Kids Say The Darndest Things ~ Part 2

Yes I really did need to include a "part 2". My kids are always saying something so completely off the wall that I just have to write it down to re read later... it helps me get through the difficult days. Actually, my mother used to keep a book (an orange duo tang) of funny stories about my sisters and I and odd things we said as children. I used to love reading it over and laughing at how "childish" we were as children. When G1 was born I started writing down all those memorable things - then we became foster parents and I just couldn't keep up with the silliness. I try to record all the funny sayings and grammatical errors the kids make. Here is a small sampling of recent funnies:

*My hubby spoke out loud and said that he wished he the can from the salmon he was eating so he would know how many calories were in it. He then opened the kitchen door and stepped out onto the porch and picked up and empty salmon can (from the recycle bin) to read the calories on the label – G2 was completely amazed and excitedly said “ WOW, that’s so amazing that somebody left that can out there for him on the porch!!!” (she thought someone put a can of salmon on the porch?????)

*and earlier in the day at church while opening bags of decorations for the Sunday School area G2 read the warning label on a bag. It said “Warning: Keep this bag away from babies and children. Do not use in cribs, beds, carriages, playpens. The thin film may cling to the mouth and nose and prevent breathing.” The package contained 500 dried starfish. G2 (in a shocked tone) exclaimed….. “Is that why the starfish all died… because they couldn’t breathe?” I said “ G2, do you see mouths and noses on the star fish???? The warning is speaking about keeping the packaging away from babies and small children.”

*G2 randomly asked “Are we having rabbit for dinner?” I said “No, Why?” and she said “because it’s Easter.” I asked if she ever had rabbit on Easter before and she said “No.” – odd.

*G2 came back downstairs after I tucked her in to ask me if she was going to get electrocuted in the middle of the night if she rolled over – I plugged in her TV and the outlet is near her bed – she wondered if it would electrocute her while she slept.
* My dad and his wife and son spent the night, my dad slept in G2's bed (G2 slept in the top bunk in G1's room) my dad asked why all the pillows were lining the one wall and I told him that G2 thinks she will get electrocuted if she touches the wall socket in her sleep – so in the morning (funny guy that he is) he told her that it was so weird sleeping in her bed cause every time he rolled over he kept getting little zaps! Well she just looked at him straight faced and said, yes I know, that’s why I keep the pillows against that wall.

* We got our new van today. G2’s first comment was “Mmmmm, smells like a new van…” I said G2, it IS a new van.”

*G2 thought men shaved their underarms and legs too. She was shocked to find out that they didn’t. G2 wanted to shave her forearms because they had a lot of hair too.

*One of the children wants to know if you take off your wedding ring does it mean you’re not married any more?

*Papa and Grandma were at the kitchen table having a coffee, one of the children looked at both of them confused and said “How come BOTH of you have watches on?” Grandma explained that they aren’t always together and one of them might want to know what time it is.

*This morning G2 was arguing with B1 upstairs while they were supposed to be brushing teeth. G2 yelled “Stop telling my tooth brush what to do!” G1 was upstairs and tried to break it up. She said “you two need to stop arguing, you’re acting like babies.” To which G2 replied “G1, babies can’t talk”

*G2 was talking about her “US”er name on the computer. Hahaha (user name)

*One child randomly throws things into conversations that make absolutely no sense at all…. Today as the adults were talking on the back porch talking, this child suddenly blurted out “I’ve never been constipated.”

*G2was talking to Papa and looking at his hands, she said “Papa, I have lots of “Colossus” on my hands. (I’m sure she meant calluses)

*A child came home from a field trip and said to my hubby, "I went swimming today at school and I didn't even drowned."

Like I've mentioned before, there is NEVER a dull moment in our home. There's always some sort of drama going on :) Take our patio furniture for instance. We bought the new set when Mike (and his crew of carpenters) finished building the new deck out back. The patio furniture looked great out there but there was only one problem.... the chairs kept breaking one at a time. No it was not a case of "too much weight" on the chairs. The material kept pulling out the frame. We returned three chairs (each on separate occasions of course) before my hubby decided that we were just going to return the whole set and find something else. Yes, we had did buy the patio set from THAT store - you know, the one that starts with a W and ends with a "mart". Thankfully he was able to return the set without a problem.... it wasn't electronics so of course there wasn't a problem (ooops, still a sore spot I think - better let that thing go).

On Tuesday B1 celebrated his birthday - Happy Birthday Kiddo - we love you so much .... thanks for sharing your cake and ice cream, it was delicious!

Last week G1 began volunteering for the Acceptional Riders Program at TJ Stables. Although it may be motivated by her love of horses, I am so proud of her for giving of her time and energy selflessly to help other people. She makes us proud to be her parents :) and NO you cannot have a horse right now ...

God's Amazing Creation ~ YOU!

I just heard a great message entitled "How great is our God!" by Louie Giglio, there is a section that talks about Laminin, an amazing molecule in the human body. Look it up on You Tube - it's a must see!

Congratulations

This weekend Chatham is having the Retro Fest downtown ~ you can go there to check out all the vintage cars and take part in the other festivities. We felt brave and adventurous lastnight so we (along with The Brundritts) went for a nice long walk and took our herds down town lastnight to watch the old cars go up and down the main street. Our very first stop was the Kettle Corn stand where we got a couple bags of that delightful treat (Mmmmmm - I can almost taste it.) We stopped along the side of the road so the kids could sit down with their popcorn and watch the cars drive by. G2 noticed the A&W Root Beer Bear wandering around across the street. She grabbed my arm and cautiously asked "is that just someone dressed up?" Hahaha I didn't have the heart to run with that one..... but it could have been very funny indeed.

