Toilets and Other Hazzards

Being a mom of boys comes with its hazzards--the first of which to be addressed is: toilets. Had I known I'd share life with so many boys, we'd have gone the extra mile and had industrial-strength thrones installed. No toilet-in-a-box is going to do it for this household. Uh-uh, no way. I had never seen so many clogs in my life prior to living with so many boys. Seems to be a regular part of life in this home. It truly is amazing. So if it's "old news", what spurred this blog topic tonight? A few minutes ago, Eaglet came running upstairs yelling, "Mommy, Daddy! Something REALLY bad just happened!" (Tony puts down book, I quit writing e-mail...) "There was no toilet paper, and so I used..." (Right about now I knew this was going to be bad. Tony's and my horrified eyes met and locked...) "...the thingy and I forgot and I accidentally threw it in the toilet and now it's in the toilet and I can't get it out and how are we going to get it out?!" At this point I was seeking clarification as to what the "thingy" was. I decided not to draw things out, and just head down for an inspection. Tony chuckled deviously, apparently because I was on stage for this particular emergency. My response to him was to casually bring to his attention that the upstairs toilet was also clogged and needed tending to! Anyway, turned out Eaglet had decided to use the cardboard roll in lieu of grabbing a new roll of paper out of the bathroom closet. (?) Not quite as bad as I'd imagined. I had been thinking there was a nasty washcloth 1/2 way flushed down the bowl. Supermom was I....I retrieved the cardboard roll and deposited it into a recycled Wal-Mart bag...sealed it shut and wallah! Catastrophe averted. Those million-and-one bags really do come in handy. Eaglet and I gave a humble round of applause and we moved on with the evening. I'll have to address other hazzards in a different post...time to check on how my dear husband is getting along upstairs with the plunger...

Hawaii Take 2!

It happened. We took the 2nd trip in our "2-for-1". On our way to Hawaii, Mom and I were bumped off a flight last year (by choice) and received voucher tickets to fly free to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies. So....back to Hawaii we went...and this time, with Little Mister in tow! It was beautiful and green. Good times. Good friends. Good food. Good memories. My little Keiki Honu was a trooper! He didn't cry on either flight, and made great friends with the flight attendants and pilots. He even got to go in the cockpit! He spent a good part of the trip sleeping...there aren't many pictures of him with his eyes open. I sure loved having that special time to bond more with him and get to know him better. And of course, I also loved having special time with my mom. She is one special and fun lady. Together, we can laugh at everything or nothing at all. Once again, we were blessed to stay with our friends Walt and Betty up on the North Shore. They are the sweetest couple and totally took us in as family. My favorite memories of this trip are simple things, like dinners by tiki torch on the patio nearly every night, pineapple ice tea at an outdoor bar, shave ice, shave ice, shave ice, brunch on my birthday in Haleiewa, and of course taking in the sight and sound of the waves. This trip was a lot more laid-back than last year. It was really fun to have already seen most of the island and done most of the things we'd wanted to do there. We were free to just relax and do "whatever" (like eat lots of shave ice.) Now all I have to do is figure out how to make it back next year...

One Blessed Gal

This post will most likely be a little rambling. It is hard to articulate my heart on this. Tony just had a birthday last week. I've been thinking about what a great guy he is, and how thankful I am to do life with him. I appreciate the many things he does for me on a daily basis, and I know I do not tell him often enough. I appreciate things like--him calling to see what I need from the store and picking things up on the way home, keeping the laundry going, switching over the dishes, making sure my van is running well, and shoveling the snow. He makes sure I have time and materials to do the things that keep me sane, like exercising and Bible study. He asks me how he can help me meet my goals. I love how he wrestles with the boys and lets them jump all over him. My heart just swells with joy to hear those little shrieks and giggles throughout our home--all indicating it's "Daddy Time"! He is an amazing daddy; fatherhood comes so naturally to him. He gets up to change diapers in the middle of the night before handing our Little Mister over to me for feedings. He is so willing and loves to take on the house and the boys so I can get a break. He warms up my side of the bed and doesn't mind me putting my icy feet on him. He will talk with me for hours on end--into the wee hours of the morning--about important things or nothing at all. He makes me laugh my head off--usually unintentionally--but wow do I LOVE that quality! We go for walks together, run together, play games together. I can tell him anything. He respects me and my opinions. He is the only one who calls me "Toots", "Hot Stuff", and of course, "1 Hot Mama" (which I have found written in the dust on the back of my van after more than one all-day trip to town!) Happy Birthday, Tony. I love you more than words can say!

