Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Our day at the park


Lyra Kate after her first trip down the BIG slide!
This was our last outing before our 10 day quarantine (unless you count a trip to the doctor).  We took hamburgers to the park and let the girls play for awhile.  There were about 20 other children there.  Lyra Kate conquered her fear and finally went down the curly slide.  Lila Grace however was not interested in the slides, she just wanted to eat everything she found on the ground.

Lila Grace tasting the stick.

We had a great time.  The weather was perfect, the girls got to swing at the same time, and the area was clean.  We did have to watch and make sure the bigger children there didn't run over our little ones but Lyra Kate was smart enough to get out of their way.  We will definitely have to make more trips to the park in the future.

Lyra Kate about to slide.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Well, it's good to have a goal!

During our quarantine, I set forth a list of ten things that I wanted to try and accomplish.  I knew when I made the list that I was being ambitious, but I figured I would at least aim high!  So here is my list of things I got accomplished - so you don't mistake me for superwoman. 

1. Organize - The only thing I managed to organize was the girls clothing.  I guess that's a good thing, but I really wanted to tackle my pantry.
2. Unpack - I failed to unpack one single box!  I just can't seem to get motivated in this area.
3. Sew - I didn't get to this at all.  I have my machine loaded with the thread for the girls' curtains and until I get those done, I'm not moving on!  I really need to set aside a day to work on this.
4. Recipes - This I did!  Yeah!  I made a fabulous homemade chicken stock and homemade chicken noodle soup!  It was yummy!  It also soothed our change of the season sore throats.  I think I may post about this later.
5. Toys - I did do a little of this as I cleaned during the week.  If it was a toy that was broken or needed batteries, it got pulled from the toy box.  I actually threw away 3 plastic Easter eggs!  Who knows where they've been hiding!
6. Paper - I did tackle two huge stacks of paper clutter.  I still need a better filing system for important things but at least all the junk is gone.
7. Master closet - I tackled this with enthusiasm.  It is now much better than it was but I'm not done yet.  This was the most difficult thing to work on with my two littles underfoot - they loved "helping" me and are the main reason that I'm not done yet!
8. Van - I didn't get to this one at all.
9. Scrapbook - I didn't tackle this one either since I didn't unpack anything this week, I don't know where my scrapbook stuff is at the moment.
10. Video - I attempted this with the video camera but the battery was dead!  I got a few videos on my phone but nothing really good - yet!

All in all it was a very long week.  The girls were restless by the end.  Their Nana & Pop were out of town for the week so we literally saw no one all week.  We did take a few rides in the van but didn't go in anywhere or get out at all.  We played in the yard some but even that got old.  I hope we can stay healthy for awhile and won't need to stay cooped up for that long again.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Our little suprise!

Gracie @ 1 year

Lila Grace is our little surprise miracle.  Not a surprise as in we were trying to keep from getting pregnant and did anyway but a surprise in that we really thought that we would never have another child because of our infertility problems.  When we found out we were expecting, Lyra Kate was only 5 months old, we were struggling on one income, and our house was not completely renovated.  Our reaction - laughter.  We sat for over an hour in our small living room and just laughed!  We were completely filled with joy!  We had spent years longing to experience the joy of a couple who "just got pregnant" and God had seen fit to give us that experience.

Our laughter was the appropriate response when it comes to Lila Grace.  Our little Gracie is a joyful little thing.  She is quiet and serious but not moody.  She wakes up happy, loves being a baby, and thinks deep thoughts (or at least that's what I think she is doing).  She is a picky eater and doesn't like to sleep as much as the rest of us do.  Her favorite place in the house is Mommy & Daddy's closet.  If I get to missing her, she is always in there poking around in the shoes or hiding in the clothes.  She is not as sociable as her big sister but is very loving to the handful of people that she takes to. 

She has many nicknames:  Monkey (Daddy's name for her), Gracie or Gracie Goose (Mommy's name for her), Sis (Lyra Kate's name for her), Little (also a Mommy name), and Miss Lila (given to her by her Pop).
She loves potatoes any way you can cook them.  She has great rhythm, loves to dance, loves to giggle, and is very independent.  She will bang on anything that makes noise and can be used as a drum (currently she loves the sound the front of the washing machine makes when she bangs on it).  She can't ride in the car for more than 5 miles without falling asleep, likes to stay busy, and loves to watch TV.  She can have a bit of a temper but it takes a lot to set her off.  She is pretty much easy-going, like her Daddee.  She is a pleaser.  She really hates it when she gets in trouble for doing something and prefers to stay on your "good-side."