After the parade of cars there was an outdoor movie at Tecumseh Park (like a drive in without the cars.) We wandered down there with the kids and set up camp in a small area directly in front of the screen. The kids were excited. We watched HairSpray. It was a good movie but the weather had gotten a little cooler and the ground was damp. Baby G3 had a hard time falling asleep so she was a little whiny for a bit.

Just prior to the beginning of the movie, someone was handing out promotional frisbees. Two of our kids got a frisbee. I eventually had to take the Frisbees away ( I put them in the basket under the baby stroller.) to keep the boys from throwing them across the park and hitting someone in the head. When the movie was ended and we started back toward home, B3 started asking "where's my krispies? My rice Krispies....." I didn't know what he was talking about until he saw another child with a "rice krispie" He was talking about his *RED FRISBEE.

It was a fun evening for all of us. Good fellowship and lots of pictures.... oh ya, and kettle corn too :)

Saturday was a full day. We attended a surprise birthday Party for a dear friend of ours. Mr. and Mrs. M are also foster parents so they're brave enough to have the two of us and our whole herd come over to visit. A very courageous couple. Before we left the house I told the kids where we were going and that we were celebrating Mrs. M's birthday.. B3 couldn't picture who Mr. and Mrs. M were. He said: "What body she got?" Which when translated means "who is she, what does she look like?" The party was great - a very full house but well worth it.

Happy Birthday Mrs. M - you deserve it!

We left the party at 6:30ish to attend another party ~ a "Jack & Jill" party for T & L L, a young couple from our church who will be getting married soon. This was lot of fun. Through out the shower you bid on a few items on the tables and if by the end of the night, if you've bid the most amout ot money you get to throw it onto the bride and groom - Eeewwww gross eh?
This was definately of those "you gotta be there" moments ! Thanks for such a great night T & L. It was amazing and we are so excited for you. Congratulations!

The Long "Long Weekend"

Have you ever had house guests that just wouldn't leave??? That's what happened this past weekend, you know, the LONG WEEKEND that just went by.
It began with Sunday.... Dad & Cathy (and Douglas of course) came up from Cottam for church - just like they do every week. We attended church together and everyone came back to our place afterward. Mike had done some shopping while he was in New York last week so he was eager to show off his treasures - who says shopping is a woman's sport? Hahaha. Al and Dad were just as eager to see what he bought.... especially since it was all hunting related..... there was alot of oohhing and ahhing going on. The men were happy all afternoon, Mike is good about sharing his toys.
Look at how nicely they play together. They sure are happy little Bucks!
I wish I had a hidden camera for when these guys are up north hunting..... I bet we'd have some great "Funniest Home Video" footage. They sure do have a great time together ~ never a dull moment.


So anyway..... since we were having "Family Dinner" at Al & Cherie's place the next day (Monday) we invited Dad & Cathy to spend the night instead of driving home than driving back to Chatham the next day - with gas prices the way they are it only makes sense to look for economical ways to do things. All the kids were excited about having a family sleepover - so were the adults!
"Family Dinners" began in 2002 as a way to stay connected as a family. Douglas (my little brother) was the newest addition to the family and because my sisters and I were so much older than him, we wanted to be able to develop a close relationship with him as he grew up.
Life is busy and we all wanted some way to maintain the closeness we always had growing up and stay up to date on what was happening in each other's lives. Our relationships with each other have grown considerably over the past six years. I think we are closer than we've ever been. Once a month we all come together for "Family Dinner." Dad & Cathy and Douglas, my own family, and both my sisters and their families. The location of our dinners changes each month as we each take turns hosting the event. We celebrate anything that merits celebrating for that month - birthday's, anniversaries, holidays, and personal victories. Sometimes we have theme dinners (like the one we hosted as an Indian event prior to our trip to India - everyone dressed in saris and lungis and ate Indian cuisine with their hands), sometimes we plan an activity (we all went apple picking at Chatham orchards one time when Al & Cherie were hosting the dinner) - regardless of what we eat or who is hosting the dinner, the main purpose is to connect with each other and celebrate being a family. We are all so busy with our own individual families and some months seem busier than others, but we always manage to get together for family dinner. Even when it looks like our schedules aren't going to synchronize - we make time for each other. Family dinner is a priority for us - we schedule other events and appointments around it - so nothing will interfere (as much as possible) because our relationships with each other are so important - and the only way to build and strengthen relationships is to purposefully spend time together. I am happy that our children look forward to family dinners as much as the adults do. All the kids have close relationships with their cousins - friends come and go, but family is always there.... it's who you're a part of.
I really recommend all families try to incorporate some kind of regular gathering to maintain relationships.... it's so important. It works for us.

So, like I was saying..... Dad and Cathy slept over Sunday night and we all went to Al & Cherie's the next day for family dinner. It was a good time. Al Barbecued for us and Cherie demonstrated some new skills she's acquired at her exercise classes :)

Because of the size of our herd, Mike rode to Al & Cherie's in Dad & Cathy's vehicle while I drove our van load. At the end of the evening, Dad & Cathy drove Mike back to our place and the driveway deliberations began...... it seems the engine light was on in Cathy's van and the headlights were dimming. Was it too risky to drive to Cottam? Should they chance it? Should they spend the night at our place again? *Douglas was missing home and wanted to risk having to sleep on the side of the road..... either that or he was tired of my "strict" rules :)
(He's an only child - you get the idea. Hahaha)
It was eventually decided that they would spend the night and have the van looked at in the morning.


