one year ago today

One year ago today we had a 9 1/2 year old, a 5 1/2 year old, and a brand new 3 year old.  We lived in Baton Rouge.  We were on vacation in Panama City, FL at Bay Point.

Today we have a 10 1/2 year old, a 6 1/2 year old, and a brand new 4 year old.  We live in Meridian.  We are on vacation in Panama City, FL at Bay Point.

 

I wish somethings never changed.

life at the speed of Hogans

Jack: "I can't do my math."
Me: "Why not?"
Jack: "Because it says, 'No pens/pencils' on my braces sheet."
Me: "Go do your math Jack."




Naptime. Will (3) is reading me a story about farm animals. You have to guess which animal is hiding on the next page from a few descriptive facts about each animal.
Will: "I live in a mess. I wear feathers. I eat eggs. Who am I?"
Me: "I don't know who are y..."
Will: "INTERRUPTING CHICKEN! HAAAA!"




Andrew to his Daddy...
Andrew: "When I grow up I want to be the first missionary to Russia."
Daddy: "Really!?"
Andrew: "Yeah. And when a man comes up to me and tries to stop me I'll get my sword and chop him down."
Daddy: .....:0.....
Andrew: "And then I'll tell him about Jesus."




What's new?


Jack got braces!

Last picture without braces for...well, awhile. 

He was so pumped!

Hey Jack!

"Jack, can I put this on my blog?", I asked.

"mrmph", Jack said.

 

First picture with braces!

I love that kid. <3 He makes me :)

Andrew is playing "t-ball"!
And loving it!

Jack's been helping out. 

Go Andrew Go!

And Will...well, he is just so good at being Will.

He'll have a birthday soon.  

4.

How'd we get there so fast?

 

happy ~ thursday

(bike "ride" project coming soon)

Nature, nature, everywhere

In recent news, Jack made it through to "Mindy's Room" on XM Kids and got to play 2 Realsies and a Whopper, it got cold again, and Andrew received this....

as an Easter gift from his Nana & Papaw.  It has consumed him.  First, incase you don't know what this is, this is the "Live Butterfly Garden" from insectlore dot com.  We had to send off for his live larvae.  Which meant the 7-10 longest business days were ahead for my middle child.  BUT on the blessed day when those little larvae arrived, JOY burst forth from all 40 pounds of my nearly 6 and a half year old with the force of a might fount!



These are the larvae on Day 4. 

They've doubled in size since arriving Monday.

He has watched over these larvae, caterpillars, like a hawk.  He has memorized the instruction papers.  He is absolutely convinced now that they indeed are not d.o.a.  Which they did seem to be.  These caterpillars spin silk, live in their frass (look it up), climb the walls of their cup (sending Andrew into a frenzy that a chrysalid is about to form...b/c they do this at the top of the cup...duh). 

                                                              Oh and they grow!

This is Andrew on alert. 

He has been carful not to let anyone get too close to the caterpillars.

Did I mention they are all named?

1. Godzilla
2. King Kong
3. Dude
4. Andrew
5. Superman

                                   Andrew (the boy) is the only one able to tell them apart.

To date all is well with the caterpillars,

and only we've only had one known occurence of shaken cup.

News from the front porch:

These uninvited guests of spring don't pay rent, are messy,

and break all kinds of noise ordinances.

Yes, ma'am. I'm talking about you and your babies.

She isn't too fond of having her picture taken.

And she leaves the nest whenever I come out on "her" porch.

How rude.

I can see-eee you.

Miss spring-thing can keep those babies in-line though.  As soon as she leaves the nest, their bobbing headings go down out of sight and they don't make a peep.  She sits in the bradford pear just off of her porch and makes a distinct "stay down and keep quiet" chirp. 

She's mocking me.  I just know it.

11 seconds

His first season to get to catch.  He was the only guy on the team who wanted to be catcher.  He got his chance, and he was good! The last game of the season, he made this play.  

Atta boy Jack!  You rock!  

Dixie Dog

This is Dixie.  Affectionately we call her, Dixie Dog.  She's 14.  See that look...she looks like that because

she knew this was coming.  

That's her boy.  The one who she used to watch over when he was a baby.

Now this boy, she never turned her back on this boy, and I don't either.

A boy and his dog.

Come what may.

Playing Ketchup

Playing Ketchup, or Catch-up to the rest of you.  To us, well, to Andrew its ketchup, and it has stuck.  So, I'm playing ketchup today and sharing it with you...whomever you are...I see you...right there, yep, this is for you. :D

He's Baaa-ack!

