So apparently it's been a while since I've blogged. Sorry. We have been doing well and making good memories.

We went to Disney in October and that was so fun. The cousins all did really well together and I was personally so proud of how my own children did. So grown up! It was really fun.

We had a really wonderful, laid back Thanksgiving and that was a treat. None of the usual Holiday exhaustion.

Now we are staring down Christmas and I can hardly believe it. We have shopped for the kids and for each other and I am excited that it is almost here. We are having cold weather (okay, not really if you live in Omaha) for us and we have had a fire. Love it!

I'll try to update again soon. For now...stay warm!

With Much Appreciation

I feel compelled to offer a word of thanks to a few team members who do a lot around here.

These guys are really worker bees. They stay up later than anyone in the house and when I am so tired that my eyes are crossing...they are still hard at it. When all I can think about is the wallowed out space on my side of the bed they are washing clothes and dishes and that is why I am so grateful for my major appliances.

At 11pm when I am just finishing wiping off the table, my dishwasher picks up where I leave off and gets the job done. My washing machines goes night and day (or so it seems) and don't even get me started on my dryer!

It is moments like these when I am so grateful that I am me and not my great great grandmother washing my clothes by hand and heating my dishwater on the stove.

I just got out of the tub and as I type my dishwasher is scrubbing away and my washing machine is spinning like it was meant to do. I'm so grateful. So very very very grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My Monthly Post

I guess I'm only going to be able to post monthly for a while? It seems like that's my new pattern anyway.

We are good here. David is doing so well in school. He is such a smartie and we are always impressed at how much he is learning. He is going on a 6 hour field trip today and thankfully I got out of this one! Whew. 6 hours is a long time to be with 40 pre-kers.

Rae looks to be coming out of her two year old stage. It's been a doozy. I see signs of my sweet little girl returning. Praise God. We weren't sure we were going to make it. This morning she told me (as I was threatening David with a spanking), "No, Mama, don't spank David! He's my best brother!" What a love she is.

Micah is the sweetest child around. For real. Everybody should have a baby like him. Unless he is working on teeth he is so pleasant. HE is pulling up and standing some without holding on. He can walk now by holding on to our fingers too.

I have three sweet sweet children.

Chuck just started harvesting peanuts, just finished corn, and we are probably looking at him going straight from peanuts into pecans. How does this translate? Work, work, work! 6 days a week kind of stinks because Sundays are the "get it done" day instead of resting but...what can you do?

I hear Micah talking in his room. Time for him to be up!

Here At Hannah's

I know it has been forever but I've been swamped - what can I say?

I am here at Hannah's because tomorrow she is having her ultrasound! Yay! We are so hoping for a girl...

She is getting her hair cut right now and I am staying with the kids. Sadly, David had to stay behind in Camilla and he said, "But Mama! I have never got to go to Luke's house and I am so disappointed!" Well, he is a big boy now. School calls.

He really is loving school. He says he loves everything and his teacher and only says he misses watching cartoons at home. Rae likes being queen of the castle.

So, since we have been at Hannah's we have broken two jars of baby food, I have had to scrub the carpet amd tile twice and I just had to save Hannah's good china. Yikes. It could be a rough few days for Hannah's house. Hope it survives!

Bobby

Rae has a funny new habit. She walked into our room the other morning and said, "Good Morning, Bobby!" to her daddy. I don't know why. She calls him Bobby all the time now. She prayed and asked Jesus to please make her Bobby feel better. And she also introduced herself to a lady at Lowe's by saying, "Hey, I'm Rae Rae. This is Micah, my mommy, and my daddy, Bobby." What???

We have gotten lots of laughs about it. She is such a funny little bird.

Bobby

Rae has a funny new habit. She walked into our room the other morning and said, "Good Morning, Bobby!" to her daddy. I don't know why. She calls him Bobby all the time now. She prayed and asked Jesus to please make her Bobby feel better. And she also introduced herself to a lady at Lowe's by saying, "Hey, I'm Rae Rae. This is Micah, my mommy, and my daddy, Bobby." What???

We have gotten lots of laughs about it. She is such a funny little bird.

