Let's hear it for the boys!!

Welcome to my blog!  Today is the first ever Blog Mom Blog Hop, and we have visitors here today.  Hopefully, you won't feel like a visitor by the end of the post.

Let's start at the top.  This is my husband, Heath.  He pastors a small country church and is starting back to school working on his Masters.  He is the biggest boy in our home, head wrestler, and organizer extraordinaire. He love to read anything by R.C. Sproul, Charles Spurgeon, and John Piper.

Our oldest son, Malcolm, will be 13 in about a month.  I call him my man child. He is already taller than me, almost has caught is Dad.  There are often times I mistake his voice for Heath, and I just can't comprehend where my baby boy went.  He loves ALL books. He was reading Dr. Seuss by the age of 3, so Hop on Pop is one of his favorites. As is anything historical, biblical, and scientific. Sherlock Holmes is his most read series, but R.M. Ballentyne comes in as a close second.  He also loves most classical books. His Kindle is filled with them. It's just a bonus that his favorites were free.

Our next son, Daniel, is 10.  He is artistic, creative, and a dreamer.  He laughs at almost everything.  There are piles and piles of drawings, stories, and plays the child has created.  And don't get me started on the Webkinz. He is obsessed.  He is also an avid reader.  Among his favorites are Peter and the Starcatchers series, Dr. Dolittle, and our set of Animal wildlife encyclopedias.  He also loves reading the National Geographic magazines (after I have approved them), and NatGeo kids.

Then we come to Heath Jr.  He will be 8 in a month and answers to Heathie most of the time or Heath-er. It just made it easier around the house.  He is all things sports, rough housing, and outdoorsy.  He's also our crier.  Makes for an odd mix.  He spent the first 3 weeks of his life in the NICU, but you would never know that now unless we tell you.  He loves adventure stories.  The Boxcar Children is his favorite series, as well as The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe series.  He has also enjoyed The Little House on the Prairie books, and Classics for Children. Wind and the Willows being the best one, in his opinion.

Son number four is Terry.  Terry is five, and we are paying for his Daddy's raising with this one!  He is our comedian, takes everything apart to see how it works, and all around BOY.  He LOVES to be read to, and can't wait to read all on his own.  Dr. Seuss is his favorite author. He just can't stop laughing at the stories.  He also loves The Little Critter books. I often find him sitting on the couch looking through The Jesus Story Bible.  He says if "the book has Jesus in it, you need to sit down and look at it".

Our last boy, Anderson, is two.  He is the mischievous one. Always into something, always covered in his recent mess.  He loves his family, and is being VERY verbal lately.  He "reads" often, just like all his older brothers.  Sandra Boynton books are a fave, with Snuggle Puppy being at the top of that list.  The Dreamy, Fishy, Happy Bible Storybook is a must read, as well as I Wish I Were A Mouse.

We also have three girls. Jeffie Jean, Paulee Rea, and Georgia Beth. They are 11, 4, and two weeks shy of one, respectively.  They have lists of books they love as well.  But that is for another post.

And then of course, there is me, Beth.  I stay home to take care of this crew.  We laugh, play, fuss, and fight just like any other family.  I love to sew, cook, read, and craft.  You will find any number of these things written about here on the blog.  I would add to the boys' list or re-emphasize these books:


Rascal
Classics (like Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, Red Badge of Courage, etc)
Sandra Boynton books (hilarious AND most are actually songs you can listen to)
The Coral Reef (or any R.M. Ballentyne book)
Jotham's Journey (book for advent. Our entire family stays riveted!)

Look around the blog, and enjoy your stay!

Beth

Can it really be time for her birthday again?!

It wasn't long ago, we were rushing to the hospital for the birth of this child. Not because I was in labor, but because there had been a mix up with the hospital and my induction. So instead of a Monday morning delivery, they were fitting me in the Friday before.  I was clueless as to the gender of the baby, so when the final push came, and the sweet cry of life sounded, I was shocked to hear, "It's a girl!" I asked my doctor "are you sure" three times. And from his laughing, and my husband vigorous nodding, I accepted it. We had four boys at that time, and only one girl.  Later when I called my older daughter, she said, "I've waited my whole LIFE for this!". She was only seven, but that was an eternity for her.

