They're All Above Me, Beneath Me, Before Me...

There are three critical points during the day when this Mama starts to lose it....her patience, her mind and her willingness not to really run away to China. These points are as follows:

~just before 9:00 am...when we are supposed to be on our way to school, but instead are whining about a shirt looking too babyish, smearing pancake syrup on newly laundered pants and running around the kitchen with a shirt pulled over the carefully combed bed-head-cow-lick that took many products and a ton of spit to secure into place.

~just before 5 pm when we have exhausted every activity known to man, nothing is on but the illegal Sponge Bob, dinner isn't even halfway ready, little people are screaming and gnashing teeth and mommy is frantically looking out the front window for daddy, who is at least 15 minutes late, waiting for him to take over before someone gets sold to the circus.

~just before 9 pm when little people are supposed to be in bed and mommy gets a few precious minutes to veg out and watch a DVR'd show that aired last week.

Tonight, 9 pm was the breaking point. It began with my sweet girl screaming and refusing sleep because she was afraid that...and I quote, "a big, scary animal might crawl up into my (second story) window, hide behind that chair and peek at me." After assuring her that our 1968 storm windows are impossible to open, even by human hands, and are most likely painted shut by yours truly...and reminding her that the only animals in Colonial Heights are squirrels and the occasional chipmunk, I thought she'd she'd see it my way and get some shut eye. But, she quickly changed her fear of an animal predator into a "bad guy robber."

By this time, her sneaky brother, Mr. B, had appeared in her room to plead his own case of bedtime woes and his sister's "what if " robber scenario sent him over the edge so badly that Mama Oz began to believe there was a real possibility that a one-way ticket to China or a large, childproof cage really might have to be purchased.

But then Mama remembered the book her sweet children had asked her to read over and over......Heaven is For Real. So, she asked Mr. B, "When Colton went to Heaven, what did he see the angels carrying around?" "Big, big swords......flaming ones," Braid said. And then a smile crept over his face.



And just like that....he climbed under his covers and was ready for bed. But, just for some extra visual imagery Mama Oz printed out this pic for him and put it on his night stand.


And, as I slipped off to cancel my plane ticket, I heard him say, "See Sissy, an angel is right beside the little boy's bed. God sent him. We can go to sleep now."

Sometimes I feel guilty.....lying to my kids about a fat man who comes down chimneys to eat left over cookies, a rabbit who poops jelly beans and a fairy creature to who pays big money for worn out teeth. But this is not like that.

This is truth. And, we can REST in that truth.

"For it is written, He will give His angels charge over you to guard and watch over you closely and carefully." Luke 4:10

Hello Diva

I already knew that I had a little diva on my hands......but her first salon experience sealed her fate. This was her first haircut.......ever. She was born with tons of hair. Honestly, she looked like a little Eskimo baby. All my veteran mama friends said, "Oh, it will fall out." But, even as I scraped little baby hairs our of her crib every morning, I was determined that my precious baby would not go bald.

She did not go bald, but she did sport a great mohawk for a while. I was so anxious for her hair to return!! Thus, I vowed to never let her loose her beautiful curls again. But after 5 years and hair that was long enough to serve as toilet paper, I decided it was time for a trim.

I entrusted the task to my sweet bible study friend, Elizabeth. Karson LOVED every minute of it. She especially loved Miss Elizabeth and said, "Mommy, one day.....can I come back again and just play with Miss Elizabeth?"

We had 3 inches cut and it looks so much better! Sponge rolling is so much easier now :)

Stop, Drop and Roll

My Pre-K'ers had their annual field trip to the fire station. Here are so quick pics:

Most of Mrs. Robin's Class

This is Karson with her first little crush.......his Mama wanted me to snap their picture together. She made her brother get in the pic too :)

I blinked...they're FIVE

I really can't believe my "babies" are five! I have dreaded this day since they were born. 5 just seems so......so.....so.....OLD! But, they are super-fun and super-sweet, so I guess I'm ok with having two awesome five-year-old-Pre-K'ers. But, I'm definitely NOT allowing them to turn six or go to kindergarten! That is just out of the question! I will put a rock on their heads if I have to! ;)

Check out their super cute shirts :). I made them the night before their b-day because my etsy seller cancelled my order after it was supposed to already be delivered.....so much for trying to be prepared and ordering a month in advance. But, that is ok. After a few screams into a pillow, this crafty mama pulled it off herself.

The Karate Kid and Mary Lou Retton

Summer is in full swing. School is out and new activities have begun! Braids started karate last week and earned his first belt tonight. He had to learn and repeat "I will live my life in a positive manner" and he had to put is clothes away, throw away trash and brush his teeth without being asked. Hard......I know ;) Karson is in a new tumbling class at another gym. Her church tumbling/dance is over for the summer, but she didn't wanna quit.

Tomorrow is or last day of our 2nd VBS of the summer. Now, we just have RISE UP creative arts camp and swimming lessons to get through!

But, we are tough......we'll make it!

Family Pictures

We just had some super cute family pics made around Easter on a friend's family's farm. Click here to see some more of our precious pics: Overbay Photography

The Ant Bully

Several weeks ago, Karson and Brady's Sunday school class studied the parable of the sower and were given a little bag of seeds to take home. Well, we forgot about those little seeds. And, in usual Osborne family fashion......we threw them in our "catch all" basket on the kitchen counter and forgot about them. Then, Daddy Oz decided to clean out said basket and get rid of junk mail and other nonsense; and, he discovered the seeds. When he pulled out the little bag, our kitchen table was immediately swarmed by tiny antlike creatures! In 2.5 seconds they were EVERYWHERE! Apparently, something had laid eggs in that baggy and now its spawns were loose! Actually, I was upstairs and missed the chaos and my hubby and sweet sis took care of those creatures quick! But, Karson decided she'd better suit up in case we had another attack!

So, here she is.....the ANT BULLY! She put on gloves, her boots a hat, stickers for tough tattoos and her "scary face." Be afraid ants.........be very afraid! Then she decided to help me wash the dishes...sans hat, boots, tatts and gloves. I wish she would beg to help me do chores forever!

Wilderness Lodge

We took a little mini-break to Wilderness Lodge. It is a pretty cool resort hotel that sports indoor and outdoor waterparks. We couldn't have picked a better time to be there! I do have to admit that the guest occupancy was so low, that for a split second, I felt like I was in that movie The Shining. But, it was awesome to be able to ride the waterslides over and over with no wait! All my water babies had a blast! And, yes, I was there.......I did go down waterslides, ride the wave pool and expose my paleness to the world........I also took all the pictures!

Brady was just over 42 inches and got to ride all but 1 of the slides. He was in HEAVEN! The kid had a blast! Karson missed the mark by a couple of inches, but had a great time anyway! She is a hardcore dare-devil but never shed a tear when she wasn't able to ride.