One Heck of a Morning

So I've only been awake for about an hour.  I've already had these two conversations with Landon this morning......

Scared of His Own Yelling
Landon was very mad at me over something.  He yelled very loudly.  Just a generic yell.  Not directed at anyone or anything.  Just a yell.  I told him he could not do that around us, and that he could go to his room and yell if he needed to yell.  So he went upstairs and yelled.  And immediately started crying.  He ran downstairs a bit hysterical.  And explained that he was scared.  Scared of his own yelling.
He scared himself!
We discussed how yelling can be scary.  And that it is okay to be mad and okay to yell when you're mad, but there are places and times yelling is okay and not okay........blah blah blah.......

He went back to the kitchen table and very solemnly said, "I thought I was brave.  I want to be brave.  But I'm not."
Okay, seriously?!  This mommy's heart sunk, and also laughed out loud!  Too cute.  Too sad.
So then we discussed how it's okay to be scared.  That everyone gets scared.  Even brave guys get scared.  I told him Daddy is brave and he gets scared.  Papa is super brave because he was a firefighter and he gets scared.
Then the conversation trailed off into whether Knights get scared, etc.

Uncle Jared is Icky & it's His Mom's Fault
Then the conversation eventually went to some story that Sarah (my brother's girl friend) told Landon about warts.  Something about how she got warts because she touched someone else's warts.  And that Uncle Jared had warts and didn't want the doctor to take it off  because he liked being gross.  

Seriously, this is what I was told, almost word-for-word.

And I said, "Well, Uncle Jared is super gross Landon."
Landon: "Yup. He is."
Me: "Why is so gross?"
Landon: "Because his mommy didn't teach him better."
Me: "bwahahahahahahahahah.  Who is his mommy?"
Landon: "Nanalis!  Your mommy!"
Me: "Okay, just checking."

bwwaaaahhahahahahahahahahhahahah

It's all my mom's fault that my brother is gross!!!!!  Even a four-year-old realizes where the responsibility and blame lies!!!!  

bwwahahahahahahahahahahahah


And yes folks, these conversations occurred in a thirty-minute time span.  Wondering what the rest of the day holds.

A Conversation About Death and Heaven

We know two mothers that died last week.  The very same morning in fact.

At bedtime last night I told Landon we needed to say special prayers for our two friends that lost their moms.  As I expected, Landon had quite a few questions.

How did they die?

But how?  

Why did they die?

How did they get to heaven?

Then he said, "I want to die.  I want to go to heaven."

He also said, "I want to die with you.  And with Daddy and Jillian too.  So we can all go to heaven together."

My first reaction was ---- this is a bit creepy!  

But it quickly turned to peace and thankfulness.  

Peace that my son trusts in the vision of heaven.  Peace in the fact that he wants to go to heaven and wants those he loves to go to heaven.  And thankfulness that we have Faith.  And thankful that our efforts to teach our children about God, and Jesus, and Salvation, and Faith, and Heaven are taking root.  

I explained that I want to go to heaven too.  But that God wants us to be on Earth right now.  Living and growing and learning and telling others about Jesus.  Landon then said, "When I go to school, I'll tell the other kids about Jesus." 

I was impressed with this response.  I haven't spoken to him about evangelization before.  I haven't taught him about "sharing the gospel." (maybe Josh has?)  But the first time I do he translates that into talking to other kids at school about Jesus.  

We'll see where that takes us.....  I'm sure to interesting places.  After all, we live in Baptist country and have signed him up to attend a Methodist Church's preschool; all the while being Roman Catholic.  But when you're four-years-old, it's all as simple as Jesus being in Heaven, and having hope and faith in both Jesus and Heaven..........

We'll see what happens when he starts talking about obeying God and obeying the Devil and the choices we make......as he often discusses at home.   AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Phone Photo Cache

I realize it's been awhile since I've really updated the blog.  In effort to catch up on the daily events around here I'm posting a bunch of pictures from my phone.

Here's Jillian, in her pajama set that matches her doll.  I told her I was taking a picture and she needed to smile and be cute.  All on her own she put her hand up to her face.  No idea where she got that idea, but it is cute.

The first braid I did in her hair!!  

I've actually got a shot at this mom-of-a-girl thing!  

I told her I needed to take a picture of her pretty hair.  She refused to take her hands off her face.  Being stubborn.  Apparently the hair was all I was allowed to photograph.

While walking through my room I found this.  

