Spring is Here!

Well we have all seen the "Bee Movie" and know all about the pollen and how the bees LOVE IT! Everything is starting to bloom here in Georgia and that means lots of pollen which means lots of bees. We were in the house the other day and Jacob opened the front door because Chris pulled in the driveway. The next thing I know Jacob RAN SCREAMING into his room holding his arm!!! I said "WHAT?!!?" he said he got stung and Chris saw what it was a killed it. A WASP! I think it was stuck between our glass door and wooden door and he must have been mad because he attacked the first thing he saw.

I immediately ran cold water on it but it didn't seem to help. I have never in my 29 years been stung by anything so I have no idea how bad it really is. I came to the computer and typed in yahoo "home remedies for bee stings" the first website that came up had a whole list of things and I picked one that I had the ingredients for, baking soda and water paste. We put some on his arm and he said it helped it stop burning. I felt so helpless. He was crying and I couldn't figure out what to do to make it stop. Later I read that toothpaste is one of the best things for a bee sting. The glycerine takes away the burning.

Today we needed to go get groceries but I have been telling the boys about the pollen and how it makes us sick because we all have allergies. And the news said the pollen count was 5700 yesterday and our cars are now solid yellow. We rushed to the van and all the way to the store we pointed out all the yellow cars going down the road. As we pulled in the parking lot at 8:30am there were only 4 cars so we could clearly see it was covered in yellow pollen with a few tire tracks. They saw it too and were kinda hestitant to get out of the van. We covered our noses and ran in fast. I don't want them to be afraid of outdoors but it's pretty bad right now. Our allergies can't handle 5700 spores of pollen. Jonah is coughing right now as I am typing. We use nasonex daily at our house. I love the flowers and the beautiful wisteria that is blooming everywhere, but we do NOT like the pollen. Thank God for that rain we had today to wash our cars and clear the air.

note: I just realized as I typed this story that if Jacob wouldn't have opened the door then Chris would have probably been that wasps victim because he just got home and was on his way inside. He should thank Jacob. :-D

Proverbs 31 ~ "Virtuous Woman"

Well if you want to find an AWESOME mother's day gift or a new summer purse for yourself go to www.mythirtyone.com/toniab31/ I am hosting a catalog/online party. It is a christian based company started by a mother who wanted to work at home so she could be with her children.

She named it after Proverbs 31:10-31

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool and flax and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night and giveth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strenghth and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously but though excellest them all. Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates"

So when you click on "Place an order" find my name listed in the parties and click on "shop now" They are really nice purses and bags. Thanks!!! :-D

I am so thankful for..

Jesus dying on the cross for my sins.
God sending me my husband right on time.
Our 3 boys He's given us.
Our house to live in and food to eat.
My husbands great job that enables me to stay home with our boys.
Christian friends and family.

Now does anyone have any good ideas on how to instill thankfulness into children. I don't like wasting food so we had leftovers for dinner and Jacob says to me "I just had that yesterday, I don't like this at all"

So of course without thinking first I said to Chris "Daddy I think we need to drop Jacob off in Africa for a couple of weeks and see how he likes it over there, only eating one meal per WEEK"

Then Jacob said to me "NO NO NO....almost in tears so I said "Well be thankful you have food on your plate and stop complaining"

How do I teach him to be grateful? Take him to see people in a homeless shelter? Show him pictures of poor countries online? He's 7 years old and picking up a little attitude from some kids at school.

Oh by the way he cleared his plate tonight. :-D    so maybe my way worked!

Happy 2nd Birthday Jonah

My baby turned 2 years old today. We went to church first and celebrated our RISEN SAVIOR. Then we went to my mom's house to eat lunch and have some cake and icecream.

He loved it when we all sang Happy Birthday to him....

Jacob made a card for him....

They all helped him blow out his candle

He wasn't sure if he liked the swing or not.

But he knew right away he loved the puppy

They also have horses and Jaron wasn't scared but Jonah was a little nervous...

And Jacob fed the horses too. It's always fun at Granna & Pappa's house....

Jonah got pullups for his birthday and it's time to start potty training....we'll see if he can do it faster than his brothers....we bought some potty candy (M&M's) to motivate him~that is if I can keep my hands off of them. :-D

Kids say the funniest things....

