wearing Daddy's shirts and scraping vigilantly with spoons, the offspring have created a new family out of pumpkins. Meet Goofy Dad, Spider Mom, Angry Beast, Joyful Drama Queen, and "My Life is Crazy" Spud.
more wordless fun at 5 Minutes for Mom...
a journal of autism, homeschooling, faith, and general family craziness
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wordless Wednesday - pumpkin massacre
wearing Daddy's shirts and scraping vigilantly with spoons, the offspring have created a new family out of pumpkins. Meet Goofy Dad, Spider Mom, Angry Beast, Joyful Drama Queen, and "My Life is Crazy" Spud.
The Framed Frog Will Be Back
For those who haven't noticed, the Etsy shop button on my sidebar is blank. No, I haven't closed down my shop permanently. I just put it on vacation for a week so that I could get a few other things done, and get ready for the Christmas season for my shop.
It has been a great blessing already. Without the shop to worry about or orders to work on, I can focus on some things that desperately need help around here. With the help of a good friend, I have already completely cleaned and reorganized two rooms in the house, and today we are tackling the next two. It feels good to finally get to the things that have been put off for months!
But be sure to check out The Framed Frog next Monday, November 1st. My shop will be coming back from vacation with a bang, and a Christmas Blitz sale will be running then. Lots of great deals on Christmas gifts such as photo frames, memo boards, and custom name trains will be available.
For now, the closets are calling!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Little Brother
Ever since the Spud started walking (um, I mean running!), he has been working hard to fulfill his duties as pesky little brother. No book, toy, or quiet play is safe from this new master of havoc and destruction! He steals his siblings' food right off the table. He sits on a book when you are trying to read it. He gleefully topples block towers that have taken his sister a long time to build.
It is no wonder then that the Drama Queen gets just a little frustrated with her little brother. "Mom, make him stop!" I often hear her wail. And sometimes she gets a little carried away and tries to discipline the Spud herself. I remind her that her little brother is still just a baby and that we need to be patient with him. I know how she feels, having grown up with a couple of little brothers myself.
So, the other day the Drama Queen was hard at work using every Mega Blok in the box to build the most awesome tower ever. The Spud made a few unsuccessful attempts to destroy the tower, and then he saw his chance. The Drama Queen turned around to check for any extra blocks, and as she did so, the Spud careened into the table and completely demolished her building.
Her response?
"Mo-om!" she wailed. "He's wrecking my future!" :)
It is no wonder then that the Drama Queen gets just a little frustrated with her little brother. "Mom, make him stop!" I often hear her wail. And sometimes she gets a little carried away and tries to discipline the Spud herself. I remind her that her little brother is still just a baby and that we need to be patient with him. I know how she feels, having grown up with a couple of little brothers myself.
So, the other day the Drama Queen was hard at work using every Mega Blok in the box to build the most awesome tower ever. The Spud made a few unsuccessful attempts to destroy the tower, and then he saw his chance. The Drama Queen turned around to check for any extra blocks, and as she did so, the Spud careened into the table and completely demolished her building.
Her response?
"Mo-om!" she wailed. "He's wrecking my future!" :)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Reclaiming Our Living Room
I used to be quite pleased with our living room's decor. It was the only room completely finished and decorated, and I loved sitting in it after the kids had gone to bed, catching up on email or TV shows and drinking some yummy chai tea.
But now the aliens have taken over my favorite room in the house. Three little aliens with a whole LOT of stuff, to be exact. As I sit here on our comfy leather couch, there is not a single direction I can look without seeing all their stuff. I'm tired of it - the little aliens are even overwhelmed by it, and it's time to make a change.
They don't know it yet - although there has certainly been some clues - but over half of their toys are leaving this house. We are taking our living room back! I have filled several large plastic containers with their toys and stuck them in the garage to be sorted through. The toys that survive the cut will be stored in the garage and only brought out for "dollhouse day" or "train day" or building blocks day."
So suddenly, I need to come up with a new solution for the living room. The room basically has been designed around all these toys, and so I am trying to figure out how to best use the space that will be freed up. Last night we hit IKEA in hopes of figuring out the perfect idea for our space. We left with lots of ideas but no concrete ones yet. Basically we are moving out a large toy storage unit and replacing it with. . . an entertainment center? a storage unit with locks that the kiddies can't open? a sofa bed to provide more seating plus a sleeping area for naps/guests? We are still not sure what the best option is yet - I will post pics of the space later and perhaps you all can chip in with your ideas.
