Getting me into trouble

"(Cookie Monster) is trying to get me in to trouble," LaRue came crying down the stairs. Really? How can he be doing that?
How funny I thought? I think that's my excuse (albeit unspoken or hidden) when I do something wrong.
Satan got me in to trouble.
The tv got me in to trouble.
That box of cookies got me in to trouble.
That gossip magazine got me in to trouble.
And, finally, (and maybe the one I try to justify the most), the salesperson got me in to trouble.
How easy it is to blame others for our mistakes and sins. LaRue was blaming Cookie Monster for "getting her in to trouble," but little one, why are you even out of bed at this hour I wondered?
It reminded me of the many times I have failed to take responsibility for my own actions. It made me think of a loved one who's stuck doing that consistently in their own life.
So many Bible stories come to mind when I think about how easy it is to fail to take responsibility for my own actions: Adam blaming Eve, Eve blaming the serpent, Abraham and Sarah...the list goes on.
Thankfully, I have the promise that God forgives all of those sins, or my failure to even acknowledge them. I am also quite thankful that He has given me the desire to teach those same principles to my little babes.
That way, when someone is "trying to get me into trouble," they will know WHO to turn to and where to turn AWAY from.
Sweet dreams LaRue, Cookie Monster, Farmer Boy, the Princess and God's Grace!

Conspiracy Theory

What kind of conspiracy do God and LaRue have?
Yesterday was another whopper at church.
After realizing that Cinco was wearing LaRue's tutu (a nine-month-old in a 4T tutu), I realized LaRue had her dress unbuttoned ALL the way down the front flashing everyone. When I told her to button it, she took it off. Instead of setting off a screaming fit, I just let her stand there clad in only a shirt and pull-up (which was covered by undies??).
When I went up to lead the children's choir, she tried to follow me and was screaming when Cookie Monster stopped her. He yelled, "Mom has to go teach," which brought giggles from much of the church.
I'm sure everyone loves seeing us sitting in the fourth pew from the front. Last week, when her shoe fell off on the way back from communion she plopped herself on the floor and screamed "My shoesie. My shoesie!" Mind you, we were the first people in line, so everyone had to wait for her. When we returned to the pew, she stood on the seat. I told her to sit, she looked at me with a serious face and sternly replied "No." I tried to hide my smile.
It was a different story when later, she stood again. Again, I said sit. "No. No. No. No," she said seriously.
I snatched her up, took her to the step outside and had a chat. All the while, she sat there with her sweet little hands folded in her lap and her head down. That girl makes me laugh, while at the same time she drives me crazy.
I have no doubt God is using her to teach me about patience, the Biblical patience described in Galatians. Cause heaven knows I can't handle her independence on my own. And, seriously, just where does she get this desire for independence from??? (Stop laughing.)
I know God is laughing.

Just a singin'

Just yesterday I was watching TV with Cookie Monster. I know, you're supposed to limit the amount of tube time, but we just enjoying some cuddle time while it rained outside and the clouds passed by.
We were laying in my bed when his favorite show, "Mickey's Clubhouse," came on. Not only did he sing the theme song, but out of the corner of my eye I saw his arms moving about. He was doing the actions too. I just smiled and laughed so hard. I asked dad to come in. He laughed too as the entertainment continued. We've never had one of our munchkins sing as much independently. Dad on the other hand.... Maybe that's where Cookie Monster gets his talent.
He'll kill me for sharing this, but I came down the steps years ago (a couple of kids ago, 4 in fact) to find dad moving his arms in the air and singing to the "Wiggles" theme song. In his defense, he was not standing up dancing. He was sitting in the chair.
But, NO children were in the room with him! I haven't caught him doing that since. Maybe it's because The Wiggles are no longer on the air.
Hearing Cookie Monster sing the Mickey Mouse song is better than his other recent tunes:
-"Take Me Down to the Little White Church" -- this is not a Sunday morning singing tune
-"I'm Pretty Good at Drinking Beer" and
-""There's Always Something Going On Down in the Trailerhood."
Those songs would be compliments of the usual country stations we have playing at home. I, on the other hand (said with much boasting:), usually have KLOVE playing and from there he learned:
"My God Reigns."
Now, time to go teach him something new....
"Schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated!"

And now...

They are putting a diaper on the kitten. The Princess quipped, "It's a good thing people don't have tails, they wouldn't fit in a diaper."
OK

It's a Beautiful Morning

Already, the five pack is fast at work entertaining us for today (if you want to call it that). I just heard Farmer Boy yell, "Don't throw scissors at me!"
Cookie Monster is standing on the counter, clad only in his pull-up that he wears to bed.
The Princess is standing on a chair, using a "grabber," trying to find a toy that was shot on top of the cabinets.
Maybe they should not have found the fruit snacks for breakfast. The sugar rush has already kicked in.
All this while dad is sleeping on the couch.

Indoor Plumbing

I guess Cookie Monster has decided that we don't really need indoor plumbing. A couple of nights ago, The Princess informed me he decided to go to the bathroom outside. He wasn't just playing outside and needed to relieve himself. No, actually was IN the house and went outside solely to take care of business. Let me preface this by saying, I was NOT home. Dad was in charge.

The conversation went something like this"

"Why did you go outside and go to the bathroom?"

"I was getting dressed in that room (the dining room)," he said, his hand held up and moving with each word, his head tilted to the side for emphasis. "I had to go. It was faster to go outside than go to the bathroom. I couldn't wait."

I couldn't help. I just burst out laughing.

What the heck? How can you argue with that logic?

Unfortunately, we live along a very busy road. So, while some farmers traveling by on the tractor might understand the need to take care of business outside, others might look twice.

Guess when I hear a horn honk, I better go running outside to investigate...

Made In America

It's amazing how much Cookie Monster absorbs -- good and bad. As we went to bed a week or so ago, he informed us: "My American feet are cold."
Really, sure they weren't made in China??