Goodbye 2008...Hello 2009

Wow...it's the last day of 2008.

It's the end of a year...but it's really not the end. It's the end of writing 2008 yes, but it doesn't mean that life stops and that we don't continue. Last night I went back and reread a bunch of my posts from this year...its was mighty eventful for my family. We had a crazy year..and yet would easy be any better. So here is some of my thoughts looking forward to 2009

1. I want a deeper relationship with God. I have grown this year but I need to grow more. I so often fall into the poor me's and whine and complain. I want to look at my life the way God sees me and strive to be more holy.

2. I want to be a better wife to my husband. I honestly don't know how I am going to do this but it is a goal for next year. If you have any ideas on how to do this or a book that you found helpful(outside of the Bible, I'm doing a study on what Scripture says currently) I would love to know!

3. I want to be a better mom and train my children to love God, to be neater, to be accountable. I want to give lots of hugs and yell less. I want to make home a place that they love to be. I want to be less frustrated and more loving.

4. I want to be a better cook. I want to be able to make more foods that are yummy, nutricious and cost effective. I'm not gifted in this area and feel I have lots of room for improvement.

5. I want to be a better housekeeper. I want to not get lazy and be messy...very hard for me!

So those are my thoughts as we begin a new calendar year. I am thankful for all that God has done for me this year. I am thankful for all the lessons I have learned this year. I am thankful that I have a loving God who takes good care of me.

Thank you God

Last night I was very frustrated and discouraged. I had trouble sleeping and so instead of reading fiction like I sometimes do I turned to Scripture. I was wrestling with feeling low and unaffirmed and the following was so obvious.

I was looking in the wrong place for affirmation. I don't need the affirmation of the world. So last night I looked over the Psalm that our pastor is preaching over and I don't need to find my happiness in my family or my home. My happiness needs to be resting in God. He needs to be my focus. I need to remember that God loves me more than I can ever imagine and He will supply the things that I need. I don't need to be affirmed by my family, I don't need to affirm myself. I need to be content whether on a Mountaintop place or down in a valley. I need to be relying on the strength of God not my own Strength. I need to wait on the Lord and not think that things need to be the way I want them.

I need to seek the Lord and His plan for me. I need to trust in Him and acknowledge His ways. I need to make Him my focus first and then my family. I need to love my Husband and submit and let him lead our family(something I am not good at) because that is God's design for the family. Please pray for me as I work on being a good wife and mom that I would make Jesus and pleasing the Lord a bigger focus and let my family benefit from me being the person God wants me to be.

Dealing with Discouragement

Recently I have been struggling with my feelings regarding my family. On the one hand I am incredibly blessed to be the wife and mom of this great family. My children are thriving, my husband has a good job and provides for us well but at the same time I am frustrated and overwhelmed. Some days I feel like nothing more than a glorified maid and chef (and not a very good one at that) who lives in the house. I feel like I can't do anything right and when I get stuff done it's no big deal or just mom taking care of things. It's hard. I don't feel like I am being supported in what I am doing and it's draining.

My husband is a good guy but there are days when I feel like he is demanding so much more than I can deliver...he wants things fixed immediately and he wants things done his way. I understand his point of view but at the same time when you only see someone 3 days a week and they are discouraging and grumpy its hard. I haven't been responding the way that I need to either, I get very catty and frustrated easily. He thinks that his way is best but instead of working with me to get stuff done it's his way only that he thinks should be done. I simply do not think like him, things that work for him do not make sense to me. Plus, he thinks from the perspective of a singular individual and I think how would this work for 4 people. He cares nothing for the way things look--he is very male--but I need things to be more asethically pleasing. I am working on my attitude but it is so hard when I do the majority of everything in our lives. Since my schedule is different I end up bearing the weight of making phone calls, and getting stuff done.

I don't know why I am writing this...I am feeling discouraged and needing to get my thoughts down where I can read them at a later point. If you have any ideas on things that work when dealing with a stressful situation and making things work when you feel very low please leave me a note...

