Ginger

Last March for Abby's birthday she got a lionhead rabbit.  We now have three lionhead rabbits.  She named her rabbit Ginger.  Hannah adores the bunny.  However, the name Ginger has led to some very funny confusions as to which ginger.

Abby holding Ginger

Hannah and Ginger

Anytime I say ginger Hannah immediately thinks it is the rabbit.  One day when Abby was sick she asked to have a ginger-bath.  Ginger baths seem to help with fevers and general flu symptoms.  When Hannah heard this she wanted to go get Ginger the rabbit to put in the tub.
Another time Hannah was asking me for "bunny chews".  I was very confused about what she was asking for.  Finally I figured it out, she wanted the ginger candies that I had bought for a trip to help those who had motion sickness.

Funny Sayings

One Sunday sfternoon while I was fixing lunch the boys were busy shooting imaginary Indians. I did inform them that they were Indians, but the told me that they were shooting "bad" Indians. Beth came to me all told me in a worried maner that the Indians were going to shoot her. I told her to get her brothers to shoot the Indians. She did and while they were shooting the Indians out the window, she fell down behind them and said, "Indian got me. Indian got me." Then the boys turned around and "shot" the Indian. She got up and went on her way.

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Josiah at church one Wednesday evening said, "When Hannah grows up and I grow up, I'm going to marry Hannah."

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Abby while we were going to town one day said, "I wonder what color my Honda will be when I grow up."

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Abby is my question child. Always asking something which usually has nothing to do with what I just told her or asked her to do. The other day at lunch she asked, "If we take water to teh sun could we put out the fire?"

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Kids are so much fun. A lot of work too, but the fun times help balance it out. I was talking yesterday with another mom with several children. We agreed that we don't know how we get everything done that we do, but somehow we do it. So the next time some stranger asks me how I do it I'm going to say, "Fairies help at night while I sleep!"

Water Ballons

The weather has been very warm lately. Last week I decided to let them throw water balloons at each other to help them cool off and have some fun. Abby, Robert, and Josiah had a blast. Beth seemed a bit reluctant to get in on the action. She did not want to throw the water balloons. Her siblings were quite happy to help her and they threw several of her balloons. When I handed out the last water balloons, she refused to let anyone have her balloon. She started crying and yelling at the others if they got near her balloon. I asked her what she wanted to do with the balloon. She said, "Hide it." I asked, "Where?" She replied, "Outside." I told her that the heat from the sun would pop it. She then told me "put it up high." I did put it on in a safe spot and told the others to not touch it - that was her greatest concern.
Later I saw her carrying it around and kissing it like it was her baby. Than she was walking around with Robert carrying her "baby". Every one joined in the game and called it her "baby". She allowed the others to hold it for a little while, but soon wanted it back. Abby drew on it while she was "babysitting" (Abby draws on almost everything).
I was worried about it popping in the house, but I told myself, "It is just water. It will dry, and it isn't messy like other things that have spilt in the house."
The inevitable finnaly happened late in the afternoon. It popped, and she got drenched. She was very upset about it. After a change of clothes, hugs, and promises of more water balloons, she calmed down. Now everyone wants a water balloon baby!

The fight outside - yes the lawn needs mowed!

Jojo showing off his balloons - just seconds before they popped!

Beth and her "baby"

The reaction to the end of the water balloon.
With a reaction like that I'm not sure I want to fill water balloons for a while.

Wedding photos

Abby loves to dress up in beautiful dresses and accessories. She can't wait to get married so she can wear a wedding dress. Last month someone gave us a suit coat for Robert. The next day Abby wanted to "marry" Robert. Here are the photos I took after the wedding.
My internet connection was messed up last month, plus I've been busy with five kids six and under. That is my excuse for so few posts!

My firefighters

Last week we visited my sister, Becky, at the firestation where she works. She works at the front desk - not as a fire fighter. She took the kids around, showed them the fire trucks, and gave them fire hats. The next day the kids were up early, dressed in red, and went out early to play fire fighters.

They loaded the hose onto the fire truck (aka red wagon)at the fire the girl tended the hose at the truck, while

the boys put out the fire!

The job is done, and it's a good thing, because the wind picked up making the rest of the day bad for fires!

