WYPW: Two Down, One To Go

Multiple Children Close in Age 101:  If one gets sick, they all will. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually, it is going to happen.  And the moment you think you've dodged the bullet, you find you have not.

Asher threw up Sunday night.  He was fine Monday--played, ate, a little tired, but overall it seemed as though he was back to his old self.  We assumed it was something he ate since there were no other symptoms.

Last night, I was driving home from meeting Cheryl and I called Kris to see if he needed anything (I'm incredibly thoughtful.)  He informs me that Simeon had thrown up four times after I left.  But he let me enjoy my time away (He, too, is incredibly thoughtful.)

My point:  I am waiting for Jude.  It will happen.  He will wait til all the sheets are clean and floors have been mopped and everything has been Clorox-wiped.  But it will come.

Yours, Mine, and Ours

About two years ago, Cheryl and I went to our first (and one of the first I'm pretty sure) Noonday trunk show which was being held to raise funds for the adoption of Missy's daughter from Ethiopia.  We were really excited to find out what Noonday Collection was all about and for the chance to support two great causes--the artisans in developing countries and adoption.

I don't remember when I began learning more about the concept of "fair trade" and the impact that our dollars can make, for better or worse.  I knew Noonday Collection would be something I would love because I was (and still am!) in love with the "not-just-for-profit" business model.  I have no background in business but this merger of capitalism and compassion excite me to no end.  The idea that a company will just say, "Yes, we want to make money, preferably a lot of it.  But we will only be as successful as we are responsible" is just so inspiring.

I toyed with the idea of becoming an ambassador for Noonday from the beginning.  But I had three kids three and under and launching a business just didn't seem feasible.  About a year later, I explored the possibility again.  I hosted a trunk show (and I used my hostess rewards to buy this little beauty)

This necklace will change your life.  I kid you not.

I decided I still wasn't in a place to commit to being an ambassador.  The boys were a little older but it still felt like too much to take on.

Fast-forward one more year.  Our family was going through a lot of personal and professional changes.  We started homeschooling.  I started teaching a class for our homeschool group.  I had a 5, 4, and 2 year old.  So I picked THEN to become an ambassador.  Makes total sense.  But it has been a great decision.  I absolutely love that I get to combine so many of my interests into one role as an ambassador.  

That's my story.  And it overlaps with their story--the artisans around the world that have found sustainable income because we sell the products they create.  I put on my beautiful salmon-colored Cascading Falls necklace from Ecuador and all of a sudden, it becomes our story.  I wear it--not just on me, but in me.

As the picture above states, when you give a gift from Noonday Collection, you really do give twice.  Your friend, sister, wife, or daughter receives a beautiful piece of jewelry or a fun new accessory, and the artisan who made it receives dignity, hope, and--let's not over-romanticize this--a paycheck!  Do you like pay day? Yeah, me too.  Them, too.  Universal happy dance.

And just in case you need a few suggestions, here are some of my favorites.  The above necklace of course. A little pricey BUT you will wear that thing non-stop.  So divide $138 by a million to arrive at the price-per-wear and you will find that it's practically free.

Also, the Bethe Rope necklace and Organica necklace (both shown here) are lovely and versatile.

The Bethe is made in Ethiopia out of recycled artillery.  What's it called when you take something with a history of pain and sorrow and make something beautiful out of it?...oh yeah--REDEMPTION.  Now available in necklace form.

This one is sort of the quintessential Noonday piece.  It is well-made, well-priced, and goes with everything.

 The Beaded Statement bracelet is made in Uganda.  Oh the amazing stories coming out of Uganda. 

Another favorite, go-to, wear all the time with everything piece is the Angelica Infinity Scarf.

The infinity scarf is my favorite because it is such a no-brainer to wear.  You throw it on and it looks cute with no complicated tying or arranging.  

Ok, just one more.  Tea towels!  The absolute perfect gift.  If you have a kitchen, you need a tea towel. It says, "I'm cute but I don't try too hard."

This is the set of three but you can order them individually.  

I could go on.  But I won't.  You have until Sunday, the 16th to order.  So go ahead--give twice.