Our Quiver

Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

Psalm 127: 3, 4

Big Day for Bobcat

We are so proud of our Bobcat...8 years old and a brown belt!

Time's Standing Still

...but not still enough.

Worth the Wait!

Our precious 4th Little Mister is here...and of course, worth every bit of the wait and worth every ounce of effort it took to bring all 10 pounds, 1 ounce of him here! Yep. He is the new record-holder. 10 pounds, 1 ounce. 21 1/2 inches. 15 1/2 inch head and 15 1/2 inch chest. He is like a little sausage...and a very cute one at that. We love him so much and we're so happy. The birth was completely different in so many ways from what we have experienced and from what we expected. Lots of life lessons here...the biggest of which is, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

What to Do While Waiting for Baby, Part 3

Take the Sunday off from church to avoid all the "You're STILL PREGNANT?!" questions....and go bowling.

This is Parenting

So this morning, I found myself wondering if perhaps this is why our littlest knight has been reluctant to make his appearance--the utter chaos of Boyland. Our middle prince ran up the stairs with a strange, toothy grin on his face...and blood gushing out of it. I took him in the bathroom to inspect, as the youngest came running up the stairs, completely naked (as he had been for the past 15 minutes or so....I'd seen him zoom in and out of the room several times giggling...although Daddy said he did have a swimming Speedo on at one point...) and crying, "My Band-Aid fell off! My Band-Aid fell off!" Daddy brought him into the bathroom to replace the coveted Band-Aid on his toe...as I was busy trying to wipe blood from a VERY strong, wriggling 6-year-old who had a tooth dangling by a string downward out of his mouth but WOULD NOT allow me to just get it out of there. Daddy offered an assist and wrapped his arms around Prince Eaglet, as the child SCREAMED and thrashed as though we were going through another blood draw (see post from 11-12-08.) He kept yelling, "Don't touch it! Don't pull it out!" I noticed somewhere around this time that he had something green stuck to his neck. Turned out it was the Band-Aid from Spunky's toe...which gave us an indication as to how this mess had begun. So Daddy and I noticed now that Spunky was climbing up onto the bathroom counter...he's still completely naked...to take the matter of the Band-Aid into his own hands since his parents were obviously indisposed at the moment. I gotta say I appreciate his initiative. Simultaneously with the naked crawler and screaming and thrashing bloody hostage, in pops Prince Bobcat, who, oblivious to the goings-on of the moment, thrusts a drawing in front of Daddy's face, "Look what I drew!" Daddy and I met eyes and just laughed. "This is parenting", I said. Nobody prepares you for this. I was thinking about the little guy inside, who although a silent bystander, was listening to the whole ordeal. It's no wonder we're sitting at D-Day and he has not made the slightest move to come out and join the party. He knows this party is going to require some major strength, resilience, and readiness. I cannot promise him a peaceful, serene home to grow up in...but I can promise plenty of excitement and love.

What to Do While Waiting for Baby, Part 2

Another great idea from Pam...have the big bros write letters to their baby brother for his baby book! The letters are absolutely precious.

Great Grandma sent a box with some stuffed bears for the boys. They became babies today....here's Eaglet, with babies tucked into bed, practicing his lullabies...


...and the video version...

What to Do While Waiting for Baby

Belly Paint!
My friend Pam gave us this great idea:

Hats off to my little artists...

Boyland Funnies

A few evenings ago, Wise Bobcat came and sat down next to me and told me all about a funny commercial he'd just seen. I politely chuckled at the 8-year-old humor, to which he replied, "Now THAT'S how you make women laugh!" At this remark, I totally cracked up, to which he replied, "And that's ANOTHER way to make women laugh!"

Spunky's take on the true meaning of Christmas: "Mommy? Christmas is NOT about FRUITCAKE!"(A good lesson learned from Max Lucado's A Fruitcake Christmas...)

Somehow while talking about Baby Brother, we got on the topic of caesarean sections. Eaglet, with a worried and furrowed brow, was full of questions. He then proclaimed, "Well, don't worry, Mommy because God is going to make you strong and able to push Baby out." I told him that I believed that also, and that I know God will take care of us. "Well", with a much-relieved expression, he said, "It's a GOOD THING I don't have to worry about THAT--'cause I'm a BOY!"

Bobcat came running up with a revelatory remark: "Guys? Circumcision and circumstition have VERY different meanings!" (Wait for parents' laughter to subside) "Circumcision is when you have to have a pee pee surgery...and circumstition is when you believe something silly to be true!" Circumstition or superstition?

