And Yet Another Poem

This poem took it's inspiration

from a little chat between Jason and his daddy.
June 2007

Jason 2 years 7 months old

~ A Rock in My Shoe ~

"There's a rock in my shoe, take a look you will see.
A little round rock you will find it to be."

"No, there's not." Daddy said. "There is nothing at all.
Just a little white sock and a foot that is small."

"Then there must be a snail in my shoe with it's shell,
A shell that is smooth and it's hard, I can tell."

Daddy said, "Let me see. What things can be found?
There are five tiny toes and a heel that is round."

"Then it must be a fish in my shoe that I feel.
A tail and some fins. I just know he is real."

"I've looked. I see nothing. It's empty, my son.
There's not a thing in your shoe. Not even one."

"I had a rock in my shoe, but he's now gone away.
He's gone to the park. He's gone out to play."

"He's gone to go visit his little rock friend,
My shoe is now empty"... this story can end.

~ Dawn ~

Another Poem

~ My Boy ~

There once was a baby so tiny and sweet,
With a coo and a smile to all he would meet.
Then this sweet baby, he grew and he grew,
Now, you must hear all the things he can do.

He can pour the detergent on the clean floor,
Color with marker on walls and the door.
He can eat all the chocolate his mommy just bought,
He can have all this fun before getting caught.

He can take all his clothes into the bath,
Use his cute little face to avoid mommy's wrath.
He can tear the wallpaper down from the wall,
He can phone the police with one easy call.

He gives his mommy many reasons to cry,
She searches with hope for new things to try.
He causes her trouble at every small turn,
Filling her heart with the greatest concern.

Praying for wisdom in her God-given role,
She asks Him to work on his strong little soul.
Guiding this boy to be at his best,
Praying for God to work out the rest.

She loves this boy with all her heart,
She thinks of him when they're apart.
Mess after mess this thought she does keep,
When the day is done...he'll go to sleep.

~ Dawn ~

In Our House

This is the way we watch movies...


This is the way we eat our dinners...


This is the way we read stories with Mommy...


This is the way we take pictures...


This is one of the many ways we make messes...


This is the way we express the pleasure of receiving cards...


This is the way we store our diapers...


This is the way we learn to use last year's birthday present 2 weeks before our next birthday...


This is the way we fall asleep on the couch and look so cute doing so...


This is the way we kill plants...


This is the way digital camera kids check out the pictures they have taken...


This is the way we let others know how unhappy we are...


This is the way we look when nobody is watching...

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This post idea is credited to Beth who did one herself and asked others to as well. I can't link her site because she has friend's lock, but feel free to take the idea and share how some things are done in your house...

Sweet n Sour

Jason Caleb

Aged 3 1/2 years

A few favorites of Jason according to his mommy because he wouldn't give her real answers.

Things about you...

You love picking out a candy at Woolworths every Sunday morning after church.

You like playing with your brother, Seth...

And loving on your baby, Morgan.

Many evenings you crawl up in Mommy's rocking chair with a blanket and pillow and fall asleep about 20 minutes before bedtime.


You are a big mess maker, but also can be a big helper. In this picture you are vacuuming up the cheese curls you had just stomped into the carpet.


Q&A...

• What is your favorite movie? Dinosaurs...Land Before Time

• What are you favorite toys? - Easter Eggs, Winnie-the-Pooh, dinosaurs and puzzles

• Height - 38 3/4 inch
  

• Favorite food - chicken, sandwiches and pancakes

• Favorite Teacher - Auntie Heulwen

• Sandwich of choice - just honey

• Favorite song - Dau Gi Bach (Two Little Dogs)
  

• Best Friend - Six and Six and Six and Six...I have lots of friends named Six. (What a goof ball!)
  

• What do you want to do when you get big? I want to be 4!
  

God, give me the strength to keep up with this child and the wisdom to focus on the good.

Sickness and Hearing Loss

The sickness is...Morgan, poor baby! :( It started Saturday night. He had a fever for a while, but now it is just cold-like symptoms. For the most part he is still being a happy little guy. Maybe its just from teething...

The hearing loss is...Seth, poor all of us! I realize that it is not any fun for Seth not to be able to hear, but it is also very frustrating for everyone else in the family. We literally have to shout at him in order for him to hear us. Jason doesn't understand and gets mad when Seth doesn't respond to him. Caleb and I are generally quiet people so all this shouting and noise is wearing on our nerves. Seth turns the volume for movies up to a ridiculous level so he can hear it and answers questions wrong because he can't actually hear what was said and answers according to what he thought might have been said.

