The Great Christmas Share

This past Saturday our church had an event called "The Great Christmas Share."  It was quite incredible.  Here is what it was: Over the last several weeks our church collected canned goods, boxed food, toys, blankets, and clothes, and some gave money to pay for the food and other items to be given to families in our area.  On Saturday morning some church members got up early and began preparing meals for over 500 people, others organized all the donations of food, clothing and toys that would be distributed.  We came together and each family was in charge of taking a hot meal and age appropriate items to one family in our community.

Our family was given a family that consisted of a woman and her elderly mother.  We picked up two hot meals, blankets and canned goods and headed out.  We prayed for the two ladies before we got to their home and we asked that the Lord would help us meet a need and be a blessing.

Wow.  Were we ever blessed.
Doesn't God always work that way!?

As soon as we unloaded all the items and the boys out of the car we were invited into the home.  We were able to visit a while.  They kept remarking how cute our boys were, and how much they loved watching our children talk and play.  They even asked if they could keep Asa, "Because he is soo adorable."  ha!  Then they insisted that they would like to keep all of them. 

Kenneth prayed for the family before we left and in the middle of the prayer tears were streaming down the older woman's face.  She just kept saying "Thank you."

I wanted to tell her, "No, thank you."
I love that the Lord always seems to bless us abundantly more than the people we are supposed to be blessing.  When we set out to give even just a small amount, it always comes back ten fold.  Jesus talked about that, didn't he?  We have experienced the truth of that so many times in our family and this was no different.

The blessings continue for me.  Each time we drive past the road that we had to take to get to this house, Noah yells "Hey!  That is the way to get to Pam's house!"  Then he will sometimes ask Kenneth, "Does Pam love Jesus?"  Kenneth will say, "I am not sure."  Then Noah will say, "Well, you need to ask her.  Did you ask her?"  Convicting...

My children were touched by The Great Christmas Share.  Noah and Aiden are only 4 years old, and it left an impact on them.  It blesses my heart that my children were able to experience giving to others, particularly in a season where there is so much focus on what you are going to get.  The point is not to receive, but to give.  And in the giving, we receive.  Although that is not why we do it.

Crime & Punishment

Today was one of those days as a parent when you are ready for bed at lunch time because you have had enough.  Thankfully it is well past the boys' bedtimes and I am still standing. 
We are all alive.
I don't know who put what in the boys' breakfast, but they were W-I-L-D today.  And nothing seemed to go according to plan. 

For example, after dropping Noah off at preschool via car line, I took the other 3 to the park.  I knew they all had lots of energy to run off. 
First we decided to do a quick drive by our new house to see if they had broken ground yet. 
Fail. 
Ugh.

Then on to the park across town.  I started to get the boys out of their seats and noticed that Nathan was missing a shoe.  Low and behold it ended up that when Noah jumped out of the car he must have knocked Nathan's shoe off and out of the van it went. 
No playing at the park. 
Fail.

The day followed in similar fashion.  So, after picking Noah up from school, and reclaiming Nathan's shoe, I knew nap time was going to be a killer today.  I could just feel it.  I was right.

The younger three went down okay.  The usual screaming and such. Then there was Noah.  When I say weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth I am not exaggerating.  Everything was the matter.  Finally I told him that if he didn't stop he was not going to get to go to the surprise that Kenneth and I had planned for them later in the evening.  I made it very clear what his choices were and confirmed what the consequences were going to be.
He stopped throwing his tantrum.
Five minutes later he was singing, no, make that screaming, various Bible songs at the top of his lungs.  While I am thankful it was Bible songs, not so thankful that it woke up his brothers who had just fallen asleep.  And that they started crying again.
Fail.

When Kenneth came home tonight we had planned to take the boys to the special surprise.  It was then that we had to sit Noah down and explain to him that he was not going because he had made a bad choice.  It pained me.  I knew it was the right thing to do, but it pained me.  When we threaten our boys, we follow through.  But it hurts us sometimes.  That's for sure.

When Kenneth was explaining that he would be facing the consequence of his bad choice, my heart just ached and twisted as I watched Noah's countenance fall for what seemed like stories.  He was heart-broken.  Crying ensued.  I hate that we had to discipline him and make him miss out on something that I knew he would love.  And on top of that, that he would see his dad leave the house taking his brothers on a fun trip.

