Football

My boys are CONSTANTLY playing sports.  These few minutes it happened to be flag football!

Coloring

The boys have been playing together a lot lately.  Now that doesn't mean that they always play well together.  It just means that they do the same thing at the same time.  

Either they are all playing football. Which consists of someone running around instead the house, until a brother tackles him, wrestles him, steals the football and then proceeds to run around in with the other two chasing him.  It is slightly dangerous and provides ALOT of teachable moments.  Like how to let your younger brother have a turn.  How is isn't a good idea to two hand shove someone from behind How they need to be self controlled with their mouths and not call each other names or scream.  How they should be mindful of poor Wynnlee or just starts to blink fast and puts her arms up to grace herself when they start running in her direction.  They usually end up changing into athletic shorts and taking their shirts off.  And most often ends with someone crying because they never get a turn and the other two mad at each other as bitter rivals.  Enter dinner time, where we get to discuss how to have a godly heart while playing football.  Yes this is a challenge.  And after chugging their water they quickly are best friends again as they enjoy their meal.

Or they are playing legos.  These are among the few toys that they boys get to claim as their own.  Leighton has his legos, McCabe has his, and Brooks has his.  You would think that this provides less brotherly conflict, but for some reason God provides more teachable moments through this activity.  Like not telling your brother how they have to play with their legos.  

Another favorite activity is coloring.  This one is usually calm.  Usually. It may explain why I was able to snap a picture of it.  And although I wasn't a disciplinarian, teacher, helper, encourager, fixer, explainer, or exhorter, during this activity, I did get to sit down a color with them which could end up proving to be the best parenting choice I made all day!

Parenting is non-stop, all-day!  It is hard work but it is such a joy. I try not to take for granted any moment spent with them, or any teaching opportunity among them.  It is scary how fast time is going.  And any confidence I have about who they will become comes from the fact that I believe God will hold up his end if I cooperate with him on my end.  As I obey his commands in parenting and Chirst-likeness, THEN, and only THEN, can I trust his promise tied to it!     

Monday Night Football

Grandma and Grandpa Ludemann were here for several days and brought all the boys some amazing Vikings outfits! Brooks' doesn't fit quiet yet ... but hopefully he will have until the Superbowl to fit into it! Leighton and McCabe have matching purple sweatshirts! Here they are watching the game.

And it wouldn't be a football game be without footballs ...

or without running around ...
and especially not without some good tackles ...

Football Player

Leighton is quiet the football player!