Mom and daughter road trip!

Matt and I know that having a large family means that each kid get less of mom and dad's time.  While we make an effort everyday to give moments of special attention, we also have made plans to have "coming of age" trips for each child. 

We want to make each trip a special one-on-one experience with each child.  Our hope is to start with local trips for younger kids and then progress to bigger trips as the kids get older.  We pray these are times where each child gets a chance to be who they are apart from our herd. 

Our first trip was with Jolie.  She turned 10 this year so we did an out of town trip to Ruidoso, NM.  I grew up in Roswell, which is an hour and a half away from there, so I knew a bit about the town.  The drive was about 4 hours to get from the prairie to the mountains.  It was a long drive but it was worth it.

We didn't plan anything special.  All I had on the agenda was spending time with my girl.  That is just what we did.  She got to choose what we did and when we did it.  She had a blast and I treasure that time we got to spend together. 

Being the oldest child is not always easy.  She has a ton of responsibility but is held to a higher standard because of her age and ability.  Then, when she tries to take care of (or boss) her brothers, she gets in trouble.  It's a hard station to be in.  So I pray that all of the time we get to spend with her, whether it be a trip to the grocery store or a trip to the mountains, will reinforce how special she is to us.  I pray the same for our sweet boys. 

Here we are in our lovely hotel room.  I have a little bit of a hard time relaxing in hotel rooms. (I'm just never sure of the cleanliness factor)  Jolie however was so excited and rolled around all over the beds and used every amenity they offered.

She just had to practice her ballet on the beds.

Little monkey.  (Every kid has to do this at least once on a hotel bed!)

The best part of our stay was the pool. 

There were many tricks preformed.

My sweet girl heading back to the room for some cookies and a movie!

Here we are starting our day of shopping and lunch.  It was so fun!

We finished shopping for treats to bring home to our boys and had lunch.  After that we got to visit a museum which was very cool.  Then, we left Ruidoso and went to Roswell to spend the night with my sister Heather and her sweet girls.  I will post more about that later!

My sad/happy day.

I am in shock.  Summer is over.  While my garden is still in production, my babies aren't going to be here to help me harvest.  They will be part of a classroom.  Just another kid.  Even though their teachers will love them, they won't know how truly wonderful and special they are. 

They won't know just how precious and tender Jolie's heart is towards others.  They won't see the sweetness in Asher's somber and serious way.  Their hearts won't fill with joy at the twinkle in Zaddok's eyes.  I mourn this loss.  I will miss my babies. 

 But the excitement they feel makes up for my hesitation.  They are so ready to be part of that classroom.  They can't wait to be one of the kids.  And they are so excited to show the teachers every reason why they should love them! 

This is the hardest part of parenting.  Letting them be who they are apart from us.  We know that everything we have taught and prayed covers them.  We pray that their hearts are guarded and that their spirits are protected.  We hope that they have a really wonderful experience. 

"May the Lord bless you and keep you.  May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  May the Lord give you Peace."

Matt took this on his way home from work. *sigh*

Have a sweet day my babies. Mama's gonna cry a little. Then I'm gonna go get a coffee with only one child by my side.

At least he is stinkin' cute. 

This is the corn we grew this year!  Isn't is cute?  Thanks Papa!

We have been blessed with a good production of cucumbers.

Our girls have been busy!  I saved them to make some breakfast casseroles for the freezer.  Great easy school morning breakfasts.

Thanks for sharing this day with me.

Mr. Frankenbaby.

Oh how someone should have warned me.  Boys + the ability to walk = injury.  WHY DIDN'T ANYONE WARN ME?  My sweet baby boy, just 2 weeks before his 2nd birthday, decided to do some redecorating in our living room.  Apparently the giant glass jar sitting on the top of the shelf, did not suit him .  He wanted it more at ground level.  So he yanked on the shelf and down the jar came.  The lid, which had a sharp rim, ricocheted off of his head leaving a giant gash.  If you have never experienced a head-wound, they bleed.  They bleed a lot.  I was questioning how such a little body could have so much blood in it.  I was also questioning how he was not passing out from losing said blood. 

Now I am not a laid-back person.  I tend to wig out when I stress.  But somehow, when it really counts, I can keep a cool head.  As I was trying to keep pressure on the head of my screaming and bleeding son, I was able to order my other kids into action to call my sister-in-law, find my purse and get their shoes on.  Jolie was a hero!  She wanted to freak out but kept herself calm so that she could call her Aunt Amanda to come and pick up her and her brothers.  She also sat beside him and kept pressure on the gusher as I drove to the clinic.  The boys were not concerned.  They were watching a movie and eating sunflower seeds as we drove.  About this time, Jolie couldn't keep her emotions in check anymore. 

She started yelling at the boys, "How can you watch a movie at a time like this?"

Then she would look at Levi and her little mouth would turn upside down and with tears in her eyes she would say, "I'm so sorry baby.  You poor thing.  Your going to be okay.  I love you.  I'm so sorry baby." 

Precious.  I love to see the tenderness of siblings.

After a traumatic trip to the hospital, my darling boy will now sport a cool scar for the rest of his life.  I am very thankful that his injury wasn't worse.  I could have been worse.  It could have damaged his eyes, it could have cut up his face, or it could have required plastic surgery to repair it.  Our heavenly Father was good to us and protected him.  He also saw fit to give us favor at the hospital.  We got there before it got busy, got back to a room quickly and were treated very well by the staff.  He even got some apple juice, animal crackers and about 5000 stickers.  Everyone wanted to give him stickers.  It was sweet.  Our Dr. was smart and quick.  He wore ear plugs during the suturing, which I found both funny and brilliant!  It would be difficult to tie a good stitch with a kid screaming in your ear.    

