Anything : The Blog for Anything

Transition

2008-07-27T01:18:44Z

With this post you will find that this blog has been moved to WordPress.� If you want to continue to read my blog, you can access it at http://www.octobermomma.wordpress.com

I am changing hosts for a number of reasons.� There is only the welcome post at wordpress at this point.� I have been very busy and unable to write anything as of the past few days.

Please bear with me in this tranistional phase.

Thanks for reading!!

It's definitely a bubble bath day

2008-07-21T23:06:39Z

What do you get when you combine a 36 page paper, a 15 slide PowerPoint presentation, a speech, three little boys, a husband, a puppy, housework, cooking, and the start of Vacation Bible School?� An overworked, extremely tired momma with 2 1/2 hours without kids...sounds like a bubble bath day to me!

I just noticed that Eli has stolen my highlighters...he needs another bath now too...

Calgon, take me away!!

Brain Mush

2008-07-20T21:35:49Z

Sometimes you just have to smile.� When my brain is numb and misfiring because I've been working too hard or have too many irons in the fire I have to step back and remember to count my blessings.� Well, I have many blessings in my life and today's picture is of three of them.� They make me smile when my whole world is falling apart.� They listen to me complain when I am stressed beyond belief.� They love me unconditionally and I return those sentiments.

Maybe that is why God gives us children...to make us have a reason to do a reality check when things get too busy and stressful.� Who can be stressed when they have smiles like this and nonstop giggles filling their days?

Just me...the slacker procrastinator

2008-07-20T03:09:24Z

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This is me doing something I really shouldn't be doing.� Sitting with my feet up relaxing.� I don't do it often because I have the boys that keep me hopping but here I sit.� There is another reason I shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing.� That reason revolves around the fact that I am a graduate student with an Action Research Proposal due on Monday...yes...day after tomorrow Monday.� Oh, and a PowerPoint presentation to accompany the Action Research Proposal is also due on Monday.� I have started on this project but I don't think anyone in my immediate family truly realizes how BIG a project this is. I haven't started on the PowerPoint as of yet but that is truly the least of my worries.� This project is so large that I have finished formatting the paper and have plugged in my full sentence outline for it and it is already at 25 pages.� I still have to flesh out my ideas and make it coherent.�

I think that the reason I am procrastinating so much on this project is because it is so overwhelmingly large and important.� I'm afraid of it so I am putting it off.� It's kind of like getting a cavity that you know needs to be taken care of but you wait until it really hurts until you go to the dentist because you are afraid of the treatment.�

So, here I sit.� I'm no longer on my patio...but I am still procrastinating because I am writing this blog instead of my paper.� I'll get it finished, I always do, but I'm really glad that I can type over 100 words a minute...

A new puppy

2008-07-19T01:12:13Z

Allow me to introduce you to Cosmo.� Cosmo is our new puppy.� He is 9 weeks old and weighs a whopping two pounds.� Cosmo is a Puggle.� For those of you who have never heard of a Puggle, it is a Pug/Beagle mix.� In Cosmo's case a Pug/Mini Beagle mix.

He has been absolutely wonderful with the boys.� He has even snuggled up for a nap beside them a few times today.� He took a long walk with us this evening like a champ.

Things are just not the same without Smoke.� We will never forget him and we haven't given up hope that he may yet be found.� We just have a new addition.

Let the housebreaking begin...

Oh, and if you have any tips on how to keep a puppy from whining in his crate, I'd be more than happy to hear them...

Curiosities

2008-07-16T22:02:09Z

This year, our gnomes are looking a little faded and so they haven't claimed the maple tree in the front yard.� The neighbors have asked where they are.� You wouldn't believe how many people (adults as well as children) we have that stop and stare at the gnome community.� We have had onlookers make special trips by our house to see the gnomes.�

Sometimes, I swear, you can see them thinking...

I miss our gnome village...maybe I'll whip out the paint and spruce them up a bit...

(and just so you get a good feel for what I'm talking about, here's an extra picture from the first year the gnomes moved in to the maple tree in our front yard...of course, they brought friends each year after that)

My "Gladerators"

2008-07-15T18:18:00Z

My boys have started a Monday night tradition of watching "American Gladiators" on television.� This television program is�charmingly referred to as "Gladerators" by Jacob, and the rest of us have followed his lead.��

Last night, the�boys' excitement started mounting around 7:00 - an hour before the show is scheduled to�start.� They were running around chanting "Gladerators" and�posing in their�best muscle man poses.

