The Patch

A couple of weekends ago we went on our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with some friends from our Sunday school class. We have gone to the same patch for the past couple of years and were excited to try a new one this year. It was a beautiful morning and we had a great time. Here are some pictures from our outing:

Someday I will look back on this and laugh...maybe

I don't know what to say about my day yesterday other than to tell you I am traumatized and it may take me years to recover...or months...or weeks...actually, I think I'll be better tomorrow. But it really was a crazy day...

It began at 5:45 AM. If you know me, you know, I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON. I'm really not a morning person on the weekend and REALLY not a morning person on the 1 day (of the last 8) I can sleep in because my man is off. But alas, Hal says I must get my butt up and run, so I got my butt up and ran. 9 very. long. miles. 2 and a half minutes faster than my goal time, which did make me cry, but-that's-a-whole-nother-story.

So I get home, quickly shower and we head to a nearby little faux pumpkin patch. Oh, you heard we went to a different one last weekend? We did. But we didn't get a family picture, so I dragged us out again. They had a moon bounce, face painting and the hit of the morning - the cake walk. That one stumped me? But, hey I knew where the boys were the whole time! Caleb was determined to bring us home some sweets (because we don't have enough candy?) and that determination paid off! He was so excited.

Then we get home, put the sisters down for their nap and I beg for 37 minutes off my feet until I have to go to my home away from home - the grocery store.

After that was...

Soccer game at 3pm.
Soccer game at 5pm.
Friends over for dinner & some trick o treat action. Now, this was a little stressful because between our two families there were 10 VERY excited children. Very, very, very excited.

And this is where things started to go downhill very, very, very fast.

Let me preface this next story by telling you that we went to trunk or treat on Friday night and Lily Kate spent the whole time in her Daddy's arms because she was terrified of people in costumes. All people in costumes, but especially people in scary costumes. Tiny predicament for Halloween.

I had a bad feeling that she wasn't going to love being in costume. Bad feeling. Bad, bad feeling. But I shove that feeling out because I know they are going to love the costumes that I made, with my own two hands and LOTS of love, especially for them.

Happy thoughts. Good thoughts. Delusional thoughts...

So all 10 kids are getting into costume in the living room, the noise level is that of a NFL football game, the doorbell is ringing with Halloween'ers, I'm exhausted from the busy day, we start to pull the costumes out for the sisters and...

They go into major meltdown mode. They want nothing to do with those costumes and are begging to go to bed. It was bad. We tried everything - begging, reasoning (yeah, like that ever works!), bribery all to no avail.

I was sad, dissapointed and defeated. JKM on the other hand was determined (wonder where Caleb gets that from?) and convinced he could get them in it. At least for 1 picture.

So he takes them to the laundry room, turns off the lights and tricks them into thinking they are putting on their jammies. No, we are not above trickery. Little Kate fell for it and actually liked having her costume on, for a few minutes anyway. The Grace didn't fall for it or ever like wearing it. But candy kept her happy.

Our feelings of triumph literally only lasted for seconds before the girls saw one of our friends in a scary costume and lost it for good. We had to take them to their rooms to calm them down and get their jammies on them. Game over.

We went trick or treating with our friends, all through the neighborhood, and by the time we got home I told everyone goodnight, shuffled to my room and crashed hard. While the boys were still up and our company was over. I was stick-a-fork-in-me done!

And that, my friends was my Halloween. Now, your reward for reading that wordy post about drama, the part that you are waiting on, pictures...

But before I begin, I have to tell you that both sisters are wearing their costumes backwards. Apparently while Daddy was dressing them in the dark he didn't notice that he was putting them on backwards. So, I'm not sure if you can tell what they are... At least that is what we'll blame it on if you can't tell!

My little bat with candy in her mouth so that she doesn't cry.

Lily the spider with Spiderman.

My boys look adorable. My sweet girls look...sad. They aren't wearing their cute head peices or their happy smiles.
Oh, well, I guess there is always next year...

