A Flip Flop Tan

I have always admired ladies with tan feet. Partly because I think tan feet just look WAY nicer than white feet, but also because of the life that tan feet represent. Tan feet say to me that the owner actually sat still long enough for the sun to bake their skin for at least 10 minutes...at least. (Note the mother talking on her cell phone in the background of photo one!) They also say that the owner actually lives a life wherein it is safe to wear flip flops (or summer shoe of choice). I, on the other hand, have had white feet for the past 8 years. During that time it has been neither practical nor safe for me to wear flip flops. Oh, I've owned them, but they last a long time due to lack of wear.

I wear Nike running shoes simply because I run. Not for health reasons, but I chase my little boys everywhere. And if I'm not chasing them, it's because I just got done chasing them, or because I'm about to chase them. I wear Nike's everywhere...even church. (I love living in a rural community!)

My aunt once gave me oodles of expensive shoes (heels) she had outgrown. Beautiful, truly beautiful, but totally impractical for the mother of 3 young boys. These shoes look great on, and I wore them twice...once in the kitchen, and once in the living room, and nearly killed myself trying to walk back to the closet to put them away (which the boys thought was absolutely hilarious). When my aunt asked when I was going to wear them somewhere, I responded, "When I know I won't have to go from 0 to 60 in 5.2!" I still have them, and one day I'll wear them out...just not in the foreseeable future.

Anyway, back to the tan feet...they just represent a lady who's able to sit and watch her kids...something I think will happen to me someday. And now, for the heart of the blog...

Tuesday I took my boys to the Jordon Valley Park water feature in downtown Springfield. Kinda silly to go from the country (more or less) to the city to play in the "crick", but we did, and they had an absolutely wonderful time. There is a little creek (completely chlorinated and filtered) that flows from the top of the park down to the main water feature, which consists of a round concrete pad from which bursts forth streams of water at unpredictable intervals (that sounds fancy for a water hole, doesn't it!).

Anyway, Isaac took a boat to float, and the big boys wore their swimming suits, and they all played for 2 hours. I took a large beach towel, which I spread on one of the many concrete outcroppings scattered around the park. I wiped eyes, dried runny noses, applied sunscreen, and occasionally loosened a boat from it's snag in the white water rapids. I even met a mom I had known years ago from Ridgecrest Baptist's MOPS group (she loaned me the sunscreen...mine was in the van! You can see her in the top of one of the pictures...she's in the pink shirt, applying sunscreen to her own children!)

And for the first time in eight years, I got...

a flip flop tan!

My Brother's Keeper...

Today I was tickling Levi, and giving him what we affection-ately refer to as the "Twister Fister"... just really going after his tummy with...well obviously...a twisting fist! Anyway, Isaac (3), who was enjoying a late afternoon brownie, pushed his plate back, and as threateningly as he could (brows furrowed, eyes flashing), demanded, "Thtop that, Momma, or I'll give you the FORK POKEY!"

Now, I'd never heard of the "fork pokey" before, but partly because it sounded painful, and partly because I was laughing so hard, I did actually quit what I was doing! Well, reinforcement enough, evidently, because the "fork pokey" is the new threat of choice.

So, if anyone threatens you with a "fork pokey" this week, you'll know the origins of the strange phrase. I'm sure it'll sweep the nation soon.

Owen's Birthday Camp-Out

Well, tonight was the long awaited "Backyard Camp Out Birthday Party" for Owen. He invited two of his friends for the festivities, and was okay with the fact that only one of them wanted to actually stay until tomorrow. We all had fun, and are enjoying the benefits of having a real, live "big kid" in the house. The little boys kept busy trying to impress the guests, and Jeff and I hustled around to feed those hollow legged boys! Word to the wise---the campfire nachos in the Family Fun magazine last month weren't so wonderful. One little guest even suggested that next year I should try my hand at a little known recipe involving a crock pot, Velveeta, and Rotel! Point made! My house still boasts a fragrance that can only be compared to a combination wood stove/chain smoker scent! Kinda woodsy yet kinda nasty! It's 1 in the morning, and I am coming off a "clean up the s'mores ingredients" high, so I'll add some pictures and maybe blog another day when I can actually follow my own train of thought. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday's Gathering continued...

Here are some extra pictures that go with my previous post. Owen, looking handsome in his uniform, and Levi, enjoying some daddy time during our visit to the barn. It was SO his naptime!

Saturday's Gathering

We had a great time today at Matt and Anita's celebrating Sloan's 1st birthday. Her first year has really gone by quickly. All of the cousins (except for Tessa and Meredith...who were both out of town) got to spend some great time together. I know my boys really had a blast. I didn't have my camera for the "birthday" parts of the party (Jeff brought it for me when he and Owen came in from their baseball game), but I did get some great pictures of some of the kids together...and a couple of busy 'Lil Miss Sloan! We were all glad to see Ella, my niece from the St. Louis area. We hadn't seen her since Christmas time, so she got lots of extra lovin'! Before we left, Jeff and I enjoyed taking our boys, and our nephew Justin and niece Ella down to Matt's family's horse barn, where they raise and board horses. All the stalls were full, and there were even some foals to see. What fun! It was definitely a day full of memories for everyone involved.

Just Like God...

I just remembered something that happened on Sunday evening. To bring you up to speed, Levi had had a terrible day, emotionally speaking. For some reason, he was just incredibly grouchy, picking fights with his brothers, crying over EVERYTHING, and generally in a rotten mood. And he even had a nap! We always say the "galloping grumpies" have caught up with you when a mood like that hits.

Anyway, at bed time I asked him, "Did you just have a rough day today?"

"Yah-I just didn't feel like being nice. "

"Well," I told him, "tomorrow's a new day, and we'll just do better tomorrow, okay?"

"Alright...," he sighed.

After a long pause which included a lot of backscratching, I added, "You know what?"

"Whut..."

"I love you anyway. Even when you have a bad day, and even when you get lots of spankings, I still love you more than any other 4 yr. old in the WHOLE world. I love you no matter what."

Levi rolled over, put both hands behind his head, and for the first time in hours, he smiled. "Hey! Just like God!"

"What?" I asked.

"Yah...that's just like God. He loves you no matter what you've done. You know, if you're grouchy or say mean words. He still loves you! Hmmm, how 'bout that, Mom? That's just like God." And with that, he closed his eyes...grinning from ear to ear!

So here's to all you mommas who think your day has been a total waste. Nothing but discipline and "creative redirection" all day! God can still use your worst days to teach Biblical truths to the most unwilling recipients! Hang in there. God can handle it!

Welcome to the porch swing...

Hey there! Thanks for checking in. After much coaxing, I am trying my hand at blogging. We'll see how it goes. Don't expect to read anything intensely personal. Just a little note here and there about me and the rest of my family. I always have some funny story to tell about any or all of my 3 boys. They are so full of energy that there is never a dull moment around here...except for the late evenings when they're asleep, which is when I'll probably be doing most of my writing! Anyway....check back later. I'm sure I'll have something interesting to write...eventually.

For now, I'll leave you with a picture of my 3 boys, Owen (7), Levi (4), and Isaac (3). I can't seem to find any photos of me or my husband, Jeff, as we are always behind the camera. Maybe later...