Lucky To Have You

Happy Birthday, My Sweets

Today, I celebrate you. You are so special to me and to many people who love & adore you!

Here's just a few reasons why I love you (in no particular order):












*You are my best friend.
*Your sense of humor gives me endless smiles.
*You are fun to be with.
*You still embrace your inner child.
*You make many personal sacrifices in behalf of your family.
*You are a sweet husband & I know how much you care about me.
*I admire how you honor your role as a father.
*You are always willing to help someone in need.
*You have so much love for our children.
*I love watching our children smile when you give them hugs, piggy-backs, wrestle, show interest in their stories (even when they’re long), & goof around with them.
*You are kind & generous (like letting all of our children sleep with us in our bed—even though you’re always pushed to the edge of the bed and you don’t end up getting a good night’s sleep).
*You always lose to “rock, paper, scissors” (Hooray for me!)
*I am so grateful for your sensitive qualities .
*Even though you’re competitive and sooo want to win, you’ll give up your bragging rights so your loved-one can feel all the glory.
*You have big muscles and a gentle hand.
*I adore your charming (and sometimes mischievous) smile.
*You know how to chill.
*You would do anything to protect your family.
*You work hard—and still keep going despite pain & sickness.
*You don’t complain about me spending your hard-earned money.
*Your foot rubs are heavenly.
*You have many unselfish qualities.
*I treasure our late-night talks.
*You are always willing to compromise.
*You are intelligent and you always want to do what's right.

Rob, my Sweets, I love you so much!

My Buddy

Before we go out for an adventure at the park, my buddy Lily gives me a little gift.


How sweet.














Do I have it good, or what?


















Hey little cutie, let me give you a token of my appreciation...


















Smoooch!


















Hooray, we're on our way to the park to play!















My mama will always have my heart...


















...but she's sure pulling at my heartstrings.
















Let me go first, Lily, I want to make sure these stairs aren't too dangerous. I don't want you to get a boo-boo.













Look what I can do.


















Peek-A-Boo Jacob!


















Mommy says it's time to go...it's naptime.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.



Happy 2nd Birthday, Lily! You're the best buddy I could have ever wanted!

YMCA

We love our YMCA. We went to their "Family Night" a while back where we enjoyed an evening of canoeing, wall climbing, bounce houses, rides, food, and archery. The night ended with a gathering around the bonefire. The YMCA has a huge campus with 2 lakes, a campground with cabins, a really fun pool with slides and fountains, and an indoor facility containing a workout gym, gymnasium, gymnastics room, and rooms for dance classes. The girls are in a gymnastics class together and they are on different soccer teams through the YMCA.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The day started out like any other morning. Daddy was off to work & kids sent to school. Just me and Jacob at breakfast:

Me: “Jacob, do you want a banana?”
Jacob: “Yeaaa!” (as he throws his arms into the air with excitement)
So I give him one. He takes one bite and then throws the rest of the banana on the table.
Me: “Jacob, please don’t throw the banana. I want you to eat a little more, so please take another bite.”
Jacob: “NNNO!”

I pause for a moment. Hmmm…there’s something strangely familiar about this pattern that has developed over these past few months…let’s see: Mommy says Yes, 2 year-old says NO…Duh, I’ve been through this twice before! My mother is a wise woman, and she gave me valuable advice when Kaylee was 2: “Pay now, or pay more later!” I may not have been the best negotiator the first two rounds of parenting—I’ve made many mistakes. But third time’s a charm, right?

Jacob is even more stubborn than my other two. Now I know what I’ve got to do… it’s time for…THE STANDOFF!

Me: “Jacob, do you want to watch TV?”
Jacob: “Yeaaa!!”
Me: “Ok, I’ll let you watch TV after you eat another bite of your banana.”
Jacob: “Nooo!”

So, I take him upstairs, turn on the TV to his favorite station (so he can see what’s on, of course), and then I take him into my bedroom, close the door, sit in front of it, and the standoff begins…

It’s 7:15am and Jacob is freaking out because he can hear the TV from my bedroom.
Me: “Do you want to watch TV?”
Jacob: “Yes.”
Me: “Then you need to take a bite of your banana first and then you can watch TV.”
Jacob: “Noooooo!”

I knew I was in for the long haul. After 30 minutes of our standoff, nothing had changed, except that the banana was starting to get ugly. He’s crying and I’m about to break-down myself. I start thinking: “What did I get myself into? We could be here all day. My To-Do List is long. I know that I can’t back-off, Jacob would discover my weakness and he would have the upper-hand.

I learned this the hard way…A few months ago in the summer, I told Jessi that her privilege of playing outside was going to be taken away the next day as a consequence of her disobedience. As my feisty little 6 year-old marched up the stairs she replied to me in her infamous sassy tone, “No I won’t, you’ll forget!” I just about lost it. But you know what? She was right. Too many times I hadn’t followed through—mostly because I’ve been too worn-out to remember.