Beyond reclaiming our living room as a mostly adult space, we have been talking about getting rid of a lot of the toys for another reason. Our kiddies, especially the Drama Queen, have seemed a little "entitled" lately. Just last week, Grandma brought over some new toys for the kids to enjoy. I was shocked and embarrassed to hear my daughter ask, "What else did you bring me, Grandma?" At Sunday School, she thinks that she deserves to get a special treat every week. I've observed her and the Beast go from one toy to the next, none of which hold their attention span for more than a few minutes. It's time to get this under control. I want my children to realize that you don't just get everything you want - things come with hard work and wise choices.
I expect the Drama Queen will not be pleased with the changes we are about to make. She will probably have a few "moments" but will get with the program fairly quickly. I dare say that the Beast will not even notice. He's usually too busy playing with things that are not toys! And the Spud's too young to really care.
I can't wait to get my room back!
But now the aliens have taken over my favorite room in the house. Three little aliens with a whole LOT of stuff, to be exact. As I sit here on our comfy leather couch, there is not a single direction I can look without seeing all their stuff. I'm tired of it - the little aliens are even overwhelmed by it, and it's time to make a change.
They don't know it yet - although there has certainly been some clues - but over half of their toys are leaving this house. We are taking our living room back! I have filled several large plastic containers with their toys and stuck them in the garage to be sorted through. The toys that survive the cut will be stored in the garage and only brought out for "dollhouse day" or "train day" or building blocks day."
So suddenly, I need to come up with a new solution for the living room. The room basically has been designed around all these toys, and so I am trying to figure out how to best use the space that will be freed up. Last night we hit IKEA in hopes of figuring out the perfect idea for our space. We left with lots of ideas but no concrete ones yet. Basically we are moving out a large toy storage unit and replacing it with. . . an entertainment center? a storage unit with locks that the kiddies can't open? a sofa bed to provide more seating plus a sleeping area for naps/guests? We are still not sure what the best option is yet - I will post pics of the space later and perhaps you all can chip in with your ideas.
Beyond reclaiming our living room as a mostly adult space, we have been talking about getting rid of a lot of the toys for another reason. Our kiddies, especially the Drama Queen, have seemed a little "entitled" lately. Just last week, Grandma brought over some new toys for the kids to enjoy. I was shocked and embarrassed to hear my daughter ask, "What else did you bring me, Grandma?" At Sunday School, she thinks that she deserves to get a special treat every week. I've observed her and the Beast go from one toy to the next, none of which hold their attention span for more than a few minutes. It's time to get this under control. I want my children to realize that you don't just get everything you want - things come with hard work and wise choices.
I expect the Drama Queen will not be pleased with the changes we are about to make. She will probably have a few "moments" but will get with the program fairly quickly. I dare say that the Beast will not even notice. He's usually too busy playing with things that are not toys! And the Spud's too young to really care.
I can't wait to get my room back!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Hurry Home
Hurry back from San Diego, Daddy! We missed you so much and can't wait to see you tonight! (oh, and Momma is just a little too eager to see you as well. She says she misses you but we all know that she just can't wait to pass us off to you for a while) :)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Multiple Personalities
Heard over the kids' room monitor:
The Beast aka "Davey": "Hey, Davey, you wanna soda?"
(pause)
The Beast aka "Davey": "Why, sure, I wanna soda."
(pause)
The Beast aka "Davey": "Momma! Davey wants a soda!"
uh yeah. Just a little more evidence that our son may indeed be schizophrenic. . .
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A Kaleidoscope of Fall Color
We had the perfect day to visit the pumpkin patch on Saturday - beautiful, sunny, with just a touch of chill to the weather. The most adorable children featured below enjoyed choosing a pumpkin, petting various animals (the Drama Queen fell in love with the sweet chicks), eating cider donuts and kettle corn, and posing endlessly for Momma's relentless camera. So most of the pictures feature the one and only Spud? Sorry, I can't help the little guy is so cute and more than willing to pose for photos. . .
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Introducing Wally
We have a new addition to our family. Well, he's actually been here now about two weeks, which has amazed me to no end. We have tried adding new members like him to our family before, but they all came to a quick demise.
