A Good day.

My boys LOVE to fight and pick at one another, but on rare occasion, they get along and love each other like perfect little siblings (which lasts maybe 15 minutes on a good day).   

Yesterday was a good day :)

Jake was playing Super Mario Brothers on his Nintendo DS and Thad and Zak watched on either side.  It does my heart good to see them get along.

4H Fair Tradition

It has become a tradition to go to the 4H Fair with my parents, my sister, Stacy, and some of her kids.  And this year was no different.  We ate lunch, then walked around to see the farm animals, and tried not to step in manure (Jake being the only one who was unsuccessful).  

Lunch was okay until Jake was done eating and got bored.  He decided to run around and not listen.  Something he has become a master at.  And of course Thad follows suit and runs around, nearly knocking down an elderly lady and getting in people's way.  After taking Jake to the bathroom to talk to him twice and needing a third, I tried to sit him down at the table and tripped over him. After that embarrassment, I high-tailed it out of there for some fresh air! Things got better once the boys had things to look at and distractions from constant requests.  

Jake got to see the pigs and horses he so consistantly asked to see.  By the end of seeing all the animals, Jake asked, "What are we going to do that I wanna do?"  (I guess I was the one who wanted to see those lazy pigs in their pens)  And as we drove away from the fair, I see Zak dumping out an entire bottle of water.  I wonder what he was thinking as he dumped a buck down the drain (or onto the car floor).  Oh Lordy...

I imagine one day my boys will tell me how much they appreciate me and all I had to deal with.  Or at least they better!      

Chores it is!

Jacob, our 6 1/2 year old, is our opinionated, smart, creative, musical, know-it-all son who is going through a very selfish and disrespectful stage.  I love my Jakey, and because of our love for him... we are buckling down on that kid.

Chores it is!  How did I not think of this before!?  All the toys I clean up and beds I make, I have a six year old son who is going into the 1st grade!  And it's not like I haven't been told that young children need daily chores, but it is just now clicking how helpful he could truly be.

As we came to this realization, Tyler busts out in chorus, "Cinder-Jakey, Cinder-Jakey, night and day it's Cinder-jakey.  Make the fire, fix the breakfast, Wash the dishes, do the mopping..."  OH MY...but I had to laugh.  

We are excited to be making some changes around here which include taking Jake's Nintendo DS away and not letting him play with the neighbor boys if need be.  And of course the addition of chores and a small allowance every week.  As a matter of fact, Jake is upstairs cleaning the play room right now.  

We are really hoping this will form Jake into an unselfish, respectful, obedient young man who is willing to help his Mom around the house and one day, his wife.  I am realizing just how much his every day routine is forming the man he is going to be.

Compassion for an Ant.

My 4 year old, Zakariah (Zakky), is a destructive, hyper, sweet, funny, cute little tornado right now.  We have to constantly be watching him, because he can be very unpredictable.  He is also terrified of dogs and cats, which I'm hoping is just a phase.

Thaddeus, our 2 year old, pointed out an ant on our floor.  Zak spots the tiny creature and exclaims, "Don't crush him, he's just trying to find a home!"  And a little later talks sweetly to the minature ant, "He is just trying to find his Mommy."  He apparently has a soft spot for ants.

I enjoy hearing my boys show their sweet personalities and glimmers of compassion.  It makes parenting feel well worth the stress and sacrifice.