For Real

We all know that things aren't always as they appear.  Take dinner yesterday, we went out to eat after church. Wonderful right? Actually it was marathon eating while we tried to keep Kamie from destroying anything, screaming, or completely traumatizing the poor young couple who sat in the booth behind us. While Kamie pointed at them and said "What is that?"  Ironically I heard them order appetizers, and felt an unmistakeable twinge of jealousy, 'must be nice to have time to look deep into each others eyes while nibbling on mexican yumminess'.

But we did have a good day.  Our bonding time happened in the car, somewhere between my eureka moment "Bronz, nobody is touching me!" (He didn't dignify that with a comment.) and the cup of coffee with irish cream creamer he picked up for me on our way home.  It actually happened sitting in the car, Kamie buckled in, and me feeding the starving child.  I handed Bronz our couples devotional, and he read it.  We discussed it. It wasn't picture perfect. (I don't take nursing-the-babe photos anyways) but it was good...  And y'know this photo isn't all that perfect anyways!

Ambience

Went over to Dad & Mom's last night for hamburgers. Sitting on the patio with pumpkin spice Gevalia (automatically delivered - just ask Dad) coffee, and a pumpkin chocolate chip muffin warm out of the oven aahh. CRASH BANG! We interrupt this peace to bring you Ezra's Fire Building & Grill Lighting Experience... A show which has nothing on Larry the Cable Guy- and involves lighter fluid, lots and lots of lighter fluid.  Hilarious, I love the fam. From Smack-Smack the pig, to the beautiful shed you can't help but feel loved by the warm very un-stuffy hospitality.

Two Days of Two

We had a perfect kind of morning...
We had Bible time, then called Bronz and found out his day was going badly, so we stopped and prayed for him, then made block towers, and put together a puzzle.  All which Kamie picked up on her own and carefully returned to proper place. 
I even left the kids awake and alone to take a shower. On getting out Kamie informed me: "No more treats for you, treats all gone, no treats for Blake, no treats for Loreal, no treats for birds." I figured having her find and finish up the bag of Reese's P'butter cups was a small price to pay for hot water and sanity.) Blake went down for his morning nap like clockwork at ten. I grabbed my coffee cup, and Kamie and I went on outside.
She pushed the stroller and we walked down the road to check the cows, picking Queen Anne's Lace on the way, which she carefully buckled into the stroller. 
Why can't I remember the toddler years like this. 
Wouldn't that be nice if I could? 
I thought to myself.  Cuz' it was one of these mornings where I could actually think.
But then I wouldn't remember honestly. 
The fact of the matter is I cried/prayed myself to sleep last night, at my bitter wit's end.  Having no idea how to break through her hard little shell.  Major fits, 1 1/2 hour bedtime struggle, besides the usual disciplinary methods, I'd taken away her favorite blanky, pillow, and finally her beloved footie pajama's.  I had Bronz call and talk to her on the phone, cried over her, prayed with her, had her recite her Bible verse.  Nothing seemed to work.  Finally after an extended stay in bed (like 5 minutes) I brought back her blanket, (I wasn't sure she would sleep without it, and sure didn't want to prolong that!)  And the girly slept. 
I didn't do anything dramatically different this morning.  Maybe God knew it was time for me to be led by still waters?  This is life, there's the ugly and the beautiful. So I'm going to enjoy my hot cuppa coffee day. Thank the Lord for it, and try to let His graciousness fill up my reserve tank, cuz' bedtime's comin'!

Survival Of Silage Season

So, a girl's got to do what she's got to do....
Last night that meant loading the kids up half an hour before bedtime, and taking them over to see Bronz.  Cuz' they need their daddy, and I need their daddy.  Even if it's half an hour of craziness and silage wagons, and somebody elses place, and wondering if you're parking in the right spot or not.  Kamie was thrilled, Bronz bent down to say "Hi!" to her and she threw her arms around his neck.  So the freshly bathed princess got bees wings (the reddish corn chaff) in her hair. So I had a huge pile of dishes waiting for me this morning. So bedtime battle was the same.  I was so tired I only had 1 (one) spoonful of the above yumminess.  So worth it.
We work for what we value.

My Day in 5 Minutes

So, I got this idea from a very cool blog http://clickclinkfive.com/ (Which I actually found cuz she's kinda a crunchy mama, and really cute... like drop dead gorgeous at 9 months preggo http://themommyhoodmemos.com/ )
Anyways my day today:
Early a.m. Bronz comes into room. Me: Is it you? Bronz: Who else would it be?  Note to burglar: I'm pretty much out of it in early a.m.
 Morning, made a reasonable, I can do this list:  Got quite a bit of it done or worked on, and had so much better structure to my morning.
Afternoon: worked with Kamie.  I love that child.  Love is tough.  When. When is she going to get the memo that naptime is a non-negotiable?
She was so sweet when i was sick, in fact when I thanked her for cuddling with me she told me "I comfort you, Mama" 
After telling Blake this afternoon that he had his fresh air for the day she grabbed her hair and said "Me too, Meme has fresh hair too!"
So 5 minutes that's it!
What's going on in your midwest locale?!