Family

I finally got the family picture wall all set up in the living room. I picked my favorite candid shots of the kiddies for their own portraits in the center, around the word "Family." On the far ends of this picture, the collage frames hold shots of the little rascals at the playground and at the beach. I chose to put the long frame with pictures of all the far-away relatives on the bottom, where the little ones can reach it and point to their Grammy and Pop and Uncle Andy and so on. And see those small bright paintings at the top?

After getting all the photos up, i still felt something was missing. After reading my Bible that morning, I was reminded again of some verses that have really meant a lot to me lately. And now those verses grace our wall as well, as a daily gentle reminder to TRUST HIM and

NEED HIM.

I love having all my pictures up - our living room finally feels like a family room. And that is a great feeling!

My PeeWee Pirates

I tried to get a cute snapshot of my two oldest, getting ready to head off to their PeeWee Pirates club the other night.

Despite all the hamming it up, (or maybe because of it!), I think I succeeded. The wide grins and attempts at peek-a-boo are priceless! :)

Help for Davey

I have a wonderful son.

He is sweet, sensitive, funny, handsome, smart, and loving. You all know him as "The Beast", but to me, he is my Davey.

Over the past year, I have noticed little quirks in the way my little man spends his days. Every day, around 11:00 am, he runs back and forth from the front door to the back door for thirty minutes straight. It is impossible to get his attention during this time. In an overwhelming social situation, Davey will start babbling unintelligibly and stuttering. He also flaps his arms whenever he gets excited or nervous. He is obsessed with our vacuum cleaner and will sit playing with it for hours.

Lately, however, it has become obvious that these are not just "quirks". Despite having a great vocabulary and good speech patterns, Davey often retreats into his own little world. He rarely makes eye contact and never joins in conversations with the rest of the family. Many times he will ramble on and on in a one-sided conversation with himself. These things especially make it difficult to parent him. I frequently feel like he and I are in two different worlds and we just don't connect. Out in public, it can be quite dangerous as he is blissfully unaware of cars, other people, and even his momma shouting his name.

And thus the debate in my head and heart began. Is this stuff he will just "grow out of", as so many other well-meaning moms stated as they encouraged me to just be patient through this "phase"? Should I seek professional help? Will doing that label my kid unnecessarily?

When my husband started mentioning that he was concerned as well, I felt that at least my suspicions were validated. Together we decided to take our list of concerns to his pediatrician and see if we could get a referral to a specialist.

We met with the pediatrician today. I was so grateful that she listened carefully to everything we had to say and that she didn't laugh off any of my concerns. She felt that the behaviours and symptoms Davey was exhibiting may put him in the "austistic spectrum". More specifically, he may have Aspergers. Thanks to her, we now have a referral to a specialist who can give him a proper diagnosis and get us into the therapy and help we need.

I am relieved to have some direction and some hope in learning how to better help my son. I am also a little sad - every mom wants their kid to be "perfect." But he is - he is perfectly Davey, and we just need to learn how to connect with him and make our days together less frustrating.

It's going to be a long road ahead, no matter the diagnosis. But, "As for God, his way is PERFECT; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him."

And we are trusting.

Wherefore Art Thou

So much is happening.

So many pictures are being taken.

But sadly, one evil child of mine has taken my camera cable and hidden it.

And then he forgot where he hid it.

So many posts piling up in my head.

But without pictures, they end up staying in my head.

So searching for the cable again today.

And hoping that posts with pictures will be appearing soon.

well it's Friday

Meet My Night Owls

The Nerd and I have a little habit of "checking in" on the kids in their rooms one last time before we go to bed each night. Mostly it is so we can stand there and say, "Oh, aren't they so cute when they are sleeping?" or something to that effect. Often it is so we can transfer a heavy, snoring child from floor to bed, and occasionally it is to catch that last about-to-explode diaper.

A few nights ago, we called it a night at 11:30 pm and started to turn off lights, clean up, etc. The kids' rooms had been quiet for hours. The Nerd went down the hall to check on the boys. He opened the door and found both boys standing there, wide awake, and asking "can we have a drink pleeease?" It completely startled him, as he thought the boys were sound asleep in their beds. From my spot in the kitchen, I could hear the Spud chanting, "drink, drink, drink!"

I just cracked up even though I knew the next morning would be tough with such late-nighters! I wish i had taken a picture - two little guys, standing patiently at their bedroom door, grinning at Daddy and begging for a drink.

