Daddy & Mommy's 10 Years of Marriage ("real life") Tribute

This memory video was my gift to your Daddy. I knew I was going to marry him the very first time I met him! 

Dear Briella, Gianna, and Micah,

Anyone who is married and being completely honest with their self can agree that marriage is blood, sweat, and tears. No, I’m not saying it’s “blood, sweat, and tears” in the literal sense, but what I'm saying is, it's not always easy. Likewise, it's not always going to be hard. In fact, there are going to be months, maybe even years at a time, that are easy, simple, breezy, and nothing but pure joy; however, we have gone through a season, or two, (or three? 😉) where it’s not always joy. In fact, there are times it’s downright confusing, worrisome, lonesome, or saddening. Some people will say, or tell you, that marriage is 50/50. I'm here to tell you that marriage is 100/100. While we are partners who are supposed to 'share' in life, we are also supposed to give of ourselves fully. And, newsflash, it's not always easy to think of someone else before yourself.  

So, let’s just say, in ten years’ time, we have definitely walked through ALL the seasons. And, let’s just say, in hindsight, I’m grateful we have done just that; though, during that rough season, it wasn't enjoyable. We have laughed together, we have cried together, we have argued and said words we regret, we have been crushed by a miscarriage, stared down the possibility of Briella dying while resisting it in faith together, moved across state lines not once, but twice, we have agreed to disagree over a few topics, we don’t always speak the love language that the other craves, and defensiveness and pride still champion more than we probably like to admit. And these are just a “few” of the things that aren’t perfect about us. Yikes.😬

But what is imperfectly perfect about us is that we realize we are humans that make mistakes and that need God’s grace and mercy upon each other on a daily basis. Those topics that we may not always completely agree upon, we almost always 😉 can find a Godly compromise. Except a vasectomy. I still can't get your Dad to agree to that after all these years. 😐 Those early years arguments that we said regretful words, we hugged tighter afterward and have learned to never say them again. When we took a huge leap of faith and moved out of state, with a 7 month-old baby who wasn’t fully recovered from her lung issue, we had no idea how isolating it would be to leave our family. In the long run, we would reap the benefits of having to run to each other because of it. When one of us is sinking, the other puts out a hand; even if it comes in the form of gifting a nap on the couch. (It’s the little things, I tell you! J). When the world around us seems to be crumbling and hating each other at a speed-of-light pace, we know we can find peace and love in our safe life we've built together because of the gift of commitment God has blessed us with and the family we have created from it. 

Ten years hasn’t brought us a perfect marriage in any stretch, but it has given us much more appreciation and grace and mercy about one another that we didn’t have years ago.

In a post I wrote on Facebook, I said this: 

When I look at this picture, I see a couple eagerly (yet nervously) entering a union that they thought they were prepared for, but would realize they weren’t as prepared as they would like to admit. I see a couple that thought they knew so much about each other, but would realize they had so much more to learn. I see a couple that thought every day was going to be easy, but would realize there would be bumps in the road.

When I see us today, I don’t see those same “kids”. Jim’s hair is beginning to glisten and 7 years of motherhood sleeplessness has contoured my countenance. But with all the visual changes aside, I see beyond that into our hearts. When I see us today, I see a couple that has encountered trials, fears, and tears; however, those moments have been overshadowed by love, commitment, devotion, and ultimately, God’s prevailing grace.

When I see this picture, I remember thinking 10 years seemed so far away, but it’s almost here and I can hardly believe it! All I can say is, I’m so very grateful for Jim, I feel fortunate for the life we share, and the family we've created together. 

Micah Milestone: Toilet Training & Updates

Micah you are two years, 4 months old. Today we were eating lunch and you insisted that you had to get down from eating at the table to poop. Daddy said, "Then you should go sit on the toilet" in which my reply was, "Then you should put him on the toilet!" and, guess what? He put you on the toilet and you peed! So, he went upstairs and got you a pull up. Unfortunately, you did end up pooping shortly thereafter in the pull up (just like you said you needed to do at the lunch table), but point is: you peed without fuss or hesitation.

Fast forward a few hours. I went to a church luncheon and was gone from 12:45 until 3:00. When I came home, Daddy was working on the grass and I noticed you had a pull up on again so I said, "You have a pull up on? Well, that means you have to go practice the toilet. Let's go pee!" And, sure enough, you peed again...and a LOT! And every.single.time we put you on the toilet the rest of the day; which was about every 30 minutes, you would pee.

Holy moly, Micah, this is incredible. We are so impressed with your willingness and openness to doing this today and I sure hope you are as impressed and proud of yourself as we are today. I also hope that we keep moving forward with this process, that it clicks, and that you are fully toilet trained by the end of this week. How incredibly amazing would that be? Good effort, little buddy. We love you so much!

1 week update September 2, 2018:
Micah it is safe to say that you are well on your way to being officially toilet trained. Monday and Tuesday I continued putting you in a pull up to see how you were taking to it. Your pull up stayed dry for two days in a row, with the exception of poops. I thought to myself, I'm going for it and put you in underwear on Wednesday. It's Sunday and I haven't looked back. You've been in underwear for the past four days with 2 pee accidents. Your hiccup has been pooping the toilet. You would keep running up to us to tell us you had to use the bathroom, but would clench it in...until this morning when Daddy helped me have a lightbulb moment. Your feet were dangling on the big toilet and it wasn't giving you any leverage so I got the little toilet out and, sure enough, you pooped on it! (You saw it and proclaimed, "It's a PINE CONE!"😆😜💩) I'm so very proud of you for achieving this final milestone in the toilet training process. You are definitely well on your way to being officially toilet trained and I am so impressed with your ability to do this. You prove, once again, you are a very determined, full-of-will child and I do love that about you in such circumstances as this. {ask me if I like your strong will when I've asked you to do something for the 5th time and I may be cursing this same trait I'm applauding in your toilet training endeavors...hahahaha😅😬) blessing and a curse, let me tell you...

2 weeks update:
You are amazing at controlling your bladder, but you are being retentive with your sphincter. 💩😜😅. You tell us that you have to poop...WHILE you are pooping or after you've pooped your underwear. So, you have half of it out and you push out the other half into the toilet. Oh, the joys, but seriously, I'm okay with this because I know you are on your way. Now, if this doesn't stop then I'm going to get annoyed, but I keep telling myself you aren't even 2 1/2 years old and this is temporary. You just need confidence. It's been two weeks out of diapers and we aren't looking back. We will push through this hump and you will become a champion of that sphincter soon enough!

Now for the fun personality details of you at 2 years 5 months old... 
You are really a lover, a sweetie, a hugger, a cuddly, sensitive boy but you also have a feisty ornery side; especially with Gianna or kids your size. You will push, hit, shove, and get very 'hands on' with them. You are equally sweet and will immediately hug and kiss friends, family, sisters. 

Just the other night I took you off the toilet in your bathroom and you started to walk away, but you stopped, turned around, squeezed my legs so tight in a hug while saying, "You're the best Mommy!" Oh my word, my heart was melted and tears were in my eyes. Your sister Briella gave me a similar moment telling me she loved me for the first time in our kitchen in TN so I will definitely always remember this moment with you!

