Warning: A Competitive Spirit Can Lead To Very Odd Behavior

My older two older boys are extremely competitive. 

When they saw the mid-air-puddle-jump picture I posted of the little guy, they immediately begged for me to catch them in mid-air. 

Translation:  I bet I can jump higher! 

They totally cracked me up!

Over and over and over again.

We’d take a bunch of pictures.  Then go in and look at them on the computer.  And laugh our heads off! 

Then we’d go back out and do it some more.

Who needs a trampoline?  Lol!

No doubt we helped confirm any doubts the neighbors had as to our oddness.  But I have to say, it was a lot of fun.

This was the closest I came to capturing them all in mid-air together. 

It’s harder than you think!!!!

Hosted by Cecily and Caitlin

Not Fit For Man Or Beast

That’s what it’s been outside.  HOT. HUMID. And Stormy.  It’s the pea soup of summer time.

The boys are actually getting tired of video games!!! Lol!

It seriously cracks me up.  I’ll venture outside to get the mail (an exciting walk it is NOT), and all three boys will follow me out.

Ooching and Ouching in their bare feet over the hot steamy pavement.

And one thing leads to another.

And soon, they’re having a puddle jumping contest in the grossly warm puddles.

This one got some serious air!

Of course, what’s a warm puddle when there’s a perfectly good hose full of cold water?! 

Isn’t it amazing how wonderful the house feels when you come back in?  It goes from stuffy to arctic in the space of a water fight.  :)

How are you all staying cool? 

This post is linked to Just for the Joy Of It, and You Capture (theme:  Play).  Check them out for more fun!!

 

In case you’re wondering why my posts have been sporadic, here are some of the things that are keeping us busy…

• Bible School.  There are two more days.  I can’t tell you how proud I am of my older boys helping out, or of my little guy for being such a “big boy”.
• Orthodontics Appointments.  My middle son goes today to get forms made.  And I get to sign the contract.  Oh joy.
• House sitting.  I have the wonderful kind of neighbors who ask us to swim in their pools while they’re on vacation to help the filters do their job.  It’s tough.  But we’re doing out best.  :)
• Birthday shopping.  My little guy turns 6 in four days.  My oldest turns 13 in 20.  Sheesh! 

The Mommy Bouncer

With just 20 days before my little guy gets on the big yellow bus, I’m wishing something awful I could push the pause button on the clock.  Somehow, sending this one off to kindergarten is hitting me much harder than it did with his older brothers.

He’s little for his age.  And really shy.  And need I say, he’s my baby?

In my head, I know it’s time.  Yet the worries refuse to stop squeezing my heart…

Have I prepared him enough?  What if no other little boy wants to be his friend?  Or what if bigger kids pick on him?  What if he has trouble adjusting to the structure?  What if the teacher doesn’t recognize his wiggle for what it is and send him to the bathroom in time??

Ack!  I know it’s silly.  I’d be the first to encourage another mom that everything will be just fine.  So why can’t I convince myself?

Last night was the first night of VBS at our church.  And I didn’t have any assigned responsibilities.  I helped here and there.  But I mostly spied. 

Shamelessly SPIED, I tell you.  (Isn’t that terrible?  Lol!)

And what I saw calmed a few of the jitters for me. 

In his group of 32  K-1st graders, when most of the other little bodies were dancing jigs, looking at the decorations, or picking their noses (aren’t you glad I cropped that out for you?!), my little guy was right where he needed to be.  And his attention was spot on.

I didn’t see him speak a single word to anyone the whole night.  But he was all eyes.  And he stuck with the group.  And he did what he was told... 

…until game time. 

The K-1st graders were combined with the equally huge group of 2nd and 3rd graders.  And the adults were spread pretty thin.

After I helped corral the kids into smaller relay teams, I left to take two little girls on an emergency bathroom run. 

When I got back, my little guy was hanging way back from his team, all alone in the field.  Unnoticed by the adults.  And near tears.

Apparently, the other little boys and girls on his team had told him to “move back” repeatedly so they could go again.  So when everyone else had had multiple turns, he hadn’t gone even once yet.

Stifling the urge to deck the little bullies (in the name of God, of course), I told him to get back in line.  The right place in line.  And to stand his ground.  I also informed the kids in his group that they needed to go all the way to the end of the line after their turn. 

