happily random

Boys

Having sons is definitely eye-opening. I only had a sister growing up, so watching my sons interact is a hoot. Are all boys so LOUD? They are almost constantly making noise, running around, jumping on each other. It's like they have a special language only boys get.

It's nice to see them playing. It's a pretty recent development. Before it was mostly Rebekah and Lucas playing together, with Tyler tagging along. Now Lucas and Tyler have been going off on their own, doing 'boy things.' Right now the two of them are in their room creating something. Coloring.... paper, I hope.

The weather has finally cooled off over the weekend. It was in the 70s both Saturday and Sunday, and downright cold at night. In the 40s last night! Feels like fall. I'm loving it. It's supposed to be warming up through out the week, but we're going to be taking advantage of the cooler weather while we can!

Today is the big day: Scrapbooker of the Year call day. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Ty Digs Trucks

Tyler is a car guy. Already at just 2 years old, I can see this developing in him. Give him a choice of any toy and he'll pick a car, truck or train 99 times out of 100. Funny little thing he does: line them up. It's always end to end (one  of my friend's sons lines them up side by side). When we went to Sea World while down in San Diego in March, he went nuts in the giant sandbox there. It was filled with HUGE Tonka trucks. Luckily we were the only ones there cause he bogarted every truck. He lined them all up and if he wanted to move them, he push the first one into place, then go back and get the second one and push that one into line, and so on and so on. LOL. He does this with little cars as well. He's such a funny little guy. :)

It's a quiet morning here in the Doherty home. Last night was our date night, so it was just me, Joel and Samantha. The older 3 went to Grandma's to spend the night. We had wanted to see Superman Returns, but got there too late, so we saw The Devil Wears Prada. It was a good movie, though I recommend it as a rental. I love Anne Hathaway; she's so cute. :)

So it's just me and Sam that are up this morning. Joel is sleeping late today, so I got up with the baby. It'll be his turn tomorrow (we go to the 11:30 church service). Usually by this time I've made breakfast for 5, changed 2 diapers, picked out clothes for 5, had a cup of coffee, referreed 2 or 3 fights and watched 2 kids' shows. Quiet mornings are nice.

Spoke to soon. Samantha is now crying at my feet...

I'm melting....

This heat wave is really getting to me. I don't like being hot. I really don't like being hot. I hate it. It makes me grouchy. And every day the cooler weather that is supposed to be coming gets pushed further and further away. It was supposed to start cooling off yesterday. Did it? NO! Not today either. It's supposed to be 95 today. And tomorrow, and Saturday. But Sunday, Sunday it's supposed to cool off to 78. I'm hopeful but not holding my breath.

Big scrapbooking plans this weekend. I'm moving back into my studio. About a year ago I decided I would be able to get more done if I started scrapbooking here in the house instead of in our detached studio. The problem now is the only time I get to scrapbook is when Samantha is sleeping and my scrapbook set-up is in my bedroom. So, I'm moving. I've decided to set up the studio with one side for me and one side for the kids to play. And now in the evening instead of being locked away from my scrapbooking supplies when Sam's asleep, I can go over to the studio.

The only problem will be heating it during the winter. Anyone know of any low-cost heating options for a 300 square foot studio? We have a wood stove in there, but I need something that will keep the edge off when I'm not in there cause it gets COLD in there in the winter. Any thoughts?

Miss Me?

It's been awhile since I've gone this long without blogging. This past weekend has just been too hot to sit around the house. Over 100 degrees without A/C is NOT fun, let me tell you. Saturday and Sunday we spent in the car or at the lake.

Yesterday we sweated it out at home most of the day. Can't really go to the lake by myself. Ever try to keep track of 4 kids that can't swim near water? It'll fry your nerves. The heat of the afternoon chased us to McDonalds for ice cream and indoor play.

It's supposed to be cooling off throughout the week. It's supposed to be 94 today & tomorrow, then down into the 80s after that. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It's already cooler this morning than it has been, so I'm hoping.

Samantha is 8 months old today. Happy 8 months little girl. :)

Artists

I have very artistic kids. Of course I do, right? :) Rebekah made this mask the other day with no prompting from me at all. She just found a paper plate, cut it into shape, cut eye holes, colored and glittered it. She wanted to be a superhero and of course superheroes need masks to protect their secret identity. :)

Lucas is equally creative. He can find the oddest things and make a project out of it, like a clothes pin, a piece of string and a sticker. I'm always finding these odd little creations around the house.

My little budding artists. :)

Please continue to pray for the couple that lost their two-year-old son that I blogged about yesterday. The funeral is today and I'm sure that it'll be tough. My dh is going to be attending, as the father is a good friend of his.

I have a heavy heart

Yesterday evening I came out of my bedroom after putting Samantha to bed to Joel standing in front of his computer. In an instant I knew something was wrong. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. "You know that guy, 'D' in my Bible Study group?" He went on to tell me that Sunday morning 'D' walked into his boys' room to to wake them up for church to find that his 2-year-old son had passed away during the night.

I can't even imagine what that would be like. I don't even know this couple and their son, but when Joel held me in his arms and started to cry, I cried too. "We used to talk about the silly things our 2-year-olds do," he said. As Joel and I are hugging, Ty, our 2-year-old pipes in from his room where he's supposed to be going to sleep, "Daddy! Mommy! Wuv YOU!" He wouldn't stop until we answered him, "I love you too."

It definitely got us thinking. How does a person survive that? How does a parent carry on for the rest of her children when her heart has been ripped out by the death of one of them? I am in pain right now just imagining the kind of grief they're in.

Prayer, lots of prayer. I started praying. For them, for their loss, for their strength, for a way for them to some get through this. It makes me ask God "Why?" Why would You allow this to happen? It's not right! Parents aren't supposed to have to bury their children, especially children that young.

But I know God knows better than me. I know their was a reason that I can't begin to understand that God allowed their son to die. It hurts God to see those He loves suffering. In my head, I know this. But my heart hurts for them. "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted...."

Splashing and sunshine

 Isn't she cute? Samantha just loves baths. Of course the counters and the floors end up with pools of water on them, but she has so much fun it's hard to care. I figure it's easy to mop up. Just had to share a little sunshine. :)

It's supposed to be a hot one this week. Of course, from what I've heard, it's hot everywhere. Yesterday it was 94, but it really wasn't too bad because it was nice & breezy. When I got up at 6 this morning, it was 53. Gotta love North Idaho. Even if it's hot during the day, it's always cool at night. So I have all the windows open trying to suck in all the cold air that we can before the day warms up.

I've started working on my KI Memories album for Color Theory contest. Basically I've started writing the journaling for it, which I figured was a good way to start. I've got a month to finish, so I'm hoping to pace myself instead of having to cram it in all at the last minute like I usually do. I also have to get some classes planned out as Joel has given me the go-ahead to start teaching scrapbook classes. Gina at OBGUnderground has been bugging me to teach for her for months, so I'm going to give it a go.

Gotta get the day started. Dress the kids to run off to the movies. It's free movie day again and we'll be seeing Clifford's Big Red Movie. :)