Flashback Friday - Halloween Costumes

I love, love, love Halloween! Love it! The costumes are my FAVORITE part. While I was looking back through old pictures, for some reason I couldn't find 2002 & 2003. Caleb was a frog & tiger those years. You'll just have to take my word for it - he was cute!

I'm a theme-y mom and am proud to say that I was able to pull it off once again this year! But that will have to wait until tomorrow...

Halloween 2004

Fireman & Dalmation - Caleb 2 & Luke 2mo.

Halloween 2005

Cowboy & Indian - Caleb 3 & Luke 1

(this was my first homemade costume!)

Halloween 2006

Batman & Robin - Caleb 4 & Luke 2

October 2007

Knights & Princesses - Caleb 5, Luke 3 & Twins 6mo.

(I made the tu-tu's & headbands)

Halloween 2008

Obi Wan, Anakin & Ewoks! - Caleb 6, Luke 4 & Twins 1

(Daddy made Obi Wan's cloak and I pseudo made the Ewok costumes)

Let me know if you play along....

So cute I could eat them!

My little pumpkins 1 year ago.

Delicious!!
I've been looking at old pictures in preparation for my Flashback Friday - Halloween Costumes Edition and it has been fun!! I can't wait to show you...

A walk inside the head of Sab Mad - be afraid...

Do you want to see the super cute thing that I am drooling over currently:

"Our new felt countdown calendar helps everyone get into the Thanksgiving spirit well in advance. It has 60 I am thankful cards for each day's pocket that promote the act of gratitude."

Seriously, I went to the outlets last week and wandered into the Pottery Barn Outlet when lo and behold I saw this sweetness! I love family traditions and immediately thought of dozens of ways we could use this to create memories! So I sat there, held it in my hands and debated...

"I am here to buy clothes for our children, not things for our house," says Practical Sabrina.

"But how often do you ever buy things for the house? Really, splurge a little. You only live once..." says Very Impratical Sabrina.

Practical Sabrina replies, "I have been splurging, see all these bags?"

"Um, those were clothes for your kids. That's not splurging!"

"Apparently you didn't see the price of those tights for the sisters! Splurge. I've already spent too much money and I don't need to spend anymore. Especially $70 on something that will be hung on the wall for 28 days. It's adorable, cute and I really want it, but it is not in the budget!"

Impractical Sabrina says (very unfairly), "But you can't put a price on memories..."

"You're right," says Practical Sabrina. "I can't, but Dr. Mad can and he would think that's a lot of cash."

Impractical Sabrina replies with, "Who are you kidding, he doesn't care. He wants you to be happy and you know he wouldn't put a price on your happiness."

So Practical Sabrina stood there and stared, dreamed, imagined and then walked out of the store. And the whole way home thought about this adorable wall hanging.

And apparently is still thinking about it.

The ugly side of anger

While Joseph was gone, I really felt like my world was spinning out of control. Okay, maybe not my whole world, just my children. But since they are my little world, I guess it was my world. In any case, at first I was sure that the kids were out of control. There was lots of arguing, fighting and everything was a long drawn out battle that I was losing. I wasn't having much fun being a mommy and I'm sure they weren't having much fun being my kids.

Then God really spoke to my heart and reminded me that they weren't the issue. They were doing what children are supposed to do - be sinful and selfish. My response to them was the problem. My expectations of them were the problem. I was the problem.

I got this book on anger and God has used it to speak HUGE truth into my life. Are you ready for what I've learned? Here goes:

Kindness leads to repentance, anger breeds wrath.

Simple, logical, no brainer, huh? For everyone other than me, I guess.

I have been so angry lately. Angry at the kids for not behaving the way that they should. Angry at Joseph for leaving me here to do this hard thing by myself all the time. Angry at people for judging my motives. But most of all angry at God.

Very angry with God. Because I have forgotten who is the Potter and who is the Clay.

So I have been taking it out on everyone around me. It's no wonder that there is so much anger in this house. Anger breeds anger. Kindness leads to repentance.

I have been pondering Romans 2:4-6 and LOVE the way that The Message says it:

"You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. "

Gosh I love that he is doing that to me and that is exactly what I want to do to my children. Lead them to a radical life change - a relationship with Jesus!