Update

Boy it's been a long time! Let me give everyone a little update:

- Micah now has 4 teeth! I know, it's insane how fast they grow. He is eating all kinds of table food, pulling up, crawling around the house like he is training for NASCAR, and is the sweetest thing you could ever hope for. Seriously. He is SO sweet.

- David starts big kid school in a few weeks. I'm so ready! He's bored at home and is constantly stirring up trouble just to have some excitement. He steals Rae's blanket, bops her on the head and all kinds of other irritating boy stuff. He has such a sweet heart though. He is always randomly hugging me and telling me how much he loves me.

- Rae is really getting grown-y. She is struggling through this 2 year old stage and it's tough for us too. Today I was somewhat overwhelmed and shooed her out of the kitchen (with an exasperated, "Rae, go!") and she told her Grandma that I threw her away. Sigh..... She also is a sweetheart though. She loves to snuggle, always tries to comfort when she thinks we are in pain, and actually tried to breastfeed me the other night. That's right. She threw her little chest on top of my head and said in the highest pitched voice ever, "Nurse, MAma! Nurse!"

I have a lovely woman coming to help me for 10 hours a week and oh my it's fabulous. Thank Heaven for mamas that know you need help!

Okay that's it. Maybe I will be better at blogging from here on out. Or maybe not. We'll see.

Of Mice and Miracles

We have a mouse problem. This house is older and has lots of little mouse holes for them to come in. We get one hole fixed and another is discovered. So...we have mice. We did catch one this morning and it has now met its demise.

On to miracles. We are trying to cultivate a culture of miracles in our house. We are teaching the kids to ask for the things that they want from God. He is their Father. Why wouldn't he do cool things for them? Why not raise someone from the dead? Why not heal cancer? Why not save a sick baby's life? Let's ask!

So I just heard David talking to Jesus in the playroom, "Jesus, will you please do a miracle for the mouse?" So I say to David, "Baby, what are you asking for a miracle for?" "The mouse so he can live again!" Uh no. That is not what I had in mind when talking about miracles. Yick. Me no like mice.

Swimming Lessons

We started swimming lessons today, or I should say David did. We discovered yesterday that they were desperately needed and only in small town America can you call someone at home and say, "Help!" and be enrolled in lessons minutes later. It's a good thing.

He did well and is looking forward to tomorrow. His teacher said he screamed and would hate her come nightfall. So far that prophecy has not come true. We'll see.......

We signed a lease agreement with renters today for the house in town. It feels weird. For those of you who have lived in Athens I had flashbacks of Carriage House Realty. (or the Slum Lords as one neighbor used to call them) Let's hope that we do a little better job than they did.

Micah has a bleeding diaper rash. The pediatrician said to air it out. Yick. He had you know what all over him. And he screamed. He didn't stop screaming until he was clean. The baby likes to be clean.

That's what we are doing this week.

Underestimated

I am not dead. I had back problems for a few weeks and couldn't sit in the computer chair. And I also underestimated how much work 3 kids, 1 big house, 2 kitties, and planting season would be.

So - for the record - I am not dead.

Bumpy Nickels

This morning David started talking about what bad guys. I'm not even sure where he has seen bad guys but whatever.

So he started explaining that they don't wear shirts and they have those bumpy things.....Bumpy things? Yeah, you know, Mama. (And he points to his chest) These things except theirs are bumpy. Ohhhh, you mean nipples. Yeah, bad guys have bumpy nickels!

What the heck

I am completely unable to let this go. It was reported yesterday on www.msnbc.com that a woman who is married to a millionare is seeking $53,000.00 a week in alimony. That's right. You read that correctly. 53K. A week.

Are you friggin kidding me?

I mean, granted she's 36 and he's 67 (he really should have seen this one coming) but still. It's ridiculous. She has a prenup that gives her 43 million. Is that enough? Noooooo. Because she has "expenses."

She has to be able to pay for her Park Avenue apartment and her three places in Sweden. Oh, and don't forget her list of things such as weekly clothes "budget" of $4,500.00 and the $1,000.00 it takes to care for her skin and hair.

