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Sunday, June 28, 2009

Making my List

Checking it twice...getting ready to leave tomorrow on vacation...I have so much to do but I am so excited. So if I don't post anything until we get back...that's why...I'll be back on the 3rd of July with tons of pictures to post! We are looking forward to a great time of being together as a family.

On a sidenote...HUGE THANKYOU! THANKYOU! THANKYOU!!! to Grandma and Grandpa Spry for watching the kiddos so we could celebrate our anniversary together! It was so nice to just spend quality one on one time together!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

10 Years

Yesterday was our 10 year anniversary! Wow! Time flies! Dan and I have had our share of ups and downs, ins and outs and all manner of craziness. I know he has my back and I know that we are a team. We are thankful for each other and the life that we have. It's been a good 10 years and I am looking forward to the next 10!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Family Fun Night--Bowling Edition

Dan started his vacation today. He's taking 4 days off of work and gets a total of 11 consecutive days in a row off from work. We've all been looking forward to spending more time with him and having a lot of good quality family time. Janea got to go bowling with the Truth and Training group from church in April and she has been wanting to go again. She asked her dad if we could all go one day and he said during vacation would be a great time. We picked today to be the day to go bowling...as a precursor to our vacation. We had a lot of fun hanging out(we were the only bowlers there) and while we are not good bowlers it's the fun that counts.

The scores from Game 2--Janea and Dan tied for first place!
Scores from Game 1--Jaron was the clear winner...he got spare after spare, gotta love the bumper lanes!
Janea really gets into her bowling!

Jaron was so excited and had so much fun bowling. He would kinda launch the ball then put his hands up over his head as he watched it roll down the lane!
See Dan is having fun too!
All in all it was a great start to our family vacation this summer. Tomorrow Dan and I will celebrate our anniversary and the kids will go to Grandma and Grandpa's! Then we leave Monday for Branson and lots of family togetherness time! I'm so excited!





Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Feeling Blah

I'm really tired today...just feeling blah!

Heat index of over 100...makes you just feel blah!

Not enough sleep last night...super blah!

I think there is an animal trapped under our house...working on getting rid of it...that's a big blah!

What a week to try and cut back on caffiene...failing...feeling blah!

My good friend Katy isn't working with me after next week...makes my mood about work lousy.....blah!

Going to bed, sleeping all night gonna get rid of these blahs!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Top 5 today!

1. Only 4 more days of work then I am off for a week!

2. Swimming pool in the neighborhood, on a hot day it felt really good to swim and hang out with my kids!

3. Volleyball with 3 friends...we played in the very hot and had a good time!

4. Tropical Sno....Hawaiian Shaved Ice...the perfect end to a hot volleyball match!

5. Long showers after getting hot sweaty and dirty! Love to be clean...then crawl in bed!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my loving husband and my kids dad. We love you very much!

We spent the evening flying kites and making memories as a family! All in all a very fun day!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Changing

I am addicted to caffiene...if you know me you know that...enough said.

I am not giving up caffiene, I am not giving up pop...enough said.

I am trying to wean myself off my dependence on pop and caffiene. I am trying to add more water to my diet, I am trying to make myself adopt a healthier lifestyle including drinking lots of water and eating more fruits and vegetables. I am 32 years old and I need to have better habits.

I will still drink Dr. Pepper, just in more moderation. I was up to a 2 liter a day...not good. So I am trying for one glass in the morning and one in the afternoon. I'm also trying to start enjoying iced tea it's hard but I am trying...we'll see how it goes.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Week in Review

Wow...I am so tired! This week was super full and exhausting.

Monday: Kick off of VBS at the church where I work...I had no clue what to expect and it was chaotic and I didn't really have much fun. I tried to but between all the hassles I was more burned out than anything. I had thought ahead and made Pot Roast and Potatoes in the crockpot before I left so lunch and dinner for Dan was super easy. I also took the kids to the pool, I didn't get wet but had fun reading and soaking up some rays! Monday nights are my favorite! We play volleyball...didn't win but had a good time playing with the other team from my church!

Tuesday: The church where I work has a rather elaborate check in system for the kids and since I have 37 kids enrolled for Summer Camp check in can take up to a half an hour. I had arranged with the church staff to get the codes for VBS and I started checking the kids in when I arrived at work at 7:30. It worked well but took a while. I tried to seperate all the kids into classroom groups to make pickup easier but it still was a bit of a hassle and needed refining. After I got off work I made porkchops and mashed potatoes for dinner and packed Dan's lunch. The kids and I again headed to the pool since the weather was quite warm. All in all a decent day! First night we had not had thunderstorms so I got a decent nights sleep too!

Wednesday: Again I checked all the kids in early, I also refined my system for pickup by combining all the kids from each class together into easier more manageable ways. I also made arrangements with the classroom teachers to not have to worry about picking up stuff but having them save it all for Friday! Made for not as much stuff for me to carry. It was super hot today so I again to the kids to the pool. This time I got in the water...bad thing I forgot to apply sunscreen for myself and burned my chest and shoulders. We were so tired after all the swimming I decided to treat the kids to Taco Bueno since they have 99 cent kids meals on Wednesday. We enjoyed the food...didn't make it to church since we were all super exhausted! I had made a yummy Fettucine Alfredo kit for lunch and Dan got to enjoy some of that and leftovers for dinner at work.