PS--There are a LOT of companies out there with the same heart and goals as Noonday.  If this isn't quite your aesthtic or products that fit your needs, I encourage you to look around until you find one that resonates with you.  A few places I can recommend are Trade As One, Ten Thousand Villages, and Krochet Kids

My new year's resolution...

will NOT be to blog more. That would be so 2009 of me. But life is going so fast now that I am in my late early thirties. I'm going to try to capture just a bit of our life and make it stand still in this blog. I mean, my newborn is 2 1/2. THAT is absurd.

I also want to blog more about issues that matter to me during December. I have a few posts rolling around in my head tentatively titled "My Santa Manifesta: You Do Know Where Liars Go, Right?" and "Every Day is Christmas If You Live in America, You Fat, Ungrateful Slob." I'd hate for you all to think I've gone completely holly jolly. I have my limits.

My shopping is almost done. We have found the four gift model of "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" to be a great fit for us, so all of four my guys have a little something from each category ready to go under the tree. I would place them under the tree now, but hello--Simeon.

I'm wrapping up a great first season with Noonday Collection. I have learned a lot! I'm looking forward to starting the spring season with a better grasp on everything but I'm really pleased with and grateful for how things have gone. (By the way, delivery by Christmas is guaranteed until the 16th if you need a few AMAZING gifts for loved ones. Or yourself. No judgement here.)

Asher threw up last night. No fever, no chills, just puke. So I drug out the "sick mattress" (a baby bed mattress we keep under the bunk beds for the ill among us to lay on. It's vinyl.) I was just waiting for the next wave to hit. Jude was still awake for some unknown reason (it was about 10:30.) He was wired and kept commenting on how he always manages to make it to the toilet when he needs to throw up and how Asher is kind of a baby in that regard. I had to agree. One of the best things about Jude is that boy holds it until he is standing over the potty. That in itself covers a multitude of sins.

So Asher is awake, Jude is awake, and I'm incredibly sleepy because I had just taken a benedryl for my horrific allergy attack. We all finally dozed off in the living room and then sometime in the middle of the night, Simeon wakes me up. Not for any good reason. Just because. I'm so groggy at this point, I don't recall what happened after that.  All I know is that Kris woke me up around 6 and told me to go get in bed and all 3 boys were laying on the floor near me.  Around 8, I  woke up with the eldest and the youngest in bed next to me. Sleep in heavenly peace, we did not. But no one has thrown up again at the time of this writing.  That, my friends, is a Christmas miracle.

Viva La Blog

I went back to the original title of this blog.  My cynical side (which composes approximately 88% of me) thought that maybe if I proceeded under the assumption that no one was reading this, I would be more likely to post.  Its really hard to use reverse psychology on yourself.  You see right through you.  You don't buy you for a minute.  You're not fooling anyyou.

So back to Grace Upon Grace.  I got the title from a Sandra McCracken song which I now commend to you.  The chorus says, "Grace upon grace every sin repaired, every void restored, you will find him there,in every turning he will prepare you with grace upon grace."  I add my hearty amen.

It's comin' on Christmas.  I'm embracing it all a little more this year.  We got our tree while it was still November.  Who ARE you, Jamie Rives?

I like to get my money's worth out of clothing, ok?

My holiday aversions are well documented here but this year I'm feeling a little more open to figuring out a way to create a special experience for my children without compromising what we value and without emphasizing what we don't.  I know I hold back because one thing I hate is to be disappointed.  So I live in this space of cautious distance from anything that might not meet my expectations.  My "all or nothing" syndrome is well-documented here too and I think that plays a big role in my hesitancy to get caught up in the holidays.

But it's like eating strawberries.  I think the goal of strawberry season is to eat so many strawberries that by the end of strawberry season, you are so contentedly full of strawberries that you don't have any regrets about your strawberry consumption, or lack there of.  You surrender to the berry.  You eat your fill so that when it's all over, you're OK with it.  You aren't longing for more or wishing it could all last a little longer.  It's done.  And that's just fine.

So I want to take a strawberry approach to my life--holidays, babies, education, age--anything for which there is a season.  Go big then go home.  I hold back far too much and too often.  But it would be better to risk.  I'm living my story.  It might as well be a good one.

Towards that end, I am doing a "countdown to Christmas" activity calendar.  Each day, the boys get to remove from a line of twine I strung up, one slip of festive green and red paper on which I have written something fun to do that day.  Some of them are your basic Christmas activities--go see lights, go to a Christmas festival at a church, etc, some of them are things to do for others, some of them are incredibly lame and were it not for me setting the bar so low in past years, may not even be considered fun.  But they are loving it.  And I am loving them loving it.