There is no way that I have spent $4,500.00 on clothes since I've been married! Much less a week? And has got to be the ugliest woman alive if it takes $1,000.00 a week to see about her skin and hair. I mean - could she possible have leprousy and need special skin treatments?

I feel sure that if she had to live any of our lives she would be totally slumming. Poor thing.

Melissa and Jake, how long could you stay in Prague for $53,000.00 a week? I'm pretty sure it's longer than the grandparents of your children would like to think about.

Clay and Deborah, how many new cars could you buy for that?

Sheesh.

Forgot

Okay - One thing I forgot. Chuck and I started watching this series and it is really so good! I found it from my cousin's blog and I'm so glad I did. The preacher is really good and he's a man's man so Chuck doesn't mind listening. Even if your marriage is perfect and needs no work (and I'm making a, "Whatever, I don't believe you" face right now) you should check it out.

Also, as a side note, I heard Rae making weird sounds like she was wrestling or trying to get out of a trap or something. Turns out she was dancing. Really funny to see.

Happenings

This is going to be a quickie because Micah is screaming for his cereal.

We had a really busy week with a lot of fun happenings. Micah started oatmeal cereal a week or so ago and really has the hang of it. He's learning to swallow and has decided he cannot be filled up and is always hungry!

Chuck and I started a little Bible Study/Get Together/Book Club thingy with another couple. We are really excited about this - deeper friendships and another source to spark excitement about the Word and what God is doing.

I started a little group for a few moms who stay at home with small children last week too. It should be fun. We're going to be doing the Love Dare book and I think it will be a challenge. I'm looking forward to it.

David and Annalee have a birthday party coming up and we're all really excited.

Chuck worked so hard this week and with A LOT of help from daddy has my yard looking so good. New straw and everything. I'm so proud of it.

I let Rae play with Rachel last week and she had a great time. She wants to go back and play with Rachel and Abi-gail all the time now.

Chuck and I got a date night! So fun. Just us, sushi, and time....What more could I ask for?

Okay gotta go feed a hungry baby.

Priorities

I had a conversation with a friend earlier this week and we were talking about a particular difference between men and women. You know the conversation, "We can't afford A" but then he comes home having spent money on B. (and of course it can be totally reversed) It just shows that our priorities are in two different places. I think a certain thing is essential while he feels we can't live without something else.

This isn't putting husbands down - it's merely an observation of the difference in how our minds work. What's important to me isn't always important to him.

That got me thinking - shouldn't it be? For the people we love, shouldn't we go above and beyond to put their needs and often their desires before our own?

Think about my time with the kids. They want me to play Candyland. (Remind me to thank you, Hannah, for that wretched game) I have a sink full of dishes and if I put the dishes off then I will have to do them while the kids sleep when I want to lay on the couch while they sleep. Priorities!

As soon as Chuck gets home I want to be "off duty" for an hour, get in the bathtub, and sink into the water until it covers my ears allowing me to block out sound for a little while. (Thanks for the tip, Jeannie) I could, instead, choose to sit with him, hear about his day, and offer him a little TLC.

It's something for me to think about as a way of letting my loved ones know that they are my priority.

Secret Meetings

Some days I think my kids would have been great Minute Men or other key revolutionary figures in history. They have the most important thing: a strong desire to overthrow the ruling government.

Let me explain. This week has been......tough. Rae has had a runny tummy so she has been whiii-nee. Now let me tell you something - that child can whine. She throws back her head, exposes her throat, and lets it go. It's something to see for such a little girl. David has also not been 100% either. He hasn't been bright eyed at all. He has been, as my daddy would say, "weak eyed." (It's all about the eyes!) And, since he doesn't feel good, that has shown up in his behavior in a major way. Lots of whining and arguing. Even sweet Micah has been a little fussy this week!

This is what I imagine happens early in the morning before I get up.

David sneaks into Rae's room and loudly whispers, "Get up! It's time to plan." For the next 10 minutes or so they work on a scheme to drive me crazy. The scheme includes lots of whining, questioning authority, plenty of tantrums and some diarrhea never hurts. Then they quickly put this plan into action before mama and daddy can get out of bed. Hit em where it hurts. This continues for at least one week so Mama is ready to commit herself to the nearest place where one can be committed. Doesn't matter what kind of rehab it is - Mama needs it!

