Thank you

Thank you to all who have been praying for our family the past few weeks.  Our trip down to Mississippi for the funeral was fast and exhausting but totally worth it.  It is now time to move on to packing as the move date is rapidly approaching.  However before I do, I wanted to share with you some of the possible things small children might say at a funeral...and yes I know because of yesterday's experience.

Dean (as we were turning into the cemetery): This is a nice garden.

Anna Grace (very loudly):  DEAN!  This is not a garden; it is where the dead people are!

Anna Grace (again loudly as the casket was being carried from the hearse to the site):  Is she in that box?!?

The Great Cloud of Witnesses

 I have always had the blessing of being surrounded by godly women - role models, mentors etc.  I count it a blessing and a responsibility knowing that much has been entrusted to me.

This morning my mom called at 7:38 to tell me that my grandmother had passed away.  It was expected.  Yesterday hospice told the family that she would probably die within the next day or two.  Our family began to prepare for this day months back when the doctors said her cancer had come back and that she had anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months.  Nothing this morning was shocking.  Our family - with the children often leading the charge - prayed for God's timing and his mercy.  Nothing was shocking - especially the sweet moment of rejoicing and reminding the children that God had heard our prayers.

I stopped this morning to think of what made her so special...what made her my Grandma Brown.  I realized that it was her southern charm, always seeming to do the right thing.  She knew her way around the kitchen and made amazing Chicken and Dumplings (don't tell my other grandmother please).  Thanksgiving and Christmas were celebrated in our finest attire - khaki pants and a button down at the very least for the men.  It was her encouragement and prompting that lead to my first solo.  I was about 5 and I was allowed to stand on the settee (the family knows this was huge since it was only sat on Christmas Eve and never stood on because she had to fluff the down back up and it was hard to get it just right) and sing a Christmas song she taught me.

She is probably the only person I know who shopped almost exclusively at Neiman Marcus and Hudson's Salvage - two stores that could not be more different.  She dressed in her finest all the time except when she was working in the yard and there she wore terry cloth dresses (for lack of a better word) and tall combat boots.  She had a pet Myrtle the turtle that she adopted in the yard and took great care of for years.  She had no problems killing snakes but only the harmful ones.  She got mad at me when I happen to mention a few years back that I did not want my children playing with snakes so we killed the garden snake that lived in our bush out front.  She was of the mindset that boys play with harmless snakes, pick up frogs and lizards and play with real bow and arrows - her boys are living proof.

Her well worn Bible was always close at hand.  I can remember going to church with her when my parents were out of town and sitting in the room where she taught the children's Sunday school class at her small church.  She is the reason my family reads the Luke 2 account of Jesus's birth every Christmas - that was her tradition on Christmas Eve.  The youngest grandchild who could read read it after dinner before presents.  Being the youngest I read it all the way through high school maybe even college.  I knew I would get a call a few days before or that morning asking me if I would do the honors.

She was full of grace and tact - but she would tell you if you had worn out your welcome.  For the past year, the joke between Neal and me was that we could get in a "good visit" in 15 minutes.  I am proud to say that she never had to tell me it was time for me to leave - but I think I exited a few times moments before she could say it.  She asked for black cloth napkins at restaurants if she had on black as to not get white lint on her pants.  She taught me to "dab the corners of my mouth" with my napkin covering my index finger while at the table instead of wiping my mouth.  She took an afternoon nap just about every day and told me I should do the same when the children were napping.  She got that tip from the Kennedy's I believe.  She was charming, godly, truthful, well respected, to the point and poised all at the same time...she was, she is a southern lady.

As we say good-bye for now I smile knowing that the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) got bigger this morning.   And the opportunity is before me to run with endurance and leave a lasting legacy for the King; a legacy that encourages those behind me as I have been encouraged by her example.  As Dean said, "It's okay because she is going to be with Jesus on his birthday."  What a blessing!

Where is the adult?

Two classic parenting moments happened only moments ago.

First, I am currently potty training Hudson - who has extreme bladder control; it is day one.  In the past he has been willing to go to the potty however not today.  He finally had an accident in his pants.  I pointed at the potty and said, "Hudson, where do we go potty?  In the potty."  Hudson looked at me very sweetly shook his head and said, "No."  He might be the biggest battle of wills potty training yet around here.

Then Dean came in asking for his big stick to play with in the back yard.  My response was, "I'm not really comfortable with y'all playing with those sticks without an adult present."  Caleb, my personal peanut gallery, chimed in, "Mama, where is an adult?"

Let everything that has breath...

God chose months ago for our family to memorize Psalm 150:6 this week.  In the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, what a beautiful, simple reminder.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6

Lord, may we ever seek to praise and glorify you regardless of our circumstances.

I'm trying to go blonde

It has been a long day around here...much sickness in our house and medical unrest in the family.  So tonight at dinner Anna Grace owned me...

I'm going to stare at this light for 15 minutes;  I'm trying to go blonde!

what this real mama heard today

We are off to a slow start on school today.  The children played together until around 10:00 before we opened the first book.  I personally love these types of mornings where they can enjoy one another.

I had to call Anna Grace back up to her room while they were playing because it seemed that she had a clothing crisis.  (Thank you, Jenn, for coining the phrase - it is so accurate to what happens some days to females no matter the age.  I think Anna Grace had her first crisis around the age of 3!)  She had several pants choices scattered all over her room.  I started calling her up; Caleb walked to the bottom of the stairs and came to my aid:

Caleb:  She is downstairs, Mama; she can't hear you.

me:  Will you please go tell her that I need her to come upstairs?

Caleb:  Yes ma'am. [He walks within earshot of Anna Grace] Anna Grace, the real Mama needs you upstairs in your room.

Apparently they were playing "family."  She comes up and looks at her room; gets her instructions about cleaning up the clothes and then says,

"Oh, Mama, sorry about the mess, we were playing. [I assume she is referring to her room - the clothes and toys out everywhere.]  You can't go in the bathroom downstairs.  It is our car.  So if you need to go to the bathroom you can't go in there you will have to go up here.  We needed a car so just don't go in there."