Funny things kids do and say

Recently, at our church there was a skit. In the skit "Oswald" was a missionary to outer space. He brought one of his converts Darth Vader (Brother Vader) back with him. Now, my kids know nothing at all about Darth Vader or star wars or any of that nonsense, but they love "Oswald" AKA Bro. Larry Don. Today while playing with their toys I heard Josiah say "My policeman is Darth Vader and yours is Oswald." I'm not familiar with Darth Vader either, but I don't think he is a policeman! That is how they view him.

After lunch I gave Beth a piece of fry bread which she took outside to eat. The only problem was the chickens were running loose. I was helping Abby with a chore and Beth came crying to me saying "bauck, bauck". I gathered from her that the chicken had stolen a piece off her bread. She still had some fry bread so I told her to eat it before the chickens got more of it. I then put food out for them to eat, hoping to keep them busy until she got it eaten. A little later she was crying again. I saw the guilt hen running with a piece of bread in her beak. The bread was gone. Robert and Beth tried to catch the hen, but that didn't work. Besides, I wouldn't have let her eat bread after the chicken had it anyway!

Birthdays and ages

My kids enjoy discussing birthdays and how old they are. I often hear questions like, "If I am six (or seven, eight...) how old will Josiah and Beth be?" It is a good way to practice adding or subtracting by twos. The other day Robert asked Josiah, “How old are you going to be on your next birthday?” Josiah held up 4 fingers, and Robert replied, “That’s right. How old do you want to be?” Josiah quickly answered, “69”.

Pretending

My kids love to pretend. I don't know many who don't. I took these photos of them pretending to have church. Robert preached, Josiah led the singing, and Abby sang a special song she made up for the occasion.

Let me dress myself, please!

Beth loves to dress herself. After I dress her, she uses her own clothes or other family members clothes to add to what we have already done. Her own clothes are still a challenge for her so she usually raids her brothers' and sister's things

Dad's shorts on upside down.

Brother's t-shirts on. I think she has two on.

Next she added sister's skirt and brother's underwear (upside down under the skirt).

The skirt is inside out, but she is enjoying her outfit.

Did you know...

...that a pencil will make marks under water on a porcelain surface? Elisabeth proved this to us just the other day.

The artist...


The artwork...


Fortunately it came off with a simply cleaning. :)

Something to laugh about

Kids say the cutest and funniest things sometimes. I love listening to my kids. They have a great imagination.

Recently during Bible time when I was asking for their prayer request here is what they said. Josiah said to pray for baby Hailee (an 18m old from our church that is in the hospital). Robert said to pray for a bigger van and for us to have more kids to fill it. He still wants a boy baby! Abby wanted to pray for everyone to have more babies. .

Later that day at lunch time I went around the table asking them what they wanted to plant in the garden next spring. Robert said, "Carrots and corn." Abby said, "I want peas and watermelon." Josiah quickly added, "Spam and eggs!"

Developing motor skills

I have been thinking about why little ones tear everything out that they can get to – shelves, cupboards, and boxes. They are working on their motor skills. Fine motor skills are needed to pick up objects and large motor skills are needed to lift and drop items. This logic doesn’t help the house look any better, but it is something to laugh at as you watch such a cute little girl make such a big mess to clean up. It also works to pick up all her toys and set them in a box. Somehow, she feels that she MUST remove everything that she can reach, whether it’s her toys or someone else’s stuff. Here are photos of her emptying the box of library books.

Text messaging for kids

Today Abby and I were in the store shopping while Rueben was watching the rest of the kids out in the van in the parking lot. Shopping goes faster this way and the weather is cool enough for it. It is not good in the middle of summer. Anyway, Rueben sent me a text message telling me that Beth had fallen asleep, and I texted him back. Well, Abby wanted to know how I could text with my phone. I showed her how to use the number pad, to choose a letter, and type a word. Her curiosity was satisfied about that subject and she went on to other questions. She is a continual question asker and has been that way since she could talk clear enough for me to understand her.
After getting home and unloading the groceries, Abby asked for a banana. She pretended to be talking on the banana "phone". Then she brought the banana to me pointed to a section toward the top of the banana and said "Look mom, I got a text message." What an imagination and so funny!

