Happy 4th Birthday Isaac!

Happy Birthday Isaac. You are turning 4 years-old this year and becoming quite the big guy. I am amazed at how much you have changed this past year, probably more so than any of the boys thus far. I mean, we had days early on at the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 that were tough. You were not always the most agreeable kid. Frankly, you were kind of a hellion. But boy, in these past sixish months, you have grown so much. You are much more reasonable and really quite logical. You are super smart and that is very evident in the conversations you and I have. You are funny and expressive. You are really a great sidekick during the day.
We moved to Frisco this summer and you took that all in stride. Although you talk about missing “Arkansalt”, as long as your brothers are with you, you are fine. You took swimming lessons this summer in Texas. It was a nice break from the extreme heat. The class had four students and you were the only boy:). You weren’t sure you wanted to go to any of the lessons but you always went and did just as you were told and overall, you seemed to enjoy it.
In August, you began preschool at the Musical Arts Schoolhouse in Frisco. Moving late in the summer made it questionable whether you were going to even get into a school but God always takes care of us and gives us things we didn’t even know we were looking for. Ms. Lacy is your teacher on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. She calls you and the other students “friends”. As with most things, you are not really excited about going but when I pick you up, you always tell me that you had a great day. Your class spends 45 minutes in each of the following areas: art, music, theater, academics, and dance. I ask you quite often about dance class. All you tell me is that you dance “big boy dance” not “girl dance”. I am not sure what that means. I may have to sneak a peek one of these days. I think you have found a place you feel comfortable and a teacher you really like.
And I am not sure, but I think all this creative time has really had an impact in your personality. You have become SO expressive. You are a ham these days. You love to have dance parties with Mac and I swear, if you lost your hands tomorrow you would lose your ability to talk too:). You talk quite a bit and get frustrated if someone doesn’t know what you are talking about. You tell lots of jokes that don’t really make any sense but you are super funny when you don’t mean to be.
Although things are getting a lot better between you and your siblings, you still give your brothers fits, especially Sam. You might just give him a heart attack one of these days. You found his button early and push it frequently. You love him but like to drive him batty! In the new house, you share a room with Sam. You two are forming a great friendship and making wonderful memories but neither of you know it just yet.
You have the smarts and abilities of an older kid but the reason of a 3 turning 4 year-old. That can get you into hot water with the older boys and even with Mac. He is just enough into your business that I am not sure you care much for him these days but for the most part you look out for him. Sometimes you’ll almost kill him trying to keep him out of harm’s way but it seems your heart is in the right spot.
This week, you start basketball. You have never done anything like this before so you are not quite certain you are capable but I am sure you are gonna be a champ! You get dragged to all of Sam and Will’s extracurricular activities so it will be kind of nice for you to have your time to shine. I will let you know in another blog how it turns out.
Really Isaac, we have had some rough days with you. You are incredibly stubborn and carry an attitude with it. But over the last several months, you have become such a sweet, young boy. You are a great snuggler and come to our bed often in the middle of the night. You won’t hear your daddy or I complain because we love having you there.
You have soft, sweet eyes and a gentle smile (with a dead tooth or two:)). You have personality that will take you places. Coming up third in line, I am excited that you are beginning to take on a world of your own. You are figuring things out and the world out with it. Your brain is always working and I am never surprised but usually tickled at what you come up with.
You still love your cold milk and need help getting the lights on in the “bafroom”. You eat very little variety. You pretty much just eat yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, anything sugary, bananas, the little oranges, chicken, chicken, and more CHICKEN. Oh, and you eat grilled cheese too but no other sandwiches and no cheese outside of the grilled kind.
You are a complicated bug Isaac Chism but I love you. You are precious, and I know God has some amazing things in store for you. By the way, the other day you asked me, “When is Jesus gonna shave?” I cannot wait to see what you do with all of those gifts He gave you. I know it is going to be amazing!
I love you buddy! Happy 4th Birthday Ike:).

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Happy 10th Birthday Will!

