not THAT old

This was the conversation between Darren, Connor and myself last night...

Connor: Mommy, do you know what a one room school house is?
Me: Yes.
Connor: Did you go to school in one?
Me: (eyes roll) Uh, no, I'm not that old Connor.
Connor: Daddy, did you go to school in one?
Darren: No. Connor we're really not that old...yet.
Connor: What about Papa Coleman? Did he go to a one room school house?
Darren: Now that is possible, Connor. (Connor asked this on his 88th birthday)

My goodness, how old do our kids think we are anyway?

blissfully content

That is how I felt when I woke up at 6 this morning. Yesterday was my birthday and I can say without hesitation that it was the best one yet! So far, 33 isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I didn't do anything over the top special or anything, but it was just a wonderfully relaxing day. I haven't had a day like that in a long time. My first surprise was that Darren took the day off. He wanted to take me out to breakfast (I usually love to start my b-day off at Mimi's Cafe) but I told Darren that more than anything I would love to sleep in. Since we attend the Saturday night service at our church I can do that! I laid in bed until one o'clock. I should probably feel ashamed or embarrased about that, but I don't. Oh my, it was heavenly! No, I didn't sleep until 1, but to just lie in bed without little fellas coming in and out wondering "WHEN are you getting up? I want breakfast! Get up mommy! I'm hungry." It was divine.

After pulling myself out of bed, I walked into the kitchen to find a single pink rose, Sour Patch Kids (I am a sucker for SPK), and a card.

We took the boys to Darren's parents house, then we met mom and dad for an adult only lunch at Red Rock. It was wonderful as always and so nice to enjoy a meal without the little men in tow.

Then, Darren told me he was taking me shopping. I really didn't buy much, but it was so nice to have that time with Darren all to myself. Darren is such a good sport, but I'll go back and do my real shopping sometime without him. I love it that he wanted to take me, but I just hate dragging him all through the mall for hours on end. I am very indecisive when it comes to shopping and the only person I know who can stand the agony of shopping with me is my mom. Oh, my poor mom (hi mom...do you want to go shopping later this week?).

I happen to know that I'm also getting photoshop elements and the Photoshop Elements for Dummies book from Darren. They are coming in the mail this week. I cannot wait....I've been wanting to buy it for a long time, but was too cheap to buy it for myself. I'd better get busy doing laundry now, because once I get photoshop I'm going to have my work cut out for me. I hear it is very hard to learn, but I am very eager to learn it so I know I will...eventually.

After yesterday I am ready to face a new week. Bring it on! I am relaxed and ready.

snowy spring Saturday

It snowed all night long and on and off today. Can we really be getting snow this close to April?

All winter long I wanted a nice blanket of snow for the boys to enjoy and we never got it. I love snow, I do, but this is supposed to be spring. It's just not the same getting snow in the spring. I just can't allow myself to fully enjoy it. But you know what? My boys sure did! Well, Connor and Coby did. By the time Cale woke up from his afternoon nap, most of the snow had melted. Oh well, he doesn't know what he missed out on. And I'm sure not going to tell.

only in Oklahoma

On Sunday, the weathermen were reporting the possibility of severe weather overnight. This was the end of Coby's prayer before he went to bed "...and please don't let me blow away tonight. Amen."

Darren and I both peeked at each other out of one eye and smiled. We just love listening to our little men. You never know what they're going to say next.

Oh, good news. Our Target is reopening tomorrow! Yippee, it has been closed since Cale's birthday (Feb. 10th) when the tornado came through and took off the roof. I have been going through serious withdraw ever since. That's pitifully pathetic, huh?! The reopening is TWO days before my birthday. That is the best. gift. ever.

ribbons and robbers

Recently I've received emails and watched stories on the news warning women with children that men have been targeting them at my Wal-Mart (seriously, we've spent enough at this particular Wal-Mart over the years that I feel it is our Wal-Mart...we should have at the very least, partial ownership in it!). Apparently these men have been following moms around the store the entire time they shop and then follow them to their cars. The reason they pick mommy's? Moms get distracted while putting kiddos in the car and the men would come up behind them and mug them. If you know me well, you know I'm a bit of a worrier (just a little bit). So, anytime I hear that the safety of my family could be in jeopardy I am on full alert, almost rediculously so. Since the warnings have gone out (and I've actually heard from two people I know that have either had a friend or family member robbed here), I've gone so far as to leave my purse at home when going to this particular store and just take my keys, debit card and license with me when I go. I figure if no purse is visible, the bad guys will stay away...right? Darren thinks I am a total freak, but you know what, it's okay if it makes me feel better.