If you need me to spell it out for you I will - It's been a tough week. We need a touch from the Lord or there will be consequences.

Glitter

Okay, for those of you who don't know this (and most of you do, I'm sure) I am not crafty.


Hello, my name is Kate, I can't do crafts.


It's sad I know. Now stop sneering! I can't help it. It's genetic and if you know my mother you know that's true too. I'm not disdainful of crafts at all. I think it's cool. I love scrapbooks but I do not scrapbook. Can't. No talent or patience for it all. I always envied Melissa in college because she is so freakin crafty. And I am not.


Glitter, yes I'm back to it. So, tomorrow night I am leading a Bible Study for some middle school girls. The Lord gave me some neat ideas and a topic and it has driven me to crafts. God helps us all. So, I was planning on doing something completely from scratch and in rides Martha Stewart on her white horse!




Aren't they cute? Cards with glitter butterflies! Except mine have nature things on them but sweet Martha packaged the glitter and the stickers and everything and I really didn't do much but am extremely proud of my crafts. Jeannie and Anna, check the cards out when the girls get home tomorrow night and sight with envy at my skill. Or Martha's. Whatever.

An Important Issue - Please Help!

Congress is set to vote on legislation effecting families with autism in early March. I've shared before how insurance companies are not forced to pay for therapies for autistic people. It's considered a "non-treatable" disease but that's not true! More and more families are having success treating and even reversing some aspects of autism.

Please click on this link below. It will take you to the Easter Seal website where it makes it so easy for you to contact your representatives and ask them to support this important legislation. Please help out. It won't take but a minute.

http://www.easterseals.com/site/R?i=4BYKncP9FAe3KEy5ZEmAgg

Thanks, Kate

Weeding

I've done something the last few days that I really don't do - gardening. I know, most people do that kind of thing but I just never have. I don't like to be hot and I really don't know what I'm doing anyway. BUT I had a project that I wanted done in the yard and it was up to me. SO...I went to work. I had this one section of a flower bed where Veda had planted ground cover (read viney weed like things that take over) and I wanted to clear it out.

It wasn't a very large section but it took me almost two days to get it cleaned out. That stuff had taken over! The roots were much stronger than you would think for a little vine and it was totally wrapped around other plants like rose bushes and azaleas.

Anyway, it was tough to get that junk out and I noticed that the baby shoots were a lot easier to pluck up by the root than those that had grown. And, of course, it got me thinking about sin in my own life and bad behaviors in my children.

If we can get to sin while it is still in the thought stage, we can get it out fairly easily. We can usually get to the root of it without losing the health of our mind and lives. But we know how close thoughts and actions are so we have to get it quickly. I have found in my own life that the longer I choose to hold onto something the more frustrating it is to get rid of it.

Think of it with your children too. When they first start a behavior, if you catch it then you can usually head it off pretty quickly. But if you let it stay long you have just created a project for the next year! Saying, "No!" to Mama at first is so cute! They're independent and sassy. Fast forward to age 16. Not so cute anymore is it?

I had to get rid of one rose bush because it was really old and intertwined with that crazy ground cover stuff. I actually had to use those pruning cutters to cut the vine because it was so strong.

I think if I pull a few shoots of the stuff every day then I can keep it in check. I really don't want to allow my spirit to become so covered over with defiance, anger, lies, or anything else that major digging and cutting is required. Maintenance is the key. I must practice repentance and discipline (with my self and the kids) every day to stay healthy.

25 Random Things

I've been tagged by Facebook and e-mail and on blogs and I can't keep up! So I'm going to do my "random things" here.

1) I hate to feel trapped. I won't even let Chuck hold me too close or tightly. It makes me feel very nervous.

2) The older I get the less I like animals. It's weird. I used to really love dogs, cats, birds, etc. I'm over it now.

3) When I was a young girl, I would pray almost every day that I would be wise like Solomon. I always imagined God giving me a choice of riches or wisdom and, of course, I would pick wisdom in the scenario (and secretly hope for the riches too).

4) I hate it when people say, "I could care less." That doesn't make sense people! If you could care less than you then why even bother to make the statement. Think about it.

