Sibling Rivalry/Revelry

It’s always difficult to predict how your children will appreciate each other as they get older, and their little personalities evolve.

My son was 2 ½ when my daughter Gabriella was born. Let me tell ya, this boy was designed to be an older brother. He has always adored and been protective of his sister.

Now, she is nearly 18 months, and he is nearly 4.
She is no longer a helpless, compliant, infant. She is a feisty,  rough ’n tumble, toddler, who knows  what she wants!

He has always been “particular” about things being a certain way  and hardly tolerant to exceptions/compromises. Fortunately, John and I have never been super complaint to his borderline OCD tendencies, so he’s somewhat used to not “getting his way”.
This, of course, doesn’t stop the communication with his sister from being a bit of a rollercoaster.

I will peak in his room, and see them snuggled up on his bed watching a movie together, or Gideon will make silly faces/sounds to the sound of Gabby’s hysterical giggles.
They love to hug each other.
The love to be together.
They long to sing songs together.
Gideon loves to “read” her books.

Then there is the other  side of the coin.

…BUM BUM BUM….

The screaming… oh how I despise the screaming. I should have known, but I had no idea how much screaming a girl will do.
When she begins, it starts a chain reaction of screeching, tears, and general pandemonium.

Sometimes I am completely baffled by the hysteria.
Gideon in mess of sobs will come running to me “GABBY …sob… SAID…sob… ‘NO‘!!!”
To which, my brow furrows, and I say “So?”
“So, I don’t want  her to say ’no’!!”   ***SOB***
“Yes, that is likely why she did it.”
“Make her stop!”
“Make her stop saying ’No’? Really?
I have a better idea… how about you ignore  her. She is just trying to get you upset.”
“BUT….MOOOOOOM!!!!”
“OK. No more playing with Gabby, for now.”
“No, but I want to play with her!!!!”

This is the point where I softly bang my head against a wall and look for some ear plugs to drown out future complaints. (I am just kidding, please don’t call CSD)

So, next time you see me, if I have a big red circle on my forehead, you’ll know why.

I read an article about how to make your siblings appreciate each other more. Their advice was a “his toys”, “her toys” system. This system involves limiting toy sharing, without permission,  to avoid fighting.

Can I tell you, I completely disagree with this system for numerous reasons, some of them being:

~I want to teach my kids to not overvalue their possessions
~I want my children to help teach each other conflict resolution (yes, this means, sometimes they must fight)
 ~I want to teach my children to be willing to make compromises
~ I want to teach my children to make sacrifices
~ I want my kids to know that in life you can’t always get your way.

I might be crazy, but I even think, forcing the issue, but making kids share a room can be extra affective at teaching these lessons.

 Moral of story. My children love each other with all their little hearts, and hate to be apart, but if you hear a blood curdling scream from my home, don’t immediately dial 911, because chances are that the love has been overrun by their desire to make each other bonkers!

Rugrat Thieves!

Those of you who don't know this story. 

A while back, my littlest rugrat got a hold of my keys and chucked them in the trash. We, of course, didn't realize this until after they had already been taken to the dump. 

We were fortunate enough to get another copy for $50.00 (it was originally going to cost us about $300)

So, that being said, you can imagine my frustration when I went to load up the family, Wed. night, only to realize that my key to the van was once again missing!!!!!!! 

It had be snagged right out of my purse, by little hands!!!!!

I moved and took apart the furniture

I dug through the trash and recycling

I went through all clean and dirty clothes

I nearly gave up... exasperated 

Until Thursday night, my son, came casually marching into our living room, holding something in his hand. He reached it out to me and said "Here, Mommy, it's a key." 

Yep! That's right! My son had meandered into his room and found my van key hiding in his toys!

My response?

"Gideon!!! You are my hero!!! Go get yourself a Popsicle!!!!" Which was, of course, met with squeals of delight. 

Then, periodically, throughout the evening, Gideon would tip toe up to me and say

"I found your key, huh?" 

"I'm a good boy, huh?"

My son lives on praise... what can I say? 

sigh of relief!!!

Mechanical ineptitude

Anyone who knows me, knows that my mechanical inclination is completely non-existent. 

No. Really!

My (nearly) 4 year old son is much more mechanical than I am. True Story. 

So, naturally, when my kitchen sink was obviously clogged, my first inclination was to scratch my head, heave a sigh of dismay, and wait for the big strong hubby to get home and fix it for me. 