Happy 10th Birthday Will. Wow! It seems like forever ago that we brought you home but then again, time sure has flown by. This past year has been especially crazy. With only about 30% of your support, we moved to Texas. I say 30% because there were parts of moving that interested you like having an upstairs and getting your own bedroom but the other 70% of you was pretty happy back in NWA. Although it was actually the second place you lived, Cincinnati being your first, NWA was the place you called your home. It was what you knew and where you loved. Your dad and I both know you well so we knew that moving would cause a few bruises but we just really felt like right now, Dallas is where we should be.
So in the past year, you have been busy. You had Mrs. Powell for 3rd grade and you loved her. She was a wonderful teacher who really made you feel comfortable to just be you. Your writing improved tremendously from 2nd grade maybe not because you gained so many new mechanics in her class but possibly because she encouraged and loved on your just in the right way to bring out the best and most creative parts of you. So, thank you to Mrs. Powell.
Now you have Mrs. Theos. She had an uphill battle with you when the year began because 1) you were in a new school, a totally new environment where you weren’t quite certain of yourself and 2) she wasn’t Mrs. Powell. Well, you are about 2 months in and although those first weeks were rough, you are rounding a corner and I think your path is looking clearer to you. Mrs. Theos is not Mrs. Powell. She is not as cuddly or lovey but she is going to be a teacher that challenges you and really develops you in ways no other teacher has. She is a no nonsense kind of teacher. Right now, you don’t exactly appreciate that but as your mother, I do. She is going to make you expect things from yourself. She is going to help make you great!
This summer you chose to take a break from soccer and try baseball. Unfortunately, it has been one of the hottest summers on record so the practices have been brutal. And honestly, although you can do anything you want to do Will Chism, athletics are just something that at this point, you have to work a little harder at because they are not quite as natural as academics or social types of activities. So you are not totally loving baseball because it is hot, time consuming, and quite frankly, hard for you. The first few weeks and even first couple of games, it was pretty apparent that you weren’t digging it but I think you are feeling more comfortable in a lot of areas of your life now and that is bleeding onto the baseball field. You are still learning every single game but you are playing ball now and seeming to enjoy it more and more each game:).
Will, this move has been the toughest on you. But we predicted that before we even committed to moving. We knew it would be hard on you but we also knew that you would find a way to work through it and be a stronger and more compassionate kid for it. And, you are beginning to do that. Three months in, your attitude is improving tremendously and therefore, your schoolwork is too. Your teacher is not always the enemy anymore, sometimes mommy is;). Your steps are lighter now. Your heart is open again. Your smile is genuine. I think you are beginning to understand that as long as you have your God and your family, you have your home. And that is the most important lesson you could have gained from this experience. It is also exactly what Daddy and I have been praying for you. We love you Will Chism, and cannot wait to see what other plans He has for you. Happy Birthday big guy!

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Happy 7th Birthday Sam!

