Just Chattin'

I'm going through the little boys closets.
They have a ridiculous amount of clothes.
Really.
It's embarrassing.
So many hand me downs when you're the littlest boys.
There were at least 20 pair of holey jeans.

You know why I kept them?
Because I just knew for sure
there was something I could make with them.
That makes me laugh just typing it.
Me?
Make something?
Hahaha!
Reality sunk in...finally.
And I threw them all away.
(Sorry to those of you who could have made amazing things with them.)

I found 3 shirts for Jobie.
On a shelf.
In his closet.
Neatly folded.
Just like I would fold them.
Really cute winter shirts.
No idea where they came from.
Maybe a consignment sale?
They are not brand new.
How do I forget these things?

I am so sick of hot weather and watering plants.
I could scream.
So I've been making my kids water.
They need chores.
I need a break.
Sounds like a win-win to me.

Last night as I was leaving the little boys room:
Jobie: I love you, Mommy.
Ezzie: I love you lots and lots.
You're the best momma ever.
How much longer do you think I can fool him?

Ezra has now lost 5 of his original fish.
Saturday we bought him 4 more.
(They were 13 cents each.
We really go all out for our kids.)
One of those 4 died yesterday.
Poor guy.
He always holds each one in his little hand.
And looks at it for a while.
Before he dumps it in the toilet.
And flushes it.

We got "new" dining room chairs.
I found them at a garage sale for $5 each.
4 matching chairs.

We were using 1 wood school chair.
Bought at an antique store.
1 off-white really cute chair.
Bought at an antique store.
1 chair from a pair of chairs that we had.
Once upon a time.
And a folding chair.
(I've said before we are classy people.
I wasn't joking.)

I texted Ryan and said:
For the first time in our marriage we have
4 chairs that match.
His reply: It's almost like we're adults.
Ha!
He's a funny guy.I like the white.
But I might paint them.
The white might not be quite right for our house.
What would you do?

Brothers

Zechariah 6:13c
And there will be harmony between the two.

Well.
For small moments anyway.

Each week Beki at therustedchain hosts Fingerprint Friday and uses a song by Steven Curtis Chapman as a springboard. Join in. It's a great way to be reminded of God's presence.

Lara

It has been two months now.
Since Lara joined our family.
It's gone by so fast.

The little boys have had so much fun with her.
This is a typical scene in our house.
Both of them attacking her.She and Jobe disappeared for a bit last night.
And came back as superheros.Fighting each other.
Not sure which is the bad superhero.
Looking kinda' like Jobie is.
Lara is looking pretty innocent.The four younger kids did not have school today.
Lara did.
Jake was having a lot of fun.
Rubbing that fact in.
But then, for some reason,
he was up earlier than he normally is.
So Lara said maybe he could go to school for her.
Ezzie (yes he was up early too) said:
But you're more yellowish.
Lara: What do you mean?
Ezzie: Your hair is more yellowish.
Lara and I cracked up.
Who knew that was the biggest difference between them.

Then he said: And you don't have the same clothes.
Jake: What about you're a boy and Lara is a girl.
Ezzie: Oh, yeah. I forgot about that!

It's pretty cool how little kids' minds
work so differently from ours.Lara is loving all the adventures she is having here.
Squirrels.
Ground hogs.
Frogs and toads.
And obviously, even snake skins.
Her comment the other day
after seeing a turtle cross the road:
I love America!

And America loves her.
At least this family does!

New Headwear

They are their father's sons.
That's all I'm sayin'.

Boys and Clothes

When I was pregnant with Jobe,
I was sure he was a girl.
(We always keep our baby's gender a surprise.)
I was looking forward to girl clothes.
I had even bought a couple of adorable sundresses.
Just so sure.

I'm not the fancy, frilly kind of girl.
I can probably count on one hand
the times Brookelynn wore bows in her hair.
Sorry if that offends you girly, girl moms.
In my defense, the girl didn't have any hair
until she was over two.

She has never been the lacy type.
If I would let her, she would wear
Nike shorts and a t-shirt.
E.V.E.R.Y. day.
To church even.
(I wish I was joking.)
Although she is starting to break out of that.
A little.
Thank you, Justice!

I thought it would be fun to have another girl.
Put her in cute little sundresses.
Sandals or flip-flops.
Capris.
On and on and on.
There are A LOT more girl clothes than boy clothes.

But God knew we needed another boy.
And I've learned that
even little boys can be fun to dress.

