This Pressed Down and Shaken Together Post is For Jeanne, But the Rest of You Can Sure Read it, Too! :)

So one day, not so very long ago, I was having a rough day... mess, screaming two year old, more mess, starving, wild, feral children, no words, but only screaming two year old, more mess, no shower in sight, yet, etc. Anyway, as I was relating my day/past "few" days to my loving sister, she gave me a big ole phone hug, and then laughed heartily and said, "I'm so sorry it's been rough...ha...ha...ha!...make sure you are taking pictures...because I want to see it...ha..ha...ha...!" and, "You're livin' the dream, man...livin' the dream...ha...ha...ha...!"

And of course, that is true.

Exhibit 1.

Here is a picture of a wonderful race track (thanks, Uncle Carter) with thousands, maybe millions, or more, of little, hook-them-together-at-the-sharp-protruding-corners-pieces. The boys absolutely love to play with, take apart, and then leave these hidden in full view, in the middle of the room, for some unwary adult to step on at night, in the dark. Here, as you can see, the boys have rigged up a very cool race track down the stairs... Using toilet paper as an anchor and dirty laundry pulled from the laundry basket, as the supporting structures.

"Please, Please, Please, can we keep it here to show daddy when he comes home?"

Lesson 1: Don't have the kids wear any clothes. Then there won't be any dirty ones for supports.

Exhibit 2.

I always get so excited when I come down to this little set-up by our entry way. With four boys of varying ages, we probably have eight different sizes of coats, shoes, boots, flip flops, snow pants, gloves and hats...because someone is always growing out of one and into another...

Lesson learned: Move to Arizona.

Exhibit 3.

Well, lucky for you I don't have a picture of Exhibit 3. Suffice it to say that pictures of vomitty sheets and jammies (plural) would just be too gross. Also, when a two year old child comes down in the morning before his parents are awake and opens a tupperware of leftover baked beans that were in the refrigerator and dumps them all over the kitchen floor (I know it was him...his baked bean smelling hands gave him away)...the thought crosses your mind..."Should I take a picture?" But no, baked beans on the floor also looks a bit vomitous, so we'll just leave that to your imagination, too.

Lesson learned: Put a padlock on the refrigerator and also the two year old's door.

Exhibit 4.

Technically, I could have listed Exhibit 3 as Exhibit 3 and Exhibit 4, which would technically put this at Exhibit 5- But, since I lumped all things gross and disgusting that make their way to the floor, I will allow that this is still Exhibit 4. Here, though is another picture you really don't want... several hours after the baked bean incident, my eldest son sought me out with an urgent request/tattle. "Zane put a toothbrush in the toilet, Mommy" What he failed to tell me was that not only was there a toothbrush in the toilet, the toilet had not been flushed...many times...thanks older boys! So, Super Mommy (Daddy was at work, or I'm sure he would have done it!) donned a chemotherapy blue glove (thanks, Jeanne...who knew it would come in so handy!) and reached down into the bottom of the yellow pool-yes, bottom- and grabbed that Cars Character toothbrush right out (and put it right back into the boys toothbrush drawer- ok, just kidding!).

Lesson learned: Focus more on toilet flushing, don't worry about aim.

Not exhibit 3, 4 or 5, but certainly worth re-visiting...

Exhibit 5.

I'm sure this speaks for itself...

Lesson learned: Buy a trampoline before the crib breaks.

Yes, this is normal.

Yes, Colby is coloring Mater while in his jammies, up on the table. Perfectly logical reasoning behind this, folks: markers need to be on the table for the other boys, dogs eat markers that are on the floor and goodness, it's just so fun to be up on the table coloring.

The other day, Isaac was frustrated that his spelling/handwriting was "so hard to do." I, of course replied with the extremely wise, "I don't think it's hard to do, I think it just takes a long time." He then agreed with my non-flawed thinking but continued to be grumpy about the length of time it was taking. To which I asked, "Why IS it taking you so long?" His response: "Well, I did look at the map for about a half hour." Case closed!

Lesson learned: Stick to geography and allow climbing on the table "for artwork" and there will never be any complaints, right!?

P.S. on this one... Isaac and Ian (especially Ian, right now) absolutely LOVE Foxtrot (the comic books). I find them all over the house. Especially in front of the warm vents where the boys like to sit and read! Anyway, although living a comic book life can be slightly irritating at times, at least the boys have a new respect for math, thanks to math genius character, Jason.

Exhibit 6.

Markers. Mmm. Cute. This picture actually occurred in Florida and was at least somewhat accidental. However, several weeks ago, I came downstairs to the boys, who were supposed to be working on their school stuff, all being super quiet... so of course, I knew something was up... Isaac was drawing designs/war paint all over their faces (not sure WHY I didn't take a picture, kind of wish I would have). His biggest disappointment? That I came down before he'd gotten his war paint on. He was sure I would be delighted... "Isn't this great, Mommy?! Look how I gave everyone their favorite colors and everything!"I must have been thinking...seriously, blue and green marker all over Zane...right before his speech evaluation with social workers...great! Kara, if you happen to read this, I'm sure you can relate, huh...! :)

Lesson learned: "Just smile and wave boys... smile and wave!"

Exhibit 7.

Ok, this peanut butter picture is a little old...

And so is the popsicle picture...

But the pasta is not...
Lesson learned: Bread and water only until they are 16.

Exhibit 8.

And here's the crazed beefalo dog in motion. Yes, Riley. I think you will love Oquirrh just as much as you loved Wasatch. Unless you leave some of your toys out...maybe even some of the aforementioned cool tracks... or if you drop a toothbrush on the floor... or maybe even if you're not watching the marshmallow you have on the edge of the table next to you (yes, she's stealthy).

Lesson learned: Eat your marshmallows in the kitchen, standing up, where no children can see you. If you heat marshmallows and chocolate chips in the microwave and then stir them together, they taste almost like fudge and I've never met a dog yet, who can use a spoon to eat marshmallow fudge.

So, there you are... these are our days... and we have been truly, truly blessed...

God has given us so much, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over has been poured out into our lap...we ARE living the dream...and it's a good one (except for the throw-up sheets, maybe). No, it's a great one! (ummm...slight paraphrase of Luke 6:38)

And I wouldn't trade it for the world (except the sheets, maybe).

Just smile and wave, boys! Smile and Wave!

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs... Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD. Psalm 107:35,43