5) When my kids start using sayings that I use it scares me. (ex: David telling me, "I made a dog mess!")

6) I hate the flies and the mice out here in the country. Some days I think I would trade the beautiful scenery for fewer yucky things.

7) I love reading people's blogs about their children.

8) I love hearing about and "knowing" other people's children.

9) I'm not really all that maternal and therefore don't get the warm gushies for other people's children. Only my own and my nieces and nephews. Sorry. If that makes me bad I can't help it. I've accepted it.

10) I know that being a SAHM is the best thing that I can do for my kids.

11) Some days I would trade being a SAHM for a job that challenges me mentally and not just emotionally.

12) I don't like for anyone to kiss me except for Chuck and the kids. I have one person in my life who insists on kissing me every time they see me and it drives me crazy! It's gross.

13) I have the least amount of tolerance when I'm pregnant. Very little tolerance for anything.

14) I agree with Melissa. I don't want to talk about things over and over. Get over it already.

15) I love fantasy books. Eragon, Harry Potter, right up my alley.

16) I like to smell good like perfume.

17) I feel like the people whose blogs I read are really close to me when in reality some of them I barely know.

18) I cannot function when my kitchen is dirty. It's too much for me to handle.

19) I don't really care if the bathrooms are dirty or not.

20) Rae has little tiny feet like I do.

21) I want Rae to be beautiful and smart. One of my fears for her is that she will think being beautiful is an accomplishment and will stop there. Dumb girls drive me crazy.

22) I really admire women who choose to homeschool their kids. They are giving up so many years of their lives and what they want to do for themselves. Really selfless.

23) I don't plan to homeschool my kids.

24) I sometimes lay awake at night with theme songs from Disney Playhouse running through my head. It's irritating.

25)This took more work than I thought it would.

I would love to read other people's 25 random things but won't "tag" anyone. It's too much pressure!

Rae

I think I have not been fair to Rae in this blog. I barely mention her but that's really because she is so easy to be around. She is such a love and parenting her is really not bad at all. Someone asked me about her being two and I assured them that, while we have our moments, she is very obedient and sweet natured.

One of her first words was "thank you" and she is very conscious about saying yes ma'am and please. She's almost too polite. If she says thank you and you don't quickly say you're welcome you get in trouble!

She loves her brothers and really doesn't do as well alone as she does with the boys. She likes to be entertained and being bossed around doesn't bother her at all. At the same time she is very independent and wants to "do my self mama."

She loves to have her hair put up in pig tails, wear dresses, and be all out prissy. She hates to be dirty and having a snotty nose is the worst of all!

I feel differently about my little girl than I do my boys. I don't love her more it's just different. I can't explain it and would never have believed it before I had her. She's such a blessing to our family. I pray that God will knit our hearts together in a special way as she grows.

Autism

Most of us know someone who has autism. The numbers on how prevalent this disease is are shocking. My sweet niece, Annalee, was recently diagnosed and her mother has been raising awareness within our family and the people that we know.

To help her out I am posting a link to the webiste for Autism Speaks, an organization that helps raise awareness and funding.

One of the problems that families with autism face is that Autism is not recognized by the State as a treatable disease therefore insurance companies are not required to cover therapies and various treatments. Behavioural therapy and other treatments are crucial for early intervention.

A bill will soon be coming up in 2009 before the Georgia General Assembly which would recognize this as a treatable disease which would force insurance companies to pay for treatment.

Please take a minute and go to http://www.autismvotes.org/georgia to sign up for updates. They will e-mail you when the time is right for you to contact your representative.

It's worth the time it takes. It will make a difference to a little girl named Annalee who looks like my Mama did when she was her age.

Thank you!

I've Been Wondering

I've been wondering why Chuck has come home, taken off his work clothes, and immediately sprayed his clothes with stain treater the last few days. I mean, it's nice, but it's not normal. Then I opened the cabinet with my laundry supplies. Apparently my husband bought a gallon size bottle of shout with a 3 foot extendable trigger. That's right. He's been spraying his clothes because the trigger makes it fun and it makes him feel powerful.

I am wondering no more.