The Williams Six

The home we are currently renting is three bedrooms. Caleb and Luke share a room. Luke is still at the age where he wakes up easily, so it is hard for them to nap together. For awhile, Caleb has been napping in our room. He only naps 1-2 times a week; the rest of the days he plays or reads in our bed. Lately, though, I have been feeling bad for displacing Caleb. So I have been letting the boys nap together. Luke does not nap that well, anyway, so it has been working out pretty good. On days where one (or both) of them is really tired, I will separate them to ensure a nap. Caleb is so cute. He has to stay in his room until 4:00. Even when he does not nap, he really enjoys the down time. (And, of course, so do I.) He loves people, but he also likes to have time alone. Anyway, I taught him how to sort of tell time. I let him know he could come out when there is a "4" on the left side of the clock. Every single day, he comes out and says, "It turned four on th...

There are so many cute, fun, hilarious, silly things my kids do that I will miss as they grow older. If I were to list them all, it would take days. Having little kids seems so much easier than teenagers (though I am not scared of the teen years), and I would be totally content to have my little crew stay little forever, if only that were possible. But, today, I will share things I will not miss: 1. All the wiping. Wiping counters, wiping floors, wiping butts, wiping noses, wiping toilets, wiping tables....does the wiping ever stop? 2. Sippy cups. Though, I love that these cups contain liquids quite well, I feel like sippy cups are my nemesis . I find them under beds, furniture, car seats....usually nice and moldy. Yet, because of their ability to contain liquids, they remain a part of our home. 3. The high chair. Bulky, hard to clean, and an eye sore....but very helpful for the time being. Hmmm....that's about all I can think of. I am sure more will come to me late...

Me: "Hey kids, when this cartoon is over, turn off the TV." Chloe: "It's a long one. It's never going to be done." Caleb struggles with being a know-it-all. He will often say, "I know everything," to which I reply, "You know a lot of things, but only God knows everything." Earlier, during this same conversation, he said (with the previously mentioned attitude), "I know a million things." I said, "There are a trillion things you don't know, but you will learn more." He said, "Well, I know you're cute." Maybe he does know everything. (ha, ha)

Tonight, I went upstairs and noticed Chloe's light on. She, however, was not in her room (my kids had gone to bed about an hour before). I went into Caleb's room, and he and Chloe were playing in his bed (Luke was sleeping). When I asked what she was thinking, she replied, "Caleb said I could come in." Oh, ok. Apparently, the four year old is in charge now.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, I am shameless in my adoration of my children. Tonight, as I worked out with Brett (even though I was exhausted and did not want to), I was thinking of all that has changed since having kids....that is not so positive. 1. I used to prefer salty treats; now I like sweets! Before kids, I could barely eat a cookie. Now I have to stop myself at 3 (or 4). (Except now that I am trying to lose weight, I do not eat them.) 2. My hair used to be straight as a board....until I got pregnant with Chloe. Now it is curly. Not like ringlets, more like waves, but definitely curly. Thank you, Jesus, for the invention of the flat iron. On the same note, my hair does not hold highlights very well. I have no clue why, but the color just does not stay as well. It's almost as if my hair does not want to be blonde, but my mind knows that I was meant to have blonde hair. 3. I actually used to like working out. 4. I used to be a thrill see...

Recently, I was praying for a friend who is having a frustrating time at mealtime with her young child. As I was praying, God reminded me of a speaker I heard a few years ago at a MOPS Convention. This man talked about creating a list of family values. Unfortunately, I cannot remember his name, but the information has stuck with me. Basically, the premise of his talk was the he worked with men/women who could effectively run Fortune 500 companies but were unable to manage their own families. Obviously, these CEO's are very gifted, yet they struggled at home. This man created a way to maintain a thriving home environment. His model is more detailed than this, but this was my takeaway (I will do my best to explain what he so eloquently taught): As a couple, you and your spouse brainstorm 5-6 very specific values you want to instill in your children. The way to figure these out is to think of the "hills you're willing to die on", so to speak....what values really...

Going back through my posts, I realized I had a few blogs I wrote but never published. One is when I was wavering between adopting or birthing our fourth child. One thing is for sure: our family is not complete. I cannot explain that other than I just know. For awhile there, I was strongly contemplating adopting, but for now, I am leaning more towards birthing the last child. In fact, I am most certain, God willing, that is what our plans are. We are trying to decide when to try to have a baby. And by "try", I mean get pregnant. I have many weaknesses, but fertility is not one of them. In case you can't tell. Our kids are fairly close, so one part of me wants to get pregnant in about 9-10 months....and be done. Forever!! But another part of me wonders if I should take a longer break. See, I have this really weird feeling (that is probably not going to happen) that I will have twins. For one, Brett has always wanted five kids, and I only want four. Things jus...