The next year, she was walking, laughing and singing through her days.  Her favorite playmate was her older brother by 14 months.  But at a year old, what could she really get into?  She had been named for my Grandmother who had died the year she was born, and I thought was carrying the name well.

Then came year two.  Whew. This child morphed into a handful!  She was VERY verbal, and actually had an opinion.  She wanted things her way, and she wanted them that way yesterday.  She was passionate and emotional.  Often times she struggled with how to control her emotions, and seemed betrayed by her own feelings.  The "terrible twos" were among us, but I was worried. Three was always worse for our kids.

Then the day came she turned three. "Two-lie, two-seven".  And a calm came over the house. She wasn't as pushy and seemed to be able to deal with not getting her way.  Discipline and guidance weren't such a struggle, and the sun seemed to shine.  Then the year wore on.  And it was much like the second year, only bigger.

Today, this girl turns four.  She is not the baby girl anymore, for she has a younger sister. Yet she is not a big girl yet because big girls have to make the beds by themselves and she doesn't want to.  So she is the self-proclaimed little girl.  And she is still as passionate now, as she was on day one.  She knows what she wants, and doesn't want to deviate from her plan.  She has the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows.  Her smile will light up the house, and her pout makes the walls shake.  This child is willing to die on every hill, for good or bad.  She dances, hops, laughs, sings, and talks her way through the entire day, and I can't make it without a tight hug from her, and a kiss on the cheek.

I have learned a few things from this child:
*Life should be enjoyed.
*It's always a good time to sing a song.
*Putting on lip gloss always makes you feel better after a good cry.
*Sometimes, a fit is just in order.
*Always end the day with a fierce hug, and a soft kiss.
*Say "I love you" often
*Never say anything hateful, even if you are really mad.
*Be willing to die for something. Just be sure it's worth it.
*Never forget who your family is. They are your favorite people.

Happy Fourth Birthday, Paulee Rea!  I love you more today than I did yesterday!


Beth

Do you remember watching Sesame Street?  I still sing my numbers to 12 and can see the pin ball game going as it counts up to twelve. I can name dozens of characters, and know many of the skits by heart. I only recently found out that Snuffy is Big Bird's imaginary friend. I'm not sure I agree with that, nor do I think I like it. I mention all this so I don't sound quite as goofy when I reveal an idea I had.

Everyone remembers the letter of the day and number of the day. And maybe they had this too; I don't remember. But in our house, we have begun instituting a word of the day. It's nothing fancy. Not even a big word most of the time. We're not building vocabulary, reading, or spelling skills. We are building Christ skills.  This came to me as I was reading and praying through Brooke McGlothin's book, Warrior Prayers.  We haven't begun having a word everyday yet. But we are slowly integrating them into our day. One day, the word of the day (WOTD) was patience. Another day, it was gentleness. Yesterday, the WOTD was serve. The kids learned they can serve each other and Heath and I just as much as they can someone outside of the home. In fact, while we made a quick trip to the store, the kids stayed home and cleaned, like seriously cleaned, two rooms of the house. You would not believe the sense of accomplishment they had. They were beaming when we returned home.

Of course, most of the words come about because of behavioral issues that are going on.  But instead of the constant disciplining, arguing, yelling (yes, I still haven't broke that habit), stressing, and all out discord, we are focusing on one thing at a time. And making it something for the entire family to work on together. We are all learning/brushing up on our Christ skills. The best part? When little Paulee Rea leaned over and asked me to pray for her to be like the word of the day.



Beth

You have questions?

I've got answers!!

I am in the process of collecting up questions you all have always wanted to ask me, but never thought you could.  I'm putting them all together for a blog series/ebook possibility.  So here is your chance.  Ask that question you have just been dying to know. You know, like, where does everyone sleep?! How do you NOT lose someone when you go to the store? Or, how can you possibly think with all those people around all the time?! So go ahead, ask away!!



Beth

Photo used by permission from Salvatore Vuono