Today we were fighting the sickies.We have been since Saturday.  Pink eye + sinus infection + ear infections.  Tonight my throat is on fire and I’m losing my voice.  Time to keep  my mouth shut and start learning other ways to communicate with the kids.  I’d like to think this a gift from God.  To shut my mouth and not break up fights with my voice (stop it Crews!!!), but to use some other methods to get their attention.  Connecting with them- finding their eyes before I just spout off another ‘command.’  I think this is going to be a teaching time more for my heart than anything.

Warner and Maverick at the doctor.  This was the best ‘cheese’ they could muster up.

There were a lot of bad storms last night, and Chris and I didn’t get much sleep.  Going into today, I knew it was going to be rough.  But, I fought hard to try and establish peace in our home. (that sentence is totally an oxymoron…fought for peace)  I made cinnamon rolls this morning for the kids (which I didn’t eat – will write more on this another day) while we listened to the instrumental praise & worship station on Pandora- all while everyone was cranky.  We played some games, watched Wipe Out (always a Blanton fave), and then everyone took individual baths (luxury) while I worked on laundry .  It was a somewhat nice morning with the occasional outburst of ‘AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! S/HE’S GOT MY TOY!’  By the time lunch time came, I had been serving my family all from me and my ideas and I was empty & filled with the kids’ crankiness.

stuffed animal swim thanks to pink eye!

I’ve been going to a Bible study at our church on Wednesday mornings, and this semester our group has a mentor who is coming to us teach God’s word.  I love it because she says she just wants us to learn and lean on God’s word and nothing else.  Our homework is list upon lists of scripture that we have to write out by hand…because that is how it can get down into our hearts’ better.  Mrs. Jan told us one thing she wished she had done more with her children was to be vulnerable in front of them – not always having the right answer or to be stoic Bible Mama, but real – showing them what it is like to be weak and come before Jesus.  Because that is real life, ya know?

I had to ask for forgiveness at our lunch time prayer because I had been pretty snappy towards everyone.  I asked them to pray for me – that Mommy was having a rough day.  I said an ‘out loud’ prayer at lunch asking Jesus to be my strength even though I was very tired.  While I didn’t feel like I had a ‘burst of energy’ or anything.  I do think that sharing my heart with the kids endeared our hearts towards each other more.  While far from perfect, we offered a little more patience to each other, ate lunch together, and we all had a nap.

Tomorrow should be some more stretching of myself since I don’t have a voice. What are ways you connect with your kids?   (Also, this isn’t so much about discipline as it is connecting and re-centering the wild, crazy, and crankies.  Just wanted to make that clear. :))

Snuggly time. Crews and Warner. Oh, and Warner, just like Mama Dot, points at everything with his middle finger.   Just in case you were wondering.

Night Lovlies,
 

Tonight,I sit downstairs alone.  Dishes need to be done, but we just got a new laptop, and I’m dabbling with the idea of beginning to blog again.  Ive been out of the habit for so long, I don’t know if I want to start again.  I don’t even know where to start again!  So, I think I’m just going to start trying to put up a little something on a consistent basis.  Nothing long or too wordy, but just little snippets of life. 

This little love has finally started sleeping through the night at 13 months old.  She’s such a little doll, I never minded the wake ups.  Well, I take that back, I did mind the wakes up when she was doing it 5 times a night.  Shew! But, she is sleeping now! Woo hoo!  (Im a new woman!)

A little close up of the sweet Black Apple Dolls(seen in Haven’s crib in above picture) my sister, Nancy, has made for my girls.  The one on the left is Baby Nancy (Harper’s doll – almost 5 years old) and the one on the right (yet to be named by Haven).  Nancy hand stitched them from the pattern found here, and gave them to the girls for their first birthdays.  Precious treasures.

Haven and Crews and a broken remote control (a very treasured item in our home)

Going to try and make my kitchen look like this.  No promises.

