My children love fruit. The problem is when I buy something different they like it's gone in a blink, so I try to "police" eating the fruit so it will last more than a day. One of their favorites are clementines. Small, juicy, easy to peel and if good they are oh so sweet and not very cheap. I bought some and sure enough they were going crazy wanting to eat them. Wyatt wanted one, one night after I said the kitchen was CLOSED! (my new phrase for -no you can not have anything else to eat today).
Wyatt: Mom, what's the magic word to get an orange?
Mom: (smiling and thinking about it)
Wyatt: Hocus Pocus?
Mom: Hocus Pocus? No. ( It is so hard to resist when they are this cute!)
Wyatt: What is the magic word?
Mom: Well, if you want an orange the magic words are, Mom is pretty (I decided I don't hear that enough)
Wyatt: Ok . Mom is pretty. ( and of course I give him an orange, not without the other boys noticing of course)
5 minutes later
Wyatt: What's the magic word to get another orange, Hocus Pocus?
How can I resist? I gave him another orange. That kid knows how to get to me.

This morning I woke up and remembered they were coming today to hook up our cable and telephone and DSL. I actually started dreading it. We have always been a TV family. John and the boys mostly but I enjoy a little TV now and then but lately we haven't had it and I didn't miss it. I don't think the boys did either, they didn't mention it. We watched an occasional DVD and that seemed to satisfy them. I even contemplated cancelling the cable but I did that to DISH the other day and I don't think John would have been to happy about that. So I went to school and just as I had dreaded when I got home the kids were plopped in front of the TV. No longer were they outside catching tiny frogs, building their garden or building forts. They were watching TV. I was disapointed. I was hoping that having TV back wouldn't matter. I am determined now more than ever to restrict the amount of time they spend in front of the tube. I want to see them in our yard, building forts, catching frogs and planting in their garden.

Well we are in our new house. It hasn't been that bad but slow. I have to unpack around studying and school. We have been without internet access b/c we didn''t know when you moved to the boonies it would take weeks. Had we known we would have called to get it hooked up sooner but anyway we have three more days without it. We have had no phone, no TV, no cable, and no internet. For us it's an adjustment b/c we like these things but then again it's been great. It's been nice not having the noise and distraction of these things but I am ready to have them back. Well posting may be few and far between for a while. Just want to thank John's parents, Poppy and Nama. They put up with us for three weeks in their home and we appreciate it sooooo much. We love you and thank you. Also thanks to all grandparents for all they have done in taking care of our youngins! You are appreaciated!!!

Right now someone may be at our new house determining our fate. Yes, we are still with my in-laws and an inspector is at the new house today deciding whether we can move in or not. This is the fourth time they have been out. Every time finding something that needs to be done. We are sure today is it. We have done everything they asked. Will they come up with another to do list or will they give us the form to Proceed. I am so ready to move in. My in-laws have been generous and considering how intrusive 6 people can be I think it has gone well. But we are all ready to "get back to normal". Please Mr. Inspector let me move into my house!

Got the word, we are in! Now for the fun part, moving our stuff again.

Lately it has become all to evident that someone in our house in on the brink of adolesence. Today I think the world had forced children into growing up too fast. I know this is true, I have seen it. I am guilty of being one of those overprotective moms. I still police everything my children watch and listen to and have a hard time giving in to his desires to watch these adolescent soap operas on Disney. Some I allow, in small doses. I can always tell when he has seen too much of these shows. We still do not allow certain words to be spoken in our house that you would commonly hear today on TV and coming out of the mouths of kids everywhere. I am still very strict about who he plays with and who's house he's allowed to go to. Can I really trust their parents? He is starting to question why I am like this. It is becoming harder and harder to be the positive influence to him. He is more and more interested in what other people think about things and about him. It doesn't matter that I think he is cute, and loving and talented and "cool". It matters more what they think. I am worried about how I will handle these years . I remember all too well the adolescent years, most of mine were really happy but I do remember how hard those times are. Trying to figure where you fit in, who your friends are, just all around who you are. And unfortunately in our world being a Christian will make it harder for him.

After I wrote this I was thinking how my last sentence maybe came out wrong. Actually being a christian can make it harder and maybe easier. Harder because he will struggle with worldly things and trying to stay on the correct moral path but maybe easier because he can pull strength from his faith to stay on the right path. My prayer is that being a christian will be his strength to get through these years and something that he is proud of, always.

