G'Day Mate!

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year was the Boomerang Express. The boys had an absolute blast! At the end of the week, they participated in the musical program- well, sort of. If you watch the video, you will see what I mean. Even though both of them practiced, only one finished strong. I love their different personalities!

Say Cheese!

Summer time brings water fun in this crazy Columbia heat! We went to the spray pool earlier in the week. It was Olivia's first time and, obviously, she enjoyed her self.

Learned Lesson

I am sure I will have to experience innocence lost with my children. CJ and I do our best to let them keep their innocence as long as possible as best we can in this Soddom and Gommorah in which we live: Mainly thorugh protecting their eyes. Boys are so intrigued- and later on stimulated- by sight, it's imperative to me to guard their eyes while I am training them in these early years on what is more important to focus. However, their hearts can only be guarded for so long by me. Sometimes, when they realize the reality is not what they expected, it stings. Cole got a quick lesson in that.

It's no secret my boys love to be either in their underwear or dressed up like super heroes. I suppose it's only natural they would like to wear their costumes out in public. I suppose since we go to a Lowe's where I have seen some in p.j.'s (not me, Dena :) ), it would not be against any decency laws. So, on a trip to Lowe's, Cole decides to wear the Batman regala complete with the mask. I'm not sure how he expected to be received; maybe with thanks of gratitude for continually defeating the bad guys. Maybe he wanted a free soda (very restricted at our house- we have enough energy) for his keen wit. All I know is the conversation went like this:

Cole: Mom, when we get to the store, you just push me around in the buggy because it's a little hard to see in this mask.

Me: Cole, what will you say if people talk to you as if you're Batman.

Cole: Mom, I AM Batman. I think they will like to see me out.

Me: OK, we can do that.

Upon entering, needless to say, not too many people noticed how I was lucky enough to be pushing in THE Batman. They basically just went around their business doing thier thing. We got an occassinal look and brief smile and there was a teenage employee who, indeed, thanked Batman for all of his hard work. But for the most part, it was a quiet trip. We got a few snickers and it was hard to tell if they were snickers like, "Oh my gosh, I can't believe his mom let him out that way." or "Look at him, he is so cute." It was probably a bit of both. But since 5 year olds don't distinguish a sarcastic tone from another one(Note to CJ ;) ), I found my protective mom mode kicking in and trying to avoid the aisles with the perpetrater laughers. When we got into the van, my son proved, once again, he was much more keen than I ever think is.

Cole: Mom, no one seemed to notice me.

Me: Maybe they did and just thought you didn't want to be bothered.

Cole: Well, I looked at people and smiled. They didn't smile back. I even took my mask off so they would not be scared.

Me: Cole, not all people will be kind to you just because you're kind to them. But that doesn't mean we stop being kind. And besides, what about that guy who thanked you for fighting the bad guys?

Cole: Yeah, but that was only one out of all the people I saw.

Me: One is better than none and that must be how lots of other heroes feel when they aren't noticed.

The fact my five year old was brave enough to wear that Batman costume to the store tells me I have the makings of a mighty warrior on my hands. The fact he noticed others tells me he has a compassionate heart.

Lord, guide CJ and me as we seek to train these boys to be seekers of You and warriors for the cross. May we impart knowledge and guidance to them as You grow them and give them talent and wisdom. As mighty as I want them to be, more than that, I want them to be reckless abandoned men after Your heart.

Small and Compact

Not many people can say they still get to bathe their 10 month old in the sink (and our sink is smaller than most standard sized sinks); but really?! How cute is she?!?!

Feeling the Jeffcoat Love

I am definitely getting soft in my old age.

Last fall, we had a stray cat mosey up to our door with the loudest meow! Because the boys play outside so much, they fell in love with her and I agreed to feed her as long as she stayed OUTSIDE! When winter came, it was so cold and she looked o pitiful, so I gave in allowing her to come inside for a couple of nights. A couple led to many and now, Lola has become a permanent member of the Jeffcoat House. Ms. Lola decided we needed to expand and gave u some kittens 8 weeks ago. CJ and I were not amused. Having littel knowledge of how cats operate (we have always had dogs), we found out kittens nurse for about 6-8 weeks and then they can be separated for their mom. We took them to 7 and off they went. Now, as you can imagine, the boys- much to my chargrin- grew close to the kittens. I believe it was the whole "I want what I can'y have thing." because I wold not even let them hold them but once a week. But nonetheless, somehow, how all 5 kittens were named (a couple by me admittantly :) ).

As we are driving around several different places trying to find homes for these animals the boys still had in their minds that somehow, we would keep at least 3 of them: Kitten Batman, Kitten Robin, and Kitten Spider Man. When I finally came out of a door with an empty kennel, you would have thought I had just taken off a pinky toe of theirs. They began wailing and tearing their clothes in sorrow (nah, just kidding about the tearing clothes part)! My most pouty son said, "Mom, how could you do that? I never even got to say good bye!" My spunky one said the worst thing he could possibly think to call me, "Mama, you're a poopey diaper baby!" My logical thinker replied, "Mom, we could have kept at least one. We could take care of just one." Of course the baby was clueless.

We wrapped up our day going to McDonald's and eventually, I wasn' receiving the "Mom, you're so mean" look. Ms. Lola has an appointment to get spayed later next month.