"Baby Tiny" laying (or is it lying?) on a throw pillow covered with Jillian's favorite blanket.  I love discovering these little pieces of their day, these little pieces of their world.

Well, I love discovering the little pieces of their play time, unless it's this.  

This puppet that looks like a dog.  

And when left on the floor looks like a dead animal out of the corner of your eye.  I walked past it like five times and was startled every time.  I finally put it back in the playroom where it belongs.

They're really into their costumes these days.  

Landon is dressed as an Astronaut.  Jillian as a dinosaur.  

Mind you it was 85 degrees that day so the costumes didn't last long.....long sleeves/pants/synthetic material make children really hot apparently.

She found the Cinderella costume one morning.  Before I was even out of bed she had put the top on and came to tell me "Look!  It's my princess shirt!  So pretty!"  She requested the headband to make her hair pretty.  Mind you a day or two later the headband was thrown over the upstairs' railing and is now hung on our chandelier....thank you big brother.

We went up to our friend's lake house for Memorial Day weekend.  

We went to church Saturday night and I had to get a picture of Jillian in the shirt that she always refuses to wear.  

Landon sporting the clown wig GiGi got him for his birthday.  

He loves dressing up with costumes and hats so much.  

I think this one is the best though!

This is her "mean face."  

So if you ever see this expression, know that it is NOT a big smile.  

You can see how you might be confused.  

To Remember #12

1. During potty training Jillian gets upset when I clean up the pee on the floor.  I was told by a friend that Jillian is "reverse psychologizing my reverse psychology."
2. The kids are finally old enough for us to attempt to let them have "sleep overs" in each others rooms.  Landon loves to cuddle but often gets annoyed at how much Jillian moves around when falling asleep.
3. Jillian's answer for many questions is "aDooga" which is her made up word.  She is also a fan of the word "donk."
4. We often let Landon lead prayers at dinners.  Lately he's been saying "Thank you for this property."  Not sure where he heard this or if he even know what it means, but it's darn cute.
5. Jillian struggles to say her "p" sound, replacing it with the "f" sound.  "Pumpkin" often sounds like a cuss word.  So now me and Josh and a few friends often say "Pumpkin bread!" instead of a cuss word.
6. Landon will eat just about any vegetable (raw) if I let him dip it in vinegar.
7. Just this week it started clicking in Landon's head that I "go to work with" other kids.  He doesn't understand how I can work with kids since kids don't work, they play.  He still seemed skeptical when I explained I help them learn things.
8. Jillian is currently preferring comfort items of Bunny Lovie, Sheep Lovie, and/or Baby Lion.  But, still has minimal preference or loyalty for one over the other.
9. Landon is still obsessed with the fact that he is now four-years-old.  He often asks if he's bigger, or taller, or looks different, because he is now four.  He also makes reference to his age at least once a day, in attempt to justify why he can do things and Jillian can't, or in attempt to explain why should be able to do something I have said "no" to.
10.  A man approached us at church a few weeks ago.  He was in his 60s.  He was an immigrant from Mexico.  Spoke very good English.  He told us that he moved to the US not for money, but for his kids to have the opportunity to get a good education.  He said he is "still fairly poor," but one daughter is a lawyer and the other is an accountant.  He said "God created everyone in His image, with His intelligence, and anyone can learn if given the opportunity at good education."  With all that's going on in debates about immigration and education and taxes and scandals, etc. I was reminded that America is GREAT among countries and in the history of the world because of the opportunities that are here, and the people willing to sacrifice to just have access to the opportunities.  And how thankful I am that somewhere down the line my ancestors immigrated from other countries for the chance at American Opportunity.

Thoughts I Frequently Have

I frequently have the following thoughts pass through my mind as I walk through my day....