You are really articulating your thoughts and feelings. Just the other day you were playing with a bar of soap from my bathroom drawer and I told you I had to put it away and took it out of your hands and you gave me sentences upon sentences about how that hurt your feelings and you wanted to hold the soap. A week later I was telling Daddy the story in front of you and you remembered the moment and completely took over the details for me. You have a great memory! 

You are such a Daddy's boy. You certainly love me and hug all over me, but when Daddy is around, he is your preference. You even told me the other day "Daddy is my favorite." Awwww. 

Anything he says that starts with the letter S, he doesn't pronounce so he'll say "Picey" instead of "Spicy". 

He's been taking probiotic pills and/or medicines since he was 2. Seriously, think about that. He is swallowing pills at 2. That's incredible. He has been drinking out of a normal cup without issue for two months now, but does that mean I offer him such a cup on a daily basis? Um, no. But he sure does love when he's given the opportunity to drink out of one so, instead, I made a compromise and bought him a 360 cup; which he LOVES. He just wants to drink from a cup like me and Jim drink out of cup. It's adorable watching him drink out of his 360 cup. 

He's showing a sensitive, sentimental side with a dash of aggressive, loud boy spirit. He'll stop what he is doing just to walk over to me to caress my earring and say, "I like your earrings, Mommy" or give me an unsolicited squeeze and tell me he loves me and 30 seconds later, he's squabbling with Gianna or cracking her over the head with a block while screaming like he's being murdered. I like to think he's telling himself it's all in manly balance. 😇😂

The past few weeks he is completely resistant to being in the cart at the grocery store. As in, he's done with it forever.  He only wants to walk and will pitch a crying fit if I put him in the cart. I can sometimes lure him with a delicious snack, but I've pretty much resigned to the fact that he's holding the cart, holding my hand, or I'm constantly saying, 'Micah, you need to stay next to me." as he's wandering off to whatever interests him while walking alongside me. I can't believe after all these years I am retiring the original cart cover from Jill. That cart cover has been used for almost 7 years for 3 kids in 3 different states. Wow, that's bittersweet.  

You are really, REALLY, into your anatomy and you enjoy putting your hands in your pants a lot. Sorry, I know this will embarrass you someday, but it's true. You talk about your "Peter Popper" (Daddy named it that, not me!) all.of.the.time. Last night you crawled up on the couch to sit next to me and I took a picture of the moment and you said something about your Peter Popper. It's becoming 'typical' for you. Likewise, you touch my chest and exclaim, "BOOBIES!" Today you were rubbing my back when I was snuggling you at nap time {such a sweet moment, actually} and you felt my bra strap and stopped and said, "There's something in there. What is that?" When I told you it's a bra your reply was, "Where did you get it from?"

Oftentimes you will approach something you want with an attitudinal tone: "Give me my car!" and I will remind you to ask nicely without yelling so you put your hand over your mouth as though to jester a whisper while you make the request. It's super cute.
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The day we had set to celebrate Gianna's 5th birthday with Papa and Nonna was the day Micah decided he didn't want to poop in a pull up anymore. While that was somewhat exciting, it was quite frustrating and exhausting as he also didn't want to poop in the toilet. He just figured he wasn't going to poop anymore whatsoever. So, he began cowboy walking. Then, lots and lots of crying that he had to poop. I would put him on the toilet and he would cry his eyes out. This went on for 3 hours leading up to them coming over. They came over and he continued with the theatrics. The following day he was doing the same thing. He had to poop, but he was refusing. We ended up giving him an enema and, sure enough, he exploded on the toilet. He was terrified through it, but proud of himself after the fact. The following day the enema after effects were in full swing and he was having explosive diarrhea. At first, he was resistant and upset to use the toilet but after the 3rd, 4th, and 5th explosion on the toilet, he was realizing he had to do it on the toilet. It was good progress. The following day he had cleaned himself out so much that he didn't have to use the toilet for poops though he said he did and actually tried sitting down and pushing. The day after that (which was the day after Gianna's birthday, May 8th) was truth telling day. He started showing the signs that he had to poop. I'd ask and he'd say no. Then he did it. He told me, "I have to poop!" so he excitedly ran to the toilet. I knew we were going to be hanging out with Braxton and Mahayla for a playground date so I said, "If you poop, you can have Braxton play with you." and no kidding, he immediately pushed, plopped, and stood up. Just like that! And, exactly a week later, he hasn't looked back or had an accident. It's been amazing. He's officially trained and I'm so glad that poop anxiety is totally behind him and us. 

Briella Accepts Jesus at 6 Years Old

(Bedtime): I want to remember that Briella was wearing her Minnie Mouse red, black, and white nightgown that says "I love you to the moon". She, me, and Micah were in her room because Gianna was really tired and wanted to go to sleep. We were sitting on the floor and she was reading me and Micah exerpts from her Bible while I was braiding her hair. She stops and says, 'I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior." I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting this. I excitedly said, "You do, huh?" as I hurried to finish her hair. Are you ready to accept Him as your Lord and Savior in your heart and live for Him?" She said, "Yes" and I asked her to pray. I began the prayer, and before I knew it, she was taking over. When prayer time was over she told me that she knew she was going to make mistakes, but she was going to try hard to live like Jesus and to do what He wants her to do.

(let me tell you, some of the things she was saying sounded WAY GROWN UP for a 6 year old. I just sat there in complete awe and amazement of her).

I had tears streaming down my face most of the time, such tears of joy, let me tell you. I told her that the angels in heaven were singing the most beautiful praises she could ever even imagine. She was so excited knowing that they were singing because she accepted Jesus.

She took it a step further when she said that she really wants to get baptized and to show Jesus she is ready to live for Him. She wants me, Daddy, Micah, Gianna, Nonna, Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa to be there. She wants me to talk to the Pastor to see if he thinks she's ready and she will understand if he says no, but she feels ready and really wants to do it.

So many years of praying when I didn't have a child, when I would just dream of what it was like to be a mom, to years of praying for her since she's been born and all of my prayers have been answered in that single, isolated moment.

My only regret is Jim wasn't there to experience such an amazing moment, but I'll cherish it for the both of us forever.

Vacay the Molnar Way: Traverse City, MI

This past year Jim was traveling so much and he knew he needed time off, but he wasn't about to do it for himself. I also knew that the kids deserved to have time with him 'away from work' so I pushed for a vacation. The suggestion was ignored at first because of how busy he is at work these days; nevertheless, he surrendered to knowing he would be another week behind at work and that time away making memories was more important.

Likewise, I'm in a place in my life right now that I am not able to eat much of anything without painfully burning and itchy red face rashes, swollen, painful eyes, insomnia, bathroom emergencies, and/or stomachaches so, naturally, the thought of leaving my comfort zone of home was scary, but I knew the kids deserved the experience. So, Jim and I sat down one Friday night in May and decided upon Traverse City, Michigan because the drive seemed more "doable" than a 9 hour drive to an ocean beach. He had heard great things about Traverse City and anyone he told that we were going there confirmed we would enjoy ourselves. 

