatly. He has left a space in our family - a space too big. After almost 61 years of marriage my Grandma has bravely gone from wife and caretaker to widow.

She has done so with grace and dignity.

It was a blessing that we had our annual family beach trip planned for the following week. We went from bedside to graveside and then as an entire family went to ocean side. As a family we were able to celebrate and grieve. Papa was a family man and that is the way he would have wanted things.

I was so blessed to grow up a few miles from my grandparents and saw them on a weekly basis. They helped shape my life and my ideas of family.

The following are my remarks at his funeral as the family representative.

On behalf of my family, thank you for coming and joining with us to remember our husband, Dad and Papa. I am the oldest grandchild and want to share with you some of the things that made Papa, Papa. For example, no one could sneeze as loudly as Papa. I think every grandchild went through the same experience as an infant of being startled to tears at the sound of a Papa sneeze. Along with the loudest sneeze, Papa had the strongest handshake -that is strong with a hint of pain. He used to say he hated a wimpy handshake. No one would ever say that about Papa. One thing people would say was that Papa was a wonderful conversationalist - as long as the conversation was about his house and consisted of him talking to you and you nodding your head and asking an occasional question. Papa was very proud of his house, as he should have been. How many people can say they have built their own house, built the concrete mixer to mix the concrete to make the foundation, cut down trees to build the cabinets and woodwork, and dug rocks from the creek bed for the fireplace. That house IS Papa - the quirky way he liked to design things, his love of wood and open rooms for his family to gather. He loved his family and so enjoyed the little kids. He had this funny sound he would make as he would poke at a ticklish little tummy. He did it just a month ago to my little boy. He was dependable and loyal and saved many a friend and family member a good bit of money by helping them with a car problem. Everyone knows Papa could fix and build anything. I attended this church as a child and remember many Sunday mornings in which Papa was called up here before the service to fix the heat. I remember feeling proud standing by him wondering if everybody knew it was because of my Papa that they were warm. He loved to fix things so much we sometimes thought he built or designed things so they would break and he could work on them. Like the go-kart he built my brother complete with a track he created beside the house. That go-kart seemed to break every fifth lap and Papa would eargerly get his tools and fix it. Papa was too smart to have built something that unreliable except for on purpose. His hands were always dirty no matter how much he washed them and it seemed like one of his fingernails was always black. He smelled like wood and grease and as much as Grandma tried to keep nice clothes for him, he always had a grease stain somewhere. He wasn't always as careful as we would have liked, like the time Grandma heard a crash and went outside to see Papa crawling out from under the backhoe that he had flipped off the embankment by the house. As a child they were just Grandma and Papa - they went together. I didn't think about them as a couple until I was in high school and Grandma got sick with an ear problem that wold cause sudden dizziness and nausea. We were eating at the dining room table and without a word Papa got up and led Grandma to the back bedroom and took care of her. We hadn't even realized she wasn't feeling well but he knew without her even saying anything. That was a new side of Papa I had never seen before and added a layer to my understanding of him. Then, seeing him cry when my brother, Brian, died. I had never seen Papa cry. Papa was a rock. His faith was a timpani - not a loud cymbal or blaring trumpet. He quietly and faithfully attended church and served behind the scenes. He was firm in his beliefs. He was faithful to his family. We will miss him more than we even know.

You choose

2010-01-29T20:06:00.005-05:00

#29 a - Jelly Face

#29 b - Jelly Monster

I can't decide between these two as to which one should be #29. They both make me laugh. Caleb loves grape jelly on his toast but he eats it straight down the middle creating a Joker-like appearance. The second picture is really him being a Jelly Monster - growl, Frankenstein arms and all.

Love him soooooo much - laugh at him sooooooo much!!!

Reflections

2010-01-29T19:28:00.003-05:00

#28 - The guidelines of life

It's funny sometimes to stop and look at where I am.

When you are 16 you can't truly conceptualize what life as an adult will be like - you just know it will be awesome.

At 21 you think you are sooooo ready to be out in the world and be an adult.

At 25 you realize adulthood isn't all it's cracked up to be.

At 30 you are startled to realize you ARE an adult and have been this way for quite a few years.

At 34?

At 34 I'm realizing that I'm just starting to understand where my path is. After years as a Believer I'm just starting to want to be more. As a mom I'm realizing this unbelievable responsibility I've been given and being simultaneously ecstatic and scared to the depths of my stomach.

I am having these wild surges of desire to make my life look and be a certain way. I want to be somebody I'm not.

But here's the good thing about being 34 - I'm finally realizing I can't be somebody God didn't make me to be.

I look at these other people and think - they're a better homemaker than I am, they're a better mom than I am, they're a better Believer than I am. And I start to think - "Boy God - you made a mistake when you picked me."

But He didn't make a mistake - He can't make a mistake. He made me and choose me and gave me and took away from me exactly what He meant to.

And He has big plans for me. I just have to trust Him. I have to be realistic about who I am and be neither disparaging nor rose colored.

There is no Plan B and there never was.

There is only His perfect Plan A.

What a relief.

Let's get classical

2010-01-29T19:18:00.004-05:00

#27 - "Emma" on PBS inspired by the original

I watched the first part of "Emma" on PBS the other night and decided to go get the book as I have not read it. I love Pride and Prejudice - the book and the A&E version. My friend Jen told me a while back that Masterpiece Classics was playing some good movies in the next few months. I've watched "Cranford" and "Return to Cranford" and loved them. I started listening to Cranford on Librivox and am enjoying hearing the REAL story. Last Sunday they played the first part of "Emma" and I really enjoyed it. Jane had a sense of humor. I can't believe I hadn't read it so I decided to before I see the rest of the movie. There are several more classics coming on in the next few months - Sunday evenings.

