Rough and Tumble

I've been contemplating becoming a home designer for people with small children.  Every house will more or less be the same.  I'll start each house with padded walls.  But you can't use fabric, so it'll be some kind of upscale waterproof vinyl.   Something that will wipe down easily.

Next, will be concrete floors.  And they'll all be at a slight slant towards the multiple drains around the house.  And instead of a central vac, there will be central water hoses, so the floors can just be hosed down.

For a final a touch all the furniture will be custom ordered to suit the client, but it will all be in the sturdy foam covered in that soft plastic that is all the rage at mall and airport playgrounds these days.  And I know what you're thinking....what if the kids jump off of the furniture and hit their head on the concrete floor?  Oh....well, they're all going to wear helmets from here on out.

And...as a final hoo-rah, I may even start a campaign to bring back the outhouse.  I'm tired of scrubbing toilets.

Okay, okay....I'm being a bit over the top.  But sometimes I look around my house and I'm just amazed at how much damage these kids can do.  The finish is coming off the kitchen table, my $1200 chair is stained with blue food coloring and the piping is frayed, 3 pieces of furniture plus a wall and rug have nail polish damage, all of my walls are smudged with who knows what, there's a huge dent in the frame of my garage door where... (oh wait, my bad!), there are two interior doors with holes in the backs where the door stoppers went through, I noticed an art project on Clinton's bedroom door recently, two ottomans were tossed that suffered damage from a screwdriver, and need I get started on the 12,000 scratches in the hardwood floors?

Truth be told, I don't really sit and fret over the these things....however, I do refrain from buying ANYTHING new at the moment.  I keep thinking, "We'll wait until the kids are old enough to not destroy that."  And I do often feel like my kids would be better suited living in a gym....which brings me to my next point and set of pictures...

My sister and I always did tumbling.  In fact, we continued right up until we graduated from high school.  I like what it offers as far as working on coordination and things of that nature.  I also like that it gives Clinton one hour a week to act like a monkey.  At least if he knows there is a time and a place for it, maybe he won't be so inclined to do it at home.

He can be really shy, so I've been excited to see him join in with a new group of friends.  I've also enjoyed watching him learn new tricks.  And I love seeing his face when his teacher tells him he's doing a good job.

These are some pictures from the first couple of weeks back in the fall.  I need to take some more now that he's getting the hang of things.  He loves the class, his teacher, and his friends.  So, I'd say it's worth the monthly autodraft that visits my account when I'm not looking.

Showing of his self-taught front roll.

Learning to do a cartwheel.

TRAMPOLINE!  I honestly thinks he goes just for this.

...or maybe it's for the travel tramp.  Both are great fun!

Awesome finish, big guy!

Near perfect landing.

Awww, look at that sweet face just soaking in every ounce of instruction his teacher is giving him.  Don't you wish your child could be as perfect as this picture?  I hear ya...me too!

Picture Perfect Memories. Ha.

My kids LOVE school.  They have especially loved this year.  Clinton has a great tight-knit group of boys in his class, and he really likes his teacher.  And he won't directly admit it, but he's accidentally let enough things slip that I think he may even have his first crush.  But I'm not one to spill the beans.

Heidi Sage is also loving her school year.  She talks about her friends often....always listing all 5 of them by name, then finishing off with Ms. Kell-wee and Ms. Waurwa.  (Kellye and Laura)  She also talks about Ms. Deb often.  Ms. Deb is the music teacher and Heidi Sage thinks music is one of the best things ev-ah.

And while they are enjoying their teachers, their friends, their art projects and science lessons, and their playground time, they did not seem to be digging their first day pictures back in September that I tried to take before we headed out the door.

All Clinton cared about that morning was his Squid.  He wanted to make sure he had it to show to all of his friends.  He wanted to make sure I knew everything about it.  And he wanted to make sure it was in the picture.  And that was only the beginning of our problems that morning...

Yes, son, nothing makes a perfect picture like a giant purple squid and a loud roar.  Thank you for sharing.  Heidi Sage, dear, could you please join your brothers and look at the camera?  No?  Okay, perfect.

Well, Clinton, at least I can see your eyes this time, but Heidi Sage I can't see anything but your shoes.  Could you please come out from behind the curtain?  Maybe we'll get in front of the door...

Rex, you are 3 for 3 so far.  You might just be my favorite.  Okay, Clinton, we've now got a smile...not a good one, but still it's a smile.  Heidi Sage, look over here, please!  Heidi?  Heidi Sage?  Can you look at Mommy?

Rex, you're still doing great!  Clinton still holding that "awesome" smile.  Heidi Sage, why are you crying?  Wait...where are you going?

Wait....Rex, don't leave!  Where are you going?  You were doing so good!  Heidi Sage, what's wrong?  There's nothing to cry about!  We're going to leave as soon as everyone looks at the camera!  Umm, Clinton...still holding strong with that incredible smile, I see.  Awesome.

