Catching Up...

So, obviously I haven't been blogging much. Not because I haven't had a couple million favorite moments to share, but because our lives have been in fast forward for a while now. Some really fun and funny moments that I giggle about when no one is around or a kind word that is said between Brownies that make me tear up. So here are a few catching up moments from the last couple of months.

Big Brownie (BB), "Mom, did you know that God made aliens?" Me, "Really? Where are they and what do they do?" BB, "Well, they live in outerspace...AND, did you know that they eat in their left ear and poop out their right ear?"

Little Brownie (LB), "Can I please go ride outside on my gator? It's a beautiful sunny day, the grass is green and the sky is blue." As I looked down at him over my glasses contemplating whether or not we wanted to go outside in the windy gray of the day, LB looks up at me and says, "...and I prayed last night to God that you would say yes."

Big Brownie, "Wow mom, thank you for washing my Yoda underwear! Now I can be a true Jedi with Yoda fever!"

Little Brownie as he woke up one morning, "Mom, where is my dad?" I replied, "He is at work." LB says, "Oh, I need to go to work too so I can buy me a hundred dinosaurs to eat Andy up!"

I posted this one on facebook so I apologize for the duplication but this is one I want to remember FOREVER...

Big Brownie came downstairs and asked for a bedtime snack a few days ago. Previously at supper time a few hours earlier, he only ate 2 or 3 bites of his meal. I had explained that there would be no other food options that night if he didn't eat a little more of his supper. He agreed and declared his meal complete. So when he came and asked me for a bedtime snack, I reminded him that he couldn't have any food, just some water if he like. I turned and went into the other room. A few minutes pass and I hear Daddy Brown declare official bedtime. As they are going upstairs, I hear BB start to cough. I then hear Daddy Brown ask BB if he is ok and why is he coughing? BB says, "The dog food is yucky." You heard me correct, the child took dog food from the dog food bowl that had been half eaten from Andy and tried a handful of dog food. Indeed, the dog food is yucky!

Little Brownie has the best smile in the world. God gave him a natural cowlick in the front of his forehead that makes the best hair style ever. Because of these god given attributes, it is not uncommon for complete strangers to begin talking to him when we are in public. Last week while at the grocery, a nice old lady tapped him on the shoulder and told him, "You are the cutest little thing I've ever seen!" Normally, he grins and looks to me to see if it's ok to say something back. However on this particular day, he had been in a grumpy mood and without hesitation he grabs his shirt, balls his fists to the air and exclaims, "I'm not little...I'M A BIG LITTLE BOY! AND DON'T TOUCH ME!!!" Catching us both off guard he then looked at me as he knew I was unhappy with his response and said, "Do you forgive me?"

There are so many little stolen moments I'd love to share but then this post would go on and on and on. Hope to get back to blogging on a regular basis going forward.

My dad said...

Every now and again, my sweet Big Brownie has a moment. A moment in which I find much clarity. Now that he is 4 years old, I have to remind myself that he is in fact...4 years old. He is taking on his "big brother" status with honor and valor. He proclaims to Little Brownie no less than 8 times a day that he is older and taller than Little Brownie. He takes joy in teaching him words, letters and numbers that "only big brother know". He takes great pride in caring for our Boxer Andy by feeding him in the morning and letting him outside. Big Brownie certainly understands the dynamics of his place in the family.

Sometimes, as parents our own words come back to bite us in the booty. Tonight for example, we arrived home well into the evening. I explained in the car that once we get home, we only have 15 minutes to play and then it would be bedtime. Both boys ran into the house wielding their Styrofoam swords, Spider-man wrists and wrestling holds. I reminded Big Brownie that in the car he wanted to play his new Wii...(thanks to our Tutu Nani). He said, "Oh mom, I am going to play Spider-Man with my brother instead. After the 15 minutes of play was complete, I told everyone to go upstairs and wash up for bedtime.

