Quote of the Day

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves"

--Anna Quindlen

Benjamin and soccer

Benjamin saw the pictures of Sam and wanted to know why there weren't pictures of him. So here, "Benjamin-everything-has-to-be-equal-boy", are your pictures (with my added commentary)

Here is Benjamin kicking the ball. This kid has a powerful kick -- he can make a goal kicking from center field.


Here is Benjamin guarding the goal. He's all about team spirit -- right now he's cheering his team on.


Here is Benjamin so distracted by cheering his team on that he forgets to guard the goal (no goal was made by the other team . . . lucky Benjamin).


Here is Benjamin watching from the sidelines. Unlike Sam who wanders off to play when he's out, Benjamin stays close just in case he gets put back in.


Here's Benjamin -- he's still developing his soccer prowess, but he brings a lot of heart and soul to his game. Great season Benjamin!

Quick Weekend

Josh's dad came for a visit this weekend. We took him to the Texas Ranger Museum (which is a great museum for boys because they have guns and guns and guns). Grandpa got to see both of the boys play soccer. We also blessed Eliana. It was a fast, busy weekend.

I love living in Texas, I really do. But I'm always reminded of how far away we are when family comes to visit. I'm sad that my kids are missing precious time with their Grandparents and other family. We've been very lucky this summer to have had so many visitors. And I'm really grateful for good friends here that act as surrogate family!

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Sam and Soccer

Sam has been playing soccer for years now, and he loves it. When he and Josh play in the backyard, they have a blast. But whenever Sam's been on a team, he doesn't seem to play with the same passion. Maybe it's because Sam likes to be in charge, so that makes being on a team hard. Or maybe it's because Sam's a perfectionist and doesn't like to loose. Whatever the reason, this year has been different. Sam has really become a soccer player. He goes after the ball with a vengeance. He's not afraid to push his way in to get after the ball. He's even scored a few goals, and had SEVERAL near goals. He doesn't get mad if his team looses, or if he doesn't make a goal. After the game, he just talks about how fun it was to play and what good things his teammates did that game. It is a very welcome change.

I love having little kids. But I am also excited to see the changes in my kids as they get older. Seeing Sam play soccer this year has been fun because he's no longer little Sammy . . . now he's just our Sam.


Here are some pictures from the last game. When I talk about Sam attacking the ball with a vengeance -- he just shot this one clear into the air!

B-e-n-j-a-m-i-n spells trouble!

Our Benjamin has always been sweet and very, very loving. He's always giving hugs and saying "I love you." And that's always been a good thing. But now . . . Benjamin has a girlfriend. The first 9 weeks of school aren't even over and my 5 year old has a girlfriend! He talks about "M" all the time, and goes over to her house to play. They have nick name for each other -- Benjamin is Pineapple and "M" is coconut. I've also been told by several kids in the neighborhood that Benjamin and "M" hold hands at recess. When I asked Benj about it, he smiled and said they were just playing.

Personally, I think it is pretty cute. But I have to admit that it makes me nervous for the future. I mean, if he's already passed the "girls are gross" phase -- what are we in for?

Why I love Nicholas

Nicholas is just 2 months shy of turning 2. And lately, he's been showing symptoms of the terrible twos, The Terrible Twos Nicholas style. Here are some things that have given me a good laugh.

I caught Nicholas up on the counter eating cookies. I said, "Nicholas! What are you doing?" He looked at me, then at the cookie in his hand. Then he said, "Who wants cookies? I do!" And shoved the whole cookie in his mouth.

Nicholas speaks in what we refer to as "yoda". He says things like, "Try it, cereal" or "Ride it, car" or my favorite "Climb it, Sammy's bed".

No matter what you are eating, Nicholas will want a bite. Eating an apple? He'll come up and say "Eat it apple, Nicholas." And if you say no, he'll become demon Nicholas and say "EAT IT APPLE NICHOLAS NOW!" I know that we shouldn't give in at that point. But his giant eyes become even bigger, and his voice becomes deep and raspy, and his body becomes all tense. And it's just too funny to not give in.

At the grocery store, Nicholas always thanks the cashier. As soon as I get the receipt, Nicholas says "Thank you so much!"

The kid is addicted to gum. We never let Sam or Benjamin have gum until they were 3 or 4. Nicholas has been chewing gum for at least 6 months. The second he sees gum, he has to have it. And he chews it for 10 minutes tops, then puts it in the sink and looks for another piece. (he's the same with chocolate!)