One of "those" days

Ever wish you could start your day over? Well today I do. It started about 4 am with Beth kicking me. She was restless, and didn’t want to nurse. Gabe’s alarm went off and he got up. Abby started coughing in the living room (She sleeps everywhere, but her own bed when given the slightest chance). I told myself maybe I can get a lot done this morning and then nap when the kids nap (ha, ha). So I got out of bed before 4:15! Abby and Beth played on the floor while I fixed Gabe’s lunch and breakfast, put the laundry in the dryer, and unloaded the dish washer (Abby helped put away some dishes). I was off to a great start.
At 5:15 I sat down to eat breakfast with my husband before he left for work. After he left at 5:30 I tried to read the Bible and pray in between Abby’s questions (Can I play the computer? Is it Thursday? When can I go to Heaven? Can I eat a cookie? on and on). Next, I was interrupted by Josiah who woke up at his usual 6am, and asked for his usual peanut butter & “yelly” sandwich. Then Abby wanted one. Somewhere in all this confusion Beth was nursed and went back to sleep. Josiah took his sandwich to his usual spot on the recliner, curled up and ate it quietly (sometimes he goes back to sleep). Abby took two bites of her sandwich, left it on the table and went to sit on the sofa. She asked if she could go back to sleep. My answer, “YES!” I peacefully read another chapter of the Bible, took laundry out of the dryer, hung up items that needed hanging, and was thinking about sleeping again myself. It is about 6:45-7:00, Beth woke so I nursed her and napped a bit, Josiah crawled in bed and began playing with Beth (my napping was over). Then Abby woke up and pucked all over the sofa – YUCK. I feel her head; she has a fever. I clean her up, change her clothes, and clean the sofa. After laying down a towel and getting her a bucket in case it happens again, she went back to sleep. I started the washer full of pucked on stuff, left Beth and Josiah in the play room, told Rueben to keep and ear out of trouble (he was awake, but not out of bed), and went to care for the chickens.
I lost three chickens Sunday to dogs while we were at church. I put the month old chicks in with the remaining hen, Red. So they were all in the same cage I was keeping and eye on her because she seemed to pick on them a lot. Yesterday I had let her out to roam in the usual chicken yard, but I can’t let the chicks out. We have a hawk around here that last year came and sat on my chicken coop. I’m sure he would love chick for lunch.
Anyway, I cared for the chickens, and told myself that I should let Red loose later so she doesn’t pick on the chicks too much. I hurried back into the house knowing that Rueben wouldn’t do much if the kids were getting into trouble. Washed my hands and checked on the kids. Everyone was fine so and Robert was up and playing too. I then loaded the dishwasher. At 8 am I did our usual Bible time with just the boys. You should hear Josiah quote scripture. I marvel that a two year old can memorize like he does, but then he is a little sponge and is soaking everything up that I do with the older two. Next I fed the boys their breakfast, set Beth in the high chair, cut up a banana for her to eat (she refuses to eat anything mushy like baby food and she doesn’t like anyone putting food in her mouth), and I cleaned up more of the kitchen mess since I had already eaten.
Rueben needed help with his school work today. After a few weeks of his “Dynamic Bible Living” subject, we have switched what we are doing. I don’t like what they are trying to teach him on how to live a Christian life. The book makes it confusing and hard. The final straw was a sentence that said memorizing the Bible was not meditating on the Bible. "Memorizing generally is sounding or saying words and then forgetting them." I would like to know how you forget something you memorized. They are trying to teach some strange knowledge process that he is to use to learn how to have a "dynamic Christian life". So instead of doing the complicated, confussing work in the book I have him listening to preaching from this site and writing what he learned from the sermons (two per week). I listened to the sermons with him (while folding laundry, making woopie pies - a promise I made yesterday, fixing lunch, checking on sick one, nursing Beth…), so we could discuss what is taught and help him write down points. If I had to sit still and listen to the sermons, I would have fallen asleep. I love the preaching, but my body goes to sleep if not doing something, especially when waking up at 4 am. I have the same problem on Sunday mornings. That is why I help my husband in children's church where I can stand, more around and stay awake.
After lunch I looked out my window at the sink and noticed that there was a problem at the chicken coop. I had forgotten about Red! I rushed out of the house and left the kids in Rueben’s care to check on Red. She had killed the smallest chick. The one I got that was going to set (hatch eggs) and my favorite.
Right now is quiet/nap time, but since Abby has been sleeping off and on all morning she is awake and fussy. I am not going to get a nap myself, so I will continue drinking tea, and other things with caffeine to keep myself going. I will try giving Abby a ginger-bath. I tried earlier, but discovered that the hot water heater needed to be relit. By the time the water was hot again, I had forgotten and Abby was back to sleep.
Thanks for listening to my ramblings and complaints. I love being a mother. It is much, much better than being a single school teacher. However, there are days that I would love to have two of me to get more done. I am blessed with four great children, a great step son and a hardworking, wonderful husband. What more could any woman want?
In case you are wondering, I did not write this all at the same time. It has been written over the past few hours in between other tasks, but I just had to “tell” someone. My friend, who has five children under five, lost her cell phone (it is on vibrate so she can't find it by calling it), so I can’t call her to share problems. Some how “telling” makes me feel a bit better about the things that didn’t go my way today. No day ever goes completely the way I want it, but that is part of life. I’m not the one in control. God is. So I should get off the computer and go get more things done instead of sitting here ignoring them because they make me feel so overwhelmed some days. I will never get everything done, but I will keep trying to.