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Happy Birthday, Sambo! Today we celebrate the amazing gift God gave us seven years ago. Today we celebrate you.
The past year has been full of big events. You finished your first year of school at Bernice Young Elementary with Ms. Norris, a teacher that you were kind of afraid of and then began your second year of school but this time at Ashley Elementary with Mrs. Woolford. I am not sure if you are just more certain of yourself this go round or if Mrs. Woolford just gives off a different vibe, but either way, you are not scared anymore.
This year you also finished soccer and swim review (it annoys you and Will if I call them lessons because you know how to swim;)) and began baseball. Unfortunately, you began playing in July in Texas. Most of your practices were in 100+ degree weather so you weren’t lovin’ it but were a trooper and stuck it out. With a lot of practice on your part and patience on your coach’s part, you are getting the hang of it and starting to like it. You actually get a bit excited about it, and that makes me happy and you make me proud.
Because we moved, you got a new bedroom and a new roommate. Now you share a bed with Isaac. He knows you well, how to get under your skin, and how to make your blood boil. You two get tangled up in little disagreements more than any of the other boys but you guys are getting better and might actually be enjoying one another more and more. I think you would prefer to still share with Will but seem to be settling in okay.
You still love playing the Wii but now prefer to play with the neighbor boys or your brothers which is a nice change. You still run as fast as possible into the living room when you first get out of bed afraid you might be missing something. You still have the most infectious and wonderful laugh I have ever been around. (Your daddy and I love to hear you in the back seat of the car. Will can get you so tickled.) You don’t come into our bed in the middle of the night very often anymore but when you do, you still snuggle up as close as you can to Dad or me. You are a great bedfellow!
Academically, you are bright and an amazing reader. Your handwriting is still a bit difficult to read and you could care less about lines on the paper;) but it is all improving. You are extremely tough on yourself and get frustrated if you have to redo homework. I don’t think it is the fact that you have to take the time to redo it but that you didn’t do it just right the first time. I hate correcting you because you are already awfully hard on yourself, and I hate to frustrate you when I know that you are doing your best.
Honestly, I hate correcting you in general. If I say something to you about poor judgment or a mistake you might have made, you quite often get these big tears in your eyes. It is very sad, pathetic really. I have really never seen anything like it. You can be fine one minute and then huge crocodile tears the next! I think acting might be for you:).
Sam, you are an awesome little boy. You have a very tender heart and are a ton of fun to be around. Your laugh and excitement can light up a room. Your anger can also bring one down but we won’t talk about that. You are such a sweet boy with great intentions but can be thrown off track if someone, aka Isaac, tries to annoy you. You are also very honest which tends to make you very funny! You are a precious, precious gift, and I am so very thankful to God for giving you to me so that I could be your mommy. I cannot wait to see the plans God has for you. I know they’re going to be awesome!!!!
Happy 7th Birthday Sam.
PS – Here is a letter that I gave to your teacher, Mrs. Woolford. She had asked for a little background on all of her students. Here is what I wrote:
Dear Mrs. Woolford,
Sam is the second oldest of our four boys. As one of our middle children, he seeks a world of truth and justice. We work hard to create as much “fairness” as we can, but we remind him regularly and he experiences regularly that life is just not fair.
Sam is our son that most lives and leads with his heart. Therefore, he can be our emotional child at times. When he is sad, you can tell and when he is happy or excited, he is fun!
He is a bit more shy than the other boys when he is new to a situation but quickly warms up, finds his place, and falls right in line. He follows rules and really thrives in a structured environment.
Sam is an awesome reader and enjoys chapter books. The expected reading level for the end of Kindergarten in Arkansas was 4. Sam finished at a level 24. His fine motor skills, however, are a lot less developed, and this is the area we hope to see tremendous growth. His writing skills in terms of mechanics are poor but we know that with practice, he can and will improve. (As you might have noticed, his poor penmanship was probably inherited.)
We would also love to see an overall increase in his confidence level. He is not as self-assured as his older brother, Will, who Sam swears hung the moon! Sam can close up out of fear of an authority figure. We are working on teaching him to ask when he has a question and volunteer when he knows the answer.
Overall, Sam is a genuinely sweet boy. We are new to Texas so more than just your classroom is unfamiliar to him. We have been praying for our boys, their new school, and their new teachers (Mrs. Theos & you). If there is any way we can help make this year and/or Sam’s transition smoother, please just let us know!

Thank you,
Brent & Ashlee Chism

The Rest of Us - Brent, Ash, & Mac

Brent is loving his new job at Dr. Pepper. He loves the pressure of making important decisions that can make or break you. I on the other hand, would hate it. I like someone else to make the decisions and just tell me what to do But, Brent is doing his thing and doing it well. He is getting great feedback and has found a place that he feels comfortable and valued. And that makes me happy!
Mac & I are trying our best to find a groove. Mac is a very busy boy, very busy boy. He keeps me on my toes. I feel like I get very little accomplished in the day because he is tough to run errands with and at home, I have to keep my eyes on him all the time. The only way I am writing this blog right now is because he is asleep. And when he rests, it is so very peaceful.
All in all, these past few months have been whacked out busy, but you know what? It has been wonderful! Our family is making a major life change and it is so exciting to see what is ahead. I mean, don’t get me wrong, we dearly miss our friends in NWA, our house, school, church, and being close to family. But we have so much to be thankful for and excited about. We are so very blessed!!!!!

