Controlled Chaos

I am intrigued by the fact that having three sons can sometimes cause people to put me in a small "Duggar" category just by a sheer quick glance. I quite often will get the "wow....3 boys" comment with wide and darting eyes and even a cock-eyed smile to boot! It's the underlying tone of sarcasm and almost pity-like way they talk about how it must be so crazy to have all boys. Crazy, yes. Busy...naturally. But, ahem, pretty blessed?? AMEN!! I've got my set line of response as "yep, it's busy but I wouldn't trade it for anything...I simply love it." There's something to be said about the sheer joy and satisfaction of being a mom to 3 boys and believe me, I'm glad that I was not in control of planning out my whens and what gender children I would have--God knew that I was simply meant to be a mom of boys. I love the nightly routine of wrestling with daddy after dinner, the simple game of jumping through a hula-hoop that will entertain boys for hours because it includes: running, jumping, the heightened possibility of getting hurt (aka...risk), and one has to at least exhale with a shriek before performing the actual act of jumping through the hoop. Yep....loud, busy, crazy, risky...and I'll take all of it. 

Mason walking through the hula-hoop

Austin jumping through

Hum...why do I foresee possible flamage attempts in the future while using this device?!

wrestle time!!! Mason LOVES to wrestle!

  There are times when it's fun to be a girly-girl and that's why I'm so thankful I have nieces with goldilocks hair to play with, nails to paint, and I still get to shop in the frilly and lace and pink section a few times a year for those special gifts. I must admit, however, that I've had long hair for most of my life and other than the sleek back pony-tail, you might not want me styling your daughter's hair. I was a sports girl while growing up (and still am) and I wasn't about to attempt to make my hair all purdy when the sweat would simply hold it in place nicely. Not attractive if you ask me. Don't think, however, that I don't like to have my nails done (they're hot pink as I type away on the keyboard), don't like to get all dressed up and dolled up (especially for my man), and be a little girly every so often (what girl doesn't like to giggle late into the night munching on chocolate and watching chick flicks...or a semi-chick flick??).


 Attempting to keep the Anderson house under controlled chaos is put to the test many a time, but the laughter far outweighs the cries, the hilarious stories my boys make up with their imaginations override the snide comment made when the sharing was nonexistent, the train tracks and car mats that line the living room floor from wall to wall (and are laid out differently every time) bring delight to any girly mother's eyes while each boy make his own unique train and car sound (and it usually ends up in some sort of crash....). It's a constant go-go-go but as I've previously posted, and probably will many times in the future, we are learning to just "be" in that going...to praise the Lord for today...to find joy in the little and simple things....because even in the midst of the controlled chaos, we want to live just that....simply. 

Austin ready to look for rings underwater

Heading down the slide.....

and out he comes!

A thumbs-up from Carson!

Carson searching for rings underwater

Swimming lessons...completed and passed!! :)

 I'm not sure what it is about sleeping children...but no matter how crazy the day, how much discipline took place in the hours previous, how spent you may feel as a parent, watching your babies slumber away so peacefully hits a soft spot like none other.

Mason sleeping away

so tuckered out

There is no greater place for boys to be boys than out in the great outdoors....so that's where I'll take my boys (actually, Andy will take us since he is the driver of this fleet!)...one last horrah before we say goodbye to the sleeping-in-summer schedule, finding ourselves camping in the canyons of central Nevada to do some fishing, hiking, exploring, story-telling, singing by the campfire....there's just something about being "out" in God's vast and glorious creation that warms the soul and makes life even more, well, simple. And I'm not sure why, but those pancakes always taste so much more delectable when cooked over the open fire! :)

Summer Daze

 You'd think that taking a 6 to 7 week long vacation filled from start to finish with visiting family and friends and compounding some "family of five" adventures in the mix would help me realize that school is just around the corner. So how come I sorta feel like my summer is just beginning? I guess because this was a little bit of a different summer, you could say. One thing remains the same throughout however, and that is the simple fact of drinking in those simple things we are blessed to enjoy. Those moments of laughter. The feel of cool water on a hot day. Sand between our toes. Fields of wildflowers and sunflowers. Ice cream. :) The inundation of "back to school savings" at every turn, ads that plaster it all over their papers, flyers flooding our mailbox, ads in my inbox (from companies that I don't even recognize and how they got my email is beyond me), is a subtle reminder that the calendar will once again be full and the hustle and bustle will begin again. But today I got to thinking about how quick we are to overbook ourselves, and then in the next breath complain about how busy we are. Ironic. Even in our conversations we are almost sure to answer "I know...me too!" to the previous statement made of "I am just so busy!" I was reminded by a dear friend that it's good to not be such a busy-body but to just simply...be.

daddy filling up the waterballoons!

