More pumpkin fun!

We had a pumpkin carving party with three other family friends and all the kids. Here are some fun pumpkin photos of our afternoon.....

Daddy and Anna watching Will scoop the gunk out of his.....

Wyatt and I with his pumpkin...complete with hair and a bow-tie upon Wyatt's request :)...

The whole gang of kiddos and their finished pumpkins!

Just for fun

Wow, what a smile Wyatt!!

Allow me to feel sorry for myself....

Here she is......all cleaned up!

I just need a little sympathy. I know this post is going to sound like I'm having a pity party, which I am.....but don't we all once in a while? My morning started out with freezer cooking 12 meals, while watching three kids. I'm in a freezer cooking group, but can't make the date they scheduled this time so I decided just to do it at home. Not really realizing it, I picked a couple pretty time consuming recipes, but still, I made ok time and was done 3 hours later. My kitchen, however was in such a state that I would not even let my best friend inside my house. The kids were beggin to go outside so we went out for about a 1/2 hour and I put all thoughts of my messy kitchen out of my mind. It felt so good to get some fresh air, what a beautiful day. So back inside, I started lunch, while tackling a bit of the kitchen. The kids were fed, Anna was well ready for her nap, (did I mention she was up at 5:45 this morning, as well as every day this week?) so I lay her in her crib and warning her not to climb out, and to go to sleep. I am well prepared for at least 5 crawl outs and put back ins, but instead I hear silence and give myself a little pat on the back. Yay, we're making progress with the whole crib climbing thing.



I set Wyatt and his friend (my little day-care boy) down on the couch with a stack of books and say "look at these and when I'm through with the kitchen I'll come read some to you". All is well, the boys are behaving so I dig into the kitchen. Dishes done, counters wiped down....now onto the floors. But then I hear something coming from the hall. I glance at the boys still seated and looking at their books. I listen and again I hear a noise from the bathroom. I head into the bathroom to find Anna with a bare, poop covered bottom, up on the counter of the bathroom trying to wash her hands. The first thing I do is look around for the diaper, praying she just now took it off. Nowhere. I go into her room and this is what I see: a full diaper of poop laying on her changing table, and poop smeared all over her changing table, changing table pad, and several spots on her carpet.



I have just now finished cleaning up the mess (still have my kitchen yet to go). I can't help but realize how insignificant this is in the grand scheme of things. It will go down in history and be re-told around the dinner table I'm sure and even now I'm already smiling. Isn't it good in the midst of our frustrations as a parents, God has made our children so incredibly lovable, despite all they do to frustrate us? After her bath I set her on her changing table and that's when I realized that she was trying to be an independent little girl....climbing out of her crib and up her changing table to change the diaper she knew was poopy and then realizing she had it all over her hands, and going to wash those as well. I couldn't help but look at her and say, "Do you know that I love you even when you smear poop all over yourself and your room?"



My heavenly Father feel the same about me. I know I make a "mess" of things at times. I try to clean things up on my own without asking for his help. But even when I've smeared poop (so to speak :) all over something, He still loves me. He covers all my shortcomings and cleans me up. I'm grateful to be reminded of that today.

I'm also grateful for Kirkland household wipes cause I used about 40 of them on Anna's mess!

A new look

So, I've given my blog a new look. I discover the wonderful world of pyzam.com and it's hundreds of templates to choose from. I still want to add some pictures on the sidebar, but we need to take some updated ones so check back! Like the furniture in my house gets re-arranged a lot, this blog look might not stay, but for now I'm likin' it.


I have a simpler list of links on the side and let me introduce you to my blogger friends. If you're like me I sometimes wonder, "how do they know each other?" So if you've been wondering here's your chance to find out. Hats off to you my fellow bloggers.....

1. Alysun and family. Alysun and I attend MOPS together and used to attend the same Church before there was Calvary Chapel in Dallas, where we currently go. She and her husband had our family over for dinner when we were new at church and she is so gracious and hospitable. I have enjoyed getting to know her through her blog and when we have a minute at MOPS, we get to chat.

2. Christi and family. Christi is my long time friend from high school. We went off to college together and were roommates our freshman year. She married Jeff in 97, Craig and I were married in 98 and we lived in adjacent apartments the year we were all seniors. That was seriously a lot of fun. We have lots of memories. I have always admired Christi's humor and optimism. She always sees the bright side of things and it inspires me. Be sure to check out her blog as she is expecting her third baby very soon!

3. Dallas MOPS. I started going to MOPS when Will was 8 months old. It has been a huge blessing to me. It got me out of the house as a new, young stay at home mom and I was able to meet other moms in the area. I love living in a small town and seeing friends from MOPS out and about at the grocery store or park. I started my blog to be linked to the MOPS blog, and went from there. Check out MOPS groups in your areas, they are worldwide.

4. Food Love. Fun recipe blog with a handful of contributers. Check it out for a new recipe.

5. Kelleigh and family. I met Kelleigh through MOPS and we both served on the steering team for a couple years. She is a very outgoing and creative person, with a lot of love for her family.