We have plenty of bed space so Cathy slept in the bunk bed in Baby G3's room and Dad and Douglas slept in G2's room (G2 slept in the top bunk in G1's room.)


Early in the morning, G1 took my camera up to the bedrooms and snapped this sweet photo. Papa is pretty in pink :)



The van got into the garage right away and was roadworthy by 3 pm. Dad & Cathy were anxious to get home. They said they just had alot to do but I think it's due to mental exhaustion. They put up with alot while they were here. For instance: G2 really has a way of making your head swim.... While sitting at the breakfast table, G2 asked Cathy what happens if you take off your wedding ring? Cathy asked her what she meant and G2 said "Well, does it mean that you aren't married anymore?" Hahaha. Later that same day G2 asked Dad & Cathy "why they were BOTH wearing watches? Can't one of them tell the other what time it is - why do they BOTH have to wear a watch?" Hahaha.
By 4 pm they were on the road and headed home - vowing to not overstay their welcome this coming weekend. *Dad & Cathy.... you did NOT overstay your welcome. You're welcome to invade our home anytime :) We had a great time having you here and look forward to doing it again sometime.
I am still in the process of posting old pictures on my Face book account and have come across a few more that merit an honorable mention:
This is a picture of my mom, Mary. This is NOT a happy memory...... it was very painful for us three girls .... mom was learning to play the electric organ (self-taught by the way) and we used to hide, or unplug it, or try to make more noise than she made..... by singing loudly. We knew all the popular electric organ songs too.... we could sing all the words to "I Shot the Sheriff", "Hang on Sloopy" (we thought it was a song about Snoopy - from Charlie Brown), and all the Kenny Rogers Greatest All Time Hits!!!! When mom wasn't around we used to use the organ when we played "Church" (ya, I know - we weren't normal.) We would flatten a few pieces of white bread with a rolling pin and use a cup to cut out circles of flattened bread to be the host's (Roman Catholic Church), we'd pour juice into a couple of wine glasses and set it up on a table. Then one of us would read from a Dr. Seuss book while another would be the organist at mom's electric organ and the other would be a congregation member sitting on a chair facing the "priest" who was reading from Dr. Seuss. We would all take turns being each "pretend person" so each one of us could have a chance to take communion and each one would have a chance to serve it - and of course we ALL wanted a chance to play the organ. This picture just brought back alot of memories...... so did the next one:

This is a picture of Kim, Cherie, and myself (and my aunt Roni's head.) Taken probably around 1980 or so. This was Christmas morning at Grandma and Pipi's house. We lived there at the time and had been anticipating Christmas for months!!! As the day approached, we got sneaky and decided to snoop for presents. We had heard a rumour that santa clause was NOT REAL and that parents bought presents and hid them in their closets.... so we just had to check it out for ourselves. Sure enough, there were presents in the closet! We were shocked and disheartened. There really was no santa. Our heartache didn't last too long once we got a good look at the presents and even bickered over which present was purchased for which kid. I saw that yellow stuffed dog (I am sitting on in the picture) and KNEW it was mine! I loved dogs and my parents knew that. Cherie was a cat lover so she was certain that the pink cat was hers. We left the closet swearing not to tell a soul about our discovery ~ but someone snitched (I am not even sure to this day who did it) and we got into big trouble. Mom said she should just take all the presents back to the store since we already saw them and ruined the surprise.... we were certain there would be NOTHING under the tree for us on Christmas morning. What a surprise we found on Christmas morning when we came downstairs.... we got our gifts but the fun of wondering "what was in the gift wrap" just wasn't the same. We learned pretty quickly that snooping just wasn't worth it - it's better to be surprised.
A friend of mine came by for coffee yesterday while all the kids were at school. Two moms sharing a coffee and chatting about ..... kids & housework! Imagine that. Why do we DO that? The subject of clutter came up and I mentioned that I didn't like clutter. A person's home (or personal pace) represents (or maybe "reflects" is a better word) what's going on inside that person. Most times, you can walk into a person's house and get a pretty good idea of what's going on in their world. My goal is to stay stress-free and "un cluttered" in my head. I don't like things "out of place" and strewn all over the place. I like neat and orderly - not in an obsessive way (although I'm sure there are people in my family who would jokingly say otherwise) but just in a way that makes me feel in control (as opposed to "out of control" and over whelmed.)
Anyway... today I was searching for something and happened to look under my bed and was horrified at the massive collection of "dirt" - dust, cobwebs, dog hair all rolled together - DUST BUNNIES! I was amazed at how quickly this "stuff" (what the heck is it really anyway?) accumulated under my bed. I got the broom out and swept it clean. It's a good thing I did. A little while later I laid the baby on our bedroom floor and went to the living room to get some toys for her to play with. On the way I decided to have a quick washroom break (it only took a minute.) As I headed back to my bedroom with an armload of toys I heard a muffled squealing noise.. yup, it sure sounded like the baby – but where was she? I laid her down right here …….. I looked at the end of the bed and discovered her head peeking out from under the bed! She only goes in reverse, she cannot move forward yet – so apparently she backed herself up all the way under the bed! It was a kodak moment for sure :)

Insanity on the 401

I don't remember exactly whose bright idea it was but one of us decided it would be FUN to go to Windsor and visit grandma (my mom) last night, especially since we didn't get a chance to see her on Mother's Day.
Bear in mind my husband is still in New York so I am flying solo this week with my whole herd. I got them all loaded up into the van after school and we hit the road by 3:30 pm - right on schedule! No time for homework or chores, we'll do it later - I just hope no one breaks in while we're gone, I'd be so embarrassed :(
Our new van had the built in DVD - what a blessing that is! The kids settled in to watch a movie knowing we'd be on the road for at least an hour. For me, it was exhilarating to get out of the house and just drive.... so peaceful....for about 5 minutes.
We didn't even get out of town before the bickering started.

