The Thesis

Tomorrow is the big day for Tim. Way to go! Does this mean I will have to call you Master Tim now?
I love you babe.

Bedtime Songs

I had one of moments that I felt like I was actually making a difference as a mom tonight. They are rare and precious so I just wanted to share. Bedtime around our house is to often a blur of rushed commands and falling asleep on the floor, the parents that is. But tonight Naomi was in bed a little bit early so I was able to spend a little more quality time with Carter and Molly. When it was time to sing songs Carter got up on the rocking chair and got Molly to join him. She snuggled up with him as best she could and he held her and sang to her "I am a Child of God". They were probably just using it as another stall tactic but I just enjoyed it. Maybe next bed time I won't be in such a hurry, what's an extra five minuets anyway.

The Proper Way to Put Babies to Bed

I usually don't like to give a lot of parenting advice unless someone asks, but I feel as though it is necessary to give this important knowledge. After 5 years of parenting and 6 years of studying human behavior, child development, & the family, I have discovered the most effective way to put children (including babies) to bed. Follow this consistently for best results! (turn off music)

Carter

I am happy to say that I am a mother of a 5 year old. Carter had his birthday last week and he is now the big 5. I know it sounds cliche but I can not believe it has been five years. Just a short wrap up of his life. He has moved 7 times. He now has two little sisters (yes he is a really good big brother). He just learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He is a singer. He is always singing a tune, either the latest primary song or of course, the Superman theme song. I have to say he is a much better singer than I, but not too great on the lyrics -- what is "happy es scarf" and where did it come from? And who knew that Praise to the Man said, "Honker the conker the prophet again?" -- Carter goes to Wee Wigglers (preschool) for a few hours a week and he loves it. I am so glad that he has an October birthday so that he has not started school yet. Carter spends about 22.5 hours a day being Superman and saving the world from the evil Lex Luther (and no, Molly is not Lex, she is also Superman, but for only about 20 hours of the day). Carter is a very sensitive and caring boy, someday he is going to make a great husband and father because it is in his genes, and that is just the way he is. He shocks me all the time with all of the things that he knows and that he has picked up on. Just yesterday he decided that he was going to be the one that did the writing in his journal, he sounded out all the words and told about his day. I love this boy more than anything. When he came into my life things changed, and oh boy did things get a whole lot harder, but with that came so much joy. Being a Mom is great but being a Mom to Carter is spectacular.

Just so you can see the whole side of Carter, the good, the bad and the ugly; he knows how to get Molly to scream bloody murder just for fun. He bites his finger nails, picks his nose and grinds his teeth when he is sleeping. He needs to be fed every 2-3 hours to avoid total and complete meltdowns, and he has a pretty hot temper when provoked but we love him just the way he is.

If you are really starving for entertainment

I recently took up a side job because of my incredible acting ability. This commercial is shown all over Central Kansas so at least 50 people will see it! See the youtube video at the top of this blog.

It's not a brownie

You will have to excuse me and my post this morning, but I live with a 4-year old, a 2-year old, a 7-week old, and a 30-year old so this subject comes up a lot. Poop. I was changing Molly's stinky diaper this morning and she informed me that "it's not a brownie, it's poop." Just in case I could not tell the difference. Thanks Molly.

A Simple Soultion

You might ask why are you trying to hold up your door with masking tape? Well, Carter and his friends were down stairs playing one evening while us parents were enjoying some adult conversation. When the screaming, laughing, banging and thumping grew too loud for us to hear each other talk we went down to survey the damage. The boys and Molly (Molly had to get off of the basketball hoop she was riding like a horse to join in) decided to have a dumping party. Now, if you have never been invited to a dumping party the rules are simple: DUMP EVERYTHING! This was by far one of their biggest and most adventurous as they got out the board games to include them in the fun. I was quite upset. Carter went to his room and the basement disaster clean-up had to wait until the next morning. Before we could get to cleaning up the aftermath the next day, Carter got this brilliant idea: "If we can't get down there then we won't have to clean it up," hence the tape. You can't see what he wrote on the sign right next to the door knob, but it says "No Will". The word "No" is spelled backwards. The tape and the sign have been removed so Will you can go down in our basement again. But boys, please, no more dumping parties. I do not like them. But that is just the sacrifice you sometimes have to make for adult conversations.........................right?

Old Toys New Use

This is basically round 2 of "Creatively Causing Effect". Do not actually text your vote, I loathe texting. You may vote mentally if you wish. Cheers!

Creatively Causing Effect

Carter and I were looking through an I-Spy book and we saw a really cool design of random knick-knacks and toys that caused...........well..............a lot of stuff to happen. So we were inspired to make a mini version of that in our basement. I must say that after many, many attempts my cheers at the end are both relief and cheese. But Carter captures the moment best with his own verbage. Enjoy!