I have been obedient to the request so far but really only because I fear what all they have put in the car.  I guess after school we will spend a little time cleaning out the car!

The Things Boys Say...When They Have A Sister!

Anna Grace has a new love for Fancy Nancy the past few days.  This morning she came down dressed for school in what she considers to be Fancy Nancy exercise clothes...purple striped socks, navy exercise skirt, white shirt, pink furry jacket, light pink bracelet, hot pink heart shaped ring, hair in a pony tail with a pink and purple sparkly holder adorned with a pink check bow.  Oh and the fanciest part of all...hot pink cat-eye shaped sparkly sunglasses (thank you Mrs. Cher!).  I did make her take off the glasses to try and minimize the distractions while at school.

Her current fancy for Fancy is starting to rub off on the boys.  While at breakfast Anna Grace, Caleb and I had the following conversation:

AG:  Mama, have you heard about or seen the commercials for Sophia the First? 

me: No, I'm not sure what you are talking about.

AG: It is a show starting soon called, Sophia the First:  Once Upon a Princess.

me: Oh.  Sounds fun.

CS:  I saw that commercial on tv when I was a little girl.

me:  Really, Caleb, you were a girl?

CS:  Yes.

Then later this morning, Dean comes running up to me running on the heels of his feet...

DF:  Mama!  Look how fast I can run in high heels!

