Oh what a day...

sometimes i just feel like its an all lowercase day. i've not even got the emotional energy to push shift. it's the whole parenting gig that sends me in a tailspin. i just feel like how my kids are doing is such a direct reflection on how i am parenting them. i know, i know....you are shaking your heads at me saying that its not true. but i bet you feel the same way, right?
well, at any rate, today was one of those days that i felt like an utter failure. eWe is a precious child. But she is mighty dramatic, annoyingly emotional about everything and nothing, and recently has decided to forget all the basic rules of respect and obedience that we've seemingly been drilling into her for almost 5 years. she almost acts like its a game when i give her instruction....like she can smile and not obey right away and that will be funny. i hate it for you sister, but i ain't laughin'. not even on the inside. ugh. and since when does our rule that "you never solve your problems with your hands" go flying out the window? this is day 5 of having pushed her brother. granted he's deserved it, technically speaking.....he's just such a little brother, ya know? but regardless, your responses still have to be based on the holy spirit not your flesh, little one. double ugh.

so, unfortunately for her today she met her match. i sent her to her bed to "think about it". that is something i had to do as a kid and never really understood what i was to do with myself. so, why did i send her? well, first off...if i didn't i might have been tempted to hang her by her toes. and besides that...well i just was at a loss as to what else to try. in an effort to improve the process (no offense mom and dad), i did go in and give her specific bullet points to think on. oh, c'mon, you would expect nothing less from me...miss type A, right? (notice i did make the "A" an uppercase just b/c i know its true of me). At any rate, it seems to have penetrated her little heart some.

her actions at dinner were much better. she also lost other special priveledges (dessert, webkin usage indefinitely, etc), which may have been the straw that broke the camels back persay...who knows.

now, my sweet daughter, is sitting in her room for the remainder of the evening copying, "obey your parents in the Lord" (he gets an uppercase too) and "do unto others and you would have done to you" 5x. if you know her at all, though, she probably is kind of enjoying this part. she loves to do work and learn....seriously. but, i'm still hoping that this afternoon will stick with her for a while. if not, well there are always 10 other options....her toes!

Recycle Life

So today has been jammed packed....pancake bfast to raise money for eWe's school, followed by a charity walk/run/bike, followed by a baby shower for a friend. The cause was for organ donation...a great one! So, I just wanted to give a shout out and ask if you all are donors? If not, would you consider it? Recycle life!

Unlocking the mystery....

So my sister is at her ultrasound right now finding out what #4 will be...boy or girl. I asked my 4 year old, eWe, what she thought it would be. She said "girl" and that they should call her "flower". I think if my sis gets a girl she'll be happy to name it just about anything:) (her boys have been more difficult than her girl thus far). Anyway, so eWe wanted to know how they could see the baby inside her aunt. So, we talked about the ultrasound a little. Then the convo went like this:

eWe: Mom, how can they tell it's a girl or a boy?
me: Well, what is different about a boy and a girl?
eWe: A boy's hair is shorter.
me: So you mean if I cut your hair you'd be a boy?
eWe: Noooooooooo, Mom. I'd still have my eWe face.
me: Okay, what else is different about boys and girls?
eWe: Ummm...boys wear "car" clothes.
me: Well, if I put a "car" shirt on you would you be a boy?
eWe: Noooooooooooooo, Mom.
me: Besides, eWe...babies don't wear clothes before they are born, and some don't have hair.
eWe: Oh, I got it (very serious about her discovery)...girls like pink flowers and boys like orange flowers.
me: eWe...the baby doesn't have any flowers in your aunt's "belly" and it can't talk to tell us it's preferences. Besides, I like orange flowers...am I a boy?
eWe: Noooooooooooo, Mom!
me: eWe, what do you and your brother have that is different from one another that makes you a girl and him a boy?
eWe: I don't know....toys?
(oh my gracious, we are getting no where! but I sure am cracking up!)
me: I want you to think about boys and girls' bodies...what's different?
eWe: Ummm...that our birthdays are not the same?
me: Huh? Where is your brain?
eWe: Hold on, I'm going to go get it and get it ready.
me: Oh my! Okay, last try...what is different about little man's body?
eWe: Think, think, think...I don't know...that I'm bigger than him and have tan skin?
me: No eWe!
eWe: okay, no more thinking. I'm not doing any more and I'm not going to pay attention.
me: Okay last question (i know, i know...i said that already). What do you and little man do differently to go potty?
(the light bulb goes off...finally! too funny!)

Winding down Spring Break

So this is officially our last day of Spring Break. I'm so thankful eWe's school always gives you an extra day to recoup from travel...nice perk. We had a great trip to KY and TN. My cup of friendship overflows! I'll try to put the pics on the slide show. Here are the kiddos in their Easter duds. Amazingly, eWe's dress from last year still fit. It was the last gift my sweet Mom purchased for her so it was certainly special to be able to wear it again.

Easter

I've traveled back to KY for Spring Break and was able to get a few more things we'd left behind in the move. One of the things I picked up were our Resurrection Eggs. It's funny how well they help to get the message of Easter across in a memorable way. As I pulled them out yesterday to go through them with "eWe" she said, "I remember those from last year, Mom. We talked about the donkey and stuff on our couch in KY when we lived there, right?" Right! I'm so glad that something stuck with her. But this year she was way more into it....she wanted to know how if Jesus got his blood and water back (that came out when they pierced his side to ensure he was dead) when he was resurrected. WOW...what a great question! Well "eWe", the blood and water did prove that He was in fact dead. And his resurrection wasn't just a spiritual one, it was physical as well....so I'd say "yes". But, in all my 33 years I've never thought of that before.

At any rate, while today is worthy of words....I have just seven. Thank you, Jesus! You have risen indeed!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." "HE HAS RISEN!"