Buy Me Some Peanuts & Cracker Jacks

Sam & Will started baseball. They have only played in preseason tournaments up to this point so it will be interesting to see how the regular season goes. So far, my boys are making HUGE strides. They had never played or even been interested in baseball before this year. I am not sure they were interested in playing even this year but they had to choose a sport, and I guess they were tired of soccer. Well, it has been an eye opener for them. They really knew very little about the game at all (not for lack of effort on their father’s part). But in such a short time and with great pain, they are getting it. Although Will thinks we are pushing sports for scholarship opportunities, we really just want them to understand the game, feel comfortable playing it, and be willing and open to all things new. You know what, they are doing just that. I mean, I am amazed. It has been SOOOOOO hot here this summer. Many, many days of 100+ heat with 2 hour practices and they have complained a little, but really given it effort and are doing their best. I am SO proud to watch them, cheer them on, and to take them home, even when Sam hit the ball and ran to 3rd

First Day of School in Texas

The boys started 1st & 4th grade at their new school, Ashley Elementary. Being new, we weren’t sure what teachers to want or not want, so we were indifferent when we were assigned Mrs. Woolford for Sam and Mrs. Theos for Will. They have been in the classroom for 3 weeks now, and although they have had some bumps, it is going to be a great year. Sam seems to really like his teacher. At the end of each day, I ask how it went, and every day, he says, “Awesome!” Will on the other hand has had a bit more of a slow start. I am not sure it is his teacher but possibly that each year gets progressively less fun and more intent on work. That just bums him out Having been around both their teachers a couple times now, I know that this year will be challenging, full of growth potential, and one to remember!
Isaac started Preschool this year. He is attending a musical arts preschool. He spends 45 minutes in each of 5 areas: academic, music, art, theater, & dance. His class meets from 12:00 – 3:45 on Tuesday-Thursday. He complains every day that he has to go but when I pick him up, he is in a super good mood and speaks of the awesome day that he had! I am hoping to sneak over sometime to check out the dance class. I can only imagine the fun that looks like!

Summer 2011

Over the Summer, we were very busy trying to sell the house and wrap our brains around the idea that our home on Firefly Catch would only be “ours” for a little while longer. This was the home that we built to live in forever. We brought three of the four boys home from the hospital to this house. It was the place we made some of our closest friendships, some of our most wonderful memories and within a short time, we would call somewhere else home. It was sad but it was also very exciting. God has always taken care of us. I am not sure we have always understood His plan or gone along with it happily but He has always taken care of us. And even in our sadness, we could see He was working.
My mom, Nana, stayed with us most of the Summer. Nana & Pawpaw relocated to NWA, yes just as we were relocating out of there, so Nana stayed with us to help in Brent’s absence. We loved having her. I think she loved being there too. Although, there were days (house showing days), that she was wishing she was staying somewhere else. We took home showing to a whole new level of crazy! Trash cans out, hampers out, dirty clothes out, soft music playing, all lights on, blinds open, shower curtains open, baked goods on the table, and always something to drink! Yep, doing that enough times could definitely get you a visit to the crazy house!!
Thankfully, a wonderful family purchased our home and that allowed us to purchase a home in Frisco, TX. So, on July 11, 2011, we closed on our new home in Texas. We have been here just under 2 months and God has taken care of us. We see it every day. Sometimes it is in a big way, other days in a small little way. We struggled with choosing a house here. Heck, there are SO many choices. So feeling confident in our choice was difficult. But again, God has taken care. We have a couple new families that just moved in about the same time as us. They each have 2 boys. (Probably asking too much for any household to provide a playmate for all my kiddos;)) Two of the boys are just Will and Sam’s ages. Another boy is just in between Will & Sam and still another is closer to Isaac’s age. So, for all intents and purposes, the boys are taken care of. Almost every single day, the doorbell rings and a little boy is on the other side asking the boys to come out and play. And that is wonderful!
This summer we have spent special time with family, celebrated friendships that will last a lifetime, said goodbye to our old home and found comfort in a new one. Brent spent his first weekend with all three boys, ALONE and I got to have a special time with my college friends right here in Dallas. When I look at the pictures in this slideshow, I realize how much life we live, how tremendously blessed we are. There is love and fun in each of these photos. This summer seemed to fly by but in looking back at the pictures, we savored our time and hold those memories and people so very close. God is a great God!!!

Sam graduates from Kindergarten!

Wow! You have a baby, husband takes a new job, sell a house, buy a house, relocate your family and then wonder where the time went;) I mean, so much has gone on, I have a ton to write about but getting the energy to do it is my problem. But today is a new day. I am gonna get some writing done!
In May, Sam graduated Kindergarten. I think it is really funny but super sweet that they make such a big deal of finishing the big K. The ceremony was held at Harber High School in the auditorium. The kiddos sang, danced, even did sign language. I don’t remember getting emotional at Will’s graduation. I am not sure if it was because Will is always my “go along with it even if I don’t like it” kid and Sam is so not that kid. Seeing him really singing and signing, simply participating, really hit me. I think that on that day, I also realized what an awesome school the boys attended, one that would allow and encourage such a beautiful and spiritual experience. I think I am also just getting more sentimental in my older age. Regardless of the reason, I was a bumbling idiot there, crying like a baby. It was super special!