It has been over two weeks since I weaned Luke. In case anyone is keeping track, Brett and I will be married six years next month. Of those 72 months, I have been pregnant and/or nursing for 61 of them. And in those six years, I have gained 140 pounds. And lost 130. Typically, nursing my babies takes my weight off fairly quickly. But this time around, ten pounds has decided to linger. I guess there's only so many cookies nursing can burn off. Up until my first pregnancy, I exercised regularly and ate well. I got pregnant with Caleb, and oh my, my habits changed quickly. Mostly because the only thing I could hold down was french fries, and I discovered how delicious fries are! My exercise regiment has been spotty, at best. Because we are planning to have one more child (eventually), I want to get the extra weight off before getting pregnant. For the first time, I am actually content with what I look like (hello, I have three kids...I would have expected much worse, to be...

I read a lot of blogs, so I cannot remember where I saw this recently (if you know, please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due)....but I found the best tip. A blogger said one of the first things she does each morning is unload the dishwasher. This task is probably my least favorite thing I have to do each day, but I took her advice. I am shocked how much better my day goes when I do this. The sink stays empty because I can put dishes straight into the dishwasher. When the sink is empty, the kitchen seems much less cluttered! Just thought I would share that quick tip!

The first year of Luke's life went way too fast. I know people always say that, but as my third child, it was even faster. Knowing how fast it goes, for the first time, I was truly able to enjoy every moment. With both Caleb and Chloe, I was so nervous that there were moments I, unfortunately, wished away. I have absolutely loved and adored them every single moment of their lives, but things like teething, fussiness, gas, spit up, etc overwhelmed me. But with Luke, I knew he'd eventually get past all of it. So I could enjoy it. I'm not sure if he is the easiest baby ever, or I am just less neurotic....but either way, Luke is amazing. He has been walking for almost two months. He couldn't care less about baby toys, but rather prefers to chase his brother and sister around the house. He weaned about two weeks ago (can I get a hallelujah) and eats incredible amounts of (regular) food. In one sitting, he can polish off two pieces of pizza. As of his first birt...

As I mentioned in my previous post, Caleb is my comedian. He likes to get a good laugh, and I love to laugh with him. Last night, as I was tucking him for bed, he asked, "Is there such thing as bad prayers?" I replied, "No, God loves all of our prayers, even if we're upset." He immediately prayed (jokingly), "God, I love my sister so much, but that brother Luke of mine is so mean." That boy. Hilarious. The best part is that he so totally adores Luke that it is the farthest thing from the truth! Our kids are in this phase where they love to tell secrets. Today Caleb's secret to me was, "You steer the stroller better than Daddy." I'll take compliments where I can get them, thankyouverymuch. When counting, Caleb knows the number "eleven", but when he says it by itself, he calls it "onety-one". In my room, I noticed some artwork on the wall. Caleb admitted to it, and when I asked why he did it, he said, ...

In one day, Chloe gives me enough blog fodder to last a year. She is unintentionally comical. I have said before...Caleb is really funny, in a comedic sort of way. He makes up jokes, plays practical jokes, and makes me laugh a lot. He actually has come up with some funny jokes. But Chloe's comedy is not intended to be funny. But I seriously cannot stop laughing. I realize that humor is often lost in writing, so these stories may not be funny to anyone but me. Tonight, Chloe asked if she could pray for my tummy (I have an umbilical hernia). I said yes, and then, to start the prayer, said, "Come, Jesus." Chloe replied, "I'm not Jesus. I'm Chloe." Yesterday, I asked Chloe to pray for me for the same issue (I am hoping for Jesus to heal it so I don't have to get surgery), she said, "I'm not going to ask Jesus to fix it; I'm going to ask Santa to fix it." (We'll have to work on that one) Even as I write these down, I canno...

I do not talk much about ministry on this blog. Brett has so many cool stories of incredible ministry opportunities that it could be its own blog. A few days ago, he texted me this picture. Though we are a ministry team, most everything I do is at home, while he is the one out and about. I loved seeing him leading Skate Church at Rocketown. Skate Church is for, well, the skaters that come to Rocketown. Isn't it so cute that they did not take their helmets off?

