Stressful September

Can you believe it's been a month since I last posted?

I can't....I've been so super busy and this honestly been unable to find a good time to sit and update.  Jayden is in bed early so I can post.

Kids:

Janea., where to start?  Busy with school and all the craziness that goes along with the 7th grade.  I am not ready to have a child in the throes of teenagedom....it's a challenge and a blessing all wrapped into one.  It's crazy how much life changes from 6th grade to 7th grade.  We also have a bunch of youth group fun added and now it seems like life is hitting with both barrels all the time.  She is also a super big help with her younger brother and Dan and I have started to be able to go out and leave Jayden with her(locally of course) and gets some alone time.

Jaron...he turns 10 in less than a month!  What is this...can't believe how old he is and how he is also maturing.  We are in 4th grade, great at math, getting better at language arts and enjoying life.  We are working on finding not electronic ways to entertain ourselves.!

Jayden...17 months of energy, spitfireness and busyness.  He is learning new words and songs, really enjoying school and thinks his Daddy hung the moon!

Parents:

Dan is busy with work and working on some new and exciting endeavors.  That's all I can say right now.

I've been super busy at work and dealing with craziness of all sorts.  I have a really great class but we are struggling with some challenges, and I dealt with a HORRIBLE coworker for 3 weeks.  Things have gotten better since the coworker has been let go, but life is just generally busy and I am struggling with understanding how to balance home life, and work in a toddler friendly manner!

A Tale of 2 Sickies

It was the month of August, year 2012.  The children had had a wonderful summer full of fun, swimming, and other merriment.  School was upon us, the youngest starting his very first school at the tender age of 1.  The older 2 starting a week or so later.  The first day back for the big ones.   It was a challenging morning but not terrible, we got to school, we made it okay....Mom had arranged for a switch of schedule and all was good until that afternoon.  Sickness struck!  The poor young toddler had a fever, a high fever of 102 degrees.  We thought and pondered...Is it teeth?  A delayed reaction to a vaccination?  What could it be.  The mother decided that we needed the next day to figure it out so she called in sick.  The night was long, the baby didn't sleep well, so neither did Mama.  The next day, the child refused to eat, was cranky and what is this??  Foul discharge from one ear...this did not bode well and so the mother called the father who came home from work and off they went to the doctor.  The doctor confirmed, there is something amiss in the ear, he feared that an item had gotten stuck inside.....not risking making it worse he sent the couple and son off to the ENT....a specialist to help with the ear....an hour later they were seen by the ENT who determined that the item in the ear was nothing more than dead skin cells, puss and other grossness which she was able to suction out.  So the child was on an antibotic and within 2 days feeling much better.

Time passed, life returned to normal.  The eldest child, a girl, was wrapped up in fun and excitement with friends, spending multiple nights away from home.  Upon returning from her second night away she complained of pain in the throat and of a headache that was problematic.  We thought nothing of it, she's tired, there were dogs in the residence of friends, it's probably nothing and she slept the afternoon away.  Upon waking and getting ready for an evening of worship and praise at church she complained of not feeling good.  The mother kissed her forehead and thought she felt warm.  A taking of the temperature revealed that yes the daughter had a fever.  She remained home and rested hoping beyond hope that she would be able to attend school the next day.  Alas, the morning sprung and she was found to still be with fever and her throat was exceptionally sore.  She remained home from school for the day and once the father returned home they ventured off to the Dr. to see if there was something more serious going on.  Its true, it is more serious a case of Strep Throat.  So the daughter is also on an antibiotic and looking forward to feeling much better.

Now the question is...will the middle child join the youngest and the eldest and make this a tale of 3 sickies?

Busy Boy

Jayden loves to help in the kitchen and be doing whatever I am doing.  One night as I was cleaning the kitchen he was simply in the way and so I decided he needed to be kept occupied.  I filled up the sink with warm soapy water, filled it with containers he could pour and dump and let him have at it.  Kept him occupied for at least half an hour and I was able to finish what I was doing! 

