Page Four

A treasured memory that is stored in my heart forever....

It was the summer of 2009 and I was a young mother of two toddlers.  I had a precious four-year-old girl who was as close to an angel as any parent could have.  She loved to do puzzles, read books, color and sit still.  And I had an adorable 19 month old boy....who kept me on my feet.  I knew he was adorable, with his big blue eyes, little man haircut and Mickey Mouse grin.  But wow. He...drove...me....crazy! 

He had suddenly come to life, this sweet little baby who had been so good.  I thought I had hit the parenting jackpot when my second baby was a good eater and sleeper--just like my first.  I would hear other young mommies complain about how hard it was to be a mother to a fussy baby, and I have to admit, I would think to myself that I must be doing something right and they must...well, you know:)

So, the summer of 2009 I found myself often in tears.  I would cringe when I'd hear the familiar rhythmic sound of a certain toddler's feet jumping up and down in his crib each morning and then again each afternoon, signaling that nap time was over.  I'd find myself handing my boy off to my husband each night when he came home from work.  Not a kiss hello or a "how was your day".  It was usually an extremely irritated mommy trying her best to subdue her screaming boy and a "you deal with him, I can't take it anymore!" handoff exchange.

Late in the summer, we went home one week to visit my family in Virginia.  Roy was out of town and I was "Single-Mommying-It".  I dreaded these times because I was not good at restraining Roy Austin.  Roy could do it, but me?  Nope.  And the times I hated the most was eating out at restaurants.  From the time we would sit down, we'd have 15 to maybe 20 minutes until he was officially done with the idea of sitting in a highchair and nothing would appease him.  So there we sat at a Mexican restaurant....Caroline, my wild boy, me and some of my family.  I was constantly moving napkins and silverware and menus out of his way.  Handing him crayons just to have him throw them.  I wanted to get in on the conversations, but he wasn't letting me.  And then, it happened.  He reached forward, grabbed the bowl of salsa and flung it all over the table.  That was it.  I exploded.  I think those at the table didn't know what to do...or those sitting at tables around us.  I was mad, embarrassed and so done!

Looking back, this story is funny to me now.  Once we got back to my parent's house and put him to bed, I had a good cry with my sweet mom in her laundry room.  My mother---the mother of five girls, who she raised to be little ladies---didn't know what to tell me.  She didn't understand the ways of boys and I remember saying something through my frustrated tears like "it's like something's wrong with him!  He never sits still, he is into everything, he's a mess and he drives me crazy!!" and she replied in her soothing voice, "do you think something COULD be wrong with him?" !!  Later that night, one of my sisters had heard about the state I was in and brought over a stack of parenting books that she thought I might want to look through.  There were various books on rearing children, from one with advice from Amish people, a few by the Facts of Life actress and then Bringing Up Boys  by James Dobson.  I picked that one up and headed to bed.  Little did I know that this book would change my entire view of parenting my little boy.

When I tell this story, I always say that I really am not trying to sound dramatic.  Only God knows my experience that night.  But I truly believe that the Holy Spirit used page four of Dr. Dobson's book that exact July night to hug a tired mommy and to whisper to her that everything was going to be alright. 

"It begins very early.  If a toddler can climb on it, he will jump off it.  He careens out of control toward tables, tubs, pools, steps, trees and streets.  He will eat anything but food and loves to play in the toilet.  He makes "guns" out of cucumbers or toothbrushes and likes digging around in drawers, pill bottles, and Mom's purse.  And just hope he doesn't get his grubby little hands on a tube of lipstick.  A boy harasses grumpy dogs and picks up kitties by their ears.  His mom has to watch him every minute to keep him from killing himself.  He loves to throw rocks, play with fire, and shatter glass.  He also gets great pleasure out of irritating his brothers and sisters, his mother, his teachers and other children." (page 4, Bringing Up Boys).

As I sat in my bed, I literally wept!  He was normal!  He was doing exactly what he was designed to do, by GOD.  I didn't understand what a little boy was.  I had been desperately trying to make him just like his big sister, but in that moment I knew that he was exactly right.  It would be okay and I would be okay.  I was given the overwhelmingly wonderful responsibility for him...even though it seemed unbearable and so foreign to me at times.  I was hand picked by the Creator for just this task.

And oh, how true that paragraph was about my Roy Austin.  Instantly it all made sense.  The time he ate a cigarette butt, or when I found him coughing as he chewed through a Cascade gel-pack, or ate "one, two, thwee....all of dem" Pepto Bismol tablets and I had to call Poison Control---again! The weekly findings of him hanging from the top shelf of our pantry, that eventually made us get a lock for that door--and a lock for the refrigerator.  The many times he would clog the toilets with rolls of toilet paper or special receipts I needed....or the nasty time I caught him--this is gross--dipping toilet paper in the potty (it was unused) and then sucking the water from the paper! He loved to chase our angry chihuahua through the house and then laugh when she'd nip at him.  And because my wise mom taught me to take pictures of things that she promised I would laugh at later, here are some others:

This was where I could always be sure to find him when it was quiet...the bathroom.  Either playing in the toilet or somehow in the sink, turning the water on and off and soap pumped everywhere.