Noah thinks Wolf is the best, Jacob thinks the best one is Rocket, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Andrew�watches it to see Crush in her bikini.� Elijah hasn't really shown a preference for one over the other but he usually claps the hardest for Titan.

You may think that watching a television program isn't a family tradition.� I say anything that brings us together on a regular basis and puts unending smiles on the faces of my boys is a pretty good tradition to have.� So, I leave you today with this pic of my boys in their best "Gladerator" poses...Wolf, Rocket...you better watch out!

A picture is worth a thousand words

2008-07-15T00:54:33Z

This is another photo from my stash on the computer.� This picture was taken several months ago.� We had finished a large case of diapers and the older boys confiscated the box to be used as a wagon for toting their baby brother through the house.� No wagon would be complete without it being stuffed full of toys.� As you can see, Eli didn't mind too much.� In fact, he LOVED it, as did his older brothers.� They pushed him around in the box for at least an hour.� Up and down the hall.� Around the rocking chair.� Into the nursery and back again.� All the while laughing, laughing, and laughing some more.

So what is the aftermath of all of this brotherly love?� I think the picture speaks for itself.

My Better Half

2008-07-13T22:58:36Z

This is a photo of my better half.� I am honoring him with this blog because he signed up to be a member of my blogsite.� He also left the cute little comment that leads me to believe he thinks he is part of everything that I do...which is almost as cute as he is.� No dear, you are not in any of my stories as of yet...this will have to do.

I say he's my better half and he will probably think I am joking.� He is my helper, my therapist, my best friend.� He tries his best to understand me and probably succeeds at this task more than he thinks he does.� I'm not an easy person to live with.� He loves me in spite of my imperfections.� I don't know what I would do without him.

He is a wonderful friend, father, and husband.� Our boys think he's the best and I think they are correct in that line of thinking.� He plays with the boys and let's me sleep in on occassion, he's Mr. Fix-it, cleaner of the pool, squisher of spiders, and the opener of jars.� He can conquer any video game and replace bait on a hook faster than a blink of an eye.� He will be impossible to live with after this but I wouldn't have him any other way.

If I could change anything at all about him, it would be to make him worry less and live in the moment more.��Together we make a pretty good team.� This October we will celebrate our eleventh anniversary...I look forward to the next eleven.

God's Language

2008-07-13T02:25:55Z

One afternoon little Bobby comes into the kitchen while his mother was washing dishes.� Bobby clearly has something on his mind as he sits at the kitchen table watching his mother as she works.

"Bobby," his mother asks, "what have you been doing this afternoon?"

"Nothing," came his standard reply, "just playing with Carlos from down the street."

"Is everything ok with Carlos?� You seem lost in thought."

"Well, mommy, Carlos said that God doesn't hear my prayers.� God hears our prayers, right?" Bobby asked.

"Of course God hears our prayers, Bobby.� You know that God cares about you very much and He always listens when we pray" his mother replied. "What else did Carlos have to say?"

"Well, Carlos said that God might hear�my prayers but He doesn't understand them because I only speak English and God doesn't speak English" Bobby explained.� "What language does God speak, mommy?"

Bobby's mother stopped washing the dishes.� She stood there for a moment with a dish in her hands and soap bubbles popping around her elbows.� Then she smiled at Bobby.�

"You know what, Bobby, I think Carlos is right, God doesn't speak English."

Well this wasn't exactly what Bobby wanted to hear.� He couldn't believe what his mother was telling him.� It couldn't be true that his prayers were heard but not understood.� He was plunging into dispair when his mother continued.

"Bobby, you remember the story of the Tower of Babel don't you Bobby?"

Bobby nodded.

"Remember that everyone spoke the same language up until that point.� Then God made all of the languages.� If God made all of the languages, then I'm sure He understands them too."

Bobby thought about this for a moment and then said, "But mommy, what if I made up a language all by myself, would God understand me then?"

