Count It ALL Joy

So the last 48 hours have been kinda crazy. 

The kids have been the closest to wild animals that I have ever seen them.  One in particular is trying my patience in a way I cannot even describe.  To be honest, I have found myself sitting on the floor, head in hands, just asking God to help me through, calm me down, and forgive me for responding in anger...frequently.  The Spirit is quick to remind me that "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).

The AC in our house went out on the day it was 95 outside.  Yes, it was uncomfortable, but I wasn't that upset about it.  Our house is still under warranty.  I felt terrible for our pregnant guest however.  I can only imagine how miserable she felt, and yet she didn't complain.

Then we noticed that one of the tires on the car was almost totally flat.  Kenneth managed to get to a gas station to get air in that tire, only to notice that there was a huge nail in yet another tire (3rd one this month).  Then he put the key in the ignition and the car would not start.  Finally he got the car to start.  He drove to church.  Later he tried to change the flat tire and put on the spare.  Only to notice that the spare also had a big hole in it.  He had to catch a ride home. 

Meanwhile, the satellite dish for the TV totally went out.  I tried calling technical support and of course they could not help.  A technician has to come out to fix the satellite.  He can't come for 4 days.

Once Kenneth got home we had a good talk about how the Lord is testing us.  These are all first world problems.  We have plenty of reasons to still praise the Lord!  Are we going to complain about all that is breaking, or are we going to trust Him and try learn whatever it is that He is trying to teach?

Right now our church is going through the book of James on Sunday mornings.  Kenneth has had a lot of preaching responsibilities this summer, so he has been diligently studying this book on his own.  Because I am a glutton for punishment, I decided to do a precepts study on the book of James on my own.  Intense.

We are certain that God is teaching us about putting our faith into action.  He is testing to see if we are going to respond according to His Word.  I pray that I am found faithful.

This morning Kenneth got up early to take one of the tires to get a patch in it, then drive it up to the church to put it on the car.  Once that was finished he drove the van back home, then we all piled in the car to take him back to get the car.  Did that.  As we were leaving, the key would not start the car again. Kenneth waved me down before I was out of the parking lot to share the good news.

We started cracking up.  And we starting quoting James 1:2-5.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

The car started. 

I am praying intensely that the Lord would help me to "count it ALL joy."  My struggles with the kids' behavior specifically.  It is not easy.

At least someone knows where poo poo goes...

Pretty sure no one is really going to care about this post.
Except me.  And Kenneth.  And maybe grandparents.  Maybe.

But, I just have to say....
NATHAN POOED ON THE POTTY TODAY!!!
Woop Woop!  Holla!

Yep, I'm pumped.

After our failed attempt at potty training a few weeks ago, I decided to try again today.  We didn't have much success.  He only had one accident, but I did let him run around naked outside pretty much all day (other than naps).

While inside we did the timer thing.  Every 20 minutes the timer went off and Nathan yelled "Pee Pee Time!"  He excitedly got on the potty, but never could do anything.  Then Kenneth and I noticed that he just went and sat himself on the potty at one point.

And he got that look.
You parents know what that means.

Next thing I know, he has peed and pooped in the potty!!!  He did it all himself!

I am fully prepared for tomorrow to not go so well, and I am trying not to get my hopes up.  But, I am not gonna lie, they kinda are.  I am pretty excited that Nathan did that tonight.  Especially when I have been cleaning up poo out of Asa's underwear for about 2 weeks now...(insert loudest sigh ever).
Oh please, please, let this be a light at the end of the diaper tunnel.  Please.

Here's to tomorrow....
and a huge mark in the "win" column for today!

Nothing Like a Road Trip

Kenneth was in a wedding this weekend in KY.  Our plan was for him to go by himself and I would stay home with the boys.  I really wanted to go the wedding because it is for a friend of ours whom I think the world of.  However, it was just easier to not travel with the kiddos for such a short trip. 

And then I realized that Kenneth was preaching two services at our main campus on Sunday morning.  Wedding at 5:30 on Saturday night.  Preaching twice on Sunday.   Kenneth insisted that he would be just fine to drive through the night and then preach in the morning.  Riiight, Kenneth. 

Alas, I decided to be an awesome wife and volunteer to bring the children up to KY so that I could drive Kenneth back through the night in hopes of him getting some sleep before preaching on Sunday.

So, we left the house around 8:45 am (9:45 EST).  I noticed the front right tire was low so we went to the gas station to get air in the tire before even getting on the interstate.  Doesn't it figure that the cap on the air pump was some random, weird cap and we could barely get it to cover the hole?  On top of that, the cap was missing to our air plug.  We did the best we could and figured the air had leaked from normal driving and the missing plug. 

