Hindsight is 20/20

Today I took Parker with me for my eye doctor's appointment. He was really curious about it and last night before falling asleep in a worried voice he asked, "Mom, will the doctor give you shots in your eyes?" I then realized he had no clue what went on at the eye doctor's and it would be in his best interest to join me and squelch any fears or misconceptions he might be forming in that little head of his.

So we're at the eye doctor and she asks me to close my left eye and read off the eye chart (Ya' know the one with the big E on the top and then random small letters underneath) Just as I am about to list the letters I can see, Parker pipes up, "buhguhduhjuhpuh... huh, that doesn't spell anything you guys."

Literal. 4 year olds take everything literally including the directions to "read the letters on the eye chart".

A child's eye view

One of the most rewarding things as a mom is observing my kids play on a daily basis. They are joyous, sweet, candid, spontaneous and oh so creative. I feel sooo undeservingly blessed to have such an important role in their lives and to be allowed to join them in their "recreational endeavors". Trev and I often joke about how their life is just one big playdate and no matter what it is, eating, brushing teeth, reading a book, even emptying the dishwasher, they turn it into a game and make it fun. There are times when I wish they would just be serious or get the task at hand done efficiently. For instance last night our bedtime routine was running a tad behind schedule and the kids were overtired. After they got out of the tub, they started running around the house singing and dancing their little naked tushies off. When I told them kind of sternly to stop and come see me, I was gently reminded by Parker when he said "Why Mom? It's fun to do that".

Hmmm... yeah mom, why can't they do that? Is there any good reason that just b/c your worn out that they can't do something that fun and uninhibited? Maybe I am jealous b/c I can't (well, i could but don't) run around naked after a 55 minute bath. Or maybe I wish I had their cute little knobby knees. Whatever the reason, they do have their whole life afterall to be responsible and competent. Now is their time to be blissful, carefree (and naked!)...

INNOCENT & HAPPY~

DARING~

FAMOUS~

We're movin' on

So, BIG news around here... We're moving There's a part of me that wants to put lots of exclamation points at the end of that statement b/c I am excited about this news but then there is another part of me who wants to just put a period and maybe a sad face b/c there is a part of me that is sad to leave the life we have established here in the middle of Nowhere, KY. The first year we lived here and I was home alone with a newborn and Trev was off working very long hours in the city and I had like 1 friend and 1 person I could kind of call an acquaintance, I PRAYED to move. I would ask God everyday if we did the right thing by quitting our teaching jobs and letting Trev pursue a whole other career in investing so I could be home all day with a crying baby! I thought for sure that we must have misunderstood Him and took the "wrong path". But as the months went by, I began to rely more on God and less on myself and as the years went by I embraced living in the country and actually enjoyed the peace and quiet (and the fact I could climb into the kiddie pool on a scorching hot day without having to worry about anyone seeing me). As I look back, I see that God had his hand in all of this after all. He was teaching me. Teaching me to appreciate my kids to the fullest, not to run from problems and circumstances (there was nowhere to run except to a Dairy Queen and post office!). Teaching me to love people not things, to not worry about the future b/c He had it all under control, to trust with all my heart, to slow down, to get to know Him more, listen to Him more, to just be quiet... I needed to live here. I understand that now and now that we are leaving, I am afraid I may change or forget who I was here when there was no one and nothing. This move is a huge, gigantic step for Trev career-wise, it is bringing us to a city, near "stuff" again (like every restaurant and store imaginable!), we will be buying a new house, making new friends, attending a new church... there is a very good chance I will never hear a cow moo in my front yard or see a coyote sitting on our sandbox again!

God's been known to use a vast variety of methods to get us to depend on Him and grow closer to Him. In my case, I know he used isolation. He knew that removing me from conveniences such as grocery stores, malls, restaurants, even a road that I couldn't run on, that He would be forcing me to change my ways and eventually draw nearer to Him. I am soo thankful for our time spent here and this is definitely just the beginning of my moving reflections. I probably should just start a moving blog but it is a bit lofty of me to try and maintain 2 blogs at one time. So, as i get ready to clear out the closets, and declutter the garage...

WE'RE MOVING!!:(!!!!:(!!!:( I'll let you know how it goes....

Laundry basket fun

So yeah, this is what we do for fun on cold days in KY. We sit and snuggle in laundry baskets with big soft blankets while watching a movie and having a snack. Somedays, it is just TOO easy to please them:)

My heart melts when....

...Parker patiently helps Lillie put on her shoes and even though they are backwards she insists on keeping them that way.

... I go to put the garbage outside and Lillie stands by the door waving and yelling "Buh byeeeee Meemeeeeeeee... Wuhhhh (love) youuu!!!!" as if I was going on a 7 day trip.

... Parker prays and thanks Jesus for "his sweetest mommy, daddy and Willwee in the whole wide world"!

...we lay in bed at night together and talk about our favorite thing that day and I am expecting him to say making cookies, doing the cool craft, school, the zoo or playing with friends and he always says it was "just sitting and playing with you Mom."

...every morning when I put Lillie's pants on and am trying to pull them up she wraps her arms around me and gives me a HUGE hug as she jumps up and down trying to get then on just right.

...Trev leaves in the morning and both kids stand at the front window with their little faces pressed up against the cold pane and as his car pulls away they are both in tears b/c they miss their daddy.

... on really cold mornings Parker moves over on the couch for Lillie to get under the blanket too and they both sit and watch TV with only their heads exposed.

...we're in the car jamming to praise and worship music and I look in the mirror at Parker and Lillie singing with all their hearts and waving their hands in the air singing "We raise up holy hands to praise the holy one.... who was, who is and is to come..."

...we are playing with friends and one of the friends bosses Lillie around and I overhear our normally passive and nonconfrontational Parker say, "Please be nice to my Wilwee she is only 2 and doesn't know."

...Parker gets into trouble and Lillie tries consoling him by patting his head and saying, "Otay Pahpah...Otay Pahpah (okay Parker)"

... I realize that Parker and Lillie are the greatest gifts I have ever been given and that God has blessed me more than I ever imagined with their unconditional love and laughter.

Big girl haircut

2 years old and it was definitely time for a trim-up. Lillie got a little bob and looks cute and girlie. She's been all smiles so I guess she is happy with it:)

Consumer savvy

Last night while in Target, Parker spotted a cool new train for his ever growing collection. I waited for him to ask if we could buy it and I already had the prepared answer about putting it on his birthday list (which isn't until September) or next years Christmas list. He looked at the front of the package, then the back and then turned it over several times. Finally, he said to me, "Mom, we need to go find the price checker and see if this thing is on clearance."

Haha... Defintely my child! The sales rack is your best friend! You remember that Park!

King me... please

Tonite Parker and I were getting ready to play checkers and I asked him "CanI please go first?" To which he replied, "Oh yeah sure. I guess because you asked so nicely and used good manners Mom, I will let you go first."

hmmm... wonder where he learned that from?