Silver Dollar City

On Tuesday and Wednesday we went to Silver Dollar City. The kids had a great time riding the rides and just hanging out with Dan and I! Here's a sampling of pictures from our days at Silver Dollar City!~ Dan and The Kids ride the Mighty Galleon...I chose not to ride...feeling a little sick!~

Dan and the Kids on the Tea Cups!

Dan and Jaron excited about the swings...Janea is praying hard! She really didn't like this ride...I rode it with her on Wednesday and she had a lot more fun...I hated it!

The kids and I on the Tea Cups...Dan proceeded to spin our cup so fast that I saw nothing but a blur and honestly thought I was going to vomit by the time we got off...I was dizzy afterwards for like 5 minutes!~

The kids and Dan after the American Plunge...Dan's pant is superwet from the onslaught of water as they were getting out of the boat...the kids really thought this ride was fun!

This is Dan and the kids on the American Plunge...they loved it!

Outside the Flooded Mine...Poor Dan!

Janea is ready for the lockup...watch out!

Jaron is a little too excited about being locked up...too short too!

Jaron is a little tired from all the walking...so Dan gives him some help!

Vacation Day One

So we left for vacation on Monday! I hadn't quite finished all our packing the night before and since Dan was still in the process of changing from his nightshift hours to the kids and my daytime hours we weren't planning on leaving very early in the morning. I got up, packed a bunch of the car stuff, played on the computer and got dressed for the day. A little later I decided I needed to go to the bank to make a deposit and I thought of just going by myself since it's frankly easier...while I was gone...Janea decided to wake up her dad! So Dan was up by 11:00 and getting ready. I think we had everything packed up and ready to go by 11:45...so away we went.
Our printer hasn't been working and so when I mapquested the directions I wrote them down...guess I wrote them down wrong or I misunderstood what I wrote because the way we went to get to Branson was the LONG way...we went on all these hills and ups and downs and crazy two lane roads in the middle of Missouri. Our 3 and a half to 4 hour trip took like 5 and a half hours! Janea and I both suffer from mild car sickness and we were both feeling it as we took some beautifully scenic but very winding roads. One wrong direction on the highway and we finally got on the road to Branson. All in all I have never been so happy to get somewhere! The whole ride as Jaron is getting annoying asking how much longer, Dan and I were grateful that we had nixed going to North Carolina. 20 hours one way in the car would have been madness! 3-4 is our limit right now!

We got to Branson and checked into our motel. We stayed away from the strip in a little motel on the same road as Silver Dollar City. It wasn't the fanciest hotel but it was clean, had a game room and pool and continental breakfast and met our needs. The nice thing was it was very quiet and peaceful with a nice view off the deck of gorgeous trees and hills. Just what this momma needed! I love the woods and the feeling of being near the woods. We took some fun shots of the family that day before heading out to get dinner...after dinner we just chilled and I took the kiddos swimming in the pool and we just hung out as a family! It was a good first day. Here are some of our pictures:

Janea and Mom take a picture together and Daddy jumps in!

Whole family caught in the mirror...one way to get a picture of all of us!

This is me and the kids with the beautiful hills behind us....we forgot to change to backlight so you can't really see us...but we are smiling!~

Janea relaxing on the deck outside our room at the hotel.

Jaron needed to be in a picture too!

Janea and Daddy at McFarlains restaurant...good food...good family time!

We ordered the Fried Green tomatoes and Sweet Potato Fries...the sauces were yummy and we enjoyed eating something we don't normally eat!

Home

We're back from our trip. We had a great time! I have a lot of pictures and stories...and a lot of laundry and cleaning, and grocery shopping...so the posts about what we did will be coming...later!

I forgot to clean out the refrigerator before we left so I need to get that accomplished and then head out to the store...by the time I'm done I may need another vacation!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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!

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, 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!

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!

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.

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)

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!

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!

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!

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...

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!

A Noodlin..

We have started using the pool here in our housing community. It's nice to get to use it when it's open. It's not really deep or big but it has nice chairs around it and the kids love to swim. For the last couple of years Jaron has been using a float suit. Well, I decided that he needs to get comfortable being in the water without the float suit. So yesterday, after we got back from the pool, we had to go shopping. While out we got each of the kids a swim noodle. Jaron picked green and Janea got blue.