Long time ago, back in the first part of this month, my Dad (aka Papaw) came home for Labor Day.  This caused such a stir on the homefront with our little squirts!  They love Papaw.  It is a great thing, a boy's love for his grandfather.  I think they love him because he plays ruff with them, takes them to Bass Pro Shop & Cabella's where they shoot up stuff and eat fudge, and because Papaw tells them cowboy stories where they are the heroes riding the range tending to cattle and protecting the ranch from bears, wolves, and the like.  In these stories they each have their own horse and gun and the run of the ranch.  My boys love these stories.  I do too.  You see, I was once a heroine in them myself.  Sigh, those were the days.  Anyway, Papaw's arrival had to be heralded in some kind of big way.  After talking them down from yard inflatables, search lights, flashing signs, and such they set to making a "welcome home" sign.  I helped a little in outlining the letters...the rest was all them.

Then, all too soon, it was time to go to the airport so Papaw could fly back to SC for work.  BUT, he'll be back soon!  And we'll pull out the welcome home sign again and party like it's 1999.


Speaking of partying...my Mom and Dad celebrated their 39th anniversary this year, 2 days before my Mom had her mrmph birthday!  So, we got a cake and had it when Dad came in.  This is the cake....

and this little vulture was on it like white on rice.

This is the specialty cake Ambrosia Bakery of Baton Rouge makes, THE strawberry cake, simple...yummy to the 100th power.  Somebody else have something to celebrate soon...cause we need some more of this cake!

Bringing Up Our Boys...Dr. Dobson? Mary Poppins?? NANNY MCPHEE???? ANYONE!!!!

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.  

Psalm 127:3

These are they.

from left to right

the 3yr old, the 5 1/2 yr old, the 9 1/2 yr old, and the 37 1/2 yr old

me and the dog, well, we're the only female types in the mix

sigh

Since I'm a list person, I love to make them~I love to check them off~, I'm going make a list of valuable information on the topic Raising Boys: What NOT To Do.

*Please note, I am not an expert boyologist.  I do have a lifetime (a whopping whole 37 yrs and 3 months) of experience of living with all boys with the exception of my mom...and then later my dog.  

Raising Boys: What NOT To Do

by Wendy

experienced daughter, sister, wife, and mother of boys of various ages

1.  When boys are babies, they are cute and cuddly. Do NOT neglect to cuddle and love on them.  When they grow up they will somehow remember that you showed affection to them and care for them.  I think it will help them trust you.  This trust is crucial.

2.  Do NOT take for granted the fact that boys will eventually be less interested in cuddling.

3.  Do NOT ever, for any reason, at any age/stage of their growth and development turn your back on a boy.  The consequences could be staggeringly shocking and regrettable...at worst.  At best...well that remains to be seen.  Never, ever, ever, turn your back on a boy.

4.  Do NOT ever, under any circumstances, forget that boys are wired to be men.  Male, manly, masculine, men.  Don't forget it.

5.  Do NOT ever under any circumstances question their masculinity or speak words to them or about them that would cause them to question their masculinity.  For instance if a little baby boy toots in a diaper change and then giggles in pride...laugh with him and praise him! This may be his first demonstration of his masculinity.  Or if a young boy, yours or someone else's, comes up to you with a grimmace and snarl on his face, arms flexed, staggering towards you and then he GROWLS and charges...SHRIEK! For heavens sake, let him know how convincing he is, for he really does think he is the HULK.  Then later when you are at a sporting event watching a particular young man or 2...cheer loudly at their heroics...don't make too big a scene...but DON'T seem disinterested either.  Let them know you are pulling hard for them.  Much later when they are a man, DON'T  be little or begrudge his chivalry, attempts at romance, etc.  DON'T think that their hobby is dumb or that they can't do anything right.  DON'T look for chinks in their armor.

6.  Do NOT neglect to learn to speak their language.  If your boy speaks sports, learn to speak it too.  If he speaks Star Wars...learn it.  NASCAR...yep, learn it too.  Get the drift?  You want a boy that knows he can talk to you about anything???  Start talking and L I S T E N I N G with interest about what INTERESTS him as early as possible.  This will require an extra effort for most.  BUT the pay off is huge.

7.  Do NOT allow them to turn into couch potatos.  Turn 'em loose!  Give them some room to roam.  Give them some scrap wood, some tools, and just set it out there in front of them like bait...see if they take it and then watch what they come up with.  Boys need to be outside.

