Here are a couple quick little funny scenarios in our house this week:
After 4 hands have been raised to pray for dinner, Daddy finally picks Iain. We all bow our heads, close our eyes and wait. Silence..... Iain?...... "Um, Start me out out Daddy" :-0)
Iain then thanks God for the food and good behaviour that day in school and lastly for Kyle since it is his birthday. In case God didn't know, Iain specifically mentions, "Thank you God for Kyle's birthday. He is turning 9 today!!"
Sitting in the ballet studio doing homework with Kyle...
"We have to study now, Kyle"
"Mom, I'd rather do this at home."
"Well tonight I need to make your birthday cake for the party on Saturday"
"But, Mom, I don't want a cake. I don't like cake."
"True, but the cake is important to the theme of your spy party."
"But Mom, I want the frozen apple pie in the freezer. Can't we study tonight?"
(My fault for letting the conversation continue after saying time to study now....but funny in hindsight!) How can I make an apple pie look like a magnifying glass? and if the main spy mission is to find the missing cake an apple pie just won't work. Of course he doesn't know all these details! SHHHHH don't tell him.
Once again this morning found Mommy frantically running around the house searching for something that started with a "W" for show and tell for Iain. (Someone needs to write a book with show and tell ideas!!) Finally I pull out a Noah's ark puzzle hoping to see a walrus! Yes, there is half of one! Searching, I find the matching piece and TADA, a walrus. I run into the other room saying, " I found something Iain." Carefully putting the pieces together I say, LOOK, if you hold these together you have a walrus!
Kyle looks at my puzzle pieces and says, "Hey Mom, why doesn't he just take the one piece with the whales on it?" Punk...... (Of course, the second puzzle piece has 2 beautiful whales on it.)
Daddy comes in the room and says, Why didn't you just grab a water bottle, Mommy?
I officially declare my show and tell days OVER. Sorry, Teags...ask your siblings or your Daddy. I'm done. My 9 year career of last minute show and tell discoveries has just ended.
Happy to have retired, but sure I'll be pulled out of retirement next week,
Momofkrit and woj,
KT
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
3285
That is the number of days which God has blessed me with an incredible little boy named Kyle James Martin. September 23, 1999, is one day I'll never forget. That day marked a new and exciting chapter in my life and one that although I had dreamed of, I could not have imagined.
33 Hours is the length of time which Kyle spent trying to decide if he was ready for this new world. 33 hours is the length of time which I worked waiting to see the precious face of this new life which God had created. Oreos is the smell which I remember permeating the air. Aghast is the emotion I saw on my hubby's face when he saw the distorted face of our little boy. "I need help NOW" were the words I heard the doctor yell through the intercom after my baby was born. Fear was the look in my mother's eyes as she watched the doctor work. What is wrong with my baby??? Was the thought in my head. Seeing my baby calmly placed in my mother's arms, the thought changed to, "What is wrong with ME?"
My beautiful baby boy was born at 7:53 pm weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 21 inches long. (Yes that is the only measurement and time I know by heart.) Aside from a few very close to the eyes bruises from forcepts, he was perfect. The distorted alien look of his face which my husband has first seen was now gone and only a very awake and very alert baby lay in my arms. He stared at the lights for several hours after birth. The fear in my mother's eyes was replaced with relief and joy. Satisfaction was written on the doctor's face as he completed a birth that he said, "Doesn't get any harder than that!" Overwhelming joy, exhaustion, relief, Praise, and anticipation filled my mind as I tried to process this new life in my arms, a birth that almost caused me to bleed out, and the responsibility that now lay on my shoulders as mother to a child.
12 Weeks was how long it took my body to recover from this birth. 12 seconds is how long it took me to bond with this little guy! You see, I had to bond, and Bond, and Bond. He NEVER slept! Never. It wasn't until Rhia was born and took naps that I even knew that babies actually slept. :-) Kyle was always awake, always alert, always intense, always charming and engaging. He went everywhere with me and together we grew into our roles as mother and son.
At 21 months, Kyle became a big brother and took the responsibilty seriously! He took great care to warn his baby sister of outlets which only "MOMMY AND DADDY" could touch. He read the book Goodnight Moon to her since he had memorized it long ago. I even trained him on how to work the VCR (Yes it is true), so he could entertain himself while I took care of the house.
At 3 and 1/2 Kyle again became a big brother and this time to another baby boy. Kyle was so proud to have a brother. He helped me so much with cleaning up and running errands (To get clothes and diapers). All the while, Kyle remained alert, awake, intense, and endearing to all he met.
During his second year of preschool, Kyle again became a big brother and took on this role with his traditional sense of responsibility and love. Loving this little sister in a special way, he began a bond with her that remains to this day.
Fast forward to today, the year 2008. My little 7 pound baby is now 9 years old. I look at him with complete amazement and love and still have overwhelming joy, exhaustion, praise and anticipation as I look at my responsibility to care for and mother this child. He is getting so old, and yet is still a baby. He is so quick and smart, and yet just a novice. He has the beautiful faith of a Child of God, but still the immaturity of youth.
I love my Kyle-bug. I love him more than words can express. He will probably never know how much he changed my life or how God used him as a miracle in my life. But that is ok. All I want for my son is to know the incredible love of God, the best love a sinful mother can offer, and to walk in the will of the Father whom he serves.
On Kyle's first day of kindergarten he walked up to a woman, who is now my boss, and said, "Hello, my name is K-Y-L-E, Kyle." He left that day waving goodbye to students and staff from grades K-12 and to this day he continues to know students and teachers alike in his school. I wait with great delight anxious to see what God has for this little boy. How will God use him? Where will He send him? What struggles will have to encounter along the way?