Today the whole family went to the pool. Dan and I sat on the side and laid out while the kids swam. Jaron had so much fun with his noodle. He would sit on it and swim from one length of the pool to the other. It was a lot of fun to watch him! I'll have to remember the camera to take some pictures of him swimming!

What ever happened to sleeping in?

Kids make it challenging for adults to sleep in. My son has decided that he can't stay asleep once the sun comes up...so he is up and he will continuely come into the room to inform me of different things that he is interested in and that need to happen. I try to ignore it, I try to sleep through it...nothing works, so I am up early than I would like and since I didn't get home until after 11 last night I am a little tired today! Oh well....maybe I can wear them out so I can go to bed early tonight!

Field Day 2009

Today was Field Day at school! I have the aching feet and legs to prove it!

First I need to give a shout out to the 2 teachers who did a great job planning and running the events and for keeping on their smiles even when things weren't "ideal". They faced obstacles and challenges and the weather which really didn't cooperate to make for a fun day for the kids. So thank you ladies!

I am so frustrated by people who can't get past things to have fun! Several of the helpers and teachers decided that instead of having fun and throwing yourself into the fun of field day instead moped. I hate moping...they complained that they were too cold, about things we really had no control over and made it less fun for the kids. This really bugs me...I worked at a camp in West Virginia for one summer...and every Monday it rained...buckets, but we didn't complain we went with the punches and invented new stuff that made camp enjoyable for the kids...well I state this to explain this...one of our stations was horseback riding...and the ponies were really late...so I made up games to play instead....and I squirted the kids with a squirt gun and my group really had a lot of fun and the kids were almost dissappointed that the day was over. Other kids were complaining about not having any fun but I think if their leaders had made more of an effort to have fun the kids would have had more fun...it all about perception...my kids had fun because I made it fun.

All in all it was a good day! We had fun and enjoyed the second to last day of school. I learned a few new things to tuck away for my list of field day stuff and next year maybe I'll help a little bit more! Live, learn, play and enjoy...every school year is different and you have to roll with the punches!

My Tye Dye Nightmare

Today at school we tye-dyed t-shirts for field day...34 t-shirts...took a while but I was so pleased with the result...they looked wonderful....

Then I washed them....now they don't look wonderful....they look bad....and I am muy dissapointed....all my hard work washed into a yucky green mess...

I still don't know what happened!

SO Weird

These are the strangest popscicles I have ever eaten in my entire life. We frequently buy popscicles and last time we chose this type. The flavor is good but they have this gummy tip that is disgusting. It's frozen and yucky...the good thing...you can bite it off and spit it out...now my question is this...why ruin a perfectly good popscicle by adding a gummy candy tip?

Silly Boy

Today Jaron wanted a piece of leftover pizza. Together we put it on a plate, and put the plate in the microwave and hit the 30 sec. button. When the microwave beeps...Jaron grabs the pizza and tells me he needs a plate! I looked at him and said...silly boy....you left your plate in the microwave...oops!

Missing You...

I miss you

Your not here...your far away

I hope your well

I hope your safe

I hope your successful

Come home to me soon

Miss me so much you have to call

Call and talk to me

I love you

Top 5 Today...

1. Good news...Dan made it safely to his adventure this weekend and should be good for the rest of the weekend. We will miss him but he needed to go and that's cool so we will welcome him home on Monday!

2. Volleyball...practice tonight...we had 12 people there and so we got in some good playing.! As usual I laughed a lot!

3. 5 days of school left!

4. Jaron's asthma was acting up today but an inhaler treatment and some rest made him feel much better. Praise God for modern medicine!

5. Gorgeous blue skies...we've gone almost a full week with no rain!

From Field Trips to Fussing

I am so looking forward to sleeping in my nice soft bed tonight! I am tired! It's been a good day but an extremely long day! Here's why:

This morning was our Field Trip to Deanna Rose Farmstead. I love this place, it's a mini zoo full of animals that are native to the Midwest, its a petting zoo where you can pet the animals, its a historical recreation and I love History and it's Free! At least free admission! Well, we decided to have our end of the year field trip here. It was a beautiful day, warm, nice, sunny, not too hot, not to cold..great day! So we packed up 31 pre kindergartners, 9 adults and loaded a bus to the farm. It was an enjoyable time, we fed animals, took a wagon ride, and played on their very cool playground...yet it was a field trip and they are tiring...especially when you are in charge. I was in charge(my favorite place to be!) and things went as smoothly as can be expected with that many kids 5 and under! All in all a successful field trip!