Check your local listings. (I couldn't resist.)

No one got hurt

2010-01-29T19:10:00.004-05:00

#26 - A painful lesson learned

Mom and Grandma, read the title again. No one got hurt...

when Carter and a friend decided to climb his bookshelf to get Spiderman (ironic isn't it?) and the shelf came down on them. This is after I stood it back up but you can see the contents all over the floor. Thankfully Carter's friend only had a little scrape on his back and Carter, who ended up underneath, got a scrape on his nose and a slight black eye.

We have now had the conversation multiple times about how we do not climb bookshelves or anything else.

Except maybe trees.

He always does this to me

2010-01-25T22:38:00.004-05:00

#25 - Rearranging physically and mentally

Sam loves to decide to rearrange the layout of a room spur of the moment at a time I have other things I need to do. These rearrangements usually involve more of my stuff than his resulting in my stuff being piled up, forcing me to push aside my plans and straighten.

A little irritating.

Now I have to confess I have been thinking about my scrapbooking. I haven't ever been consistent and since having kids (which is the reason I started scrapbooking), I have done even less. I love the creative process but also get very frustrated with it. I LOVE buying the products - paper, letters, stamps, doo dads! So I have a lot of stuff - that I don't use. I just don't know if this is something I'm going to continue. There are other hobbies I am interested in but it pains me to give up this thing I've been so in love with for so many years.

Then there is this Project 365.

I would love to be able to put all my pictures in a book but am I going to actually do it? Then I found this digital scrapbook kit by Becky Higgins - a big scrapbook name for a long time. I was looking at the paper kit at first but now that she has the digital version that I can just drop my pictures into and do my journaling. It looks like something that I could possible realistically do. Check it out - Becky Higgins Project 365

I may have to get a job

2010-01-25T22:34:00.004-05:00

#24 - Where do they put it all?

I seriously may need to get a job to feed these two - and they are only 2.5 and 4.5!!! A couple of nights ago I made waffles and they each had 3!! This morning Carter had a bowl of Cheerios, 2 pieces of toast and a plate of dry Cheerios. Caleb had a bowl of Cheerios, a muffin, a piece of toast and a plate of dry Cheerios. I had a bowl of oatmeal.

See Caleb's tummy? It's full.

My Sweet Little Boy

2010-01-25T22:08:00.004-05:00

#23 - He's growing up too fast

Isn't he the sweetest? He's also the most rotten little thing. Don't let the chubby cheeks and puppy dog eyes fool you. He is all about mine and my way. It's so hard to be upset with him.

Actually, it's getting a little easier as I am getting more and more practice.

Some of my favorite Calebisms

"Oh, you care me Mommy!" (scare)
"I wuv you too" (He says this in place of just saying I love you)
"I hep you bruba" (I help you brother)
"Be Bai Bane" (jet airplane) - I know - that's a definite mommy translation

He's ready

2010-01-22T21:11:00.004-05:00

#22 - I want a baby sister

Our good friend Kerri and her new little bundle of joy came for lunch today. The last time they came over the boys couldn't get enough of Baby Delaney. It was the same today. They love to hold her and look at her and pat her head. Caleb keeps saying, "Baby Laney soft, she sweet." Carter asked me if she liked to be sung to, so he sung his Goodnight song to her and Silent Night. I think he is ready for a sister, don't you?

Chicken Tetrazzini

2010-01-22T20:59:00.005-05:00

#21 - Chicken Tetrazzini - yum, yum good!!

Got this recipe from Money Saving Mom and tried it for lunch. Yummy yummy good!! This is one she makes and freezes in gallon size freezer bags. I wanted to try it first before I freeze a whole bunch. Everybody but Caleb loved it (he is currently on a no chicken noodle casserole kick). I was really glad that last time boneless chicken breasts were on sale I bought several packages. When I got them home from the store I boiled several packages and made up freezer bags of 2 cups of cut up chicken. Then I just threw the frozen chicken in and cooked it. Soooo easy to have that chicken cooked ahead of time!!

Chicken Tetrazzini
2 c. cooked chicken
2 c. cooked spaghetti noodles
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. green pepper
1 small onion (I didn't have an onion so just added some onion powder)
1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
(I added a little garlic powder as well)

Saute green pepper and onion in a little oil. (I didn't do this)
Combine soup and chicken broth then add all other ingredients and stir together.
Put in a 9x13 dish and cook for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Be still my beating heart

2010-01-20T22:30:00.003-05:00

#20 - A vision of beauty and delight

OK, I know that sounds cheesy, but I love organizing things. For those who know me this is really kind of funny because I am a very messy, pile things up, don't know where things are kind of girl. But the thing is, I do love to organize things and REALLY love to buy organizational items. And the other day Sam was trying to find a can of shaving cream in the mess under the cabinets (a side effect of being an extreme couponer and having multiples of everything) and then he said the magic words, "You should go buy some things to organize under here."

I think I knocked over one of the kids on my way out the door.