Makes sense right?

...Except one problem... the lecture

This, of course, would not be the first time this has happened, so I could anticipate the look of disapproval and the impending lecture about preventing such clogs. 

So naturally... I decided that I would at least try to fix it. 

I waited until my toddler was taking a nap, retrieved a bucket and some pliers, cleared out the misc stuff that was hanging out under there (i.e. garbage bags and empty coffee containers that I swore I would do something with, and never did), took a deep breath, and began removing the... cuplings? is that what they're called... connectors?... whatever... the little parts holding the p-trap on. 

First, after a few turns, I realized I was turning it the wrong way, and therefore  tightening it. So, I naturally quoted my "righty tighty, lefty loosy" and proceeded in the other direction. 

Secondly, got ferociously sprayed with what looked like, and smelled like vomit water. 

Thirdly, cleaned out the p-trap of what was, in fact, a Coconut Oil Dam. Moral of the story: DO NOT EVER PUT ANY COCONUT OIL DOWN YOUR DRAIN!!!!! ;)

Finally, screwed the p-trap back on best I could, knowing that my strong man was going to have to tighten it when he got home and took the disgusting bucket of water out the very very back of our yard and dumped it. 

I was so proud of myself, that I called my husband, to tell him. What does he say...???

"Why did you let the drain get clogged, again?!" 

Sigh

Oh well!!! 

I did it!!!! All on my own!!! Without help, or instruction! 

Because remember, Folks, It's the little things!!!!! 

 

Baby Talk

My 18 month old daughter is teaching me how to speak.

Yep, you read that right!

Nope, my daughter is not a remarkable language prodigy and I'm not completely lacking in basic linguistics. I just like her way of saying it better!!

I just caught myself saying  "Yeah... The baby woof is napping. She's seepy." (the puppy is taking a nap, because she's sleepy) 

Don't misunderstand. Even my daughter can say "dog" or "doggy" but she usually calls them "woofs" which is, of course, adorable. 

So do I encourage her to say it correctly? 

Apparently not...

Instead, I say it as she does because it's just so dang cute! 

Don't judge me. We all do it.

Well... most of us!  

Come on! Spill! What are baby phrases??? 

Mine are:

Dog: Woof

Cat: Meow

Thank You: Sank-OO

Baby: BeBe

Sleepy: Seepy

Bottle: Baba

It stinks to be a woman, sometimes

Some of are you are blessed enough to have minimal to no PMS symptoms. 

Yay for you! (Apart from the angry PMS ridden mob of women that will come after you) ;) 

For those of us who are not so lucky...

like myself. 

The pain level for my cramping is fairly equivalent to being in full blown labor. 

Yep... my body hates me. 

FORTUNATELY I have found a way to WIN!!!!!

It's called Royal Jelly!!!!!!! 

(Wikipedia: Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae and adult queens. It is secreted from the glands in the hypopharynx of worker bees, and fed to all larvae in the colony)

"The Health Benefits of Royal Jelly:

• helps to regulate and balance hormones

• helps lower blood lipids and cholesterol

• may prolong life span due to its antioxidant levels

• acts as a nutritive energy tonic

• may help extend lifespan

• stimulates the immune system to fight viral and bacterial infection

• helps reduce cancer causing estrogens

• may help those with Colitis or Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Used for those with bronchial asthma

• Used for those with insomnia and sleep disorders

• Helps to keep skin smooth, toned and elastic

• Promotes sexual vitality and rejuvenation

• Facilitates fertility and may help reverse impotence

• Has a bacteriocidal action on bacteria like staph

• Helps to regenerate bone growth

• May help build tissue and muscles

• Supports wound healing

• Protects the liver

• Increases physical strength

• Provides extra physiological support during pregnancy and menopause

• Helps to reduce arthritic pain

• Stimulates memory and mental function

• may help with depression and anxiety

• Anti-anxiety

• may help boost metabolism

• May help with autoimmune issues such as rheumatism

For even more reading on the benefits of royal jelly, read my latest article'The Top 10 Health Benefits of Royal Jelly.'

Doctors and the Benefits of Royal Jelly

One German medical doctor was quoted in James A. Devlin's book To Your Best Health Naturally:

"The action of the active substance and nutrients contained in Royal Jelly takes place throughout the entire body. It acts to regulate all the functions of the human body.

