Play Like a Child!

Scotty's latest article You'll want to check it out if you have kids, teach kids, or are ever around kids. That should cover the bases. Just in case you needed proof that he knows what he's talking about. Here are a few pics of Manly being...a GREAT dad!

Ways to Enjoy Your Kids This Summer

So, school it out(for most. We're still working on finishing up Math), and with that comes the dreaded question from your kiddos, "What are we going to do today???" With any luck you'll already know the answer, but if you are looking for some things to do maybe this fun list can help you look like a rock star mom(or dad).

• Read
• Ask your kids some things they're interested in. After you have a few things search the topics at your local library. Most libraries have online card catalogs. Our local library will let you pick your books online, place them on hold, and THEY will pull them and put them on a hold shelf for you. All you have to do is go pick them up! Such a help for busy parents! The library is your BEST friend. You read books FOR FREE!
• Want to take reading to the next level? Read short excerpts from books and have your kids recite back to you
• Find fun places to read. Grab an old blanket and throw it out on your front yard, sit under an umbrella table on your patio, read at the pool, read at the park, read on the trampoline. There are so many ways to enjoy a good book. My kids love to read under a tent too. We'll put a blanket over the office table and wallah, a table tent reading nook.
• Bath time
• Daytime baths are fun. Add bubbles and the kids will play in there until they're nice and pruney.
• Bring in kitchen stuff. My kids LOVE to play with colander. Let them "cook" a fancy meal. Follow the bath up with a REAL lunch.
• Throw in light sticks for an extra fun bath. We've done this a few times. We can only do it at night because we have a sky light in the bathroom, but it's SO much fun and gives the kids something to do after bath too.
• Get bath tints! They aren't expensive and will tint the water for bath time fun.
• Cook
• Make homemade Popsicles! They are SO so easy to make. You can use Applesauce, yogurt, fresh fruit...the list goes on and on. You can either pick up an inexpensive mold from just about anywhere, or you can use an ice tray. Be sure you let them freeze up nicely before you try to pop them out or you'll have a mess!
• Make no-bake goods. Rice Krispy Treats and no-bake oatmeal cookies are just the beginning of the ideas for fun "cooking" with kids.
• Let kids make their own pita pizza's. They'll love this simple lunch. We make dessert ones too. Don't want to pay extra for pita's just use tortillas.
• Let them get in on snack time prep. There are so many CUTE snack ideas here.
• Free Outings
• Call your local fire department and set up a time to see the fire station. Be ready to be flexible because the station can't shut down for you, but they are always so nice to us and always have fun goodies for the kids. Be sure to take some sort of thank you gift(a drawing or a batch of cookies works great!).
• Go to the library. Most of the time they have summer reading club. They usually have fun concerts and activities too. Stop by and see what they have to offer. You'll likely be surprised!
• Set up play dates with friends. Kids playing with other kids is ALWAYS a hit. Pick one day of the week and let that be play date day. Mix it up and make it fun.
• Do crafts with recycled materials. You'll be surprised what kids can come up with if you give them an empty paper towel roll. You don't have to buy expensive pre-made crafts to have fun. Keep it simple and let THEM be creative.
• SPLASH PARKS!! Those two simple words will become your best friends! Seriously, find out if your town has a splash park. We have TWO within 30 minutes. They are FREE and FUN! I like to follow up any HOT activity with Sonic happy hour. You can get a kids-sized slush for .50 or so. SO. MUCH. FUN!

So, I hope you are encouraged to go enjoy your kids. Remember, this is your life. Soak it up!

My Smart Girl Says the "S" Word

Addison has dog gone gone and done it this time. She's started saying the terrible horrible no good dirty bad "S" word in common language. NO, not that word! Addi, my sweet loving, dear Addi, has started saying stupid. It makes me so sad, because, let just come clean, I have found myself saying that word in the past, but never thought it was a common word around our house. I'm not sure if she heard me or someone else say it, but she sure didn't hear it from the sisters, because they are wise enough to know that "dirty" words get cleaned right up in this house. They NEVER say any "dirty" words because they don't want a mouth full of soap. Olivia, when she was probably 19 months old or so said "butt" and we didn't want her to say that. We didn't say it around her, but most adults say this word. ONCE with the soap in the mouth and to this day that child has NEVER said anything else that she knows she shouldn't. Emma Claire was a bit tougher, but she too has learned the lesson that dirty mouths get CLEANED in this house. Poor Addi still hasn't gotten the picture. Usually I hear that she's said the word second hand from the tattle queens, so discipline is harder because you never know if it's actually true or if she said something that sounded like the word. ANYWAY, today she was getting ready to go pee before nap and she said, "I gotta get this stupid skirt off so I can go potty!" I was so sad! It nearly broke my heart to hear my baby girl say that! I walked right up to her with my bar of Dove White and said, "Addi. You know that's not a nice word. Dirty mouths have to get cleaned up!" She was so mad, and said she didn't like me when I had soap, but who knows if it'll work this time. I sure hope so, because I just don't want a child of mine going around with a dirty mouth!