Too many new things

2010-01-20T22:15:00.003-05:00

#19 - Another creative desire

I actually know how to sew already but do it very rarely. However, in my desire to have less technology (tv and computer) in my life and more creativity, I have dusted off the sewing machine. I ordered this off Amazon the other day and had to run to Hobby Lobby and get a yard of pretty fabric to try something out. Now, what to try first? Apron, bag, tea cozy, curtains?

An apology to the feminists

2010-01-19T20:30:00.004-05:00

#18 - It is in the male gene.

My apologies to those who think males and females are the same - you are wrong. Boys and girls are different. Now although I only have boys - I still maintain the fundamental difference. Girls may be loud and rambunctious too, and play with cars and blocks. However, it is in the way that they play that I believe reveals the ingrained characteristics of boys.

Cars are not just played with - they must be crashed.
Blocks aren't just used to build things - they must be crashed.
Planes must be crashed, trains must be crashed, buckets must be crashed, Lego's must be crashed, books must be crashed.

Everything must be crashed.

Hence the picture. The Crazy Coupes are meant to be driven around. Go to pretend places. Maybe some pretend races.

My boys crash them.

Boys are different. They need to yell. They need to run. They need to move.

When I was teaching I didn't understand that. I thought that my students needed to learn to sit still and pay attention - even if they weren't interested in what I was teaching. They needed to learn it - plain and simple.

As a mom of boys - boy(no pun intended), was I wrong.

That's why I fell in love with Charlotte Mason's philosophy. While I believe it is also a wonderful philosophy for instructing girls, I think it is so appropriate for boys.

Hours spent outdoors playing in nature - sticks, creeks, trees.
Short lessons - 15 - 20 minutes.
Alternating sitting lessons with active lessons.
Living books - books that impart information in interesting, almost story form - NO TEXTBOOKS!!

Education is not just something that occurs between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm but anytime and anywhere.

Education is a lifestyle - a passion.

An example - a good friend of mine who has 4 children came to visit us this summer. Her oldest had just finished 1st grade and she told me of some of the difficulties they had had in the past year. He had done wonderfully in school - no behavior problems or learning issues. It was when he came home they had the problems. The minute he would get in the car he was grumpy, disrespectful and mean to his siblings. Funny thing - within a few days into a school break he would be a different kid. Kinder, more relaxed, better behaved. After passionately telling her about Charlotte's philosophy (which I knew she would love as she is an avid reader herself), I had her hooked. The following week she called and wanted to know more as they had decided to home school him this year. She decided to put her second son in kindergarten so she could focus on figuring out this new home school thing. Within a couple of weeks into the school year - what do you know? Her second son started acting the same way. No problems at school - but grumpy and disobedient at home. She realized that boys just can't be quiet and good for that long. Bless their hearts - they were doing their best during the school day to follow the rules, sit quietly and for such a long time - indoors. By 3pm they were done being good!! They just couldn't do it any longer.

I understand. That's why I am choosing to home school my boys. I want to look back and to be first of all proud of the men my boys have become and secondly be proud of the education they received.
I can't wait to start. I can't wait to read the wonderful literature - history, Shakespeare. To go on nature hikes and pull out our nature journals to draw a woodpecker. To learn the music of the great composers and study talented artists. To study creation and evolution theories.

To be THE influence on my children, shaping their minds and characters.

And of course there will be lots of science experiments that include crashing and blowing things up.

No more toast

2010-01-16T13:25:00.003-05:00

#16 - After 2 days of toast he gets to eat pancakes

I had to cut him off after 6 pancakes. He asked for pancakes for lunch too. His appetite is fierce after having to eat toast for 2 days to clear up the diapers and he is always hungry. He loves this new recipe I got from my friend, Leanne. I have not made pancakes much because I just can't get them right and the boys never eat them well - because they are flat and never cook well. So I got Leanne's recipe and the other night it was just the boys and I for dinner so I decided to try it. Since Sam was working I figured I only needed half the recipe.

I didn't get to eat any pancakes. The boys ate them all. As fast as they came off the griddle.

So I made them again this morning so Sam and I could eat some. Next time I will get my other griddle out and double cook as they were eating them faster than I could cook them.

They are good. Really good.

Leanne's Pancake Recipe

In a large bowl combine
2 c. whole wheat flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt (I only used 1 tsp - 2 was too salty for me)
3 tbsp sugar

In a smaller bowl beat 2 eggs then add 2 c. milk, 1/2 c. oil and 1 tsp vanilla

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Enjoy - thanks Leanne!!

#15

2010-01-16T13:22:00.004-05:00

#15 - Perspective

Mean Mommy

2010-01-15T20:51:00.004-05:00

#14 - I don't want eat chicken 'n noodles - I don't wike it.

Yes, I'm a mean mommy. I make my kids eat what I cook. No short order cook in this house. Now I don't make them eat everything on their plate, but they have to eat one bite. Just try it. So this particular day we had corn, lima beans and chicken and noodles. This child is a little different. He loves vegetables. He gobbled up his lima beans and corn saying the whole time, "I wuv wima beans!" However he wouldn't touch the chicken and noodles.

So he sat there.

The rest of us finished and got up from the table. And he cried. And he cried.

But he wouldn't eat that one bite - just one!! "I don't wike it."

Finally after 30 minutes of crying and carrying on he ate the bite.

"Mommy, I wike it!"

I think I might get my first gray hair soon.

Picture catch up

2010-01-13T21:33:00.007-05:00

Another post?!? Don't fall over.