So, Monday June 4th we set out for our first official family destination vacation. When we arrived to Michigan it was very windy and chilly. It was definitely a bummer to not be able to suit up and sit on the beach after a 6 hour drive, but the kids took it in stride and compromised for the indoor pool (which we'd find wasn't much of a 'compromise' at all as they loved it!). 

Our second day was not as windy, but was equally chilly until late afternoon so we woke up, ate breakfast, took them bowling, got them ice cream, walked the beach in our clothes, and enjoyed the incredible Sleeping Bear Dunes, and more indoor pool evening swimming. Finally, the next day we were blessed with warm weather from sunrise so we headed to the beach. The first beach we went to was beautiful but didn't have much sand so we did a brunch picnic and went to the previous day's beach. They were soooooo calm doing nothing but digging, searching the sand, and splashing in the cold lake. It was getting close to 2:00 and, while no one was acting tired, I could tell that Micah was more tired than he was letting on and that all the sun was wearing him out so we decided to go back to the hotel. He was asleep within 5 minutes of being laid down and Jim took the girls to the indoor pool while I showered and ate in the room. 
We also enjoyed the activity room in our hotel. We played video games and quarter toy grabs. Our favorite was the virtual car ride. Jim was able to win all the kids a bounce ball and they felt like champions. 

And so was the way of our vacation. I was extremely pleased with the variety of food, cereal bowls with straws, and cleaning supplies that I brought and how it lasted till the last bowl of cereal, the last slice of pepperoni, the last hard boiled egg, the last piece of bread and so on, etc. It gave me a good idea of how to pack again for another vacation/car ride since we ate the majority of our meals in our hotel room. I called it "Hotel camping" and we rocked it. 😊 😎

   

Bunk beds in the hotel room was pretty neat and Briella didn't blink an eye to get right up on top to sleep!

The Dunes were spectacular and the sand was so velvety, smooth, and clean.

     

In case she asks one day, Gianna would not take many pictures with us at the Dunes. She was much too distracted and excited to be in the sand playing.

   

 

                 Briella is my shadow these days and it's really very sweet. 💞💕💓 She's always asking me to tell her stories of when I was a little girl. 😍

 I had offered to take a picture for a family and she would later see us and asked to reciprocate the favor so, while Jim is the only one smiling and looking at the camera, it's nice to see us all together with a spectacular view behind us.

Daddy took this picture and I need to compare it to last year's picture at Lake Erie on July 4th weekend.

Daily bowl of cereal, hotel style. 

 

These two pictures are from Briella's Christmas camera that she received as a gift from Papa and Nonna. She has really been getting into it more. I love when she initiates taking pictures and she loves being called a "Photographer". 

                Micah ran so fast to catch up to the girls who were admiring this view from our hotel hall before heading to the pool.

Little fishies

After the beach relaxation time (Micah just woke up from his nap) and getting ready to "hit the town".

                     We got to enjoy 45 minutes of a bowling party so they had glow ball and music videos going for that time. It was extra fun for sure. 

                     Micah slept perfectly during this vacation. Jim was going to have him sleep on the couch, but I wanted the peace of mind that he was safe in a crib and I think it's safe to say he liked it just fine. 

Let's ride!

Almost a 2 hour nap on the drive home! Way better than the 30 minute nap on the drive there. 

And a trip to the zoo to end the week of fun.

Here you go, kiddos, a video of the best moments of the vacation week. Hope it brings back some memories forevermore.

All in all, I can confidently say it was a vacation success. We encountered one hiccup during the trip with Gianna being nervous to have secondary output 💩in the toilet, but by Wednesday, she had conquered the fear and stress levels went down. Aside from that, the kids all slept wonderfully, they ate just like they do at home (because food was from home and I think felt comfortable for them), and their behavior was typical and manageable. I hope their memories, thoughts, and feelings on the experience were equally as good as mine and awesome we can cheers to a successful gluten free vacation in the books.

(Sidenote Alert)

Kids, this was a vacation without any electronics (except the pop up screen in our van; which was used in scheduled increments). Unfortunately, when Briella was 2 until she was 4 she used an ipad (against my wishes and discretion, may I add). I saw it becoming a problem when I was pregnant with Micah and I told Daddy we had to get rid of it and we did. I'm thrilled to say that since Briella was 4, there has not been any ipads or hand held electronic devices. Just a house TV controlled by Mom and Dad. 👍👏 It's something that waiters/waitresses have positively commented on us not doing when we're out eating (which eating out is rare, in the first place so I digress). This is important to your me, your mom. Let me tell you, other parents WILL do things differently (and I totally anticipate that you are going to let me know this fact too), and that's okay. That's their life and this is our life. It works better for us without it and that's all there is to that topic. I promise that one day you are going to understand...even if it takes until you become a parent.
So, yes, kids, it IS possible to have fun and drive a long distance drive without electronics and I would encourage it, actually! Listening and singing to good ole' music, looking at the scenery, counting land marks, snacking, talking, oh and dealing with normal, natural disagreements too are the best parts with driving to a vacation and we did those things. 

Keeping my face from staring at my phone is something I am trying to be intentional in my everyday life, especially on a vacation. (Mommy was even very mindful to not be on her phone during the drive to or from Michigan or during the vacation unless you were asleep at bedtime or I was taking pictures/videos of a moment.) I aspire to model what I expect of you now and in years to come. That's why there aren't moments captured of everything we did because I was often leaving my phone behind because I knew your Dad had his in the pocket. 😊 

Musings with Mini Molnars (Volume 1, Part 1)

Mealtimes often bring the silliest, most outlandish, sometimes stressful, and predictably unpredictable conversations, along with drives in the car, and well, just about anything in between. I've wanted to write these conversations down for years and have never resigned to doing it, but I declare that I am going to do my *best* to write down these most adorable conversations. With Jim traveling so much, these are stories he often doesn't get to hear himself so I know we will both enjoying reading them someday. My goal is to keep this an ongoing post. 

May 16, 2015
Briella says to me today, “Sina said I’m not her friend.” I replied, “That wasn’t nice of her to say and it’s okay for you to tell her that it hurt your feelings.” I said, “Just remember, that Jesus is always your friend. He’s always in your heart.” Briella’s reply, “But Jesus can’t play with me on the playground.”  😀😂 Then, not even 30 seconds later, she completely changed the topic and said that, ‘Jesus threw batman out of heaven.” 😄 (she meant satan because she learned that in Sunday school).

