Favorite Foto Friday...

Wordless Wednesday...

A Moral Question...

Would it be very wrong to put an anti-barking shock collar on my daughter? You know the kind that if dogs make too loud of a bark shock them? I mean I wouldn't make her wear it all the time. I know she has to express herself sometimes. But maybe she could just wear it while the babies are trying to sleep and she suddenly feels the need to burst into full volume song right outside their door? I'm just wondering...

Oh, while we're on the subject do you think it would be wrong to put the invisible fence collars on two twins who always run in separate directions when I take them outside? I realize shocking could possibly be construed as child abuse so I thought of an invention along the same lines as the invisible fence. The kids wear "devices" (collars sound bad) and when they approach the boundaries instead of the warning beep dogs get they would hear mom's pre-recorded voice saying, "Jon Wesley Dodd you get back here this instant!" That is just an example name and in no way implies that that child is in need of discipline :) Don't you think that would be a great invention. However, as I used my real voice to yell at them to return and they kept on running (in opposite directions) it occurred to me that my invention has the fatal flaw that hearing the mother's voice must actually cause the child to obey. Hmmmm, back to the drawing board!

I'm Eavesdropping Again...

I know lots of my posts lately have been of overheard conversations, but I have to add one more. I was fixing lunch with the 2 big kids when we heard the babies wake up through the monitor. Jackson asked if they could go up and "entertain" them while I finished lunch. However, I think they forgot I had the monitor on. First I heard the expected screaming as they scared the poor babes. Then I heard Ashton say, "Jackson did you know if you lick a baby in the mouth you'll turn into a baby?"

Um yeah, gross and what??? I gotta stop eavesdropping!

Why You Shouldn't Leave Ashton Alone at Her Easel...

I was working in the bedroom knowing Ashton was painting on her easel in the garage. Apparently Jon decided to take Jackson and go to H*me Dep*ot leaving A alone with paint. This is what showed up in my bedroom:

The most upsetting part to me was the fact that these paint covered toes had traveled the full length of my house upstairs and down to arrive in my bedroom leaving me to wonder how many places they left paint on the carpet???

I obviously threw her in the shower. I adore this mischievous look, kind of...

She didn't want me to take a picture of her because I might show her pen....let's just say we haven't covered anatomy in homeschool and what parts belong to boys and girls :)

It Pays to Be Nice to Your Neighbors, Literally...

Jon walked next door to ask our neighbors, who sadly we don't know as well as we should, if they needed help removing a tree they cut down. Instead of taking help they gave us a high chair, 2 almost new booster seats and these 2 amazing little chairs their grandaughters had outgrown.

I think Will and Wesley like them! They won't stay out of them. All I can say is thank goodness there are 2 of them!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Ryan...

Today we gathered as a family at my nephew's graveside to celebrate what would have been his 5th birthday. I cannot believe it's been 5 years! Each year we release ballons to wish him a happy birthday. This year due to a mishap where the teddy bear let go of half the ballons we actually released only 5, which I think was the perfect number any way.

Here is his sweet family which will be one more come December!

The blue balloons looked beautiful as they float up to heaven to our little guy.

Justin had a lot to say and was very excited about the balloons flying so high.

And while it's hard to put into words how regretful we feel for what we've missed and how blessed we feel to rest in the assurances of heaven, as usual Jackson's prayers say it all:
"Dear God, thank you for today and for Ryan. Please tell him happy birthday from me. Let him always be happy and to have a great time. Thanks. Amen."

So, to my angel of a nephew happy birthday! Holding you again is one of the sweetest things I anticipate when I get to heaven!