I don't know the future, but I know what is true today. God blessed me 9 years ago with a gift that is more than I could have asked for or imagined and as God gives me life, I will treasure that gift and love him to the best of my ability. As he grows, as he learns, as he fails and as he succeeds, I pray I will be in the background smiling and saying, that is my son, one of the 4 greatest gifts God has given to me and my husband.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY K-Y-L-E KYLE!! I love you.
Blessed to be momofkyle,
KT
33 Hours is the length of time which Kyle spent trying to decide if he was ready for this new world. 33 hours is the length of time which I worked waiting to see the precious face of this new life which God had created. Oreos is the smell which I remember permeating the air. Aghast is the emotion I saw on my hubby's face when he saw the distorted face of our little boy. "I need help NOW" were the words I heard the doctor yell through the intercom after my baby was born. Fear was the look in my mother's eyes as she watched the doctor work. What is wrong with my baby??? Was the thought in my head. Seeing my baby calmly placed in my mother's arms, the thought changed to, "What is wrong with ME?"
My beautiful baby boy was born at 7:53 pm weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 21 inches long. (Yes that is the only measurement and time I know by heart.) Aside from a few very close to the eyes bruises from forcepts, he was perfect. The distorted alien look of his face which my husband has first seen was now gone and only a very awake and very alert baby lay in my arms. He stared at the lights for several hours after birth. The fear in my mother's eyes was replaced with relief and joy. Satisfaction was written on the doctor's face as he completed a birth that he said, "Doesn't get any harder than that!" Overwhelming joy, exhaustion, relief, Praise, and anticipation filled my mind as I tried to process this new life in my arms, a birth that almost caused me to bleed out, and the responsibility that now lay on my shoulders as mother to a child.
12 Weeks was how long it took my body to recover from this birth. 12 seconds is how long it took me to bond with this little guy! You see, I had to bond, and Bond, and Bond. He NEVER slept! Never. It wasn't until Rhia was born and took naps that I even knew that babies actually slept. :-) Kyle was always awake, always alert, always intense, always charming and engaging. He went everywhere with me and together we grew into our roles as mother and son.
At 21 months, Kyle became a big brother and took the responsibilty seriously! He took great care to warn his baby sister of outlets which only "MOMMY AND DADDY" could touch. He read the book Goodnight Moon to her since he had memorized it long ago. I even trained him on how to work the VCR (Yes it is true), so he could entertain himself while I took care of the house.
At 3 and 1/2 Kyle again became a big brother and this time to another baby boy. Kyle was so proud to have a brother. He helped me so much with cleaning up and running errands (To get clothes and diapers). All the while, Kyle remained alert, awake, intense, and endearing to all he met.
During his second year of preschool, Kyle again became a big brother and took on this role with his traditional sense of responsibility and love. Loving this little sister in a special way, he began a bond with her that remains to this day.
Fast forward to today, the year 2008. My little 7 pound baby is now 9 years old. I look at him with complete amazement and love and still have overwhelming joy, exhaustion, praise and anticipation as I look at my responsibility to care for and mother this child. He is getting so old, and yet is still a baby. He is so quick and smart, and yet just a novice. He has the beautiful faith of a Child of God, but still the immaturity of youth.
I love my Kyle-bug. I love him more than words can express. He will probably never know how much he changed my life or how God used him as a miracle in my life. But that is ok. All I want for my son is to know the incredible love of God, the best love a sinful mother can offer, and to walk in the will of the Father whom he serves.
On Kyle's first day of kindergarten he walked up to a woman, who is now my boss, and said, "Hello, my name is K-Y-L-E, Kyle." He left that day waving goodbye to students and staff from grades K-12 and to this day he continues to know students and teachers alike in his school. I wait with great delight anxious to see what God has for this little boy. How will God use him? Where will He send him? What struggles will have to encounter along the way?
I don't know the future, but I know what is true today. God blessed me 9 years ago with a gift that is more than I could have asked for or imagined and as God gives me life, I will treasure that gift and love him to the best of my ability. As he grows, as he learns, as he fails and as he succeeds, I pray I will be in the background smiling and saying, that is my son, one of the 4 greatest gifts God has given to me and my husband.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY K-Y-L-E KYLE!! I love you.
Blessed to be momofkyle,
KT
Yesterday
So Sunday night I went to great efforts to prepare for Monday morning. All the backpacks were ready AND in the car. The lunch boxes were packed and in the outside frig. My bags were packed AND in the car. Everyone's clothes down to belts and shoes were out and ready to go. I had even ironed my clothes and the boys shirts for the week. (If you don't know, I don't often iron!!)
Saying to my hubby right before bed that I hoped all this prep work would make our morning easier, I joked that someone would probably get sick or something because after all this is my life. I then immediatly prayed that God would spare us any sickness. He did indeed, Praise the Lord, and He also gave us a bit more sleep than expected. In spite of efforts to set 2 alarms we all overslept and my hubby woke us all up at 7:00 AM! In case you don't know, we are supposed to LEAVE at 7:00 AM. AND I had to take the kids which meant I was working all day.
