The Toftness Times

Two Funny Stories I don't want to Forget

2008-09-01T23:11:00.003-05:00

Today I was helping Caleb brush his teeth. He was looking in the mirror at the large gap between his bottom teeth and looked at me and said, "I lost a tooth mommy!"

Then, after nap time he came out of his room and let us know that the blinds in his room were now broken. When we asked what happened, he said that he tried to go swinging on them. What a doll! Seriously, how funny is that. He said he tried to put his legs up in between the slats and sit on it like it was a swing. I so wish I could have seen that! I love that kid!

Some other things the boys have been saying that I don't want to forget:

The other night I was laying in bed with Levit just talking with him before he went to sleep and he looks at me and says, "So much Mommy, that's how much I love you, so much."

Often times now when Caleb prays before bed he asks God to make him into a man of God like Daddy.

We have come through a pretty yucky lazy time of parenting and I find us more on top of things really enjoying the innocence, joy and excitement of the boys! They are so sweet and good! We have been blessed beyond all imaination! Thank you Jesus!

Well hmmm...

2008-08-21T22:43:00.003-05:00

Yeah, so I have been reading this book about being a better wife and mom and I guess I have come to some new conclusions. One of the things that reading this book has challenged me on is how good of a "keeper of the home" am I? She talks about how in order to be a keeper of the home as the Word of God says, then I need to be in my home more, not just physically, but mentally as well. So often throughout the day I "escape" through my cell phone into another place and allow my kids to turn into monkeys. Or there are the few minutes here or there that I steal to see who's out on facebook. But probably what gets me the most are the times I sit jumping from blog to blog when I could be sitting with my boys playing or reading to them. I only have this time with them at this age once. There are so many days I wish it away, wishing I had more time to do what I wanted. Those days will come. For now, I am choosing to sign off. To put my blog to rest (as if it were ever very active) :o) and to dive into life here in my own home with my own children. I have enjoyed reading what is going on in your homes, yet it keeps me from living life to the fullest here in mine. So, until another time...

I bet you thought I'd never return!

2008-07-19T17:53:00.005-05:00

Well, I had considered it! How some of you find the time to get out here daily to post is quite impressive. Almost more impressive that you have that much to say!!

Well, we are now the proud parents of three beautiful boys! Elijah Carl was born on June 19, 2008. He is such a doll! The boys absolutely LOVE him! A little to much at times!

We are keeping busy with the three munchkies, family life, and Church. We have put in a bunch of time on the house and in the yard. We actually have grass now! That is a wonderful thing. Now the boys don't come in looking like mud balls each time I send them out!

Our new Church is going well. We average 30-50 people each week. Most of which are young families in our area. Micah had the opportunity to preach just 3 days after Elijah was born. He did a great job.

Well, I must be off to feed the little guy. More another time...

It's been a while...

2008-03-28T12:56:00.013-05:00

So, it has almost been a month since I have stolen a few moments to sneak out here to jot down a few thoughts, wow! We keep busy! More and more our schedule seems to fill up with opportunities to serve and minister to others. How humbled I am that He should think of us as something more than what we really are.

We had our first official Church service on Easter morning! That was exciting! We had 56 people show up! God is good, isn't He! Leading up to that I feel like we kept busy with setting up, worship practice, hang outs with the youth, a weekly Bible study with some neighbors, one on one mentoring with a young gal, etc.

Aside from that we try to squeeze in some family time here and there. ;o) Micah built a set of stairs from the garage to the house a couple of weekends ago. That was nice. It was really getting tough to bring the groceries in by climbing up the ladder with my ever growing belly! Speaking of which, this pregnancy does seem to be the easiest so far. While I am often tired out from chasing the boys around all day, I can't complain to much about feeling sick or achy all that often.
Oh the boys, they are something else!

Spring will not come quick enough, and even as it makes its' way in slowly but surely, there is this thing called mud. The past couple of times I have taken the boys out to play, Levi and Caleb both head straight for the mud puddles. So, this past week when I was in town I bought each of the boys a pair of mud boots. We raced home to give them a try and boy were they a success!! So much so that when we came in to get ready for their nap time, it was a total melt down because they had to take off their boots and couldn't wear them to bed! I will post a couple of pictures for you to see. (Caleb is holding an umbrella on this perfectly sunny day because he didn't like having the water droplets that fall from the roof hit him in the head as he went in and out of the garage.)

Yes, I even bought myself a pair of mud boots! I figured since I can't stop them, I may as well join them!

