T-Ball

We started t-ball last night and had so much fun! It was just practice, but we had a blast!
This is Mary Frances hitting the ball! Hooray, Mary Frances!

Ray C. is the coach by default! No one else volunteered. So, he stepped up, but I think he is really excited about it! Although I did hear him jokingly say he was more nervous about coaching 4 and 5 year olds than high schoolers! I can't imagine why!?!
Coach Daddy, as he is lovingly called in our home, pumps up the team after a great first practice!
Go, Thomas!
As soon as Thomas got a hit, he took off running and threw down his helmet! It was hilarious! It looked as if he was shedding the extra weight to improve his speed!! :) I'm not sure that went through his mind, but that's what it looked like!
And he scores! Hooray, Thomas!
Coach Daddy with his little girl in her cute little PINK belt! Ray C, loves her playing, but he's determined she is going to look like a little girl, too! He's the one buying and insisting on the pink!!
Run, Mary Frances! Great hit!!!

Blackberries...Yummmy

We took the back way home yesterday and say blackberry bushes for miles!! So, we decided to take a little detour and pick some! We came home with a Chick-fil-a bag FULL of them!
Ray C. and I enjoyed some memories of picking them as little kids! What fun! I'm going to make my mom's delicious Blackberry Cobbler tomorrow night!!

Happy With Who We Are

As we were waiting for our food last night at Denny's, I asked the kids a question and thought you might like their responses:

Q: "Thomas, what is your favorite thing about being a boy?"
A: "Going to the men's restroom. I get to use cool potties in there!"

Q: "Mary Frances, what is your favorite thing about being a girl?"
A: "Wearing dresses."
Q: "Why?"
A: "Because they're girlish!"

Q: "Chase, what is your favorite thing about being a boy?"
A: "Cars!"

Call me Sentimental...

Today, Thomas lost his first tooth, and I really mean his first tooth! I remember the day it came in - 5 years and 20 days ago, exactly! (I did have help from the baby book on the date!) Of course, with your first child, all of the firsts are super exciting. So, we had been anxiously waiting for the first tooth to arrive after all that drooling and "teething". Ray C. had a study group over in Seminary, and I was putting Thomas to bed when I felt the tooth in his mouth! I remember running into the living room and announcing it to all the guys. Normally, a group of guys wouldn't care much, but this group of guys all had babies too. So, we all rejoiced in this first together!

So, today, we pulled it out, and I want to cry! I can't believe my little baby all bundled up in his warm blue onesie has grown into this 5 year old kid! I am so thankful that he has, but I just can't believe the time has passed so quickly!

The tooth has been wiggly for weeks, but it has been sitting crooked in his mouth for the last day or 2. So, he decided he would try eating an apple to get it out. It didn't take long for the apple to get a little bloody, but it still needed a little "push" from mommy and daddy!

Chase and Mary Frances thought it was pretty funny when they saw the missing tooth for the first time! I loved how Chase just pointed at Thomas' mouth!!
Thomas was so excited about losing it! He can't wait to show his friends at church tomorrow! I believe I saw the tooth fairy in his room earlier. I'm looking forward to seeing what he got, but I'll have to wait until he wakes up in the morning! He was so excited when he went to sleep with the tooth underneath his pillow. He said he would look underneath as soon as he wakes up! I can't wait!!

I am excited for him. It is another milestone we get to rejoice in together, but it still makes me sad to see him growing up so quickly!

Grandaddy's Name

I heard my mom telling this story this weekend and realized I never blogged it! So, this may have happened before I began my blog, but it is definitely worth recording! A few years ago, I was testing the kids to see if they knew everyone's real names! I asked Mary Frances was Grandaddy's name was, and she said, "Grandaddy." Then I said, "but what does Honey call Grandaddy." To that she replied, "For Heaven's Sake!"

Sound the Alarm..Here Comes Thomas

Today was a big day for the Hughes family! We registered Thomas for kindergarten! I expected the line to be outrageous, but there wasn't one when I was there! I found that very exciting news since I will be doing kindergarten registration for three consecutive years!

Anyway, it was pretty painless. Of course, I brought a phone bill instead of a utility bill as proof of residence. So, I had to take all 3 kids back home to get the right thing, but still, it was no big deal!

The kids did great during the registration. I was very nervous about how I was going to handle them all while doing it, but they sat at a table and colored and played with some other children!! We knew several other kids registering - neighbors and friends from preschool!