Happy First Birthday MacArthur! (Macadoodle)

I just saw that except for one little post this month, my last posts were in February! I am shocked by that because at first, I cannot even begin to figure where the time has gone. But then, I think about the blog that I am writing and the child I am celebrating and it all makes sense. MacArthur Reid Chism, you were born on your Nana's birthday. (Thanks for getting me out of buying a present last year;)) So this year, you are celebrating your 1st year on Earth while she celebrates her 60th! And let me tell you Mac, it has been a year!
First, you are a precious boy. You are almost ALWAYS smiling. I mean, you get annoyed from time to time when you want to be held or when Ike climbs on your back and attacks you, but other than that, you are a happy baby. Your smile is so big and sweet, you practically can't see your eyes when your flashing those 7 pearly whites. I think that amazing smile was a real gift given to you from God because honestly, without that to melt Mommy's heart, you would be in a world of hurt!
You are the busiest of all my babies. You could care less about television or toys. You instead love all things that aren't for your playtime. We keep the trash can either tucked away under the kitchen table so the lid won't open or we put it up high out of reach because you LOVE playing in it. I have caught you pulling out wrappers and picking little bits of food out of them. Gross! You also love toilet paper and tissues. You love to unravel the rolls and unload the boxes. You like to eat the tissue. Again, gross!
You and Nana's dog trade toys quite often. I am not surprised when I find you with a dog bone in your mouth or a chew toy in hand. You are constantly in a drawer or cabinet you are not supposed to be in. We have taken to rubber banding them shut but you still manage to get into mischief.
You love going outside especially when your brothers are out there. Although, you are quite content to be out there by yourself.
When it comes to food, you eat veggies but you love fruit, especially blueberries and bananas. I worry you will turn into Violet from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, just one giant blueberry we have to roll down the hall;) You love ice cream too. If you see someone eating it, you go crazy mad hollering for your share.
Your sleeping has been GREAT lately. You have been a pretty good sleeper from birth, at least compared to my other kiddos. You continued to wake up for feedings long past the age you should have but you got over that a little over a month ago, and it has been smooth sailing ever since.
You are walking these days. I am not sure it is your preferred mode of transportation but it is the first one you go to. If you fall, then you just crawl the rest of the way. I LOVE seeing you walk. You still walk with hands raised high, a smile on your face, and you make a sound of delight that brings me such joy!
You are a bear to change and dress. I practically have to sit on your to get your diapers changed. You are always trying to get somewhere.
You don't really like the car seat and usually protest when first put in. But you are a pretty good car rider and love having Will sit next to you. When we get to our destination and you see me through the window coming to get you, you kick with such delight. I LOVE it!
Your brothers really love you. Ike has his moments of frustration with you but that is really to be expected. He is trying so hard to fit in with the "big boys" and find his new place as not the "baby" but the big brother. Sam and Will think you are amazing and cute. They just can't get enough of your laughter. Really, I don't think any of us can.
You chatter a lot in your tiny, sweet voice. Sometimes I stand outside your bedroom when you are just getting up from a nap and talking to yourself to just absorb as much of those precious sounds as possible. I know that one day all too soon, those little noises will be gone. I look forward to the day you that you and I sit down and talk about your day at school or your favorite games to play but I will miss the little chattering.
MacArthur, I am tired. I am really mentally and physically exhausted most of the time. But you know what Mac, I am blessed. You are such a gift to our family. We were a family before but once you arrived, our family became complete. I am excited to see all the plans that God has in store for you and your life but I am going to try and savor all of these moments with you while you are still just underfoot usually hanging onto my legs. (We have both become quite good at maneuvering through the house together like this.)
Happy Birthday Mac! Thank you for being patient while I figure this "mommy of four boys" thing out. Thank you for delighting in my arrival and making me feel like the most important person in the world. Thank you for the pure joy you bring to our family, sweet Macadoodle:) Again, Happy Birthday:)

