the moon is full

and that's all.

2012-02-06T04:46:00.001-08:00

I only have a few minutes.

JBoy will be up any minute. Curious George will go off in 10 minutes. The Eldest will get up soon. but their lunches are packed for Mother's Day Out, their breakfast is ready, I actually took a shower.

I just have a few things to say.

it's been an exhausting past week. I feel like I got run over by a truck. I'm finding bruises & cuts in the weirdest places. no, I wasn't attacked. it's the product of going constantly, taking care of the kiddos round the clock, having fun along the way, not stopping, doing things super fast & not realizing that hey! I just sliced my finger while cutting up that orange! shoooot.

JBoy is learning all about the word No.

miss poopy shorts learned it is NOT okay to poop in the yard when friends are here because she is feeling a little left out. really.

The Eldest (whom I will soon dub 'Jungle Princess') is learning first-time obedience. again.

and I am learning to abide.

a closer walk with Thee. Precious Jesus, 'tis my plea.

and that is all.

photo op of the week.

2012-02-03T11:10:00.001-08:00

oh my head!

things I'm learning

2012-01-31T06:07:00.000-08:00

listen to their hearts. okay, this is totally not me. you would not have read this on my bloggy woggy 2 years ago. rather, you would have read something more like 'hearts? I'm way more concerned about obedience'. but it's funny, when I listen to what she's really trying to say, and where it's coming from, that obedience just falls right into place.

if they're whiny, mad, sad, or just grumpy, I'm trying to look at myself first. did I push them too much? one too many errands? does she need to eat? is this a new sickness coming on? I'm actually usually to blame. crazy, I know.

I can't do more than 2 loads of laundry a day. I just can't.

give them a little freedom. it will be okay. if miss poopy shorts wants to line up 5 cups of water on the counter for every member of the family, dripping and spilling as she goes. . . it will be okay.

crack down on the serious stuff & follow through immediately.

do not discipline at bedtime. it's not fun & it's not worth it. they lay in bed & think about what I just said.

sometimes we need a little separation. even if for one hour.

bring Jesus into every conversation. just try it.

know their weaknesses & put them first. do not blame them for your lack of protection (can you tell I'm really trying to learn this?)

sunshine & dirt changes everything.

do the next thing.

teach them that life is ministry, not just because their daddy is a pastor & it's sorta our job. teach them to take it to school. teach them to bring people into their home. teach them to stay up late/skip routines/wake early, for the sake of another.

and finally, the most important thing I'm learning: coffee fights illnesses such as cancer, depression, common colds. really! bring it ON.

photo op of the week.

2012-01-27T09:32:00.001-08:00

we've been robbed!!

pick a title.

2012-01-26T04:23:00.001-08:00

any title.

goodnight, baby.

2012-01-21T17:14:00.001-08:00

I rocked you to sleep tonight, as I have the past 340-something nights.

my last baby.

my only son.

happy birthday to you.

you are our noble gift from God, dear Jonathan.

photo op of the week.

2012-01-20T19:24:00.001-08:00

can't a girl get some privacy?

why not.

2012-01-18T13:14:00.001-08:00

because some days,

a girl's just gotta

dip her fruit

in some blended banana

and Nutella.

look! a random list!

2012-01-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

doing: typing. geez.

what I ate for dinner last night: this new fancy steak-spinach-walnut-blueberry-salad. my mother-in-law gave me a new cookbook called 'Eating Well'. I've given it an honest try, with several new recipes. so far the husband & I agree a couple of them should be called 'Eating Cardboard'. but this fancy salad was pretty great.

listening to: Andrew Peterson on Pandora

wishing: for cookie dough ice cream. hold the ice cream.

excited about: the stack of books I got for Christmas.

not excited about: no cookie dough ice cream in my freezer.

can't believe that: tomorrow the husband & I tour a kindergarten. because we have a kid who will go to kindergarten on August 1st. like, 7 months away.

stinks that: everyone has little colds. again. and my throat is sore.

can't believe that: I'm letting a ton of laundry just sit there. laughing at me. but seriously, I haven't had the time this week. and now I just don't care. I know.

what's for dinner tonight: breakfast burritos.

really really hoping for: tomorrow to start summer. but seeing as how it snowed a little this morning, probably not gonna happen. a girl can hope.

loving: Angelina ballerina. and Roku.

now I'm going to: check out the girls' room and make sure it's not a huge raging mess.

arts & crafts.