In 15 minutes flat we were all dressed and in the car with all our supplies. We even made it to school in record time arriving at 7:58 am. Good thing I planned ahead! :-)
Momofkrit,
KT
Saying to my hubby right before bed that I hoped all this prep work would make our morning easier, I joked that someone would probably get sick or something because after all this is my life. I then immediatly prayed that God would spare us any sickness. He did indeed, Praise the Lord, and He also gave us a bit more sleep than expected. In spite of efforts to set 2 alarms we all overslept and my hubby woke us all up at 7:00 AM! In case you don't know, we are supposed to LEAVE at 7:00 AM. AND I had to take the kids which meant I was working all day.
In 15 minutes flat we were all dressed and in the car with all our supplies. We even made it to school in record time arriving at 7:58 am. Good thing I planned ahead! :-)
Momofkrit,
KT
Saturday, September 20, 2008
New York, New York
So about 15 minutes ago I sent my oldest, Kyle, out the door at exactly 6:00 am to go on the biggest adventure of his life thus far. He and Aunt Helen are headed by train to visit the big city, NY.
Amazingly, he was wide awake at 5:30, dressed and ready for his big birthday trip. They are going to visit the biggest toy store in the world and have lunch. He is very excited. Everyone is excited, or at least everyone was awake with us. Yup, it's Saturday morning at 6:15 and the whole family is awake. hmmm....why can't they wake up on school mornings?
We reviewed with Kyle some of the NY safety points, like not talking to strangers, or walking away from Aunt Helen, and Kyle looked completely confused. I know he thinks we have lost our minds telling him things he already knows, but New York is much different from our little town!!
Reminding Kyle not to point or say anything out loud if he saw something strange, Kyle replied, Like a tatoo? Well, maybe, I responded not wanting to introduce anything into his still naive young mind. :-)
So now, we are all going to try to go back to bed. I originally suggested an early morning trip to Perkins for breakfast and although the idea was nixed, I fully believe that in about 2 hours after fitful noncontinuous sleep I will have wished we went with my idea.
Off to sleep...maybe,
MomofKYLE,
KT
Amazingly, he was wide awake at 5:30, dressed and ready for his big birthday trip. They are going to visit the biggest toy store in the world and have lunch. He is very excited. Everyone is excited, or at least everyone was awake with us. Yup, it's Saturday morning at 6:15 and the whole family is awake. hmmm....why can't they wake up on school mornings?
We reviewed with Kyle some of the NY safety points, like not talking to strangers, or walking away from Aunt Helen, and Kyle looked completely confused. I know he thinks we have lost our minds telling him things he already knows, but New York is much different from our little town!!
Reminding Kyle not to point or say anything out loud if he saw something strange, Kyle replied, Like a tatoo? Well, maybe, I responded not wanting to introduce anything into his still naive young mind. :-)
So now, we are all going to try to go back to bed. I originally suggested an early morning trip to Perkins for breakfast and although the idea was nixed, I fully believe that in about 2 hours after fitful noncontinuous sleep I will have wished we went with my idea.
Off to sleep...maybe,
MomofKYLE,
KT
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Christmas in September
Sorry If my last post sounded a bit like a Christmas insert letter!
It's been a pretty uneventful week in our house...at least funny story wise...
KT
It's been a pretty uneventful week in our house...at least funny story wise...
KT
updates and quotes
Teagan - "Mom, can I have another snack?"
Teags is doing a good job adjusting to her new fall schedule of going to school every afternoon and some mornings too. She is working on charming students and staff alike and if there is food around, she is good to go. In spite of all the toys and books and activites offered to her, she would prefer to just do whatever I'm doing and be wherever I am. Sounds like a typical 4th kid!
Iain - "Mom, It's hard to be good all day at school!"
Iain is a great student and very well behaved - at school. The transition from 3 days of preschool to 5 days of all day school with a little bit of aftercare too is making Iain very tired, but he is adjusting nicely. While his classmates and teachers sing his praises at school, Mom knows he's still a 5 year old boy and what doesn't come out at school, comes out at home. :-) What a great kid.
Rhiannon - "Mom, I know what the "D" stands for in daddy's name - Aaron D. Martin."......
wait for it........."DADDY!!! :-)"
Rhia is working very hard at school and brining home great papers every day. She is quietly enjoying all the learning although she would probably tell you that school is too hard and she doesn't have enough time to play with her friends. She is also continuing her ballet education and has added tap dance this year.
Kyle - "Amo, Amas, Amat......"
Kyle can be found repeating his Latin chants every night in addition to practicing his recorder, studying for "reading writing and arithmetic", and doing his karate forms. Now an orange belt, Kyle is at the top of his beginner class and enjoying this new skill very much.
Katie - "Be quiet and sit down or I will Swack you with this spatula!" This was uttered during a pancake dinner on one of the nights Daddy was gone and Mommy was all done. If you don't know the meaning of Swack - see a former post.
I am loving my job at Tall Oaks Classical School and especially enjoy the daily adult interaction. My house suffers since I don't enjoy cleaning and I don't have much time to clean! Oh well. This afternoon I attended a Latin for Parents introductory overview of Latin so I could figure out how to help my son study. Did you know that in addition to conjugating verbs, Latin also conjugates nouns??? And that there are 5 different kinds of these conjugations - called declensions? And did you know that nouns have gender? OH my, I sure hope my kids pick this up in school, my brain hurt just from the 1 hour overview.
Aaron - "BY the way, I have a 6:00 am meeting tomorrow morning and you have to take the kids to school."
AHHH...on the day I wasn't going to go to school but work from home. Oh well. Anyway, back to Aaron. He is doing well, enjoying some upcoming changes in his law practice, working on some interesting cases, doing some latin on the side, driving kids to school in the mornings, you know, your basic great Dad!
