“Hello, I’m Robert Redgate bringing you this o’clock addition of Bubblewitness news. All the news that’s fit to speak, all the news that’s fit to hear, all the news to bring you cheer right here in Bubbleland. Today as usual we have some good news and some very good news. But first, the good news:
There’s never never never never never any trouble
here in Bubbleland.
Bubbleland. Bubbleland
There’s never never never never anything
but joy right here in Bubbleland.
Bubbleland. Bubbleland
Our bubbles make us happy
They are with us night and day
We know they are so important,
they must never blow away…
Of course, they never would.” From Mr. Roger’s Bubbleland Opera, 1968
“Here are some practicalities that help me: 1. My crockpot is my servant. 2. Playdough is a great thing even though messy. 3. Washing plastic dishes in sudsy water is a great thing even though messy. ; ) 4. If one of the children are ill or someone is crying over a lesson, close the books. 5. Retreat, and pray. : )” ~From a comment that “thats italian” left me in a homeschooling post.
Well, I’ve done the whole, “let’s let the kids play in the sink thing” many a times so when I read thats italian’s comment about a month ago, I thought, “not a chance am I going to do that anytime soon”! However, how could I say no to a 2 year old who had the determination yesterday to drag a chair all the way from the computer to the kitchen sink? And how could I say no to his brother, who wanted to be in on the action?
It’s another fun time that starts out beautiful. . . .but ends up with me running for a towel and dry clothes. And the camera!
Caleb always involves his trains.
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This picture was also taken yesterday. I put the kids to bed to rest and read and Caleb came downstairs shortly after I had finally gotten on the couch to rest myself. I wondered why he had such a short nap and soon came to the realization that I don’t think he ever slept up there! Apparently he was playing instead of napping. I enjoyed holding him, although he has grown about 10 inches and gained about 15 pounds since the last time he slept with me during naptime! As my fifth child, he had the privilege of napping on mama when he was a little baby. Now he’s a BIG BOY. (you can just barely see part of his train in this picture, too, he always has one–he LOVES Thomas, he screams with delight when it comes on, quite startling.) Jacob took this picture of our cozy moment:
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So, this week is a little tough because Rich is attending a conference and doesn’t get home until after the kids go to bed. He and I are both working overtime! I’m not exactly complaining, I know that there are many women who have it much worse. I need my husband, he’s my rock, and I’m so thankful for him. He got home last night at 9pm and I felt so guilty because as soon as he sat on the bed to talk to me (I was watching TV in our room) I started falling right to sleep! I told him I was sorry, but I guess having him home made me very relaxed. He went to the livingroom and stayed up until midnight, working–it’s so maddening to me that he has this conference and then comes home to catch up on the work he’s missing at the office while he’s at this special leadership conference and dinners almost every night!!!!! I asked him this morning to please try to take a couple days off next week—I NEED him
to help me with Thanksgiving preparations; cleaning and getting ready for company. My poor husband. He needed me to pick up dry cleaning for him yesterday “after 5” and I COMPLETELY FORGOT. I didn’t think about it at all until he got home and was hanging his coat up. I’m feeling sad now and guilty! I’m sorry, dear! He does so much to make me happy and provide for us.
I had a rough weekend (had a meltdown at church, even! How embarrassing.) and a bad Monday—that NYC trip completely drained me. Remember the packing peanut post? Those pictures were from Friday, the day after my trip. I was sick with exhaustion (and a bad backache) but am finally feeling better!
I am SO thankful that the Lord has given me my strength and my sense of humor back again. I kind of doubted that it would happen, LOL.
And, by the way, THANK YOU to all who left sweet comments for E yesterday, he read them all this morning, first thing.
The days are long but the years are short.
Good to be Home 
You are such a good Mother keep up the good work !
meltdown at church? Somehow, that just made me sigh and smile a little. We women are something else, aren’t we ~ we hardly know how to deal with ourselves sometimes. No wonder, the guys just shake their heads and roll their eyes! LOL! May today be a super great day for you and may the sun shine in your soul all day long ~ blessings, Shanda ~
“Retreat and pray” I am going to write this on several index cards, make them pretty, and hang them up everywhere.
I am glad you are starting to feel better. As for forgetting things for dh…I am guilty of that too. Dh had asked me to make him some tuna, but I forgot and he was reduced to pb&j for the umpteenth day in a row. He’s been trying so hard not to buy lunch out, I felt terrible for not supporting him. But, the tuna is made and in his lunch today and now I am sitting here trying to remember if there is anything else I am forgetting!
As I look at your site, I think of how your kids will have GREAT childhood memories. I’m also glad you shared about your melt down. It’s good to know we all have them. 🙂 Have a great rest of the week.
what a good mama you are.
i really appreciated the homeschool advice. sometimes I wonder if i’m a good teacher or bad teacher when we close the books and attend to little ones…i think it’s good. that’s why we’re HOME schooling.
I’m going to hang on to that tip list!
It is such a boost to hear from other Moms who are in the trenches.
That post took we way back to when our children played in sinks.
You didn’t show us what your floor looked like after all that fun. That is actually my 3&5 year olds favorite thing to do lately. They even fill baggies with soapy water to take to their rooms uuugghhh. You did a fabulous job capturing the moment. I am sorry your week has been hard, glad to hear you are your cheerful self again.
I LOVE the pictures at the sink…Such beautiful light and soft baby skin. You will treasure these images long after they have ceased wanting to “help” I too have pictures of Bri standing on a chair, in a flanel red dress, with a hughe green apron, her arms buried in bubbles…and isn’t Mr Rogers so soothing to watch and listen to. (((Hugs)))… and remember, we all fall short, but our Father in heaven is always there to hold us up
Ohhhh…..How this blesses my heart! We serve such a loving God and King, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. These beautiful shots you captured, whisper “peace and joy”. What a happy home you have there!
