I'm trying!

Ok, I know. I've been awful at updating this blog for a bit. Really, almost 3 months...how is that possible? Well, 4 kids, the holidays, barely functioning computer, I guess that's how! I will write more soon, but here are some fun images of the kids.

Sabrina



Sliding High Five Attempt 43

Wordy Wednesday

6:00AM
Feeding
Diaper change
Check email/listen to the news/get the paper
Kettle on
Wake up children
Press coffee
Baby to bed
Herd children to bathroom & getting dressed
Fix breakfast
Remind children to speak in kind voices in the morning
Remember to pour coffee into mug
Dole out a consequence for hitting/being mean/sassing
Hug a crying child
Help children bus dishes
Help children do jobs
Check homework
Fill backpacks with lunches and folders
Drink coffee I poured in mug (ahhhhhhhh)
Stop a fight
Herd children into car
Drive to school
Drop off
Drive home-call someone
Clean up from breakfast
Feeding
Diaper change
Play with baby/Sabrina
Laundry sorted
Pick up living room
Baby down for nap
read to Sabrina
Plan menu
Check budget
Replan menu
Make grocery list
cut coupons
Feed baby
Diaper change
Race to the van
Race to school
Pick-up Stuart/Sabrina
Listen the exciting school stories on drive home
(Are you tired yet? It's only 12:30)
Put girls down for naps
More laundry
Make supper/Finish cleaning kitchen
Help Stuart with homework
Feeding
Diaper Change
Drag Sabrina out of bed
Race to the van
Race to school
Pick up Chase
Listen to him NOT tell me about his day
Break up more fights
Put baby down for nap
Check Chase's homework
Finish getting dinner ready
Twitter/Facebook/Email
Break up more fights
Remind children to speak kindly
Hug a crying child
Read to someone
Feed the baby
Michael & Sam get home (HALLELUJAH!)
Dinner
Put baby down for nap
Clean-up from dinner
Bath 3 children, get them in pjs
Remind children to pick out clothes for tomorrow
Talk to Michael
Remind Stuart 4 more times to pick out clothes for tomorrow
Remind Sabrina that she has more than pink clothes to wear
Break up more fights
Remind everyone to go to the bathroom & brush teeth
hug many children
Read stories
Sing
Pray
Read
Lights out (Ahhhhhh)
Someone out of bed
Put back in bed
Someone else out of bed
Put back in bed
Email/twitter/facebook
Finish cleaning up
Remember the laundry
Make lunches for tomorrow
Set out breakfast stuff
Feed the baby
Diaper change
Put Annalise to bed
Talk to Michael some more
Fall into the bed, exhausted, but full of love!
11:30PM

Not me! Monday

Yep, Monday, Labor Day, and a week of things I did NOT do!

While feeding the baby, I did NOT discover that size 1 diapers are much bigger than newborn diapers. I did NOT discover this leak by a huge wet spot on my shorts. I did NOT continue to wear the shorts the rest of the day. I certainly did NOT wear those shorts the next day.

Stuart does NOT insist that whenever Annalise cries, that she needs to burp. When she cries really hard, he does NOT say that Annalise wants him.

Chase has NOT discovered that he can play games on our iPods and Michael's work phone. One of those games is not Ms. Pac Man. This was NOT my favorite game as a child!

I do NOT not remember when I showered last. I am NOT using the excuse that I'm doing laundry and don't think that there will be enough hot water.

I am NOT totally eating up these girls together!


My youngest baby is NOT 2 weeks old. It does NOT feel like she's always been a part of the family.



Leave your own "Not me!" antics in the comment section!

Friday Funnies

While changing Annalise's diaper & cleaning her cord:
Sabrina: Mama, can I help?
Me: Sure, baby.
Sabrina: (Handing me the rubbing alcohol) Here, Mama. Here's the dry up juice.


While Stuart is playing and Annalise is hanging out on a blanket:
Stuart: Mom, has her raisin fallen off yet?
Me: Raisin?
Stuart: (Pointing to her cord) You know, her raisin.

Sabrina was dropping food on the floor while she & Ruth were eating at the table:
Me: Sabrina, don't drop things from the table. That makes a mess on the floor. If you drop something on the floor, you will need to pick it up.
Sabrina: Na, mom, Miss Lisa will get it.

Wordless Wednesday

Stuart's favorite song to dance to: Footloose.

Not me! Monday

Oi vey! It's Monday! Time for a little fun...