#8 - A couple of pieces of cardboard box and an icy driveway = car stuck in the garage but 3 very happy "boys"

#9 - Prayers and Night Night song in Caleb's bed - sooo cuddly.

#10 - My little Linus

#11 - Crazy hair day in the Napper house!

#12 - What a beautiful cardinal - all puffed out trying to stay warm!

#13 - I've decided that in order to install some peace and tranquility in my noisy household I should learn to knit. Let's just say peace and tranquility aren't how you would describe any of the words that keep coming out of my mouth as I try and figure this out.

We've got fun coming out of our...

2010-01-13T21:24:00.003-05:00

you can only imagine.

That darn stomach virus gave us a run for our money! Carter came down with it Sat night and he had it the worst. Sunday he ran a fever all day and was just puny - you would be too after throwing up all night. Monday he was better so we went out to dinner with our neighbors. Caleb had had nasty diapers Sun and Mon so I get him - cheese ravioli. I know, Mom of the Year. He takes one bite and throws up all over himself and the table.

Four to go boxes please!

Now everyone in the restaurant knows I am Mom of the Year. Needless to say, I did not end up eating a bite of my dinner but it was very good for lunch the next day!

So he has been on the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet for the past 2 days and it seems to have straightened him out. I think his little tummy just couldn't get itself balanced. So hopefully we are all better now.

Unless Sam finally gets it.

Never ending fun

2010-01-08T21:58:00.003-05:00

So I wasn't going to post anything tonight as I have so much left to do and wanted to get to bed early tonight - that isn't going to happen. I will post pics tomorrow of our sledding adventures. We are currently stuck in our house as the driveway is just plain icy - Sam tried to get the van out and it started sliding backwards. It is a sheet of ice at the top, a sheet of ice at the bottom and icy snow in between. This is not great for cars but great for little boys and a piece of cardboard. We had a blast!!

Anyway - our day.

I should have known better than to put an outfit on Caleb that he had thrown up on a few days ago. But it was just out of the dryer and would be one less thing for me to fold and put away. It should have told me that the day was going to be "vomity".

Then I was arguing with Carter about getting dressed as he thought it more important to play trains. He finally looked at me and said, "This is just undignified!!"

All day Caleb is not eating and just playing with his food - frustrating but I'm trying to understand that his tummy is still recovering. But all I ask for is 1 bite for heaven's sake!!!

Dinner - waffles. Caleb has eaten 4 bites - Carter 3 waffles. Caleb starts saying his tushy hurts - he needs to go poopy as he hasn't gone today. So, I give him a couple of prunes and go start their bath. He LOVES prunes and usually eats them right up. He didn't. I insist. He puts it in his mouth. Gags. Throws up all over the place. Lunch from yesterday was in there - literally. I start trying to clean him up. He starts crying and throws up even more. So I strip him down and go put them in the bath that is almost overflowing as it had been running this whole time. Go start to clean up the vomit and then go back to check on them. Caleb starts fussing and saying his tummy hurts.

Carter flips out and starts screaming, "Get him out Mommy! Get him out!!"

Right then I see the cloud appear under the water. Carter screams, "Let me out!" I pick him up and put him in the shower then do the same with Caleb. Then I get to stick my hand in the full tub that is now a little fuller and push the button to let out the water. Get the boys showered in lukewarm water as the tub had used almost all the hot water. Getting the boys in their pjs Carter and I once again argue about him concentrating on getting dressed.

He looks at me and says, "Mom, are you freaking out on me?"

I just bust out laughing. After the evening I had, God sent me a little humor.

Take a deep breath and...

2010-01-07T21:24:00.011-05:00

be amazed that I am going to post all the missing pics. They are not stellar photography - just a low pressure attempt to chronicle life. We are getting ourselves back together here but the house is still a mess. The pile you see in picture 6 is now neatly folded and sitting on the floor of the loft where I left it last night. Progress.

We had a blast with the snow this afternoon and it is still snowing now! Unfortunately Sam had to drive home tonight and I've already warned him not to try and come down the driveway - I like our fence the way it is. It doesn't help matters that water runs across the bottom of the hill making a puddle right where he pulls the car into the garage. At 18 degrees tonight I don't think the tires will be able to manage that in the morning. And seeing I had to "borrow" diapers from my neighbor this evening as I have NONE, I need him to be able to go to the store tomorrow before he goes to work.

And now the pictures.

#2 - Hiding out under the train table

$5 lanterns at Target - BEST $10 I EVER SPENT

#3 - You make me laugh Carterbugs!!

#4 - We haven't been outside in 2 days, it's 25 degrees with a wind chill of 18. We must, we must, we must GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY !!

#5 - Maybe I'll take a picture of my toilet and count it as #5 just to remember

#6 - The result of the stomach bug - 12 towels, 2 sets of sheets, 4 pairs of pajamas and probably a partridge in a pear tree somewhere at the bottom of the pile

#7 - Megan instructing the boys on making snow angels in the "snow" on the driveway.

I know what you are saying

2010-01-06T22:07:00.004-05:00

That I wrote one day and then disappeared. Give me a little slack. We had unexpected company on Sat - friends who were staying with other friends in town that got a stomach bug. They fled here (yes I am a good friend) and so we had a great time visiting with them Sat and Sun. Monday we were putting the house back in order (they have 4 kids). Then Monday evening at 11 pm Caleb and I got the bug. It was bad for 6 hours and then we spent Tuesday and today recovering. So, give me a little time to get back on track. I missed taking a picture yesterday but have all the rest. I just haven't had a chance to post them. I'll try and get them posted tomorrow.