This has been going on for months now. It comes and goes...gets worse and then better. We are currently at it's worst. A hearing test at school showed a slight loss in one ear, so he was referred to a clinic in town. Because the loss was worse and in both ears for the second test he is being referred yet again, to a specialist in the hospital. Unfortunately he will not be able to see the specialist for at least 8 months.

So, we have been searching online for what could possibly be the problem. The simplest and most common problem would be Glue Ear, more commonly known as a fluid buildup. This can last up to a year if left untreated. I have found several natural remedies that might work. Caleb is going to call our naturopathic doctor in the States tomorrow to see what he recommends. Hopefully something will work quickly and we have a hearing boy long before he gets to see the specialist 8 months from now.

Resurrection Sunday

Happy Easter!!!

Last night we dyed eggs. I thought we had a box of Easter egg dyes from the States stashed away somewhere, but it was nowhere to be found when I went to get it. So we had to improvise. We googled..."How to dye eggs with food coloring". Found some instructions and gave it a go. They turned out really well...especially considering we started with brown eggs. We also made a batch of sugar cookies in the the cross shape or as Seth thought...an airplane shape.

Paul tried the colored water when it was his turn giving him some bright red lips...

The finished products...


We had a little egg hunt for the boys this morning before church...much fun for everyone. It is kind of cool that Seth and Jason are old enough so we don't have to hide the eggs in plain sight anymore. Makes the hiding of the eggs a bit more interesting for mom and dad. They also finally got the gifts sent by my mom, which they have been begging me for since they arrived.

Here is Morgan checking out his new toys...

And a hyper-active, Easter candy buzzed Jason showing off some sugar-induced moves...

Busy Week

Monday: Welsh class at 7pm. I don't know if I am happy about going just 4 hours a week to Welsh class. Yes, it is easier on me, the boys and Caleb, but I'm not so sure it is helping my Welsh all that much. As of right now I am around Welsh maybe 6 hours a week, where as before I had Welsh 6 hours a day. It is so much harder to learn a language when you don't hear it all the time. But that is the way it has to be for now.

Tuesday: Ti a Fi (playgroup) at 1pm. We went shopping in Bangor and got home just in time for playgroup. Morgan and Paul were sleeping so I only took Jason. The playgroup has shrunk dramatically since September. Usually when I show up with my 3 I double the group. lol! There were 2 other kids last week. One of them being a 2 year old boy who likes to push Paul around. It might help the situation some if Paul would give him a good push back, but since Paul isn't the slightest bit aggressive...he doesn't. There is no way this kid would push Jason though, so Jason had a fun bully-free time.

7pm I took Seth to a Bingo fund raiser at his school. I won a prize in the very last round of the game. Seth was thrilled. I let Seth pick out his own Easter egg prize. He passed up some really nice Snickers eggs for a plain chocolate one with a picture of what he said was a Power Ranger on the box. I'm glad I won something. As the game was nearing an end I was trying to think of how I could explain to him why he didn't get a prize. Thankfully I didn't need to say anything and I can save my little speech for next year.

Wednesday: Caleb had his last dentist appointment for a while. Unfortunately after getting 5 fillings he wasn't up to going to the dinner at the church that night. I was feeling brave so I took the 3 older boys out...all by myself! It wasn't too bad. Seth and Paul were good, of course. I had a few Jason moments, but considering it was Jason, he was fairly well behaved. I was even able to stay and listen to 3/4 of the message before leaving the room for a child. A record...I think.

Thursday: I made and took a lunch to church for some visitors/helpers that are here for the week.

Friday: 7pm I went to a Welsh-learners service at the church. I took Morgan with me. He was sleeping as I was getting ready to go and I forgot to save enough time to nurse him before walking out the door. I would have been late so he got to come with me. :)

Today: We are doing nothing. Staying home and relaxing. In fact, it is 3 in the afternoon and I still have my PJ's on. I've done some laundry, read stories and watched a movie with the boys. It's nice to have a quiet day after so much running around this past week.

A Poem

~ The Shoes ~

Once you were young and shiny and new,
Never dreaming you'd be the favorite of two.
Spotless white and a fun bright red,
You're the shoe of choice, it's been said.

You've been the cause of many a fight,
"I want to wear you! It's only right!"
But, for shame, the boys must share,
Mommy should've thought to buy two pair.

You've been taken on many long hikes,
Kicking balls and riding bikes.
You've been on the swings and down the slide,
Walked about town with great pride.

Oh, the sadness. You're getting old.
Looking well used since you were sold.
You have scuffed toes and worn out threads.
Great big holes are in your treads.

Their love for you will soon be bashed,
You'll find yourself being trashed.
Enjoy your time of fame, my friend,
Your glory days are soon to end!

