An angel on my shoulder

**warning: not sure why, but this post will not show my returns to make new paragraphs. Think stream of consciousness. . .** Y'all things have been nuts around here. I have barely had time to think. Actually, I haven't even had time to think, thus things have been even more difficult! Today my to do list was a mile long. I had everything carefully choreographed so that I could get Jessa off to school, do a few things around here, take Spencer to school, attend a 9:15 meeting, go to Walgreen's to pick up some picture posters for Jessa's school and do a little Easter shopping, head to the teacher store to pick up paper for a project for Jessa's school, pick Spencer up from his school. Then I headed home to pick up a few things and drop off the candy that would melt in the car. I fed Spencer a quick lunch and then we were off again. We went to Leap of Faith to pick up some new Resurrection Eggs for Awana tomorrow night and then to the pediatrician. (This was our last stop in our preparation to register for KINDERGARTEN, after already visiting the Optometrist and the Dentist.) After trying not to cry with him as he got the dreaded vaccines that clear him for school, we hurried to Target to pick up a few things I needed for church tomorrow and of course prizes for the boy who took his shots like a champ. The check out took forever, so then I was racing home to get Jessa off the bus. Fearing I would not make it, I had a friend convince the bus driver to let Jessa go home with her so she would not panic if I was not home. Once we were all back together at home, I had a nice Skype chat with my Daddy as he attempted to help me make a rainbow for a bulletin board. I tidied up a little and then David came home to grab the kids for me. I finished getting most of supper ready as I headed out the door to a school board meeting. I got home about 7:30, I got everyone fed while David finished up planting the beautiful flowers that he and the kiddos picked out. And I had a few more things I needed to do on the computer before I headed up to get the kids in bed. I was also getting the jellybeans ready to sort for yet another Awana project for tomorrow night to help my Cubbies celebrate Easter. I had one more pretty big printing project to go before I headed up. I got it all ready and clicked print. Nothing happened. I clicked it again. The printer said I was out of paper, which I KNEW was not true because I had just loaded special paper for my project. I started to get a little upset and bothered. I mean, I have so much to do and I don't need this. Why was the printer not cooperating? I unplugged it and plugged it back in. This usually helps. It did not work this time. I was irritated at the prospect of having to shut down the computer to try to get everything to work right. So I was about to save my work again, just to be sure, you know before I shut down. And then I noticed that I had typed "March" instead of "April." A pretty big mistake since I was about to print multiple copies to be distributed at Jessa's school tomorrow. I smiled and changed the word "March" to the word "April" in every spot that it was written. And then without doing anything else, I clicked print again. Know what? It worked! And then I grinned and thought that there must have been an angel sitting on my shoulder saving me from printing the wrong thing. And then I thought about how many other times today that my angels had to be looking out for me to make sure that I got everything that I needed to do finished. That we made it to all of our appointments on time. That Spencer would be so brave for his yucky shots. That my friend was home to get Jessa off the bus. That the bus driver let Jessa get off at the wrong stop without a note. And I felt pretty darn blessed. I find myself complaining about how crazy things are or how busy I am, and I need little moments like this to remind me how great I have it. Thank You God for my wonderfully crazy busy life filled with fun and laughter and snuggles and sticky hands and too many commitments. Thank You for my awesome family and my precious friends. Even though I am usually a little frazzled and always a little behind, I wouldn't trade my life for anything else in the world.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Jess and Spence are tired after a long day at school. Molly is happy to relax with her children. She really misses them when they are at school. . .

Almost Wordless Wednesday

I am the worst blogger. Ever.

BUT, as usual, I can always come up with a picture.

My dear friend Tara and her boys came to see us this weekend. What a treat!

And just look at our babies:Aren't we blessed?

Burps

Everyone burps, right?

And when you have a tiny baby, these burps are music to your ears. It is part of the feeding ritual that you go through with your new baby every few hours. And as we all know, every noise that your baby makes is just precious and music to your ears. Strangely enough, even formerly offensive noises are wonderful. Gas makes you happy because it makes them feel better.

Now, when describing my babies today, I would not use the adjective "new" to describe them. Do I still think that every noise that they make is precious? Well, not so much. But I try to roll with it and hope that someday the mere sound of a bodily function will not produce crazy laughter. And then I look at my 34 year old husband who is also beside himself with crazy laughter and realize that "someday" may never come.

So anyway, one night at supper everyone was particularly low and in really bad moods. I was practically tap dancing to get everyone to be nice and perk up. I got nothing in return. They were still in the dumps. Then someone burped a little burp. And I flashed back to a game that we all used to play as kids. Whenever someone burps, you have to put your thumb in the middle of your forehead with your fingers up. And the last person to do this has to "eat" the burp. Charming, right? Well, I was desperate and willing to try anything to turn our supper frown upside down. So I just threw my hand up there. David remembered this game, too, so he threw his hand up to his forehead. They looked at us like we were NUTS. So we explained to them what this game was all about. Needless to say, our supper turned out fine.