Considering all the investigations and observations made world wide regarding Royal Jelly, it is readily apparent that this is a powerful agent composed of hormones, nutrients, enzymes and biocatalysts which starts up and revives the function of cells, the secretions of glands, the metabolism and blood circulation.

To summarize, it is the interplay of all the complex factors present in Royal Jelly which works to preserve life and strength in the organism, whichdelays the aging process and which retains for as long as possible the elasticity of the mind, psychic buoyancy and the youthful physical freshness of the body."

And here is what Dr. Yves Donadieu of France wrote in Natural Therapeutics regarding the benefits of Royal Jelly:

"Royal Jelly is useful for ulcers, constipation and other digestive disorders, cardiovascular and circulatory ailments, some forms of male impotence, female frigidity, and skin problems such as acne and dry skin. Studies show that Royal Jelly therapy helps premature infants suffering from nutritional deficiencies to gain weight.

It can also help patients suffering from anxiety, moodiness, insomniaand memory loss and may bolster the body's defenses against flu." 

(http://www.bee-pollen-buzz.com/benefits-of-royal-jelly.html)"

I am not going to claim that I never have cramps... but the pain level is decreased to a dull ache, as apposed to a debilitating pounding on my insides. 

It also does as it says... it increases my mood level, and gives me more energy! I love this stuff! 

Say No to the Lies

Guilt is the biggest lie of the enemy. 

If you are unwilling to let it go, than you are (intentionally or not) claiming a lack of trust. 

You are saying that God is not strong enough to take that from you. 

Romans 5:8

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 

Jesus gave up everything for the worst of us, so that He could have the best of us. The best of what we could be, through Him. 

Luke 23:34

"Jesus said, 'Father forgive them, for they do not now what they are doing." 

He was even praying for those who hated him, tortured, and ultimately killed his body. 

Unconditional love. 

Ultimate Forgiveness.

Micah 7:18-19

"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. 

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and her our inequities into the depths of the sea." 

We always must remember that we are not God... and God is not us. Forgiveness sometimes takes work for us. Sometimes being merciful is a burden when our baser nature wants to rear it's fangs.

God has no "baser nature". He delights to show mercy! He delights in turning your darkest secrets and deepest pains, to dust. He delights in loving you no matter the "condition" you feel that you are in. 

If he expected you to not make mistakes, He would not feel the need to leave us with not only written instruction, a Holy Spirit to guide our conscience, but also allow his only Son to suffer and die to cover the inevitable sins that He knows we will commit. 

...and yet He still delights in providing mercy for our inequities...

I know that sometimes the guilt and pain goes so deep, it feels hopeless. Possibly you feel that you don't deserve to be forgiven. You may even be afraid of letting go of because it has become such an "interwoven" part of who you are. 

It's a wall that you are helping the enemy build between yourself and God. 

Isaiah 38:17

"Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back." 

None of us deserve forgiveness, but that's where the LOVE comes in. No sin is too big for God's forgiveness. 

Great men of the Bible?

David, described as the apple of God's eye.

               Committed murder and adultery. 

Paul, one of the greatest missionaries and men of wisdom, of the Bible... in a very dangerous time to be so. 

                  Before being changed by Christ, went by the name of Saul and committed Christian              

                  genocide.

What do these men have in common?  FORGIVENESS. 

There are obviously many more examples of God's forgiveness and Mercy. So many that it would be difficult to list them all. 

Ephesians 3:12 

"In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." 

Do not be ashamed, be repentant. 

Allow the Lord to wash away your shame and sins so that you may be free and so that you may approach him with confidence!!!!!! 

Your guilt is a chain, padlocked to the ground, limiting your mobility for the Lord. 

Let him take your ugly and make it beautiful. 