First Day of School--Big Kid Style

My beautiful 7th grader!  Can't believe she is in middle school already!

Jaron, are you coming out to school now too?

Breakfast while waiting to go wait for the bus....little did we know that we were already late!

My handsome 4th grader!  Wow!  Can't believe how old he is!

Ready for 4th grade

Jayden came to wait for the bus with Jaron...thinks he is big stuff!

School is officially back in session!  The first day is always exciting and nerve wracking.  This year Janea and Jaron's schools start at different times.  Janea has to be out the door before 6:30 to make the bus as she starts at 7:30.  Jaron's bus comes around 7:50. 

First day we had the times wrong for Janea's bus and I had to drive her mad cap to school that day!  We have since learned the bus schedule and aside for how early it is daily, we haven't missed it again!    Both kids seem genuinely excited to be back to the normal school schedule!

Saying Goodbye

Jayden and his 3 adopted sisters from Miss Maria's house!

We were so blessed to have Jayden is a wonderful home daycare situation from the time I went back to work.  My school starts at 12 months and walking and so we knew the day would come when he would leave her care and go to Parkwood Day School with me.  That was the beginning of this month.  Jayden had his last day of care with Maria on August 3rd.  We miss her and her family very much.

Where does time go?

I can't believe it is almost the end of August already! 

We've  been so busy this month that I am just now getting caught up with blogging.  So I will write a few posts tonight and then post all at once!

Toddler Grunting

Jayden is at that phase where he knows what he wants but he doesn't yet have the language to tell you what he wants.  That being the case we have a whole lot of pointing and grunting going on.  Right now he points and says...uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh, which I think means...oh look I like that can I have it...throw in a few his some babbling and that is our language attempts. 

I am trying to put meaning to the words and grunts he makes to make communication better.  Some that I can decipher....

"nuh"--with lip smacking...means nurse....we are working on weaning but not there yet.

pointing and smacking and grunting at fridge....means I want some food.

ough...means outside.

ba...bath

other words he says regularly

mama---mom

da da---means he's looking for Dan

da-dee--what he says to Dan and about him.

True or False

...I have a headache right now.

...change is on the horizon and while I can see it taking shape I don't know if I will like the outcome of said change.

...it's 100 degrees or higher outside and I am tired of it.

...I'm struggling with the ages and stages of my children.

...I sometimes feel underappreciated by the members of my family.

...bills make me stressed.

...Jayden is walking around the house with a broom and does this daily!

...Jaron is super sweet at times and super frustrating at other times.

...I've been using the same brand of deoderant since high school.

...I need to moisturize.

....I am thankful for dollar store flip flops and wear them practically every day.

...I forgot a load of laundry in the washer for 4 days.

...my hands hurt from cutting out small pieces of stuff.

All of the above is absoluetly true....not a falsehood in the bunch...and that's okay.

Mr. Gardener

Dan is Topsy Turvy Gardening on our deck and Jayden loves to go out and help Daddy water!

HEATWAVE

I have that song from White Christmas in my head tonight...."We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave oh the temperatures rising it isn't surprising she certainly can...CANCAN"

Well I can't CanCan...well I can try but it certainly isn't pretty.  It's just HOT here.  We are experience record breaking heat, drought conditions and it's just yucky right now.  I like hot weather but it is scary hot.

Praying for rain, cooler temps and believe it or not...I'm actually hoping for SNOW this winter....I do believe that the heat is messing with my brain cells cuz I don't really like SNOW at all..

Captain Spaghetti Face

Hi!  You want some of my yummy dinner?

What??

I can't believe that!

Its so yummy!   What makes you think that I like this?  Do I have something on my face?

What can I say!  This boy eats spaghetti with all his worth and really enjoys it!  YUMMY!

Happy 4th of July!

I am thankful for freedom,  for the blessings we have here in America.  I am grateful to be more blessed than most of the world and to have the opportunity to be Free.

To the men and women of our Armed Forces who have fought, served and died to protect our liberty and freedoms!  Thank you!

Happy Independence Day!