And just by way of updating you ALL, here are the Brothers Rives.  My how they've grown.

Asher is 5. And a male model.

Jude is 4. And a caffeine addict.

Simeon is 2. And a scholar.

Noonday Giveaway!

My sweet friend Carrie (author, supermom, international rockstar) is hosting a Noonday giveaway!  Stop by Carrie's blog and enter to win this Noonday best-seller! (Or just buy it--it's on sale!) 

Notice how it is styled with this--the PERFECT holiday accessory. (Buy it, too.  It's not on sale.  That's ok.)

To enter the giveaway, Carrie wants to know what job did you want to have as a child.  I'm pretty sure I always wanted to be a teacher (dreams do come true, kids.)  My sister-in-law wanted to be the person that cut fabric at Walmart which I think is hilarious.  My middle child wants to be a ninja when he grows up.  Our family is full of ambitious go-getters. 

Speaking of growing up with dreams (queue emotional, transistional music,) you really do make that possible for the children whose parents are employed because of Noonday Collection.  Because when you no longer have to worry about the necessities, you get to dream about the future. 

From the Noonday Collection blog--one of the artisans viewing a picture of a Noonday Ambassador wearing the scarf he made

We were able to see the weaving process first hand at Migual’s house, whose entire family is involved in the process of making our Nod to Neon scarves. His children Alicia, Irmer, and Minor are all grateful for the work their dad receives. On Siggy’s last visit to go over a new order , Alicia called Siggy later and said, “Thank you so much for continuing to work with my dad. It is because of these orders, that I am continuing in school.” When I asked this bright 18 year old her dreams she said, “I am studying to be a preschool teacher so I can work with small children and keep our native language, K'iche’, alive.”

There are many children today who now get to ask themselves the question, "What do I want to be when I grow up?"  You play a part in making this possible with each purchase from Noonday Collection. 

Two Vital Pieces of Information

You must know...

1.  I am a Noonday Ambassador!  Noonday Collection is a company that is devoted to bringing stunning jewelry and other accessories handmade by women lifting themselves out of poverty to the marketplace.  (Think Anthropologie aesthetic meets fair trade values. I mean, hello?)

Check out the website and fall in love. 

2.  There is an amazing sale happening right now!  Fall line launches Tuesday so until Monday (9/3) we are clearing out some inventory!

Helping others by looking cute? Don't mind if I do.

Breakfast

I find breakfast to be a highly frustrating situation.  It's usually the first decision I have to make for the day.  I do not relish early morning decision-making nor do I relish having to make a meal so soon after rising.  I need time to ponder these things as I am not so much a meal-planning-out kind of girl.  I am more of a "have a general direction I'd like to head and see what happens" kind of girl.  So this early morning scene were I must be reminded of the consequences of being a poor planner and a non-morning person I find rather aggrivating and not at all a pleasant way to begin the day.

I remember those commercials from my childhood for cereal where the announcer told you that the cereal they were advertising was part of a well-balanced breakfast and then they showed you a glass of orange juice and a small plate with a slice of white bread, toasted, with a pat of butter on top and maybe a banana or some other pedestrian piece of fruit surrounding the bowl of cereal.  The implication was "You idiot, no one is asking you to pour a bowl and cereal and think you've made breakfast.  Didn't you hear us--PART OF a well-balanced breakfast." But who lays out a spread like that?  The whole point of cereal is the one-dish preparation. 

So we eat cereal several times a week.  It's my way of keeping the expectations in check around here.  If I scrambled you eggs or made you breakfast cookies yesterday, do not come into the kitchen with a quizzical look on your face wondering what delicacy awaits you this bright morning.  You know.  Are you about to go hoe a field or break some colts? I thought not. So this bowl of wet sweet wheat and/or corn will do you just fine.

I spent the better portion of my life unable to touch wet food.  I have texture issues, many of which linger.  But I've had to get over this one.  I am forced to reach into the disposal to retrieve some utensil or misplaced toy almost daily so I've had to overcome my hesitancy and stifle my gag reflex.  There are still times when I use tongs to probe the nether regions of the disposal but if I can see what I'm going for, I can voluntarily cause my mind to black out for a few seconds and go after the lost item.

