Ro's riding

a bike!! Granted it has training wheels, but I think that's pretty good for a 2 1/2 year old girl!!

She does best when she's on completely level surface - at first she was getting stuck as her foot went around and she'd push her legs back - which was causing her to brake. But as she practiced tonight down at Pate's Park she was really getting the hang of it. Both Guy and I were pretty impressed - none of the other kids rode a bike at 2 1/2. When we were headed home she even pushed Guy's hand off her bike (she is constantly saying, "me's do it myself!")

The most hysterical part is that meanwhile our 4 year old son is perfectly contented to ride the purple and pink bigwheel as fast as he can go barefoot. His bike is still a little scary for him.

We've been slowly accumulating a back yard full of bikes, but none of them worked properly. So one by one we've been eliminating and fixing them. We found Guy a new "used" bike on craigslist -$50, and then we found Gavin one at a yard sale last week -$10 b/c the others were too small for the training wheels that we have. Ro was begging for one so to eliminate all the searching Guy bought her one at Kmart. It was really cute but there is no reason to be spending $50 on a little bike with plastic tires, so he took it back. Thankfully craigslist had a few to choose from, so after some emailing back and forth I found one near Wegman's. Guy went to check it out. It's perfect - has a basket on the front and everything - and was only $15. She'll be able to use it for several years. Since she is so ambitious, once she learns to ride she'll really enjoy the little girs mongoose racing bike that Grammy found her for one whole dollar (and included a bike helmet) at a yard sale. She needs to grow a couple inches and ride without training wheels and it will be perfect.

Now I need to a) find my bike if it still exists in one of Dad's garages somewhere and b)fix it up or find a new one for myself on craigslist. The bike trailers are really neat too - and we have the Lehigh Parkway right down the street for riding. Our new family pastime!! :)

Childish syntax i.e. Gavinisms

Gavin says,

"Be's Austin?"

instead of,

"Where's Austin?"

interesting - instead of "where would Austin be?", it's "be's Austin"

too cute!

And both sister and I agree that we dont want to correct the kids b/c we think it is just too cute, so how ironic that the youngest sister without kids is going to get her Master's in speech therapy!! She'll have 4 nephews and 2 nieces to work on!

Just more cute stuff

Last Sunday night Guy was preaching on marriage, and asked the congregation some things men can do to show their wives they love them.

Austin raised his hand and replied,

"OBEY THEM!"

Yes, Austin, you will make your wife very happy someday. ;)



The other night I came home late from drugstoring and the boys were still awake. Austin came down to say goodnight to me, and when I asked him why he was still awake he answered,

"I was thinking perfect thoughts until Grayson interrupted me."

Don't all moms feel the same way? ;)

Observations about strong females needing stronger males

We Niedosik women tend to be strong. Muscular strong, strong wills, strong opinions, strong drives that build our strong intellects.

Daddy is away for a week at a pastor's conference. Rowan LOVES Daddy. Growing up we girls LOVED Daddy too, and needed Daddy. He was our rock, a true picture of the rock of Jesus in our lives.

Tonight at Grandma and Grandpa's I was wrapping a birthday present for my niece and Rowan is too young to understand that it was not hers. She was quite distraught and sad about it; she didnt throw a tantrum or scream, but she was close to inconsolable. She went right to Grandpa. She is somewhat standoffish to showing affection unless she is really in the mood, so all night she tolerated his hugging and enjoyed his holding and tickling, but it was not until she truly NEEDED him that she lay in his arms at peace that he could make her feel better.

I am so thankful I had a father who always took the time to hold me and love me and talk to me therefore solidifying in my little heart that I mattered. It is so beautiful to know my daughter can share those same arms and feel the same love and peace. I am so glad for a husband that takes the time to hold her and love her and talk to her and convince her little heart that she matters too.