Lord, please put a hedge of protection around these little men and help this girl's influence encourage strong, godly, patient men!

~~~

On a side note, back in July when I was getting ready for this school year the memory verse chosen for this week was Hebrew 13:8.  Oh how it warmed my heart and encouraged me to hear my children saying it over and over this morning..."Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Praise the Lord our God does not change.  

Even in times, like Anna Grace suggested this morning, when it seems like someone falls on him.  When it seems God is being squished it is not true because he is "unsquishable." (Her unprompted political statement this morning not mine; she doesn't even know the outcome of the election.  I'm not sure she even knows who we voted for.)  I chuckled and then thought...out of the mouths of babes.  She may not know much about world affairs but my girl has been known to sit down and watch Special Report with Brett Baier and her favorite The Fox Report with Shepard Smith; which she has renamed "Around The World".

A Star Wars Education

At this exact moment Neal has all four of our children at the dinner table giving them a Star Wars education.  It consists of the names of all of the movies in chronological order and then explaining the order they were released.  After that he pressed on  to explain/introduce Roman numbers to the children (since they use Roman numbers to order the movies).

He then told them that there is now going to be three more Star Wars movies (VII, VIII, IX) and when they come out we would go see them in the theater.

Anna Grace thought it would be fun (more fun than learning about Roman Numerals on a Friday night, I'm sure) to suggest names for the movies.  So you heard it here first; the next three Star Wars movies and their names:

Star Wars VII:  Darth Vader Chops Open

Star Wars VIII:  The Big Spider

Star Wars IX:  Rooooaaaar!

(And if they get carried way and give us four more movies; I mean why stop at nine, right!)

Star Wars X:  The Jedi's Kill the Bad Guys

So Disney and George Lucas, if you need any suggestions the Hatchett children are ready to help you out with a few ideas.  But I should warn you, they have not seen the first six movies so their suggestions might be a little far fetched but probably not any more so than Jar Jar Binks!

Halloween 2012 Is In the Books

Call us what you want - we don't do Santa but we do trick-or-treat!

We continued our tradition of going with the Clark family.  Thank you, Clark family for graciously letting us come.  Caleb got in the car and passed out; Anna Grace is calling it "best night ever;" and Dean says it was "awesome!"

Introducing:

Cleopatra, Superman, Thor and the Cowboy Farmer

 Who would not want to give this crew candy?

War Eagle Anyway

Last weekend the whole Hatchett family (minus Hudson and me - we were both under the weather) made the trip down to Auburn for the Auburn/Texas A&M game.  They had a blast even though the actual football aspect of the trip was less than desirable.

Each of them had their favorite parts of the day.  Anna Grace's was the eagle; she said it almost left the stadium.   Dean's favorite part was the pre-game fly over and he said he liked all the kicking of the ball (he can thank Auburn for all of that...Auburn punts and A&M post touchdown kickoffs).  Caleb's favorite part was the half time paratrooper entrance.

Sleep Walking, Could it Be?

All of our children are good night time sleepers; they don't typically get out of bed unless it is something big.  However in the past week or so Dean has gotten up several times.  A few nights ago I woke to him standing by my head.  (Always a little freaky even if it is your own child.)  He said nothing when I spoke, just stared at Neal's blinking (charging) phone.  After a few times of questioning he finally spoke.  I asked him why he was up and almost tearfully he said he did not know.  I suggested he go back to bed and he took off.  Before I could get in there he was back in bed face down sleeping.

The whole episode has bothered me a little but I don't really know what to do about it so the next night I told him to wake up Neal if he wanted to get up.  Sounded like a good plan to me!

So last night I'm getting ready for bed around 10:30 and he starts screaming.  I go running in the room; he is screaming crying, standing towards the foot of Caleb's bed.  Thankfully Caleb was sleeping soundly through it.  I picked him up and he stopped.  I held him a minute and talked to him to make sure he was calm.  Neal came in; we asked him if he had a bad dream he shook his head no.  We asked if he wanted to lay back down and he nodded.  As I put him back in bed Neal left the room confident that all was well.  Just before I kissed his cheek I noticed that he had a strange look on his face - peaceful but staring at me, not blinking, not looking a way, eyes glassy - a little eerie.   So I decide to try and talk to him.  Again he shakes his head about a bad dream.  This time he tells me that his name is Dean then says it is Dean Freeman but can't remember the rest.  I ask him if he wants some water and he says yes.  He is coherent enough to sit up and drink without my assistance.  Thinking that now he must really be awake I ask again why he was standing "over there" pointing to where I found him.  He lays back down and looks at me with the same glassy-eyed, weird expression and says, "Because I was listening. [long pauses, while images of Poltergeist run through my head] I was going with Bob.  Larry was about to sing the silly songs."

All fears and questions exited my body.  I kissed him and walked out laughing.  All the screaming was somehow because of VeggieTales!  No night tremors or need for exorcism just a boy wandering in his room asleep longing for more Silly Songs with Larry! 

You Don't Ever Find Things in the Trash Can

Neal has spent our entire marriage telling me that things are never found in the trash can.  And for the most part I agree with him, even though on rare occasion I have found a stray toy in the trash can by the desk.

Last week it came out on the blog/Neal's Facebook that I keep a running inventory around here of things...toys, dishes, anything that I can count.  I can't help it; I am constantly counting things as I put them away.  I am sure there is some sort of drug I can take to make this quality go away or tone down but honestly I like it; it helps keep our home as it should be.

This morning, while unloading the dishwasher I counted 11 juice glasses instead of 12.  On alert I counted again...still 11.  First thing, I called Neal to ask if he for some strange reason took a glass with him to work.  Then I remembered that I heard a "glass clank" when I pulled the trash out of the can in our kitchen before taking it out on Tuesday night.  The first obvious thought is, "Someone accidentally threw away their glass while throwing away their napkin.  I will have to go get the trash bag out of the can and get the glass."  I report all of this to Neal; he said he would do it tonight but I can't wait anymore and the desire to have my glass back took over a few minutes ago.

I go out to the big can; push my sleeves up; pull out the bag and begin to dig.  I think about how gross our trash is as I rummage through.  An overwhelming sense of disgusting over comes my left arm as I dig deeper to get beyond the egg shells and sandwich scraps.  I finally get to the glass, the glass spaghetti sauce jar!  Then it hits me. I agree with Neal once again; you don't ever find things in the trash can so why am I so willing to look?  Why is it almost always my first thought, "guess it got thrown away; lets go look in the trash."?

I come inside, scrub my hands (and arm) and think "WHERE COULD IT BE?!"  Then on some whim I decide to look under the chair.  Not a dining room chair but a club chair in the living room.  Not sure why I did but there under the chair was the glass turned on its side.  If only my first instinct was not the trash and I had looked there first!

I hate it when he is right!

I Go for Two Teams

I realized today that it has been almost a month since my last post.  Neal and I went on an anniversary trip a few weeks back.  That took some planning up front and then we were gone and it has also taken some time to get back into the swing of things around here.  However with the excellent help of some friends and much family everyone had a good time while we were gone.  The running joke that Neal and I had before we left was that there was no telling where things would be when we got back.  The funny thing is the list of what I still have not been able to find...

1 salad plate 

the large container of feta cheese 

(consumed?)

one of Neal's Auburn cups

Anna Grace's hot pink hair band and a few of her ribbons

(currently blaming Hudson for this one)

However I can't complain about any of this too much because we did come home to find...

happy, healthy children still in tact

a couple of bottles of partially drunk wine in our frig

children on fire for more time with their grandparents

a playset in the back yard

When looking at the two lists I say the pros certainly out way the cons.  Therefore making our time away even more worth it.  

Since we have been home though there have been some great quotes by the children; none of which have anything to do with missing us or anything of the sort.

"Hey, Mama, when I think I have silly poop I go upstairs to the hall potty.  But when it is regular poop, like right now, I go in here."  Dean

~

"God said I can pull everything up."  Caleb
(He said this after I asked him if he needed help after coming out of the bathroom.  I chose to nod my head and roll with it;  he had done nothing wrong and who am I to argue with what God says!)

~

"I go for two teams:  Auburn and God.  God has the really good team."  Anna Grace  

Confessions from sassy, half-hearted hearts

All of this happened a few weeks ago but things have been going too fast around here for me to get this posted.  And I promise this all took place in one lunch I shared with the children.

Rewind:  One of my sweet grandmothers has cancer...again.  This time being in her 90s she has declared that she does not want any sort of aggressive treatment.  I completely understand that and am thankful that she is prepared to step into eternity with her faith secure in Jesus.  This however has meant that our family start praying for God's mercy in her life during all of this.  The children knew she had been in the hospital with some other complications.  Neal and I felt that we needed to have an honest conversation with them about her health.  The first conversation was fast one evening at dinner with not much said other than she was really sick, she might die before Christmas and we needed to pray for her.

Well in typical fashion that lead to thinking which lead to questions...

