100th post!!

I started blogging last November after much encouragement from my friends. I never thought that I would have the time or desire to keep up with a blog but I decided to start one so that my parents (who are in SA) could see updated pictures of my kids. Did I ever get more than I bargained for...I love to blog! I enjoy being able to express my thoughts and update everyone on events in our lives. It is like keeping an online journal for me. I am excited about this accomplishment and hope I can continue writing down these events so that my children will remember lots from their childhoods.

Lessons from Mommyhood

The 15th almost slipped up on me...It has been such a busy week! I do have a few lessons that I have been reminded of lately that I thought I would share...

1. All kids grow up FAST! We went to one of Nicholas' friends 4th birthday party yesterday and it hit me that my baby boy would also be 4 soon! Where does the time go? I don't know, but try to cherish each moment.

2. Mommies usually know what is best for their own children. Don't you just love the pediatrician's office..the first thing mine asks is what is going on with your child. Then after I have diagnosed the child for them, they usually look in their ears, mouth etc. and agree with ME. If you are a mom, trust your instincts!!

3. Discipline using the Word of God. This is a big one that I have been reminded of lately. I took a Bible study back in the fall in which we learned to use the Word when disciplining your children. I started to do just that and it was going well and then the study ended and I got slack. That really is the best way to do it though and I am going to make my list of Bible verses this week and start using the Bible again in the way I correct my children. The bonus is that they will learn some scripture very well depending on their problem areas.

4. Your kids will never outgrow the need for your attention. This is a hard one for me since their are 3 of them and only 1 of me. Sure they get more independent as they get older but all of mine still want a little time during the day when it can just be me and them. It is some of the most precious time I spend with them.

Morgan turns 4!

Morgan is five weeks older than Nicholas, so she celebrated her birthday this past Saturday, March 14! The party was at Monkey Joe's and all the kids seemed to really enjoy the place. Nicholas was a little shy about getting on some of the bigger slides and things so I went down one of the big slides with him. Morgan, though, had no fear and absolutely loved it!

Thanks for inviting us Morgan to a great party. Happy Birthday!! You will be receiving your invitation in a few weeeks...Nicholas is getting excited about his party next. He believes that until you have your party you don't turn another year older!

My boys LOVE the swords!

I can't resist telling this tidbit...Jonathan wanted to play the claw game at Monkey Joe's. He wanted one of the prizes. I told him that those were very hard to get out of the machine and that I was no good at it so I couldn't help him. He decided that he would try anyway and Jonathan actually picked up a prize the FIRST TIME! I was so proud of him!

Laurie-the next tattoo Barbie!

My brothers were watching Laurie this morning while Nicholas and I ran to the Wal Mart for a few things. We returned to a Laurie with a hue of blue on her arms! She had taken a marker (an expo marker that you would use on a white board) and written on her hands, arms, top and my TV!! I had the next tattoo Barbie!

I immediately took a baby wipe (that gets most things out) and attempted to clean her off. That was to no aveil...I got blue on me and very little off of Laurie. Nicholas also somehow managed to get blue on him! The marker is not washable as my brother and husband tried to convince me of, it has to wear off your skin and I am just praying that some kind of stain remover will work on her top. I was livid and it took me a long to try to get over it. My sweet husband knew that this incident had upset me so he took hairspray and baby wipes and got the marker off of Laurie and he also got the marker off of her top. Thank you Chris!

I started to ask Laurie who made the mess on her arms and hands because I was trying to get her to understand that it was not a good thing to repeat. She told me about the mess and now the funniest part is that if you ask Laurie who made 'the mess', as she calls it, she will say NATHAN! She takes no blame, it was all Nathan. I guess this will not be the last time something like this will happen in our household. Amazing to me that neither of the boys have done this kind of a thing to themselves. One of them did enjoy decorating my walls though...I guess that counts too.

Can you believe the weather?!

Our weather is always a bit unpredictable but these past 2 weeks have been almost unbelievable! Last week we had snow on the ground on Monday and Tuesday and by Friday it was 75 degrees. This week has started out very warm (almost like summer-in the 70s and 80 degrees today) and the weather forecast is for 55 tommorrow and 45 on Friday!! These extreme temperature differences have made my boys' allergies flare up. They are now taking their singulair and a cough medecine at night. Jonathan and Nicholas have not needed it for some time but once the weather started changing daily, they had to get back on it. I hope the singulair kicks in soon!

I am so ready for the weather to change and stay warm!!! Spring hurry up and come already!

Laurie's difficult stage

Laurie is going through a very difficult and trying stage in her life right now...beyond being almost 2 years old! She has started scratching other children! This is happening mostly in the church nursery (hopefully we won't be asked to leave because of her). I have witnessed it at home some but it usually happens when one of her brothers aggravates her or takes something away from her. I believe that it is like her defense mechanism. I also think that once her vocabulary comes in better, she will learn to use her words instead of scratching to communicate with others. I am very upset and concerned over the matter though. I am a stay at home Mom and so my children are my job..a direct reflection on me! No matter how much people say that children will be children (and I know this is true since there are others at church who are having problems with their almost 2 year olds too) that still does not make me feel too much better.
I need some prayer and wisdom to know how to handle things with Laurie especially since most of the time she is a sweet, loving child. She will even go over to the child she offended and hug him/her and tell them that she is sorry after the incident occurs. I know the Lord will see us both through this stage somehow, but I sure wish I knew His plan!

Moving Day

Recently, our church and Nicholas' preschool moved buildings. They simply moved across the street but the improvements between the old and new buildings are astounding. In Nicholas' old classroom, there were more big plastic toys and in the new building there are wooden toys. In the old building the bathroom was down the hall from his class and in this new building there is a bathroom in every room! Nicholas loves his 'new big school' as he calls it and his first day (today) went very smoothly...all except for the pick up line (I think everyone is still trying to figure out the two laned system!).

Last Friday, the preschool held an open house so all the kids could see their new rooms and get used to the idea before their first day. Nicholas was so excited about the open house..he kept telling me that we were going to eat at the new big school after we prayed. He told me this about five times so I finally asked the director if they were having refreshments at the open house. She said no, not unless the teachers have something planned. Well Nicholas sure knew what he was talking about because Mrs. Mindy did have some cookies and juice boxes in her room for all her students. She also had the kids sign a card for one of the boys in the class who was having surgery that day. Get well soon, Ethan!

Nicholas and Mrs. Mindy

Signing Ethan's card