Perhaps it is a picture of our strengths being made perfect in weakness. When we are weak, then is God strong. (II Corinthians 12) Only when I am weak do I feel the strength of those that are stronger around me. When I come to a place where I no longer qualify, I need something/someone stronger than I and I become "perfect" (complete/mature) by tapping into their strength. They fill in for me.

I am strong, but not strong enough. My daughter is strong, but not strong enough. We need to be surrounded by family and friends that are just as strong and stronger to continually help us mature and grow and complete us. God puts the pieces of family together just right.

Just some cute stuff

If my camera was in order, we'd have a lovely picture of my daughter's self sufficiency. Last night she asked me for a drink. I was busy and told her just a minute. She put her cup on the stool along with the juice that she got out of the fridge and left. I think she would have gotten herself a drink if she knew how to open the juice and open her cup. I turned around to see them sitting there, and was surprised at her self-sufficiency. Every day she takes my breath away with her smartness and cuteness.

She calls boogies "noonies". If she can reach the tissues she'll wipe and blow her nose herself.

A few nights ago she was sitting on my lap and asked me what the noise was. It was the dryer. She then told me, "I scared dryer." "You're scared of the dryer?" "Yes." (and she emphasizes the "s" which is just too cute.)

Affirmation in strange forms

Yesterday's conversation (Austin's listening):

Gray: "Mommy, did Jesus ever get married?"

Me: "No"

Gray: "Why?"

(how do I respond to this one?)

Me: "Because He would have had to marry a perfect woman"

Austin's response: "If Jesus had to marry someone, he should marry you mommy!"

Gavinisms

Today when Gavin woke up, he found some easter eggs in the playroom that i had used for a teaching manipulative. They were all filled with different small items that made different sounds, and the idea was/is to guess what was in each egg. I heard the two little ones in their room shaking something; I had an idea what it was and that it came from the playroom (which is hands off/bodies out right now). I went downstairs and Gavin had four easter eggs in the corner of his bed, and when I asked what he was doing, he told me, "they're dinosaur eggs and they're in their nest."

Frustration

This post could go on either of my blogs; but as it describes my day of busyness, I elected to place it here. And the truth of the matter is that I have not mused over the truths I still need to learn from a day like today.

"One of those days"

A term we often hear, often use. I could say I had one today, but just saying it frustrates me. I do not want to have one of those days. Not that I get a choice necessarily, but when I choose to control things that I am able to without being a nazi and not suffering a terrible mishap and I still feel like I had one of those days it is frustrating. It is frustrating being frustrated.

I woke up early today. That is impressive. If you are not impressed, please be, because it is impressive. We tend to be owls around here - it just fits our homeschooling and ministry minded lifestyle, therefore we rarely go to bed before midnight. The big problem with said bedtime is that nothing is accomplished of great magnitude between 8-midnight, whereas early birds aren't known to sit around for four hours when they wake up, so therefore we/I have become time wasters of sorts. And not me so much, I just know that my time can be used more efficiently in the morning than late at night.

I need to lose weight. Dont try to deny the fact or tell me I'm ok the way I am, because I need to lose weight. a) I dont fit in a lot of my clothing and b) it would help my arthritic tendencies and pain that I experience on a daily basis. So last night I decided to try to get up early and do the elliptical in the morning before the kids wake up and see if I could make that a routine of sorts because I honestly cannot imagine any other time that would work.

Frustration number 1: 2 kids were up already when I got up early, and since I walk through their room to get up, I was nice and helped them get up and gave them breakfast. I still needed to exercise so I gave them coloring at the table to keep them happy. Enter frustration number 2: after 30 seconds I hear "MOMMY" repeatedly over and over. (child number 4 had finished coloring and wanted to get down) I do understand that women exist everywhere that will never hear that and want to desperately, but I was still frustrated.