We could not help but to think of God.  I wonder if it pains God to have to discipline His children when they mess up?  I am guessing it pains him way more than it pained me tonight.  That hurt my heart too.  Thinking that I cause God that much pain when I sin against Him.  Thinking about how God doesn't want to have to discipline me when I fail Him, but He does it because He loves me and He loves me way too much to let me continue in my sin.  The same way that I love Noah way too much to let him continue in disobedience because I know ultimately it is not good for him at all.

Tonight I didn't get to go on a special outing with my family because my oldest son made a bad choice.  I was a little upset that I was going to miss out on a fun time with my other children because one of them decided to disobey.  I told Noah that it made me sad that his bad choice made me miss out on the fun too. 

Then I got to thinking about how our sin affects more than just us.  When I choose to sin, I am not just hurting myself.  I am hurting others around me. Whether intentional or not, the affects of our sin always ooze onto other people.  Many times, it is a lot more people than we know.  Makes me really think twice for sure.

Although I think my kids have officially fried my brain most days, there are also times that they send my brain into hyper-drive.  I have learned so much about the Lord since becoming a parent.  I am so thankful that He continues to reveal more and more of himself to me, especially through my children.

The Way They Sleep

Have you ever looked at your children when they are sleeping?
It is one of my favorite things to do.
They aren't talking, asking for anything, crying, or hitting their brother.
They are just resting. 
They look like angels.
Makes my heart melt.

I took a few pictures of the boys the other night as they snoozed.

What you can't see are the 54 other stuffed animals Noah sleeps with.  

And Bear Bear, a member of the family, who is under Noah's face.

Nathan has 3 blankets that he loves to sleep with, this monkey, an Elmo, and at least 2 pacis.
Nathan and Noah need to have everything in bed with them.  I even find laundry sometimes.

I have no idea what that is on Aiden's head.  And apparently he was sneaking books in his room.

Looks like I have indisputable evidence to convict him on that one.

And, now, for the best.

Drum roll please....

 

Asa.

He likes the layered look. 

MY FAVORITE.  This taken just an hour later than the above picture.

His best impression of The Wicked Witch of the East.

Well done, son.  Right down to the missing shoes.

Christmas Parade

This Saturday we thought it would be fun to take the boys to the Alabaster Christmas Parade. 
Just as we were about to leave we called the boys in from outside and loaded them into the van only to discover that the oldest two had stepped in dog poo.  Awesome. 
After stripping them in the driveway, throwing the shoes in the wash, and putting new shoes on, we finally got going.  Now we were later than we had hoped and there was no parking to be found.  While we were waiting in traffic we could see the ginormous parade lining up behind the promenade.  Cars and people were everywhere.
Noah yelled in a panic from the very back of the van.
"I'm sorry to say this! But I am freaking out back here!  I left my binoculars at home!  I won't be able to see!"
Insert very dramatic hand gestures.
Kenneth and I were cracking up.

The parade was soo long.  I am not kidding.  It was almost a 2 hour procession.  We left not even half way into it.  The kids had had their fill.  But we are still going to make it a tradition.

Here are a few pictures from the parade.

Noah and Aiden had some pretty good seats after all.

Nathan, not so much.

And this last picture is to celebrate our victory later that afternoon.  UK over UNC.

 Asa is sticking out his tongue because he is thinking about UNC, 

it is certainly not because he didn't want his picture taken.

Go Cats!

Nathan's First Trip to the ER

It was bound to happen at some point.  

Probably sooner rather than later.  

Especially with 3 older brothers.

Yep, Nathan made his first trip to the ER last night for stitches.  

Asa whacked him on the head with a toy gun.

I was in the kitchen making a nutritious dinner.  

Kenneth was talking to me.  

The boys were playing in the next room.

Suddenly...."MOOOOM!!!!  DADDYYYY!!!"
from both Noah and Aiden.

Not good.

Nathan crying.

Really not good.

Kenneth yells, "Boys!  I am talking to your mother."

(Kids screaming, crying and fighting really doesn't phase us anymore.)

"But Daddy!  Nathan has black on his face!"

Oh goodness.