It's fun to put outfits together for them.
It's rare that I buy a matching outfit.
I save that for Easter and Christmas.
The rest of the time:
I see pair of shorts I like.
I buy them.
Then hope we have a shirt at home to wear with them.
Both boys are wearing shorts from Macy's.
Sadly, the closest Macy's is nearly 3 hours away.
But last summer I was there with a friend.
Who had an additional 20% off coupon.
Friends like that rock.
These shorts were on clearance.
End of summer.
$4 each.
Oh, how I love bargains.
When I pulled them out of the bag this spring,
it was exciting all over again.
Jobie's brown t-shirt was $5 from Carter's.
(Cost more than the shorts!)
And Ezzie's is recycled Old Navy from his cousin.
(Free!)
Their sandals are also recycled.
(I hate the words hand-me-downs.)
Cheap and cute outfits.
The best.
Jobe's shirt and shorts were worn by both Jake and Ezra.
I bought the shorts at my good friend's garage sale.
Her son is one year older than Jake.
She has great taste in clothes.
Well, in everything actually.
Probably 75% of Jake's summer clothes are from her.
And nearly all of his KU shirts.
They love it when I come home
from helping her get ready for her sales.
She has sales twice a year.
I always help her organize a few days before.
And I shop too, of course.
Even Brookie gets some of the warm-up pants.
Or Nike shorts.
Or t-shirts.
Or indoor soccer shoes.
Another friend that rocks.

Anyway, back to the boys' outfits.
I have no idea how that shirt and those shorts
have made it thru three boys with no stains.
I think I only let them wear them sparingly.
Never when we are going out to eat.
Or to the park.
Or on a wet muddy day.
The shirt was a b-day present for Jake from my parents.
The fake Crocs are from Target last year.
He is barely squeezing in to them now.

Ezzie is again wearing a shirt from his cousin.
The shorts were $4 from that same Macy's trip.
His shoes were under $20 from Nike outlet in Branson.
Not as great of a bargain.
But not bad either.
He loves those shoes.

Wow!
This is much longer than I intended it to be.
I'm wordy today.

See how much fun boys are to dress?
I want to go shopping now.

How To...

Entertain yourself.
At the grocery store.
Get some reduced price yogurt cups.
And play telephone.
I bet you are wondering:
How do they know about old timey phones?

It could be because
they have an amazing mom.
Who makes sure they are well-educated.
And cultured.
In all areas.

Or, it could be because
that same mom lets them watch movies.
Like Kit Kittredge.
(It's historical, educational, right?)
So she can have some peace and quiet.

Take your pick.

A Little Honesty

Today is one of those days.
One of those days.
When I wanted to be the one driving off.
In my car.
By myself.
With only the sounds of silence.
To a job away from home.
With adult conversation.

The little boys have been fighting.
A lot.
Jobe is almost 3.
WAY worse than the 2's.
Still trying to potty train.
Ryan is gone the next two and a half days.
On a business trip.
My computer is on its last life.
I can't seem to keep my house clean.
My back is killing me.
Whine, whine, whine.Turn it around.
My kids are healthy.
My husband has a good job.
And works hard for us.
My computer is working today.
Sorta...
Only had to restart it 5 times...
To do this post.
I have a place to live.
I have much more than some.
(That would be why I can't keep the house clean.)
My back will get better.

I will choose to look for the blessings.

The Self-Portrait

Ezra drew this picture a couple of weeks ago.Here's the conversation that has happened
at least three times since then.

Jobie:
Ezwa, is dat me?

Ezzie:
Does it look like you?
No!
Does it look like me?
Yes!
Clearly it's Ezra.
Why would Jobe ever think otherwise?
Three times.
He's a quick one, my youngest.

The Red Balloon

One day.
Not so long ago.
Two little boys each got a red balloon.
The little boys loved their balloons.
And ran all over the yard with them.
Clutching them tightly in their cute little fists.
Occasionally they would stop.
And look up at their balloons.
Just to see them floating above their heads.
Or even stand still.
To pose for pictures.
But then the older little boy tripped.
And let go of his balloon.
And he was sad.
Very sad.
And, although the littlest boy was able to hang on to his.
He too was sad.
Very sad.
So long balloon.
It was fun.
For the five minutes we had you.
The End.

He Really Does Love Him

Jobie's prayer at lunch today:
Jesus,
Fank you Ezwa tummy huwt (hurt).
Fank you Mommy don't huwt.
Apples, fingys (thingys).
Amen.

See?

My floors really are clean enough to eat off of.

Oh...

Hahahaha!

I make myself laugh.

Sunday Evening

Last night we had a music group at church.
Evening services are hard for my kids.
Especially the little ones.
While we listened, the kids kept busy
with little scraps of paper from my bag.

Brookelynn's view of the group.
Ezra's view of me.
Flattering.
I am lovely.
Jobie scribbled with red, blue, green and yellow crayons.

And Jake made tiny paper airplanes.
Which fortunately never took off.
The Olympics have obviously made an impact.
All the planes have countries on them.
Well, with the exception of the top left.
Ezra got a hold of that one.
One plane has Mexico on it.
Hadn't thought about it until now.
But did they even have a representative in the Olympics?
At intermission we took an offering for the group.
I gave the little boys some money to put in the basket.
After they put it in
I told Jobie that he had just given money to Jesus.
He looked around.
Found the college student who had passed us the basket.
And said: Mommy, is dat Jesus?
So cute.

And then, in the middle of the last song,
while sitting on my lap,
Ezzie said: Mommy, I just farted twice.
Not so cute.

No More Broken Windows

I need one of these at home.
With a lock on it.
Bwahhhh!