April 30, 2018 (Briella 6.5)
Briella: "Mommy, do you ever just wish you could have 20 children?"
Me: "No. Do you?"
Briella: Yes. I want more brothers to be my husband.
Me: You can't have brothers as your husband.
Briella: Oh. Well, then I want them to hold and kiss their cute little baby cheeks.
Me: I'm sorry to say, but I'm too old for having anymore babies. I can't have anymore babies at this time in my life.
Briella: I have an idea!
Me: What's that?
Briella: I know what you do. You can go back to living with Nonna and Papa, get young again, get a new husband, but still have us kids, then have more kids with your new husband.
Me: I think that would hurt your dad's feelings.
Briella: (blank stare).
{I have her restating this on a video}

April 30, 2018 (Gianna a week away from turning 4)
Gianna: "Mommy, we all have eyelashes and eyegrows"
Me: We all have eyelashes and what did you say these were (as I point to them).
Gianna: (confidently!) "Eyegrows"

Gianna: "We need to put our flowers in a case (vase). No, I mean, a base (vase)."
{I have a video moment of her restating this}

April 30, 2018 (Micah almost a month into being 2)
Micah: "These Me-maws (meatballs) are so goooood!"

May 1, 2018
We try to teach you kids to say, "May I be excused" when mealtime is over. Rather than saying that, today at breakfast Micah says, "May I get up go poop?"

{Briella at dinner on the same day:}
Me: Most kids would think or say that their mom was pretty cool to make them chocolate chip pancakes.
Briella: Even homeless people?

May 14, 2018
Gianna: Where's my cinnamon toothpaste? Me: "I threw it away because there wasn't anymore left."
Gianna: When I'm done gobbling up my new toothpaste can you buy me some more cinnamon?

June 6, 2018
If it starts with the letter "v", Gianna will say it as a b. If it starts with the letter "l" then it is pronounced as a y. We just got home from vacation in Traverse City, Michigan and the whole time she would say "bay-cation". On the first night we were there she was cold and tired and said, "I want to go home. I said, "Where's home?" She said, "Where I belong...in Ohio"😂

In the same vacation week, Gianna was on her way to getting into trouble and was warned a consequence was coming so she shoots up from her seat and starts exclaiming, "But I yove you. I yove you, Dad. Don't spank me. I yove you!" 😇

June 9, 2018
(Gianna and I are painting the swing set together)
Gianna: "Mom, here, let me hold it (paint can).
Me: "It's okay. I'll hold it."
Gianna: "But I don't want you to get too tired holding it."
Me: "Don't worry, I won't get too tired. It's not heavy."
Gianna: "But if you get too tired, you will die and I don't want you to die."
Me: "Oh, Gianna, you are too cute! If that were the case, I would've died 6.5 years ago when your sister was born because I was so tired!"

{a different conversation with Briella while outside playing before starting to do the yard work}
Briella: "Mom, is tomorrow church?"
Me: "Yes, it is!"
Briella: "While I'm really glad to go to church and learn about Jesus. I think we need to just stay home tomorrow and finish all this work and get some projects done."
(and no, we did not do that 😉)

June 10, 2018
While watching a bedtime show, Gianna was really tired and asked to go to sleep so Jim took her upstairs. While he was laying with her in bed she says to him, "Can you yeave (leave) me ayown (alone) now?"

June 11, 2018
It was the first day and first time for Gianna to go to VBS so I went into her room to wake her up at 8am (last night was the night she asked to go to bed early) today. As she was undressing from pajamas to put on her clothes I asked her, 'Did you keep your pull-up (potty training diaper) dry last night?" Very confidently she says, "Nope. I peed it all up. That's how I'm saying it these days." 😆

Then she came home from VBS and she and Briella were talking. Briella says, "I need to go to bed early tonight to get my rest for VBS tomorrow." Gianna chimes in, "Me too...oh, and Mom, don't you dare try to wake me up. I know when it's time to wake up by looking at my window. So, don't wake me up tomorrow, okay?"

June 13, 2018
Briella and I were talking about Father's day and the gifts that we got for Jim. She, very seriously says, "So, when is Children's Day and what do you get for it?"

(sitting at the dinner table) Gianna rips a humungous man fart that echoed loudly off the wood chair. Briella and Micah immediately began laughing. I tried to to not laugh, but I couldn't contain it and when Gianna saw that I was in on the laughter she says, "I number toot-ed" and then I really lost it in laughter.

While tucking Gianna into bed tonight she asked me, "Do I go to that Sunday school thing at Briella's school again tomorrow?" (VBS). I said, "Yes, tomorrow is your last day of it." She says, "Good, I'm ready to be home again."

June 16, 2018
While taking a family walk, Briella stayed closer to me (this is very typical these days as she's my shadow and I do enjoy it, honestly). She loves asking me questions about God, heaven, Jesus, baptism, my childhood, and today's topic was heaven. She was asking me if we'd take our cars, our house, or any of our things to heaven. In a quick effort to reply I told her the Bible tells us to store up our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). Well, that confused her even more because her response was, "So what you're telling me is that I needed to figure out a way to move my stuff to heaven?" 😂
Me: "Let me explain it in a way you can better understand..."

June 19, 2018
I was cleaning up lunch today and Briella was telling me a story of the other day when they were playing outside. She and Gianna were talking about raccoons when they heard noises in the woods. "Mom, I was scared out of my lungs thinking it was a raccoon, but it was just Micah walking around." Me: "Scared you out of your lungs?!" Briella: "Yes, right out of my lungs!"

(later that day during dinner) Briella: "Mom, can I watch the craft show at 5:30. The commercial said it was at 5:30. Can I watch it? Oh, when is 5:30 anyway?"

June 20, 2018
He's been doing this for about a week now, but it's worth noting. Micah will be facing forward, turn his head around, push out his butt and say "Poops". He calls his rear end "Poops". 😜

Jim and I currently have poison ivy and Gianna was talking about at breakfast this morning and called it, "Poison igy"

June 21, 2018
(The night before I prayed with Briella about her bad dreams. I put my hands on her head and I could tell she was believing along with me in faith).
Following morning I'm in the living room and Briella walks toward me.
Briella: "Guess what, Mommy?" "what's that?"
I didn't have any bad dreams last night! Our prayers worked! I woke up thanking Jesus and his sidekicks, oh, sorry; angels are his sidekicks, in case you didn't know"...😂

A chipmunk ran out in front of the van while I was driving To Trillium Creek boutique and Briella said, "That scared me out of my lungs!"
Five minutes later when we arrived to Trillium Creek Briella asks me, "Mom, do you think your skin looks dull and lifeless?" {I just about blurt out laughing wondering where in the world she heard that} and I said, "Sometimes" so she went on to tell me, "I saw a commercial that has a cream that can fix that."

June 27, 2018
Briella: "Mom, what does heaven look like?"
Me: "The Bible describes it as a very beautiful place."
Briella: "I have an idea! When Papa and Nonna go up there, I'll yell really loud and ask them what it looks like and then they can tell me."

June 28-July 4, 2018
If any word ends in  -ed then Gianna will say the word and add the -ed sound to the end of it; which she says as "ded". "I was sleep-ded" "I slip-ded" "I wash-ded my body already."

Gianna: "Mom, can I help you put on the sheeps (sheets)?"

Briella: "Mom, you are a gorilla because your burps are loud and I'm like a dog because I run around everywhere."

Briella: "You know what I learned about Daddy's job? Is is sooooo boring!"