But most paid no attention.  Kids behave so differently than they did when I was that age.  Or even when I taught that age.  There seems to be little respect for adults, even among church kids.  

So as I watched my little guy drive the chariot and enjoy the turn he almost didn’t have……the worries about school and his shyness put a strangle on my heart. All over again.

I’d love to be his body guard.  I think I’d make a pretty good bouncer.  But as much as I long to, I can’t follow him to school.  And sooner or later, he has to learn how to handle these kinds of situations on his own.

So what’s a mom to do? 

1.  My head tells me trust.  Trust that the God who loves him even more than I do will never leave his side.  And that my little guy will learn all the little lessons that will help him grow into the kind of man God wants him to be. 

2.  And supply endless hugs at the end of the day.

 

I’ll need them.

Life With Boys

I know what you’re thinking.  Not another I-was-out-taking-pictures-of-flowers-when… post.  But, what can I say?  Flowers are just about the only things that hold still and don’t complain while I try out new things with my camera.  

Anyway, where was I?  Oh yes.  One evening, I was outside shooting this geranium, and concentrating through the viewfinder when I saw…?  You know, life is never dull with a bunch of boys!  Honestly.  My boys apparently, have nothing better to do than to crash my photo shoots. 

They’re never around to pick up their dirty socks, or when the grass needs mowing.  But try to take a pretty picture and they’re right in the middle of it.  Being their goofy selves.

And if I, per chance, ask the impossible, and want them to pose pretty, someone is quick to start trouble.  While another plays the victim.    “Did you see that?  He pinched me!”

And look at these feet.  They constantly force me to remind them how many times I stepped on bees growing up.   Yet, do any of them care?  Just wait till one of them gets stung and his toes swell up like an over-inflated surgical glove. 

Sometimes boys can be so exasperating.  Lol!

Then I sit back and watch them.   

They’re so stink in’ cute.  Too cute for their own goods.

And I get to wondering how long we have before girls start calling our house. 

I’m guessing we’ll have at least until the girls stop being “gross.”  Right?

And we’ll probably have some warning, don’t you think? 

Like my boys will start wanting to brush their teeth, take a shower and wear deodorant. 

And every time they laugh, it won’t be followed by a horrendous smell.

Yeah.  I think we have time.

In fact, I feel pretty confident about my job security for the moment.

They still need me. 

Even if they don’t listen to me.  Even if it’s just to get the grass stains out.

And if they get too ornery, I can always hug them in public. 

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

The Eyes May Have It, But WHO’S Eyes???

I’m joining Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry for You Capture.  This weeks challenge was to post a photo I took, processed in black and white.  I’m also linking to Sharon’s Just For The joy Of It, over at Good True and Beautiful.  Because this sure was fun!

So, anyways.  Here it goes.

I was going to take a picture of one of my boys playing with his Star Wars figures.  Which I did.  But this got me thinking about eyes.  Any wonder?

And it snowballed from there.

Before you know it, I was on a mission to capture as many eyes as I could find.

From the smallest boy, to the largest.

And when I ran out of boys (cute as they are), I went looking for other eyes.  :)  And was tickled at how many fun ones I found!

So here they are!  See how many you can identify.  And then tell us how well you did!  We’ll start out easy.  Lol!

O.K.  Confession time.  The last picture was one I took on vacation several weeks ago.  But how could I resist including those eyes??

Did you guess them all?  Check yourself.

Our kitty, Lucky.

A very nasty biting green-head fly.

A Tiger Swallow Tail Butterfly.

Wasp.

   My brother’s chicken.  (Sorry.  That’s as specific as I can get.  Lol!)

 

The black and white versions added some difficulty to the task, didn’t it?

How well did you do?

Hippity Hop

I went outback to take some more flower pictures with my new camera and was immediately distracted by the yard action.

The boys found the old Hippity Hop ball hanging in the garage.  

Do you remember the Hippity Hop Ball?  For those of you who don’t, it was a heavy rubber ball with a handle on the top.  You sat on the ball, hung on to the handle, and bounced all over creation on it.

The boys were in the thick of developing creative games for its use. 

 

The first was the “see how long you can hold on while I drag you around the yard” game.

And, then there was Red Light Green Light…where “the light”  beat the fastest player with the Hippity Hop ball. 

Only, being the mean mom that I am, I added the rule that they couldn’t beat heads. 

Next, they tried to use it in a game of dodge ball. 

For something like 15 seconds. 