Camp Invention

Today my son, Will, came home with 4 paper clips, a golf tee, and some other little round wooden thing. He said that he needed some tape. (We should buy stock in scotch tape. That is the "go to" adhesive tool for Will.) Anyway, about 2 minutes later, he had made a dragonfly with his potpourri of items. Two weeks ago, he made a compass (the kind you use at school not the kind you use in the woods) out of a pencil, a ruler, and a rubber band. I asked him if he needed a compass because we do have one somewhere in this house. He said, "No" but that he just wanted to build a compass. And that is my Will. He is always creating something. No, the things he builds don't always actually work, like the Ben 10 car he made out of a cardboard box, but his mental wheels are always turning:)
He is an out-of-the-box kind of thinker - fairly creative - always has been. But until a few summers ago, I don't think he felt confident enough to just create something. I am not sure he really knew where to begin or how to see something beyond what it actually was. But, a couple of years ago and every year since, he has spent a week at Camp Invention. And now, he sees the potential in the practical. I am not sure what their motto is but I think that is kind of what Camp Invention is about. It is about thinking outside of the box to solve problems. It is about using your creativity to expand your possibilities. Whether it is building a floating vessel out of recyclables or taking apart a piece of electronics to then assemble into whatever a child can imagine, Camp Invention challenges the kiddos minds to see the possibility in everything. I like that, and Will has loved it. As I write this, Will has requested some popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, and any and all things crafty. I am not sure what he is up to but I will soon find out.
I must admit that I don't always appreciate the tornado of a mess he creates but I do appreciate that he is creating. Even if he builds me a life size Spongebob Squarepants with moving parts, (Where in the world does that fit into my home decor?) it doesn't matter to me. I'm just thankful that he is able to see the problems and potential out there, and that he is ready and willing to take it all on. Kudos to Camp Invention:)

Party!!!!!

Well, we did it! Will got his braces off today, and I didn't hardly cry. I got a little teary when Miss Jill showed us the before and after pictures but I so didn't go into soap opera drama:). I kept it together and just savored the fun of the moment. And when I say, "Fun", I mean "fun"!
The office takes braces off just one day a month. I guess because they do it in a big way. Dr. Landers wears a tuxedo. Woo hoo! His wonderful assistants wear fabulous evening gowns. Gorgeous! There are balloons and a big banner. There is a table of fun glass jars filled with all the things a child should avoid when wearing braces. (I think we get a "C" for that effort. I mean I get Laffy Taffy but who would have thought that cheese balls were off limits? They are heaven covered in artificial cheese dust!) After Will got his braces off, he got an oriental take out box to fill with these sugary delights. Oh, and then there was Miss Jill acting as the "Party Pic Man" taking all kinds of photos. (Party Pic Man was a reference to my high school dance days:))
What a nice way to celebrate a special day. I am not sure Will caught it all in the office. I think he was distracted by the television screen in the ceiling. But once we got in the car, it began to sink in. He began thinking about those before and after pictures and he got it.
He was not a fan of the braces. Neither Brent nor I had ever made a big deal of his teeth before the braces so I am not sure he understood the purpose. He got used to them and rarely complained, but today got it. He was grinning from ear to ear. I offered him the rest of the day off from school to hang with me and celebrate. He chose to go back and show off his big deal:) I cannot even explain how happy inside that makes me.
I think I get why Dr. Landers does what he does. Up to this point, I honestly thought it would be kind of yucky working in all sorts of mouths. Today I saw how his work creates a new confidence in these kiddos. It was fun to see the delight in Will's eyes.
Today was a great day. Thank you God for giving us the resources to afford such a wonderful gift. Thank you Brent for committing to our family that you would take care of us in every way. And thank you Dr. Landers, Miss Jill, and the other very special ladies that have worked on Will's braces this past year and a few months. He is walking taller this afternoon because of each of you:)

That's Unfortunate:)

