My baby brother is 16

Today my baby brother is 16 today. I remember the day he was born. My parents did not find out the sex beforehand and with two brothers already at home I was dead set on a girl. Obviously, God had other plans. Will was born somewhere around noon on April 29th, 1994 when I was a 4th grader, and I will never forget the phone call at school from my dad telling me it was a boy. I said don't bother coming to get me, I don't want to meet another BOY! I sat on the playground and cried and cried! Another BOY would ruin my life! But when we arrived at the hospital I immediately fell in love. He became "my baby" in many ways. I became a little "mother" to him. I spoiled him rotten and he adored me. I would sometimes pinch his nose when he was sleeping just to wake him so I could play with him. He was an alien looking thing at first but quickly turned into a handsome little thing with blonde hair and blue eyes. He could melt my heart and do no wrong in my eyes.

Fast forward to today. He is sitting in a hospital, trying to figure out life. He will not be getting his license and most likely will still be a sophmore again next year. He has had a really tough time lately but I still remember him as 4 years old asking me to make his favorite breakfast "tream of wheat" (cream of wheat), I still remember his imaginary friends Billy and Jason and how "real" they were! I still remember him parading around the neighborhood with his poop on a stick...

And he still melts my heart. He still can do no wrong in my eyes. He is still my little baby blonde haired blue eyed boy! And I MISS HIM!

I love you William Henry Roberts! Happy Birthday!

I am too tired for a creative title tonight. A run down of our week.

1. Lana is speaking in full sentences. Not like two words either. Like fulllllll sentences... "I want to hold the baby", " I feed baby ba-ba", "Baby, Where are you?", "I want a snack", "Go Away Graham (she pronounces it Damn)", "Give it back Graham".... She is only 20 months old! Lord help us all!

2. Graham is talking too. Some of his new favorite phrases include: " snack, bye bye, hi, no (and he only shakes his head once, to one side, resembling someone trying to bite their own ear), yea, LANA!!!!, MAMA!!!!, cheese (whenever and wherever he sees a camera, please...


3. He is becoming his own little man too. Getting a personality... He is clingy towards me, and his dad, he loves to dance and be silly, and loves loves loves to climb EVERYTHING this week and proceed to jump on it.

4. Lana climbs everything too and mastered jumping long before I have ever known a child to jump... Guess where Graham gets his skills from???

5. This week has been rough on me otherwise. My baby brother, Will is in the hospital for hallucinations and paranoia and drug use. He is really having a rough time and it has been tough on our family as a whole. Please, we can use your prayers. He turns 16 tomorrow, in the hospital and we are not sure we can even take him cake...

6. He has expressed in the hospital that he would like to come live with us when he gets out. This scares me. I love him to death and have always played the role as a second mom to him but I don't know if I am ready to raise a teenager. Not to mention how hard it would be for my mom to give him up. But I pray God will let us know what HIS plan is for our family. I will take him, gladly, with open arms if it is what will help to make him happy and healthy again.

7. I got to babysit a 1 month old all day today. And even though Graham is ONLY almost 16 months old, I cannot believe he was once that little. Lana and Graham were adorable with her and it makes me feel like right now would be a good time to start trying for Baby Rebbec #2!!! I am off BC and we are not preventing it from happening but not to the point of going crazy trying. Pray that God will bless us again when it is our time...

8. I can't believe I got to # 8 and did mention OUR NEW HOUSE yet!!!!!! The inspections are on Friday and the closing date is set for May 28th. I am really excited under all the other emotions running rampant in my life right now! I think God chose this one for us for a reason! I can't wait to find out that reason!!!

9. Can Do Kids has been a blessing in my life but I can't continue on with the leadership it has now and it saddens me. I truly have come to adore those kids and I love seeing all the things they are learning about OUR SAVIOR, but it is becoming a burden on me, I am turning to a nasty mean person when I am done there because some people just irk me. The kids are fantastic and if I could take them out of the situation and away from the adults "leading" it I would be fine. I might look into the program they have at the Methodist Church instead.

Maybe this could be Nine at Night or something cool like that?! What do you guys think? My two followers. hee hee! :)

Good Night and God Bless!

My child's obsession.

My child is OBSESSED with bottles and lids.

