A definate sign you have lots of children...

Most of the time I still feel 17. Of course a wiser 17 but still youthful nonetheless. Then I pass by my reflection and secretely mock the pudgy woman with all the children attached to her legs until I realize it's ME. ;-)

We bought a 12p van a few months ago. The kids call it our "church bus". They like it because we can fit friends in the car now. I like it because we don't get tickets for speeding in a "church bus".

I snuck out to the grocery store by myself this afternoon and left the kids with DH. Much to my dismay the elderly gentleman insisted on bringing my groceries out to the van. It's not that I'm anti-social, I enjoy talking to people. It wasn't even that my van was messy, today it actually wasn't. But I just hate when they force me to let them bring my groceries out. It's a pet peeve - I don't know why. It's just awkward.

After convincing the gentleman that there wasn't in fact, any room for the groceries in the very back of the van he finally brought it to the passenger side. I went to help put the bags in but was shunned from that too. *sigh* When I opened the door he said, "Where is everyone?". I told him they were at home with daddy. He looked at me kind of funny and then said, "Oh, I thought you were with the group home!" LOL

That's in the top 10 list of signs you have lots of kids. When strangers assume you're toting around the group home in your van.

Mooooooving right along

My 7yo daughter is quite proud of her teeth. She's waiting for some to fall out and they've been really loose for awhile now. She will proudly tell you they're crooked and shaped like a cow. Don't believe her? Take a look for yourself. This image is NOT enhanced in any way except for the red circle I added.

Worship 'til your heart explodes

Our 9yo son was watching American Idol with me tonight and he turns to me and says, "Mom, you should really come to church early enough to hear them sing, the music makes your heart feel like it's coming out of your chest."

Yeah, because of our late schedule it's quite difficult to get us and all the kids up and ready for Sunday School so we have friends pick up our oldest and bring him early to class. He gets up bright and early, gets showered/dressed/fed pretty much on his own (I stand in the corner and mumble once in awhile coffee-in-hand), eagerly. DH and I head over for the main service but we usually miss the music.

DH reflected with me tonight after I told him what our son said. He said when he was a boy he went to church to hang out with his friends, he wanted nothing to do with the worship/praise/studying part. We both think it's pretty cool that our son does care about what should be the most important aspect in a church: praising, worshipping, and learning about God.

Sometimes I feel like our kids are turning out right in spite of us instead of partly because of us, especially lately. God is definately graceful. :-)

Just got caught up on American Idol *spoiler*

And I guess it's sad how much that show can affect me. I cried real tears for Melinda. First when she went home and was SO overwhelmed by the support and then when she got voted off. I don't want to be rude, and in the off chance Blake or someone who knows Blake was googling and came across this blog I don't want to say anything hurtful or malicious, because I don't mean it that way. But Melinda and Blake are like Filet Mignon and Hamburger. They're both good and I would be happy sitting to either but there's a different expectation I guess is what I'm trying to say. Blake is fun, cute, energetic, young, creative, & entertaining. Melinda just makes the hairs on your neck stand up. She's that good. But I'm guessing a lot of the voters are youngish which would explain it. But I thought for sure it would be Melinda and Jordan and I'd bet anything so did all 3 of them. I know she'll move on to bigger and better things and I look forward to buying many amazing CD's. But she's the kind of woman I wish I could be and the kind of woman I pray my daughters become. Graceful, kind, humble, happy, blessed. I'll miss you Melinda!

OK - speaking of American Idol rejects (yeah, I bounce back quick haha) do y'all remember Mandisa from last season? Adorable, happy, outgoing Christian, she sang a Christian "Mary, Mary" song on the show in fact. I *loved* her. WEll, she's coming out with an album this summer - her song, "Only the World" is already playing on the Christian station. I can't help but dance when I hear it. Emily, you may not want to listen to it in public - haha. But anyway, listen to it at her Myspace site and click on "Only the World" if it's not the song playing. I promise you'll feel like dancing!

Based of the fact I was crying like a baby all during American Idol and I've been kind of snappish with everyone around me I'm guessing I'll be paid a visit tomorrow but an unwelcome wench. *sigh* It's kind of sad when you know it's coming and all your husband can think is "better get a last minute quickie in then". ROFL Sorry, TMI? I'm amusing myself.

White boy dancing

OK this is the short version but it's so cute! My son is the one on the left. Darn unsocialized homeschoolers! ;-)

Happy Mothers Day

My mom sent me this VIA e-mail and I thought it was the perfect tribute for Mother's Day.

"So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just
recently died. Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him
around and sit on him and nothing ever bothered him. He used to
hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were
4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really
loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and
then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the
bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he
wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.
>
Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush
around and try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and
carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal
box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up.
Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day
to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car
and I am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally
round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was
applying my chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . Rear end.Eli
looked right into my eyes and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't
seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it
was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds
us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little
creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've
been using your chapstick on the cat's butt."

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Voices That Care - Operation Desert Storm Music Video

OK this song made me feel warm and fuzzy and laugh out loud all at once. Watch out for Will Smiths part - it comes without warning! ROFL

I wish they would do something like this again instead of constantly bickering about whether we should or shouldn't be there. The fact is people ARE, and they need us.