Everyday he walks out the doors and this is all I used to see...

Hi Mom! (Pulling my eyes upward and pretending that flames are not coming out of my ears) Oh Hi Trey how was your day?!

I don't know why but some days I am hopeful that he will walk out of his school and his pants will not be full of grass stains. It just isn't so:( Every morning I try to give him a gentle reminder, even though I know it is lost on him. He simply nods his head as I say; "do you think you could try to stay on your feet playing football at school?" Ya right, no way, it just can't be! This request stands in direct opposition to very nature of the game 500. You are supposed to be the one to go full out and catch the ball when it comes flying at you. He can't possibly think oh wait I know the ball is coming at me, but, it is a bit out of my reach, and I might have to dive, which will in turn cause me to completely wreck the pants that I am wearing, and this will make my mom upset! Its funny because under any other conditions I would be telling him; "if your going to do this sport then give it everything you've got!" How confusing for him. I mean who's problem is this really. Is it mine, or is it his. We have 2 competing "desires". A boys desire to be a BOY. And, a mom's desire to be well "Sane". (If you have been here you know what I am talking about.) Which desire wins? I hold the "power", authority if you will, to impose my desire to be the winner. I do also hold the "power" to relinquish my desire and allow the full Boy to escape him without the "upset" mom pay back at the end of his day. Here is where I currently stand. I have surrendered my "desire" for clean pants. I have given over to sending him in sweat pants and sports pants, and well right back in those stained up pants. In turn, hoping that I have empowered him to be that Boy dying to get out on that football field. I can't fight it. I don't want to. I have conquered my gaze and redirected it towards his face, full of smiles, reaching my arms out to hug him and tell him that I am glad to have him home!

Just Teague and Mom...

...and peace and quite:)



A little glimpse at something Teague and I get to do while the brothers are at school. Build train tracks in any direction he wants them to go (not so easily done with brothers around). Use any train you want, and drive it in any direction you want. We also go to the library once a week by ourselves. I love it! Not only does my head get to stay in one direction, I get a real chance to pick out some of the books I want! Now don't get me wrong; all 3 of them together has different benefits (like laughing hysterically at the things they tell each other or the games they come up with). Just sharing a bit of the peaceful side of our life:)

Some Pay Off

(Deep sigh of releaf) What a beautiful site! 3 boys raking leaves, playing in leaves, and topping it off with bagging leaves! Yes all this was done without me. Well to be honest just the front yard. I did have to rake the back yard by myself. However the front was enough for me this year. It was a truely wonderful moment. Doesn't take much these days:)

And there it goes...

Taatjes front tooth made a good run. Maybe you remember his biking accident of 07? I certainly do! That summer while on a walk/bike ride Taatjes fell and knocked 2 of his teeth out. Lucky for us they were sitting in his mouth when we showed up to our pediatric dentist!!! We spent a pretty penny to have them placed back in and wired to his other teeth (and removing the dead roots - so awful). It was well worth it. They held in for 2 yrs and saved the space for his next tooth to come through.
Let me share Taatjes new look with you.

The event took place at school. He knocked another boys head (that poor boy was probably in more pain than Taatjes) and pop out came the tooth. We won't go into the part where the school called and I was to busy test driving cars to hear the phone ringing in my purse - whoops. His teacher is amazing and they took care of it all. (Again Lisa I want the mom of the year award for this one!) He was so excited. He told his teacher that he was either going to get a feather or a dollar! So cute, we have left feathers, "dropped from the tooth fairy", by Trey's bed when he has lost a tooth. Had no idea Taatjes thought that was awesome:) Sure enough when he awoke he was thrilled to see 4 feathers sitting in his bed! It took him a minute to check and find the dollar under the pillow. He is such a sweet boy. He shared his feathers with his brothers and us. We will have our toothless wonder for quite a while. It's cool with him cause looking like a real pirate is every little boys dream come true!

Trick or Treat

Ninja

G.I.Joe (who lost his helmet)

Knight

The boys went wild trick or treating this year. We ended up with 2 rounds of it. One at a friends costume party and again in our neighborhood. Justin was down with the flu so it was up to me this year to get everyone dressed and out the door for candy time! This is typically his role and I stay to pass out the candy to all the kids. I happen to love seeing every ones creative ideas and smiles when you put a bunch of candy in their bags:) Oh and poke fun at the teenagers who come to the door with no costume. Well, it was fun to see my boys super excited yelling trick or treat and having someone fill their pumpkins. (This is the first year Trey noticed the older kids using pillow cases. Causing him to make a prompt request for trading in his "small" pumpkin for a "big" pillow case next year!) They also had a blast answering our door once we came home. Taatjes double-fisted candy into bags which brought out shrieks of joy from the kids! He was also yelling out to them "I gave you a treat not a trick!", such fun! Great memory and now onto the daily grind of 3 kids begging for candy at every turn in the day.

The Spoils

Another thought from Teague...

"I wish mom was a dad so we could have all boys in our family!"

Ummmm interesting? (ouch)- It's rough being the only girl in the house sometimes:)