Mandy Mom

I’ve been “craving” a dog, and now I have one.  A lovely family needed to find a home for their one year old miniature pinscher-chihuahua mix, and I jumped at the offer, especially since she’s already house trained.

Her name was Gypsy, but the kids were dead set on changing her name.  N wanted to name her Stitch, but M refused the name, so he counteracted with Lilo (from the cartoon, Lilo and Stitch), which M still didn’t approve of.  After arguing about it in the back seat on the way home from picking her up, they agreed, Kiki.  She answers to it, so that’s good. Must sound close enough to Gypsy.

She attached herself to our family immediately.  We took her to Petsmart before we went home so I could pick her up a bag of food and a toy or two.  She has a personality as big as Texas.

While we were in Petsmart, N sees a huge dog coming in and he hides behind Kiki (who definitely NOT a huge dog) and says, “He’s a bad dog. Bad dog.”  A man standing next to us laughs, commenting, “Yeah, she is a big dog.”  I suppose, in my sons mind, big equals bad.  We’ve never had a big dog in his lifetime.  When Merikalyn was a baby, we had a mammoth of a dog- a husky/german shepherd mix- who would wack her across the room with her tail and send her into giggles.

Kiki seems to be a man-hater, but she eventually warmed up to Brandon, and he was able to pet her last night and hold her this morning.  She barks like crazy when a man tries to get close to her, and had nipped at Brandon a couple times last night.  He solved that pretty quick by showing her who was “big dog” when he bit her on the nose. 

These are the types of dogs that you have to be bold with so they know to be submissive.  She’s really good with me, but she has definitely had to learn that Brandon is “alpha-male”.

Here are a couple photos of our newest addition.  (She reminds me very much of my dog, Teekie, that I got when I was in junior high.)

Yours truly, with Kiki and M.

M pretends to be an airplane while Kiki snuggles up to me in the background.

Keagie and Kiki, what a wonderful pair.  (With Auntalicious Ashley)

I was taking my monthly bath this morning (haha, kidding on the monthly thing, I try to bathe a little more often than that), when Merika peered over the edge of the tub and asked,

“Do you think superheros need baths?”

Well, I pondered, I suppose, after all that superheroing, they are probably sweaty and stinky.

Merika dipped her finger in the water and swirled it around.  “Sweaty like you and me?”

Yep, sweaty and dirty.

She furrowed her brows in thought.  “Yeah, I bet they take baths.”

My question?  Where do these thoughts come from?

This week:  Have a picture of your desk or your children’s desk?  Post a picture in your blog, and send me a link!  Even if you’re not a homeschooling parent, I’d still love to see your work area!

My children don’t have desks. (Although, we do have a very cool vintage set of desks in the back of our yard that needs to be cleaned up.  It’s the type where the back of each chair has the table, or desk, attached.) However, I like having a desk, and so, I have taken an old island and turned it into my “work area”.  It’s located in the guestroom, and it’s my little “safe place”.  I read my bible there.  I design my daughter’s outfits there.  I make her hairbows there. I doodle (see the little cellphone I doodled on the yellow notebook?), draw, and journal there.  I have some of my favorite verses and quotes written on the chalkboard (which surrounds the top half of the room) and on post it notes.  I’ve also tucked some of my favorite photos here and there (like an old photo of my daughter in a pink frame, a couple photos of my parents, a pregnancy photo reminding me of how beautiful I felt with my big ol’ belly).  I also have some of my painted creations hanging out (the pink frame, the bird house tucked into the pocket… these are for my daughter’s room, once we finish remodeling it). One of my favorite things in this room is that pink checkered apron (tucked into one of the pockets on the left).  My great-grandmother made it, I believe.  It was passed to my mom, who passed it along to me a couple years ago.  I absolutely LOVE aprons.  I only have a few, but.. man, aprons are awesome. All in all, it’s my creative area.

For some reason, this room just makes me want to be quiet, and even the children, when they enter in, are a bit calmer as well.  I keep books and puppets in the room for them to play with should they want to join me. 

