FANTASTIC FOSSILS

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Chris took the boys fossil hunting & snapped these for me...

I think he's a pretty good with the cam... my proud Daddy!

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And every day just about you can find them in the backyard trying to find "Predator X" ... long story but I've already passed on my dorky love of documentaries... hee hee... they'll thank me maybe when they have kids of their own... the best thing about it is they think there might be a fossil in our back yard just like the one a man took almost his entire career to find.

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Five Good Things

1. Go Go Gogey! His voice makes me smile
2. I love our house... I saw pics of our lot yesterday from before we built... memories
3. I love that boys can always have messy hair and it's cute
4. The Book of Esther... refreshing & mystical
5. I have the best friends... love you girls!

ciao~alicia

CHRISTOPHER'S BIG DAY

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I put Coop on the top bunk to wake him up... he never wants to miss his shower with Daddy!

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After breakfast he took this pic of a cardinal (his very favorite bird) on the fence... notice the little bitty cardinal in the center of the pic... that's my little photographer...

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He played on the computer for a while and complained about all the noise Coop was making... we talked about how we all have to live together and all that jazz; I left out the part that he is the LOUDEST person to live with and we all love to put up with his "stuff"!

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Then, after dinner he had to wash the dishes... I don't know weather to laugh or cry... He was so determined to finish the 3 pots, colander, 2 cutting boards oh, and a muffin pan. He wanted to finish it all... and he did. As challenging as he can be his gifts are twice as fragrant...

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and he loves to clean... he told me tonight he always wants to wash the dishes with me... I should have had him sign a contract... tonight was also the night he wrote his name... CHRIS.

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So, being the supermom that I was tonight, I dug out the Doug & Melissa Responsibility Chart and started "it" at 8:30 ahhh!... I'm so kidding about supermom; "Santa" brought these...

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When Christopher was about 2 I wondered why he would never sing the ABC's with me... a few months later he sung the whole thing... I didn't even know he could write an R until he wrote it tonight in his name... you can't really see all of his, it got rubbed off; it's burned into my brain forever.

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Maybe it was my big day...

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Five Good Things:

1. I had the energy to go until 9:30 with the boys... Chris got home at 9:45
2. Coop's ordeal was just allergies, no doctor visit
3. Beth Moore rox!
4. He knows my needs tonight
5. I have bags packed for tomorrow morning

MY CURTAIN

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This is my living room curtain... I've had it for a few (maybe more) months... item #3546 on my to do list ~ sew curtain!...

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MY GLOVES

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Here they are... my fabulous gloves!... the white ones are the disposable kind (I've tried to be more green but, green + babies, oh my... you know) and they rock for potty training! The purple ones, the ones Christopher loves, are way too big on purpose ~ they can be whipped off in a second while you're washing dishes to pull a child off the other... the trusty yellow ones clean the bathrooms... I love my gloves!

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MY FLOWER

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Christopher picked this for me... I think it's a weed... might as well be an orchid...

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Five good things

1. I spent about a half hour with just Chris this morning
2. The boys all slept in
3. Cooper is eating. I love the way he sounds drinking his bottle
4. I have some beautiful strawberries in the fridge
5. Mike has decided to get surgery

ciao~alicia

I WANNA COME!

Coop is all over the house trying to catch his brothers any way he can! If you look really close you can see Christopher's hand in the bathtub... his new thing is "hiding" from everyone... he hides under any blanket, pillow, or behind some door and then pops out and yells at you... I have my heart in my throat about 3 times a day... he's fun to live with like my sister was... he's going to be that kid that who "gets ya good"!

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Five good things:

1. I love my collection of dried flowers from Christopher

2. I have 2 less loads of laundry to do

3. Chris is off tomorrow

4. My gray roots will be covered up soon

5. English muffins with lots of butter... yum!

ciao~alicia

I'M TIRED

Yes, he's 4 and he still sucks his thumb... always... I pull it out all day long... I'm tired of pulling it out... I'm tired of hearing myself, "you don't need it son"...

It feels like Monday again today... there are dishes to be washed, laundry to be done and a kitchen that needs mopping; I hate mopping. I feel like Chris is never home lately... yesterday for the first time since Nate was a little baby he left before they woke up and came home after they went to bed. My heart winced as he came home looking a little defeated; the testing period is wearing on us. I feel like I am constantly doing, doing, and my toes are still not painted.

Every one needs something... help brushing teeth, help with the goggles, just the "hey mamas" today are making me crazy! Acceptance time: there are 3 little ones here who don't really do for themselves. Christopher is starting to become more independent but he still doesn't bathe without me there... they are just little... and needy. (I just stopped for the 10th time to help Nate with the tape~ they are doing a "project" and I have been posting for 30 min. now... ahhhhh). It's a wonderful life!

Five good things:

1. They won't be brain damaged if they watch 6 hours of movies today

2. Cooper is asleep for the moment

3. Each of them has kissed me today

4. Chris will be home eventually

5. Cooper is crawling...fast

BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY II

The boys with my sister... Aunt Jen

It was a peaceful day;)

BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY

They made this plate for the Easter Bunny... Christopher picked the eggs while Nate held the plate... this pic was right before they went to bed... We woke up & Coop was clapping his hands for the first time and did it all day... this was truly just sweet; our King is alive and this baby's joy... I have no words.

