Not Me...Tuesday!

I certainly did not have to stop at a rest stop - again - to let my little ones go potty this last week. It has never happened before...we always use the potty BEFORE we leave the house, and even if we DO use the potty before we leave the house, we NEVER have to go again, less than 15 minutes later.

I also did not, experience, yet another reason to long for a second toliet. I did not have a poor child have to throw up in our bathroom sink while his daddy used the toliet. We always have excellent control over each and every situation in our home.

I definitely did not have a group of adults laugh, with me I hope, when I did not say that I had to go potty. I always use grown up talk when I am with a group of grown ups!

I did not have my brand new, over priced, external flash, overheat on me while shooting a wedding this weekend. I NEVER have things like that happen and am always prepared for the unexpected.

I also did not, while shopping at the DOLLAR STORE, have to leave my entire purchase at the counter when I couldn't remember my pin. I have an excellent handle on all my accounts and numbers.

I certainly did not, laugh with the children, who were taunting me while I was photographing them. I did not laugh and then quickly cover my hind end, while the kids chanted: "We can see your underpants"! My panties are always covered!

I also did not have a week full of unpleasant "Not Me" moments!

Missed It

I missed my post...the one I wanted to do about our wedding anniversary. Perhaps it was the doctors appointments, photo shoots, laundry or trip packing that caused me to forget, but never the less, I forgot!

On June, 16th, my dear husband and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. It seems like yesterday that we met, yet, I can barely remember a time in my life that he wasn't a part of it.

Our love story is unique...it has the Lord's hand print all over it. I had just ended a long and insanely serious relationship and was heartbroken at best. I packed up and got ready to move 630 miles south, to the gorgeous state of Virginia. A state I would move to in a heartbeat to this day...but I digress.

My second day on campus, I ran into a young man that I had met once before....

On my senior trip, to Florida, I bumped into a group of people that I knew - at the water park, Wet n Wild, none the less. We were climbing the stairs to the Black Hole, water slide. This group asked me if I was Beth...and I confirmed that I was. We were two groups from small, rival, Christian High Schools from Michigan. We chatted briefly as we waited for the ride and that was the end of that.

Several weeks later, my grandma cut out a picture in the paper. This picture was of a young man, that she thought was dashingly handsome. She handed me the newspaper clipping and said: "Look Bethanne, this handsome guy is going to Liberty too, maybe you'll meet him". I assured her that with 3,500 freshman, I'd most likely NEVER run into him there. I also informed her that I HAD in fact met this young man and he was a DORK!

Well, second day on campus, I hear someone call my name. I turn and see...you guessed it, the same group I ran into in Florida a few months before. The five of us, became fast friends and did everything together. I, oddly enough, didn't seem to think Matt was nearly as dorky as I recalled him being, in fact, I was quite drawn to him.

His personality and sense of humor enthralled me. His love for the Lord was contagious...one problem, he had no desire to go to college in the south and bring home a girl that lived 7 miles from his house and went to his rival high school. That just wasn't how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to go to school, meet himself a southern bell and woo her. Instead, he met a Northerner, who was anything but a southern bell!

Our first date was 12 years ago this August...and it was anything but conventional. Matt asked me to do his laundry - in exchange for dinner. I counter offered with dinner and a movie and he accepted.

Our relationship can be summed up in an interesting story that went something like this...when Matt was hemming and hawing about dating a northern, I told him I was done with the drama. I told him something bold and outrageous...something I never dreamt I would say. I told Matt that he wanted me, but he just didn't know it yet. I told him to loose my number until he realized that he wanted to be with me...two days later, my phone rang and a romantic "will you go out with me" moment was born...the same moment that was recreated for our engagement. Matt always tells everyone that I chased him until he caught me...which is quite appropriate for our courtship.

The love story has ups and downs from there. It has hiccups, drama, laughter and tears, but it ended with a fairy tale wedding and the story continues with three wonderful sons and an incredibly blessed life.

From Michigan, Florida to Virginia, the man I'd fall desperately in love with, lived less than 7 miles from me my entire life....it would take the Lord 18 years and many states to prepare my heart for this Godly young man, and I thank Him for His timing!

In our 9 years of marriage, we have faced some incredibly difficult times - thankfully, not in our marriage, but with our families and friends, job situations, financial and health issues.... We have also experienced numerous times of bliss and joy!

