12 Miniature Football Helmets

The boys first wave of presents arrived via mail on Monday from Taylor's parents. I tried to quietly open the giant UPS box and place the wrapped gifts under the tree without the boys noticing. They noticed. All 3 began eyeing the wrapped wonders as I reminded them that we need to wait for Christmas to open them. They started organizing, then feeling, holding, shaking, tapping, smelling,...did I mention that all 3 have uncanny detective capabilities?? After giving their best guesses as to what lay beneath the holiday covered boxes, and in natural male form, they began a healthy competition of double dare. It went something like this:
Conner: "Ben, I dare you to spell Christmas. If you can, I will open one of my gifts. If you can't spell it, you have to open a gift."
Ben: "Okay, C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s"
Sam: "I can spell Christmas(laughing)...S-a-m! I GET TO OPEN MINE!!"(Begins opening his present w/out asking)
Ben: "MOOOOOMMMMM, Sam's opening a present. That's not fair."
Me: "Okay, you can each open one. But it's one less gift you get to open on Christmas Day."

Sam received a cute little game called "Zingo". It's a little like Bingo except you have to fill your whole card, not just a row. Ben received a Spongebob Wii game. Then Conner opened his gift. I wasn't able to get a good look at it before he literally started freaking out:
Conner: "OH...MY...GOSH!! THIS IS SOOOO COOL!! THIS...IS...THE...COOLEST...GIFT....EVERRRRRRR!!!!"
Taylor: "Let me see that. Wow, Conner, that IS really cool. Let me help you open it."
Me: "What is it?"
Taylor and Conner(looking dumbfounded at me): "These are the Big Ten conference helmets."
Me: "They're so small. What do you do with them?"
Conner: "Mommy, seriously?"
Taylor: "I would've loved to have these when I was little. Ya know, put 'em in your room. On your desk or whatever."
Conner: "Yeah. I'll put them on my dresser where my clothes go."
Me: "I'm serious guys. What is their purpose? Do you exchange them? Do you play with them? Are you supposed to get little football guys to use with the helmets?"
Conner: "I really just put them on my dresser."
Taylor: "For decoration. To look at and get excited for."
Conner: "Yeah, when MSU plays Wisconsin, I can have the helmets face each other."
Me: "How come there's 12 helmets and it's the Big Ten Conference? Shouldn't there be only 10? I'm still confused as to their purpose."
Taylor: "There's 11 teams b/c Penn State was added."
Me: "Oh. Why isn't it called the Big 11 Conference?"
Conner: "Mommy, you just don't understand. But whatever you do, DON'T move these off my dresser. THEY'RE AWESOME!!"

Needless to say, I'm still confused. There are now 12 miniature football helmets sitting on Conner's dresser just like the picture. I know I grew up with a sister, but there was plenty of sports talk to go around...especially when we got together with my dad's side of the family. Sundays consisted of sports ALL DAY. But no one ever discussed little miniature football helmets. So if someone can explain this to me, I would greatly appreciate it. To me, decorations have to serve a purpose. For instance, a candle is lit for the purpose of light or scent. A picture is hung for the purpose or showcasing family members or art. Baskets serve the purpose of storage or organization. And I understand wearing a sports team on a sweatshirt or flying a flag or banner in honor of a favorite team, but little miniature football helmets??? I just don't get it.