Fiona - "Wonder where that crockpot went and I wish they would stop putting the trash behind that shut door. What is a dog supposed to eat around here?"
Blessed to be momofkrit and woj,
KT
Teags is doing a good job adjusting to her new fall schedule of going to school every afternoon and some mornings too. She is working on charming students and staff alike and if there is food around, she is good to go. In spite of all the toys and books and activites offered to her, she would prefer to just do whatever I'm doing and be wherever I am. Sounds like a typical 4th kid!
Iain - "Mom, It's hard to be good all day at school!"
Iain is a great student and very well behaved - at school. The transition from 3 days of preschool to 5 days of all day school with a little bit of aftercare too is making Iain very tired, but he is adjusting nicely. While his classmates and teachers sing his praises at school, Mom knows he's still a 5 year old boy and what doesn't come out at school, comes out at home. :-) What a great kid.
Rhiannon - "Mom, I know what the "D" stands for in daddy's name - Aaron D. Martin."......
wait for it........."DADDY!!! :-)"
Rhia is working very hard at school and brining home great papers every day. She is quietly enjoying all the learning although she would probably tell you that school is too hard and she doesn't have enough time to play with her friends. She is also continuing her ballet education and has added tap dance this year.
Kyle - "Amo, Amas, Amat......"
Kyle can be found repeating his Latin chants every night in addition to practicing his recorder, studying for "reading writing and arithmetic", and doing his karate forms. Now an orange belt, Kyle is at the top of his beginner class and enjoying this new skill very much.
Katie - "Be quiet and sit down or I will Swack you with this spatula!" This was uttered during a pancake dinner on one of the nights Daddy was gone and Mommy was all done. If you don't know the meaning of Swack - see a former post.
I am loving my job at Tall Oaks Classical School and especially enjoy the daily adult interaction. My house suffers since I don't enjoy cleaning and I don't have much time to clean! Oh well. This afternoon I attended a Latin for Parents introductory overview of Latin so I could figure out how to help my son study. Did you know that in addition to conjugating verbs, Latin also conjugates nouns??? And that there are 5 different kinds of these conjugations - called declensions? And did you know that nouns have gender? OH my, I sure hope my kids pick this up in school, my brain hurt just from the 1 hour overview.
Aaron - "BY the way, I have a 6:00 am meeting tomorrow morning and you have to take the kids to school."
AHHH...on the day I wasn't going to go to school but work from home. Oh well. Anyway, back to Aaron. He is doing well, enjoying some upcoming changes in his law practice, working on some interesting cases, doing some latin on the side, driving kids to school in the mornings, you know, your basic great Dad!
Fiona - "Wonder where that crockpot went and I wish they would stop putting the trash behind that shut door. What is a dog supposed to eat around here?"
Blessed to be momofkrit and woj,
KT
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Kindergarten Tales
On Friday Iain's Kindergarten Class had a Tea party to celebrate letter T. The boys all wore ties and the girls wore hats and gloves and they all used fine china and drank real tea with tea cakes. It was SO cute. I was the snack mom so I got to watch the whole thing and it was adorable watching these 5 and 6 year olds behave like ladies and gentlemen.
Would you trust your china to this Dennis? He did a great job!
Iain was such a gentleman as he helped his partner get seated in her seat.
Teagan joined the party with me and although she didn't get a teacup she was delighted with her hat and teacake.
Would you trust your china to this Dennis? He did a great job!
Iain was such a gentleman as he helped his partner get seated in her seat. 
Teagan joined the party with me and although she didn't get a teacup she was delighted with her hat and teacake. 
Last week was also a special week for Iain as he was the leader of the week and got to use the very sought after "pointer". He did such a good job and looks like a professor!
Blessed to be Mom of Iain the Leader and Gentleman,
KT
Thursday, September 11, 2008
conjugations and Ranch Dressing
This evening at dinner our family engaged in a new kind of communication. Latin.
My husband was in a particularly good mood and was making Latin vocab words quite entertaining. The whole family was involved and we were all trying to memorize the Latin vocab words for Kyle's test tomorrow.
Now when I say whole family, I don't actually mean all of us. There was one little girl who doesn't know what the word "fatherland" means in English, much less Latin, and she was entertaining herself with her food. I happened to glance her direction and caught this sweet child drinking the ranch dressing straight out of the bottle. Yes, the bottle top was in her mouth and she was helping herself. Catching my hubby's glance, I nodded in her direction trying to hold back my laughter.
Daddy wasn't so kind. He immediately yelled, "Teagan what are you doing? What do you think you are, a dog?" Teagan removed the bottle from her mouth, smiled and said, "Woof, Woof".
I'm confidant I"ll never remember the Latin word for fatherland, but, Teagan drinking the ranch dressing? I'll take a quiz on that any day.
Blessed to be the mother of a Latin student and a ranch loving daughter,
Momofkrit and woj,
KT
My husband was in a particularly good mood and was making Latin vocab words quite entertaining. The whole family was involved and we were all trying to memorize the Latin vocab words for Kyle's test tomorrow.
Now when I say whole family, I don't actually mean all of us. There was one little girl who doesn't know what the word "fatherland" means in English, much less Latin, and she was entertaining herself with her food. I happened to glance her direction and caught this sweet child drinking the ranch dressing straight out of the bottle. Yes, the bottle top was in her mouth and she was helping herself. Catching my hubby's glance, I nodded in her direction trying to hold back my laughter.