I poked my head around the corner and saw Nathan gushing blood from over his eye.  So much and so dark it looked black.  Asa took off running to hide.  Then there were a series of inevitable "I didn't do it!  It was Asa!  I promise!" from both Noah and Aiden.

"What happened?"

Noah, "I don't know.  I just heard a big crack and then saw Asa holding a gun by Nathan's head."

Let me pause right here and admit that that last sentence sounds reaallllly bad out of context. 

At least they are ages 4, 2 and 1.  Not 24, 22 and 21, right?

We cleaned up the blood and Kenneth rushed Nathan to the hospital.

They didn't even put a stitch on his head. 
Our instructions are to cover it with a bandage three times a day and put polysporin on it.  

Right.  

Have you ever tried that on a 13 month old?!  Don't.  It's torture.

I am going to just go ahead and say right now that the kid is going to have a scar.

At least he is a boy and will probably think it is cool.

He will probably tell his friends that that is where his brother hit him with a gun.  

And he won't add that it was plastic.

The assailant.

 The weapon.

 The helpless victim. 

Exhibit A.

The teddy bear Nathan  from the ER room.  He kept calling it "baby."  How sweet is that?

Just another day with those Bruce boys.

I'm a Bad Mom and I'm Okay with It

According to my oldest son, I am a bad mom.
At least that is what he told me yesterday when I wouldn't let him go play with his brothers while they were in time out.

He said, "You are a bad mom!"
I said, "Do you want a different one?"  Not my finest moment, I admit.
Noah, "No!  I don't want a different mom.  I just want you to change your attitude."

Wow.
I honestly didn't even know how to respond to that.
I managed to get out a "Well, sorry.  There is nothing wrong with my attitude right now.  Maybe you should change yours."

Although I have to admit that it hurt my feelings that Noah called me a bad mom, I know that he did it because I made a decision that he didn't like.
And that is when the logic and love overwhelmed my thoughts, even if my heart was hurting.

You see, I could choose to always be a good mom in the eyes of my children, but actually, I would then be a bad mom.  From what I can gather from the amazing moms I know:

• Good moms discipline their children.
• Good moms try to do what is best for their children, even when their children wish they wouldn't.  
• Good moms are not willing to do anything just to get their children to like them. 
• Good moms put the health (spiritual, mental, and physical) of their children at a higher priority than being liked all the time. 
• Good moms are willing to sacrifice friendship right now for parenting, in hopes that when the children get older there will be deep friendships and appreciation.
• Good moms create an enviornment where their children feel it is okay to express their negative feelings, as long as it is respectful.
• Good moms let their kids be upset with them because they know that in the end it is for their best.
• Good moms might get called a "bad mom" a time or two, and that actually means that they are doing a great job parenting their preschooler or teenager.

So, if Noah wants to call me a bad mom because he didn't like a discipline decision, I'm okay with it.  (Although I did have a nice conversation about using respectful words to express his frustration.)  It means that I actually did something right yesterday. 
And after the day I had yesterday, that is a BIG win.

Lord, help me to be a "Good Mom" in your eyes, even when, especially when, my children think I am a bad one.

Thanksgiving Road Trip

This past week we took a road trip to Kentucky to see family for Thanksgiving.  8-9 hours in the car with 4 little boys is not for the weak.  We spent 8 hours in the car on Tuesday night, and 9 hours in the car on Saturday morning.  Although the drive is not the most fun, I am so thankful that we got to see family. 

Our trip consisted of lots of rambling from Aiden, Noah telling crazy stories, Kenneth and I agreeing to stories we could not understand, babies crying, Asa saying "dada dada dada" over and over and over and over, and random dives into the backseat looking for Nathan's lost paci. 

Here are some pictures.  You will find a lot of the following on our road trips.

Elmo DVDs....the only thing that makes Asa quiet for more than 5 minutes.









(This space intentionally left blank to save your stomach.  Just picture a lot of Aiden vomit.  He gets car sick.)

And sometimes, you will look back and see your boys entertaining each other and being sweet.

The Real Meaning of Ghetto

Apparently my kids are more talented than I even realized.

Today I was changing Nathan's diaper.  Aiden said, "Did Nathan pee?"  I was really focused on changing the diaper so I didn't give an immediate answer.