Whew!  Is anyone else hot?   Mommy's sweating.  Okay...Heidi Sage, look at Mommy!  Rex, turn around, please.  Clinton...seriously, are you channeling your inner Popeye?  Come on, guys, I just want one picture!  ONE.  PICTURE.

YAY!!  Heidi Sage and Rex, great job....you're looking at me.  CLINTON!!!  What are you doing?

Wait!  What happened?  Heidi Sage, Rex...turn around.   Look at mommy!  Clinton, please put the squid down!  Who wants a cookie???  IF you look at the camera, I'll give you a cookie!

Well, that turned some heads.  Now, scoot in and look at me!  Hurry, hurry...before Rex crawls away!

I think we got it!  Wait...CLINTON!  Look.  At.  Me!

And there it is!!  The money shot!  Heidi Sage isn't smiling, Clinton is somewhat hidden behind the squid, BUT everyone is looking and no one is crying.  Hoo-ray!

Okay, just one more!  Smile!  Aww, hell...

Heidi Sage roaming around her class room never looking back for Mommy!  She was off and running from day one and has sailed seamlessly through the year.

And Clinton, well, he's always Clinton.  Gotta love him.  (And, thank you, Ms. Tanya for loving him too!)

I know most people would just show you the one "perfect" picture of all their kids appearing to mind, dressed perfectly, and seeming nothing but happy about the day ahead.  But really, if I only showed you that you wouldn't know how hard I have to work every day.  And that's not really fair to me...now is it?

The Rainy Day Joys

It probably comes as a surprise to many, but we really do have rules in this house.  Not a lot, but a few important ones.  They mostly dwindle down to being kind, polite, loving, and a good listener.

They usually do not involve being super clean or anywhere in the vicinity of quiet.  Occasionally, this creates some self inflicted headaches, but overall it works for us.

Because we don't have a lot of rules about being clean, my kids adore lightning-free rainy days.  They get to splash around in puddles, dig in mud, and just feel the rain falling on their faces.  As a Texas native who is used to the ever present drought, I roll my eyes every time I hear someone complain about too much rain.  I want my kids to appreciate it for what it is.  It's life-giving to our world.  It's a gracious gift from God.  And it's just fun.

I imagine some people loathe it because they are forced to stay inside...but for us, that's not the case...  So we smile, put on our "play" clothes, and head outside.

Fore!

...watch out, it's coming!  I'm determined to get this blog caught up!  If things go as planned, this place will be catch up central for the next few weeks.  I've got lots of pictures...and a few thoughts...to share.  I know you're on the edge of your seat just waiting for all the excitement from the Williams' house.

While scrolling through my iPhoto files, I noticed a batch of pictures I somehow missed from almost a year ago that I must share.  Not because they'll make you laugh or pull at your heart strings, but because this is our family's journal and I want my boys to always know how much their dad wanted to spend time with them.

Since Clinton was born, Rodney has been trying to find things for them to bond over.  This proved to be difficult in the beginning seeing as Clinton's big activities didn't include much more than pooping, cutting teeth, and staying up late.  While Rodney helped with diapers he couldn't do it without dry heaving, he already had all his teeth, and he likes to go to bed early.  So, it was a while before they had interests in common.

Now that Clinton has ventured into his preschool years, he and his dad do many activities together.  They ride bikes, watch Scooby Doo, race Hot Wheels, and on occasion Rodney takes Clinton to the golf course.  I rolled my eyes the first time Rodney suggested this "knowing" it would be a disaster, but with two smaller children in tow it would be a bit silly of me to argue with someone who is willing to take the eldest.  So they went...

As always, Clinton is super stoked for a day out with dad all by himself.  He loves his brother and sister, but he loves having daddy to himself, too.  I was just excited I got him to wear that sweater!  I picked it up at one of the nicer kid stores I rarely visit and was disappointed to find Clinton growling at me every time I tried to get him to wear it.  But when his golf day came up, I told him it was a golf sweater and he had to wear it or they wouldn't let him on the course.  It helped that Daddy was wearing something similar.

Anything motorized makes this boy happy!  I don't even want to know if daddy let him drive.

I love this.  Looking at shots like this make me wonder if we're looking at the next Rory McIlroy.  There appears to be so much focus, intentional form, and interest.  Don't get me wrong, we didn't run down to The Little Course and sign him up for lessons...but maybe a seed was planted.  Golf can pay for college, right?

And doesn't every man need his drink on the course?  I believe his was Sprite.

Of course, while there is excitement about a day with Daddy and a golf course, and some interest shown in the sport, and maybe even a good attitude for a while....the truth is a 4 year old has limits.  So, at some point their cooperative spirit dwindles and their need for a snack controls their every behavior.

When they got home that day I just remember Clinton giving me the highlights of the day with such excitement in his eyes.  Daddy had taken him to do a "big boy" activity and he was all kinds of appreciative, even if he doesn't really know what that means.

I know Rex will be just as excited when he gets old enough to join them.  What will Mommy do when Daddy can take two kids and she only has the princess to hang out with?  Oh, I bet Heidi Sage and I will be just fine.  Just.  Fine.