How exciting today was. Aunalee was the first to wake up. It was 6:45 am. She said, "Mom school starts today and I CAN'T stop smiling". That made me laugh! Abigail woke up and said, "Mom I am gonna try and NOT ever get into trouble". That made me smile. Austin said, "Bethy, can I walk by myself even though the sisters get out at the same time as me"? That made me cry!

So taking the girls to their class (they are in the same) I began recollecting, the intense labor, the long feedings, the throwing up, the diapers, the crying, the baby giggles, the potty training, the first words, etc. How fast they GROW! Literally like weeds. I closed my eyes to blink and now I have big boys and big girls.

My oldest is in 4Th GRADE, soon it will be girls, hanging with his friends, and wanting nothing to do with Kenny and I. The thought blows me away.

My 2ND oldest, 1st GRADE (supposed to be 2ND) is smart and beautiful and sassy and wants to the world to be at peace. She wants to be the "best student ever" while never leaving any one out.

My 3rd , 1st GRADE as well, wants to stop sucking her thumb and waking up in the middle of the night and coming into my bed. She wants to go to a Jonas Brothers concert and scream like their "biggest fan ever".

My baby, well he definitely needs to be in pre school, but I have such hard time taking that step. I want him with me, and to stay itty bitty forever.

I'm so proud of my kids and the people they are becoming. (Boy, it seems my blogs are always about the same thing huh?)

HAPPY 1st Day of School to my GREAT kids!

watching with our ears and hearts!

I took 3 of my 4 kids to our cabin in Twain Harte this past weekend. Its our sanctuary of sorts. I can scoot the kids outside without worrying of getting hit by cars, or being abducted (Im a nervous mom). They play, discover, use their imaginations and take GREAT adventures.
While outside instead of doing my normal reading in the lounge chairs, I listened to my kids.
I listened while Aunalee and Abigail become wizards and fought off evil "elves". I listened as they made up problems only to find better solutions and I listened to them scream at each other when the other didn't do EXACTLY as she asked.
I listened as my 3 year old son went "Bear Hunting" on his quad. I watched him search for 30 minutes for the perfect "gun stick" and watched him march around the property finding a big mean bear. I listened as he made up a bear call, and set bear traps, and as he revved his quad up a hill. I listened as he argued with himself and as he spoke to the oncoming bears. I saw him take aim and shoot several while yelling "Im keeping the bears from eating you Mommy".
Later I watched as my children played on the public play ground in town. I listened to Aunalee ask a little girl, "will you be my best friend"? I saw the little girl smile and accept Aunalee's proposal of friendship.
I listened to Abby scream at the little boy to "Push faster" on the merry go round. I watched as the little boy fell and my Abby got off the ride to help dust him off. I listened as she asked if he was ok and then watched as she walked him to the bench and sat with him until he was "ready to play".
I listened to Anden scream "Woooohoo" on the tire swing. I watched as he tried to climb the climbing wall. I listened to his "YAY Ando" when he conquered it after 9 attempts. I listened to him make truck noises on the pretend truck and watched as he let a little boy "ride with him".
It occured to me, as it does daily.. How blessed and perfectly imperfect my life truly is. These kids drive me insane most days but then I listen and I watch quietly and I become filled with love and pride at the people they are becoming.
I remember thinking in my younger years how "being a mom wouldn't suit me", and now my life would mean nothing and be nothing if I hadn't chosen to take the route of "mommyhood". I wouldn't have tender hearted Aunalee who wants to befriend the entire world in her efforts for World Peace. I wouldn't have Abigail who is rough, and tough and the most concerned human I have ever met. I wouldn't have Anden who makes me laugh and makes my heart smile everyday with his wit and charm and animation.
I wouldn't have Austin who is too smart for his own good, telling me "Bethy its safe with you".
I wouldn't have strangers coming up to me telling me my daughter, "was as sweet as pie for helping her son when he was hurt". I wouldn't hear Aunalee telling me how beautiful she thinks I am even when Im sweaty from the gym. I wouldn't have Anden asking me to marry him, when he turns into Wolverine. I wouldn't have Austin calling me 90 times a day (when its his mothers weekend) just to make sure Im "there".
This is a beautifully perfectly imperfect lovely life I lead!

What does one do when they find out something, that they have no power to change? I hear people telling me "PRAY". I have faith and I try to turn to the Lord daily for help, guidance and encouragement. I pray when I am thankful for my blessings, when I feel as though I am at the end of my string and I even pray when I just need comfort. I'm no stranger to falling onto my knees and humbling myself before the Lord.
What if what needs to happen will help one person in the long term but could also hurt them? Which weighs heavier the good or the bad? I can no longer ignore my feelings or my worries. I can't stand in the background holding my breath, but with that being said... I have no control over any of it either.
I LOVE Austin so much and just like I would be freaking out about any of my other children being put into harms way I worry for him. But the difference being, I can't do anything about it but get down on my knees and pray that he is safe and loved and being taken care of while he is away. As a mom its so hard to rely only on the Lord for that. Usually I am there aiding him in his efforts.
Okay so now, I suppose I should pray for what I should pray for. I want to believe it will all work out and I feel terrible because my FAITH hasn't helped me out thus far. A mothers love (regardless of DNA) knows no bounds!

Pieces of the Ries's: My baby has to have oral surgery in tomorrow. I'm...

Pieces of the Ries's: My baby has to have oral surgery in tomorrow. I'm...: "My baby has to have oral surgery in tomorrow. I'm FREAKING out. He has to be put under, as well as wrapped in a 'papoose' contraption with ..."

My baby has to have oral surgery in tomorrow. I'm FREAKING out. He has to be put under, as well as wrapped in a "papoose" contraption with ankle and wrist restraints. Is there anything harder for a mom to deal with?
I've been preparing him for the coming procedure. He has to fight all the "sugar bugs" in his mouth, by using his "medicine swords" (aka medicated flossies). So every night we spend 5 minutes or so fighting the bugs. Then we put "bug killing juice" (fluoride rinse) in is mouth where his spit fights the bugs to make sure they wash away. Then it comes the teeth brushing. We have a special tool for that.
While going through our "bug killing" process, he asked me. "Mom, I HATE bugs in my mouth. I'm going to call Wolverine and have him get rid of them". I let him know that Wolverine wasn't a good "sugar bug" fighter and that he needs to be a MAN and kill the bugs himself. He then said, "Mom, that's what I'm talking about. I'm the MAN".
Can I even put into words how much I LOVE that kid?!?! Just being his mommy has made my life more complete and better than I could have ever imagined. He is getting so big and so strong. He has so much character and animation. He never ceases to make me smile, laugh, cry and scream.
I just love me some Anden Charles!