Now here we are:  There were some concerns expressed by the children about her dying during lunch.  I told the children that she was going to die; that we all are at some point but we needed to be thankful that she would go to heaven.  Instant relief hit their faces but Anna Grace asked how I knew for sure.  I told them that Jesus lived in her heart and he was in charge of her life....la, la, la...Caleb asked some relevant  yet uneventful question; I answered it.  Anna Grace tried to interrupt I pressed on because I wanted to share the gospel with my children again.  Dean continued to enjoy his meal.  Anna Grace stopped me and said she already did that then finished the gospel in her own words.  I agreed; all was well.  At some point during the meal it was said, "You have to ask Jesus to come into your heart before you can go to heaven when you die."   Dean, who had said nothing up to this point continued to stare down at his plate and eat as if he was a homeless child, says at the first silent moment: "Oh!  Jesus come into my heart.  Amen.  Did that!"  And he took another bite never looking up.  I almost fell out of my seat!  I quickly told him I did not think it worked quite like that you had to really mean it in your heart.

For some crazy reason, I foolishly thought going back to Anna Grace and whatever she wanted to talk about when she was trying to interrupt me had to be something more normal and maybe it was for a family like ours.  "Mama, there is something I've got to ask you about it.  I've been wondering, if Jesus lives inside my heart then what's going on with my attitude?!?"  (I wish I could convey the amount of sassy attitude and frustration in her voice as well as her body language as she spoke.)    I could continue our lunch discussion with poise no more; I erupted in laughter.  Somewhere between our once somber and serious conversation turning into an at best half-hearted sinner's prayer followed by an enormously sassy attitude confession, laughter bubbled from my soul.  Anna Grace even laughed when she realized how crazy she sounded.  After a few minutes she told me that she did not know that she was supposed to be praying daily for the Holy Spirit to help her use self-control.  She was hoping for full sanctification this side of heaven.

Through it all I could not help but think think that God had to be laughing too and sadly their actions funny and somehow appropriate for their age are but a glimpse of our sinful adult hearts wanting only short-cuts, easy roads and a checklist.

Four Amazing Imaginations

I went to the grocery store today.  The children on the other hand went on a boat ride (the buggy) through a swamp (the floor was brownish) with killer rhinoceroses all around (the other buggies) and one roaming giant green crocodile (the large green dust mop that was moving about the store) that was looking for children to eat of course.

Out of our trip I got groceries...they experienced an adventure.

First Day of School...Again

  

Today we had our third first day of school since mid-August around here.  This time it was Caleb heading off to Mother's Day Out for the first time in his life.  He was so excited.  I'm sure I have said this before on here but Caleb lives his life not wishing he was a "big kid" but he really thinks he is a big boy, no different from his older siblings.  In Caleb's mind he is a 5 year old trapped in a 3 year old's body.  I cannot wait to see what this year holds for him at school and watch him soar on his own wings doing his own thing.  He is such a funny, excitable character.  He is 100% boy...very tough, a little bit sloppy, loud (oh wait that is not the boy in him but the Hatchett in him), and loves his mama.  He had not even the slightest hesitation about running in there and getting in the mix.  He has been asking me since last May when his first day of school would be; I am very thankful that Ms. Jennie and Ms. Mikelyn did not disappoint.

He was excited to see me pick him up, show me his room, his craft and tell me about his day.  He was also very excited to tell me about the boy in the blue shirt who did not obey today.  He told me that he was going back next time so he could go on the bear hunt with his class!  He also loved dominating the table conversation this evening sharing with us about his day which is something he has never been able to do.  He has always been the listener when it came to school  He beamed from ear to ear as he told us his experiences...he sat by a girl at lunch; he had to potty during lunch so he could not eat all of his food; he played at the playground two times but not outside because of the rain; he sang several songs - some new, some old; and most importantly he made his craft - a pair of bear ears - by himself!  He also told us that he tried to play by himself but kept getting interrupted by his new friends.

I told the children that we were having popsicle after dinner tonight to celebrate Caleb's great first day of school.  After Dean's popsicle he tried to thank me for dinner and his popsicle to which Caleb said, "No, Dean, thank me!"  We got a good laugh out of that.  I don't think his first day could have been any better!   

Here he is before we left this morning; absolutely ready...a fresh cut thanks to Ms. Danna, new shoes, new lunch box and a big grin:

 

  

New Shoes!

 

 

It was time for new shoes the other day and what an adventure we had.  Our feet are ready for whatever the fall/winter bring our way!  Everyone except Hudson picked out their pair of tennis shoes...I picked out the church shoes (Well Anna Grace was able to chose between several options but not ready to unleash her in Sikes especially after seeing her "loud" tennis shoe choice!)  I will say they picked things that I think testify to their personalities.  Anna Grace chose a collision of brightness; Dean went with grey and mustard (his favorite condiment); and Caleb chose chocolate and orange.

Thank you so much, Honey and Big Daddy!  In case you did not notice the past few days we are very proud of our new shoes.  Anna Grace talked the boys into hiding them around the house for Neal to find when he came home from work that night.  She said she wanted to have an Easter Egg Hunt but with shoes!

Dean Organizes Numbers

I gave Dean some numbers (1-9) out of order and said "Put these in order from smallest to biggest."  This is what he did:

I had to look at a few times before I figured out that he had followed the instructions.  I guess in the future I need to be a little more specific.

I asked him after I looked at it three times and had finally understood it why he put them in that order.  He said, "Because I wanted to."  I said something about smallest to biggest and he said, "Yes, 1/9, 2/8, 3/7, 4/6, 5."  And walked away.  I'm not sure I will every really understand that boy.  He is funny and smart; and often times years ahead of me and he's only 5.  (He cracked me up at lunch the other day but that is its own post for a different day)

I will wait until he is much older to tell him what Neal's quote was when I showed him the picture (direct from our GoogleChat so he can't deny it)

Husband: i don't get what dean did, i think it's too genius for me 

They are back (Hurricane Isaac part 3)

My mom drove Wayne back as far as she could get in the truck this morning and from there he waded in to the house.

Washington Avenue was as far as they could get this morning at 10.

  Yes you read that correctly.  Mom drove Wayne's truck to this intersection and he waded back to the house in his waders.  She said that his boots came just above his knees and the water hit the bottom of his knees.  I guess that means he barely made it.  She was able to drive his truck in this afternoon so they are officially back (water is still too high for her car).  She did say that as she rounded the corner onto their little street she opened the truck door just to see where the water was...It was up to the door.  She said she shut the door as gingerly as she could and reminded herself that Wayne said to drive in and not stop.  Her comment was, "I have never  driven through water that deep but Wayne told me to come on!"

The water line always tells the story.  Even though the street is still high and the front yard looks like the first picture I put on here, it only got about 18" high under the house and about 3 1/2" high in the pump house.  They are extremely thankful.  

Mom said that as she stood outside by the truck watching Wayne wade in (what a sight to imagine!) just to make sure he was going to make it through a man approached her and asked to video her (or take her picture); he was filming for an episode of Hurricane Hunters for the Weather Channel.  I never knew this show existed but I guess I am going to watch it.  I am guessing that he wanted to video Wayne trying to get back home while Mom looked on.  She said they made her sign a waver and all sorts of crazy stuff.  The best part though was this (and those who know the man well will be able to picture this perfectly) "I'm standing there watching him wade in; he was wearing his waders and his uniform. [I knew exactly what she meant but she paused a second and then said just to make sure] White t-shirt, [I interject "cut off jeans"] Einstein hair, waders, holding his shoes."  Even typing it I laugh and can picture the sight perfectly.  I asked why she did not take that picture from this hurricane saga and she doesn't have a good answer unless it is that the tv man got her distracted (that is my thought not hers).  I told her that I really hoped the tv man was able to get a good shot of the crazy man wading back to his home!  

I have an childhood memory; I am guessing I was about five, of Wayne and Mr. Striffe (I have no idea how to spell their last name but that should be close enough), our neighbor at the time, wading me and I guess my mom and sister out of the house before a hurricane or I guess possibly after to that very Blow Fly Inn sign.  Only difference was they were wading and pulling us behind in the metal row boat to get us out to the car.  So strange yet so normal in my mind.

Thank you for all your prayers.  They are so thankful to be back home and from what I hear well on their way to having things all bleached out and pressure washed.  They just need the sun to shine so they can move the stuff back. 

Water's still on the move (Hurricane Isaac part 2)

Here are pictures of my parent's house/yard taken from the neighbor's house around 10:00 this morning.  The neighbor's chose to stay - they had to project their pool.  Which having the Berry's stuck in has been a great blessing and wealth of knowledge for my parents who have been stuck out.

Front view water up on the downstairs's slab.

The Berry's pool but the lone rooftop out there is the end of my parent's pier.

Back view again water on the downstairs slab.

Dean was very concerned about my mom's flower garden - or should I say the spot where her flower garden should be by the fence in the back yard.  Anna Grace was pretty convinced that she saw an alligator in the back yard.  But she could not show me the exact spot but thinks it is there.  Anna Grace was also very concerned that the pier, a great source of enjoyment for all children, is going to break in the water.  Possible I told her but not probable.

