The Other Thing About Moving Is....

You get behind on blogging. 

We are semi-settled now into life in Chattanooga. I am still pinching myself over this fact: that I live now live in Chattanooga. Many days it still feels like we are just here for a long visit and that in a week or so, I will have to go back to Alabama. Now, Alabama isn't bad. I'm a big fan, but living in Chattanooga once again surrounded by family and friends was a dream that I had gotten used to believing may never happen for us. So I am still trying to wrap my mind around this dream come true. The other morning, I had taken Hudson to the back bedroom to change his diaper and had left the boys in the living room watching a video only to come back to find that my boys were sitting on my Mom's lap giggling with each other and swapping kisses and hugs. She was there, had stopped by  on her way to work, just to get kisses and hugs from "her boys" as she calls them. And three nights ago, Alder asked me if he could spend the night "just by himself with KeeKee, JoeJoe, and Uncle Jes" and asked me to "call KeeKee to check and see if that would be alright." I did and he went. I can't believe these things are happening and I am oh-so-grateful! Jared is loving his job. Absolutely loving it and looks forward to a bright future there. Now, if we could just sell our 2 houses in Demopolis so we could buy our own house here and get really settled. I am posting the pictures of the before and after of our house we bought and renovated a mere weeks before we moved. I think it turned out pretty darn fantastic. If you are looking to own a house with the zip code of 36732 in wonderful Demop (its a 3 bedroom, 3 bath with a new kitchen), we would love you to buy 502 N.Main or our other house just right next door.

Isn't she pretty?

502 N. Main 

Before and After Shots

*please ignore the dusty, white hardwood floors. the floors were diligently cleaned after we had moved and i am told they sparkle. we just couldn't get it all done before we rolled out of town.*

The thing about moving is....

You realize that as a family unit you have WAY TOO MANY socks. Seriously, how can 5 people have so many pairs of socks??? And how have I not known this until now? Gracious.

One a more serious note.....

I find myself composing this on the eve of our move away from quiet and sweet Demopolis to the embrace of home. Our original home. The place where Jared and I both grew up and the place in which we are excited to be able to raise our own children. But for the last 3 years, we have called this place home. 500 North Main Ave. It has been a wonderfully challenging last three years. We are stronger, wiser, simpler, and bit more calm in general after our time here in lower Alabama. It has been days full of long walks along the river, boat rides on the Tombigbee, adventures in house renovating, and focusing on just family, our little family. We have learned about the quiet things in life that make a day richer and that throwing a rock into water or stopping by the produce stand can be enough to fill a day. It doesn't have to be more. We have had the luxury of just having a singular purpose of raising a family unhurried by distractions that a bigger town has to offer and, at times, it has made me want to pull my hair out. However, I believe that these past 3 years have been a special gift. I would say that it has been marked by some real joys (do you see the 3 precious boys I have?) and then also filled with some real loneliness and struggle. Probably more of the later and so I feel as though tomorrow I will rise and gather my things and head to the Promised Land of home. Will we still struggle and suffer and have challenges to meet and overcome there in Chattanooga, of course. Always as long as we are on this side of Heaven, but I am proud to say that tomorrow I will certainly feel just a bit of pride as I look at how much we have "grown" as a family during this time. 

Thank you Demopolis for the opportunity to do so. 

A dear local artist drew our house for us and dropped it by this afternoon as a going away gift. My eyes filled with tears.

Rock throwing with a tugboat in the distance.

Peaceful.

My Hunter

Well, its happened. My Alderman has become a little hunter. He and Daddy went on their first dove hunt last week and Alder's first ever hunting experience. He has been so thrilled to go hunting he literally has been counting the days. I was trying to take his picture on the way to the car, but he kept saying, "Mama, stop. I have no time for you to do this. I have got to go and hunt with Daddy. I need to get in the car. Good-bye." That about broke my heart. When did he get this big???

He took along his cap pistol (which is in the picture below) that is at his side AT ALL TIMES around the house and I think after last week, he will always be a lover of hunting. 

Oh, my! 

Character Work

 Gary Ezzo wrote in his series, "Growing Kids God's Way," that "a legalistic approach to parenting is very dangerous, leaving in its wake a frustrated child-one that fears failure rather than loves virtue."

I have been diligently working in the recent weeks with my oldest boys regarding character and how important it is to not just have obedience, but how good character is essential. My sweet friend let me know about this lady who has created a list of Godly character qualities, charts, and other books to help with teaching and encouraging Godly character traits in your children. It has been great and even little Kingston is getting a lot out of it. We work up to about 10 checks a piece (and I work really hard at watching them and pointing out to them when I see them display one of these qualities that is on the list) and then when they have gotten 10 they can get something out of the Treasure Chest which is filled with little cheap nick-knack toys like stickers, books, marbles, play dough, paintable figurines, and so on. It so excites them when they get to pick out a treat, but really they love just as much standing and listening to me explain with a Bible verse whatever quality it is that they displayed. This has been a wonderful learning tool!
The info. for these charts is 
The Courtship Connection (734-847-5210) if you want to order them for yourself.
I also purchased some ribbons to reward them with too that has the verse, "Let us not be weary in well doing" Galatians 6:9 that Alder really enjoys and the books, "Character Prayers," and "Proverbs for Parenting" both of which are great for quick references for Bible verses and to use as family devotionals. Also, I bought the book, "Child Training Tips" by Reb Bradley. This book is gold and should be read by every parent trying to achieve effective discipline and mature children. I just called the number above and spoke to the lady and she took my credit card over the phone and sent all of it right to me. Easy as pie. 
I hope this helps someone else as much as it has helped (and is helping) our little ones grow. 