Christmas Snapshots

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

You be the Judge

Would you say that this is Fun or Noise...please leave your vote in the comments section.

A big Thank you to Dear Aunt Debbie for making our Christmas more full of joy and music.

Merry Christmas

From our little house in Missouri to wherever you may be...the Jonathan's wish you a very Merry Christmas...may we remember the true meaning of the Season and the Love that was shown on our behalf.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Cookie Baking...so yummy

Sunday night we made a batch of roll out sugar cookies. The kids did all the rolling out themselves. We had a fun night of playing together and being a family.

Janea is very careful!
Jaron makes a Christmas Tree

Frosting and Sugar make them extra yummy

Teamwork!

Janea had frosting on her face!

Christmas Break!!!

YEAH!!!!

Christmas Break is hear with it's much needed battery recharging time.

I am so thankful to be able to spend time with my family and enjoy Christmas with them!

The presents are almost all bought, we are making goodies to share, and just enjoying being a cozy family in our home.

To everyone who may read this...let me say....

Merry Christmas!!!!

Will we have school or not???

That is the question right now...there is icing possiblities here in the Kansas City area and I don't know if we will have school tomorrow or not. It's a little nerve wracking...

Feeling a little Guilty

This morning Dan walks in our room at 6:11 and wakes me up by asking what the number for the kids school is. I thought he meant the phone number and he meant the district number. I told him and he tells me the kids have a snow day today!

So I am home today with my kids, I lose a day of pay and I feel slightly guilty since I am leaving my coteacher on her own today. I am hoping that many kids stay home because it is still snowing today. However, I do feel it is important for me to be with my kids as they stay home today.

Oh Christmas Tree...how lovely are your branches

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas Tree this year!

Lots and Lots of Tape

Just a warning to anyone getting a present from us this year....the kids are doing a lot of the wrapping....all by themselves!~They are covered with tape! It's actually kinda cute...or it's a mom thing...I'm not sure!

Christmas Concert 2008

Tonight was the schools Christmas Concert...at my school. It went well, the students did a good job and showed off their hard work and boy am I tired from helping to corral them. It was a good night but I don't want another recital for some time!

Janea and Jaron got to hang with Grandma and Grandpa for the evening. Mom and Dad picked them up and they went out for pizza and then back to grandma's house to make cookie dough for us to bake on Saturday! They are getting to be good little bakers!

Busy weekend ahead and hopefully I can get together with a friend from my Bible College days and get my house just a little bit cleaner!

On a side note, I got more Christmas shopping done today....my sister now has a gift from us and I will get the other half of my dads gift this weekend! Almost done! HOORAY!

A Cold and Wintry Day!

So as if today wasn't busy to begin with it certainly was made more exciting by the 2+ inches of snow that fell here today!

My parents and I went to see Janea in her Christmas program at school today. She did a good job and so did the kids. It was definitely a 3rd grade performance but they did a good job! Well, when we got to the school it wasn't snowing or raining. When we left almost an hour later it was snowing and it was starting to stick! I then left to go to work and it took me longer as the roads were getting slicker and slicker. I had an uneventful afternoon and work and then the adventure began!

The kids school district cancelled all after school activities so they didn't have Good News Club and so they rode the bus home. Well, traffic was nuts, I couldn't go past 40 on any road and my 22 minute drive took about an hour. Just as I am getting close to home my phone rings and it's the bus driver. Praise God she kept my kids on the bus longer and then called me and was understanding that I got stuck in the nasty weather! I am so grateful for the people who help me take good care of my kids!

Janea's program was cancelled for this evening...so it's a good thing I went this morning since it looks like it will be resceduled for Monday night and I have my Christmas party for work. So we have to look at things to see if Janea can participate or not. I am glad to be home safe and sound and not needing to go anywhere else this evening.

2 pills for a buck

Both kids have bad colds and are not feeling 100% so I made them take Tylenol before they left for school this morning. Jaron did not want to take it...so I told him if he took the Tylenol I would pay him a dollar...so he took it...and I paid him a dollar...if this keeps up I'll be broke!