2012-01-09T18:22:00.000-08:00

so the little girls spend probably 80% of their day coloring, glueing, cutting. . repeat. their little art table was getting awfully small, and babyJ thought it super fun to walk by & swipe markers, crayons, & their masterpieces & run for the hills.

enter this snazzy project, brought to you by Pinterest. my first real Pinterest project.

well, the first was the idea to paint my kitchen grey. but that's less project-y and more home-improvement-y.

I thought this was a stellar idea. take two of those cube-y shelves, which I already had, turn them around, get Lowes to cut a 6x3 ft board, wrap it in oil cloth & staple it on, a d voila.

enter new art table.

see? it doubles as a cool cave, and I also stapled Christmas lights underneath. and when the toys are actually picked up, you don't even notice them because they're nice & hidden. we don't have a play room in our little home. this would be it.

the next project had been on my mind for months, ever since the husband & my dad built the girls their swing set. I just secured enough scrap wood to finally do it.

it's a rough little clubhouse under the slide platform.

see?

they literally spend hours out there, making soups, cookies, and of course. . dirt pot pie.

it's dirty, though. especially after it rains. but, that just makes it more fun.

see the little window? and the flower window boxes?

I had so much fun doing this. but I'm sure my neighbors are glad I'm not hammering anymore.

for now.

you decide.

2012-01-09T04:24:00.001-08:00

what's better than a snotty, dirty baby face?

a dirt pot pie.

that's what.

4-wheelin.

2012-01-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning went a little something like this:

and then the next day:

so so fun.

the eldest caught on right away. miss poopy shorts figured it out by the end of Christmas Day, around and around the kitchen table.

I'm so proud of this little girl right here!

things I say to miss poopy shorts

2012-01-06T13:18:00.001-08:00

don't take your socks off.

don't play with your spaghetti.

eat it with your teeth, don't just lick it.

please don't lick the furniture.

don't take your shoes off outside.

we use our spoon and fork, not our fingers.

where is your underwear?

we don't take our pants off.

don't touch the cart.

don't squish him.

no jumping in the bathtub.

what's your name today?

go get some underwear.

the restaurant booth is not a bed.

please don't lick me.

you don't have to take every marker cap off.

draw on paper, not yourself.

please don't scream. I know he thinks it's funny, but i don't.

please don't wash your sister's hair. I'll do that.

you don't have to use all the soap at one time.

If you take your jacket off you have to come inside.

you don't have to put all the marshmallows in your mouth at one time.

if you drink your milk like a big girl, it won't come out your nose.

go.get.your.underwear.

thank you to the masses.

2012-01-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

'you're a rock star.'

'3 in a grocery cart?? you are cu-ra-zy!'

'you've got your hands full. what are their ages? 4, 3, & almost 1? yeah, you've got your hands full.'

'you are one brave woman.'

I hear this a lot. like, everywhere I go. every outing. every Walmart trip. every trip to story time. every trip to the Y. the consignment store. target. the mall. church. yes, church.

it warms my heart, really. the general public is endearing. kind. helpful. you have held doors open for me so many times. you have picked up countless sippy cups thrown to the floor. you have tracked me down in Walmart to hand me a lost pacifier. you have come behind me to return a dropped princess purse, full of treasures. you have given us free cookies, candy, drinks, & toys. you have watched two of my children while I ran after the other. you have brought me drink refills. you have cleaned our messes. you have loaded my car and my van. you have loaned me diapers and wipes. you've let us hold your puppy. you've pushed my strollers. you've held my babies.

thank you. from the bottom of my tired, full, crazy, rock-star heart.

the uncut version

2012-01-01T18:34:00.001-08:00

here are a few pictures from 2011 that didn't make the blog cut. .