Take Carl the Caterpillar Senior, for example. We captured him right off our front door and gave him a little plastic container as a new home. The kids loved him and probably gave him a little too much "love", as I discovered him "legs up" the next morning. A few days later, we managed to snag Carl the Caterpillar Junior (the Drama Queen is not the most creative name producer) and gave him the same container. He seemed much more tolerant of the exuberant "petting" and gawking from the kids. After three days, however, he crawled in between two leaves and covered himself in a filmy gray stuff. I thought perhaps he was building a cocoon of sorts, but we soon realized that Carl Jr. had bit the dust. Literally. My kids aren't old enough to really understand death; I explained that Carl Jr. had to go back outside to his own family.
I was really done with the whole Carl thing and really didn't want any more creepy crawly family members. Nevertheless, my man caught a woolly bear caterpillar a couple of days later and introduced him to the kiddies as Wally. This time I did some research on the computer and learned that woolly bears like to eat crumbled green leaves and are most comfortable in an environment with twigs and dirt in which to burrow. We set up Wally's container accordingly (thank you Gladware!) and have been watching the fat furry fellow ever since. The Drama Queen is in charge of his leafy food and remembers without any help to check each day to see if he needs more leaves.
So, for the inevitably short time you will be with us, Wally, welcome to our home. You have probably noticed it is not a very quiet or orderly place most of the time. Just so you know, we relish the time the kids go to sleep as much as you do. You can thank me for making the rule "We never poke Wally". I am trying to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Please do the same for me by not escaping from that container! :)
Take Carl the Caterpillar Senior, for example. We captured him right off our front door and gave him a little plastic container as a new home. The kids loved him and probably gave him a little too much "love", as I discovered him "legs up" the next morning. A few days later, we managed to snag Carl the Caterpillar Junior (the Drama Queen is not the most creative name producer) and gave him the same container. He seemed much more tolerant of the exuberant "petting" and gawking from the kids. After three days, however, he crawled in between two leaves and covered himself in a filmy gray stuff. I thought perhaps he was building a cocoon of sorts, but we soon realized that Carl Jr. had bit the dust. Literally. My kids aren't old enough to really understand death; I explained that Carl Jr. had to go back outside to his own family.
I was really done with the whole Carl thing and really didn't want any more creepy crawly family members. Nevertheless, my man caught a woolly bear caterpillar a couple of days later and introduced him to the kiddies as Wally. This time I did some research on the computer and learned that woolly bears like to eat crumbled green leaves and are most comfortable in an environment with twigs and dirt in which to burrow. We set up Wally's container accordingly (thank you Gladware!) and have been watching the fat furry fellow ever since. The Drama Queen is in charge of his leafy food and remembers without any help to check each day to see if he needs more leaves.
So, for the inevitably short time you will be with us, Wally, welcome to our home. You have probably noticed it is not a very quiet or orderly place most of the time. Just so you know, we relish the time the kids go to sleep as much as you do. You can thank me for making the rule "We never poke Wally". I am trying to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Please do the same for me by not escaping from that container! :)
It's My Life
Oh, you know you've heard it before. "It's my life!" someone will declare. "I don't see why they care so much about how I live it." Maybe you've even said it yourself. No one has a right to tell you how to live your life, right? After all, no one really knows your "situation" like you do, and they couldn't possibly know what it is like to walk in your shoes for a day.
Wrong. It is not YOUR life, and never has been, not from the day you were born. Like it or not, there are other people who depend on your life, watch your life, and are affected by your life every day. When you make a big decision to change your life, it doesn't just affect you - it affects everyone around you. Our pastor was preaching on this subject last night and gave this verse: Romans 14:7-8 - "For none of us liveth unto himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."
If a faithful Christian gets hit with a hardship and uses it as an excuse to quit going to church, he may think that it's no big deal. It's his life, after all! But who knows how many other Christians were relying on his faithful churchgoing to inspire and encourage them? How much easier is it going to be for that brand-new Christian to fall when his formerly faithful friend is no longer there to lift him up? And he himself is going to be much more susceptible to the devil's pulls when he is not surrounded by his fellow Christians.