A little background maybe for better understanding but more for sympathy for the story that follows;): I am a morning person. I mean I am not a 6:00 am morning person, but mornings are good for me. It is when I historically have been at the peak of my mental sharpness. Since becoming a mom, the fact that I am a morning person hasn't changed but that peak I just spoke about has leveled off somewhat. I have four kiddos and usually one or three have found their way into our bed at some point during the night. (I kind of hate it but kind of love it all the same.) That being said, although I am not quite as sharp as I used to be in the mornings it is still when I am make the most efficient use of my time and it sets the tone for my day.
So a few months back, I was on it. I mean I was getting the kids ready for school, my husband ready for work, the house ready for any unexpected visitors, & myself ready to actually exit the car. (I usually take the kids the 4 blocks to school barefoot and in my pajamas never really considering what I would do if the car broke down or if I was in an accident.) This was a day I was ready for. And since I was clean, I decided I might as well show that off so I decided to make a surprise visit to my in-laws at work. My father in-law has an optometric office in Shell Knob that they work at on Tuesdays. So, I scurried around finishing my last few tasks before heading out to meet them for lunch. At this time, my youngest, Mac, was about 3 months old so I needed to nurse him just before departure. As with many young babies, Mac was quite regular during feedings, and it was always a guess as to what kind of trouble we were going to be in. On this day in particular, I was about half way done feeding when I began to feel a warm sensation on my leg. After I shut my eyes and said a small prayer, I lifted Mac to survey the damage. Oh no! It was everywhere, on Mac, the bedspread, my jeans. Well, I decided to clean up in that order. I changed Mac which unfortunately involved washing his face and hair because of course, on this day, we were wearing an outfit that had to go up and over;) Then I stain sticked the bedspread and threw it in the wash praying that mustard color would come out of my light colored bedspread. (Why I continue to choose colors that are so unfriendly to boys is a mystery to me! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!) Lastly, I needed to address my clothing situation. As I mentioned, Mac was only a few months old at this point so my clothing options were limited. I still had only one pair of jeans that fit without total muffin top so changing was not an option. It was all about spot cleaning for today:) Thankfully, it all wiped up fairly easily. I was out the door within just about 20 minutes with only a wet spot on my thigh as evidence of the disaster of doo doo that just took place.
Lunch was great. My in-laws were really surprised by our visit and happy to see us. After we returned home, I proceeded to take my jeans off so that now they could be washed properly. I mean, the stains were gone, at least I thought, but the jeans needed to be scrubbed for simple peace of mind. I took them off and laid them on the washing machine. Yep! It is as it seems. I guess in my haste, I failed to check the backside. Yes, I walked around for roughly 8 hours (a few mom and pop shops, lunch at a real restaurant not a drive-thru, from the front to the back room of my father in-laws optometric office and back up front again) with mustard yellow poo in the sweet spot of my backside. No one said anything. I mean, okay, I can hope that those people at the optometric office had severely poor vision and just couldn't see the offense but what about everyone else? Maybe they didn't notice? Nah! Ot did they just feel too bad to tell me? I had two little boys, ages 3 & 3 months, on hand so maybe people just didn't have the heart. I don't know. They probably thought, "That poor girl has her hands so full she has not the time nor the sense to check the mirror." Or worse, "That poor girl ain't got even the time, the sense, nor the control to just stop and "go".";)
Ugh, Shell Knob is a small town. Thankfully, my father in-law is the only optometrist there so even if they wanted to, they couldn't hold it against him. Heck, maybe they feel bad for him, know he must have a lot on his plate with a daughter in-law like that. "Girl probably ain't got the sense to get out of the rain!" Sadly, after four boys, they might be right about all the above:)

Am I ready yet?