Begrudgingly the boys went upstairs. As the mumbled up the steps, Daddy Brown says to them, "You can play in the playroom until Mom comes upstairs." After about 2 minutes, Big Brownie yells down and said, "Hey Dad, I need your help with my Wii...I can't get it to turn on." I then explained, "You are supposed to be getting ready for bed, not playing your Wii". Which he then replied in quite an annoyed little tone, "Mom...MY DAD SAID, I could play until you came upstairs!" And there you have it folks. Like a paralegal checking the footnotes and correcting the judge...indeed, "My Dad said!"

How can he remember?

Ever wonder..."How on earth could he remember that?" My Big Brownie is now 4 years old. Yesterday marked the 1 1/2 year anniversary that we put Bubba to rest to the DAY. I have been missing our Bubba and Sissy but haven't really said much except a few words to Daddy Brown.

Last night, we went to Publix and as we were leaving, the boys asked the counter clerk for a balloon. Big Brownie wanted purple, but settled for blue and Little Brownie, OF COURSE, wanted green. Because I knew our history of accidental release of the balloons in the past, I asked the clerk to tie the balloons to the boys arms so we could make it home. We successfully make it to the car with me, groceries, 2 Brownies and 2 balloons. As we are driving home, Big Brownie starts firing off questions left and right. "Why do balloons float?" "What happens if I let it go? "How high in the sky will it go?" "Could it make it to heaven?"

As we approach home, he says, "Mama, I would really like Bubba and Sissy to play with my balloon in heaven!" Tears filled my eyes and I said, "Oh Buddy, are you sure? You won't have a balloon to play with if you let it go." He said, "I know, I want my Bubba and Sissy to play with it and have lots of fun." I said, "Ok, do you want to say anything before you let it go?" He replied, "Yes, I wanna say (as he bowed his head) God, please let my balloon go into heaven so Bubba and Sissy can play with it. I miss them very much, but now I have Andy to play with." He kissed his balloon and we let it go. In amazement, he watched as it floated up and disappeared before our eyes in the pink, orange and blue sky of dusk.

How is it that he can remember them from a year and a half ago.? That would have made him just barely 2 1/2 years old. I am truly blessed to have 2 Brownies that care and love so generously and kindly. Afterward, as we walked up to the door Big Brownie said, "Mama, Bubba and Sissy were really cool dogs. We will get to see them again won't we?" I said, "Oh yes, because all dogs go to heaven!" He smiled big and gave me a huge hug and said, "I like you a lot Mama!" I said, "I like you a lot too!" He giggled and said, "I really do love you...and your pancakes!"

Will he or won't he...

Well, in anticipation of Mother's Day Out (MDO) a.k.a. "Bible School" approaching in a little over a month, I'm trying to motivate Little Brownie to be potty trained. You see, the Mother's Day Out program we love only takes preschoolers who 1. are 3 years old by October 31st AND 2. completely potty trained.

The first one...in the bag, the second one...not so much. It's not because he doesn't know what to do or when to do it. He just chooses not too. Some days he will be 100% potty trained on number 1 and number 2 potty transactions. And then other days, he wants his diaper or pull-up. I try not to push to much, because I don't want him to have no interest at all. So, the question of the month...will he go to "bible school" or not? We will just have to wait and see.

Summer Days...

We have had several big adventures in the past few months. It has definitely been exciting and tiring all in the same breath. Big Brownie turned 4 and we had an AWESOME Batman birthday bash. I'll post on it soon. We have been to several other birthday parties and we had a farewell to a dear friend. It's been an emotional roller coaster for sure. I have had so many posts come and go in my mind lately. Most of the time, I forget the funnies of the day by the time my head hits the pillow. But let me assure you, there are many. My boys are growing so fast and so big. My heart aches when I look at pictures of them from a baby to now. But my heart is also overflowing with hearty laughter and love in the same moment. I'm thankful for summer, where late nights and late morning are in abundance. When we can play in the rain and watch movies with popcorn and sprite. When we can just be together as a family. That is what I most love about these summer months. Forget the scorching hot days, I love the sweaty heads of my boys running until they can't run another step, to see them rest with peace and sing with joy. These are the blessed summer days of our lives.