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." - William Morris I have spent the better part of today organizing my home. I am not that great at maintaining an organized home, so I let it go for awhile until I can't stand it anymore. Then I do an overhaul. I regularly pick up my house, but I do it very quickly. So things do not always get put back in the place I prefer them to be. Plus I have four other people living in my house, who are very helpful (minus Luke, of course...he mostly just destroys things at this point in his life) but can't read my mind and know where I want things to go. And I am fine with that. But that is why today was spent organizing some things. Brett took Chloe on a Daddy date, so the boys and I worked hard at home. It is amazing how much easier one less child is. Side note: before she left, Chloe gave me a hug and said, "I'll miss you, Mommy." So sweet, but from what I he...

As of late, I have been reading through the Psalms. I love King David's raw devotion to the Lord. The Psalms can speak to any situation....with reassurance that we all go through hard times and the faith that God is faithful to His promises. Making my way through, I came to a verse that has stuck in my mind for the last couple of days... Psalm 128 :3- Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, in the very heart of your house. ( NKJV ) The NLT version says: Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing within your home. The southern version says: If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. ( haha ) I have often said, "The woman is the heart of the home", so to find it backed up in Scripture delighted my soul to no end. I may be taking some liberties in my interpretation of this verse, but when I read it, God really affirmed to me that women are the heart of the home. In previous posts I have probably talked about this, but it bears repeating. I love the p...

Chloe was not the easiest baby. She wasn't terrible (or anything close), but she definitely cried a lot. Not as extreme as colic but she cried. She liked to be held (and still does!), but if I would put her down, she cried. I tried everything: bouncy seat, swing, etc. Nothing worked. Chloe's birthday is September 10. The birthday cut-off in Kansas is Sept. 1. While living there, I went to a bible study with the same cut off. So, when she was 15 months old, she was in a class with 3 month olds (she born in Sept '07 and others born in Aug '08...all in the same grade....which isn't a big deal in Kindergarten but is a huge difference as babies.) Naturally, they had all the infant gear. And, oh my goodness, she loved it all. As a ONE YEAR OLD, she would swing in the swing for as long as the teachers would let her. She would eat Cheerios like she loved them (but would not touch them as a baby). Even now, as a three year old, given the opportunity, she still lik...

I adore my first born, Caleb. He is just so sweet. He's always so quick to compliment me: "wow, Mom, you look so cute" or "wow, Mom, this day is perfect".....he always starts with "wow, Mom". Caleb definitely encourages me often. And Caleb is all boy. He loves weapons, wrestling, and playing with his "mans" (little figurine things). He has a fascination with being cool and takes the appropriate steps to become just that. Last week, Caleb really needed a haircut. He saw a man with a mohawk a couple of months ago and has wanted one ever since. As I shaved his head, he asked me if I could leave it long on top so he could have a mohawk. Though it is not as long as he wanted, he still looked so cute...er, cool.... (Please disregard Chloe's very pink bed behind him.)

I bought this dress in 1996. And when my daughter put it on in 2011, I could not help but smile. Never in a million years could my 8th grade self have dreamed how incredible the next 15 years would be. And never in a million years could I have dreamed how much I could adore this little girl.

It is no secret that I have a very weak stomach. Brett jokes that I throw up if the wind blows wrong. When I am pregnant, I puke consistently for 20 weeks. When I am a passenger in a car, I get very car sick (and sometimes puke). I joke that I have thrown up in most every airport bathroom I've ever been in. As a child, I threw up so much that I would sometimes get in trouble (and I do not blame my parents. I once threw up at the sight of wet paper towels. Weird, huh?) At Islands of Adventure a few weeks ago, I mistakenly rode the SpiderMan ride. Side note: I can ride roller coasters with absolutely no issues. Go figure. Well, as per my MO, I got very sick. After leaving our friends, I got this text. Awesome. I could not stop laughing.

While shopping at Target yesterday, Chloe kept running off from me. Caleb, being the ultra protective big brother he is, yelled to her (several times): "Chloe, stop! You're so cute. People will steal you." I could not stop laughing.

