to add to the story...

On our way to tee ball practice I talked to the boys about listening to the coach.  Jackson was very concerned about being able to hit the ball so I told him just to keep his eye on the ball and he would be fine.  "But Mommy what if I hit the tee?"  me: "Don't worry about it buddy.  We are practicing.  You will practice and get better and better."  Jackson: "If I swing and miss the ball that means I wiffed it."  me: "Yes but that isn't a big deal you can just try again.  Don't worry so much buddy."  Jackson:  "Mommy I don't want to wiff the ball like you do in tennis."  Thanks Jackson!  Well at least we are both out there swinging away!

With Fall comes....baseball?

We think it is important for our boys to play team sports.  They get exercise and interaction.  It is a different learning process than in the classroom.  So this fall we picked tee ball.  We went to Clarkesville Elementary to practice this weekend.  The boys seem to really have an aptitude for this sport.  So we have our first practice today.  So I called my Mom and told her we had signed the boys up for tee ball and that we were very excited to start playing.  Jackson hears me and adds "Well I'm not excited!  I just want to play tennis."  Guess you can't make everyone happy.  

 Sometimes I worry about my boys competing with each other once they get a little older.   Sports, girls and  grades, so many things that they are going to argue over.  It has already started.  They fight over my attention, snacks and toys.   Then I separate them and they cry "I just want to play with my brother!"   Good to see they recognize that your brother is your best friend!  And my boys are fortunate to have 2 forever best friends!

What to do, what to do?

My job is to take care of my children, my husband and my home.  That sounds easy enough.  I can do that, no problem.  Until....I wake up at 7:25 on a school morning and Jason is out of town and I have to rush to get the boys out of bed only to get Jackson to school 10 minutes late(not bad considering I woke up 20 before he needed to be at school).  I drop Jackson off at school and rush to get Joel to school.  We get there and I remember, UGGGG I was supposed to bring family pictures for Joel's collage today.  So I drop Joel off and I run back to the house and search my computer for pictures of brothers, mommy and daddy, grandparents, etc.  Print off said pictures rush back to school and drop off Joel's pictures so he can participate in the class project.  Shew, now I can take a deep breath.  Wait a minute I totally forgot I need to take some things to the cleaners and go to the post office and run by Walmart and get a party gift for this weekend and I have about and hour or so to get that done before I have to teach a Jazzercise class.  Check, check, check, and check.  Did Jensen get a snack?  Better go buy a few groceries so he can have a popcorn snack, thanks Ingles!  Got the groceries NOW I can take a deep breath.  What do you mean it is time to pick up Joel from school?  I just dropped him off!  OK, I pick up Joel and we go home, unload the groceries make some lunch, eat our lunch then clean up our lunch.  Put Jensen down for a nap.  NOW I can sit down a minute.  Sitting.  YUCK!  I STINK!  Can't sit now better get up and shower.  I won't bore you with shower details but I am finally clean and NOW I will sit....didn't I just vacuum yesterday?  Didn't I just dust?  I know I swept the floor before I left the house.  Looks like it is time to do it all again.  House is tidy.  Can I sit now?  Hmmm 2:45 time to pick up Jackson.  Go to school wait in the pick up line, get my child, talk to my child about his day, look through his folder for any homework that needs to be done.  Have a snack.   Now I actually do sit and cuddle with my boys for a few minutes before we go outside to burn off some energy, staying on green all day at school is enough to make a 5 yr old want to blow!  What do you know it is 5:00 pm I need to start dinner for all my men.  Daddy gets home around 6 we eat dinner, clean up dinner while boys play in backyard.  Dishes are clean now time to clean my boys.  Boys are showered, teeth are brushed and our books are chosen.  Time to read.  One book each then a tuck for the big boys and a little rocking for the baby.  8:30 and the house is quiet.  I lay out the boys school clothes for tomorrow and then I get to sit and watch anything I might have on the DVR.  I manage to stay awake till 10 but that is all I can take.  Because tomorrow I need to wake up to a whole new set of Momergencies. 

Does this sound familiar to anyone?  This crazy day of non stop errands.  This stay at home mom thing IS easy!  HAHAHAHAHA!  Well I almost typed that sentences without laughing!  I love my boys, I love my life!  I wouldn't change a thing!

Because you asked.

What am I thankful for?  I am thankful for a husband that looks at me like I am the only woman in the world because for him I am.  I am thankful for parents who love each other more with each passing day.  Parents who taught me what a marriage looks like.  I am thankful for rambunctious boys who drive me crazy and give me a throbbing headache but they are healthy and they are happy and that is worth 1,000 headaches.  I am thankful for a brother who never judges anyone.  He is so good.  And a sister who, for reasons unknown to me, thinks I hung the moon.  She looks up to me still and she makes me want to be a better person.   I am thankful for wonderful friends who listen to me complain about things that don't matter and cry about things that really do matter.   Lord knows that I have been a downer on more than one occasion in the last 4 months.  We do occasionally share a laugh.   I am thankful for in-laws who love me for me and not just because I married into the family.  I am thankful for so many things, this blog could go on forever with my many many blessings.  Oh and I don't want to forget one last thing, I too am thankful for Oreos.  But I think I might be more thankful if I didn't love them so much!

