Little Miss Manners

As the mother of four children, I am fairly certain that I have spent the bulk of my adult life teaching gratitude (please and thank you), forgiveness (I'm sorry) and respect (yes ma'am, no sir, etc). So you might imagine my pride when after Cate's swim class yesterday, her swim coach told me that Cate has very good manners. My head began growing on the spot. I mean Cate is not even three yet and I have apparently done so well with her training that she is just an overly amazing, charming child. All my work has not been wasted. I have arrived at parenting success. You get the picture....and then Coach J continued:

Coach J: "Yes, she has very good manners."

Me (as humbly as I can muster): "Well, thank you, she is a sweet girl."

Coach J: "Yes, during class, I would say, 'Cate, that was good but let's do it one more time!' to which Cate would look at me and reply, 'No, thank you.' "

Hmm. Perhaps, I have a little ways to go before they are ready to write parenting books about my techniques. Drats.

The Shrader kids using their very best manners while they volunteer at a March of Dimes event this weekend!

When winding roads are worth it...

The Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii -- yes, that narrow sliver of a path IS the road!

We've had one of those weeks. A week filled with unexpected twists. A week filled with the possibility of turns. A week filled with questions, uncertainties...and the knowledge that God above knows every detail of our days -- and our tomorrows.

And so, I needed to take time today to reflect on all the gifts God has given us -- and I love to do that through photographs (My camera is among my favorite worldly objects...as most of you know!)...I stumbled across these from our recent trip to Maui and thought they were definitely appropriate for my feelings today.

Wade and I took a winding, twisting, mainly-one-lane road to sight-see. I had heard it was a "must-do" for the beauty we would see...but my advisers far underestimated the amazing foliage, the breath-taking views, and the absolute terror of driving on that one-lane road with mountain rock on one side, and drop-off cliff on the other! Ah, but it was worth it. I can still smell the Ginger, the Eucalyptus, and the ocean all mingled with the wind -- and all it takes is one look at my photographs to bring those scents rushing to my senses. Ah, the pure joy.

And so it occurs to me, thus is life. We will wind. We will twist. And we will undoubtedly have some terror-filled moments -- but sticking to the path, the one God lays out before us, will lead to an experience beyond our wildest imaginings. Are you in for the ride?

Blessings of blue...and red, yellow and green!

It is no secret that I take great delight in the toddler in our home. God gave me such a gift when he blessed us with baby Cate. Yesterday, I was working on the computer when she told me she needed to paint...as only a two-and-a-half-year-old can need something! So paint we did. I have taken pictures of her painting, and shared her art, but today I thought you might enjoy seeing a bit of the girl in action!

Praise update

Week two of sixth grade has commenced. And I thought you would want to know that so far we are doing beautifully! I say we because frankly, I feel every bit as if I am right there with them. Perhaps that will lessen as we get more entrenched, but for now, I am pondering whether or not I get additional credit for completing sixth grade a second time? Hmmm..

As you may know from my pre-sixth grade post, I was anxious about Benjamin's aide and the fact that one had not been hired. And then they did hire one. And he never showed up for work. And then they called for a substitute and she never showed up either. And then they set up interviews and only ONE of the two applicants showed up. BUT God was at work all along (as if we doubted...) and when the district contacted a temp agency to send a second substitute this one DID show up and he is amazing! A father and husband, this is an enormous but gentle man who commands respect with his mere presence. As one student in the cafeteria was overheard whispering, "Well, he just has 'Don't mess with Benjamin!' written all over his chest!" (To which this Mommy was heard to say, "Thank you, Lord and AMEN!")

The teachers love him thus far and Benjamin felt comfortable enough today that my presence was not needed (of course that may affect my acquisition of more sixth grade credits!). A big huge step!! Please join me in praying that all the paperwork goes through for Mr. D to join the staff permanently.