Daddy wasn't so kind. He immediately yelled, "Teagan what are you doing? What do you think you are, a dog?" Teagan removed the bottle from her mouth, smiled and said, "Woof, Woof".
I'm confidant I"ll never remember the Latin word for fatherland, but, Teagan drinking the ranch dressing? I'll take a quiz on that any day.
Blessed to be the mother of a Latin student and a ranch loving daughter,
Momofkrit and woj,
KT
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Latin is great
For some...
I don't get it.
I don't know how to help Kyle with it.
I'm very frustrated by it.
Why do we study a dead language anyway???
(Please don't send me the responses, I know all the answers......)
I don't get it.
I don't know how to help Kyle with it.
I'm very frustrated by it.
Why do we study a dead language anyway???
(Please don't send me the responses, I know all the answers......)
sock monster
So exactly how does the sock monster work?
and WHY?
Before school started, I purchased 6 pair of socks for each child for their school uniform. I made a special drawer for their socks and reviewed the importance of putting both socks in the laundry.
so how is it that we are only in the 3rd week of school and each morning I'm scrambling for socks? It seems even when I have them laid out for the kids they disappear.
I really hate socks and I really don't understand the sock monster.
kt
and WHY?
Before school started, I purchased 6 pair of socks for each child for their school uniform. I made a special drawer for their socks and reviewed the importance of putting both socks in the laundry.
so how is it that we are only in the 3rd week of school and each morning I'm scrambling for socks? It seems even when I have them laid out for the kids they disappear.
I really hate socks and I really don't understand the sock monster.
kt
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
bedtime prayers
Imagine 4 beautiful children all in clean PJ's with clean combed hair sitting nicely on a bed listening quietly while taking turns sharing highs and lows of their day. Imagine them now bowing their heads and praying beautiful well expressed prayers before bed.
*Ok, I'm sure that scene took place somewhere tonight, but it wasn't my house.
*There were 4 beautiful children. (It's my blog and they are my kids so I'm allowed to say that.)
*They all had on PJ's of sort but nobody had clean hair and it certainly wasn't combed.
*We were all on a bed but sitting is probably not an accurate verb.
*Taking turns sharing highs and lows, yes, listening quietly to each other? Um...no...
Mommy was trying hard to listen. This was especially hard to do with Iain's feet in my face, Kyle chasing Fiona off the bed, Rhia giggling because Teagan was taking SOOO long, and Teagan declaring she had 3 highs and 3 lows! (At this point I must explain. We do this every night usually at dinnertime. But tonight Daddy was at a meeting and Mommy was anxious to get them upstairs so I decided to add this to bedtime. Teagan doesn't really get it. She shares something about her day, but the whole highs and lows is still a bit too abstract for her. HOWEVER, she will vehamently argue with you if you try to tell her that what she is describing is actually a high and not a low. AND if you interrupt her OR laugh she will INSIST on starting over.)
*Bowing heads and praying? Yes. Well expressed? Well, I truly believe that God loves to hear little children talk to him no matter how they express their words. One child was thanking God for all the expensive gifts he might receive in the future, while another was praising God that no one in her class got a tally today. A third was pleading with God to help 2 of his friends in school not get their bears down (the discipline system), and a 4th insisted she would do it on her own in spite of 3 offers to assist her. In fact with each assist, she started over! All the food we ate today has been very blessed and although there was a request for Mommy and Daddy to learn to obey "me", I trust that God knew the heart of this request.
Of course this time of praying took a few minutes and it was not without incident. Mommy even included in her prayer that Teagan would put her head on her own pillow and stop playing with Rhia's eyes and that Iain would stop touching Kyle with his feet and at one point Mommy even slapped the leg of a guilty party. (As is turns out, I slapped the wrong leg. So then I prayed for forgiveness.) Once we were finished the kids burst into laughter at the fact that I, in their words, "Whacked" the wrong kid. I didn't like that word so I tried to correct them and say "slapped" but it came out, "Swacked" which brought about an addition round of laughter.
I finally got everyone to their own rooms and settled in their own beds. What a night. I bet that Mom I mentioned at the beginning has all her laundry folded and put away, her house is dusted and organized, and she has meals planned for the next 3 weeks. Yeah, well... like I said, not my house.
Blessed to serve a God who listens to the hearts of our prayers and loves my children,
Momofkrit and Woj,
KT
*Ok, I'm sure that scene took place somewhere tonight, but it wasn't my house.
*There were 4 beautiful children. (It's my blog and they are my kids so I'm allowed to say that.)
*They all had on PJ's of sort but nobody had clean hair and it certainly wasn't combed.
*We were all on a bed but sitting is probably not an accurate verb.
*Taking turns sharing highs and lows, yes, listening quietly to each other? Um...no...
Mommy was trying hard to listen. This was especially hard to do with Iain's feet in my face, Kyle chasing Fiona off the bed, Rhia giggling because Teagan was taking SOOO long, and Teagan declaring she had 3 highs and 3 lows! (At this point I must explain. We do this every night usually at dinnertime. But tonight Daddy was at a meeting and Mommy was anxious to get them upstairs so I decided to add this to bedtime. Teagan doesn't really get it. She shares something about her day, but the whole highs and lows is still a bit too abstract for her. HOWEVER, she will vehamently argue with you if you try to tell her that what she is describing is actually a high and not a low. AND if you interrupt her OR laugh she will INSIST on starting over.)