After a day of a few emotional outbursts I asked Briella what could I say that would help her understand the way she's acting because everything I try isn't working. Without hardly skipping a beat she says, "Ask me, 'what would Jesus do?'."

Micah: "Mommy I hung-wee" (hungry)

Gianna was helping me to put away laundry. She pulled out a bra from the basket and excitedly said, "Mommy, is this for your boo-berries?"

July 14, 2018
Briella was being really mean and nasty one morning before horse camp. I told myself to wait to talk about it on the van ride there so when I asked her about it her reply was, "That's just the devil in me, Mom." 😳😱
Me: "NO, NO, NO! Jesus is in you and that's just your sinful nature coming out."

July 17, 2018
Briella to me (out of nowhere as I was trying to listen to my favorite worship song while driving her to dance combo class): "Mom, you are going to have to talk to Daddy about eating all the beef jerky. He needs to pace himself. I think his consequence should be a weekend of losing his cell phone." 😆😂
Me: Good luck with that.

July 19, 2018
{while playing hide and seek} Micah: "Ready or not, here I poops!"
(everything he says in this phase has to do with POOP)
🎤"Do Lord, Oh Dear Lord, Oh Do Remember POOPS!"
🎤"I'm gonna jump around, touch the ground, and praise my POOPS"
(these are just a couple of the songs/phrases he says POOPS in, but he loves to end sentences with POOPS all.the.time).

Or when he prayed "God is great, God is good. Let us spank Him for our food..."

July 22 & 23
The kids were all playing outside. Briella made up a game where she rode her bike and Gianna raced her, on foot, to the end of the driveway. Gianna didn't follow the 'rules' of her game (because Briella NEVER communicated the rules, she just assumed Gianna should read her mind). Briella got frustrated and said, "You...you...you BOOGER!"

We were all sitting together watching Go Diego Go and Briella asks me, "Is that a zip line they are on, Mommy?"
Me: Yes it is
Gianna: "I want to ride on a slip line!"

Gianna: "Mommy, I had a bad dream last night."
Me: "Oh no, I'm sorry."
Gianna: "I'm gonna need that Jesus spray again. I can't smell it anymore."

Briella: "Hey Mom, what do you think I could do with all this knitting (Grandma Kathy taught her a crochet stitch this past weekend)?
Me: "Ummm..."
Briella: {interrupting me) "I know! I can sell them to homeless people!"
Me: 😲 🤦

Gianna: "Mommy, when will I grow up?"
Me: Once you start talking more and stop shrieking about everything, then you'll start growing up."
Gianna: "Oh"
{pauses. thinks}
"I want to be a mommy when I grow up."
Me: "That's a sweet goal."
Briella: "Well, every girl becomes a mommy someday."
Me: "That's not true."
Gianna: "Yeah, Micah can't be a mommy." 😆

August 3, 2018
(today is day 6 of Daddy gone on a trip)
{Micah and Gianna playing in the family room while I'm cleaning up breakfast and I hear whines}

Micah walks into kitchen saying some gibberish and something along the lines of "Deeanna (Gianna) hurt me."
Me: "Did she hurt your feelings?"
{Gianna has been giving me a TOUGH time this week while Jim has been gone with her disobedient behavior and emotional attitude and I didn't feel like being the referee for, yet, another dispute}.
Micah: "Yes"
Me: "Well, you go tell her how you feel and that she hurt you and your feelings."
Micah: turns around and says, "Okay"
{I hear the mumblings in the other room and then Gianna yelling "Ouch, Micah. That hurts!"
Micah walks proudly back into the kitchen.
Micah: "I took care of it. I spanked Deeanna." (devilish grin on his face).
Me: 🙍🙎

August 9, 2018
Me: (singing a song from the Greatest Showman while Briella was getting situated for bed and I was smoothing out her bed sheets).
Briella: "Mom, you have the prettiest voice I've ever heard."
Me: Oh, Briella you are too kind. I know you are just saying that to be nice, but thank you.
Briella: "No, mom, it's true. No one sings better than you."
Me: "I could name a lot of people"
Briella: "For real. You sing better than anyone I know. You even sing better than ME!"
Me: "Now that's a true compliment." 😍😉

August 14, 2018
{during a meal at Nonna and Papa's while cousin Maggie was visiting...}
Briella: Where's Noah?
Maggie: He's with his Dad
Maggie: Are you married?
Maggie: Well...
Me: Briella, some things are just hard to explain...
Briella: Well, Jesus says that you aren't supposed to give away your husband. That's what Jesus says.

August 16, 2018
Micah has been difficult with diaper changes lately. He's 2 yrs 4 months and needs potty trained and he got feisty with me during his diaper change so I started singing, "If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet..." (and I started clapping his feet together). He shook his head saying, "NO! NO!" so I proceeded..."If you're happy and you know it, say no, no." He started to smile and was coming out of his sassiness. So I started up again..."If you're happy and you know it say no..." but before I could finish saying the no, no part he interjected and said: "PETER POPPER". So, I tried again. "If you're happy and you know say ___ and he kept saying, "PETER POPPER". 😂

September 5, 2018
Gianna, Micah, and I were at the playground playing and Gianna found a "wishing" flower. She told me to blow and make a wish so I quietly did. She said her wish aloud, "I wish there would be a rainbow every time it rains." 💝💝💝

Later that day when I wan cleaning Briella's lunchbox I noticed she didn't eat the radishes but even more strange, she didn't eat her special piece of chocolate. When I asked her why she says, "Well, I figured that since I didn't eat the healthy stuff that I shouldn't eat the chocolate. Remember that story of the plump guy from the store who only had sweets in his cart? Well, I don't want to just eat the sweets. If I don't eat the healthy stuff first then I shouldn't eat the sweets."
(honestly, I was really impressed with her own accountability and sense of responsibility toward her body in this moment...even if she had to bring up the plump man. 😅😆)

September 17, 2018
While playing peek-a-boo with Micah with a blanket, he was underneath the blanket and I said, 'Oh no, oh no! Where is Micah? I can't find Micah. Oh no!" He pulls the blanket from over his face and says, "No say, 'Oh no', Mommy. Say, 'Praise the Lord'.

January 24, 2019

Bedtime conversations with Briella:

Setting the scene: (she’s telling me about how her older friend at school said they looked like each other at Briella’s current age but gets distracted and it takes a turn)…

Briella: “But me and you look just like each other, don’t we? We look just like twins. That’s what Daddy says. That’s what everyone says.”

Me” “Yes, that’s what everyone tells me too.”

Briella: “And Micah and Daddy look just like each other.”

Me” Yes, they do. And Gianna is a girl version of Daddy.”

Briella, “Well, just her face, not her hair. When she eats she looks like a squirrel, just like Papa when he eats, so she actually looks a lot like Papa and not just Daddy because her cheeks puff all out, (insert the reenacting of the facial movements) just like his cheeks puff all out when he eats and they chew really fast so that means they look a lot alike because they both eat like squirrels…(she wasn’t done)

Me: (interrupts her long-winded speech with uncontrollable laughter)

March 21, 2019
Gianna attended a field trip to Pinnacle Gymnastics and afterward:
Gianna: "Mom, I loved the phone (foam) pit, but there weren't any phones in it, just square blocks.