Thursday: I finally found a pick up system that worked! HOORAY for me! I ended up helping in another class since the helpers for that room just decided not to come. It was insane...32 preschool kids in a classroom that is hardly big enough for 25....made for a day full of counting and making sure we had them all. I hate not knowing all the kids names and since half had their nametags on their backs and half had them on their fronts it was a challenge. I made 2 kids cry when I called them different names! I was really tired after work and so was Dan so I ran out to Mr. Goodcents for lunch. I got their 5 dollar footlongs and we had yummy sandwiches for lunch. I packed up the remaining left overs for Dan for lunch that night and the kids and I went to the pool for a little while. Again I swam with them...Jaron is really becoming a little fish and it was fun! I got to play volleyball too!

Friday: Can I say tired....and I woke up with the theme song for VBS in my head. After struggling to get out the door I treated the kids to a morning treat at Quik Trip and headed to work. The computer decided it didn't like me and it took me longer to get the nametags this morning....so glad I don't have to do that anymore...and dropped off all the kids...pick up took a while today and it was just a long day....so happy no more VBS. When I got home, Dan is off today so I didn't have to immediately make food I just laid down on our bed and took a nap...I slept for only an hour and I think I am more tired now than I was before...we just hung out at home and played UNO with the kids. We decided to order pizza for dinner and just hang out at home tonight...so thankful for delivery.

So that's a rundown of life this week...only 3 more work days for Dan before vacation and 5 more for me. School should run smoother next week and I am looking forward to going to Branson for a few days! Jaron is getting very excited for our trip! It should be a lot of fun!

Okay, I get it already

Dear Dan,

Yes dear I know i leave my shoes in places that drive you crazy....I'm sorry! I honestly am not thinking how this may cause you stress when I take them off. I prefer to be barefoot. I come home and just want to not wear shoes. I hope that you can understand that.

On a side note...I don't like finding the shoes I leave in your way in weird places, like the pot I use to make spaghetti on the stove when I am getting ready for work in the mornings. On the frustration scale this drives me as crazy as you finding my shoes in weird places. I will try to do better, and can you please stop too.

I love you,
Erin

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Summer Fun...

This week we have gone swimming every single day! FUN FUN FUN!

This week Janea has really enjoyed VBS at First Family Church and Jaron has tolerated it!

This week I am red and sore...too much sun and not enough sunscreen!

This week I have really needed to play volleyball and I am so thankful I get to tonight!

This week has been a challenge and a blessing...all wrapped up in one!

This week is almost over and tomorrow is FRIDAY!

Today we have 11 days until we leave for our vacation! WAHOO! We are actually going somewhere this year! Tickets are bought, and I am getting ready to go!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Failure to Communicate

All day long I have had that movie quote..."What we have hear is a failure to communicate" going through my head.

Today was the first day of VBS at the church where I work. It was very well attended...I heard someone say that there were close to 600 kids there today. Every knook and kranny of the church was being used. Well, that includes the space that the ACADEMY uses. So we are sharing...adapting, and needing to communicate.

The church told us very little of what we as teachers needed to do for them. They gave us very little help in getting our kids ready for the week. Basically we are supposed to do everything that they need us to do, ask no questions and go with the flow...which on one hand is fine...but I do have 24 kids whose parents have entrusted me with their care, have questions and concerns and are looking to me for answers...makes for chaos, makes for stress, makes me want to scream.

We made it through day one...I have a plan in place for tomorrow and it will be better, I will be honest and say that I honestly am not looking forward to it though, this is the week where I will say "Lord how can I be a servant, how can I help the body?" and I will smile, and chant and pray that the week goes by very swiftly!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Fun and Games

Today was a typical Saturday with house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping and the stuff we do most Saturdays. Since it's also Summer Vacation we did some things we don't normally do...like make popscicles and playing games as a family.

Step One: Fill Popscicle holder with Red Cherry Kool-aid!
Step Two: Put the Popscicles in the Freezer!
Step 3: Wait a minimum of 3 hours....so popscicles can harden into ice!
Step 4: Enjoy the yummy goodness you helped to make!
This evening we had fun as a family playing games in the living room. We played the new Monopoly Deal game! Much faster than traditional Monopoly and everyone had a good time. Dan, Janea and I were the champions of Monopoly tonight!

After playing Monopoly we played Aggravation. It was a lot of fun! I came out as the ultimate winner of Aggravation!
All in all a very fun day full of laughter, yummy goodies and fun!

Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday, Friday, Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Friday...and I'm home for the weekend! It's wonderful...it's great...it's time for a nap I think!

I think that God decided to laugh at me this week. This week at school it was Explorers Camp. I had planned lots of activities outside, hikes, map-making and stuff like that...well it rained buckets 3 days this week making the ground yucky and muddy and terrible. So we were stuck inside for the week. I plan on making up some of our activites in the next two weeks or so.