After hearing about Wal-Mart, I heard that these men were also hitting other stores within a half mile of that Wal-Mart. All stores that I frequent. So, for the reason I am posting about this... Today, I thought I'd take advantage of Darren being home and head to Hobby Lobby all by myself. Oh, that is paradise to me!! So, I went in and looked around for 45 minutes, putting things in my cart, taking things out of my cart, and on and on. I am indecisive, what can I say! Then I headed for the ribbon which is why I was there in the first place. I am making ragamuffin picture frames (I'll post a pic soon) and wanted to have some more variety in the ribbon department.

So, there I am looking at the ribbon which is in the fabric department and I notice there was an african american male in his late teens to early twenties hanging out in fabrics and always in very close proximity to me (I'm not sure how long he'd been there or if he'd been "shopping" with me all along as before I hit the ribbons I was all over the store and honestly not really paying attention to my surroundings...I was too busy talking myself out of buying the many things I really wanted to buy but knew I shouldn't buy to notice). It's always a little odd when men are in Hobby Lobby anyway, especially when not in the presence of a woman, but seriously, in the fabric department looking at the spools of ribbon? Hmmm, it did get my attention, but I thought to myself, how cute, maybe he is making a surprise for a girlfriend.

So, I've already discussed my trouble with making decisions....I was looking at ribbon for a full fifteen minutes and this guy never waivered. Oh, he picked up one ribbon and put it back and did this repeatedly. He put on a good show. I really started to wonder if something was up, but didn't want to overreact if he really is as into ribbon as much as I am. Who am I to judge?

I wasn't finished looking, but I had to get home for church so I headed toward the registers. I didn't turn around but didn't feel that the guy had followed me so I didn't give him any more thought. I saw someone I knew in line and chatted with her so I was likely distracted by that. I said goodbye to her and finished checking out. As I approached the exit of the store, there he was watching me like a hawk. He appeared to be waiting for someone. I quickly realized that I was who he was waiting on. He saw me and headed for the exit just as I did. I slowed a tad as I knew at this point he was Trouble and he wanted either me or my purse (see, I wasn't going to Wal-Mart and I was kid-free=in my mind it was safe to take my purse).

As I walked, it was clear he was trying to figure out which car I was heading to and his eyes were constantly on me, watching me in a very obvious way. At this point, I should have run back into the store. But, stupidly I didn't. I just locked eyes with him and stared him down and let him know I had my eyes on him and a very tight grip on my purse. I never took my eyes off of him and I picked up my pace and quickly walked further away from him and over to the lane my car was parked in and I hightailed it. I unlocked my car as I ran toward it and jumped in. The dude? He hopped in a black car with a driver already in it and they took off.

I have replayed the events of the afternoon over and over and I am so thankful. I truly believe the guy just wanted my purse but what if it would have been something more than that? I am so glad that I was the one who was followed and that God made me aware of my surroundings. Not that I won't ever have something bad happen to me, I know that I can be caught off guard at any given moment, but I am glad that I was kept safe today.

Tonight I started to feel angry and resentful as I thought about people will take the time to spend fifteen minutes looking at ribbon and fabric so they can follow unsuspecting women to their cars, snatch their purse and get easy money rather than earn a respectable living. I have a hard-working husband who works 10 hour shifts for 8 days straight and then is willing to work 3 of his 6 days off doing overtime or "extra jobs" so that I can stay at home with our boys. It makes me ill to think that there are people out there who just want to take what he (and so many others) works so hard for.

It makes me sick to my stomach and cracks me up all at the same time. Can you imagine how he aggravated this guy must've been getting with me. He picked the wrong gal if he wanted "quick" cash. I could look at ribbon all day long and then some. He must've really wanted whatever he thought I had. Boy would he have been disappointed. My purse is worth way more than any money he could ever find in my purse. See, the purse was a Christmas gift from Darren. I wouldn't ever be able to replace it. A stay at home mom to three boys married to a cop...yeah, that's not really who you want to rob when you're looking for cash. Yep, the more I think about it, it's probably a good thing he didn't get ahold of my purse, he surely would've been mad at all that time wasted in fabrics. Think of all that valuable time he could've been stalking someone else. Sad.