As I was preparing to leave, the lights went out. I knew immediately that one of my children was to blame. So, I saw Thomas messing with the light switch and told him to turn it back on. As soon as I got across the room to get the lights back on THE FIRE ALARM WENT OFF!!! Unfortunately for me, it was not a scheduled drill! The red switch had called Thomas' name, and he gave in! I honestly don't think he knew what it was because he would have never done it. He hates loud noises and is always concerned about our house alarm going off!

What seemed like 5 minutes was probably only about 20 seconds, but I was mortified! Luckily, no one had to be evacuated. Someone with a walkie turned it off and told the front office it was a mistake. We left as quickly as possible!

What a way to start your public school career. Watch out! Here we come....

Houston...We are Cleared for Liftoff

Yes, launch is in 3 days!! I can't believe we have finally made it. Foundry Fry Road begins weekly services this Sunday at the movie theater! The kids are so excited. They love church in the movie theater.

I don't feel like I thought I would. The preview services have given us confidence in what we are doing, and we really already know what to expect. So, there isn't as much anxiety for this weekend, which is good, but I miss the excited feeling! Hopefully it will hit Saturday night or at least Sunday morning!

Please pray that everything will run smoothly!

What's so great about Heaven?

As I was walking out of Thomas' room tonight, he said, "Is heaven on a cloud?" I responded, "I don't really know where it is Thomas. I've never been there." So we started a little conversation about heaven. He wanted to know why you have to stay there once you get to Heaven. I answered, "Well, heaven is so wonderful that you won't want to leave! You get to run as much as you want wherever you want!" His eyes perked up!

So, I began thinking about how we all imagine heaven differently. For me, I always think about the feast I imagine being laid out. I think about eating with Noah and Paul. I'm really looking forward to talking with them. Mary and Martha should be fun to chat with too, but I'm not sure we'll be able to find Martha! She's probably the one cooking all the food! :)

For Thomas, the thought of exploring whatever and whenever you want is Heaven! So, as we continued talking about what Heaven is like, I explained that Heaven has everything we need. His response - "Is there a Wal-Mart there?"

They do have everything you need! I guess we learn the important stuff early, huh?

Another Day at the Zoo

Daddy has Thursdays off. So, we have been going on little adventures! Today, we went to the zoo (along with every elementary school in the area). We had so much fun being together! The kids did so good staying with us. They are growing up quickly!




I love this picture of Ray C. and me! You can tell Mary Frances took it because of the upward angle! Isn't it cute?

Bike Pictures...

This picture is for Jessie!! She really wanted a closer look at those "converse" shoes!!The rest of the pictures are from our bike ride this afternoon!
By the way Mary Frances picked out the shoes! Remember, we pick our battles, and this was not one worth fighting!
A little too small for this bike!

A Mom's Job...

As I begin to get busier with weddings and have less time for cleaning my house, I have been pondering what my job really is as a mom!

Here's the deal...I don't really like playing. I love board games, and we do play some of them, but usually Chase messes them up! I like puzzles. We do those every once-in-a-while. I really like riding bikes with my kids, but I don't like playing outside! I am not into Barbies, My Little Pony, Thomas the Tank Engine, cars or Transformers! So, do I just suck it up and play, or is that not really part of my role? Are all of those things for them to play with and be creative while I'm doing other things? Is riding bikes once or twice a week, reading several books a day, and putting together a puzzle once a week sufficient "play time with mommy"?

The reason I'm questioning is because I am finding that I feel guilty on days when I have not sat down to do more than read them a bed time story. Is that bad or is that normal? I don't want "well, you're just busy and that's all you can do." I really want to know what my role is as a mother!

I wake up with them every morning. I try to get up before them, but I am not usually successful since they wake up by 6:30 each day! I make sure they are dressed, fed, brush their teeth, and that they make up their beds. (We've recently begun a "schedule" where they get smiley faces for each chore they complete in the morning and the evening.) Ray C. and I take turns taking them to school, and about half the time we have really good conversations - sometimes pretty deep conversations. In fact, we recently talked about Fidel Castro and his role in Cuba. Anyway, I pack lunches for them, and I try to keep them from eating too much sugar and red dye - that's for you Ms. Dana!!! Really, it's for the sanity of all adults involved, but we are grateful for your help with that discovery!

I pick them up from school and ask them each what they did and what they enjoyed most! I pray with them. I take them to the park. We ride bikes. I let them play in the backyard while I am in the kitchen. They play for hours with their toys upstairs! We watch more TV than we should, but I restrict what they can watch!

Ray C. and I try to get individual time with them as often as possible! We go on dates with one at a time, and that is always a blast! We make sure they have a bath before bedtime and that they brush their teeth - most of the time! :) When we are home, we get them in bed between 8 and 8:30, which is most nights. All that to say, I take care of their most basic needs and more! After all, I love them! They are God's gift to us, and I want the best for them!