Before I spoiled the fun again. 

Finally, someone decided to hop on it.  Or maybe I should say leap.  Did you ever notice that boys do everything in extremes?  

As a little girl, I had a dark red one.  I would hop up and down our sidewalks endlessly.  Someone in our neighborhood had a horsy head one (I think it was blue).  And someone else had a Hippity Hop ball with a handle shaped like a “T”.  I forget now.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who has fond memories of Hippity Hops! 

Or  wonders how we never ended up with head injuries from them!  Lol!  But you know?  I don’t ever remember any of us falling off.

I just envision all the possibilities as a mom (of boys) now!  Lol!  (Notice, he’s hopping on the grass!) 

Zucchini Whoopie Pies

I tried this recipe a few weeks ago and it turned out to be a great way to use the zucchinis that are coming out my ears. 

The only thing I would do differently next time is to use a little less cream cheese and a little more butter in the filling.  My boys weren’t keen on being able to discern the cream cheese flavor.  I know.  You don’t have to tell me.  That’s the best part! 

Zucchini Whoopie Pies

• 1 C sugar
• 1 C grated zucchini
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 C vegetable shortening
• 1 egg
• 2 C flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 C milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 C chopped nuts (optional)

Mix together zucchini, sugar, soda, powder, shortening and egg.  Mix dry ingredients together, add milk.  Combine until smooth and stir in vanilla and nuts.  Drop by tablespoon full onto lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9 to 10 minutes.

When they are cooled, spread filling between two and enjoy!

Cream Cheese Filling

• 7 ox cream cheese (soft)
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 lb. confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• Mix well.

Because we made a triple batch, we wrapped a good many of them and put them in the freezer.  The boys enjoyed pulling them out and eating them like ice cream sandwiches.  Yum!

PS.  If you stopped by, chances are you have an abundance of zucchinis, too.  My mom’s recipe for Stuffed Zucchini is wonderful!  And I also love Zucchini Muffins.

 

I linked up over at:

• Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed With Grace
• Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
• Tuesdays At The Table  at all the Small Stuff
• Tuesday Tastes at Crazy Daisy at Crazy Daisy 

A Word About The Manufacturer

“If we don’t acknowledge God, we are flotsam in the universe. 

At best we are developed animals. 

At worst we are rearranged space dust.”

Max Lucado

I love his way with words!  It’s true, isn’t it?  Apart from God, there is no purpose.  No value.  No hope.  And no help.

How reassuring to know I am not an accident, or an incident.  And neither are you! 

You made my whole being;

you formed me in my mother’s body.

I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well.

You saw my bones being formed

as I took shape in my mother’s body.

When I was put together there,

you saw my body as it was formed.

All the days planned for me

were written in your book before I was one day old.

Psalm 139:13-16

 

God has made us what we are.  In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. 

Ephesians 2:10

In today’s world, we seldom contact a manufacturer unless we are having trouble with their product.

Unfortunately, Christians sometimes fall into the same habit with their manufacturer.  We cry out to God when there’s trouble.  But fail to talk to him or consult his Manual on a daily basis. 

God desires to be central in every part of our lives.  He didn’t wind us up, set us down and walk away.  He’s still there.  And He longs to work in and through us.  To bless our lives and those we touch. 

He’s more than our Manufacturer. 

He’s our Redeemer. 

Our Friend. 

Our Hope. 

And our Help. 

Happy Monday Friends!  

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Edit:  I really do have summer brain!  I just added a link to the picture.  AND here’s the coupon code for free shipping with $10 purchase.  If it doesn’t automatically fill it in for you, type in “SUMMER10”  (Exp. 7/29).     

Avon’s Skin So Soft is on sale!  50% off!  Regularly $16, it is on sale for $7.99.  It offers bug repellent and sunscreen in one easy application.  The supply usually goes pretty quickly.  So if you need it, don’t wait to order!

It goes on only slightly greasy and it smells nice.  This is one of my tried and true products which I like to stock up on when Avon runs these sales. 

It really does keep mosquitoes (and other creepy crawlies which bite) away.  And it’s super easy to apply.  So my boys don’t fuss when I give them a spray before sending them off to their outdoor activities!

My family is all fair skinned.  Yet one brief application keeps us from getting burned, even during extended time in the sun and water.

Disclaimer…Avon isn’t compensating me in anyway for this post.  I just wanted to let you know about a sale on a product I love! 