Cereal is wet food.  There are not many dishes in which one pours a liquid over something perfectly dry.  And then the race is on.  Because while I can now touch food in the sink that may be wet, I cannot in good conscience eat soggy food.  Incidentally, I can't listen to people eat crunchy food either.  I pour my children's cereal and I walk away.  I urge them to eat it quickly because the soggy cereal fate will soon be theirs if they fail to make haste.  But I can't hang around to offer more direction than that. Because the crunching.  No, say I, to the crunching.

So before 8:00 in the morning, I have to face a decision AND a task AND my psychological issues AND self-doubt AND the crushing reality of the disappointment that accompanies unmet expectations I have of myself as a home manager, mother, and wife.  Not to mention the looming fear of not kick-starting my already less-than-illustrious metabolism by not eating soon enough after waking.  Are you kidding me? 

And doing all this only raises more questions than it answers.  The first of which, of course, is what's for lunch?

Just reminiscing about hanging out with our good friends, John Paul and Joy.

Man that was an amazing show.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bi-annual update 2012

We are about to embark on our first official year of homeschooling.  I like to think I've been homeschooling since February 7, 2007 but in the sense that we will have an actual curriculum and will actually (somewhat) be following it, I guess this is technically the beginning of that. 

Dressing up is a big thing at out house right now.  At any given moment, you may meet Spiderman, Thor, Captain America, Darth Vadar, Luke Skywalker, a fireman, Thomas the Train, a cowboy, or any combination thereof.  Asher and Jude do not like to commit to just one identity so they usually combine several items to create a new superhero that fits their current mood.  Now would be a great time to insert a picture of that.  Alas.

Simeon is very loquacious these days.  He has mastered the phrases "I don't want to" and "NO!" which has not gone well for him.  He has yet to be convinced that throwing a fit is not an acceptable way to deal with disappointment so we have quite a few "discussions" throughout the day in which I persuade him to change his flawed thinking.  I carry a wooden spoon everywhere I go...you know... in case I need to stir something. 

But as challenging as he is at newly two, he is equally as charming.  Those eyes that won me over the very first time I saw them still have their power over me.  He is hilarious and loves to make us all laugh.  This is why we crack down on the discipline.  Anybody with this much personality better learn some self-control early on.  He likes to grin and give the double thumbs up whenever he likes something.  He pronounces coffee "fahkee" which causes my to giggle every time I hear it.  He is Asher's shadow and Jude's accomplice.  He can count to 11 or 12 and then he takes a little creative license.  He loves singing "I cast all my cares upon you" and "Holy Holy Holy."  His favorite food is guacamole.  Incidentally, he pronounces it "holy" so I think that might be what he thinks that hymn is about. 

Jude just turned 4.  He and Asher both are enamored with Legos!  We took a little trip to LegoLand Discovery Center in Dallas to celebrate Jude's birthday.  It really is fascinating to me how boys just take to Legos so naturally.  I know not all boys get into them, but the idea of putting together all those tiny pieces just to take them apart again does not appeal to me at all, not has it ever.  But these boys will sit for hours and build things and then act our scenes with them and then break them apart and star over again the next day. 

I'm starting to feel more and more outnumbered here as the only female in the house.  Don't get me wrong, it's good to be queen, but between the light saber fights and legos and general tom-foolery that goes on around here, it is clear I am in uncharted territory.  Not that I was an overly girly-girl, but my experience with baby dolls and kitchen sets did not prepare me for the testosterone fest I find myself attending every day.

Asher is 5 AND A HALF.  He is definitely the leader of the brother pack.  All 3 boys get along pretty well and are quick to forgive and forget.  This is one of the many reasons I love having all boys.  Very little drama.  You hit me.  I hit you back.  Mom gets onto us both.  We apologize.  Life goes on.  Feelings don't get hurt often and when they do, they are quickly mended.  The down side to all boy land is that it is constant activity ALL THE TIME.  There are no quiet tea parties or gentle games.  It is full throttle or they're asleep.  I hear "Wow, you must be busy" basically anytime I leave the house.  Ya think? Now go take my cart back for me.