Busy Busy Busy

That's what our week looks like...and wouldn't you know it the kiddos aren't feeling too good!

*Tuesday we have Janea's school Christmas program...she is the understudy for a speaking part and so she will get to perform in the 10:00 performance at school. Grandma, Grandpa and I are all going to support her. Then in the evening she will perform with the chorus in the final performance! I'm excited to see the performance since she has been singing the songs for like a month! Between the school play and the upcoming kids program at church we are practicing like crazy!

*Wednesday night we have AWANA! I'll be a few leaders short but hopefully we will have enough leaders to cover the kids as they say sections. I'm not worried about Gametime too much.

*Thursday night the kiddos are going to Grandma's since my school is having their Christmas program and it's a piano and violin recital and I don't think that my children will be up for it so they get to visit the grandparents and I will go and support the kiddos in my class!

On the upside there are only 13 more days of school until Christmas break and then I will have some time off! YEAH! Plus we are going to grandmas to bake cookies and make other goodies this weekend!

On the homefront, I am trying to stay diligent and be a better steward of my time and finish jobs. I am making progress on the living room and kitchen but need to apply myself better in the dining room/office and our bedrooms. At least in the bedrooms I can shut the doors! All in all God is showing His Faithfulness to us by providing for our needs and helping us to get through everything that needs to be gotten through!

Sparkly Christmas Land

We took the kids out to Longview Lake last night! It was a lot of fun. Jaron enjoyed all the different displays of lights! He was giggling and carrying on in the back seat with his Sister.

They had such a good time! Here are some really not so great photos of the various displays. If you are in the area you should go and see the lights.. One tip from us to you if you go try to get there as close to 5:30 when they open so that you are in line for a shorter amount of time!

I didn't want too

Ever have one of those times when you don't want to do something and you whine and complain and throw an inner tantrum cuz what 30 something looks good throwing themselves on the floor and crying? I had one of those today. It was a tough day at school. The kids were crazy and cranky, I was tired and cranky, it was just a cranky day! So I get home from this what seems like extra long terrible day and wouldn't you know it I can't crawl in bed and watch TV and turn off the world like I want it's Wednesday and that means AWANA. And I don't wanna go! However this is my ministry and God wants me there and I need to be there since I am the director and the kids are important. So I rest for a while and then go...well I am now glad I did go. One of my kids needed me to be there to hug on her and love her and another boy had a rough night and needed me to be there and hug on him and love him...I didn't want to go but I did and I am glad for it!

We talked about being thankful and doing stuff even when we don't wanna. God loves us no matter what and Jesus died on the cross when He knew that it would be terrible and He didn't want to do it but He did and I need to be reminded of that when I don't want to do something little like wash dishes, or clean or stuff.. Sometimes we just need to do it! It's important!

And the Winner is....

Janea Jonathan!

Janea won the 3rd grade division of Hillcrest Elementary Schools Spelling Bee!

yeah!!!!!!!!

I'm one proud momma!

Day One of my December Challenge

My challenge is to complete what I need to in order to not put off things...here's a rundown on stuff...

1.Completed decorating our Christmas Tree...looks good...forgot camera will post picture later!

2. Ran dishwasher...after loading full sinkful!

3. Vacuummed the livingroom...my children are pigs...I vacuummed just 2 days ago...I hate vacumming!

4. I switched out the laundry! Still need to fold and put it away...hopefully will do this before bed....to complete my challenge!

Contemplating Goodness and Changes

Tomorrow starts a new month...December...one that will be extra full of special things and events. However, as I sit and think about it I am again aware that my focus may be in the wrong place. Our pastor preached on Stewardship this morning and I got to thinking today about being a proper steward of everything and that includes my time.

I am good at putting things off, if I don't feel like doing something I am really good at putting it on the back burner and then forgetting about it. Since I have gone back to work I have been failing at my mantra of keeping up with my housework. I use the excuse of being tired and then decide to do something else.