I got the boys up early as well to start homeschooling at a decent hour. I was distracted by several phone calls which were necessary but still a deterrant to follow the schedule set the previous evening. Enter frustration 4 5 6 7 and 8? Frustration 9:boys did nothing productive while I was on the phone. Granted, I do not EXPECT a 6 year old to decide to clean up his completely cluttered bedroom without being nagged to death, but it would just be nice. And 8 year old boy was reading, which is good, but he still could have started some school work.

Therefore, school which was planned to start no later than 9/9:30 started at 11:30. Frustration 10 or 11?: we finally start school and every child claims starvation.

This one was good: I am wrapping up some school work in order to make lunch and hear 2 small children having WAY too much fun in the bathroom. I go up to the bathroom and behold, the bathroom which was just cleaned last night while said children were bathing is now covered in pine-sol, pee, and toilet water. That might make a lovely cleaning concoction of sorts, but have I mentioned that it was already clean? The toilet brush in the overflowing kid-potty was a nice touch. Kinda made it look like the cleaning lady had just arrived. or disappeared. #12.

Austin couldnt find his cd Grandma gave him for Christmas although we can cancel this frustration b/c it was in the car where he thought it was.

a dim light in the day: (well actually a little candle) ice-skating lessons were a bit cheaper than planned.

#13 no cocoa powder. needed it to make brownies from scratch for our math lesson today. Instead we made coffee cake which is just as good if not better.

another light: was able to clean up the house and load the dishwasher while on the phone. If i had just cleaned we would have started late anyway, but at least I was able to do both.

#14 can't finish a sodoku to save my life and it makes me crazy, but almost not anymore b/c I'm getting used to it.

#15 keep forgetting about the clothes in the dryer that I keep fluffing up so they are not wrinkled.

#16 bought Gray's next spelling book on ebay which arrived today, only to realize the sellers advertised the wrong book. I don't think my 3rd grader would be too thrilled to memorize the spelling of embargoes, machinest, or spaghetti. had to spend a bit of time online trying to figure out next course of action.

#17 which should have been #1 - woke up to find the toilet running all night. And i think out of all the frustrations this really is number 1, b/c the toilet is driving me crazy. It either runs incessantly or doesnt flush b/c it has no water at all. How can 2 relatively intelligent people not figure out how to make a toilet run properly? (and our water bill was sky-high last month b/c of stupid said toilet.)

#18 friend cancelled plans that were important to me and the boys that was to occur later in the week.

I am tired. It is now lots of minutes past 11 and I am going to bed. I am exhausted and believe it or not, I think I am feeling a bit sore from my little jaunt on the elliptical. I am also going to try to wake early again tomorrow. My lovely sister has gone out on a complete limb/of her mind and offered to take all 4 kiddos which is just wonderful. They are going to make gingerbread houses and allow me to get some stuff done. Enter another frustration b/c I believe 2 youngest are running low-grade fevers, but we will make a decision about which children should participate in the a.m. Was going to continue to work in playroom b/c it desperately needs me and is howling for attention, but we shall see what the new day shall bring.

And just as a disclaimer, I am not complaining. I did not fall apart or lose my mind or throw away my day. We actually got a lot done and did a lot of learning and started ice-skating lessons this evening. I guess this is just a bridge to something I need to think about and dwell on more, b/c I got through it all with patience and some kindness, and was able to re-focus repeatedly. I am really not ok with accepting this as the norm, and that is the problem, b/c what if it becomes the norm? None of these were BIG DEALS by themselves. It was just one of those days when 18 little frustrations were adding up. Kind of like a dripping faucet, only it was dripping frustrations. And I actually have a lot on my mind about much bigger things that cannot be changed or altered until our days are more regimented and more successful.

Look for another post on musing sometime soon, and maybe the thoughts behind all this will make more sense. For now, just sharing my day. And yes, I am thankful beyond measure to have had a day with four adorable children and a loving husband.

Gavinisms

Today I put overalls on Gavin. When I was finished he announced, "I'm a farm!" (instead of farmer)


Gavin and Rowan love to play with coin money. Gavin found a dime on the floor today and announced, "I found a diamond!" (oh, how I wish dimes were diamonds!)

typical logic of my six year old...