Claire and Mason are doing well also -- making new friends, learning new routines and remembering how to do homework. All in all, we are hanging in there! (And Cate is enjoying some serious Mommy time and has quickly remembered that homework means she gets to go spend time with Uncle Len all by herself...and she puts forth her "wrapping the uncle tightly around her finger" skills with exuberance! ha)

Apples not too far from this tree!

Just proving that the apples don't fall too far from the tree...Benjamin joined the Mommy-look-a-likes this week when the doctor suggested he needed glasses! And of course Mason and Claire needed new ones...so here they are: my very cute crew with their new eyes! And sweet Cate who doesn't understand that she doesn't need glasses...but loves her princess dress and Mommy's shoes (two different ones no less!) and you needed to see that, too!

Just like Beijing...

Cate swam the length of the swimming pool today during swim class...all by herself!! Look out Olympians...she's going to give you all a run (or a swim) for your money!

Happy First Day of School!

School started this morning for my sixth grade monkeys. Sixth Grade! How did that happen? They were all smiles...attitudes in place, and hearts set on go. It should be a great year!

Cate was a bit confused by the day. She wanted a cool backpack...and cookies for breakfast, please? (Because I was packing them in the kids' lunchboxes.) And when it was time to drive the kids to school, she wanted to go: "Mommy, I want to go to school, too." Me: "You do?" Cate: "Yes, but I want to stay there on your hip." Ah, sweet baby girl, believe me, I plan to keep you on my hip, for absolutely as long as possible! Sweet blessings.

Out of the mouths of babes...

One of my favorite things about motherhood -- and there are many -- is the oh-so-funny perspective gained from listening to things from my children's point of view. This is perhaps exaggerated in our house, by the fact that my foursome who are growing up in the southwest desert country are being raised by a mommy who was raised in the deep deep south...and as such doesn't even realize that words she uses everyday aren't really used out here and therefore leave my kiddos with little context with which to define them. For example...our family room is not known by any word anyone out here uses. Ever. Our family room is simply known as "in yonder" (pronounced yunder). I am at an almost complete loss for how this began...clearly I would ask the trio when they woke up from nap times, if they wanted to "go in yonder." When they began talking and saying things like "Mommy, where is the yonder in this house?" when we visited friends, I realized for the first time the impact my speech had on these non-southern-born kids. Ironically enough, without even realizing it, I have tattooed Cate with the exact same words. She wakes up each morning and says, "Is it good-morning-time, Mommy? Can we go in yonder now?" Hmm..
But as the triplets have grown, these funny little moments have become fewer and farther between. They are 11...and frankly are so smart, they usually figure out what Mommy means and insert their own less-southern word. But Friday, I got a rare chuckle at their sweet expense. We were out doing some back-to-school shopping and when we returned to the van, there was a twig from a nearby tree laying right at the door. I laughed and said, "My, but that looks like a switch my mama used to use to threaten us with when I was little." Instantly, they all began gaping at the switch. "Really, Mommy, that is a switch?" they asked. I had to laugh...I have used the word switch many times in their upbringing...usually in jest...but saying things like "If you aren't good, Santa will bring you a bag of switches." It never occurred to me they didn't know what a switch was. But as they passed this twig around Friday, Mason looked up at me in utter awe, and said, "Really. All these years, I have thought when you said Santa would bring us a bag of switches, you meant light switches!" I had tears running down my face, I was laughing so hard. Really. For 11 years, my precious kids have thought if they were naughty, they would get light switches in their stockings on Christmas morning. I am a harsh mommy in deed!
Of course, precious Cate is at the best anecdote-giving right now...she almost daily brings us to tears of laughter. But Friday, I guess she didn't want to be outdone by the switch brigade, because she was even cuter than usual! In our guest bedroom, I have an antique cabinet which houses a doll collection from my childhood. It's off limits to the two-year-old's little hands, of course, but she hasn't cared. Until Friday. I was folding clothes on the guest bed (easier to close up that room when I don't finish!) and she was in there with me. She asked if she could look at the dolls. I said she could but only look, no touch. She said "I won't, Mommy," with complete solemness. I watched as she stood admiring my hodge-podge of childhood favorites for several minutes before she came bounding back over to me. "Oh, Mommy, I NEED to touch them. They are just gorgeous and I NEED to touch them," she said as she bounced up and down using words awfully big for a 33-month-old with a strong strong emphasis on NEED! (And just in case you need to know...I let her touch them. They are dolls for Pete's sake and I have seen Toy Story enough to know that dolls prefer to be played with...)