My goal for December is simple...don't put off what needs to be done regardless of how I am feeling. I don't want to get to the end of the month and feel like a failure. Instead I want to build momentum to start the new year on the right foot with a plan in place to make 2009 a really profitable year. The end of 2008 is approaching and I have been thinking about the past year and boy did God meet needs in extraordinary ways!

*We had a huge flood and our baby is still with us. God protected her and helped her to get out of a flooded basement without getting caught in anything harmful or being electrocuted...Thank you God for my daughter.

*We made the decision to put the kids in public school and I prayed fervently that they would be placed with good teachers. God has answered this prayer and I am pretty sure that Janea's teacher is a Christian. They both have teachers that fit them well and are helping them to learn and grow in their educations..Thank you God for answering prayers.

* I used my time when I wasn't working to focus on Sparks and Awana and it has made such a difference. I am prepared and ready each Wednesday night and I have been blessed with good leaders who are committed to doing a good job and honoring God! Thank you God for great Sparks leaders!

* We moved to a place where we can again be our family of four. It's a good place to be, we are more focused on spending quality time together enjoying each other's company and having fun! It's been sweet! Thank you God for my wonderful family!

Family Fun???? I think not!

Jaron woke up on Thursday morning throwing up and having bad intestinal issues. Janea started getting sick around 2:30 Friday afternoon...I got home from shopping cleaned up my living room started putting up our Christmas tree when I was hit with it...I started throwing up last night around 7:30....then Dan got it around 11:00 last night....oh my word, it's been bad and it appears that life is returning to normal...the kids feel better, Dan and I are on the mend and so I think that the storm has passed....not my idea of a great Thanksgiving but that is okay!

Black Friday...bring on some good deals!

Well, we braved the crowds and got a few good deals and had a good time together! YEAH!

My mom, my sister Wendy and I went shopping early this morning. We left later than the early morning crowds since we didn't need absolute door busters...my dad had left earlier to get some stuff that he wanted to pick up but we were still out the door before 7am. We started at Kohls where I picked up Dan's big gift from me and Wendy got my dad's gift and my mom got some stuff for her sister. We also got a gift for Janea and some stuff for ourselves. Then we went to Michaels where Wendy was looking for frames for a painting she has been commissioned to paint. I got Janea and my co-teacher a gift too. After that we went to Gordmans where I got a new purse for Fall and winter and Wendy picked up a present for Jaron. We then were kinda tired so we went to Mc Donalds for a late breakfast and met up with my Dad before we went to Hobby Lobby and Mardel. My folks stayed together to do more shopping and then I went home with Wendy to make sure the kiddos were okay since they were staying home with Daddy this morning. All in all a productive day of good deals and fun! Tonight we will hang out more with Aunt Wendy since my Mom and Dad are going to a wedding tonight!

A new Scrapbook!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Look what we made!

Yummy! Right out of the oven!

Mom and the kiddos!

The kiddos and Grandma make some yummy apple pies!

The pumpkin pie made by Grandma and Jaron

The pumpkin pie made by Janea and Grandma



We had a lot of fun making apple and pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving! I love hanging out with my kids and my mom! It was a super fun yummy day!

WHOO--HOOO!!!!!

5 days off! Hip Hip Hooray! A 5 day stretch to recharge my batteries, eat tons of food, do a little bit of shopping and just relax! YEE HAW!!!

I think I am a little bit excited!

Thanks Mom!

Do you know what to do when you buy pants that fit everywhere except the waist? You call your mom and have her help you take them in!

Janea is a hard fit in pants, her waist often doesn't fit the pant and they will fit everywhere else. Well I found cute pants for $5.00 a pair and I couldn't pass them up but they were 2 inches to big in the waist. So I called my momma and she put extra elastic in the back of the 3 pairs and now they stay up and they still look good! I am so Thankful that my momma knows how to tailor clothes, that way I get a good deal and Janea benefits too!

Kids say the Darndest...part 3

Yesterday at school one of our students was asking why we have to learn Phonics. My co teacher explained that we study Phonics to help us learn to read, and know how to spell things...well on his way back to his seat he replied..."well turtles have shells!"