What a sick world we live in. Tonight I did the only thing that I know can make a difference in this man's life...I prayed for him. It's the only thing I can do.

spring break at the lake

We just got back from our spring break getaway at mom and dad's lake house.

Ahh...there was some much needed relaxation and precious time spent with Darren and the boys. Since the boat and jet skiis have yet to be de-winterized, we spent lots of time on the neighborhood tennis court, playground, basketball court and cruising around on the golf cart and Moped.

Oh, and the boys favorite thing to do? Throw rocks into the water. I mostly observed their boyish fun from the deck while enjoying a good book. I did join them for awhile, but I just can't get into skipping rocks for hours at a time. Sorry, that's just not my thing.

And like we usually do while at the lake, we went into the big town of Grove, Oklahoma for lunch each day and then cooked dinner out on the grill for our evening meals.

Then after dinner, there was relaxing....lots and lots of relaxing!

in character

Friday was dress up as your favorite book character day at the boys' school. Coby just loves the book Green Eggs and Ham so he dressed up as Sam I Am. I found a costume online, printed the picture, bought fabric and put my mother-in-law to work. You didn't think I was going to say that I made the costume did you? She whipped out his costume in no time and it turned out just like I had envisioned. Unfortunately I completely failed at the only job I had. I was going to make the green eggs and ham out of play-doh and put them on a plate for Coby to carry around. Sadly on Friday morning when we were heading out the door, I realized that I completely forgot to make them. UGH! I am getting so forgetful in my old age. I have been very forgetful ever since turning thirty...whenever that was!

Connor is really into the Boxcar Children books right now and wanted to be Benny Alden. I asked him why he wanted to be Benny and he told me "I want to be Benny because he likes to eat all the time just like I do. Plus, Benny is six so he's little like me." Poor Connor. He hates being so short and I wish there was something I could do to change it, but like our doctor always says...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...short parents=short kids!

I lucked out on Connor chosing to be Benny as Benny actually dresses like Connor does, so no costume was necessary. Since Benny likes to eat all of the time, we got a little pizza box and make a pizza out of construction paper to glue inside the box and Connor carried that around all day. He wore his hair slicked over to the side for the first time in about six years too. He looks so different with his hair like that!

Now I'm off to enjoy Spring Break with Darren and the boys. I'll be back with pics soon!

salvation

On Monday the boys and I were running errands after school and for some reason Connor was talking about last Friday, the day his friend spent the night. He said, "Mommy, when we were playing outside, Cameron asked Coby if he believed in Jesus. Coby said no!" He then told me how he and Cameron tried to explain to Coby how awesome Jesus is and tried repeatedly to get Coby to come around. They were really concerned about Coby and saddened that he wasn't listening to them.

This is the first negative talk I've ever heard from Coby about Jesus. I couldn't believe my ears when Connor was telling me about their conversation. To say it broke my heart is an understatement. We read Coby's Bible with him, pray with him and I've never heard anything but loving words from his mouth about Jesus. I was so surprised to hear that there was such a negative reaction from Coby. I felt like we had failed him.

I started talking to Coby about how much Jesus loves him and explained how He died on the cross for our sins so that we can everlasting life. We have talked about this many time before, but I don't think it really clicked until that moment. Connor was also trying to gently explain to Coby how awesome Jesus is and he was so desperate for Coby to love and acknowledge Him. Then, while still in the car running our errands, Coby wanted to pray and he asked forgiveness for his sins and asked Jesus into his heart. So awesome! I remember praying that prayer with Connor in the living room of our previous house. He was six as well.

Yesterday morning (while in the car yet again) Coby and I were talking about Jesus and he wanted to know what God looks like. I decided it would be a good time to try to explain the trinity to him, which to be honest, I think is one of the hardest things to understand even as an adult. Cale interupted with, "I don't like Jesus." Of course this bothered me, but didn't upset me in the same way it did when I heard that Coby had said it, as I know that Cale was trying to get attention (though obviously in a very wrong manner!). Cale always wants to go to church and learn about Jesus. In fact, he is really upset that he is not old enough to go to our children's Wednesday night program at church. He always says, "but I want to got to church with Connor and learn about Jesus too!" SO, when Cale said that he didn't like Jesus, Coby said, "Cale, we need to pray about this!" Coby then lead Cale in prayer just as I did with Coby yesterday. What a full circle moment that was. A beautiful moment.

On a funny note...Connor asked me if when we get to heaven we can eat all of the chocolate we want without getting any plaque on our teeth. I sure do hope so!

ouch...that hurts

Well, it's official. I can't sing. Darren has always told me this, but until now I've just thought he was the only one who felt that way. Until now...