Abby is feeling better now that she finished her ginger-bath (1 Tbsp of ginger added to bath water). She is eating, asking questions and being her normal self – except for her cough. Hopefully the food will stay down.

Phoenix trip

We took our second trip to Phoenix. The kids did great riding in the car for six hours. We did stop and let them stretch occasionally. On the way to Phoenix Abby surprised me by reading a Dr. Seuss book by herself with very little help from me. Robert decided he wanted to look like a tiger so he used an erasable marker to make whiskers on his face. Thankfully it washed of easily with a wet wipe.
We had a great time Sunday at church listening to Bible preaching and fellowshipping with other believers and soul winners. We got to go soul winning with Faithful Word Baptist Church. Between my husband and I, we had three people saved while in Phoenix.

On Monday we went to the zoo. The kids had a great time looking at all the animals. Around two they started saying they were tired of walking so after seeing the lions and tiger we headed for the car. Josiah slept in the stroller through the last part and missed the lions and tiger. We did not go far in the van before all the kids were asleep! Then when we got back to the motel they woke up and my husband and I did not get any rest.

On Tuesday we did some shopping. Gabe enjoys survey shops so we went to two different ones in Phoenix. We also went to a thrift store. Abby needed dresses and skirts. She wanted every dress or skirt that was a “dancing” one. To her a “dancing” dress is one with a full skirt that flairs out when you spin. She also wants “princess” dresses. A “princess” dress is one that covers your shoes and flairs out when spinning. Gabe found several long sleeve shirts to use for working out in the sun.

On Wednesday we got up, packed and headed home. Abby was very sad to leave Phoenix, but she did not cry this time (she did cry last year as we left). She loves the church there and wants to stay. I would love to stay as well. I really enjoy the preaching and the fellowship at Faithful Word Baptist Church. There is a link under "Favorite Sites" to the preaching of FWBC. Check it out sometime.

I would write more now but the kids are all up from their naps. I want to share a little about their birthday parties and more photos soon.

Sweet little Elisabeth

Here are photos of our sweet baby girl. I am posting this with grandparents and family in mind that are unable to visit and hold Elisabeth.

Josiah has fallen in love with his little sister. We play a little game. While holding Elisabeth I say, "Mommy's baby." Josiah replies, "No, me Beebee," and gives her a hug. I say again, "Mommy's baby," and he answers with "No, Dada Beebee". On and on the game goes. We usually list everyone in the family before we are done.

Abby loves to see her all dressed up in "dancing dresses". She was very happy to take her picture while I held her.

The yellow dress that Elisabeth is wearing was crocheted by my grandma, and worn by me many years ago.

Another pretty dress on our beautiful girl. Gabe said that he thinks it will be hard to tell Elisabeth "No". She is going to be Daddy's girl even more than Abby is.
She enjoys watching the activity in the home.

The kids wearing matching pj's

We even got Rueben's picture, but Josiah didn't want to be in this photo, so he sat beside me while I took the picture.

I am doing something with Elisabeth that I didn't do with the others. I have made a wrap and a ring sling from fabric that I had on hand and that needed to be used :) I carry her with me around the house while I do chores, teach, cook, and whatever. The wrap holds her better that the sling, but both are great from holding the baby and having your hands free. I take the sling with me whenever we leave the house. I have learned to nurse her using the sling to cover me. Rueben took this photo of her sleeping in the sling. She will sleep for hours while I go about my day.

