Having said that....

Having blurted out in my last post that I am slowing down on my blogging....

I had to share this picture from our trip to the zoo yesterday.

Does anyone else find this disturbing....

And feel a little frightened for the female of the breed?

I think my husband was proud that I brought this home for him to see.

A blogging dilema

I think almost all of us go through this. A blog that has become stagnant. I am finding myself with less and less to say and less and less time to commit to my blog. Between my WW meetings, daily errands, working out, trying to join a Bible study....I find my blogging time almost non existant.
I am not giving up. I like having my blog to record the craziness that my kids bring to my life. I enjoy reading what all my favorite blogs have to say.
So don't give up on me. I'm still around. Just trying to figure out what to say and the time to do it in.
I won't be blogging...and haven't been blogging as much. But I am going to try to poke my head in at least once a week.
My kids need my attention more. So I am going to go play with them now...

A big hug from the universe

Silly Gingers Mom. I had to run into the commissary because my FIL is coming over for dinner tonight and I have no food. I figured, I only need a few things so how bad could it be with all three kids. Bwahahahah!

First off, I had to wake Stinky up from his nap. Much screaming ensued.

He actually flung himself into the street and laid down in front of a car in the parking lot. Many glares and shocked "Oh my's".

I get into the store and while the three of them are doing their best to give me a coronary, some old man walks up to me and says, "I saw you playing with those kids in the parking lot. Why not have 3 more?"

Withering smile, I reply, "Oh I think we are done now"

Old man, "Yeah...I should hope so..."

I clamp my mouth shut seeing as he is an old man and I do have my little kids with me.

Thoughts running through Gingers Mom's head:

1. Well, my son is 2 1/2. What is your excuse for being an asshole?
2. Yes, I am sure you are the one person on earth other than Mary who had perfect children. I am sure there is a throne waiting for them right next to Jesus.
3. F.U.


Moving on, I had another "proud to be their momma" moment in the frozen foods aisle. I was looking around for ice cream for my husband....even though I am still on WW.... and I hear Red yelling....LOUDLY...

"Hey look...COCKSUCKERS!"

Not once, not twice but several times.

I turn around, white faced. She is staring at the Popsicles. Everyone else is staring at me. I thought about taking a bow.

Gingers Mom. Reigning champion of the unruly potty mouths. Thank you!

The Pressures...and my soapbox

I have my kids in a Christian preschool. I absolutely LOVE it. They are so happy there, it is a great environment and I just love that my kids come home talking about God and telling me Bible stories. I love the foundation that they are setting for their lives. There are times that I think maybe we should continue on with Christian private school, but Dan and I both believe...strongly...that our kids are supposed to attend public school. If we were all to take our Christian children out of public education, what would that mean? And most private schools REQUIRE that you be a Christian to attend. I wonder what Jesus would think about that...

Last time I checked I believe He was the one hanging out with the sinners. Not amongst the leaders of the synagogue...

When pressed, the Christian school's response is that the mission of the school is to provide solid Christian education to supplement what is being taught at home. "Evangelism" and "Outreach" are not the ministries that the school is seeking at this time.

HUH???

Isn't it the job of EVERY Christian to present the gospel in everything we do?

I digress...

It seems everywhere I turn there is pressure to keep my kids out of public school. As if I am not a committed Christian, or committed parent. If I were really dedicated I would make the financial sacrifice to put my kids through a private school. (Public schools are not competitive enough, they are too liberal, they are too WORLDLY). Of course they are worldly. But God says to go into all the world and preach the gospel. How can we teach our kids to be in the world but not OF the world if we hide them away?

Then there is the issue of homeschooling. Not. For. Me. I am not organized, patient or educated enough to make that kind of commitment. I have friends who have done it and plan to do it. More power to you! I just know that if I made that choice my children's education would suffer.

I went to public school. My brothers went to public school. My husband went to public school. We all turned out fine. In fact, I think we were an incredible witness for doing so. We all went on to college and graduated. We got a good education. I graduated high school and college with honors. And yet still, when asked where I am going to send Red for kindergarten, I get the look. (Oh, I'd NEVER send my kids to PUBLIC school. I CARE about their education....)

