Goodbye 2009

This year sure did fly by fast for the Jennings, I don't know about you! Some of our highlights were Silas winning the talent show, Family Camp, beach trips, a beautiful fall, watching Millie Grace grow, Hattie starting 4k, Luke's life being spared, Creative Memories, Jody going to Uganda and getting a trampoline.

Jody and I made this list at Thanksgiving of what we are most thankful for. I'm going to share it with you all (they are not in any particular order)....

10) Being a part of the body of Christ and our home church Edwards Road Baptist

9) Being debt free

8) Indoor Plumbing

7) Silas AND Hattie both prayed to become Christians

6) NGU College students and our pick of capable babysitters

5) The godly influence of grandmothers, parents and siblings

4) GPS

3) Jobs we LOVE

2) Privilege of having a big family

1) Miracle of Luke's recovery after nearly drowning.

Mille Grace and The Cape

Millie Grace is quickly becoming an opinionated little thing!

How is it?

How is it that this face, these big blue eyes can conjure up such conflicting emotions in me?

He's so full of life and therefore CANNOT stop talking.

He loves his little sister yet as soon as I turn my back he's got her in some sort of choke hold or other abusive pose.

He so imaginative, love dressing up and playing with swords but he will not hesitate wacking someone within range with the sword.

He is finally potty trained and he leaves trails of clothes EVERYWHERE.

He wakes up early, crashes for a nap, struggles falling asleep (as does his "roommate" Silas, since Luke wont stop talking) and has been waking up in the night for things like going to bathroom, wanting the CD to play again (even if its 3am) or he's lost his flashlight. (yes, he sleeps with a flashlight among a host of other books, stuffed animals and toys)

He argues and tries to defy my all day and as soon as he thinks I'm going to leave him with someone else like at church or at my parents house he has a meltdown.

He can sit in the shopping cart next to Millie Grace, leaning on her, poking her, bothering her and when a "STRANGER!!!!" says hello to her, he shouts "Hey! Leave my sister alone!!" (yes, this happened today at Publix)

I know the Lord has blessed me and our family with this kid. When Luke is driving me NUTS, I thank the Lord for his life, for sparing his life back in the late spring. When he talks and talks and talks and talks I pray that he will use his voice and energy for the Lord as he grows.

But boy are the days long lately.

Natual Remedies

I know its been a long time!!! Our internet connection has been very fickle AND I had sinus surgery that has left me very tired and not too interested in blogging of late! But I have some opinions to share...

There are 3 things that we have been using in our family that I want to tell you about! I say "our family" loosely. Jody, my husband, thinks I'm a little nutty and hasn't really bought into this like I have. AND I'm NOT saying that I'm in any way against doctors and modern medicines. But if there's a natural way that can help and possible save money...

1. The Neti Pot. I will admit...its SO weird. I saw it on Oprah one time a long time ago. I thought its was strange. I've always used the bulb syringe to irrigate the sinuses. But the Neti Pot is WAY better. It doesn't hurt. It doesnt even feel uncomfortable. Its really helping me recover from this sinus surgery since I can't blow my nose! Its also said to prevent sinus infections and colds if used regularly. I LOVE this thing! I have only been using the CVS cheap one for about 1.5 years. I may have to upgrade to a ceramic one soon!!

2. Olive Leaf Extract. My friend Loni told me about this natural remedy for bacterial infections. Its like a natural antibiotic. It tastes very funny. But it works! The other day Luke's throat was hurting. His glands were very swollen, he had a fever and I was afraid he had strep again. I gave him the Olive Leaf Extract 4days in a row and he seems all better. Today I gave him the last dose and he said why are giving my this, my throat is all better.

3. Amber Beads and Hazelwood. I saw these necklaces on another blog and I thought I'd try them. Amber is supposed help with pain, inflammation, immunity. Hazelwood is good for sinuses, arthritis, ear infections, skin problems, headaches...The biggest proof I have that this really works is Silas. He has had terrible allergies this year. Sneezing and terrible stuffiness especially at night and when he wakes up. I've been giving him Zyrtec everyday until I got him an amber necklace. No lie, as long as he is wearing the necklace, his symptoms are almost gone. We have not been using Zyrtec. If he forgets to put it on after bathing, the next morning he is sneezing and blowing his nose like crazy again. I got them here. I'm totally sold on them!

