How does this happen?

Just so we're clear, this child would never do this for me. :)

Thinking about stuff like...

... how each family member adds their own little flair to our house.

...how glad I am that God made two year-olds so cute,

to combat all the other times when they're... well... a handful.

...how much my kids mimic and learn from each other.

... how every day being a mom is worth it, even when it's hard.

... how much more I need to learn about what's really important in my days.

...that E.E. Cummings was right - "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."

Waste not.

Since we're on the subject of cutting edge, innovative toy storage in our house (hilarious... this post was the most-viewed post of all time since the blog's been up and running!), I thought I'd share yet another unconventional storage solution in the Daugherty house. This one was my idea. Oh, yeah. You know me, the one low on creativity but high on practicality...

This is a risky post, I'm aware. Longaberger fans everywhere are probably peeing their pants right now. But at least give me this... who in the world owns enough umbrellas to fill this thing?? It was a thoughtful gift from our Realtor when we purchased our home, but I am way more practical than what this basket's intended purpose had to offer. Maybe one day when the boys outgrow swords (uh, like when they're eighteen??), it can go back to being an umbrella basket.

For the one umbrella that I own.

That I keep in my car.

You don't think my realtor reads my blog, do you?

The Home Depot trip that got a makeover...

It started out like any other Home Depot trip. Four kids takes some sort of system anytime you go out in public, and Home Depot is a slam dunk. One parent takes the kids to load up on the free popcorn, and sits them all properly on their very own lawnmower. Letting your children eat popcorn on lawnmowers buys you all sorts of time for the other parent to shop. Tyler reminded me at one point that these are $4000 lawnmowers, but seriously, if you don't want them test-driven by a two year old, then you're going to have to rethink your display.

So I'm monitoring the really expensive lawnmowers - uh, I mean kids - while Tyler heads to the storage section to look for some bins to hold our newly sorted LEGO collection (thousands of miniature pieces now sorted by color... this is how we spend our Friday nights). We had talked though our vision before we left home, and knew exactly what we were looking for. Something big enough and flat enough for proper LEGO building. You know, so the pieces aren't so piled up that you can't find exactly what you're looking for. We're LEGO freaks around here, and this sort of thinking is critical for maximum output (I'm so glad I went to college for this stuff).

Ladies, never, and I mean never, send your husband to roam freely by himself in Home Depot. Or the grocery store when he's hungry. It's just plain not safe. Or Sam's Club for that matter. The large containers are just too tempting for any man.

I could go on, but all you really need to know is this. We went in for a few plastic storage containers, and came home with this:

Now I'd like to think that I have an open mind. But Tyler... Tyler sort of has a reputation for thinking outside the box. Let it be known that his creativity has served our family well over the years. But I have to tell you that I was not prepared for this. The Home Depot dude could see it written all over my face. "You want that in their room?" I asked the kind employee if he was married. He nervously giggled, then smiled and said, "Yes ma'am, thirteen years ma'am." Hmm... ironically the same number of years as us. "Would your wife let you put that in your house?"

I don't remember his answer, since I'm pretty sure I was chasing a toddler while cleaning popcorn off the floor at this point.

There was one left in the box, a left-over from Christmas that hadn't sold. It was sturdy, and boy-like and the drawers were large and flat and slid in and out oh so smoothly. And you could even lock a two-year old out of it if you wanted to.

And when the boys were done with it? Why, there'd always be some sort of use for it in Tyler's workshop.

Mmmhmm.

What happened from there is kind of a blur, but somehow I caught the vision, and here we are. It's perfect in form and function. The whole family is in love. Except for the two-year old, who is officially locked out.

Sighting...

Does anyone else have action figures regularly suspended from their blinds, or is it just me?

Christmas photos... the ones that exist, at least.

Beware my Facebook friends, these pics are repeats. I'm officially fired from uploading pictures from our camera since I somehow lost most of them from Christmas morning somewhere in our computer. I can't dance, and now this. I'm convinced they're still in there somewhere (I swear I saw them!), but they're probably filed in some random spot that I'll never think to look in... like the "Makin' Hamballs with Mom" picture folder.

I promise you that folder exists. I would never make something like that up.

Tyler had to work Christmas Day, but fourteen years into the pharmacy profession, we have honestly learned to expect to spend holidays like this. I never heard one complaint from Tyler for having to go in. Only something about him feeling bad that the patients had to spend Christmas in the hospital. So proud of that man. What a blessing that he was able to work the 1:30-10pm shift so that we could wake up and watch the kids open presents together on Christmas morning.

