I'm Bo Batman

Poor Buzz Lightyear . . . Bo has discovered Batman. Friday night he pulled out the Superman cape and ran around our house saying, "There's no time to waste! To the Batcave, Robin"

I love this age. Love, love, love that he is (in his words) "Bo Batman"

Now to get him a costume!

Why I shouldn't be allowed to be in charge of things

I woke up this morning at 4:45 and went to the gym with my mom . . . had a great work out and was home by 6:15. I sat on the couch and read my Psalm for the day and then cuddled with my boys before going downstairs to wake Caroline up. When I came back upstairs to fix her oatmeal, I could tell that Tru bud wasn't feeling well, so I suggested he go back to bed (he bargained for the downstairs couch and won). Caroline and I enjoyed some chipper conversation about muscles and breakfast and I packed her lunch with delight because I went to the store yesterday and I wasn't scrounging to find things for it. She needed to be at school early because she was doing the morning announcements, so we headed out the door at about 7:11. At the last minute, I grabbed a jacket because the temperature outside is dropping and I was over being hot from working out. We chatted all the way to school and I felt unusually awake and happy for such a rainy, yucky Monday. As we pulled into the parking lot, I saw the principal opening doors in the carpool line and thought . . . "Well, how sweet, Mrs. Anderson is working . . . CARPOOL?!?!?!?!"

Shoot.

At Caroline and Tru's school, each class is responsible for a week of morning carpool. The room mom organizes it and it's easy and kind of fun . . . you open doors, help kids out of the car, tell everyone to have a good day . . . no biggie and it's only for 25 minutes.

Guess who's week it is? Guess who the room mom is?!

In case the title didn't tip you off . . . that would be me . . . I am in charge of this week. And since I forgot to check my emails and send out a reminder to the other parents last night, I failed to notice that we didn't have anyone scheduled for this morning.

Oops.

So, I quickly parked and hopped out and graced the families with my sweaty presence. Aren't we all glad I brushed my teeth?

I really have no business being in charge of things lately. I used to be able to juggle a lot and now . . . well, I use the phrase, "I'm pretty sure" way too often.

I guess pride goes before a fall because I caught myself patting myself on the back this morning for "having it together today" . . . hahaha.

Random Friday

YEA FOR FRIDAY!! Can I tell you how happy I am that it is Friday?! Can I tell you how excited I am that the week flew by?! Sometimes the weeks and days drag, but this week I kept saying to myself, "Is it really, (insert day)? Woohoo!"

Here are my random thoughts, in no particular order, since they are, by definition, RANDOM:

1. Sascha is going to the doctor today . . . after days and days of complaining that her ears hurt, I decided that her off balance walking might support her claims. I usually don't do antibiotics for ear infections because studies show the pain is only lessened by one day (and I am ok with giving motrin to get through it) and the detriments of over using antibiotics is way worse. Plus, Bo and I are both highly allergic to different antibiotics, so I am a little nervous that she could react as well. HOWEVER, if she strumbles (shout out to Amy Cousin) down the stairs because her balance is off, I would feel horrible, so pediatrician here we come!

2. My kids started planning our Halloween costumes today. That's no joke. April 1st and they are plotting the Gotham City themed outfits. As of today, I will be Poison Ivy, Josh will be the Joker, Caroline will be Cat Woman, Tru wants to be either the Penguin or Batman, Bo will be either Batman or Robin (depending on Tru), and Sascha will be Batgirl. I'm just hoping I can get our Easter outfits together in the next 3 weeks.

3. Jump on over to Rebekah Boone's blog for a great suggestion for personal Bible study!

4. I had planned on having a Bachelor Finale party a couple of weeks ago, but Sascha started running fever and at the end of a Monday, we all decided watching in our pj's as we texted from our own couches sounded better. (We are sad and tired, I know.) Anyway, I bought a 2 liter of Diet Coke because it would provide the least amount of carbonated temptation for me. For Bo, however, it was irresistible, and I found him playing with the big kids outside while swigging from the bottle.

5. I have nothing else to say and another room to tackle, so have a great weekend!

Spring is here and I'm a nerd

So it may not feel like spring outside, but we are doing some spring things around our house.

Things like battling asthma . . . 

Bless her baby heart. She takes it well, but sometimes when she sees me getting it ready she'll say in the most pitiful voice, "Mommy, I no want to be a ninosaur!"

Spring also means I get that burst and urge to clean out and up! 

I desire a clutter free existence--the reality is that of the 6 people in our family, I am the only one who really cares if it happens or not. So once or twice a year, I shove the people pleaser in me way down and force everyone to endure the decluttering process.