Night Y’all,

{I think I am slowly coming back to blogging after my almost year hiatus!! I miss it, and i miss all the documentation! So, hopefully, I will be able to work it back into life.  Now, finally, let me finish our little family updates}

Sweet Maverick.  Funny man.  Life of the party. 

Silly goose.  Passionate. Mini-Chris – you are so much like your dad!

Independent. Hilarious.

You definitely live up to your name! Maverick.  You want to do things your way.  In your time.  Parenting you is a joy and a teensy bit difficult.  But, you are my firecracker, and I love that!  We’ve had some belly laughs together. 

 You can throw a good fit.

Some of my favorite things you say (in your husky little voice – it melts me):

“Oh mee-aann” (man)

“Inna give you a munchie kiss” (watch this little video to see what a munchie kiss is)

“Whas wong mom?!?” (If I say, oh no, or oh dear!)

“You ok? “- sweet boy, always checking on me or his siblings.

Funny things you do:
You will pretend fall or trip and then start cracking up. (think 3 stooges)

You love to wrestle with your brothers.

You love to give spontaneous hugs.  They are real, genuine, hugging with all you’ve got hugs.

You have the best cheeks to kiss on. 

When you smile, and you catch my eye, your whole face lights up.  I love that you love me so!

If either of your brothers are missing, you always seem to notice first and ask me where they are.

You are a special kid, Maverick.  You have a spark.  You are unique and passionate.  I can’t wait to see these qualities develop in you, buddy.  I’m so proud to call you my son!

Crews,

Little love bug, also known to everyone as Crewsie Bug.

pic taken 7 months ago!  by Aunt Nancy Ray

Sweet boy who is so gentle and affectionate.

Here’s a pic from my phone… a little more recent.

You love giving kisses on the lips.  You look at me with intense eye contact and stroke my hair. Such a little love.  You take care of your Mama.

attacking Maverick with a kiss.  All of you do this to each other. Brother love.

You love to practice whispering.

You and Harper and buddies.  You are always looking for ‘Ha-pa.’ 

melt my heart pic by Nancy Ray

pic by Nancy Ray

You gave baby Haven the nickname Haby (rhymes with baby) when she came home from the hospital.   I guess ‘baby Haven’ took to long to say.  It stuck…we all call her Haby now.

You love crocs and have to have the yellow pair that used to be Harper’s.

You are talking like crazy now.  You went from saying a handful of words to complete sentences.  I noticed it the week we brought Haven home from the hospital.  We had yet to introduce you to your new sister because the three of you were sick with croup.  However, not much gets by you!  As I was coming out of my room (where baby Haven and I were quarentined) you pointed to the door and said -‘Dares a bebe in dare’  (there’s a baby in the there).  I about fell over!  I clapped and cheered and picked you up.  You looked at me like I was crazy!  After all, you had been ‘talking’ for about 6 months now…only no one understood a thing you were saying!

I love when I ask you a yes or no question you usually look at me and nod and say ‘Yaaaaa’ with your quiet, raspy voice.

I love when you sing the blessing with Harper before meals.

You know all of your ABC’s and can count to 20 and can spell you name!

When I call your name to come inside or downstairs, you yell out ‘I comin’

If you hear someone crying, you run to them and say, ‘whas wong?’

If you get in trouble, the first thing you say is, ‘I deedn’t dooo eeett’ ( I didn’t do it)…and it makes me laugh (terrible for disciplining).

Your baby teeth are so cute.

If you get hurt (even in the slightest way) you always want me to kiss whatever body part was hurt.  You will come running in from outside whimpering and pointing to your elbow, arm, finger.

Ridin on Mama’s back. (I look all googly eyed) You will bring me Haven’s carrier and say, ‘Crews ride on Mom, or ‘Crews’ turn’.  And I will carry you for about 10 minutes because you weigh about 35 pounds.  You never like for your turn to be over.