So, that's that. Love to hear what you think!

Love it or Hate it?

Black Friday Shopping....do you love it or hate it?
Do you get all excited and plan out your route? Do you go alone or with a friend or you mom?

OR would you rather have a root canal? Do you roll your eyes at the ludicrous people who get up and wait in the lines?

I had actually never participated in Black Friday until a few years ago. The first year I went alone. I got back about the time my family was getting up. The next year I went with my best friend. We mapped it all out and hit each place we wanted to. We ran thru the doors at Target and screamed with the best of them. It was so fun! Last year I was a week post-pardum, so I didn't go.

This year...I'm still up in the air. We are going to be at my in-laws, in a small town. To get to where the big sales are, we will have to leave even earlier. I've seen some of the ads. A cricut at Walmart for $188. Razor scooters for $20 at Target. Tons of others.

So, I'm wondering if you are going. Or if you read this after the fact, what you did. What deals are going for or did you get? Share!!

Millie Grace is 1

I can't believe its been a year! What a wonderful year it has been to have the joy of Millie Grace added to our family. Here are some facts about her:

She LOVES her siblings. She calls all 3 of them "bubba" which Hattie doesn't love.

She sleeps wonderfully. Naps like the text books say she should.

She eats more than any of the other kids. I'm sure that will taper, but for now, she's bottomless.

She has an obsession with clearing things, like the coffee table, bookshelves, etc.

She makes funny noises, like, "ooh?" and "muh?" all the time.

She is a sheer delight!

We are so thankful to have her in our family.




She really enjoyed her cake!

Reruns

Back in September the kids and I listened to Focus on the Family's Radio Theater drama, Anne of Green Gables. We all enjoyed it SO much. (it was not my first time hearing it, I totally recommend it!) Anne made a comment I almost posted..."I can't imagine a year without October." Then she goes on to talk about how beautiful it is.

I agree. Especially living in at the foothills of the mountains here, October is breathtaking. However....I would have done fine to have skipped October of 2009! This has been a rough month for the Jennings family! Why can't everyone get sick at the same time? OR at least two at a time. Everyone here had their own sick days. Hattie, Silas, Millie, Luke, Mom and then Dad. We missed 2 Sunday's of church. 4 weeks of Wednesday AM bible study (one was due to car trouble). Between Silas and Hattie they missed 5 days of school. One night of Boy Scouts. Its been AWFUL!

Unfortunately, the TV has been on a LOT more than usual. I mean, what else do you do with a sick kid who just sits on the couch, all pitiful? And when mama's sick...what can she do but sit the kids in front of the TV so she can rest on the couch!! I didn't take the kids to the dr at all. They recovered and bounced back fine in about 3 days. But on my 3rd day I was worse. So on the fourth day I dragged myself to the urgent care and was promptly diagnosed with Strep.

ANYWAY...I was thinking about TV.

Daytime TV...what a waste of time. Talk shows and reruns. Reruns of talkshows even! Some cable channels are dedicated to RERUNS! It makes no sense why someone would spend their time watching reruns to me. Now there are some old goodies. Remember? Full House, Saved by the Bell (I've seen even the reruns 4 times)...but I wouldn't use my precious time in front of the TV watching something that I have seen before. Maybe you would. I don't know. Maybe its just my stage of life right now.

My dad LOVES the Andy Griffith show. He will watch the rerun even though he can tell you "this is the one where...". My sister Holly loves ER. She will turn it on while she's doing something like folding clothes. Jody will even watch replayed FOOTBALL games! That's desperation, in my opinion. Kids will watch anything, they don't care if they've seen it before.

It annoys me, can you tell? I'm SO glad we are all feeling better and can get outside!

Wordless Wednesday: Pumpkins

Wordless Wednesday: Help!

Milestones

So many things are happening here at the Jennings home! Nothing extremely exciting or out of the ordinary for an outsider but to a mom...its big stuff! And as usual I have a running commentary for it all! You may ask why I share all my thoughts, I say (like Anne of Green Gables) if you only knew what all I thought about and DIDN'T say....