*Bowing heads and praying? Yes. Well expressed? Well, I truly believe that God loves to hear little children talk to him no matter how they express their words. One child was thanking God for all the expensive gifts he might receive in the future, while another was praising God that no one in her class got a tally today. A third was pleading with God to help 2 of his friends in school not get their bears down (the discipline system), and a 4th insisted she would do it on her own in spite of 3 offers to assist her. In fact with each assist, she started over! All the food we ate today has been very blessed and although there was a request for Mommy and Daddy to learn to obey "me", I trust that God knew the heart of this request.
Of course this time of praying took a few minutes and it was not without incident. Mommy even included in her prayer that Teagan would put her head on her own pillow and stop playing with Rhia's eyes and that Iain would stop touching Kyle with his feet and at one point Mommy even slapped the leg of a guilty party. (As is turns out, I slapped the wrong leg. So then I prayed for forgiveness.) Once we were finished the kids burst into laughter at the fact that I, in their words, "Whacked" the wrong kid. I didn't like that word so I tried to correct them and say "slapped" but it came out, "Swacked" which brought about an addition round of laughter.
I finally got everyone to their own rooms and settled in their own beds. What a night. I bet that Mom I mentioned at the beginning has all her laundry folded and put away, her house is dusted and organized, and she has meals planned for the next 3 weeks. Yeah, well... like I said, not my house.
Blessed to serve a God who listens to the hearts of our prayers and loves my children,
Momofkrit and Woj,
KT
Monday, September 8, 2008
GUEST AUTHOR
This was written by my sister and posted on her blog after my post yesterday. Thought you all would enjoy...:-)
Clothes
I love to share Aubrie's clothes with my niece Teagan. It's so fun to see her wear the clothes that Aubrie has outgrown. Occasionally, though, Teagan manages to find an outfit or item of clothing that we have not actually given to her (yet) and she likes to hold onto it. Usually this is a result of one of our many trips to visit family and understandably things get lost along the way. Usually I don't even notice they are missing...but then my sister posts a picture of Teagan wearing the "stolen" item of clothing on her blog and now I remember...hmmmm...So THAT is where that dress went....hmmmmm.....what to do.....I know...I'll just call my sister and ask her if she could (in her free time) please wash and press the dress and overnight it back to me since she has so much free time and extra money. I mean seriously...have you read her blog? She doesn't have ANYTHING going on in her life. It would actually be kind of me to give her a little "project." You know...something to get her out of the house. I'll call her first thing in the morning. Yeah...good plan. Never planning to get the dress back but so thankful for my sister,Erin
Posted by Erin Thorne at 10:48 PM
People in my eyes
Seeing the world through the eyes of a 3 year old is a wonderful experience. She frequently tells me at night time that she doesn't want to close her eyes because there are "people in my eyes".
This morning she came running down saying, "Mommy, the people in my eyes was Aubrie, my cousin, and we were playing together!"
Dreams must seems so strange when you are 3 and describing them as People in my Eyes is just brilliant.
MomofTeagan,
KT
This morning she came running down saying, "Mommy, the people in my eyes was Aubrie, my cousin, and we were playing together!"
Dreams must seems so strange when you are 3 and describing them as People in my Eyes is just brilliant.
MomofTeagan,
KT
Sunday, September 7, 2008
What was I thinking?
After church, my hubby wasn't feeling so well due to his cold so he headed home. However, the kids look forward to the mushroom festival all year long so.....I took all the kids by myself to the festival. Now, I realize most people don't know where our town is or care about it. However, the mushroom festival draws people from ALL OVER THE PLACE and it one of the biggest festivals across the country. since it rained yesterday the festival was a 1 day event this year. So, imagine all the people.
ALL THE PEOPLE , LOTS OF PEOPLE, MANY MANY PEOPLE, and there is me with 4 kids. No stroller. We park about 1/2 mile away, walk and search for hotdogs. Getting 2 we eat those and keep walking looking for hamburgers. No hamburgers in site. we walk back to get 2 more hotdogs. We look for ice cream, see our karate studio with spiderman, find icecream, get our picture taken by a reporter, and finally about 3 hours later make the long trek back to our car with a bag of popcorn for daddy in hand.
It was quite an event. I didn't see anyone, I was too busy looking down counting heads.
What was I thinking?
Crazy mom trying to make my kids happy,
momofkrit and Woj,
KT
mushroom festival
Today was the annual mushroom festival.
Our church always hold our services outside at the park during this festival and it's one of my favorite services of the year. There are so many people and I like to look around and imagine what it must have been like when Jesus talked to the thousands or when Moses preached to the people in the dessert. As I look around and see moms feeding babies, and older siblings chasing toddlers I imagine the scene would have been similar as parents tried to shh their kids and all the people were gathered together to praise God. It was an awesome service.
Our church always hold our services outside at the park during this festival and it's one of my favorite services of the year. There are so many people and I like to look around and imagine what it must have been like when Jesus talked to the thousands or when Moses preached to the people in the dessert. As I look around and see moms feeding babies, and older siblings chasing toddlers I imagine the scene would have been similar as parents tried to shh their kids and all the people were gathered together to praise God. It was an awesome service.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Miss Lindsay returns
Miss Lindsay was our nanny/babysitter for several years before she moved to Texas. Recently returning to the north, she is now working in D.C. Tonight she came to visit us and the kids were THRILLED. They were so excited they didn't even change out of their uniforms. We had a great time together. We love you Miss Lindsay!! 
