Yesterday my "alarms" did not get up early like they normally do, so we were not up in time to go to church. Bryce and Isaac were having this conversation just now:
Bryce: "I found out what the treats were. Matthew told me."
Isaac: "What was it?"
B: "Your choice of chocolate candy."
Me: "Is that why you were so upset about missing church?"
B: "NO!" (like I was crazy even suggesting) "I wanted to hear God's word!"
I: "I wasn't upset. I didn't want to go. I wanted to go get Christmas presents!" (which was not even decided until AFTER we had missed church)
B: "Well that IS important too!!"
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Father/Daughter Love
This morning as I was putting Mady in my bed and as I was getting up I kissed her cheek and said "I love you more." She kissed me back and replied "I love Daddy more!"
Honestly, it does not bother me to hear her say that. I want her to love her Daddy "more." I want her to find a man (in a REALLY REALLY long time) that treats her the way her father treats me and her. I want her to look up to him to see what she should expect from a man and I want her to settle for nothing less.
So, I had to chuckle when I was scrolling through my face.book page I came across this article that a friend had posted a link to.
50 Rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell
1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.
4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.
16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.
19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.
20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.
21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.
32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.
45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.
He has a blog with more tips at www.lifetoheryears.com. This is an awesome blog!
I love you Babe and appreciate you being such an awesome Daddy to all of our kids. But, I especially appreciate you teaching our daughter that she is beautiful and worthy of a man that can treat her with the love and respect and playfulness that you show her and I both on a daily basis.
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. - Joseph Addison
Honestly, it does not bother me to hear her say that. I want her to love her Daddy "more." I want her to find a man (in a REALLY REALLY long time) that treats her the way her father treats me and her. I want her to look up to him to see what she should expect from a man and I want her to settle for nothing less.
So, I had to chuckle when I was scrolling through my face.book page I came across this article that a friend had posted a link to.
50 Rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell
1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.
3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.
4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.
7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.
8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.
14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.
15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.
16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.
19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.
20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.
21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.
27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.
28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.
29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.
32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.
35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.
36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.
43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.
45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.
50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.
He has a blog with more tips at www.lifetoheryears.com. This is an awesome blog!
I love you Babe and appreciate you being such an awesome Daddy to all of our kids. But, I especially appreciate you teaching our daughter that she is beautiful and worthy of a man that can treat her with the love and respect and playfulness that you show her and I both on a daily basis.
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express. - Joseph Addison
Monday, October 17, 2011
Bike Accident
Caleb was in a bike accident Saturday (yes, again!) This time did not include any fire hydrants or foreheads!
It did, however, include a six hour trip to the emergency room!
What happened still is not completely clear. The three older kids were out riding bikes with a kid down the street. From what I have gathered, Caleb was racing the other kid (so he was going as fast as he could) and his chain broke. What we were first told was that the chain came off and IT hit him. What I was later told was that the chain popped off, the bike fell and it drug him about 10 feet. He was in shock when he came in and was barely able to talk.
He had a busted lip, two VERY skinned up knees, his left hands pointer and middle fingers had skin hanging and lots of blood and he had a hole in his arm - to where we thought we were seeing tendon, along with some minor scrapes.
it these pics are not enough, you can double click the pics and see them bigger.
It was a very busy night at the ER and while we were taken straight back we still waited a couple of hours before we even saw a nurse. Then it was a couple of more hours before we saw anyone again.
The nurse said she was also pretty sure that we were looking at his tendon on his arm. She said he would probably need stitches on his arm and at least one finger. She put a wet dressing on his arm and made him stick his two fingers in a cup of water/peroxide/betadine. He sat that way for over an hour and a half! They also did an xray of his right arm to make sure he did not break anything.
When the dr came in he said that nothing was broken. There was not enough tissue to put stitches in his arm (and we were not seeing tendon - it was the fatty layer right above the tendon). He would have to pull tissue to try and stitch and he said it would be very traumatic and painful. It will take longer to heal without the stitches, but it will heal just as well as if he had them. His fingers also did not have to be stitched. They, too, are wrapped. His right arm (the arm with the hole in it) is in a sling.
