This and That (Megan)

Over the past few weeks I've wondered whether I'm stuck in Groundhog Day or Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad month.  Juggling the logistics of selling our house, homeschooling with most of our books in storage, shoveling through blizzards, and caring for a houseful of kids with the stomach flu has kept me hopping ever since Stephen left to start his new job in Alabama. There are days when I want to pinch myself awake from this nightmare and others when I am awestruck by the way God has orchestrated so many details to pave our way for this next adventure!

I can't remember the last time I took a picture of the kids (or where I packed the camera?), but I've scribbled down some of the crazy things they've come out with lately...

The other day Connor warmed my heart by saying, "Mom, you have true beauty, not that pasteurized beauty."

The twins have introduced some fascinating and hilarious dynamics into our family.  They keep poor Brandan a bit off balance since he's never quite sure which baby is which.  The other day he was a little too rough with one of them, so I told him to apologize.

Brandan - "Okay, who did I hit?  Was it Baxter, or was it Cade?"
Me - "Ummm, I don't know.  Just say you're sorry to both of them."  :)

I have been astonished by how quickly Brandan has learned how to read.  He is fascinated by every phonics rule and enjoys filling pages with his "school work."  The other day he informed me, "Mom, I'm just going to write my numbers in general."

We have to keep a close eye on Brandan, or he'll slip off and play hours of chess on the computer.  He has memorized all of the passwords and PINs for the Kindle's and can provide technical support when needed.  The other day, I heard him bemoaning the fact that our internet filter was bogging down the computer.  He said, "I just HATE these covenant eyes!"  

The twins are in perpetual motion!  Not only have we installed every conceivable child lock and gate, but we've had to bungee cord their dressers shut, or they'll empty all the drawers and flip the thing over onto themselves during nap time.  After they snapped two curtain rods, we resorted to thick dowels they could use for chin ups. They climb like little monkeys and have been known to leave lipstick graffiti on their sisters' walls.  Bedtime is quite the ritual.  It's next to impossible to put them both down before one of them springs up and escapes.  The other day I was certain I had "Baxter and Cade-proofed" the room for nap time, but Baxter stripped the toddler bed, moved the mattress, and got stuck in the bed frame.  I could fill a novel with accounts of their antics, but I'm too sleep deprived to think of anything else amusing at the moment.

Poor Baxter is having an identity crisis.  Whenever he sees his reflection, he grins and points, exclaiming, "It's Dade (Cade)!  It's Dade!"

If Cade finds anything distasteful, he'll hand it to me and say, "It's a blah!"

The twins love to play church.  They'll sit on the hearth together with any book they kind find.  Pretending it is a hymnal, they'll break into the most passionate chorus of a song they've made up together.  Sometimes it will be to the tune of their favorite hymn, but they'll replace it with the chorus, "Holy, Holy, Mama!"  Their older brothers are convinced they are going to turn out Catholic.