(same day while waiting in the car to pick up Briella from school)
Gianna: "Mom, your hair looks like vines."
Me: "Vines? What does that mean?"
Gianna: "Your hair looks like vines. It looks like I could hang from it."
Me: "ooookay..."

March 22, 2019
(Briella's school had a bake sale and we gave her money to buy treats for whomever she wanted)
She gets into the car after school...
Briella: "Mom! I got stuff at the bake sale! I was looking all around and couldn't find anything for Great Grandpa so I asked someone to help me find something for him because he has heart cancer."
{she meant to say he needs something soft because he doesn't have any teeth}

March 23, 2019
I walked into the bathroom after Micah pooped in his pull up (because he refuses to poop in the toilet).
Me: "Doesn't it feel gross to feel poop in your pull up like that?"
Micah: "Nope"
Me: "Why do you poop in a pull up?"
Micah: "Because I love you."

March 27, 2019
Micah had been awake with a coughing virus and Briella was still asleep so since Gianna was up alone, I invited her to hang out with me in our room while I finished getting ready for the day.

Gianna: "Mom, why are all of your clothes in your closet and not in drawers like me and Bwee-ella's?"
Me: "Well, some of my clothes are in the drawers (I pointed to dresser), but I do like them in the closet."
Gianna: "Your clothes aren't in the dresser, just your underwear and boobies!" (bras)
--------two minutes later....-------

Gianna: (yelling to me from the bedroom) "Mommy, are you picking out your clothes in the closet?"
Me: "Yes, I am."
Gianna: "Okay, I'm going to go pick out your boobies for you."
Me: ??
Gianna: (ooohing and aahhing to herself while I'm in the closet). "This one. This is the one."
"Mommy, Mommy (running into the closet), I picked out your boobies for today--the black one!"
"Are these the boobies you wanted to wear today?" "Or did you want to wear the white boobies? Wait, do you have any pink boobies?" 😂😅😝
Me: "Gianna, what do you think these are called?" (holding up a bra)
Gianna: (confidently) "Boobies!" (then begins to question it since I was questioning her)...or, whatever you call them." (so matter-of-factly)
Me: "They are actually called bras"
Gianna: "Oh, bra." (practicing saying it) Bra. Bra. Bra.

April 3, 2019
Briella: "Mom, why do some ladies boobs look like this (and she makes a gesture pointing downward)
Me: "I don't understand."
Briella: "You know. Why do some ladies boobs look like they are sad?" 😅😳😂

April 11, 2019
(Driving to get Briella from school)
Gianna: "Mommy, I don't want to grow up. I want you to be my mom forever."
Me: "I'll always be your mommy no matter how old or young you are, sweetie."
Gianna: "But I don't want to grow up! I just want to stay little so you can always take care of me."
Me: "Awwww, Gianna, that is so sweet. You make tears come to my eyes."
Gianna: "I just don't want to grow up and have to make you dinner. I just want you to make my dinners forever."
Me: 😶

April 11, 2019
Briella: (upon getting into the car from school). "My blueberries are growing."
Me: "blueberries?"
Briella: "My boobies. They are growing. They feel bigger today." 😳 (she's as flat as a board).

April 12, 2019
Daddy made a yummy homemade honey mustard sauce to dip chicken into for lunch and he was holding a piece of chicken dipped in the honey mustard in his hands.
Daddy: "Here, try it."
Gianna: (shaking her head and closing her lips tightly shut)
Daddy: "Trust me, I would never make you eat something gross."
Gianna: (shaking her head and closing her lips tightly shut)
Daddy: "Come on, it's good; try it right now."
Mommy: "Try it, Gianna, it's good."
Gianna: (shaking her head and closing her lips tightly shut)
Daddy: "Okay, if you try this bite I will wipe your butt next time you poop."
Gianna: (excitedly and quickly opens mouth and takes the bite 😅).

April 13, 2019
I was doing a morning workout and Briella was on the couch watching me when she asked, "Is Daddy at his men's breakfast?"
Me: "No, I actually just heard him walking around upstairs."
Briella: (immediately runs upstairs)
Briella: (with a sad look on his face)
Me: "Didn't you get to say hi to Daddy?"
Briella: "No, he wouldn't let me."
Me: "?? Why?"
Briella: "He was far into his closet, where I couldn't see him, but he said he wasn't dressed and told me I couldn't come in to see him."
Me: "Well, that's right. It's not appropriate for you to see your Daddy naked. That's why you always knock before you walk into our room."
Briella: "But he never knocks on my door."
Me: "That's not true."
Briella: "I still don't understand what the big deal was because he was deep into his closet and I wouldn't have seen anything."
Me: "It's just not decent or appropriate for you to see him or any grown man naked."
Briella: "Oh, it's because of all his hairy-ness isn't it? Oh, and that his man part is a lot bigger than Micah's. And you shouldn't be seeing him naked either, Mommy."
Me: 🤦 I'm just gonna finish this workout, okay?

April 14, 2019
(getting ready to leave for church and Gianna's hair was a mess and in her face).
Me: "Hey Gianna, you want to wear a headband and be just like me with a headband in your hair?"
Gianna: "NO! I don't want to wear a headband. I want to look beautiful."
Jim: "Umm, that's one way to say it."
Me: (thinking to myself: hmmmm?).

April 14, 2019
(We were eating dinner and started hearing an alarm and would realize it was the weather warning siren. It went off the longest I've ever heard it go off and we would later find out it was because a tornado was touching down in Shelby, OH).
Micah: {going up the stairs by himself}
Me: "Why are you going upstairs?"
Micah: "C'mon, Mom! We gotta go upstairs. The tomato (tornado) is coming."
Me: "The tomato?"
Micah: "YES, the tam, the tooom, the...ummm, the.. tomato is coming."

April 26, 2019
Briella: "So, am I going to have to pay for my phone or will the school give it to me?"
Jim: "I don't understand what you are talking about."
Briella: "All the middle schoolers have phones. When I'm in middle school, will I have to pay for my own phone or will the school pay for it?"

April 29, 2019
(on our morning drive to school)
Briella: {Brought up a ridiculous book idea about how to poop each day of the week}
Gianna: {very serious look on her face}
"Mom, do you even poop? You never, ever talk about going poop. I never see you go poop so do you poop?"
Me: "Yes, I do. I just don't talk about it because I want to be a lady. I don't want Daddy thinking about me being smelly, I want him to think about me being pretty, not a poopie lady"
(Gianna and Briella roaring in laughter).
Gianna: "Daddy poops all of the time."

May 14, 2019
(Micah playing with putty)
Micah: {hands putty to Jim} "Can you make a Peter Popper?"

May 15, 2019
(I got out of the shower, put on a robe, and rushed downstairs to relieve Jim of breakfast duty)
Gianna: "Mom, are you wearing underwear under that robe?"
Me: "Why do you ask?"
Gianna: "I just want to know. Are you wearing an underwear under that robe?"
Me: "Since you must know, I am not wearing any underwear."
Gianna: "That's inappropriate." (this coming from the child who REFUSES to wear underwear on a daily basis!).