Silas: lost his front tooth. I have inherited an obsession with wiggling/pulling teeth from my dad. He pulled ALL our teeth. He got a thrill torturing us with it. I don't know what it is, I don't want to torture, I just want to PULL the loose thing OUT! Silas acts as if I'm going to stab him with a knife when I say please let me wiggle it. In fact he said last night if I pulled it out I might as well kill him. {What???? Where did this drama come from???} I gave up. That thing was so loose. I put the boys to bed, very discouraged because I wanted to pull it out. I had just sat down and I hear..."Uh mom...I pulled it out." I was excited, yet disappointed. Hattie and Luke promise me that when their teeth get loose I can pull them...we'll see!

Hattie: She is thoroughly enjoying being in 5 day K-4 at her school. She talks about her best friend...who changes daily. She LOVES to write letters. She copies words or phrases into little notebooks all the time. Her handwriting is adorable and very legible and neat! But the best thing that is happening with her is her appetite. If you know Hattie you know she is tiny. She has been at the very bottom of the charts since she was a year old. She still it. At 4.5 years old, she weighs a whopping 30lbs soaking wet. She eats very healthy, but just not much. I think because she is burning up so many calories at school, her appetite has increased. She is not fighting so much at supper time and actually eating!! Its so wonderful!

Luke: oh Lukey...so fun. So funny. SOOOOOOOO talkative. And FINALLY potty-trained! I know that if you just wait till their ready they'll be ready. But Silas and Hattie were not even 2 and wearing underwear. I thought at least he'd be ready around there. NO. After much crying, screaming and the like (mostly done by ME)...its as if a light switch was flipped and Luke decided he wants to wear underwear. We have had one accident in the last several weeks. YAY!!! One in diapers....

Millie Grace: She's doing so much! She took her first step yesterday. Jody missed it, but the other kids and I saw it. Everyone was cheering and screaming and she almost started to cry, then she smiled. She's taken a few more, but prefers cruising. She is saying some words...more, mama, dada and a lot of babbling. She is very tiny still, but loves to eat. Certainly she'll be on the gain at her year check up....can you believe she is going to be 11 months NEXT WEEK??? Where has the time gone?

Cool Critters

Last week our church had a block party. It was amazing and free and fun! My dad, Joy, Jody and I volunteered and my mom brought the kids after Millie Grace's nap(I'm glad she volunteered to do that so we could help out with other stuff....she had the hardest job!). I took a break from face painting and enjoyed the Critter Keeper's talk about his exotic animals. He weaved the gospel into his talk beautifully. The kids LOVED it, and I did too! Here are some fun pics from my mom's camera!Silas was mesmerized!

Aunt Joy and Millie Grace
The bearded dragon right after he slurped up a grub!

Above, I don't know why we have those looks of amazement, but it must have been good! Below, the kids hold Julius Squeezer!
And this last one was the next day, ready for church. DD curled Hattie's hair, just like she used to do to me. Hattie has the same straight hair that doesn't hold that curl long too.

Improvising

So often I have a plan or idea and when I go to execute it, I realize I don't have what I need. Here are some examples:

1. Hattie has been sick and she requested pancakes for supper. Everyone in our house loves pancakes. I have a great, wholesome recipe...I sneak flax seed and oat bran and other goodies into the batter. But I realized I had COMPLETELY ran out of butter! I do not like pancakes without butter! Besides my kids need all the fat they can get! I thought I'd change to chili and then Hattie said something about pancakes. My improvision? Blackberry "syrup". I froze LOTS of blackberries this summer. I just blended them up and added a little 1/2 and 1/2 and a little sugar. It was a HIT!
2. When I'm bathing the kids and there is no more soap in that bathroom I use shampoo. I'm not going to leave them unattended! And its soap, right?? No one cares, as long as it is the "non-stingy kind".
3. Our kids go to bed pretty early on a regular basis. And we always read books before bedtime. We also live quite far from everything, like our church and restaurants...so on those occasions when we are running late for bedtime on the way home we have story time in the car. Jody has an ongoing series called "Ephraim the Squirrel" that he makes up or one of us tell a story from our childhood.
4. Sometimes when we run out of toilet paper..................just kidding! Did you really think I would go there? Its not like we are living in Uganda anymore! :)
   

A Monday Morning to Remember

If someone would have told me when I was a teenager what I would consider sleeping in one day I would have LAUGHED in their FACE! But this morning, my husband took the day off (poor guy, it is well-deserved!) and let me sleep in!