It started with his teething tablets...

Then moved on to his tylenol bottle.

It has now progressed to milk cartons (with a screw off cap), makeup containers, lotions, sunscreen, juice, shampoo, perfume, cleaning products, bubbles, and medications of all sorts just to name a few.

It makes going to Walgreens a JOB! He screams and throws fits and hits and bites and wails to try and get his grimy hands on every bottle in sight.

It makes opening the fridge a nightmare. He wants to closely examine every bottle in the door and take the lid off and put it back on.

It makes trying to get ready with the bathroom door open (which I HAVE to do because I get so hot otherwise) an interesting feat. I have to stand just right in front of the drawers so that he cannot open them and inspect all of my makeup, toothpaste, cortizone cream, etc... He is to the point he RUNS AT FULL SPEED when he hears the bathroom door open... He screams when I slam it in his face right before he reaches it!

I know what you are thinking- get some drawer locks... We have! I just need to have my husband install more of them. But we are moving in a couple of months so why bother now?

My mom insists that his OBSESSION means he will grow up to be an engineer... Me, well I think he is slightly weird.

:)

Wednesday's Worries

Blah- I am still sick and have no time for the doctor. So I'm taking Sudafed every 4 hrs just so I can function.

Today is my ex's birthday and I would like to send him a flaming bag of dog poop!

My baby brother is back in the hospital. He is having a really rough year. Need prayers for him.

Everything with the house is right on track- almost going too fast- leaving me wondering: is it too good to be true, when are we gonna get to the bump in the road?

I would love to fill the new house with new furniture and decorations but we can't afford it right now.

Skipping Can Do Kids tonight. Just Can't Do It. Barely doing my day job!

Roller Coaster of Emotions

This weekend we bought a house! WOW! I can't believe it finally happened. We are going to be moving to 6th St. in El Paso! The yard is huge and the house is perfect. We will be able to do home day care in the basement room easily! I cannot wait to decorate!

This weekend I have also been pretty sick! The allergies are still getting the best of me. Today I am losing my voice. I haven't been sleeping well, have a constant headache and no patience.

My brother may also be going back to the hospital. He is having some issues I am afraid we may never understand.

Keep Praying for us! Specific prayers for my baby brother who is facing some emotional issues, prayers that the "legal" mumbo jumbo of buying a house goes smoothly and quickly and prayers that these darn allergies will settle down soon so I can enjoy the outdoors again!

WHINE, BITCH, MOAN, AND COMPLAIN!!!

That is all I wanna do.
Reasons why:

I just finished my dad's taxes online, only to find out, I not only couldn't pay them by debit card online, but also could not e file them in time. So my husband is out at this hour, when he has worked over time all week, trying to Fed Ex them in time. Did I mention it's only $29 measly bucks he owes. Man what a good daughter and son in law my dad has...

My allergies are worse than they have ever been since we moved back here 10 years ago. I am having asthma symptoms as well.

My back hurts like no tomorrow and the floor is scattered with toys that 1 year olds will not pick up on their own.

We have looked at many houses this week, are confused about which one if any are right for us. And we are running out of time very very quickly if we want the governments $8000 bucks.

I have to take G for his 15 month well baby checkup and that includes shots. And my mother in law was right (I don't admit that out loud very often)the shots only get harder as they get older.

I PROMISED I would take my nephew and a friend to the Discovery Museum tomorrow after school lets out at 11:30 but really all I want to do is lay in bed all weekend under the covers!

I also PROMISED my sister in law we would come help her with the "big party" they are throwing for my MIL's birthday on Saturday.

I also PROMISED a good friend I would come to game night Sunday night. Which still sounds like fun but at this point if I feel like this much longer it will probably not sound like fun come Sunday.

I had to take 7 pills. Yes 7! Just to try to keep my body functioning half way decently for me. I find something wrong with that! I need some natural ideas because this can't be good for me.

My hubby and I haven't been intimate in a few weeks because we have been stressed and overtired from all the house hunting, allergies, family crap, etc... I need some hubby time!!!!!!!!! STAT!

I adore my child and nieces and nephews but sometimes I wish I had a "real" job so that I didn't want to hide from them in the evening and on weekends when I have just had "too much"!