This room also doubles as the laundry room (the washer and dryer are in the closet), so I usually fold my clothes on the guestbed (after 5 loads of piled up… ha!). When I fold clothes, it’s a time of reflection.  Sometimes my daughter comes in and folds clothes with me.  She folds her clothes in perfect little squares.  Sometimes we chat, but usually, we just fold in silence.  I suppose you could say it’s time I spend talking to God.  I wonder what’s going on in that head of hers.

My title is a line from an Eminem song, if you recall.  I listened to his music when I was a teen.  I still love his style, but don’t listen to his music because it’s not very uplifting!

Things have been so crazy here.  I’m really looking forward to our Mid-March, er, I mean May (see how screwed up my brain is, especially when it comes to time?) holiday at the beach with my family (for a whole week!).  My husband and I have been sharing one vehicle for some time, which means the kids and I have been going stir crazy because we’re stuck around the house all the time!  This also means I haven’t been able to get out and run errands, because many of the places I need to go are closed by the time my husband gets home from work.

Fortunately, my husband was able to buy an old Jeep to use as his “work horse”.  Once he got it registered, I was able to take my van back, and so I have been running around like crazy trying to do things that should have been done long ago.  I have a load of packages that need to be mailed, and hopefully I’ll be able to do that this week.  This packages were actually suppose to be mailed months ago, but I sent one to the wrong address (I’ve been switching numbers around lately, so it was my fault as I messed up the zipcode or something).

I’ve been trying to prepare for our family holiday as well, and have done a wee bit of shopping (mostly for shirts and dresses, as well as some clothes for the kids for our family portrait on the beach).

Sunday night through Tuesday night, we had church services for our revival (and the preaching was wonderful, as usual).  God definitely convicted me of my sin and brought me before Him numerous times.  I was reminded that I really need to go to the Word and not to others for my guidance.  The world may believe in the “gray matter” or a rainbow of choices, but really, the Spirit makes things very black and white.

It is very risky for us to depend on our own wisdom and knowledge.  God’s plan is much greater, and, personally, I just feel a need to be ready and willing for whatever He asks me to do.  I want don’t want to be a “dormant” Christian.  I want to be active in fulfilling His great commission to spread the gospel Truth.

In all the chaos, I nearly forgot that we had a birthday party to attend today.  A friend asked me what I was doing on Saturday (today), and I felt like I had something planned, but had failed to write it down.  Thankfully, she clued me in that I was suppose to be going to our friends’ son’s third birthday party.

Good news for me:  Baby K is sleeping through the night, or, at least, has for the passed week.  I usually nurse him between 9 and 10, and he has been sleeping until about five.  This morning, he slept until eight thirty (maybe longer)! I was amazed!  I’ve been thankful for the uninterrupted sleep, although, this morning, I feared that something was wrong with him (you know how it is).

With my first two, I was constantly checking on them.  I’d place my hand on their back to feel the rise and fall of their chest as they breathed.  I haven’t been as paranoid with Baby K, maybe because my mind is so scrambled that I don’t have the time to check him every thirty minutes (haha).  Although, admittedly, I did do that for the first week or so of his life. 

Today has been a relaxing day.  I snuggled with my husband this morning, then forced myself to get out of bed and make a real breakfast for my family.  (Yes, I often give them a cup of yogurt or a granola bar and a banana when things are hectic.)  Afterwards, I took a relaxing bath, then realized I had 40 minutes until we needed to be at the birthday party, so we dunked the kids really quick and got out the door looking fairly presentable.  Woot. Go us!

Now, most of the family is napping, but I’ve been hooked into watching the History Channel.  I love watching these shows about the underground buildings/headquarters/bunkers in our world.  I’m currently watching one about Joseph Stalin’s underground military bunkers.  Very interesting.  The previous one was about the bunker built in Washington DC under a hotel.  I love this sort of stuff!  It’s educational as well!

Yes, I’ve been away for a while, but I haven’t forgotten about this blog.  (Although, when I’m gone for a few days, people begin to panic since I usually write daily.)

I’m taking a break from blogging and focusing that time on God.  I hope you all are doing well!  Leave me a note and let me know what you’re up to this week and what you’re looking forward to when summer rolls around!