So, should I feel guilty about just letting them play on their own? Seriously? Should I be spending several hours with them one on one each day doing art projects, reading, and playing games? Or are they getting what they need from me in the other things I am doing? Of course, I know that no one else can answer my questions specifically, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this. What conclusions have you come to as parents about what our role is?

I don't want to do enough to make me feel better! I want to be sure that I am providing my children with everything they need to be a successful, happy, loving adult with GREAT memories from their childhood! I just can't convince myself that's what I'm doing! HELP!!

Say Ahhhh...

We finally found a dentist in TX and figured out all the insurance junk that is so much fun! So, we all went this week. It was quite an experience. Our dentist is in a brand new location that just opened last month. So, we were the only patients and had the entire staff helping us! It was fun! Of course, I've always loved going to the dentist! I can't say the same for my two youngest kids!

Chase and Mary Frances were very apprehensive, but they managed to open their mouths long enough to brush them and determine there were no cavities!

When Thomas' turn came, he jumped up in the chair and was so good! I was so proud of him. I can't believe how big he is getting! He did everything the dentist told him to do. When she went to clean his bottom front teeth, she said she was having a hard time holding on to them and then realized they were loose! I was so excited because we had been talking about him loosing his teeth just this week! He's excited too, but I think I am more excited!

When I told my mom, she said, "No! He can't be that big!"

I know! Loosing teeth really means you're getting older doesn't it! It means you're not a little kid anymore! You're really growing up! I know he's only 5, but this is a really big deal to us! It's the next big thing after potty training, going to school, and riding a bike!

So, he still has his teeth, but they will be coming out in the near future! I have pictures from the dentist visit, but I can't transfer them from my cell phone! But rest assured, the snaggle tooth picture will be up as soon as the tooth is gone!!

The Park...

It was so windy yesterday, but it was too pretty outside to stay in the house! So, we packed a picnic and went to the "Frisbee park" in our neighborhood. We have so many different parks and playgrounds, that we have named them by the color of the equipment or what we do while we are there! Actually, we've always done that. In Athens, we have "Grandaddy's park" and "Daddy's Park" (aka "the Duck Park")). Anyway..We had a fun time. Here are a few pictures from our time there!:(Check out Chase's high-top Red converse-like shoes! He begged me to buy them!)
I don't know where Thomas got this pose, but I have seen it several times recently! Is he planning to be a rock star or what!?!
Up the hill he goes....and on with the chase..

God Can Help Me

On our long ride the other day, Mary Frances told me that God can help her go up the hills. You know, it's hard to get going up hills, especially when you're first learning to ride! So, I affirmed her. God will absolutely help you because "we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."

So, when we arrived at the next hill, she stopped. I turned around to tell her that she should not stop before she gets to the hill because you need to get going fast, but when I looked at her, she had her head bowed and her hands together (angel hands) praying! Then, she took off. I started my encouragement, "Yay, Mary Frances! You can do it!" But she interrupted me saying, "No, mommy. God is helping me!" Well excuse me, but I was thrilled that she had such great faith! And he did help her up every hill. She stopped to pray 3 times that I saw! However, one time she had a little hard time getting started. At that point, I reminded her that God always answers our prayers, but sometimes he waits for us to get it started!

It has been a great picture for me this week to remember how important it is for me to not just sit back and wait for God to answer my prayers but to be active in taking that first step forward when I need to!

A New Bike

Mary Frances got a new bike this week! I know you might be surprised after all we've been through with the "me,me,me" stage, but the rest of the family needed her to have one! Here's the deal! Thomas just started riding his bike (with training wheels). I know I'm starting to sound like a bad mother, but this is the first place we've lived in 3 years that was suitable for learning. On the island, we didn't even have a road suitable for learning. It was dirt, and our driveway was made of rocks!

So, anyway - we're off and we're so excited! Mary Frances already had figured it out but hadn't been doing it much! So, when Thomas took off last week, he wanted to go for a ride around the neighborhood, specifically to his friend, Zachary's house! I was so excited when he asked because it opens up a whole new realm for our family - exercising together and having fun outside! So, the first time we went, Chase didn't want to ride in the baby seat on Ray C.'s bike. So, Mary Frances rode in the seat and Chase ran! I know we sound like bad parents, but anyone who knows Chase knows he was just fine and had a blast! Ray C. mentioned how much easier it is to "chase" him when you have wheels. I must admit I'm terrified to put him on a bike! I'll never catch him!! Anyway, we took plenty of breaks and let him ride a little!