~~~~

Here are pictures from around 2:30 this afternoon.  Water had continued to rise some throughout the day but they think it has now started to recede some.

Again front view. Water up a few steps.

Back view.  Water appears to be about a foot or so higher on  the fence.

After seeing these pictures Anna Grace is asking for 100% confirmation that the house is not going to be knocked down by all this water.  I have told her that I cannot be 100% sure (only God can) but I would be very, very surprised if the house got knocked down at this point.

My mom said she was starting to understand what Noah and his wife felt like.  Before you say she is grossly exaggerating think about this...they are in my grandmother's 2 bedroom cottage (aka small) house with her and she has Alzheimer's.  Last night she got upset and wanted to know what all the food was doing on her counter and who was having a party at her house and who was coming and what were they serving and why was she not included in the plans...My mom had made dinner for them to eat with my grandmother along with my aunt and uncle who live down the street!  My family chooses to laugh at these type occurences; so it is okay to laugh at this.  Mom, I bet right about now you wish y'all had not made her downsize!

After listening to Anna Grace on the phone with my parents getting all of her questions answered it is very apparent that one of her main concerns is an alligator getting into their house!  They have prayed the sweetest and funniest prayers in the past 24 hours about water and alligators and safety...and my dad changing his mind and deciding to rebuild if the house does get knocked down in the water.

Catechism from a 3 Year Old

We begin our school day at the breakfast table eating and working on our memory verse and Catechism questions.

Question #18: Of what were our first parents made?

"God made Adam's body out of the ground and Eve's body out of a ribbon." ~ Caleb

That has been his answer two days in a row...he's consistent!

Water on the Rise

This is not a familiar site to most people and certainly not a welcomed site to those involved but here is the view of my parents front yard today thanks to Issac.  This picture was taken at 9:45 this morning and the storm is still not on land.  The water will continue to rise....

To quote Anna Grace when she saw the picture, "God, help the hurricane go 15 up so it can hurry down.  Amen."  The un-cryptic version of the prayer is, "Lord, help the storm pick up speed to at least 15 mph so there is not so much flooding and destruction in its path."

My parents have evacuated...only to my Grandmother's house a few miles away but her house is more protected from the water.  They will not know until the storm is completely past and the water has receded what they will come home too.  Crazy.  Neal says we will never live down there for this very reason...hurricanes.  (Editor's Note: I don't think I said this.)  He generally thinks my family is very normal except for their willingness to put up with hurricane season (specifically every June 1st until November 30th).  What else can I say...It's home.

Oh, yeah, there is one other reason he is not willing (without Divine intervention) to move to Gulfport, Mississippi....It is too far from Auburn!

A Blue Ballerina

Anna Grace is finally old enough to be a "blue" ballerina.  She is so excited.  I'm am not sure if her excitement level for her first class of the new year was more over graduating to a blue leotard finally or having her favorite teacher, Ms. Claudia.

"curious" used in a sentence by Anna Grace

Neal was explaining to Caleb what the word curious meant at bedtime last night.  Anna Grace (who was not at all involved in the conversation) sasses out of her room and says....

"I'm curious how Caleb painted that bird so good when all he does is scribble scrabble!"

It is well documented around here that we are all in awe of how a young three year old can paint an almost perfect picture in art camp...A month later we are still talking about it.

our 2nd first day of school

Dean...ready for K4

This morning Dean's summer vacation ended as he began K4.  He was very hesitant to start - odd for him because he loves to learn but great for me because I was able to get Anna Grace well underway - but then he jumped in and flew through his work with passion and pride.  When he had finished his last task and moved on to play I walked over and whispered in his ear that he had done well on his first day.  He beamed from ear to ear.