He thinks getting mail is the best part of the day -- I blame Blue's Clues. Nicholas gets to open all the junk mail. My favorite part is that he sings the "We just got a letter" song as he opens the mail. And if there is no junk mail, Nicholas gets sad and asks "Where's the letter from my friends?"

Nicholas is very independent. He wants to do everything himself. All day long, I hear "No Nicholas do it!" He wants to read the stories at nap time, he wants to buckle his car seat himself, he wants to put the dishes away himself, he wants to brush his teeth himself. And if he doesn't get the chance to do it himself first, Demon Nicholas comes out.

And my favorite thing about Nicholas lately is that he loves Eliana. He is always finding her a binky, or sharing his. He gets her blankets. He sings to her. He brings her toys. And he gives her hugs. But the best part about him hugging her is he always closes his eyes -- like hugging his baby sister is the best thing in the world.

Name Change

I guess I should change the name of the blog to "Eliana's Photo Shoot". I promise there are other people that live here. But most of them are boys and too messy and/or dirty to be photographed at my leisure. Photo sessions with boys have to be planned (usually to take place right after a bath). But photo sessions with a cute baby girl can happen whenever she isn't crying.

Ok, that's not true. If I waited till she wasn't crying, there wouldn't be any pictures of her. We have been blessed with a crier. As Josh generalized, "Girls cry more than boys." At least in our family they do. But in spite of the 12.72 hours a day she spends in some form of distress, she is fun to dress up and take pictures of.

Enjoy pictures of the brief moment of her silence!

I need a scrapbooking friend . . .

I saw this really cute idea on the internet. Someone made a school portfolio to keep their kids' school papers in. They used 12 large manila envelopes for each month of the year. It doesn't look too hard to make, but I'm not familiar with all the things called for. That is why I need the advice of a scrapbooker.
Here is the list of supplies that I don't know what they are or where to find them. (I know that I could just go ask at a craft store, but I always feel so silly. I'd rather go and sound like I know what I'm talking about!)

• 2 - 13½ x 10½ pieces heavy-weight chipboard
  
• 2 - 1 x 10½ pieces heavy-weight chipboard
  
• bookbinding tape or gaffer tape
  
• bone folder
  
• corner rounder

So my scrapbooking friends, any help you can give me would be very appreciated. I am tired of school papers carpeting my house. They need a place, and I need clean.

See full instructions here: Simple Scrapbooks Magazine

For the sake of beauty

Any mother with boys knows that there isn't much you can do to accessorize an outfit. But with a girl, the possibilities are endless! After three boys, I was more than ready to accessorize. However, being a girl is expensive. I found headbands that were $10 or more for ONE. That would never do -- I had to buy clothes for the baby, I couldn't go broke on headbands. So I decided to try to make them.

It began with one headband, just a simple floral headband . . .that grew into many.

There are red

and blue

and pink

and yellow and white.

And I just found a website (Boutique Bows) that gives instructions on making any kind of bow imaginable.

Too much? I think not. A girl can never have too much. But I'm not sure what to do once I've exhausted all headband options. Perhaps I'll have to learn how to sew . . .

Eliana at 6 weeks

Nicholas . . . Need I say more?

It's another normal day at the White house. Nicholas and I are playing cars. Eliana is asleep in my room. Life is slow and quiet. Soon enough, I hear the faint grunts of the sleeping girl, and know that I need to respond quickly before the grunts turn to shrieks. So, Nicholas and I go into my room and pick up the baby. I turn on a show to occupy Nicholas so I can change and feed Eliana. Being an obedient toddler, Nicholas sits down to watch Blue's Clues. But as soon as the diaper is off, he jumps up and climbs up the treadmill.

He's clever, this one. He knows that I won't leave an un-diapered child alone. I hurry and put Ellie's diaper on and pull Nicholas down. "Sit here," I command. "I'll be done in a minute." Nicholas smiles at me. "OK Mamma. Ni-Ni sit."

But I'm smarter than that. I know the magic of Blue and Steve is only strong enough to last 5 or 10 minutes. Hoping Eliana isn't too hungry (yeah right), I sit down to feed her. Nicholas asks what I'm doing. I tell him I'm feeding baby sister. He says, "Baby sister eatin' ice cream." "No," I laugh." "Baby sister is eating milk." Nicholas looks again. "No," He says. "Baby sister eatin' Mamma." Feeling oddly uncomfortable, I tell Nicholas to watch his show. But my words fall on deaf ears, as he makes a break for it and runs out the door. What happens next is what ALWAYS happens lately -- he goes to wash his hands. Now what mother would run in a panic if her child wanted to wash his hands? Any mother who sees her 21 month old son perched on the edge of the kitchen sink, both hands in the water, balancing on a cabinet door with his big toe.


