Read the book and tell me what you think

So today I was inspired to write something a bit more than a "this is what's happening in our life" update, but low and behold when I went to blogger to put it in, they're down for maintenance. Figures. So I'm typing this in Notepad until I can get it posted properly. It's kind of weirding me out b/c the font is so strange. Maybe I should be doing this in Word.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to write is because on Justine's recommendation I am in the middle of reading Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis. I am only halfway through, and I am already blown away. I was blown away after the first chapter, but he continually blows me away the more I read, and now I am to the point where I have to blog about it.

The funny thing is I keep typing out what I'm thinking in my head about this book, and then I just delete it because I can't even come close to describing with any sort of accuracy what he's really talking about. I strongly recommend reading the book if you haven't already. I would like to hear more opinions on it. I think the man is brilliant, and has totally hit on something that a lot of people need to hear.

As a total aside, I think it's also funny that as I read the book, in my head I am hearing Rob actually reading it, because we've seen a number of his Nooma videos in church lately, and so now that I'm reading the book I feel a bit like I'm watching him in one of his videos, except I'm reading instead of watching. Sorry for the randomness...

Back to the point. Maybe I'm just totally excited for no reason and as soon as I'm done the book the hype will wear off and I'll forget about it. But I really hope not. I hope I can take what I'm reading, and put it into practice in my own life. I hope that maybe something in my life will change, and people will see that change and wonder what inspired it, and maybe they will ask me about it, and I can tell them about this book, and maybe they can be inspired by it too.

And in the end, isn't that kind of what spreading the gospel is about?

I win!

Today I successfully managed to get all three kids down for a nap at the same time!!

AND...

...Reuben and V actually slept in the same room together!!

How did I accomplish this may you ask?

Well, I put V down for a nap first in a playpen in Reuben's room. After she fell asleep I put a loud fan on in her room, and then I closed her door and put O down for a nap in a playpen in Tim & my room and closed that door. He cried for about 5 minutes. Then when he was quiet I checked to make sure that V was still asleep, and she was, so I read Reuben a story and put him down for a nap in his crib. And voila! All 3 kids napping at the same time! I ended up with about 1/2 an hour to myself where I could actually rest and close my eyes on the couch without worrying about which kid is going to get tackled next by O or which kid is going to get upset b/c one of the other kids took their toy away or anything like that. It was quiet and it was heaven.

I hope that I can repeat this again tomorrow...

Of little people's oddities

So I realized that it's been two whole weeks since I updated, and as Reuben and V are upstairs hopefully napping, and O seems to be playing fine on his own I will attempt to get this done. I really have been meaning to get more on here, but life with three toddlers is more busy than I had thought possible. I think I spend way too much of my day changing diapers, and when I get a moment to breathe I tend to do just that. Sit on the couch for a moment, and breathe. Sometimes I even close my eyes. Not that I get to sleep. But it makes the resting more effective.

It never ceases to amaze me the strange ways that little people have. I have lost track of how many times I have had to pull O off of Reuben or V. He has this weird way of just laying on them. I don't get it. Yesterday Reuben was laughing his head off at something O was doing, but I couldn't figure out what it was b/c everytime I got close he would stop. It was cute to hear. For some reason all three of them love to lay on the ground on pillows. They'll just plop down and lay there. Apparently it's fun. I'd love to know just why V feels the need to scream randomly at times. Or why O insists on crying himself to sleep for every single nap time, or why he refuses to hold his own bottle or drink from a sippy cup. Why do grapes taste great to Reuben and O, but not to V? Why does Reuben feel the need to take V's stuffed toy away from her, but O doesn't seem to have an interest in it? (Actually I think this might have to do with Reuben has his own bear, but O just has blankies.)

Anyway, all that aside, we're managing okay. Sometimes I think I am nuts for doing this, but the I think of the alternatives and it sometimes makes me feel better. I could be the one leaving my son with a daycare. I could be the one missing out on his laughter, the one who only gets to see him in the morning and then for a few hours at night. So I try to consider myself blessed. But it's not easy. I thought I was a generally patient person. Boy did I think wrong! *sigh* Oh well.

Well I'm glad it's Friday anyway. Tim left on Monday to do a trucking run down to Oklahoma for Voortman Cookies (indirectly, long story). He's finally back today and it's felt like a long week. The extra cash is always nice though, so I'm sure we'll appreciate it once the cheque comes in. I think Reuben is teething again because he's been crankier than normal, drooling a bit, and chewing on everything, including my shoulder if I'm not careful. He was cutting molars not too long ago, so he's either got more coming in, or working on those eye teeth. I'm not putting my finger in to check. I already made that mistake once, and got bitten for it, not surprising.

Anyway, that's my update for now. I think I'm going to go check on O. He'll probably need a snack soon. If only I could convince him to hold his own bottle...

Weekend Away

Well, Tim and I are up at Muskoka Woods this weekend doing the Trillium League Retreat again. Last year at this time we had just had Reuben and brought him along as a newborn. This year we are child-less as we have left him to stay with my parents this weekend. It will be a new experience for us to be away from him for this long, and I have to admit to being slightly anxious that everything will go alright. I miss him already, but I'm sure that he is doing okay.

It is kind of nice to have a bit of a vacation. I'm planning on sleeping in for the first time in I don't know how long, and probably the last time for also who knows how long. When you have a child in the house there's not a whole lot of chance of sleeping late anymore...something I definitely miss! It feels weird to be helping Tim again after so long. I almost forget what to do. But cable-wrapping is like riding a bike, once you learn, you never forget, you just get rusty.

anyway, I should get going. I am glad for the wireless internet access here. If I have to leave Reuben cold turkey, at least I still have email ;)...(maybe if I'm lucky Mum will post pictures on facebook, hint hint...)