The One Thing Constant in Life is Change

Like this little buddy. That's what he does every day. Change.

He gets bigger and cuter (if that's even possible).

One day he wakes up and he's ready for the bumbo. (Max calls it the bum bum.)

And then he tries out the exersaucer (thanks Brittney!)

And then he wants to try big people food. (apples > bananas)

 I watch it all happen right before my eyes and I am sad. Because my baby is growing up!

And I am happy. Because my baby is growing up!


Max finally gives up the froggy potty.  With lots of pressure, prayer, and bribery.  The dementor Lego truly deserves the credit.

We ask in our family prayers for the past few weeks that Max would be able to conquer his fear of the big potty before our trip to Utah. (We really had no desire to buy a Utah froggy potty).


And not surprisingly, just two days before our departure, Max does it, just like that! (Heavenly Father answers prayers!)

We have our long anticipated Potty Party and Max is feeling awfully grown up.

 In the space of just five minutes, he lectures Ava on how much ice is appropriate for her drink and even pulled out the old, "you get what you get and you don't have a fit" credo to a whining Luke.  I honestly don't care what he says as long as I don't have to empty out that frog anymore.




 Ava continues being the big "Nanny".

Luke told me he knew how many minutes were in 3 hours yesterday.

"How many?" I asked.

"...180."  I had to count it up myself to check.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"It's easy.  There are 60 minutes in one hour and 60+60+60 equals 180."




Everyday, there is something new. I don't always know what it will be (Scratch that, I never know what it will be).

My kids are growing up! Stuff just keeps changing!  And it makes me happy. And it makes me sad.

This change is the one that's overwhelming me right now.

That's the sign in front of Mom and Dad's house.  When we get back from our trip to Utah this week, they will be just three days away from closing the door to that house forever.  A big chunk of our daily life will be gone.  The kids won't even know what hit them.

And this is a change I knew was coming.  It's been talked about for a long time, but now that it's here I feel like back pedaling.


There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for them.

Growing up, moving frequently, taught me how to be The Mover, The Leaver. I struggle as The Left.

But Mom and Dad are going on a mission.  It makes me happy.  But right now, it mostly just makes me sad.

Position Filled

If I were to place an ad

Seeking:

An enthusiastic, creative, 

loving, Mother's Helper. 



Willing to assist, tolerate,

entertain, and nurture


three good/naughty/fun/ornery/sweet/needy terrifically cute little boys in my home. 

Job requirements include the ability to save my bacon day after day, make life just a little easier to manage, and be of legitimate, bonafide help. Hours and duties vary but candidate will be paid with hugs and kisses and eternal gratitude.

I would have to look no further than the little girl's bedroom down the hall.

Luke's Birthday and the 4th

We've had quite a few more days in our pajamas, but we also have had some busy days.

Luke turned 6! He has been counting down for nearly 4 months so this was a big deal.  That morning, June 28, he came into my room bright and early.

 I said, "Happy Birthday, Luke!"

And he said, "Mom.  Look at my foot. Look how ginormous it is.  It's a six year old foot!"

That evening we invited his friends to a gigantic indoor play place called The Tubes, housed in a local Bible Church, because in Texas "church" can mean all kinds of things.

We had pizza and cake and ice cream.

He wanted a Kirby cake this year.  And I hope I've learned my cake making lesson.  I've already learned a similar lesson in regards to sewing.  Making and decorating a birthday cake will take at least 2 if not 3 times longer than I think it will.  And whatever I turn out will never look like it warranted 6 hours of work.

I made some serious improvement after last years coconut oil cake fiasco, though.

Everyone had a great time.

The next night we had a family dinner.  Luke's request was ham, chips, and cheese ("just plain cheese").  I threw in the corn on the cob for good measure.

He asked for and received some new legos with lots of pieces, a new Kirby game, a "200 puzzle", and a box of assorted treats and goodies along with a water football and a rubber snake.

The next weekend was the 4th of July, and man we packed a lot in.  It was so much fun. Dan had a four day weekend so we made the most of it.

We blew up the water slide, went to the movies, grilled, and went to the fireworks.

The slide was a hit just like last summer.

Finn could only watch from the sidelines.

And this year some friends let us in on the best firework watching spot.  It truly was ideal.  Not much traffic but right up close.

