Overheard:

I decided it was high time to really mop the floors (as opposed to Swiffer-ing), so I broke out the old rag mop and was getting after the month-old squished-on food deposited under the table by our one-year-old.
Jacob came down from upstairs and sat on the stairs watching me.
"Mom, you're swabbing the deck!"
At first I thought, "Ha ha, cute.  He remembers the song from Baby Genius."
Then I thought..... WAIT A MINUTE!  I am CAPTAIN of this ship!  Why am I the one swabbing the deck???
It made me want to go all Captain Hook on the kids and start calling out orders.

Pulling My Hair Out

I think God's punishment toward me for being a professional lollygagger, is that I have beget a lollygagger with OCD.  Not only does it take him FOR-EV-ER to do anything, but it has to be done only this way.  It took him 45 minutes this morning to put his tractors away.

And this isn't even "away" in my definition (away is in a drawer, out of sight), but it wasn't worth the fight.  At least they won't be stepped on here.  (Under the end table, which is apparently "the shed.")

And we can't just scoop up the tractors and dump them in a pile in front of "the shed" and then proceed to park them, we had to drive each one across the floor, or haul it on a semi trailer.  I was completely ready to pull out my hair, between how long this took, and Jacob telling me "I caaaaan't" to everything I told him to do, and Zadie pulling back out everything that Jacob actually did put away.
But I can walk through the living room without stepping on anything, so I guess in the end, mission accomplished, even if it did take WAY longer than it should have.

Quote to Consider:

You can't love Jesus, and hate his wife.  The church is the bride of Christ. [.....]  The answer isn't a new mistress, it's a better bride.  And that's us.
-Didn't catch the guest's name, on For Faith and Family 7/6/13

(Can you tell I've been listening to a lot of Christian talk radio lately?  Bott Radio Network.)

Quote to Consider:

Most Christians have come to have peace WITH God, but very few Christians have come to have the peace OF God.
-James MacDonald, Walk in the Word

I heard this on the radio while on my way home tonight.  It kind of stuck with me.  His message was more on Philippians 4:8, but here's the whole Bible passage for you to chew on:

Philippians 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

May in July

This is our third or fourth day of GORGEOUS weather.  We turned the A/C off on Sunday, and I'm hoping to make it 'til Friday without turning it back on.  Highs in the upper 70s and low 80s, and down into the 50s at night.  It's JULY!!!

Paul and the boys are camping in the back yard tonight.  Paul got home from work and immediately started hauling out the tent.  I feel like I ought to do something fun with my unexpected free ME time.  However.... Did I mention we have the windows open?  There is nothing like the sleep you get with fresh air flowing in.  And.... I just got us a couple of these:

That would be a Comfort Revolution Memory Foam and Hydraluxe Cooling Gel Pillow.

I feel my bed calling......

Lesson Learned?

So I am an advocate for having children help with disgusting or difficult tasks, either as discipline/punishment, or just to learn that there are unpleasant things that sometimes have to be done in life.
So this morning, I announced to Jacob that he would be helping me clean the bathroom today.  Apparently he's been using the hands-free, pee-by-faith-not-by-sight method when he gets up at night to go potty.  I suspected it was him, but never had proof until last night.  Both boys woke up at the same time (allegedly one for a drink, and one for anti-itch medicine on his chiggers), and when I made them use the toilet before they went back up, there was the unmistakable sound of pee not hitting the toilet.
So when I explained this to Jacob, I was expecting whining, arguing, feet-dragging.  Instead, I got a, "Oh.  Okay!"
If they're excited to do it, are they still going to learn the lesson?
However, to help ensure the bathroom cleaning doesn't become Jacob's permanent job, I have now become the potty-patrol Nazi.  (Since Jacob potty-trained so young, and was so excited to go on his own, I wasn't as diligent on teaching the proper method.)  I feel a little weird, standing over him as he pees.  "Both hands!  Shake it off!"  But the smell of pee when you walk in our only bathroom is just disgusting.  I'd rather take care of the origin of the problem, rather than have him happily cleaning the bathroom.  (His wife will thank me later.)

Overheard: Maddening Logic

Me:  Nathan, you need to go up to your room and think about your attitude.

Nathan:  I caaaan't.  Because if I do, then I can't do it!

I don't know which would be more effective: spanking him for his continued attitude, or laughing in his face.