By the time we were discharged, Levi was himself again.  He had put up a good fight but didn't seem to care after it was all over.  Here is his new look... 

Oh my honey-baby.  I love your sweet eyes and your awesome scar!

 In other matters, before all of this occurred I was being a typical busy mom.  I was doing some house cleaning and working a bit in the yard.  It was very hot today.  I was sweaty and gross and wearing clothes that were meant to get dirty.  They were not going to town clothes.  But head wounds won't wait for mom to freshen up.  As a matter of fact, I left the house exactly as I was.  I am lucky I was wearing pants at the time.

After it was all over, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror.  I was frightened.  But I then I gained clarity as to why the ER waiting room got uncomfortably quiet when I walked through.  See below...

 

Note the hair.  Vintage crazy lady.  Disheveled, dirty and pulled back by my daughter's headband.
Next let your eyes fall to my shirt.  It's covered in blood spatter!  I look like I just committed a crime.
The face?  No, nothing abnormal there.  I just look confused and unaware on a regular basis. 
Crazy lady covered in blood.  I'm surprised I'm not a headline on this evening's news.

 

See, he's not too traumatized.  I took him to get some french fries for the drive home from the hospital.  After that, all was right with the world.  He was such a trooper!

Hey there buddy boy.  It's good to see you smiling.

My heart outside of my body.

You have probably heard the saying, "Having children is like having your heart walk around outside of your body." It sounds cheesy but it is stinkin' true. Some days, I look at my babies and cannot even comprehend the amount of love I feel. I mean, mothers are supposed to love their children, but I think I might be obsessed. Take this series of pictures I am about to show you. Just looking at them makes me want to have more babies! The joy my little people have brought to me is just about unbearable. You mommies know the kind of joy I'm talking about. It's the painful, stressful, mournful, confusing, harassing, draining, anxiety-riddled kind of joy. Mom joy. We are a weird breed of people. The only way any of human-kind has survived is by the sheer will and determination of our mothers, not to kill us. It's hard to imagine that I will soon be stressed out and annoyed by this little booger. But that is what kids do, they grow up to annoy us. Mom joy. Ahhhhhh. There is nothing like it.

I had to wake my sleeping baby the other morning. It was very hard not to crawl in bed with him. He is very soft and squishy like a little warm pillow.


Just look how comfy he is. I just couldn't wake him. I could only photograph him. (bad lighting=fuzzy photo)


Oh my. He woke. With a smile. Oh, my heart.


Well, since he's awake, I will turn on the flash. It is not appreciated.


On second thought...maybe it's not so bad.


Still a little groggy.


But always happy and ready to start his day!


A day full of practicing ways to annoy his mother. Climbing onto the coffee table works Levi.


"What? I'm just helping out with the mom joy."


Abba, help me to love, teach and direct this baby boy into your perfect will. You are my desire for him. Hold his heart, teach him the fruits of the Spirit, grow his faith. Father, make him a man after your very own heart. Amen

Awwwww!

My baby has decided that his Daddy is pretty much the coolest thing ever. While this is very cute, it is also a bit sad for me. No more mama's boy. But it's a good time for me too. I love to see how much my babies love their daddy. I get a little more freedom too. That is a very good thing!
This is the progression of the excitement of Daddy returning from work.

Just crusin' my ride.


Hey, there's Daddy's car!


My dad is home! I must get to him!


Here I go.


Almost there!


Almost there!


Ahhh, right where I belong.

Zad goes to school!

I have to give equal time to each school-child. My husband, the 3rd child, demands it! So here is Zaddok all dressed up and ready for his first day of Pre-K. He is shocking me with the speed at which his little life is going. I just gave birth to him yesterday, right? Oh man! My heart went to 1st grade, 3rd grade AND Pre-K today. I don't know how much longer I can take it!
For the grandparents...

He had to have cowboy boots today.


Awwww. My baby boy.


Don't leave me you little weirdies.


The steps to his future. (or at least his fairy-tale themed classroom.)


Putting away his things.


This is Zaddok and his buddy Copper peaking around the corner to their class. Do you have any idea what a fashion disaster it is to have another kid wear the same shirt as you to the first day of Pre-K? Who is his stylist?


Okay, I guess he's part of a class now. Just another kid. Excuse me while I get into the fetal position and suck my thumb. Bye Zad. See you in 3 hours. (I know I am ridiculous but it never gets easier to leave them.)

1st day of school, 1st day of school!

We did it! We got them off for the first day of school. I survived, they survived and their lunches made it to school with them. Oh how bittersweet the moment. I know we will get used to it. I know we will have good days and bad. I just can't stand the fact that I am putting my kids in someone else's hands. Is that selfish? I don't really care. I want them back!!! It's okay. I will be fine. Here are the pictures for the grandparents.

Miss Jolie

Mr. Asher

My school children.

My weird children.

I can't remember the name of the school.

Asher's classroom.

And his teacher. She is a doll!

Jolie's locker.

And her wonderful teacher!

This is how we left him

And her.

Our elementary school hopefuls.


Oh my! Pray for my heart cuz it went to 1st and 3rd grade today.