One

Another break up song is playing on the radio

It makes me think of you 

And how broken I would be 

If you and I were two 

I roll over in the middle of the night 

And your warmth is always there 

Sending me off to pleasant dreams

Where the world is safe and fair 

I know it can be tough

When our tempers hit the fan 

I know it feels rough

When I speak a language you don’t understand

But the moral to this story

The finale to this grand

Is that we are one in heart and soul

You’re the man to my woman 

And I’m the woman to your man

Sometimes the sun sets on our anger

And the storms blow in strong

But there’s no one I respect more

And the rain never stays too long

I am not me, without you 

You are that other piece

And there is nothing temporary in love

My heart’s not up for lease

It’s yours

Because

The moral of the story 

The finale to this grand

Is that we are one in heart and soul

You’re the man to my woman

And I am the woman to your man

This world cannot break us 

This life is but a blink 

but you and I are forged 

An unbreakable chain

Each of us a link

The moral of the story 

The finale to this grand 

Is that we are one in heart and soul

You’re the man to my woman 

And I am the woman to your man

I DO

 

I have been in pursuit of becoming the best wife possible in the eyes of God, and my husband. The only way to do that, I've found, is to

Study the Word
Stop Talking

Listen to my husband and his needs 

1 Peter 3

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wear of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of your gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight."

Let me clarify a few things, before you make assumptions about what this is trying to say: 

not saying: 

Wives should be seen and not heard

Wives are not allowed to "dress up" 

Is saying: 

Set an example

Don't be shallow

"Actions speak louder than words"   Nagging will destroy a relationship.

"...purity and reverence of your lives..." That only applies in a genuine (non self-righteous)  application of faith. Stop trying to change your spouse and change yourself, instead. 

Have you ever seen someone you're close to start an exercise plan? They get up early every morning and do their routine, and you stand back and watch them steadily loose weight. 

Does this not cause you to look down at your own body, and in a spirit of competition, admiration, and respect, you are driven to follow suit? 

Same idea! 

The second idea in this scripture  

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wear of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of your gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight."

This is so simple:

Don't be Vain 

Don't be Shallow

If you say you have no time to read the Word, and yet you have time to put on your makeup, every morning, you're probably missing something. 

If you want your husband to respect you, demand it with your actions

Something we must remember is that we are valued. Yes, our husbands are the "head" but we are the "heart". Is the heart any less valuable than the head? One cannot function without the other. 

Genesis 2:18

"The Lord God said 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"

We are helper to our husbands, because they cannot do it alone. If family were a house. 

God is the foundation. (The strength that any successful family should be built upon)

The Husband is the roof. (The protector, the shelter)

The Wife is the support beams (holding up her husband, and housing her children)

Proverbs 31:10-12

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." 

The scripture goes on to describe a hard-hardworking, faithful, diligent wife. 

When this scripture is brought up, I feel like so much focus is put on all the "stuff" that the described wife does for her family. Making all of us wives feel guilty. 

I am not saying that we shouldn't hold ourselves to high standards, but for these purposes I'd like to focus on the first part of the scripture. 

A noble woman who gives her husband the best of herself all the days of her life is worth more than rubies. 

Us wives/mothers, find ourselves giving 150% all of the time, until we feel almost too exhausted to keep on. 

God understands.

He admires your heart. 

Never forget how great the pay off will be. 

"Lord, help me to have a quiet and gentle spirit. Help me support my husband and do him no harm, all the days of my life. When I am not strong enough to give 150%, please make up the difference. Always bless our marriage and let us never stray from our foundation, in you." 

I am a walking disaster!

I am a walking disaster... No joke.

My latest ridiculous disaster involves chickens... and a rock. 

We have 3 chickens, and typically on the weekends I will let them out into the yard to stretch their legs and eat our bugs. Well, since it was such a beautiful day, today, I decided to let them out for a bit... I mean, really what's the worst that could happen? 

Well, my son got a crazy wild hair and in a banshee fit chased them over the fence, and into the neighbors yard. 

This is a problem for a couple reasons. 

1. Chickens can be a pain to catch in our own yard, let alone trying to chase them in the neighbors yard

2. Technically speaking (according to city regulations) I am not supposed to let them out of their coop 

I really didn't want to go knock on the neighbors door and tell them that I needed into their backyard so I could retrieve my chickens. There was  the chance that they would return to their open coop, in time, but they could also follow their stomachs into oblivion, so I didn't want to just wait it out. 

So step one was trying to make our yard look more delicious (difficult task, considering that our neighbors don't mow... ever) so I got some corn kernels and sprinkled all over the yard.... nothing. 

Step two was to startle them back into our yard, so I picked up one of the kids balls and tossed it on the other side of the chickens. They squirmed a bit and froze in place, but them resumed munching the neighbors grass/bugs. 

I was starting to get desperate. I really needed those feathered menaces back in my yard, so I picked up a rock, and aimed near them, but clear of any chickens to scare them back over. 

