Perfectly Imperfect Memories

My kids are pretty good about smiling for the camera. I have a bazillion pictures of all of them, so we've got the photographic part of our family history covered. It usually takes a bit of reminding to get them to all look in the right direction, but once I get them all focused, I usually have a few seconds long window of opportunity to get the shot. (Sometimes, though, someone slips through the cracks and is making a really odd face...or is staring off into nowhere and obviously not paying any attention to my commands to say "cheese".) See Exhibit A, Jericho:

Sometimes you also have the shots where someone has annoyed the baby. She has had enough of whatever this "cheese" business is. That would be the point when you are just done. Just put the camera down and walk away until everyone has as least napped or possibly even slept overnight, or eaten. As you can see Tirzah is trying to calm her down while still holding onto the "cheese face". Jericho? Well, Jericho just isn't really even trying. He is 3 years old...need I say more? So here is Exhibit B:

Honestly though? I kind of like when the shots don't come out right. They are probably going to be some of the ones that I get to look back on and remember just how hysterically fun these guys are.

Battle Wounds

Last week the hooligans had a few rough days. Several injuries occurred, and while thankfully none of them were serious, they definitely came with a lot of tears and bandaids. (I mean, bandaids are like a local anesthetic, am I right? Slap that sucker on there and suddenly no one is crying. I wonder if these work on #tearsofshae?)

The first injury was a slingshot wound. Merrick has a slingshot, which he was instructed NOT to shoot at the house or any siblings. Said slingshot somehow shot a rock right into Tirzah's forehead. (Ironically, this week we are studying David and Goliath in school...this will make an excellent hands on example at Tirzah's forehead's expense.) I was in the house and heard the screams through two doors. I have gotten really good at not reacting. (I guess that's good, I'm really not sure about anything anymore) when Tirzah screams and cries. It's 99% of the time absolutely nothing wrong with her. So I figure enough of me staying calm will eventually rub off on her. Please please please.) So I calmly went outside and assessed the situation. We got the story straight, and cleaned it up and put a bandaid on it, and then the slingshot was put in time out for what might be an indefinite period. 

As you can see...Jericho injured his middle finger on broken glass he found out in the yard. (How do they always find the things that YOU don't even know are there that will definitely get them hurt or in trouble???) He doesn't get why this is not a good way to let Mommy take a picture of your boo boo. But it did make me laugh pretty hard. It was just a small cut, thankfully. And thankfully Merrick missed Tirzah's eye. I'm sure there will be lots more boo-boo's in our future...for now I'm just thankful that I still am required to kiss all of them.

I Said Yes

Recently Billy has had several chances to take Tirzah out for "Daddy/Daughter dates". She always loves it and eats up the attention. Most recently she went to a local church date night with him for an event they were having where I was doing the photography. It was fun to kind of watch from the sidelines and see the two of them having fun together.


Merrick has noticed Tirzah going on these dates. And he mentioned recently that he wanted to go on a mommy/son date. It seemed like things just kept happening and we couldn't go, even though I kept meaning to take him.


One morning last week, though. He decided to make it happen. He came downstairs dressed in his "snazzy suit" as he calls it, and informed me that he was taking me on a date. I mean, what mommy can say no to that? Billy was working from home that day, so off to Chick-Fil-A we went.



It was so much fun to spend time with this guy. I don't get to spend nearly enough one on one time with each of my kids. I am sad he had to make such an effort to get that time, but also feel so lucky to be mom to a guy who is as sweet as he is. He is the sweetest...y'all don't even know. I was sick recently, and he kept showing up in my room to rub my hair or scratch my back.

I am so proud of the guy he is growing into. Although I wish he would do it a little slower. I am also glad that at this point in his life, spending time with me is something that he loves. I pray we always have the kind of relationship where he wants to be around me. I sure wouldn't mind.

(Smoke) Alarms

Yesterday morning, I was awakened by my sons. This is nothing new...Jericho is the alarm clock that most often wakes me up in the morning. But the oldest one was crying and quite literally freaking out. I thought he had hurt himself from the way he was crying. It came out that Jericho had tried to make himself some waffles. (It's pretty normal for the kids to make their own breakfast. Merrick and Tirzah both make waffles, but Jericho usually doesn't. For obvious reasons.) And that Jericho had definitely overcooked said waffles. The toaster was smoking, so thankfully Merrick thought quickly and unplugged it and ran to get me.

I think it's safe to say Jericho has learned this cooking method from his mother. ;) And like his mother, he should probably stay out of the kitchen unless absolutely necessary. It was a great start to my day, in what has already been a weird, emotional week. Nothing really wrong...I just think the Winter (and being trapped in the house because of not wanting to take 4 kids out into 20 degree weather) is really finally getting to me. But...I do have this to look forward to!

It's more like 172 days now. But we finally officially booked our 10 year anniversary (10 years?!) trip to Bora Bora. I really can't even believe it's happening. I keep telling Billy it's too good to be true. (This has always been our dream trip...and one of those things I guess I never figured we would be planning. But Lord willing it's happening the end of this Summer!) So, I guess I can muddle through a few more weeks of Winter if I've got that to look forward to. But good grief if it snows one more time.

Like Riding a Bike...Sort of.

Last weekend Billy and I got the chance to go skiing with some friends from church. I was 1) ridiculously excited to be kid-free for an entire Saturday, 2) Reeeally nervous that I was going to look like an idiot since I hadn't been skiing in 12 years.

I only looked like an idiot a couple times I think, (like the time I went down about 1/4 of a black diamond slope on my butt) it was really easy to pick back up, even though it's been so long. I am definitely a little sore today though. (Mostly from a few bruises from said slide down the slope, though.)

Billy did really well, too. This was only the second time he has been, and the last time was also about 12 years ago. We both were pretty much in awe of the little kids whizzing past us, headed straight down the slopes. We decided that Merrick and Tirzah need to try it sometime soon, and I'm sure they will put us to shame in no time.

I recently got a fitbit, and realized that skiing is obviously a good workout. We are planing to go again with my family this coming weekend, so I'm hoping all the soreness has worn off by then. ;) Those boots are no joke...I couldn't feel my toes until about halfway back home after we were done.

We have been really having a blast hanging out with this group of people lately (plus a bunch more who aren't pictured). I think for the longest time I have been pregnant or had a brand new baby or Billy's been working on weekends and I was just too tired to even make an effort to be social. My introvert gets even worse when I'm tired and overwhelmed. So now that we are kind of settling into a rhythm it's been nice to get out of the house and hang out with people who aren't asking me for a sippy cup or a snack. I mean, I love filling sippy cups and everything...but adults are kind of cool, too.