Ultimately, in the end, when it is all said and done what I want for my kids is not to be successful or have good self image or be rich or any of the other things the world defines as successful. Ultimately I want them to repent for theirs sins, walk away from them and walk toward Jesus. Walk with Jesus. And if they happen to have success, riches, whatever...great! What an earthly bonus.

So how do I make that happen as a mother?

Definintely less anger, more kindness. Kindness that takes them 'firmly by the hand.' Anger has a place and isn't bad, but I don't want that to be my "go-to" emotion. I've used it as a crutch far too long to mask fear, insecurity and sadness. I don't want to pass on this legacy, so I need to stop it. Today. Each day.

And that is hard for someone who clings to anger.

Holy God, please continue to change me and teach me and mold me. More of you, less of me. Thank you for your kindness, grace and mercy that led me to repentance and a radical life change. Help me to help my children. And when I fail, please remind me that in my weakness you are strong. Where there is damage I have caused with my children, husband or relationships because of anger, I ask that you please heal in the way that only you can - completely. I love you Father.

Blogging is a little slow around here because life is moving so fast!

Flashback Friday - Pumpkin Patch Edition

Ahhhh...
The Pumpkin Patch, my favorite thing about October! I loved my walk down Pumpkin Patch Lane!

October 2004

October 2005

October 2006

October 2007

October 2008

Next week I'm flashin' back to years past Halloween costumes!!! Seriously, I am SO excited...

My life in numbers

Number of times I work out each week - 6
Number of pounds I want to lose - 13

Number of minutes it takes me to drive to the gym - 7
Number of minutes it takes me to drive to the boys school - 8
Number of minutes it takes me to get the kids in the car - 19

Number of times per day I hear, "But he..." - 27
Number of times I say, "We are accountable for our actions, not the actions of others..." - 27

Number of years I have had a child in diapers - 7
Number of years in my married life that I have not had a child in diapers - 1

Number of months my husband has been gone this year - 3
Number of months he will be gone next year - 3

Number of MOPS groups I have been in - 5
Number of MOPS groups in this city I have attended - 3

Number of times I cook a meal from scratch these days - 1 (estimating high)
Number of days we eat breakfast for dinner because I am too lazy to cook these days - 4

Number of times in a day I say, "Do you need to go potty?" - 1000
Number of times the girls say, "yes" - 20

Number of email accounts I have - 3
Number of email accounts that I check - 1

Number of loads of laundry I did today - 8
Number of loads I still have left to do - 2

Number of hours I sleep at night while hubby is gone - 6
Number of hours I sleep at night while hubby is here - 9

Number of shoes in my gym bag - 3

Number of times I check the mail each week - 1

Number of quarts of water I drink each day - 2

Number of friends I have on facebook - 288
Number of friends on facebook that I'm actually friends with - 28ish

Number of miles I ran today - 5
Number of miles I will run this week - 18

Number of days I consecutively practiced yoga last week - 3
Number of days I wish I could practice yoga - 7

Number of times I have talked to my man today - 1
Number of times I normally talk to my man in a given day - 20

Number of times I told the twins to sit at the table and not stand on chairs - 32
Number of times I threatened to spank them if they didn't sit - 43
Number of times I spanked them - 0

Number of unread posts in my google reader - 28

Number of times in a week I say, "Luke where are your shoes?" - 307
Number of times in a week he says, "Um, I don't know..." with the most gorgeous eyes twinkling at me - 307

Number of science experiments I did this weekend - 3
Number of those experiments that I could actually explain the results - 0

Number of books I am currently reading - 7
Number of books I have read this year - 0

Number of times I think to myself that I am SO blessed - countless!!

Flashback Friday

(You can click on the pictures if you want to make them larger.)

The patients are running the asylum...

...That is what I told my friend this morning when she asked how things are going.

Seriously, we had the worst morning today. Whining, drama, arguing, disobedience, wet beds, soccer balls threatening to break things in the house, and lost shoes all before 8am. On a Monday morning. When the house needs to be ready for the cleaners. And the kids are late for school. And Daddy is gone.

