so i've made it to the point in the evening where the kids are all in bed--i always marvel over each day as i reach this point. the days are slipping through my fingers, even as they are leaving splinters along the way...why must this season of life be such a series of contradictions? screaming toddlers and sweet after-bath hair...the satisfaction of creating a delicious dinner and the agony of no one eating it because it's "yucky"...the thrill of a finally clean floor and the heartbreak of shoes being flung across it, depositing half the playground sand as they fly...a moment to spend quality time and having four someones who need it...

i think i have been striving for something that doesn't exist--balance. i really think that balance is a myth. life will never be in balance--it just won't. because as soon as you achieve it, something threatens it and then you are in full-blown panic mode trying to maintain or restore it... this cannot be how GOD intended us to live. in fact, GOD tells us in the BIBLE that we are to have an abundant life...which i take to include ups and downs, peaks and valleys, awesomeness and yucky... so here's a little bit of both...

-ty has bronchitus and is on a z-pack...he never eats what i fix for dinner and is surviving on gatorade and granola bars

-lily read "green eggs and ham" tonight with much gusto and feeling--i admit my heart swelled a little with pride

-all three younger kids got timeouts and a verbal lashing for throwing sand this afternoon...at each other

-they all requested neil diamond after a preview in the car this morning...usually we rock out to veggie tales and backyardigans, so this was a teensy victory for me :)

-bella fell in the bathroom tonight and smacked her face--result was a bloody nose and i think her front two teeth are loose...

-ty was extra sweet and helpful during car loading and unloading today--even passing out cookies for me at one point (btw--i do A LOT of buckling and unbuckling so a little cooperation from ANYONE during these times goes a long way with me!)

-lily balked at going to dance class but finally relented and then had fun

-james was extra-clingy this afternoon but i didn't mind the extra hugs...because he had been screaming earlier and i knew he would be screaming later...i'm content to feast on scraps

i still promise to do a pictureful post but am a little low on energy tonight...hope this post will hold you over...cheers!