A few random thoughts

I'm not exactly sure how to start this blog ... or end it. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure what is going in the middle either. But maybe if I just keep on typing, some kind of thought pattern might emerge.
Even though I am tired of all this rain, and I'm sure everyone else is too -- It does have some benefits. For one, it has kept that dang ice cream truck away -- except for that one evening a few days ago when the sun crept through the clouds long enough for that devil to creep through the neighborhood. Well, really if he were just creeping thru, it wouldn't be a problem. It's that dang music he plays that seems to hypnotize all the kids in the neighborhood, especially mine. It causes them to run inside and dump all the money out of their banks, and hand it over for a couple of small treats.
I do have to admit, though, I have the sweetest kids in the world. Jeffrey has always been so thoughtful. It can be frustrating at times. Like when the ice cream man came the other day, he not only bought some treats for himself, but also for his friends and siblings. Of course he had to use some of his sisters money too. Other times, he will give away brand new toys or other things that he is no longer interested in.
But then there are those moments -- like last night, when he had a bad headache and so did I. He was thoughtful enough to, without asking, get me a cold, wet washcloth for my aching head, with no thought for himself. He has always been that kind of kid.
Hailey is just sugar sweet. And she is all girl. This morning as I was getting ready for church, she came in with her red dress on and stood next to me, looking up at me -- her eyes blinking, and her hands flinging her hair back as only a girl knows how to do, just fishing for a compliment. Other times though she is outside looking for bugs. She just loves rolley-pulleys, and butterflies. Then just tonight as she is doing her prayers, she says "Bless that daddy can get a sled for Christmas, and mommy, some rings, and Jeffrey gets ... nothing, and I get some butterflies."
Caleb is another story. He is a handful. It seems like everyday he pounds his head into something. Sometimes on purpose. Today's incident was more of an accident that seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, He had to see what was up on the picnic table, so he was climbing up on, and falling off the table - headfirst onto the cement floor. THUD! A few tears later, after he saw his little cousins come by, he was just fine. Back to his old young self; climbing, running and finding ways to get himself hurt yet again.
They say that if a kid doesn't get bruised and scratched up on a daily basis, he is doing this kid thing all wrong. Crazy! By the way, for my future reference, what does a concussion look like on a toddler?
Did I mention church? Seriously, this kid can not sit through a sacrament meeting. I don't even care if he's not sitting. We've got books, toys, food, drinks, stuff to color and stuff to color with. What else do we need to do to keep him quiet? The kid screams and cries if we don't let him out of the room. And when we do have to take him out, its no fun for him, or us. He's not allowed to run the halls or to run around a room. Its in the carseat by himself or in a secluded room. He just doesn't seem to get it!
But for all the frustrations with him, he is also very sweet. There's nothing quite like a hug from Caleb. He'll sit and watch a basketball game with me and give me high-fives. And he loves to shoot hoops and throw balls. When he smiles, it just seems to beam right through his eyes and melts your heart!
So even though the laundry never seems to end; and the house just never seems to stay clean; and for all the good meals that get cooked and not eaten -- its all worth the effort in the end.