...and this was the face he'd always make when I caught him doing something he wasn't supposed to.  See?  Funny now, but at the time, not so much.

Here he is at one of Roy's birthdays.  All was quiet and I looked over to see him trying to figure out how matches worked.

There's that face again. 

This is one of my favorites.  Again...it was quiet and we soon discovered why.  He had taken a spatula to 24 eggs in the refrigerator.  When we asked him why he would do that, his response?  "I had to!"

 Fast forward five plus years and I couldn't be more happier with our sweet boy.  Oh, the joy he brings my heart.  Whether it's seeing his big, toothy, grin in the carpool line, the always 8 kisses he gives me when I drop him off at school in the mornings, his sweet, sincere heart for the Lord and the Bible, his absolute love of life or the fact that he loves to snuggle up with me and have me call him either "Dude" or "Bubs",  I delight in him.  Yes, I know there are some difficult and hard years ahead and right now the "poopy/fart talk" is just about all I can handle, but I'll take it.  He is doing what he was designed to do and so I will do what I was designed to do and bring up my boy.

P.S. Here is a favorite video of our family's that captures the sweet innocence of Caroline, the frustration of Mommy and the adventure and humor of Roy Austin:

Brothers Week 2014

The week of Roy Austin's Kindergarten graduation was also the first annual Brother's Week for these two:

 

 The only boys in their families, Roy Austin and Michael are in some serious need of quality brother time....they might as well be brothers because they LOVE each other like a brother and they get a long like brothers:)

We had water gun fights outside, played on the school playground....

 ...ate dinner outside with those crazy SISTERS!

We let them sit in bed after bedtime to read books.  They thought they were so big.  I told them that I thought I could trust them to turn the lights off when the clock said a certain number...they loved that:)  The bed was full of Lego and Star Wars books.

 

This is how I found them a few hours later.  I love that these boys still suck their thumb and fingers...precious memories that will be great blackmail in the future:)

We hit Carowinds one morning and the boy in the red shirt LOVED this ride.  It made his Auntie very dizzy!

 

 

These two crack each other up!

Their conversation was hilarious, too!  I was laughing:)

 

 

I love their outfits.  Roy Austin is into wearing "workout shorts" with t-shirts lately...it doesn't matter if they match or not.  Nice.

 

 

Michael was a little nervous for this ride.  When he got off, he wasn't smiling.

He was a little nervous about the haunted house, too.  Roy Austin put his arm around his cousin and held it there most of the ride:)  He loves his Mikes!

 

 

The Crabby Cabby was more his speed.  They rode it 4 times in a row!

And then the balloon ride again.  They had to have their separate cars.  Roy Austin got nauseous and had to sit out but Michael kept going and going! 

We left to go pick Caroline up from school and then...headed back to Carowinds for more fun!

Bring on BW 2015!

 

And Just Like That...Kindergarten is Over.

 Last night, this guy graduated from Kindergarten:

 

 

The same boy who made me want to pull out my hair when he was 18 months old.  The same boy who was always into everything, climbed everything, ATE everything and was just always on the go.  This sweet boy wants to "tell people about Jesus and help the poor" when he grows up---and fly an airplane on the side:)  He has made me one proud mommy!  I told him not to be embarrassed last night if he saw me get a big ladder and climb up it during his program to get my heart off the gym ceiling!

I loved his class this year.  Sweet kids from really sweet families.

 

 When I asked Roy Austin who he wanted to come to his graduation, he said without a hesitation, MICHAEL!!  We didn't think he'd be able to come and Roy Austin was so sad, but it turned out that he could and we kept it a surprise.  Roy Austin didn't know until he walked down the aisle and saw him!


He did a double take!  Sidenote: a few months ago I found Roy Austin crying.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said he was sad because he didn't have a brother:(  I told him that we would have Michael come visit one week for a "Brother's Week".  So, as of last night, the first "Brother's Week" has officially begun.  I listened at their bedroom door last night to their conversation in bed---so sweet:)

Roy Austin had the best teachers!  This was Mrs. Rebsamen's (on right) first year lead teaching and she did so well.  I know God hand picked her for Roy Austin.  She was so patient and so sweet to him...the picture perfect Kindergarten teacher:)

Nana came to see the graduate....

...and so did Grammy, Grandaddy and Auntie Dawnie! 

 

We went home for a special party.  It was a little chaotic at our house with it being after bedtime, lots of sugar going around, lots of kids running around,  a little boy who was dying to open his presents and a cake getting ready to be cut and then BOOM!

