Yuckola!

Yuckola is right!
Crickets, crickets everywhere!
As we walked into school this morning, Little A said, as she pointed to each and every cricket and beetle, "Yuckola! Yuckola! Yuckola...." We could have stood out there being yucked out all day...
Another little boy came into my classroom and commented on the overflow of bugs.
He looked around and said, "We'o in Twoubow Now! They-o attacking ow-o howse too."
No really, I need a soundbite so your can hear how cute it was...

And one of the teachers said, "This has got to be Biblical"

Try getting 3, 4, and 5 year old girls to sit calmly in a classroom while crickets dance about -
Ok - now add prissy girls until you hit the number 8 or 9 - now add about 7-8 boys who get their thrills by torturing said little girls with the thoughts of cricket stew, or cricket hairbows...
This is my life.
I have an endless source of things to laugh about.
I might just live forever from the health benefits of laughter!

There you have it - from our school to you - a yuckola plague in progress.

Fun pictures.

Here are a few shots from Hunny's birthday!
We went to the circus!
The kids really enjoyed the first half of it.

(Wendy and 2 of her boys were there, all but the baby boy...
I have some pics of them - but no permission to post...)
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I guess it happens with every child...
My daughter has always been so photogenic, without trying.
She only recently started making "pretty faces" for the camera.
It's a phase, A very cute phase.

Strange.

I have noticed a direct correlation to the fact that EVERY time there is a weight loss show on tv, ie. 'The Biggest Loser' - I have an insatiable appetite for anything consumable.
Why is that I wonder?

Investing.

Proverbs 22:6 (King James Version)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

I was working on retreat stuff here tonight when I heard a fascinating commercial.
It was about investing. One of those big name firms.
The man on the commercial said, "I want to contribute as much to my kids' future as they contributed to mine."
It was a light bulb moment for me.
I don't even know if I can articulate what it meant to me.
I just have this overwhelming sense of purpose in my life.
Much of that purpose is directly connected to our heavenly Father, but there are other facets of my purpose that are more directly connected to my children (ultimately to God as well).

Prior to moments of motherhood, I had squandered much of my effort on things selfish, with diminishing returns...
Upon the mere mention of their existence, my life was filled with a purpose not of my own self.
The arrival of my children provided me with a future.

Reciprocity. I want to invest in their future, in part, because of the profound impact they have had on MY future.
I am not necessarily speaking of things monetary, although it is my belief that responsible stewards strive to ensure provision for their families.

But on the whole, an investment in their spiritual futures, their eternal journey, their lifelong relationship with their Creator, even the quality of their personhood.
That is what my future is about. It's my purpose.
Their very existence gave me my future.
Can there be any greater reward for an investor than to see exponential return on a worthy investment?

Where two or three are gathered...

Pray.
I have been torn as to whether or not to share a prayer request.
I have decided that regardless of the potential consequence, a life hangs in the balance.
My husband is a very closed person and frowns on my openness.
This prayer request involves one of his coworker's sons, so I was really not sure if it would be ok to divulge.
I have been tossing it around and decided to ask you, my circle of peeps, to keep this child in your prayers...
He is 8 years old and had a liver transplant as a tiny, tiny child.
He was born with a dysfunctional liver and keeping him alive until there was a donor was no small task.
Since the transplant, things have gone relatively well. At least where transplants are concerned...
The past few weeks, Chris has been having to put in lots and lots of extra hours because of complications that have landed Cole in the hospital.
He is not doing well.
I do not know the prognosis. (The indication I have been given is 'not good')
But I do know that he is struggling.
And I believe in the power of prayer.
Please pray for Cole.
And that through the trial of his life, God is able to reach those directly connected to the situation.

Cute.

The first thing my son said to me when I woke him up this morning:
Those earrings look like googly eyes!

The me nobody should ever have to see...

Today I (and a few others) saw a side of me that I really hate to see.
It's the immature, not coping well, angry, spoiled, you name it, icky me.
It is usually spawned by absolute exhaustion - coupled with unmet expectations.
The kind of exhaustion that before you had kids, you could, at some point, get refueled.
But once you have attained this level of exhaustion, the only thing you can do to get refreshed is, well I don't know - when I figure THAT out I'll let you in on the secret...
Honestly, my parents have just about always been there with bells on for those moments, they step in, usually in just the nick of time, to save me from pure craziness!

The problem is - I acted like the me I hate today.
I did not want anyone I loved or even liked to see me in my irksome state.
There are witnesses. I am embarrassed. I need to grow up.
I need to sleep, a full night's sleep.
What will that be like?

Kablot fix.

she's here............................