A New Phase of Life

Janea has joined the youth group!  I can't believe that she is now old enough to be a member of the youth group.  I can't believe she is going to be in 7th grade!
We have now entered the years of youth activities, nighttime activities and busier schedules!

Where did my little girl go?  I can't believe she is getting so be so grown up!

A Good Day

Happy Anniversary to Us!  We have made it to this lucky number!

 It's hard to believe that we have been married for 13 years!  Sometimes it feels like we were getting married yesterday and othertimes it feels like we have been married forever!  This year for our anniversary we decided to spend the day together, just us, no kid!  YEAH!!!  Been quite awhile since we have done that.  Janea and Jaron are busy with Summer School and Jayden already goes to the sitter's everyday so it was a no brainer...Dan and I each took the day off and we just hung out!  I love getting to do that!  We decided it made more since to celebrate on the day before our anniversary since it's a Tuesday this year and it would be weird to work a day, take off a day and then work the rest of the week.  So we enjoyed a 3 day weekend.

Our day was full of delightful things like going to...

 If you have kids you know that a bookstore is not a fun place to be with children who do not read for longer than 15-20 minutes.  Dan and I enjoyed looking at books in a wide variety of sections, wishing we had more money to spend on books, and actually being able to read backs and covers without fear of what the kids might do.  We were in the store for over an hour and had a delightful time!  We only spent 15 dollars but we had a nice relaxing time in the bookstore...I love bookstores!

We then went and saw a movie.  Yes we saw a movie that was probably kid appropriate but so much more enjoyable without children.  Plus, I had a gift card from a student, it was an early morning matinee so it was FREE!!!!  I love FREE!!!  We enjoyed seeing Men in Black III and would recommend it to others.

After the movie we went and enjoyed fajitas at one of our favorite restaurants.

 YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I am super happy and blessed to be married to a great guy and looking forward to many more years and fun times together!

My Quirky Kids

As the kids are getting older, maturing their personalities are so different from each other.  I'm getting to know these guys as they mature and change and develop and it's fun and exhausting all at the same time.

Janea is her own person.  At times she is sweet and loving, at other times she is smart and sassy most of the time lately she seems to be grumpy.  She is growing into her teen age self and struggling with being 12.  She's excited about being in 7th grade and yet at the same time I feel like her defensiveness is just a way of keeping her guard up.  We are working on helping her to grow into lady full of grace and beauty but it is a hard and challenging process.

Jaron is full of energy and VOLUME!  Seriously, I don't think he understands the meaning of be quiet.  He is the one who we are constantly reminding to turn down his volume and calm down.  He does everything full of gusto.  He is a great big brother to Jayden, an annoying little brother to Janea and we are working on having him be more of Dan's helper on things.

Jayden is quite the charmer when he wants to, a screamer when he wants something, a give me what I want or I will throw a fit kid, he's either happy or sad...there really isn't a middle ground with him.  It's challenging to be starting over with the toddler phase but we are enjoying it too.  I won't lie, I will not be sad when he is potty trained!  I don't enjoy diapers.

So that's some of what I have been thinking about lately!  Love my kiddos!

Peaceful

Bennett Spring....one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  The kids took their annual camping trip with Grandma and Grandpa last week.  Jaron was successful in casting, hooking, and reeling in 2 fish all by himself!  First time that has ever happened!  Janea wasn't as successful but she learned how to prepare the fish for cooking this year with Grandma and they set up their own tent!

Dan and I came down on Janea's birthday(Friday) to celebrate and enjoy God's great creation.  We didn't camp but stayed in a nearby hotel with Jayden and let me tell you he thought that was so much fun!  It was good to get away even for just a night as we are weekend people this summer.

All in all a peaceful and relaxing time!

Hello? Anyone still here?

