Day 7....Slapped Back Together

Some fires last long and burn hot, simmering for days before burning out, eating out everything in it's path, destroying, damaging, leaving nothing behind of the old.  Other fires last only for a few seconds like a flash, blinding and big, gone moments after starting.  This explosion might leave you hair less, singeing eye lashes, wisping away arm hairs, it will possibly take your breath away, knocking you down, but everything remains,  loud and big one moment , calm and quiet the next.  Minor burns, "Whoa" moments, and a head nodding, wide eyed grin at your side kick, yelling,"that was good"

Thank goodness for relationships that are true and good, the ones that are interweaved and tangled together so very tightly that the slightest tug slaps you back together making you wonder why you ever made that pull in the opposite direction.

John and Jacob will inevitably fight, they won't always see eye to eye, they will sin against each other and say things that they don't mean but there fire burns like a flash, big and bright and out in moments.  They can't seem to stay mad at one another, instead it is intense for a moment and calm and peaceful the very next.  

Yesterday they played all day in the pool, spent the evening climbing hills on their bikes and came home battered and worn out., exhausted  and tired.  I rode less then they did and I was ready for a bed and bath, wanting everyone to leave me alone. 

Instead of putting their energies into falling into that sleep filled place, they forgot their humor and tolerance, forgot how to relate to one another, and took things a little to personal,  jumping to conclusions to soon.  To bed they went not happy with one another, no usual bedtime chatter, no lights left on, instant sleep for both body and mind. 

This morning as John and I  were working outside, no words were mentioned about the heated rumble, the silly spat, or the "he said"-"he said" incident.  When Jacob awoke this is what it looks like when you are tangled so densely, trying to pull apart...

and slapped back together.

Day 5...Your Turn

Feeling left out, getting left behind, being told soon you will get to come is never easy at any age.  At 4 it is torture, crying in the dirt sad to see the 3 kids you admire and look up to following along behind the  daddy you always want to be with.  Waiting for them to return from the neighbor's house, sitting at the end of a trail, watching their accomplishments and seeing all the fun they had, listening to them talk of their adventures is enough to make anyone a little sad and angry that they can't be a part of it.

Jillian has been wanting to race bikes since the day Corey took John out for his first ride.  Progressively down the line, Corey has introduced our kids to biking.  Taking the time to instruct and practice with them, spending that one on one time it takes in order to learn.  When a bike is broken or needs repaired, they get to work on it with daddy, when a new trail needs to be learned, they ride it with daddy. 

Tonight, Julia came screaming through the house, "Go outside Momma, go outside!!! You have got to see this!! Daddy got her riding the bike." 
This is what I saw when I walked outside...  
This is what I heard, after she picked herself up off the ground after a fall, "I get to race now, daddy gets to take me."


Yes you do little girl, it is now your turn.  

Day 4...Watching and Smiling

Plotting, planning, excitement, my kids get these "Great" ideas.  I am always hearing, "Momma, you know what we are going to do? or "here is the plan." I hear whispers behind closed doors, papers and pens pulled out and excitement behind bright shining faces. 
Many times I have to nix these plans, caution isn't always on the checklist when they get to plotting. Sometimes I hint about plans they should try, hoping that a spark will come to mind and they will be inspired but other times I get to do nothing instead just sitting back, watching and smiling.  
Today they woke up inspired by warm sunshine and a cool breeze. A morning when they truly acted like the best friends that they are.   They were busy all morning, gathering supplies, packing food, writing lists, because camping was on the agenda for tonights' event.  

Wrestling tent poles into tiny holes, fluffing up sleeping bags in a line of 4, pulling on head lamps, sneaking cookies and marshmallows for a late night snack, what could be a better way to spend the evening. The plotting and planning is as much fun as the doing.
My window is cracked and I can hear giggles and stories, funny jokes, spooky tales and songs they are making up. Watching their shadows, hearing their laughter, just sitting back, watching and smiling.