Princess Abby

I bought a cheap tiara and earrings for Abby today while doing our weekly shopping. She is now walking around the house telling us how princesses do things. She keeps looking in the mirror and loves every moment of it. She told me princesses take a break and sit down after they are done dancing. Then she showed me, and she sat very ladylike and still. I will need to remember that when we are in church. I’m not sure I want to encourage the dancing, but to her dancing is spinning in a circle. Now she is giving me a list of what else a princess needs to have. Robert told her he liked her “hat” and that she looked beautiful. He wants to be a king. What did I start?!?

"I forgot"

My husband leaves for work early every weekday. Usually the kids are all sleeping when he leaves. This morning after Abby woke up she asked "Where is Daddy?" I told her that he was at work, but I thought this was unusual for her to ask since she knows he goes to work everyday. Then she surprised me by saying, "I forgot. I wanted to go to work with him." I called my husband later and he got a good laugh from it.

Still no baby. I am trying to stay busy and not think too much about it. I am anxious to hold my baby in my arms. Abby and Robert are excited, too. Everyday they ask me when is baby coming, or want to pray that baby sister comes soon.

Out of the mouth of babies

Children see things in a different light than what we do. It is sometimes very funny the things they come up with on their own.

When the workmen were here putting the pipe through the wall for our pellet stove, Abby and Robert saw the insulation in the wall. Not knowing what it was they came and asked me, "Why is there trash in the wall." How do you explain that to a three year old? I tried to explain it, but they still call it "trash in the wall". When I told my husband that evening, he thought it was hilarious, and he now calls it "trash in the wall" too.

The other night my husband was trying to get Rueben to hurry and come help him so he told Rueben, "Hurry we're burning day light."
Abby heard this statement and went to the door and called out to her dad, "Dad, we’re not burning daylight. It's already dark outside."
Gabe answered her, "I was wondering what was going on."

This is just two examples, but they are constantly doing and saying cute, funny things. Sometimes the constant questions get to be too much, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.

The baby of the family (for another four months)

Josiah is my fun loving, very, very active little boy. He has Robert’s looks and Abby’s outgoing active personality. When happy he runs around the house yelling and chattering as loud as possible. He is very vocal, but unfortunately I do not understand much of what he is saying, yet. He does have a few words that we understand, but most of the time we have to guess what he wants by his pointing. Over the past few weeks I have figured out a few more words he is saying. He uses the sound /bo/ to mean several things like; ball, book, bottle. I have tried to teach him signs like I did with Abby and Robert, but he doesn’t seem to care to use signs when his pointing works well enough for him.

He loves to follow the twins around and get into their stuff. They will be playing with something like Robert’s train, and Josiah comes and starts taking the pieces to what they are doing. They start chasing him to get their stuff back and he runs away laughing. He loves to be chased. When he doesn’t get his way he will hit or through a fit. Abby calls it “taking a fit”. They all can play well together – unless Josiah is tearing apart what they built. For that we have nicknamed him Hurricane Josiah.

When I do ‘school’ with the twins he enjoys going from seat to seat and bothering Abby and Robert. I got him his own desk, but he never sits in it for long. When I tell Abby or Robert to go make their bed, Josiah will run ahead of them and crawl onto their bed. Then they come out and complain that they can’t make their bed because Josiah is laying on it. I have learned to keep him busy collecting trash (which he loves to do) while they do their chores. He loves to try to help, but they don’t always understand him or appreciate his help.

He also loves the animals. He gives weeds to the rabbit and chickens. He spreads cat food all over for the cat, and will hold them as long as they put up with it.

He is learning to use the potty. After waiting too long to start to train the twins, I decided to start sooner with Josiah. When I remind the twins to go potty, Josiah will lift up his shirt and head for the bathroom. The lifting of the shirt has become his ‘potty’ sign. The month of October we will work on going potty more often, since Rueben will be on break from schooling.

When I first got pregnant with Josiah I was worried about how to handle a baby and two year old twins. I am glad God gave me Josiah, and I am looking forward to our little girl. Since Josiah and the twins are learning to do chores around the house they are becoming big helpers.