Not My Child!

Welcome to Not My Child! Monday! a fun and simple twist on Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what everyone's kids have not been doing this week.

My 8 year old (I won't be able to say that for much longer!) did NOT construct a bun on my 2 year old's head that was so large and heavy she was having trouble staying upright. Nope! NO fabulous hair dos at our house!

Another child of mine did NOT yell across the baseball field, mid-game mind you, "Coach, I have to go to the bathroom!!!!" Said child did NOT then run across the field, directly into the woods. *Ahem*

We certainly do NOT travel with a potty in our van and even if we did we certainly don't stop just anywhere to use it! Most definitely not on the side of the road in the heart of Amish Country! Nope! Not us!

My children, especially the 2 year old, NEVER point at strangers, who are standing mere feet away, and call them things like pirates (because they're wearing eye patches) or Sharpay (from HSM - because they're blond). Not my kids! They're much too polite, kind and considerate for such behavior.

Lastly, my children do NOT cut their own hair or apply their own make up. They know better than to play with scissors or to get into mommy's things. Even if they did, I'm sure they would at least make it symmetrical.

Wordless Wednesday

Guest Blogger

How on God's green earth am I supposed to man-up, if you will, when she gives me a girl name and puts a pink dress on me????

I just want you to know that it was NOT my idea to wear a pink dress, sporting a picture of a dog none-the-less, and I don't even care if he IS a famous dog. Believe you me, I made my feelings on the whole matter clearly known after that hideous picture was snapped! And this isn't the first time she's done something like this and I assume it won't be the last. You should see, actually, you should NOT see, the slew of pictures she took for an album she's making titled "Stuff on Your Cat". I think she got the idea from a book she saw at Border's. At least I'm not alone.... there are others out there who endure this kind of thing.

How did I get on her blog you ask? She thinks I'm curled up, all cute-like, cat-napping next to her on the bed, but really I've got one eye open memorizing passwords.

So there you have it, folks.

Sincerely,
Shelby

PS - In case you are wondering what that rant was all about this post might clear things up a bit (or confuse you further).

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

• Upon seeing my soon-to-be nine year old daughter in make up with her hair done for her role as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, I did NOT gasp at her beauty and begin to fear realize what is down the road for us when she is old enough to be interested in dating. You know, when she is like 30 or 40.

• I did NOT worry AT ALL about my husband and son who were paddling down a river in a metal canoe during that horrendous thunderstorm on Saturday. Nope! Not Me!


• I did NOT continue with my cleaning as my 3 daughters hid under their pillows and blankets on the couch during that same horrendous thunderstorm. I, also, did NOT overhear the 8 year old telling the 2 and 4 year olds, "Just keep praying, girls!"
  

I did NOT put a pink dress on my cat (just because). The fact that he is a male did NOT make it even worse and more embarrassing for him. Nope! Not Me! I would NEVER even think of something so absurd!

Fill 'er up!

I long for quiet and crave solitude.

Maybe that's why I stay up too late, too often. There's a stillness in my house that you will not likely find during daylight hours.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids and the sounds of their laughter, singing, silliness and playing. I have come to realize I truly love the craziness of this season of my life - the never-ending laundry, the always present toys on the floor, the clutter on every horizontal surface, the homeschooling books and papers and projects, oh and did you know they expect to be fed THREE times a day???? We won't even discuss the sports, play dates, practices, parties and all the other activities that require a chauffeur - a logistical nightmare to be sure!

Susanna Wesley, a mom of 19 kids (beat that, Duggars!), would pull up her hoop skirt over her head to find a moment to pray. One of her sons, John Wesley, was the founder of the Methodist Church and another son, Charles Wesley, was a great hymn writer. I wonder if she homeschooled? At any rate, she certainly understood the need to pull up to the spiritual filling station so she had the love, patience and energy to serve her family.

When we spend time with God, we fill up until we are overflowing and that overflow is what enables us to love and serve others.

However, before we fill up we need to empty ourselves of all the gunk and yuck that has been building up. The other day I heard a new song on the radio by Chris Sligh called Empty Me. He was on American Idol a few years back. I liked him then and I like him even more now. In the song he talks about emptying ourselves of selfishness, pride and foolish things so that we can be filled with Jesus.

I long for quiet and crave solitude.

I want to hear Jesus speak to me in those quiet moments. I want to put His word in my heart and spend time in sweet communion with the One who created me. I want to pull up to the spiritual filling station, empty myself of me and then overflow with Jesus' love on to my family and those around me.

I long for quiet and crave solitude.

Sarah's Advice

"Eat slowly, Emily, or your tummy will laugh at you."

Wordless Wednesday

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

• I did NOT send out many not-so-nice messages containing a virus via Facebook because someone hacked my account. Nope! Not Me!
• I did NOT spend large amounts of time (which I will NEVER get back) trying to remember and then change passwords to countless other sites and accounts.
• My dear, sweet husband did NOT spend even larger amounts of time (which he will NEVER get back) doing things to my laptop, which I will NOT pretend to understand or explain, so that it is all better now. Love you, hunny!
• During communion I did NOT tear off a piece of bread large enough to be considered lunch! (The pastor did remind us beforehand to get a piece big enough to dip in the juice... I was simply complying....that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!)
• After a yum-deli-cious cookout earlier in the day on the Fourth of July, I did NOT suggest that my son and I simply have ice cream for supper and then follow through with that suggestion. Nope! Not me!
• I did NOT contemplate setting fire to my flowerless flower beds to get rid of the gazillion weeds that have taken over. Not me! Never!
• We did NOT forego fireworks this year simply because sometimes it's easier to just stay home. Nope! Not at all!