The next time we went, I told Mary Frances to ride her (now old) bike, and she refused. So, I told her she would have to run. We didn't go far, and it was a good lesson for her. So, the next day we went, and she rode her little bike, but before she even got on it, I noticed it next to Thomas' bike and realized it was much too small for her! So, I promised her that if she would try really hard and show me that she could ride, that I would buy her a new one the next day! She did great, and I kept my promise! Of course, I also told her that if she did not have a good attitude about it that we would not let her ride it. She has been very grateful for the gift and not shown the same attitude I saw back in December and January! So, that afternoon, we went for a 2 hour bike ride. I think we went about 2 and a half miles. That was just me and the 3 kids! We had a blast! Mary Frances was a little slow on the first half of the trip, but she was racing Thomas at the end!

This has been so much fun for us! Our neighborhood is an amazing place for bike riding and doing outdoor activities! I am so excited to have something my children enjoy doing that we can do regularly! We all need the exercise!

A Guide to Dressing Yourself...

Mary Frances has WAY too much to say about her wardrobe! She has declared, "I'm not wearing pants anymore." Although, when I informed her that meant she couldn't wear any of her little t-shirts since they don't match her skirts, she seemed that she might give in just a little! I don't count on that being very much! I have been so frustrated every day trying to get out of the house! She's very good at getting dressed on her own. However, her choices don't always match and are usually not appropriate for the weather! So, we've done a little shopping to make sure she has plenty of dresses and shoes to match!

Why do girls have to be so complicated? All boys need is a few pair of jeans a few pair of khakis and some polos. They need one pair of tennis shoes and one pair of dress shoes, and they are set!!!

Anyway, today, we took the time to try on each outfit and take a picture of it. We printed them out and organized them in a photo book.

She is keeping her "Dressing Guide" in the drawer by her bed and may wear anything in it. There is one section for school clothes and one section for other occasions. I am hoping this will make our mornings a little easier!

I'll keep you updated!

Bobby the Baboon

This is Bobby Bob the Baboon! I couldn't get this picture to stand upright the other night when I was posting, but I really wanted him to be on here! He is one of the most "entertaining" animals at the zoo. Actually, I'm always a little apprehensive about walking past him because he has raging hormones and you never know what he might be doing when you pass!

He posed for this picture and many others, but when one man came over to take a picture, he turned around and showed him his butt just for the picture and then turned back around! We all agreed he did it on purpose! He just has that personality!

Just Another Day...

It started out nice. We went to a birthday party for a friend and then went to Gap to get a few things. I had Chase and Mary Frances in Gap Kids trying a few things on Mary Frances who insists on wearing only skirts and dresses! We have been arguing about what she wears quite a bit because we just don't have a lot of dresses for everyday...Anyhow, as we were trying on things, Chase got into my purse. While Mary Frances and I walked out of the dressing room to talk to an employee, Chase opened a CHILD-PROOF cap on my prescription medicine and started chowing down! I don't think he got much, but he did get some. His mouth was white from chewing the white tablet. I wiped out as much as I could with my hands and then followed up with a napkin the employee got for me. Another shopper was nice enough to call poison control (800-222-1222). They said we needed to get to a hospital and be treated with charcoal within an hour!

So, we went straight to the hospital. Ray C. came over from the other store and drove us all! I thought you might like to see pictures of our most exciting visit!The first thing he had to do was drink charcoal! Don't ask me any questions! I still don't know why! That's just the treatment! So, they bring in chocolate milk with the charcoal in it and expect him to drink 2 cups of it - probably about 16-20 ounces. They tried to trick him by telling him it's chocolate milk - even though it was black! As soon as he drank it, he said, "That not choca milk. Choca milk at chick-a-lay!" So, much for that!

But, it must not have been too bad because he did drink a good bit of it. Then he wouldn't drink anymore. So, we had to hold him down and force feed it to him through a syringe! Every time we finished a syringe, he said, "Are we done yet?" He never actually finished it, but he sure did make a mess with what he did have. It was all over both of us! This is a picture of him with his doctor! She thought he was the cutest thing ever with the charcoal all over his face and hands! She showed him to several doctors and nurses passing by. She was very sweet to him.

She even let him listen to her heart through her stethoscope! This is Patti, the nurse! We spent a lot of time with her. She was so good with him. She told him he could go for a walk if he would drink the stuff. So, every few steps he had to stop and take a sip. One nurse gave him stickers after he took 2 big sips! Later on, Patti told him he could have a a popsicle if he would drink some more! So, he drank some.