6. Kelly and family. Kelly I know through Craig's side of the family. She and Craig's older sister are friends, she attended the same college as Craig and I, and she and her husband were the photographers at our wedding. (They did an outstanding job). We have kept in touch over the year mostly via email and now through her blog! She is an awesome mom, with lots of insight to share.

7. Kristen and family. Kristen is Kelly's sister and went to high school with Craig. We have only met a few times, but I feel like I really know her :) Her writing makes me laugh and she will inspire you toward healthy eating and exercise.

8. Tami and family. Tami is a sister-in-law of my good friend Charlene and that's how we met. We used to be in a little scrapbooking group together. Tami is a wonderful homemaker, and a thoughtful writer.

9. Val and family. Valorie and I met through my sister when we used to scrapbook together back when I was pregnant with Will. Val has moved across the country so I check her blog ever so often to keep up on the happenings in her family.

So there you have it. If you'd like to be included in this list all you have to do is start a blog! It's fun and easy, and if you do, I promise you I will read it!

Lesson Learned

When Wyatt was a baby I can safely say that not a person that held him didn't also get spit-up on. And by 'spit-up' I mean SOAKED. It got to the the point where if anyone asked to hold him I would first lay a burp rag over their shoulder. I still remember vividly our feeding routine. After one side came the burping where I would prop him up with at least two burp rags up by his chin prepared for the hose spray spit-up I had become accustomed to. He has always been a real puker. He still hasn't grown out of it and I'm not sure he ever will. Craig affectionately calls Wyatt and I the "gaggers" of the family.....we hurl quite easily.

This poses a problem when your 6 month old is now 4 1 /2 and has trouble eating his dinner. I make his portions very small so I expect him to eat most of what I dish up. He's my skinniest kid, too, so that makes it even more important to me that he "clean his plate"! That said, there have been several times around the dinner table when Wyatt is encouraged to eat "4 more bites". There have also been a few times I have paid the price in vomit for encouraging those bites. Last night was no exception. I needed him to eat a little more of his dinner in order to justify giving him a rice krispie treat for dessert. I asked him, "how many more bites do you think you should take?" He replied "nine". Wow, nine, that's great, I was thinking four, but nine it was and he was off. By about bite 7, I think, I turned to catch him starting to heave. I immediately pulled his plate in front of him and instructed him to puke on that. He did, and thankfully not much.........but then a few second later the floodgates opened and it ALL came up. So now I have white chicken chili, peaches and raspberries overflowing off his plate and dripping off the edge of the table, and the boy I am so intent on filling is left with a completely empty tummy.

Yep, I think I can now safely say that it really isn't worth making him finish his dinner. I was the one to clean it up, gagging all the way. I guess I'll just choke it up to another mommy expectation down the drain (no pun intended). I finally learned my lesson.

By the way the white chicken chili was very good, but I doubt any of you want the recipe now :)

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Wyatt's pre-school class took their pumpkin patch field trip this AM. We came prepared with rain slickers and umbrellas in tow, but were blessed to have a break in the rain and even see the sunshine! While it was still cold, muddy, and windy we did stay dry and had a great time at E.Z. Orchards in Salem. Here is Wyatt showing off his pumpkin pick.










We took a hay ride to the pumpkin fields, apple orchards, corn maze and then enjoyed the petting zoo followed by donuts and apple cider. Here's Wyatt and some buddies posing as barnyard animals....Wyatt is the pig on the far right.
We'll have to come back with Anna and Will!

Funny boys

Just a couple random things that the boys said today. I didn't want to forget them so I wrote them down. Not sure if they will come across as funny over the computer, but they made me laugh.

I asked Wyatt what he learned about in pre-school today and he replied: "Cigarette mom. We learned that when you cigarette your "thung" turns all black." I figured out "thung" also means lung.

I was chopping up an avacado to go with dinner and Wyatt saw and said: "I hope we're not having choke-ka-cardo for dinner tonight, 'cause I don't like choke-ca-cardos. I guess avacados make him "choke".

Will was helping me get dinner ready and I gave him the job of grating the cheese. He was close to being done and asked me, "mom, is this good or do you need me to grind up some more chesse?"

They are funny boys and I love 'em!

REJOICE!

There are certain words that just irritate me. One in particular is 'cheshire' as in the cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland. Can't stand that word. It makes me cringe. Then are are words that I love, very beautiful sounding words. One of them is REJOICE. Try this: make a really grumpy face and say the word rejoice. It feels lame, huh? If you're like me it makes you laugh at yourself. So that's why I love that word. Just by saying it my attitude is changed.

It's kinda been a mission of mine to see how many times I can find the word rejoice in the Bible. Not that I'm keeping track, but every time I read it, I'm like 'oh, there it is'. Wednesday night our pastor shared this verse from Zephaniah (my new blog description above) and it just spoke to me. We focus a lot on becoming close to God by giving Him our worship and praise---which is GOOD. But I am overwhelmed by God's love when I picture Him in all His power and glory, actually rejoicing over me. That's just cool.

Books, Lovely Books!

Before we headed out for our hunting trip I made Craig stop at the library so I could pick up a stack of books I put on hold. Two of which I finished on the trip were so great I have to share them.