A different person came in and spent about an hour cleaning all of his wounds and wrapping/bandaging him up. His arm is in a sling and he goes to see his pediatrician on Wednesday to make sure everything is healing correctly. He can't do PE (they were starting weight lifting this week), band, swim (his final competition is Saturday). He is left handed, so he is having a hard time doing much with his fingers bandaged up. I don't want to see his writing this week!
Of course, Paul left today to go out of town for the week. I don't do blood very well, so I really was not sure if I was going to be able to dress his wounds. But, it is amazing what a Mom can overcome for their children. I had the icky shakes several times while taking care of them last night, but I got them all cared for.
this picture was taken today
It did, however, include a six hour trip to the emergency room!
What happened still is not completely clear. The three older kids were out riding bikes with a kid down the street. From what I have gathered, Caleb was racing the other kid (so he was going as fast as he could) and his chain broke. What we were first told was that the chain came off and IT hit him. What I was later told was that the chain popped off, the bike fell and it drug him about 10 feet. He was in shock when he came in and was barely able to talk.
He had a busted lip, two VERY skinned up knees, his left hands pointer and middle fingers had skin hanging and lots of blood and he had a hole in his arm - to where we thought we were seeing tendon, along with some minor scrapes.
It was a very busy night at the ER and while we were taken straight back we still waited a couple of hours before we even saw a nurse. Then it was a couple of more hours before we saw anyone again.
The nurse said she was also pretty sure that we were looking at his tendon on his arm. She said he would probably need stitches on his arm and at least one finger. She put a wet dressing on his arm and made him stick his two fingers in a cup of water/peroxide/betadine. He sat that way for over an hour and a half! They also did an xray of his right arm to make sure he did not break anything.
When the dr came in he said that nothing was broken. There was not enough tissue to put stitches in his arm (and we were not seeing tendon - it was the fatty layer right above the tendon). He would have to pull tissue to try and stitch and he said it would be very traumatic and painful. It will take longer to heal without the stitches, but it will heal just as well as if he had them. His fingers also did not have to be stitched. They, too, are wrapped. His right arm (the arm with the hole in it) is in a sling.
A different person came in and spent about an hour cleaning all of his wounds and wrapping/bandaging him up. His arm is in a sling and he goes to see his pediatrician on Wednesday to make sure everything is healing correctly. He can't do PE (they were starting weight lifting this week), band, swim (his final competition is Saturday). He is left handed, so he is having a hard time doing much with his fingers bandaged up. I don't want to see his writing this week!
Of course, Paul left today to go out of town for the week. I don't do blood very well, so I really was not sure if I was going to be able to dress his wounds. But, it is amazing what a Mom can overcome for their children. I had the icky shakes several times while taking care of them last night, but I got them all cared for.
Monday, October 10, 2011
New "Dishwasher"
I got a new dish washer last night. Here it is:
He will remain the dish washer until he no longer considers this clean:
The smirk on his face when I pulled the pot out of the cabinet and asked him about it did NOT help his case any!
He will remain the dish washer until he no longer considers this clean:
The smirk on his face when I pulled the pot out of the cabinet and asked him about it did NOT help his case any!
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Socks
I walked by these socks a couple of times yesterday, but eventually I really SAW the socks.
My first response was to see where Andrew was. I needed to make sure he did not turn invisible. Maybe he has some super power I didn't know about.
He was playing in his room. Very much visible (and audible).
HOW????
I asked Andrew how he got out of his socks with them looking like he was still in them.
"I peeled out of them!"
I have no doubt that that is EXACTLY what happened! The way he and Mads were running circles in the living room all day yesterday it seems like a very likely and acceptable explanation.
I Needed Some More Excitement in My Life?
Now I have done it!