Excitement of excitements: While unloading out of the van this morning, the two older boys went running around to the side entrance of the house--nothing unusual--but then they came running back, yelling. I had just gotten Spunky out of his car seat and was wondering what on earth could be so exciting, when the older brothers loudly blurted out, "There's dog pee next to OUR door!!" At this, all three ran very hurriedly to inspect. What a great day in Boyland!

2009

A fellow blogger asked her readers what we are looking forward to in 2009... There are so many things I'm dreaming about. Here are some that top the list:

• The birth of our little son!!! And along with that, all the wonderful 1st year milestones.
• Getting back into shape after Baby. Thinking of joining a gym, and I'd also love to learn to swim well enough to do lap time.
• Spunky turning 4, Bobcat turning 9, Eaglet turning 7.
• Another possible trip with my mom in February (?) with baby too, of course...to somewhere warm.
• Hopefully a warm, sunny summer this year!
• Camping trips...hopefully without rain! Wait...is that possible?
• Weekend with my guys in Seward. We skipped last year and really missed it.
• In-depth Bible studies...Esther?
• Keep on reading classic literature.
• Hopefully another visit from my grandma who lives in Wisconsin.
• Tony and I will celebrate 15 years this September!
• Finish knitting Baby's sweater and hat.
• Meeting two good friends' new babies! Throwing baby showers!
• Anne of Green Gables meets VPA this spring! How I would LOVE to try out for a part. Probably not the right timing...but trying out for something is on my goal list when it agrees with family life.
• Hatcher Pass--sledding this winter, hiking and blueberry picking in the summer.
• All the things God will teach us and show us...things I can't even imagine. He makes life SO worth living!

Just Snowshoein'

Our Alaskan boys have been out on their new snowshoes every day since Christmas save one. What a great gift from Grandmom and Grandpa...I foresee a lot of use of these for years to come!

Our Little "Joseph"

Our church has a tradition of a "living nativity" the Sunday before Christmas. The preschoolers bless us with a very precious reminder of Christ coming as a little child...while the choir (including the grade-school kids) sing. Our little Spunky played Joseph this year...

The First Load...All Hues of Blue

OOOOO....I love all these blues! I finally was able to indulge in washing the first loads of our newest son's teeny-weeny little clothes. Tony and Spunky have been busy painting and setting up the crib.......so now it's been my turn to fuss about and do the new mommy nesting thing! I love having this room all (almost) set up......and dreaming about all the precious, tender times we will share with our baby son in here. I'm so happy we're having this baby...I'm overwhelmed with the fact that God Himself came to us in this most humble and precious and vulnerable form. I'm overwhelmed with the fact that that same God also has laid out each and every day and purpose for this little one that we're about to meet any day.

"I Winned a Cwuvverin' Test!"

MTA sponsored a kids' coloring contest this year. Here's our little winner:

Rollercoaster of a Weekend

This past weekend will be set in my memory for a long time. It's been packed full of activity, and packed full of emotion. Friday night we rejoiced as our 6-year-old Eaglet overcame his fear and went up on stage for his Christmas concert...
then felt a sting as we sent my beloved Grandma Dorothy back home to Wisconsin.



Early Saturday morning we felt shock and sadness as we learned our church building had been set on fire and extensively damaged...

....and yet felt God's peace and hope...because we know that though someone tried to destroy our church, our Church cannot be destroyed. We joyfully met with friends from Rwanda whom we haven't seen for five years... and then were blessed by my goddaughter's ballet performance. She, like our Eaglet, has worked so hard to overcome her shyness: First coat of paint on the nursery walls, and we were off to "It's a Wonderful Life Night" at some dear friends' home. It was so comforting to enjoy the warmth of their home, group prayer for our church, sustaining food, and friendships. We finally made our way home, exhausted yet content. Today our boys were contentedly at home with Grandmom in charge. It had been a long several days for them, and they needed some time to rest and play and not go anywhere. Tony and I had plans to Christmas shop for the day after attending the Wasilla Bible Church service. We are back to meeting in the Wasilla Middle School--physically displaced, but renewed in faith and hope. The service was packed, and NEVER have I experienced a more Spirit-filled service in our dear church. No frills. No childcare. No Sunday school. Three instruments and five musically gifted brothers and sisters led us in worship. It was deep worship from the heart. Deep emotions. Glory to our Savior. We spilled out of the school after services and made our way back across the parking lot, across the street and into the high school parking lot where we'd had to park. The day was crisp, well below-zero...and beautifully clear and bright. Sunshine poured down and the frosty sillhouettes of trees and foliage shimmered. What a beautiful day. What a blessing to have such a full weekend...such a full life. To borrow a quote from a fellow blogger/friend..."I'm just so thank-FULL."