The first was recommended by fellow blogger, Tami. It is Sacred Parenting by Gary L. Thomas. Wow. I really love this book. It seems like it was just what I needed. It is a parenting book that doesn't make you feel guilty, but actually commends the work we as moms and dad are doing. It focuses on how children change, shape and define us, and develop our faith and relationship with God. I found myself underlining a LOT. Here are just a few quotes that I loved....


"It becomes a sacred enterprise when we finally understand that God can baptize dirty diapers, toddlers' tantrums, and teenagers' silence in order to transform us into people who more closely resemble Jesus Christ."


"Sacred parenting is a very long journey. It's hard to focus on a task for eight hours, much less eighteen years. The length of parenting means that there will be highs and lows, good days and bad days. Yes, we're going to miss some things. All of us could do better. All of us could do more."


"God cares so much about you that he's willing to risk letting you raise one, two, three or even more of his precious children....God adores your kids, but he is also crazy about you. You're his much loved son or daughter."


"You gain a calm assurance when you walk in the confidence that God will quietly let you know when you start to stray. You don't feel alone, unprotected, or unwanted. It's a very secure place to be, as you rest in God's shepherding care and listen to his voice."


"No matter how exalted our position, if we have kids, the day will come when we'll wind up cleaning up vomit in our underwear at 2:00am."


I could go on, but I won't. Just check out the book. It's a good one.


The other book I finished was The New Birth Order Book, by Kevin Leman. I have heard about birth order stuff and thought I pretty much new what it was all about, but I was curious and had never read the book. It was really eye opening for me especially in regards to my children. I learned that:


1. I have what's called a compliant first born child (as opposed to an aggressive 1st born). He wants to please, and needs approval, and has other characteristics of most all first borns such as: precise, perfectionist, organized and logical.

2. When you have a second child (esp of the same sex as the first born) he is likely to shoot off in an entirely different direction as the first (which mine DID!). The second born looks up at the sibling ahead of him, sizes him/her up, and plans accordingly. This was good for me to read and probably made the biggest impact. Being a middle child myself I realize some of the feelings that Wyatt might have, now and perhaps in future years, and I feel like having this insight will help be to better parent Wyatt. I can definitely see and identify second born/middle child traits with Wy such as: sociable, friendly, easy going, rebel, and slightly competitive. And it encourages me to realize it is normal and ok for he and Will to be very different kids!

3. My third and last born will most likely be what Leman calles the "baby princess" although she may take on some traits of a first born, since she is the first born female in the family. She is most likely to be an attention seeker, quite charming, affectionate, and have an "I'll show them" type attitude. The traits Leman listed pretty much describe Anna to a T, so far.

It was a fun book to read and I would recommend checking it out, especially if find yourself constantly wondering how two (or three) children from the SAME parents can be SO different :)

Other books the kiddos are loving right now....reading them over...and over....

Walter the Baker, Eric Carle (Wy's, fave....he has it memorized!)
The Three Snow Bears, Jan Brett (spin on Goldilocks)
Harry the Dirty Dog, Gene Zion (love all the 'Harry' books)
The Ugly Vegetables, Grace Lin (probably one of my fav's)

Have fun reading!!

Tag, you're it!

I've been tagged--and now, if you're reading this, you get to do it, too--you're tagged. Post it on your blog!

Two names you go by:
1. Lin
2. Lindy-Beth

Two things you are wearing right now:
1. Jeans
2. reddish pink shirt

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Walk/jog
2. work in my yard

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. sunshine
2. a few more hours in the day

Two favorite pets you have had/have:
1. Tasha, my childhood dog
2. T.C. (the cat) my childhood cat

Two things you ate(or drank) today:
1. coffee with creamer
2. Quaker Oat squares

Two people you last talked to:
1. Craig on the phone
2. Anna

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Jogging
2. Date night!!

Two longest car rides:
1. Oregon to Disneyland
2. Oregon to Canada

Two favorite holidays:
1. Valentine's Day
2. Thanksgiving

Two favorite beverages:
1. Coffee
2. water

a hunting we will go....

Through wind, rain, hail, sleet, snow and even a couple sunny days (yeah!) we made it home from our annual family hunting trip. If you are like the other 98% of people who I tell we are going hunting to, you are probably thinking.....'what, you mean the women and children go hunting too?' Well, yes, in the Button family they do. And after 9 years of marriage and about that many hunting trips I can now say I am fully accustomed to the idea. And it is actually a lot of fun (yes--a lot of work too) but mostly a lot of fun. Making memories is what counts and I am looking forward to what the kids remember about our hunting trip as they grow older. Here are some picture highlights of our 4 day stay in the great outdoors.....

Our fam, on a log in camp---right before heading home!
Anna having fun 'riding' the quad.

The little boys--Wyatt, friend Cade and Will in front of their VERY OWN fire pit. Will orchestrated hauling rocks over to form the pit and the big boys helped them light a fire. They were so proud of their accomplishment!

Just an adorable picture of the hunters and my kiddos. L-R: JT, Wyatt, Papa, Anna, Craig and Will.

Papa's Buck!!! Yeah!! It was a 4x6 for all you hunting types.