Everyone had fun and I feel confident that our digestion was aided by the multiple times that we burped.

"

Better out than in" according to Shrek and Fiona, right?

Well, toward the end of our supper, I explained to them that this was a game to play at home only. I did not want them going to school and embarrassing me, you know? I mean, I like people thinking that David and I are model parents who would never condone such a thing, much less teach it to them. They both agreed to keep it just between us. I guess I should have known. . .

A few weeks later, we were at Jessa's school Valentine's Day party. There were several moms there to help. I was handling the veggie tray. It was such a nice party. Kids excited about their cards. Lots of red and white and pink decorations were all over the place. Really a nice party, you know? And as I was walking around helping to pass out the healthy snacks that we were serving at the party, I looked up and couldn't believe my eyes. The group of desks where Jessa and Spencer were sitting had about 10 kids. And ALL 10 of them had their thumbs pressed to their foreheads with their fingers outstretched, giggling. My eyes fell on Jessa who was beaming with pride at how much all of her friends enjoyed this new game she taught them.

So much for keeping it at home.

So much for our image as model parents.

I was so proud.

Really.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

A creative boy can turn batting from inside an old pillow into a wig.
Add some of David's old glasses and Spencer said,
"Hey, look at me, I'm a grandma."
Hopefully May will not be too offended. . .

Happy Fluffy Tuesday!

Ah, my children. Their little minds tickle me to death.

At Momma's house last weekend, Spencer was starting to take a bath. I was busy helping Jessa get situated because she took her bath first. So I was minding my business and the door cracked and I saw a naked little Spencer. And he had a serious look of concern on his face. "Mom. I need you," he said. I hopped up and headed back to see what the crisis was. By the look on his face, it was pretty serious. So he marches himself right back to the bathroom. He stood next to the tub and put his hand on his naked hip. He looked right at me and with a furrowed brow said, "Mom, this bath is not going well." He paused and I tried hard not to laugh. He was solemn as a judge. So I said, "What seems to be the trouble?" And he stood there resembling a jaybird and showed me with animated hand gestures the serious troubles he was having with the toys and the basket to hold the toys. And to close his mini dissertation, he placed his hand back on his hip and said, "See. This bath is just not going well."

Jessa and Spencer ran through the room last night fussing about something. And then they were off again. I peeked just in time to see them headed back my way. Jessa said, "Spencer, you can't hit me- I am a girl!" And he continued to chase her and they ran past me again and he hollered after her, "You are not a girl, you are a sister!" Can you see the distinction?

The other afternoon in the car, I said something about a woman. And then I said, "You know, like I am a woman." Spencer was all "No you are not a woman!" And I said, "Well, then what am I?" And he said with great authority, "You are a lady." Oh, OK, I thought. And then I made the mistake of asking him, "Well, what is the difference between a woman and a lady." He said, "Well, a woman is more fat." And I thought, oh how nice, he doesn't think of me as "fat." A girl always like to hear that, right?

(It should be noted here that I do not like the word "fat." I had a sorority sister in college that had a big night shirt that said, "I am not fat, I am fluffy." So that has sort of always been my thing. I tell the kids that if you want to describe someone, you should never say "fat." If you have to say anything, say "fluffy." It just sounds nicer. And so "fat" is a word that we NEVER use.)

When Jessa heard the word "fat" come out of his mouth, she said, "Spencer! Don't say fat, say fluffy, right Momma?" And I laughed and said, "Yes, Jessa, if you have to say anything, fluffy sounds much nicer." Then she said, "See, Spencer, so Momma IS a woman, just fluffy."
Spencer giveth and Jessa taketh away.

So last thing, today I was thinking that we don't have Awana tomorrow night because it is Ash Wednesday. Which made me think that today was Fat Tuesday. And so at some point this evening, I said, "Hey, guys do you know what today is?" And they both said, "Nope." And so I was all, "Well, today is Fat Tuesday." They both gasped. They looked utterly shocked and no one spoke right away. After a few seconds, Jessa put her hand on her hip and said, "Uh, Mom, don't you mean 'fluffy Tuesday'?" And I laughed and said, "I guess you are right." They never forget anything. . .

So from the little crazy Keys and me,
Happy Fluffy Tuesday!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

My poor baby girl.

Two positive tests for strep throat.

Beginning second round of antibiotics.

Right after we got home from our second trip to the doctor in 8 days, she passed out.

Bless her heart, being sick wears her slap out!