Mosquito (Repellent) Plants?

The mosquitoes have taken over the airways in our neighborhood.    Step outside and you’ll be dancing the jig of the Skeeter Swatter in no time. 

I’ve often heard that some plants repel mosquitoes if you plant them around your yard.  Have you heard that?  I’m thinking that I’d have to plant a thousand of them for it to work.  Not that I’d mind.  They smell really nice.

But it’s probably not happening. 

While we were in Pennsylvania, though, we visited our favorite plant nursery.  It’s known for carrying a huge selection of hard to find plants and I was excited that they still had a few of their scented geraniums for sale (above). 

This plant (I’ve since read) is grown from a hybrid blend of Citronella grass and Geranium.   Sometimes called the Mosquito Plant, it gives off a sweet lemony scent when you rub the leaves.  People say you can break off a leaf, rub it on your skin, and enjoy natural insect protection.

Does it really work?  I have to admit, I’m a little skeptical.  And I don’t want to steal any leaves from my tiny plants just yet.  But I plan to try it out.  (I’ll let you know!)

However, I would have bought them even if I hadn’t heard what people use them for, just because I love to smell them. 

And smell like them.  Lol!

I also found a plant there that I didn’t know existed.  It’s a type of lemony mint.  Oh my goodness, it smells heavenly!!!  I think it will be wonderful in tea, though I haven’t tried it yet.  It needs to grow a little first.

It will probably take over the back yard before I know it.  But I’m not sure I’ll mind.  Seriously.  And it can’t hurt the war on mosquitoes any.

What do you use to keep the pests away?  We have a can of repellent (with DEET) next to each door.  But I hate to use it unless we’re going to be out for a long time.

We also really like Avon’s Skin So Soft, and this stuff by Cutter.

A few years ago, we had a neighbor stop in to chat and I about split a gut laughing.  She had a dryer sheet hanging over each ear.  When she realized she forgot to take them off, she sheepishly said that she heard they kept mosquitoes away…  (not to mention, keep the neighbors wondering…Lol!)

What kinds of things have you done or heard of to fight mosquitoes?  Won’t you PLEASE share with the rest of us?!!  :) 

Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way…

Over vacation, my boys were eyeing the creek in my parents’ side yard.  However, looking at the poison ivy covering both banks,  I told them not to dare climb down in there.   

Yet, they were determined to get at a big construction cone which a storm had washed under the bridge. 

And they were dying to see if there were any crayfish under the rocks.

So the next thing I knew, this is what I saw…Brilliant, isn’t it? 

My oldest was quick to point out that no one was “climbing down in” the creek.  :)

The stream bed is probably a good 2 or 3 feet below the bridge.  I was waiting for the little guy to give in to his curiosity, dismount his “post”, and leave his big brother to fall face first into the creek.  :)

And it came close to happening.

But it didn’t. 

Probably because I had my camera ready to snap a picture.  If I hadn’t, I bet it would have happened!  Lol!  Isn’t that how it usually works??

Every once in a while, my oldest would hand up a treasure in the screen for the little guy to examine.

My husband and I took a walk up the road, and when we came back by the barn, I had to laugh all over again.  They were still at it, and from this angel, my little guy’s feet looked five sizes too big!

What a fun day!  Too bad about the poison ivy.  Maybe I should have just let them have at it and scrubbed them up well afterwards.

I remember spending every day I could in this crick growing up.  I’d catch everything from crayfish, to salamanders, to tadpoles.  I even took a baby snake (among other things) to third grade with me for show and tell.  Lol!  (Can you believe my mom let me do that??)

I remember my teacher saying, “No more living things.”

If we had a creek by our own house, I have no doubt where my boys would be spending their summer days.   And I’d wager my little guy would be sneaking some living contraband to school for show and tell, too.  It makes me giggle.  :)  He still might!

Camera Fun!!

Tonight, I went out to take a few flower shots in the late evening sunshine.   There were a number of bumble bees begging to get in on the fun and I wanted to see how much detail I could capture with my new D5000.

Oh boy!

And Wow!

Sigh.  :)

This Bee makes the water droplets I was so impressed with yesterday look wimpy.

I really like this camera.  Nothing is safe around here.  I have a feeling it could even make my dust bunnies look beautiful. 

But I’ll spare you.  :)

Having an upgraded camera is definitely a wonderful thing!

Hosted by Cecily