Another video post!!

This is a video of the first time that Andrew held Caleb (in the hospital, the day after he was born).

WARNING: I didn't upload this to YouTube. I uploaded it to Dailymotion, because they have a better video format and better quality. You must have a browser that supports HTML5 in order to view. This includes: Firefox 3.5 (or higher), Google Chrome 3.0.182.2 (or higher), or Opera. You can use Internet Explorer or older versions of Firefox with the VLC plugin.

Andrew Holds Caleb First Time
Uploaded by hansonjrs. - Explore more family videos.

More Videos

Here are a couple more videos of the kids.

Videos of the Kids

Here are some older videos of the kids.

Screaming from the bottom of my lungs

I'm writing this as a free-form rant from deep within the bowels of my frustration, but if you have anything useful to add, please don't hesitate. Why do I feel like I spend 3/4 of the day yelling at my kids? I never noticed what a super scream freak I was until about 2 years ago (naturally, it would start with the entry of another child into the Peanut Gallery). It seems like every other time I open my mouth, out tumbles, "Sssssh!!", "Quiet, please. QUIET!!!" or "Please stop.... !!!" These utterances are not born without remorse; the more I scream, the more I know it hurts my kids (and me) to continue doing so. The problem is, how do I stop being a screamer and how do I continue being a good mother?

Of all the drunks, rude customers and outright strange people I have dealt with in my previous years of food service, I've never been more frustrated or challenged than during the time I spend with the kids. Now, don't get me wrong; I love those little guys to pieces and then some. Ain't nothin' I wouldn't do for them. Also, I think it's safe to note that a lot of my friends, past and present, have always sworn that I'd be the crazy lady sitting at the park swinging her massive handbag (or lifebag, as one friend called it LOL) at the pigeons and passersby for fun. Oddly enough, God planned for this crazy lady to stay home with her rambunctious pair of pigeon-headed short people and they're both unintentionally pecking for the breadcrumbs of her sanity.

I do take comfort in a few aspects, though: I'm not the only mother in the world who has yelled at her kids a few (okay way) too many times. The fault is not theirs to own, as they are both wonderful, spirited children with sweet dispositions to boot. I just want to be nicer to my kids so that they know when they are doing something wrong, but they don't feel bad when they do. HELP!

Stove-top admiration

While I'm cleaning the stove today, Andrew (busy as ever building Lego Star Wars characters and "doing his business" on LegoClub.com and LegoShop.com) peers up from his reverie and exclaims quietly: "You're good!" I thank him sheepishly and continue on my crusade against cooked on gunk. A few moments later, he peers up again and states: "You're fast!" I laugh and ruffle his hair. No matter how hard I am on him, Andrew retains a sweetness and easy-going manner that just can't be beat. He's what I like to call a-good-husband-in-the-making!

"If you're not inspired by your kids, you need to spend more time with them!"

- Jackie's Vietnamese proverb

After I get done cleaning my lovely food-maker, I retreat to the Bat Cave (i.e. my room). Minutes following, Andrew clunks over to my door holding a large Sterilite container with a few handfuls of Legos. "The computer's all for you, Ma." he alerts me, signalling that he is done with Legoshop/Legoclub.com for the day. Harkens me back to the days when he first moved in and he told Alex with much grown-upness, one fine day on the phone, "Just a minute" as he balanced the horn between his shoulder and ear in order to free up his hands.

2009 Anniversary Trip

For our fourth anniversary, Jackie and I went to Cambria for the weekend. Cambria is a small vacation town on the Central Coast, between Morro Bay and Monterey. Our hotel room was only a few yards from the beach.

VBS in the insane Central Valley heat

This week, Andrew and I participated in the annual Vacation Bible School, hosted by Nancy, the head of the children's department for Hanford Church of the Nazarene. Our theme was "Custom Garage", so last Sunday, Nancy and I got together at her house and previewed some of the videos and music that were part of the daily lessons for the week ahead, conjurred up some crafting and food ideas (piggy banks out of recycled plastic bottles, doodling a la Ed Emberly style, hot dogs, smores, etc.) and going over things in general, although we couldn't really figure out what to do with our theme. Sadly, I wasn't able to help much besides that Sunday, Monday and Friday as someone short and chubby cannot miss his nappy time, but Andrew had a blast being with other people his age and size and energy level (ha ha!).

All week long, the kids worked hard at memorizing songs such as "Custom Built Heart" and versese such as Luke 4:1-3 and Mark 12:28-34. Initally, Andrew was a little bit of a wallflower, but he eventually blossomed with the other girls and boys, trully singing and following along with all the motions on the video. That was all good and fun, but the real fun was to be had at the end of each day when all 10 of the kids (count 'em!) got to cool off in Nancy's pool; a veritable chlorine stew arms and legs cooking in the dry 100 degree heat. I was pleasantly surprised at how much Andrew seemed to enjoy doing the activities, thriving on the interaction with the other kids. When all was said and done, everybody left VBS with awesome tans and God in their hearts.

This Sunday rolled around and although I was in charge of the nursery for the day, Jimmy came to see our son perform with his contemporaries. I'm sure it was a heart felt performance that brought the house down, a fun, new dimension to add to our already lively Sunday service. Don't have any pictures, but will have some to upload soon, so keep checkin' us out!