Banana Hotdogs

"I want a banana hotdog!" I heard her say.

"A WHAT?! What's a banana hot dog?"

"I don't want a banana hot dog!" she laughs.

"OH!" I laugh back after figuring out her request. "You want a BUN AND A HOT DOG?"

"Yes," she giggles. Either way she added a much needed element to our lunch today of hot dogs and some leftover asparagus I knew they wouldn't eat well. Thankfully they liked their bananas.

Yes, I WORK!!!

Kavan said to me on Wednesday after I got chilly outside and put on my navy pullover with the Blaine Police emblem:

"You WORK?!"

I wanted to tell him how hard I work. I wanted to tell him being at home all day raising him and his brother and sister is the hardest and most of the time least rewarding job I've ever had. I wanted to tell him I didn't necessarily choose this but I am doing it for him.

Today I said I needed to work for a little bit and I would help him in a few minutes. "You don't work. Daddy works."

In the daily grind of constand demands, whining and fighting, it is hard to remember that someday we will all be thankful for the financial ability we had for me to stay home to raise our kids. For now it would be nice to get an ounce of appreciation.

I'm Very Fortunate, Unfortunately...

"I wish I would get headaches after eating Chinese food!" This is what I jokingly said to a friend the other day. I've been contemplating this ever since. I really think I would be better off if I had more short-term consequences for my actions that are sure to catch up to me in the long-term. I need more motivation to make healthy decisions.

In many materials I've read about the health effects of MSG (monosodium glutamate or free glutamic acid), I've seen this repeated referral to the headaches "most people get" after eating Chinese food (from the MSG). I do not get these headaches. I do not know why I have the great fortune of occasionally indulging in less than ideal food choices without discequence. I do not doubt my long-term health is affected. It is just difficult to stay motivated when considering only the future.

I feel very blessed to have experienced great health in my life despite so many bad choices. I would really like to make more changes before my bad habits catch up to me. And before I go more public with my health crusade and am seen as someone who doesn't walk her talk.

I have come a long way. I know I seem like the healthiest eater to many people in my life. (My kids will soon be old enough to rat me out and question why I eat so many things that they aren't allowed to.)

I am thankful I no longer have the digestive issues I had my entire life before children; I suppose that has been my biggest health challenge. "IBS" they called it. (I put that in quotes because I don't believe it's a real medical condition apart from the result some people experience from their artificial foods.) But one hot chocolate made with processed milk (like at Caribou) and it's back.

I grew up with an average amount of headaches and now I get zero. Unless I consume refined sugar. I considered myself healthy growing up, having an average amount of sick days from school and work. But now I've been sick only twice in the last 5 years. One really bad cold, one case of strep. Now figure in morning sickcness, and that's a whole 'nother story!

But a rare sickness, headache or stomach ache is just not providing enough motivation for me to stop indulging in a temptation like caramel apple cider with whipped cream and a cream cheese pumpkin bar last night. Yes I have a stomach ache today. But put another pumpkin bar in front of me and it will be gone in ten seconds.

I suppose I'll get motivated after I'm done nursing. After all, I know how to get rid of cramps finally, and I'll have plenty of baby fat cells crying out "Stop feeding us! We're done helping you make milk!"

I can't explain why I've been blessed with my health. Perhaps it is God's grace, to allow me to spread His message of health, despite my frequent mess-ups. I know there are others out there that have different genetic susceptibilities than me whose bodies aren't so kind to their indiscretions.

Lord, I thank you for my abundant health. Please help me to never take this for granted, but to continue offering my body your temple as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you - a spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Blame it on the Trains

I had had enough of the fighting over the train set. You'd think with 2 trains...

but everywhere that Percy went (Kaylin), Thomas (Kav) was sure to go.

"It's so sad that you're fighting. You're done playing now, it's time for a nap."

Kav says "Thomas and Percy were fighting!"

Discequence

Kaylin has been learning that occasionally she needs to be DISCIPLINED. In addition, she is learning that there are CONSEQUENCES for her actions. Today when I said "Oh, that's so sad that you're telling on your brother," she said "I don't want to be discequenced, mom, I don't want a discequence."

Minivan

You know you need a minivan when your 4 year old is asking for one!

I am desperately wanting a minivan. I can't believe I'm saying that. People told me that I would. Ben and I said NO. We will NEVER drive a minivan. We are not that old! :) I guess finances never entered the picture when Ben and I dreamed of our future larger SUV's to transport our growing family.

For now we have 3 kids in a row, practically on top of each other. Somehow they find a way to fight the majority of our drive times even when there's no toys to fight over. Oh wait. There's Kai's toys. "MOM! Kavan is taking Kai's toy away from him!" The teasing and back and forth "yes-no-yes-no" battles are enough to make me want to spend the next few months at home.

Have you ever met a baby that never slept a wink inside a car?! Kai gets caught in the crossfire and occasionally he himself gets hit or bitten. At least that's better than when they stuff food in his mouth.

I was a little surprised when Kaylin picked up on our conversations and started asking for a minivan. She knows that's what her friends have. We pulled over to the side of the road one day to look at an IMMACULATE 2000 Honda Odyssey, looked like an 07, that was a once-in-a-lifetime deal, but that we still didn't have the money for. A car dealer nicely informed me 2000 Explorers are a dime a dozen and we'll get MAYBE 3 grand for it. I think the real dilemma is finding anyone who would want a vehicle these days that gets 12 miles per gallon.

A week later the Honda was gone, and in it's place? A late 80s Dodge caravan. Kaylin doesn't care! "Mom, we need to buy that minivan!" every time we drive by the beat-up thing.

She is getting smarter than me

Quotes by Kjo:

"You're growing too big because you eat too much food."

When asked to help put away her clean laundry - specifically, to bring a pile of underwear to her room.
"Princesses don't do that, mommy, silly!"
She's right I guess...

Me: "Let's not watch that movie. There's too many scary parts."
Kjo: "But God help us in the scary parts. God helps us when we're afraid."

"Why does that say Erica?"
What?! She was reading a gas station sign: "Super America"!