Kids say the darndest things

This week has just been funny with some the cute things the kids have said.  I'm great at putting it on FB but I'm going to try to get some down here on the blog for anyone who wants to read them.

In church this month we are singing a song that says "baptism by immersion for the remission of sins" and Izzy just handed me a water bottle and said "you have earned this for your permission of sins!"


Isabel had to make a Leprechaun trap for school this week....Kalen keeps calling it a Megatron trap!

In the store today, Isabel said something and I said "oh Izzy, you are soooo smart."
Isabel: "yes, and I'm skinny!"
Me: "yes well, those are two things women want to be-smart and skinny"
The woman standing next to us thought this was a pretty funny conversation.

Kalen decided today that he wanted to dress as Bumblebee and then proceeded to order Izzy to dress as Heatwave.  What makes it even funnier is when he told her to "Transform and roll out!" so they got down on all fours and scooted around like cars!!!!

My newest epiphany

The other night I sat down next to Kurtis in a fit of worry.  I'd been struggling for a few nights with feeling helpless about some issues.  The truth was there was nothing I was going to be able to do about the issues.  I could not change them, fix them, or even find a way around them.  I just had to deal with the way things were.   While I cried to Kurtis about it, my dear husband looked at me and said "Greta, you HAVE to stop worrying so much."  I replied honestly "I only worry b/c I care SO much."  He said sweetly "I know honey.  But you have to care a little less."
He is right but boy is it easier said than done.  I have a sign next to my bed that reads "Sometimes we expect more from others because we would be willing to do that much for them."  I think that is almost a fault of mine.  I do everything with 110% of my being....that includes being a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.  And sometimes it hurts b/c others do not give 110% back.  Is it b/c they love me less or b/c they are unwilling to give me that much?  I honestly realize that this is not true.  They DO love me that much and they ARE willing but honestly, they have things going on in their lives.  Does that mean that I don't hurt sometimes when I feel like someone has made me a lesser priority?  Again, honestly, yes, it hurts sometimes.  But I need to remember that this is the stage of life I'm in.  It's the stage of life most of my friends and family are in.  We're so busy trying to keep it together as wives and moms that we often "slight" each other or even ourselves.  No one is harder on me than I am on myself.  I'm so good at giving compliments or seeing the positive in others.  But it takes a SERIOUS AMOUNT of I don't even know what to get me to recognize anything positive in myself.  That sucks! 
While thinking about this today, I realized that I often look at it so much as a "competition" with other women rather than seeing other women as "compliments" to me.  My friends can be the "burger and fries" to my "shake and toy surprise".  And yes, I get to be the "toy surprise" (I'm already compact sized).  I don't want this to sound like I'm whining "no one likes me the way I like them".  That's not what I mean to say.  I recognize the worth of my family and friends.  I need to trust in them and believe that they recognize my worth.  And I should probably recognize my own worth as well.

the latest installment "from the back of the van"

starring Isabel....
while discussing our birthdays,
Isabel: "Mommy, you have had a LOT of birthdays b/c you are an adult and not a kid"
Mommy: "well thanks!"
Isabel: "that doesn't make you old.  Daddy isn't old either."
Daddy: "who is old?"
Isabel: "Mamaw"
Daddy: "you probably shouldn't tell her that.  what happens when you're old?"
Isabel: "you die."
Daddy: "no, I mean what makes a person old?"
Isabel: "they look old"
Mommy: "you REALLY shouldn't tell Mamaw that!"
Daddy: "how can you tell a person is old?"
Isabel: "their hair turns yellow and sometimes falls out.  They also get wrinkles.  Like when you are in the bathtub for too long."


I will also include her lyrics from the song you wrote yesterday:
"Ooooh babe, babe....shimmy down, down, down....babe, babe, put the baby in the carseat....like our Daddy does.....shimmy down, down, ddddooooowwwwnnnn!"

Kalen, the karate master

While he is SUPPOSED to be in time out in his room, I hear "hi-yah!  kee-yah!"  I open the door to find that Kalen has stacked three packages of unopened diapers and is trying to "break them in half with his foot".  Like they do when they break boards in martial arts!  Yeah, he's starting young!

Another Sam classic

Sam: "Mommy, why do we have a 'fighter kid' (he's referring to Kalen)?"
Mommy: "b/c God thought we should have one. And it's okay b/c I love Kalen just the way he is."
Sam: "yeah, but still, I think he's going to be a soldier when he grows up b/c he REALLY loves to fight!"

the truth is-Sam's not wrong! :)

Someone is full of himself today

Sammy: "mom, are you going to send all your kids to Bethel Bees?"
Mommy: "yes, I hope to."
Sammy: "good b/c I want them to follow in their big brother's destiny!"

Isabel is six years old now

Isabel's sixth birthday was Friday!  It was a great celebration day complete with a snow day and no school!!  Her birthday party that evening included 11 five- and six-year olds, which is a lot of giggling girls!  The theme was Hello Kitty and Izzy exclaimed "it was the best party ever!"
Isabel as a six year old:
-she is in kindergarten
-she is still petite like her mother
-she is NOT a princess but brings a whole new meaning to Diva!!!
-if it is pink or purple, it belongs to her
-she dresses like Punky Brewster; it need not match and layers are a MUST!
-she likes Princesses particulary Ariel, Hello Kitty, and Dora
-she likes to be read to if it is a girly book
-she likes to dance and sing (making up her own songs)
-she does NOT like to be the center of attention.....ever.....ever!!!
-she LOVES to color, draw, and be creative
-she likes swimming class but does not like being singled out
-she loves being the only girl and likes to "mother" her brothers....alot
-she loves to hold Zeke, feed Zeke, and basically be around him at all times

Isabel is my biggest challenge, primarily b/c she is so much like me--physically and personality-wise. She is such a strong willed, independent person and I love her for it.  One day she will be a force to be reckoned with and watch out boys! She'll sooner slug you than kiss you.....and I'm okay with that!