Bedtime prayers

Adiya's prayer this week:
"What can I pray for you to help you become more like Jesus."
"Oh, I know.  I really want a puppy that's all my own.  This would remind me of Jesus dying on the cross. And I would like a pony, too."

I'm not seeing the connection.....

Whilrwind

Whew.... what a whirlwind!!!  It seems like we are going, going, going every single day.  Zac works Fri - Sun.  Monday is either grocery day or catch up day depending on the week.  Tuesday is basketball.  Wednesday is bookkeeping and Thursday is Zac's school and basketball (again).  Everyday is school either for Zac or the kids or both.  Once we get through Thursday, then we do it all over again.  The saying, "if it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger" is true but it needs rephrasing.  "it will make your stronger or drive you nuts."  The Page mission is to ensure that we fully realize the growing power of this crazy time by doing whatever is necessary to preserve sanity.  

Lyli and Adiya are playing basketball.  They are both really enjoying it.  Lyli doesn't have any games since she is only in pre K.  Her coach is focusing on basic skills and fun.  Adiya's games start next week.  She is pretty hilarious with her girly way of dribbling.

Teagan is turning 8 on Sunday!  Where did the time go??  She wanted us to buy her a new dress and found one she loved online.  We weren't sure about purchasing clothing online when we weren't familiar with that brand name.  In town, I was shopping and found the exact dress she picked out.  WOW!  It is really beautiful and I found a cute cropped jean vest to go over it.  She got her first pair of panty hose and new (and inexpensive) shoes.  Originally, we planned to let her open her dress Thursday and then she and I were going to do a mommy/daughter outing to the mall.  Teagan has some money to spend at Claire's and then I had a coupon for pictures at Sears.  But our construction project threw those plans for a loop and our family spend the night at my parents' house.  (The night of the stinky nails (aka Liquid Nails) as Teagan calls it.)  Sleeping in a different place didn't work with my rhythm and hence.... I didn't sleep a single wink.  So, we let her open her present and her daddy took her out for a daddy/daughter supper.  Pictures are next week....

This week Arieyanna and Tzadok have called a truce.  YAY.  They are truly playing together.... well... for now. 

We will be glad when our new bedroom is finished.  It is fully framed and the sheet rock is nearly ready for paint.  Sleep is coming soon!!!

YAY!

Getting ready!

We are working towards adding another bedroom... FINALLY!  The girls are very excited (and the parents are even MORE excited.  This will mean splitting the girls into pairs (divide and conquer) and a much quicker wind down.  It's going to be quite the challenge compared to the last project.  I was able to frame a wall during nap time and we'd put it up when Zac got home.  I'm not sure that's going to work this go around.  But, there are far fewer walls to frame (only 3) as compared to our last project which was two bedrooms, a half bath, two closets and a hallway.

Valentines day was so fun.  I read I Corinthians 13 and had each of them give examples of how to show love.  Then, I drew on our glass door with a dry erase.  It was a chart with everyone's name down one side and again across the top.  Each person had to find a way to show every family member love today.  When they did.... they got a heart in the corresponding box on the chart.  Arieyanna, at 2, was really working at finding something she could do for each person today.  It was sweet.  They LOVED this (no pun intended).  We're going to do it again tomorrow.  Bottom line.... love is a verb and it looks like something.  They really seemed to pick this fact up today.

Valentines day over and out :)

PS - Adiya just walked in and said, "I brushed Tzadok's hair, put some lip gloss on him and I get a heart on the door!"  Well..... there you go.  My little boy is all dolled up for bed.  Success!

Just when.....

Today was NUTS!  On days like today I wonder how I missed their private huddle in the morning where they planned their strategy of Operation Make Mommy Crazy Day.  It doesn't help that Tzadok can now climb out of every crib, the play yard and over my baby gate, too.  You can tell him, "You stay here."  He'll just cry and cry, then start climbing again.  I prayed in the bathroom while I was sopping up the pond and drying off the drowned toys, "God, tell me....  when will I catch a break today... or ever?"  There was then gentle reminder in the back of your head, "You'll get your reward.  This is a time of sowing.  Just keep sowing and when the harvest comes you'll reap."  Just when I thought today's struggles got the best of me, I walked into the toy room during wind down time last night and found Teagan reading her Bible of her own free will.  Was she repenting???  lol....  I don't know but it was sign enough that maybe I'll make it through tomorrow.

Last night I decided to let Zac get some rest.... alone in a room with no one within earshot..  So, it was five children and myself strewed amongst a king sized bed, two crib mattresses and one twin.  It gives new meaning to the term "bed room" (no longer a room with a bed, but a room OF beds).  What was I thinking???  Actually, they wound down pretty well.  Color me surprised.  But I felt like I was walking through booby traps during my 3:00 AM jaunt to the bathroom.  Fun times :)

Now, let's see what they've got planned today!
Me.

Yuck

We have had a serious dose of the yuck in the house.  The funny thing is Lyli still thinks she was sick because she ate toothpaste after we told her not too :) After putting her supper in the toilet she said, "I guess I shouldn't have ate the toothpaste, mommy."  It was comical, but not at the same time.  I mean, you hate to see them so sick. 

A conversation amongst my kids, "I don't love mommy. She makes me hang clothes." "Well, that's not your decision. That's God's decision." "He's not speaking to me. He's tired."

Tzadok is getting his 2 year molars.  Seriously.....  if they don't get here soon, I will be a walking zombie.

Teagan sent her first email (through my account).  She was very pleased with herself. 
 