The kids had a blast running around with all the other kids and the boys could hardly stop their glow stick light saber fights.

And what really made it seem unreal was the fact that the weather was crazy, crazy nice for July.  We sat out and waited for the fireworks and with nary a drip of sweat.

Of course the night turned out to be a late one.

The next day followed with more water slide action and a movie at Grandma and Grandpa's. Everyone was hashed and fell asleep all over the living room. Everyone except Ava and me, that is.

 But we had to wake them up to make an appearance at the lake BBQ for which we had RSVP'd.  Saturday Ava went with friends to a Home Depot workshop, I went to my first hot yoga class, (woah, Nelly!) and then Ava was invited to go boating with those same friends.  I was so shocked and pleased that she rode the tube and loved it ("until I flipped off and did a somersault under the water").

I can't explain to you how tired the kids were by Sunday morning, especially Ava.  First she was crying because she wanted to go to church.  When it was time to go to church she was crying because she wanted to stay home.  Max flat out refused to go to Primary and he spent the entire last two hours of church in Dan's arms.

Since our children were apparently born without the ability to sleep in, we decided on an early bedtime right then and there.

We got everyone settled and tucked in by 6:40pm that night.  At 8pm Ava came wandering downstairs saying she fell asleep but just woke up and she's confused.  Was it morning?

Of course it's not, dear.

We sent her back to bed but 45 minutes later, she was back down for a drink of water.

At that point we watched our "early bedtime" plans go up in smoke and just crossed our fingers that Ava's delirium would fade by morning.

Two days later, I think we're still working out some of our kinks, but we sure had fun getting them!

It's Summer

I can now officially declare that summer is upon us because last week we had a spell of 48 straight hours in the same pajamas. I mean, we never even got dressed for more than 2 days straight.  If that's not on your summer bucket list, you should consider adding it. There was nowhere we had to be and nothing we had to do.  And honestly, they've been some of my favorite days.

We made sure we did our chores.  We watched TV. We read books.  We practiced math. And reading.

And then we came upon everyone's favorite.  In my pre-summer planning, along with all those things listed above, I wanted to be sure to schedule in a physical time each day.  Sadly, here in Texas during the summer, it's not usually feasible for the kids to run and play outside, we have to get creative.

So pretty much for the past week I've been running my own boot camp and the participants are so eager and willing, it's silly.

I have been awoken most mornings by little faces asking me to please show them that headstand or  can we please run laps, please!

What strange little creatures I've made.

We started one morning with sit-ups which led into stretching, bridges, torture, and laps.  We always finish with laps.

The path is cleared of all toys and shoes, the stopwatch is set, and the kids take turns running the circle.

The bigs wanted to break 8 seconds.  Ava started keeping a log.  And then for at least the next 45-90 minutes, rotating through their turns, they speed around the bottom level of the house.

Wednesday was the lucky day.  Both Ava and Luke ran the loop in 7.8 seconds.  They were so proud!

What is interesting to me is how our home dynamic has morphed over the years.  There was a long period of time when we needed outings and plans and dates and appointments. We couldn't just be.  Trying to just be always deteriorated into fighting and fits and boredom and chaos.  Every single time, without fail, without question.

Now, that still happens occasionally.  But its definitely the exception and not the rule. My summer plans exist more as a backup for those exceptions and that is a new, good thing.  During the multiple toddler/preschooler years, that need for constant, deliberate movement eased my anxiety and brought me peace, like a baby in a rocking chair. Now, my peace more often comes from quiet moments at home, when the kids actually play with and entertain each other; when I don't feel that I'm pulling people this way and that for ventures unnecessary.  And don't get me wrong, there were times when those ventures, however unnecessary, were completely necessary.  You dig?

Spending time at home, in our jammies, working, relaxing, and playing, tending to the multiple facets of ourselves, without our world teetering on complete and utter destruction, is a good feeling.

That, and not packing four little bodies into the van just to unload them all and drag them around the store feels good too. Not that I love shopping at night or finding a babysitter, though. I'm thinking someone should really develop a drive through grocery store.  I would be first in line!

A number 1 with a  gallon of milk, a box of size 2 diapers, apples, carrots, and some turkey please!