This past week I HAVE NOT been reveling in a dreamy baby girl. She is NOT sleeping almost 5 hours already. I DO NOT know how amazingly wonderful that is. (Really—a-MAY-zing!)

My older kids DID NOT start a great school year the day before Annalise was born. They DID NOT LOVE it. I DID NOT hear about how great school was.

Chase DID NOT confess that he doesn't really like the baby. That same night he DID NOT get out of bed when I was getting ready to feed her "just to check on her". He did not get up 20 minutes later to ask me this: "Is Annalise left or right handed?" It was not 3:30AM.

I have NOT gone a little coo-coo for this free mug from the hospital.

I have NOT been mercilessly teased by people, including the baby's nurse for getting excited about the mug.

I AM NOT feeling so good that I want to go running. (Reminder: I hate running). I am NOT getting frustrated because I feel I should be able to do more and then I realize I spend 8-9 hours every day sitting in a chair feeding a newborn.

Hope y'all have a great week.

Stuart the theologian

Just a couple funny stories that people have told me about Stuart recently.

Michael caught Stuart carrying some water into his room and then bringing it back out.

Micahel: What are you doing?
Stu: Oh, I was just baptizing Obi-Won Kenobi.


London recounted this about Stuart & Aidan's conversation on the way home:

Stuart: Oh, we played Star Wars at recess today. I was Yoga.
Aidan: Yo-DAH
Stuart: Yogda?
Aidan: Yo-DAH!
Stuart: Oh. Yea, and the other day I baptized Obi-Won Kenobi
Aidan: What's bapertized?
Stuart: It's when you go in the water and you get washed off of all your sins 'cause from then on you follow Jesus. (very matter of factly) But if you sin again, ya just pray.

Wordless Wednesday

She's here!

I know that you really just want to see pictures of the baby, but I don't know where the cord is to connect the camera to the computer! Sorry, you'll just have to wait patiently!

Annalise Jane
Annalise is an English name of Anna & Elizabeth meaning grace, favor, and the promise of God.
Jane is Michael's grandma's name and means God is gracious
We haven't really decided on any nicknames like we did with Chase, so for now, it's just Annalise.

She was born Friday Aug 21 at 4:45PM after a fast & easy induction that couldn't have gone better. I'm not sure if I want to share her "birth story" here because it was so simple. Let's just say it was far easier then labor is supposed to be, and I am thankful for it! She was 7lbs 4oz, 20 inches long. She has dark eyes and brown hair and really long fingers & feet! We can't quite decide whose look she favors, so she's simply her own unique self; she's just lovely.

I have lots of thoughts & emotions rolling around in my head about the blessings of God in the midst of trials, but I think I'll have to save the deep thoughts for later when I'm a bit more coherent.

We're home now and would LOVE to see people. I probably won't be taking her out too much this month, but come on over!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok..a few words. I am not a photographer of any kind! (Nothing like Jenn, Jodi, or MckMama)We just wanted to document our celebration of spaghetti & meatballs, Fitz's soda, & chocolate BTS (back to school) cake
Tomorrow will be here soon!

Not me! Monday

Happy Monday! More fun over at MckMama's blog.


This week was NOT spent saying, "The baby could come today, or it has to wait until next Friday." My due date is NOT today and I'm pretty sure the baby is happy inside. Not so much mama.

I DID NOT sleep more this week than I have in a long time. I am NOT in love with naps.

I DID NOT contemplate making a T-shirt/sign/sandwich board that says:

Due Date: Monday
Yes, it's my fourth
No, I don't know if it's a boy or girl.

Cause, I'm NOT at all tired of answering those questions.

I DID NOT eat a huge hamburger from McDonald's this week because I felt rushed to make a choice and I couldn't see the menu only the advertisement board. No, I always choose healthy food, even when eating at fast food. I would also NEVER be intimidate by a woman with a computer clipboard standing outside to take my order.

I am NOT wishing desperately that the kids would go back to school ASAP. My 1st grader is not driving us all crazy. NO, I always enjoy every moment with my children and wish we could spend more time together. What kind of mom would that be?

Have a great week and I really hope my next post is about a baby!

School

Saturday morning I spent 3 hours at the kids' school's "Back to School Morning." It was lovely. Every time I'm at their school, I am reminded why I love it so much and how much peace I have about sending them there. Central Christian School is full of the love of God and academic excellence. It is truly an amazing place. Many parents have offered to help with rides for all the kids when the baby comes, and teachers have been so ready to hear about how our kids handled the transition of moving. The curriculum and its execution is excellent. This is not a school that thinks just because we love Jesus we learn by osmosis in our little Christian bubble. Real passion to explore God's world with the foundation that all Truth begins in God and real drive share the love of God with the outside world.

