Thursday, March 26, 2009

Why Is It So Hard...

...to do the right thing? That is the question Beau is asking over and over right now. He has determined he knows what the right thing to do is, but it is so hard to not do the wrong thing. The right thing is to get in the shower when mom tells me to, the wrong thing is to go back to playing...so instead I hear him whimpering whining talking to himself sitting in his bean bag completely distraught. He knows what is right and he doesn't want to do what is wrong because he doesn't want to get in trouble, but he really wants to play. I don't even know where to begin in this conversation of making the hard choice because it is right.
He came out of school today with his pant leg ripped from ankle to upper thigh. His whole leg was sticking out, I was horrified to say the least. When I questioned him about it he said there was a small hole that he continued to pull at until his whole leg was hanging out of his pants. It apparently happened at the very end of the day, thank goodness. In the car he said he knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help himself. UGH!! How I hated hearing that. Self-control, self-control, self-control, we have come so far, but obviously we have a ways to go. I can just imagine how that hole stared at him all day daring him, and then in the final recess it got a little bigger and it stared at him a little harder and he had no self-control left. I can see exactly how it happened and I want to cry for him, having that conscience come alive and really beginning to see right from wrong, what happened my little boy. He is growing and beginning to face the harsh reality of life, we need to choose what is RIGHT all the time especially when it is hard. We need to practice self-control all the time even when we think we have none left, we need to pray for it, we need to look to God to make the hard easy. That is what I intend to teach Beau, but where do I begin. What if I'm not ready? These simple conversations that Beau brings about really are about the bigger things in life, and I don't feel ready. Are you ever ready for the hard things God calls you to do? Was Mary ready? Was Jesus ready? The point I think is to live in a constant state of readiness, but that is oh so hard, I guess the most important is when He asks you say "yes" whether you are ready or not. And to PRAY HARD.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Fossil Hunting






Beau's class is studying dinosaurs right now. Beau came home the other day determined to find some fossils. They all went to the garage, got some digging tools and went to work on the dirt hill in the back yard. Beau and Anna worked diligently for at least 45 minutes. Luke played in the dirt to his heart's content for the same time period. He wasn't looking for fossils, but he was getting as dirty as possible. I am really looking forward to them enjoying the outdoors this summer.

Brothers in Green

On St. Patrick's Day, Beau insisted that everyone wear green as much green as possible. So we all wore green. When I put Anna in the shower, the boys were playing in the living room. When I came out the boys had gone out back and climbed the dirt hill. I don't know what got them out there or why they chose to go out in their socks when it wasn't extremely warm outside, but nevertheless they were out there. I couldn't resist the urge to capture a couple pictures of Irish boys being boys. Beau had a particularly photogenic day and the last picture is my favorite one I have taken of him in a long time.




Can't Take Just One







She always looks so cute before church but she always give me such silly poses. She is a charmer though, just ask Ben, he'd do just about anything for that girl.

Here Lies Gus





Sad news today, Beau's third fish died. He hasn't had much luck with fish and he says he is not getting another one. We'll see if we can talk him out of the lizard, hamster, ocean fish, gerbil, parrot and back into the beta. He was very upset, but he channeled his emotions to come up with a list of new pets and figuring out his burial. Gus #1 endured a lot before finally succumbing to death,
Gus #2 I froze, and Gus the 3rd (according to Anna) crashed into the rocks at the bottom of his bowl and they cut him and he bled to death, or so she says. He is now buried in our side yard.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Beau's Obsession

Beau loves Bionicles, well that may be an understatement. He plays with legos or bionicles everyday after school, everyday before school, and in between he draws bionicles. These are just a few of the ones he has brought home from school. He always names them and doesn't like it if they get messed up on the way home. I'm trying to scan more because the stack of papers around here is going to become a fire hazard if it grows and larger.





Beau's artwork from school


First I saw a tail. Next I saw a body. Last I saw a head. It was a smooth green snake.



Sunday, March 15, 2009

Anna's Haircut, a Bit Delayed





This last one is just for fun while she was home sick, the blankets added some crazy static to her hair and gave her something to smile about. We might go shorter next time with Ben's approval :).

Radomness

Ben has 70 gray hairs, Anna counted them last week one day.

Beau has designed at least 15 different bionicles in the last two weeks, each being his best yet, and he designed some spaceships out of legos, pretty awesome stuff.

Anna missed 3 and a half days of school with strep throat, and her classmates practically knocked her down hugging her when she finally came back. She was missed, I guess.

Luke enjoyed his sister being home most of the week, although he didn't understand why she just laid around and wouldn't play.

Luke and I enjoy lunch with his girlfriend who is home from college on Spring Break. Luke can't wait until she is home for the whole summer.

Ben is off for a week of work out of town, cereal for dinner, that is the only good thing I can come up with about him leaving.

I spent the weekend with a fever and I'm finally feeling human again.

My Home Signatures order arrived, the decor definitely adds some needed touch to the house. Pictures to come.

Ben took all three kids to church alone this morning, his first time ever. I really considered going but since my fever had broke at about 3 in the morning I decided to stay home in case it returned. I slept the whole time they were gone and finally got up about noon. Talk about a waste of a weekend. But then again, how amazing is Ben, he really picked up the slack and kept the kids out of my hair, kuddos and lots of love for him. Thanks Ben.

The weather is finally warming up and we are preparing for the mud. My next big purchase is mud boots for the entire family, can't wait.

Hope your weekend was great too.

God Bless

Friday, March 13, 2009

# 11, Beau in Action

Some of our family got to see Beau play this year, but not everyone so this is just a little of him in action at his tournament last weekend. I'm still amazed watching him, how far he has come. Although I am glad we are done with hockey this year, I can't wait for next year. The ability he has shown to persevere when it was hard has greatly impressed me and shown me more of who Beau really is. He learned about sportsmanship, never giving up, and teamwork. He didn't learn how to stop, so we will have to put that on the list for next year. Enjoy!!!