He got up with the alarm, got dressed and headed upstairs. He proceeded to get the children up and going, dressed and ready. He fed them breakfast and got their lunches packed! Oh, and he had coffee MADE and waiting for me!

I came upstairs, unshowered and still in my pj's at 7:30. (I never do this. I kind of have a policy of getting myself ready for the day before coming upstairs...because if I don't, I most likely never will take a shower or brush my teeth). I found everyone happy and ready!

Jody then took Silas and Hattie to school. Luke rode along. (Jody does this most every morning) Then he took Luke with him to run some errands. This in itself was a HUGE blessing since Luke is driving me crazy lately with a running commentary on life!!!

While they were gone, I fed Millie Grace (and myself) and played with her a little and laid her down for her morning nap. I unloaded and loaded the dishwashers, got a load of clothes going, looked through the mail leisurely, took a shower and got ready, all by myself. It was GREAT!

I thought I'd get my blog done before they came home, but not quite. Jody has come home and put a new battery in his dead, old, truck. And is now going to eat lunch with Silas and Hattie at their school.

Man, what a productive, wonderful Monday morning! Now its time to go play Hungry Hippos with a begging 3yr-old. Hope you guys have a great Monday too!

Wee-wee-wee all the way home

She's on the move! Not walking walking, but man, is Millie Grace cruising! This baby LOVES to clear the coffee table or end tables of whatever is on them. She delights in pulling books and dvd's off of the shelves. As she intently dug into a drawer the other day she fell in it!! She can spot a crumb from across the room. She may only be 6% (yes, 6. Its not a typo) on the growth chart, weighing only 15lbs 7.5 oz, but this gal is a busy body! Cheese is her favorite, but she eats just about anything. I can't believe she is 10 months old!

Saving on Haircuts

Well, it was just time! (this is not an opportunity for Amens from the Stephens...) Luke's hair just needed cutting. I debated on whether or not to take him somewhere or do it myself. If I took him somewhere I'd have to drive there and back at least 25 minutes or more each way and pay like $15 or more.

So I decided to try it. If it didn't work we could go to Jelly Beans or wherever later. I used to cut Silas's hair, but he could sit still. I told Luke if he sat still I would NOT cut his ear and I would give him a sucker. He did great. Cutting curly hair is easy. You can't really mess up since you don't have to have a straight line. Just cut here and there.

The end result...Jody came home and said, "Hey, Lukey, you got a haircut! I love it! Where did you go?" Lukey, "Da front porch!"

Since Jody shaves his in the shower, I don't get mine cut but every 6 months or so, Millie Grace doesn't have much hair yet, Hattie wants hers long, Silas likes his buzzed b/c I don't have to comb it...Luke has just helped us save some money on the Jennings family haircuts.

Pa and the Big Fish

Look how proud my dad is of his fish!!! I'm so proud of my dad! He is SO funny. There are kids at our church still talking about the "scary Roman guard" from VBS because when he does something, he goes all out! The grandkids call him Pa. He rides a Harley. He's a die hard University of Miami fan. He loves God. He loves his family. He's very generous. He doesn't care about what people think about him. He'll wear anything (he wore this t-shirt that said, "I'm so bad I vacation in Detroit" for the longest time). Gosh, I love this guy!!

I pray my kids grow up and follow in his footsteps of Faithfulness to Jesus and doing whatever it takes!
This is a picture taken in Hawkinsville over Labor Day. Its pretty rare to get all four kids sitting in one place without anyone crying!!

