6 months and the goodness of pumpkin pie pineapples

It's hard to believe it's been 6 months already. When I start feeling down at night, I can look forward to the morning and another day full of God's mercy and grace.

Often times, God won't let me wait until morning to be encouraged!

He is good to bring crazy 3yo stuff to my mind to make me smile. Tonight's episode is about pumpkin pie pineapples. Thank you, dear God, for giving me these many precious moments with Christian (and for capturing them on video)!

PS At the end when he says I can hold it... that's when I realize I have this gigantic grin on my face. I just can't help but smile! The way he said it, the way he looked up at me... it was all classic Christian.

Sometimes it's okay to be a QUITTER

Come read my latest postover at HOTM about this:

Boys are just weird-- today's conversation

While folding laundry this evening, I came across an extra extra thick pair of socks.

Size medium, ankle cut, Hanes, blue stitching on the toe. Further investigation led to the discovery of not one, but three pairs of socks--all neatly tucked within one another.

While the sock monster has been known to mysteriously eat a stray or weak sock that lagged behind the herd, it had never before been known to carefully place socks within one another.

This could only mean one thing.

Onion Boy has been wearing at least three pairs of socks at the same time!

Hillbilly-Pirate Boy is too picky about how clothes feel to ever try such an uncomfortable stunt. Besides, his socks have green stitching on the toe.

When confronted with the aforementioned allegations of sock abuse, Onion Boy responded with a giant, prideful grin on his face.

What, mommy? Didn't you know that the other day I even had on FOUR shirts?!

Ummm... no, honey. Mommy does not notice such things when they are worn by a skeleton boy! He seriously is deficient in the muscle mass department-- talk about skin and bones! The boy eats and gets taller and his feet even grow, but his waist, arms and legs never ever get wider. I wish I had that problem.

So dear friends, do your children wear multiple layers? And remember, I'm not talking about cold weather layering (it's been warm here). This is dressing like this-- four shirts, 3 socks and who knows what else-- just because!

At least it wasn't like 2 pairs of shorts with 6 frogs shoved in the pocket, which has happened before courtesy of OB and HPB.

Nectarine Trees and then some

I think it's safe to say that spring is here since it has been quite warm for the past couple of weeks. Even the nectarine trees that we recently planted in the front yard have blossomed and filled out with bright green leaves. While these trees aren't officially planted in honor of Christian, I just can't help but smile when I look at them.

This past summer, Christian decided that he absolutely loved nectarines. I would have to sternly tell him No, you can't have another one-- you've already eaten 4 today!!! Yup, he probably would've eaten ten if I had let him. Do you know what that could do to the... umm.. bowels of a 3yo? A 3yo wearing big boy Red Power Ranger underwear?! Yah, not exactly pleasant if he's distracted on timing or something. ;-)

*sigh* I think about Christian all the time. Everything reminds me of him. I just miss him, y'all. I hope you don't get tired or depressed from hearing about him, but talking about him just makes me happy-- even if I cry at the same time.

(I know this isn't a nectarine, but he also starting having a major crush on pineapples too!)

Okay, back to nectarines! I really don't believe that Christian loved nectarines solely for their juicy, sweet flavor. He loved them "fo' da big giant seeds mommy! Wooook!" Then he'd proudly hold up the large, sticky seed for me to examine and laugh his little head off at how amazing a discovery he held in his hand. He did this every single time. I just love how simple (and silly) boys can be-- give them some dirt, rocks, shovel, waterhose and anything unusually large (or small) and they are entertained for hours on end!

I hope the trees survive my lack of a green thumb. And wouldn't it be a blessing to actually have fruit on that tree? But if for some reason it shrivels up and turns a crispy brown before I get even one plump nectarine, it's okay. It's just a tree.

If our life doesn't turn out exactly like we expect this side of Heaven, it's okay. There is more to real life than the here and now.

Sunshine and rain and life and death, they are not in our hands-- those things are in the hands of GOD! We are simply the creation and He is the Creator... a Creator with a plan, a perfect plan. A tree might lose its leaves in the winter but that doesn't mean it is dead or broken. God planned that in the glorious spring that same tree would bring forth blooms that are fragrant and beautiful; and in the summer, be full of delectable fruit. This life is not all that there is-- after the here and now comes real life, the life that truly matters-- eternity!

I am determined to make the most of this here and now, this side of Heaven.. to soak up the Sonshine (sorry, couldn't resist that one- hehehe) and use this trial to grow. It sure hurts at times but I know that in the end it will be worth it. Actually the more I pray and seek God, He is so good to give me comfort and blessings (and grace and love) right now-- without having to wait for eternity.

Whatever trials and worries you have in your life, lay them at God's feet. He wants to carry your burden for you. He wants you to know Him and to know His Son Jesus Christ personally! Won't you let Him bring light to your winter? You don't have to walk alone.

Why I love my hubs

Here is my video for HOTM's video meme about why I love my spouse:

We don't do much for V-day, but we did start the day with Tank's first soccer game of the season where he scored 2 goals! And the second one? Wow, it was amazing- my boy has his daddy's soccer SKILLZ!