For the past year when you ask Dean what he wants to learn all his says is:
  To read

As you can see his curriculum choices are a little different from Anna Grace.  However don't think for one second that he doesn't want to shoot a gun and plant a garden (make-up and the like he is not interested) but I think he separates those type things as things all boys/children need to do and not a part of school.

~~~~~~~~~~

Caleb...smartest preschooler in the house

Caleb started "preschool" today as well.  The initial conversation this morning went something like this (I started out very concerned)...
me: Time to get out the table, guys, and start doing our school work.
Caleb: Me too?  NO!  I don't want to do school work.
me: (while getting a puzzle out for him) Caleb, want to do these puzzles?
Caleb: YES!!!
From that point on he flew through his work with excitement talking about how he was doing school.  At one point he looked at Dean who was still playing with the Bat Cave and said, "Dean, come over here and do your school work! I'm doing mine and getting smart and you are not!"

Caleb's "preschool" is really just stuff to keep him from feeling left out while Anna Grace and Dean do their work.  Don't get me wrong, he will learn things but we are not taking his work too serious.  In my mind Mother's Day Out is his "real" school but it doesn't start for another 2 weeks and is only 2 days a week so we need a few activities each week to keep him occupied.

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Hudson...no child left behind here

Hudson apparently will not be left out of this adventure either.  He managed to stress out Caleb as he tried to help Caleb do his puzzles.  And then he sat on the floor and read Brown Bear over and over for the whole family to see.

~~~~~~~~~~

A quick recap from Anna Grace's first full week last week  Things really went well.  She is having so much fun being at home and doing our normal stuff with us as well as school.  Her longest day was still short.  She has had moments where she complained but they have been scarce.  I am very thankful.  I told someone today that from my end it was a little hard but I felt completely free because I know this is God's best for us...for right now.  I have less time than I did with my commitments at probably an all-time high but I feel free and blessed and a little tired!

  

***And, yes, I am aware that the boys need haircuts.***

not so gentle reminders from a perfect father

Today I got a call about a loved one whose cancer came back.  The conversation was short.  I moved forward in my day, making sandwiches for children's lunches.  And before I knew what I was doing I was standing in the kitchen arguing with God and spreading way too much peanut butter and jelly on the sandwiches especially to eat in the car.

I felt very justified in my argument (don't we all).  I mean she is old; she has been through cancer already; she has buried 2 husbands and a grandchild; seen most of her grandchildren get married and have children.  She has even seen one of her great-grandchildren get married!  So what is the point of cancer?  Of course I am "smart" enough to not say God is wrong so I didn't say that.

Then it happened.  I wondered if this was how Job felt when God let him have it (Job 40-41).  God might as well have been standing in the kitchen giving audibles:  Its not about you or even  her.  Its about me and my plan.  You have no right to question me.  You don't know the big picture here and I don't have to tell you.  I make many promises to you but to share the depths of my plans I do not.  Ouch!  And then in his kindness he brought an old poem back to my mind...

When God wants to drill a man

And thrill a man

And skill a man, 

When God wants to mold a man

To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart

To create so great and bold a man

That all the world might be amazed

Watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers and hurts him,

And with mighty blows converts him

Into trial shapes of clay which

Only God understands; 

While his tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands!

How he bends but never breaks

When His good he undertakes:

How He uses whom He chooses

And with every purpose fuses him; 

But every act induces him

To try His splendor out.

God knows what He's about!

While not the most comforting poem throughout it reminds that me that I may not always enjoy his hand but how I long for his ever present hand.  "Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Morning by morning new mercies I see...Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness..."

1st grade starts...today?

Anna Grace came home for church yesterday and informed us that she would like to go ahead and begin first grade now...not wait another week.  Neal and I gave it a thought and decided:  Why not?  What have we got to lose here?  We are crazy enough to home school this year anyway so might as well begin so we can have a longer spring or more "school holidays."

So, wow!  Here we are.  The 2012-2013 school year has begun for the Hatchett family...well for Anna Grace that is.  Dean declared last night that he was fine to wait another week before starting K4.  I hear ya, Dean.  Let's not get too excited and all start at one time; not sure Mama can handle that.

You may be asking yourself why in the world have we made such a decision.  The answer is simple and complex, for this post we will stick to the simple...I got tired of telling Anna Grace we (more specifically she) could not spend time with our grandparents (specifically grandmothers, sorry guys) because we had to go to school.  In the big scheme of things how long is she going to want to drop her friends to spend time with her family.  Probably not too much longer.  I decided we needed to spend some time making those memories while we could.  So for us we don't think this is a long-term decision.  Dean has actually said that he will have Mrs. Whisenhunt as his Kindergarten teacher next year and Anna Grace has said that 2nd grade is too much fun so she only wants to do this for a year...even though she asked us if she could home school.

Anna Grace has even gone so far as to customize a curriculum she would like to follow (and it is always listed in this order):
1.  Learn to shoot a gun.
2.  Garden with Peanut.
3.  Do fun stuff with Honey and Juju.
4.  Learn about make-up with Aunt Tina.
5.  Use her Hello Kitty folder.

I bet not many 1st graders have such high expectations!  I have much lower expectations...like reading and math.

So here we go.  I will do my best to give a week 1 recap on Friday, that is assuming that I am still functioning.  I will say though that even though I was all organized with my lesson plans and what not I still had to apologize to Anna Grace about half-way through this morning and tell her that I was still learning too and that we would both get better at home schooling as time went on.  Today she loved math (I thought in the past it was her least favorite subject) and recess...a trip to Gold's.  Ha!

a different sort of post

Typically the children around here provide plenty for our little family blog.  (Really I think it is pretty much just the family who reads it anyway...which was the point when we started it 5 or 6 years ago.) However I think this day does not need to go without some recognition....

10 years ago today Neal and I got married.  Actually by this time, 3:19pm, we were married, finished receptioning and were about to step off a plane.

I could go on and on about how great it has been and how special Neal is and blah, blah, blah but those of you who know me best know that is really not my style.  I have had a little different thought process today.  I will share it with you...