I was getting the boys out of the bath the other day and Jaron put both his hands of my face as I was drying him off and said "I love your face". Again tonight in the van I leaned my seat back to reach the boys and Jaron said "I love your beautiful face". If he only knew how much I love his face.

Jacob said to me the other day out of no where...we weren't even talking about babies...he said "You don't need to have any more babies mommy it's too much work". He is so sympathetic to me and he can sense when I'm tired or have a headache. He sometimes gets snacks and a drink for Jonah and give him toys if he sees me laying on the couch not feeling good. He just knows me and wants to make things easier. I love my sensitive, gentle son.

Jonah will be 2 years old tomorrow. I cannot believe it! Time is going too fast...I nursed him for 11 months and now he is so big I can barely hold him anymore. 30lbs. of pure love. Every time we leave our house and he sees the cows at the end of our road he says "moo tow" and no matter how many times you ask him "Do you love me?" He always answers with "Uh Huh I do". His vocabulary is expanding finally. He sings the ABC's and counts to 10. He sings twinkle twinkle and most of the gospel music we play in the car. I told him tonight that tomorrow is his birthday and he said "two years old". I love my chunky little man.

Confessions of a busy mom

I'll have to admit I have fed my boys cereal for dinner.....
I have kicked toys under the coffee table if I didn't want to bend over and pick them up...
I also let them watch too much tv.
I don't cook enough meals and we never eat at the table together.
My bathroom needs to be cleaned RIGHT NOW but I'm blogging instead
I do sometimes eat chocolate at night when they are all asleep and it feels like I'm sneaking :-D
I have made the older boys give their toy to the baby just to make him stop crying instead of being fair.
I frequently clean the livingroom by kicking everything into their room in a corner.
I have put toys in a garbage bag and threatened to take them to the dump
I usually eat any chocolate they are given from church or school....(I tell them it's for adults)
I have thrown away small toys without their knowledge (choking hazards) and when they ask about them I say "I don't know where that is"
And last but not least.....I stay up way too late and I'm sleepy all day because of it.
SO I'm going to bed RIGHT NOW!!!

Fish Sticks, Homework & Kindergarten

Well I took Jaron to school today to register for kindergarten. We had to wait until 4pm so we talked about it all day and watched the clock a LOT! He was so excited! (not me~very nervous he might not eat and lose weight) But we got a folder with some papers and we got home and he showed everyone his "homework". I think he would have slept with this folder if I let him.

And Jonah is going to be 2 on Sunday so I let him wear these underwear for a little bit today and he loved it!

Then it was time to eat and yes we had fishsticks (I don't cook a full meal very often)....HE LOVES THEM!

Meanwhile Jacob was still at the counter pouting because "Homework is boring" He sat there an hour I think and it usually only takes him 30 minutes. Some days he comes right off the bus and does it before even taking his clothes off. I guess he just wasn't in the mood today. So I wanted to capture his face and he decided to be silly....

It's really never a dull moment around here....

Random cell pics

Note: One thing I forgot to post yesterday ~ I think it's very ironic all the time I spend washing my dishes before I put them in the dishwasher.... :-/ Oh and remind me to never start the dishwasher at midnight again....I could not go to sleep for all the unusual noises..... :-(

Occassionally Jacob will get my cell phone and start taking pictures of things so I decided the other night to check my phone and see what was on it. I had 174 pictures most of which were objects and not people. He takes pictures of toys, tv, carpet, his hand, ceiling fans...and more. SO after deleting most of them I found a bunch I had taken over the last 3-4 months that were cute and I wanted to share....

Jonah loves Nanny

Jacob crossing his eyes being silly

Jaron's cool sunglasses

Jonah making himself at home at the library

Jonah had to try on the sunglasses... :-D Yes he's in his pj's we just went to the bank....we were all in our pjs actually....we did not get out of the car..just had to rush before they closed....we got another one of our mailbox blessings...that's a whole other post for tomorrow maybe.

Weird...

