suddenly.....

Our church makes a new directory every three years.
Let's see how we've changed over the years......
(sorry for the poor image quality -- these are pictures-of-pictures)

2004
Chris and Stefanie

2007
Chris and Stefanie

2010
Chris, Stefanie, Flora, Scout, & Timber

Yikes! WHERE did all those kids come from!!??!

Flora Nell-- almost-3-years-old
Scout Emerson-- almost-2-years-old
Timber David -- 12-days-old

one step one step one step

We have a children's book called Little One Step. It's about a baby duckling who goes exploring with his brothers and finds himself far from home as dark approaches. He is scared and doesn't want to walk in the dark, but his brothers tell him to keep taking "just one step" and soon he will be home. They tell him not to look ahead at the dark night but to focus on the "one step" in front of him. The little duckling marches all the way home just by continuing to take "one step." I think this is a great book and I could draw a lot of parallels to daily life . . . but I'll just write about what I consider the most useful application of the "one step" method.

Situations often arise in which I am completely overwhelmed. Timber is crying to be fed, Scout is taking his poopy diaper off, and Flora is using a chair to get a box of cereal off the counter . . . . or maybe Scout needs to be disciplined for hitting Flora on the head, Flora needs to be comforted after being hit on the head, and Timber is crying to be fed . . . . or maybe Scout has locked himself in Flora's room, Timber is crying to be fed, and Flora is on the potty yelling for me to come wipe her . . . . or sometimes it's just as simple as all three of them crying to be fed. In any case, I've found that the best thing to do in these situations is to take a deep breath and start "one stepping." Before I know it, I've "one stepped" my way to meeting everyone's needs and enjoying a peaceful house again.

The "one step" method also works great for cleaning. Yes, the thought of cleaning the whole house is daunting, but if I only ask "one step" of myself then usually the one step turns into a mile or two.

I assume the "one step" method works for exercising too, but I haven't tried it yet. I have a hunch that it's going to take more than one step to lose all this baby weight though.....

30 x 30

Inspired by a friend, I have compiled a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30-years-old next October. It took several weeks to put it all together but it is finally finished and ready for viewing! I may add/delete some things in the future -- I had to come up with the list rather quickly and may need to make changes. It's okay though -- I am not letting this be a burden but rather a helpful guide to encourage me to pursue fun, productive, and/or challenging things in the next 10 1/2 months. So.....without further ado......

30 x 30

1. Re-read P&P -- because I read the book in 7th grade and loved it but I think I should average reading it every 15 years, right? Gosh, has it really been so long since 7th grade?
   
2. Dye pink streak in hair -- because I don't have a reason not to do it.
   
3. Teach Flora & Scout to do somersaults -- because everyone else's kids can do somersaults...I'm starting to question this one since I can see black eyes and bruised cheeks as a result of all the flailing legs.
   
4. Lose 20 lbs -- because I no longer have the excuse of being pregnant.
   
5. Learn how to wear eye shadow -- because it intimidates me and 30-year-olds shouldn't be intimidated by eye shadow.
6. Give crochet a try -- because I've always thought I would like it.
   
7. Get caught up on all the pictures that I haven’t printed -- I was doing so well for a while but now I am WAY behind. I don't think I've printed a picture since March. Trying to figure out what to get me for Christmas?? How about a Snapfish gift card or maybe a HUGE photo album??? :-)
   
8. Go to JCP outlet store -- because I drove past it the first month we lived in KC and wanted to go and six years later I've still never been.
   
9. Write down Flora’s and Scout’s birth stories and print all three -- because I will want to remember. They won't care but that's okay.
   
10. Re-read through the New Testament -- because I'm not sure if I've ever read straight through from Matthew to Revelation.
    
11. Organize toy rotation -- because it needs to be done and if it's on the list I'm more likely to do it.
    
12. Repaint hallway -- because the color on the wall right now makes me sick. It looks like cement. Just a shade or two browner would be nice.
    
13. Go back to Nelson-Atkins museum -- because I love that museum and it's been years since I've been. Pre-kids for sure!
    