My mom says it’s pay-back for all the times I wore her out with MY stubbornness. Well, consider the dues paid, ‘cause things are changing around here. I believe in giving my children choices, so I’ll choose my battles wisely. Yes, the banana issue is minor, but I’m seizing the opportunity to teach my little cowboy about consequences and rewards.

But on this battleground, things aren’t looking so good. Now it’s 8:00am and I’m about ready to surrender. No, what am I thinking! I can’t give up now—there’s too much at stake. I continue to negotiate, but he’s obstinate…

I can’t help but to giggle a little inside as I see the humor in it all—this was me at age 2. I was a force to be reckoned with. As the second of 8 children, I was “The Great Debater” in our household, and I really wore my parents out. My parents were angels for dealing with my persistence. They are the best anyone could ever ask for.

As 8:15am rolls around, he knows I’m serious.

At 8:30am Jacob finally gives in and takes a bite! I can’t believe it, I actually WON! We celebrate with praise & hugs.

I sit him down on the couch to watch TV with his best friends Binky and Blanky, give him more hugs and tell him how proud I am of him for making a good choice. He’s happy again…and then I start to think: “Oh no, have I scarred him for the rest of his life? Was I too mean? Will he ever eat a banana again?”

An hour later I go downstairs and start to peel a banana for myself. Jacob follows me and says, “A nana”, which means he wants one too…

...But this time he actually ate it.

Final score: Jacob-won, Mom-won.

In My Daughter's Eyes

My little girl is growing up. Rob and I remember when Kaylee was a newborn, as she lay in between us in our bed, we would talk about how happy and grateful we were to have her in our life. We couldn’t wait to find out how her personality would blossom. We are truly blessed to have Kaylee for a daughter. She is incredibly loving, sweet, generous, sensitive, fun to be with, adventurous, obedient, unselfish, kind to everyone, confident, patient, loyal, and has a strong desire to do the right thing. Kaylee is a friend to everyone, no matter who they are. She enjoys reading, make crafts out of “nature”, sew, ride her bike, daydream, put on “plays” with her siblings, go on thrilling roller coasters, sing & dance, play games, laugh, be Jessi’s “school teacher”, draw, rock climb, cuddle with her cat Pokey, make pots on her pottery wheel. I feel so loved when she says that she misses me while she’s at school and wants to spend more time with me…I’m cherishing this because she might change her mind when she becomes a teenager. She is one very special girl, so pure and simple. She is a joy to be with. Oh, how I love and adore my sweet Kaylee!

You Are My Sunshine

Happy Birthday my sweet Jessi! I can't believe my little girl is already 6 years old! There are so many things I adore about you, but I'll name just a few:

I Love...

…your sense of humor

...your fun personality

...your sweetness

...your big bear hugs

...your energy

...your enthusiasm

...your willingness to try new things

...how you're a sweet big sister to your brother

...how you and Kaylee are best buds

...the way you entertain us all with your singing and dancing

...that you have no shame about hangin' out in your undies

...your sensitivity

...how your blanky takes you to your happy place

...your adventurous spirit

...your sense of style

...how you adore dressing up

...how you don't get mad--you get even

...how your smile lights up the room

...how you're our little superhero (you'll beat up the kid that's mean to your sister)

...your independence

...your ability to sleep anywhere

...how you're not afraid to do things on your own

...how even when you drive me crazy, I still think you're adorable

...your sense of wonder

...your cuteness
...that you're you!

My Wish For You

Jacob…
I wish that you could stay little for a long time--you're just so cute. You are now 2 years old and there are so many things I adore about you, but I’ll name just a few…






I LOVE…
your hugs & kisses.

...how everything makes you giddy.

...when I get home from the store and your face lights up as you run to me and exclaim, “Mama!” like you haven’t seen me for months.



...your puppy-dog brown eyes, your sweet smile, and your squishy little bum.

...the way your binky and blanket-smelling puts you into a trance.


...your sense of humor.


...how you take off your diaper every chance you get and run around in your birthday suit (I guess it was appropriate for this day—your birthday)!


...your quite stubbornness and determination.











...how you take your frustrations out on your own body (head-bang the tile floor, bite your hand, and clench your fists and shake). We’re grateful that you take it out on someone else…

...when you say “Heee-Yaaa!” as you beat up Daddy (and unsuspecting guests) with your kicks and karate chops.









...how you squat in the corner when you need to “take care of business”.


...how you love to sing and dance with Barney and Elmo.


...the innocent look on your face when you’ve just been caught doing something naughty.









...how you snuggle up next to Daddy when you get scared in the middle of the night.
...how you stand there and grin as you protest doing something you don’t want to do.

...that you love to rock out.


...how much you LOVE balls.
...your endless amount of energy and enthusiasm.


...how you adore your sisters (even when they dress you up).

...your curiosity.


...how you cultivate your artistic side.
...your independence.


...how you don’t let a soggy diaper bring you down.

...how you try to understand Mommy by putting yourself in her shoes.

...that you’re you.