So I did what every good, patient, kind, loving, Godly mother does. I took a deep breath, counted to ten and...lost my mind. I really lost control. Not one of my finer moments.

*sigh*

Then on the way to school I pulled over to have a come-to-Jesus-moment. The boys asked why we were pulling over and when I told them to unbuckle Caleb said, "Are you going to make us walk to school?"

Because I typically ask you to get out of the car and walk?!?!?

*sigh*

"No, Love, I want to pray." I replied. So all 5 of us held hands and I prayed for us all and then gave a mini-lecture about us being a team and one of our players is missing (Daddy!) so we all need to pull together to win.

In Luke fashion he says, "Who are we going to beat?"

The devil, Luke, the devil.

And that was all before 8:10 am.

The good news is that the rest of the day was fabulous and the kids have been divine!

I also must report that on my first full day of potty duty with the sisters, I was very successful. Not only did they NOT regress, but they had no accidents, stayed dry and successfully went potty at the gym today! Whoo-hoo! It's all JKM though. I am thinking about hiring him out as a Potty Training Guru. He can make us some extra money in his spare time.

Because he has so much of it...NOT!

In other news, I'm working on recovering some chairs and have decided that my sewing skills leave much to be desired. I'll take some before and after pictures, but I can guarantee you that no one will be calling me with a job as a seamstress.

I have high hopes for a better day tomorrow. One key element would be a rested mama, so I better get to bed...

Potty Update

The good new: The sisters are in full potty train mode.
The bad news: Daddy is leaving in a couple of days and I will be ON MY OWN! With them. Not completely potty trained! Oh man, oh man.

Joseph has been AMAZING and has worked so hard potty training the sisters this past week. I have always been impressed and in awe of the fact that he trained both boys, but am even more impressed and in awe that he can also add the twins to his resume!

Love pretty much used the same methods that he implemented with the boys, with the exception of rewards. The boys were rewarded with anything with sugar. The sisters have an affection for chocolate. Just.like.mama they are motivated by chocolate.

Works when you are 2 and training for the potty.
Doesn't work when you are 32 and training for a marathon.

In case you were wondering.

Now, I wouldn't say that the girlies are 100% potty trained, but I they are doing really well. Ella even told me that she had to go potty while in the bath tub last night! Initially, Ella was the one who was rockin' the potty. She has since digressed and Lily Kate is rockin' it now.

So, yes they are both still a little shaky, but we have progressed WAY too far to go back now.

I will not let my man down.

I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this...
...I think.

Flashback Friday

In honor of soccer season starting and our first game tomorrow, I'm dedicating this Flashback Friday to soccer seasons past. Here is a play by play of my boys love affair with soccer.

Fall - 2005

This was Caleb's first year to play soccer. He was 3 and it was a non-competitive teaching league. Initially he was nervous - understatement! - to be on the field without Daddy holding his hand, but we really saw his confidence grow by the end of the season. Luke, on the other hand, was obsessed with being on the field with the big kids. I spent most of soccer trying to keep him off the field and out of the way. He was actually really good at kicking & controlling the ball!

Fall - 2006

We had just moved here and this was Caleb's first year playing on a competitive league. Luke really wanted to play, but he still wasn't old enough. I remember the picture above like it was yesterday. Caleb was so proud that he could hold the ball with his foot like a real soccer player. Luke, as usual, copying his big brother!

Fall - 2007

Whooo-hooo! Luke is finally old enough to play. And boy was he SO excited!! Caleb had this coach that was convinced that he could not only teach 5 year olds specific plays, that they would follow through and do them. Mmmm, not-so-much! At this age you should be glad they aren't still chasing butterflys all over the field!

Fall 2008 -

Seasoned soccer player is what we have now. And I am officially a soccer mom!

If you play along, leave a comment and let me know! Also next week's Flashback will be fall themed - pumpkin patches, leaves, ect. Oh I have some good ones!! Then the following week will be Halloween costumes of past years. Yours, kids, hubby's - I want to see them all!