Simple, Sweet, Sick Valentine's

Brian and I decided that Valentine's Day wasn't ever going to be a big deal for us.  If we make plans, great.  If we don't, that's fine too.  This year was so simple.  The weather was perfect and the boys are particular.  I knew just what to do.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood,

despite the fact that Mommy had bronchitis.

CRAZY.

Pushing the double stroller sent me 

straight

to the nebulizer.

Samuel, however, loved getting out.

Daniel loves the outdoors.  

He rode his tractor around the subdivision 

until its battery died.  

That might have been what sent me

straight

to the nebulizer.

I asked the boys specifically what they wanted

for the Valentine's supper.

Here were their requests:

Daniel wanted a chocolate (nutella) sandwich,

fruit with all the colors, grape juice, and 

a little macaroni.

Samuel wanted a sandwich with "just jelly by itself",

macaroni and cheese, tea, watermelon and strawberries.

"Not all the colors, just blue."

Well, actually, Samuel, those would be red.

Their Valentine's dinner plates. 

Fancy.

We broke out the FINE china paper plates.

I even used my knife to cut their sandwiches 

into hearts.  Cute, right?

Samuel just wanted to eat.

Daniel was ready to pray.

Elias just wanted to crawl under our feet.

Taking a picture of one of my Valentine's.

Elias tried watermelon for the first time.

He liked the juice.

THEN, Daddy got home!

Samuel took our picture!

We lowered Elias' crib so we could attempt

to put him in it at night.

He didn't like the idea 

as much as his big brothers did.

Sweet, Simple Christmas

I love Christmas.  I love the truth it brings.  I love that it is a time to really reflect on the birth of Jesus.  I don't always think of my Savior as a child, but now that I am a mother, the story of Christ's arrival is much sweeter to me.  The idea that God's Son was willing to come to this earth to bless us with the gift of His life, death, and resurrection completely amazes me.

Christmas for our family is simple.  We eat too much, laugh a bunch, and love on each other.  We read from Luke over and over and over to reiterate the importance of this holiday, and at this point, both Daniel and Samuel can tell you the gifts the wise men brought to baby Jesus.  Our boys, much like Jesus, receive three gifts from Mom and Dad on Christmas morning.  They wake to find them neatly wrapped and set out underneath our "Jesus" tree.  However, they cannot open them until after we read about the gift of Jesus!  

I know we do things a bit different than most, but there's something sweet about the simplicity of what we do.  Jesus didn't come into the world with fancy things, yet He was and is the King of Kings.  He definitely wasn't the best dressed wearing swaddling cloths and lying among pieces of hay, yet He now wears a robe and a crown.  He didn't need gifts because He was and is the gift to the world.  I want our children to know that Christmas is about CHRIST and nothing more.  The reason we lavish our love on our children at this time of year is because Christ first loved us.  Yes, they got way more than they need, but I hope that in the excitement of what was today, our boys reflected on who and why we celebrate:  Jesus Christ, our Lord.

3 boys

3 stockings

3 gifts for each

(Stockings are my favorite Christmas childhood memory - 

my mom was very good about making these special for us, 

so I really want to continue that tradition with our boys.)

Reading the Christmas Story

in our pajamas

Daniel, despite having gone to the doctor

on Christmas Eve and having ear infections,

was SUPER excited to get 

Crazy Forts from Mom and Dad!

Thankful for medicine today.

Samuel, our little musician,

was happy to get a microphone

that plays music AND

records him singing!

Elias really wasn't feeling well...

He has been running temp since Christmas Eve, 

and today his symptoms increased.

However, he really liked his 

Chase and Go car.

BUT not near as much as he liked 

his Laugh and Learn farm he received

from Grandpa a few days before Christmas.

We decided to pull it out on Christmas Day - 

you know, to add to the chaos.  

We were all ready to go back to bed.

No?

Just Mom and Elias.

We really test the "age recommendation"

on toys to their limits.  For instance,

the barn says ages 6-36 months.

No joke, our 3 sons played with this for an hour.

Elias (7 months)

Samuel (31 months = 2 1/2 years)

Daniel (44 months = 3 1/2 years)

Daniel acted like it was the best thing

he's seen in a year!

What Christmas 

(and double ear infections)

does to Daniel!

Asleep on the couch by 7 o'clock

Oh, October!

We're a whopping eleven days into this month, and it's been quite a month indeed.  Let's see.  How can I make a yucky couple of weeks sound enjoyable?

On the first day of October, my sweet boys gave to me...  the most priceless picture of my precious three.

Daddy left for a work conference in Indiana this day,

but the boys played well and I held it together.  :) 

On the second day of October, my three kids gave to me...  an awful headache with no great relief.

I worked on a few of this little pin 

while the boys were in school 

(more details to follow),

but when the boys got home

and Daddy not here,

it made for a tough night!

On the third day of October, my husband gave to me...  his return from Indiana, exciting to say the least.

Much to my surprise, though,

Brian didn't feel well.

He was burning up

and spent the night miserably.

On the fourth day of October, Tamiflu gave to me...  all three boys as precaution since my husband tested positively.

The boys spent their day at MDO

learning Fire Safety and having fun

(see Daniel's "fire" tattoos),

while I packed our bags

and picked up prescriptions.