An Old Hymn

While visiting Jody's family in Georgia this past weekend we sang this old hymn at Westview Baptist Church in Hawkinsville. I've been thinking about the words and its seems very fitting for the job of a mom. Here's some of the words:

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

Refrain

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Actual Conversation

These days I only have Luke and Millie at home with me. Its interesting. Luke is such a handful! I heard Luke telling Millie what to do/not do...I don't remember what he was saying. But here's how it went down...

Me: Luke, don't fuss at the baby please.

Luke: Mom....I'm not fussing at her I'm YELLING at her!

What do you say??

The Eyes Have It

We are truly truly blessed to have been able to celebrate Luke's 3rd birthday this year. After our accident back in May with Luke nearly drowning, this could have been a season I wanted to skip from now on. But, Luke is FULL OF LIFE. He is FUNNY and entertaining and the life of our Jennings Party for sure! He wanted an "eyeball" party so we tried to be creative! We played eye-eye-ball (just like duck-duck-goose) and I-spy. We made an eyeball with model magic. And we had delicious cupcakes, made by my friend Lisa, decorated like eyeballs. Googly eyes, blinking eyes, and window static eyes decorated the tables...I think Luke loved it. I know he did because he said that next year he wants an eyeball party again! Ha!! Here are some fun pictures from the party. I'll post more on facebook later.
I think Luke was trying to see with his model magic eye here.


Silas and the cupcake eyes

Hattie meticulously worked on her project.

Millie Grace wondering what all the fuss is about!


Eye Eye Ball Game




Silly Pa!

"The Students"

My husband works at North Greenville University as a campus minister. We live very close to the campus. Jody LOVES his job. I love it too! My kids are so funny always talking about "the students". They wonder if "the students" have parents or why "the students" have to go to school and stop playing with them.

Its great. Its so good for my kids. They are learning social skills. They have all these big brothers and sisters who love to hear their jokes, get them some icecream in the dining hall, or play sidewalk chalk in our driveway. The see how our home is open to friends.

A new batch of students have come in. The kids and I haven't met too many of them yet, but we sure are glad to have the returning ones back! We LOVE when they stop by on their way to and from campus. We LOVE to have extra dinner guests. I love the qualified babysitters. I love how when we go to the dining hall I have all these extra hands.

The students do so much for us. I hope my kids grow into young people like many of them.

Hospitality is an ongoing life lesson, I think. When we lived in Uganda, I was thrust into this role I wasn't prepared for. Its so easy to just say, I'm tired or we need family time. Both of those are often true, don't get me wrong, but if that is my excuse everytime, I'm being selfish! I've learned that always being ready to make some coffee and sit on the couch is not only what a student might need, but it ministers to my soul too! The dining hall is a great treat for my little family to go to, I don't have to cook or clean, but the students enjoy a home cooked meal, eaten with a family as a treat too.

And I love to cook. I love to bake and not feel guilty about our family eating the whole cake. So I bake when Jody's leadership group comes over every week.

I doubt anyone who stops by my house would say that I have such a clean house. Or that they love the way I decorate. Or that they want 4 kids close together like I have. But I do hope they can say we set an example of sharing willingly what we have. I hope they return the favor someday to friends who stop by their homes and need to talk or have a meal. Besides, its really fun!!

Wordless Wednesday: First Day of School

Socks in the Toilet

If you were a six year old, how would you explain this to your mother??

You know you are a Mother of little ones if....

~When you sit down at the end of the day, you decide that the best part was you dentist appointment.

~You decide that if you learn to drink your drinks unsweetened (coffee, tea...) your kids most likely won't ask you for a sip.

~"Adult Movies" mean ones you watch without kids...it could still be a Disney movie, it just means its Mommy and Daddy's pick!

~You hear yourself saying the same things all day..."Oh, that's great" or "Yes, yes, whatever you want" or "uh-huh"...and you realized you have NO IDEA what the previous statement or question was!

~Being in the bathroom alone is a real treat.

~You hate Candyland. But sidewalk chalk is kind of fun.

~You wouldn't trade any of it!!! Plus you have clean teeth! LOL...I went to the dentist today.

Shopping Options

I'm not a big shopper. I really just don't like it. {Gasp!} I have so many memories of shopping with my mom, sitting under the circular clothes racks and praying I would hear her say, "Lets go, girls!" BUT I have learned some valuable lessons from my mom.