I have been away from the old blog for over a month.  Wow!  I have always posted at least once a month and I didn't post at all in the month of May.   And I realized I do miss blogging.  My life has changed though I don't find myself with the time I used to have to both read the blogs of others and update mine the way I once did.  I blame the addition of another child, a full time job, a husband who works the same shift as me and just the busyness of life. 
I've been thinking about what I want to blog about and I think I will use it now for pictures and other things that are important in our life and leave the mundane stuff for awhile.  I'm also not going to be as whiny...you don't need to read about my ups and downs...I may also address topics that are important to me and post fun projects that I do in my preschool class as a tool to one help me remember and help other teachers who may need help.

So here's what is up with us:

SUMMER...but not a break from school. I am working Monday-Thursday while the kids are in summer school and we get 3 day weekends.  So we will get to swim and have fun at the pool on the weekends and be busy with school during the week.

WALKING...Jayden is full on walking, almost running and getting into EVERYTHING! 

TODDLERDOM...boy I forgot what life with a toddler is like.  WOW! It's crazy at our house...Jayden is a busy boy, a screamy boy, a give me what I want or I will throw a fit boy, a fun boy, needs his routine boy and I am working on adapting life to fit around his routine rather than the other way around....otherwise we are all frustrated at the end of the day.

VACATION...we are not taking a true vacation but the big kids are going camping with their grandparents and Dan and I are going to hang out with them and get away for an overnight.  It will be good!

So that's a brief update...will post pictures soon.

2 Easters in 1 Year

How blessed we were to get to celebrate Easter twice since Jayden was born! Last Easter he was able to fit in the basket this year he got to enjoy all the fun!

Let Him Eat Cake

High Five for the Birthday Buddies!

First taste of his cake!

MMMMMmmm this is yummy!

Am I messy???

Jayden certainly enjoyed eating his first taste of Birthday cake.  I had planned on making him a gorgeous little cake for his birthday....didn't happen I am definitely not a cake decorator!  That didn't stop us from letting him eat my pathetic attempt at a cake and he certainly enjoyed it.  Happy Birthday Baby!

What? Really?? Am I that Late???

So I decided to take a peek here on the old blog and realized that I haven't posted anything in the month of April...lots has happened and I have recorded nothing....nada, not a letter, comma or anything...so if anyone is still reading this....here's a little bit going on with us.

Saw the HUNGER GAMES movie and I was very pleased with it...sat in the 2nd row and got a neck cramp but other than that I really enjoyed the movie.

Easter Weekend...Birthday weekend.  My sister and Jayden share a birthday and so we had a super busy weekend.  Friday we had the day off for Good Friday and so my mother, Janea, Jayden and I went to get her a dress for the Spring Masquerade Banquet that Calvary was having...then we went back to Grandma's to dye eggs.  Saturday the big kids got to go to the Kaufmen Center and see Narnia the Musical and then everyone came over to my house to celebrate Jayden's and Wendy's birthdays.  Complete with cake, icecream and a yummy bbq dinner!  Then on Sunday the whole family was over again to celebrate that Christ is Risen!  It was a  busy and full weekend.

Jayden is now one and not quite walking.  He's still rather chicken to try and take steps but we are making progress as he did walk 3 or 4 last night to get to his water table.  My parents got him this AWESOME water table for his birthday and since it's still too cold for waterplay we have legos and other toys in it and it's a great height for him to pull up on and work in.  He also got 2 toy cell phones that he really enjoys playing with.

I have lots of pictures but I am currently not on my personal computer so I will have to wait on them.

Well, that's a little bit going on with us...hopefully I will post sooner rather than later...

Super Excited!!!!

I read all the Hunger Games books and have been eagerly anticipating the movie being released!  Well, I get to go see it with Dan and Janea today....opening weekend!!!!


Mom and Dad are watching the boys and it will be a gorgeous day for them to go to the park....yeah!!!

Time is slipping away!

I can't believe that March is almost over!

I've turned 35 this month, my baby is almost a year old and walking! 

Life is just moving so fast!

11 months old

Wow!  My baby is already 11 month's old.  It's been a great 11 months and I am looking forward to the months, weeks, years ahead with him!

