The Tender and the Not-So-Much

Last night, from the other room, I heard the voice of my husband in a hushed whisper say, "Honey, come look at this."

When I walked in, there was my husband standing with Mr. Bink's lying in his arms. He looked up at me with a grin and quietly whispered "He fell asleep smiling at me." There lay our little Binks with his eyes peacefully closed and a beautiful smile on his lips. It was absolutely precious.

It's moments like these that help me through the more regular moments ~ like...

Finding my little girls in the 1/2 bath naked in the sink. I asked them what they are doing and they smiled up at me and said "washing each other!" I simply closed the door and walked away.

Or...

Sitting at the dinner table doing all within my power to inspire cleanliness within my children only to find that I was sweating profusely. I attributed my excessive moisture to little Binks strapped to the front of me. Come to find out one of my children who shall remain nameless (though I know not why!) decided to turn the heat up to EIGHTY-FIVE degrees because he was cold. That's going to make a pretty gas bill next month.

Or...

Waking up at 6 a.m. to a new day, full of zeal, ready to try a little harder and do a little better. Just as I am ready to jump in the shower with a new lilt in my step I hear my 3-year-old awaken in the other room screaming. "I can do this" I tell myself as she enters my room yelling through her tears "Mom! Binks is awake!" Yes. He izzzzzz awake now. Binks is now crying, needs to eat, and I pick him up only to see that he's peed out of his bulging diaper, soaking my sheets beneath him. Breathe. Trying to hold on to my morning zeal I tell myself it's okay. I will just wash sheets for the morning laundry. Who needs a shower anyway? Surely I don't stink too bad. I'll just throw on my wig. Once again I feel like I'm accomplishing very little around here...

I cherish those tender moments that smooth over the not-so-tender moments. 

Years ago, during a very difficult time in my life, a dear friend gave me this picture and its words continue to encourage me as they still hang on my wall today.

We're Getting Burried Alive!

It's been a snowy winter to say the least.

Unfortunately for my children, the snow-machine is out of commission.

Minor thing really ~ just jumped off a snow berm in the yard and smashed into the front of the house.

All in a typical, wonderful jill'E'jam day.

We have had lots of snow though which has been beautiful.

Here's a few recent pics of the place.

My view out my front window

 

Without a snow-machine to tear up and pack down the snow, the children were able to do THIS.

January and February are my favorite months. Sunshine & freezing!

Dayz Like These

Do you ever buy this stuff...

...and put your hand in only to find that your kids have pilfered all of the M&M's (even the hidden brown ones!) leaving you a nasty sack of raisins and nuts?

Sure-fire way to wreck my day.

Still, I can't in good conscience throw it away so I return to Costco to buy their 3 lb. sack of M&M's to dump into the bag.

By this time I've spent twenty bucks on this fargin' sack of Trail Mix.

Ha ha ~ fargin'. You like that word? That's when you know I'm all fired up over my snack!

a - MAZE - ing

In case you were wondering what homeschoolers do in their spare time.

Google Earth, you may take your picture now.

Thank you.

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Oh. And did I tell you I canceled my gym membership?

Sad. I know.

I decided something wasn't working when I wore my awesome work-out clothes all day, everyday and could never, ever get to the gym. That was kind of an expensive mistake.

Onward and upward!

Is It Too Scary to Marry?

I've been thinking.

Some of you may know that in just over three years Bo will be the same age I was when I met my husband... and four years from when I was engaged.

Yeah... I was super old and mature. And, yes, I knew everything. Seriously.

The thought never even crossed my mind to do a background check (who did that!?!), to find out if there was a history of pornography (no Internet "back then"), or wonder if he or his father were pedophiles.

The story of Susan Powell is so disturbing to me!

Reading the headline took my breath away and broke my heart.

Look at those sweet baby boys. They are now with their mother again.

Let me ask you this:

Would you know you were marrying a murderer? Would there be red flags?

Stern and I were talking about how frightening it is at times to think of all of our daughters marrying in the relatively near future. What is our role as parents if the husband is a loser? This is all freaking me out a little.

We have to give our daughters their independence ~ but to the point of marrying a psychopath? I suppose so. I have been known for bristling when anyone tries to control my decisions. Like I said, I knew everything when I was 19 and I wasn't going to let anyone tell me what to do.

We cannot take away their free agency, so what is the answer?

We try to be very clear regarding the choosing of a husband. My daughters OFTEN hear their mother excuse herself as she steps up on her soapbox to deliver her speech regarding the choosing of their future mate... the father of their children. They are better off alone than with a loser. Let me repeat ~ they are better off alone than with a loser... or a murderer for that matter. Do I really need to add that to my speech? Ugh. I've been thinking my little mantra covered it all.

I have come to believe that it's not the registered sex offenders we need to be worried about so much as the one's who haven't been caught. Susan Powell's husband had a clean record and he just blew up his family.

This is a totally different world than the one I grew up in. Our children need to be solid as a rock.

I Hanged the Children

My little peeps are now on display.

 

Unfortunately, I have added another child who will probably have to wait 10 years before I make his silhouette.

 

Poor Mr. Binks.

 

He really will even things out rather nicely though hanging there in the middle. Don't you think?

On a sad note...

Coyote dropped my camera (cough, cough) and it is D-E-A-D.

He killed it.

R.I.P. faithful camera.

Blogging without you will be like talking without my hands.

Impossible.

Wigs 4 Kids - She Did It!

Pupa is a determined girl.

For two years she has been growing her hair as long as she can (with no split ends) so that she can donate it to Wigs 4 Kids.

Pupa filled with excitement!

Pupa said "Whoa! That is a lot of hair. Well ~ I can still be happy because at least I still have some left-over. These kids don't have any!"

My brave 8-year-old

She did it. Twelve inches of gorgeous hair for another child.

I've always told Pupa that she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside but the depth of her love for others has risen to a new level.

Pupa ~ you inspire us all.

Busy Times & Lots of Laughs

Can't get enough of this kid.

 Binks' face is classic!!

Bo turns 15!! And loves her piggy pillow pet. Aww...

 Cake side note ~ I forgot the cup of boiling water in the batter and Bo doesn't like frosting so I couldn't even cover the mess. Sometimes you just have to smile and eat the mess. 

Jedrick pre-haircut with his finger in the light socket

 

Grandpa took this picture while he was here for a visit. That's Jedrick's drinking cup at night. He freaked out when he found out this was going on when he wasn't looking.