Busyness and other whatnot

So here it has been about 2 weeks and I have fallen off the blog wagon...but not really.  See I've wanted to blog, had some posts in my head but honestly, we have been soooo busy this month!

So here's an update:

I turned 36 on the 6th...yes, 36...and I am old.  This birthday has been rather hard and I really don't like that I am now closer to 40 than 30 and it's mind boggling how old I am.  Dan and the kids took me out for dinner on my birthday and my folks had the kids and I over on the day after my birthday.  

Dan and I decided it was time to get me a new camera for my birthday!  HOORAY!  My other camera wasn't closing in the battery hatch and so I downsized to a small compact point and shoot with more features than my other one and better resolution.  I love getting to play with my new toy!

Friday the 8th Janea had a debate tournament at her school.  They were hosting so judges were needed.  I went to the evening session and judged storytelling and I enjoyed it very much, The firstborn and I didn't get home until rather late though and so the next morning was very tiring as the toddler decided to get up at his normal time!

 On the 9th we had AWANA Grand Prix...and Jaron raced his car...didn't place well but that's okay. Janea and Dan stayed home with Jayden since he and the car race wouldn't have been a good fit.

Sunday the 10th Dan and I got to go to the Matinee performance of Calvary Bible College's Seussical.  It was a lot of fun and nice to be out together without the kids.

 This week was weather week in my classroom and on Monday night I made Rainbow stew for Rainbow day.  The toddler decided that he needed to try it out for me and pose for the camera at the same time

The toddler is fascinated by all things big kid and this week he also decided that he needed to do homework with his brother.  

  

I can't believe my baby is going to be 2 in just under a month.  It's been a crazy busy month and it isn't slowing down at all...but that's a snapshot of my life right now!

IT's JUST TOO HARD

"This is impossible"

"I can't stand this"

"I don't want to do this, it's just too hard"

These statements I have heard this morning coming from my living room.

And no, I didn't say them, I overheard them.

The 10 year old is working on cleaning up the living room....and the mess its bad, really bad, and I offered to pay him but he really doesn't want to do it.

He's frustrated, and I understand, I'm there with him.

However, I am stopping playing the martyr.  I'm not going to let him give up, and I am not going to do it for him.  He needs to learn, and I need to guide him to do his best and accomplish the task.

My life has been like this...full of frustrations and hurts and complaints of it just being way to hard!

I've gained some hope though,  it's hard, yes, it's hard...and I am not the only person in the world who feels this way.  I have friends,  and other mom's who blog, unknown acquaintances who also struggle with this same stuff.  I'm not the only one who struggles and struggles and fails at being "SUPERMOM".

I don't have to be "SUPERMOM"!  I don't have a magic cape, I can't fly, I'm not Mary Poppins and IT's OKAY!

Whew...wow...did I finally admit it!

That's the heart of it, I have to let go of my desire to be perfect.

I'm not perfect, I'm not amazing, I'm not the best...I'm just me.

Sometimes I do things really really well.  Sometimes I don't do things very well.

I thought of it like this...

I can be a good cook....but I can also be a good kitchen cleaner so I want to cook more!

I can be a great mom...and I can let the little things slide and inspire my children in their inspirations.

I can be a good teacher...and I can also have an off day...but I am not defined by my failure.

I can be a good motivator...and ASK for help!

I can be weak....I can't carry the load alone.

It's just too Hard to do things alone...and it's just too hard to do things in my own strength...I've been again seeing that only be allowing myself to be weak and frail and asking for help and asking for God's help am I truly able to get through the day and work at being the best mom, wife, teacher and friend I can be.

It's hard to admit your not as great as you want to be, but at the same time it is a very freeing experience!

The Art of a Deal

I'm working on having the big kids help more around the house. 

I'm offering not only to pay them but also I'm negotiating with them.  That really is working for the 10 year old...I mean, he is setting tables with me not even having to ask right now...I'm hoping this lasts!

I'm offering trades...one of the chores they don't like for something that I do...an even exchange as it were.  

The firstborn hates....I mean HATES....to load and unload the dishwasher...I don't get it...I used to wash all the dishes by HAND...she has it easy peasy lemon squeezy compared to my time.  I don't mind that...but I hate doing other things...so I have offered her a trade.  She picks one of my chores and does it willingly in exchange for me not having her load and unload the dishwasher!  

I'm hoping it works...she is still thinking about her trade item.  We will see what happens.  If this works I may negotiate for other items.  

I want them to help but I am tired of nagging them...hopefully this will make it easier for everyone.

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! 

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!

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!

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....

Happy Birthday Jaron

Jaron turned Nine on October 26th!  I can't believe how old he is now!  It seems like he was a baby just a few years ago....I love this kid to pieces

At nine Jaron is:

fun

energetic

LOUD!!!

exuberant

lover of all things Wii and DSi

Super excited by little things

Growing up

3rd Grader

Awesome Reader

Math Machine

Jesus Follower

Big Brother

All around Super kid!

We love you Buddy!  Have a great year being 9!

Blessed by my Big Kids!

Jaron just got done taking the trash downstairs to the trashcans and then he rolled both trash cans down to the curb! This is his job and he does it with his whole self! Full of gusto and life! Thanks buddy for helping out mom and dad this way!