Good news too...only 2 more weeks and then we have vacation! Wahoo for vacation!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Dirty Feet!

It didn't rain today or if it did it only rained for a little while so we were able to play volleyball tonight...The sand was very wet but aside from dirty feet it was a lot of fun! Love it!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Where's your Scooter??

This is the question that Dan asked Janea this afternoon. She totally panicked as she looked out side and the place she had left it and it wasn't there...it was missing.

She had it for 4 days and now it's gone....but where could it go??? Worried that it had been stolen I also went outside to look for it only to have Dan pull me aside and say.."hold on". Seems she had left it in a bad spot upon coming in last night and he decided to teach her a lesson. He brought it inside when he got home this morning at 3:30 and hid it in a spot she wouldn't think to look and then asked her today where it was. Boy did she learn an important lesson about treating our stuff with more care. She was in tears thinking she had caused it to be stolen. Dan sat her down and had a discussion of treating our stuff better and then he told her that it wasn't stolen just hidden from her view.

It's still in it's hiding place...she had been told that she will have to wait a day or two before she gets it back. She's relieved and at the same time I think she is more aware that we have to treat our stuff with care.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Adjusting

I am adjusting to my new schedule at work. I was working 8:15-3:30 and now I am working 7:30-1:30...my mornings got earlier!

I am adjusting to being my kids mom and teacher. I honestly enjoy spending time with my kids throughout the day but honestly I enjoy seeing them to the school bus and then hearing about their days when they get home...I'm glad this is just for the summer.

I am adjusting my schedule to make sure that Dan has food to take to work every day for lunch. It's a good thing and a bit of a hassle but that's okay...I enjoy making sure he is getting his needs met.

Life is always an adjustment...some faster than others...this one is a good one(I think)

Monday, June 8, 2009

9 years Old Today!

Janea is officially 9! Wow! Where has the time gone! It seems like just yesterday she was a baby and next year she will be double digits! She is smart, funny and so ready for 4th grade! She is full of spunk and loves to live life to the fullest. She is becoming more grounded in knowing God and starting to answer the really tough questions. I look forward to seeing what the year ahead brings...

A few of the highlights from her birthday!Favorite Present from her folks...a New Razor Scooter.

Party and posing for pictures at Grandmas!

Grandma and Grandpa and Janea!


Mom and Janea on her birthday!

9 candles! That's a big blaze!
Happy Birthday Baby! We love you!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Dart Boy

My folks got Jaron a dart gun for Christmas...well it's made a reappearance this week. It had disappeared for a while but now it's back...and here's how it's been used this week:

*flyswatter...Jaron spent at least 15 minutes aiming at a fly on our front door today.

* Daddy slayer...then he had to deal with Daddy shooting it back at him

* giggle inducer...giggling insues as the kids shoot the gun back and forth.

Its rather fun to watch as long as I am not in the line of fire!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Praising God Tonight

It was a year ago tonight that the flooding was bad and hit the house down in Peculiar. Tonight as I tucked my babies into bed I was remembering that night...tonight its nice...comfortable temperatures and no rain in sight so I can rest peacefully. Tonight I am thinking about this:

I am thankful for the lessons that were learned through that situation.

I am thankful for the Sovereignty of God as He leads us through this life.

I am thankful for the life that my daughter has, for the ability she had to remain calm and swim out and the resilience she is showing in dealing with thunderstorms and getting over her fear of rain.

I am thankful for our loving church family who were and continue to be so supportive of us!

I am thankful for my God who meets all my needs and who I can praise for bringing us through the trial and leading us to a bright and happy place today!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Not Feeling It

The cleaning that I was supposed to do ...didn't really happen today...I wasn't feeling it...

The stuff I needed to buy will have to wait until tomorrow morning....I wasn't feeling it...

The Laundry I need to finish will have to be finished later...I did towels and sheets....but the rest...I'm not feeling it...

I have got a case of the blahs....not really feeling like doing much....the rain came and washed away my spunk...feeling nothing but going to bed early....all in all...oh well....I'm just not feeling it...will try to get more accomplished tomorrow...

Monday, June 1, 2009

Today's Top 5

1. Summer Camp started and I survived! It's not going to be terrible.!(Not that I really thought it was)

2. Volleyball...you know my favorite hitting sport!

3. 93 degrees and we have a pool very close! The kids and I went to the pool and had a nice time!

4. Nachos...from Taco Bueno...my favorite...yummy!

5. Early Bed Times!...The kids and I are exhausted and heading to bed early!

Summer Camp

This is the first morning for summer camp! I'm a little nervous, a little unsure of the plan for today and partially ready to start. It will be good...It should be good...I hope it's good!

This week's theme is Arts and Crafts and we should have fun doing lots of different art projects.! If worse comes to worse we will play outside!

So every week day morning the kids and I will head to my school from 7:30-1:30...then when we get home we will still get to see Dan and have time to swim and have fun!

It should be good!