First Grounding... (read this part first)

Dear Olivia (age 3, almost 4),

I am sorry that you are grounded from putting the toothpaste on your toothbrush, by yourself, until Saturday. I know you LOVE to do this, but my first job as a parent is to love you and keep you safe. Therefore, you CAN NOT eat the toothpaste, it could make you very sick. Always remember, I love you unconditionally (that means, no matter what) even if you do eat the toothpaste. And I hated to see you cry so hard tonight. Please understand I am just keeping you safe.

Love,

Mom

First Grounding... (Read this second)

Ok, do we ground kids at age 3? No other term came to mind in the heat of the moment. I can't just "take it away" since we will need it again tomorrow. I don't want to be over dramatic about this (I read somewhere that over the course of a woman's lifetime she will eat 6 lbs of lipstick. That doesn't mean I twist it up and bite it off!), but I know that she could get sick if she consumed too much! So anyway, forgive me for rambling, I just really don't feel well and am really tired of telling my precious angel to STOP EATING THE TOOTHPASTE!!! ( I should clarify, that "eating the toothpaste" means putting a TINY bit on her finger (and I mean tiny, I have watched her do this without her knowledge) and eating it, I mean savoring it.



I digress...


Ok, after re-reading this, I think I may sound a little crazy. But you know how, as parents, we all pick our battles? some we choose to fight and others we just let go. Well, this one, for some reason, I am choosing to fight (not sure why, it all made more sense earlier) because I want her to be a responsible tooth brusher someday. Anyway, Thanks for letting me vent. I feel much better, although I think I may be a little crazy (lets just chalk it up to the cold).

Missing Daddy, She loves her room!

The kids sure missed daddy while he was gone this weekend!

Olivia wanted to make a movie to show the 8th outfit she had picked out today! Before we started filming we had this conversation:

Olivia: "I'm going to wear this now, is it poofy?"

Me: "YES! It is so pretty!"

Olivia: (silence)

Me: "Do you want it to be poofy?" thinking, did I answer wrong again?

Olivia: "What is poofy?"

Me: "that means your skirt sticks out"

Olivia: "Matter of fact, I was looking for a purple tank top"

MATTER OF FACT???? that is too cute!

(Dad and Kathy mentioned that she is using this phrase but I had not heard it until now!)

Way Back...

I love it when I hear a song and am instantly taken back in time. This morning it was "Father Abraham" (on one of the kid's cds) and I was back at the Church of the Brethren with Jill and Brad. I think we were 5. Fun memories!!!

What songs have you heard recently that took you back in time?

It was getting too quiet, part 2

Today's episode of "It was getting too quiet" was dramatically different from yesterday. If you remember, Logan was quietly reading a book... not today!!!

AND he is in big-boy underwear today! After he took off his diaper and peed on the floor, I decided to give it a try... (smile)

Where is the "Mommy Manual"????

(riding in the car this morning, totally random thoughts from Olivia, per usual)

Olivia: "Does Great-Grandma have to say in heaven?"

Me: "Yes, but she loves it there!"

Olivia: "Is it a house?"

Me: "Yes, the biggest house ever!"

Olivia: "Did she drive there?"

Me: "No, the angels came and got her, and took her all the way up to heaven"

Olivia: "Did they fly?"

Me: "Well, " thinking oh dear, where am I going with this?
"Only your heart goes to heaven, you get a new body there"

Olivia: "So they fly there"

Me: "Sort of"

It was getting too quiet....

So I went to check on Logan. Instead of being into trouble, he was reading a Curious George Book! Good Boy Logan! (The video is dark, not sure why, I can adjust it on my computer but it doesn't stay that way...)

You say, God says...

HANDY LITTLE CHART God has a positive answer:
YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES

You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive myself' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

PASS IT ON. YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY NEED IT.

Make it a Wonderful Day!

Love this email! Thanks mom for sending it this morning!!!

Should I be embarrassed?

I watched 90210 tonight.


It was unintentional, I got on the treadmill and it was on. I was hooked on the old one. so I have to admit I was curious! It was pretty good, some of the issues are pretty mature. Guess that is good, gets families talking about some tough to talk about issues. Did anyone else watch it? (Susie, back me up here!!! :))

Update: Ok, watched the second episode, I think I may be hooked! How does this happen?

I'm torn

In March and April I am LONGING for summer, some warm weather, the kids playing outside, walks/runs in the evening. But by the end of August I am ready for fall. I love it when it turns cool and it becomes sweatshirt weather (LOVED going back to college in the fall!, football games, etc.) SO I am torn, between being excited for fall and leaving summer behind. Our baby pool was getting gross and it ripped so I took the kids to Target to see if they had good deals on pools. They did! we got this one for $4.98. AND the pump this time! SO the kids had a great afternoon of playing and splashing, we got some sun and just relaxed outside. I took some video but the kids decided to have a 20-minute splashing/squealing contest so I will spare your ears.

So for a few more weeks we will enjoy this early fall weather and then put the pool away and get the sweatshirts out. I am so thankful to live in a part of the country with seasons. God knew that I loved and needed change, so I am thankful that he planted me here.