It's a blessing being the mommy. And in the midst of all the laundry, dishes, and back-to-school hoopla, if we can remember to laugh, then we are blessed in deed!

Please check this out:

I have restrained from commenting on the tragedy in the Steven Curtis Chapman for many reasons -- I wasn't sure I could adequately express the depth of my feelings about this horrible event of losing their daughter/sister, Maria Sue. And I know that I can not. But I am convinced that I need to give you a couple of links today (even though I already posted once today...indulge this addition!). Below is a link to the Good Morning America interview the Chapmans did earlier this week. You have to view it.

Also, I have included a link to comments made by Larry King this morning about the LIVE interview he did with the Chapman family last night (I haven't found a link to the actual show but will update if I do). I will tell you that ABC did a lovely job with the interview...but in true secular media fashion, they deleted any reference to God or Jesus. The Chapman's faith is still evident...they are incredibly strong. But on Larry King last night, there could be not edits. They spoke openly, frankly, they quoted scripture. It was beautiful. At the end, Mary Beth (Maria's mom) is asked by Larry if she ever doubted God. She immediately shakes her head no, and said that when they had fallen as far as they could fall, into the darkest place they ever imagined, their foundation was strong and it held. Wow. I have chills thinking about the testimony they gave. Their foundation held. That is my prayer, dear friends. That we will have such a foundation of faith that no matter what comes our way, our foundation will hold!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5524419

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/08/lkl.about.thurs.cnn

Here we go...

Sixth grade begins Monday. Monday. That's just a weekend away. And between me and you (but out of earshot of my trio), I'm not ready.

We can blame the influence of all those Little House on the Prairie books that I read and re-read as a young girl, or the Janette Oak pioneer love stories I read as a teen, or the fact that Claire is currently obsessed with pioneer stories, but whatever the reason, you need to know that I have circled my wagons and prefer to keep my amazing 11-year-olds right here in the midst of this wagon-circle where I am completely in charge, in control and in the middle of all that they do.

Sigh.

So that is probably not going to happen. Benjamin might be convinced to stay in my circle for a few weeks longer...Claire would for a day or two, but Mason is already chomping at the bit to get back to school. They have to go. I know they do but good grief, why is it so hard on the Mommy?

The beginning of a new school year has so many challenges for my boys. Mason will meet them head on. He'll educate anyone who doesn't understand his cerebral palsy and bluff his way through any problems until we find a solution. He is amazing at seeing obstacles and overcoming them. It has always been one of his strengths. Benjamin will talk his way through his obstacles...maybe overcoming them or maybe just convincing someone else to move them for him! But as he gets older, the challenges are getting more difficult...for him, and for me, his number one advocate, to navigate.

So as I'm preparing to "un-circle" my wagons and send these amazing kids (Claire included, of course) off to school, will you pray with me that this is a year where the teachers are excited and energized; that they are creative in their teaching so that they are able to adapt things that need to be adapted and flat-out change things that need to be changed. Pray that we do our part -- that Benjamin and Mason have attitudes of victory not defeat; that Mommy too, shares their victorious attitude and handles anything that comes our way in a God-honoring style!

And pray I can remember 6th grade math. Seriously...6th grade math homework times three...I'll need that prayer!

May the smell of new pencils, new notebooks and new crayons bless you today as school is just around the corner!!

The things you learn...