The boys have always called John's mom Nama. Noah started it. Wyatt for a while called her Nama and then suddenly started calling her Namahouse. We weren't sure what he meant. Poppy made jokes about it but we didn't know why he did it. Then one day it hit me. When we are going to their house we always said "we're going to Poppy and Nama's house". He just assumed that's what we call her. It always made us laugh. Lately he doesn't say it often. Today he did and I smiled. I love toddler talk.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our wonderful son! We love you!

Yes, I have been busy. Too busy to post and even think about what I wanted to say. This past week we moved (something I really don't like to do) and are staying at my in-laws (thanks for putting up with us for a couple weeks!). The new house isn't ready so we couldn't move in. We didn't ask for more time bc in this market you really don't want to turn off your buyer's. We really don't need two houses right now. SO the next few weeks are going to be stressful, I feel displaced and am so with 4 kids. I just want to say thanks for our families for all they have done to help! And while we are talking about families I should take this time to address the Father's in my life.

John- Well how can I say enough thanks to all you have given us. Your love, endless devotion and time and for setting such a fine example to our boys. You work so hard to take care of us and to give us the things we need and desire. You make sure our boys know how important God is and teach them to follow his word and to rely on his strength. I am not good at saying thanks enough but I do Thank you and love you!
Dad-A girl could not have asked for a better father. You have always been there for me and have helped me through so many things. Shoot, if it wasn't for your advice I might not be thanking John right now for it was you who encouraged me to give him a chance. I am forever grateful for everything. I also thank you for everything you do for the boys. I am so grateful they have such a loving and "fun" Papa!
Mr. O-You know we have come a long way in the last 15 years. I have not always been so nice but I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You are always there for us and have helped us many times. Thanks for all you do for us and with the boys. They really are fortunate to have such a great Poppy!
Ed and Chris-You are incredible Dad's to my nieces and nephews, they are so fortunate to have Father's that would go to the ends of the earth for them and are Godly examples for them.

Well for not knowing what to say I managed to say alot. Happy Father's Day to you all!

Little Red Schoolhouse - on the Prairie
Originally uploaded by sirchuckles

no more homework
no more lunch money
no more carpool

we can sleep in (Oh I wish they would!)
we can stay up late
we can go on vacation

Goodbye Elementary school for my first born
Here comes Middle School-I cannot believe it!

Goodbye First Grade for Sellers, Hello Second!

The Mommy bird, watching us from our rooftop.
The babies we love watching.

We have had the privilege of watching a mother bird make a nest, lay her eggs and now they have hatched and are watching her raise her babies. The nest is in a little tree and with our high deck we can see down into the nest. The boys have been so interested in the nest and I often have to remind them that they need to come inside so the mommy bird can feed her babies. Noah loves to take pictures and has been photographing pictures daily to document the progression of the babies. As I was looking at the pictures he showed me the picture of the mommy bird watching from the rooftop. That picture moved me and made me think of something I was talking about with someone at the pool yesterday. It was a long conversation but the gist of it was that mommies are always watching out for their babies. We can assess a situation in seconds and notice every possible threat (and fun stuff too) to our children. As I was thinking about this it reminded me of how God does the same thing. He too is looking down on his children and keeping a watchful eye on them just like me and just like the bird. Which by the way according to Noahs research is a Mockingbird.

This week I was talking to one of my nursing friends and we laughed about something that probably all nurses and students do. Because we know so much about diseases and illnesses we are constantly convincing ourselves we either do or do not have something. I have diagnosed myself with Diabetes, MS, Cancer, you name it. Ironically, the symptoms seem to appear right as I am studying that disease. Am I imagining it? Not sure. There have been some diagnoses I left behind and some I keep revisiting every time I have a "symptom". This is something I will have to get used to, this diagnosing me (and everyone I know). So, if you're talking to me and you mention something about a "symptom" watch out I might just diagnose you too!

Lately I seem to be getting a lot of whining in my house, even from the big boys (one in particular) about just about everything! They whine about what we eat, when we eat, how much we eat, what we watch, when we watch and how much we watch, homework, errands, being reminded of chores, you name it I seem to get whining in return. One even does the jumping up and down and throws a couple tears in for good measure. I can almost deal with whining in a 3 year old but why has my older children started whining again? Is it because they are testing the water for their boundaries, for independence. Do they feel neglected, do we give too much attention to the babies and not them? Are they spoiled? Are they stressed? Is there too much change? I have always said to my children when they whine "I don't understand you when you whine, can you please speak to me in a normal voice" it always worked in the past. I think it is time to pull that phrase out of my hat again, amazingly I haven't used it in a long time. We had very little whining for a long time, not anymore.

