It's beginning to get complicated, folks...

We were getting a little too comfortable with all of this pink in our house. And then it happened...

This babydoll might never be the same again.

Reason #7 why girls are more complicated than boys:

Babydolls have hair. Spiderman doesn't.

And I hear it only gets worse...

Keepin' it simple...

We've been a little out of commission this week, due to a certain momma and one long overdue surgery. But thankfully, after birthing four very large babies, all of my organs are happily back where they belong. For now anyway. I'm sure you're glad to know that. And just so you know too, I have one awesome Mom and one simply amazing husband who took care of those very large babies this week. God is good. So, check that off the list, please.

The moral of the story? I'm not 18 anymore.

Or 29 for that matter.

And guess what else?

Tess likes frozen peas.

This is one crazy profound post.

Keepin' it simple around here this week...

Stable Jack...

I was sorting through pictures tonight and ran across this one from Jack's 8th birthday party. It made me stop in my tracks for some reason. At first I thought it was because he's not wearing his glasses. Then I realized how old and tall he looks. I smiled too at the thought of him losing his grown-up, academic self for the party... how I loved watching him actually act his age: carefree and full of energy. I tried to wrap my mind around his new relationship with deodorant and his desire to take morning showers instead of nighttime baths. My boy is growing up.

I admired this group of eight-year old school friends, and wondered who he would be hanging out with when he's fifteen. And what kind of influences they would be to him, and he to them. Then that got me thinking about his conviction over lyrics of a song on the school bus this week, and my phone call to the bus driver that followed.

Friends, choices, convictions, growing up. Then I decided to stop thinking.

I don't write so much about Jack on the blog, I've noticed. It's not that there's not a lot going on with him, or that I don't follow him as closely. It's just that he's...

stable.

Obviously not without some habits that need some continued, clear training. He's far from perfect. But I'm really enjoying him and his stableness. He has a clear sense of who he is and what's expected of him. He's able to do so many things on his own, and requires less direction than the other three. We have intelligent, meaningful conversations on everything from computer games to God. He still tells me everything. He wants to help me cook dinner.

He was three once, and not so stable. And trust me, when he wasn't stable, neither was I. Who knows which came first, but God used that time to teach both of us a lot about ourselves. And now, just this week, I've told his story twice to two weary moms (to guess what... three year olds!). And I was able to encourage them that eventually, with lots of discipline, consistency, patience, prayer, and grace, God can take a three year old...

and make him stable.

At least for this week (sometimes I leave that part out...heh.).

Change, take two...

Alright ya'll, I took the plunge.

Again.

At least momentarily.

You know how I am with change and all.

I took a little visit here, and looked for anything that didn't have flowers, buttons, or lace (Hey, if your blog has those things, I'm cool with that, but you know boring ol' me...).

This time it might just last for longer than an hour. At least so I can justify what I did during the kids' naptime today.

So, with that little confession out of my system, I'm off to start dinner prep. So it looks like I accomplished something of importance... you know... when I should have been working.

Winter boy fun!

Chase cannot wait for the big boys to get home from school so they can join him outside!

My most common intervention phrase: "Not in the face, boys!"

Sliding down the driveway (if you've been to our house, you know why this is a favorite!)... One awesome dad to the rescue... Jack asked for this!

This is why dads go outside, while mommas stay in with the baby to cook dinner...

How many boys in that pile? FOUR!

Dinner and hot chocolate will be waiting inside!