Claiming victory...

I have to make a confession. Last night, I was watching the "Celebrity Apprentice" at my mom's house when all of a sudden in a crucial part of the show, breaking news interrupted our show. I was irritated. Not just because I was missing my show, but more importantly, because the newscast was so eager to say that the President was going to make an important announcement, they couldn't hold the news for the President to ACTUALLY give the announcement. My initial reaction to the news was callus. I was irritated that the news reporter made the announcement before the President. Isn't he at least due that? Can we as a news hungry society not give the President a chance to make such an important announcement that the number 1 terriorist in the world has been captured and defeated?

I am proud to be an American. But this victory is not just justice for all the people that suffered from his many terrorist attacks, but a victory for our military and human nature all together. How many soliders have died trying to accomplish this task? How many American lives have been affected by this one individual? The numbers are staggering I'm sure. After seeing the President's speech again this morning, emotions well up inside of me. So many emotions. I wonder if the Navy Seals that pulled the trigger was a Christian. I wonder how I would react in that situation? I wonder how you take another man's life in that sense? Orders to kill a killer. Would you have time to pray for your mission and for the soul of the life you are going to take? There is something to be said for the most elite of teams that can do this kind of duty. I am thankful that there are people that are willing to go to war and to accept such missions. I am thankful to be free. I am thankful that I can write such a post, whether anyone reads it or not.

I dropped my mom off at the airport today for a 2 week trip. I couldn't help but think, "I wish she wasn't flying in an airplane on this day." I had a high level of fear when I kissed her goodbye. On the drive home, my mind was consumed with these fearful thoughts. I don't know what I would do without my mom. Could this terrorist change my world today with orders given in the event of his death? The answer is yes. However, I have to have faith. I know that my mom is saved and I find comfort in that. I can only pray over the flight and over my mom. I can only continue to have faith that she will have an uneventful and safe trip. In this day, I am claiming victory.

Theme Songs...

Do you ever feel like life is wrapped around a song? There are times in my day that literally I sing songs fitting for my morning and I find myself singing them to get through the day. For example, I was having an especially special day with the Brownies and the song by DMX, "Y'all gon' make me lose my mind" continually played in my head. Then at night, as the last eyelash falls to rest and a quiet comes over the house, the theme song for the Rocky movies play in my head. You know the one when Rocky makes it up the steps and is victoriously pumping his fists in the air. Yep, that is the one. There are days that the song by the Shirelles, "Mama said there'd be days like this" feels like my Alma mater.

But then there are precious songs that fill my heart and mind. The song "Brotherly Love" by Earl Thomas Conley comes to mind when I see the boys being so kind to one another. When they are consoling each other or kissing a boo-boo when they think I'm not around. When I'm in a great mood, the boys are being good listeners, the dog is behaving and Daddy Brown is being the best husband/Dad in the whole wide world, the song is "I'm on the top of the world" by the Carpenters. When I see that Andy has broke free of the fence, which has happened once or twice, the song, "Who let the dogs out" begins to chime in my mind.

It really is funny when I think about it because I haven't really paid attention to it until now. I do it unconsciously as I make my way through the day. Here recently the song by Lindsey Ray, "Brand New Day" is my "get out of the bed" theme song. I'm a HUGE Watermark fan. So many of their songs are representative of my thoughts and feelings. My favorite at the moment is "My Heart, Your Home". It is awesome. If the boys and are in a dancing mood, we are going to be dancing to "I like to move it" by will.i.am. Sonic Floods, "I could sing of your love forever" is another random insertion of the day. And a moody day would not end appropriately if "Big girls don't cry" didn't come ringing through by Fergie. "Good Times, Bad Times" by Edie Brickel is another regular. While watching the Royal wedding this past week, the song by Eric Clapton, "Wonderful Tonight" and Colbie Caillat's song, "I Do", played in my mind.

Am I the only one that has this weird musical connection? Well, it could be worse. I could be singing rap songs...well, sometimes I do so there you go. What is your theme song of the day?