My 3 Little Wild Indian Boys

This perfectly captures my 3 right now. Alder, with a camo shirt on (counting the days until he can wear it to go shooting dove) and pistol in hand. He is using words like "suddenly", "difficult", "courageous", "dashing", "actually", and "freaking" on a regular basis. Hudson is smmooooshed between his two brothers that clobber him with their hugs and kisses. He could not be sweeter, but is proving to be a loud child already with loud screams of excitement and shrills of joy. Clearly his older brothers are rubbing off on him and the Wingfield genes are very strongly present. And blessed Kingston. He holding "Mmmmass" which is aka to the rest of talking world as, "Thomas." Kingston has no pants nor underwear on in this picture because he rarely keeps bottoms but is perfectly potty trained yet he cannot talk....at all. You can also see his busted chin that we super glued shut. I think application of super glue to some part of Kingston's body in now in the double digits.

But here they are, my wild, little, indian boys. 

Is any of my grammar correct in the above paragraph?

Golden

I spent last weekend with my dear friend Hadley that I have known since I was 12. She lives even further south than I do and is expecting her first baby in January. I am thrilled for her and went down with little Hudson in tow to spend the weekend with her and help her register for baby items. We had a ball. We laughed, we ate, talked about nursing, breast pumps, baby swings, cribs, ate some more, lounged on the sofa while her sweet hubby literally waited on us, got pedicures, and retold hilarious high school stories. I love her laugh and I had forgotten how contagious it was and how nice it is to be in the comfort of an old and dear friend like her. I took this picture of this beautiful needlepoint that hung in the room I slept in. You know, its really true. There really is nothing sweeter than an old friend.

I failed to get my camera out until Sunday morning right before I was going to leave. Hadley refused to let me take a picture of her, but Hudson thought she was still a beauty even at 7:00 in the morning. They had been making goo-goo eyes at each other all weekend. Those two have a sweet little bond. Check out a real picture of her out here and all of her awesome talents too! She rocks when it comes to all things graphic design. 

And here is Hudson big as ever and a complete cutie. He would smile at the Devil. He is so sweet and a real blessing to have. 

Lord of the Flies

So if my wild boys were left to govern themselves, they may fair pretty well. 

Alder is feeding the baby adequately enough, Kingston is (as always) in his own world, and the littlest man appears to be quite in love and content being surrounded by his brothers. These pictures prove that if left to do about as they please there probably would be lots of nakedness, lollipops, laughter, and only the best for baby brother (note the box of organic rice cereal).

Brothers. 

They are wonderful.   

Fanatical about Hudson

Kingston is obsessed with Hudson. Obsessed. In fact, he is so obsessed that his intense love for his younger brother often gets him in trouble. I mean the babe can only take soooo many kisses, hugs, and cuddles and its usually a good thing to let littlest man breath every second or so. Kingston smothers him with his love. 

I took these yesterday after they had gotten up from their afternoon naps and they were snuggling with each other on the couch. Hudson by the way is about 19 lbs. and 5 months and Kingston is barely 25 lbs and 2 years old. 

Do you see the sheer excitement on Kingston's face below? Every time he sees Hudson, its like he is seeing him for the first time EVER. I love brothers.  

Thirty

Jared turned 30 at the end of July and I wanted to celebrate him by hosting a SURPRISE weekend at the lake with a few of his favorite people. I found a house on Lake Martin and gathered everyone together for a fun filled weekend of laughter, stories, teak surfing, eating, lounging, latte making, swimming, tubing, grilling, and more laughter. I cannot believe I got everyone together in the same place at the same time. It was awesome. Jared had no idea where we were driving on that Friday and who would be there. He was totally surprised and thrilled. We, the Youssefs, Browns, Joseph and Beth, Mikey Love and Christine, and us piled into the house with 3 nursing babies and I can safely say that none of us wanted to leave on that Sunday morning. I feel like I don't have many pictures due to being distracted by all the laughing and story telling (and running around fixing food and so on) but several there that weekend had cameras and my dear sister-n-law has a great slide show at the end of this post. You should click on the link to her post and the slide show. Great pictures and hilarious action shots.

Happy Birthday again sweet Hubby! 

Arrival of guests and meeting Ella May Youssef for the first time. Do you see her tiny legs in between Jared and Emily? Emily and Josh were such sports for coming and traveling with newborn little Ella May. 

 My goofy husband and his approval.

 The youngest Wingfield cousins. Hudson (4 months) and Hank (8 1/2 months) chilling together in the pack 'n play. No kids allowed except the ones who are attached to the boob. Sorry. Was that too much?  

Mikey Love, Jared's best friend from the age of about 12, being our pancake chef on Saturday morning. My boys call him Uncle Mikey. He rocks. 

 Hudson snuggling with Auntie T. We love sweet and always generous and loving Taylor. 

Boys at play.

 The boys trying to behave.

 The girlies laughing at the boys.

 Mikey Love and Joshie telling stories and becoming bffs.

Jared and his favorite cake I brought up to the lake. Carrot.

Link to Beth's Pictures below:

 http://bethjosephwingfield.blogspot.com/2011/08/jareds-30th-bday-at-lake.html