I want a house. I want it to be the right house, for the right price, in the right place, with all the right stuff! I know this is about crazy to ask for but that doesn't make me want it less!

I also just want to make an offer and get in some place and get this dang show on the road because I feel trapped here sometimes. 26 stairs and two bedrooms, and two toddlers are making me a little claustrophobic these days. And with the allergies, who can expect me to be outside all day?

Did I mention my back really hurts? Like bad?

Good night. Sweet Dreams. Pray for us!

CAN DO KIDS!

My sister in law confronted me with a opportunity a few months back. She asked me to commit my Wednesday nights to serving the Community Bible Fellowship Church by being a "group leader" for their Bible study for kids! I, of course, gave in and said yes. I am in charge of somewhere between 10-16, 3 and 4 yr olds. There are days when I regret it, I will admit, it's not easy! But let me tell you what keeps me going back Wed after Wed.

The kids remembered and recited 8 out of 15 bible verses the other night!!!! They learn them to the tunes of nursery rhymes. And the verses are sometimes simplified for their age.
One of their favorites:
For God so Loved the World he gave his only Son, For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son. John 3:16- which just so happens to be my favorite of all times!

I can remember singing the song I learned in vacation bible school at their age. For God so Loved the world he gave his only son, that whosoever would believe in Him, shall not perish but would have everlasting life, everlasting life.

Another favorite of mine; This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, everyday, everyday in every WAAAYYY!
And on a Monday- He gave us the gift of life, and on Tuesday he came down from above, on Wednesday taught us just what to say, on Thursday taught us just how to pray, on Friday he gave us a little more faith, on Saturday he gave us a lot more grace and on a Sunday he gave us the gift of light to let my little light shine!

These little kids remind me in the purest way to let my little light shine!


The singing, dancing and fellowship before we split off into groups absolutely makes my day every time! Seeing their little faces light up when I'm gonna stand on the rock comes on is priceless! I'm gonna stand on the rock, I'm gonna stand on the rock of God's word! I'm gonna try to obey, I'm gonna try to obey, I'm gonna try to obey, obey God's word!
They are teaching me so much about God's word! Most of all that it's never to young to tell everyone about IT!

The best of all is the little dear ones answer almost every question with: JESUS!

I have reflected back on this night and night again as I lay in bed and talk to my Savior. He really is THE answer to everything, isn't HE?

Perhaps the best thing about Wednesday nights is before we all come together as a family and share. Rebbec's and Roberts'! It has become the "tradition" And it is a great time! I sometimes wonder on Wednesday mornings: How am I going to get through this day? But I always end up laying in bed, exhausted, with a big grin on my face at the end of the day. And I always find my self looking forward to next Wednesday!

Spring time fun and photo shoot!

Spring is my second favorite season. Second best only because I hate allergies and feeling like there is a dump truck parked on my face! I love to take the kids to the park int he wagon, I love watching them pick flowers out of strangers yards and hold up Dandelions like it's a prize winning rose! I love green grass and bare feet. I love the trees that bloom (even though they make me sneeze-ahhhhhchooo!)

Most of all I love taking pictures of the little ones outdoors! So here are just a few we have taken so far this spring!

What I would give to be a 6 Yr Old Boy!

Today I took my 5 almost 6 yr old nephew and his 6 yr old friend on a date. We went to lunch then to a movie. On our 20 minute drive to town the boys found a piece of asphalt in my car that sparked the most hilarious conversation.

Wylie to me- " What's the stuff called that roads and pavement are made of"?
Me- Asphalt, Why?
Him- "Remember when I used to call Asphalt- Buttfault?"
Wylie to his friend - (laughing) "Get it? Butt-fault instead of Ass-fault... You know so I didn't have to say the "bad" word...
His friend- (laughing) "Yea like it's your butt's fault not my butt's fault. POOP COMES OUT OF YOUR BUTT FAULT. POOP COMES OUT OF YOUR BUTT CRACK." (farting noises)

Both boys laughing hysterically. Me trying not to crash the car laughing but trying to hold it in so they don't know how funny I think they are.

Wylie to his friend- "Hey wouldn't it be funny if the whole world was made of poop. We would ride in poop cars, and there would be poop roads and we would have to eat poop!" (still laughing hysterically)

The friend to Wylie- "That would be really smelly!" Hey what if the whole world farted at the same time?"