It's frustrating. But I guess I just need to do what I feel is right and forget about the criticism I am feeling. Has anyone else experienced this?

It is a thankless job....

Stinky: Mommy, you're naughty.

Red Beast: Yeah, mommy, you're naughty...and you're in JAIL!

Gingers Mom: I am naughty? What did I do? Who put me in jail?

RB: Stinky and I are the police and we had to lock you away. You are BAD!

Stinky: Naughty naughty naughty Bwahahahahahah!

RB: You hit people!

Gingers Mom: (eyes darting about nervously) I hit people?

RB: You are an evil ugly monster that kills everybody.


Yeah... I definitely have my days. I'm wondering if my kids have been reading my mind... Ah hell, it's probably just the PMS.

A whole lotta crap

Good news: My diet is going well and I am now down 11.2 lbs! I am more than half way to my goal. This WW thing has been working really well for me. I had high hopes that it would have been much faster, but I am happy with the results none the less. I also thought I would have seen a difference in my body by now, but it seems the same. How much weight do you have to lose to look in the mirror and feel and look different? I have never stuck to a diet longer than 2 weeks, so I am impressed with myself for hanging in there.

Bad news: I've been bogged down with sick children for I don't know how long. We went from colds to stomach flu to tonsilitis. Dan and I have not slept a good night in weeks. Vincent was up LITERALLY all night having a tantrum in his room. Engaging him escalates the tantrum, so we have learned to ignore him. He won't listen to me at all, but will obey Dan. I am not sure what to do about that. I'm not a softie...I don't allow disrespectful behavior. I wish I knew what I was doing wrong. If I don't get some sleep, pretty soon I am going to start halucinating...I just know it. Oh...excuse me...I gotta go catch that life size twinkie running around my house and eat it....

Life

Life has been busy for the Ginger clan lately. Brady is perpetually sick. He has been running a fever of 102 for 2 days now. Ick. He is also cutting what we believe is 6 teeth all at once. He hasn't had the best of luck. In a matter of 2 days he pulled himself up on Red's dresser and had it come crashing down on him, pulled our little TV off it's stand and had IT land on him and was face planted by Stinky and got a bloody nose. Poor kid. I think I am going to have to start bolting everything to the wall for his protection. Maybe even Stinky....

Dan was gone on a work trip for a week so the kids went out and found themselves some wild hairs. They have been crazy, fighting, whining, bickering it goes on and on. You know it is bad when Grandma even finds them unbearable. We pawned them off on the grandparents the other night because....DA DA DA DA!!!!!! It was the big V day.

Poor Dan handled it like a trooper. Not a single complaint. How many men can you say that about? I was more nervous than him. I tried my best not to show it, but I am loser like that and probably made him feel more anxious. As I sat in the waiting room for him and I realized that I was wishing that I had been the one to have the procedure instead of him (even though I squeezed 3 not so small human beings out of my HOO HA over the last 4 years). And it was a good dose of, "Man...I really love this guy." But when he walked out with his signature smirk on his face, relief washed over me and I was glad we decided to do this.

Although, in the waiting room before Dan was called in.there was the most ADORABLE newborn baby and I felt my uterus ache. I leaned over and whispered, "Oh, Dan! Look at that adorable little baby boy..." He just smiled fearfully and looked at me like I was crazy. The lady with the baby was there with her husband who was obviously there for the big V as well. She did not look nervous at all. In fact, she didn't even look up and say anything when they called her husband back. I guess her memories of a human head shooting out of her were just to fresh. LOL.

My family and friends are all taking bets that we get pregnant in the next 6 weeks. If it was going to happen to anyone, it would be us. So keep your fingers crossed. I am off to find Dan a pillow and blanket so he will be comfy on the couch for the next 6 weeks.

Wow

I am sure some have you seen this already. But I just saw it this morning for the first time. It cut straight to the heart of me and actually wept. I encourage you to go take a look and watch the video. It was so touching.

Just Bragging...

Gasp!!! Could that be a smile on my 2 year old's face??

Yep it is. And a contagious smile at that....

Brady curious about the pretty flowers. Do they taste good??

No they do not!!

Bashful Red posing...

Not so bashful, shakin' it loose.