Carson enjoying the water

Go Mason go!

  It's in the little things like water balloons, laying in a kiddie-size pool, riding a trike that bring about the most genuine smile. Oh the countless things we learn from our own children. Life is so simple...remind me again why we try to over-complicate it?

swimming with daniel

chasing butterflies!

budding little artist perhaps?

gotta love the wild hair after a day of swimming!

How often do we take the time to just read a book, color a picture, watch the sunset and let the answering machine pick up the phone, play in the dirt (maybe not necessarily try to find out it's flavor....) catch fireflies, get lost in good conversation with a dear friend that we forget what time it is and don't even really care? 

Carson 'reading' to Mason

I just love boys :)

 It's quite alright to sometimes simply "stop and smell the roses"...and I would dare to say it's ok more often times than not.

Mason checking out the flowers

I do believe that there is a creamsicle in the freezer with my name written all over it and a mini-man who would love to indulge with me in one of life's simplest little pleasures. Enjoy your summer daze....

MN....part 2

After being hounded and inundated to post more MN pictures, I have conceded for your viewing pleasure. Ok, a bit of exaggeration on the hounded part...but I was asked (or highly suggested if you're my sister) to put up a few more, so be it! I'll let the pictures tell the small stories themselves. Enjoy!

3 artists at work!

Carson playing tic-tac-toe with Grandma on the iPod :)

50 years together and still lookin' good mom and dad! :)

yes, this is where my mom and I found Mason one morning--he climbed in the bathroom sink all by himself and proceed to "brush" his teeth. Good dental hygiene already?! :)

I love my camp buds!!! (Beth, Jenny, KJ)

Austin reaching out to the polar bear at Como Zoo

First time on the merry-go-round for the boys! (and the first time in years for me!)

ahhhh...Mocha Monkey...KJ, Andy, Nick, Kayla (love you guys!)

The boys building a massive fort with Grandma

morning horseback ride for Austin and daddy!

 

Andy's latest art addition to the farm

And so it begins....

Believe it or not, here I am. I caved. I gave in. I have decided to stop entertaining the idea of blogging and just go for it. I, along with all my boys, have entered this vast array of the semi-unknown, putting all our thoughts, our faith steps, our God-stories, our hilariums, our adventures, our ups and downs, just out there....for someone to read. And hopefully to encourage and maybe even bring a smile and a soft giggle at times. For those of you who know me, I am quite the avid journal-er and have a rather healthy stack of journals that are filled from cover to cover. So this may come quite naturally for me. Andy on the other hand, not so much. But he will hopefully do his share of blogging right alongside me. He did spend 3 weeks in Turkey after all! :) 


I will let this first blog posting speak for itself with picture after picture of many highlights from our summer spent in the MN warmth. It's an annual thing we five Anderson's do. :)

on our way to MN!

                        

Mason doing some reading in Grandpa's chair

AA and CJ going for a little ride :)

mmmmm....Caribou coffee! (with my good-lookin' man!) :)

Austin--my little monkey man!

saying goodbye to Andy before he left for Turkey

Grandma snuggling with Mason

Happy Father's Day Grandpa!

snuggling with my mini-man on a MN rainy evening :)

swimming in the creek with cousins!

Homemade ice cream! (Warren, William, Carson, Austin)

Mason doing a little 4-wheelin' with Grandma!

5 boys...6 days...loads of fun at the Mulvihill household! :)

Austin and Drew skyping with Andy and Jake as they're in Turkey

KJ and Amy

Firework time!

Daddy's home!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Mulvihill's and Anderson's

Daddy-day at the lake!

Carson and Austin riding the semi's at the MOA

Como Zoo day!

9 Blissful years together...God is so good! love you hon! (Superior Shores)

Austin lost his first tooth at Grandma's!

Yes, that would be Mason...drinking coffee with Grandpa :)

4-wheelin with daddy!