Gracie has been a beautiful addition to our family.  She is unique and challenging in her own little ways.  Of course we also think she is beautiful, but we may be partial.

Lila Grace @ 6 weeks

Friday, October 15, 2010

Yes, We Celebrate Halloween


I know that many Christians choose to NOT participate in Halloween because of the origins of the holiday.  I must say, Scott and I have given this much thought upon becoming parents.  We have come to the conclusion that we, here in the Land of Lentz, will be celebrating Halloween (with restrictions).  I am aware of all the reasons that some decide to skip this holiday and that many feel a deep conviction about it.  By all means, follow your own convictions.  We, however, do not have such convictions.  For the past three years, as the weather changes here in the South, I start re-examining this issue. I read up on the history, the arguments against, and anything in the Bible that is relevant to this topic.  I also pray about it.  So far, I've reached the same conclusion - since we do not practice anything evil (witchcraft, sorcery, divination) then Halloween for us is just a cultural holiday.

I know, there is a scripture about being "in the world not of the world," but I think my allowing my children to dress up and receive candy from a few neighbors is not akin to selling their souls.  The truth is there are many cultural holidays that we participate in - the fourth of July, Thanksgiving, New Years, the opening day of SEC football (that's only a holiday here in the South).  I don't see many Christians touting the evil of these and quoting scripture against participating in them.  We, the Lentzes, lump Halloween in there with the rest of these holidays.  It is not a holiday of our faith (Christmas or Easter), but it is a holiday of our culture.

We do have some restrictions.  I will not use any "scary" decorations or allow my children to dress in anything scary -  No witches, goblins, skeletons, chain-saw murders, etc.  We will carve pumpkins each year and I have a great lesson about being the light of the world to go along with it (when my little ones get a bit older).  We will also participate in our church's Harvest festival, held the week of Halloween, which is our largest community outreach program of the year.  We are planning on going to a pumpkin patch, if we get over our sickness in time.  I'm sure as the children get older our list of restrictions will grow, but for now this should be sufficient.

The fact is, Halloween is the one holiday for children to have fun.  Yes, Christmas is also fun because of the presents, but Christmas is also a very important holiday of our faith and has a lot of things that go along with that.  Halloween is just all about FUN.  Dressing up - FUN, Getting free candy - FUN, Making a mess carving pumpkins - FUN!  So, we will be having fun this Halloween.  We are planning on celebrating with two other families (family of friends) here in our home.  We're making chili and trick-or-treating in our costumes.  I'm sure we will take lots of pictures and laugh a lot and hopefully meet some of our neighbors.

So, to all of you, have a FUN Halloween!

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Too Cute

Lyra Kate is learning her colors.  Last week we were going over pink, her favorite color.  She is currently under the belief that red and pink are the same color.
 
Well, she was looking in the mirror in our bedroom and suddenly I heard her giggle with delight!  She runs over to me and announces "Mommy, my hair is pink!"  She was so excited that I didn't correct her.  So now if you ask her what color her hair is she boldly proclaims that it is pink!

Later in the week, I asked her what color sis's hair was.  She looked at Gracie and proclaimed in a very matter of fact way that "It not pink!"

Sometimes You Gotta Make Lemonade

We can't seem to get well around here.  We (Scott, I, and both girls) have now had the stomach virus THREE times since September 1st!  Yes, that seemed unbelievable to me too, so we headed to see the doctor this morning.  It's just the stomach virus, but we keep getting it because our immunity is low.  He gave us some great advice about how to get well and basically he quarantined us.  So for the next week the girls and I will be here - all day and night, with no visitors and no outings! 

I know I'll have to get creative when it comes to keeping them busy and not going stir crazy (This will probably include a few drives in the van just to feel like we are getting out of the house).  But I also decided to look at this as an opportunity.  I now have a great excuse to stay home and get some stuff done! 

