bye, bye Yodi...

Right before Nathan turned two I bought him this cute stuffed puppy dog. It was love at first sight for Nathan and Yodi. The name that Yodi came with was Yodeler. I thought that was rather hard for a toddler to say so I nicknamed him Yodi. Nathan dragged Yodi everywhere and of course slept with him every night. He didn't let Yodi get to from him. One time after an overnight visit at Papa Davis' house, Yodi didn't make it back! Nathan realized Yodi was missing about 30 minutes away from Papa's house and cried crocodile tears the last 15 minutes left to our house. It took some time to calm him down but we assured him that Yodi would sleep with papa and we would get him back soon. When people would ask Nathan if he wanted a puppy he would always answer, "No, I have one...his name is Yodi."

Over the summer you may remember my post about going to sea world; well of course Yodi tagged along! Nathan wouldn't have had it any other way. While at Sea World Daniel and I decided to get something for Nathan and Kaylee. We got Kaylee these sweet pearl post earrings and we got nathan a pretty good sized plush shamu. Nathan loved it.

I started getting a little concerned about the fate of Yodi when we made it back to our car after our day at Sea World. Nathan got in his car seat, daddy handed him Shamu and I handed him Yodi. Nathan threw Yodi on the floorboard and said, "No, I want shamu" In that moment my heart literally sunk...i know silly, but it did. If I would have known that Yodi would be "replaced" I HONESTLY would not have bought shamu. LOL I wanted Yodi to be there at least till Nathan went to Middle School. On the way back to the hotel I brought my concern up to Daniel, Daniel laughed it off and said Shamu wouldn't last long. He said Nathan was only favoring shamu because he was new and that shamu would get old.

Slowly my fears have become reality, 4 months later Yodi is becoming a distant attachment for Nathan. I all too often find myself being the one looking for Yodi at bedtime and putting him in bed with Nathan and Shamu Obviously there is not room in Nathan's heart for two stuffed animals. I even was disappointed when Nathan choose to bring shamu for his show in tell at school! I found myself pushing Yodi on him.

Then one morning after making Nathan's bed I put a couple of Nathan's "favorite" animals on his bed. Nathan got very passionate about my selection and threw Yodi helplessly on the floor. I was so sadden by what I had just witnessed. I tried to convince Nathan of Yodi's rightful place on the bed with Shamu but Nathan was having nothing to do with it. I even presented my argument that Yodi would be cold and lonely on the floor. I picked up Yodi and put him back on the bed and covered him lightly with a blanket. Nathan shouted, "No, Yodi belongs on the floor" I hate to admit but this is all very sad to me and I am sure to Yodi as well!

I know there is probably some psychological connection between my persistent relationship reconciliation attempts with Nathan and Yodi and the idea of seeing a 'baby' toy become less important (I might as well say it right...not important at all)

So tonight I tried to get some "sweet" pictures of Nathan and his forgotten friend and allow myself to 'move on' by taking some pictures with Nathan and 'the other' stuffed animal. I went ahead and let Nathan take a picture with Shamu and then I said, why don't we get a picture with Yodi. Nathan didn't want any part of it and wanted to take more pics with Shamu. So I began to get 'passionate' and told Nathan he had to take a pic with Yodi. The first one is of his 'precious, beloved, favored, adored' Shamu and the last two are my attempt of capturing the 'sweet, innoncent, endearing' relationship between Nathan and Yodi.

(yes, that is coloring on his wall...)


I literally had to hold Yodi up to Nathan's face, Nathan wouldn't even hold him and even kept trying to cover up Yodi's face






Yodi, You will be missed, even if it is just by me! :(

wordless wednesday

These pictures were actually taken almost two years ago but I thought I would relive this moment and maybe find some humor in it!

my favorite part of today

I really love when my days are full and keep me hopping. Just because I love it busy doesn't always mean I end up taking it with the best attitude throughout the day. Today was a busy day; lesson planning, school, working on The String Group stuff, babysitting, practice, cooking, running, late night out last night!

Come about 5:30 pm, I really was thinking it was close to the time to put the kids to bed..until...i looked at the clock. Our kids go to bed around 8:30-9:00 and 8:00 when I have had a hard day. Daniel works late and 7:30 is getting in early for him so the kids stay up later to spend some time with him and eat dinner. I really didn't know how I was going to make it another three hours but here it is 8:20 and the kids are still up :)

Ok so on to the favorite part of my day! Whenever Daniel calls and tells us he is coming home it then is time for me and the kids to straighten up the house before he gets home. To my surprise, my attitude completely changed today during this clean up time. I enjoyed watching my kids enthusiasm for cleaning up their rooms and helping with laundry! They really are becoming more and more productively helpful around the house. I am told that the day will come when they don't have this enthusiasm but for now I will enjoy it!

Nathan and Kaylee love helping with laundry. They help me get the washed clothes and put them in the dryer, taking turns putting a dryer sheet in! (Saves me a lot of bending :P) They fill the washer with the dirty clothes, take turns putting the detergent in and I start it (usually having to pick one of them up to "push the button".