As our pastor spoke on this important truth, it made me think about how it specifically applies to moms. As a momma to three little ones, I certainly cannot say "It's my life!" Every decision I make affects them. When they see the choices I make, they in turn will make similar choices in their lives. Take nutrition for example. I can set a plate full of fruits and veggies and grains in front of my children, and then give myself a fatty cheeseburger and fries, thinking that it is no big deal. After all, they are eating healthy foods, and if I want to wreck my body with junk food, I should be able to have that choice. But I don't have the freedom to make that choice. If I do, two things will happen that WILL affect my children - 1) they will see the choices I make and emulate them later on in life, and 2) they will have an unhealthy mother that is not able to care for them as well and may even die early because of unhealthy food choices.
I'm not trying to preach here - that's the pastor's job! :) But I was even more deeply affected by this message because I have been thinking a lot lately about how much the world and the media have changed the mom's role in life. Professors, talk show hosts, and even commercials work hard to convince mothers that if they are "just" stay-at-home moms, they do not have a fulfilling life. Supposedly if mothers don't follow their dreams and have a life outside their family, they are "suppressed" and "unfulfilled." I recently saw an episode of Dr. Phil in which he interviewed a mother who, after her divorce, left her ex-husband to raise their children so she could travel the world and write a book. It was always her dream to travel and write, but having a family and staying at home was holding her back from her dream. So she left the family to fulfill her dreams, but at what cost? Her daughters grew up without a mom present in the house. She set an example of abandoning responsibility to do what she wanted, and I would not be surprised to see her teen daughters follow their mother's example. I do not think this mother realizes how many lives are affected by the decision that she made.
And so I approach my day today with much prayer and great caution. How will I speak to my children today? What will they observe their mother doing? How will simple decisions I make today affect the people in my life?
It is not MY life. It is the Lord's first, and then my husband's, and children's, and family's, and friends'. . .God, may I make wise choices and live for You today.
Wrong. It is not YOUR life, and never has been, not from the day you were born. Like it or not, there are other people who depend on your life, watch your life, and are affected by your life every day. When you make a big decision to change your life, it doesn't just affect you - it affects everyone around you. Our pastor was preaching on this subject last night and gave this verse: Romans 14:7-8 - "For none of us liveth unto himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."
If a faithful Christian gets hit with a hardship and uses it as an excuse to quit going to church, he may think that it's no big deal. It's his life, after all! But who knows how many other Christians were relying on his faithful churchgoing to inspire and encourage them? How much easier is it going to be for that brand-new Christian to fall when his formerly faithful friend is no longer there to lift him up? And he himself is going to be much more susceptible to the devil's pulls when he is not surrounded by his fellow Christians.
As our pastor spoke on this important truth, it made me think about how it specifically applies to moms. As a momma to three little ones, I certainly cannot say "It's my life!" Every decision I make affects them. When they see the choices I make, they in turn will make similar choices in their lives. Take nutrition for example. I can set a plate full of fruits and veggies and grains in front of my children, and then give myself a fatty cheeseburger and fries, thinking that it is no big deal. After all, they are eating healthy foods, and if I want to wreck my body with junk food, I should be able to have that choice. But I don't have the freedom to make that choice. If I do, two things will happen that WILL affect my children - 1) they will see the choices I make and emulate them later on in life, and 2) they will have an unhealthy mother that is not able to care for them as well and may even die early because of unhealthy food choices.
I'm not trying to preach here - that's the pastor's job! :) But I was even more deeply affected by this message because I have been thinking a lot lately about how much the world and the media have changed the mom's role in life. Professors, talk show hosts, and even commercials work hard to convince mothers that if they are "just" stay-at-home moms, they do not have a fulfilling life. Supposedly if mothers don't follow their dreams and have a life outside their family, they are "suppressed" and "unfulfilled." I recently saw an episode of Dr. Phil in which he interviewed a mother who, after her divorce, left her ex-husband to raise their children so she could travel the world and write a book. It was always her dream to travel and write, but having a family and staying at home was holding her back from her dream. So she left the family to fulfill her dreams, but at what cost? Her daughters grew up without a mom present in the house. She set an example of abandoning responsibility to do what she wanted, and I would not be surprised to see her teen daughters follow their mother's example. I do not think this mother realizes how many lives are affected by the decision that she made.
And so I approach my day today with much prayer and great caution. How will I speak to my children today? What will they observe their mother doing? How will simple decisions I make today affect the people in my life?
It is not MY life. It is the Lord's first, and then my husband's, and children's, and family's, and friends'. . .God, may I make wise choices and live for You today.
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