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.... :)

Excuse This House

Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there,
Ours boasts it quite openly,
The signs are everywhere.

For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges are on the doors.
I should apologize, I guess,
For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with my children
And we played and laughed and read.
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to choose
The one job or the other,
I'd like to cook and clean and scrub,
But first I'll be a mother.

Author Unknown

I'm Gonna Miss This...

****So I read this lady's blog almost every day, as she has 4 young kids (3 boys, 1 girl) and I can relate to her quite a bit. I read this post today and just had to share. I didn't write it. So no credit to me. But I completely understand and thought it worthy of posting. Also, just FYI "Nuggey", "Small Fry", and "Big Mac" are nicknames for her kids, and "Prince Charming" is a nickname for her husband.*****

"How do you do it? How do you stay so calm with four young children?"

Part of it is just how God made me, I think. I am pretty calm with my children. And, honestly, often I stay calm even in the midst of chaos because, frankly, it's better than the alternative. A shrieking, freaking out mama is not going to make an already stressful situation any better. So, for the most part, I stay calm and try to be in the moment with my children.

But how do I do it?

There is one little bit of inspiration that literally descended upon me almost two years ago, while I was holding Nuggey in the bathroom, that has completely revolutionized my parenting. When I keep this truth in mind, I find it as easy as apple pie to stay calm in the midst of toddler chaos.

I remember that I'm gonna miss this.

It was dark, during the end of bathtime, and Prince Charming was gone. I was doing dinner, baths and bedtime myself those days, as my husband worked late. It had been, undoubtedly, a long day with the kids. Big Mac was three, Nuggey was one and a half and Small Fry was a baby. It is as clear as day still, this memory.

I was sitting on the toilet, drying MckNugget off after his bath. Small Fry, unable to roll, was laying on the floor of the bathroom on some towels. Big Mac was still in the tub. He was squawking to get out and Small Fry was bellyaching for attention. But I slowly wrapped Nuggey up in his towel, determined to stay calm, and cuddled him in terrycloth. I slowly rocked him back and forth in my arms and sang Rock-a-bye Baby.

As I wrapped up the song, I prepared to set Nuggey down and attend to the chaos that was the other children. After all, there were baths to finish, teeth to brush, diapers to put on, jammies to find and beds to tuck children into. But as he sensed me about to set him down, Nuggey tossed his wet head back in my arms and looked up at me. "Uh-gain!"

So I sang Rock-a-bye Baby one more time, but I told him it would be the last. Yet when I finished, he begged again for more.

I didn't want to do more. I didn't want to sing to him one more time. I was tired. Tired of children, tired of singing, tired of the day. I just wanted it to be over. But then, as if fairy dust was sprinkled from the heavens right onto my tired head, the entire reality of my future set in.

I'm gonna miss this.

I looked down at little Nuggey, his damp eyelashes long and dark batting at me, his tiny bottom cradled in my hand, his lanky yet chubby legs thrown over my arm, his body entirely dependent on mine as I held him in my lap, and I could see the future. Nuggey, a grown boy, sporting a football jersey and facial hair. It was going to happen, and soon. And while I knew there would be joys with that time in my life, when our young children are teenagers and beyond, it struck me like a ton of bricks.

When that time comes, I'm gonna miss this.

When Nuggey comes home from college, barely speaks a word to me and hibernates in his bedroom all summer, I'm gonna miss this. As my mind fast forwarded to the future, I knew that at that moment, I would give anything for 20 year old Nuggey to be a toddler again, just for one more hour, so I could rock him and sing while I stroked his wet head.

And here, years earlier, I was being given my wish. I was able to rock Nuggey, a nearly helpless babe in arms, one more time.

Given a new perspective from which to see, I sang Rock-a-bye Baby as many times as Nuggey would let me that night. Eventually Small Fry found her hands and started admiring them, and Big Mac grabbed a new tub toy. And I relished that time with my son in my arms, knowing that soon enough he would be all grown, and my arms would ache to hold him like a baby again.

I'm gonna miss this.

My mind cannot help but wander to those parents who have lost children. What on earth would they not give to hold their children again, even for a moment. I bet they would not complain about having to sing Rock-a-bye Baby one more time. Rather, they would probably give their right arm to sing it ten million times until their voice was hoarse and their eyelids closed in slumber.

And women with empty wombs who long and pray and ache for children? What honor am I doing them if I take for granted the fact that I have children, young children who are begging me to cuddle them, sing to them.

So, I determined right there and then in the bathroom to try to be ever thankful for the moments I do have with my children. I will not wish away their young years, always hoping to get more laundry done or other children dried off. I will relish each kiss, hug and song. Even as the macaroni flies and the Sharpie stains my table, even when there are midnight wailers and globs of Desitin under my fingernails, I know...

...I know I'm gonna miss this.

Christmas Morning!!

Well, this is our second Christmas as a family of five, but last year baby Gavey-- who isn't looking so 'baby' anymore!, was only 6 days old. So this was the first year that all three boys could appreciate the excitement of Christmas morning!

I don't know about anyone else that with young families, but it feels kind of strange trying to establish our own family traditions. Not extended family traditions, because those are easy and already set in stone, but our little Follett family traditions. I have so much nostalgia from growing up and coming down the stairs on Christmas morning and seeing all the gifts, etc. etc., and I want my kids to have those same nostalgic feelings when they think back to their Christmas mornings with Ronnie and I.

So, that being said, what kind of traditions have you tried to establish with your own young families? I would love some ideas and inspiration!

A couple of years ago, I started the 'tradition' (although it's only been like 3 years we've done this) of giving the kids new pajamas on Christmas Eve to wear to bed. This is mostly for me, since I love dressing them the same (sorry, Ronnie!) and it looks so darn cute in the pictures for Christmas morning.

Also, another 'tradition' we do (again, it's only been like 3 years, so hardly a tradition!), is to give the kids 3 gifts each. I first heard of this idea from a friend of mine who mentioned that Jesus got three gifts, so therefore the kids each get three. Love it! Also, it helps keep the gift giving from getting out of control.

It was a fun Christmas morning, most of which was spent eating, gift opening, and dancing! We spontaneously started dancing to the Glee soundtrack, and our boys LOVE to dance! Ronnie too. :) Fun times.

We finished the day by heading over to my parents' house, where the highlight of the evening was watching Brayden and Landon duke it out with their new boxing gloves.

Christmas Eve

L-R: Addie, Trevor, Landon, Brayden, Gavin, Kailey, Isabelle, Samantha

Me with Gavin and nieces Addie and Samantha

Addie May

Kailey Anne

It is our tradition to spend Christmas Eve with Ronnie's side of the family. We got the kids dressed up and attempted some photos in front of the tree before heading over to Uncle Dan and Aunt April's house for some delicious food and several gifts! We took the annual cousin Christmas photo in front of the fireplace which turned out better than I anticipated. My nieces also borrowed my camera and took some snapshots of each other-- too cute!