Chase is starting first grade, so his big transition is full day school. Stuart is starting Kindergarten; he's headed 'upstairs' (!) and gets to go 5 days! And Sabrina, she'll be in 3K two mornings a week and she couldn't be more excited to get to stay at the place she's been visiting since she was a baby!

I'm just so happy that in all the turmoil and transition of this summer, the kids are heading to a place that is familiar and amazing!

Not me! Monday

Oh, yes...I have returned! Well, sort-of. I don't know if I'll ever be back to my real old self again, but at least, my new self is here!

I'm going to share a few things I certainly have NOT done over the last few weeks. Others are happy to tell you what they haveN'T done over at MckMama's blog.

When I found a small bug on the floor while I was mopping with the swiffer wet jet, I DID NOT simply douse it with extra half a cup of wet jet juice and mop over it. I would never be that wasteful just so I don't have to bend down. I also did not leave a clump of cat fur sitting next to the trash can for 2 days because I would have to bend down to get it and it was too gross to pick up with my toes. NEVER, that would be disgusting.

I have NOT made my kids watch several musicals this summer, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sound of Music, Newsies, or have them watch several old Muppet shows. Nope, I would NEVER use the television as a babysitter and if I did, I would let them choose for themselves. I would NEVER be so selfish as to choose myself so I didn't have to listen to something I didn't like.

I have NOT resorted to bribing my 3 year old with stickers to behave appropriately in the store. Nope, she HAS NOT thrown several embarrassing fits recently that have completely exhausted my pregnant self. She is always the perfect angel.

My children have NOT invented a new game to play with swords. They do NOT run around the deck fighting "all the pharaohs dead."

I also have NOT been playing 80s pop music like "Footloose" or "We built this city" while we do our chores and jobs. My children do not have their own signature dance moves to these songs. I have NOT be unable to record their "rehearsals."

I am NOT hoping the baby comes tomorrow so that it would be a convenient birth date to remember. The kids DO NOT start school 3 days after my due date, so I am of course NOT hoping the baby comes now or next Friday. I am all natural and know this baby will come whenever it wants. (I, of course, have NOT been induced with my 3 other kids!)

Have a great week!

Chase, the 80 year old, again

Chase: "I don't think I got through the whole sleep cycle. I only got through stages 1,2,3, and 4, non-R E M sleep."

Seriously had to pretend to cough to keep the laughter from spilling out.

Smiley Stuart

Chase, the 80 year old

Reading my bible and Chase comes out of his room.
"Mom, I'm sore."
"Do you think it's from sleeping hard or working in the yard yesterday?"
"Oh, working yesterday, definitely. I don't think I even had R-E-M sleep" (spelled out, not said like a word)

Sassy Molassy Sabrina

Finally an update

I know, I've been completely remiss with my blog. I just feel like if I blogged it would be sad and crabby! And then we didn't have time. So here's the digest of the last 8 weeks.

Our house wasn't selling so we offered money for people to put in a half bath or main floor laundry. Still not an offer.
Baby was still coming, so we needed to get out. We felt like God was directing us to rent for ourselves, keep our house on the market, and lower the price again.
We found a rental, lost the rental, found another, but too expensive. Landlord came down on price and we moved on July 2! The house is amazing-3x the size of our old house. It's really amazing provision and we can stay for a long time.
Our house, still not selling, listed on Craig's list for rent, not a bite, lowered the price. Had 4 requests in 2 days, lease & deposit signed 3 days later, inspection, re-inspection, occupancy permit & rent payed 3 days later. They moved in yesterday, Samantha moved in with us yesterday.
Been having lots of contractions, but baby still not due for 2 weeks, but kinda wishing it comes today or late.
Got class lists this weekend, school supply lists, Chase starts 1st grade, Stuart Kindergarten, and Sabrina 3K. Exciting and scary...what in the world am I going to do the first week of school if this baby comes on time?
Discovered I'm going to have to ask for more help than I'm used to.

God has provided and He is amazing!

So there's the stream-of-consciousness update. I promise funny stories & pictures soon!

Update or rant...however you want to see it

So this is basically a stream of consciousness vent.