14. Watch Casablanca -- because I've never seen it and apparently everyone should.
    
15. Successfully give up something for Lent -- because even though obedience is better than sacrifice, sometimes sacrifice is good too.
    
16. Eat at Golden Corral -- because it's kind of an inside joke between Chris and me.
    
17. See Tiffany -- because it's been almost a year since I've seen her and that makes me sad.
    
18. Run a 5k -- because it would make me feel good about myself.
    
19. Get a massage -- because I'll need it after the 5k.
    
20. Complete the 30-Day Shred -- because I've come so close but never finished the whole course. (It's a 30-day DVD workout program)
    
21. Read 6 fiction books & 6 nonfiction books -- because I am sad to say that I don't do much reading anymore.
    
22. Make a new friend -- because my old friends are no good. :-) Just kidding.
    
23. Get baby books up-to-date & add pictures -- because I don't want to try to do this 10 years from now and realize that I don't remember any of the details of their baby days.
    
24. Sew something -- because I probably could if I tried.
    
25. Invite [specific people] over for dinner -- because they are fun people that I want to get to know. I've also taken out their names just in case they read this. Wouldn't it be weird if they thought I was inviting them over just to check it off my list??
    
26. Take each child to a library program for one-on-one time -- because Flora and Scout are not joined at the hip and they each need to have their own adventures occasionally.
    
27. Stay off the computer for 30 (non-consecutive) days -- because I never want to NOT be able to leave the computer off all day. Double negative, I know.....double negatives are so confusing, aren't they?
    
28. Make a “special box” for each kid -- because I still have a special box. Probably no one will get this one but me.....
    
29. Join a playgroup -- because my kids don't have any friends. Ok, not entirely true.....Flora and Scout share three friends......is that enough? It doesn't seem like very many......
    
30. Go to a movie by myself again -- because I've been to three movies by myself and enjoyed those three movie theater experiences more than any other movie theater experiences AND at this point in my life sitting undisturbed for two hours sounds absolutely luxurious!! I just hope I don't fall asleep......
    

So, there you go!! Wish me luck!!

monday's child

Monday's child is fair of face.....or is he??
Poor Timber has had some complexion issues lately but things are starting to clear up! This picture was taken on one of the worst days. I think it's a little bit of baby eczema that I really hope clears up and doesn't stick around for years.

Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works hard for a living,

But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day

Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

Flora was born on a Friday and Scout was born on a Saturday. Chris was a Sunday baby and I made my appearance on a Thursday. I'm just glad that none of us were Wednesday babies!

duh

Flora: Duh-duh-duh
Me: What letter sounds like duh-duh-duh?
Flora: D!!!
Me: YES! Good job! Can you think of a word that starts with Duh-duh-D?
Flora: CHICKEN!!

since september....

I just changed my desk calendar to November. "Stuck in October?" you ask. Nope -- September. I guess a lot has happened since September, but you'd think I could take 15 seconds to change my calender, right?

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Tonight Flora and I had an argument while she was in the bath. I told her not to drink the bathwater (YUCK!) and she told me that Jesus drank bathwater. I don't have any scriptural basis for my stance, but I firmly argued against her claim. Secretly, though, I wondered if he WOULD drink the bathwater -- assuming, of course, that he had turned it to wine first.

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As some of you may know, we had to replace a pipe that runs through our front yard today.
BEST. DAY. EVER. if you are an almost-2-year-old boy!!




As you can see, Scout was mesmerized! Since it was so early in the morning, I wonder if he thought he was still dreaming?? Well, good ol' Mom has the pictures to prove it was real. We also still have a huge hole in our yard to prove it was real, but that should get taken care of in a day or two when the inspector approves the work.

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Get ready for Christmas pics!!! Since we will begin our Christmas travels in mid-December we've decided to put the Christmas tree up early this year! I'm thinking maybe next weekend so we can have a full month at the house with the tree up. I love Christmas time! The colors, the sounds, the smells, the tastes.......I don't know if I have any Christmasy touch associations, but I'll think about that and let you know. Stay tuned!!