Running Rampant

My daughter seems to be the equivalent of a full time job just herself. I feel like this blog has been very Heidi related lately but my goodness!! Tonight for instance....Mark and the boys are out for wings so I thought the girl and I would have a nice little quiet evening. I am clearly delusional people!! I fed them, got them in their jammies, decided to quickly vacuum the kitchen since it is a disaster due to some demolition/construction (another story for another time). Sounds reasonable, right? So tell me why this is what I walked in on only 3 minutes into my vacuuming?

A stark naked Heidi sitting on the sink playing in the water! I am throwing in the towel for the day people!! We are going all kinds of crazy at our house tonight! True story!!

New Blog Link

I added a blog under my links on the right hand side of a blog titled "A Place Called Simplicity". I read this blog almost daily for a few reasons: they have refused the American dream and instead embraced simplicity in order to love orphans, she is a mother to many children and keeps bringing them home even though she should be looking forward to an empty nest and she just keeps things pretty real. I strongly suggest that you take a look at her blog and read over the past few weeks. Especially the past week as they have been awarded the privilege of loving another sweet Ugandan girl! One of my favorite quotes from her ever is this: the only special need a child has is to have a family!! So very true.

I was reading a book to my munchkins yesterday afternoon and happened upon a page that I wasn't sure how to process. It is from the book "Just in Case You Ever Wonder" by Max Lucado and this particular page went like this: And since you are so special, God wanted to put you in just the right home...where you would be warm when it's cold, where you'd be safe when you're afraid, where you'd have fun and learn about heaven. After lots of looking, God sent you to me. And I'm so glad He did.

You already know where I am heading with this I'm sure. I had two children nestled in at my sides and one on my lap as I read this story. I felt two very different emotions at that passage. I felt a sense of peace in knowing that God has in fact granted Eden all those things and yet I felt a gnawing ache as I thought of the 160,000,000 orphans who I couldn't sit down with and read this story too without feeling like a fraud. Now, I am very aware that I cannot take care of all of those children but I know I can do more! How about you? Can you sponsor a child or two? Could you open your home to foster or adopt a child(ren) who might need you? Would you be willing to at least ask God how He might want to expand you? Praying blessings over you as you pursue His heart for you!!!

Flashbacks

My cousin and I "swimming"! At least that is what I am assuming we were doing. Whatever we were doing I assure you it was his idea and I was an innocent follower. I am quite sure!

The one thing I do not like about growing up and being adults is the distance that comes with time. I don't mean emotional distance but actual miles between us. There is always a connection once you have played in the water in your underwear!! I just miss talking, laughing, singing and listening to him play/sing. So Jenny, this picture is for you. As a window into his silly boyhood days and as a warning for what may be in store for your future!!

Real Life

One of my all time favorites of the kids! One of Mark's sisters' took this picture during the summer and I return to it often! I love the freedom that comes with warm weather and am always sad to see it go. Having to get shoes, sweatshirts, hats and gloves on feels so restrictive. I would much rather have the freedom to run in and out of the house with doors wide open. Time to bolster my mind and get ready for the months ahead. Lots of energy that still needs to be burned by growing children but it happens within the walls of the house instead of the wide open spaces of the yard. Somedays I wake up with creative energy and the days seems to go smoothly. Somedays I wake up and things seem to unravel before I can even get my wits about me. Those are the "Little Engine that Could" days. Silently (sometimes not so silently) telling myself "I think I can, I think I can" until the day fades away. A day is never wasted but sometimes they are survived more than enjoyed! There was a time that I felt guilt over the survived days but now I know they are part of this journey called motherhood. And they are equally as important as the days that are fully enjoyable because you treasure those wonderful days all the more!

*click on the picture to enlarge so you can see their expressions even better

What Goes Around.....

.....comes around! At least that is what I have heard. And in the case of my voracious climber I would say that holds true. According to my mother, I was a climber. I have vivid memories of climbing everything I could all day long as a youngin'. Trees, top beams of the barn, more trees, the roof of the garage - you name it. If it could be scaled, I was on the job! The one difference between Heidi and I is that she gets into everything! That is the motive behind her climbing. My mother says I climbed for enjoyment more than as a means to get what I wanted. Not true with Heidi! There are few places that are safe from her sticky fingers. I had to get rid of my stool in the kitchen that helped me reach things since it also helped her reach things! Pardon the underwear. Pretty much every picture I have of her recently is in her underwear. Partly because she is in such a rush after using the potty that she barely holds still for her underwear and partly because she goes so often that it is easier to only remove one article of clothing. Judge me if you want. I won't even know and she will go on running around in her underwear happily!

She got what she wanted!! She likes to rummage through my cupboards. Her favorite find is chocolate chips!

The past week it has been climbing in the fridge to get stuff. This happens upwards of 342 times a day! Exaggeration is possible but then again maybe not. I remove her. every. single. time and remind her that she could just use words to tell me what she wants. Maybe I will grow to love her independence!

These last few warm days have found the kids playing with sidewalk chalk which they love. I love finding them actually getting along for a few minutes! Honestly, I love anything they do that keeps them from fighting! What I don't love about chalk is the following:

Hand prints and smeared chalk all over the front door.

As well as the walls of the house. But you can't argue that the little hand print is precious!!

A Hiatus

I had a bit of an unplanned blogging hiatus but sometimes life happens! I have been busy canning and freezing the last of the seasons goodness in between perfecting my peace keeping skills with my kiddos. My skills are sorely lacking if you look at the amount of squabbles! And really I have been questioning the pros and cons of this whole blogging world. One of the pros for me is that family and extended family get to stay in tune with what is happening in our world. I have also "met" some really neat people through this blog and am grateful for those friendships (shout out to Charity)!! One of the blaring cons is that you can either accurately or inaccurately paint of picture of your life. I have always wanted to portray an accurate picture so that my weaknesses aren't hidden causing someone to feel inept. Not that I think I am all that or anything! Because I am not! But I have found myself reading some blogs and walk away feeling really lacking. We are not made to compare our lives to others but to walk in obedience to what is laid out in front of us! You can post the right pictures with the lighting shining just perfectly, say the perfect words, protray yourself the way you see yourself (which can be inflated), etc. So over the past two weeks I have been sorting through my feelings and still don't know what I think. Shows you how indecisive I am! So for today I am just going to continue on in the general everyday life and pictures. I am also aware that my everyday life may be entertainment for some so you are welcome! Flying kites on a windy, fall day!!

Don't you love all the colors these two packed onto their two tiny bodies? Heidi insists upon dressing herself now and lets just say it can sometimes be painful to the eyes!

Heidi's favorite part of the day is when her Shane gets off the bus! She asks him to read "dories" and he sweetly complies. If they watch movies or read stories Heidi is usually right next to him! She doesn't seem to understand the concept of personal space in regards to Shane.

We have been spending time with friends soaking in the last of the warm weather! Life is always more fun with friends!

Tristan rocking his "old man" shoes and striped socks! And he actually went somewhere looking like this and I just laughed! Who says that your style should be pre-determined by mainstream media/fashion designers?

We have spent more time than I care to admit perfecting spiderman skills. All in the day of the life......

Mischief

should have been her middle name!!!