Brian went that morning 

and tested positive for the flu.

On the fifth day of October, my husband offered me...  a home away from the flu at our Mimi's.

To keep the boys well,

they and I headed to Mimi's house

while Brian was sick at home.

Their favorite part at Mimi's?

Her fall decorations...

Especially Scarecrow.

On the sixth day of October, the pediatrician gave to me...  bronchialitis diagnosis for two of my babies.

The boys were so sick throughout the night.

I took them to the pediatrician.

Samuel and Elias both had bronchialitis.

Breathing treatments.  Yay.

On the seventh day of October, the changing weather gave to me...  a fever that made me want to sleep.

I felt terrible when I woke Sunday morning.

I was so cold.

We went home from Mimi's after church.

On the eighth day of October, the Little Clinic gave news to me...  my husband had given the flu to me.

I knew I didn't feel good, 

But the flu?!

Thanks, honey, for sharing. 

Brian stayed home with the boys. 

On the ninth day of October, the day welcomed me...  husband home again and boy's nose very bloody.

Brian took the boys to MDO,

then watched Elias for me

while I slept.

When he went to pick the boys up,

they begged to go to the park.

That's when Samuel fell somehow

on the curly slide.

Busted his nose.  Bloodied his shirt.

(see Samuel's nose above)

On the tenth day of October, the boys gave to me...  lots of exhaustion and Blue Mountain Mystery.

Being sick is rough when you're a mom.

However, you make it work.

Like with lots of t.v., snacks, and "sure"s.

We also got a free dvd code to the Redbox.

That's when we found 

the new Thomas movie was available!

On the eleventh day of October, the good Lord gave to me...  mother's day out, fever free, and my sanity.

We've all got some major congestion,

but the boys are at MDO 

and I'm staring down at this sweet face.

On the twelfth day of October, I'll tell you what I'll do for me...  relax, enjoy, and drink some sweet tea.

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Life Lately

I thought having two boys was tough...  you know, until I had three.  It's not necessarily hard; it is simply God's way of teaching me to love the life I've been given.  My days are much more exhausting and trying, but they are so full of love and laughter from way too early until way too late. 

Ever wondered what I do all day with three?  Yeah, so do I.  :)

We wear each others' shoes. 

Samuel and Daniel really enjoy walking around in each other's shoes.  Then, things get pretty hilarious when they start putting on Mommy's shoes.  It's more than I can take!

We play with toys. 

Elias has finally started to enjoy his bouncer.  He studies the toys then very seriously hits them.  The older brothers think he is so amazing when Elias moves his toys around. 

We improvise, invent, and pretend.

This blew my mind the other day.  Daniel had decided to empty out the Mega Blocks from the blue bucket and turn it into a basketball goal.  I kid you not.  He wedged the large plastic tote between the wall and the recliner, and the boys spent an hour tossing balls up into it.  It was quite inventive, if you ask me.

We make messes and have fun doing so.

Okay, so maybe I lied a little on that one because I find nothing fun about the messes the boys make.  Nothing at all.  But, when I look around (for example, in the above picture) and see the stains on the carpet, I know that our two precious boys made them, and as annoyingly frustrating as it is to clean all day long, I am so thankful that they enjoy their home.  It's not nice or fancy, but it's their play place, the place where they learn and love.

We fight, play, and love.

It's a cycle we go through every single day about a hundred times.  One minute they're playing perfectly together, the next they are biting each other.  One minute they are kissing the baby, and the next they are suffocating him by lying on top of him. 

The things I do most lately are spanking, hugging, holding, and cleaning, and I like it.  Because I'm reminded of God in every thing I do.  He is constantly spanking, hugging, holding, and cleaning me.  So, while this life with three boys is ever-so challenging, I find it purely perfect. 

Miss List

I'll be completely honest that the past few weeks with 3 children has completely changed my outlook on life.  I mean it.  I am a firm believer that God knows what is best, but He is knocking my socks off with this little addition.  I never knew a 10 lb. baby could do that, but God surely is teaching me a multitude of lessons having given us Elias. 

I find myself "missing" things...  You know, like the-life-before-three-children kind of missing things.  I miss getting places on time.  I miss having just enough hands.  I miss sleep.  I miss pre-pregnancy clothes.  I miss an under-packed diaper bag.  I miss extra room in the van.  I miss open space in the fridge.  I miss clean counters.  I miss going to church.  I miss time with my husband.  Did I mention that I miss sleep?!

And yet, I don't miss anything at all.  I can barely remember life before three.  Oh my word, how I love watching my boys learn to live with one another!  I love seeing the older boys "take care" of the baby.  I enjoy the newborn cries and the sweet words my older boys say.  I never imagined life could be so full!  My three sons make me better just by being here and overwhelming me, testing me, and teaching me to lean more on the Lord.  I love, love, love this life I've been blessed with. 

Daniel and Samuel help Elias

understand "tummy time."

Going for their first walk together with Mom.

Yes, the double stroller is HEAVY.

Thank goodness, Daniel can drive

himself on his tricycle!

This doesn't happen often...

SO, I pulled over to make certain

I had a picture of it.

All three boys were asleep in the van.

It was so sweet...  and quiet.