Today another child was not sleeping during naptime and we play a naptime CD that plays Kum ba Yah...and all of a sudden this child starts singing...Kum bi yi....on Lord...Kum bi yee! We just burst out laughing!

Also, I think one of our parents may hate me because I sang the song...Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peanut just now, just now I found a peanut, found a peanut just now...well one of the boys is running around singing...found a peanut, found a peanut, peanut, peanut, peanut...over and over. Oops...

All Peaches and Roses...

I always say life can't be all "peaches and Roses" but so far this has been a good week.!

Issues at school are being worked out and solutions are being made...and I may end up with my own classroom...so I can really do things my way(evil laugh inserted here)!

I am by no means a full time domestic but I am doing a good job of making some yumminess to enjoy in the cold weather.

The kids are doing good and enjoying life and being pretty good so life is good again. It's getting closer to Thanksgiving and here are the big things I am thankful for.

My Fabulous Family

Our little house that we fit in nicely

My job

My class and the kiddos

My church who has been so supportive this year.

So it's all good....I like that

A different sort of day

I got to sub in the kindergarten class today! It was a nice change and the kids were extra cooperative in the morning and then they slowly got more chatty since it was Friday!

Dan had an adventure too today...I got a call from my kids school during lunch today...Jaron had soiled his pants! So I had to call over and over to wake Dan up since that is the middle of his night and then he had to quickly go and pick Jaron up from school. They got to do a project together and hang out till Janea got home!

We had a nice yummy dinner or turkey, stuffing and cranberries...prelude to the beginning of Thanksgiving! It's been a good day

When you really wish it's Friday

Today was a day that I wish had been a Friday so I wouldn't have to be at school tomorrow. It was a super long day!

We have a student whose mom is in the hospital today to have a baby and so he was worried about Mommy all day and needing lots of extra attention. That's hard on teachers, the kids, and the student. I was glad when he got picked up earlier and got to spend some extra time with a family member. I've been praying for an easy delivery and easy transition for the whole family. We are having a big brother party tomorrow at school to celebrate!

One of my students broke out in hives today....all over his stomach, back and face. He just wasn't feeling good and really didn't have a good day because of the way that he was feeling. He was itchy and hurting and that makes me feel extra sad for him.

My co teacher and I work long days and work hard at getting everything done with little planning time or time without our students. Well today, another teacher was being rather selfish and took advantage of a situation so she had plenty of planning time and we had an extra 5 kids in our class. She has also spent a large portion of the week complaining about the changes in schedule and how they stress her out and that the situations are unfair and frankly we are tired of it. It's sometimes hard to work with people who only think about themselves. It's even harder when you are teaching the same grade and her child is in your class and her child tends to cause trouble because he knows there are no real consequences. I've been the staff kid and I have had staff kids and they can either make or break a year. Right now we are approaching the breaking point of needing to speak with the boss about the lack of consideration that she shows to others. It's hard to be Christlike and loving when you want to slap her silly!

Sorry to rant, but I am tired and needing to get things out. Please pray that I will check my bad attitude at the door and treat the person who is treating me the way I don't want to be treated in a loving and Christlike way!

I'm going to have a good day

I decided that no matter what happened to me today at school, at home or at church I was going to have a good day even if it killed me!

Well, today had its ups and downs but I do feel like it was more ups than downs!

So all in all a good day

Kids Say the Darndest Things...part 2

Today we were playing Duck Duck Goose with our class, now I think Duck Duck Goose is boring so I always switch up what we say it makes it more fun! Well today we were playing chicken chicken Rooster! Here's a little of what I heard

Chicken, chicken, chicken....goose!

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken, Duck?

and the funniest, I laughed so hard

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken.....egg!

I think we needs some more practice!

Also we were going to the gym today and we had to go through a hallway we don't usually use since they were in the process of setting up what looks like a 100 Christmas trees in the lobby of the building, and we passed the choir suite where they had some rather pretty praise and worship music playing( Our school is located in a church building). One of the little boys made the following comment:

"that is the most wonderful music, it is the most wonderful music I ever heard"

Not what you usually here from a 4 year old!

