Saturday, May 30, 2009

What have I done?


Sometimes, as a mom, I watch my children make mistakes and wonder "what have I done? what did I forget to teach? where did I go wrong?" but sometimes, .........sometimes, my children do things that stop me in my tracks and make me think that maybe I have done something right. Then, after feeling that joy for a moment I realize I don't deserve the credit for teaching them something useful, THEY have earned the glory by learning and adapting and growing each day into amazing young people. and now for the story...........................................................................






Saturday morning! A beautiful Sunny day, not too hot. The birds are singing. There is a nice breeze. The grass is calling to me to be cut. Rollin and Tucker are riding bikes up and down the drive way and through and around the front yard.
Fynneus is half naked.






I took a few big gulps of my now
luke warm green tea, and tried to force a little excitement towards Fynneus about "helping mommy mow the grass". I got myself dressed and Fynn too. (I find it funny that he likes to be naked on the bottom but if he IS going to wear shorts then he HAS to have shoes on.) Fynn and I joined the other two boys out side and I was getting the shed opened up when I heard crying from the front yard. It sounded to me like Rollins whiny cry so I didn't respond with haste, but as I made my way closer I realized it was Tucker and he was hurt. I ran to him and soothed him. He had turned the handlebars too sharply while riding his bike and crashed on our driveway. I'm sure it hurt, but there where no injuries to speak of. Then Fynn and I together headed back to the shed and backed the lawn mower out. His excitement was genuine now. As I mowed I could here him talking, loudly even, but I could not make out a single word. Eventually I felt him relax and then he pulled my hand and arm up around him, as if to say "hold me tighter". I did. He fell fast asleep. He had been asleep for thirty to forty five minutes when Tucker came running out to me. I was at the back of the yard so as he got closer I stopped and turned the blades off. The engine was still running so He shouted to me, asking if he could have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I smiled at him and shook my head to say yes. He smiled back, turned and ran all the way back to the house. I kept smiling and even giggled a little when I thought of the mess that might occur. I went on mowing and Fynn slept a good while longer, when he finally woke up he seemed a bit startled but quickly relaxed again and enjoyed the rest of the ride. I parked in the shade and shut the mower down. Then I swung my leg over his little head and hopped off so that he could climb down himself. He look at me and smiled and asked "vhus dat so tool?" I had to agree that is was really cool. As we walked to the house I remembered the pb&j sandwiches and knowing that there was probably a big sticky mess, reminded myself to keep cool. I saw Rollin opening the fridge and was tempted to tell him to "get out of there" but then I realized that he was putting the jelly away! Tucker had already made and eaten his sandwich, WITHOUT making a mess at all! Then Rollin had made himself a sandwich without making a mess at all! Then he had remembered to put the pb and J back in the fridge! Wow! And this is the event that provoked the revelation I wrote about at the beginning of my post.

Monday, May 18, 2009

ANYWAY

ANYWAY


People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway!
If you do good, people will accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do good anyway!
If you are successful, you will win
false friends and enemies.
Succeed anyway!
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway!
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway!
What you spend years building may be
destroyed overnight.
Build anyway!
People really need help
but may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway!
Give the world the best you have
and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway!

Written by: Mother Teresa

Friday, May 8, 2009

A couple of weeks ago we stopped by the farm where I had been riding horses. There are some amazing animals out there and I think the Frisians are really breath taking animals. But my children are not impressed with these gentle giants, no, the horse they ask to visit is named Chicken. Chicken is a thirty something qaurter horse with a sway back, narly hip bones, drippy eyes and usually a mud caked coat and a ratted up mane. But The boys love him. About a week after our visit with him we watched the Kentucky Derby! Grandy and Granpa were here visiting and some of us were marveling at the beauty of the magnificent race horses. I beleive it was Tucker who chimed in to say "It's too bad Chicken wasn't in the race, I bet he would have won!" Rollin agreed.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Hook ups


At Lunch today Rollin said "I don't fink I can eat". Thinking this was a ploy to get out of the naptime that always follows lunch I replied "well I guess you should go get in bed now then". He looked at me and said "I tan't eat betuz I have hookups"!

play ball!





Thadeus recently bought Tucker and Rollin each a new baseball glove and as a result they have been spending much of their time lately playing baseball! Rollin keeps his glove and a ball in his dresser drawer along with some clothes of course and a stash of love notes for his Nanna. Tucker Also keeps his glove in his drawer with his clothes and a couple of wooden "pocket knifes".