So, I made a list. (I LOVE LISTS) of the ten things that I want to try and do while we are quarantined. 
Here it is:
1.  Organize.  I used to be very organized but two children and two moves in two years wrecked my system.
2.  Unpack. I know we've been here a while but I never really finished unpacking.
3.  Sew.  I've been trying to work up the courage to make drapes for the girls room and the girls some matching dresses.  Hope to get to do that in the next week.
4.  Try new recipes.  I have many things I want to make.  If Scott can handle buying the groceries, I'm going to get creative and cook a few things that take a while to cook.
5.  Gather broken toys.  We have many toys that the girls have outgrown, batteries have died, things are missing pieces. 
6.  Conquer paper clutter.  I hate dealing with paper.  I have hidden stacks stuck in drawers and cabinets that needs to be dealt with.
7.  Reorganize master closet.  It has become quite a mess.  My little ones love my shoes and now they are stuck everywhere.
8.  Clean out my van.  It just needs to be vacuumed and aired out.
9.  Scrapbook.  I am pitifully behind.
10. Video.  I don't have near enough video of my babies.  Gonna pull the camera out and get started before it's too late.

Maybe I'll post at the end of my quarantine and tell what I actually did.  If my track record remains the same, I will get a lot less done than I planned to.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

When I Complain

When I complain of the spilt milk on the sofa and the child who dislikes her vegetables, I will remember the mother without any milk to offer her child and who has no vegetables to cook for her family.  I’ll remember the mother who goes hungry so her children will have more to eat and who has no sofa or chair to sit on at the end of the day.

When I complain about the mountains of laundry and the stains on my child’s clothing and the burden of keeping everyone dressed and shoed, I will remember the mother who has only a few items of clothing for her family which are stained and threadbare and must be beat on a rock at the river.  I’ll remember the mother whose children have never worn shoes and has no hope of getting new clothing for the next season.

When I complain of the time it takes to clean my home, I will remember the mother who has no home to call her own.  I’ll remember the mother whose home has no floor but the ground and a roof that leaks.

When I complain of how difficult it is to get my children to sleep, I will remember the mother who has no bed to tuck her little ones in at night. I’ll remember the mother who has to sleep next to her children to protect them during the night.

When I complain of how hard the week has been while my children have been sick, I will remember the mother who lives in fear of losing her child to disease. I’ll remember the mother who has no medicine or doctor to carry her sick child to see.

When I complain of my high utility bills, I will remember the mother who walks miles each day to fetch clean water for her family.  I’ll remember the mother who gathers or chops wood to keep her children warm through the cold winter nights.

When I complain of not having enough time for myself, I will remember the mother who really is alone with no spouse or extended family in a culture with violence and lawlessness where she must keep her children with her at all times to keep them safe.  I’ll remember the mother who has lost her child and has nothing but time and memories.

When I complain of the little things in this life, I’ll remember the truth – That I am abundantly blessed and called by God to help those in need!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

When Grumpy Comes to Visit

Grumpy is the dwarf that visits us most often around here in the Land of Lentz.  He always shows up unexpectedly and usually in the company of Sleepy.  Lately, since we’ve been fighting the stomach bug here for over a month, he has shown up a lot.  He is the most unwelcome of guests but for some reason I always tolerate him much longer than I should.  Ever been there?

Honestly, so far today has been a rough day.  It really started last night when all three of my children (yes, even the one in my womb) decided to rob me of a good night’s sleep.  So, I began my day drowsy and aching.  Even though I don’t leave the house each day to go to a job, my day begins with the first “Mommy” of the morning (which of course came extra early this morning).

Unfortunately, I am behind on my housework.  The baby and I were both sick last week and I’ve gotten behind on laundry and cleaning.  (Well, really to tell the truth, I’ve been behind for longer than that!  My body just slows down when I’m pregnant.)  It is my nature, when things seem to be spinning out of control, to become quite unpleasant.  I become short tempered and hard to live with.  I yell more than I should, I wear my emotions on my sleeve, and I complain too much.  I become GRUMPY! I really don’t like myself too much when I am like this.  That’s how I started out today, until….

I decided in my frustration to stop, take a deep breath, and reach for my Bible.  I took ten minutes to fill my mind with the word of God and then said a quick prayer and decided to change my attitude from here on out.  So what if I didn’t get enough sleep and my house is destroyed!  Being grumpy toward my children and my husband will not make me feel better nor will it clean my house and do my laundry.  It will just make everyone else miserable too.  Which is exactly what my sinful human nature really wants - It wants everyone else to suffer too.  How awful that I let this get a foothold for even a minute.

