Persistance.

So last night my crazy pants husband was up until 4 a.m. WHY you ask? Because…he was playing Freecell on his phone.

What possesses a man to stay up until 4 in the morning playing a card game? I should explain further, maybe, by saying that in his Freetime he has been playing Freecell in the attempt to prove to….well….someone… that there is not a game of Freecell that CaN’t be won. Interesting to say the least. 1000 games later and he had one that stumped him. But he just HAD to win….

When he first came to bed…I was pondering this whole thing and getting more annoyed by the second. He’s going to be exhausted, I kept thinking. We have FOUR kids, I need his help today…what the heck? Why would he do that? Until….it hit me….

This persistence, this DriVe to get the desired result is the very same motive that kept him by my side for the five-six years I spent drinking my life away. When everyone else told him he was crazy…he perSisted. When they said “Cut your losses”….he PerSisted. “Walk away”…”Let her go”….”See the Light”. He kept it up the WhoLe time. Because, I Hope, he knew the person that I “could” become. And today…through all the regular in & out of everyday life, he has me to lean on. And I…(Thank you Lord), have him <3.

So although I think its amusing that my hubby stayed up til 4 in the morning trying to defeat a game….I think I will keep the kids on the quiet side this morning and bring him some fresh cinnamon rolls in bed ;). Because…sometimes its good to remember what you’ve got…and why you wanted it in the first place.

**Addendum**

My husband would like me to add that he did, in the end win….in both cases 😉

My little Mimics :)

Boy…I’ll tell ya…there is nothing like the Instant replay button on a child to remind you just how much you influence their little personalities!

I am reminded of this on a sunny Tuesday morning as I clean out the pantry with THREE two year olds. Yes, I said 3…and no, I’m not drinking. However, because it DesPerately needed done…I thought I would take the “fun chore” approach this fine morning. So…we pulled All the stuff out, Windexed the shelves, and re-organized it by category. It really doesn’t sound that difficult, right? Add in my trio of “Tabby Jrs” as my girlfriend used to call them…and the fact that they want me to name the color, shape, and spelling of every item and it equals CHAOS. But, we forged on…

About half way through I started to really pay attention to what Annabelle was saying, and what Will was doing. I could hear Ab say “be careful, that’s bweakerble”, and she would carefully take it from Will and place it on the floor. “Uh uh ahhh”, which is MY noise little girl. Then…”Oh my goodness, Will you are a silly boy” and then, well…I finally caught on and I just had to laugh.

She was mimicking me…right down to the tone! She had the full Tabbyface on and had it RighT…even down to the way she was standing and wagging her finger! It was just so funny I stopped everything and had to give her a huge hug! She laughed and it was a “moment”….one that I will remember when she is a college graduate and the sad little memory reel plays through my head 😦

I’m again…hopping down the wrong trail…but it really did make me remember that these little people truly do re-enact eVery liTTle thing they see & hear. Whether big or small, right or wrong, they do exactly as they see in front of them. I constantly say to Jake “Is that a good example?”, “Are doing the right thing?” And a million other catch phrases that any Kinch kid could parrot right back to you. They catch it all. and as a parent, every once in awhile it makes you realize, ONCE AGAIN, that you are responsible for these little souls, in almost every way.

A baby is not born knowing how to handle conflict, anger, hardship or frustration. They learn, from you…that very first moment you begin the soothing process when you hear your baby fuss. The way you pick them up, the way you talk to them, the demeanor with which you speak to others. They take all their cues from their mothers, fathers, and siblings. If you’re angry and irritated, they will become angry and irritated. Monkey see, monkey do.

People say to me all the time “I don’t know how you handle small children ALL the time”, but I have to be honest, I prefer their company ;). They laugh, they smile, and they loOk for fun. Monkey see, monkey DO. I am not an angry, grumpy person…and the kids around me reflect my attitude. I truly feel that most children get frustrated for one of three reasons…they’re hungry, tired, OR they have been shown this as an option. If you have fun with them…in the end, they will hopefully have fun with you.

