Took a look around at about 6:05. Working on dinner. Beef stroganoff….one of the kids’ favorites.

My floor. Aside from dirt, dust bunnies, and the top strip of a yogurt tube, I found quite a few things. 

Blueberries spilled. Just bought them today. Two cartons already eaten and this one on the floor was the last one. Picked them up, blew them off, and put them right back in the carton.

The water jug? Why not?! 

The bike trailer……has been sitting there for a few days. I tried to put it together today. By tried, I mean, sat down with the directions for five minutes. Couldn’t find the brake button, saw that I needed a screw driver and decided this one would have to wait for Brad. 

The 13 year old lap top cord? No idea.

And the flip flops…..I mind them being on the stairs far less than I mind them in the middle of the den floor. At least there, they are on their way up.

 

 

Oh and we attempted potty training today for a grand total of 20 minutes. Big girl panties on, m&m’s in a jar on the bathroom shelf, potty seat insert on it’s perch. We were ready to go.

She sat on the potty several times.

She was dry about 18 minutes.

Then there came the puddle. Wood floor, thankfully, no carpet or furniture. She freaked out. I tossed her on the toilet, hoping for a little tinkle so she would get the idea.

All I got was a completely annoyed baby asking for her “Biaper”.

This is why my babies are well on their way to three before we potty train. 

It’s simple. 

Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a …….well, you know. 

 

~stacey

 

 

(Two sisters in the bathroom, brushing their teeth. These are the moments I’m glad that from my den, I can hear everything that goes on upstairs.)

“Reese, am I annoying or non annoying?” 

(paste applied, water turns on then off again)

“What?”

“Am I annoying or non?!”

(the frustration is growing in this 6 year old’s voice.)

“Avery. Why are you asking me this?”

(one tooth brush tap, tap, taps, against the sink)

“Well, ‘cuz like, there’s this boy at VBS who says I am. So I need to know. Am I annoying or non?”

“Non.” 

Avery, you need to have thicker skin.”

“Why?”

“Because, Avery. Boys are just boys and….thicker skin matters.”

(swishing brushes start and stop way too quickly for thoroughly cleaned teeth, but there was deep conversation to be had)

“See, Avery, one time, there was this really pretty girl and she said a really mean thing to me. She said Auburn was the worst team ever and that I was a bad girl.”

“Was she very cute?”

“Oh yes.  She was beautiful. So anyway, she was really mean and then I saw her again and thought, OH NO. HERE COMES THAT MEAN GIRL.

But then she got nicer and wasn’t mean anymore. See?!”

 

My six year old is asking her big sister to tell her who she is.    ~Identities are being formed.~ 

I don’t think I could have answered much better than my eight year old did.  ~So, well done, Reese.~

This home is a safe place to get the truth. ~Listen to the ones you care about and speak carefully. Words are powerful~

 

 

 

When in doubt, err on the side of love and forgiveness.

 

 

Whether you jump in…….

 

 

Or whether you’re thrown in…….

Once you’re in, you’re in. ~ Make the best of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Life isn’t always fair. 

 

 

 

Sometimes you misunderstand and sometimes you’re misunderstood.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Love never gives up. 
   Love cares more for others than for self. 
   Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. 
   Love doesn’t strut, 
   Doesn’t have a swelled head, 
   Doesn’t force itself on others, 
   Isn’t always “me first,” 
   Doesn’t fly off the handle, 
   Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, 
   Doesn’t revel when others grovel, 
   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 
   Puts up with anything, 
   Trusts God always, 
   Always looks for the best, 
   Never looks back, 
   But keeps going to the end.

 

 

 

 

 

~stacey