They are even slowly learning how to fold...we sit in the middle of the floor of the tv room **no tv on** When it is towels, Kaylee folds the baby ones (wash clothes) nathan folds the big boy ones (hand towels) and I try to quickly do the big ones before they are done with their stacks. I am still somewhat controlling in this area...I like the towels folded perfectly and they just can't do the big ones at all. They are getting better with their assigned ones so for now I will let them 'perfect' those. lol

There is still some 'letting go' I need to do when it comes to the actual clothes; they sort them for me and help put them away but as far as folding, I do get pretty controlling.

My kids tidy up too. They first take all their own toys to their rooms out of the kitchen, dinning room and great room. Then we spend a little time together in each room helping clean up. When we are in Kaylee's room, she and I start putting the toys/clothes where they belong while nathan puts any toys of his that are in kaylee's room in a bin. Then we go to Nathan's room and while nathan and i put up things kaylee usually has a big purse or backpack she uses to put her toys in and take back to her room to put up.

This all takes anywhere between 45 min to an hour. The whole time my kids are laughing and have the biggest smiles on their faces. They are constantly asking "what next mommy" It is hard to believe that cleaning would put me in a good mood but it did and I am still floating. Especially because when my sweet husband gets home he always notices the house and the excitement continues when he gets home. Each kid takes their daddy to their rooms and shows him their 'tidy' rooms. Tonight Nathan even opened up the linen closet and showed daddy the towels they folding. Everyday, Daniel is so 'excited' with them!

I guess I blogged about this to remember this special time in our daily life. But i guess it could also be to let other moms know just how helpful little ones can be and what a special family time it can be. Look for ways to bring your kids into your daily routine! Also, let me know how your little ones help out so I can find new ways to 'put my kids to work' lol I am slowly starting to let them help prepare meals/cook and put up dishes but I still struggle with it. But, I know they would love to help in anyway there too.

we love tennis

Monday night I was able to take Nathan and Kaylee up to the tennis courts. We were able to go last fall and spring pretty regularly but the summer was really busy so we are just now getting back up there. Monday was our first attempt to start 'coaching' nathan on some of the fundamentals. My dad is an assitant coach for the youth clinics at the park; so he couldn't wait for his chance to get Nathan started. Nathan was up for the challenge and did quite well. We spent almost 30 minutes on drills then just did fun stuff. After tennis we went to the park nearby and played there a bit. I made a slide show of some pics I was able to get....As you may notice, Kaylee was in the stroller most of the time, she had fallen asleep and slept most of the tennis time. We really missed her; she loves picking up the balls and that saves us a lot of work!!!

chapter in review :P

Well, one of my most recent post; raising some of my parenting thoughts really lead me to a couple great books. The first that I am reading is Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna. I am told it really focuses on raising spiritual champions vs raising well behaved kid....what a concept! Next two I have on the list to read are Don't Make Me Count to Three by Ginger Plowman (recommended by a sweet friend) and also Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. I just started reading Revolutionary Parenting so if you want to join me, I am on the 2nd Chapter. Don't worry, I am a SLOW reader; you will catch up!

One of the points that this book has already redirected me to is that the responsibly of raising spiritual champions belongs to the parents, TAKING place in the HOME! This means first off that I better be a spiritual champion myself.

In Chapter Two, Barna begins to illustrate for us the coach/proteges relationship as it relates to the parent/child relationship. Merely hoping to raise a spiritual champion is not enough; you need to have clear goals, commitment and involvement.

We all too often hear the quality time vs quantity time argument. Barna writes, "Your impact on your children's lives is proportional to the depth of the relationship you have fostered with them." I need to devote substantial amounts of time building a relationship with my child.

Having two under five, this point really could be easily overlooked. The things I do with my kids that require substantial amount of time sometimes are not the most intriguing/interesting things to me but as I well know, they mean everything to my kids. Coloring, playing with cars and trains, dressing up dolls and playing house all are things my children love to do. How easy is it for me to let them play together by themselves while I get things done! Right now, I could think of so many ways I could impact their spiritual lives not only by showing them I am interested in them and the things they enjoy but also working in spiritual truths and principles into their hearts as I invest some time in them. Definitely, this is something I am convicted about!

Yes, quality in the quantity is important but just a couple minutes of quality time a day is not going to do it. I, of course am drawn to a tennis analogy!!! hahaha I have spent hours, weekly working on a particular stoke! I can't just do the perfect stroke for five minutes and expect it to be first nature for me; i have to spend many hours, doing that stroke perfectly before it is my nature to do it that way every time.

I know it will be easy for me to equate the long days I have with my children as a SAHM with spending many hours of quality time with them!!! But, who am I kidding - - not myself, not God and most certainly NOT MY CHILDREN!!!! I have to start personally evaluating the moments I am given with my children and with what devotion I am giving them; minute by minute!!!

WOW, and that was just the first two chapters! I am glad I have this blog to help me really absorb this book and the things God is trying to teach me through it. I am reminded of a quote a veteran mom told me when I had just had my 2nd child (16 months after my first)
"The days you have with your little ones at home are the longest days you will ever experience but the years while you have them will go by faster then you could ever imagine"
Ok, that may not be as eloquently put as she did but that is the jest of it and I haven't found it written anywhere else. That quote really drives home the importance of my role as a parent to make the most of the days I am given with these two precious gifts from God!

all for the love of jesus....

or fruit snacks :) Finally remembered to take some time to video tape Nathan and his preschool bible verses. He is really good at them but gets a little distracted when I try to film him. I told him if he did it for me he could get some fruit snacks, explaining his final statement....