G2: Lisa can you tell B1 to be quiet, he keeps on talking and I can't hear the movie.

B1: I'm not talking, G2 keeps touching me.

G2: I'm just trying to get comfortable.

B3: Shhhhh, I can't hear the movie!

Baby G3: Waaaaaaaaaaaaa, (lost her soother)

Mom: If you kids don't be quiet I am turning the movie off!!! (how stupid is THAT)

Thirty seconds goes by in peaceful silence.........

*FFFFFFFFT

B2: Ewwwwwwwwww, someone farted, I smell a fart!

B3: I didn't do it! I say 'scuse me when I fart.

G2: Ewwww, who DID that?

B1: Maybe the baby pooped.

Mom: Alright that's enough - watch your movie!

Two full minutes of quiet...... I am almost giddy!

G2: Shhhhhhhh! B1, BE QUIET!

B1: Stop it G2, I can talk if I want too.

G2: I can't hear the movie, be quiet!

B1: Shhhhhhhhhhh

G2: Shhhhhhhhhh - don't shush me!

Mom: Kids, I said that's enough (G2 cuts me off and yells - "I am not doing it B1 is!) HOLD ON NOW! I KNOW YOU"RE NOT RAISING YOUR VOICE TO ME....I'M THE ONLY ONE ALLOWED TO RAISE THEIR VOICE AROUND HERE! DO MAKE MYSELF CLEAR??? (my blood pressure is rising as I relive this scene in my head ...... think Happy Thoughts)

Mom: ANSWER ME!!!!

kids: You said to be quiet.....

Mom: Grrrrrrrrrrrr (I swear there was steam coming out of my ears by then .... breathe, just breathe, they're just children - God's tools for teaching us patience and self-control.... breathe) It's too far for them to walk to Windsor from here anyway, they'd never make it by nightfall.

Another few minutes goes by and B2 is sleeping. A few more miles and baby G3 falls asleep - YES! They're dropping like flies! Two down and four to go. The bickering begins again between G2 and B1..... I just turn the volume up even louder on the movie and think happy thoughts.

We had to slow down a bit for the construction on the highway and it goes into a single lane for a little while. Suddenly G2 notices the construction and concrete barriers on either side of us and lets out a distressed squeal, "NOW how are we going to get to Windsor - there's no way to turn off this thing?" "What????" I ask shaking my head. "The wall thingies on both sides, how can we get off here to get to Windsor?" she says in a panic. I take a deep breath and turn up the volume on the movie even louder and just drive. Eventually the construction is behind us and G2 looks up from the movie and says "oh."

We do finally make it to Windsor (with all six of the children - we didn't lose any). Grandma is very happy to see all of us. The kids say hi and head off to the back yard to play. Grandma is very pleased with her mother's day gifts. Prior to our visit I had asked her if I could rummage through her boxes of pictures and take some home to copy for myself. So while the kids played out back we went through the piles of photos she's accumulated over time. I laughed my way through so many of the oldies..... I have taken the liberty of posting many of them on Face Book.

In between dealing with all the Drama, Drama, Drama from the kids and enforcing a few timeouts, we had a great time looking through the pictures and reminiscing about "the olden days." I have a few favorites to share with you....
Yup, this is the real deal......



This is my dad with A PERM!!!!!!


I guess it was the cool thing t do "way back then" LOL

This way he had big hair like everyone else did back then :)

The next picture is a picture of my mom and dad. WOW, look at the size of the hair on her! That must have been the big turn on back then - I can imagine the guys driving down the strip hanging out their car windows honking their horns and cat calling the young ladies.... and then saying to their buddies "WOW look at the hair on her!" or "Did you see the size of that hive?" Hahaha.

The next picture I am including will no doubt cause me much grief in the coming days and I imagine I will be teased for years to come.... but it's just too good to exclude. I now understand genetics......


Dad's desire for big hair and mom's naturally big hair had disastrous consequences for their offspring, namely me and my two sisters......
I guess it isn't really OUR fault since it appears to be a genetic thing.....but HOLY HAIR!!!! Did we think we lived in Texas or something???? Incredible isn't it? Hahaha

When G1 & G2 saw this picture their eyes grew wide - then G2 said "Is that really your hair or are you wearing a wig?" Oh, it's the real deal kid :)

As I continued pouring over the pictures and "remembering when....." I realized how many experiences I had forgotten about. I can recall so many things from my childhood but it really takes looking at a photo to bring it all back to me. I have a lifetime of precious memories and incredible stories all stored up in my photo albums and I am so thankful my parents often had a camera handy to capture the moment. Looking at each picture, it's like I'm there, feeling the excitement of ripping open that Christmas present or the warm sun on my skin as I played in the back yard in the summer time.
The memories are so vivid as I look at each photograph - and I start to remember all the little details that made each memory so unique.
A lot of things happened in my world as a child - things that children should never have to experience - and for so long the bad memories coloured my view of my whole childhood. I had a difficult time seeing clear enough to recognize the good experiences and happy memories. As I spent time examining each picture and thinking about the past, I realize that I did have an incredible childhood. So many good memories, so many "family" experiences, so much love and positive experiences. It saddens me to realize how many years I spent trying not to remember - Maybe it comes with maturity, but now I can "remember the good times" without allowing the bad times to colour my view. My childhood was rich, full of experiences and aspirations.
These pictures might not mean much to anyone else who sees them to me they are a piece of my history.....
Now as a parent myself, making memories and sharing fun family experiences is a priority for us. I carry my camera most of the time - you never know what opportunities might present themselves :)
*Ps, that picture above - with all the kids - No, it's not a 70's advertisement for birth control.... it's my baby sister's 5th birthday party. Ya, that's me - bottom left hand corner in the blue and white bathing suit with red flowers. Welcome to my memories........