I've really been avoiding the blog for a while, mainly because I feel like a broken record. In many ways I'm not much changed since this post in May. At the same time, God is doing things.

After a lot of prayer and seeking council, we've decided to move out of our house and rent someplace to live even though our house hasn't sold. For us, we're feeling like this is a real step of faith and a bit of a sacrifice to live somewhere where we can use our home in the way we feel God's called us to use our home. I vacillate between elation at a fresh start and a new place to bring the baby and dejection because everything we've done to our house and it still hasn't sold.

Much of the time I just feel sad for the baby. We've been focused on preparing and selling the house since before I was pregnant. So now, 9 weeks away from my due date, I still forget that I'm pregnant. We're bring a new life into the world and basically it's been ignored. I've not spent time talking to the baby, playing music, preparing the kids, hardly anything that I did do for the others. No one's going to throw a party for the baby because it's number 4. It's not being celebrated. Much of what we used for the other kids is expired, worn out, or can't be repaired. At the same time, we're kind of rearranging our whole lives in order to have room for the baby. I'm actually fearful about not bonding with the baby. I've never felt like that!

I know God hasn't left us. I don't doubt his timing is perfect; I just currently don't like it. Realtors come through the house and say, "I can't believe this house hasn't sold." or "Oh this house is darling. You'll sell quickly." I want to scream and say 3 years is a long time! I know it's not officially been on the market for 3 years, but when we tried to sell it in 2006, it was six months of the same thing. Then we waterproofed the basement and remodeled the kitchen and replaced windows among other things. And now here we sit again; rearranging everything in our lives to show the house, breaking rules we have for the kids about naps and TV time and going out to eat, just to hear people say, "Oh it's so cute. It shows beautifully." and then we never hear from then again.

And then on the other side of my multi-personality disorder, I am so amazed at God's provision for a rental. It's more expensive than we wanted, but it has everything we need and want. Bedrooms for everyone, kitchen big enough for a family of 6, a basement playroom, room for action track plus many more bathrooms and an attached garage! It's on a cul-de-sac close to school for the kids and the interstate for Michael. God has something for us there.

So I guess, this is my rant. I'm discontent with half my life and thrilled with the other. Mostly, I'm clinging to the truth that I don't know the beginning from the end, but my great, good God does. And in these circumstances, He is still on His throne, working for His glory and my life is wrapped up in that.

Crawling along

I am beyond weary of selling this house and finding a new place to live. My children are in a stage of life that requires vast amounts of energy to parent, something I have in short supply. My pregnancy has turned the home stretch and I'm close to single-digit-week-countdown. We can't seem to sell our house and it is enigmatic. We can't seem to find a place to rent. I am existing in a season where my hopes are dashed at every turn. Every plan and direction we feel like God is taking us is thwarted for inexplicable reasons. I really struggle to describe the emotional roller coaster in a way that conveys the way I feel. I know it could be a whole lot worse, but that doesn't make me feel better. I'm positive I'm not at the bottom of the barrel, but that too, doesn't make me feel better.

These two things make me feel better.

"My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness."
God is with me and I am righteous before Him because of the blood of Christ. That's what He promised. He is not leaving me.

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

I'm not soaring with wings. I'm not running. Really I'm barely walking, but crawling. But God says he will renew my strength and I won't faint.

So for now, I just know that my real hope is in Jesus, God is with me, and He will renew my strength and help me put one foot in front of the other. Currently, that's all I can do.

Not me! Monday

Oh yes. Happy Monday all! Visit MckMama for more not me fun!

This week I DID NOT cry every day. Nope, I'm totally in control of my emotions.

My youngest DID NOT turn 3 this week. She DID NOT ask me everyday this week, "Am I still 3?"

I DID NOT stuff the washing machine full of dirty clothes to the point the lid didn't even bang shut in order to clean up for the Open House on Sunday. Of course, I do laundry on a routine, so there is never piles of laundry around. I am NOT currently working my way through 6 loads of laundry today. I would ever procrastinate like that.

I am NOT audibly hearing the countdown of this baby coming, no matter what the house does!

I DID NOT decide on Saturday that I couldn't wait any longer to start preparing for this baby. SO I DID NOT discuss with Michael buying a twin bed for her, find one on Craig's list, and buy it that day. She DID NOT have a perfect first night in her big girl bed!

Lastly, I have NOT discovered I have no control in my life. None. God is in control and that is enough. As a psychological response to this discovery, I DID NOT dye my hair cartoon red. Nope, not me!