Austin came in from playing outside and informed me that his "thumb-toe was all red."

"Your thumb-toe?"

"Yes (with gesture pointing down to his big toe), my thumb toe."

chuck e.

Yesterday my wonderful friends and their children and I with my rambuctious bunch all met at chuck e cheese in Harrisburg. My dear friend moved to State College over a year ago, and in order to see her and her children, we meet about halfway. We used to get together once a month with each other and our children when we all lived in the area, but it is now no longer possible. We do try to meet once or twice a year now, and especially for Christmas. Several years ago we decided to get together after Christmas so it would be less stressful, but this year as it turned out, January was just as busy if not busier than December. So the only day we could meet was yesterday. Thankfully no one was sick and nothing came up so we all made it!!! We had a wonderful time, although it is a bit crazy. There are 13 children between the 3 of us, all between 1 - 13 years old, with the majority 8 and under. We feel as though we take over the place, but it is a blessing that we are all of the same mind in regards to raising our children to be well-behaved, mannerly and kind. (Those are my ambitions anyway.)

Last year, chuck e. walked around and greeted the children and my friend's 3-year old was hysterically afraid of chuck e. Well, when he saw the sign before he entered yesterday with chuck e.'s picture, he was again hysterically afraid. He wouldn't leave her side for an hour as intense fear ravaged his poor mind. Thankfully he got over it and was able to enjoy himself. That is, until chuck e. showed himself.

Wouldn't you know it, we were ready to leave, and had coats on and our arms full of bags as we had just exchanged after-Christmas presents, and Steph and I were each waiting for a child to get out of the bathroom. Well first her hands are full and she is trying to console 2 children, and I approach chuck e. who is standing at the exit and ask him if he would mind moving as there are several children who are deathly afraid. He kindly moved, and Rowan looks at him and points and says "chuck e" over and over. So finally my friend is able to approach the exit, and Grayson is exiting the bathroom with Gavin, but Gavin is paralyzed with fear and screaming because he sees chuck e. I am at the exit with my hands full and guiding Ro to leave, and I yell for Gavin to come and then Ro starts screaming because chuck e starts rounding the corner towards us. So with 9 children, 4 which are screaming, we are trying to shove them all out the exit as the poor employee is trying to scan our hands and make sure we each have the right children and all of them. Oh my, it was hysterical. Steph and I could only laugh because we are just such a spectacle, and there are only so many things you have the power to control, and after that, you just have to laugh!!

It is a great memory, and will make a great story for a long time.

bizarre and smart mixed together

is my son, Austin.

He is the middle son. He is the strangest parts of my husband and I blended together. He thinks like me (most of the time, I think) but yet he has a lot of personality traits like his father. My MIL will be the first to tell you that Guy was a very good liar and a deceiver as a youngster and this trait has passed to my middle son.

Well, last night Austin was hiding a cookie in his pants. Where, I'm not sure, so let's not go there. He looked "funny" going up the stairs and Guy asked him several times if he had anything and he answered "no" as seriously as possible. Well, when he got upstairs he was laughing with Grayson about a cookie he "found" in his pants, and Grayson dutifully came downstairs with the cookie and told us that Austin was hiding a cookie in his pants.

Guy went upstairs to discipline him after which he was sent to bed and told he was not to have dessert after dinner for a week.

Today, my beloved son calmly informed me that he has to have dessert before dinner because Daddy told him he can't have dessert after dinner.

He kills me.

My daughter

Uses adverbs.

Well, one adverb (so far). She says "too" - as in "also".

For instance, "I hungry too".

I'm impressed. Of course I'm her mother but I'm still impressed. She's a smart cookie.

She's 23 months and potty-trained. She has nights and naps where she still wets, but sometimes she's dry, and during the day she is accident-free. We have been working on it since Thanksgiving, and yes, it takes longer when they are younger like she is, but it is SO worth it!!
3 cheers for no more diapers!! hooray! hooray! hooray!