I don't know why this one didn't make it. what a winner.

something about my snowflake pants didn't make me jump to put this picture on the world wide web...but here ya go. happy?

the face of a girl with strep.

a giraffe taking a leak in his crib.

how many cousins can you fit in a hammock?

cousin love.

my brother-in-law & his wife. stellar folks. and quite musical.

her favorite little friend.

Elmo love.

we fish a lot in this family.

I mean come on. adorable. yes, she's cleaning the tub.

Mo!

a birthday breakfast.

Obviously going places.

miss poopy shorts at my parents' house having a moment with the kitty.

making cookies. and no, I didn't keep my baby on the kitchen table. I don't know how he got there.

my little mom and dad holding baby J for the first time. sigh.

stick fishing.

so there you have it. the unedited, uncut version of 2011.

new year goals, aspirations, & fat chances.

2011-12-31T19:29:00.001-08:00

the husband asked if I had any new year resolutions.

I said "nope. I'm just going to continue to survive."

which led me to at least ponder things I would like to try:

iron the husband's pants

start every day with clean dishes and an empty sink.

wake up earlier

read that stack of books

clean the kitchen floor, not just wipe up messes with Clorox wipes.

make a new meal once a week

learn to coupon

clean the bathrooms once a week

wash the windows once a month

but if I do these things, I won't have time for these things:

being available & flexible

teaching the Eldest to read

drawing cwith-mus twees with miss poopy shorts

gardening

library story time

rainy movie & popcorn days.

playtime with little friends

playtime with big friends

breathing

eating every now and then.

enter Serenity prayer.

my thoughts.

2011-12-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

so glad it's warm and the little girls love being outside...and I can think. and drink coffee. and blog. I feel like I just woke up from a long heavy nap, but I didn't. you know that sluggish feeling. boy I need my hairs cut, but the little girls need to go to the dentist more. that sounds like fun. we've been listening to tons of pandora music, as that was part of what the husband gave me. did you know kids music can play for 12 hours a day? like, cool kids' music. fun stuff that makes them just sit on the couch & listen with this excited look on their face. while I make dinner. or blog. so I'm still trying to figure out how to post pictures to my bloggy-woggy on this here awesome iPad. I will figure it out. it just pains me to let blogspot go. oh, I hear the girls on the deck talking about how cool it would be to have hot chocolate when they come in. i should make some now & surprise them. there is stuff everywhere. presents still sitting out to be wrapped, a 6 pack of tomato juice for tomato soup tonite, a random snow globe, the girls' new shoes we got this morning, a pacifier on the husband's bible, a box of clementines, a bag full of chocolate. yes, really. that part is for me. I've gotta feed the birds, those poor little things. I just talked to my dad, he said I could plant more spinach even now, if I wanted. stoked. the little girls are in love with Rudolph. it's hilarious. we'll be planning baby J's first birthday party soon. wow. I'm going to attempt a dump truck cake. because he got quite a few for Christmas.

ok. I'm gonna get on that hot chocolate.

that is all.

2011-12-28T04:09:00.000-08:00

Thankful. Thankful that little boy blue is feeling better and still sleeping right now. He ran a fever for most of his first Christmas.

Thankful that the little girls love their big-girl bikes (if you can call kid bikes with training wheels 'big kid bikes'). Since it's been rainy and wet these past few days, our kitchen became a bit of a race track.

Thankful that spinach is still growing, and just this morning I saw broccoli heads forming! Wahoooo!

Thankful for my wonderful husband who gave me a couple gifts that make long days a bit more enjoyable..

Speaking of long days, we're gonna have to get creative up in here with no Mother's Day Out, story time at the library, & finally some real cold weather....if you can call the 40's real cold weather. But I did make the girls a new art table, thanks to Martha Stewart. Yep, she gave me a fabulous idea, and they love it..tons more space to spread out, it's much taller since babyJ started swiping their crayons, and underneath is a cave strung with Christmas lights. I would show you a picture, but this here new iPad doesn't upload pics to blogger...which leads me to the next subject.