Yesterday was a beautiful day, so I took the Keagsters outdoors for a few snapshots to document his seven months of age.  He had never really laid on the good ol’ earth before, so, at first, he wasn’t too sure about that…. grass… stuff.  Seriously, what’s up with this stuff.  It pokes and it kind of smells.  And hey, he’s a baby, he doesn’t know that little boys are suppose to smell like sweat and grass stains.  He thinks little boys are suppose to smell like fresh laundry and sweet milk.

He’s even holding his little hammer. I love to take pictures of the kids with their favorite toys or stuffed animals.  Keagan has yet to get attached to a stuffed animal.  Merika was a little under a year old when she bonded with Clifford the Big Red Dog, and I can’t remember how old Nolyn was when he picked out his stuffed puppy, but I do know he wasn’t a year old yet.

Oh, guess who just woke up from his nap!
Hope you enjoyed the photos!

My youngest child is seven months old today.  With each month, I ache as I realize he’s growing older.  I just want him to stay right here, at this stage. *Sigh*

He’s a jabberer.  His main phrase is “Ahhhhdadadadadadadadadadadada,” which of course, my husband believes is an effort to say his name.  Nevermind that “da” is the easiest thing for a baby to say.  (We’ll amuse the man and let him continue thinking this.)

He rolls and wriggles around pretty well.  He crawls walks his legs up until they’re practically up to his face, then slides forward.  Reminds me of a caterpillar.

His favorite toy is this plastic hammer.  It entertains him for quite a good while, sometimes even a whole hour!  He loves to crawl underneath things as well.  Brandon couldn’t find the little munchkin one day, then realized he had scooted himself under one of our big wicker chairs.  All you could see was his little feet sticking out!  So cute!

Merikalyn is turning the big one-two-three-four-FIVE next month (5-5-08).  She wants a Cinderella-Hannah Montana birthday.  No idea how we’re going to pull that off!  Maybe princesses holding guitars? Ha!

I think I mentioned this before, but I’ll mention it again.  I love watching my baby grow, but I just want to cherish every moment.  I don’t want him to grow up too fast.  My first two? Their babyhoods flew by.  I was eager for them to crawl, walk, speak…… but Keagan?  I just want to enjoy him where he is…. and I want to soak it all in.

Slow down, kid. Mom’s not ready for you to grow big yet!

I’m so excited!  The April edition of Heart of the Matter homeschooling e-zine has been released.  In case you’ve forgotten (or never knew) I am one of the monthy contributors there (http://heartofthematteronline.com).

20 Ways to becoming an Eco-Friendly Family

Green.
It seems to be the color of the year! In the last few months, I’ve come across many a magazine, newspaper, commercial, television show, and website promoting eco-friendly living.

As a child, I was passionate about conserving. I helped raise money to save three acres of the rainforest. I was adamant about preserving water and energy. I often confronted litterers (as only a child can) and encouraged my family to recycle.

Mom reused containers (jars, butter tubs, etc) to use for food storage. We rarely used sandwich baggies. Mom and Dad got the most use out of their appliances as possible. They lasted for a long, long time. Mom also organized her errands to save on gas (and money). Looking back, we lived a fairly “green” lifestyle (mostly in an effort to save money)……

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST, and please.. leave a comment there (and here, if you are able) to let me know you checked it out!

My daughter loves flowers.  When we go on walks, my children pick a fist full and place them in a cup filled with water.  Now, most of these flowers are not the kind we want growing in our garden.

They are weeds.  Weeds with colorful buds and blossoms.

As I was watching them, I realized the spiritual metaphor. 

In life, there are things that seem pretty.  They seem decent.  There’s no real harm, right?  Yet, when we stop to examine the effect of these things in our lives, we realize that they are choking out the more important things.

Maybe it’s television.  Hey, you watch good, clean shows.  You don’t rent rated R movies.  Most of the things your children watch are educational, so, television is fine, right?  Maybe not.  If you’re sitting in front of the television when you should be tending to your home or your family, praying or reading your bible, or spending time leading others to Christ, then television is NOT a good thing, no matter what you watch.

I have noticed now and then God putting a little push in my life, a little nudge, to read or pray, but I say, “Hey, I’m busy.  I’ll do it later,” but I never do.  Or maybe I do, but the truth of it is, I haven’t done it when God prompted me to.

Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in writing my articles, answering emails, or reading blogs that I ignore my husband when he asks me to slip in bed with him.  I’m reading good, clean things.  Many of these blogs I read are Christian blogs that speak to my heart, but if I’m ignoring my family and my God, then they aren’t good for me.

It’s also a reminder to be a good steward of my time.  Just because something looks pretty and seems okay, doesn’t mean it is.  If we get involved in something (sports, special activities, shows, etc) that take us away from the things God has led us to do, then we are choking out the fruitful things in our lives. It’s important for me to be daily weeding my garden, to be aware of God’s prompting and to follow his direction immediately.

Like any young little darling, my daughter loves the Disney Princesses.

Ariel, the little Mermaid.
Cinderella with her glass slippers.
Belle, beautiful Belle.
And, of course…..

Asleep in the Booty.

What? You’ve never heard of Princess Asleep in the Booty?  You know, Princess Aurora!  She pricks her finger on the needle and becomes….. asleep in the booty!

Every time she says it, I crack up.  Now, that’s a twist on the Sleeping Beauty story!

After doing a bit of cleaning, I realized it was a quarter ’til eleven, and I had yet to eat breakfast.  Hungry for cereal, I rummaged around in the pantry only to find my two favorite cereals were pretty much empty.  Bummer.  The kids had been eating at them, which is fine, since they are very healthy cereals which they chose over Lucky Charms.

Lucky Charms.  Hmm, I haven’t had those in a while.

Now I remember why.  I already have a headache, and now I feel sick to my stomach. WAY too much sugar.  This was one of my favorite cereals as a kid, and now it’s overwhelming.  I remember I would save all the marshmellows for last.  Talk about sugar overload!  How can this qualify as a breakfast food?  Seriously, the chocolate cake sitting in my ‘fridge (with cream cheese icing) is healthier than this!

Anyway.

I have loads to do today, but here I am, on the computer.  Actually, I’m waiting for my sinus medication to kick in.  Oy.

Here’s my list of Mandy-Do’s (of course, the kids will be helping out as well!).

Clean Nolyn’s room (I not only cleaned it, I rearranged it!).
Clean Merikalyn’s room (even when clean, it doesn’t look that great as it is being remodeled, but oh well).
Wash Keagan’s sheets.
Three loads of laundry (mainly since Hubby’s stuff has to be washed separately and I also need to do a load of whites).
Take out the trash, since it’s overflowing with baby diapers.
Empty dishwasher and reload.
Tidy our bedroom (especially the dresser, which has been conquered by my make-up).
Finish turning the guestroom into the craft room. (So we can get all the crafts out of the dining/living area!)
Clean off the kitchen bar area.  It’s the place where we set all of our junk. Major clutter spot, or, as Flylady calls it, “A Hot Spot.” (It’s so hot, it’s on fire!)
Round up all the change in the house, count it (with help of the munchkins) so we can turn it in for dollar bills. (That’s what funds my “out of the house” fun days with the kids each week. I don’t know where my husband gets all this change!)
Clean the (ew) toilets. Gag.  I’m going to try to put that off on my husband, who is the reason why its so disgusting.

And, of course, the usual daily stuff, which is to cook, tidy up the livingroom and vacuum it while still finding time to read to the kids and play with them… and nursing the baby, obviously.  Thank goodness my munchkins are pretty good at entertaining themselves… and thank goodness for baby wraps which allow me to carry Keagan around all day so he doesn’t feel left out!

Wow. I have A LOT to do.  Tomorrow I have to renew my license because I still have my Indiana license, even though I’ve lived here for nearly two years.  Oops.  We also have to go get Keagan’s birth certificate and social security number.  Remember, he was an unassisted birth, so no midwives or hospitals to apply for us!  We have to have all of this to claim him on our taxes (and get that money the government is promising)!

OH, and somewhere up there I have to get a haircut. My friend is coming to my house to do it, thank goodness. (YAY! HAIR IS CUT. ME LOOK PURTY… well, she’s a beautician, not a magician, so I look as good as I can after cleaning the house all day and still managing to teach the kids something.)

Happy Birthday to the first man I ever knew! He’s no April Fool, he’s my Dad!

We love you Daddy/Poppa!