I wonder...

I WONDER....
Why do I have eczema and can't eat peanuts when other kids can?
Why does my brother like to wrestle me, even when I don't want him to?
Why do I have to go to school every day?
Why does it snow in MN and not in Texas?
Why don't I have a sister?
Why can't I do whatever I want all the time?
Why GOD? Why?

Back from "FLORIDA!"...

Mor Mor and her grandaughter and the infamous azaleas!!
***the ride that made me "owe my dad". I said "I can't go on that, it will make me sick!" Guess it made Audra and Grandpa sick too:)

**Audra facinated with the waterski show at Cypress Gardens. Thus her sherbert melting!

**Grandpa giving Audra some pointers on her long stroke!


Audra and I just spent four days in the land of palm trees and pink buildings. It was a cherished time with my mom and dad sorting through more of my grandmother's things & spending quality time with my parents. It's hard to beat a few quiet days with the folks! Audra had a great time swimming with grandpa, rides at Cypress Gardens and just being an only child. I felt like sleeping until 8am (so really 7am Texas time!!) was a sweet luxury only surpassed by not having to make meals for 4 hungry mouths!! thanks Mom and Dad!

Yes kid...

Last week I was battling some "getting irritated" days and I was using my weapon of prayer to combat my feelings of angst with my little ones. When i would find myself about to "lose it" I would, from my belly, bellow PLEASE!!!!!!! and then I would start quoating scipture and/or praying. LORD, I don't want to lose it on my kids. Give me a way out here!! Gunnar thought this was really pretty funny so if he saw me start he would join in PLEASE he would chime, "PLEASE!!!!!". Then of course we'd get to giggling and the moment would be past. On Wed. I decided to be proactive and give my kids a bath before naptime since Chris was going to be late at work. I had them in the tub, not their usual schedule. I got Gunnar out and in drying him off I saw the look no mother wants to see when their child is in the tub.....the LOOK of pushing. I abandoned Gunnar to his naked self and ran head long toward the tub, whipping Anders out, ONLY I was far too late.....he had done it. He had pooped in the tub, not just an easy clean up kind of poo poo but a, "how the heck" am I suppose to manage that one kind of poo poo?? He was terrified and was crying, I'm not sure if he was crying because I yelled no while I was whipping him out of the tub or because he felt helpless in his effort not too? I said OH PLEASE LORD!! and I marched down stairs (all of course after I'd dried and clothed my children). Surely I had a pair of rubber gloves? No, no gloves, Anders followed me everywhere with great interest. I sat staring at the tub, I looked down at Anders face and said "You know I have a Master's Degree right? You know I went to school for a lot of years and got pretty good grades and had a job?" He responded with his precious voice "You clean up my poo poo, yes?", aaaaaaahhhhhh "I clean up your poo poo, yes!"