Just The Two of Us and The Whole Family

Daryl and Nicolas

Lilly and Spencer

Corey and The Freeman Ladies

Clapping

Pic is from here.

Thanks to her big sister (once again) Lilly is a clapper!

We Did It!

pic is from here.

Today... April 16, 2010 - we are rejoicing. We did it! We, with the Lord's help - did it. We survived it. We pulled through it. Our family is so proud of Darrel. He completed the didactic portion of his studies today and we are so thankful. The journey is not over yet but we are grateful (so grateful) to have made it this far.

On September 9, 2009 we began this journey. The reality (the actual real life process) of raising our growing family while Darrel continues to further his education has been a "minute" (Baltimore City lingo) in the refiner's fire. It would have been a challenge if Darrel was single or if we were married without children but we had NO idea what we committed to in January of 2009. There was no way for us to really know except to experience it for ourselves.

Now, we add our real life testimony to those that have gone before us that this is the hardest thing we have ever done. We thought our missions were hard. We thought the first year of marriage was hard. We thought twins were hard. We thought a lot of things and they are still true. However, this whole experience has topped them all. And we have a hope, that like those hard, life changing experiences, this one will be worth it too.

Shout it from the roof tops... WE DID IT!

Our Little Lilly is Crawling!

Picture comes from here.

Daryl has really been working with her little sister to encourage her to crawl. Last night as we were getting ready for bed I watched our baby girl crawl across the floor for a toy. No matter how many children one has, I think each milestone is exciting because it is your first experience with that child. It was thrilling to watch (the simple pleasure in life). The kids were all shouting "Lilly is crawling!" What a fun time.

My Children are Five and Under and I Already Want to Choose Their Friends...

This picture is from this website.

I guess we are going to start real early with this lesson:
How to choose your friends wisely 101.

We have neighbors. Maybe I should end it there. This makes it VERY convenient to "play". When we moved in, I thought it was fantastic that we had children right next door that were the same age as our children. I still think it is grand... sometimes.

At our house, the rule is:
If the game does not include everyone. Meaning - boys and girls, light skin AND dark skin (I wasn't prepared to tackle that issue at five) then, it's not a game we play.

I didn't know that other families did not play by this one simple rule. Why not? Shouldn't we include everyone at this age? They are two, four and five! What is the need to single anyone out?

Anyway, at this age the children are learning and we (the parents) are teaching morals the best we can. I can handle my kids being mean to each other and then being able to discipline them and teach them the principle at that time. However, when it is someone else's child, the situation becomes a little more challenging. I can't put their child in time out. I've tried talking about it and the response has been,

"Well, at my house we're allowed to say that..." -child
Okay... well, at OUR house we are not and YOU (my friend) are at OUR house. -Mama Freeman (my thoughts)

Isn't that considered talking back? Did you ever talk back to an adult when you were a child? What ever the adult said was the final word and even if you thought something inside your head - it stayed inside your head.

As I grow as a parent I start to understand more things about myself. I understand why I want to have 10 acres of land and far enough away from my neighbors that they can't just hop the fence and be at my back door. Sometimes it's okay to ring my doorbell at 8 a.m. (for the neighbor child not in school) and sometimes it's okay to race over five seconds after getting off the bus in the afternoon (for those in school) and sometimes it's okay to stay and play until dinner. However, sometimes it's not.

Lately, our family plans have been interrupted by neighbor kids casually dropping by. I want them to play but, everyday all day is too much for me. One way or another, the adversary will find a way to disrupt our family life and our worthy goals. He takes something so innocent and good as children at play and makes it a problem. Don't these other families want to spend time with their kids? If so, when do they do it?

I want friends to be invited over so that if they choose not to follow the rules, or if our FAMILY is in the middle of something (like reading a book in the afternoon or watching a family movie or playing a family game) and I don't want to be interrupted then, they don't get invited over. If I didn't have five children close in age I may welcome the constant inquiry, "Can Daryl and the boys play over?" We have instant playmates at our house and I want my children to learn to play well with each other. That is how I will know they will respect others and stand up for one another. Too often I see or hear the neighbor children saying and doing mean things to their own siblings. We are trying to teach our children the old saying,
"Friends come and go but your family is forever." I want FAMILY to mean something to my kids. Over and over again, we are saying,
"You do not do or say (fill in the blank) to anyone, especially to your brother and/or sister."

I regret not taking more ownership in my own family growing up. When I had to choose between an event with my friends and an event with my family - nine times out of ten I chose my friends. And if I chose my family, it was after a heavy debate between which I wanted to do. Today, I hope for a family that loves being together and instead of choosing friends we choose each other.

