Memoirs from a dull life

As you can see from the picture, I don't experience many dull moment around here. Here are a few of the latest snapshots in time:

*Pouring rainstorm loading 4 kids (my three plus a friend) into a van when I notice Anna's diaper. She tends to hold her poo for days, so of course a tropical rain storm is a perfect time to go. After changing her diaper as fast as I could, I tried to close the van door. It would not shut. I tried and tried to no avail, just so happens Anna's poo has rolled out of the diaper and is preventing the van sensor from allowing the van door to close. Lovely!

*Last week... After putting Kate down for a nap upstairs, I walk into the kitchen only to find Anna has cracked 12 eggs on the kitchen floor. (Good thing I already used the other 6)

*Today...Again after putting Kate down for her nap, as I walked down the stairs I noticed the distinct smell of maple syrup emanating from the kitchen. Anna had decided her breakfast, the kitchen table, chairs and floor, could use a little syrup. There she is covered in maple syrup from head to toe. (That should have been my clue to hide under the covers, little did I know that would be the first of many messes to clean.) Pete was having such a fun day that he forgot to stop to go to the potty twice and wet the bed during his nap. Yes, all this in one day.

Some may assume that mothers of toddlers have messier houses. However, I'm beginning to think we have cleaner houses, because we have more opportunities to clean those cracks and crevices.

I guess that's what I get for having three children 4 and under. Yes, these are the days full of quotes and stories that I will cherish even more when the kids are older and I have no messes to clean except my own. I thank God for these days!

A Check in the Box

I am a box checker to a royal degree. I love making my list and checking it twice, checking off all the things that I think I should do or things I think others think I should do. The problem is, sometimes I spend an entire day checking off boxes that aren't on God's list for me to do.

It's easy to check off the list of errands, and dishes and projects around the house. They are obvious. It's easy to be raise your hand at the squadron coffee and say you'll bring the next batch of cookies to family day, or bring the meal to the family with the new baby, or work in the two year old nursery for a Sunday.

When the world is watching I have no problem saying yes. What I have a problem with, when the world is watching, is saying yes to God by saying no to the world. It's harder to leave a box empty and instead check off the one nobody sees that says be quiet ... be still ... and leave some room for me.

Quotables

One of the joys of being a parent is getting the chance to hear your little people's thoughts. Some of these thoughts are so sweet they make you want to cry and some of them are so funny you can't keep from laughing. Last night was the latter. Dan came in sweaty from a run after work, and Peter noticed.

"Dad, are you sweaty? Did you run too fast today trying to fight the bad guys?"

My Man

"I love Dan..." Said a salty Marine at the latest squadron function. "And do you want to know why... because you wouldn't know a thing about him unless you asked, like the fact he used to jump out of planes and rescue people as a pararescueman before he joined the Marines. He is a good man! He's the first guy I would go to in a crisis, cause you know he's got your back. He's the most unassuming quiet solid guys you will ever meet." I was surprised to hear such a seasoned stranger share such insight about a man he knows so little of, but I couldn't agree with him more. As CS Lewis said of Aslan, he's not safe but he's good. Dan is loyal, courageous, humble, hardworking... and the best thing about it is that he's mine, given to me on loan from God.
I love you, Dan!
Happy Anniversary

Mothers of the world unite....

There should be some ground rules all mothers agree upon. One of them should be never give your child under the age of seven a quarter to use for one of those rides at malls or for games at arcades. My trip to the mall was almost complete today. I had finished my quick errands and I decided to reward Peter and Anna with a visit to the spaceship. The kids thought I was the coolest mom ever for letting them "ride" the space ship and all the other cool vehicles parked in front of the mall. I'd almost pulled the trip off successfully when a mother of another preschool child walked up and put a quarter in one of the rides for her daughter! As soon as I saw her coming with her wallet I knew it was all over. I quickly grabbed both of my kids by the elbows (careful not to pull them out of joint) and hurried for the exit. Peter kept looking back, I tried to entice him with the handicap button to open the door (the one he's always so charmed by). However, it didn't quite have the same lustre as he watched the space ship suddenly light up move around and rock back and forth. Ahh the law of diminishing returns, and innocence lost... my trips to the mall won't quite be the same. My son has tasted of the tree of knowledge.