Have a great week!

Wordy Wednesday

These are phrases I say so much, I wish I could just press a device that plays my voice in surround sound when one of these sentences needs to be said. Better yet, some kind of automated system that recognizes the situation and then my voice plays. Oh, well, I guess that's job security as a parent!


"Stop annoying your brother/sister/me/the cat."
"Get in the van." (This one really blows my mind. They will often stand outside the van wondering what to do)
"Gently, please"
"Fingers out of noses"
"Close the closet door"
"Don't lick that; it's not food."
"Stop shouting"
"You are not in charge"
"Walk, please. Don't stop in the middle of the doorway."
"Stop slamming the doors"
"Chew and swallow before you talk"
"Stop running in the house"
"Wipe your bottom and get off the toilet."
"The toilet is for going pee and poop, not as a reading post."
"I love you" (there's always some good!"

Not me! Monday

Oh yes! Monday a la MckMama! I DID NOT engage in any of the following this past week. Anyone who says differently is simply spreading malicious lies!

I DID NOT have strawberries and cream (well, whipped) for dessert one night. I did not add more more whipped cream to the bowl telling myself I was simply finishing off the can of whipped cream.

I DID NOT thoroughly enjoy my Mother's Day celebration of sleeping in, naps, Chinese food, and a movie with the kids!

I DID NOT have a girls' night because I'd been crying to much. It WAS NOT a fabulous time!

Stuart is NOT obsessed with the future prospect of marrying Ella. He DID NOT tell me he was going to ask Bryan on Sunday if he could marry Ella when they grow up.

All of the kids are NOT completely taken with the Pigeon Books, particularly Don't Let the Pigeon Stay up Late. Stuart and Sabrina DO NOT take turns "reading" it to one another. Chase DOES NOT repeat the lines at random.

My husband DID NOT get the boys hair cut and bring them home with short spiky hair. I DID NOT almost cry when I saw them. I WAS NOT completely surprised by this change in hair.

I AM NOT utterly exhausted with my house still for sale. I DO NOT have only 3 months left until this baby comes. I AM NOT at all concerned with what to do and where to put this one. I DO NOT pray constantly that my house will sell. I DO NOT feel like "forget the cheese, let me out of the trap!"

Have a great week!

Not me! Monday

Oh, yes! It's Monday! MckMama and Not me! Monday has returned.

I DID NOT take my children to breakfast on Tuesday because we had an Open House and I didn't want them touching anything! I DID NOT have to shower at a friend's house that day b/c I forgot my bag at the Y.

This week I DID NOT have a total breakdown on Friday. I DID NOT have tears streaming down my face while trying to pick up my son from a birthday party. I DID NOT continue to cry through carpool.

I DID NOT wake up to a vomiting child on Sunday morning. We DID NOT have another Open House that day. Never would that happen!

I DID NOT forget to close my van door for hours this week. The inside of the van is not covered in neon green pollen. Nope, I always remember to close doors.

Have a great week!

Weddings on the mind...

I think it's a combination of the age and their aunt getting married, but the married talk around here is getting hysterical.

You may remember Stuart's declaration of future marriage to Ruthie a few weeks ago and Sabrina's serious dismay at that idea. Well, the next week he changed his mind and said he was going to marry Ella. He decided since Ella is almost five, she would be better than Ruth who is three.

Today the topic came up again in the car today.

Sabrina: Stuart, are you still going to marry Ruthie?
Stuart: Noooo. I'm marrying Ella.
Sabrina: But I want Ruthie to be my sister (she changes like he does!)
Stuart: I'm sorry, Sabrina, I'm going to marry Ella. We're going going to go to the church and ask the principal if we can get married and then we'll live somewhere and have some little kids.
Me: You know, Stuart, you need to ask Ella's daddy if you can marry her.
Stuart: Why?
Me: Because that's what boys do.
Chase: Does Ella have to ask Stuart's daddy?
Me: No.
Boys: Why?
Me: Well, boys are supposed to protect girls and until a girl gets married, her daddy protects her. So you need to ask him.
Stuart: (distraught) But! What if he says "no"?
Me: Well if you asked him now, he probably would say no. But when your older and out of high school, you could ask.
Stuart: Ok, I guess I'll just have to wait and ask later.
Sabrina: BUT I WANT RUTHIE TO BE MY SISTER!

How in the world are we going to have discussions when then there's a another voice in the conversational space?

Wordless Wednesday