3 Little Monkeys

3 Little Monkeys jumping on the bed...

"Look, how cute!", their Mama said...

Mama grabbed the camera and the little ones said...

"Watch us monkeys jumping on the bed!"

People Love to Stare

So yesterday I confessed to my husband that every time I go out with the kids (meaning, to Target, grocery store, library, etc.), we get stares. Every single time. The stares come from a wide range of people-- old ladies, teenagers, working men and women... but seriously, everywhere we go, people are staring. I've tried so many times to figure out exactly what they are staring at. I've come up with a short list:

1) They are counting my kids and trying to figure out how close in age they all are.

Because my kids don't exactly have 'tall genes', they are all very small and look younger than they really are. I get asked if any of them are twins more times than I can count.

2) They are trying to figure out how old I am.

Because I started having kids so young, I do look a bit younger than many moms that have 3 kids. But seriously, I don't look 16!! Is it that strange that a woman in her 20's would have 3 young kids?

3) They are sympathizing that I have three boys and no girls.

This is one of the comments that I receive the most: "Wow, three boys. No girls, huh?" Now, I realize that people are just making small talk, but they make it sound as though having three boys is some sort of punishment.

Yes, these are three very good reasons why people might be staring at us as we go about our business. But you want to know the real reason I think people love to stare?

They are silently criticizing.

I say this not to condemn the people who do it, because I used to be one of them. Before I had kids. Before I had three young kids. Before I had three young, curious, active, not always obedient kids.

Back then, when I saw a mother in the store with her kids, and one of them started throwing a fit, or disobeying, or screaming, or whining, or running, etc., etc., I'd silently think to myself, "If that was my kid, things would be so different! I'd show them a thing or two." Well, now those are my kids. And my thought process has done a complete 360 (180?). Now, this does not mean that I let the kids go hog-wild anytime we are out. Actually, we have a list of "store rules" that we repeat before we go inside any store. The kids can tell you these verbatum and are actually quite good at heeding them. However, there are exceptions.

Sometimes they get tired of sitting strapped to a cart for an hour and begin to get antsy. Sometimes this feeling of being antsy can lead to irritating each other by say, poking one another. And sometimes poking one another can lead to shoving. And yes, before I had kids, I would look at the mother with the boys shoving each other in the cart and say, "Oh my goodness, how can that be? If those were my kids, they would be sitting nicely in the cart." And then I would look at the mother who loudly says to her boys "Boys!! No shoving!!", and think, "Wow, if I were that mother, I would be kinder when scolding my children."

No more. Now I simply look at that mother with an encouraging smile and continue on my parenting journey. This is my parenting journey, the one that God has called me to. I am doing my best day by day to raise my kids the way that He has called me to do in His word. Do I do it perfectly? No way. I am a work in progress. My kids are not perfect. So, stare if you must, but please know that with the Holy Spirit's help, I am doing my best. It's all I can do.

Landon's First Date

So since they were little, my friend Martine and I have been plotting to make sure our kids marry each other. We dressed them up as Belle and the Beast when they were tiny infants, made them hold hands for their first 4th of July, and just the other day, Landon and Samantha experienced their first date: sledding. OK, OK, I'm not that obsessed with them getting together in their future. But it was beyond adorable to watch Landon pull Samantha around on the sled. Without being prompted or asked. He loves his little friend "Sa-manta".

What were Brayden and Gavin doing while Landon and Samantha spent time together? Well, Brayden looooved racing down the hill on the round green sled, and Gavin enjoyed a nice snooze in the car. I kept it running, don't worry. And the cars were parked right at the bottom of the hill. So poor Gavy didn't get to enjoy his first sledding experience, although I doubt he would have liked it anyway. There's always next time.

Gavin Walks...

Hey Gavin... what are you doing way over there?? Come show me what's in your hand!

That's it! A little shakey, but a good start....

Keeping his eyes on the prize.

Come on, you're almost there...

Just a few more steps!

Hey Gavin!!!! You did it!!!

The Karate Kid

So Brayden continually asked me if he could take a karate class so he could learn "the moves", as he put it. I thought it was just a stage that would go away with time (like, for example, the movie "CARS", basketball, and the PBSKids website). Brayden tends to obsess about certain things for awhile, but then, poof, he moves on to something else... can anyone relate? So, I thought this 'karate' thing was just because he had watched Kung Fu Panda or something, but he persisted in asking to 'learn the moves'. So, I found a cheap karate class (actually, it was tae-kwon-do, but don't ask me the difference between the two.... no idea) that provided it's own uniform, and we were off and running into the world of martial arts. Fun for awhile, as Brayden learned to bow with respect for his teachers, say "yes sir" and "yes maam" when given instructions, and even kick/punch a few things while shouting "Kiya"! But, truth be told, Mama didn't want to pay for classes anymore, and Brayden stopped begging to 'learn the moves', so we quit karate. Or tae-kwon-do. Or whatever it was. It was fun, Brayden was cute, and now we have a fun Halloween costume to add to our collection. KIYA!!

Gavin Has a Party!

So, a whole month after Gavin turned one, I finally got around to throwing him a first birthday party! It was a busy household, filled with conversing adults and playful children, but it seemed like everyone had a good time. Gavin did not enjoy his first taste of birthday cake. At all. In fact, he has seemingly inherited Ronnie's dislike for having anything sticky stuck to his hands, and cried/whined as soon as he got frosting on himself. I should clarify: Gavin cried, Ronnie did not. Although Ronnie probably felt like crying after seeing the mess that Gavin made on his poor little hands. Needless to say, we didn't get the adorable "cake-all-over-the-face" first birthday picture of Gavin. Only ones that scream, "I hate this! Please get this stuff off of my hands immediately!" So there you go. It is what it is. At least he kept the silly hat on his head long enough for me to snap some photos.... :)