Then she took him to the freezer and made him drink one more sip before he could choose the color of his popsicle!Then we went back to the room and she said she would open it if he took another sip. She was really great with him and got him to drink almost all of it. I was amazed! This is him picking out his popsicle! He was disappointed there was no green, but he settled on red pretty quickly.

He actually had a lot of fun in the hospital - except being held down to drink the charcoal! He called a Code Blue twice by pulling the button! Everyone ran in the room the first time. I said, "I'm so sorry. It was the baby!" The second time only one came! They all knew we were in there!

He called 3 different nurses on the "Help" button in the bathrooms and in the room we were in! Again, "I'm sorry! It was the baby!" He made the bed - which we decided was really a couch because that is the only way he would sit on it - into a choo choo train! There were 2 levers on the front end. He played that for 30-45 minutes. The nurse was impressed by his imagination!

Poison control told them to keep us 4-6 hours to watch him, They let us go right at 4 hours because he was acting perfectly normal! I can't believe we made it that long! Ray C. took the other two to a few different places throughout the day. So, they weren't in there much!

So, it's been a long day! I am so grateful for God's protection! I continuously ask God to protect these children from all the things that could harm them in this world. The possibilities are endless. I choose to give them to God and not worry about them! When do I have time to worry, anyway?

I think I need a bubble bath!

Mastering Conflict

Mary Frances was sent home with a mid-year assessment this week! It was really great! However, I had to laugh as I was reading down the list. She got several average grades for doing what was appropriate for her age and the first one she got an "M" for ( for mastering) was using words in conflict! Well, why wouldn't she have mastered that one? She's had plenty of practice since she first learned the words! And the terrible twos were definitely her training! Seriously, it is a good thing that she can communicate well, but in my family she was destined for it!

Valentine's Day

Daddy's make our Valentine's special at our house!! Ray C. bought flowers for Mary Frances (and me:)) and put them in different places around the house!! My daddy sends me flowers every year, and this year, he sent some to Mary Frances as well along with a cute little teddy bear. She was so excited that she got some too! We felt very special on V-day! Thank you Ray C. and daddy!

For Christmas this year, we bought the kids an annual pass to the zoo. We have already been 5 or 6 times. It is so nice to be able to go without worrying about staying long enough to see everything!
So, we went to the zoo on Valentine's Day! Thursday is Ray C.'s day off now. So, we have been doing some fun things! Anyway, we had a blast seeing the animals and learning a little bit more about them! They are quite entertaining!

This is baby Jack and his mommy! He is only 2 or 3 weeks old. We saw him the day after he was born! Isn't he cute! Bot am I glad our babies don't come out that big!

After visiting the zoo, we walked around a little in Hermann Park! It is very pretty with lots of water and grass! That may sound funny to you, but we don't see a lot of trees and grass out here! It's mostly concrete! Anyway, the kids laid down for a very brief moment for me to snap one picture and then they were off again!

And would you believe, we had TWO nice meals with the kids that day! We went out for lunch and dinner while we were gone, and we actually enjoyed both meals! Again, this may seem crazy to some of you that I am surprised, but remember they are 2, 4, and 5 and not exactly calm! They are full of life, energy, and lots of love!

Mary Frances' Birthday

Mary Frances had a lot of fun at her birthday party! She invited only girls since it was a Strawberry Shortcake Party! The girls had a blast too! They weren't too fond of the games we planned, though! I was just interrupting their play time! I took notes for next time!

This is Mary Frances with our "front-door neighbor" Peyton! We were so excited she came!

Mary Frances and some of her friends from church and school! There were a few more girls there but they must have been playing when I snapped this picture!

Cascada...

Cascada...one of my favorite Spanish words. It sounds so pretty! It means "waterfall," and it reminds me of a beautiful waterfall in Guatemala outside of Panajachel! However, this morning, when I heard Mary Frances running down the stairs saying, "Chase is making a waterfall," I didn't have such good thoughts! I could only imagine what was happening in the bathroom upstairs with the door closed and the water running (which I could hear from downstairs)!!

I opened the door to discover a real waterfall "cascading" from the sink, down the cabinets, and ALL over the floor! After a quick scream, I began mopping up the water with the partially dry towels under the sink - knowing it was probably leaking into the laundry room! It was indeed pouring from the vent downstairs into the laundry room. Thankfully, Ray C. was still home and began the clean up downstairs. After further investigation, I discovered that the drawers were even full of water, and everything under the sink was drenched! We cleaned up and still made it to school on time. Chase was disciplined appropriately! I hope that is the last time we have a waterfall inside our house!

Oh, I bet you're wondering what Chase was doing - as if he needs an excuse other than being 2!! Well, he was bathing the Barbie Dolls! They are now nice and clean!