A Poll, Cause they're FUN!

I just added a poll to my site on the upper right hand corner. It'll give you time to weigh in your opinion on the sex of Lil' Smittle #4!! We go on the 10th to find out the gender. We are so so excited. I need to put some pictures of my current tummy. It's getting bigger by the day!
School is still going great. We are moving right along and Olivia is starting to get really excited. Her favorite thing so far is when we learned about cents! She thought it was cool that she could count EVEN MONEY!=) Sweet little thing.
Speaking of that lil' monkey. She's decided she's in love. They have plans to be wed. They are pretty cute, but it's made me decide that boys may very well be easier than girls. I have no hands-on experience with boys, but this little girl is going to give us trouble! HA!
Addison is sleeping in the "big girl" room! We moved her in there this weekend and the girls are all doing great with it. Now it'll take some getting used to with the girls not being able to play while she's sleeping and that sort of thing, but overall it's been a nice transition. It was a little sad when I started taking her nursery apart and started getting things things out for the new baby. She's such a bucket of love I just can't stand the thought of her not being my baby!! *Tear*
Emma Claire has decided that she doesn't want me to talk to her. I'm not really sure why, but she is determined that she's not going to carry on a conversation with me(IF SHE REMEMBERS OR DOESN'T NEED SOMETHING!). Gotta love that stubborn silent but deadly will of the second born...
Scotty and I are gearing up for a BUSY month. At this rate February will be here before we know it. Speaking of February. Don't forget to vote and comment on which you think it'll be!

Out.

Tuesday on Friday

So tonight we went to a fundraiser for our local MOPS group. I hadn't had the girls picture made professionally since Emma Claire turned a year old. SO, I wasn't sure how they were going to do. They were actually really good and took what is sure to be some great pictures. It's those scam pictures though, the old-fashioned ones that advertise $10!!!! for a free 10X13, then you get there to look at the pictures and they hit you with the $300 package. Ehh, it's a "free" picture...

Afterwards we went to Ruby Tuesday. Do you have one of those? We'd never been. The only reason we went this time was because they sent us a coupon for buy one entree get one free. It was so tasty! Olivia LOVED the kids menu too and even asked me if she could ask the waiter for a refill on her food! HA! I told her that was only for drinks and she wasn't very happy about that. Anyway, shout out for Ruby Tuesday.

Emma Claire has recently put a new knot on her head. We're talking BIG knot. She fell off the bench in the kitchen and hit the tile floor. She's not the most graceful of children. I thought about taking her to the doctor. I probably would have a few years ago, but in recent years I've learned to weed out the trips to the doctor's office. I'll take her in if it doesn't get better, but it's not bothering her any more. It's just BIG. I mean like it feels like there's a golf ball back there.=)

I'm starting to think that Addison may be our most difficult child. If you'd told me that 6 months ago I would have fought that she was the best, sweetest baby, but in the last few months she has made a turn for the worse and is getting HARD to manage. She's so stubborn and ornery! She's starting to walk though and OH so cute!! I recently had to give her mop head a trim. I'll post a picture soon. She's turning into a red head. My dream come true!

What cleaner do you use to clean your floor?

Watch "Forever Strong." It's good and available to watch instantly on Netflix.

I Heart the Duggar Family

It seems any time I mention the Duggar family I get a slew of comments and everyone shares their thoughts.
Because we don't use birth control and have "a lot"(I didn't know 4 kids was a lot, but whatever) of kids, we often get to hear EVERYONE talk about this precious family.
Now I'd like to share my thoughts. Take them or leave them, but it's my blog.

Do I want 18 kids? No. The Duggar's do though and what they do with their fertility is NO ONE'S business.

Do I think having 18 kids is stupid? No. They have worked their butts off to provide for them. Yes, I'm sure they get a lot of donations, but so do people with multiples and other families. The point is they don't live off of donations and contributions. I'm sure their new found TLC fame helps with this. They don't take advantage of anyone though.

Do I think they should stop? No. People always ask me if they are going to stop like I know them personally because we are like minded. Dang. I guess that means I should know Paula Dean because I also like fattening food. That'd be awesome! We did live close to them when we were living in NWA, but I've never met them before. I did see her at Hobby Lobby once though! I almost cried! HA! The point on this one is that even if I did know them I wouldn't think they needed to stop and I wouldn't know WHEN they are going to stop, because their fertility is THEIR business. Are you getting me??