Janea is right now sorting the laundry for me and starting a load of darks with her dad's pants in it while I am cooking dinner...she knows how to do it...and she's hungry for dinner! Thanks Janea for being such a mature young woman and so capable! You made my afternoon easier!

I love how the lessons we have taught them are starting to pay off in dividends.

Happy Birthday Jaron!

8 Years old Today

You are a fun-loving

Videogame playing

laughing and giggling

excelling 2nd grader

Full of life!

We love you BUDDY! Have a wonderful day and a full year of being 8 years old!

The Day Before the First Day of School

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

The kids meet their teachers tonight.

We're getting excited.

I have an interview this morning.

Not sure what we will do this afternoon.

It's going to be a good day.

Game Time

They are playing nicely too....wow!

Volume Control

One little boy.

One sleeping daddy.

One little boy who enjoys talking.

One sleeping daddy who needs sleep since he's working some long hours.

One little boy who needs to learn to speak softly while talking.

One sleeping daddy who is sleeping and one stressed out momma who is trying to keep the little boy quiet.

One momma who is wishing her son had a mute button...but alas he doesn't so we are working on volume control.

It's really not working...any ideas on how to keep the little boy quiet and the sleeping daddy sleeping?

Wow!

I can't believe that 10 years ago today we were blessed with our wonderful daughter. Its been a lot of fun seeing her grow and mature from a small baby to a blossoming TWEEN! She is now officially double digits and I am a little sad at how big she is....yet I'm proud too. She is becoming a young women, a more complex and interesting individual. We've come so far in the last 10 years and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow and develop as the years go by. She is an awesome person and I love her so much!

We lost many of her small baby pictures during the flood 2 years ago when she had to swim out of the basement. Here is a picture of her around 5 months old. Here she is just a month away from turning 10!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANEA! WE LOVE YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!!

Joys of Summer

Janea's idea of a great summer morning! A good book...this one is by one of her favorite authors...Margeret Peterson Haddix...a beautiful day with great weather....and a "comfy" chair. I think I need to get the Lawn chairs out so she doesn't have to sit in Jaron's booster seat!

Thoughts about 5th grade

My baby girl is going to 5th grade soon.

She finishes 4 grade in 13 and a half days. Then I get to be the mother of a 5th grader. Really, when did she grow up? When did she become a TWEEN? Why does she have to be 10 in less than a month?

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was thinking about Pre-K for her? Wasn't she just in Kindergarten? Wasn't she afraid of starting first grade? and now here she is starting 5th grade in just a few months.

I know she is ready....but I'm not. She will thrive and mature and grow as an individual and she will do well. I am so proud of her and all that she does and who she is but at the same time I want to slow down time and not let her grow up.

We took the first step to 5th grade tonight. An informational meeting for parents of fourth graders and a brief introduction to 5th grade. Siblings weren't invited so Jaron went to Grandma and Grandpa's and they went to the park. We then went and got ice cream(custard) at Culvers on the way home. It's a big deal, this starting 5th grade. I'm just not sure I'm ready for it...good thing I have all summer to adjust to the idea of how grown up my kids really are!

My Little Author

Saturday, I accompanied Janea to the Young Author's Conference in Warrensburg Missouri. We had a nice time listening to famous authors and learning from people in the book world. It was fun and exciting to hear the authors of tomorrow. Janea had her story "published" in the Young Author's Book. I'm such a proud Mama! Way to Go Janea!

Brotherly Love

Tonight, Janea fell down (still not sure why she fell but she just fell down) and Jaron hearing that she had fallen comes running and asks is she's bleeding...she tells him no and he starts rubbing her arm and says so sweetly..."it'll be okay Janea...it's alright!"

I love watching those tender moments

My Son

My son is a NUTBALL!

I'm saying this because I am overwhelmed by just how crazy and absurd he can be. When he is in a good mood he is stinkin hilarious.

One of his new favorite things is to have me talk about my day at school. He likes to hear all about the craziness that goes on in my classroom. I have a loud, fast moving, active classroom. He's been to my school, he knows the kids in my class and he loves to hear stories about them. It's almost obnoxious because he likes to hear them over and over and over and over again.

Today he told me something and when I said "Oh Really?" he replied.."well, if I'm lying, I'm dyin'" I was in shock...where did he learn that and how is it he has wonderful timing on the whole thing.

We're working on his spelling sentences for homework tonight and he's trying to make them all have something to do with UNDERWEAR! Boys, they are so crazy sometimes!

I'm thankful for the opportunity I have to be his mom and work to mold him into the person God wants him to be. He's such an amazing kiddo and while we have our days when I really want to ship him to Timbuktu, I know that I need to be with him and help him grow up to be an awesome young man!

Mom,Mom, Mom, Mom

Can I have it?

can I go across the street?

Can you get this for me?

Do I have to?

I don't want too.

Can I have a break?

I'm not going to...?

Who you talking to?

Aren't you done yet?

I love you!

Your the bestest mom in the world.

Just a sampling of some of the stuff my kids have been saying this week... The last two are my favorites!