Nostalgia

At small group the other week we had a ice breaker question.


We do ice breakers a lot, even though our great group doesn't really have much ice to break. They are fun anyway, and help us get to know each other.


The question was: " What is the change in weather reminding you of?"


I love that question! I love it because I think that our brains are so cool that the littlest things like smells, tastes, words, sounds, songs or even the weather can bring back so many memories and distinct feelings!


Anytime I smell a old book it immediately brings be back to my Grandy and Mammaws house. Standing on the green linoleum in the tiny room connected to their garage that we called "the library." I loved that room! Lots of books with sermons that I never read but I'm sure I opened many times just to smell. And lots of my dads old books and magazines that he read when he was little. I don't remember all the books but I do remember reading Archie for hours.


This was my answer to the ice breaker.

I love to open up the windows, and the first chance I get every window I can get open is open. Sometimes even the doors! But it has to be a big change in the weather cause in SE Texas opening the doors invites in the mosquitoes as well as the great cool air.


One of the houses that I lived in growing up had an attic fan. So we had the windows open a lot, even at night, which sounds scary to me now, but it wasn't then. We probably turned off the AC and used that fan more than half the year! I have since wished that I still had an attic fan even though people now have AC and there is not really a need. But I love them!


I also said that the cool weather reminds me of high school football. My dad was a high school football coach. So I guess that's where that comes from.

It's also so cool how when you think of something, the high school football games for example, you can immediately experience what you experienced long ago. Aluminum stands, popping popcorn, peanut shells, tobacco, mud, sweat and cigarette smoke. All things that I can distinctively feel and smell.



It's funny how the Fall, and the change to cooler weather brings good feelings and good memories. Holidays, sweaters, sweet spicy smells, stews, cozy blankets! I love it all!


But I really just love the fact that no matter when...spring, summer, fall, winter...there is always a memory waiting around for the trigger that will bring us back to who knows when.

They Actually Listen Sometimes

I'm so excited! Tonight we are going to see the Nederland High school Bulldogs play football in Friendswood. (Nederland is where Stephen went to school.)

I love high school football. I grew up on high school football. My Dad was a high school football coach for most of my childhood. I love it! And I haven't been to a high school football game, any football game for that matter, in years.

A little while ago I was going to get Anne up from her nap. Jacob was going with me. Usually when I go in her room to get her up I leave her in her crib while I walk around her room pulling up the shades, turning off her fan, etc. all while I talk to her about her good nap and what I'm doing and how it's sooo good to see her. I excited about the game so I decided to pick out her clothes. Of course I'm talking the whole time and I say, "Lets pick out something for you to wear tonight!" Jacob says, "Pick out her prettiest dress!" I think nothing about it cause the boys love to pick out cute clothes for Anne to wear. I lay out two outfits for Jacob to pick from and he picks the pink one. He says "that one, cause Luke might be there." (Luke is my sisters son that is Nathan's age.) I ask what he means cause I wonder why it matters what she wears if Luke is there. And he surprises me by saying, "you know, like in Charlotte's Web."

We have been reading Charlotte's Web in school. Nathan always sit next to me and pays attention while I'm reading. Jacob on the other hand always plays around the room. I never make a big deal about it cause Jacob is only 4 and I don't want to force him to sit still if he's not interest.

That's why I was so surprised when he mentioned the book.

I questioned him to get what exactly he was trying to say. He said that Fern wore her "prettiest dress" to the fair because "boys were going to be there."

I was pleasantly surprised that Jacob is actually paying attention! Jacob who will hardly sit still. Even when he is sitting on the couch with us reading a book, he is still rolling around and doing somersaults.

Just gos to show that they pick up on much more than you think they do.

News!

We have news! Good news!

We are pregnant!!

Yes, pregnant! Yes, Number 4! Yes, Anne isn't even a year old yet! Yes, we do know how this happens! And yes, we are excited!

I'm not sure what people are thinking about us right now (crazy, brave, insane...these might be some of the thoughts) and I really don't care. I'm so excited right now. And I know that this pregnancy is EXACTLY what God wants for us right now.

I know that the chaos in our family is going to increase exponentially, but I say "bring it on!" cause to me there is nothing that could be more beautiful.

my day so far..

This morning has been full of blessings.