I was in my van today driving down the road and noticed a "christian gifts" store located about 50 feet from a liquor store....kinda ironic

I often tell the boys "get off the coffee table!" and then I find myself sitting on the coffee table to tie their shoes or something....not ironic...that's kinda misleading...I mean ~ mommy's on the coffee table so why can't they jump off of it or stand on it and dance? Poor table is falling apart....should we get a new one and hope they don't break it or wait until they are moved out to by new furniture? :-D

I got some stuff done today making appointments and researching some things online...Feels good to take care of business. I suprisingly don't have a headache and seem to be getting them less these days. THANK GOD!

While putting Jaron to bed tonight I was laying on his bed talking to him and the whole time we talked his hand was rubbing my cheek and I said "why are you rubbing my cheek?" he said "Because I love your face!" If my boys only knew how much I love them....I check on them 2-3 times before I go to bed...I hear their every cough during the night and sometimes they talk in their sleep. I am always partially awake for their every need. Motherhood changes they way we think, eat, sleep and even the way we talk. But it's all for the better.

I wrote a poem about being a mother:

What's the rush?

Why do I always rush? Why do I feel like I need to rush? I rush my kids and there's really no reason. It's all about being in bed by 8pm. But whose watching? I mean I don't have anyone to answer to if they get in bed at 8:05. WHO CARES?!?! My husband and I set the rules and we can change them if we want to. I feel like I am so strict with our schedule that I can't even give myself some slack. Seriously....what's the rush? We have no where to be most of the time but I am always rushing. That's just another one of my bad habits I want to change. I mean I know that children need structure and routine is a great thing. I love our schedule and they do too. But I think I'm too hard on myself.

I guess it's because they don't get outside much right now, but they have so much energy and sometimes play in bed for an hour before falling alseep. I can't wait until summer time when they can play outside all day and get wore out so they will sleep better. They love going to the park and we pack our lunches and eat there at the picnic tables. Jonah is bigger now too so he can go down the slides and things. Last summer he was too scared.

Anyway we had a good day at church and even squeezed in our afternoon nap. :-D Trying to go to bed earlier. So I gotta go clean the kitchen and brush my teeth.....goodnight.

Did you know?

Here's a few fun facts for you....
My birthday is 10/12/80
Chris's is 2/14/78
Our anniversary is 12/26/98
Mine 12th+His 14th= anniv. 26th :-D

Jacob was born on 9/12/02 one day early (my mom's birthday)

He weighed 8lbs. born at 3:17pm

Jaron was born on 6/29/05 one day late

He weighed 8lbs. born at 3:14pm

Jonah was born on 4/4/08 one week early (induced)

He weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz!!! Born at 6:40pm

Yes I saved that outfit and they all wore the same one for their pictures. Jacob and Jaron weighed the same but Jonah was the only one with the double chin! :-D (and he still has it) I love my boys and all the pain I went through to have them was worth it. God has been so good to us.

The Beach...

...or "kinda like"~ that's what Jaron said when he took his blanket and sunglasses into our room where Chris was and spread it out and laid down. "Look daddy's it's kinda like the beach".

I am too tired tonight to write anything funny or emotional...just going to bed and praying for a pretty day tomorrow....might take the kids to the park for a picnic.

Faith & Family

Well for those who don't know I babysit children in my home for some extra income. I love staying at home with my boys and being able to make a little money too. I am here when Jacob gets off the bus and can also keep my house clean. I knew when I was 12 years old I wanted to get married and have kids and stay at home with them. I really want to homeschool but it's just not an option right now. Jaron will be registered for kindergarten next week. OMGOSH!!! I can't believe it! Where has the time gone? I also cannot believe I am going to be 30 this year! WHAT? Did I just say that? It's crazy how our body ages but our minds feel so young.

I am so thankful I found Chris when I did and we got married when I was 18. God has blessed him with a great job and he just got a raise by the way! :-D We have wonderful insurance too. Some days I feel like getting a public job would be good for me. You know socializing with other adults. But then I think about how much more important it is for me to be here for my children. I cannot imagine how so many moms work and have kids at home to raise. Staying home and keeping the house clean is full time 24/7 job. I am always on call. I am not complaining though. I love my boys and do not regret having them. God is amazing and He's taken care of all our needs. I love that saying "Where God guides He provides". Our boys were not accidents...they were all planned and wanted. We are content with our lives and our home.

"Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Phillipians 4:11

Family Games

I guess it was last summer we started playing games with the boys almost every night at bedtime. Jonah goes to bed about 7:30 and the boys take turns picking which game they want to play. Well we started out with just this one "Sorry Sliders" But then for christmas we told everyone that's what they wanted was some kids games. So now we have them all. Connect Four, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Wheel of Fortune Jr., Yahtzee Jr. Checkers, Snakes and Ladders, Uno Attack, Gone Fishing, Scrabble Jr. and some more I can't remember them all. This is our time to turn the tv OFF and spend some quality time with our boys. They love it and look forward to this time. I can't wait until Jonah gets old enough to join in the fun.

Jaron told me again today in the car that he wants to marry me. I love that child. We were going to their dentist appointment they both got their teeth cleaned today. Jacob's bottom front teeth are too crowded and will need braces. Jaron has 2 cavities but they told me that the Pediasure we give him is HORRIBLE for their teeth. She said it's one of the worst things. But he has to have it. He just does not eat enough. He's going to be 5 in June and he is only 34 lbs. I am seriously running out of ideas and feeling a little desperate for help for him. I can't wait to go to Boston and talk to them about him pocketing food still. I've been researching tongue thrusting and the dentist told me today he does it. That means he is pushing his tongue forward when he swallows because his top jaw is smaller. Normally when a person swallows you should put your tongue on your palate. She also told me his palate was very shallow. Please pray we find an answer for his eating problems and one day he will learn to love food.

Laughing Too Much

When Jacob got home from school today he started tickling Jonah and we all love to hear him laugh. But then he stopped and said to me "Ok, I'm gonna stop now because I don't want to break his laughing box." I said "what?" and he said "If you laugh too much it will break your laughing box" I just smiled and said ok. He's got a big imagination. :-D

Little Einsteins.....

Jonah loves to sing the ABC's and Jaron wanted to help him...My boys are all so smart. I have heard that some kids go to kindergarten not even knowing their ABC's or how to write their name. It's so sad to me that a mother would not take the time to teach their child something that simple. I often feel like there are so many things I could do better but then I watch a couple episodes of supernanny and kinda feel like a good mother compared to some of them. :-D

This picture was take yesterday before walking out the door for church. Jonah loves to wear ties and asks for one every sunday. Jaron does too but his shirt was missing the top button so he said to me "We'll just skip it" :-D and Jacob used to wear ties as a baby and toddler but now I have to MAKE him and sometimes I am just not in the mood to argue so I give in and let him go without....they are just so darn handsome....

Sunday souls....

We had a great church service today. One soul got saved, one got baptized and one got called to preach.What a blessing...God has been so good to our family. I have to say I am excited to see what God is going to do in our lives and in our church. Our oldest son Jacob started asking about Heaven and saying he didn't want to go to the fire. He would bust out crying sometimes in the car talking about it. Then one day he said he got saved. We weren't sure if he was just saying that or if he understood what he was saying. So we didn't talk about it anymore and he stopped asking questions. Then recently others got saved at our church and we asked Jacob "when did you get saved?" and he said "I told you in May" so we told him he needed to get baptized next. So he was nervous and we had to practice a few times in the bath. But he did get baptized March 7th 2010. Now Jaron wants to do it. In God's time.....

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 19:14

Back in Time

Well I have good news...I am feeling better. Still not 100% but atleast I can talk now. Just got home from a 50's birthday party...

I got the boys bathed and was kissing them goodnight when

Jaron said to me "Mommy I'm gonna be a daddy"

I said "you have to get married first"

he said "I'm gonna marry you"

Doesn't that just melt your heart....did mine....

I love my boys....

We didn't get one of Jaron....maybe someone else did and I can post it later....

My little artists...

The boys wanted to paint the other day...

They love to paint and make me wonderful art to hang on the fridge....but then they started acting silly and Jaron did this...

Uh OH!!! No worries...one of the many things I have learned not to freak out about....it's just water colors....they are so easy to clean up. :-D

Then Jacob came home from school limping saying he hurt his leg....very close to his private so I took him to the doctor to make sure he didn't have a hernia...everything is fine...just a pulled muscle...so he got the bright idea to use their guitar as a cane! LOL

And this is just another one of those things I have learned to not let bother me. The mess in their room....is it really important? No who cares. As long as they are all fed and happy and clean. :-D