So, Grumpy is gone…for now.  I must remember that I know how to get rid of him when he drops in again. Though, Sleepy looks to be sticking around - at least until naptime!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Life's Little Interruptions

Note:  This was written a few months ago, before Lila Grace walked and before we lost our dog, but I liked it so much I decided to post it.

Life with small children requires one to accept that everything in your normal routine will eventually be interrupted. For the Type B personality this may not be a big adjustment, but for us with the Type A (control freak) personality this can be a lesson. Learning to “go with the flow” takes patience, determination, a sense of humor, and many deep breaths.

Most days rock along just fine. Interruptions are minimal and the “TO DO” list gets accomplished (mostly). But then there are days when interruptions are the rule, not the exception. Today has been one such day.

It started out like any other typical weekday morning. Midmorning, I decide I need to wash up the bottles and sippy cups. I turn on our favorite cartoon, Dora, and head to the kitchen. I start by running the dish water and filling it with the dirty bottles and sippy cups on the counter. I notice that I am missing a couple of bottles and so I turn off the water and go and get the diaper bag. Inside I find one missing bottle and digging around notice that’s the only one in there. I also notice there is an unusual odor seeping out of the diaper bag. I realize it’s been a while (3 weeks) since I cleaned out the diaper bag and so I decide to investigate the odor.

Unpacking the diaper bag on the counter I find various items that had fallen to the bottom and been forgotten. There at the bottom of the bag, I find the smell – a nice chunk of uneaten, rotten banana! Now, we never take banana with us as a snack (too messy at this age). So how and when did this item get there? Suddenly, an image of my toddler pops in my head. She has pulled the diaper bag off its resting place in the utility room and is curiously digging around in it. This was right after she had a banana for snack (which I assumed she had finished) four days ago! Banana mystery solved.

So, I decide to spray the inside of the diaper bag that is now growing some type of mold or fungus or something black, and let it soak for a while. I get the cleaner spray from over the fridge and spray the bag. While doing this, my toddler decides it’s time for a snack. So I wash my hands and quickly make some peanut butter crackers. I sit the baby in her high chair, the toddler in her chair and present them with snack. I go and pause the cartoon, clean up from snack making, and get back to my dirty bottles and sippy cups.

I set up the bottle drainer (kept under the sink) and begin to wash bottle nipples. I get about three washed when I hear “Mama, cup.” After all, peanut butter does require some type of beverage, so I fix a cup of milk and take it to the dining room. I head back to the kitchen to wash more bottle nipples when I realize I am still missing a bottle. Hmmm….where could it be? It dawns on me that my toddler “cleaned” the den this morning. (Cleaning = pick everything up and put in the toy baskets). So I head to the toy baskets, and there is the bottle amongst the books and baby dolls. Pleased with my detective work, I head back to the sink and resume my task.

I get a few more items washed when the dryer buzzes. I stop, dry my hands, and go unload the dryer. (I dislike leaving the clothing in the dryer because they tend to become wrinkled). I normally like to fold clothing on our bed, but since the girls are eating snack, I have to stay in the living area. I decide to fold the clothes on the end of the dining table. The girls are quietly eating their snack and being very messy. I head back to the dryer, load it with the towels from the washer, and prepare to add another load to the washer when I realize the dirty clothes are still stacked in the master bath in the other end of the house. So, I turn off the washer and plan to come back to this – after snack time.

By this point, my toddler is finished eating and is yelling “Down, down.” I get her down, march her to the kitchen, wet a rag and remove the remainder of her snack from her hands and face. I then decide that the diaper bag has soaked long enough and take another rag and begin scrubbing the “black stuff” off the bottom of the bag. This takes a few minutes. I clean the outside of the bag too. Why not? I’m already her with all the correct tools. I hang the clean bag on the pantry door to dry. I then wash my hands and return the cleaner to the cabinet over the fridge. Unfortunately, I bump the top of the fridge where a magnet is holding a birthday party invitation and it falls onto the tile floor at my feet. The magnet was a small glass bottle full of sand and tiny shells from Florida. Today, after 10 years of hanging on my fridge, it decides to retire itself by breaking into a few dozen shards of glass.