I should probably apologize for this post before I even begin. But you'll have to indulge me. As the mom of four, I always know where the nearest restroom is. It is a necessity -- sort of like making sure you know where the emergency exit is on the airplane. But on this trip to Disneyland, it was even more imperative, if possible, because the sweet two-year-old has JUST become potty-trained! My dear hubbie, who knows many things, tells me that there are entire websites dedicated to the bathrooms at Disney parks. May I assure you that is NOT what is happening here...but I did make some discoveries that I have to share!

First, you need to know that Disney carries their theme ideas through to every detail -- this restroom sign on what appears to be torn cardboard, is part of Flik's Fair and a part of Disney's California Adventure park that appears to be made by small bugs using everyday items (such as animal cracker packages, etc.). The creativity in this part of the park always makes me smile -- I love the straws that hold lightning bugs to make the lampposts, the pencils that serve as landscape lighting, etc...and so I had to have a picture of this restroom sign!
Can you guess where this sign is located? It is in the Hollywood Studios section of the Grand California park, of course! It absolutely made me chuckle when I stopped to read it to see which Disney movie was being touted outside the restroom!

But my biggest laugh always comes from the signage above the sinks in all the Disney restrooms...this one that instructs us all on exactly HOW to wash our hands. Thank you Disney, and Brawny, for the wisdom!!

But I have to tell you that as far as wisdom goes, Disney falls a far second behind this sign that I found posted in the restroom of the National Park at the top of the Haleakala Crater in Maui, Hawaii! Really, who needed this information? Were people going in, feeling a bit of altitude sickness and chugging down some good, refreshing toilet water? Really?!

There you have it. My crazy restroom post. I'll try and return to saner topics tomorrow but for today, aren't you feeling blessed that you now KNOW how to wash your hands and to NOT drink from the toilet?!

One final Disney Hurrah...

Before school starts next week! We just returned from one last visit with the mouse (and the Duck, and Fairy Godmother, Alice, etc!) for Summer 2008!


It wasn't quite the magical visit we had in early Summer...an earthquake shook Anaheim while we were traveling leaving lovely warnings in our hotel about aftershocks and other things this Southern girl didn't understand! Then Panera (if you'll recall my earlier Disney post, Wade has found my favorite restaurant from our Minnesota days to be right outside Anaheim and we stop for a pre-Disney breakfast there now as a tradition!) was down to only ONE Cinnamon Crunch bagel. My family were oh-so-generous and said I could have it...but would you believe the server DROPPED it on the floor while trying to hand it to us?! Dropped it! Believe me, I almost told her I would eat it anyway...but didn't want to seem too pathetic (really, the tears coursing down my cheeks were probably enough!).

But we arrived at Mickey's House only slightly worse-for-the-wear and that mouse just doesn't disappoint. We had a wonderful time -- this trip with Wade's mom, instead of mine, and Uncle Lenny -- and rode rides, laughed at parades, sang our favorite songs and enjoyed the yummy treats we have come to love at Disneyland. It was great family time and just the perfect way to end our summer!


Mason loves the Duck -- and we rarely see him, but he was out yesterday as we were exiting the park for home! We felt like this was a great way to end our trip!!



That's my foursome saving me and my camera from the Indiana Jones ball -- they have such super-strength, you know!!

Minnie, the Fairy Godmother and me and my crew -- what fun! (and the strings in our faces are for Cate's balloons -- an absolute favorite thing of this two-year-old's!)

Speaking of favorite things...Cate and Alice! The story behind this picture makes me chuckle: Alice was one of the first characters we saw during our early-summer trip and Cate wasn't sure about her at all. But Alice stood and talked to Cate for about five minutes that day, until our little one warmed up and hugged her! It was a sweet sweet moment. Fast forward to this trip...we were walking and saw Alice coming towards us...Cate vaulted from her stroller and threw herself at "My friend, my friend!" with all her little might! She and Alice consequently ended up in a heap on the ground....and sweet Alice giggled and held her and said it was the best hug she had ever had!
All in all, it was a practically perfect (with nod to Mommy's fave above!) way to end our summer!