So Sad

It's me, the slackest blogger as of late.
I have come to the conclusion that I can not do it all. I can do anything just not everything (at once) and I need to choose what captures my heart, not necessarily my eye. So, for me, that has been facebooking (because it is like an online social cafeteria), cleaning (or trying to), cooking, playing with my kids, teaching them responsibility by staying in behind them while they do "chores", and teaching preschool. "Why would I teach preschool?" you may ask; it's simple: I love teaching! I have been trained in that field and I truly enjoy it. It's also an outlet for me as I enjoy researching and planning stuff. We are plannng to homeschool our children, so I had a brief time where I could serve other children and there became a need at the boys' preschool/ mother's moring out. It has left time for very little extra curricular activities for myself. When you have 4 kids, it's time consuming enough. Throw in a part time job (no matter how few hours), it makes things crazy. I really do not know how moms work full time and balance it all! Hats off to them! And I will admit, it's easy for me to lose focus and make certain things more important that they should be. I am so thankful for my husband who not only lets me stay home (even though we would benefit from the extra money), but encourages me to do so. I'm the type of person who would lose the balance in the wrong direction.

So, it's been about 6 months since I've posted. I better get busy- tomorrow ;).

Santa Baby

Olivia had a great first CHRISTmas. She was the social butterfly and then soothed herself with a new trick.

CHRISTmas Time

This past CHRISTmas started out with a bang at the boys' preschool. They put on their 2nd annual concert and both Cole and Jonah went on stage and sang their songs. Jonah started out as a donkey, but then got promoted to a shepherd and Cole was so excited he got to be a "Meatball Head." I didn't get it until I saw the wise man costume he wore. They both did awesome!!

Judah and Olivia, as usual, found other ways to occupy thier time. Livi was entralled by Mimi's name tag, and Judah-bug was hording all of the M&M's while sitting in Poppy's lap.

(Some) Things I Have Done

I found this over at Happy at Home and thought it was cute and different. Of course, it's not extensive- hee, hee- but a little insightful. Feel free to copy and paste for your blog.

All of the bold items are ones I have done:

1..Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (do "mountains" in Greenville, SC count? I guess not.)
9. Held a praying mantis (That would be an explicative + "no")
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (see #9)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (but I have on the lake)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (this spring, though)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort (Yeah, I live in South Carolina)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (:::sigh:::hopefully next year!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (I'm mostly Native American so I'm gonna go yes on this one)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (Does river walking count? Haha!)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen (although I feel like I do that every night at my house with the boys)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (Now that's just crazy talk)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (my arm and a foot fracture- no fun.)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (it was actually a dirt bike, but I did run into m y parents' house so I think that counts as speeding)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem (Oh, if I could talk my husband into letting me go...)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I'm counting going fishing and cooking your catch)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (No, but I did pray for helaing for someone and God said "Yes" and then immediately did it. It was AWESOME!)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (LL Cool J- HA!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Are You There, God?

I love listening to my children's conversations. It reminds me how much really sinks in and it also reminds me to watch what is said. I feel obligated to not just teach my children about God, His grace, and love for us, but that their theology is correct. So much had to be undone for me as I grew into an adult.. anyway, that is another blog.... the point of this one is the manipulation of my 4 year old. Here is the conversation I heard:

Jonah: "Look, Cole! It's Santa in those people's yard!"

Cole: "That is so cool, Jonah, but you know Santa lives in Heaven with God and Jesus."

Jonah: "I know. I wish Jesus would come play with me."

Cole: "Well, Jonah, you can talk to him anytime you want. And he will even talk back to you. But you have to be REAL quiet because when God speaks, He talks like a whisper. He sounds like this:" Cole turns his head to face the window and begins to whisper.

"Jonah, you need to make sure you obey your mommy and daddy because that makes Me happy. Oh, and you make sure you share your trucks with your brother Cole any time he asks."

Jonah looks up and says, "God?! Is that You?!"

Sweet Jonah!

As If I Don't Have Enough To Do

I have wanted to learn to sew for a long time but having a little girl has inspired me to actually go for it. My friend, Leslie, worked with me to make Olivia these pants while we were visiting. She was not nearly as impresed to wear them as I was I made them! Leslie makes the absolute most adorable stuff for her girls. Not that I could attain her level of style (I do think that is one of the reasons why God gave me such great girl friends- I am style-challenged), but I am aiming high. I got a new sewing machine for CHRISTmas and I have already picked out what I want to make for Livi. We'll see how it turns out.

Through the Eyes of a Child

The day before Thanksgiving Cole said, "Mama, do you want me to show what a turkey does?"

"Of course I do!"

This is what I get.

When I said, "Cole, honey, that is not what a turkey does. They walk around and say, 'Gobble, gobble.' "

He replied, "That isn't what that turkey in that pan is doing."

Two Peas

If you looked up the word "tenacious" in the dictionary you may find one of these two faces. Les and I have laughed about how Reese and Judah need their individual nannies. And, as if it weren't obvious, they would definitely get into so much more trouble if'n they weren't so cotton pickin' CUTE!!

I KNOW, I KNOW!

Who would have thought adding one more to the mix would take so much more time, but it really does. Of course, when you factor in feeding, changing, making sure no one jumps on her head, I guess our little Olivia does take up a bit more than her 10 pounds might suggest. This will serve a a short and sweet reminder to myself (and those of you who faithfully check in on us) that I need to show you all our awesome family! I have had so much fun with them, I haven't even made time to brag on them or share their funny stories; I mean, really, the Jeffcoat boys can crack a person up. Hopefully, I will get some air in the next day or two to share. Besides that, God has been moving me in some specific areas of my being. I save those thoughts for my other blog, because, really, most of you just want the "fun stuff." It's in my being to be pretty heavy- much more than most want to handle- so I share those thoughts elsewhere. I'll be updating that as well. For now, it's off to fold my ever growing pile of laundry!