What Happened Today

WARNING.
This is utterly disgusting. 
So don't read it if you can't handle potty posts.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE when your two-year-old chooses to forgo the toilet and poop in the middle of the kitchen floor and then the dog comes to clean up the evidence.

Seriously?!

I don't even know what part of this is more disgusting.  Really.

And as I am shooing the dog away and trying to clean up the worst smelling stuff on the planet (literally smells like dead things), I am actually wondering if I should have just let the dog have at it. 

This my friends is what my day is like.

Sure, it is filled with some really sweet moments.  Moments that just make me praise God and think, "My cup runneth over." (Psalm 23)  Moments that almost make me cry because I am so thankful and just want to take it all in as much as I can.  Like when Noah tells me that he loves me to the moon and back.  Or when Aiden has to be in my business all the time (which can also drive me nuts some days) and I just look at him and he gets a huge smile on his face and laughs because I think he realizes that he hasn't left me alone all day.  Or when Asa hugs me randomly (and also sometimes when he hugs me because he knows he is about to get in big trouble and he is hoping the hug cancels out his punishment).  Or when Nathan just latches on to me and asks me to hold him and then put his arms around me and buries his head into me.  Love that stuff.

But my day is also filled with so many moments of "Are you kidding me right now?!"

And "I seriously think I am going to puke if I have to clean that up...again."

And "I am soooo tired of putting kids in time out and hearing whining and brothers fighting and quoting the same Scripture to the boys about loving one another and honoring their parents."

And "I am so tired that I think I could sleep for about a week."

Ahhh....

I am pretty sure that this is what everyone tells me that I am going to miss so much.  Even the poop and the whining and the mess?  Yes, even that.  Because those things mean that I have a house full of children.  I still have time to influence them and point them to Jesus.  I still get to hear their laughter on a daily basis and be the most important woman in their life.  And that won't last forever. 

Lord, help me to take delight in even the worst of moments and be thankful that I have them.  And when Asa poops all over the house, or in his pants for the umpteenth time every day, help me to consider it all joy.

Arr...Matey

Noah turned 5 on July 12.
5.
Holy smokes!
I can't believe I have a 5 year old.  And about to have another 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 2 year old in just a couple of months!  So crazy.

So for the fifth birthday we had a pirate party.  Noah's birthday fell at the same time we decided to take a vacation and visit family in KY.  My parents were gracious enough to host the party.
I think they REALLY enjoyed it.  And by that I mean, they kinda went overboard.  In a good way, of course.  Mom got the decorations and made a pirate ship cake and pirate cake pops.  Dad planned a treasure hunt, mapped it out with clues and ended with real buried treasure!

...and the kicker?
Captain Jack came along!
Apparently my parents have a neighbor who dresses up like a pirate for kids' birthday parties.  How hilarious...and perfect.

Here are some pictures.

 The key to Captain Fatbelly's treasure: treasure map, clues and compass. 

 The cake table.  Ship cake and cake pops that my mom made.  She did a great job!

 Our motley crew before the treasure hunt.

 Noah leading the way.

 Captain Jack reading the clues to help Noah find Captain Fatbelly's treasure.

 Noah digging up his treasure.

Noah and his new friend, Captain Jack.

Goin' Fishin

We had a blast this 4th of July.
Well, about as fun as you can have when Kenneth isn't around.

I took all 4 boys to our friends' house for a little party.  (Shout out to the Eutens: You are awesome!)  The kids had a blast playing in the pool, in the bounce house, and fishing in the lake.

All evening Aiden was begging Matt to take him fishing.  He was being quite the nag.  Matt already had his hands full.  Aiden doesn't get the whole "I'm really busy trying to grill food for lots of people" thing.  He also doesn't get the whole "My kid just got stung by a bee and I have to take care of it" thing.  Or the whole "I am taking care of your brothers poopy pants" thing.
Side Note: We are really working on his patience and being aware of what other people are doing rather than being so concerned with self.  Don't really see that working out too well right now.  Alas, he's 4.  We will keep trying...

When Aiden got his turn, he was certainly on a roll.  He reeled in at least 3 fish.

He wasn't a fan of touching the fish, but he finally did it.

Brandon, Aiden and Matt with two of the fish.

Noah decided he would take a turn.

This is as close we could get Noah to the fish that he reeled in. 
It was quite the drama fest leading up to this picture.

And now for Asa's turn!

Love this picture of them.

And you can't forget Nate Nate!