I am going to pause right here and give you a little insight about Aiden. 
You never ignore him. 
I mean, you can try, but then he is going to make sure that you can't.  You never even pause before answering him.  Because he thinks you are ignoring him.  He will say the same thing or ask you the same question over and over and over and over until you stop him in the middle of his continual talking to answer him.

So, today, when I didn't answer him right away he kept asking questions.  Finally he said, "Did Nathan ghetto?"  It was one of those moments when the record scratches and the music stops and you just look and say, "huh?" 
"Did Nathan ghetto?!"  Aiden yelled louder.
"You mean, did Nathan poop?"
"No!" Aiden was getting ticked now because I couldn't understand him.  "Did Nathan ghetto!"

"Did Nathan ghetto?"  I said puzzled.
"Yes!" Aiden said in such an annoyed tone.
"What are you talking about?  What do you mean, 'Did Nathan ghetto?'"
Then Aiden informed me of his new skill.  All this time I had never realized that I had a little Webster dictionary on my hands. 
"Ghetto is when you poop really hard in your diaper."

Well, now you know what the word "Ghetto" really means. 
You're welcome.

Lessons in Pee

I promise that my life does not revolve around the bathroom.

However, it seems like the boys are obsessed with it.  I have to block all access to the potty because Asa and Nathan think it is the coolest playground evah. 

Tonight we got home late because we were at church and I was trying to get Asa and Nathan to bed quickly.  I was changing Asa when out of the bathroom I heard Aiden screaming "No Nathan!  Mooommy!!!!"  The words I dread.  Hearing your name screamed in panic from the bathroom never leads to anything good.

I ran in to find Nathan covered in water. 
The floor was soaked. 
Nathan was cracking up.
Aiden said sadly, "Mommy.  He play in my pee."  REALLY?!

I had to pry Nathan off the toilet finger by finger because he had a death grip on the commode.  He was ticked that I was pulling him away from such fun.  Screaming ensued.  Between gags I managed to give him a bath while Noah and Aiden "helped." 

I can't help but to be reminded of myself.  How often has God had to pry me from something because He knows it is no longer good for me, and yet I think it is best?  I let him pull me away but I am kicking and screaming the whole way.  Convicting. 

God uses so many things to teach me more about Himself and His unending, unrelenting love for me.  Sometimes it comes in the form of my baby playing in my other son's pee.

It's My Mind's Fault!

Today I had one of the funniest conversations with Noah.

It was nap time and naps weren't happening.  After going in to Noah's room multiple times telling him to go to sleep and exercising various forms of discipline, I finally made him go into my bedroom because I wanted Nathan to get a nap (they are currently sharing a bedroom). 
The move did not help.  His antics did not stop.  I about lost it when I walked in to find all of my jewelry spread across the bed and a broken bracelet. 
After laying down the final discipline kiss of death, the following conversation ensued, with Noah in tears. 
Me: "You made some bad choices.  Who's fault is that?"
Noah, pointing to himself, red in the face, crying.
Me: "Use your words.  It was your fault wasn't it?"
Noah, nodding his head, through tears, screaming: "It wasn't my fault.  It was my mind's fault!  I don't understand it!"
He was so serious, and so mad.  His gestures were dramatic.
He further explained to me, "Ever since I got home from school my brain just won't stop!  It won't let me sleep.  I am trying to sleep but it keeps waking me up!  It's crazy!  I don't understand why."

Okay.  That is hilarious.
It isn't his fault that he won't take a nap, and that he is keeping his brothers awake, and that my jewelry is all over the bed.  It is his mind.  His brain is telling him to do those things.

Although it sounds like a multiple personality disorder, I must confess that I think it is pretty genius of him.

I can't believe that at 4 years old he realizes that his brain is working so hard that he can't "turn off his mind."  He is actually feeling what it is like to be physically tired but mentally firing on all cylinders, and he is fully aware that it is happening.  Poor thing.  I don't think I was ever that self-aware. 

We made him go to bed early tonight as part of his punishment and he had bags under his eyes.  (Last night he claimed that he couldn't sleep because he kept thinking about dreams, so he was getting out of bed using some crazy excuses until about 9:30).