My new favorite song

This morning in church I got the opportunity to minister through special music. I sang my Favorite Thanksgiving Hymm with the totally awesome soundtrack from Barlow Girl. Really reminded me that I have to be thankful and give God all the glory for the things He has done for me.

"For the Beauty of the Earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth,
over and around us lies...

Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of Grateful Praise
Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of Grateful Praise.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on Earth and friends above,
Through all gentle thoughts and mild

Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of Grateful Praise
Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of Grateful Praise

For thy church which evermore
Lifteth Holy hands above
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of Love

Lord of all to Thee we raise
This our hymn of Grateful Praise
Lord of all to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of Grateful Praise!

It's Time...

to run the dishwasher--we're out of clean dishes...in 2 days...how does that happen?

to go grocery shopping...we're out of a lot of things.

to do laundry....we're running out of clean clothes....especially socks and underwear...I guess I didn't find all the dirty stuff last week!

to change the sheets on the beds---haven't done that for at least 2 weeks and its needed!

to remember that life moves even when I would rather have stayed in bed!

Darn Near Friday

I wish this week was over! It's been a long.....long.....long....long....long...week!

I am ready for the weekend! I want to sleep in....past 7:30! I want to not have to get dressed if I don't want too! I want to see my husband for longer than just a few minutes or when he crawls in bed at 4:30-5:00! I want to enjoy longer periods of time with my kiddos...and get to do something fun...even it's just reading a book that's not for homework!

Tonight I have to get a jump on house cleaning...I think my house is in need to a thourough cleaning...I need to become Superwoman and get it done!

Thank you God..

I was driving to work this morning listening to talk radio and the election recaps and all that and I was getting really angry about Obama winning. I don't like the man, I don't like his policies and I really didn't want him to become President, that is my opinion if yours is different that is fine. So I was talking to God and praying about my attitude and asking why he would let this happen. Then I saw it! There was a beautiful rainbow in the sky right in the direction I was driving. I watched the rainbow for 10 minutes and it really reminded me that God is in control of everything, He loves us, wants us to love Him and has promised that He will not destroy the earth by flood again and yet He hasn't promised us that life will be all peaches and roses. I won't always to get to have things my way, the world does not revolve around me! So Thank you God for the beauty of Rainbows and the way you always keep your Promises!

Election Aftermath

It's not the happiest day in America for me. I'm not happy with the number of people who support a more liberal agenda that are now in control of the White House, and Congress and the Senate. On the other hand my trust is not in the politics of this world. Its firmly in the hand of my God and won't let go or let me down. So join me in praying for our leadership for the next four years and maybe God has something bigger planned than I can see right now. I voted, did what I could but God has other plans and that is okay with me. Thank you God for being in control!

I Voted!!!

I got up extra early this morning to be at my polling place at 6am. The line was around the building...but I perserved and 40 minutes later I was done....so it's all good. I am thankful that I get to influence my country with my vote and I am praying for God's Will in the election...not to say that if my candidate doesn't win that I won't be scared or dissappointed but I know that my life is in God's hands and so I am secure! So did you vote today?

On a sidenote...I even look patriotic in my red skirt, white shirt, and blue jean jacket!

Content

I am content...I am happy...I am thankful for where God has put us and for the people who share my life...I was reminded today about how God wants us to treasure Him and be content with where he has placed you....and I think that is true of me!

I should have called in sick!

I really don't enjoy having school on Halloween. It just makes kids crazy and then they drive their teachers crazy.

On the Pre Kindergarten level we had a non typical day. We did not do our normal curriculum even though we did try to follow some of the schedule. So today I got to plan our day.

We made paper pumpkins and decorated them with silly faces.

We used shaving cream to practice writing our names and writing words!

We carved a pumpkin and then watched it glow at nap time where no one slept!

We roasted pumpkin seeds, and ate yummy treats at our halloween party.

We enjoyed dressing up as different things and oh my word they about drove me crazy!

All in all it was a decent day but it was long...I was so ready for everything to be done! Lucky for us Halloween is on a Saturday next year!