So how did you spend your day? Have you made your video yet?

I love it. I hate it. It's Valentine's Day!

Below is my post for Heart of the Matter Online. Feel free to pop on over there and leave me a comment!

There are many things in which I have a love/hate relationship… my cell phone (chatting with my sister- good, ringing during my nap- bad), our dog (protector- good, poop on my shoe- very bad!), and, dare I say it?… Valentine’s Day!

I love it y’all.

There is something about this day that brings out the best and worst in me. The best in that it forces me to not be my usual self and to just spoil my boys… even if it’s just a little spoiling. For example, giving them a heart shaped box of cheaply made, cheap tasting chocolate and letting them eat it for breakfast. Some mom’s are really good about throwing caution (and health) to the wind by letting their children eat ice cream for supper- just for fun (as in, it’s not just because it’s someone’s birthday!). I, however, am not one of those “fun” mommy’s! I’m a rule making, slightly uptight, bossy, drill-sargeant type of mom. Yes, my children know that I love them, but there’s nothing like V-day to make me purposefully think and do outside my normal box.

I hate it, y’all.

One of the things I despise the most about Valentine’s Day is the tremendous pressure on a man to woo, romance and spoil his wife. There is an over abundance of commercials, music, and movies hounding them (and us) to believe that gifts and glitter are true tokens of love and affection.

In my pre-married days, I would have defined romance as a horse driven carriage, candlelit dinners (prepared by my man, not me of course!), diamonds, roses and poetry. But alas, I did not find such things back then… and I certainly haven’t found them since! Those things can only be found in soap operas and novels! (If I am wrong, please don’t burst my bubble and just count yourself lucky for having found such a romantic mate.)

Such expectations going into marriage… My oh my, I think my dear husband did not have a chance! But even without the outward trappings of overbearing and hit-you-over-the-head “romance”, he wooed me with his handsome self, his sense of humor, his easy-going personality, his purpose and drive, his intelligence and many other fine qualities. Oh wait, he also brought me roses. Back then he did. Now? Not so much. And that’s okay.

I have come to appreciate the other romantic qualities in my Mr. Drews. How is he romantic? He does little things. Many little things.

• Calls me just to tell me he loves me.
• E-mail’s me when he’s on a trip.
• Let’s me sleep in… AND keeps the kids quiet! (which is better than what *I* do for him!)
• Leaves me quick little love notes around the house– in my jewelry box, my purse, the garage door, the closet, on the mirror, on the computer monitor before he leaves on a trip (on Word with the monitor on sleep, waiting for my fingers to touch the keyboard after the kids have gone to bed).
• He opens doors for me– car door, house door, or to any building.
• He makes up songs about how he loves his “wifey” (I hope you’re not embarrassed David, at least I didn’t make a video clip of your song to share with everyone, right?)
• He always thanks me for the meal and compliments my cooking.
• He praises me in front of our children.
• He praises me in front of his parents.
• He even praises me in front of his friends! (and I blush and get embarrassed… but I like it, I really do.)
  

So yes, I suppose my husband is romantic. But not the opera and picnic under the stars kind of romantic. It’s the everyday kind of romantic. It is the loving me even when I am not so loveable kind of romantic. Yup, that’s MY MAN.

How is your husband romantic? Are your expectations unrealistic? Does he show you his love and affection in his own way or are you disappointed because it is not what you imagine it should be like?

Perhaps now would be a good time to make a list of all the things that you do appreciate and adore about your spouse. And ta-da! If you use your best handwriting- or even color ink in the printer- you will find yourself with a mighty fine homemade Valentine’s Day card!

I don't need no stinkin' Valentine

I don't need a Valentine to shower me with chocolates, diamonds and romance. Who needs that when I have the most beautiful cup of flowers and weeds given by a young man who thinks I am the bestest cooker in the history of the whole world?

So what are your V-day plans? Are your expectations realistic? Will you remember to give and do without the hope of receiving anything in return? (Although a payment in kisses and hugs can go a very long way!)

Eating cheese is okay, cutting it is not

I think the days of genuine smiles and normal teeth are long gone. When they are really young, you think it's a good thing when they learn to smile for the camera... until you realize it's the fake, cheesy camera smile that they just can't seem to get rid of!

Then there is our current dilemma-- Tank's pirate smile. The loss of additional front teeth makes him a special pirate- a hillbilly pirate!

Glimpses of genuine smiles are hard to come by, but I can still occasionally capture certain facial expressions that are just "them". Okay, well mostly them.. my boys are too dorky to be looking so serious and normal. But I say that with as much love as a proud mommy can!

Speaking of cheese, that brings me to the subject of the cutting of cheese. There is an inordinately large amount of noxious greenhouse gases floating around the Drews house. And I am not the one responsible for the hole in the ozone layer that lies directly above our abode!

I will give my boys an "A" for creativity though... whenever they fart, they smile or laugh and say "Howdy!" And Dash once cracked me up by telling me "It's a jailbreak mommy!"

I do love my boys. Pirate teeth, stinky bootays and all.