Who needs Ethan Allen?

Some people have furniture or decorative items in their foyer. I have a K'nex Motorized Ball Machine, the Chrysler Building and a fancy shmansy helmet of some sort.

Wordless Wednesday

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

• My 4 year old did NOT paint her 2 year old sister's toe nails, as well as her own, during nap time. I most certainly was NOT scrapbooking while this was occurring. Nope! NOT at this house!
  
• I did NOT have difficulty stifling my laughter as my husband threatened our children with serious trouble if their misbehavior at the dinner table continued...What exactly is serious trouble anyways???? And by the way, NO ONE was sent to the corner during this whole ordeal, including ME.


• I do NOT have problems stifling my laughter at other inappropriate times as well. Nope! Not me!!!


• I did NOT recently decide it was time to part with my maternity/nursing bras (holes and all). I, also, did NOT hide them at the back of the drawer just in case the new ones, you know, don't work out. Nope! Not me!


• I do NOT test my husband's patience with my lack of computer knowledge. What do ya mean, just go to Windows Explorer? ISB port? Programs? Accessories? Huh? ABAPBAPBAP.
• Yeah, and I CANNOT figure out how to center those 2 pictures up there and I'm NOT going to bother ask my husband again.
• And I'm NOT late to pick up my daughter from cheerleading camp because of my lack of computer knowledge computer problems!
  
  

Wordless Wednesday

Good Golly, Miss Molly!

Last Saturday Rachel, Nelly and I had tea with some lovely ladies at Miss Molly's Tea Room. What a sweet bunch of girls! And what you can't tell from this picture is that they are also fabulously talented ballerinas!

And yes, everyone wore their seat belt.

One grain at a time

I DID IT!!!! I found something to keep Emily in one spot for more than 2 seconds!!!

Last month Sarah's preschool class took a field trip to the playground at the library. They spent a good deal of time playing in the sand while I spent a good deal of time trying not to think about all the stray cats that probably pee in the sand every night. Anyways, Emily was fascinated and was picking up the sand one grain at a time. Now that would be a pretty time-consuming castle to build!

A homeschooling perk: Big brothers get to come along to the playground and push you and your friends on the tire swing! Sarah's friends adored Benjamin and he was so gentle, patient and kind with them.

Another homeschooling perk: Big sisters get to come along to the playground and help you play and build in the sand. They can also teach you how to do it faster than one grain at a time! Rachel was great with Sarah's preschool friends. They were amazed with her skills!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Not Me! Monday!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

• It did NOT take my hubby and me an entire day to clean out the garage. We did NOT find 17 phonebooks scattered about, waiting to be dropped off at the recycle trailer. Nope, not here at this house!
• We did NOT see 4 raccoons hanging out in/under/around the recycle trailer so that said phonebooks were unable to be dropped off and are NOT still residing in my van, making a rather interesting obstacle course for children entering and exiting my taxi cab van.
• I did NOT find 2 dirty diapers while cleaning out the garage. I guess that system of just tossing stinky diapers out the door with the intention of later putting it in the garbage can isn't working out so well. Good thing Emily does NOT poop in her pull up anymore.
• Speaking of which, I did NOT have to wash the shower curtain, along with surrounding walls, cabinets, towels, toilets and children [read Emily] after hearing these frantic words from Rachel, "MOM, Emily pooped everywhere, it's EVERYWHERE!!!!"
• I did NOT have 7 children running around like screamin'mimis angelically playing quiet games at our house yesterday. My son is NOT bitter that his sister's friends were able to stay 3 hours longer than his.
• My neverforgetathingson, Benjamin, did NOT help me remember all these lovely things that did NOT happen this past week. Nope! No way!

Wordless Wednesday

Sarah fell in love

On Memorial Day Sarah found a new best friend. Sophie (which is pronounced Sue-Fee in Sarah world) was the cutest little puppy and oh-so-sweet!

Sarah, who is VERY shy and quiet, went to talk to Sophie's "mom" and to ask if she could hold the leash. That's a huge step for Sarah to go and talk to someone she doesn't know. Don't panic, it wasn't a stranger. It was a family friend who was at a Memorial Day gathering at Grandma and Grandpa's house. But Sarah probably doesn't remember seeing her before. Sophie was the perfect size for Sarah. I could just see Sophie and Sarah snuggled up sleeping together. Sarah would be such a good mommy to her!

Happy June!!!!

June is my favorite month! The weather is warmer (although today it's chilly) and even warmer weather is coming soon; school work is winding down; we have the anticipation of the whole summer in front us! Lazy days at the pool and ice cream.... here we come!

Oh, and my birthday too. Only 29 shopping days :)