 

This happened.  Poor Charlotte was running to the table and fell into a kitchen chair.  On the way to Urgent Care she said, "They're going to eat all the cake without me!!!"

 

Charlotte is a big Daddy's Girl.  Needless to say, she had his full attention last night. Eight stitches later we were home and she had her big piece of cake!

 

So, Roy Austin's kindergarten graduation will be remembered in many ways.  We are so proud of him and how much he has grown this year--academically, spiritually and physically.  Bring on FIRST GRADE!!!!

Just Because...

Charlotte was thrilled that she got to visit the dentist again. 

I'm glad I documented this moment because the outfit she's wearing is her "go-to outfit".  Every time she goes to dress herself, this is the outfit.  When she walked in, the ladies oohed and ahhed about it, which made her day:

This boy read this book all by himself! He was very proud...so was Mommy!


He was also very proud of this Easter message he wrote and when he asked me to get a picture, he quickly struck a pose.  Yes, Jesus Christ is God!

School's Out for Summer!!!

I have to say, each May I get a little sad.  I guess I come to the realization that my babies are growing up and are one year older.  It just seems to hit me hard in May when that last day of school arrives.

Yesterday, Roy Austin had his last day ever of preschool.  I was a little sad, but I am so excited to see this guy go to Kindergarten.  He is growing so quickly and so nicely.

Enjoying his big bowl of ice cream at the end of his last day of preschool.

Roy Austin and his buddy, Malachi.  These two had lots of fun this year!

These three were such great teachers!  I wanted him to get into this class so badly and was thrilled when he got off the waiting list and was added to the class roster!

I love this picture.  The class showed the parents all that they learned this year, including the pledge to the American flag, Christian flag and Bible.  Here they are looking up to the Christian flag.

And speaking of pledges, Roy Austin got to hold the Bible during the Bible pledge.  He was so proud and took his job very seriously:
 

And one of his teachers taught the class how to sing "Jesus Loves Me" in Mandarin.  Too cute:

This morning was Caroline's last morning of 1st grade.  She was so excited when she woke up and told me that she didn't have to set her alarm clock any more!  Believe me, I am happy, too:)

In front of the Carmel Christian Mission Statement

Caroline had the best teachers this year--so sweet and so much fun!  Here she is with  Mrs. Kneisc.   Her other teacher, Mrs. Brackman, was doing carpool duty.   It's so nice when your children have great teachers:)

So, this mommy is thrilled that we will have lazy mornings, no more scrambling to pack balanced lunches, no more scurrying and hurrying to get three kids up, dressed, fed and in the car by 7:40, no more fighting congested traffic on Providence Road and NO MORE PRESCHOOL PARKING LOT!

The Final Countdown...

It happens each August, but this August I really mean it...."Where did this summer go?!"  Here we are getting ready to start our last week of summer vacation, because this Thursday, school begins for our family.  We will have a first grader and boy, is she excited:)  On Saturday, we went to her school's "Back to School Day" where all the families enjoyed a praise and worship celebration and then we were able to go to her classroom, meet her sweet teachers, put her school supplies away and more importantly...

 ...see where her desk will be!  Goodbye group tables, hello desks!  Caroline is so excited about this part  So, three more days of somewhat having relaxing mornings. 

I have to say that I learn each summer that I am a person who needs to be on a schedule.  I like knowing what my day will bring and I like knowing that I have to be somewhere at a certain time, even though I have liked our laid back mornings.  This will be my first year that I really will be doing a lot of back and forth driving, between two schools getting out at different times, speech therapy, gymnastics, and piano lessons...and an almost two year old that will need a nap sometime!  I am thankful for sweet friends who have said they will help me in the carpool area.  And I realize that I am not the first mom to do this.  As Frank says in "Father of the Bride"..."Welcome to the real world, Mr. Banks (Bonks!).".

Roy Austin had his teacher visit last week for preschool and it went well (I still cringe when I think about last year's).  He got into a great class by the skin of his (or my) teeth.  When the ladies came for their visit, I was surprised how shy he was.  He is never shy, but he hid upstairs for about 10 minutes before I had to drag him downstairs with bribes of Skittles. 
Last week, I found a cute little man's tie at one of my favorite consignment stores. He couldn't wait until Sunday to wear it to church and each morning he'd say, "Is it Sunday yet?"  It's a real tie...no clippie for him!  He was very proud this morning, can you tell?:

And then we have Charlotte. She has really grown up lately.  Our 22 month old is a talker.  She will say the funniest and sweetest things.  Her favorite is, "Thank you, Mama!" and she says it at the funniest times, like when I get her in her car seat.  She says it very matter of factly, too.  And she has learned to be feisty.  Someone is ALWAYS trying to carry her or pull on her or sit and even lay on her.  I think I say 20 times a day, "LEAVE CHARLOTTE ALONE!".  Her sweet older siblings think it's so funny to teach her words like "poopoo" when I'm not looking, and she knows it's not right.  This morning, Caroline called her "Charlotte Poo" and she got so mad.  She said, "NO, Nie Nie! No poopoo!".  And the other day, those same sweet older children of mine decided to chose the Post Office at lunch time to be the scene of a fight.  They were literally screaming at each other, fighting over who got to pull down the door to place the package I was mailing.  I was humiliated, but calmly got on my knees and got close to their faces and quietly told them (through my gritted teeth) what they needed to hear.  They apologized to the line of customers waiting to be helped and when we got outside I said, "I am so disappointed in the two of you!".  Charlotte, (sitting on my hip), replied quietly, "Me, too.".  It was hard not to laugh.  That was followed by a, "I sorry, Mama." from my little apprentice.  And the rest of the two minute ride home she kept telling me, "Sorry, Mama".  (the other two were sent to their rooms without lunch).
Here is a video of Charlotte that Caroline and I took yesterday.  She sings all of the time and it really makes our family laugh.  Of course, when I got the camera out, she didn't do it like she normally does, but here she is singing one of her favorite praise songs...it's a little long:)

So this week will be filled with alarm clocks being set for 7:00 to get ready for earlier mornings, a few last minute trips to the pool and a Carowinds visit starting tonight!

Funny Pictures and a Pledge

Here are some funny pictures from our week. This first one isn't really funny, but I can't stop laughing at it. Don't worry, Roy laughs, too.

Roy's right foot has been killing him for weeks now. He'll get out of bed in the morning and feel like falling down. And when he gets home from work, he's always limping. Now, he is a little dramatic so I've just been patting him on the shoulder and telling him how sorry I am that he's in pain, and I'll give him a little ibuprofen. Well, last night he couldn't take it any more and so he went to the urgent care office of his orthopaedic doctor. He called me from the examining room and said that he has to wear a huge boot for 3 weeks! When he walked in the door last night, we both just busted out laughing. I was literally bent over shaking, laughing! I felt bad, but its...FUNNY! Hopefully this will do the trick:


The other day, I was sitting at the desk in the kitchen and this little boy quietly came around the corner and freaked me out:

Scary, huh?! He peeled these stickers off of a foam monkey he had made that he hung on his bedroom door.

And last night while we waited for Roy to come home from the doctor, the kids decided to make a pulpit in the hallway and preach.

Roy Austin "preaches" to us quite often. He has a little green NT Bible that he will open at bedtime and start preaching from. His sermon is always about Jonah and last night was no exception. He started by saying that Jonah would not go to "Ninoa". I like his casual, relaxed pose at the pulpit:

_______________________________________________
Caroline was chosen to lead the K-2nd grade in the Christian Flag Pledge of Allegiance for this morning's chapel. All weekend she was SO nervous. She did a great job, though, and we were so proud of her! Here she is standing with some of her classmates before they went on the stage:


And here she is leading the pledge. She's very quiet, but she says "Christian Flag. Attention, Salute, Pledge":

My Peter Pan

There are certain moments while raising my children that I want to forever stand still in my mind and heart. When they occur, I want to take everything in about the moment and be able to replay it again and again in my memory. I experienced one of those moments this morning with my sweet boy.

Thanks to our free month trial of Netflix last month, our family was introduced to the 2003 movie version of "Peter Pan". It was an instant hit with Caroline and Roy Austin....well, I guess I should say more so with Roy Austin. He absolutely LOVES this movie. Once he grabbed my hand and led me into the family room while the movie was playing to hear the theme score so I could find it on itunes for my ipod, which I did. And on Valentine's Day he became the proud owner of the DVD.

So back to my sweet memory. He wore his Peter Pan costume to bed last night and when he found out it was okay for him to wear it to Caroline's carpool dropoff and then to Harris Teeter, he was so excited. It was a busy morning for me. I had to deliver 3 dozen baked goods for the teachers this morning to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week next week, so I had to park the car and get all three kids out while balancing 2 foil containers and walk into the school. After getting everyone back in the car and waiting at the traffic light, I turned the ipod to the theme from Peter Pan. As I sat at the light, I was just doing the usual morning stare out the window and thinking about what I had to do when I got home. I glanced in the rear-view mirror to the very back seat where Roy Austin sits. There he sat listening to the theme,with his arms spread out as far as they could reach and his eyes closed--not tightly, but softly as if he was truly visioning himself as Peter Pan. He sat this way for about a minute and he looked so serene and oh, so sweet. My heart was smiling so big and I honestly teared up a bit due to his innocence. It was a moment that I will never forget.

So after Harris Teeter, we came home and he watched it....

...and tonight for Family Movie Night, we will watch it again:)