Mommy, did you mean to ruin the car?

God gave me children to keep me humble. I've learned that I do not know how to parent (I ask for wisdom daily). It will be by God's grace alone if they all grow into godly, productive and happy citizens. But they also remind me constantly of all the stupid things I do. The latter is the most frustrating thing about parenting.

Yesterday, I wrecked the car. If you all could have seen the accident you would have thought I was a drunk driver. Honestly, it was that stupid. Okay, so here is sleep deprived me driving a 1-ton vehicle. As I was driving I looked into someone's backyard (they had a pergola on their deck) and I was trying to figure out how their family could get onto their back deck. Yes, I was actually using my limited brain power to find a sliding glass door on some stranger's back porch while driving.

While deep in this facinating meditation, I drove the car over a curb and sheared off a fire hydrant. Yes, the hydrant actually flew off the water pipe, and no, water did not shoot straight up into the air. I wish it had. I also wish I could say that babies were screaming and children were fighting in the back seat. Any legitimate distraction would do for my stupidity. But, instead, I only have myself to blame.

My precious 5-year-old Bug had all kinds of questions/statements for me yesterday after we all calmed down from the accident:

• Why weren't you paying attention to the road, Mama?
• How are we going to get groceries?
• Why did you have to talk to the police?
• Why did he make you sit in the back of the police car?
• You really should have paid attention, Mama.
• What does "consequences" mean?
• Wow, Mom, did you see the car? It's totally wrecked up.

It's a good thing he's around to rub my nose in all of my mistakes and stupidity. The only good news I have is that all of my precious cargo are safe and sound. No one was hurt and for that I am truly thankful!

"New" Bathroom

I painted and my father-in-law cut and nailed up the moulding. I love it!!! Because it's the kid's bathroom I had some fun with frogs and ducks. And if I get tired of it then I can "grow it up" by tossing the kid accessories and put in classier things. For now, however, it's fun to have a kid bathroom!

Liquid Nitrogen

My friend, Debbie, is a local science teacher and brought one of her experiements to the house to show the kids. Lucky for the kids, it involved liquid nitrogen and ice cream, a winning combination! Apparently, it is okay to ice cream after it's been frozen with liquid nitrogen. Anyway, I haven't died, yet, from eating the ice cream!

Sunglasses R Us

She knows how cute she is!

Goal Attempt #1...

Why can't they all just look in the same direction at the same time? I mean really, is it that hard for them to do? Well, maybe so. But I am determined to keep trying. They really are quite the bunch and I love them all.

And how do you like my shoe in the photo? I guess I'll be editing that one...

The Girls and their Boy

As you can see, there is no lack of love in this family. Not only have we not seen any evidence of jealousy (yet...) but my girls are also madly in love with their boy. Peanut is especially happy to hold him for just a few minutes. Not too long, mind you, but just long enough to say she did and then pass him off.

And Kiki sees everyone else holding him so why can't she? She also sees Peanut holding dolls so this baby thing must be easy. Except, wait, we aren't allowed to poke out his lovely eyes. Sorry, sister!

What I need now is a photo of the 4 of them together. I'm not sure that's possible but it's nice to have goals!

Brothers

It is very exciting to me that my Bug now has a brother. I've wanted him to have one for ages and now my boy has a brother to love. Don't get me wrong, he loves his sisters. And he's especially in love with Kiki. They can often be found playing happily together noticed only by Kiki's giggles of delight. In fact, no one makes her laugh like Bug does. They are 2 peas in pod. But now he has a baby boy to dote on and he could not be happier. As usual, all he wants to do is smother him with attention. Thankfully, in the next few weeks he'll be able to do just that.

I'm just so thankful that my son loves his babies!

Another beautiful baby enters our family!

I truly believe that all women who birth more than one child harbor self-deprecation in the depths of their psyches. Yes, this includes me! Since labor and delivery are so close to the forefront of my mind right now, the mere idea of doing this again is horrifying. After numbers 2,3 and now 4 came into the world my wonderful husband looked at me and said, "I can't believe you were willing to do that again."

With all that said, I truly was willing to do it again. Why? Because as hard and terrifying as labor is, those precious little babies are so worth it. Just looking at these photos that my friend CJ took will show you just how true that is. He is a beautiful boy and I'm so thankful he's finally out!

Stats:

Born on Friday, February 8, 2008
6:09am
20 3/4" long
7 pounds 14 ounces
14" head

Sadly, he is still unnamed. We keep going back and forth about this because neither of us have a name that we just love enough to fight for. But in the next few days we'll have to make a decision. Hopefully, it will be the right one!

The In-Laws Save the Day

For Baby #4, my wonderful in-laws again come to my rescue. I'm thrilled to have them here and I think they also enjoy being here, as well. My mother-in-law attends to the daily rigamorole and the kids absolutely love being around her. She takes them on walks to the park and isn't too picky about school work. What could be better than that?

My father-in-law is a wonderful mix of my Husband and myself. He does the grocery shopping and runs all kinds of useful errands around town. But he also fixes all kinds of little piddly projects as well as finishes the big ones! He (mostly) singlehandedly switched the beds from the basement all the way up to the top floor of house. One was a bunk bed!!!!! And his next project is going to be hanging some pictures in Peanut's revamped bedroom. I love that he loves projects!

My house is running without me quite well, thank you very much. It's nice to not be needed but on the other hand is a bit strange to have a nap, awaken to a too quiet home, and then wonder where the children are! As odd as it is, I do have the consolation that it's taking extra effort on my wonderful Husband's part as well as both of my in-laws to accomplish my duties every day. Granted, they get more done quantitatively, but it still takes 3 of them to do it! Watching from a distance also makes me realize how much I love my kids and how much more work I need to do with them. I'm also very thankful that I've got all kinds of daily routines so when I have to jump back into the saddle again I'll know what to do when. And it won't be too hard for the kids to get back into our boring routines.

My Little Kiki!

Have you seen a more grown up girl? She just started pulling herself up without an object to hold onto and we are all oh, so proud! She even took 3 steps to her Papa and we all applauded raucously. I don't think there has ever been a girl as loved as she is!

And, no, no baby, yet. Trust me, no one is more depressed about this than I am. But when there is, you will all be quite tired of the photos! :)