This evening there has been crankiness and tiredness, some from me, some from the kids. It's nearing summer vacation and the kids are tired of school every day and they are in the process of bringing everything home. Both kids are so tired that they are weepy...fussy...almost like little babies! Every little unexpected thing can set them off...the only good thing is that they are alternating...first Janea, then Jaron, etc. Plus I am tired and so it's getting to me too. It's bedtime for all of us...we need to rest and refresh so that tomorrow we can have a good day!

My babies are sleeping...

in my bed....both kids are sound asleep in my bed right now! They had laid down to watch a movie and I left them in a dark room for too long and now they both are sound asleep! I better go and move them so that I can get to bed myself! I guess a full day of school and then volleyball tuckered them all out!

Oh joy...

We have an ant infestation...a few other buggies...and Dan is pretty sure something is alive in the vents....now I get to be an exterminator...if you have any advice on what to do please let me know since I am a wee bit squeemish when it comes to rodents.. And no cats...i hate them with a passion!

Thanks!

Fun with my Honey

Dan and I got to go on a date last night! Yeah!

Last week was Teacher Appreciation week at school and I got a number of gifts from my students. One student gave me a $25 gift card to either Chili's or On the Border(it was technically for 4 restaraunts but we don't typically go to the others) and another student gave me a $10 gift card to AMC. I was very excited about both!

So last night Dan and I went to On the Border for dinner...super yummy! We both enjoyed fajitas but we got two different kinds and two different sauces so that we could share! I love sharing! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner! Then we went and saw the new Star Trek movie! Loved it too...so good...so not what I was expecting but in an awesome way! We had a good time of enjoying a movie without the kids!

All in all a great evening together and a way to celebrate Dan's birthday a week late! The kids also had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa...they went fishing and out for pizza...so we were all happy and had a very nice time together! It was a real blessing to enjoy a night out on the town and not have to pay an arm and a leg to do it! Also a much needed reconnection between Dan and I!

The Heat of the Moment

Yesterday was a difficult day but not a bad day. We had challenges at school due to staffing issues and we had our typical kid issues that come with school being done in less than 8 days but it wasn't anything we couldn't overcome.

Afterschool I had made plans to go with one of my co-workers to the Scholastic Wearhouse Clearance Sale at the Book Fair Warehouse! I look forward to this and when they have one I try to go since I can get books for up to 50% off! It really means alot to me especially now since I lost about 95% of my children's books in the flood last summer. I had been collecting for over 14 years and it was heartwrenching to lose them..the dollar value was huge! That said, one of my other co-workers and good buddy found out and decided to come too since she had never been there either!

So I am on my way to the sale when Dan calls, and basically he demanded that I come home. The kids were giving him stress and he wanted back up basically. Well I am on a major highway and unable to get off...but I do talk to the kids on the phone and tell him that once I get there I will turn around and go home! After we got to the sale and as I am explaining that I may need to leave for home...Dan calls again, he's calmed down, the kids have calmed down and he tells me to go ahead and look around since an extra 20 minutes won't really make that big a difference. I was excited and relieved.

I got a few books I have really been wanting and replaced a few of my teaching books that were destroyed. I also have started to rebuild my collection of children's books! Dan realized that in the Heat of the Moment he panicked and got stressed out by the kids, which is understandable, but he also realized how important this was to me and that he needed to meet my needs and let me get what I needed to get.

I am thankful for the ability to step back, take a deep breath and make a wise choice! I am thankful for my husband who realized how much this meant to me and that I needed to do this. I am also really thankful for the opportunity to get a good deal and have the resources to make my teaching even better!

$10 well spent

So I was getting ready to go run some errands after work today and there was a knock on the front door. Some enterprising young men with lawn mowers asked if they could mow our yard for $10. I said yes! The lawn really needs mowing and I was going to do it tonight later, but I have like 3 other projects for work that I really need to get done and when I mow I get really tired and when I get tired I don't like to do anything but veg...so I will have energy to get my projects done and I have a mowed yard! Wahoo...$10 very well spent

Awana Awards Night!

I'm very proud of my kiddos! They got the following Awards!

Jaron got Perfect Attendance for his first year of Sparks!

Janea passed book one of Truth and Training!