Tough Love

Okay, you've heard far too many sweet stories in a row... It's time for life as I know it this week!! Forgive the complaining, and remember this is a diary where I record my thoughts and feelings!! Ray C. was gone for a week. I enjoyed having some time to myself while the kids were asleep, but that was the only thing I enjoyed! I didn't even get to enjoy sleeping alone because they all slept with me at some point! (I don't wake up when they get in the bed!)

Mary Frances has been my main source of difficulty. I love the child so much, but she has been downright nasty to me the last several weeks. It started before Christmas, and I think her birthday being this week has just prolonged the "me, me, me" attitude!! She complains from the moment she wakes up until the minute she goes to sleep! She doesn't like the clothes I pick out, the way I do her hair, or the way her coat itches her. (By the way, I let her pick out her clothes, but I require her to wear long sleeve clothes when it's cold outside - not summer dresses. Horrible, isn't it!?!)

She suddenly can't walk when it's time to get in the car. She is sleepy when it's time to clean up, and she's not sleepy when it's time for bed. When I give her juice she wants milk. When I give her milk, she wants it chocolate. (I ask every time what she wants, but even then it's the wrong thing!) She pitches a fit if I give her a blue plate because she wanted the green one.

She constantly tells me what I "need" to do for her. She even came home one day telling me she "deserved" things. That only lasted one day!

She has been asking for everything. I want this, that, and everything else.... She enjoyed Christmas and, thankfully, did not complain about any gifts. Actually, I was shocked! They did not get everything they asked for, but they did get a lot when you add up all the people who gave them things. I really don't like them getting a lot because it contributes to this "Me" attitude that is now destroying her sweet personality that I haven't seen in over a month!

SO.... after a very difficult morning that ended in me crying in the bathroom stall of the movie theater before walking out to lead worship at our preview service, I came home and packed up ALL of her toys and all but 3 sets of clothes! This crisis calls for dramatic measures. I cried the entire time I packed everything up - especially when I packed up the Barbie things - oh, here I go again! I cried because I know she loves them, and she would be upset to see them put away, but this is what you do when you love someone. You help them to be who God created them to be! My job is not to give her everything she wants. My job is to "train her in the way she should go so that when she grows old she will never depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). My job is to teach her to be like Jesus.

So, as I was packing things up, she came up the stairs, and Ray C. and I had a talk with her. We explained that we were taking away all of her things because she had a very bad attitude. We told her that she was complaining about everything and not being thankful for anything. So, we were going to help her learn. She can earn her clothes and toys back by having a better attitude and being thankful. She must say thank you when someone does something for her and please when she wants something. We also reminded her that she must have a joyful heart and not a selfish one. She was very upset, but she understood. By the way, these are not new concepts to her. She just hasn't been following the rules. Regular discipline just hasn't worked for her.

I then told her than she would have to take a nap this afternoon - a horrible punishment for her! She was VERY upset about the nap, but she obeyed without MUCH fussing. The boys went to the zoo while she was napping. I told her when she woke up that they were on their way back from the zoo, and she was disappointed that she missed it, but encouraged that she could go another time when she finds a good attitude and joyful heart! (Ray C. really wanted to take the kids, but I told him that Mary Frances just could not be rewarded with anything else. I was sorry I missed out on the fun, but I got a much-needed nap.)

After a 3 hour nap, she has been the child I have missed! I'm crying again for some reason! Mary Frances is so sweet, but she is so strong-willed. I am scared to think what she would be like as a teenager if left to her own selfish desires. We always remind each other when we are dealing with this attitude that it is easier to discipline her now than it will be at 16. Our prayer is that Mary Frances will learn how to control her attitude and really have a joyful heart so that when she does hit those very difficult years, she will have a firm foundation to stand on. I don't expect the teenage years to be a breeze by ANY means, but I do expect her to handle them differently after having been disciplined and trained from such an early age.

By the way, some of you will not understand this child I am talking about. I have come to realize that everyone does not have children like Mary Frances. Some people just don't understand what it is like to have a child that doesn't respond to regular discipline. In fact, some people even think that I am doing something wrong or not disciplining properly if she is behaving this way. I can assure you that I love her very much, and I do discipline her properly. Every child is different. Some respond to a stern look (I don't have one of those), and some respond to time-out. Others respond to spankings, and others need more creative discipline. All forms of discipline do not work for all children. As parents, it is our job to learn our children and what works for them, not to put down the way other people do it!

