THE BAMBINO

So when I got pregnant with Ben...my best friend Bridget termed him...THE BAMBINO...
She found these pictures of him and I just had to blog them but more than that...I started remembering some funny bambino stories.  One day me and Bridget and a group of her never gonna have children friends went out to lunch.  Ben was always so well behaved a restaurants so there we are waiting for our food.  He was entertaining them by throwing sugar packets on the floor...entertaining right?  Well we smell something look down and here little bambino had pooed...making a HUGE mess on the floor...came right out of his diaper and on to the restaurant floor...I panicked...oh I was so embarrassed   He just smiled...lol...the poor waitress...I hope I left her a HUGE TIP...can't remember now but anyways...
Then I remember when he was about 18 months we were at the Outer Banks...we went mini golfing on a "real turf" mini golf place.  Ben was just riding in his stroller so good...letting us play through...the people at the mini golf place thought he was so cute they gave him a golf ball to hold onto...before I could even stop him...literally seconds after they handed it to him he LAUNCHED it at a guy waiting behind us...this guy looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger ..his muscles had muscles folks...anyway...hit the guy right in the knee cap...we could hear it hit...me being a true Salyards couldn't stop laughing (that's what my mom's side of the family does when people get hurt...we laugh...hysterically).  Anyway...the guy walked away with a limp and said in his strained voice...wow little fella you sure do have an arm on you...we laughed so hard...and apologized of course!
This was not the first time that Ben launched a ball at someone causing an injury at such a young age...Ben threw a hackey sack at a campus police officer and hit him between the legs...literally bringing him to his knees...once again I laughed...then apologized...I know it's horrible I just can't help it.

Pumpkin Cookies

Ok Y'all here is my recipe for Pumpkin Cookies...I altered about three different recipes...my experience with Pumpkin Cookies has been this...they are either too pumpkinnney (yes that's a real word...look it up)...or too cinnamoney...or too moist...or too dry...and these were perfectly DELICIOUS!

Renee's Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin cookies even non pumpkin lovers will love

Combine
2 3/4 c. Flour
1 tsp.  Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt

In separate Bowl Beat
1 cp. Pumpkin Pie Mix (not the pure pumpkin...the mixed one with all the spices)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Slowly beat in floury mixture...until it is whippy looking...then...put in refrigerator covered for 30 minutes

Drop by tablespoon onto cookie sheets (I used Baking Stones)
They have the look of a drop biscuit...they do not get flat...then...let them cool...while you prepare the glaze

Glaze
2 1/2 cps Powdered Sugar
3 tbsp. Milk
1 tbsp Melted butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Drizzle over pumpkin cookies!

YUMMY YUMMY!

Boogers and other gross things

So Evan began picking his nose...each of my boys have gone through this aweful stage.  I don't know why boys have to be SO GROSS!  And when he digs a special treasure he brings it to me as if to say...look what I found!
If it smells bad...they are bringing it to mommy...smell this mommy...as if they are PROUD of the stinch...especially their feet....aww mom this is horrible you have to smell this...I mean WHO SAYS THAT? Twigg Boys that's who...yesterday Ben yelled and yelled from the bathroom till I came in...he does the whole bathroom thing on his own so I ran thinking something was wrong...he's like mom look at this I have never SEEN that color before...and he laughs histerically...he says take a picture mom and put it on the computer...it's amazing...so to save all of your eyes I DID NOT take a picture but I had to tell the story.
Ben has also had a petrified cricket in a fish tank for over a month...he wants to see what will happen to it's body...GROSS!
I'm not sure I was ever prepared for this boy thing...I'm doing my best...maybe some day God will give me a sweet smelling frilly wearing tutu girl...for now I love these boys and they keep life interesting!

My Fall Ball Cutie

It's Time for Fall Ball!

The contrast of a non sports girl and a sports nut

My father is a wonderful man.  We spent a lot of time together fixing cars, piddling with broken things, building stuff, fishing, boating, camping...but never ONCE did I mosey in the living room and find my dad watching ESPN...to be honest the man rarely watched tv and we didn't have cable for most of my life.  It was all about good music, the outdoors and fixing things.  So you would think I would marry someone similar right?  WRONG...My husband lives, eats, breaths sports...I believe it is the love of his life with only GOD, me and the boys before it...he LOVES sports.  I have NO CLUE what he is talking about the majority of the time.  I usually smile and nod.  But now...my fake understanding is hitting much closer to home...Ben is now playing a sport.  So I have created a contrast of my words and Shawn's words...ready...

Me:  Ben are you ready for your game...
Shawn:  Ready to play hard son...keep you eye on the ball...play to win son play to win

Me after a foul ball:  Clapping...nice hit Ben
Shawn:  Now you got the dust off...

Me after not paying attention for ten minutes:   Where's Ben                                                                    Shawn:  He's in the hole
Me:  HOLE...what Hole...he fell in a hole?                              

Me:  When is this over?                                                            
Shawn:We are in the top of the second
Me:   Ben's not on second                                                        
Shawn:   innings Renee innings...