B3 Said the F Word.....

I walked into the kitchen just in time to hear B2 threatening "I'm going to tell." B3 sat wide eyed as he noticed me come into the room. "You're going to tell what?" I inquired. "B3 said the F word." B2 eagerly informed me. "What?!?!?!" I gasped. With a look of total shock on my face I stared at B3 in disbelief. "Where in the world did you hear THAT word young man?" I questioned. "I don't know. Maybe G1 & G2 talked about it" He said. "WHAT?!?!? Wait a minute, exactly what F word are we talking about here? What F word did you say?" I asked. He sat quietly for a minute then gathered his nerve to say it once more...... B3 spoke just above a whisper - "fat..... I said fat." I sat stunned in silence for a minute. I was so relieved it was the three letter F word and not the four letter one. It took me a minute to think of where in the world all of this grammatical confusion was coming from. Then it hit me. A day or two ago G1 & G2 were talking about fat thighs and I told them to knock it off, that FAT was a swear word in my house. B3 must have over heard that conversation and ran with it. Poor kiddo really thought he had committed some terrible sin.


It's my own fault for banning that word. I just got so sick of hearing THAT WORD and feeling how that very word made me feel that I decided to ban it from the house one day many years ago..... and it's just always been that way. I always struggled with my weight - from as early as I can remember. I was bullied and teased mercilessly throughout my childhood because I was "fat". Remember the old saying "sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me?" Well that is so not true. Names can and do hurt and they have the potential to scar a person for years. Children can be so cruel. Because of their inexperience and immaturity most children don't hold their tongues when they should. That's why I try to guard my own little ones against inflicting such cruelties by teaching them to consider other people's feelings before they speak and to never use someones weakness for their own entertainment. Most times my kids get it - but it always amazes me how insensitive adults can be.


For years I was totally oblivious. I was flattered by what I thought were compliments.... "Wow, you look wonderful, are you losing weight?", "Hey that outfit is very slimming on you, you look fabulous.", "That hair cut really suits you, it makes your face look slimmer too." ..... and then I began to wonder "is my weight a deficit in who I am?" I realized that I had never heard anyone say to a petite woman, "Gee that outfit really adds some padding to your rump - you look wonderful!" or "Wow, you must be putting on a few pounds, your face is starting to fill out - good for you, keep up the good work!" How insulting would that be - to insinuate that a thin woman needed to gain weight in order to look good. This is one area I try to shield my girls from. Too many messages today say that slimmer is better. Young women's minds are programmed to believe that "the more weight I lose the better I look. The slimmer I am the more attention and acknowledgement I will receive. Skinny is better - think thin. If I am thin and pretty I will be accepted, but if I am not thin I am not acceptable."


"If I am not thin I am not acceptable" Wow, what a statement. Nothing could be further from the truth. But because we've heard and seen it so often we tend to believe it ~ and then we act upon what we think instead of the truth. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "


So maybe I am a little sensitive about this subject ~ it just hits close to home. I wish someones parents would have taught them about the F-word when we were kids.

With the rain we've had the past few days my beautiful lilacs are starting to bloom. I LOVE the scent of lilacs. I even use lilac scented candles indoors during the winter time when I cannot have the real thing :)
Lilacs remind me of my grandparent house on Peter Street in Windsor when we were kids. Beautiful lilac bushes lined the back yard fence line separating their back yard from a field behind the house. It was a spectacular sight to see but even better than that was the scent of all those blooms on a warm summer day. The slightest breeze would stir up that heavenly aroma. I need a little nostalgia once in a while ~ it keeps me sane and helps ward off stress. How much stress can a stay at home mom have? Well let me tell you..... we had an intense situation earlier today - it was an extreme emergency! Baby G3 lost her soother!!! I wasn't sure if it got left behind at a speech class or if it had fallen out of her car seat in our travels..... but it was gone and she wanted it back, NOW! Every kid in the house was on a mission..... FIND THE SOOTHER - QUICKLY.
It was a tense fifteen minutes of terror - especially since I couldn't readily locate my spare. But in the end it turned up.... it had fallen down inside the couch. A quick washing off to remove unnecessary dust bunnies and Baby G3's world was all right again.
The scent of lilacs are a comfortable reminder of yesterday, but I wouldn't trade my today's for anything.

Single Parenting isn't for Wimps!