There is no one else I can imagine wading through these waters with, in fact, I can't think of anyone who would have waded them with me!! He is my best friend and my biggest cheerleader. He is a better father to our children than I could have ever imagined or even wished for. He's everything on my "list" and a few things I didn't even know I wanted!!

Life with boys

S asked me another one of those questions today..the ones I just don't have a good answer for. I feel like I should be able to answer these questions, but often find myself at a loss!

He asked me the following question: Mom, after we die, when we open our eyes, will we be in heaven? I answered, yes, I thought that would be what will happen.

I held my breath, hoping he wouldn't have a question deeper than that one...I was not so lucky. The next question was: What does heaven look like?
I told him that noone really knows, but that it's beautiful and bright and shiny. He seemed ok with that answer.

Then he asked me where heave was...before I could answer he told me that it would be cool if it was in outer space.

He quickly changed gears and told me to plug my nose because we were getting ready to drive past the "compost dump"!

M has proven to be as interesting as ever. He's always coming up with something odd and or random.

We were at a graduation party this weekend. I looked over and saw M with his arms spread wide. He wasn't saying anything, just sitting there. I asked him what he was doing, he answered and then I tried not to laugh hysterically. He said, rather matter or factly, that he was "being a T". Ahhh...alrighty then.

That same night, Matt had gone in to discipline him. Matt was telling him how he needed to behave and listen, etc. In the middle of the conversation, M looked up at Matt and said: "Dad, are these sheep on my blankie?" Matt tried not to laugh and quickly finished the discipline and came into the living room.

O has continued to talk up a storm. He is constantly repeating things his older brothers say...which isn't always a good thing! Today in fact, he informed me of the following: Mommy, your butt stinks. Yep, that's me sweet baby boy!

Love Affair

I love the last day of school - I always have, and now enjoy it for my children.
I love syrup faced kisses from little boys.
I love being able to have my windows open.
I love the small of rain on the pavement.
I love listening to my boys laugh.
I love to get a great deal.
I love to hear my children say please and thank you.
I love to hear "I love you" from my little ones.
I love when my husband does the dishes without complaining.
I love spending time with my family.
I love an icy cold Diet Coke.
I love color...all things bright and pastel.
I love my boys sweet curly hair.

Just a few things I enjoy...

Boys

S was so concerned about the weather on Monday. It was field day and he didn't want it to rain - as was fore casted. He asked Matt if he asked God to make it not rain would God do it. Matt told him that God could make it not rain, and that it was ok for him to ask, but it still might rain if God says no.

We heard S in the living room, praying his sweet heart out. His prayers are deep and heart felt. He usually starts with "dearest our heavenly father" and proceeds to thank God for his blessings and then politely asks God for his request. He was saying: "please, please, PLEASE God, don't let it rain. Take the rain to, to, uh, to, anywhere that isn't Michigan". It was sweet.

It did rain that day, off and on. The school thankfully, still did field day indoors. The sun came out bright and shiny later on that day. We were driving to a birthday party and S said: "See mom, I guess God did answer my prayer, just a little bit later in the day". He makes me so proud.

I was cleaning the windows outside yesterday - God bless the makers of Windex Outdoor. I love that product. It makes cleaning the 13 or so windows outside much easier. The boys were outside with me for the majority of the cleaning. O decided that he wanted to go inside and wait for me to be done doing windows. O was standing inside of the screen door (which currently has the storm window in it) and watching me clean the door. He started cracking up...I looked to see what he was doing and he was standing up against the class with his mouth wide open. He was moving around with the water and trying to catch the water in his mouth...he looked a bit confused when none came through the glass. It was cute. His older brothers, saw me laughing, and of course decided they would go inside and do the same thing...somehow it wasn't as adorable.

I love that M & S, still refer to each other as Bud or Buddy. They hardly ever call each other by name and simply call each other "Bud" when they are playing, talking or even fighting. O isn't included on the "buddy" name tag though...poor guy. Hope he doesn't feel too left out. I was worried as the boys got older that they would stop calling each other that, but it has been several years and they are still doing it.

O has become our little chatterbox now. The boy who we thought would never talk, hardly ever stops. He even talks in his sleep now. Last night, he kept crying and yelling out. I went in to check on him and found him sitting up, crossed legged, staring at the wall. I asked him if everything was ok and he kind of looked right through me and said yes. I asked him if something hurt and he said yes. I asked him if his belly hurt - yes, his throat - yes, his head - yes, his hair - yes...you can see where that conversation was going. I layed him back down, covered him up and sat with him for a moment to see if he'd calmed down enough. After a moment, he started yelling - with his eyes closed - and shouting: "Give it back me"....he must have been fighting with his brother in his sleep.