• Go straight to the back of the store, that's where the deals are.
  
• Wait for the BIG sales. You'll see in the paper something like 40% off clearance before 10am
• Go early, get a lot, go home and sort, go back and return.
• Shop out of season and save it for next year. This requires a lot of thinking about what size your kids will be or what size you hope to be yourself...but its so worth it!

Now, my mom does NOT like online shopping (in general). But I think, if done right, its amazing! Today I went to The Children's Place and got TONS of stuff for next summer. They are having their "monster sale". Plus I found a coupon code (it was: FA79) and got an additional 15% off. Shipping was only $5. I also didn't pay more than $7 for a single item.

I went to a huge local consignment sale today with my friend. I saw a bunch of gals from church there also. It was the last day and most stuff was 1/2 off. Now, I know that there was a huge, amazing collection at the beginning of the sale. I had an opportunity to go early as a guest of a consignor (Thanks Megan!) and I probably should have gone then. I didn't find anything to speak of really today. There was still a LOT of stuff, but you had to dig around and I'm just not good at that. I know consignments work well for a lot of people. You can make money and find good stuff. Maybe I need to give it better try next time.

If online shopping continues to work for me, though, I may stick with it. For $5 extra, I can shop without children, without using any gas and without ever stepping into a mall, parking my car or standing in line. Hmmmmmmm. All food for thought.

What's your system?

Not Naming Names

I've been in a certain situation now several times recently and there are these 2 women who are just RUDE. I've tried conversing with them, asking questions, kind of butting into their conversation...they basically ignore me.

Now I'm not saying they should be friends with me because I'm trying, but I don't get it. I don't understand why they are being so anti-social.

I can think of another specific time when this happened to me. It was when we first moved to Bismarck...but out of that I met one of my BEST FRIENDS ever (Stacy). Let me clarify, Stacy wasn't being rude, a couple of other's were and Stacy and I started talking to eachother.

I've been thinking about this. The last thing I ever want to be is classified as rude. Or for others to think they are unimportant to me. Or what they have to say, I don't care about. Jody has taught me a lot in this area. He can find something to talk about with anyone...no barriers. He could make friends with a tree.

Jesus was an amazing example in this area as well. He hung out with sinners, prostitutes, and children! In a time and culture where men did not associate with women, Jesus did. When children were regarded as annoyances, Jesus said, "Let them come" AND he touched them as he blessed them!

I have a lot to learn in this area, I know. I get busy. I get consumed with myself and my kids. I am selfish!

Anyway...this is just something fresh on my mind.

Happy Birthday to My Man

Today was Jody's 32nd birthday. I make the ugliest cakes...I know. I have NOTHING on Stacy! She makes beautiful cakes! (Happy belated birthday btw....) I did use a golf club tin and we used a good bit of icing. The kids loved it. They also loved making decorations and pictures for Daddy! And home-made vanilla icecream was soooooooooooo yummy! Acutally, one of the first memories I have of Jody, after meeting him in 1996 was making him a birthday cake. (My mom reminds me of that too, since she never got her good 9x13 pan back! I am SO SORRY mom, I'd be mad about that if it were mine, now)

I've made lots of cakes for Jody in lots of locations. I'm SO thankful he was born 32 years ago.

Jody is a man of God. He is consistent in his walk with God and his life in general. He's funny when people are around and when its just us. He RARELY gets angry or even annoyed. He's unbeleivable patient and kind. Really, he is the example of ICorinthians 13 kind of love. I NEVER doubt his love for me or our kids...or people anywhere. Life with Jody Ben is fun and easy.

Happy Birthday Jody!! I love you!

(I think I'm going to plan a party in one of the upcoming birthdays for Jody...I'll let you all know so it can be BIG)

Clean House

Have you ever seen the cable show Clean House? My sister Joy introduced it to me one time. Its CRAZY!! This team of people ambush this family who is living in utter disarray and by the end of an hour, the house is organized and madeover.

I have watched that show and think, Oh Lord, please save me from ever being THAT BAD! I know I have pack-rat tendencies. TENDENCIES...I said. I am at least admitting that, but its not out of control.