Janea also earned Clubber of the Year for Truth and Training Girls!

She also got Perfect Attendance!

I'm proud of both of them...Janea got Clubber of the Year and Jaron took Clubber of the Year Runner Up this year! They worked hard and memorized God's Word to hide in their hearts!

Top 5 tonight!

Here are my top 5 reasons that I enjoy playing Sand Volleyball with my church friends!

1. We laugh a lot...we aren't really that good but we make up for it by laughing at how bad we are! Some of our shots are so bad its hysterical!

2. My kids play outside and have fun too...the church we play at on Monday nights has a playground right next to the volleyball court...the kids play on the playground...I get to play with the ball.

3. Stress relief...there is something so wonderful about hitting a ball that it makes me feel so good. Plus the endorphins get going and I feel really good!

4. Exfoliation...playing in sand is a great exfoliater! It's awesome!

5. Have I mentioned that I enjoy hitting something???? This honestly is the greatest thing for me!~

These are 2 of my favorite people!

If I didn't have kids I wouldn't get as much joy out of Mother's Day as I do now! Me and my darling kiddos!

My sweet kids!

Janea and Jaron...I love them both too pieces!

Happy Mother's Day!

My kids and I are so blessed to have my Mom in our lives! She is such a fun and loving Grandma! She and my dad make time even during work days to make it to the kids events. They baby-sit when needed and enjoy spending quality time with the Grandchildren! Thanks Mom for being who you are! I love you!My mom with her grand kids and her grand puppy at my sisters house!

Grandma and the kiddos love to ride the carousel, doesn't matter where...Grandma will always ride it with them!

We have Grandma and Grandpa over sometimes...Gotta love birthdays and the like...this pic is from February!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Dan's 35th birthday!

Happy Birthday Babe!

I love you!

The kiddos love you!

Here's hoping that 35 will be the year that all your plans and dreams come to fruition. I love you!

Being the Good One

I enjoy being the good one...the good student, the good child, the good mom, the good wife. There is something rewarding in being "good" that feeling of having done your best and done well. Yet at the same time, there is that question of"why?" Why am I being good? Why should I do this... does it really make a difference.? I like getting the pat on the back that tells me that I am doing a most excellent job.

Yet there are days when I fail...I get a bad grade, I am rude or disheartening to someone, I forget to put the lunch I packed into a child's backpack because I am running late, I forget to move something, I leave my shoes in an inopportune place. It's at these times I get really defensive and fight back..."well, you didn't notice all the times I didn't forget"...or..."I do everything else around here, can't you just cut me a little bit of slack?" instead of being sorry or remorseful and strive to do better. Yet it seems like the good is under appreciated and the negative is stressed so much.

I'm dealing with this right now...I often feel like a failure because I struggle with maintaining an organized home. I justify the mess by saying that I am tired or the like....I am also struggling with helping another with a happy heart. I mowed the lawn today...that isn't my typical job...it's Dan's but he was working on a different project this weekend and didn't get to it...and the grass was getting really long. We don't want to get written up by our housing community so I took advantage of the lack of rain and mowed the lawn. I honestly don't think that he will notice, or say anything. Plus, we don't currently have a power mower but an old fashioned push mower so it's a hard job...and I want to so badly tell him what I did so I can get that Thank you...but that's not my place to do...it's his... it's not important who did the job just that the job got done but I am tired and want to be appreciated.

I shouldn't be serving my family to get those moments praise or thanks...it because it's my role as the wife and mother to serve my family. I don't need to have praise to do the right thing..Makes me think of those verses about the freedom of salvation...it doesn't matter what I do...God sent Christ to be my Savior because of His love for me not because of anything I could have done, said or anything...when you put it in that perspective makes us look mighty puny. Makes any lawn mowing or house cleaning look really small in comparison with Eternity.

"Not by works of Righteousness which we have done but according to His Mercy He saved us!"

5 things that made it a Great Day

1. Beautiful Weather...able to take the kids outside and enjoy the beauty of God's glorious creation!

2. New Road...I tried a new road(technically it isn't completely open but it connects) and it cuts up to 3 minutes off my afterschool commute!

3. Happy Kids...both my children had good days at school and were happy when they got home and full of love, kisses and hugs!

4. VOLLEYBALL...first game night of the season...played our other church team, laughed, played, exercised! It is so wonderful to hit something!

