june kid quotes

Mya: When I'm 100, I can carry ALL of you!

Mya: When I'm big like you, I'm going to be a mommy and I'm going to have kids like us! (good luck with that!)

Winter: I really miss Uncle Michael and Daddy.
Mya: I love everybody... Except witches. They are mean.

Mya: I want to have my birthday at Chuck E Cheese again so Winter can ride all her favorite rides. (too sweet)

Mya: (looking at the fruit of the loom label on her shirt) Did you get this at the same store where Daddy buys his juice stuff? (Sprouts)

Me: What should we get Levi for his birthday?
Winter: We can get him necklaces for his mama!

Mya: I hear my heart beeping!

Mya: Mommy, can I have some tape?
Winter: No Mya, you just need to lick the paper.

Winter: (Seeing a man in army fatigues at Target) Why does that man got on his jammies?


Things I've said lately...

What are you putting all over your legs? Is that lemonade?

Stop licking the puzzle.

Get your feet out of the toilet!

friend

Mya: Look Mommy, I made this card for my friend Sara! It has a lot of hearts because I love her.

L + M

This is Liam. He and Mya play together every Wednesday night when we meet for HUB. (bible study)

This may just be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

(you may not be able to view this video on your phone)

train up a child

I had an epiphany today. I was thinking about how I saw a mom in Target correcting her child in a way that I never would. At the time I thought, "You're doing it wroooong..." What a self-righteous thought!

Lately I have been at a loss when it comes to disciplining Winter. I keep trying to figure out the right way to correct her; the right way to punish her. Since I see no progress, I keep racking my brain, trying to figure out why. Do I need to be nicer? Do I need to be meaner? Do I need to spank her more? Should I be more encouraging? More positive? Does she need more hugs? A bedtime story perhaps? What am I doing wrong?

The answer is simple. Nothing. I'm doing nothing wrong. I've decided that as long as I am correcting her in a way that I think is right, I'm doing the right thing. It doesn't matter how I'm doing it as long as I am doing it.

Everyone has their own way of correcting their children. There isn't one right way to do it. There isn't a secret formula that results in well behaved kids. I'm sure there are books out there that have lots of great tips to help your kids listen but that tends to make me think that my kid is a problem that needs to be solved.

I would love for her to just get it and be good. But that's not going to happen any time soon. I think I spend so much time being embarrassed that my child is so defiant; cringing at the thought that other moms must think I'm such a bad mom and wonder themselves what I'm doing wrong. 

And I'm just stressing myself out trying to figure out how to "fix" her so that she doesn't embarrass me anymore. She doesn't need to be fixed. She's perfect the way God created her. And He created me to be her mom. My job is to mold her a bit as she grows in Christ. 

I think a good analogy would be if I were to place a jagged rock with lots of sharp corners into a steady stream. It would probably look the same the next day and maybe even the next month, but with time, that rock is going to change and eventually become smooth.

Thinking back, I don't remember specific words my mom said to teach me to be nice to my brother, obey her and put others first. In fact, I learned a lot by following her example. These are ideas, concepts, a way of thinking. I can't expect someone as hardheaded as Winter to grasp these things right away, especially when every fiber in her being wants to do the opposite. But as long as I keep reminding her, I have faith that she will grow up to be a considerate young lady someday. All I can do in the meantime is pray every day for wisdom and patience. God totally provides when I ask him.

stoned

Being a mom of 3 small children including an infant is like being on drugs...permanently. Ya know how people who smoke pot all the time are kind of out of it and constantly forgetting things? That's what I feel like most days... stoned. One of my friends told me last night that she admired how I was so easygoing with the kids and didn't look stressed out even though Dan was working and I had all 3 girls at our bible study group's end of the year barbecue. And the baby fussed the whole night. I politely thanked her and thought to myself, I just don't have the energy to be stressed out and frankly, I'm half asleep! Mya took advantage of the situation and inhaled about 20 handfuls of Doritos.

Yesterday I completely forgot about a swim/play date I set up less than 24 hours prior. Yes, Stacy, I forgot! (We had a blast with you guys by the way!) I checked my texts and sure enough I had agreed to 10:00 at the pool. I guess I need a reminder at night then maybe another one in the morning?

So we're at the pool and my dear sweet sweet Winter is at the peak of her terrible threes... I'm hoping. She usually spends more time out of the pool on time-out than she does in the pool. Sadly, I'm not exaggerating. Lately her prey has been defenseless 2-year-olds.

Cutie pie Bryn (defenseless 2-year-old) was hanging out in the water, minding her own business in the middle of the deep end (with her floatie on of course) when Winter quickly started swimming toward her with a crazy look in her eyes, kind of like a shark. Brittany (Bryn's mom) also saw it and both of us panicked for a second. Brittany, yelled, "Come here sweetie! Swim toward Mommy!" in the nice sing song voice she uses. I could tell she really wanted to yell, "Swim away!" (like the krill in Finding Nemo) 

There was probably a better way to handle the situation like, "Winter, remember, hands to yourself in the pool!" but because I'm permanently stoned, all I could get out was, "Winter, no no no!" She didn't even do anything but I could see the attack unfolding. The day before that, she tried to push Bryn in the pool because she didn't want Bryn bugging her friends... I don't even know what to say about that.

preschool monkey

This is my favorite preschool craft so far. It's a monkey made out of construction paper, a bag of paper for the body (so it sits on a ledge) and crumpled up brown paper for the hands and legs. Brilliant. Winter keeps taking it down so she can open up the "present inside." I keep telling her there is no present. It's just paper. She made it so it's funny that she thinks there's something cool inside. It's so cute. I think it may be a permanent addition to our family room decor.

at home

In a kid's world, a white surface of any kind mustn't be left white. Waaaay too boring. I think he looks better this way!

This was a team effort. Winter said, kind of to herself..."Why did we color the tiger? We were just trying to make him beautiful."

A baby in the house means unlimited clothes for doll dress-up! Conveniently, I keep having girls so that works out for everyone :)

Why did we go and by a new carseat? Winter still fits in this one! Like a glove.