In the mean time - a Carter story.

Yesterday Caleb and I stayed in his room trying to keep our germs to ourselves. This was very difficult for the boys as they are used to being together pretty much constantly. Caleb kept wanting to go see Bruba and Carter kept wanting to come in to Caleb's room. For the 10th time last night he again stood in the doorway and asked to come in. For the 10th time I said no, that I didn't want him to get our germs - I was trying to protect him. He walked away and then reappeared in full armor - knight's helmet, breastplate and shield.

"Now can I come in Mommy?"

A New Year

2010-01-01T22:43:00.004-05:00

So - I was told by my cousin Katherine that she had given up on my blog and had started stalking my friends' blogs. Well, it's a new year and I'm ready to get back on the wagon. I want to do a better job of documenting the boys and this is the easiest way. Especially as Caleb's birth pictures are currently sitting on my scrapbook desk waiting to be scrapped - I'll never catch up. But that's okay. I scrapbook when I want to and what I want to - it's more a creative outlet for me than a chronological document of their lives.

So since I'm so on top of things and always follow through with everything I start :) (Sam is probably rolling on the floor laughing hysterically as he reads this) - I've decided to do my own "Project 365". People started this thing where they post a pic every day all year. I'm determined to do this. Well, I'm determined to try. I might not get it posted every day but I am going to try and take a picture every day. It is worth a shot. So here is picture number uno!

Reading our bedtime book (Where the Wild Things Are) using their new lanterns.

So how about those New Year's Resolutions? Those of you who know me and still love me know that I rarely finish or stick with anything. But there are some things I really want to try this year - or not try. So these are not resolutions but tentative, no pressure "I'd like to's"

2010 I'd Like To's

1. Loose 5 pounds in the next few weeks so I can...

2. Get pregnant in the next month with a...

3. Baby girl

4. Quit watching TV (oh I don't know how I'll give up my Duggar's though)

5. Learn to knit

6. Stay home more

7. Pay off 2 credit cards

8. Be more purposefully interactive with the boys

9. Read 1 adult book a month (no, not that kind of adult book - get your mind out of the gutter)

10. Finish reading Charlotte Mason's Vol. 1

11. Get our practice year of homeschool planned before item number 3 arrives

12. Read through the Bible (sigh)

13. Simplify my life (can I still write that seeing that it is # 13 on my to do list for the year - too oxymoron-ish?)

And to wrap up my new start on my old blog - a Carter story - warning to those offended by potty humor - literal potty humor that is.

This morning I get out of the shower, Sam gets in the shower, I dry my hair, figure I should check on the boys.

I open the bedroom door and hear Carter upstairs tell Caleb, "Go tell Mommy I'm done going poopy" (I have no idea how long he had been sitting on the potty waiting for me.)

I go upstairs to the bathroom afraid of what I'll find. Carter can't always get himself coordinated to hold his pee pee down while pooping which means I often find a puddle on the floor or a wet spot on the wall. This results in a very frustrated mommy - anybody have suggestions?

Anyway - I walk in and ask if he made sure to hold down his pee pee.

His response - "Ta da!"

I'm confused.

Then I notice his hair - the front of his hair.

It is wet.

I'm still confused.

I ask, "How did your hair get wet?"

Carter, "I looked down in the potty to see if I was done going poopy and I accidentally started tinkling and it got my hair wet."

Now I'm speechless.

Halloween Pics

2009-11-05T22:07:00.006-05:00

Thomas, a Fireman and and Engineer

Yes it is raining and yes they ran almost the entire time - we had to tell them to stop and come back as they kept running right by the houses!

Sillies BEFORE eating any candy!

I think Caleb was REALLY ready to eat some treats!

Some Fall Picks - just for you Mom and Grandma!

2009-11-05T21:58:00.004-05:00

Petit Creek Farms

The ancient art of intimidating a goat.

Then you feed them.

Or just drop it on the ground.

After 30 shots of them yelling "Cheese Pizza" while looking anywhere but the camera.

"Fall" in Georgia

2009-10-30T16:04:00.005-04:00

Fall in Georgia is weird. We had 77 degrees and beautiful yesterday. I'm talking shorts and snack picnics at the creek. Today? 61 degrees and rainy. Weird. Yesterday the boys and I headed down to the creek for a snack and some exploring. Carter was having a blast running down the sand hill, along the creek bed, through the woods and back down the sand hill. Until one time his momentum was a little more than his brakes. Hence the fall into the creek. Soaking wet up to his armpits. Did that stop him? Nope. Know what you get when you mix a running wet little boy and sand hills? A muddy, sandy, happy boy. Until time to walk back home - then he was an unhappy, cold, sandy, muddy boy.

Some recent Carterisms

2009-10-17T22:36:00.003-04:00

Singing his Fruits of the Spirit song, "The fruits of the Spirit are Love your teeth, patience, mineness, goodness."

While eating dinner, "When I eat my chicken does it push God out of my heart down to my stomach?"

Today during a two hour long stomachache(Carter, not me) with running trips to the potty every 15 minutes and Carter wailing, "This is just terrible."
Me - "I guess those doughnut holes didn't sit well on your tummy this morning."
Carter - "Yes, I think they laid down instead."

Whew!