When I tell Jude that we will do something later or go somewhere later, he asks me, "Will you remember that in your heart?"  Not sure where that came from but it's his way or ensuring I do not make empty promises.  He also recently gave up his lovey.  That precious, nasty piece of cloth that he has had with him for the better part of 4 years is no longer his constant companion because, you see, 4 year olds do not have loveys.  At least 4 year olds who suck their thumbs anytime the lovey is in their hands don't.  So in order to minimize the orthodontic damage, he gifted his beloved lovey to Miss Iris Wimberly, a newborn friend.  It eased the pain knowing that Baby Iris will take good care of it for him.

Asher and Jude have learned how to swim this summer.  They are both able to swim underwater for short distances and Asher has started to get the hang of coming up for breath and using his arms more.  They are all perfectly at ease in the water and I really hope they are ready for swim team next summer mainly because it sounds like it will tire them out and not much does.  Simeon loves being in the pool too and is not quite convinced that he can't swim.  We've had a lot of fun this summer in the water.  It's fun for me to see them take to swimming so nicely because I grew up swimming almost every day at our local YMCA.  Safety breaks, chlorine-scented hair, eating snacks with wet, pruny fingers in a lounge chair.  Simple pleasures.

not one some surgeon came up with

Let's just pretend it hasn't been since February that I've posted and just get down to business. Kids are fine, I'm not pregnant, and I'm still married to the guy I promised to still be married to. You're caught up.

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the ideas of masculinity and feminity. What does it mean to fall into those categories? Who defined those categories? How important is being one or the other? How can those words be best applied? Here's my hypothesis: masculine and feminine are words that should only describe things that can be perceived with the eyes or ears. Possibly the hands, on occasion the nose, but I'm trying not to get too graphic here. So I can say someone looks masculine or sounds masculine or moves masculinely (replace feminine there too) but I can't (or shouldn't) say that certain characteristics or attributes are masculine or feminine. Strength, beauty, courage, endurance, patience, militance, kindness, resolve, tenacity. I don't think any of these words are best used when they are relegated to one category or the other.

Men and women are both called to be strong and the difference between the two has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of that strength. For example, being strong, having strength, doing something strenuous is usually thought of as "masculine." And then all the feminists get super agitated because "women are strong, too! I can do anything a man can do, dammit!" So they squat 200 lbs and refuse to let a man open a jar because they WILL prove that they are strong. And then all the anti-feminists are saying, "I shouldn't be strong because that's what men do and I'm called to be feminine."

But my assertion is this: strength (or any intangible characteristic,) is neither. I look at it this way--there are numerous attributes on the "shelf" of who I am. I take off of the shelf whatever is called for at that moment. Bear attacking my child? I grab "bravery." Someone trying to take advantage of me? I reach for "assertiveness." Friend hurting and needs support? I go with "compassion"(sometimes.) And all of these things become feminine because it's me, Jamie, a female, doing them. Same scenarios, but it's Kris, my husband, a male (despite the spelling,) doing them, those things become masculine.

So as a woman, I'm never called to "put on" masculine characteristics (those things that transcend the senses) because there is no such thing. I'm called to be feminine because it is a glorious thing to be a woman (if you have indeed been made one by the Maker of such things.) It is equally glorious to be a man, again, assuming it is a God-assigned role and not one some surgeon with a severly misguided undertanding of his status in the Creator/creature distinction came up with.

And it should be obvious that I am a woman. I believe that it is important for anyone with functional eyes and ears, yea, even nasal passages, to easily ascertain that I am female without violating anyone's conscience. My dress, my voice, my physical appearance should register with the majority of those in my modern, western culture, as feminine. Because THAT has everything to do with the way that I am able to deliver these genderless qualities. Ideally, I strive to do it in a way that gives God the most glory and best points the world to Him. I do that because of my gender, not in spite of it.

In all this, my goal is not to blur the gender lines. I'm not saying "masculine, feminine, whatever! Who cares?" Rather, that it is unhelpful to describe qualities that all of the church is called to possess as either masculine or feminine because men want to refrain from the ones that are thought of as "feminine" and women think they need to avoid the ones that are commonly thought of as "masculine." It is not feminine to be nurturing. But the nurturing is malleable and will take on the shape of the one that bears it. I will nuture femininely. Kris will nuture masculinely. And it is in that distinction that the glory of the difference in the sexes resides.