I know... I am too controlling. But REALLY... what to do?

In the perfect world. Children are children and they PLAY. They giggle, they laugh, skip, jump and run. They see no color, no lines to draw between them. They are innocent and wonderful. The way children are suppose to be.



This picture is from this website.

It Was Just A Matter Of Time...

If you were two...
saw this red box on the wall...
discovered it was within your reach...
and had an inviting lever that seemed to call out "pull me"...
What would you do?

Come on... it's a no brainer.

I think all the Freeman children have learned a VERY important lesson after today's fire alarm drama. We hope it NEVER happens again.

The Bucket Has Saved My Life and Nerves

On Monday, March 29, 2010 I awoke from my bed. My four-year old boys were already awake and playing as usual. With no preparation, no second thoughts, just spur of the moment decision... I announced to them, "This is it! You are finished with diapers!" They both looked at me with confusion. Espeically Nic. His expression seemed to say, "What do you mean... finished?"
After my announcement I removed their diapers and put them in underwear. And that was that.

Sure, we have had a few accidents but my boys have learned that walking, sitting and playing in wet underwear is not very comfortable and they would much rather be dry. Great!

Special note: The fact that my boys are four and were not potty trained has NOTHING to do with their ability to use the potty. Their mother (a.k.a. ME) was extremely reluctant and quite lazy. The thought of going out and doing my normal activities and having an "accident" was not thrilling. It's much easier to put on a diaper or pull-up and just change it at my convenience as opposed to being half way through my shopping and the announcement comes, "Mom, I have to use the potty!" Knowing that if I did not react in 5 seconds or less there would be a wet mess to clean. I can do messes at home but messes in public are so much more hassle oriented.

ANYWAY... I believe cleaning a poopy bottom of a four-year old finally got to me and I was tired of hearing,"Mom, will you change my poopy diaper!" It was more of a demand than a request.

So... where does the bucket come into play? That same fateful day, we went to Wal* Mart and I bought a little blue bucket. It was identified as the Pee Pee Bucket. It resides in the back of our Surburban and the boys LOVE IT! They gladly go when I ask them to and they think it is so fun to pee pee in the back of the truck using their special bucket.

I guess I should also mention that I have issues with public bathrooms. In our house, when one has to go we all have to go whether they are using the facilities or not. When your two-year old sucks two fingers and has crawled on the restroom floor numerous times then popped them back in his mouth before you can reach the sink... well, wouldn't you avoid them at all cost too?

So, this post is to celebrate three kids using the potty and two in diapers (totally acceptable) and Hail to the Pee Pee Bucket!

I Said A Boom Chick A Boom!

(picture from Intelli-tunes by: Ron Brown)

Sing it if you know it...

I said a boom chicka-boom!
(Children repeat)
I said a boom chicka-boom!
(Children repeat)
I said a boom-chicka-rocka-chicka-rocka-chicka-boom!
(Children repeat)
Uh huh!
(Children repeat)
Oh yeah!
(Children repeat)
One more time...(name a style i.e. Underwater Style)
(Children repeat)

I taught this to the kids last week and it has been a hit. They shout out, "Let's do it Underwater style! Race Car style! Barn Yard style!" It has been a lot of fun.

Darrel asked me if this was a real song or something I made up. Obviously he never went to Girls Camp.

A Bouncing Baby Boy!

Yesterday was our ultrasound to find out if we were having a girl or a boy and to check baby from head to toe. Darrel said we were having a boy and I said girl. When the Sonographer asked, "Are you ready, there's no going back?" We both replied with an enthusiastic YES. When she announced our baby was a boy and showed us the proof, I suddenly got giddy and then started to cry (just a little). It's really hard for me to control my emotions when I am pregnant. Darrel and I looked at each other and he gave me the - "See, I told you" look followed by a wink.

Our baby boy is 11 ounces and his little foot is about 1 cm long. He is healthy and we are happy. When we told the children our big news, we first asked them what they thought we were having. Daryl exclaimed GIRL! While Corey and Nicolas shouted BOY! After I revealed the result, Daryl questioned, "Why are we having another boy?" I am so glad that she has Lilly. Otherwise she might have burst into tears and cried, "It's NOT fair!"

The boys were overjoyed that they were getting another brother. My heart melted as I watched Nicolas and he just continued to smile as we talked more about our newest family member. I could see and feel pure happiness and joy. This is what life is all about. The joy of family. The happiness that comes from being together and experiencing this life together. Family is important. Elder M. Russell Ballard said, "What matters most is what last longest, and our families are for eternity."