(Imagine a darling photo of all four kids in front of the tree here. Duh.)

Tess got a dollhouse that the whole house is giddy about. Maybe because it's her first big toy. Big girl stuff is new to us. In sort of an embarrassing admission, let's just say that no one can keep their hands off of it. Boys included. :) Just like I used to do with the Little People barn, I have to make sure everything is in it's place before bed. You know, the twin babies in their bassinets, the chairs tucked in neatly under the kitchen table, the decorative pillows set just so on top the matching comforter.

Clearly I need to be put on medication. But back to more carefree moments, like Tess dancing to Tyler playing the latest Guitar Hero game out. Somehow it showed up in his stocking... a thoughtful gift to himself. :)

Chase decked out in full camo gear. Just what this simple kid wanted. Scratch that. He wanted that, and everything everyone else got.

They rarely wear shirts, and yes, they're a sticky mess from eating their suckers from their stockings (and don't they look tired from getting up so early?!). But so glad I didn't lose this shot. To all of the tired mommas out there with toddlers so very close in age: something amazing happened as they grew. They became best friends. We celebrated Christmas with our immediate families the weekend of New Year's. Wish you could see this crew interact. These cousins are full of so much energy... and love! Pictured are our kids, plus my two sisters' kids: Emma (the oldest - 12), Tess (the youngest - 2), and eight boys sandwiched in between! Our final destination was a relaxing day spent with the Daugherty clan. We had a great trip (oh, how traveling gradually gets easier as babies grow older!)... thanks so much to our families for hosting our rowdy bunch!

Now, I think I'll go check that hamball folder, just in case...

Finding a resolution that sticks...

Haven't thought of your New Year's resolution yet? Me neither. Not really sure I've ever bought into the concept, considering the lack of commitment that follows so closely behind the commitment. Maybe my first one should be to teach my daughter modesty. This is what she does now when I tell her to smile for a picture. Hmm. If that doesn't give you a little glimpse into her personality then I don't know what does. She gets it from her daddy.

We've been traveling, skipping meals to build Legos, trying to find the laundry room floor (laundry should NOT exist the whole month of December if you ask me), wondering if that critical piece to that new toy really did get thrown in the trash, regretting the junk food we've put into our mouths... all the while trying to teach Jesus and not "stuff" to our kids this Christmas. Oh yes, and then there are the children to feed and the "Give me that back...that's my new toy..." conversations to interrupt.

We got home last night from our trip to visit our immediate families for Christmas. We had a fabulous trip, but by the time we got home, the two little ones were completely wiped. We got a good laugh out of listening to Chase slur his speech on the way home because he could barely keep himself awake.

Thinking we needed a day to recoup, we made a rare decision to have "church" at home this morning. Turns out it was a good time to address the selfish attitudes that had been looming in the house all morning. Tyler taught from Psalm 100 about having thankful hearts, and then camped in James to cover how our words to each other should be "peace-loving." The boys gave lots of great examples on how they could do a better job of showing each other a love that is sincere and unselfish.

"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." (James 3:16)

Just when I was ready to point the finger at my kids. Ugh. Don't you hate it when you're sitting in on a sermon and you try really hard to make someone else own the convicting take-away, only to find that it was meant for you all along?

Yeah.

It's one thing when disorder physically takes over my house. Uh, like now. When I'm so far behind on the regular chores because holiday activities have taken precedence. When it still looks like my house needs an intervention from an HGTV de-cluttering show. When my Christmas decorations are begging for someone to put them away, and the toilet hasn't been properly cleaned in weeks (wow, now you and all of internet-land know the disgusting truth).

But it's quite another thing to experience the disorder of the heart when I'm jealous and think of only myself. You see, I can't just shove everything into the laundry room of my heart and pretend like unannounced visitors don't even know it's there. Oh yes, of course God sees. But the disorder eventually leaks out to everyone around me too. And you know it's always going to come out in some nasty form that you'll totally regret later.

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:17-18

I want these words to describe our home this year. They are powerful words! I am convinced that as women, we have so much influence over the tone of our home; over these words that can turn into actions that can invade and take over the disorder of our hearts. Someone has to start the cycle. How incredible that the Bible says that "those who make peace" will sow a "harvest of righteousness". I'll take that over disorder any day.

Hmm... sounds like I just might have found my New Year's Resolution. Pretty sure the results will be more lasting than my annual temporarily laying off the junk food.

Praying that by His grace, this one sticks.