Please can we skip tomorrow?

I am dreading tomorrow...with my whole being!

Tomorrow is Halloween and my gracious it's going to be a LONG DAY! We have a party at school at 2:00 tomorrow. Which means chaos until it starts, chaos when it is happening and chaos when it's over....I want to go to bed and wake up when it's NOVEMBER!

Overbooked Wednesday...

to coin a phrase from Janea! It was one mighty busy day!

I had Parent Teacher conferences today. Both went about the way that I expected. Jaron is doing well academically and is struggling with the social aspects that go along with PDD! His teacher was relieved that I was aware of the struggles and was not stressing about them. We discussed some ideas that may work and she will keep me posted on his behavior. He is not being bad or causing trouble he just is doing things that are not completely typical for a child his age. Janea is doing well, top of her class in every subject...no big surprise. Her teacher is recommending she be tested for the gifted program and I am encouraged and intimidated by that.

AWANA tonight! Janea passed 5 sections...Jaron none. He is intimidated by John 3:16 and is not wanting to memorize it. We will be working on this this week.

The kiddos both had perfect attendence for the first semester and Jaron earned a certificate for being the Perfect Passenger on Bus 36! So all in all I am a happy momma!

One Busy Lady

So I slacked off a little bit last night and did basically nothing so I am making up for it tonight. I cleaned up the kitchen and even scrubbed the drip pans under the burners! I am cleaning up the living room, doing laundry, and I even made soup! It's been a good day! I am thankful that I have the energy and the time to clean up my house.

He's 6!

Jaron turned 6 yesterday!~ I can't believe my baby is so old.! We had a great birthday! We had a party at Grandma's and then partied some more with Daddy at home! A great day with fun presents! Jaron got a Swampfire action figure from one of his favorite cartoons...Ben 10
Daddy bought Jaron a guitar, drum, harmonica, and tamborine!
2 new books!
Grandma made a Spiderman Cake!
My baby is 6 years old!

Halloween Fun

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

It's a busy time of year

I love fall...but we are so busy. We have many different events that are keeping us so busy.

We have school events, church events and then trying to get a few last things in as a family before the weather turns really cold. It's nuts! Add into the mix the last minute stuff like the van repairs and crazy kids and it feels like we are running in 5 diffferent directions at all times. I was so tired last night that I just crashed after getting home from the Fall Festival at my school. It was fun but boy I am tired today...on today's agenda...go pick up the van and maybe carve pumpkins this afternoon while starting Jaron's birthday celebrations!

Another chunk of change...

So Dan called last night and tells me that the van died...the serpentine belt fell off. We got it towed to a mechanic and not only does the belt need to be replaced but the tensioner is loose...so it would cost about 283 to fix it...we can handle that! So I have them make the repairs...and tell me it'll be done tonight. We go to pick it up and low and behold the power steering pump also needs to be replaced since its what's causing the belt to slip and come off too...so that'll be an extra 317 and now it won't be ready until tomorrow...it makes me stressed!

5 things I love about Fall...

1. Cozy jammies, hot chocolate with reddi whip and lazy afternoons....

2. Sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts and cozy socks on chilly days

3. Pumpkin patch trips with the kiddos!

4. Raking the leaves and jumping into them...

5. Being able to bake yummy goodies that make your kitchen too hot in the summertime!

Family Fun Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Family Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

This being a most beautiful weekend here in the Midwest we decided to spend the afternoon at the local pumpkin patch! We could not have asked for a more gorgeous day! We had lots of fun!

Jaron with the sun in his eye!

Jaron picks out a cute little pumpkin

Following Daddy across the pumpkin patch!

Hurry Mom, the suns in my eyes!

Some of our little pumpkins

I fell in a hole!

Sliding through the straw!

The Pumpkin Popper--launches pumpkins at high speeds!

Pumpkin flying through the air!

Dan and the kiddos watching

Janea is so cool!

Jaron going through a hay maze!
Riding a big rig!

Milking a cow!(pretend cow)

See I was there too!