~ Dawn ~

One Hundred Posts

In honor of my 100th post here are 100 things about me that I know you are just dying to know. :) Read it slowly...cuz this took 4 days worth of thought. lol!

1. I love throwing things out, as in things leaving my possession. Whether by giving to charity, trashing or passing things on to others...it makes no difference. My husband thinks I love it too much and gets concerned when I pull out the large trash bags. :)
2. I prefer not to talk on the phone and avoid it if at all possible.
3. I can play the piano...not well, but enough to get by.
4. Scrabble is my favorite board game.
5. I'm obsessed with baby names and enjoy looking at baby name books and websites just for fun.
6. I don't like cooking rice.
7. Out of my 5 siblings I am the only one with blue eyes. Now I have 4 blue eyed boys and married a blue eyed man.
8. I've always wanted brown eyes.
   
9. I have never given birth in a hospital.
10. I love hanging laundry out on a clothes line...gives me warm fuzzy feelings.
    
11. My arm was pulled out of joint when I was young from being swung by my arms. Yes, it really can happen!
12. I worked at a Kosher chicken factory for one summer as a teenager.
13. As of right now I have never needed any dental work.
14. I have been on 2 missions trips to Mexico.
15. During college I traveled with my college's ladies singing group.
16. I sing alto.
17. I worked at Chick-fil-A during my 4 years of college.
18. I can memorize things very easily early in the morning.
19. In college I wouldn't study until the day of the test. Get up early. Memorize my study sheet and then go back to bed until class time.
20. I was an A/B student.
    
21. I like to be barefoot as much as possible.
22. I am not a morning person.
23. As a child/teenager I liked to read encyclopedias and dictionaries. Can we say...Nerd. lol!
    
24. I am a plant killer.
25. I make my bed at night just before climbing in.
26. I had a miscarriage between Jason and Paul.
27. I have a love/hate relationship with lotion. I use it for dry skin, but then wash it off because I can't stand it.
28. I have terrible seasonal allergies.
29. I have been in 40 of the 50 states.
30. I lived in Pennsylvania my whole life before marriage.
31. Northern California is my favorite area of the States that I have seen.
32. I have to take a shower each night before bed or I can't sleep.
33. Halfway through reading a book I skim the ending before finishing the book. I have tried to stop this, but it only resulted in my not finishing the book at all.
34. Haagen daz is my favorite ice cream.
35. I don't drink soda, but I like Orange Sunkist and Barq's Root Beer.
    
36. I laugh at my own jokes.
37. I must have chapstick with me at all times.
38. I can drive a stick shift and actually prefer it.
39. I have learned how to parallel park in the last 3 months.
40. The biggest vehicle I have driven was a 32 foot motor home.
41. I don't usually catch things when people "drop hints".
42. I have 2 sisters and 3 brothers.
43. My mom wanted to name me Autumn.
44. I love rocking chairs and swings.
45. I pulled my hair out when I was 3 years old.
46. I have a degree in Elementary Education.
47. As a kid I had a gray cat named Charles.
48. My middle name is Yvonne.
49. I got married when I was 21.
50. My two favorite dolls from my childhood were named Betsy and Tommy.
51. From the time I was 12 until 17 I had a crush on a boy named Andy.
52. I am susceptible to rubella even though I have had the vaccination.
    
53. I am allergic to latex and penicillin.
54. I get charged extra for a haircuts because my hair is so thick.
55. My best friend from college and I married brothers.
56. I am learning Welsh.
57. My favorite veggie...mushrooms.
58. My favorite fruit...sweet cherries.
59. I have worn the same kind of perfume since I was 14...White Musk.
60. I was home schooled.
61. I'm a country girl.
62. I have nice fingernails naturally.
63. I can't whistle.
64. My shortest labor was 2 hours and 34 minutes.
65. My longest labor was 7 hours and 45 minutes.
66. My 3rd baby was an unassisted home delivery.
67. I can't function in clutter.
68. I don't like to drive.
69. I was saved at the age of 13.
70. I am part German, part English.
71. I once climbed a 3,260 foot mountain with Caleb...with ropes and harnesses and all.
72. Caleb and I drove from California to Northeast Pennsylvania in 4 days while I was 8 months pregnant with Paul.
    
73. I don't like traveling anymore.
74. My sister and I have matching moles on our collar bones.
75. I haven't used a brush or shampoo in 6 months.
76. I love pizza.
77. I was born on a Tuesday.
78. I remember changing my brother's cloth diapers when I was about 6 years old.
79. I always wanted a pen pal when I was a kid, but never found anyone who would write back.
80. I'm allergic to coffee.
81. I enjoy mowing grass.
82. I want to go someplace warm with a beach with Caleb without the kids for our 10th anniversary. I'm not asking much! lol!
    
