Justin Bieber and The Gag Reflex

Justin Bieber card: $4.99

Having to buy the card in public: Great embarrassment and efforts to restrain from vomiting

Jake's face when he opened the card and heard Bieber singing: PRICELESS

Truly, this was a gag gift in every sense of the word.

***This was part of Jake's 15th birthday Scavenger Hunt. Rest of the adventure to follow later.

The Training of a Book Lover's Bodyguard

Weird things go on in our home, sometimes without my knowledge. I recently learned of attempts to turn Cap'n, who's still a baby, into a bodyguard. Not just any bodyguard. Perhaps the most important kind of all. A Book Lover's Bodyguard.

Meet Cap'n. (He looks a bit delighted to be in training, don't you think?) His assignment is to sit on the back of the couch while his older brother reads. If a Little decides to read in the same room, out loud, Cap'n gets the signal to "attack."

Here's the adorable Little who was Cap'n's first victim. Notice how cool, calm, and collected she remains through the training session, even though she now knows what to expect from behind her.

Here they are receiving instructions from the unnamed brother. Boy, he has them wrapped around his finger.

Cap'n starts to make his move when Clairesy reads aloud.

I'm comin' after you, sweet sister.

Am I supposed to take this seriously, little brother?

 Notice how Clairesy keeps hold of her book the entire time.

She even manages to smile, smile, smile. Such a good sport she is.

"You cannot read out loud in her when your big brother is reading a book. If you do, I will attack from behind and attempt a choke hold while falling all over you. I will laugh the entire time, but you will fear me. I am a Book Lover's Bodyguard."

"Hmm. I'm not afraid of you Mr. Book Lover's Bodyguard. Don't you know I'm bigger than you are, and you're supposed to protect your sisters? Anyway, all I need to do is show you the pictures in the book, and you'll forget you're supposed to attack and instead sit down and read with me."

Recognizing he has been the victim of his Big Brother's manipulative tactics, Cap'n shares a kiss of forgiveness with Clairesy, forcing Big Brother to craft more desperate methods to protect his reading time. Stay tuned for future tales of bibliomania.

17 Things You're So Glad to Know About Me

My son did a fun post, "11 Things You Didn't Want to Know About Me." Here's my spin on that. Of course you want to know these things...because you can only feel better about yourself after reading them (or at least confirm your suspicions that I really am odd but you'd still love to have a cup of tea with me and sample chocolate together).

 ~I don't like talking on the phone, and I repeatedly fail to answer e-mails in a timely manner. I love writing letters, and I treasure one-on-one heartfelt, God-focused conversations with close friends.

~I'm the world's pickiest eater. Dinner invitations make me very nervous. I don't want to be rude and not eat what you've set before me. I know that's selfish. But I also don't want to vomit at the dinner table, and I truly might do that if you ask me to eat broccoli casserole. My close friends graciously accept my pickiness and stick with foods they know I'll eat or suggest we share in making the meal or that we eat out. They don't watch my plate or take my refusal to eat what they've made as commentary on their cooking. Oh, how I love those friends!

~When I was little, my Dad used to make me sit at the dinner table until I finished my food. It would be 9:00, and I'd still be sitting there. His tacos, though, and fried flounder were the best, and he never had to make me finish those.

~I was born with club feet and had to wear corrective bars on my legs when I was little. I would lie in my crib and just bang my feet against the wood over and over, screaming. My siblings couldn't stand to hear it and wanted my Mom to take the bars off. I'm glad she didn't, though! (There's a great parenting lesson here.)

~I love to cook. I know. I love making my family new foods, even though I won't eat those foods much of the time. And I do make my children try new things because I don't want them to be like I am.

~I'm an introvert. Social gatherings are not my thing. I don't enjoy church potlucks or large parties. I'm often perceived as standoffish or rude when really I'm just uncomfortable and awkward. That said, I fight constantly against this tendency (and fail over and over), recognizing how self-centered instead of others-centered it can be.

~If you correct my grammar while I'm speaking to you or use an incredulous tone in response to a question I've asked you, we probably won't have many deep conversations in the future. (unless you're my child. :))

~I talk to people when I'm driving. I know they can't hear me, but I still say things like, "Why would you pull out in front of me when I'm driving 60 mph, and you're only going 30? Are you crazy!?" I'm working on this. I really am.

~I struggle with laziness, and I'm the queen of good intentions. I wish I had more to show for the years I've been alive (as Sara Groves puts it). I often make great plans but have very poor follow-through.

~If I could change some things about me, I'd have pretty feet, a willingness to try new foods, brains and wisdom like Cindy at Dominion Family or Persis at Tried With Fire, and a heart that loves as unselfishly as my Pastor's. (Thankfully, by God's grace, there's still hope for the last one.)

~I am terrified of mice. Terrified.

~I hated school and dreaded going almost every day. I suffered with severe test anxiety, was beat up, and endured endless mocking. When I was graduated, I felt like a bird released from its cage. There's no doubt in my mind I would be a very different person today if I had been homeschooled.

~I take a nap almost every day. That's because I stay up late with my older boys and get up early with my Beloved.

~I'm not on Facebook, and I'm annoyed by the assumption that everyone is..."Did you see so and so's post on FB?" "Oh, that's right. You're not on FB." I'm thinking I'll be on FB the day I become an extrovert.

~I love salty french fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty.

~I have some book sense but not a lot of common sense.

~I'm the last person I would have picked to be a Mom, and I LOVE being a Mom. Every day I'm in awe of God's mercy in giving us children because there are so many things I don't get right. I am proof that God's grace is what you need most as a parent.

All of that said, I love the truth that nothing is impossible with God, and that what's true about me today might not be tomorrow.

And I'm not counting this one because I hope it's something you already know about me. I'm continuously amazed at your gracious words. I'm deeply thankful for every one of you! You show me God's grace every time I post. Thank you for sharpening me, praying for me, laughing and crying with me, and encouraging me.

With love,
Trisha

Because I Don't Have Enough to Keep Me Busy

I've launched another blog, one that probably only my mother will love, but you never know.

Wanting to learn more about photography and practice, practice, practice, I'll be posting at least one picture each day this year as a bit of a photo journal.

Life in Pictures

Love,

Mirthful Monday~Ever Feel Like This?

Ever feel like this? As if life has knocked you 
flat on your face and you can't do a thing 
about it? If so, do yourself a favor and... 

go talk to someone else about your troubles.
I haven't an ounce of sympathy for you.

~ Scribe

(No babies were harmed in the taking of this photo. 
Furthermore, Queen Mom claims no responsibility for this post.)  

Mirthful Monday~Dear Cap'n

We're sorry to tell you our mother is losing her mind.

She's dressing you in pink while letting our baby sister run around in a diaper.  Don't worry.  We're going to hide Claire's onesies and try to keep our Mama from multitasking.  It's obviously much too dangerous.  By the way, did we tell you about the time she left Reaches Up in the cart and walked out of the store?  Oh, well, we'll save that for another time.  You're safe with us.

Lots of hugs and kisses,
Your Ever-Lovin' Siblings