Parenting is hard! For those of you who are going through this same thing - usually the terrible twos, but sometimes they just creep back in - remember God is faithful! He will not leave you! He has blessed you with this child, and He will guide you to raise her (or him). Trust in Him. And when you're crying and upset and don't know what else to do, just tell Him. Say "I give up. It's all on you!" He will take it!

Thank you God for carrying my burdens, for helping me when life is tough, and for blessing me so much! I don't want to live in this world without you!

Mini Wheats

Chase loves "Winnie Meats". When I gave him a bowl this morning, he did a little jig - "Winnie Meats, Winnie Meats, Winnie Meats" and then he said, "I need a poon for da winnie meats." I'm glad I could please him so easily at 6:00 this morning. On to the work of the day...

Melody's Adventures Continue

Melody and Ray C. had a "snowball fight" this morning! We were so excited to see the picture of snow, and Melody is even holding a snowball! The children loved it! Do I have a great husband or what???

Prayer Time...

Daddy and Melody started the day spending some time with God while looking over the mountain at Fayetteville! It looks so peaceful. I must admit I am jealous. Looking at the picture makes me even more jealous. It must feel great there. Peace, in the quiet sense, is not exactly overflowing in our house. However, I did redeem my Christmas gift from the kids today - a one hour massage! That was peaceful!

Happ Birthday, Papa G.

Yesterday was Papa G.'s 75th birthday! Mary Frances woke me up at 6:00 saying, "Mommy, we have to mail a present for Papa G. It's his birthday today!" She remembered since it's the day before her birthday! I informed her we had already given him a gift to open!

Later on, we called and sang to him, and all the children sang loud. He was so excited to hear them all singing to him. Then, Mary Frances wanted to talk to him. So I threw the phone back to her (we were in the car), and she began jabbering away. All the time I'm saying talk loudly and clearly!

She talked for a while, but we loved it when she said, "Tomorrow is my birthday. You can send me a present, and be sure to put a bow on it!!!" She also invited him to her birthday party. When he told her that he couldn't come, she said, "Well, we'll just mail you a piece of my birthday cake!!" I'm not sure what it will look or taste like when it gets there, but we can certainly mail a piece!

It was fun listening to her side of the conversation, and I know it made Papa's day!

A New Respect for My Dad...

At about 9:00 last night, I began piecing together Mary Frances' new wooden kitchen. I finished around 12:30!! I knew it was going to take a while, but I had no idea it would take that long. The longer I worked on it, the more my respect for my dad grew. Who knows how many things he has assembled for me over the years, how many hours he has spent with a screwdriver in one hand and a set of directions in the other!?! That's not even considering all of the things he has made for me from scratch, with his bare hands!!

So every time I began to get frustrated at the length of time it was taking, I began to think of the things he has assembled for me. It sure made it a lot easier to keep a good attitude. And now, I understand another reason for experiencing joy when your child opens a present. When you have put so much time and effort into something, it makes it even more fun to see them enjoy it!

The kitchen set is actually from my parents! So, thanks mama and daddy! Along with your gift, you gave me a new appreciation for you and all the things you have done for me over the years! I bet you never thought you would hear thank you for the behind-the-scenes job when I was 6, did you!? And maybe I won't either, but I sure am grateful to you now!

I must also say, my appreciation grew for husband as well. He is usually the one stuck with this job. So, thanks honey. I appreciate all the time you spend assembling, too. I will be more thankful from now on. I'm pretty sure I'm going to let you keep this one!!

The Princess and Her King

Have you seen the commercial where the dad goes on a business trip and takes his little girl's doll with him? He takes pictures of all the different places he and the doll go. Well, Ray C. will be gone for Mary Frances' birthday. So, he asked Mary Frances if he could take one of her stuffed animals with him. She gave him a teddy bear named Melody (because it sings), and we have been receiving pictures from daddy and Melody since they left.

This picture is early Monday morning on the way to the airport. We also received one from the plane. It looks like Melody had her own seat! Our favorite so far was this morning - a picture of daddy and Melody in the bed. Melody was listening to daddy's ipod!

I keep thinking how funny it must be for the people watching Ray C. take the pictures! I'm sure he is being extremely discreet carrying around a teddy bear, but I love him so much for doing something so sweet for our little girl! What an awesome memory!

Mary Frances has been e-mailing responses to the pictures to him. This is her first one:

Dear King,
I miss you a lot. Make sure you have a good trip.

Love,

Princess

Shopping in Style...

Maybe I have just been on an island for too long, but I can't believe what we just found in the grocery store this week! TV grocery carts! You pay $1, and the kids get to watch cartoons to keep them entertained while you shop!! What an amazing idea!