I love that O is at the stage where he gets his words mixed up...for example:
"I catch you up" - I caught up with you.
"Give one me mom" - Give me one mom...of course this is preceeded and followed with a please and thank you.

He loves to tell me that he loves me and that I his favorite. It makes my heart boom when he walks up to me, grabs my face and says "I wuved you mommy"...he's such a lover.

Yesterday, he told Matt, "I bigga and bigga and bigga" (I'm bigger and bigger and bigger).

M has become our little hinter. Instead of coming right out and asking for something, we will often have a conversation like the one that occurred yesterday when M found a pack of Smarties:
M - Look what I found mommy
Me - Wow, that's great, Smarties
M - Whose are these
Me - I think they are one of your brothers
M - they sure look yummy
Me - yep
M - What do you think you are going to do with them
Me - nothing, put them away.
M - do you want to eat them?
Me - no, M, you can eat them....
M - so I can have them?

These conversations occur frequently. He'll say something like, "Man that cake looks good"...instead of just coming out and asking.

S, is almost done with first grade. He makes me so proud. He is at the top of his class still and as bright as can be. I am dumbfounded at how quickly the time is passing. I can remember his birth as if it were yesterday, yet I feel like I blinked and he's almost 7....

I love my boys...they make my life so full!

A New Career

The children's choir at our church preformed their spring musical last week. The two older boys were supposed to be in it. S decided halfway through that he would have nothing to do with going on stage. He chose a new job: to help Nichole, direct, lead and do motions for the kids. We begged, pleaded and yes, even bribed, the try to get him to do it. He loves to sing and has such a wonderful little voice. He feels the music and sings his little heart out.


Unfortunately, his nerves got the better of him and he didn't do it. He did however, sit in the front row and sing his fool heart out. He also did the motions and helped Nichole!


M, on the other hand, agreed to the bribe - a dollar and a pack of plastic snakes - and went up to preform. I have decided that he may make it as some form of entertainer...a rock star, a singer, a dancer, or most likely a "jester" of some kind. The child would jam during times when they were supposed to stand still. He played air guitar, spun in circles and even decided to lay down at one point.
I do believe he sang a few words and even did a SLIGHT motion or two. He stole the show though. We must have had a dozen or so people come up to us afterwards and talk about how fun he was to watch and what a cool kid he was...we just smiled, said thank you and then shook our heads. We'd honestly expect nothing less from M. He is our unique child. He marches to the beat of his own drum...and he has his own drummer...that plays a different song than everyone else.

*At one point, he spun so much we thought he was going to tip over. He stopped, made a face and swayed a bit...thankfully, no such accident was had.
Below are a few photos of M doing anything BUT what he was supp. to do.

Not Me

It's time for another instalment of Not Me Monday. Head over to MckMamma's blog to read MANY more of these moments!

I did not, forget to post a NMM last week. I did not think think that Monday was really Sunday, because my husband was home all day. I am not that easily confused.

I definitely did not decide the moving around THREE rooms in our small, but perfect, three bedroom home, sounded like a good idea. That would just be insane.

My mom and I, did not proceede to move the above mentioned three rooms around. We would certainly be certifiable if we did that.

I most certainly did not break my bed last week. I am not so fat now that flopping on my butt, when the ceiling fan startled me (I was standing on the bed to do something and didn't realize it was on), and hear a horrible cracking noise and fall to the floor, along with the box spring and matress.

I also did not allow my children to play in the hose on numerous occassions this week, just so they would stop asking. I NEVER give in to their pleading and whining. I always stand my ground and would never allow them to play in the hose in 72 degree weather.

I did not catch O, swimming in the dogs pool, at my mom's house this week. I would never let the boy play in the doggie pool.

I certainly did not arrive for a photo shoot 30 minutes early. I did not proceede to drive around the gorgeous neighborhood to kill time. I did not decide that I probably looked like a criminal casing the area and finally park and sit in the car for a few moments....until I had to go potty so bad that I just couldn't take it any more.

I did not have to leave the room, so as not to laugh at my oldest son today. He most certainly did not tell me: "If any of the kids are ABSTINET, today, I will have extra treats left over". I always immediately correct errors like that one!