2009-09-19T20:30:00.002-04:00

You know it is really sad when you are actually thankful when your child starts running a fever because that means that the unbelievably whiny, complaining, arguing, fussing, yelling, back talking frustrating four year old child that you have been on the verge of throwing out the window all afternoon is sick. You realize you are not the worst parent in the world. You take a deep breath and realize that Satan himself has not taken over your child's body but that soon you will only have a moderately whiny, complaining, arguing, fussing, yelling, back talking child. I can deal with that.

Bubble Boys

2009-09-17T21:28:00.005-04:00

Daddy gave them a bath - need I say more?

Rewriting the Bible

2009-09-11T20:26:00.003-04:00

Carter LOVES his Hide 'Em in Your Heart video and CD. The funniest and sweetest thing is to hear him quoting the scripture and singing the songs. The other day I overheard him in his room loudly singing, "You knit me together in my mother's room."
I'm not quite ready to explain about wombs.

Company Recommendation

2009-09-05T20:57:00.003-04:00

Carter Napper Towing Service - fast, friendly and they let you ride in the car while being towed!

From the mouth of babes

2009-09-03T22:40:00.002-04:00

When you become a parent you quickly realize that your children are just another way God speaks to YOUR sin. This evening we went to the christian bookstore to get the "Hide 'Em In Your Heart" CDs. Carter has not stopped asking to watch this video that he got for his birthday and after just a few viewings is singing the songs non-stop. Of course his lyrics aren't dead on, but his heart is in the right place. So I thought I'd get the CDs so we could listen to the songs. I put the first CD in which is not the volume we have but Carter wanted to hear the different ones. One of the songs was about trusting God when we are afraid. I took the opportunity to tie this to Carter's fear of thunderstorms (only evening storms, morning ones are a-ok). I suggested that next time he got scared of a thunderstorm he could pray and remember to trust God. Here is the conversation.

Mommy : Next time there is a thunderstorm we need to remember to trust God and pray.
Carter: That's a good idea Mommy!
Mommy: We know that God loves us and we have to trust that He will keep us safe.

Pause

Carter: Sometimes I forget that Mommy.
Mommy: Me too buddy.

Little Virtuoso

2009-09-02T10:20:00.003-04:00

Those of you that have been around Carter recently have realized that we have quite the singer on our hands! He LOVES to sing, usually at the top of his voice. He sings in his room while playing, while in the car, outside, everywhere. He even sings while wakesurfing! It is quite hilarious to see and hear. There he is, holding on to Sam's legs, water spraying him in the face and singing, "I'm in the Lord's Army!" at the top of his voice. This is currently one of his favorite songs and one that he sings VERY loudly. We are strolling around Target and he is singing, "I'm in the Lord's Army - YES SIR!" I know people must think we are these religious zealots and are training our children to take over the world for God - wait, that wouldn't be a bad thing! He also loves to sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot". Right now they are watching a music video they got for their birthday "Hide Them In Your Heart" by Steve Green. They are Bible verses set to music for kids and Carter is singing along, "In my Father's house there are many rooms."

I can't think of anything more beautiful that could come out of his mouth.

A rose by any other name?

2009-08-27T21:03:00.002-04:00

At some point months and months ago I started referring to Carter as "Brother" when talking to Caleb. I don't know why I did this but he picked up on this and now calls Carter "bruba". It is quite cute to hear him yelling, "BRUBA!" Recently Carter has decided he doesn't like this name anymore. This afternoon while eating their snack I overheard the following conversation.

Carter: Caleb?
Caleb: Des? (Yes)
Carter: I don't want to be "Brother" anymore. I'm "Ka - TER" (My attempt to give you an idea of his strange pronunciation.)

Caleb just looks at Carter with his cute little smile and is totally clueless as to what "bruba" is talking about.

Carter: Caleb, what's my name?
Caleb: Bruba
Carter: NOO! I'm "Ka-TER" Uhhhhh!!!
Caleb: Uh huh.

Carter: Caleb, what's my name?
Caleb: Bruba

After this repeated several times Carter gave up.

Face it Carter Bugs, you are Bruba to Caleb Poo.

Obsessed

2009-08-25T19:11:00.005-04:00

Okay - so I've been a little obsessed with bargains lately and a little slack with blogs. I have been told by my "oh so tactful" husband that I am wasting a lot of time to save a little money. I disagree. I get such enjoyment out of getting a good deal. Just today I went to Publix and spent $20 and saved $45. I got Morning Star Veggie Burgers for $0.90 each (they are regularly $3.79 each). What a rush!! I got tubs of Huggies wipes (the only wipe worth anything IMO) for $0.50 the other day at Walgreens!! So if I take a few hours to get the deals and coupons it is worth it to me. I just finished a gift card deal where I ended up spending about $40 on "free trials" and will get a $500 gift card! I love it!! So anyway, in the next few days I will try and post a "summer review" of picture.

The boys are growing by leaps and bounds and for the most part get along very well. We still have quite a ways to go on being kind to others and doing things that show God's love. However, there are moments when non-mom initiated moments occur. This evening I took the boys to "Old McDonalds" for dinner. After eating they ran off to play. There is one place where the step is too big for Caleb to get up. He was up there crying because he couldn't get up so I sent Carter up to help boost him up. A little later they got in with a group of kids and were going full speed - up the play structure, through the play structure, down the slide - yelling the entire time. They were having a blast. I watched them go up and then when they got to the big step, Carter stopped. He was second at the front and he let all the other kids run past until Caleb got there. Then he helped Caleb up and they ran to catch up. So of course there I am in "Old McDonald's" tears in my eyes, so proud of my big boy. He did it everytime - go up at the front of the group, wait for Caleb, help him up and then keep going full speed. I even heard him call Caleb a couple of times - "Caleb, are you coming?" Now in case you are too impressed - I also saw him almost knock down a girl to be the first one up the little steps. Brotherly love - check, chivalry - needs improvement!