Besides marriage what have I stuck with for 10 years or more?
1.  An Education...16 years (counting kindergarten) but the first 13 were not an option.  Technically I only chose 4 years.
2.  Work...7 years.  Doesn't make the list
3.  Exercise...too sporadic to count more than about 2 years.
4.  Child Rearing...if you add the years spent with each child separately, 15 years.  That is cheating though because I don't have 15 years of life experience.
5.  Church Membership...14 years.  I think this counts.
6.  Relationship with Christ...26 years.  However, again technically God started this not me and realizing what I have been saved from and what I have been brought to I would be an idiot to try and terminate this but that is not really even possible so here again not sure this counts.

Unless I am overlooking something great commitment/accomplishment, here that is the list.  Astounding, I think.  Even more astounding, we barely dated 10 weeks before getting engaged!  I think it was more than 10 weeks but not much.  However there is some discrepancy on exactly when we started dating.  Some think it was earlier on and there might have been some "cheating" but seriously after one date you can't say you are dating; you can't say you are dating until the official DTR (Define the Relationship) has taken place...everyone knows that.  Sorry I got off subject a little.  Back on point, we dated a crazy short time, were engaged only 6 months but after about 3 the plans were set and I was bored so we could have made it shorter.

So what has made this marriage last 10 years...and many more to come...God's grace.  As whitty as I would like to be (and I came up with some good ones but not sure I could put them on our "family blog"...already stepped off the ledge last week by putting male body parts on it) that is the real answer.  Same as a personal relationship with him.  He started it.  It is all him; he joined us I mean the ceremony says "what God has joined together..."  So these past 10 years have not been a testimony of our actions, restraints, blah, blah, blah but of his faithfulness to us.

Oh and yes, Neal is wonderful and I am pro-marriage and it has been a blast and I am so thankful, grateful, blessed.....

Motherly Trials/Failures/Comedies...Not exactly sure what to call this

Sorry no pictures today but I think you will understand and thank me by the time you finish reading.  And it is long but this one takes a little time...


Last Tuesday (7/24/2012 is a day that will be hard for me to forget)  Neal was at work and I had the crew here at the house.  We were getting ready for an afternoon rest time.  Dean wanted to go potty first and as he strolled to the bathroom...

Dean: Anna Grace, you want to come and touch the smooth part?  
(As a mom I internally freaked out to say the least but outwardly remained calm.)

Me: WHAT did you just say?

Dean: I asked Anna Grace if she wanted to come touch the smooth part while I went potty.

Me: Have you done this before?

Dean: Anna Grace has a couple of times; she likes it.

Anna Grace: I have never.  I can remember everything and I don't remember that. This line is classic Anna Grace.

Me: That is part of Dean's private part and is never to be touched by anyone other than Dean when he is going potty.

Dean comes out of the bathroom and the typical "private part" conversation appropriate for 3, 5, and 6 year olds begins...again.  We discuss what are our private parts, go back over all of the names, and spend quite some time reminding them that it is NEVER okay for anyone to touch them...unless there is a problem/bo-bo and only then can it be a parent or possibly a doctor.  The conversation concluded with the friendly mom reminder "Your private parts are yours.  No one can ever touch them for any reason.  And remember they are dirty because of their important job of helping us go to the bathroom so we don't touch them either.  Except for boys when they tee-tee and then they have to wash their hands."  I decided that the rest of this conversation can wait until I am ready/willing/prepared to talk about sex...I was not last Tuesday.

I should have been a little leery when Dean responded then and said, "I didn't think the smooth part was dirty."  But I just let it slide by and said again the previous speech harping on the part where no one can touch for any reason EVER.  And the official names to make sure there was no confusion.  I could tell I was losing them so I said one last time, "Dean and Caleb's private parts can only be touched by Dean and Caleb when they are going potty and then they have to wash their hands.  And that is all.  Anna Grace never has a reason to touch hers."

Dean stopped doing what he was doing.  Looked up at me with this devilish grin, started shaking his booty and said, "Except when Anna Grace needs to go potty; then she can touch her virus!"

I turned around as to regain my composure and said, "No girls use toilet paper.  She NEVER, EVER has a reason to touch her private parts."  I wish I could say I corrected his terminology but I didn't; instead I walked away mentally exhausted.

Hours later after dinner...as if the prior events were not enough to do me in...

Dean and Anna Grace were playing at the bottom of the stairs while Caleb, Hudson and I finished eating (Neal still at work of course missing all this parental action).

Dean: Mama!  Anna Grace is touching my smooth part!

Me: WHAT!

Dean: Anna Grace is touching my smooth part.

Me (walking over to the two of them): Dean take your hand and show me exactly what Anna Grace was doing with her hand.  (I mean they were both fully clothed.  How in the world could she be doing something inappropriate?)

Dean walks over beside Anna Grace sits down and begins to stroke the soft, untrafficked part of the carpet. 

Dean (in a teary voice): SEE!  She is touching the smooth part like this and you said it was MINE.  Nobody could touch it but me!

I walked down the stairs and sat down beside him on the floor.  Mainly I needed to buy myself more time to get myself together.  There where so many things going through my head...The carpet!?  All this over the carpet!...Yeah!  We are just touching the carpet around here....Wow!  How am I going to explain this?...I don't remember exactly what I said at that moment it was something very close to: The carpet?  You wanted Anna Grace to come touch the carpet while you were going potty?  Dean, the carpet belongs to our whole family.  Anybody can come over here and touch the smooth part. Earlier I thought you were asking Anna Grace if she wanted to come and touch your penis.  Which would NEVER be okay because that is your private part."

About that time Anna Grace interjects: Oooh!  THAT is grouse I would never do that!  I would NEVER do that!

What was a mom to do...I wrapped up the conversation as fast as I could and walked way relieved, completely shocked and laughing to myself.  When Neal got home I tried to tell him the second half of the story - I called immediately after the first half because I was still freaking out a little - I could not breath from laughing so hard.  He was horrified; concerned that I had the children thinking the carpet was a private part.  Honest mistake on my part.  The boy was walking to the bathroom when he asked her to come touch the smooth part.  Over a week later I am still not sure if that infamous day at this Hatchett house is to be considered a victory, an utter failure, a comedy, or a success.  (Yes, I know saying victory and success separately is redundant but I am trying really hard to convince myself that it was actually a success.)  Wow!  All I know for sure is that will probably never happen again; thank you, Jesus!  Wow!