Interview with Asher

My friend Patti did a cute little interview with her newly-five year old so I thought it would be fun to see how my own newly-five year old answered these questions, too.

1. At what age does a person become a grown up? "20." Why do you think that? "because I thought when you were 20 you were a grown-up. Were you?" (I nod) "Good."

2. IF you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? "drink invisible water and eat invisible food and do everything that was invisible and sleep in an invisible bed."

3. What is something that makes our family special? "that we care and share" (?)

4. Are you a good friend? "YES." Why do you think so? "Because I care and share about people."

5. How would the world be different if animals could talk? "It would be silly."

6. What's the best thing about being a kid? "I don't have to work a lot like Daddy does and I don't have very much business." The worst thing? "that I don't get to do what I want."

7. Where is your favorite place in the world? "Mamaw's house!" (no hesitation.)

8. If you could give one gift to every child in the world, what would it be? "something they needed."

9. What are five words that describe you? "silly, funny, fun, special, happy...sometimes"

10. If you could invent something, what would it be? "a machine that if you were sad it would make you back to happy." (I believe that's called a Margarita Machine)

11. If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what would it be? "to follow God."

12.What's your favorite..
Color? red
Smell? cinnamon
Food? pizza
Book? Danny and the Dinosaur
Sound? a dog barking

13. What does Daddy like to do? "stay at home with his boys"

14. What does Mama like to do? "take care of her boys because you love us."

15. What makes you special? "I care and I share and I help people and I'm a good friend."

16. What do you MOST want to do? "play with my Legos"

17. What would you like to write a book about? "The 3 Little Pigs"

18. What's your favorite thing to wear? " My Bookworm shirt (with Curious George on it)

19. Describe what you look like. "A cool guy with crazy hair"

20. What are you looking forward to this year? "Going to Super Friday"

(Note to self: do not drop the ball on registering for Super Friday again)

In case you haven't heard, Asher is ALMOST FIVE.

I would blog more but I've been spending my days trying to figure out how we went from this


to this


Time is so odd, with all its creeping and zooming by. I hardly know what to make of it all. In one sense, it feels like it has been five. long. years. (I'm tired.) In another sense, I can't figure out how it could possibly be time for a fifth birthday.

But for whatever reason (maybe it's part of the curse) only in looking back do we truly appreciate what we had. And we scratch our heads trying to figure out why we didn't know how good it was. And we surmise the reason must be because it all happened so quickly we barely had time to take it in.

We play with language to make it seem as though the clock hands were spinning rapidly like in a movie but they weren't. Time didn't really pass any more quickly or slowly than time ever has. So the best way we've come up with to tell how good something was is to think about the time, in which the thing was happening, traveling. Did it walk? Did it run? Did it hop into a shuttle and shoot to the moon?

When it comes to these baby days, its like they were in a rapidly moving vehicle. I'm talking rocketship. By which I mean, it's been good.

Really, really good.

Just so you know, there will be no pictures

Well, helllllllllllo, nobody.

I am typing this from the computer located in the drum room. This room also houses my crafty equipment and Kris' audio whateverwhatever but that's beside the point. The window in this room looks out into our backyard containing a lovely deck, an empty garden bed, and an unbelievably overgrown-with-too-spicy-too-eat-lettuce garden bed. But the lettuce is pretty and green and seems to not really care that it froze last night. I suppose spicy lettuce is the best kind to be--resilient and unpalatable. No wonder it grew so well here.

But the drums. I don't actually mind them. With the door closed, it really isn't as grating as one might think. And they are usually trying to play a certain rhythm so even though they are beginners, they are at least thoughtful beginners. That is the best kind to be. Little Simeon (Simmy Shake, Sim-sam, simarooboo, Simmy Jimmy) is not quite as intentional but I can only hope that starting at 18 months will work in my favor. Eventually.

The Brothers Rives are doing well. Asher is ALMOST FIVE. If you have talked to him at all, you no doubt have been informed of this. He is the child whom, at present, challenges me the most. His natural tendencies are almost always not mine so I am frequently presented with an opportunity to lay aside how I think he should do/handle/process/embrace/respond to any given situation and really think about what he needs. He is sensitive and slow to decide and thoughtful. So I am learning to approach him as he is. Not leave him at the mercy of his sin, but not expect him to be someone he isn't. Namely, Jamie Rives.