Every time my husband goes away for a few days I gain a greater respect for single parents. It sure isn't easy. My kids are wonderful and so very helpful (for the first few hours) when Dad's away but it certainly helps me realize all the things my husband does to contribute to raising this brood of ours. According to the kids I am the "Best" at cooking (despite the continual scream of the smoke detector) and they like that I clean up after them. They think I am pretty cool at spiking their hair (the boys anyway) and kissing their boo boos. Dad on the other hand is the "Coolest!" He plays video games (sometimes hogging the controller and mom has to intervene and make them all share) and he plays in the back yard with them. B2 & B3 asked me today if I would play "hide the ball" in the backyard with them. When I told them I had to feed and change baby G3 they said "Awww, Dad would play with us." {sigh} Yes he probably would, but he isn't here right now so go play with each other. All the boys are missing Dad already. B2 asked if he could call him and ask him come home.
Here's a picture of the great things I received from my herd on Mother's Day. The Brown Paper Bag Mystery is revealed....... those bags contained plants and a candle :) I also got some carnations, a sundae making kit, and a whole pile of handmade cards and pictures. Very special stuff.
After service our family came over for the day (one of my favorite things about Sundays.... obviously attending church and ministry is on my fave list too) My wonderful hubby barbecued for us mom's - we didn't have to do any work at all. If you remember, it was pouring rain on Sunday ..... He barbecued in the rain, holding an umbrella - is that love or what :) (Hmmmmm, I wonder if he was just trying to ensure an extra special Father's Day????) After our lunch we sat around talking and relaxing. The kids came into the living room and took the PS2 game system so they could play some games in the bedroom. The adults started to whine (yes, we do whine) because WE wanted the PS2 to play some games in the living room. Eventually we opted for a game of Yahtzee at the kitchen table but we came to the realization that we do need to find another PS2 system so we can play our games without taking it away from the children..... we don't always share so well so it's probably best to find a second system :) *Sooooo, if anyone out there has a PS2 system they are no longer using.... I know a group of whining adults who would gladly give it a good home :) Here's a video clip of a couple of the kids playing Sing Star...... it must have been late because they look worn out or lazy..... one or the other :)

Because we won't be together on our anniversary, I packed a card and a few treats into his luggage before he left (without him knowing) *yes, and a bag of Doritos. Since he left this morning I have been finding little pieces of paper that say "I love you" hidden all over the house - in my cell phone, the microwave, under my pillow, on my computer keyboard, and in the fridge. Hahaha yes, we're sappy what can I say :)

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's I might have missed on Sunday - I hope you had an incredible day - you sure do deserve it! I had the privilege of speaking at church on Sunday - what a blessing that was. Talking in front of so many people sure makes me appreciate what the pastors do each week in that regard. It's not as easy as they make it look :) It was a good service - it began with a baby dedication.... what a perfect day for it. Mr. and Mrs. L's newest addition, Baby E was dedicated. I love baby dedications....Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. L and little E and littler E.
Here's something I shared on Sunday....


1 Corinthians 13 for Mothers


If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,but have not love,I am a housekeeper ¬ not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,but have not love,my children learn cleanliness ¬ not godliness.
If I scream at my children for every infraction,and fault them for every mess they make,but have not love,my children become people-pleasers ¬ not obedient children.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love accepts the fact that I am the ever-present “mommy,”the taxi-driver to every childhood event,the counselor when my children fail or are hurt.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, and runs with the child,then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection.Now I glory in God’s perfection of my child.All the projections I had for my house and my children have faded away into insignificance,And what remain are the memories of my kids.
Now there abides in my home scratches on most of the furniture,dishes with missing place settings,and bedroom walls full of stickers, posters and markings,But the greatest of all is the Love that permeates my relationships with my children.
Today I received a letter in the mail from my Bigger Boy. It's the first I've heard from him since he left three and a half weeks ago. He tried to call us last Friday night but we were out. He is limited to when he can call and write so we have to be patient. Here is an excerpt from that letter: "....it is great to have christian friends. I'm constantly confiding in them how much I miss my family or they are there to pray with me when I'm in tears. It amazes me the work Christ has done in their lives and is in the process of doing in mine. I thought a year would be a long time, yet you never have enough time to saturate in Christ's love and teachings. Thank you for all the support, prayers, and love guys. I miss you and you are in my prayers........I'll be praying for the family and the church. Please say "hi and I love and miss you" to all my friends and family. I love you and thank you for your prayers."
And finally..... The kids all got their Spring Pictures from school today. They sure do things differently now a days.... smarter marketing practises that's for sure..... The children bring home a sheet reminding parents that spring photos are being taken in a few days and it asks you to select a pose. Every child will be photographed regardless of whether or not you want to purchase photos. The school supposedly gets a profit from every picture taken. Picture day comes and they photograph your child in the pose you selected (or pose #1 if you didn't select one). A couple weeks later the kids bring home their photo packages - yup, all the pictures.....an 8X10, 3 5X7's, 3 X2's, wallets, "special" pics and "photo gifts" (book marks, key fobs, wallet cards, etc) you are under no obligation to purchase any of the photos. You can purchase separate sheets of pictures or the whole package for $38.00 just send your payment back to school with your child along with any of the photos you do not wish to purchase.......... I don't know about you but when I see a photo of one of my kids I can't NOT buy it - I think about the company throwing out those pictures of my kids that don't get purchased and it makes me crazy! I love pictures of my children and I take alot of them myself. I certainly do not need anymore pictures - especially ones I have to spend that kind of money on - but how do you say no to your child's photos? They are so darn cute! Isn't that like rejection? LOL So yes, I got suckered into buying their spring picture packages..... all of them - five out of six of our kids are in school so you do the math. Praise God they have a "family discount."

The Brown Paper Bag Mystery.....