We have eight more days, and I am really excited and really nervous about that. We have eight days until Will gets his braces off, and he has no idea what that means. I mean, he is nine so he knows what the braces coming off means but he really has no idea. He's happy about it but happy about it because he is in the third grade and few other kiddos in the third grade, if any, have braces. So, he is not in the norm and sort of views himself as a "nerd" because of the braces. (I am not even going to tell him that one day, not too long from now, glasses will be in his future too;)) I do try to tell him though that, years ago, braces were less common so yes, they fell victim to the stereotype of "nerdiness" but that has changed. And that although he is one of the few kids his age to have them, that will soon change too. So for Will, getting the braces off means the freedom to eat all the chewy, deliciousness the packaged goods world has to offer, and it also means that he might at least get one foot out of "Nerdville".
I, on the other hand, think that next Wednesday means so much more. I see my son as amazing. (I am his mother. I should see him that way.) I see his humor, his brilliant creativity, his sweet heart. I see the man that he will be, and that is why I am filled with excitement and nervousness for next week. Because getting his braces off, for me, will just reveal more of the beautiful man he will one day be, and that is wonderful, exciting. But it also means a reminder that he is already nine years-old. Last time I checked, he was nine months and taking his first few steps, and then practically running the next day. He was five and walking into his first day of Kindergarten, smiling and certain. He is now nine, and taking another step toward becoming an awesome young man. So I am nervous.
I am quite certain that Dr. Landers, his orthodontist, has no idea what emotional bomb he will have on his hands next week. Has he ever had a mom cry about such a non-event for most people? His office has been so very kind and done such an amazing job with Will and his overbite, underbite, and tongue thrusting. They have been so patient and welcoming when we arrive and that is saying something. I have three other boys ranging from ages six years-old down to nine months. So when we enter the building, we make a scene;) I can only imagine how they must prepare for our appointments. They probably built the new building and loaded it with video games, televisions, and all the fun a kid could ask for outside of Disney World just to keep my kids from climbing the walls and their mother out of therapy! (Sidenote: The last visit, my three year-old walked in the door and exclaimed, "This is paradise!" Yep, he said that at the dentist's office. Hard to believe, I know.)
So is Dr. Landers prepared? Yes for Will, maybe for me. Am I ready for it? Most of me, the big girl in me says, "Yes". But that other part of me, that one that can still see and hear my two year-old look up at me and say, "Well yook (look) at you Mommy, I yove (love) your belt." says, "Nah."

Where has the time gone?

Sadly, it has been a few months since I last posted. I am not saying that people are waiting on pins and needles for the next post, but this is sort of my attempt at a journal for my boys. I am terrible at diaries, and my handwriting is pathetic. Typing/blogging is my best option for getting down my thoughts and recordings of our life as I see it. The boys might have other memories of how things went down but I am the mom so what I say is truth:)
So to catch up - It is early February and Christmas has come and gone. We were blessed to see all the extended family this year during the holidays. We hosted some and were hosted by others. We had a jolly time!
We celebrated Christmas a little early this year with the whole Chism family. To kick the festivities off, we did the Polar Express Train ride in Branson, MO. My kiddos have seen the movie and liked it but my brother in-law, his wife, and children LOVE the movie. So the idea of trains, hot chocolate, cookies, Santa Claus, and the mystique of the Polar Express sounded like a wonderful way to begin our holiday. And really, it was. Somehow during the boarding process, we snaked seats in this upper section of the the train car. There were so many of us (7 adults, 1 girl and 6 boys) that no one else thought it a safe or sane idea to join us up there. They were all VERY smart people. So, we had this whole area to ourselves. The kiddos could roam freely, somewhat and just enjoy the magic of the lights and sounds of Christmas. Although the ticket prices are definitely something you have to plan for, it was really a special night that I know most of the kiddos (Mac's just 9 months so he gets a pass:)) will remember...and the adults too. The rest of the weekend was full of food, presents, and laughs. We really had a great time just being, eating, and making Christmas memories.
On Christmas Eve, my side of the family came to NWA to celebrate. It is the first time in several years that we have all been together on Christmas. We usually celebrate in hitches. (Plane tickets are cheaper that way;)) So it was really special to get to celebrate with some of our usual family of 6 traditions with a family of 9 and then family of 13. We were crowded but it was fun. Will and I prepared yummy sweets for our guests. He wasn't interested in helping with the real food. He just was frank about it and told me that "desserts were his thing, not vegetables". (And I thought he was hangin' in the kitchen to be with his mom. Now I know it was really about licking the bowl:)) Anyway, the weekend was simple but wonderful. Because Nana & Pawpaw currently live in Florida, when they come to visit, we kind of just "be". We don't go out much. Again, Nana and Pawpaw live in FL so they although they love time with the grandkids, they ain't lovin' December in Arkansas. We played the game Pit which was a lot of fun. It is a great game because it takes all of about 2 minutes to explain, and it is pretty kid friendly. My niece and nephew played with us. My nephew is 9 and from time to time would not play exactly straight. I am not sure that was because he is 9 and not totally getting the game. I think he got the game but used his age to his advantage. In the end, we laughed until we tinkled, ate until we were miserable, and loved until we couldn't stand it anymore:)
Our Christmas was merry. We spent time with family. We talked about Jesus birth and celebrated it with cake. We enjoyed the magic of the season. We were blessed!