May 16, 2019
I was telling Briella a few qualities that I love about her and how she's "sooo much better at it than me" so she said, "I have some things about you that I want to tell you."
Me: "Okay, that's sweet."
Briella: "Well, you are a fantastic cleaner-upper."
Me: "That's nice, but you are a good cleaner too."
Briella: "And you are the best bargain shopper around."
Me: "I really like that compliment, thank you!"
Briella: "Oh, and you do a good job trying to look young."
Me: "You're too cute, Briella."
Briella: "It's true, you look 19."
Me: "Now I KNOW you are lying!"
(and she went on to pray a similar prayer praising God for all these things she mentioned during prayer that night as well. 😍💗💖💝

May 22, 2019
Micah and I were around the kitchen table and he was trying to get Gianna's attention. (it's not uncommon for her to "ignore" us when we call her name.)
Micah: "Gianna. Gianna! Gianna?! GIANNA!!??"
--silence--
Micah: "Mom, can you spank her butt?"
Me: "Why would you want me to spank her butt. That doesn't seem very nice for no reason at all."
Micah: "But just a little spank?"
Me: --laughing--

May 23, 2019
(both of these conversations were happening practically simultaneously as I was packing Briella's lunch).
Gianna: "I think I want to eat one of those?" (cauliflower pretzel)
Me: Really, yesterday, you said you didn't like it.
Gianna: Well, I like them a little, but that doesn't mean I really like them a lot.
--Micah interjects and interrupts--
Micah: Mommy?!
Me: Yes
Micah: Mommy! Your boobies...(long pause)
Your boobies are like drums. Right Mommy?
Me: No. No they are not.
(And then I went right back to packing Brie's lunch just like any other mom does after awkward conversations.) 

May 28, 2019
(during bedtime prayers)
Gianna: "And thank you, Yord (Lord) for Mommy. She's good at wookouts (workouts). She also likes playing with us (pauses)..., kind of." 🤔🤔😅

July 8, 2019
While we were watching the last minutes of Heidi, the word "grandfather" was being used quite a bit. Micah was in Gianna's personal space and she asked him to stop so, after I warned him, and he continued I told him that he had to leave the room until the movie was over. He walked out of the room and into the playroom and he says, "You are not my Grandfather! You are not my Grandfather!" 😂

The same day, not even an hour later, he asks to go outside and I told him sure and that I'd be right there to put his shoes on so he went outside. Then, the door opens right back up, he pops his head in the door, looks at me, and says, "By the way, I love you." 💓💗😍

July 10, 2019
It was just another typical shopping trip with the kids until we passed the undergarments section of the store and Micah loudly and proudly exclaims: "BOOBIES! MOMMY, LOOK--BOOBIES!" (upon seeing the bras). 😳 😅 🤦

July 17, 2019
Upon hearing the last music note of the song, "God's not Done with You" by Tauren Wells, Gianna excitedly says, "I know what the song means!" I said, "Really? What's that?" "It means God's not done doing magic on you!"
Awwww, yes, God's never done doing "magic" on you and us, Gianna. 😍

July 19, 2019
Micah: (in his very loud whisper voice) leans into Gianna's ear:
"Gianna, I'm going poop. You can come look at it when I'm done."
Gianna: Gasps, smiles, and starts running toward the bathroom. 😷💩🤦

September 5, 2019
(upon getting out of the Telluride)
Micah: "EWWWWW, WHAT'S THAT SMELL?! It smells like fish diapers in here." 😂

September 9, 2019
(Gianna was doing a workout with me)
Mommy: {doing "real" pushups, not the modified type}
Gianna: "Wow, you can do that? You can do anything!"
Mommy: "That's so not true, but you are the cutest."

September 11, 2019
Daniella: (Jim greeting me and Micah at the door upon arriving home)
Jim: "How was swim lessons?"
Daniella: "Someone was acting like a T-U-R-D (spelling it out style) today."
Micah: "I was NOT acting like a T-R-D!" 🤣

September 12, 2019
Micah: "Mom, someday can I go on a rocket ship?"
Mom: (hesitating to answer) "Ummm, ummmmm...maybe?"
Micah: "Oh, THANK YOU, MOMMY! THANK YOU!"
Mom: 😅

September 26, 2019
Me: (looking in rearview mirror of my car and talking aloud with heavy investigating)
"There's something in my teeth..."
Micah: "Oh no! Is it boogers?"
Me: 🤔🤣

Later that day while driving the kids to Gymnastics class...
Me: (prattling on about how I hope they enjoy class and that they are so privileged to go to such classes, etc). Briella interjects.
Briella: That's true! My friend (who will remain unnamed) had parents that didn't want her or her sister so they gave them up for auction.
Me: Yes, it's hard to believe that some parents don't want to keep their kids.
Briella: I know. Her mother in Christ said it was a good thing they got auction because that meant they got to be her parents.
Me: I'm so glad that she and her sister were adopted by such sweet people. 😉

October 20, 2019
Me, Jim and the girls were watching our wedding video together and I was getting misty in the eyes. Briella looked over and exclaims, "Mommy is crying! Mommy, why are you crying?! Is it because you're sad you're not a Pischkatello anymore?"

October 25, 2019
While putting Gianna's hair into pigtails to become Pinkalicious for Character Day at school she silent farted. While I couldn't hear it, upon smelling it I laughingly told her that one does not fart so close to another person. Her reply: "Don't worry, it will blow away really quick."

October 28, 2019
While Micah and I were driving he says to me: "When will my teeth fall out?" I said, "When you are around 6." He says, "Not right now?" I said, "No." Then he says, "I don't want to be 6. I want to stay 3, just like you say you want me to stay." 💓💗💞

November 1, 2019
While Daddy was asking Gianna if she wanted to go to Applebees, Five Guys, or Olive Garden for dinner, Gianna replies matter-of-fact with: "I want to go to Apple pies" 

November 2, 2019

 While Daddy was at the bank with the girls, the teller asked Briella what she was saving for. Her reply: a horse. Then she asked Gianna, and she said she’s saving for rainbows. 

November 7, 2019
(Briella excitedly talking about the Dewey book that used to be mine that Jim gave to her)
"Mommy, this book looks brand new! You took really good care of it. It's perfect, no rust or anything." 😂😆🤔

November 17, 2019
I was sitting in the car with Micah and Gianna while Jim was in the store. Micah would say something and Gianna would purposely argue or disagree with him to upset him. 
Me: Gianna, you are being mean and you are purposely trying to provoke him to upset him. 
Gianna: No, I'm not.
(she continues on with the nonsense and Micah continues to resist it but he finally gets annoyed)
Micah: Mommy? Mommy, Gianna is trying to in, in,... ENVOKE me!

January 1, 2020
(eating at the dinner table together...Gianna talking about a friend from school)
Gianna: What's the name of where we live?
Mommy: Medina
Gianna: Medina  (begins thinking face)
Gianna: My friend___lives in Mitten.
Briella: Mitten?! You mean, Rittman?
Gianna: NO! She lives in Mitten.