83. I startle easily.
84. I wear silver jewelry.
85. I love ice skating.
86. I hate math.
87. I enjoyed English in High School.
88. Some foods I've had aversions to during pregnancy include: honey, ground beef, yogurt, mushrooms, chicken, wheat, jam, garlic.
89. Caleb was my first and only boyfriend.
90. I have had an eating disorder.
91. My favorite dog is a Golden Retriever.
92. I want to get a Siberian cat someday.
93. I always eat Chinese food with chopsticks.
94. My hair has never been dyed or permed and I don't like putting any kind of gunk in it.
    
95. I accidentally threw away my GED certificate during one of my organizing sprees.
96. I took my GED test and my driver's test on the same day.
97. I would like to have a daughter someday.
98. I can't kill bugs because I can't stand the crunch.
    
99. I'm really good at packing light for trips.
    
100. I check my blog at least twice a day.

Well, there you have it. That was a lot harder then you would think. Don't believe me...try it!

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And last but not least...
A picture so my mom can have her "grandson fix". :)

On Talking

Paul, at the age of 23 months, has decided over the last couple of weeks that he does indeed want to join the land of the speaking. His vocabulary had consisted of maybe 6 words...just the essentials like juice, banana or shoes. Now he is parroting everybody and literally saying new words everyday. I am constantly hearing his little baby-voice echo the last 2 or 3 words of whatever is being said.

The other day he was at the table with his brothers who were both holding up peanut butter dipped raisins and saying "Look at this, look at this." Paul, not wanting to be left out, held up his raisin and said "Look at this." too. ...his first sentence. It was so cute! His favorite word at the moment is...Waaaaait!!!

Something New to Do

Caleb is getting Seth and Jason in on his hobby. He is teaching them photography. He taught them how to use our old camera...which they figured out really fast. He has told them how to get into different positions and angles. They have been going on "photo" walks meaning, going on a walk just to look for things to take pictures of. It is really cute to see them being "just like daddy". And I know they are loving the personal attention.


It is neat to see the world through their eyes. Some of the things they deem worthy of a shot is quite interesting. They have gotten some surprisingly good pictures though. I've been impressed with a few of them. :)

I am thankful for digital cameras. This new found fun would not be possible if it were a film camera. They can snap as many pictures as they like without us being concerned by wasted film.

All the above pictures were taken by Caleb, but here are a few by either Seth or Jason...

The Mind of Jason

First of all...today Seth went on a trip with his class. They rode the bus to a nearby school to see a play about traffic safety.


After coming home from school Jason told his daddy how he got to ride the bus to the big school too. He had seen Seth and all the big boys there and had sat with Seth and Geriant. He said there was singing and that all the kids got to sing too. He said they sang the song "Dau Gi Bach" (Two Little Dogs) which is his favorite. He said he had a fun time.

We wondered how we had missed the fact that Jason was going on the trip too, but thought it was just overlooked.

Seth came home today with a book and bubbles from his class trip.

Jason hadn't gone with Seth after all. He had invented the whole wonderful story. He had faked the excitement of a bus ride. He had imagined the singing. He had fantasized the fun. He had wanted to go on the trip so badly that he had made it all up in his head.

Poor little guy...I feel so bad for him. I was really happy for him going on this trip and equally disappointed when I realized he hadn't gone after all. I can just imagine how disappointed he was at being excluded from Seth's field trip. This does explain his particularly bad behavior all afternoon though.

So in an effort to make Jason feel special too Caleb took him out for a walk...just the two of them.

Having a Cow

Happy 6 Months Day, Morgan.

New to You this Month:

• Getting up on your hands and knees.
• Laughing when tickled.
• Rolling and scooting where ever you want to go.
• Shaking your head "no" with great enthusiasm.
  
• Giggling.
• You weigh 18lbs. 7oz.
  

All About Seth

Seth Caleb

Aged 4 1/2 years

• What is your favorite movie? Dinosaur

• What do you like to play when you are outside? - Soccer

• What are you favorite toys? - Building transformers with blocks

• Height - 41 inches tall

• Some goals he has made for himself -

1. To stop wetting the bed at night
   
2. To stop making messes.

• Favorite food - chips, grapes, pancakes

• Favorite Teacher - Auntie Bethan

• Best Friend - Geriant

• What do you want to do when you get big? Play with Daddy with blocks, and castles with swords.

• Favorite shirt - Dinosaur shirt

• Sandwich of choice - Just peanut butter