Do I like it that everyone always starts to talk about the Duggar's when I(not by choice) have to talk about MY fertility? NO. I actually HATE it. I don't like being stereotyped. I don't like it that as soon as they say, "OH!! You guys are going to be like that one family! What's their names? OH yeah, the Duggar's!! You gonna have 20 kids too?!!" That they immediately start telling me how dumb they are because they have so many children.

Something else that seems to happen is this. People who have done things the "normal" way just don't understand things done any other way. Because of that they assume that the not normal way is weird and dumb and not the way to go. I would NEVER tell them that they needed to stop using birth control and start having babies. I know that the way we do things is different. George Washington Carver says that, "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." That statement is so true about having babies. Me out in public with my kids gets attention. People say things like, "poor you." "WHY?" "Are they all yours?" "Are you done yet?" These are all just the strangers. I understand that our decision makes us vulnerable for comments. I just wish that people would filter what they say. I'm OK with it, by the way. If it's the price to pay for having my children, I'm cool with that.

I think that my children are blessings from God. They've been used to show me so many of His attributes and I wouldn't take our decision to have them back. EVER.

Is it easy? HECK NO! Is it fun? SOMETIMES. Not all the time. I have three kids under 5 and one on the way. Do we agree with everything the Duggar's believe? No. There are lots of things that we differ on, but one thing stands the same. God is the leader of our homes and with Him at the head we really don't have anything to worry about. God has and will continue to provide for our family and the Duggar family. When God leads He ALWAYS provides. We KNOW that because of our dependence on Him and trust in Him, He will keep filling our home with beautiful children and keep filling our fridge with yummy food.

SO, this post has been a lot of thoughts. MY thoughts. Don't be a hater. It's not nice.=)

The bottom line is that nothing you say to us or any other family(including the Duggar's) is EVER going to change our minds about the way our family grows. You might as well keep your words to yourself and follow the advice of Thumper the Rabbit. If you can't say something nice. Don't say nothin' at all!

If you'd like more information on the Duggar family you can go here or buy their book. It's fantastic for ANYONE to read.

If you'd like more information on MY family. Keep reading.

A "break down" of my day so far.