My heart has been heavy all day. I am sure many of you have heard of the tragic death of Steven Curtis Chapman's families youngest little girl, Maria. It is hard to understand such a tragic end to such a sweet life. I have been thinking about it all day, wondering why God would let something like this happen. A young girl born into this world and abandoned, adopted and given a wonderful life and then tragically lost at 5 years old. At dinner as I was watching my kids play, I thought why not her. Our grief is selfish, she is not sad or hurt or lonely. She is with her heavenly father in a wonderful place. For her we should be happy. It does not erase the hurt of losing a loved one but it helps bear it. I am so sad for her family, especially for the brother that accidently ran over her. I pray for this families grief, that somehow this story will touch other lives and maybe her story will lead others to Jesus.

I started back to school Mon. It is very busy but I like it. Today in Lab I started to feel like a nurse bc we got do learn some "real nurse things"-the big ones and it was fun. I will be at Palmetto Health Heart Hospital for critical care and at Richland Springs for Pysche rotation. I go to Psyche on Friday and can't wait to see what that is like. My postings may become alot less frequent bc of all my school work but I'll wait and see..........If you read this Wed or Thurs please pray for J. Just pray for her to get GOOD news tomorrow. I would appreciate your prayers.

My kids love watermelon. Papa bought us some watermelons this week (Thanks!).The kids have anxiously waited on me to cut them. I fixed Wyatt a bowl of pieces. He handed it back to me and said "mom, can you take the sprinkles out?". He thought the seeds were sprinkles-how cute! I couldn't make him understand that it was ok to eat them so I had to pick all the little white seeds out that he could see and I did it with a smile on my face.

I didn't mean to leave it on a low note for so long but I've been busy, busy busy. Cramming as much into 19 days that I can. Lets see I have attended a wedding in Charleston, a preschool musical, Awana Awards, Noah's band concert, a soccer game, joined The Firm and have actually gone with my Sis-In-Law, picked out lights and many other things for the new house, gone to the zoo, gone to the park, gone swimming numerous times, packed part of the house, done 3000 loads of laundry, been to Target a dozen times (I never can remember to get it all at once), Met a couple friends for special time together, went to a grown up movie, read a dozen magazines, read a novel (well I'm almost done), attended Field Day at Wyatt's school, gone to WW with my dad, and I've actually started reading stuff for school on Monday. All that and yet we have a lot to go. My mom-in-laws retirement banquet (Congrats Nama, we love you!), 3 birthday parties this weekend, Soccer game and cookout and the Children's musical at FBC. My postings may not be as frequent in the coming weeks. For three weeks I am in school 5 days a week from 7-4. I am so worried about it. Pray for me and my family as we make this adjustment. I have never been away from the kids this much. And pray for the Grandparents and dad who will be watching them!

I recently came across a blog through another blog and wanted to share it with you. A few weeks ago I was down. It was the four year mark of losing Grace and the frustration and reality of the adoption wait was hitting me hard. I have always wanted a daughter and have not been able to always accept and understand why God has chosen this path for us to our daughter. If Grace had lived she would have been 3 1/2 years old. Almost every time I see a little blond headed girl I think of her and wonder what she would have looked like. Well I was checking on a blog that I look at from time to time and she referenced being blessed by reading a blog called Bring The Rain. Curious I clicked on the link and then spent the next 30 minutes reading (never mind the nursing I was supposed to be studying). It is a wonderful story of a women who just the week before had lost her fourth daughter. The story brought tears to my eyes and let me spend just a few minutes mourning my loss the way I seldom do. If you have ever lost a child I encourage you to check out their story, it will touch your heart but please have a tissue handy it is incredibly raw and sad.

www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com

Noah with his Band Teacher at last nights concert. Noah switched to percusssion after Christmas and we have been very proud of how quickly he has learned this new skill. He played several different instruments during the program and we are so proud of him!
Mom, Dad and Noah standing outside the new Lex 1 Performing Arts Center. The facility is so nice and I believe the concert last night was the first thing held there. If you look closely you can see a HUGE Wildcat (lex highs Mascot) painting on the wall in the background. It is hard to believe in three short years Noah will be getting ready to attend High School there, WOW!

And no I am not talking about our children...

I have been MIA because I had my last exam and final this past week. It went pretty well, I passed as well as most of my class. As hard as this semester was we only lost 6 people which is a much lower number than I originally thought would fail. From the start of our program in Jan. of 2007 we have had 67% of our class pass. That statistic is much higher than the usual starting class. Now I have just 4 more classes. Two this summer, Critical Care and Psyche Nursing and then two more in the fall. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now I can enjoy my break, now down to 16 days before it all starts again.