1. I see a bunch of pictures on Pinterest of decorated LAUNDRY rooms.  Nice lighting, pictures, coordinated colors.  Painted walls, stenciled walls, cute signs, candles, etc.  WTH?!  Seriously?!  My laundry room is covered in dust and lint, and I try to spend as little time as possible in that tiny torture room.  Why the hell would I try to make it look a I hired an interior designer to decorate a room I equate with torture?!  I can think of a thousand (or more) things to spend money on, other than decorating a laundry room with mood lighting.
2. I hope any would-be burglar considers whether or not children, especially preschool children, live in a house he's planning to break-into.  My kids leave so many toys on the floor and furniture out of place that it's like a mine-field trying to make it to the bathroom in the dark.  Plus, I have baby/safety gates everywhere and man are those things noisy when you swing them open.  You'd never get past one without waking someone.
3. It'd be nice to have a pet around the house.  But then I'd either be cleaning a litter box out or picking up poop in plastic bags from the yard.  I'm so tired of cleaning other people's poop, I'm not inviting animal feces into the mix too.
4. It's 5'o'clock somewhere...... but unfortunately not here.
5. Frick!  Where'd I put my phone?!
6. So glad we don't have cable tv.  I don't have to watch a bunch of commercials every 5 seconds.  And my kids don't either.  And I'm in complete control of what and when my children watch on tv.  No relying on some network's odd scheduling of shows, etc.  No scrolling thru DVR and yelling about how someone erased what I saved.  Netflix has it all, and now our ROKU has a PBS station too.
7. When was the last time I brushed my teeth?
8. Do I look as frazzled and chaotic as I feel?
9. What do tribal people do with infants?  I mean, they don't have diapers.  Do the babies just pee wherever on whatever?  At what age are they "potty trained;" as in, when do the toddlers know they have to go to "the specific spot" to poop and pee?  
10. If we lived "back in the day" when most families were farmers and the kids were at home more than they were at school/away, then Landon would be sent off with Josh into the fields ALL day.  He'd be so stinkin' exhausted at the end of the day!  And learning skills and building a relationship with his dad and other adult males.  But instead, our society is now built on families being separated all day and kids learning being focused on information rather than skills.  I wonder how things would be different if we had a society structured where families were together more than they were apart during the day.

I'm Gonna Need a Theology Degree

Today Landon, Jillian and I were in the playroom.  They were showing me their "tricks." Things like getting their feet to touch their ears, summer-saults, squinting with their eyes, and other toddler discoveries.

Then, out of no where Landon says, "Hey Mama.  Let's talk about Jesus and the bible."
Me: "Okay....."
Landon: "Who was Judas?"
Me: "Judas?!"
Landon: "Yes."
Me: "Uh, Jesus's friend.  But he wasn't a very good friend.  He told the bad guys where Jesus was and they came and got him and put him on the cross."
Landon: "And then what?"
Me: "Uh.  He was sad."
Landon: "Why?"
Me: "Because it made Jesus sad.  And Jesus died because Judas told the bad guys where Jesus was, so he wasn't being a good friend. He didn't protect Jesus."
Landon: "Why did he make bad choices?"
Me: "Uh.....I guess because he obeyed the Devil, instead of God and instead of being a good friend to Jesus."
Landon: "So Judas told the bad guys and then Jesus died on the cross?"
Me: "Yes."
Landon: "Then what did he do?"
Me: "Er, uh, uhm, he died."
Landon: "Then what."
Me: "I'm not sure buddy."
Landon: "So Judas did what God wanted."
Me: "NO, because he made a bad choice."
Landon: "But God wanted Jesus to die on the cross.  And the bad guys put Jesus on the cross.  And Judas told the bad guys where Jesus was so they could put him on the cross.  So Judas did what God wanted!"
Me: "Uh......Uh.......hmmmmm........it seems that way, but God always wants us to be a good friend and Judas was not being a good friend.  .....  Who were you talking to about Judas?"
Landon: "I don't know.  Nobody.  Hey!  Look at my booboo!"
Me: "Oh thank God."

Seriously?!  Did my three-year-old really just use the Socratic Method and deductive reasoning to ask a super-crazy-difficult theological question?!
I'm seriously gonna need a theological degree to get this kid to adulthood.

Mama's Birthday Weekend -- aka -- Snowed In Weekend

For several years we've all been going to a cabin in the mountains for a family weekend as a way to celebrate my mom's birthday.  She prefers our time over our presents.  This year was one for the record books.  We managed to get snowed in this weekend and stayed an extra day-and-a-half than originally planned.

There was sitting and watching tv and movies.

There were games set up to entertain the children.

This picture showing the game my sister set up for her niece and nephew.

Yes, it looks similar to beer-pong.  However, our game had no beer.

Jillian helped feed Maizy.

Many family dinners.

Ninja Turtle costumes made from toilet paper and throw pillows.

Our view from the deck of the cabin.

That's Lake Blue Ridge.

This is before the snow storm.

As part of the tradition of the birthday weekend, we go out for a drive/picnic one day.  Mind you, it is always in January or February, so our picnic is often eaten in the cold weather.  

