Hey, Go'geous!

Kyla has become the biggest ham...she keeps us in stitches (or rolling our eyes) all the time.

Last night she snuggled up beside Ed on the couch and said"hey, go'geous man". She says "Go'geous" with such a southern accent too. It's funny to me because neither of us really have one at all. Between her and Levi though, they can turn your average one-syllable word into about 4 or 5 syllables.

I'm so glad she isn't going to stay the baby... she is already so spoiled from all the attention...hopefully having a younger one will help her realize that it's not all about her. You can only say "stop laughing at her" so many times. If it's not the kids it's other adults too. =}

I don't mean to imply that I don't enjoy her antics...I DO! Maybe too much. She really is a cutie, I just don't want her to be ruined. Guess it's another good reminder to pray without ceasing.

Be careful what you say

Last night, I was doing some last minute cleaning before bed and tried to include a quick fix project that I have been needing to do. Our toilet paper holder gets alot of abuse and it has been missing the holder itself plus one screw for awhile now. I finally got the holder replacement and found a screw I thought would work, so I was trying to fix it really quick last night. First I tried to just put the screw in but it pulled right out of the wall, then I tried to loosen the bottom screw but it refused to budge( in spite of being used as a swing or handlebar several times a day). After working with it for a while I finally called to Ed in the other room that " I need help I can't get this stupid screw loose!". To my dismay, I immediately hear below me "Soopid, soopid" and I look down to see Kyla wielding a pencil in place of a screwdriver in perfect immitation of what I had just done....

  Of course I had to tell her "You don't say that", but it was a very humbling reminder that our children hear every thing. Even the stuff we don't want them too.

Chores and Change

   I'm not sure if I have figured out the "right" way to do chores or not, but I did just put together a chart ( I use the term loosely) that I 'm hoping will prove workable for us. It just dawned on me today while I was mopping that I really have alot of preconceived ideas about things that aren't really the right way to look at them. I guess I keep wishing I could figure out the magic formula for  making things fall into place. Like if I figure out the perfect schedule or way of doing things, then it will make everything easier. I have come to realize though that there is no such thing as the "perfect" way of doing things. You have to find out what works for you right now, and then when that doesn't work anymore,  find  a new way. 

 As people, we are constantly changing... our children are constantly changing... and it is foolish to think that we can find only one way of doing things and never change it.  And I'm not talking about our convictions or Biblical principles, but just practical ways of doing things. 

 It has been hard to finally admit this to myself, because I keep wishing there was a magic formula. But the only formula is to keep looking to the Lord for wisdom every day. And that is where I fall short. To continue to admit every day, "Lord I need your help, I can't do this alone." When I do stop fretting and take it to the Him, my day is so much better... but I can't go on yesterday's strength anymore than I can go on yesterday's food. It's a daily thing. 

  So... for those who are curious... this is what I worked out for us this week. And next week we will just change who does what.

              CHORES:

Aaron (9)---make breakfast and unload dishwasher (it's usually oatmeal or something else simple)

Lela(7)---load dishwasher and feed pets

Alyssa(6)---one complete load of laundry and sweep D.R. floor (usually a load of towels or underthings)

Isaac(5)---Clean off table and take out trash

Levi(3)--- pick up/sort dirty clothes

Kyla(22 mths.)---pick up shoes

   They are still learning, and, of course, I have to remind them, especially the little ones, but all things considered they do pretty good.

Levi

    Levi has been quite the character lately...I'm not sure what stage he is going through but it's a combination of bossy/hyper/whiny. Which, all combined, can be a handful, but it's not without it's humor.

  He just got passed down a little red trike from Anna Laurie a couple days ago and I have let him keep it in the house (so far anyway). He has LIVED on that thing. Literally. He rides it everywhere, and even if he has to sit on something else he will pull it up and at least prop his feet on it. I found him lounging half on and half off my rocking chair the other day with his fingers in his mouth (it was close to nap time), but his feet were propped on the trike.  =) I had to take it away from him today and put it in  my room (the special place where all repo'd toys go) because he wouldn't quit screaming every time someone else touched it. So this evening he kept bringing me other toys ..."here Mama you can put this in your room... can I get my bithycle now?" I think he was trying to trade. 

  I love to hear him talk though... he has the funniest way of saying things. Like when he heard my new alarm clock ticking loudly on my night stand, he put his ear right up to it and then whispered loudly to me, "I sink it hears me."

 Or, when he thinks Kyla is doing something she shouldn't..."KY KY that is a NO NO. Stop dat wight NOW!"

 

A crummy night's sleep

  We have just recently gotten the boys a set of (much needed) bunkbeds and dresser. They are absolutely loving it. It's everyone's favorite toy now. But my story goes back about a week before we got the bunkbeds....

      I got up one morning, a little later than I had planned, and was getting the older 3 started on school when I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen Isaac yet that morning. So I head into the bedroom to wake him up, but I can't find him anywhere. I'm looking everywhere...on the floor, under the bed....still nothing. (Let me pause to explain that the boys were still sleeping on a sofa bed at this point.)I'm starting to get worried when it occurs to me to check up under the head of the bed. (Inside the couch, if you will.) Sure enough, there he was curled up with his pillow and blanket. He has this thing about sleeping on the floor. I have no idea why, but he loves it. He was fine so I just let him sleep until he woke up. Well, I was telling Ed about it on the phone that night (he was at work) and he thought it was so funny. He wanted me to ask Isaac if it was fun sleeping under the couch, so I relayed the message and Isaac replied, " Um, no ma'am it was kwummy". It tickled us so much to realize he meant that literally. Crumby. Little boy's room...under the couch. Yep, definitely crumby.