The Eldest Turned a Handful

Now I know I have a picture from his 4th birthday...but at the moment I can't find it. However the picture was taken close-ish.

(Computer is broke again - first valid reason to overshare on facebook, I found all the other years)

Happy 5th Birthday Bud.

A New Low

Whelp...my lazy parenting reached a new low tonight. The boys wanted to play hide and go seek. I introduced a new concept of roles for 3 players. One Hider, One Seeker...and One Counter.

At the time it seemed genius, now I feeling a little guilty and a whole lot of lazy. I didn't even mve when they decided I should hide, I just put the blanket over me and laid on the floor.

Care to share your laziest parental moment?

Kids Say the Creepiest Stuff

So the boys were asking what would happen to them if Mommy and Daddy "got dead". I said if something ever happened to us then Aunt BeLinda and Uncle Don would take care of them.

Questions followed as to how they would know to come get them, etc. I gave the best simple explanations that I could.

Kids decided we would die in a car accident. So I said that the cops and an ambulance would come and keep them safe and make sure they were ok. The Big D requested fighter-fighters (fire fighters). I said they come too.

"All the heroes?"

Yep, all the people that keep others safe.

"Army soldiers too?"

Well, no.

Some questioning came up as to how many people would have to die in order for them to live with the neighbors friends. Conversation headed in the direction that our extended family is much bigger than little minds realize. Mommy has over 50+ first cousins, 30+ Aunts and Uncles, and they have 8 Grandparents and a whole slew of people on Daddy's side.  Odds are family will take them in. They then thought maybe all adults in the world would die...and then scared themselves.

After reassuring them all adults wouldnt die and leave only children behind (with memories of Lord of the Flies running through my head...note to self - dont let the boys read that book) Then I heard nothing more on the topic. A few questions about Great Great Grandma and heaven, but no more about everyone else's impending death. (Have I mentioned how creepy it is for 3 and 4 year olds reminding you that you are getting older everyday and closer to dead?)

Anyway, I thought we were past those fun conversations. Then they ask me the other night:

"What if we didnt have to wait for you to die to live with Uncle Don and Aunt BeLinda?"

Uhmm...what? I'm not dying.

"Well they could live with us in our house."

Honey, we have 2 bedrooms and there are already 6  (I count the dog) in their family. Where would they sleep? (You know that and the fact they are in the process of building their dream house and likely not wanting to move close to 80 miles from work)

"Well, Connor could sleep in the top bunk with me."

"And Gabe could sleep in my bottom bunk with me."

"Yay, and Baby Ellie and our baby could share the crib."

What about Aunt B and Uncle Don.

"They would sleep in your bed with you and Daddy."

...uhmm....no, just no

"Why not?"

(Have I pushed sharing too hard maybe?)

Kid Season

When the Hubby and I first started our little family, and I was in the newborn haze of lack of sleep and new found extra love. One of my aunts told me of raising kids "the days are long, but the years are short".

How true I am finding that to be.  The days can be so incredibly long, sometimes difficult,  sometimes fun and happy, and many times lonely.  It's hard to explain feeling lonely when you are constantly surrounded by three little blessings. It can be.

The Hubby has been busy working with an extremely long and disappointing Harvest. We tend to think of Harvest being wrapped up by early to mid August. The amount of rain however had us finishing up the end of September with sprout damaged and bleached out wheat. This meant he was/is in the field whenever possible. It has also meant seeding winter wheat and combining safflower at the same time.

The latest rain effected us differently. I'm adjusting to being a SAHM and not working outside of the home. (A decision I don't regret a  would make over and over. It was the best choice for our situation and our family) It is still an adjustment. I miss the challenges, I'm a nerd but I miss the math and numbers,  I miss a schedule, adult conversation and life's stories from friends who are out of the diaper trenches. So when rainy days had him home more and coming in early...well. He was a little on the grumpy side stuck at home. I was loving having him here....during daylight hours!

So many times I have felt so lonely and trapped in the never ending requests and questions and dong the same things over and over. Reading the same book over and over. Then I blink and they wearing bigger clothes and performing new tricks. Asking for help a little less frequently.

The benefits are the little moments that make up the hours.

Dandelion bouquets every time they go outside.

Bedtime prayers and daily snuggles.

Watching them play. Especially listening to their made up stories. When they aren't arguing they are adorable.

Those smiles when I walk in the room. The giggles from the same hiding spot they have used four times in a row. Counting anywhere between 7 and 36 when its mom's turn to hide.

The number of compliments they dole out and lyrics they slaughter from songs they should probably know.  The made up tunes with limited and repeated words.

So I take the good along with the messes, spilled and broken glasses, horrors of potty training, pulled hair, spitup, endless laundry, tantrums, time consuming "help", crumbs, broken toys, interrupted sleep,  tears and whining.

The days are long but the years are short.