"Bobby, I don't think it matters if we speak English, Spanish, French, German, or gibberish.��You see, God isn't concerned with our language or words.� He doesn't care if we pronounce them correctly or speak with perfect grammar.� God�speaks the language of your�heart.� When you speak the language of the heart, words are not necessary. Do you understand, Bobby?"

A huge smile crept across Bobby's face.��"Yeah, I understand, mommy."

Bobby threw his arms around her waist and then hurried to the door.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, Bobby?" his mother asked.

"I'm going to go tell Carlos and all of our friends�about God's Language. mommy.��This is important stuff that he needs to know."

Bobby's mother went back to washing the dishes and watched from the window as her little boy ran down the street with a smile on his face as he went to spread God's�love through the neighborhood.

Happy Birthday, Poppy!

2008-07-12T23:18:56Z

In honor of Poppy's birthday (and to just show off as well) the boys composed a wonderful, spontaneous tune on the piano.� My stair-stepped boys playing my instrument of choice together.� What a beautiful sight...and sound!�

I need to add "give the boys piano lessons" to my list of thing to-do...

Happy Birthday, Poppy!!!

Hope it was a great one!

The first pic

2008-07-11T20:15:31Z

This is a photo of Eli during his nap this morning.� Take a good look because he doesn't nap long.� I love how he is so completely at rest in this picture.� He is so peaceful and calm and doesn't have a worry in the world.

If only I could be like that.� Somehow, I�doubt that I look that peaceful when I am asleep.� Oh, to be a kid again...

Creative Writing

2008-07-11T16:16:57Z

I encourage you to post honest comments about my writing.� Only through honest critques will I be able to grow as a writer.� I have delusions of one day writing a book...or children's books...but I don't think my writing is quite up to that standard as of yet.

Hopefully, these exercises will help me fine tune my writing skills so that I can make that dream a reality.

You will find a little bit of everything here.� Partial stories that are still in development, full stories that I have written, lists of ideas I might use in the future, and mindless ramblings about my experiences as a writer.

I hope you enjoy this category...and I hope I do too!

A photographic journal

2008-07-11T16:08:36Z

I'm not a professional photographer so the pictures may not be the best.� Some will be taken on my cell phone while others will be taken on my digital camera.� Some pictures may be ones that I have come across that I particularly enjoy.

Most of the pictures will probably be of my children.� They are extremely cute so I'm sure you won't mind.� There will be very few of me...unless I lose this ten pounds that I want to lose.� Maybe I'll post a before and after pic to motivate myself.� Maybe not...� ;-)

This will begin today.� I'll post a picture later this afternoon.

Summer days

2008-07-09T20:51:50Z

Well, summer is in full swing and my kids are having a great one.� Last night, we mixed up a batch of "flubber" and the boys giggled for 45 minutes straight.� Today, after Noah got home from summer academy, they played with it again and more laughter ensued.� Apparently the recipe for laughter is little boys + ooey gooey rubbery slime + a drinking straw to blow bubbles and make farting sounds in the slime.� Of course, the flubber/slime was concocted with a few drops of green food coloring because slime isn't slime unless it is green.

We have had our share of thunderstorms lately.� Thunderstorms do a few things around here.� They make the creeks rise, they make the flowers bloom, and they make my boys run and jump into my arms for� safety.� I know they aren't in danger, but I will take the snuggles just the same.

But another result of thunderstorms is being chased out of the pool.� The boys are turning into little fish.� If it weren't for the storms, they would probably never get out of the pool...except of course, to play in the sprinkler.�

We end our days with story time.� Noah is reading to himself but he still likes to hear me read as well.� Jacob and Noah both enjoy the Lemony Snicket "Series of Unfortunate Events" and J K Rowling's "Harry Potter" series.� I am reading these to the boys and we are all enjoying ourselves.�

If we don't end the day with a story we will end it with a movie or watching one of the crazy game shows that are on right now.� The boys laugh and try to mimic the antics that go across the television screen.� All of this is accompanied by an ice cream cone or a home made milkshake.� Summer wouldn't be summer without some good old fashioned junk food.

They are having a great summer...and I think this is one of the best I've ever had myself.� Hearing my children laughing and seeing the smiles of pure joy on their faces...melts all of my stress away.