Anyways....

My mom and her first cousin, Trudy do NOT have these tendencies. They offered to come to my house and help me get organized and do a "deep clean". All in all, it was great. Trudy loves blinds and did a marvelous job cleaning them! (I must admit, I have never thoroughly cleaned these blinds). My mom is so good and clearing a flat surface. (I am only good and making piles on a flat surface.) We rearranged the family room, scoured the kitchen floor, vacuumed every corner and baseboard, and threw away a good bit of trash....

I am SO happy with the result. I have several projects to work on, but it feels so nice!

I think I'm back!

You know that Johnny Cash song, I've Been Everywhere?? I wish I could (or would???) make up my own Jennings' version to tell you about our summer! But we are HOME.

We've driven with the kids to Delaware (Rhehoabeth Beach)and back, Wilmington, NC and back, Roanoke/Salem, VA and back, Buchanan, MI and back and Charlotte and back (in one afternoon for Elijah's bday). We need to go to visit the family in Georgia (I KNOW!)...but I can't put the kids back in the car just yet, or myself for that matter. Although they are amazing travelers and we had a great time! Even with more frequent stops than we are used to because Luke is actually potty training!

Some of our highlights include:

• The Creation Museum - near Cincinatti
• Hanging out with extended family, great friends
  
• Fun at Family Camp
• The Beach (Hattie especially!)
• Camping in the pop-up

I think that is over 70 hours in the car! Who knows how many hours of Adventures in Odesseys, Movies, Travel Bingo, and sleeping...only God know how many times I said, "its time to BE QUIET NOW!!!"

I have TONS of good pictures to share, but the camera battery is dead right now. I have been unpacking today and yesterday, on top of trying to clean up and get other stuff put away and semi-organized.

I cannot believe:

• that school starts for Silas so soon
• Jody will be 32 on Monday.
  
• Millie Grace is pulling up to stand. (She looks TOO little to be able to do this)

More to come, I promise!

Mommy Needs

I was thinking about stuff I just can't live without these days. Here are some, please add to the list if you want to!

1. Coffee - it just helps me open my eyes better in the morning and be ready for the next wave in the afternoons. My favs right now are Montana Cherry mixed with plain old wonderful Dunkin Donuts in the morning and Cafe Bustelo in the afternoon...but I'm not really picky. I can't wait for the college kids to return so I can have some coffee company!
   
2. Shower - even though I HATE getting up early, I set my alarm and try to get up before the kids each morning so that I can take a shower and shave my legs and get dressed and put some makeup on. I know some of you are rolling your eyes and saying YEAH RIGHT. But it REALLY HELPS. If I don't do this, Jody leaves for work and I am lucky to get a bra on before the wild rumpus begins. Plus this way if I happen to pass a mirror or someone pops in, I don't scare myself or the visitor.
3. Adult Conversation - My 3 oldest could talk the paint off the walls. Ugh. It NEVER stops. They get it honest, I know. I love to talk. (So does Daddy!) But if I get towards the end of the day and I am just on edge, most of the time I can trace it to not having had a decent conversation with an adult.
4. Nap Time/Bed Time - If naptime doesn't go well, I am a goner. I will lose my mind. I cannot describe it, but if my kids are not well rested, its as if I see the brain cells evaporating out of their little heads as well as my own! I need some quiet to either read, click around on the computer or nap myself. If we are out and I know its past bedtime, call me uptight (because I am) but I cannot enjoy myself! Pitiful, I know.
5. Hugs and Kisses - My kids are really good kids. They travel well. They play nicely (most of the time) together. They make me laugh. But there are times when they drive me NUTS. They are messy. They talk too much and ask too many questions. They beg and demand. So, I've realized that in order to remind myself of how fortunate I am to be the mommy to these 4 little guys, I need to have regular hugs and kisses from each one of them. That's when they say the sweetest things too! Like:

Silas: You are the best mommy ever

Hattie: I love your earrings today, can I have them when I grow up.

Luke: I love how your neck is so long, mom.

Millie: slobber slobber smile.

Laundry

Really laundry is the bane of my existence.