Of course we complied - who wouldn't?

Trust

So. Recently I made a big decision. At least, I thought I had made the decision. I analyzed the problem, did a LOT of research in the topic, and consulted with trusted and very respected people. I prayed and sought God's will in it. All done. Finished, right?

But then. . .

I talk to some other people in my life. Others that I also trust and respect immensely. And their advice/opinions clashed with my decision. Suddenly I am second-guessing myself. Did I make the right decision? Since it is still in the "could-be-changed" stage, should I change it?I don't know what to do. It wasn't an easy decision to make in the first place.

I think all the hesitation comes from the fact that it has to do with one of my kids. It's a major step, and the momma in me is eager and yet reluctant to make this decision.

So I cried a lot today. yeah. It's been that kind of day. I went back to the Bible in search of His wisdom. I needed to trust in Him. I found "As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all them that put their trust in Him." 2 Samuel 22:31 And in Psalm 37:5, I am reminded to "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass."

Yes, my original decision was right. By putting my trust in God, I know that I can trust myself to make good decisions.

It's still hard. And I am sorry to be so vague on this. I will be able to share more next week.

but for now, just trusting...

Wordless Wednesday

sorry about the lack of posts this past week. I have had a lot on my mind and heart lately. That's why seeing these smiles refreshes my soul and encourages my heart. i am truly blessed.
(see more photo love at 5 Minutes for Mom)

GTKY #4

I actually got up a little earlier than usual this Sunday morning and found myself with a little extra time (gasp!) so i thought I'd blog a little. Only, inspiration failed me, and thus I am participating yet again in mannland5's bloggy hop "Getting to Know You".

So here goes:

The questions..

1. The most expensive thing hanging in my closet is.....?
my wedding dress, although technically it is now hanging in my mother-in-law's closet because her closet is bigger.
2. Have you ever played a team sport?
yes. in college, I played soccer and basketball for the Pi Epsilon Rho Patriots all four years. also, I consider parenting a team sport! (in which I am the all-star of course!)
3. If you were a bug, what kind would you be?
eww. i guess i would be an ant, just plugging along at life and trying not to get stepped on.
4. Where on your body is the worst place to get sunburned? (thanks Ian)
shoulders! It's not like you can avoid wearing a shirt, so they get so irritated! ow!
5. Are you happy?
yes. absolutely and completely. God has filled my life with family and friends and pure joy, no matter what!
6. People are always abbreviating..are there any abbreviations that make your skin crawl when people use them?
yes! too many to list! OMG really really irritates me, and the long ones are the worst. I don't have time to figure out what all those letters mean!
7. Do you love where you live..or could you live anywhere?
yes! I am an Oregon transplant and love it here! I hope we never leave!
8. What, if any, extreme measures do you go to to keep yourself from overeating when you're full?

none unfortunately. I just eat and eat. :)

happy Sunday all! you can join in and link up at MannLand5 too!

Wordless Wednesday - 3 In a Row

tallest to smallest.
observing the sea otters.
one little moment of harmony.

more wordless fun at 5 Minutes for Mom...

Cotton Candy Clouds

I saw them today! It wasn't for very long, but I definitely took the time to stop and admire their white puffy fullness. They looked gorgeous against the brilliant blue sky! And they have been long overdue - for weeks now we have been staring at their dreary gray cousins as the rain has poured down. And poured down.
But finally! Some white cotton candy clouds, some long-awaited sunshine, and even a pink sky or two!

(Cotton Candy Clouds: The Gossips)

(Cotton Candy Clouds: The Birdwatchers)

(Cotton Candy Clouds: The Hitchhiker)

And I am hoping for some of those pretty skies today, as we are planning on an adventure at the Oregon Zoo on $2 Tuesday. :)

Momma

I am so blessed that these little rascals are the beings that made me a mom. Each one brings different challenges and adventures, but most of all, they give me unconditional love and lots of it!

The Spud loves kisses - don't be fooled by his expression in this photo!

Aww, the Drama Queen just told me how much she loves me. And her dog. Which she would love even more if it were a REAL dog, Momma!

(The Beast refused under any circumstance to pose for a picture with his momma. sigh. oh well!)