Proud Papa!!

2009-07-15T15:23:00.006-04:00

Some of you may or may not know that after years of begging and pleading and whining Sam finally wore me down and several months ago I let him buy a boat (he doesn't think this sentence is funny - I do). Anyway, I have to admit that we have had a great time on the boat - most of the time.

The first time we went out Sam put the boat in and I walked down to the dock with the boys to get on. They were SOOOO excited. I set my bags down on the dock to put Caleb in while Sam held the boat. All of a sudden Carter flipped out, screamed he didn't want to get on, picked up my bags and headed off the dock towards the car. I grabbed him and put him on the boat and off we went - with him screaming. He soon stopped and really enjoyed the boat ride. Then it was time to get out. Sam went to get the truck and trailer and I was going to attempt to drive the boat onto the trailer for the first time. Carter started getting a little nervous and as we got close to the trailer he once again started screaming - while trying to climb over the back of my seat - while I am pulling the boat onto the trailer for the first time. Fun. He screamed at the top of his lungs, that lovely high pitched, panicked scream. I seriously thought about tossing him over the side (just kidding grandma). Once we were on the trailer and pulling out he was fine. We parked and climbed out and began walking back to the car. Carter said, "I had fun on the boat Mommy. I just cried a little. Next time I won't cry so much."

Thankfully the next couple of times he got better and better. However once it was warm enough to swim he wanted no part of it. He didn't even want to stand on the swim platform. After a couple of times he got braver and now he jumps right in and goes under. Sam has been talking about getting a tube but with our cautious boy I didn't think he would go for being pulled behind the boat. He doesn't like going fast (by fast I mean over 10 mph). So yesterday while we were out and Sam was wake surfing he asked Carter if he wanted to get in and ride slow on the board. After several minutes of us talking to him and assuring him that Mommy would go very slow he agreed. He loved it!!! Of course Caleb wants to do everything brother wants to do so he got to ride as well. Then Carter wanted to go again and Sam decided to see if they could stand up on the board together. I couldn't believe my cautious first born was going for this but he agreed to try!! Now you have to understand Sam has dreams of his boys being pro wake boarders and making enough money for him to retire early. I have been doubtful of this happening seeing that it took weeks for Carter to even get in the water. So I started driving and they stood up together!! I was hollering and running back to take pictures with my cell phone (yes I was also driving but the boat will go straight by itself for a little while :). Carter's first words after I stopped the boat and he and Daddy fell into the water?

"When Ava comes on the boat she can see me stand up on the skateboard (what he calls the surfboard)."

Always thinking about his Ava. Meanwhile Proud Papa is looking into kids' amateur wake surfing competitions and thinking about retirement.

Here is Carter's first ride on the board.

Caleb gets a ride!

They're up!!

Daddy getting really good at this wake surfing thing - no rope!!

A shameless plug

2009-07-10T13:14:00.007-04:00

OK - so most of you know Sam and I dabble in photography. Well, he does more than dabble. He's good (in my biased opinion) and is constantly working to be better. He has big dreams of quitting the tv stuff and going full time photographer. While the majority of our work has been kids and families (mostly friends) he would like to get into the big stuff - weddings and creative photography. On Wed. he did a day long photography workshop with a local photographer Zack Arias. Zack is a very creative photographer who has really made a name for himself with his one light set ups. Sam got home at 3:30am after shooting all day and night. I thought I'd share some of his stuff as I was impressed. I may be biased but that's okay. You can go here to see more of his pictures from the shoot.

My Girl

2009-06-30T21:27:00.003-04:00

This is Carter's girl - Ava. If you ask him who his best friend is, he says Ava. If you ask him who he loves, he says Ava. He even has been heard singing, "Ava loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so." The funny thing is they don't really play together when they are together, but Ava seems to have the same affection for Carter. When we get to church they hug and get excited to see each other and the other kids even notice and will say, "There's your friend, Ava." I think it is so cute. Every day - "Can we go to Ava's house today? We haven't been to Ava's house in a long, long time!" I am perfectly happy with this arrangement as I love little Ava (despite the rumors of attitude and sass). She is the sweetest thing when around me (isn't that what you want in a daughter-in-law) and of course her family is pretty okay too (isn't that also what you want in in-laws). I think we'll start planning the wedding.

Chattanooga Choo Choo!

2009-06-19T14:26:00.004-04:00

Actually it is the East Tennessee Valley Railroad, but it was in Chattanooga. We have been wanting to go up and ride the train but were waiting until the summer when the steam engine is running during the week. Other train rides I looked at were 4 hours long (with a almost 2 year old and almost 4 year old - no thank you) and would cost us over $100. They had a 55 minute ride that cost us $36 - perfect! Carter was soooo excited but I knew he would not like the noise, and he is quite the cautious little boy. When the train started coming down the track towards us he put his hands over his ears and yelled at Daddy - who was too close to the track taking pictures - to get back away from the track. When the train had passed, I told him that was the train we were going to ride and he said (with his hands still over his ears), "I think I'll just wait for the next one." He loved it though. We went over a big creek on a trestle bridge and went through a long, dark tunnel. God has been thanked for both of these things in every blessing and prayer since our trip yesterday. We also got off at the end of the track and watched the engine turn around on the big turntable - quite impressive and really really hot in the sun! Luckily our car was air conditioned and we got back on for the ride back to the station. After our ride was over we went to take a picture in front of the engine and got to talk to the engineer. He told Carter he would let him take the engine home if he could have Carter's Thomas shirt. Carter agreed. I convinced him it was too big to fit in the van - darn. We had a great time and I think this will be a regular adventure for us!