Some Facts and Stats:
Happy, smiley fun
Loves to play with his older brother and sister
Loves the outside
Big eater...starting to eat many more table foods
wears size 4 diapers and 12 month old clothes
has slept through the night exactly 1 time...I'm convinced his never going to do it consistently!
starting to cruise and walk holding on to fingers, still not standing on his own

Magnet Fun

I was going to write a really profound post on how fast this year seems to be zipping by...but I'm not now.  No, I've been distracted by my 10 month soon to be 11 month old.  He is currently sitting on the kitchen floor with a shoebox full of magnet and he is having the time of his life!  So many colors, pieces and things to do!  Is it going to be a mess...probably, does it worry me, not really...is it keeping him occupied...definitely and that's a good thing.

Jayden is a busy, busy boy.  I've forgotten this phase of life.  My older kids are busy but now you can direct that into other stuff.  Right now Jaron is playing a new Wii game and Janea is off entertaining herself in her room listening to the radio and either reading or working on a project and that is good.  It's nice to have a minute of peace where he is entertaining himself and not looking for attention.  So later we will pick up the magnets and get them out again later. 

I love my kids, but I do get tired of having to keep someone busy all the time.  Oh, gotta go....Jayden is now done with the magnets....

Jayden Eats Spaghetti

We have started eating table food and I introduced Jayden to spaghetti.

He seemed to like it.  Sorry if I am a little loud in the video

10 months old

My big and happy boy is almost 1!  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by!  I also can't believe he still isn't sleeping through the night.

at 10 months Jayden is:

24 pounds and 31.5 inches

7 full teeth and one coming in

crawling and pulling up on everything

not sleeping through the night

an eating machine...favorites include yogurt and fruits

shows love by giving hugs

full of energy!



What....February is over on Wednesday???

I've been meaning to post...really I have.  However the timing of said posts have not been working and I just realized it will be March before I post my February stuff unless I sit down and blog.  So I will be posting a lot of quick posts today and hopefully when I look back on the year I won't be so behind in what I am thinking and doing!

Difference a Year Makes

I've been reflecting on the changes that have occured over the last year.  The difference I see and the perspective I have gained are great.  I'm thankful

Winter:  Last winter I was STRESSED out.  We had a very very Snowy winter complete with a Blizzard!  This winter has been warm, we have had less than an inch of snow for the entire winter so far and I've not had to worry about snow days at all.  In fact, some days I have had to remind the kids to wear a coat!  What a difference a year makes.

Baby:  Last year I was pregnant and freaking out that I couldn't be a mom to 3.  Well, turns out I can be a mom to 3.  The baby is doing really well, we are enjoying him very much.  It's hard work to have a baby in the house but I do have a great husband and helpful big kids and that makes it great.  We also have been so blessed with a wonderful babysitter who takes such great care of Jayden so I can work. 

JOB:  It's nice to have a job I like.  Last year I was contemplating quitting and freaking out about finances.  This year I have a great job, looking forward to summer and next year and I genuinelly enjoy what I am doing.  I have a rough class at times but honestly I love what I do!

So that's a bit of a difference between then and now. I certainly enjoying what I am doing now and this year more than my memory of last year.

What a Week

I have had a VERY long week for different reasons.  It's not necessarily been a bad week but a very long one.

Monday:
Today was more stressful than normal because a coworker lost her job today.  It was the right move for our school and it was deserved but it's always stressful knowing something is coming and then seeing it play out.  Then you also have the added stress of how that person is going to react to the news.  I hope that it continues to be a good and easy transition. 

Tuesday:
We had a good day in my class, the kids had a good day at school, we had an okay dinner, life was normal till around 6:30...then I started feeling bad.  Very thankful Jayden went down for a nap easily and slept okay. Momma was definitely not up to snuff.

Wednesday:
I woke up feeling AWFUL.  Wednesday is also my highest number day at school and knowing this I made an attempt to go to work.  My bosses could totally see I wasnt' feeling good and they let me go home early.  I got home around 1:00 and after eating some lunch I slept for the entire afternoon.  I was so thankful for rest, for a great babysitter to watch Jayden, and then for AWANA that night for the big kids.  I was able to rest and start to feeling better.