I am praying that he gets some rest tonight, and that whatever is making his brain so crazy isn't as intense.  And maybe I will let him use some of that eye cream that the lady at the make-up counter so graciously gave me for free the last time I was there.

In the Park

Today I ventured out and took the boys to a park.  (Special shout-out to Mrs. Martha for taking us out last week and showing us all the parks in town).  It is a really nice park, and it was an incredible day.  74 degrees on the 7th of November, yes, please!

While playing at the park one of my sweet cherubs declared that he had to go to the bathroom.  We were all alone so I told him to go over to the tree line and pee there.  One of several perks to having all boys.  Just drop your drawers pretty much wherever. 

About a minute later I glanced over just to check on him.  Then out of the corner of my eye I saw him squatting to poop!  SERIOUSLY kid?!  Does he not know that we don't poop at the tree line of a park?!  Did I not teach him anything?!  Of course, standing right next to him, proudly, is another of my sweet cherubs (the 2 year old) trying to pull off his diaper and squat to poop too.  Goodness gracious. Boys, FYI, I don't pack toilet paper in the diaper bag.

Thankfully I saw this unfold before any damage had been done and we all made a quick recovery.  Looks like after nap time today we are going to be having a little home school lesson.

Yep, They're Brothers

WARNING: Not for the faint of stomach.

This morning as I was changing one dirty diaper I heard Noah going to the bathroom. I then heard, "Mom. I'm finished. Come wipe my butt." I said, "You are going to have to wait because I am in the middle of changing Nathan's diaper." He always has impeccable timing.

Then the dreaded words. "Aiden! Will you come wipe my butt?!"
Ugh.
Then even more dreaded words. "Sure! I'll help you."
Pause.
Scurrying of feet.
Then, "Noah, bend over."

I finished up as quickly as I could. I walked into the bathroom to find Noah bent over, hands around his ankles, Aiden towering over him, wad of toilet paper in hand. Aiden proudly declared, "I am helping Noah clean his butt."
Awesome.

If there was any question as to whether two boys from a different birth mother could really be brothers, I submit the above evidence.

Here We Are

We have officially moved to Alabaster, Alabama as of Sunday.

Life has been so crazy and busy in this last week that I hardly know where to start.
A week ago today I took the boys to our house in Nicholasville, Kentucky for what may have been the last time. I let them run around and play for about an hour in our empty house. It was so incredibly sad for me. I went room by room and was flooded with memories of each of the boys. Many hours of wrestling and crafting and sleeping and playing. I love that house. As we pulled out of the driveway Noah and Aiden just yelled, "Bye Bye House!" and that was that.

Now here I am standing in the kitchen of our rental house until we can sell our home in Kentucky and find a place here. The boys are adjusting pretty well for the most part. Every once in a while Noah or Aiden will get very sad and talk about how much they miss Kentucky, our old house, their grandparents, their school. We have to remind them, and ourselves, that God has an awesome plan in store for us here in Alabama. There are a lot of cool things we can do here, too. Our new trampoline for example.

I am looking forward to getting settled in, although I am not sure how long that is going to take. So far the people have been amazing, and we love our new church home. We are excited to see what God has in store for us.

The Beginning of our Journey

I am beginning this blog for therapy. Really, I am.

Over the last year and a half our life has radically changed. In June 2010 we went to Ethiopia and brought home Aiden and Asa. In October 2010 we welcomed Nathan. Of course, all of this was preceeded by the birth of Noah in July of 2007.

That's right.

4 kids aged 4 and under.

Am I certifiable? Yeah, probably.

Am I blessed, absolutely!

When I am out and about with all 4, which is not for the faint of heart I might add, people just stare. Some laugh, some gasp. Almost all of them say, "Wow, you have your hands full." And most of the time I just want to scream, "You are absolutely right! Help!" Although I feel like an absolute, frazzled mess most days, I am thankful for each of my children and I would have it no other way.

In addition to theraputic reasons, I am starting this blog because my kids are funny.

Yeah, every parent thinks that. But mine....they really are. At least I think so.

With this blog I am hoping to record our journey, wherever God leads, with honesty and laughter. There are a total of 8 in our circus. My husband, myself, our boys: Noah, Aiden, Asa and Nathan, and our dogs: Suzie and Sophie. I am going to warn you, both boys and dogs are messy and gross.