8.  Do NOT make them go shopping with you unless absolutely necessary.  Then when only necessary and they must go...plan a treat or two along the way.  Boys of all ages like to know something good is coming if 

they can just hold....on.

9.  Do NOT make them avoid all puddles of water or mud.  

10.  Do NOT look for more ways to say "No" than "Yes"...this exasperates them.  

11.  Do NOT turn your nose up at the bouquets of weeds they bring you.

12.  Do NOT let them see you dishevled and undone...all the time, or too often.  Let 'em see you in your work clothes...working, let them see you relaxin', let 'em see you get dressed up...let 'em see you get out and play.  Be in front of them all that God made us womenfolk to be.  Not a spent, given up on your appearance, remant of the girl/woman you USED to be.  You, their Mama, are the first glimpse of womanhood they will get.  From their perception of you, they will formulate most of their strongest opinions of girls/women.

13.  Do NOT neglect to fill their minds with information.  Boys need to know the nuts and bolts of stuff...all kinds of stuff.  Get them books with bugs and snakes.  Read to them stories about the heroes of the Bible.  When they get into superheroes find a way to connect those superhero qualities to the one true God...in a realistic way.  Know what I mean?  They need to know that God is bigger and more powerful than any "pretend" hero!  AND they need to know that that same God loves THEM!  AND has larger than life plans for their life!  THAT makes them a HERO!  And they are.  They are someone's hero.

14.  Do NOT neglect discipline.  That word comes from the word "Disciple"...which meanst to train.  Sometimes that training involves punishment.  But shouldn't exclude the training.  Punishment without training is fruitless.  It doesn't model God either.  Training with correction not only yields a better behavior, but more importantly a heart change.  Good behavior from a resentful heart...is more like a robot than a man.  Good behavior from a heart after God...that's a real man...that's what you're doing.  You are training up boys to be men.  

15.  Do NOT ever forget to let them know you love them, that you're proud of them, and that you like them.  Even if it embarrasses them a little...when they get older they act weird.  Just never stop letting them know you love them.

Well, I hope this helps.  This list is not all inclusive or complete.  Feel free to share with us in the comments below!

P.S.  We also homeschool, this is our 3rd year and all 3 boys are included.  I'm still working on the time management, but a daily routine and keeping the calendar current helps.  And we love the bear books and Mortimer Mouse books by Karma Wilson,  The Little Golden Book Firetruck book and Little Active Minds Firetruck Book, The Friendly Book, What Do People Do All Day, Curious George Books, Eric Carle books, No No Jack!, Mr. Dog and several other favorite Golden Books, books by Doreen Cronin like the Duck books etc, The David books. 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9

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This post is for Marriage Monday.  The general topic is "Adding Kids In The Mix".  You can see other contributors at the above link.

He knows

“He had Abraham take a walk,

Elijah take a nap,

Joshua take a lap,

Adam take the rap.

He gave Moses a 40-year timeout,

He gave David a harp and a dance,

He gave Paul a pen and a scroll.

He wrestled with Jacob,

argued with Job,

whispered to Elijah,

warned Cain,

and comforted Hagar.

He gave Aaron an altar,

Miriam a song,

Gideon a fleece,

Peter a name,

and Elisha a mantle.

Jesus was stern with the young rich ruler,

tender with the woman caught in adultery,

patient with the disciples,

blistering with the scribes,

gentle with the children,

and gracious with the theif on the cross.”

by John Ortberg

The boys have been testing me lately and I hear myself saying out loud, "I just don't know what to do."  It seems as if they have turned away from, forgotten, abandoned all the manners, instruction, and training we have instilled in them their whole short precious lives. I'm finding myself desperate for their attention and obedience.

So, I turn to their Father...their Creator Father...the one who knit them together, dreamed up their personalities, and blessed my life by giving them to me. He is responsible for them, they are His. I'm not shirking my role as mother, nor is Michael as their Daddy...but we know who they belong to and it is on Him I'm leaning...even a little harder these last few days.

Give me your eyes to see them the way You see them. Give me your heart for them. Give me your hands to guide them. Give me your Joy over them. Give me your thoughts about them. Give me your patience with them.

More of you Lord, less of me. Jesus, love my 3 through me.

Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old 

he will not turn from it. 

Proverbs 22:6

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time 

we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

What's your verse that carries you through, keeps you focused, or lifts your parent heart?