And then an hour into the drive I noticed the low tire pressure light come on in the van.  Awesome.  We pulled over in Dodge City, AL to find a tire shop.  We just wanted to get air in the tires, buy a cap, and be on our way.  Of course it wasn't that easy.  We unloaded all the kids out of the car.  The boys took turns peeing on the side of the road and asking a billion questions on what we were doing (classy, I know).  We then discovered that the air was leaking from somewhere else on the tire.  Not the cap.  Greeeat. 

Thirty minutes later a staple was removed from our tire and the whole was patched.  We were off.  Except not.  The tire light never went off.  We spent several minutes trying to read the owner's manual hoping to figure out how to turn the light off.  The mechanics couldn't figure it out.  Kids were yelling, "What are we doing?!  Go!!  Are we in Kentucky yet?" from the backseat.  We all agreed that the light would turn off after we drove a bit.

So that is what we did.  Except the light never went off.  I then figured that maybe the guy had put a little too much air in the tire and that is why the light was on.

Wrong.

We pulled off in Nashville to eat lunch.  We tried going to Chik-fil-a, but it was too busy.  Not even a place to park.  Cue children, especially Asa, going nuts because we had promised Chick-fil-a and now were unable to deliver.  We drove around and found a bread shop.  We ate lunch.  Again, took multiple trips to the bathroom.  What is up with these children!?!  When we went back out to the van I noticed the back right tire was almost completely flat. 

(Insert sinking feeling here.)

We then drove around trying to find the nearest tire store.  We pulled up and unloaded all the kids.  They told us it would be at least 40 minutes.  You-have-got-to-be-kidding-me.  As Kenneth stood there having a conversation with the mechanic, I heard words that send chills down my spine every time.

"Mommy!  Look at Asa!" coming simultanteously from Noah and Aiden.

I then see Nathan pointing his finger at Asa saying, "Poop!"

So I looked.  And I saw.

Asa standing there holding his own poop.  Niiice.

I paniced and told him not to touch his poop.  So he launches his turd across the parking lot, mechanic standing right there. 

I then proceed to run to the van, get some wipes, and go to hunt down the turd.  When I got it, the older two start shouting "Hey Mom!  What are you going to do with that turd?  Where are you going to put Asa's poop." 

After cleaning up that mess, we all went into the little waiting room to spend the next 45 minutes.  Sigh.  Asa tried hiding behind a stack of tires at least twice to go poo in his pants.  Kenneth caught him once, but then we had to do another pants change.  Good grief!  (See my last post about how this is infuriating me). 

After a screw was removed from that tire, and it was patched, we were finally on our way.  The rest of the way to Kentucky was pretty uneventful...thank you Lord.  9 hours and 15 minutes later, we finally made it!

Gaaahhh. Enough with the Poo Already.

Okay.  I.am.done. with the poo in the pants from Asa. 
I mean, really. 
4 times today. 
4 times.

Could we have made it to the potty at least once?  Just once?
And to make it worse, he knows EXACTLY what he is doing. 
I do too.  Because the second he has to he hunches over and hides. 
You ask him if he has to poop and he looks right at you and says, "No."


And why does this make me sooo mad? 
Has anyone else had this experience?
I mean, has anyone else got so frustrated with this that they thought they were literally going to go through the roof if they had to clean up 1 more mess in the pants?!

So let me back up.
Kenneth left for camp with the students on Friday.  The second he walks out the door, the kids turn into wild animals.  Its magical really. 
I have been dealing with these lovely zoo creatures for a few days now.  My patience is about out. 

Tonight my mom and I had a less-than-fantastic idea to take the boys out for dinner.  What was I thinking?  (And now I realize that I say that a lot).
We go for dinner, get seated and immediately the kids kick their 4 ring circus act into high gear.

Noah is putting his flip flops on the table, smacking his plate saying, "But I'm hungry!  When is the food going to be ready?  It is taking forever!"
Nathan is screeching.  Grabbing for the knives.  Throwing the crayons.  Saying, "Milk.  Milk.  Milk."
Aiden is kicking his shoes off his feet and then saying over and over and over and over, "Mommy!  My shoe is falling off my foot."
Asa is crawling out of his highchair, grabbing for knives, yelling, grabbing plates and banging them on the table, kicking his shoes off, smacking the table because he is mad at me, yelling "no" and hitting Nathan.
LOVELY.