One day over spring break, we did the kids' closets and drawers (once again, I know you wish you had staycationed with us). Then I made a list. The dreaded list. I wrote down every area that needed to be tackled and then set the goal to do one area a day. My reward is having a cleaning service come in to DEEP CLEAN the house.

AAAHHHH!!!!! That last sentence makes me so happy.

So. I am on my 4th of 8 days today and I want to take a moment and show off, I mean show you what I accomplished yesterday. I wish I had been in my blog mind when I started so you could have a before. But, here is the after in our kitchen. 

Ok, wait, first I need to say a few things. In our family, the kitchen is where it all happens. It's an eat-in kitchen, so we eat, do homework, hang out, cook, sign papers, get milk, make snacks, etc, etc, etc here. It's also the first room you walk into from the garage, so stuff gets dumped here. That is why it feels so miraculous to have it organized and pared down. The last thing I need for you to know is that I know I need to go grocery shopping. Old Mother Hubbard does not live here (but from the looks of all the cereal boxes, Seinfeld may).

And now, without further ado, my masterpiece . . . 

 (I love labels)

 (the junk drawer a lot less junky)

(EMPTY SPACE!!!)

And just for kicks . . . here is the toy cabinet upstairs

(sorry for the glare)

Today's project is the laundry room . . . another "just dump it in there" place. It's been a busy day, so I am a little behind getting started, but here is the before and maybe later this week or next I will post the after.

And yes, (Josh), I realize this post solidifies my organizational nerdiness, but I don't care because I'm so happy!!

**UPDATED PICTURES**

Sigh. Happy laundry room.

Expanding my blogging

I love writing! I love this blog and I relish any opportunity to write. Earlier this year in my Bible study, we were talking about one aspect of wisdom is using the gifts God has given you. That same week, Stacy Spangler (someone I love and admire) called and asked me if I would consider blogging for her and Kidz RAP on a regular basis. It seemed too much of a God thing to be offered a chance to use this passion for such a great cause and so I gladly agreed to do it.

Kidz RAP is a great organization that makes it easy (well, easier) to serve our community WITH our kids. It's a great way to give them a bigger picture of our city and our world than just the little bubble it can be easy to keep them in.

Funny confession, I have had a sick kid at EVERY Kidz RAP event that has occurred since I joined the blog team, but Caroline has participated and loved it!

Today, on the Kidz RAP blog, Stacy is introducing our blog team . . . check it out and check out the organization--it is taking off and making a difference not just in Little Rock . . . this week Houston held its first Kidz RAP event!!!

http://www.kidzrap.com/meet-our-blog-team

Snapshots of our date

Friday night, Tru was having a rough time--it's hard not being the birthday kid, it's hard being one of four kids, and he is sensitive, so it seems harder for him. He and I decided to go on a date Sunday afternoon to rejuvenate him and give him a little special, alone time.

Sunday afternoon came and he asked where we were going. When I told him we were going to Orange Leaf to build our own yogurt, he said, "ORANGE LEAF?! What kind of date is that? A date is Chucky Cheese or somewhere like that!"

We went to Orange Leaf anyway and I am pretty sure he had a good time . . . take a look and see if you agree

Miracle

I have a very vivid memory of a day over 8 years ago. I was driving down Markham, passing the old Leawood entrance when Mandy answered the phone. "It's not good," she said as I was waiting to turn left onto Mississippi, "No one should hear the things they are telling us about our child." And I don't remember a whole lot more details until the part where I pulled into the Bethany parking lot and started crying as I repeated it all to my mom.

Over the next several months, doctors upon doctors delivered the worst possible news to their family. One day she'll wake up and not be able to stand up and it will go fairly fast from there. There's a chance she won't live to be 5, but there is no way she will live to be 10.

And through our tears, all of us who love this sweet family begged for God to change the diagnosis and change the direction the doctor's were giving for this baby girl's life.

This weekend, that sweet girl turned 10. She had her party at the studio where she takes dance and is on a competitive dance team that took 1st at a recent competition.

Now I don't want to imply that life has been easy for her. She had years of daily therapy. Her muscles don't always agree with her, but she is determined. And every time a new doctor looks at her file and her diagnosis, they can't believe that it belongs to the most spirited girl you've ever met sitting in front of them.

She's practically one of my own and it's been quite a journey and privilige to witness a miracle performed in front of us. I've gone from trying to figure out how I would explain to my little girl why her best friend went to be with Jesus so soon to begging them to go to sleep before 2 am and asking if they can take a 5 minute break from dancing.

HAPPY 1Oth BIRTHDAY, Maggie Moo!! What a miracle you are! So grateful to God that I have gotten to experience your life and love you and your family!