Day 3...Screeching Halt

Slow and steady checking the world out, discovering new things, fast and strong focused on the goal, only looking back to see if I am in view, hand in hand chatting about whatever comes to mind...my children are always moving at variable speeds.
I know this is hard to believe but sometimes life is easier when I have all six of my kids with me, we tend to have a flow, a way of working together, a position that if one or two aren't present the pattern just isn't right.  Early this morning was one of those days.
We started out very pleasantly at sunrise driving the curving, steep roads to Eureka Springs, dropping the boys and Corey off at the starting line to the bike race and traveling to the finish line to await their arrival. We dressed and had breakfast, then trekked our way up the hill (still very much in good spirits), two riding in a stroller, one hanging from my body and the other walking next to me.  A rather easy beginning to our morning until we came to the bathrooms.
Four kids inside, Jett who likes to touch everything, Julia who had to go very badly and Joel who started crying the moment we entered the door, distracted I was by these three, I hardly noticed the one who had come to a screeching halt outside the stall, her blue eyes wide and scared, hands clenched, teeth shaking.

Me starting to panic, "what is wrong, what is wrong? "  Jillian staring in fear and breathing fast.  I turn to look and there on the wall is her biggest fear of all.

You guessed it...a "grandaddy longlegs."  She uttered no words out of her mouth, her feet remained glued to the floor, I tried to calm and comfort, reassuring her that they cause no harm, rehearsing the same ole words I say everytime we come across one of these fierce looking creatures, only to be looking into the eyes of a 4 year old having a panic attack. 

Scooping two kids up in my arms we ran, past the stalls and out the door, fresh air hitting our faces, snapping that 4 year old out of her horrid dream and back into her spider less world.
It took some convincing that spiders don't live in bathrooms, how this one was only visiting and not making his home here. A few promises that I had looked over every square inch of the "other" stalls before she would go back in...but in she went, quick and loud, moving at a record setting pace in case I failed to see a longlegs lurking.


A Storytelling Photo Challenge

Day 2...I Don't Notice

Mowing, weeding, trimming bushes and cutting back edges on this cool summer day. Busy, dirty hands, holding weedeaters, pushing mowers, lifting a hedge trimmer, and carrying loads of weeds and debris to the dump pile. 
Our yard cleaning days can be long and hard, causing little ones to get irritable and big ones to go missing.  Exactly what I thought had happened this evening.  Julia is the best at getting out of chores, which is frustrating when you expect it to be done but she is so subtle about it that sometimes I hardly notice.  I had lost children during the course of the day,  John this moment, then  Jacob a mere minute later and aggravated I was getting.  Wearing a baby doing yard work before the sun goes down, my back aching, my attitude not so good anymore, and my stomach rumbling.  Jett crying at my feet, Joel snoozing on my chest and me only wanting a few minutes more to finish up a much needed project.  
Lost in thought of what to cook for a quick supper, Corey busy working on the Suburban,  I look around and no longer see Jett and can't find Julia.  Dropping my tools, my search began, as I rounded the other side of the house this is what I saw....

This is why she is able to get out of chores, this is why I don't notice the job not getting done.  This is why Jett jumps into her arms when he is afraid and I am not around or follows her around like a little duck.  

Listening to them...her puttering and zooming, making crashing noises and him laughing everytime she says bang! that is why I don't notice. 

A Storytelling Photo Challenge

Day 1...Got Ya

This is not how I found him when I walked outside, with no siblings in sight and only one chicken peeking out from under the deck.  Shades lowered, water blaring, and that poor chicken getting blasted in the tail end by a blast of water, with the faint sound of "Got Ya"  mumbled through the pacey hanging out of his mouth...followed by the cackles of a crazy 1 year old laughing.

That sweet face you see, only a dare, a slight hint behind those gorgeous brown eyes of what you will get "if" you come to close.  Oh, it has been tried, prying that sprayer out of his tight gripped hands, his spray is dead on, you won't leave the battle dry but fully soaked with a mad toddler on your hands.

My yard is green, my flowers bright, and our chickens clean all because this little dude can turn the faucet, squeeze the handle and has perfect aim.

Jett spends vasts amount of time with the water hose, consistently going to it everyday and spraying everything that passes by.

*slight danger while taking this photo, both child and camera received no harm but as I turned to leave I was blasted by a cold stream of water and the faint sound of "Got Ya"

A Storytelling Photo Challenge