I was so tired this morning. I was lying on my bed watching Anne play in my room while Jacob was at the table eating a blueberry bagel for breakfast. Nathan wasn't even up yet. Anne was playing with my exercise bike and she started crying. I don't know what happened cause to be honest I had my eyes closed. (am I the only one who does this?) I wasn't super alarmed. It wasn't a "I'm Really hurt!" cry. It was just a, "I think I'm a little hurt and I'm mad" cry. So I say (without getting up) "Oh Anne, Are you OK? What happened?" What was so sweet about all this was that Jacob runs in, starts hugging Anne and whispers to Anne, "Are you OK? It's OK Anne, Bubba's here." My heart just melts. And I start to feel a little bit more guilty for being a slacker. He continues to crawl around with her with his arm around her, patting her back form time to time, saying "Bubba's here." In such a sweet, soothing voice.

Jacob is such a sweetheart, and in love with his baby sister.

Later this morning, after finishing Bible and History/Geography (while trying not to listen to Anne cry in her bed instead of nap) Nathan gets up and says with a pale face, "I'm going back to bed." I tell him that's fine cause he feels warm and when my kids ask for a "Tupperware," I know it's serious. Stepping over piles of laundry, toys and trying not to crush the cheerios that are on the floor before I have a chance to sweep them up, I rush to get something for him to puke in.

I'm actually pretty upset that he is sick because he is taking antibiotics for the first time EVER. He has always been so healthy and always gotten over sicknesses (always miner) at home. Well, last week I took him to the dentist and she had to pull a tooth that had an abscess. (aftermath of knocking it loose two separate times) So he is on antibiotics for that and even though I know that he needs them I'm still really sad that he has to take them.

I was planning on a trip to Kroger today...Not sure how that's going to work out. I think I am going to go get him some probiotics though.

Well, this is the half day of a mom of three. Exhausting (before it even starts), heart wrenching, but so uplifting...

and I love it!

And the Oscar go to...

I'm not sure if Jacob just doesn't remember or if he's playing a game of control.

I had just changed Anne's diaper on the living room floor and left the room when I hear Jacob say with what sounds like genuine surprise. "Anne Just Rolled Over!"

Anne is 10 months old! Anne has been rolling over for months!

Jacob is always saying things like "Anne Pulled Up!!" or "Anne Is Crawling!" And I don't know how many times I've heard, "I Saw Teeth!!"

I think he is just playing a great joke on us and is getting a huge kick out of it. Cause it never fails that one of us say with equally enthusiasm, "Really!? She rolled over!?" or "Oh My Goodness! Really?!"

Either he needs an Oscar for his convincing act, or we need to take him to the doctor to get his brain checked out. Maybe we are the ones who need our brains checked for playing in his little game.

Bravo, Jacob, Bravo!

I Got My Hair Cut!

Some of you know that I've been wanting to cut my hair in a Mohawk. And those of you who didn't are probably shocked right now and wondering why I would want to do such a thing. Well...cause I just wanted to. I didn't go as short on the sides as I had planned. It's more of a Mohawk/faux-hawk/mullet. But I like it and it is more feminine that a pure Mohawk.

Every time I talked to the family about it before hand Stephen would say "you can do whatever you want." Jacob would say "Yes mama! Do it!" And Nathan would say "no! I'm not going to take pictures of you with my camera any more if you do. It won't look good." (Nathan bought Stephen's old digital camera for $1. Quite a deal!) So I was worried about how Nathan was going to react.

When I got home I saw Jacob looking out the window grinning. When I opened the door they were all standing there waiting to get their first glimpse. Nathan instantly ran to his room as soon as he saw me. Everyone else was slowly taking it in and saying they liked it.

I was really worried at this point. Then Nathan returns with his camera! He had 4 pictures taken of me before I had been there 5 minutes! He even convinced me to cut HIS hair in a Mohawk! (Nathan's hair is how I originally planned to cut it.)

Here are the pictures!

Before with my goofy/nervous face (my mom is thinking "my beautiful baby!")

After! (and now my mom is cringing)





Nathan's do (Mohawks are harder to cut than they look!)

side view

Us Punks

We convinced Jacob that the "cool" thing to do was to have the longest hair in the family cause we love his hair. He has wanted a buzz cut like Daddy's for a long time.

Family Photos

My wonderful friend Lisa took pictures of our family yesterday. Here are some of them.

8 Years!

I can't believe it's already 8yrs!

Seems like such a long time.

But I have a sneaky feeling that the fun has only just begun.

I love you, Stephen!

Happy Anniversary!

what am I doing??

Well, I've been contemplating starting a blog for quite sometime. And even though I don't know what I'm doing (and with a blog I feel the pressure to be clever, cute, funny and interesting) I decided to take the plunge. Being at home with three small kids day after day is sooo rewarding but can get pretty insane. So I'll try to be as real as possible and if you like you can join me in this chaotic adventure.

Bear with me though..I'm a slow learner and technically challenged. Quite a combo for blogging. Oh well, have fun. :)