He has developed quite the vocabulary now that he is reading. He uses words well, but now the challenge is to introduce the concept of a filter. At the park a few weeks ago he asked a little boy, "How smart do you think you are?" The boy replied, "very smart!." Asher said, "Well, I think you are baby-smart because you are not playing very wisely." He recounted this conversation to me later and I told him that, while I admired his word choice, it probably was not his place to comment on the choices of a total stranger.

Jude. For starters, he has considerably less hair now thanks to an unfortunate incident involving a misunderstanding between me and the clippers. He has taken it all in stride and he still looks adorable, but I miss that beautiful, long, thick sandy brown hair with gorgeous blond highlights. Thank God I have all boys because between their hair and my own, I have all that I can handle in the hair care department.

He is his own man. He knows what he wants. He's not much of a cuddler. Doesn't really give a rip. THIS I can relate to. Don't get me wrong, he can send my head spinning as much as Asher, but usually for the opposite reason.

And Simmy. First of all, any thoughts I had about cutting his hair have disappeared completely. Those precious curls are not going anywhere anytime soon. He is talking so much more--well, communicating so much more, let's say. My favorites are "Asha" and "Tude." Mama, Daddy, Pa (Poppy), Maw (Mamaw), car, ball, kie (cookie), cacka, muh (catchall word for drink. Includes but not limited to milk, water, juice.) his favorite word is of course, "no." He is learning, in a rather slow and painful way, that saying to his parents is not acceptable and not the proper response to "obey quickly."

2012 has been nice so far. We have eliminated most of the TV watching that went on here and the effects have been very pleasing. They play more, they read more, I read more, I get more done. I feel like I use the TV now instead of it using us. They watch one show a day now, sometimes two if I need the time to do something, but it is no longer our default entertainment choice or babysitter. So we dropped cable and resubscribed to Netflix and it seems to have been the right time for that change. I really resisted the idea for a long time, but now that we have all adjusted, I'm glad we just did it.

My new year's resolution...

will NOT be to blog more. That would be so 2009 of me. But life is going so fast now that I am in my late early thirties. I'm going to try to capture just a bit of our life and make it stand still in this blog. I mean, my newborn is 2 1/2. THAT is absurd.

I also want to blog more about issues that matter to me during December. I have a few posts rolling around in my head tentatively titled "My Santa Manifesta: You Do Know Where Liars Go, Right?" and "Every Day is Christmas If You Live in America, You Fat, Ungrateful Slob." I'd hate for you all to think I've gone completely holly jolly. I have my limits.

My shopping is almost done. We have found the four gift model of "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" to be a great fit for us, so all of four my guys have a little something from each category ready to go under the tree. I would place them under the tree now, but hello--Simeon.

I'm wrapping up a great first season with Noonday Collection. I have learned a lot! I'm looking forward to starting the spring season with a better grasp on everything but I'm really pleased with and grateful for how things have gone. (By the way, delivery by Christmas is guaranteed until the 16th if you need a few AMAZING gifts for loved ones. Or yourself. No judgement here.)

Asher threw up last night. No fever, no chills, just puke. So I drug out the "sick mattress" (a baby bed mattress we keep under the bunk beds for the ill among us to lay on. It's vinyl.) I was just waiting for the next wave to hit. Jude was still awake for some unknown reason (it was about 10:30.) He was wired and kept commenting on how he always manages to make it to the toilet when he needs to throw up and how Asher is kind of a baby in that regard. I had to agree. One of the best things about Jude is that boy holds it until he is standing over the potty. That in itself covers a multitude of sins.

So Asher is awake, Jude is awake, and I'm incredibly sleepy because I had just taken a benedryl for my horrific allergy attack. We all finally dozed off in the living room and then sometime in the middle of the night, Simeon wakes me up. Not for any good reason. Just because. I'm so groggy at this point, I don't recall what happened after that. All I know is that Kris woke me up around 6 and told me to go get in bed and all 3 boys were laying on the floor near me. Around 8, I woke up with the eldest and the youngest in bed next to me. Sleep in heavenly peace, we did not. But no one has thrown up again at the time of this writing. That, my friends, is a Christmas miracle.