And so the death-defying acts continue day after day. I guess that is just what makes Nicholas, Nicholas.

P.S. Just so the third member of our crazy at home trio isn't left out -- here is Eliana at 5 weeks.

Superficial Inspiration

Did you ever see anything that truly inspired you to be a better person? I did -- it was in the paper this week. I know for a fact that if I had this laundry room I would enjoy the doing laundry. I would probably do laundry EVERY day. AND -- I would cheerfully volunteer to iron my husband's shirts. It's true . . . This laundry room would make me a better person.


And speaking of inspiration, I really believe that owning this shirt would inspire me to fix my hair, put on make-up, and not wear sweats around the house every day.

Ok, while I'm still visiting my fantasy world, I truly believe that if I got to see this out my back door every day, I would be a happier person . . . which in turn would make me a better wife and mother. See -- in my fantasy world, everyone wins!

The Amazing Memory of Nicholas

Part One:
A few weeks ago, the children and I were rushing through Walmart. The boys had a birthday party to get to, and I had to pick up my mom from the airport. In a moment of insanity, I stuck our little Houdini in the cart basket for a second. . . Sensing freedom, Nicholas tried to climb out, but ended up falling onto the concrete floor. Unfortunately, his head caught the fall. I watched in horror as a bump the size of a golf ball grew on his forehead. Sobbing, I rushed him to the ER, where they did an MRI and pronounced him nothing but bruised.

His bruise four days later

Part Two:
Nicholas has always been a mother's dream when it comes to sleeping. At 7:30 every night, he asks to go to bed. He'll also ask for a nap occasionally. He has no problem going to sleep by himself. And he'll sleep till 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning. A few days after his fall, he freaked out when we tried to put him to bed -- he did not want to be left alone in his room. He woke up multiple times in the night crying and would not go back to sleep unless someone stayed in his room. Josh and I just thought it was because of the many changes in our house, and hoped he'd grow out of it.

Part Three:
A few days ago, Nicholas and I were playing in his room. For a brief moment, the room was silent. I heard a faint beeping noise. I wondered out loud, "What is making that beeping noise?" Fear appeared on Nicholas' face. He climbed into my lap and screamed, "No beep! No beep!" Strange, I thought. So we did a long search to discover what was making the noise. Hidden in one of his drawers was a toy running out of power. I turned off the toy and told Nicholas no more beeps. He looked at me for reassurance and asked over and over again, "No more beeps? Beeps all gone?" I repeated over and over again, no more beeps, until he was satisfied and went back to play. That night, before bed, he asked again "No more beeps?" "Beeps all gone," I said. He slept through the night for the first time in almost three weeks.

I told Josh what I thought was a funny story about the beeps. Josh told me that when Nicholas had his MRI, they told him he would just hear a few beeps and then he would be all done. So my poor boy has been hearing beeps for three weeks, scared that he would have to go into the machine again! I was shocked that he had remembered it! But the mystery is solved -- the beeps are gone and night time is peaceful again.

We made it to a month!!

I can't believe that tomorrow it will be a month since our sweet Eliana joined us. She is so much fun -- we all adore her! It's strange how now I can't even imagine life without her. She is such a wonderful addition to our family!



And Nicholas finally loves her too! He always asks to hold her or give her a binky. And the minute she makes any kind of noise, he makes sure to tell me "baby sister crying!" I was worried for nothing! I can tell these two are going to be great friends.

First day of School

Two years ago, we dropped Sam off for his first day of Kindergarten. As we pulled out of the parking lot, the tears started flowing. Benjamin wanted to know what all the fuss was about.
b: Mom, why are you crying?
m: I'm just a little sad about Sam starting school.
b: he's not going to be gone forever -- we have to pick him up today.
m: I know, but I'm going to miss him.
b: when I start school will you miss me?
m: of course I will!
b: but will you miss me so much you cry?

So today, my dear sweet Benjamin, as you start your first day of Kindergarten, know that I miss you so much I cried.

I can't believe that Benjamin is in kindergarten and Sam is in 2nd grade! How fast time does fly. And although I was very grateful for the quiet, non-chaotic house this morning after they left, I do miss them -- more than even I thought!