P.S. Be sure to pause the jukebox in order to hear the video.

Cannonball Sasquatch Rarick is here!!!

Cannonball Sasquatch Rarick came into this world (and our family) on Thursday July 31st, 2008 @ 5:04am. By now you are thinking that Tim & Jodi must think that they're celebrities to name their child such an eccentric, strange name. Actually that was the first name she was given after birth. The following story should shed a little light on the matter. I fell asleep at about midnight on Wednesday and my slumber was rudely disturbed at 2:30am by a woman (Jodi) who said she was "in pain" and her contractions were 7 minutes apart. I quickly called our good friend who never sleeps, Anne Anderson, to see if she was available for an immediate babysit as Jodi and I had a hankering for an early morning date. She was over in a flash. We arrived at the hospital and checked into a room at about 3am. Two hours and two pushes later (no really, 2 pushes) we had another pretty baby girl. As you can see from the 1st photo that was taken during one of her pushes, Jodi was comfortable and cheery. Well the doctor exclaimed that the baby came out so fast we should name her cannonball. A few minutes later a nurse was poking and prodding our child and could not believe the size of our child's feet. Put it all together and you've got the title of this blog. For those of you who are still taking me seriously: First off you don't really know me because taking me seriously is not smart, second, we named our baby Naomi Rarick. I might add that the story for how we decided on her real name is just as entertaining, but to keep this post from going on too long I must wrap up. If you'd like the story give me a call or send me an email.

The last two days Carter, Molly, & myself have been chumming around together. There has been an outpouring of love and concern from our ward family and we feel truly blessed as both Mom, Naomi, Carter, & Molly are all doing well.

As for me, I've learned after 3 children that it doesn't matter how I am doing, no one really ever asks. I did not carry the child for 9 months or go through labor and delivery; and because I am male it is assumed that I am struggling having the other two children all by myself. Because of this I included the 3rd photo of how a father can feel in such times.

Now it is time to figure out how to guard against an offensive attack of 3 when our defense is merely 2. Our defensive strategy has gone from the double team (Carter), to man-to-man (Carter & Molly), now to a zone, I suppose (Carter, Molly, & Cannonball).

In all seriousness, things are great. I am tired but happy. We look forward to learning and growing together. Life has been remarkable for me, I honestly feel as though I've been given much more than I deserve. Jodi my love, you are my anchor, my support, my best friend........my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I Love my little family

This is the view from a little hill in Manhappiness. It's flat, but beautiful.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how much our lives are going to change in the next few weeks with a new baby and starting another semester of school. Every time I think about it I get a little choked up, or I sob uncontrollably, you pick. When Molly was born I was so afraid that I wasn't going to love her as much as Carter, or that I wasn't going to be able to love Carter as much as before. I instantly found this was wrong as soon as I saw that sweet little ray of sunshine with the biggest eyes I had ever seen.
Now that number 3 is getting closer and closer I am starting to feel a little bit the same way. I know that I will love her instantly and there will be plenty of love to go around, but I am so full of pregnancy hormones I can't help but be a little too emotional about things like my kids.
I thank my lucky stars and my Heavenly Father that I have the husband that I do. Sometimes having a newborn and two other young children can put a tiny itsy-bitsy little bit of a strain on a relationship, but Tim is such a great husband that I don't have to worry about him feeling left out or forgotten. From past experience I know that he will give, give, and then give a little bit more to do all that he can to make this family better everyday. He is such an example of to me of humility and love in the way that he approaches parenting and all of the many challenges that come along with it. He is my rock and my everything and I so lucky to be experiencing this roller coaster with him. One of the fabulous things about him is that he makes sure I know how much he loves me, and that feels really good. Here's to another ray of sunshine in our lives babe. I love you!
Sorry about the mushy, gooey, love-sick ramblings but I am pregnant and that gives me the right to be overly emotional.
-Jodi

They are always listening

So I have learned that kids are always listening, this is nothing new to me, but it always cracks me up when they put something together about something you said a long time ago. This morning Molly and Carter were taking a bath. Carter was getting a little too wild, and I told him he was going to have to get out if he poured any more water on Molly's face while she was laying down. So 22 seconds after I told him that, he poured water on Molly's face so that she could get a nice drink of bath water up her nose. As the consequence had been set, he had to get out of the tub now. As soon as he got out he started crying "I don't want to smell like a dog, I don't want to smell like a dog." I guess he heard me say he smelled like a dog long ago on a hot summer day when in fact he smelt like a dog. The lessons I learned this morning were that kids listen to and remember every thing you say and that 4 year olds do care about there personal hygiene.
-Jodi