I understand meltdowns, I think we all do. : ) Meltdowns can be good sometimes, it’s an abandment to the Lord of sorts if we channel it all to Him. : ) We can just fall into His arms just like a little girl falling into her father’s arms.
You are such a wonderful mommy and wife. God bless you and it’s so nice to see God being glorified in such a most beautiful way.
Love to you, ~Amelia
Sometimes having a meltdown at church is not as bad as you’d think, since the people there love you and want to help, and you’re almost always guaranteed to have someone hug you and pray with you or help you realize it will all be okay in the end.
Thank you for posting the pictures of your little guys. It looks like they had a blast!
I was just browsing and came across your site, so let me introduce myself… Hi, my name is Kathy. I just loved reading your blog! You have such a wonderful sense of humor and seem to be such a good wife and mommy! My kids are a little older (9,11, and 13), but your words and pictures brought back some fun memories! Thanks and have a fabulous day! 🙂
All my love today, dear Shanda. I hope you get to relax!!!
I love your praticalities. Your pictures are always so good!! What kind of camera do you use? I have a digital but my pictures don’t turn out like yours do! You capture some very good memories!
I love how wet their shirts are from doing dishes:)
I hope things for your husband settle down soon. I know I feel bad when I fall asleep on my husband to, but I think it’s the feeling of being safe when they are home. Have a great day!
You forgetting my your husband’s dry cleaning… I’ve so been there. It seems with everything else going on that I often forget those little things for my husband because of all the other needs I see right in front of my eyes. I love the bubble pictures. Things like that are sometimes worth the mess. And I’ve had more than my fair share of “meltdowns” in toddlers. 🙂
Shanda you are SO honest and SO refreshing. And . . . human!Regarding today’s pics: The bare feet on tip-toe – priceless!
Water play is always great fun for kids, and with the extra added enjoyment of soap……… WELL! You have to admit, their little hands are probably cleaner than usual after that! LOL! Blessings to you and may you have an unlimted supply of joy! Hope your hubby can take those days!
I get tired just reading about what goes on at your house!! Hope you can catch up on your rest and enjoy Thanksgiving. Enjoy all that goes on with your children — it will be gone before you know it! They will have wonderful memories of home too.
ALL kids love bubbles… even when they are 51. Here is a fun….not so messy…way for the kids to play with bubbles. Make a pitcher full of soapy water. Punch a hole into a styrofoam cup about 1/4 way from the top. Insert a straw into the hole from the outside and fill cup 1/2 full with soapy water. When they blow, bubbles will spill out over the top. (best done outside) I love your stories because they are real and we can all identify.
Yay, for bubbles….my sis picked up on the same two things that I noticed….the sweet precious soft faces…I love the one of Caleb looking down into the bubbles. And the memories of Mr. Rogers…operas, songs, fieldtrips You do well to capture those moments as the years do go by soooo fast. Lord bless you and give you strength and grace, Jenny
They are so intent in their play with the bubbles — I love these pictures!
Ha ha…I had a meltdown myself, just yesterday! My 7th grade students MADE ME CRY! I might post about it soon, when our internet starts working better again. I’m glad you’re feeling better, Shanda! Have a great day, and I hope Rich’s work schedule slows down so you can both enjoy your sweet family together next week.
I love the photos you took of the boys at the sink. Precious! I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a few down days but I’m glad to hear that the Lord has restored you. I hope Rich is able to take a couple days off to make up for the time he missed with you and the children. I hope you have a wonderful day! Love, Lish
Maybe church is the best place to have a meltdown… I think we need more transparency in our lives, and more willingness to both give AND RECEIVE comfort and support from our brothers and sisters in Christ… We always want to be the strong ones; sometimes the most encouraging thing for another is seeing that we are REAL, too…with our own frailties. “the joy of the LORD is my strength” May God give you joy and strength this week!!
What a fun momma you are! The boys looked as though they had so much fun playing in the bubbles. I know that all three of my kids would love that. I understand you being exhausted and having meltdowns. I actually had one recently, I was just doing too much and needed to rest. I have forgotten the dry cleaning on more than one occasion! It happens. You do a great job. 🙂
we love washing plastic dishes in the sink too!
i love how you remember to get a shot of their feet each time. 😉
Your sense of humor in the midst of messes always amazes me! and inspires me!!!! What precious pictures and memories you get and what fun your kids have while most of us would fly off the handle about another mess! (yes, speaking for myself there! 😦 ) Thank you for the reminder that the years are short!!! I am so glad that you feel back to yourself! I just had my ear surgery and am understanding not feeling yourself! 😦 Ugh! I am looking forward to getting back to my un-normal self! I am going to try and determine to look more at the fun in life…not the mess! Kids are only little once! and they got me as their mom…so it’s up to me to let them enjoy life to it’s fullest! 🙂 I do UNDERSTAND the meltdowns…have had a few myself this week!Thanks again for sharing your bubbleland!
What a wonderful blog, you really blessed me! I loved the photos.
Your sense of humor in the midst of messes always amazes me! and inspires me!!!! What precious pictures and memories you get and what fun your kids have while most of us would fly off the handle about another mess! (yes, speaking for myself there! 😦 ) Thank you for the reminder that the years are short!!! I am so glad that you feel back to yourself! I just had my ear surgery and am understanding not feeling yourself! 😦 Ugh! I am looking forward to getting back to my un-normal self! I am going to try and determine to look more at the fun in life…not the mess! Kids are only little once! and they got me as their mom…so it’s up to me to let them enjoy life to it’s fullest! 🙂 I do UNDERSTAND the meltdowns…have had a few myself this week!Thanks again for sharing your bubbleland!