Opposite of busy

Guy & I were trying to come up with a catchy name for this blog, yet one people could remember. It is very difficult for me to ever be succinct, so I opted out of the catchy title and put what I wanted to say in the subtitle.

I am typically VERY busy. I am very driven, very determined and very ambitious. I typically bite off a little more than I can chew, but I enjoy it. I am constantly drowning in a sea of projects and to do lists that more often than not were created by my habit of doing to much in the first place.

Every once in awhile I have a down day. That is today. It is snowing and beautiful outside. It is a day to drink tea and watch old movies. It started last night when I started reading a book I havent read in a long time. I absolutely adore anything written by Mary Stewart. Dont know what it is, her dialogue, her descriptions, but they captivate me every time. She is not a Christian author, but she is clean and was often on the bestseller list several decades ago. So I picked up Nine Coaches Waiting last night with the intentions of reading for an hour or so, but alas, I haven't read that one in awhile and she drew me in until I was finished. I read for four hours, and I slept in, but it was so nice.

Drugstore Deals

Beginning in May of this year I started CVSing. I also "do" Walgreens and RiteAid, although not as much of RiteAid. Some weeks are wonderful, others are slim pickins for deals. This week was absolutely AMAZING at Walgreens.

I did multiple transactions over 2 days and used a TON of coupons.

On Thursday evening I went out at Midnight and got home about 1:20am. It is a great time to shop and I have 2 24 hour Walgreens within 5 minutes of me.

Here is what I purchased:

I paid $13 and will get back $20 in rebates.


Friday evening I purchased:
I paid $22.50 and will get back $8 in rebates.

I paid $35.50 total, and will get back $18 for a grand total of $17.50 for all this stuff.

Now, let me just clarify that I use a TON of coupons and this takes a good deal of time to plan and shop. I consider "doing" the drugstores one of my part-time jobs because it takes a lot of time, but I save a lot of money. This was also an incredible week of deals, and will be hard to live up to in the future, but I wanted to share what kept me busy this week.

Family pictures

We had intended to send out Christmas cards when the rest of the world does, but when we called the studio they were booked until after Christmas. We decided to kill two birds with one stone and have the studio make the cards from our pics since it would save time and energy, so we decided we would send out new year's cards.

All went well considering. Rowan was done after about 10 minutes. Thank goodness I thought of bribery. She instantly became compliant after offering her candy. She sat and smiled and participated as though she was a pleasant one year old who enjoyed getting her pics taken. We have some very pretty pics although they tend to be on the serious side.

Gavin was glued to Daddy's side but was very easy to make laugh and we have some adorable smiles. Gavin's smile can and does light up a room.

Austin. Well, he's Austin. If he is in pain or something doesnt make sense, he is non-compliant. And he is constantly focused on making others laugh or trying to catch them off guard. We have some good Austin faces.

Grayson is quiet yet silly and we have a few good smiles after he was laughing at Mommy imitating Cioci Nan who makes him laugh.
Guy & I feel like we're gettng old. Especially when we look at our pics. This is a good one though.

Portrait Innovations does such a great job of group pics. And our photographer was so patient. She even told us our kids were well-behaved. She said normally when parents pull out the candy the kids are done, she couldn't believe ours stayed in place and continued to laugh - well, mostly Gavin laughed, and the rest were laughing at Gavin.

Grandmom was kind enough to come along and occupy the kids while Mommy and Daddy went through 108 pics trying to pick out the good ones. The staff was very kind and helpful, full of compliments and patience. We only spent 2 hours there - that's pretty good for us!! For all the time money and energy put into getting pictures taken, I never regret it. My children are morphing and changing every day. Sometimes I think I will close my eyes and it will all be over - the growing up - and I am so happy to have a home full of fleeting moments captured on film.