Shhh...Teagan
This morning Teagan and I had a date at Starbucks. While there we watched many people come in and out. At one point a very tall skinny lady walked in. She was wearing extremely high heels, extremely tight pants, and an extremely tight fitting-short halter top. Teagan, appaled at this sight, stood up from her seat, pointed at this lady, and yelled, "Mommy, that lady forgot her top!". Trying to smooth things over, I replied, "yes, dear but look at her pretty shoes, Time to go now...."
Blessed to be mom of a 3 year old,
KT
Blessed to be mom of a 3 year old,
KT
Dinner
At 9:00 am I carefully placed a "hunk" of meat in the crockpot, added some spices and juices and turned it on low. I left the house around 10:30 am. I returned at 5:30 pm. This is what I found.
MY CROCK POT WAS ON THE FLOOR AND IT WAS EMPTY!!!
THE JUICES WERE SPLASHED EVERYWHERE!!
THE HUNK OF MEAT WAS UPSTAIRS ON THE FLOOR licked to death!
The "innocent" one!!
The pizza was great...Kids were happy...Fiona was happy...Daddy's wallet is now empty...
KT
MY CROCK POT WAS ON THE FLOOR AND IT WAS EMPTY!!!
THE JUICES WERE SPLASHED EVERYWHERE!!
THE HUNK OF MEAT WAS UPSTAIRS ON THE FLOOR licked to death!
The "innocent" one!! The pizza was great...Kids were happy...Fiona was happy...Daddy's wallet is now empty...
KT
Thursday, September 4, 2008
have you seen?
Have you heard?
Arbonne has rolled out NEW holiday products in addition to offering their usual fabulous holiday line. I'm so excited to try these new products. Check out their website and contact me today!!!
www.arbonne.com
Arbonne has rolled out NEW holiday products in addition to offering their usual fabulous holiday line. I'm so excited to try these new products. Check out their website and contact me today!!!
www.arbonne.com
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Snipits and Snapshots
Snipits and Snapshots
Snapshot: Teagan seeing corn on her plate and not wanting it to be there, carefully pushes it off her plate and onto the table.
Snipits: Kyle please eat your corn. But Mom I ate all my chicken. Kyle, I didn't put it there just to look pretty. Mom, I don't think it looks pretty.
Shapshot: Iain trying to refill his cup with orange juice....oh my...
Snipits: Teagan shares her high of the day saying she and Mommy went to Starbucks in the mall. And we walked and walked and walked. When asked how many people were there, she responded that there were 5 lots of people.
Snapshot: Iain finished eating first and was having trouble sitting still so he occupied himself by placing his fork under his plate and attempting to launch his remaining corn kernals into the air.
Snipits: Rhia sharing her lows of the day tells how she got a Tally in school, but Mommy was very very proud of her. (A tally is given for talking or misbehaving etc.) Mommy explained that Rhia "turned herself in" when the teacher didn't notice that she too was talking. At this point Daddy chose to explain the right to remain silent. DADDY!!!!.....
There are reports and studies and books and seminars all on the subject of the importance of eating together around the table. Most of these events and writings conclude that eating together unites families and builds a bond that lasts throughout childhood and adulthood. While that may be the case, I have a slightly different conclusion. I think these writers and speakers have just witnessed family dinners with young children and realize that it will take YEARS AND YEARS for these children to become restaurant acceptable persons and the theory remains that practice makes perfect.
On a lifelong pursuit of training restaurant acceptable persons,
KT
PS. Did I mention that while I was making dinner Iain was chasing his sisters around the house with a tall empty laundry basket attempting to catch them inside. Absolutely HILARIOUS!! Don't tell Teagan I said that. She was not a fan.
soccer mom lights up the room
This morning there was a meeting at school for moms who volunteer throughout the year to make meals for the teachers and special lunches once a month. A very sweet mom there singled me out and told me that I have beautiful eyes and that she is so glad when she sees me because I light up a room. WHAT A COMPLIMENT! I have witnessed those types of people before and I never thought someone would say that about me. I'm thankful to have been a blessing to her.
So while lighting up the room I worked all day and then at 3:00 collected my things and my offspring, one of which was SOUND asleep on the kindergarten floor, and we hit the road headed for ballet. Getting stuck in traffic we survived the trip inspite of insufficient snacks and water supply and arrived to ballet just a few minutes late. Once Rhia was safely in her class, I went in the office and actually signed her up. Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
In the waiting room, I did homework with Kyle while fighting off the continued cries of malnutrition from my other son. Quickly packing our bags we hit the road again dropping Kyle off at karate and then back to the dance studio to pick up Rhia and try on Tap shoes. Back to pick up Kyle and finally we arrived home around 5:30 pm.
Is this what is meant by a soccer mom? Well, I'll find out, soccer starts tomorrow after school.
Blessed to be momofkrit,
KT
So while lighting up the room I worked all day and then at 3:00 collected my things and my offspring, one of which was SOUND asleep on the kindergarten floor, and we hit the road headed for ballet. Getting stuck in traffic we survived the trip inspite of insufficient snacks and water supply and arrived to ballet just a few minutes late. Once Rhia was safely in her class, I went in the office and actually signed her up. Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
In the waiting room, I did homework with Kyle while fighting off the continued cries of malnutrition from my other son. Quickly packing our bags we hit the road again dropping Kyle off at karate and then back to the dance studio to pick up Rhia and try on Tap shoes. Back to pick up Kyle and finally we arrived home around 5:30 pm.
Is this what is meant by a soccer mom? Well, I'll find out, soccer starts tomorrow after school.