A Baby Changes Everything

The newest member of our family, baby Caden.

Born Friday, August 27, 2010

firstborn son of my cousin John and his wife Kim

first grandchild of my dear Aunt Mari-Gayle

first nephew of my cousin Julie 

first great-nephew of my Dad and Mom

first 2nd cousin to me and my brothers

(We have all been promoted, generationally speaking.)

Aren't firsts wonderful?  

Especially when they come in the shape, size, and smell of a baby?

I already love you Caden, and I cannot wait to meet you in person.

2010 Vacation Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Last and First

Today is a last day and a first day for me...for us.
Tomorrow is Will's 3rd birthday.  Today is our last day to have a two year old...ever.
Today is our first day of co-op...ever.
Today is also the first official day of 4th grade for Jack and official first day of Kindergarten for Andrew!  See?

Emotions are mixed over here if you know what I mean.

I'm a believer in the statement, "It's not about me."

But this is, this time.  This is about me.  However...this could be about you too.  If you have ever had a "freshman" day at school-work-life in general, where everything you did, and even circumstances beyond your control (which freaks most of us out that something could be out of our control----freaky)...and because you were having this kind of day there seemed to flash to others in neon arrows suspended in space around you this embarrassing announcement:

 HEY! JUST INCASE YOU DIDN'T ALREADY NOTICE ME 

AND MY SHORTCOMINGS...

I'M NEW HERE - I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING - 

AND BONUS, WHAT I AM DOING JUST ISN'T GOING MY WAY TODAY!  

LOOK AT ME!

Not the nice kind of "look at me I just got a great hair cut and I am working it out" look at me....the bad kind of look at me.  The kind of "look at me" that makes your complexion change color, your stomach become an Olympic gymnast, and your psyche want to crawl into the fetal position and rock back and forth.

In a nutshell, that's how I felt this morning.  If you have ever felt like that to one degree or another, then this could be about you, and you, therefore, have kept me from hogging the spotlight.  Come on and stand by me so they can gawk at us together.

Let me say that technically, I have had worse days.  It's just that today was the first day of co-op/school.  Why in all of God's creation do these days happen on important days?  The world will never know.


So, huge build up right?  Wanna know what happened?  Still slightly interested?

The power went out.  Yep. That's it.

Did you ever play with dominoes when you were a kid?  Well, we are about to now:

Because the power went out the alarm clocks didn't go off.

Because the alarm clocks didn't go off, the mommy didn't get up on time.

Because the mommy didn't get up on time, the kids woke before the mommy.

Because the kids woke before the mommy, the cart got before the horse.

Because the cart got ahead of the horse, things had to be fixed, reassembled, repacked, etc.

Because things needed to be fixed the family was late getting out of the house but was gonna be on time by the skin of their teeth.

Because the family was late getting out of the house all of the traffic lights turned red on the way to school.

Because all the traffic lights turned red on the way to school the family was no longer on time by the skin of their teeth.

Because the family wasn't on time by the skin of their teeth, they were late.

Because they were late the mommy got a phone call.

Because the phone call wasn't enough, the mommy was spoken to twice in the mommy room at co-op in front of other mommies about being late...and even had the document shown to her with the co-op policies on it, asked if she needed a copy, was familiar with it, and understood it.

Because of that, the mommy feels like a hobbit. 

(No offense to hobbits, its just my way of expressing how I feel.  Hobbitish, I feel hobbitish.)
*(I would be remiss if I neglected to acknowledge the heroic efforts of the daddy in helping to move the cart behind the horse where it belongs.)
**(I would also just like to say if you have skin on your teeth, please brush them asap. Who came up with that saying???)

Now thump the first domino and watch them all fall down.  

That was the fun part.  

The grown up part was deciding how to feel next.  

Click here to Read- Isaiah 61:1-3

That right there, that's the BEST exchange policy E V E R.

Today I give special attention to verse 3...and gladly exchange my dunce cap of embarrassment for His crown of beauty, my downtrodden spirit for His gladness, my disappointment and despair that this important day didn't go right for His for songs of his praise.  Oh, that I could be that oak...solidly planted, showing off HIS beauty...not my shortcomings.  

I know that you are for me, I know that you are for me, I know that you will never forsake me in my weaknesses.  I know that you have come now, even if to write upon my heart...to remind me, who you are.

P.S. In His goodness, He has restored my soul and my day...my children all napped.  Yes they did.  He is so good...all the time.