Mother's Day is fast approaching and I am getting excited! (Well maybe a little more like *nervous) Today B2 & B3 came home from school carefully carrying brown paper bags that were stapled shut across the top. When I asked what was inside they both told me that they were not allowed to talk about it until Mother's Day - their teacher said so. They are just as anxious as I am :) B1 came in from school with a brown paper bag as well - but it was a different size and shape, now I'm really wondering. To make matters worse, they put them in a row on the counter - for safe keeping. So I have to stare at them and wonder..... but only until Sunday.


A few of my Facebook friends have messaged me asking what my status message meant that said something about boycotting electronics from a local store that starts with a w and ends with a mart. Hahaha, I am glad you asked ..... I am so frustrated with them!!!!!I buy stuff there (I think we should own stock in that company we spend so much there) and I know I shouldn't buy electronics there - I ALWAYS have a problem with their electronics and I ALWAYS have to return it.... they had a great gift idea advertised in their flyer and I thought would be great for Mother's day.... so I got two, later that night i took them out of the packages to set them up ahead of time to surprise the moms....and neither of them worked!!!!! Inside the packaging there's a big yellow paper (that you don't see until you open the package) that says "If you have a problem with this device, DO NOT return it to the store - contact our company" *Well right there that says to me....You've been suckered! No one who has confidence in their product puts a message like that in the packaging. So I was really upset - Mother's Day is only a day away. I opened both packages and neither thing worked, the website was not helpful at all, it didn't even have information for this particular product on it. The last time I tried to return something from electronics to Walmart they said they have a new "no returns" policy on electronics....you have to deal with the company directly. How dumb is that????? If I buy something and it doesn't work I want to be able to return it right away or at least exchange it... not wait to contact a company, have them tell me to ship the product to them and wait weeks or months to have it repaired or replaced.....Grrrrrrrrrr. So first thing this morning I called Walmart and told them that I just purchased these things (that they had advertised in their flyer) lastnight, neither of them work and I need to return them this morning.... I was amazed that the woman said "ok, if you have your receipt, bring them in." So I went to the store as quick as I could - I didn't want anyone to change their mind..... LOL. I got my money back and went to another store and got a similar item only better. And they work! In all fairness though, Walmart DID reimburse me for my purchase....this time :) It really is my own fault - I know better than to buy electronics there. Restaurants are for selling food, A pharmacy is for selling medications, Walmart is for selling........ whatever....

My hubby and I went out to dinner tonight to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. (The actual anniversary date is May 15th - but he will be away then) He jokingly says "Wow - I've never gone with anyone that long before." Hahaha
We went to our "regular" place .... Every year we make reservations at Rossinis. We love it there!
When we walked in and got to our table I noticed the dozen long stem yellow roses waiting for me - I am so spoiled! Thanks honey - you always know how to put a smile on my face :) Happy Anniversary Babe (not the dog), I love you.

Kids Say The Darndest Things....

Today the older kids had their Track and Field events at CKSS. It was an all day event so I had to pick up B2 & B3 from school at lunch time and bring them, along with baby G3 to the track to watch G1 & G2 do their events. Of course there were ribbons earned and plenty of excitement. Congratulations girls ~ You both did an excellent job!

Prior to our arrival at CKSS, B3 wanted to know what time we were going to watch the girl's "TRAP & Field?" That was better than him asking "How much longer to the TRUCK & field events?" The boys were disappointed that they couldn't run on the track with the big kids. B2 insists he could run faster than all the other kids and he can't wait to prove it. B3 wants to know why the kids kids get to have all the fun and jump in the sand - why can't he play in the sand too?" Our greatest embarrassment came as my husband and I stood with our brood on the soccer field watching the days events unfold when all of a sudden over the loud speaker we heard "Mr. & Mrs. Koppes....G2 would like to let you know that she is running this race in the 8th lane." G2 wanted to be sure we didn't miss her event - she made sure we'd know where to look for her.... and now so did everyone else in the area!
Here's a picture of the beautiful flowers B2 & B3 picked for me during our track & field day. The boys spent a very long time picking dandelions, smacking each other with them, dangling them from their ears, putting them up their noses, and making dandelion salad in a hole in the ground.... what imaginations..... and I got to bring the leftovers home with me :)
Praise God it was the "flowers" they gave me and not the giant "bloodsucking" worm some of the children found near the ball toss area.... or all those rocks I made them empty out of their pockets before they got into the van.


Some of you may already know that five out of six of our children are participating in the Heart & stroke Jump Rope for Heart fundraising event this month. We don't normally participate in school fundraising activities, mainly because we have so many children that it costs us a small fortune to "sponsor" them all. This year the children were determined to participate in this event so they came up with an excellent idea. They decided to fund raise as a team and collect sponsors as a group. (That way there will not be five children asking each friend and relative for money) They have decided to share the "reward prizes" equally as well (You know - those fancy dollar store items with the organizations logo on it - Frisbees, water bottles, skipping ropes, etc) This year the Heart & Stroke foundation has made it even easier to canvass for sponsors by setting up an online donations website where the children can email potential sponsors and the sponsors can in turn go to the website and make a donation online. We allowed our kiddos to send out the emails..... if you haven't received yours, check your junk mail folder! If you are able to donate to this cause, God bless you - no pressure though.... there's so many "worth while causes" out there you just can't do it all :)
As I wrap this up for the night I have a tune running through my head..... not that I like the song, it's just kind of stuck there right now - you know how it is when you hear the song and it just sticks with you for a bit.... It's a song from our PS2 Sing Star game, a Britney Spears song called "Hit Me Baby One More Time". Well the reason it's stuck in my head is because this morning B3 was eating breakfast and singing that song.... dancing around in his chair at the table he was belting out the words "hit THE baby one more time" Hahahaha, thank God there were no CAS workers in the house at the time - it would have got them thinking!

