Bikes & Planes

Jed went to Daytona for bike week today. He wasnt supposed to be gone more than a few hours but Jay's bike broke down and now 10 hours later I'm still sitting here alone.

Around 5:30, something snapped, the boys turned into wild arguing animals and I was losing it. We needed to get out of the house ASAP!

After driving around for a while we ended up at an airport. In between watching planes take off the boys ran around and wrestled in the grass. I took pictures.

World Events

This morning I was watching the news or as the boys call it, "boring big people tv". The older two quickly picked up on words like, "fire", "destruction" and "death toll". Before I knew it they were glued to the tv watching the videos coming out of Japan.

They began asking questions about the situation. As I tried to explain what was going on with the earthquake, the news changed to events in Libya. Prompting more questions for me to field including this one, "Mom, the guys fighting in Libya, are they so strong that they're making the ground shake?" The mind of a little boy is fascinating! So we turned off the tv and did a little geography and science lesson.

First we looked at diagrams of the earth (thank you google), we talked about the earth being round and having layers. Then we talked about earthquakes and tsunamis. After that we looked at a map of the earth and I showed them where Japan was in relationship to where Florida, then we found Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, the US west coast and finally over to Libya.

Once we found Libya I explained to them a little about what was going on over there. Sethy proudly proclaimed, "If I were there I would beat up the bad guys for the people in Libya in one day!" Then he got off the couch and did some crazy kicking and punching ninja moves. My kids wouldn't make it in public school....

So that pretty much ended our little lesson time but I was pleasantly surprised when Evan said, "Lets watch the news!" He even sat through the Presidents address this afternoon while his brothers napped.

We've also been spending time praying for Aunt Cici, Uncle Ben, Judah, Gigi, Tiernan and Silas in PNG. They're on the northern coast which could have been effected by the tsunami. Their last update can be found here. I dont expect to hear anything else from them until tonight as our days are their nights so currently they're sleeping.

Um, no thanks.

Dude, have you ever heard of personal space?

Apparently not.

We've Come A Long Way

Due to unexpected circumstances our anniversary didn't go as planned. I spent the day before and part of our anniversary in the hospital with one of our rambunctious boys, however that's a different story for another time. Oh and no worries he's made a full recovery and is doing just fine.

The bit of time we did have together Jed and I spent eating German chocolate cake we picked up at Publix, relaxing and reminiscing over the past 8 years.

First we talked about our honeymoon. Years later, our fondest memories tend to be the silly fights and mistakes we made! Our time in Australia was amazing however we we're joking around that we should have put it off until now because after being together longer we'd be able to enjoy it more instead of freaking out about the little stuff. Plus as parents we'd now appreciate a three week vacation on the beach SO MUCH MORE. Not that I necessarily want to be away from my kids that long... Maybe just a week? :)

We talked a bit about our wedding too. I admit that I lament that we didn't just elope. Its not that I didn't want to share the day with friends and family its just that my discomfort with being in front of a large group of people is not conducive with being a bride. I get queasy just thinking about it and I know that I never have to do it again!!

Then my culinary skills came up. I married an Italian man so I was doomed from the get go! :) Seriously though my cooking abilities were limited to what I could put in a microwave, on a George Foreman grill or order off a menu. My awesome husband never complained. Fortunately over the years I've learned to cook mostly via the web, thank you Pioneer Woman! My number one tip, now that I'm not completely lost in a kitchen, is ALWAYS use fresh garlic when possible. YUM! :)

We cannot believe that we are the parents of four beautiful little boys! Neither of us would have said we wanted this 8 years ago, we wanted an easy life with as few challenges as possible. However God has been gracious in showing us the foolishness of our thinking. When I said I was done, he patiently worked on my hard heart until I admitted that maybe I was open to another child and then I'd get pregnant again! Finally we get it, its not about us! Its about Him and the amazing kids he's given us to love and raise for His glory. We're more than happy now to sacrifice for this honor! Whatever God's plan is for our family we're open to it! (We're still waiting for Him to give us a little direction in this area, so please pray for us!)

Our relationship has drastically changed as well. Its quite similar to the change in our view on kids. Instead of our marriage being all about us being happy we realize that its about learning to serve and love one another to the glory of God. Watching my husband grow in this area through spending time in God's word has been such a challenge and encouragement to me. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who follows Jesus! I love you Jed!

Yay for 8 years of marriage! I wonder what is in store for us over the next 8 years?! I'm looking forward to finding out!

This blog has been hijacked!!!

I am hijacking this blog to tell you how wonderful my wife is. This day eight years ago, we were married and started this journey! Laine is certainly not the same women I married eight years ago. The past eight years have transformed her into the most lovely women, and most nurturing mother. She is so amazing with our boys, and her patience with me is mind blowing! It is really hard to describe in words how great Laine is, as well as how much she means to me.

Our culture today, throws around words like awesome, love, amazing.... so much that they kind of loose their punch. I guess I will have to make up my own word. I choose supamazinultralove.

Laine I am so glad we have stuck together all these years, I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

1 Little 2 Little...

Most married couples get a lot of questions about their fertility.

If you don't have any kids, you're constantly asked when you will have a kid.

If you only have one you're asked when you'll give that child a sibling.

If you have 2 kids and they're the same gender then you're asked when you'll try for the opposite gender.

If you have 3 kids you're told to stop having kids and get fixed. Which isn't really a question but you know, the other questions aren't usually questions either they're more suggestions.

And if you happen to have 4 or more kids people stare at you like you're crazy and ask you if they're all yours.

The questions never really end and I dont really mind them even when they're meant as suggestions. Its only when the person is being out right rude that I take offense but even then they have a right to their opinion just as I do.

All that to say, Jed and I both appreciate this article on birth control. I decided after Seth that I wouldn't be going back on hormonal birth control. For now its breast feeding, barrier methods and keeping track of my cycle. When we decide that our "covenantal hands are quite full" we'll go with sterilization.

Life with a Crawler

Ford has been crawling for a few months but only recently has discovered true purpose in his direction and increased speed.

And what is that purpose? Well, its usually one of three things, to be with me, to be with his brothers, or to be with the big kid toys.

If I'm in the kitchen making dinner, he is there. He scoots himself up to my ankles, wraps his arms around them and yells until I pick him up. Then I have to take him into the living room set him down, run back to what I was doing and to get as much done as I can before he reaches me again. This is repeated until I'm able to give him my undivided attention.

If its naptime for the older boys, he's guaranteed to be found making his way, if not already there, to Evan's room. While he adores all his brothers, Evan is by far the most fun. Evan knows how to make the best silly faces, he rolls around on the ground with his littlest brother and when tickling or snuggling, unlike the other boys, he knows how to be gentle.

Then there is the baby mecca, the toy room. Not only is this where bright, shiny, new (to him) toys are located, but his brothers spend the majority of their time out there too!

Unfortunately, it's the only room in our house that has a step (and its tile!), a heavy door and there are small toys, toys with sharp-ish edges and of course, broken toy pieces.

Side note: Why are boys so destructive? I mean do they have to throw cars off the table as hard as they can into the wall? Is there some kind of little boy rule/guide book mandating this behavior that was given to my sons and not me?

Plus many toys out there wouldn't survive a play date with him (see above side note).

So we're gettin out the baby gates, moving breakable objects to higher ground and I'll probably spend some time this week going through the big kid toys, throwing out some things while putting others in storage.

With kids of any age there seem to always be adjustments that have to be made, now or in the near future!

But I think he's worth it!