If you do a load or two every day you ALWAYS have some to fold and put away. If you wait to do it all once a week, by the time you get to it, people in the family are out of clean underwear!

I actually don't mind separating, washing, switching it over...its the folding and putting away that kill me. I can't fold when the kids are awake. They are too much "help". And I can't fold them fast enough to get them out of the way. So I wait till they go to bed to fold and I'm tired...Jody helps...but its a lot! We bring it all upstairs, spread it all out putting them in little piles all over the floor and furniture and watch a movie or something. Then we put them in the laundry baskets. The girls in one, the boys in one, and Jody and I in one or sometimes different ones and the linens.

I HATE to admit this, but I loath putting the laundry back into the appropriate drawers so much there are many times that the baskets of clean, folded laundry sits in the rooms for days.

Jody and I folded clothes (that had been sitting in the baskets, clean for a while!!) last night. Today I decided I was going to put them away! (Well, the kids' at least, not mine. And I don't put Jody's away...I let him do that. ) Hattie decided she was going to help me. Millie Grace sat in the middle of the room and we went to work. Hattie was so helpful, really. This is not sarcastic. She even helped me with the boys clothes! When we were finished, Hattie said, "Mommy, I LOVE laundry!"

What?? How wonderful! I was thrilled!

Now, I have a few questions for you.

What is your laundry system?

Also what is your favorite choice of detergent? Do you care? Is it whatever is on sale or what you have a coupon for? Or are you brand loyal? I like All Free and CLear...I like clear for some reason. But I recently had a coupon for Tide and it was on sale and EVERYONE loves the smell and feel of the clothes. I thought that was funny.

Comic Relief

We had a great day. The kids have been getting along great and entertaining themselves well. But by the end of the day, you know, around supper time...its just HARD. I was craving some adult conversation. Or at least the cessation of little ones saying "mama, watch this" over and over. SO on the way to VBS we stuck in an audio book. Junie B Jones and the Little Monkey Business.

Let me say, she does say stupid and dumb excessively, in my opinion. We had a big talk about it. I told the kids that as soon as I hear those words come out of and little Jennings mouths, we would no longer listen to or read these books.

But man, I was laughing out loud. Its funny stuff! The kids were laughing, I was laughing...endorphins were released and we all felt better by the time we got to church.

Home!!!

We had a WONDERFUL time at the beach in Delaware! The beach was great, the weather was perfect, the company (my aunt, uncle, grandmother and cousins in/and out) was fun...all around super time! Jody had a wedding in Bismarck, so while we waited for him to come back, we enjoyed the beach a few more days and then headed to the DC area. My aunt and uncle live there, and they took us to the National Zoo before picking up Jody, dropping my grandmother off at her house in Southwestern Virginia and zipping home. (We got in at 1:30 am)

We got back just in time for VBS at our church. Last night was the first night. Its going to be a long week, getting to bed late every night, I know. But the kids are having a great time. I am too!

Its HARD to believe June is on its way out. We still have several more FUN FUN things to do this summer! People to see and places to go.

Here are some fun pictures.
Silas and his favorite passtime: being in charge of the remote while enjoying TV time.

Lukey and his favorite passtime: harassing everyone and being a typical 2yr old.

Hattie Ruth and her favorite passtime: dressing up and looking pretty.


Mille Grace and her new favorite passtime: sitting at the table and acting like a starving baby bird.

Everyone at the zoo. My uncle Pancho, Aunt Melanie (my mom's sister) and Nana (my mom's mom) with the kids. Notice the Terrible Two-Year Old!

I've got problems!

Our computer crashed! I've been waiting to do my blog until we got it back, but it looks like we won't get it back before we leave for vacation. I think all will be recovered...I HOPE!! It should come back better than ever. We have another computer to use, but I really think it doesn't like me!! As long as I have control of it, it will NOT stay connected to the internet but Jody seems to have no problem! Go figure.

We are headed to Delaware! We really are excited about spending time with family and hanging out at the beach. Jody will fly up to Bismarck in the midst of it to be at a wedding.

Don't know if I'll have access to the internet, so...I'll be back with pictures and stories!!

Photo Shoot