The beginning of this semester marks the last one of school-free life for my family. I cannot overstate how much I have loved not having a child in school. Our days are fairly routine, but we spend most of it playing. I do not over-schedule my children, as I know that comes soon enough. We do a few activities and have playdates quite regularly, but all of it is optional. In August, our days no longer become optional. While I am definitely going to miss these carefree days (boy, am I going to miss them), I am also excited to embark on the next chapter of our lives: school. Fortunately, I am going to be homeschooling Caleb (and I am guessing, subsequently, Chloe), so my whole crew will still be home all day. If he were actually going to school, I cannot even tell you how much of a wreck I would be right now. I am in the beginning stages of planning for our adventure. While I have no clue what I am getting into, I am so excited. As a child, I spent countless hours "teachin...

In the past few Family First Friday posts, I have encouraged you to respect your husband, speak to him kindly, and be considerate (among other things). One might mistake these qualities as a woman who is a doormat, without an opinion, who never shares her thoughts. A godly woman is anything but those. God created women to be powerful . Amazingly powerful. Though God designed an order to families, women are not less than or inferior. We are different than men, but we are just as valuable. Unfortunately, many women misuse the power the Lord has given them through manipulation and control. Those are grave errors and will destroy a marriage (and a person). As I refer to power, I am definitely not speaking of those things. The power I speak of is the unique call of God for women to fulfill the destiny He has planned for each of us. This power is honoring of men (and other women) and does not fear losing control. I often tell my kids: "God created you to do something on this e...

New Years Eve is such a fun night! In years past, my friend, Allison, hosted a really fun party. Since moving, I did not want to be sad all night from missing my friends, so I hosted a party...inviting our church friends. I am proud to announce that all of the children, except Luke, made it until midnight. Luke was asleep before the party started! Florida State played in the Chick Fil A bowl game that night, so the men were busy watching the game. We ate yummy treats that everyone brought! My BFF, Ty, was the only other lady there, so we talked the night away! The kids played together. About 10:30 when people were starting to fade, we decorated gingerbread houses that I found on clearance at Target earlier in the day. This fun activity and sugar rush were just what the kids needed to press on. The adults just kept eating the delicious food! About 11, we went outside to do sparklers. Since we figured the party would end about 12:03, we thought it would be fun to actually enjoy them. We ...

Chloe was the first person awake on Christmas Day (besides Brett's parents) at 7:40 am. Luke woke up shortly after her, so they both came into my room. I nursed Luke, and Chloe snuggled with Daddy. Once Luke was done, we all woke up Caleb (who is typically the first one up, so that was unusual). The kids walked down the stairs together. They all have the sweetest hearts and had the best time opening the presents!! They love everything and eagerly played with all of their toys throughout the day. Opening stockings...Luke did not care about his... Just so I can remember in years to come, the gifts we received: Caleb: GI Joe helicopter, Star Wars light saber set, pirate ship, art supplies (and other little items) Chloe: princess dress up clothes in a chest, tricycle, princess castle, make-up (and other stuff) The older kids each got personalized cd's. Caleb's is Veggie Tales and Chloe's is Princess Tea Party. Luke: Leap Frog music table, Winnie the Pooh ride on toy, a...

I love Christmas Eve. The anticipation of Christmas is in the air, and it is just a fun time to enjoy family. A special gift was under the tree when my kids woke up on Christmas Eve day... This box contained a book of reindeer games, a mug and plate for cookies/hot chocolate for Santa, and Twas The Night Before Christmas poem. (This was on Christmas Day...after cookies had been eaten!) Caleb asked me to write this note! Christmas Eve day was low key. We baked cookies and prepared the food for dinner. That evening, we ate a delicious dinner of appetizers. Yummy! While the kids are in the bath, a gift appears under the tree for them. They come downstairs and open matching pajamas. Luke was very tired! After putting on their pajamas, Luke went to sleep, and the rest of us watched The Polar Express. As a child, I used to fall asleep to The Polar Express story on a cassette tape every night, all year long. To say I love this story is an understatement. I love winter, and it captures the t...

I do not think I have ever been more excited for a new year than I was for this one. I know some people say it's just another day, but I disagree. There is something fresh, new, and fun about a new year. Looking back at 2010, there were so many amazing moments....so many. At the same time, though, it was definitely the hardest year of my life. As I look back.... I first think about the good: We welcomed our third baby, Luke, into the world. Having three kids has been a blast. All of my kids have grown and changed in wonderful ways this year. They are hilarious, fun, sweet, and cute (and I am not one bit prideful, apparently). I can honestly say I go to bed every night so happy and thankful for the life I am living. My husband is the best, and we have the best time together. I have never laughed more with him than I have this year. Our house in Kansas sold in 10 weeks, for the price we wanted. God provided a wonderful rental home for us. We moved to be near our best frie...