I'm addicted to blur

So I wrote this post all about the love of my new lens. (moves eyebrows up and down rapidly) :D

Then I realized I wrote it on my other blog. Whoops!

So here's the link. Cuz'n I ain't doin' it all over 'gin.

I'm addicted to blur

Parental pondering

I was having a rough parenting day, the other day. Not that it has really gotten a whole lot better, but my attitude / level of frustration has improved. Some. And it got me thinking about a whole gamut of things. What do I want my children to end up like? What kind of mom do I want to be? What things are important to me? What things do I need to relax on or become more stringent on? What battles do I pick?

I want to be a fun mom, who's serious about important things. I want them to be respectful, and kind to others, to always tell the truth, to value education and learning, have grace and love for others, despite any differences. I want them to love the Lord, though I realize I can only teach them what I know (and pray like the dickens), open the door of thought and experience, and after that it's their choice. I want my children to be able to come and talk to me when something is bothering them. When they have a problem, I want to be an open door, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and maybe offer a few words of direction, advice, warning, without telling them exactly what to do, being overly motherly or bossy or condescending (you know the sort I'm describing. The "I told you so" attitude. One thing I need to work on. Hey, I'm a first born (translation - known to be bossy) with a healthy case of "I'm right" goin' on. I won't deny it. But being married to my husband has been good for that. He's also firstborn. :D Iron sharpens iron, right? :D). I want my children to come to me feeling safe from ridicule, judgement or condescension. I don't want my children to be my best friend, but I want them to consider me among their best friends when they are grown. I want them to walk in integrity. And I want them to see me, see us, walk that out. I want them to not fear life or decisions, of choosing the right way because it is difficult or challenging; the easy way is not always best. I want them to know that hard work will get them far. So will being on time (WHAT??? Being on time? What i THAT?) or dare I say, **early**.

My children are young, so the things that I have to teach them now are basic. But that doesn't make them any less challenging. (However, I do realize that it's so much easier now that it will be, as for now, it's all about consistency and r.e.p.e.t.i.t.i.o.n. That's the part that's wearing.) How do I inspire fun and creativity if I'm always yelling at them to stop doing this or that? I think manners are important, and something that we see less and less of. But is there a time and place for belching out loud? And when is that? Seriously, the catalyst (or one of them) for part of this whole thought process was KJ's delight at belching loudly at the table. She tries to do it and takes great delight in being loud. It's kinda funny, kinda not. And I'm having a hard time debating whether I should laugh and belch along with her, or do I act straight faced and ask her to use her manners. I don't know. I don't want to be stuffy. I don't want my children to think I'm incapable of having fun.

I find myself challenged, as every mother does, with the taskS at hand. All the things that fall under "my responsibilities" that are a must (food, laundry), things that I barely keep up with, and not with the kind of quality I would like, versus the things that really need to be done (cleaning up my endless piles, managing finances, mopping the floor) versus things that I need to do (find order, make and implement schedules,) versus spend time playing with my children. All those things are important. All those things contribute to making a household run smoothly. All those things affect my sanity, and the quality of my mothering. My doing (or not doing) of all those things teaches my children something.

So how do I choose? How do I choose to affect my children today?

That's a heavy thought, isn't it?

So do I let her burp?

Ouch!

My baby got road rash.

Note to self: sisters with babies in wagons need to be very closely monitored.

Sorry, my little booger monster.
(That's what the kids have now taken to calling him. lol)

It looks much worse today since it has formed a scab and then he drooled.
You fill in the blanks with that. It's gross.

August bounty

Bounty...

Lots of Bounty, lately. My little garden is growing tall, and the fruit is finally taking shape. I actually harvested one grape tomato and one decent sized cuke, today. Mmm...

Lil'D is growing so much, getting long, saying a few words, eating table food exclusively, needs another haircut. sigh. I'm not ready to let that baby phase go. How I love it so!

Everyday I look at this little face and think, "Man, I love this kid."

He's also quite the turkey, so don't let those sweet baby blues fool ya. He can empty out my plastics cupboard (and every other cupboard) faster than you can turn around. In his infinite need to chew on stuff, for teeting purposes, he went thru a bit of a phase where upon he was biting flesh. Like, my leg, when I was putting in a dvd; Hubba hubba's chest; B-boy's nose. His absolute most favorite game is seeing how fast he can unspool a roll of toilet paper. (Pretty derned fast, let. me. tell. you.) And he loves to climb the steps, then scream bloody murder for you to come get him. But despite how he makes me want to pull out my hair, dang he sure is cute. I could just about eat him.

These flowers were brought to me a week and a half ago. And they still look great. For those of you who prayed for me/us, Thanks. Thanks a million. Though it did not come to be that I would stay pregnant, I dealt with it emotionally very quickly, and also recovered physically without any sort of pain or trauma. It is strange how "easy" it has been. That's how I know God hears prayers. Truly.

As for August...

Today was an August day. Finally. We've had the coldest July in recorded history, I believe. (Which is why the tomatoes are still not ripe and it's mid August now.) Today was warm and a bit muggy. The kids were getting restless, end of summer antsies were setting in - the park doesn't hold the same allure, "the rules" are getting harder to follow, friends and siblings are having a harder time getting along, even tv doesn't hold their attention for long. So... sprinkler time. Nothing like a good, fun diversion to change everyone's attitude.

This one "jumped" right in.

I don't know what it is with this one always having her tongue out these days.

Brother attacks

It's his steering wheel. Or sister torture device.


She's so expressive.


Ummm...

See? Happy.

Camping, part two.

The kids immediately began climbing the bunkbeds, which were a total hit. Half the fun of the vacation itself. Too bad we can't have them in our house (low ceilings). Hubba taught Cheeks how to get down off them herself, so that made them more "fun" for us too. Lil'D had fun exploring and wrecking the mini-blinds to the outside entrance door. Too bad my MIL didn't show me how to unhook them so I could raise it up until 15 minutes before we left. Oh well. Sorry!

Her new fun face to make when getting her picture taken lately.

And what's a camping adventure without a campFIRE and s'mores? The kids love that part. Even at home. But it could have something to do with chocolate and marshmallows.

Fun find? A froggy! Who then hopped into the campfire. Sorry little guy.

Lots of fun playing with the big sister!

Lets not forget cuddles with Grandma!

And do you think they would be brave enough to go pet the horses during daylight hours from behind the safety of a fence? No. My children would have to wait until it was pitch black, and we just happened upon a park employee out for an evening stroll. Just us and the horse. Go figure.

Silly girls!