You thought being sick with five kids was bad. I might have topped it. Now I am on crutches with five kids!
Saturday, after spending the morning running some errands, we decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL weather we have been blessed with and took the kids to the park. The park we went to has some parking along a road on the top of a hill that goes down to a lake. I got out, got Mads out and we were headed around the car to the road. The ground rolled out from under me. Literally! The ground was covered in acorns, on a hill, and I rolled DOWN landing on my derriere.
The good news is, Mads is perfectly fine!
I, on the other hand, had my leg twist behind me and then had 30 pounds of "fine" land on my twisted knee! There was pain shooting from my knee to my hip. We got me up and I tried to walk off the pain, which didn't happen. So, that was the end of the celebration of the beautiful weather. It was time to go home!
I spent the rest of the day with my leg elevated and ice on it (RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation). The pain in my hip seemed to improve, the knee not so much. We looked online and it sounds like a sprain, but of course there is the possibility of a tear. I did not go to the dr, because I did not want to pay to hear RICE. It did not swell very much and there was no visible bruising.
I have been on crutches since Paul went and found some Saturday evening. That was fine this weekend, when my wonderful husband was home to take care of the kids, care for my every need, cook, clean, shop, etc. Monday, however, reality set in. I was home alone with two preschoolers and on crutches. By Monday, I could put a little weight on my leg so I used the crutches when possible, but slowly hobbled around when not possible. When Paul came home I was sent to the couch. Same story yesterday.
Today the swelling has gone down, I can "walk", if you want to call it that, although it still hurts. I was told by a nurse if there was not improvement within the week to go to the dr. I was also told I needed to stay off of it completely. I asked if she remembered I have five kids, two of which I am with ALL. THE. TIME. and they never stop.
I have to go run a couple of errands this morning. I am going in to this chanting "I think I can, I think I can!" and hoping for a cooperative four year old and two year old.
STOP LAUGHING! It IS possible that they will cooperate - not likely, but possible :)
You thought being sick with five kids was bad. I might have topped it. Now I am on crutches with five kids!
Saturday, after spending the morning running some errands, we decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL weather we have been blessed with and took the kids to the park. The park we went to has some parking along a road on the top of a hill that goes down to a lake. I got out, got Mads out and we were headed around the car to the road. The ground rolled out from under me. Literally! The ground was covered in acorns, on a hill, and I rolled DOWN landing on my derriere.
The good news is, Mads is perfectly fine!
I, on the other hand, had my leg twist behind me and then had 30 pounds of "fine" land on my twisted knee! There was pain shooting from my knee to my hip. We got me up and I tried to walk off the pain, which didn't happen. So, that was the end of the celebration of the beautiful weather. It was time to go home!
I spent the rest of the day with my leg elevated and ice on it (RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation). The pain in my hip seemed to improve, the knee not so much. We looked online and it sounds like a sprain, but of course there is the possibility of a tear. I did not go to the dr, because I did not want to pay to hear RICE. It did not swell very much and there was no visible bruising.
I have been on crutches since Paul went and found some Saturday evening. That was fine this weekend, when my wonderful husband was home to take care of the kids, care for my every need, cook, clean, shop, etc. Monday, however, reality set in. I was home alone with two preschoolers and on crutches. By Monday, I could put a little weight on my leg so I used the crutches when possible, but slowly hobbled around when not possible. When Paul came home I was sent to the couch. Same story yesterday.
Today the swelling has gone down, I can "walk", if you want to call it that, although it still hurts. I was told by a nurse if there was not improvement within the week to go to the dr. I was also told I needed to stay off of it completely. I asked if she remembered I have five kids, two of which I am with ALL. THE. TIME. and they never stop.
I have to go run a couple of errands this morning. I am going in to this chanting "I think I can, I think I can!" and hoping for a cooperative four year old and two year old.
STOP LAUGHING! It IS possible that they will cooperate - not likely, but possible :)
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