January 2, 2020
(Gianna sweetly reached to hold my hand 💞)
Gianna: Your hands feel old
Mommy: They feel old?!!
Gianna: YES! They feel old.
Mommy: shockingly laughing and repeating it aloud again.
Gianna: and they look squiggly.
Mommy: My hands feel old and they look squiggly and I'm not even 40! Just wait until I really am an old lady!
Gianna: You ARE an old lady.
Briella: You are not an old lady, Mommy!
Gianna: Lovingly starts kissing my hand...

January 7, 2020
Micah was acting exceptionally ornery and disobedient during a neighbor visit and after being asked numerous times to stop feeding their dogs sticks and leaves, he wasn't listening. So, I said to him: "Go in the house to timeout." He hung his head and walked inside. 👍 When we all joined him inside he said: 
"When you yelled at me, water started coming out of my eyes." 😂

January 8, 2020
Micah's ornery day yesterday, spilled over into his sleep. I was awoken to him opening and shutting his door repeatedly at 5:40am. By 6:15 he was singing Jingle Bells in the hallway. When I found him in the hallway, in the dark, singing I scolded him and told him to go to his room. Later that morning we were talking it over on the chair and he said, "Now I have a rash on my face from you yelling at me." 🤔

***later that morning***
We always call Jim in the car on the way to school when he's on a trip. 
{Jim answers the phone}
Micah: "Daddy! Daddy--Mommy broke her neck!"
Jim: "Mommy broke her neck?"
Me: "He means that I broke a rib."
(I had been coughing painfully beforehand and it must've concerned him.)

January 9, 2020
{Micah's ornery, disobedient behavior continues in the act of throwing a harmonica at me from the upstairs balcony}
Me: (picking up the harmonica while saying, "You just lost this for the rest of the day."
Micah: begins screaming and runs to his room for approximately 1 minute and 25 seconds and then walks down like nothing happens. 
Me: Hi. Do you have anything to say for the way you acted?
Micah: You're mean. You took my harmonica away forever. No one is going to want to play you ever again. 
Me: So, no apology for almost clocking me with a harmonica?
Micah: No, you're mean.

January 13, 2020
I love redemptive moments and after a very full previous week of Micah's defiance and ornery behavior, today he was really well behaved and bedtime just about had my heart in a puddle on the floor. 
{bedtime while Jim is on a trip}
Me: {after rubbing his back for two minutes} Goodnight, I love you. Sleep good.
Micah: See you in the morning, sweet heart.
Me: 💗😍 AWWWW, that was soooo sweet! See you in the morning, sweet pea.
Micah: I love you, sweet dreams.
Me: I love you so much, sweet dreams.
Micah: See you in the morning, sweet heart.
Me: See you in the morning, sweet heart
Micah: (whose shadow I can see popped up from a laying position). 
I'm a sweetheart?!
Me: Yes, you're my sweet heart.
Micah: laughs and says, Good night, Mommy. I love you so much, with all my heart and soul. 
💜💖💓💝💞💟😊

January 16, 2020
{driving down Beach road after gymnastics and matter-of-factly says:}
Micah: "When I was a little boy I took your car out for a drive."
Me: "Oh, really?"
Micah: "Yes, and I ran into someone and put a dent in it."
Me: I'm shocked that me and Daddy never noticed."
Micah: "Oh, and I died."
Me: Story's over!

later when they were eating a snack:
Briella: "Oh, Mom, I forgot to tell you thank you for making more waffles."
Me: "Awww, you're welcome. Thank you for noticing!"
Micah: "Oh, Mom, I forgot to tell you that I love you."

February 11, 2020 (Jim in Chicago traveling)
[today was FULL of adorable moments]

Micah: "I don't like when you spank me. It's rude!" 

Micah: {standing there after getting his poop butt wiped with pants still around his waist 😅😷}
"Mom, I love you so much. You're my best friend. I just love you in my whole heart and soul."
Micah: [marches proudly out of the bathroom after washing his hands.]
"Briella! Briella! I have something to tell you. I love you in my whole heart and soul."

Micah [after bath time while I'm trying to get him dressed, but he gets distracted and runs away to his bathroom and comes back with the hairbrush and proceeds to start brushing my hair--NAKED]
Me: "Here, let's get you dressed and you can finish brushing my hair."
(I quickly dress him and he goes right back to brushing)
Micah: "Just one more and I'm done" [proceeds to finish the brush stroke]
(looks at me)
"YOU LOOK AS PRETTY AS A RAINBOW, MOMMY!" 🌈😍🌈

Micah was sent to timeout and girls stepped in as "other mothers" (most of the timeout moment is on a hidden video).
Gianna: "We love you and don't want you to get arrested."
Briella: "Mommy doesn't want us to get in trouble and get many speeding tickets when we grow up."

Briella: "Mom, I have something to ask you."
Me: "What's that?"
Briella: "you know those jeans that are really tight, so tight that they stick to your legs. I think they're called skinny jeans. Can I have those? I want those. Can you please go to the Goodwill and buy some for me?" 😆

Briella: [I walk into the room]"Here's what happened so far {in Little House on the Prairie}--it's called ride the wind, by the way. John asked Mary to get married and he got a collarship (scholarship 😂) to college.
Me: "A collarship?"
Briella. "Yes. A collarship."
Me: 👍😂

Briella: [while watching Little House]
"Daddy says I have to wait until I'm 26 until I get married, but technically he won't be over me once I'm 18 so I can go figure it out on my own."
Me: "Daddy just wants you to make good decisions."
Briella: "I know that, but I just don't want to wait until I'm 26 to get married to Derick." 

Gianna: [while watching the Little House episode] "Do I have to go to college?"
Me: "No, you don't have to but you should."
Gianna: "Good, I'm not going to go to college! I don't want to leave home. I want to stay with you forever." 💝💖💓
***a few minutes later***
Gianna: "Mom, do I have to go to college?"
Me: "You don't have to go, but you should."
Gianna: "I don't want to go."

Gianna [laying in bed]. "So, Mom, you used to be a baby in Nonna's tummy?"
Me: Yes, can you believe it?
Gianna: "No...{thinking} and whose tummy was Nonna a baby in?"
Me: "Her Mommy, your Great Grandma. Great Grandpa's wife."
Gianna: "Where is she?"
Me: "In heaven."
Gianna: "Well, then, she's looking down on you right now seeing you're so old now and that you are doing really good with us. Cooking us good dinners and taking good care of us. She sees that and she thinks you're doing a good job. She's really proud of you"
Me: [with tears forming in my eyes and hugging her} "Wow, Gianna, thank you for telling me that. What an amazing thing for you to say."
Gianna: [HUGE smile and hugging me tightly] "She does. She sees you doing so good with us." 💓😍💕💖💗💜💝💞💟😍
Me: "Gianna, sometimes the things you say just amaze me."
Gianna: [gives me more huge smiles and puts thumb in her mouth.] 😙😚