Blessed to be momofkrit,
KT
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
My 5:00 car
Why does my car hate me so much? Really and truly we are not friends. I know I don't always take perfect care of it, but I do wash it a few times a year, I vacuum it out at least once a month. I use it every day telling it how much I appreciate it. Why does it hate me so much? Flat tires leaving me stranded at the Ymca, on the road. Alternators, batteries, brakes...I do get the oil changed and have it inspected...Why me? Today was my day off. Teags and I enjoyed a nice long PJ morning. Waiting until 1:00 to go out we talked all morning of our trip to Starbucks, just me and her. Yeah, so finally in the car backing out of the driveway and something isn't right. Quick turn around, back up the driveway and sure enough, I have a flat. Thankful it wasn't on the weekend during our trips to MD and DE and MD, I am still caused to question, is it 5:00 somewhere? KT
pics and stuff
We spent part of the weekend celebrating Rhia's birthday and Labor Day and friendship. Here is a picture of the kids walking around at Helen's house. 
Kids sitting on Helen's porch enjoying the day off
Rhia and Taylor showing off their secret handshake
Kids sitting on Helen's porch enjoying the day off
Rhia and Taylor showing off their secret handshake
Here's a pic of Rhia, Taylor and Teagan. 
Labor Day at Aunt Helen's was fun with the usual great table of food and a great game this year of 'build something with the stuff in your bag'. Each team had to use the misc stuff in their bag to build something. It was a blast. Here Kyle and Trevor were working on their guitars and banjo's.
Captain Teagan had her team wrapped around her finger and enjoyed making a xylophone.
Here is Kyle and Trevor's team.
Here are all the kids celebrating life together. I'm so thankful for the baines family and the love and happiness they bring to our family.
Labor Day at Aunt Helen's was fun with the usual great table of food and a great game this year of 'build something with the stuff in your bag'. Each team had to use the misc stuff in their bag to build something. It was a blast. Here Kyle and Trevor were working on their guitars and banjo's.
Captain Teagan had her team wrapped around her finger and enjoyed making a xylophone.
Here is Kyle and Trevor's team.
Here are all the kids celebrating life together. I'm so thankful for the baines family and the love and happiness they bring to our family.
locking doors
So when you have 4 kids communication is extremely important and yet also a luxury. Often on the weekends my husband and I will escape to our bedroom to attempt to start AND finish a conversation. Because my kids love to be with me So much they will follow us attempt to come into the room. So.,.we shut and lock the door.
Ok in our house we have a no locking doors policy (Except the bathroom) which is basically in place for protection when you have friends over and also to avoid little ones getting locked into rooms. Finding Mom and Dad's door unlocked is very upsetting to my children and especially my little one Teagan.
Monday morning, Labor Day, we escaped to our room to talk about the upcoming school year and finances etc.. and the knocks on the doors continued throughout the conversation. Later that morning I asked Teagan to tell daddy I needed to talk with him for a minute. Here's how it went:
Mommy - Teags could you please ask Daddy to come upstairs for a minute I need to talk to him.
Teags - NOT AGAIN?!!
Mommy - It's ok, Teags, I'll be quick.
Teags - NOT LOCK DOOR MOMMY!!
Mommy - Ok, honey, we won't lock the door.
Teags - Pinky promise?
Mommy linking pinkies with Teagan - Pinky Promise
Teags walking out the door turns around and says - AND NOT SIKE, Mommy!
Mommy appalled and amused that she knows the meaning of that word - Not sike honey.
Teagan satisfied with Mommy's answer, but anxious to confirm with daddy delivers her message but also physically forces a pinky promise from daddy as well. Returning to Mommy's room she announces that daddy will be up in a minute and she "plants" herself strategically on the bed ready to stay put for THIS conversation.
Thoughts:
I plan to enjoy this stage knowing that my kids will not always want to be so close to me.
I am continually amused by the language of my 3 year old. Being a 4th kid certainly takes away a bit of her innocence. How does she know the word Sike and how does she know how to properly use it? Answer: older siblings.
Blessed to be momofkrit and woj,
KT
Ok in our house we have a no locking doors policy (Except the bathroom) which is basically in place for protection when you have friends over and also to avoid little ones getting locked into rooms. Finding Mom and Dad's door unlocked is very upsetting to my children and especially my little one Teagan.
Monday morning, Labor Day, we escaped to our room to talk about the upcoming school year and finances etc.. and the knocks on the doors continued throughout the conversation. Later that morning I asked Teagan to tell daddy I needed to talk with him for a minute. Here's how it went:
Mommy - Teags could you please ask Daddy to come upstairs for a minute I need to talk to him.
Teags - NOT AGAIN?!!
Mommy - It's ok, Teags, I'll be quick.
Teags - NOT LOCK DOOR MOMMY!!
Mommy - Ok, honey, we won't lock the door.
Teags - Pinky promise?
Mommy linking pinkies with Teagan - Pinky Promise
Teags walking out the door turns around and says - AND NOT SIKE, Mommy!
Mommy appalled and amused that she knows the meaning of that word - Not sike honey.
Teagan satisfied with Mommy's answer, but anxious to confirm with daddy delivers her message but also physically forces a pinky promise from daddy as well. Returning to Mommy's room she announces that daddy will be up in a minute and she "plants" herself strategically on the bed ready to stay put for THIS conversation.
Thoughts:
I plan to enjoy this stage knowing that my kids will not always want to be so close to me.
I am continually amused by the language of my 3 year old. Being a 4th kid certainly takes away a bit of her innocence. How does she know the word Sike and how does she know how to properly use it? Answer: older siblings.
Blessed to be momofkrit and woj,
KT
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