If Arieyanna's current demeanor at two is any indication of her mindset....she's going to be a very interesting child to parent.  She is brilliant, has a keen sense of humor, a solid grasp on language skills and is just a little sassy.  I've never met a two year old who jokes around verbally the way she does.  It is more "middle school" than toddler.  Oh boy..... 

Adiya lost her first tooth today.  She had decided she would wait until it fell out on its own.  She was in the floor playing a game and hit her tooth with her tongue.  It twisted in her mouth and she literally fell apart.  She was laying on the ground flopping like a piece of bacon and howling.  There was nothing anyone could do to calm her down.  She said it didn't hurt but she was scared.  Finally, she got some control of herself and said she'd like to be alone.  About five minutes later she came out with her tooth in her hand and seemed happy that money was on the way.  She was a little "off" the rest of the evening..... but she coped. 

Haircut

Tzadok got his first haircut.  BOO!  Don't get me wrong, he is adorable but the "baby" is gone and now there is a little boy.  He has had a really grumpy week.  Maybe he is getting those two year molars.  He said his first sentence. We were doing a gmail video chat and it was someone elses turn.  Well, that didn't go over well with him.  He fussed and fussed then said, "I want Papaw." 

Teagan is really excited about her piano lessons.  She wrote the words to a song and her teacher set it to music for her.  Now she is learning to play it.  We are very thankful for her teacher. 

Lyli has hit a growth spurt.  It seems like last week a size 4 was ok and this week she has to have a size 5.  So, we are changing over those clothes.  She and Adiya are starting basketball next week.  They will have so much fun. 

Arieyanna is climbing like crazy.  She gravitates from outright defiance to denial.  She may stand up on the piano bench and say, "I'm standing up."  The next time she will be standing on the couch and Tzadok follows her.  She'll say, "I not standing.  Tzadok is."  We'll take progress where we can.  At least she is admit she has pooped in her diaper when we can nearly see the green fog in the room.

Happy snowy Friday!

Repeat after me ....

Having a bunch of little people in various speech development stages is quite the experience.  For example, during math time with Lyli and Adiya I practice counting to 20 by ones and twos and then we count by 10's to 100. 

Adiya: One, two, free, four

Lyli: One, two, fee, foe

Then we get past 10

Adiya: eleven, twelve, firteen, fourteen

Lyli: leven, telve, firteen, firteen, fifteen, sixteen, sixteen,

So, I stop and say, "Watch my mouth when I say it and repeat after me."  They look intently as I stick my tongue to my teeth and say, "Th... Th... Thirteen"  So, the tongues come out go right back in with a "F... F... firteen."  "Let's try again.... Th... Th... Thirteen."  And the expressions get intense while the tongues come back out..... and "F... F... Firteen."  Adiya will often get it right the second go around.  Fortunately, she gets the "Tr" sound correct.  Lyli, however, makes my husband blush and laugh ever time she talks about a truck.

Of course, the lesser of the speech fun is the L and R sounds all coming out like W.  Let's just hope there aren't any trucks at the symphony tomorrow or else we may get some looks from the crowd.

Tzadok is spitting.  My mom thought he was blowing her kisses.... but he's not.  He's spitting.  What is it with boys and spit?

Oh my... fun times :)

Saturday... the new Wednesday

Our week is now on Zac's scheule.  So, Saturday is now "hump day".  Boy oh boy did today drag by.  This is an enrichment and remediation week in school.  The older two are doing Xtra Math daily and Teagan really enjoys her enrichment math book.  Teagan, Adiya and Lyli are all writing stories and illustrating.  We are finishing up Mr. Popper's Penguins (reading... not the movie).

Tzadok decided today that crayons were more fun to chew and spit like tobacco.  He is growling Maaaaama when he wants me to do something or is "tattling" on me. Arieyanna wavers between a hovering mother and arch rival to him.  He likewise swings between adorable playmate and pro boxer/grappler with her  It's funny to watch. 

Teagan asked me, "Mommy, what is happening to me?  I used to like dinosaurs, snakes and wild animals.  Now I like playing baby.  What is going on?"

Lyli said, "How old will I be on my next birthday?"  "Five."  "Oh... Adiya and I will be twins!!!"  I'm thinking .... not exactly but a fun idea :)  Adiya will be six before she turns five.  So much fun!

Off to brush my teeth and wait for Zac to get home.  He's running late tonight.

Mommy, you should write

Teagan has been obsessed with knowing about her babyhood lately.  She loves looking through her baby book and reading about herself.  She asks lots of questions about her birth and life.  "What did I like? What was my favorite toy?  What did I say?"  So, I told her I used to journal about those things but now I don't have time.  She said, "Mommy, you should write."

So.... here is my new journal.

Today:

 Art time - Tzadok is ripping paper while chewing his mouthful of crayon.

Adiya has her first loose tooth.  She has been wiggling since she was THREE.  While Teagan would lie in the floor and moan about never eating again, Adiya would be trying to get one loose to get money.  Now, it's her turn and she couldn't be more excited.

Arieyanna keeps herself busy saying, "No, I did not." even if you caught her in the act of whatever it is.  She also informed me that she's not going to be my friend because she had to pick up her toys.

Lyli is Lyli.  She likes her baby and her dresses.  She is also still in two year old mode in many ways.  All you and to do is ask her to or not to do something and she is bound to do the opposite right away.  It's quite simple.  My job is to be consistent one time further than her test.  Until then.... I think I can. I think I can :)

So, hats off to today!