My poor children...all they are left with is me...the woman who sincerely asked...who's the catcher behind the catcher at a baseball game and sincerely wondered why the Washington Redskins would come all the way from the state of Washington to practice at FSU in Frostburg...lol oh my...                                                                               

                                                                                        

big words from SMALL PEOPLE

Ok so it's common knowledge that my better half is extremely WORDY...he can talk so much that in six years we have never once had a JW knock on our door...I think we're black listed...
Ok so haha...I know jokes on my husband...but really the man has the major gift of gab and my kiddos have definitely inherited his ability to create conversation and use big words...
Today Ben was writing his spelling words three times a each...he complained under his breath and then said  "mom isn't this a little redundant?"
REDUNDANT...from a six year old...really?  Ok Mr. nothing but brain numbing sponge bob for you...no more sports analysts, news or Wordgirl.
Then one of Jake's many "can I tell you something" moments today he informed me that if I didn't give him a piece of candy he was going to tell everyone I am "starving" him...really...STARVING?
And yesterday when I couldn't respond to the constant questions from the kids I forgot the name of who was watching them during worship practice...Ben responds..."really mom you are leaving us with someone that you don't even know their name...NICE"
Ok folks I did know her name...Nikki I love you and you totally saved my bum...see bum is the kind of word I use...not REDUNDANT.
I guess Evan is my only hope...but for now...I'll take my quick witted, funny, talkative 4 and 6 year old...without them life would be a major BORE!

Leadership trainings, child boardings, control freaks and soul resting

Shawn and I were give a huge opportunity...to attend a leadership conference TOGETHER...I know shocking right?
Well I must say by the time it was the time to pack and get ready for this conference I was dreading even considering attending.  I didn't think about the stress of preparations for the kids including someone to watch them, food, clothes ready for them, etc.
I hear single people complain about "boarding" their dog and I'm thinking ok folks try finding arrangements for three boys for four nights.  I'm sure most people when asked will you watch three little boys under the age of 6 they can think of about a thousand things they would rather do but I managed to find Jessica Twigg, Holly and Tiffany and Lu...
Oh the possibilities of alone time...I began to contemplate and plan what will I do with this new found time...12 hours in the car...what planning...oh the possibilities...I had plans to design a MASTER grocery list :) with checklists...so each week I wouldn't have to create a new one...design a contact list for cards and invitations...of all the people we know...begin to put my ideas on paper for a mom's encouragement blog/devotional...oh the major plans of a housewife...probably laughable to those with "real jobs"
The time had came...and I was ready...guess what folks...my ability to ride in the back seat of a car and look at a computer screen had majorly changed since my last twelve hour trip ten years ago so I spent my car ride looking at scenery and complaining till someone would let me in the front seat...once there I sang so loud my fellow van riders were probably ready drug me or throw me out at the next truck stop...but man was it relaxing and enjoyable.  I must say I don't remember much of the sermons, leadership trainings, etc...but what I do remember is some alone time, fun with friends and a much needed, non planned trip where I accomplished little and aloud my soul the rest it needed.  Thank you folks who watched my kids you have bought me at least three more months of sanity.

Ben's M&M Mission

So in the Spring Ben started collecting M&M tubes to give to his friends.  They were to eat the M&M's and fill the container full of change for children who are hungry.  He came up with this on his own and really wanted to make it happen.  We were able to buy about 20 containers and some friends from church helped him get some donated...today he cashed in his change and there was over 70 dollars there...he was so excited!  He said his next mission is going to be volunteering at the food bank and having a huge party, charging folks to get in and donating the money to people who are hungry.  

We will do our best to support him.

Here's his picture at the bank...I'll tell you though the ladies in the bank looked at him like he was nuts...he kept jumping up and down saying we can buy so much food with that...so I told them what we were doing and they didn't act as if it was a big deal at all...but let me tell you a 6 year old who is thinking constantly...almost consumed by how starving people can get food...that's something to pay attention to...what Joy it brings Shawn and I and I'm sure his heavenly Father...thank you Lord for giving me the chance to raise this little guy...I'll do my best...come in and take over.

Ben...I hope your mission goes on and on.

Seeds from pumpkins and people

We were at the farm looking at pumpkins and the lady was telling us 

how you can make pumpkins last longer.  

Later on the way home the boys were lecturing me to make sure 

I knew what to do to make the pumpkins last a long time...

Jake said he wanted them to last foweveh and eveh...

Ben said it's kinda like people...pumpkin don't ever last a long time...or they rot. 

I looked back at him with the strangest look trying to be supportive of his answer.

I asked him what he meant by that and he said pumpkins and people both die...

our bodies just die they can't be around forever...

I thought wow...pretty cool Ben...so I said so what happens to us when we die

He said remember mom...we go to heaven...our spirit does...He said they live just like the seeds ...

even after a pumpkin is dead you still have it's seeds

I just felt immediately moved... and my heart was searching for my seed...what am I leaving behind...

Just like Ben says the only earthly part of us that is left is the seed we leave behind

mmm that'll preach huh?

One day...a great thing

As a baby shower gift a friend of mine bought me a wall sticker...it read 

From Small Beginnings come Great Things...

I thought about that and how it truly conveyed my hopes for my boys...they are small...and just beginning life but God has GREAT things planned for them. I'm hoping this blog becomes a real way for me to tell their stories as they are small and maybe one day I can tell you about the GREAT things God has done through their small beginnings...Enjoy...comment...but please don't copy without permission..Love you!

Renee