I'm moving to Wordpress. I know. Big. Intimidated is not the word. But my question to you is, will you follow me there? You never know what surprises lay around the corner, in the Land of Words that Press.

Let me know what you think.

have yourself a merry little Christmas.

2011-12-26T17:57:00.001-08:00

Jenny.

almost there. .

2011-12-24T04:12:00.000-08:00

we've been listening to tons of Christmas music 'round here.

we've been doing some fun snowy crafts. even though it's 60 degrees and raining. i do love Georgia.

we've been wrapping presents.

we've been puddle jumping outside.

we've been making this-is-the-last-trip-to-walmart-i-swear trips to walmart.

we've been dropping coins in the salvation army buckets.

we've been decorating gingerbread houses with friends.

we're going to church this morning.

we're then headed to my parents' for the afternoon.

we're coming home for our own Christmas.

we're picking up two kids' bikes that are at my sister-in-law's house. in secret, you know.

we're placing two kids' bikes in our living room.

we're waiting with great anticipation.

merry Christmas, folks!

drumroll.

2011-12-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

ladies and gentlemen. .

we have a walker.

macaroni crafts make me happy.

2011-12-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

i've never been a crafty person. in fact, the one time i went to any sort of vacation bible school during the summer i hated it because we did one dumb craft with popsicle sticks and painted a cheap plastic window-catcher with water colors.

stupid, i said. what a waste of time. i was like, 6.

but now that i'm all grown up & super wise with tons of life experience under my belt (if you've been reading here long enough, hopefully you heard the sarcasm there), i heart kids' crafts. i heart them because i understand how they can be little treasures. a little hand-print turkey on the Thanksgiving table is the cutest thing ever. especially when it's your precious child's hand-print. i get it now.

now, when the toilet paper roll is empty, i don't toss the roll. if you come over, you'll see empty toilet paper rolls lining the window sills in both bathrooms. there are empty egg cartons on top of my fridge, just waiting to be filled with nuts & berries on a nature walk outside. instead of throwing popsicle sticks in the garbage, i'm rinsing them off & stashing them in my silverware drawer. and yes, once i sacrificed a popsicle just so my girls could use the stick for a craft. i'm also saving all the buttons that come with just-bought sweaters or khakis. because, you know, they can be eyeballs or noses for little toilet-paper-roll-people. don'tcha know??

so imagine my happiness when the girls came home with probably half-a-dozen Christmas crafts on the last day of Mother's Day Out today. there were reindeer hand-print pictures, styrophone cup angels, and laminated candy canes galore. all of them treasures, and i will be saving them for years to come. but my favorite? a macaroni Christmas ornament frame with miss poopy shorts' picture in it. awwwwww. i mean, it really could've been a picture of a random child, i just loved the macaroni so much.

i never thought i'd say that.

now i just need to invest in a hot glue gun and my life would be complete.

the most wonderful time of year.

2011-12-13T16:54:00.001-08:00

Advent.

you know what makes me happy? to hear that when asked by her teachers at Mother's Day Out what is the meaning of Christmas, miss poopy shorts yells out 'JESUS' amongst the other answers about Santa & presents and such.

or when the sweet neighbor lady stops by to tell the Eldest she hopes Santa brings her lots of presents this year and my daughter gives her a blank look, eyes blinking. . and later she tells me 'she must not know about Jesus'.

this is the third year we've led the girls in Advent each night.

and each night they recite more. or remember something else. or learn something new.

it's a good thing, because they'll be teaching this little fella, too.

supervision needed.

2011-12-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

hey girls!

wanna make some cookies?

great! now here are the sprinkles. .

i'm going to put little brother down for a nap.

don't get too crazy with the sprinkles while i'm gone.

okay?

around the house.

2011-12-06T11:42:00.001-08:00

as in, Waffle House.

i told you. it's my favorite place.

it's the happiest place on earth.

somebody looks a little nervous.

just some siblings in a box.

loads of cuteness.

and loads of laundry.

the end.