My little trio of “fun” are all napping after their adventure in PantryLand. I, however, am using this opportunity to clean up after their “cleaning”. It makes me truly looking forward to what adventures this afternoon will bring….with my WillWill, K-dog and The infamous Princess Stinkerbelle. My little monkey mimics…thank goodness for each and every one 😉

Best MMoD.

Today was a greeeaat Saturday :). Woke up to three happy little boys, ate some breakfast, cleaned Jake & Will’s room, cleaned the house, cleaned and re-packed our diaper bag, made a yummy lunch, AND put Will down for a nap.
This was just our MoRning! We then met up with our friends, the Zeiders, at Chik-fil-a, let the kids play while we caught up…and ended our day at Amelia’s and saved a BuNch of money on groceries. I would say this was an “all around” good Saturday.

However, hands down…my best MMoD (Mommy moment of the Day) was hearing Jake say to another child in the Chik-fil-a play area…”Hey, that’s my brother Will, he’s a good guy!”. Awww. Heart melts, tears in eyes, all criers set to go. BUT…even more, MaYbe than the momentary emotion of how sweet it sounded was the realization…that this, friends, is where it all starts. Where Jake suddenly (hopefully) realizes that Will is not just his “pain in the butt” little brother..but a “good guy”. Where the friendship of brotherhood begins and the competition over toys and attention ends. Where Jake suddenly pays attention to his little brother as a person, and not merely, a tHinG in his path.

What I want most for my children, all of them obviously, is for each of them to lead a happy, healthy life. Secondary to that, I really, truly hope that they will be..and remain good, close friends and siblings. That they will lean on each other through thick and thin, that they will be on each others speed dial, that they will be the first to know of another’s bad grade, college choice, engagement, baby, promotion, or god forbid, disease. I want them to talk…maybe not daily, but weekly. To know that their father and I loved each one of them and forever enjoyed watching the bonds between them. And yesterday, in that one brief moment, I felt….that we are on the right path.

And since all good turns deserve another, this morning…on our once a month Kinch family voyage to Hardees…Will wanted a napkin from the front of the restaurant. I was happy to get him one, but puzzled why he stood there, motioning that he wanted another one. With a nappy in each hand, he marched proudly back to his brother, and with the loving care only our Will can give, layed it out proudly in front of his big brother. Jake looked down and realized what Will had done, and (at least in my mind) realized that this little person will soon begin to give in return. So again….Mommy took a step back, let the tears well up, and drank it in like the precious, fleeting air of memory it will one day be ;).

Steeler Nation…well, sort of….

Sooooo….it is Sunday night, February 6,2011…THE night of Super Bowl XLV (45) which is the Green Bay Packers vs…..the PITTSBURGH STEELERS! Wooooohoooo Baby….game on 🙂

I’m ready for this game…the boys are eating homemade pizza, Robs on his way home, I’ve made my wager with my father-in-law. (who is from Wisconsin of all places) and I have my multi-grain pretzels on the ready! Let’s go Steelers, let’s go!!

However, let me backtrack to an earlier conversation for a minute. Well, not conversation….a textersation I had with my beloved husband who was razzing me that my team was NOT going to win. Ugh…geesh. I’m pretty sure I called him an “unsupportive poophead”. But the part that rEalLy gets me is that I get everyone settled…I’m ready, 1st quarter is finally getting some momentum and Green Bay scores 😦 What??? This is not how its supposed to go. And while I’m lamenting how this is affecting the boys’ morale….I get a text from my hubs who is in the BathRoom….that says…”Told ya”.

What The Heck??
1. How do you KNOW that? You’re in the bathroom! There is no tv in there, at least there wasn’t 5 minutes ago! Are you getting NFL updates on the throne??? Geez.

2. That was mean. “Told ya”. Not nice. Its heartbreaking when the 1st TD of the game is NOT your team….it puts you on edge the enTire rest of the game. Rubbing it in is NoT sportsmanlike honey. But, I’ll get over it…if they win.

I have no 3….this is just a “quickie” while the halftime show is on (which I’m pretty sure the sound check guy, the wardrobe coordinator & the choreographer ALL got fired for immediately). So now I’m going to get back to the game…and wonder if my husband will be up shortly to celebrate with me or pick on me ;). C’mon boys…let’s get that 7!!