Adequacy Meter

Another post about my Joel.  I have been blessed with good babies.  My boys are easy.  It started with easy pregnancies, the most difficult thing I had to endure was the c-section to get them each into the world, small price to pay.  The took to breastfeeding with relative ease and weening went just as smoothly.  There wasn't a food they didn't like.  Potty training was frustrating at the time but looking back not a big deal.  Joel gave up his paci with no arguments.  I am able to leave them with the sitter without a major meltdown.  The biggest issue was sleeping through the night, each of them waited until they were 9 months old to comply, must be in their genes.  My boys are very similar and yet so so different.  Which brings me to what this post is about, the adequacy meter.  What is an adequacy meter you might be asking about now.  That is the term my sweet brother-in-law, Bryan, coined when referring to Joel's reaction to anything that isn't going his way.  Even as a baby Joel with cry with the slightest breeze.  It was as if he was saying "Life is not all I had hoped!  This is the worst thing that has every happened to me!  I can't believe I have to endure this injustice!!!"  This was his reaction to having to wait a minute or two for a cup of juice.   You can imaging his reaction to anything serious.  Like in this photo where he wants Mama!

I can still hear Bryan saying "Life is not adequate!"  While Joel was crying over one less than perfect situation or another. 

So I have decided to document all of Joel's moments of not being treated fairly.  All the things he calls his Grandma and reports.  I stay in trouble with Grandma by the way.  So enjoy the photos of sweet Joel at his finest moments.  I love this boy and just to set the record straight Joel is a happy boy!  He is more often found giving me the thumbs up and the "I love you Mommy!"  than he is pouting in the corner but if I don't take these pictures what will I use for blackmail in the teenage years?

People keep telling me.....

"I'm too young for a girlfriend!"  That was the story for the day today.  So I told him "Yes Jackson you are too young for a girlfriend but who keeps telling you that?"  "EVERYONE!!"  was the exasperated reply (exasperated is Jackson's new favorite word).  He continued by telling me that it was too late he already has a girlfriend and it is Madelynne!  And she doesn't act like she wants to be his friend anymore and she only plays with James!  I tried to encourage my child to make new friends and that Madelynne will always be his friend and there are lots of girls AND boys to play with.  His response was "I have to wait until I am un-young to have more than one girlfriend."  Me: "You mean older."  Jackson: "Yes Mommy when I am older I will have at least 3 or 4 girlfriends."......I don't think this conversation went the way I wanted it to. 

My sweet boy and his first girlfriend, even though he isn't allowed to have a girlfriend.  I hope this is the worst heartache he ever knows. 

Cloning Babies

 I have been looking through old pictures and I realize I seem to have contributed very little of the DNA to my sweet boys.   When I was pregnant with Jackson I would sit and just revel in the idea of a child that was 50% me and 50% Jason.  The first thing I said when Jackson was born was "He looks JUST like you".   That isn't a bad thing, Jason is very handsome but where is the Mary Lynn????  I worked so hard for the past 9 months.  I gave up sleep, watched my diet, gave up my margaritas, made many many trips to the bathroom, went to all the doctor visits and who gets all the credit for this beautiful boy?  Daddy!  People see me out and I never get "they look like you"  I never get the chance to say "Oh if you think they look like me you should see their Daddy".  If you could get past that blond hair Joel looks like me.  He is a miniature version of me, as I discussed in a previous blog.  But again I get no credit.

When I start to really worry that I did all this work only for Jason's genes to be carried on they open their mouths and what comes out is 100% Mary Lynn!  Genetics may not be on my side but I am blessed to stay home with my boys so I can "program" them properly. 

A couple of interesting things from Jackson:  A girl in his class lost her doll and she was so upset.  Jackson went to comfort her "Don't worry Claire we will find your doll but you know it isn't our job to keep up with your things!"  Wonder where he heard that?  

When the boys were moving in together "Joel do you think you can be quiet when it is time to go to bed so I can get some rest?"  Joel: "Yes Jackson"  Jackson:  "Then I guess we can try this out for a couple of nights."

And most recently "Mommy I need to go shopping for clothes."  Me: "Jackson I think you have plenty for now."  Jackson: "Mommy I just really need lots of options!"

Joel is an interesting child he is forever the encourager but also wants to be in charge of all situations.  Last year at school a little girl was playing and wouldn't go to her seat at table time.  Joel says "Susie (again name is changed to protect the innocent) if you don't come over here Ms. Desi is going to put you in time out!"  Ms. Desi says "Joel go to your seat I am taking care of this."  Joel gives Ms. Desi his best smile and a thumbs up.  "You're doing a really good job Ms. Desi!"