When we finally got our food, which seemed like an eternity, Asa decided to poop his pants.  And because he had kicked off his shoes, he went into the bathroom with no shoes.  As if I was not disgusted enough.  A few minutes into me cleaning up a huge mess with Asa screaming and hitting me, Aiden runs into the bathrom with no shoes saying he has to poop too.
I finally get everyone cleaned up and get back to the table wanting to scream and crawl under the table at the same time.
Then Noah announces his need to poop.  So then I run to the bathroom with him.
I.mean.seriously.  
At least Nathan is still in diapers.

I was frazzled and frustrated by the end of dinner to say the least.
And so ready for their father to come home.
And just so done with Asa's poo antics.

summer is upon us

Summer is officially here.  Yahoo!

It is so nice to have Noah home during the day.  I really miss him while he is at school.  Aiden has mixed feelings about this...

I decided to try to prevent any more craziness than is already present at our home.  I made a schedule for us for the summer.  I didn't want to feel like we were just wasting the days.  So each day the plan is to include a walk/bike ride, reading time, outside time, lunch, letters and crafts, then naps (ahhhh).  I am trying to compile a list of ideas from Pinterest that I can try with the boys.  So far we have done a few...

Here are some pictures.

No words

I really can not think of a good title for this post.  It is kinda sad.

Tonight Kenneth was telling me a story about a professor at seminary who has just recently adopted another child.  He was telling the story in front of the boys as they were playing.  The gist is that this child is about Noah and Aiden's age, but he was not being taken care of by the people he was living with.  They are not his biological family.  It seemed his physical needs were being met for the most part, but not emotional, etc.  So, he was adopted into a new family that he loves.

About 15 minutes later we were putting the boys to bed but having a little family wrestle "HI-YAH!!" fight in Aiden and Asa's room.  It was hilarious, by the way.  Even Nathan and Asa were kicking out their legs yelling "Hi-Yah!"  Of course, no one was hurt in the process.  The boys were cracking up.  Then Aiden, trying to be funny, said, "Hey!  We need a new Mommy!"  We could tell he was trying to joke because he had a smile on his face and was laughing.  Noah did not appreciate the joke.  Neither did I, to be honest.  Noah yelled, "That is not nice!  I want our Mommy."

Kenneth immediately told Aiden that that was not appropriate and it was hurtful.  I could see on his face that he was embarrassed.  He then tried to make up for this joke by making another one.  "Maybe we need a new Daddy."

That was it for Noah.
He ran into his room crying.
I had to go do damage control there.
Kenneth took care of damage control with Aiden.

Noah was beside himself crying.  Sobbing, "That was not nice of Aiden.  He was mean to you.  If he goes to a new family, I won't have him as a brother.  I won't have anyone to play games with.  I won't have anyone to play with."  He was so sad.
Although my heart broke for him, it kinda made me happy too.
Despite all the fighting all.the.time, Noah really does love his brother.  It proved to me how much he cares about Aiden.   And I must admit that it felt really good to have Noah protect me like that.

We finally brought Noah and Aiden together and had a little talk with Aiden.  We assured him that he is staying with us no matter what.  We are always going to be his mommy and daddy.  He will always be Noah's brother.

This adoption stuff can be so tough sometimes...

Our Butterfly Project

When my parents came in town earlier this month they gave the boys a butterfly kit.  The idea is that you are given caterpillars, which then go into a chrysalis and then you watch them become a butterfly.  Noah and Aiden were really excited.

We had caterpillars shipped to our house in a container that also held their food.

Then about 7-10 later, the caterpillars form chrysalis.  It is neat to see them hanging from the top of the cup.  You then have to move the chrysalis from the cup and pin them to the side of the butterfly enclosure. 

After another 7-10 days the butterflies start to emerge.  The chrysalis actually get darker and darker leading up to when they come out.  I was really hoping we would get to see the magic, but we missed it.  All three times!

 This was our first butterfly to emerge.  So pretty!

We had one butterfly emerge for 3 consecutive days.  The boys were pumped when they saw a new butterfly each day.  After a couple of days of enjoying them, we decided today was a good day to let them go free.

This was our last butterfly to leave us.  I think he was hanging around for good reason. 
He flew out, settled into some grass, and then the next thing I saw was a bird swoop down and pick him up to eat him.  This next picture is a picture of the bird sitting on the fence eating our butterfly.

SERIOUSLY!
I wonder if anyone else has ever experienced that one.  Of course, we would. 
Who lets a butterfly go only to watch it be eaten as an afternoon snack moments later? 
That would be Those Bruce Boys.
Thankfully Noah had turned his back and didn't see all this go down.  He probably would have been scarred for life had he seen it.
I can't make this stuff up.