Rarick Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celebrity - Collage - Morph

Rarick Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden (GOLF)

Many of you know that I fancy a game of golf now and then but rarely have the cash to do so (unless Papa Rarick is around). Recently Carter & I went and hit the links here in the Little Apple, and it was a blast. Being our first time golfing in Kansas, except the local putt-putt, we spared no expense and got a cart. I played well but that is neither fun nor interesting. The scenery was gorgeous and lush, the golf course was not busy at all, and best of all it was just me and the C-train............the way golf was meant to be played (see post title). Actually we'd love Jodi to come but with her belly she can't really swing a club. Carter was able to live up to his name and drive the cart when nobody was looking. Talk about over-correcting, he'd try to turn a corner and end up going straight for a tree then turn the wheel all the way back the other way towards the ball cleaners. You would've thought he was 3 years old, not 4..........but I guess he has twelve years to get it. Right past the bridge in the photo Carter informs me that he must pee or perish. So he was able to leave is mark on the course as this appeared to be the only option. I must say that Carter was such a good golfer he putted with a putter and even drove from the tee box with a putter as you can see in the photos. All in all it was quite eventful and I loved spending time with my wonderful son.

Fishing, 4th, and Friends

After a flag raising ceremony and breakfast at the church for the 4th. We got to go fishing with the Eborns (Sad to say but they just moved to St. George, KS). We have been with them one other time last year and the results were pitiful for everyone except me. I was the only one who caught a fish. So we were afraid that we were going to bring some bad luck again. The weather was fabulous! I don't think the 4th of July has ever seen such wonderful weather. Mid 80's, a breeze, and not too much humidity.
As soon as we got to the pond Doug, the father of the Eborns and the official worm killer, saw fish jumping all around the pond. That is a good sign. Not more than 3 minutes after Carter got the first line in the water he was pulling out his first fish.
It may look small but it is a blue gill and I guess that they are not a big fish. So that one is just a little small. Carter just kept reeling them in as fast as Doug could bait his and everyone else hooks. Molly was also determined to catch a fish but I think she would have rather speared it because all she wanted to do was stick her poll in the water and get it muddy. (Boy that girl likes mud!)
She eventually was able to get in on all of the action and got one of her own.
Then Tim and I got a chance to try our luck. I got the Disney princess poll and Tim got the Dora the Explorer poll and the competition began. '
I think I won for the smallest fish. It looked like something out of a small tank, but it was a blue gill. Tim caught one in the shortest amount of time. In the end we both ended up only catching 4.

Carter came in as the winner of the group with 7 total fish and by far the biggest of them all. It was a great day for fishing, and friends. Every time Carter sees this picture with Camie Eborn he tells me how much he loves her. She is a cute girl, he has got good taste, but I don't know how a 4 year old can handle a long distance relationship with an older woman. Hey at least we have got pictures to keep the love alive.

P.S. Jodi did this post not Tim, I am still figuring this technology thing out.

I HATE CHIGGERS!!!!

So I think Kansas has a chigger problem. Sunday morning I woke up at about 3 AM to an itch that wouldn't stop. I went into the bathroom to find 14 chigger bites around my torso. AAAHHHH! For those of you who know nothing of chiggers they are small, so small you can't see them to get rid of them, insects that eat your skin. To do this they have to put some chigger juice in you to break it down. The chigger juice is extremely itchy. They like to go to places where your clothing is tight, think underwear. Sometimes they lay eggs in you and then the babies come out and start feeding on you too. Yes a very pleasant situation. It doesn't help the already itchy pregnant body.
After my discovery I changed the sheets and my clothes and took a shower. But today, two days after the initial contact I have discovered more on my body and 6 on Molly and 3 on Carter. So tonight I am washing everything in my home in really hot water. And thats about all I know what to do.
Oh yeah one more thing chigger bites last a lot longer than a whimpy little mosquito bite. They will last 4-6 weeks and then a few months later they will just start itching again.

But at least I don't have fleas like my little sister Katie does.

Happy Birthday Molly

Isn't this what birthdays are all about?

So Molly turned two this last Saturday and since her birthday was on the weekend we got to celebrate the for 3 days. Saturday we had some friends and neighbors over for homemade ice cream. The kids all ran around and played until it got dark. We ended the night with catching fireflies, What else does a two year old need. On Sunday we decorated cupcakes and ate them after church, hence the falling asleep while eating. Then on Monday Grandma Vellinga's package came with Jessie and Bullseye.




Molly, what a girl! I can't believe it has been two whole years. And to think before you were born I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to love you as much as Carter.