Did I mention that I have terrible  aim?! 

Yeah... all I could see in the tall grass was 

Flap Flap.... Plop! 

My first thought?  "Ah, CRAP! I just killed our chicken!!!!" So I climbed over the fence (hoped the neighbors weren't watching me through their windows) picked up the unmoving body of my chicken and lightly tossed it over the fence. 

THUD!

OK... Not good. 

While over there, I scared the other two back into our yard, then climbed back over, picked up the still unmoving feathered body of the chicken. 

Good news: It was breathing

Bad news: It was severely immobile 

I stared, thinking 

well... I know that if you cut a chicken's head off, it will keep moving for awhile... am I looking at a dead chicken? 

Unsure of the chicken's fate, I set it in one of the nests, and then "herded" the others back into their coop. 

I proceeded to check on the chicken... poke the chicken.... push the chicken. It fluttered around a bit, walked into one of the  other near by nests, and passed out.

This was not encouraging. 

I then herded my children back in the house and after 20 minutes or so, I went back out to the chicken coop to find a once "lifeless" chicken now clucking around, like normal. 

Let me tell ya, I breathed a sigh of relief. I am not apposed to the idea of turning our feathered friends into dinner, when the time comes, but in the mean time, knocking my chicken silly with a rock is not my idea of a good time. 

Told you.... Walking Disaster!!!

Colorado Fun

My family and I just got back from an amazing vacation! My parents paid for us to fly to Colorado and visit them for the better part of a week. 

It was exciting

It was fun

It was exhausting

Just like any vacation should be. 

Our flight left at 10AM from PDX and our kids were surprisingly happy/tolerant during the 2 hr. flight. 

TIP: You can bring a stroller on an airplane, no charge. You just leave it at the gate and it's waiting for you when you get off. We opted to bring our big ol' sit and stand stroller, and OOOH are we glad we did. It held all our stuff, and both our kids!! 

Our first order of business was to rock a delicious BBQ at my parents place.

Where Gideon got a cool comic book from Papa. 

Our next, and very important order of business was to head back to our hotel room and CRASH. 

Which didn't go as well as we hoped with our littlest monster. She didn't understand the concept of sleeping in a big bed (as apposed to wrestling, jumping, and fussing in a big bed)  Which leads me to:

Tip: When traveling with a baby, most hotels will allow you to borrow a collapsible crib for free. (it was a life saver) 

Wednesday morning was when the real excitement began, as we headed to Denver to spend the day at Elish Gardens (six flags) amusement park! WOOHOO

They. Had. Everything. 

Insane adult rides. Super fun kid rides. Loads of overpriced unhealthy food. ;) 

My son is a roller coaster junkie. We all had so much fun, our faces hurt from smiling, and our shoulders hurt from sunburns! GOOD TIMES

The second night we were there a huge storm rolled in! The weather went from 90 and sunny, to car-denting hail, sky brightening lightening, and monsoon rain. (apparently this is a common occurrence in Colorado) 

The next day we went to The Wild West Museum. Both interesting and fun. 

 This is us panning for gold. John found a piece that was a little bigger than a grain of sand and he held on to it for dear life only to find out from one of the gift shop attendants that he had been holding on to a piece of quartz the whole time. ;)

Apparently chicks with guns (even fake ones) are sexy (according to John). 

Go figure. 

On Friday we went to Jelly Stone Park (where my parents are staying)... went fishing, rode pedal cars, met "Yogi Bear",pet goats and eat ice cream. All around a pretty freakin' awesome day. 

What's better than fishing with your Grandpa? 

There is a crazy amount of wildlife in Colorado. :) 

Speed demon!

 Goats Goats Goats! There were so many and they were so sweet. The kids had a blast playing with these little guys. :)

Yogi Bear Love.

 Gabbi exhibited stark terror at the idea of getting anywhere near this guy.

Possibly too much Yogi Bear love.. hmm ;) 

Our end of hot/fun day, Popsicles

Our final day was Saturday. We just went out, got some huge, delicious hamburgers.

Seriously... if you are ever in Colorado... go to Craves! You'll walk away with your pants unbuttoned and a smile on your face. 

We left Denver at 4:30 PM, landed in Portland at 6 and after a fun stop at a friends house, on the way home, got home at 9:30PM. 

Whew! 

So glad we went... so glad to be home!!! What a trip, what a memory!