The noise sends my toddler running, barefoot, to see what’s going on. I get her to stop before the debris field and go back to the other side of the sofa. I get the broom and dustpan and start sweeping. I get the majority of the sand and shells up and start searching the area for glass. I decide to just be safe I would sweep the entire area – twice. I dump the dustpan and store them, replace the invitation on the fridge, tell my toddler she can get off the sofa, and return to my sink.

I manage to wash a few more items when the baby, still in her highchair eating snack, lets me know she is done. I take my wet rag over, wash her face and hands, pick her up and crumbs fall everywhere. (They were in the wrinkles of her shirt). I give her a kiss and hug, sit her in the den, unpause the TV, and head to get the broom and dustpan when I hear the dog barking. I go to the window and there is our seven pound dog, having escaped from the fenced in back yard, standing in the driveway barking at what looks like a full grown lab. I run to the garage, send up the garage door and yell for him to come inside immediately. He complied and almost looked relieved that I saved him from having to actually defend his turf. He runs past me and before I know it he is in the dining room getting the crumbs around the highchair. Oh well, no need for the broom!

I head back to the sink and resume washing when my phone rings. I dry my hands and answer (it’s my mom). We haven’t talked in a few days so she is telling me about my step-dad’s health, the oil at the beach, details about my sister’s wedding that’s only ten days away, and the pics of the girls she saw on Facebook. While we are talking, I head over to the den where the cartoon has gone off and turn off the TV. I sit down and scoop the baby up to sit in my lap. The toddler climbs in and snuggles beside me with a book. She “reads” the book to us while I finish my conversation.

After hanging up, I read the book to the girls. I notice the familiar smell of pooh, and announce it’s diaper time. We all head back to the girls’ room where I change both girls’ diapers on the changing table. They decide to play in their room for a minute, so I head to the master bath to get a basket of clothes for the washer. I load and start the washer, go back to the girls’ room and pick up a bit while they are playing in the floor. After a few minutes the toddler decides to head back to the den followed by the baby and me. (Walking behind a crawling baby is a slow go). I head back to the sink to resume washing.

By this time the water is cold, and since I have a thing about the water being hot, I drain the sink halfway and refill it with hot water. I resume washing. Both girls are in their play kitchen, when the baby pinches her finger. I rush over, pick her up, kiss her boo-boo and hold her until the crisis has passed and she is ready to resume playing. I head back to the sink when the toddler yells out from the den. She has decided to sit in her small chair sideways and is stuck. I get her free and explain that she should not sit in the chair that way. I head back to the sink and resume washing.

I finish washing all the bottles and sippy cups. I drain the sink and dry my hands.

I scoop up the baby and head to my chair in the den. I plan to sit here and play with the girls until the dryer buzzes, which ends up being only about five minutes. I give a deep sigh, set the baby in the floor and head to the utility room. I hate it when the clothes get wrinkled!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The magic of ordinary days

We had an ordinary day today.  Nothing particularly important happened.  We didn’t go anywhere or do anything exciting.  No one learned any new skill or words today.  It was just ordinary. 
            We spent the day fixing meals and cleaning up after ourselves.  We did some laundry and read some books.  We watched a little TV and danced a bit.  We played with our baby dolls and took a long afternoon nap.  We laughed and somebody cried and we greeted Daddee when he came home from work.  Nothing exciting - just ordinary.
            But there was something magical about our ordinary day.  There was a sweetness to it, a simpleness.  It was relaxing and uncomplicated.  There wasn’t any rushing.  It was a busy but easy day. 
            I know there are some who would look at our simple life and see it as boring.  They think we don’t get out of the house enough.  That we must be lonely.  That my children need more “socialization” and interaction with the world.  But they don’t see the magic.
            We spend time together as a family.  My children are best friends.  They play together instead of being separated for the majority of their days.  They keep me busy and challenge me daily.  I am only lonely when they “go visit” their grandparents for the day and I am here working in the quiet.  I have the great privilege of being here for all the little things – the ordinary things.  And that is the magical part.  Their childhood memories will be filled with their home, their yard, and their siblings.  They will have memories of trips to the grocery store or park with mommy or meeting Daddee for lunch. 
            These days will be gone soon enough.  So, for now, we will enjoy our ordinary days.