Their faith was so beautiful to watch this week and such an example. They didn't find it hard to believe at all this miracle; it took me back to when I was 4. I accepted Christ and I remember my own understanding at that age~ anything was truly possible with my God. A good reminder to me not to get bogged down by my brain. I have so much useless info running around in there and the scientific studies to back it up. My God is bigger than science. Science tries to explain my God. This was a really special week for me as a Mom; I saw seeds that were planted years ago bloom so innocently and so fresh.

Yesterday we spent with my Mom & Mike... When it started to get dark Chris, my Mom, me and all the boys went in her front living room to read the Easter story. As we sat there I thought of my Mom so faithful every morning when I lived at home. In her strawberry kitchen she would be found sitting at the table with her coffee & Bible. Now we were all together, my hubby, my children & my Mom~ the Matriarch was reading aloud. It smelled sweet in the room...

EGGS!

Yesterday I realized I had left my camera with my fresh battery at home as I was backing out of the driveway for "the hunt"... However, I did have all 3 kids, the stroller, jackets, baskets, and the video camera ~ that's success! I thought with it starting at 9 we had until about 9:05 until it was over and we were pulling out of the driveway at 9... we made it! So, after the hunt was over and we had visited a little I ran home, got the camera, and went back up to the park... what I will do to get "the shot"!!

They hunted true to their little selves; Christopher RAN when they said go. He gave the man an egg that gave us the donuts and juice... I watched him walk over to him so big and looking up so high as he offered his gift. Giving has been something he's been making a new effort at... and he's even sweeter than I thought.

Nate said afterwards his favorite part was watching the girls find eggs. The other day Nate asked me if God had made his wife yet... I have been praying for his wife since he was in my belly. Then he told me that he prays for her too; I got a glimpse of him as a man and his sweet wife... if you know Nate you know she will be sweet.

LUCKY LADYBUGS

My transition to Mom was not an easy one. I had Christopher and then turned 30... I had done the "college thing" and the "career thing" and was amazed at the prospect of even wanting a family. I thought it was going to be like the diaper commercials... I would be in all my natural glory with no makeup on, flawless skin and undoubtedly smell like a gardenia. After all I will have just given birth and be in la la breastfeeding land! Don't get me wrong... after preterm labor and a lot of bed rest I was absolutely a changed woman after giving birth; I just had no idea what this "change" would mean.

There was a plan for me the whole time. I had to learn to play again; this is still something I struggle with but once I let go of the fact that my house will not be perfect so that I can play a game of hopscotch I am much happier. Now I just face the useless guilt of "my house is messy and I am playing". I'm at peace with the fact that I am not innately "domestic"... without my gloves I would be puking at the wet hair I just picked up. More about my mighty gloves in a later post... I have 3 different kinds and no matter what budget crisis comes they are staying!

So yesterday after gym we sat in the parking lot with the lucky little ladybugs that found themselves at the mercy of little Lee hands. And they were "gentle" until Nate loved his a little too much... I just sat and watched. These are the moments that I really live for; the confirmation that all the gagging is so worth it. How fragile like the ladybug their spirits are and how blessed I am to love them.

YUM!

Even though the mess is no fun, this face is!

Serious party of 1 please!

This blog has gotten way too serious; I'm starting to journal more and this needs to be a place of more simplicity and a dash of me at my best! ... Life is too short... I'm not sure where this whole blog thing is going but I can tell she hasn't found her niche...

THE GRASSHOPPER

The biggest little guy came over saturday...

I think he had a play date with the boys...

He stuck around for a while & even took a break on the tree... He looks how I feel lately... confident that He is taking care of me but feeling kind of stuck out on the edge too. The reality is that I am giving worry over to Him all day long... Our family is really going through some times that have pushed me to learn to trust Him on a different level. I have good days and bad days & days when I start my day over after lunch. I am also excited for change to come; last week was a tough one... I had a fender bender that was my fault; my car also broke down and needed a repair. The warranty expired last month. After working with Central Market to solve the problem which could not be resolved, we now have to order Coop's formula on line by the case (long story). I accepted the fact that I am taking Coop to get his shots through the state; that was a big one for me! On the flip side, I am loving spending time with these boys...Coop is up on his knees rocking! Nate asked me the other day if Mimi's was open that night, and Christopher is showing so much responsibility doing his chores I am shocked! He has volunteered to take out the trash & put the new bag in. We also started our seeds outside and the boys are deliciously curious about every step... Nate loves the cute little "flower babies" he sees first when he walks out the front door! I don't know how far we will be stretched but I am still here at home with my boys and this trial has made me a better Mom. I have a new excitement about giving them the tools to make it through trying times and come out with a stronger faith, not just in themselves but in their Heavenly Father. I can see their spirits at rest and I see them watching me. We have a new sense of gratitude throughout the house and everyone and everything is just a little bit sweeter... thank you sisters for all your encouragement;)