This Mess is Best!

And, well worth the effort! This is how we get a little "culture" at the Stockburger house. We might not be the next Monet, Picasso, or Cezanne, but we sure had fun doing it.

I actually thought Whitt's humpty dumpty was pretty good!

O-R-E-O

Thirteen months old and B already knows how to eat an oreo perfectly. Tear apart the two outer cookies and go straight for the yummy white creme filling (or whatever man-made high fructose junk that they call the center). Obviously, he is both genius and highly dexterous! PS-My sweet mother-in-law is probably cringing as she watches this video.

Offspring

The intense heat seemed to vanish last week, and turned into the weather where you just can't seem to spend enough time outdoors. So, last friday afternoon, we headed to the playground for time with friends (even a friend from oxford appeared). After almost two hours of play, someone had the idea of trying to corral all the little ones in for a picture. We scattered goldfish in front of the toddler babies in hopes of keeping them still long enough for a few quick shots (it is amazing how kids are like pigeons when it comes to snack food). Next we tried to rope in Miss Mae and the older boys (one was a little reluctant to leave the slide, who could blame him: slide vs. getting blinded by multiple cameras-tough pick). And, then there were the fresh ones, sweetly sleeping on their respective mommies' laps, completely oblivious to the mass chaos inches away from them. Even with a bag of goldfish strewn everywhere, one person making every imaginable noise under the sun, and me shaking my tooshie for entertainment, the three cameras were not quite able to capture all our little banchees. A few days later, we spent the afternoon with some friends visiting from atlanta and some memphis friends. There was swinging, scooter riding, ball playing, running, yelling, water time (which eventually led to a bunch of nakedness)-okay, and, a little bit of destruction as well. With a final burst of energy, we gathered everyone for a bath. Seven children in one tub-yes, seven, and let me tell you, it was a tub full of cuteness! By the way, there were two newborn baby boys watching from the sidelines. Another year and they will be tossed in the tub as well and we will be up to nine! As I watched both these pictures being taken, I was overcome just thinking about how rich God has made our lives, entrusting each of us with His little ones. We are all literally covered in babies, and although parenthood can be exhausting and overwhelming at times, it takes one little moment like these to put the magnitude and miracle of it all into perspective. I am constantly hearing that this generation is facing the toughest times to grow up in, that the lines of real Truth are being blurred and constantly tested in this Postmodern culture, but as I am watching these little ones grow, I see different parts of their mommies and daddies in them, parts that I love their parents for-the best parts! It makes me hopeful. God's hands are all over this bunch of little ones, so watch out world! This little posse is going to be up to the challenge.

Just in time for Halloween....

B has his Frankenstein walk down! I just love how he sticks his arms straight out in front of him!

Goldie (aka the Heisman trophy to little boys)

Whitt had his first day of preschool today. Baby Bruce and I walked him to school, and then we said a little prayer together outside his room. I gave him a kiss, and he walked in without hesitation, with a huge smile on his face. Selfishly, I was a little sad, but for the most part, I was just happy for him. He was so excited about his day and so ready to be there. When I picked him up, it was even greater level of excitement. He was absolutely beaming! Sheer joy oozing out of every pore of his body. As he strutted to the car, he yelled to me, "I get to bring Goldie home! I am the first one." (Goldie is a stuffed animal dog that each little boy gets to take home for a night. Goldie has a carrying case and comes with a "Clifford" book to read. They draw names out of a jar so they all get a night with Goldie.) As I rolled down my window, Whitt's teacher leaned in and said they had purposefully pulled Whitt's name out of the jar because he had been such a sweet friend on the playground that day. Evidently, one of the little boys in Whitt's class had been overwhelmed by all the yelling on the playground and said he didn't like the noise. My little man who has the energy of a tasmanian devil and loves to use his "outside" voice incessantly at all times looked at his teacher and volunteered to play with his new friend using a soft voice while all the other boys ran around. My sweet three-year old stopped doing one of his absolute favorite things to serve a friend, and he was so proud of himself as I was of him. And, although I am pretty sure he will be up to his usual antics just as soon as he wakes up from his nap, I am relishing in what has got to be the most perfect first day of school! And, yes, I know I am bragging, but I just can't help myself!

Hello, Bruce!!

When people meet Bruce for the first time, they usually comment on how pretty (ahem, handsome) the color of his hair is. Then the comment, "Watch out! Redheads have quite a temper," inevitably follows. Well, B has discovered a new emotion: sheer anger. I think he is going to be able to hold his own with his brother and sister just fine! PS-this had being going on for a few minutes already before I started recording and it was all over a pink balloon tug-of-war match with his sister. PSS-B won!!

JT, baby...

just one of the many, many reasons to love Memphis (ok, so he is really from Millington, close enough) This is from the CMOM today