I Hear the girls. I get up. Put on penguin pjs and go into the living room.
Find the girls in Addison's room.
Pick up Addison and feel that she is covered in pee.
Change Addison's diaper which is also full of poop.
Strip Addison's soaked bed.
Ask Emma Claire if she is wet(at this point I haven't read the note).
Check EmC's bed. It's dry, by the way.
Put Addison's bedding on to wash with a few other things that were pee covered in the laundry basket.
Make Breakfast.
Eat breakfast.
Put the girls in the tub.
Put new sheet on Addison's bed.
Find new lovey.
Olivia gets out to poop.
Emma Claire gets out to poop.
Both girls make a huge watery mess.
Addison gets out of the tub and gets dried off.
Addison goes down for a nap in a diaper.
I think about the time that I put Emma Claire down for a nap in a diaper and she pulled it off.
Emma Claire gets washed up and out of the tub.
Emma Claire gets her ears cleaned out.
Emma Claire gets her nails clipped.
Emma Claire gets her hair dried.
Emma Claire gets her clothes on.
Emma Claire looks like a little doll.
Emma Claire calls herself "princess Sail boat" because of her dress.
Olivia screams about getting washed up and makes Addison start crying in her bed.
Olivia washes herself up.
Olivia gets her hair washed and ends up crying about soap that isn't really even in her eye yet.
Olivia gets her ears cleaned out.
Olivia gets her nails clipped.
Olivia gets her hair dried.
Olivia gripes about what clothes she has to wear.
Olivia gets told that she can't wear the same clothes every day.
Olivia gets her clothes on.
Olivia looks like a little doll.
The girls pick out a movie.
I start the movie.
The computer looses power.
The computer comes back and is freezing up over and over.
Emma Claire is moving around like she needs to pee.
Emma Claire gets told to go to the bathroom.
Emma Claire pees on herself on the way to the bathroom because she waited too long.
Emma Claire has to get EVERYTHING taken off.
Emma Claire gets a spanking.
Emma Claire gets re-dressed.
Emma Claire looks like a little doll.
Computer decides to work.
The girls watch a movie on Netflix.
Addison is still making noise. Not sleeping.
I get in the shower.
I get out of the shower.
The girls are sitting quietly watching a Shirley Temple movie on Netflix.
I hear Addison singing in her bed.
I smell something.
I dry my hair then go to find what I smell.
I eat a brownie that was supposed to be for Addison(I'm pregnant).
I smell the smell coming from Addison's room.
I figure she's pooped.
I go in to get her out of bed and the smell about knocks me over.
I realize there is something all over the bed.
Addison is naked. Unless you count the POOP all over her.
Addison goes BACK in the tub.
Addison screams.
I strip Addison's bed AGAIN.
I have to take all the bumper pads off.
I have to clean EACH bar on the bed.
I wash the poop off of Addison.
Addison screams.
The girls come in to see what's going on.
I scream for them to go back and watch their movie before they get poop on them.
Addison gets out of the tub.
Addison gets dressed.
I get dressed.
We go to the library.
The craft is painting picture frames.
Emma Claire mixes the paint.
Olivia gets paint in her hair and on her arms.
Addison screams and wants out of the stroller.
One of the helpers at the library informs me about the Duggar's.
One of the library workers asks if we are ever going to have a boy.
The first library lady starts talking bad about the Duggar's. Not good to do that to me(by the way).
I get mad.
I rush the girls.
The girls finish.
We take the crafts out to the car to dry while we go inside to play.
We go BACK inside.
There are some motherless kids climbing all over the stuff in the library. They are out of control.
Our kids sit and stare at them.
Addison climbs up into a chair and decides that the table really is a drum.
Emma Claire starts to yell at the motherless kids that they need to stop.
Olivia starts to tell Emma Claire we aren't in charge of them.
Olivia has to go to the bathroom.
Olivia wants to do it on her own.
We leave to come home to eat lunch.
We get home.
Addison starts to scream.
I try to get the red paint out of Olivia's freshly cleaned hair.
I realize the paint is not washable.
Emma Claire whines about eating lunch.
I make three hot dogs.
Olivia throws a HUGE fit about eating a hot dog.
I tell her it's a hot dog or nothing.
She eats.
They all eat.
I re-make Addison's bed.
I change out the laundry so that the bumper pads can get dry.
I realize that the bumper pads got all messed up in the washer.
I try to fix the bumper pads.
I get mad and fuss under my breath and put them in the dryer.
I get Addison(while she's screaming) and put her in her bed.
I have the girls pee.
Emma Claire gets pee all over her second dress for the day.
Emma Claire starts screaming because she knows she's about to get in trouble again.
I ignore Emma Claire and make her go to bed without saying a word to her about her dress.
I get all the girls in bed.
I clean up the kitchen.
I try to find something that I feel like eating.
I settle on saltines and apple juice.
I rest in the bed and catch up on blogs.

Give 'em roots. Give 'em wings.

Last night Scotty and I attended a memorial service. As we sat in the standing room only PACKED sanctuary of our church I looked around at all the sad facing mourning the loss of a friend, a cousin, a son, a grandson, a student, a brother, a child.

Our pastor sent out an urgent email this time last week asking for prayer for his family, as they'd found out that their 20 year old son had taken his life.

At the service last night we listened as the family talked about Jordan's accomplishments, inner struggles, and love for his family and friends. What an amazing person he must have been.

His parents raised him to be a strong, intelligent, Christ-loving, outgoing kid. Looking in to their life I'd say they did everything "right." SO, the question I kept asking myself was "WHY?"

Then, just like He was sitting in front of me, God said to me, "'Why' isn't important. What's important for you to know is that YOU can't make a perfect child."

I'm such a perfectionist. Even typing this post is grueling to me because I feel the need for everything to be perfect. Every day I wear myself out trying to keep my house clean, my kids looking adorable, and my life all in order. If, at the end of the day I look back, I can always find something that I didn't do a good job at; I yelled too much at Olivia, I didn't respect my husband, I didn't get the floor mopped.

My perfectionism doesn't stop there. I work really hard to teach my kids the right things. I tell them all about Jesus, show them right from wrong, correct them when they misbehave, and discipline them so that they don't make the same mistake again.

But, what happened last night for me, amid the sadness(and happiness-because Jordan is in heaven) of the memorial service, was that I learned that no matter how much I work at being the best parent I can, my job is to give my sweet blessings(my kids) right back to their maker.

HE and ONLY HE is in complete control of my kids. He's had them in His hand since before they were born. At some point, our kids will take on their own personality, they'll make friends, they'll decide what they believe for themselves. Not just what I've taught them; they'll make up their OWN belief system.

So, I'll do my best-I'll keep my focus on Christ and let everything else fall into place, and at the end of the day, I'll look back and know that my best was good enough. That God is in control-not me. That my kids need me to help them, but I CAN NOT make them perfect.