Unfortunately for me, they only seat 2 children, but Ray C. was with us the other day and we got 2 of them for free for a few minutes. So, we actually had a peaceful trip to the grocery store while the kids enjoyed themselves as well!! I wish this had been my idea!

I hate the idea of having to pay for a grocery cart, but $1 is nothing when I'm spending so much on groceries! The peace probably saves far more than $1 because I can actually think about what I'm buying instead of grabbing whatever looks good as I run through the aisle trying to make in through the entire store before losing all 3 kids!

Papa G.

The kids loved all over Papa G., my mom's dad! They had so much fun talking to him and loving on him!

Chase especially loved Papa G. He wanted to sit in his lap the whole time! He even wanted to eat in his lap! Papa G. sure did get a lot of love and kisses! We can't wait to see him again!

We had a nice photo session while the kids were waiting for grandaddy to come in the door! They could see him through the glass door, and it made for some great pictures!! After trying for 2 months to get them all looking in the same direction, we finally got a good Christmas picture! Too bad it was January 6th!

The Four-Wheeler

We visited my family in Georgia last week and had a blast. One thing that has become a must for the kids is "camping." The first time they requested to go we actually camped in a tent for the night, but after we realized that all they really cared about was the fire, hot dogs, smores, and the four-wheeler, we changed our plans! So, now we just go out for a few hours of fun. It is really a lot of fun for all of us!

So, as I was telling my friend, Heather, about the kids tonight, it hit me that their feelings and style on the four-wheeler are a perfect description of their personalities! Chase is OBSESSED with the thing. He talks about it all the time, notices most four-wheelers we pass, and must ride it daily when visiting my parents. He always has to be the first one to ride (that's mainly because he just can't stand to wait when we first get it out), and he usually gets the last ride, too! However, he rides very quietly. He is content doing anything on the four-wheeler as long as he gets to ride!

Thomas is very cautious! He enjoys the four-wheeler, but it likes to go pretty slow, not hit any bumps if possible, and he doesn't want to ride for long. A leisurely ride will do him just fine! I bet that surprises you about him, but I'm not describing his activity level - this is personality!

Now, Mary Frances, the princess, loves the four-wheeler too! However, she likes to go as fast as it will take her, as long as it will go, and she wants to hit every bump and mud puddle in the way! She is a dare devil, and has been since birth!

I don't know that there is any relevance to my sudden realization but it sure is fun to think about! I am so glad God made us all so different. We all have things we like and don't like. I love that I have different things in each child to enjoy. I remember the first time I realized that the kids were going to be different was when Mary Frances decided she liked grapes. As crazy as it sounds, I was so excited! Thomas had never liked grapes. It hadn't really occurred to me that they would like different things. So, it was fun to see that at such a young age they were already displaying some differences in preference and personality! Of course, it is a challenge preparing meals for 3 children with different tastes, but I am grateful for the differences!

Mary Frances Registers for China...

Mary Frances is turning 4 next week, so we have set up a registry for her fine china. She is registered only at Belk's. I'm sorry if that is inconvenient for you!!!

No, really! Ray C.'s dad gives the children money for Christmas every year. We could go and spend the money on more toys that they don't need or we could put it in a savings account for later. However, it really isn't enough to be a huge amount later on. It would probably get used on something they would forget about in a year or two if they remembered it that long!

So, I have been thinking for the last month or so that I would really like to start her some type of collection with the money so that she could have something really special. Even though the money may not go far later on, it will go a long way when you use it on the best sales! After Christmas (and other times during the year), China is discounted a lot.

So, I took my mom and Mary Frances to the mall today to look at patterns. I know her taste will not be the same as it is now and may be different than ours, but we had to start somewhere! So, we looked at several different options and found one that we agreed any girly girl would think is pretty. One thing is for sure - Mary Frances is a girly girl!!

I intended to just buy a little at a time, but the sales person suggested a registry - smart on his part - so we decided that was fun and would be a nice way of keeping up with what is bought. Who knows, she may start getting pieces from other people as well! I know this may seem crazy to some of you, but I feel that this is a great way to make use of the money she is given, and she will be so thrilled to have a nearly complete set of China when she becomes an adult!!

So, I am really excited tonight. After we registered her, I gave her a few choices of items we could take home with us as her first few pieces from Papa. She chose the tea cup and saucer without hesitation and had some juice in them when we got home!

Now I just need to decide what to do for the boys. I know they won't care about China now or later. My parents have suggested another type of collection like stamps or coins, but I'm not wild about either idea. I think a collection is a good idea, but what could they collect that they would be proud of later on? Any ideas? I need some help!