Thursday:
My day was fine...but yet again I inserted my foot in my mouth in regards to my feelings.  Dan doesn't react well to things that I say sometimes and I made a statement that he didn't find good and it made for a stressful evening betweent he two of us.  Marriage can be so hard sometimes.  I am thankful that we have worked through it but I hate that feeling when we are in the middle of it all.

Friday:
Long day at work...due to rain!  It rained all day long!  Rainy days when your stuck inside is more challenging especially with a lot of boys in the classroom.  Dan also had a more stressful commute since he took the van and the van's windshield wipers don't always work and he wanted me to be safe.  Once he got home we all went out for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and boy was it a nice meal together without anyone having to cook.  Another bonus--PAYDAY!!! 

The weekend is full of birthday's, friends, family and hopefully I will get all the laundry done too.

9 months old

Alternatively titled Better late than never.  I tried to get our bear shot on the day he was nine months old...didn't happen, the picture of him arching his back and crying....pretty much sums up the photo shoot.  I was going to take his picture a few days later....and then he caught a cold and was very uncooperative...so on the 25th...15 days after turning 9 months old we got the shot....so much harder to take now....but I think we got a good one!

Some stats and Facts:

Still not sleeping through the night.
Pulling up on EVERYTHING!!!  Too chicken to let go though
Moved up to Size 4 diapers
Loves to eat and really likes yogurt, yogurt bites, apples, fruit and goldfish crackers
Around 23-25 pounds depending on the day
Happy and Smiley
saying BABABA, DADADADA and other sounds
Waving at EVERYBODY!!!

What???

Really, it's the 28th of the month already and I am so behind on blogging.

I think that working, having a small baby and busy big kids have made for me not getting on the computer as much.

Hopefully I can update soon.

I really haven't forgotten, I promise!

So True!

This happens at our house especially if I don't get all the sweeping done properly!

January is Flying By

Wow!  It's been crazy around here.

Life is moving rapidly and I feel like I am constantly playing catchup.

Jayden turned 9 months old on Tuesday and I tried to take his picture with his bear but it didn't happen.  He was cranky and disagreeable so we will try again hopefully this weekend.

Work is going good, the kiddos are back in school and Janea hasn't gotten the chickenpox.  Dan is busy, I am busy and on top of everything I am taking a class for work online and it's good but makes for busy days.

Looking forward to a three day weekend and getting things put away and organized around her. 

As I said...it's a busy crazy life....thankful for my life but sometimes it moves faster than me.

Getting Back to the Routine

Now that Christmas Break is over I am trying to get back to the routine of life.

It's harder than I remember...probably because I am trying to be cleaner and more organized.  More purposeful too....

So tonight I really don't want to cook...I want to go out for dinner but we shouldn't go out since it is much more affordable to eat at home...but I am cooking because it is a good grown up thing to do.

Chicken and spicy rice with lemon...will be good...I hope...but it's good to be cooking and meeting the needs of my family.

Tomorrow I will post my P365 pictures for the week!

Off to a good Start

2012 is here!  I'm already confused by writing the date on things!  The first few days of the New Year are always more challenging for me.

We spent the first days of the year working hard on getting things organized and working.  It's hard to rearrange and reorganize your life but it is profitable to.  And important.  We have family goals that we are working towards and working together to meet these goals is also very important.

I've decided to tackle the P365 this year.   The goal is to take a picture a day of things that are happening in our life.  It's only day three and I am already stumped at what to take a picture of today but I will figure something out!  It's all good....I'm thinking I will just post the weeks picture instead of a picture every day. 

My word for the year is PURPOSEFUL.   I want to think of the Purpose of the things that I do and the words that I speak.  I think it will be a good focus for me as I am working on things in my life!

My goals for the year:
Clean  the kitchen every day!  Even when tired and not wanting to do it.
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Learn to cook more delicious foods from scratch! 
Be an encourager rather than a nagger in life...
Be more in the WORD!

So those are some of my goals...what are some of yours.