Daddy, Break My Toes!

The other day Luke was rubbing my feet and when he's done he always pops my toes...just like my dad always used to do. Well, Kaden was watching, and as Luke is finishing up one foot I see Kaden start taking off his socks. Pretty soon he has his foot on Luke's lap, "Daddy! Break MY toes!!"

hilarious.

So the next day I had a babysitter, and she told me that while they were sitting, watching a movie, he was pulling on her finger saying, "Kaden break your finger!"

Um. WHAT 2 year old says that? After she knew the story she found it as funny as I did! :)

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I don't remember the last time I watered my plants. (they don't either, I'm guessing, by the looks of their curled up dry leaves).

My kitchen floor is half chipboard, half plywood, and it will be like that indefinitely.

My kitchen sink is stuffed with dirty dishes. (we won't talk about the countertops)

my kitchen table didn't get wiped down after dinner last night. (Or breakfast, or lunch, for that matter.)

my bathroom shower has been in the process of being cleaned for 24 hours now, thanks to my children and their amazing ability to need me right when I'm back at it.

my laundry has been in the process of being done for 3 days. It's not looking good for getting done today.

We (luke and I) have been challenged to think through the most important issues in life, church, and relationships...and are reminded that it's iron that sharpens iron...not anything soft and cuddly.

my yard needs raked (AGAIN).

We've had 3 dr. appointments this week, and more in the near future, with no conclusions found. (lets don't even talk about the money that goes along with that)

my son has decided the mom's voice is un-hearable, and therefore, he can do as he pleases.

and the rest of my house isn't much better than the previous list.

And I don't know when my inlaws are getting here. (hopefully after I get done procrastinating, and get this place back in order!)

However. I will remember what Pastor Gary preached about on Sunday and CHOOSE to "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Amen. I'm so thankful to have a God that tells us to be joyful, give thanks, etc...instead of telling us to look to ourselves for our strength, look out for #1, and bask in our own woes and worries... I'd be so miserable.

Katelyn Joy is 6 months old...

(sob)(sob)

This momma is TOO sentimental with this baby. I hereby resolve to be excited about her growing up!

{resolve FAIL}

Ok, nevermind. Here are some pictures of my baby girl with her bear. I just love her easy going and sweet personality. She really is the easiest baby I've ever known.

My Little Monster is Baaaaaaack!

Kaden's had a cough and runny nose for 9 weeks. I was just sure it was allergies, because he never had any other symptoms. He never complained of anything. He got more and more cuddly and laid back, but I figured anyone with allergies would feel more and more miserable the longer the season went. Finally he got to the point where I decided even if it is allergies I need to get him on some allergy meds to help him feel like a human being again.

(this is kaden "playing naptime" which he "played" a lot. Any excuse to lay down whithout actually going to bed, really.)

Instead the Dr. put him on antibiotics. And within 24 hours that child was back to running around our island, climbing on everything, using his voice excessively (I had forgotten how loud that boy is!) etc...

I feel like a bad mom. And I feel even worse as I think to myself (as he's climbing on Theresa's coffee table for the millionth time) "I think I liked him better sick."

Also, in the last 9 weeks he's been so laid back that I've hardly had to discipline him. I mean, you can't get them in trouble when they aren't doing it. So, I think he forgot the rules...which is why he was even climbing on the coffee table, putting the dog food in the water, etc...he forgot that rules aren't there just to be broken. Now I have to remind him. Unfortunately.

Theresa, thanks for putting up with him (and us!) today, and hopefully next time the coffee table will be more respected. OR i could bring a leash. Either way. I regress...

Now I know better than to wait 9 weeks. Maybe 3-4 is more reasonable. I don't want to be the mom who runs her kid to the doctor for every twitch, sneeze and itch. But, I don't want my kids to suffer longer than needed either. And Kaden is such a fun-loving little guy that he never complains!

I still think he may have some allergies, but am hoping this is really the cure.

Kisses for Momma

My Katelyn-girl gave me kisses tonight.

Over, and over again.

And my heart melted.

I would say, "Can I have a kiss, Kate?" and she'd look at me and lean in and lick my cheek really quick and lean away. Then I'd say "Oh! Thank you, Kate!" and she'd giggle.

And then we start over.

She's 6 months old today-that girl of mine. She just keeps growing...against my will. I want time to stand still, I want to enjoy her (and Kaden) to the fullest..and it seems impossible when time flies so quickly!

She's no chubby girl (at this moment, anyway). She's mostly happy. More and more she wants to do what we are doing and be where we are. She adores her brother. He can do almost anything to her and she just plays along. The other day he found it hilarious to put a stocking hat over her head...and her face. And she just sat there, playing along. Eventually she screamed at him and he quit (with a little help from mom).

She might not smile as much as Kaden, but she is quite literally my pure joy.

"No, Just Happy"

Lately, Kaden has been saying a phrase that I just find... what's the word.... uplifting. A phrase I've decided I need to add to my list of "frequently used phrases." Even greater would be to add it to my list of "subconsciously and frequently used phrases." So get ready..it will blow your mind. (or not. but you'll at least find it cute if nothing else!)

Mom: "Kaden, are you sleepy?"
Kaden: "Nope. Just happy."

Mom: "Kaden, are you full yet?"
Kaden: "No, just happy."

Mom: "Kaden, are you silly?"
Kaden: "Nope, just happy."

He says it nonchalantly. He says it contently. I think what he means is to say "no, just content."

Kitchen Floor

The other day Luke started tearing out the flooring in the kitchen. And by tearing, I mean that literally. Kaden LOVED it. Isn't that a little boys dream? To destroy. And to be helped in destroying by none other than Daddy.

So far "we" (that's a he-we, big time) have one layer of linolium off, 1 layer of plywood off, and 2 layers of linolium to go. Possibly another layer of plywood depending on what we find. I am feeling bad for Luke and will be buying him a BIG SCREEN TV as a thank you with my Pampered Chef money. I know he could have lived with the flooring that was in for years and years, so he's doing this project just for me.

ANYWAY, so the morning after the first layer got torn off Kaden was walking into the kitchen. Right as he was about to step in he stopped-one foot in the air-and exclaimed "OH NO!! Floor BROKEN!"

For how good of a memory he normally has, I was surprised he didn't remember. It was adorable though.

Once again, the floor has turned into more work than we hoped. Yet, again, not more than we probably expected. We've learned that, at least in this house, probably nothing was done to our standards and will be a pain to redo! It's going to get harder and harder to convince Luke to do projects! THAT, or the thank you's will have to get better and better...maybe i shouldn't be starting out with a TV! I'll be posting many before-during-and after pictures as this project progresses. Stay tuned!