One of Those Weeks....

Have you ever had "one of those" kind of weeks? The kind where nothing seems to go as planed and you just can't get a grip. This has been "one of those" weeks. I fully intended to keep this blog updated daily or at the very least every other day - but then it all happened...... and one thing after another piled up and here I am over a week later and still not all caught up on everything I have neglected. I am usually a little more organized.
Let's see if I even recall what has happened over the past week - Monday I had some dental work done....had to have my bridge repaired and re installed. It seems I grind my teeth (stress?) and somehow caused my bridge (my cemented and attached to two other teeth - bridge) to come right off! This was an unwelcomed expense and too much time spent at one of my least favorite places... the dentist.
Being a foster parent, I am sometimes called on to attend court to give testimony when any of my children's cases finally make it to trial. Well so far this week two cases have gone to trial. One is settled and the other is still playing out this week. I have two years of notes and paperwork to read through to prepare for this. I am told the defense attorney is loud and intimidating...."it's nothing personal" they tell me, "he's just doing his job." Yippeeeee *Pray for me : )
Friday night was wonderful! We went out to dinner with a great couple from church. Mr. and Mrs. D. We went to Mamma Maria's Restaurant on King street. It was a nice night out without the pitter patter of little feet - who am I kidding.... at our place the only thing that pitter patters is the shih tzu Buzzy, running for his life trying to escape the children and their sinister schemes. But seriously, it was so refreshing for me to get out with other people (all over 4 feet tall whose faces I don't have to wash or bums I don't have to change) and enjoy some adult fellowship. And NO, we did not talk about the kids : ) Thank you mr. & Mrs. D for a great evening out - we need to do it again sometime - soon!

On Saturday my hubby and G1 decided to have a yard sale to raise some funds for the Orphanage we (we - meaning our church, family & friends) recently built in India. They were up bright and early setting out the abundance of treasures that have collected in the garage over the winter months. Despite the rain and obvious lack of customers, they made a nice amount of money to send to the beautiful little hunnies in Ramachandra Puram. G1 was thoughtful enough to supply potential customers with an umbrella while they browsed in the rain. Thanks G1 just for being you - I love the person you are. You are so special to me. Xoxoxo (are you embarrassed yet?)
The next morning we went to church. I was having a bit of an emotional day to begin with... once the worship started I realized I was sitting alone. My sister and her family were away for the day and would not be joining us. My dad and his family weren't there either - with my grandma in the hospital again they needed to stay close to home. My "bigger boy" left two weeks ago for a year long program and I am missing him terribly. The stress from the whole week seemed to be weighing on me and it was "one of those days". My eyes had somehow sprung a leak and wouldn't be stopped. Every time I thought I had them dried and wiped clean the tears would start, all on their own, there was nothing I could do to stop it. Right there in the middle of worship, in a room full of people .... I felt so terribly alone. How is it possible to feel completely alone standing in the middle of 300 people??? This was my condition that day.....and it seemed to seep into every area of my day and lasted far too long.... If you don't know me well, I am an emotional eater (surprised?) a trait I am not proud of but am working on : ) So that particular Sunday nothing was safe. I don't remember where those white powdered donuts came from, nor do I remember how many I inhaled. I sat on my back deck with my hubby and poured out my heart to him. The good, the bad, and the ugly..... how I was feeling and why I felt that way. I rambled on and on, growing increasingly annoyed at the group of children invading my space at the picnic table, they were circling like vultures - then I realized it was not out of concern for mommy - IT WAS THE DONUTS THEY WANTED! I started to feel better once the effects from the sugar began to take hold. In a sudden burst of energy I got lunch put on the table, laundry folded, baby B3 fed, changed, and down for a nap, floors swept and dessert set out for the kids..... No, I didn't have dessert - I was tired out by then :)
On the first Sunday of the month we have an evening worship service at church so I got my kiddos all rounded up and out the door. We made it in plenty of time. Service was shorter than I expected.... and we were finished by 8 pm. My brother in law stopped by the church to let me know that we needed to go to the hospital in Windsor right away.... grandma was not doing well - they didn't know how much longer....
So off to Windsor we went. Praying we'd make it in time.... our hearts set on praying with grandma one last time. My cell phone rang half way there and my heart sank - but it was just my little sister wanting to know how close we were. Once we arrived we were so blessed to be able to pray with grandma and visit with her for a while. We sat in a family room type of thing for a few hours, taking turns visiting with grandma in her room , two at a time. In the family room we reminisced about our younger years (a very long time ago) and had a few laughs. My cousin Brian is too funny - He is good looking, has a great personality and is such a character - he was always the family entertainer when we were kids. You could have a very lucrative future in entertainment Brian.... you're a natural. Grandma's condition improved a bit but remained pretty much the same..... we left the hospital sometime after 1am. The drive home felt endless I was so tired.
I got word this morning that my grandma woke up, ate all her breakfast and was sitting up talking and looked wonderful. She wants to go home I'm sure. Her blood pressure is good and she's passing urine (that might not be exciting for some people but this is a noteworty accomplishment) they've run a few tests... to check things out. Who knows, maybe she'll be sent home this week??? My grandmother has always surprised me. She is a strong woman - and can be stubborn at times. Hmmmm, I wonder if that's where my "strong willed" nature comes from :)