The Natural Balance

Well, it has been done. The natural balance of the universe is now out of kilter, and Rock is to blame for this catastrophe.

Since we drive from TX to OK and the drive is five plus hours long, we often employ a portable DVD player. In the past, Professor has been in charge of loading DVD, starting the movies, pushing buttons, etc. However, because of the way that the screens had to be attached to our car, this trip Princess is in charge of the DVD player. Oh Mercy Me! Professor has done everything he can think of to try to get back into the drivers seat (so to speak). Princess is of course most gracious in her new found power, and is not at all letting her older brother know that he now has no power.

And how do I know that this is really getting to Professor? From the back seat I hear him ask Princess for the remote (yes, a remote for a mobile DVD player). After she so kindly refuses we hear...But I haven't gotten to push one button.

Behind the Camera

There are never any pictures of me. Well, at least any pictures that I would share with the greater world. Not that I run and hide from the camera, but because I am usually behind the camera.

As I work on scrapbooks, I really become aware of this fact; and wonder, if in about 3 generations, my great-great-grandchildren will look through the memories so lovingly and carefully preserved, see one of those rare pictures of me, and wonder...Who is that lady?

...And We're Off

This was the scene at our house last night. Warrior was eating a piece of bread, when his baby brother pulled up to him and demanded a bite. Sharing ensued. It was so cute I just had to take some pictures, but eventually the bread was gone.

Warrior left Baby J standing alone. Then...

He took his first step!

This is a picture of his actual first step. I was already taking pictures, and he took this step just as I was taking another shot.

He got just a few more steps in after this. Then we had to get the video camera and see if we could get it on moving film.

He stood for Rock, but he wouldn't come to him.

He would however come to big brother.

And big sister...as long as she had bread.

I'll post the video as soon as I figure out how to do so.

Momma's Night Out

I love my job!

There is nothing more fulfilling that having a career that centers around the husband and children with which God has blessed you.

Now, with that being said...tonight I needed the companionship of my girlfriends, and to not have to answer to my blessed title for a couple of hours. My very compassionate husband sent me on my way to my friend and Creative Memories consultant's (we'll call her Joy) home where she was having a scrapbooking get together. I didn't complete much on my album, because the pages I was working on were rather complicated. However, I did get to spend some time in the company of other women who know the joys and frustrations of Motherhood.

God blessed me when he led me to Joy. I found her on the Creative Memories website, and she has been a blessing to me. She is bubbly, vivacious, and loves God, her husband, and her daughters. And not only that, but her spirit is infectious. You cannot leave Joy's home without being lifted up. She is one of those who is for me another piece of iron and a Titus 2 friend.

After having been in her company I am being resolved to be the kind of person Joy is for me. One who's friends find comfort, joy, and encouragement in her presence. One who points the way to the foot of the Cross where we find true joy. Not necessarily by pointing to it outright, but who leads others there because they can see the true joy that only dependence upon God can bring.

So tonight, because of the encouraging words of my friend, I am going to bed, not frustrated and tired, but feeling truly blessed to be a wife, mother, and friend.

EWWWWWW!!!!!!

Everyone say it with me, because it just has to be said, along with a shiver up your spine. Now, I am not the housekeeper that my mother is, but I'm no slouch. I mean the crumbs under the high chair and in the corner are only one or two days old. So I was completely shocked, horrified and, well totally grossed out when Princess says to me, "Ew gross! Momma there is a worm on the floor." Of course I didn't think much about it, and told her I would get it after I had finished explaining what an outline was to her brother. However, almost immediately she says, "Eww there's another one. And there's another one. Momma, there are a whole bunch of them on the floor." About this time I figure it is time to investigate. And sure enough there were a whole bunch of them, but they weren't worms. No, they weren't fuzzy little caterpillars. No, they weren't grubs. No, on my kitchen floor were maggots. EWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!

Immediately I sprang into action, and after I had done my gross out dance I got everyone out of the kitchen. I put Baby J in his room, and charged Warrior and Z-Man to play with him in there. A task they undertook, but were loathe to do so because the prospect of inspecting those little white worms was much more interesting. I then had Princess and Professor put on their shoes and gave them the task of squishing the vermin. I figured this was the best way to keep maggots out of my carpet, because that was the general direction they seemed to be headed.

The children took to their assigned tasks. Warrior and Z-Man took turns coming out of the nursery to check on progress, and Princess and Professor flooded me with questions about maggots and flies while I frantically emptied the trash and searched every possible place from where they could be coming. That means I cleaned out the bottom of the pantry (nothing there but dirt from potatoes, onion skins, and dog hair). I cleaned out the bottom of the coat closet (nothing there but a vacuum, a bag of wrapping paper, a bag of unopened McDonald's toys, and dog hair). I cleaned out from underneath the fridge (a spoon, a ball, and dog hair). I cleaned out from underneath the stove (popcorn kernel, Polly Pocket shoe, and dog hair.) I cleaned out from underneath the sink (fish tank supplies, dish detergent, bucket of cleaning implements, no dog hair). I could not find where those things came from, and I decided that the dog needed to be groomed.

Just about the time I got the entire kitchen/dining room/entry way torn apart it was lunch time. Are you kidding me?!?! Time to pay a visit to the local $5 for a medium pizza place.

Needless to say I spent the entire day on my hands and knees washing all the tile in the house. During this time I was also teaching the older two. I somehow managed to have the floor finished by the time Baby J got up from his nap, but the kitchen was in chaos and I was dangerously close to becoming a blathering idiot. Because, I forgot to mention, this day was Wednesday. Which meant that I also needed to take a shower and try to at least resemble a female human, I needed to do prep for the little kids Bible study class I teach on Wed, I needed to have dinner ready early, I needed ............the list at that time seemed endless. I even called and cried to Rock who was ready to let me stay home so that I could make some sense out of the mess of the house, and maybe get a shower and a nap.

By the time Rock got home I was a little more in control, but still teetering on the edge. Rock advised going to church and leaving some of the mess, because I needed to be with my church family. I managed to get in a short shower (had to wear the do rag and make-up?), we opted for dinner at Sonic, and got to the church a little early so that I could get my lesson completed. You know, Rock was right. I needed that time with the kids in my class, and the sympathy and love of my fellow Christians. By the time we got home, I was better prepared to get that kitchen whipped back into shape - with Rock's help of course.

Call Off the Angry Mob

After many threats to my health and complaints about how little I blog here are the cutest Halloween pictures you will every see. Every year Professor makes decorations to go on our door. He draws them, he colors them, he cuts them out, and he puts them up. I think he does an excellent job, and they get more complicated with each year.

Here is Rock lighting the Jack-O-Lanterns we carved "for the kids." I'll bet you'll be able to guess who the Superman belongs to in a minute.

There they are. Aren't they cute/cool/pretty?

Baby J dressed as Little Caesar. Quite appropriate since he rules around our house. And the laurel wreath lasted just long enough for me to get this picture.

It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's SUPERMAN!!!

Complete with curl.Up, up, and away!


Princess is what else...

a princess

Complete with Momma's sparkly earrings and a crown with "real" diamonds.




"Hey, Lady! You call him Dr. Jones!"

By the way did you know that the beard isn't real? Professor made sure to tell everyone. So that they wouldn't be deceived.

Yes, I actually bought him a whip, and yes it has now been confiscated.

Now put away the pitchforks.