Matthew 25

After doing 4 loads of laundry today and not getting anywhere close to being done... I got frustrated. If I were to change my clothes every time I am spit up on, I would change just about every hour. Sometimes it feels like I am just spinning my wheels and going nowhere. There is always something else I need to get done and never enough time in the day to do it... But I do have three incredible little people that I have to play with every day.... they're always up for a walk, a story, or some good ol' popsicles and a run through the sprinklers. And today I read the most encouraging quote ever. Mothers fulfill the verse from Matthew 25:35-36 just about every day. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in (at birth) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me... whatever you've done for the least of one of these brothers of mine you've done for me, you did for me." Now if that doesn't put things into perspective I don't know what does. Anyone up for another round of PB and J's? Bring on those popsicles; we're going outside where that laundry can't haunt me.


And as I listened to those same little people sing from their hearts together "Jesus Loves Me" before bed I couldn't help but tear up... I stand in awe of how great our God is ... He is so good to me!

A Day to Remember!

May 15th, was one of the best days of my life. There really are no words to describe such a moment, but one of my best friends here in Jacksonville, Kelli Campbell, did perfectly. She also took all the pictures and posted it all on her blog...
http://thezinniapatch.blogspot.com/2009/05/homecoming-day.html
Enjoy!!!

Welcome to the World Little One!

Meet the newest addition to our little family.
Kate Elizabeth Kaiser
She was born on March 12th and weighed 7lbs 14oz.
She's already stolen our hearts and a little bit of my sleep!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches

I have a little boy who eats his PB and J with a fork for fear his hands will get sticky, and then there's Anna.

God's Home

Tonight as we were praying before bed I asked Peter where God's home was. Without skipping a beat he answered, "North Carolina." No wonder why he was so anxious to get back here; God lives in North Carolina. :)

A Day of Triumphs

It was a big day in our little Kaiser family history. It's remarkable how the little moments are so big when you are a mother of toddlers. Today Anna wore pigtails and Peter dressed himself. I was worried that my precious girl with curly little locks would be subjected to a bad case of mophead for the rest of her life due to the incompetence of her mother when it comes to her hairstyling skills or lack thereof, but after six tries Anna looked adorable! Granted the hair was slicked back with a little peanut butter complements of Anna, and the part in the back was far from straight, but I am confident that we can perfect this with a little more work. As for Peter's triumph, it was twofold. Not only did he dress himself, he took care of business all by himself as well. Today Peter ran with pride to the potty and returned with his pants on . . . backwards and slightly twisted but on nonetheless. This is a day for celebrating the small triumphs in life: pigtails, potties and pants.

Home

Home sweet home. There is nothing like traveling to give you a greater appreciation for your home. We have been gone for 7 weeks visiting family across the United States, and we had a great time! The only thing that was slightly troubling was the question Peter asked me just about every night as I tucked him into bed. He would turn to me wondering if we could go back to "Peter's house" sometimes with tears in his eyes. This question always came as a shock. What on earth would drive him to want to go home after the incredibly fun day we had just had? He had laughed himself silly, played himself speechless and had way more fun than anything we had done at home. Nonetheless, every night as we put his little pj's on, he would turn to me again and ask, "Mommy, when can we go home?" There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Peter enjoyed himself to the fullest rough housing with uncles, playing with cousins, parading with grandparents, and loving on his aunts. He had a blast, but somehow he kept his home in the back of his mind as the place where he truly belonged. At first this question came as an offense to me, how could he possibly ask that when he was having so much fun, but after seven weeks of it, it came more as a lesson to me. They say "home is where your heart is." There's no doubt where Pete's is, but where is mine? I say my home is in Heaven and I'm just passing through, but where's my heart?