I got to see her, hug her, eat dinner with her, run around town with her...
It was awesome!
I am really excited about tomorrow!
We're going to hang out during the day while Hunny's at work.
After he gets off work, we're off to the circus with the kids!
I have never been to a circus. I don't 'think' I have ever been to a circus...
Dottedline, have I ever been to a circus?
At any rate, I am excited for a very fun weekend!
With my WHOLE family!

A few random thoughts.

Some knucklehead installed speed bumps in the alley at my school.
Probably to protect the tiny children running around or something dumb like that.
I like to swerve all around them, because I'm a lawbreaker.
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For the past few nights, I have been stricken with insomnia.
It's kinda funny right now.
All day long, it was all I could do just to keep my eyes open, and now?
I sit here with my eyes wide open, wishing for sleep, but not counting on getting much...
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My grandmother's surgery went well.
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Marme, I am seriously nearing the hyperventilation phase when I think about speaking at the retreat. you probably think i am being dramatic, I assure you, I am not. I need help.
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My throat is less scratchy, but it still kinda feels like someone punched me in the neck...
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I got hunny a new TV for his birthday. He's real excited.
I'm excited too. I bet I'm one of the only girls you know who is stoked about watching football on the new flat screen... AWESOME!!! I shall bleed blue and silver with you seph...
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The carpet in my bedroom is sooo very pink. Should I embrace it and paint the walls pink too?
No la, i haven't lost my mind - it was a joke...
And why didn't you call and tell me I could bring you those brownies? You NEEDED brownies, i could tell.... I hope your day was better.
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Meems, I didn't come to the park. You KNEW I didn't come to the park because YOU went to the park... I am sorry. this week will make chest hair grow on me for sure... Please nobody comment on that... heheheh
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I openly admitted to a coworker today that in my adult life I have awoken from a dream and realized that I was sucking my thumb. Was THAT unprofessional?
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My sister will be here tomorrow!
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All weekend!
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I miss sleeping.
I miss lazily drinking coffee in the morning for 2 hours...
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One of my boy students asked if I was married today.
The other teacher in the room said, "She would not be a Mrs. if she wasn't married..."
He said, "I'm FURIOUS about that."
Yes, he actually said the word "furious"
How cute!
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I love the fall.
Everything about fall makes me happy.
I am convinced that God created the season of fall especially for me.
The colors, the cool mornings, the gourds (I love gourds), pies, turkey, Pumpkins, football, Leaves turning, holidays, the smells (spicy, delicious smells), The fact that your lawn stays mowed forEVER, my birthday, thanksgiving (I know that falls under the category of 'holidays' but it's my favorite holiday so it gets double mention), Sweaters, mittens.
What's not to love about the fall?
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I feel disconnected already. I have been at work for two days. A total of 8 hours.
I have an incurable need for my friends...
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I saved the best for last, my brother-in-law bought my hunny the best birthday present.
A Dallas Cowboys jersey with his last name on it... That jersey coupled with the one my parents bought C. last Christmas (Tony Romo Throwback jersey) makes my husband the coolest person alive.

Proud momma.

My precious adorable little boy made me so proud today!
if you have known me over the course of my stint as a mother, you will know how very wonderful it was for this to happen.
My son has transformed from an honery little stinker ;) to a truly wonderful, obedient, compliant, still high energy child.
His teacher on the 2nd day of school gave him a reward that she (in her own words) 'rarely' gives out. She does reward, but THIS reward is the big kahuna...
All by itself, what he did was not a great big deal, but it was a big deal for second day of school.
He finished the activity at his chosen center, put everything away, threw his trash in the trash can , and walked across the room to stack his "sit-upon" back in its proper place -
ALL WITHOUT BEING TOLD TO DO SO...
She made a big hoopla over his actions in front of the whole class, and praised his behavior as something for the other kids to imitate...
He got this huge sticker that covers a good bit of his chest on one side that says, "My teacher is proud of me."
I think he grew 3 inches while she told me about what happened...
I was so proud of him today!!

On another note, same day, same child - when he came to my music class - I made him cry.
It was very sad. I didn't mean to hurt his heart.
Here's what happened:
We were playing the 'get to know you' game where you roll a ball across the floor to a student and ask them to answer 3 questions...
It's the game I use on the second day when I still haven't learned all their names...

I ask them:

1. What's your name?
2. What's your favorite song?
3. Tell me something about you that I don't know... (favorite color, favorite food, favorite movie, etc...)

I had asked about 7-8 students in his class the same questions. We had established a pattern for the game. So when I rolled the ball to J. and I asked him his name, it never occurred to me how he might take it...

He started bawling. Like a broken-hearted baby.

"You know my name, Mommy. You know my naaaaammmeeee....."

Stab me through the heart.

Try explaining that to a 4 year old...

I have hugged him lots since then...