Me- (I now can't resist joining in their fun) "that would be really smelly!" (still Laughing my head off! but neither boy laughs)

As we are turning into the restaurant the voice of reason-Wylie- "Hey now! No talk of poop while we are eating"

Me to myself- (BUT YOU STARTED IT!)

They mixed all the different kinds of pop together and actually drank it!!!We ate and they watched an ESPN special as we did and they talked about all the teams. The lady in front of us stopped by our table on the way out to exclaim "your boys are the funniest! We loved their conversations!" me- "Thanks they're not mine!" under my breath (hooray for that) out loud to myself- "how in the world am I still gonna make it thru the movie with these two hams?"

I did make it! The movie was even cute! But I swear again (for the 4th time) I will never see another 3D movie! They always give me headaches. Or is it maybe just the company I keep when seeing 3D movies?????

NOTE TO HUSBAND: BBQ sauce and new Easter shirts do not mix!

I will never claim to have the cleanest house, kids that don't have mashed potatoes behind their ears, or pop tart stuck in their hair. But I do give some consideration to what I feed them and what they are dressed in.

For example, I usually know what shirts are ok to give the chocolate milk in, or strawberries. They are the ones with strawberry and chocolate milk stains already on them. After each holiday when their wardrobes usually get bigger with new things from grandma's, I am extra cautious to at least hopefully let the clothes make it through one or two meals before they get stains on it.

So you can see why today when my extra special loving husband was trying to help his already frazzled wife feed the kids lunch and gave them BBQ sauce to dip in I was kind of peeved. Both kids were wearing new shirts they just recieved for Easter! AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! So as we speak the shirts have been sprayed and washed! Let's pray they come clean!

Overdoing It- Easter Baskets!

I am horrible at overdoing it at holidays. I am learning, to be more frugal because we are saving for a house, and it's the "reason for the season" and not how much crap can I buy for my Grahamster and nieces and nephews! Theses days I even feel guilty when I don't buy for my younger cousins and occasional babysitting kids! I am horrible! Horrible, I tell u!
We were tight on the cash flow at Christmas time but had a tax return right before Easter so I overcompensated. Graham got a "Cadillac" of wagons! Even the kids at church exclaimed "A WAGON!!! I didn't know the Easter Bunny brought stuff that big! hee hee... Bubbles galore, More candy than any one year old could ever eat! It was a good time!

Off Duty at 4:10 PM

I am lucky enough to have a husband who works only a mile and half from home. And he works mostly 7:30 to 4. So this past week, after having a few rough weeks behind me, I exclaimed to him one evening: "I AM OFF DUTY AT 4:10 PM. I don't care what you do after that time but the kid is yours!" I was only half serious. I love being a stay at home mom more than anything in the world most days... But some days; poopy diapers, temper tantrums, cleaning stuck on food off the kitchen floor and highchairs multiple times a day and random middle of the day baths when the kids have decided to wear their food rather than eat it, can get to a woman! So when I said this to him I meant chip in whenever you want in the evenings because you may see me sitting here on the couch but really I am off somewhere on a deserted island sipping frozen raspberry margaritas! My husband is an amazing father and husband and does chip in more than your average Joe but sometimes his chipping in causes me so much more work in the end.
For example:
Daddy trying to feed the kid: Kid gets pissed, throws his food all over the floor, himself, etc... Because little does daddy know- kid likes to feed himself (as of yesterday) and he prefers to feed himself with a fork.
Daddy giving kid a bath: Kid splashes water all over the floor and gets lotion everywhere afterwards because little does daddy know- kid loves to grab the lotion and squirt it himself because he is a self described "BIG BOY".
Daddy trying to help change a poopy diaper. Daddy gets frustrated while kid is wiggly and flops diaper on coffee table which in turn flops poopy onto coffee table.
You get my drift? How many of you have wonderful hubby/daddy's at home who make your job a little harder sometimes?
But these things I would not know or be able to enjoy if I were a working mom. So thank goodness for my hubby who works his butt off so I can enjoy poopy diapers, slobbery kisses, and grimy hands all day long!