Our first stop was suppose to be the fish hatchery.  On our way, our vehicle started having transmission issues.  Then, suddenly, Jared wasn't behind our car any more.  When we turned around to go find him, we discovered that he had blown a tire.

My sister is holding up the rear door because the springs are broken and will suddenly give out, slamming anyone's head who's in the way.  

We then discovered the spare was flat too.

How many people does it take to change a tire?!

Maizy was freakin' out, so we put in the backseat of our car with the kids.

Once it was decided that his car would have to remain by the roadside, we continued on to the planned activities.  However, we found out the fish hatchery was closed on Saturdays.  And the road to the rope bridge we hoped to go to was closed.  By this point the snow started falling.  The weather forecasts were calling for up to 2 inches, so we weren't really worried. 

Here we all are, on the bridge at the beginning of the closed road.  

We used it as a photo opportunity. 

Family of four.  

Landon was stinkin' excited about the snow.

Jillian was ..... well...... cold.

Cutest kids ever.  

Again, Landon super excited, Jillian, tolerating the ordeal.

And please check out the snow.  

It started falling fast, and accumulating quickly.  

We leave the bridge and start finding that the roads are already covered in snow.  We're out of cell range for quite some time.  When we finally get back to an area with coverage, we discover the weather forecast is now calling for four to six inches of snow.  As we are driving back, our car continues to have transmission issues, which somehow Josh fixed by turning the car off and on and messing with the gear-shifter-thing.  We then continued on to the cabin while my dad took his car to find a tire store to fix my brother's tire.

THEN, we come up on a giant hill and traffic is stopped because of an accident.....snow related.  We pull over in a parking lot to wait.  I am hungry, the kids are hungry, and I have to pee.  As we wait and Josh makes friends with the grandmothers who pulled over next to us, we realize that our engine is now over-heating.  SERIOUSLY?!  So now we have to go find a place to get some anti-freeze to try to keep our car from dying so we can get to the cabin before the full six inches of snow falls.

So we find an Ace Hardware without driving too far.  While Josh was in the store, Sarah and I noticed the following sign.....

Just in case you didn't know, you can't bring a loaded fire arm into the Ace Hardware.....but you can buy a gun and possibly the ammo inside.

So then we finally get going.  Our car is no longer having transmission issue or over-heating.  We make it to the bottom of the road our cabin is on.  And our car isn't making it up the first hill.  We were sliding everywhere.  Our four-wheel drive wouldn't kick in so we had no hope of making it up the gravel road and the snow.  My dad finally pulls up and we get the kids, my sister, Sarah, me and the dogs into his car with him and my mom.  Jared, Josh, and Arthur pile into our car to go retrieve Jared's Jeep now that he has a fixed tire.  

Took them forever to get back with all the snow.  My dad's car almost slid off the road over an embankment on our way up the cabin road.  But alas, we all made it back to the cabin before dark and without injuries or wrecked cars.

This is the view from the back deck when we made it back.  

Us, playing the snow, 

as we waited for the guys to get back from the Jeep rendezvous.

The next day the kids really like sliding down the hill on their bellies.

They built a snow man.

"The Originals" as my brother likes to call us.

Note the snowball in his hand.

My mom went sledding.  

She screamed the whole way down the hill every time.

My sister, wearing plastic bags on her feet.  It's a trick that Nana taught us all.  They help protect your feet when you don't have snow boots on.  

We all had dry feet!!!  It really works!

Jared attempted to drive out.  It didn't work.

Eventually the snow started melting, and we really tried to leave.

But the two-wheel drive vehicle just couldn't make it.  Jared had to tow Sarah's car to get it started up the first hill.

Note the amount of snow on our side of the mountain versus the snow in the valley picture above!

Faces of frustration and defeat.

Erin and Arthur had made it out of the driveway and along the road, to the steep steep hill.

Only to find the hill completely covered in ICE.  They walked back to the house.  Eventually the took shovels, sticks, and rocks and broke up the ice on the road so we could all drive down the hill.

No lie.....sticks and rocks.  

I suppose you could say we were desperate to leave.

My dad's packed bag on the porch.  He packed it the first morning we were snowed in.  Silly man.

I decided to clean up the cabin while the rest of the cabin-fevered family used primitive tools to break up the ice on the road.  Any other moms have to vacuum like this?  With children running all over and playing jump-the-cord while you vacuum?

 So that's our family cabin weekend for 2013.  Car troubles, more car troubles, snow, ice, and lots of memories!