As usual, I was completely spoiled by my family and friends this Mother's Day weekend. Saturday night, the Nerd took me and some family out to Chevy's (my favorite Mexican restaurant ever!) and surprised me with a gift certificate to Dosha Salon and Spa. :) I can't wait to get pampered there. The kiddies picked out the card all by themselves - a Toy Story card that plays "You Got a Friend in Me", naturally. Of course, they have already hijacked the card and have been playing the song non-stop, much to the utter enjoyment of their mother, who loves hearing the same four lines of a song over and over again! (not)

My in-laws gave me some pretty goodies for my dining room - a tablecloth, candles, and a napkin holder all in my favorite blues and browns...

I was most blessed to be able to be in the house of God on Mother's Day. Walking into church together as a family, the children proudly clutching their Bibles and waving to the preacher, was my best Mother's Day gift! To see my children's Sunday School teachers loving on them was a joy to this momma's heart.

Oh, and The Nerd treating me to Thai food last night and then cleaning the house certainly did not go unnoticed!

I hope all of you had a lovely Mother's Day as well!

Another BIG mess

Last Monday, I was pre-rinsing some stained clothing in my utility sink when I heard yelling from upstairs. I left the water running and ran upstairs to investigate and ultimately, referee. When I came back downstairs, I was shocked to see that my big sink had overflowed, flooding my laundry room and the downstairs (carpeted) hallway. It was a BIG mess, resulting in hours with a shop vac, lots of towels, three heated fans, and the replacement of the carpet pad.

A few days later, my charming little boys had been put into their room for "rest time." I was busy helping my daughter organize and decorate her room while routinely checking on the little monsters (which were in no way "resting."!) One time while sticking my head in to say "please be quiet" and "try to rest, guys!", I was horrified to discover that the boys had been in their diapers and had been spreading the contents on the walls, the carpet, their beds, their clothes, etc. It was a BIG mess, resulting in hours with a carpet cleaner, a LONG bath for the boys, lots of scrubbing, and throwing away a few toys.

The following week, I made the amateur mistake of thinking I could quickly run to the bathroom while the kids were playing in the living room. I came back to the living room to see that the Beast had found a tube of my yellow paint and had squirted it everywhere - the couch, the recliner, the carpet, his clothes, etc. It was a BIG mess, resulting in hours with a carpet cleaner, lots of scrubbing the leather couches, and painstakingly cleaning some electronic equipment.

The following day, I had the privilege to be kid-free! as I attended our annual Ladies' Conference. I gleaned so much from the conference that I am still sorting through it in my head and heart as I strive to make changes in my life for Him. One particular session, called "Blush", reminded me of yet another BIG mess in my life. Only this time, I hadn't taken care of this mess right away. Imagine if I had left those carpets to soak? Or if I had waited to clean the boys' artwork in their room? And yet, I had been ignoring my OWN mess in my life - that of television:

I knew that I watched an unhealthy amount of television each day, and what's worse was the fact that I was becoming desensitized to filthy language, inappropriate behavior, etc. That day I made a commitment to take a break from TV for one full week (my kids too!) and spend the week evaluating EVERY show I typically watch.

I am realizing more and more this week that almost ALL of the shows I watch are not appropriate. I am especially convicted by the number of reality tv shows that I watch. Here I am, being entertained by someone else's "real" life, when I could be helping or edifying someone in REAL life.

It's definitely going to be a journey, and not an easy one at that. But God's help and this scripture: "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes" (Psalm 101:3) will carry me through. It's time to clean up this BIG mess!

Wordless Wednesday - Crazy in Any Color

a crazy kid no matter how you look at it!

more wordless fun at 5 Minutes for Mom...

Dressing Up My Nest

For weeks now, our dining room has been a combination of bare white walls and a small table and chairs. It has been in dire need of dressing up! So last week I put up the gorgeous wood cabinet that The Nerd's grandpa built many years ago:

I am going with a color scheme of robin's egg blue and brown; my modern paisley frame seemed

perfect for the top of the cabinet:

I found some pretty distressed ceramic birds at Craft Warehouse to perch on the shelves. The postcards are from a fun tongue-in-cheek shop called DippyLulu's. I needed some gentle reminders for my kids that whining is not allowed! :)

Some vintage-look items from my kitchen fit perfectly behind the mesh door of the cabinet:

And a real bird's nest (abandoned) is nestled on the bottom shelf, filled with darling felted eggs.

On another wall, I set up Message Central, with a sparkly memo board, our white board/cork board combo, and our calendar. I have a tutorial for making the calendar board at my craft blog, The Scrappy Frog.

Just trying to make my nest a little prettier...