Twice in a period of three days, Cale has said to me,

"Mommy, stop singing!"

Why? What's wrong with my singing.

"You're not berry good at singing."

thrive on adventure

I just noticed that it's been a week since my last post. It's been a fun, yet busy week. I took the boys shopping for spring clothing, I've been trying to keep up with housework and laundry, Connor had a friend sleepover, and we've been spending as much time as possible outside. The highlight of my week was the day I spent with my mom. It was an all day girls only day! It was so much fun and so nice to have an entire day to myself with no tag alongs! It did me a world of good (and I think the boys enjoyed their day sans mommy too as they spent it outside with daddy).

We've had some beautiful weather here that just had to be taken advantage of. The boys have lived outside this past week and I just looked at my pics and noticed that I didn't get one single outdoor pic all week. What in the world?


Connor had a friend sleepover on Friday night and all of the boys had so much fun playing together. Cameron said that he wished he had Coby and Cale as his little brothers. I told him to feel free to take them home with him!

After we dropped Cameron off at home, Cale had a devastated look on his face. When I asked him what was wrong, his lip started quivering and tears rolled down his cheeks. He said, "I'm so sad." It was so sweet and not like Cale at all to cry about someone leaving.

On another note, after church last night we went to eat at Panda Express. Cale wanted me to read his fortune cookie. I read what it said (which was Follow the advice of your heart) and he told me "no, it actually says I thrive on adventure!" Where does he come up with this stuff? It was funny to hear that out of our just turned three year olds mouth. However, I can can honestly say that if any of our kids thrive on adventure, it would certainly be Cale!

This morning Cale was eating a powdered donut that was leftover after Connor's sleepover. We don't usually have powdered donuts in our house unless we are having a sleepover or a special occasion because I love them and cannot stay out of them! Not good when you are trying to eat somewhat healthily. Anyway, Cale said "mmmmm...that is so good. That is soooo good for your body!" And here I've been trying to stay out of them!

and so it begins

I've always known that being a mom to all boys would eventually leave me feeling left out at times. I didn't know when or under what circumstance it would happen. Just that one day, like it or not, it would likely happen. Yesterday it happened. It was cold outside so the boys asked if they could watch one of the Star Wars movies (thanks Uncle Clint for letting is borrow your set). I told them they could watch it in Coby's room as I was planning on dusting and vacuuming the living room. I could already hear the griping that would ensue if I turned on the vacuum in the same room they were watching their beloved Star Wars in. Crisis averted!

I went to Coby's room and got the movie going for them. Connor then asked if I could "close the door as you leave so we can enjoy our boy movie in privacy." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but I did think to myself here they go already pushing me out of the picture! That is until Coby piped up and said "Wait just a minute Connor, this is my room and I get to decide. Mommy, you can stay!" So sweet.

I always know I can count on Coby. He gives me hope that one day when I turn old, wrinkly and gray (oh, wait a minute I already am turning old, wrinkly and gray) I'll have someone to visit me in the old folks home and help change my diapers. He is our little caretaker for sure. In fact, I just have to post a pic of what I walked into involving him and Cale the other day. I had forgotten to put Cale into his big boy undies after nap time and left him in pull ups instead. Apparently this gave Cale free license to go (potty) in his pull ups rather than take the time to use the toilet. Meanwhile, Cale wanted me to read a book and I said you smell like potty, why don't you go change out of your pull ups first and put on some underwear. He headed off toward his room and Coby said I'll go help him. It shouldn't be too difficult so I thought why not? All he needed to do was take off his pull ups and put on some undies. After about five minutes I realized neither one of them had returned so I went in Cale's room to see what they were up to. This is what I saw:

If you can see past the little piles of laundry (I could tell you that his room is usually cleaner than this, but that would probably be a lie) you'll notice that Coby got out he changing pad and a diaper. I love the scowl on Cale's face. He has the look frequently, but I'll admit he was being a good sport.

Coby must've had him lying there for the entire five minutes while trying to figure out how to get the diaper to stay on. He couldn't for the life of him figure out where the tabs were located. Awl, poor Cale fell prey to Coby's constant desire to be helpful...he is always trying to help me out. I'm still not sure why Coby thought he needed a diaper? I guess he thought since Cale pottied in his pull ups he wouldn't get to wear undies that day. Who knows.