Art Camp...round 2

We had another very successful art camp this week.  Anna Grace loved her time with Mrs. Belinda and Catherine Hope as always and is already talking about art in the fall.  Anna Grace was in the 1-3rd grade camp this summer which meant she went for 2 hours a day for 4 days and they did more drawing and design on their own.  They began their final project on the first day so all the artists had plenty of time to paint.

Day 1:

(Beach Sunset and Kitty Cat)

Days 2 and 3:

(Moon Watching and Hinre the Hipo)

Day 4:

(Rainbow Fish)

Final Project:

(Butterfly the Great)

Anna Grace and her teachers

And you should know that Anna Grace named all of her pictures herself.  We will be adding the butterfly to her collection she is gathering on the wall in her room of her artwork.  Thanks again Juju and Ottie for this great gift and Mrs. Belinda for being such a wonderful teacher. 

**If anyone is looking for a good teacher for the fall...or a camp for next summer...let me know I would love to pass on Mrs. Belinda's information.**

Art Camp...round 1

This week was art camp for Dean and Caleb with Mrs. Belinda.  It was Caleb's first year and he was fired up.  However due to some unusual circumstances he actually missed his first class.  Mrs. Belinda was kind enough to give us the whale drawing for him to paint at home.  


Both boys' camps were one hour long for four days.  Yes a little bit of a hassle for our family but completely worth it.  Here is what they have to show for it...

Caleb's Artwork

(Day 1: Whale, Day 2: Apple, Day 3: Ladybugs)

This was his final project that he brought home on day 4: The Blue Bird.  

They worked on it for 2 days.  I know what you are thinking...A 3 year old cannot do this.  Don't ask me but from what I saw they were doing the painting but getting LOTS of instruction and some help from Mrs. Belinda and Miss Catherine Hope.  Caleb's favorite part ...the polka dots (aka flowers in the grass).

Dean's Artwork

(Days 1 and 2: Gecko, Day 3: Lion)

 This is Dean's final project: The House with the Sparkling Sun.

  The house was a little more involved because the class worked on this for 3 days.  I think he did really well.  Dean's favorite part of it...the sparkling sun.

 Two very proud artists

Thank you, Mrs. Belinda and Catherine Hope!  I know this is just what Anna Grace needed to see today to get her especially excited about her camp next week.  And a big thank you to Juju and Ottie for giving Art Camp as birthday presents this year.  It was a huge success!

Tune in for round 2 next Friday.

A VBS Thank You

Anna Grace, Dean, Caleb and Hudson wanted to thank everyone who bought their cookies and helped them raise money for Vacation Bible School.  Thanks again and hope you enjoyed their tasty treats.

Another Successful Ballet Camp

This was Anna Grace's 3rd year to do ballet camp and it renewed her fire for ballet.  She loved it.  This year's theme was Sleeping Beauty.  Her first dance was her Fairy dance and her second was her Sleeping Beauty dance.  Neal and I were most excited that she smiled the whole time...first performance in her life that she was not so serious.

Here is the video of her performance...

Dean turned 5!

(I feel as though I have almost caught up since I am now in the current month!)

Dean had a blast having an all things water party...a water gun fight, a water balloon fight, the sprinkler to run around in and Hudson had a pool to stay cool in while chaos insued in every direction.  Our only two rules were...No spraying in the face and no spraying parents UNLESS they have a gun and sprayed you first.  We are so thankful that, being summer, our cousins could come join in the fun as well as a few friends.

Dean Freeman, I don't even know where to begin.  You are such a little heart throb; you don't know it yet and the girls your age don't either but you are.  You're shivarous and charming; you pay attention to detail remembering people's names and noticing if something has changed about them; you offer compliments (your sister and other girls eat that up by the way); you go out of your way to help others especially with little things; and your smile with those dimples is a show stopper!  Yet you are such a boy too.  You love building things (and knocking them down), playing with cars, fighting bad guys, playing baseball, etc.  One of your favorite hobbies is building guns...and naming them.  My personal favorite is "The Bully" and "The Little Bully" (a pistol size version you built for Hudson).  I love that you call a spade a spade - you will admit when you are wrong and not afraid to let someone else know that they are wrong (however we do need to work on your tact a little).  You can run with the crew and blend in seemlessly yet you are not afraid to be your own man and do your own thing.  You have a sensitive affectionate side toward others that melts my heart continually.  I am confident that I have said this before but I most often describe you as steadfast.  Let me keep this letter well-rounded lest you walk away prideful...


You must be a genius because everytime we try and tell/teach you something new or impress you with knowlege you respond, "I know."  Either I am putting you on Jeapordy or we are going to have to work on having a teachable heart.  And like the rest of this family you are head strong, yet in a sly way that often goes under the radar of most but I am on to you, and to top that you have a temper.  You go through life typically calm but when you have reached your limit...Wow!  


Your daddy and I love that you always have some sort of collection (pronounced "c-O-llection") and that you look for opportunites to say the word "tornado" and you will admit that you enjoy saying that word.  I also think it is pretty funny that you like rap music (current personal favorite Don't Waste Your Life) and the more bass present the more you like.  But probably my most favorite apsect of all right now is how you cheerfully walk through life stating the obvious whether it is good or bad.  It often adds such comic relief to my day.


You and I have talked about Proverbs 25:28, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls."  I pray that you will be a tempered man with steadfast self-control.  But there is much more to it than that.  I want you to grow into a Titus 2 man being filled with self-control, a model of good works, showing integrity, dignity and sound speech, not argumentative, showing good faith and adorning doctrine of God our Savior.  To sum it up, one whose opponent has nothing evil to say. 


I love you!

Water Guns Galore

Water Balloon Throw Down

Time for Cake and Gifts