At church on Easter Sunday, the kids made easter baskets in their sunday school time and each got just a few plastic eggs filled with candy. All the baskets were placed on a table so that parents could pick them up on their way out. Levi however sat right down at the table and quickly devoured ALL of his candy. Then, he moved on to his brothers', the neighbor boys', and soon had nearly ALL of the eggs empty! What a stinker! He was grinning ear to ear! We eventually realized what he was doing and put up all the baskets and their eggs much to his dismay. That didn't stop him. He quickly disappeared into another classroom where he found a plastic bin full of suckers. By the time I found him, he had two empty sucker sticks in his hands and drool running down his shirt! What a monkey!!

One morning when Micah was making eggs for breakfast, Caleb was sitting nearby and said to him, "Dad, if you give me some cheese, I'll be your best friend!" We both started laughing! Where did he get that from? (We later found out it was a favorite saying of one of his buddies at church.)

Other then that, we had the chance to go to a water park with the kids at a local hotel. That was really fun! They both did great! Levi liked the hot tub the best, as it kept him the warmest. They both also enjoyed the Lazy River!

As for me, I am learning a lot. Mostly what it looks like, and the consequences of not staying consistent and disciplined in all things. I have found myself out of my usual routine and am staying up late and not getting enough rest. Then, I am not getting up early to spend time with my King as I should. By the time the kids are up and we are cleaning up breakfast, I feel that already my patience is thin. I am low on compassion for them and often see more of their faults and flaws than their strengths and joys. It stinks the most, simply because I know that it is my own doing. But, I know that His grace is sufficient for me, and His mercies are new every morning. I just need to begin to ask for them.

I will post a few other pictures for you. Some of the boys hunting for easter eggs in our living room, and others of them just being silly. Hope your day is blessed.

Levi on the hunt!

Caleb on the hunt!

Now if I can just get this thing open!

Score!

Score, a second time!!

Mr. Potato Head glasses on a little bit bigger head.

Caleb kissin' on his little buddy, cousin Oliver.

These are the days...

2008-03-04T10:21:00.000-06:00

Well, a couple of my friends have started blog spots and it's kind of fun to read them and see what's going on in their lives. So, I decided to try my hand at it. There are so many things going on in our life that I'm afraid that if I don't record them somewhere, I am going to forget all the cute sayings, and funny things they have done to keep us on our toes!

At this present time I have a 3 year old named Caleb, a 22 month old named Levi and am pregnant with our third, due in early July. I stay busy! The boys are such a delight! We just came through a pretty rough time of training and discipline and are coasting on sweet spirits at the present.

Some funny things that have been happening here:

The boys are really into guns right now. Nana and Papa brought them some 6 shooters back from a trip they took and so now everything is turned into a gun as they go "hunting". The other day Caleb came upstairs with a drill bit in his hand and said almost growling, "Mama, I want to kill something!" Yikes! So off he went to play, shooting it up. He comes back and says to me, "Mama, look at all the people I killed!" Yikes again! So I, full of wisdom, say to him, "Honey, let's not shoot people, let's hunt for animals." He was in agreement. He quickly comes back with, "Mommy, look at all the puppies I killed!" Oh my! Does it end? No. I try to redirect him and give him other animal options. He picks sheep. "Mommy look at all the sheep I shot!" Well, I let it rest there seeing as how there are no stray sheep in the neighborhood that I need to worry about.

Levi, he is a cookie monster! The other day I caught him pushing a chair over to the counter where the cookie jar sits and climbing up on to it. All the while Caleb is at his side saying, "Yeah, now pull the cover off, pull the cover off!" What stinkers those two are!!

On to Micah and I. We have recently joined a Church Plant here in our neighborhood. Micah has taken the position as the Youth Leader, and I am his sidekick. It has been so good for us! We left Chicago a little over a year ago pretty tuckered out on ministry. The Lord has been good to give us a year of rest and healing. So, we enter this new chapter refreshed, more whole, and excited to share our Secret Treasure with the lost. We continue to look to Him for guidance and balance as we embark on His amazing journey for us! I am humbled that he would think something of us. That He should be mindful of us, to think that we could have the honor of serving Him in this way.

Well, I suppose I should wrap it up for today. We'll see when time affords another glimpse into our times. But, I am grateful for these days. Days of diapers, potty training, fits and tantrums. As well as hugs, kisses, snuggling on the couch for stories, and wrestling with Dad. We are blessed!