Just thinking

2009-04-26T22:43:00.002-04:00

Lots going through my brain right now!! I'm reading stuff right now about homeschooling and about instructing my kids' hearts. Meanwhile I have two little boys who are pushing every button and challenging every rule.

What kind of mom do I want to be? Who do I want my kids to be?

I'm so excited about teaching them at home and learning along with them. I can't wait to read the wonderful books and learn about Vivaldi and Rembrandt and other greats. I am excited to go out on nature walks and draw and paint. All the things that go along with Charlotte Mason are so inspiring to me. It is such a complete "curriculum" that I no longer worry about whether I can teach my kids all the things that public school teaches. I know my kids will KNOW much more than I ever learned in public school even if they aren't taught all the things I was taught. Just being able to influence their hearts and instruct them in God's love - what a responsibility and such a blessing.

How can I show them God is a part of everyday life?
How can I teach them to love God?
How can I help them to see their sin and think with their hearts?

Oh - and how can I teach them to clean up after themselves and that yes, you have to wash your hands EVERY time you go potty?
These are important things too!!

Lots of things to think about.

First Pet

2009-04-21T21:27:00.002-04:00

On our walk today we caught a caterpillar. I have been wanting to catch one and let the boys see it become a cocoon and a butterfly (or moth more likely). So we saw several of the hairly little critters today and caught one in a jar. On the way home Carter asked when the caterpillar would make his cocoon. I said I didn't know.

Carter: I don't sleep in a cocoon, Mommy.
Me: No, you don't.
Carter: I sleep in a bed. It's nice and quiet.

This evening at bedtime Caleb had kissed Carter goodnight and I carried him into his room. He started saying something I couldn't understand and pointing back into the loft. I put him down and he ran to the caterpillar jar, picked it up, kissed it, put it back down gently and ran back to me. My sweet sweet boy!!

I guess we have our first pet.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

2009-04-14T10:18:00.006-04:00

happy birthday grandma from Sam Napper on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Grandma/Great Grandma!! My grandmother is 80 years old today and doesn't look a day over 50!! I am one of the privileged few who grew up very close to my grandparents. I saw them every week my entire childhood and so many of my childhood memories include Grandma and Papa. My Grandma is the center of our family. She is a worrier - always worrying about one of us grandkids. She is generous and stubborn. She is caretaker and devoted. She is loving and opinionated. She is my beautiful Grandma and she is probably irritated with me for saying all this and embarrassed but I don't care. I am very proud of her and feel so blessed to have her in my life. I love you Grandma!

Southern boys

2009-04-13T22:31:00.002-04:00

Hey - we are southern after all!! This was actually the result of a major puddle adventure which left the boys wet from armpits to toes. So we stripped them down before they went in. Sam went outside to get something and had to run back in and get the camera to capture the redneck moment. Despite the white-trashness of the moment - aren't my boys adorable? My neighbors must seriously question my mothering abilities!

Mack truck Easter

2009-04-10T21:18:00.004-04:00

I've been too sick and too tired to post - sorry. Came down with a cold on Tuesday - felt like I'd been run over by a Mack truck on Wed - felt a little better on Thurs so got some things done - paid for it today, I think it was two Mack trucks today. Did I mention Caleb is sick too? Oh, and Carter woke up this morning with a congested cough. I guess it is a good thing I decided to save money and not buy new Easter outfits.

Childproof? Not!

2009-04-02T21:58:00.002-04:00

A week or so ago I gave Caleb their vitamin jar to play with while he was in his highchair. A minute later I realized he had the top off - a childproof top. I figured I didn't put the top all the way on, so I put it back on, made sure it clicked and gave it back to him. Within 30 seconds he had the top back off. Okay, this kid is too smart - and strong! Half the time I can't even get the childproof tops off! I actually forgot about it until a few days later, I was in the kitchen and Carter came in with this "I'm doing something wrong look on his face" and chewing something. I asked and he told me he was eating a vitamin. I go in the dining room and there is Caleb, up in a chair, with the top of the vitamins off and a mouth full. Luckily there had only been about 4 or 5 in the jar and there were still 2 left. I put all vitamins away and mentally made a note about Caleb's unusual abilities. Unfortunately at this time of my life mental notes get lost and forgotten. This morning I headed to the dentist and left Sam with the boys. On the way there Sam called. He had been helping Carter wash his hands and heard a strange noise in the dining room. He went in to find Caleb up on a dining room chair with my vitamins poured out on the dining room table. Yes, he had once again opened the childproof container and no, he didn't eat any.
I have to say that I'm impressed - and a little worried.

Four precious words

2009-03-26T21:21:00.002-04:00

Tonight Carter and I saying our goodnights. Say our prayers, sing our song, I say "I love you." And after 3.5 years of hearing those words 10 times every day, finally, those four precious words from my Carterbugs, "I love you, too." It was so worth the wait.