Thursday, May 29, 2008

What is it with the broom?

Benaiah is obsessed with our corn straw broom with the long wooden handle. Although he wants it, it is also his biggest frustration. If he happens to get a hold of it, he cries the whole time he has it. He pushes it back and forth like he's trying to sweep, but he's miserable at the same time. If I take it away, he also cries desperately for it. It's strange - a love/hate (one way) relationship. It is now hidden - out of sight, out of mind, right?

Let me know if you have any explanations for this.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Watery wipe-out

The road in front of our house looked like this after a huge downpour. It would be a lot higher than this if there wasn't a concrete drainage ditch that leads to the river at the other side of the cul-de-sac.

JB now has a flag (and streamers) on his bike because we go for runs with JB on his bike and Gloria and Benaiah in the jogging stroller. This way people in cars can see him better. When Max comes with me on a run with the kids, he pushes the jogging stroller...I like that:).

Spring-time Rain

It has been raining on and off here for the past 3-4 days. There have been lots of severe thunderstorm warnings, flood warnings, and tornado watches, especially at night.

The kids took advantage of the rain and abundance of water yesterday, playing with umbrellas and just getting wet splashing and getting rained on.

Benaiah loves doing the same activities as JB and Gloria. He really likes to splash in puddles. I pull him away from the fun when he either decides to crawl into the street or if he starts drinking the puddle/"river" water.

They remind me of little ducklings.


Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Now Benaiah's Turn to Find the Ribbons!

This time I was prepared and more organized for little explorers. Click on the title to see the first time my ribbons were raided.







Caught in the act...

New Table and Chairs!

It was very easy to reupholster the chairs, which is good when you have little munchkins eating and drinking while sitting on them. Notice that Benaiah is not sitting in one of the new chairs...things get under his booster seat that may sit on the chair cushion for a while.

This is a table and chairs that I found on Craigslist here in Wichita and it is teak. It is smaller than our other table without the leaves, but if you pull the leaves out, which are under the table (no storage of extra leaves!) it is a good size. We also have two end chairs (currently in the dining room) that go with this table (6 chairs altogether) that are just a bit higher in the back than the others. I reupholstered all 6 chairs...and scotchguarded them!

We noticed that this table and chairs goes very well in this breakfast nook and with the tile and cabinets...now that we are moving in a month. Hopefully it will go with our next house(s).


Old Fabric












New Fabric

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Struggles in Parenting

This morning after our last MOPS meeting:( we were crossing the parking lot of the church and Gloria was staying behind for some reason. A car pulled out and was waiting for Gloria to come join us. I told Gloria to come and she would not come. I finally went back to her and took her hand. I could tell this was defiance and not a fear of crossing the street, so I told her she would get a spanking when we got home. We went to the library and to the car-repair place first and several times she reminded me that I had promised her a spanking by asking if I would not spank her at home. When we did get home, I had to take Benaiah gingerly up to bed because he had fallen asleep in the car. Gloria immediately went to her bed and told me she didn't want a spanking. I think she knew that if she got into bed and was next door to a sleeping Benaiah that I wouldn't spank her...her cries are loud enough to awaken a quite sleepy baby. I told her that she would still get a spanking either when she finally decided to come downstairs or when Benaiah wakes up - a good deterrent to both come downstairs or awaken Benaiah. "But I don't want a spanking. Can you have 'moocey' on me Mommy.?" This makes me want to right away say "okay, I'll have mercy on you, honey." However, I explained the dangers of not obeying me in the parking lot or in the street and that was why I still had to punish her. She said "okay, Mom" and rolled over on her bed, sucked her fingers, and closed her eyes. I know it may be only the beginning of difficult lessons in life, but Max and I are trying to start them off on the right foot (and keep them safe!). Every day I need patience with the kids and also resolve to follow through so that they can learn to obey God when they are unleashed into the big, bad world. I sure don't look forward to giving her a spanking, but I sure do love her and don't want to lose her in a street, a parking lot, or anywhere!

Monday, May 05, 2008

Robin's Nest

Robins built a nest on our wreath outside our front door. It was fun to see them build it although the male robin kept slamming into our window each morning for a while because he thought his reflection was a competitor. The robin laid three eggs, but I have a feeling she's not coming back because the male stopped slamming against the window (putting a screen on the window probably discouraged that), one egg is now missing, and I haven't seen her on her nest anymore. However, Max says it is unlikely that a robin would abandon her nest. I guess we'll see. It also doesn't help that we are out front a lot and sometimes coming and going through the front door and we keep scaring her off. A pretty location for a nest and fun for us to look at, but maybe not such a good choice in terms of human traffic. There seems to be an egg thief too...not as safe from predators as one would think...

Flower Princess


This is quite the pose. Gloria now has a "back up" princess dress because I found this long pink one at a yard sale. She still likes the one that Gramma Shell made for her best, but this'll do when that one is in the wash.

The flowers look like a crown on her head but they are actually in a vase on the table behind her. My excellent hubby got me a bouquet of roses last week.

Marshmallow Queen...attracting bees:)


The kids made me "jewelery" out of toothpicks and little marshmallows. I have a bracelet, necklace, and a few crowns on in this picture.

JB took this picture and got a good shot of one of the carpenter bees that live in our awning and we live with quite peacefully (they don't sting). Max sometimes catches one with a net and Gloria likes to hold it and then release it...definitely not a "girly-girl" in that respect...she'll hold any kind of bug or worm.