So we are a little behind here in the desert... our leaves just fell off the trees! I am going to have to remind myself when I'm raking up 20 bags {that's how many there were last year} how much I love our mature trees. The trees are the reason we bought the house {well that and the fact that I am hopelessly sentimental and something about renovating my grandparent's old house sounded so inviting. I assure you it has not always been a charming experience. In fact, it has been one of the most difficult periods of my life, BUT also one of the most rewarding}.
Back to the trees. Our trees got sick last year and we thought we might loose the two biggest ones. Thankfully, we were able to save them... to assure many more years of me raking up leaves while the children pretend to help :). But, it's worth it wouldn't you say?
trampoline therapy...
Julia was upset yesterday {not a terribly uncommon occurrence}. She gets very clingy when I leave. I have meetings for my church calling every week and at times I plan a grocery menu which necessitates a trip to my favorite grocery store :). But other than that I am pretty much home. I'll be honest, I have been very frustrated with her clinginess. After-all she is 8. I was babysitting when I was 8, not latching to my mother's leg like a leech {at least that's how I remember it. I'm sure my mother would have a very different memory. Inaccurate of course, but different}. Usually I give her a hug and shoo her away as I walk out the door. Generally, I can look forward to at least 5 drama-filled phone calls while I'm away :). Yesterday for some reason, I decided to talk to her more about her anxiety with me leaving. She told me she just didn't get to spend enough time with me :(. My initial reaction to this claim... complete nonsense. I'm home all. the. time. True, I am rather preoccupied with laundry, dishes, homework, the other {more demanding} children. I promised her I would change that. So tonight I did. Bedtime is typically 8:30 and we were quickly approaching 9 {what's the worst that could happen if they got to bed a little late? Late for school? Like that's never happened before ;)}.
They wanted their mother to jump on the trampoline. By golly, I was going to jump on the trampoline.
Surprisingly I didn't even wet my pants {that is a valid concern after birthing 4 children}. We played dead man, dead man come alive and ring around the rosies {O's personal favorite}. I started an hour long prank pulling fiasco by putting ice down Lincoln's pants, which led to a rather large cup full of COLD water on Julia's head. Why Julia? Because I quickly pulled the, "I can take all of your privileges away card" {I know that's not playing fair is it?}. Julia then concocted a mixture of sour cream and water to pour on Lincoln's head. He fired back with a apple covered in sour cream that he rubbed on her freshly washed hair. He showered. Then she showered again. They all brushed teeth and said prayers and it was off to bed.
It was liberating to be a child again for one night. I have always prided myself on being a "fun" person. But somehow I've become that mother at the park who teaches her child to airplane swing because I would rather sit on the park bench and chat with a friend or read a book. Somehow I have been letting day to day life take over and I've forgotten how fun it can be to... just play.
I discovered why the children are always giggling when they're playing outside {at least when they're not fighting}. Jumping on the trampoline really did wonders for my soul tonight!

Julia- my little ray of sunshine. That is in fact a double rainbow we saw at the cabin, a couple of summers ago!
They wanted their mother to jump on the trampoline. By golly, I was going to jump on the trampoline.
Surprisingly I didn't even wet my pants {that is a valid concern after birthing 4 children}. We played dead man, dead man come alive and ring around the rosies {O's personal favorite}. I started an hour long prank pulling fiasco by putting ice down Lincoln's pants, which led to a rather large cup full of COLD water on Julia's head. Why Julia? Because I quickly pulled the, "I can take all of your privileges away card" {I know that's not playing fair is it?}. Julia then concocted a mixture of sour cream and water to pour on Lincoln's head. He fired back with a apple covered in sour cream that he rubbed on her freshly washed hair. He showered. Then she showered again. They all brushed teeth and said prayers and it was off to bed.
It was liberating to be a child again for one night. I have always prided myself on being a "fun" person. But somehow I've become that mother at the park who teaches her child to airplane swing because I would rather sit on the park bench and chat with a friend or read a book. Somehow I have been letting day to day life take over and I've forgotten how fun it can be to... just play.
I discovered why the children are always giggling when they're playing outside {at least when they're not fighting}. Jumping on the trampoline really did wonders for my soul tonight!

shenanigans...
He's up to mischief again! I was in the other room for all of 2 minutes, when my terrorizing two year old caused quite the mess {with a full box of cornstarch. I had NO idea one of those small boxes could hold so much}. I don't have my camera right now, so I can't show you the white couches {they used to be tan}, or the white hardwood floors {previously dark brown}. Just trust me... it's one big gigantic mess {the only kind Owen knows}. {I also have crunched up ice-cream cones ALL, and I mean ALL over the house. He emptied and crunched up an entire box of 24 ice-cream cones this morning and I have yet to clean them up}.
He immediately hid in the basement. When I called his name the only reply he would give was... "don't bank {spank} me". We usually do time outs, but yes it's true he's had a couple of spankings in his 2 and half years on this earth. You may not agree with spankings, but then again... you've never tried raising my Owen, have you?
He narrowly escaped spanking this time. I merely showed him his enormous mess and a big grin came over his face, "I do that" he said. Heaven help me with this boy {I'm pretty sure heaven already is helping me because I couldn't have made it this far on my own}.
Notice the white hair/shirt. The picture doesn't do it justice. The only problem is that he's so adorable that I can't stay frustrated with him for long. I'm afraid this darling boy has his mother wrapped around his little finger :).
He immediately hid in the basement. When I called his name the only reply he would give was... "don't bank {spank} me". We usually do time outs, but yes it's true he's had a couple of spankings in his 2 and half years on this earth. You may not agree with spankings, but then again... you've never tried raising my Owen, have you?
He narrowly escaped spanking this time. I merely showed him his enormous mess and a big grin came over his face, "I do that" he said. Heaven help me with this boy {I'm pretty sure heaven already is helping me because I couldn't have made it this far on my own}.
Notice the white hair/shirt. The picture doesn't do it justice. The only problem is that he's so adorable that I can't stay frustrated with him for long. I'm afraid this darling boy has his mother wrapped around his little finger :).
Notice the mangy looking doggy. This particular stuffed animal goes EVERYWHERE with Owen. They're partners in crime.
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