So far Jensen is the world's sweetest baby.  I asked him to do something the other day and I nearly had a heart attack because his answer was "Yes Maam".  But as sweet as he is he is also a bit bossy like his Mommy.  We sit to "rock a minute" at night and he will gaze up into my eyes and say "Sunshine Mommy SING IT!"  "Twinkle SING IT!"  And he points his finger at me as he orders me to entertain.  I can't wait to see what other traits I have imprinted onto my child.

Aww the joys of being a stay at home mom!

Has it been this beautiful all my life?

This year my family went on a family vacation, a budget family vacation.  We spent a week at my parents lake house on Cherokee Lake with my in-laws.  This vacation home has been in my family my whole life.  I can remember nearly drowning in this lake when I fell off the dock at 6 yrs old (we have since implemented a no children near the lake without a life jacket on).  I remember catching catfish, learning to ski, breakfast cruises to the dam, croquet and volleyball and corn hole and any type of yard game you can imagine, throwing rocks and huge bonfire marshmallow roasts and fire works and...well you get the idea.  A life time a memories and I haven't lived a life time yet.

 So when we got home and I was looking through the 200+ photos that were taken by me and my mother-in-law (her photos are far better than mine but you will have to settle for mine) I thought to myself how beautiful this place is.  So serene in the early morning hours before everyone gets out of bed and peaceful beyond compare on our sunset cruises.  How have I missed this?  How have I  thought of this as merely "a place my family goes".  Happy memory on top of happy memory, I have shared so much of my life with so many of the people I love here.  I am so blessed to share this place with both the family I grew up with and now the family I have made.  One day my boys will have all the same happy memories and I think I will teach them to appreciate the beauty as well as the fun!

 

A little insight into my middle!

My poor sweet Joel Ellis.  My middle child.  You would think I would have more sympathy for him considering I am a middle child myself.  The poor always forgotten and left out middle child.  The child that has to go above and beyond to get attention because we aren't the prized first born and we aren't the cutest of the cute baby of the family.  We weren't the first to do anything and we aren't the one everyone is looking at because we are the last one that will do it.  We don't have a special distinction, we are just middle!  My poor Joel has the added misfortune of being just like his mother.  I have talked to his teacher 2 times this week because Joel talks too much.  I believe Ms. Donna used the word "constantly".  I know, I know, all of my friends reading this are saying "NO Mary Lynn not your child!  Where does he get that trait?"  Joel wants to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.  He is the sweetest helper, when it is his idea.  He finds things around the house and if they look interesting to him he hides them in his room.  I have caught him eating Tums because they taste like candy.  So many things I could list that Joel does I can remember doing when I was a child.  Again I say poor Joel.  So all of that background just to tell you as much as he pushes my buttons he is the funniest child EVER!!!  He is so animated, everything he does is do exciting.  He is a master of the thumbs up and the wink "Mommy, I got it!  Don't worry about it!"

Last week my husband went upstairs because it sounded like my boys were going to come through the ceiling.  He said in his most serious and stern Daddy voice "WHAT IS GOING ON UP HERE???" , the boys don't know he is serious (giggle giggle giggle)  Daddy continues "Jackson DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY???"  In an effort to help his brother out Daddy hears Joel whisper to his brother "Jackson make a serious face and look at the floor."  Hmmmmmm  thanks for breaking the tension Joel, now there is nothing to do but laugh.

Today as Joel is practicing his jumping jacks:  "Mommy watch this, I do really cool jumping jacks!"   Me: "Wow Joel that is great!  Good Job!"  Joel "No Mommy watch this one is going to be really good....Wait for it, wait for it......"  Again I say there is nothing to do but to laugh.  It was a really excellent jumping jack!

And my favorite story from this week is not only about Joel but it gives you a hint of what Jackson is like as well.  We are driving down the road and Joel says to me "Mommy you are pretty, you are so so pretty."  Me:  "Why thank you Joel that is very sweet."  Joel "Mommy you are so pretty, much prettier that Susie* (name has been changed to protect the innocent)"  Me:"Thank you Joel."  Jackson "Well Mommy Susie isn't really that pretty."  Once again what do you say to that?

Everybody else is doing it.

I go through and read all my friends blogs about their day to day lives and I smile and I laugh and I cry because I am right there with you.  So why haven't I started a blog?  Everyone else is doing it!  I am not a writer, as you will see if you stop by to see what my life holds for me on a day to day basis.  Today I decided it doesn't matter how eloquent I am.  It matters that I remember all these precious moments and all the side splitting laughter that comes with raising 3 boys.  So here we go!  If you stop by to read what is going on in our lives I hope my boys make you smile a little.  They bring a smile to my face every day!