The Nursing Home

The choir that Taylor and I sing in at church is preparing for our annual cantata(not really sure what that means). We basically sing about Christ's birth and there is some really cool narration that goes along with it. A lot of people come for the event...not because we are fantastic singers or anything, but mostly because this is the only time of year people choose to go to church. The choir has been working really hard preparing for the "big event" with lots of practices!! We also had a dress rehearsal yesterday at the nursing home across the street from church. Our church visits this nursing home every week to sing and pray with the people there. I'm not sure if any of you out there have darkened the doors of a nursing home lately, but let me just say that it is a humbling experience. I think anyone out there who is grumbling and whining about the person who took your parking space at the mall or doesn't know how to smile because there's "so much to do" should visit their local nursing home. The choir arrived and the nurses and therapists at the nursing home began wheeling people in...mostly all women and maybe a few men...all in wheelchairs, all in gowns with socks on their feet, one with a slightly deflated "Happy B'day" balloon attached to her chair, a few asleep, but needless to say they were all so happy just to have some visitors. We began singing. The looks on the faces of these women and men was so priceless. It really was if they were hearing music for the first time. I'm not sure if their faces brightened because of this time of year or if they just enjoyed hearing us sing "Joy to the World". Regardless of the reason, I cried. I'm not sure how long I cried, but it was for awhile. The pure emotion that I had was so unexpected. It was such a typical Sunday in the morning. I was actually dreading the day because it was going to be so busy...off to church, no rest, feed kids and eat lunch quickly, don't change into comfy clothes, can't read the Sunday ads in the paper b/c there's no time. I wasn't looking forward to rushing to and fro, here and there. I was thinking of all the things I had to get done before Christmas...shopping not done, gifts not wrapped, cookies not made, cards not sent, laundry piled up, beds unmade, etc. As I looked into the faces that came to watch us sing, I realized my selfishness. And I realized the main purpose for why we came...to show love. To show Christ's love. Another life lesson that it's not about me.

The kiddos

I get a ton of comments from people about my boys...mostly from friends, neighbors, family, etc. I do get comments from random strangers as well, but I don't care so much about those comments. I just laugh and move on. Let me clarify that most of the words spoken from people are truly genuine, kind words. And I truly appreciate the people that just know what it's like to be around more than one boy at a time. They understand the frustrations, fighting, rowdiness, wildness, messiness, etc. of it all. Taylor and I always say that the 3 boys together(Conner, Ben, and Sam) are something like an organism. They move together in one big ball around our house, quite fast I might add. Back to the comments. I am shocked by some of the things people say to me about having 3 boys. Here are just a few that I get on a regular basis:
1- "Oh, you poor thing, how do you do it?"
2- "Bless your heart, there's a special place for you in heaven."
3- "Aww, don't you want to have a girl?"
4- "I would never want to have 3 boys." ( I am not joking...someone really said this)
5- "How are you going to do it when they are teens? Your house will be sooo smelly."
6- "I remember a friend of mine had 3 boys growing up and her toilets were so gross!"
7- "Don't they ever just sit and do puzzles? My kids do!"
8- "I'm just thankful God gave me a boy AND a girl, so I can enjoy both."

Just the other day I was picking up Conner and Ben from their kids choir at church. They are getting ready for a Christmas performance this weekend. As I was watching them practice, someone approached and jokingly said that Conner didn't look too enthuiastic or happy while he was singing. I politely told this person that singing really isn't Conner's "thing". As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder why someone would feel the need to say something negative or unconstructive like that. I really try to discern what people mean when making comments. Do they mean well? Are they trying to help me? Are they trying to make conversation? I really don't get it. But what I do get is how blessed and fortunate I am to have 3 boys. The Lord has truly blessed me with smart, handsome, affectionate kids. Yes there are times that I want to pull my hair out, but I am grateful for this time in my life that I get to share with Conner, Ben, and Sam.
For every negative comment, I've always heard you need 2 positive ones. Fortunately, God knew I needed the encouragement after hearing that comment about Conner and I received 2 positive ones. One from the pastor's wife who is also one of the kids choir leaders and one from a really good friend. My pastor's wife gave me a hug(not knowing what someone had just said) and told me how proud she was of Conner for putting in the effort each practice and how great he was doing with his parts. My good friend said some kind words as well. I am definitely not a "poor thing" or a person that wants for anything else. Fact is, I am humbled and thankful to be a mother of 3 boys. Very humbled and very thankful.