5. Taco Bueno...my favorite place for quick Mexican...yummy!

So all in all it was a most fantastic day....and a very Happy Anniversary to my folks! They're celebrating their 36th anniversary today!

I think I'm in Love....or at least deeply in like...

with my new phone...I got it Saturday...no more dropped calls, no more missed calls, no more having to turn it off everytime I want to send a text! It's great! A+ for me!

WWWWHHHHHEEEEWWWW!!!!

As the title shows I am breathing a big sigh of relief! The banquet is over! My presentations were a hit and I don't have to worry about them again until next year! Or until Pre-K graduation whichover comes first...(grad is a month away!) The parents and students had an enjoyable time, my dress still fit and clean up only took an hour!

The evening was filled with mingling with parents, and running around making sure we were on schedule. My co teacher Crystal and the other Pre-K teacher and I were in charge of the planning this year and decided to perform a skit...we acted silly to the song "Sisters" from White Christmas. Embarrassing and fun all at the same time.! Other talents included a dance number and some students singing and one student playing the piano! The kids really did a nice job!

We had each teacher give each student an individual award. Some of the kids awards included the award for Best Hair on Crazy Hair Day! and the Biggest Overcomer of Shyness...it was a fun way to celebrate the things that make each of our kids unique! The kids really enjoyed seeing their names and friends up on the big screen!

The teachers were honored as well...and I took home an award for Leadership in the hall that I am in! So I felt like I contribute well to the team! All in all it was a good evening of lots of fun! I won't lie though...I am really glad it's over!

Is it Friday yet????

This has got to be the busiest week! We have Spring Banquet on Friday night and I am on the decorating committee and in charge of the video presentations so I am up to my neck in computer stuff...it's making me tired.!

I'll be glad when this week is completely over!


On the homefront we got the van repaired and home, and we have a pizza party at church tonight.

Praise God!

the mechanic just called...the van is done...and it cost less than 150 dollars

Not a big problem but they did some cleaning of the engine and double checked and cleaned a lot of sensors and such!

Thank you God for meeting our needs!

Prayer Request

Our van stalled yesterday on our way home from shopping, it restarted and when we went around a corner sharply it happened again. We were able to restart it both times and we are having it looked at tomorrow. I am nervous that it might be a large repair...and since I know really nothing about cars I am extra freaked out. Please pray that we can find the problem and if it's God's will that it be an affordable fix! Dan is being rather pessimistic about it and it's bringing me down. I am trying to trust but it's always a challenge...going into the unknown. I know it seems silly to pray for a car but I would appreciate it!

Weekend Warrior

It's happened again...it will happened again....I can't prevent it...the house looks like no one has cleaned it in awhile. Today I will put on my cleaning clothes and clean....and rearrange....and sanitize....and hopefully get things ship shape again!

My weekend plans include:

cleaning the living room...and rearranging it so that I can put down the new rug I bought last night...hopefully it will look great...I may post pictures.

Clean all counters in kitchen and mop the floor....I made playdough this week and there is a nice layer of flour in weird places...

Grocery shopping...plus I need to get a new phone and Dan's getting a new lawn mower for the yard. I am also thinking of getting a new vaccuum since mine isn't working well and it's a real pain to pull out my shop-vac all the time.

Taking Janea to her T&T party.

Clean my bathroom! Shower, tub, everything!

So that's my plan...hopefully I will be successful!

Are you creative?

I was told today that I look like a crafty person...and in a way I am. What preschool teacher isn't crafty...don't answer that... I know a few who are more afraid of messes than should be allowed! I enjoy creating things and being crafty but at the same time I don't automatically classify myself as a crafty person. Yet I do crafty things...so now I am all confused and flummoxed by this simple statement...what a thing to dwell on or blog on for that matter...maybe I just need some sleep!

Crazy Night

Tonight was crazy night in AWANA. We had a lot of fun...it was a little odd..typical nights include making sure we have vests, books, Bibles and such...tonights also included inside out clothes and funky hair sprayed hair. I also had mismatched socks and shoes.

It was a fun night! We had a good time and now it's time to wash this stuff right out of my hair!

My Love Hate Relationship

I love technology...I do! I appreciate the beauty of modern devices, I treasure the freedom they give me, the sense of being part of a larger world. I also appreciate my hands being dishpan free and my clothing being washed without the need of giant rocks and the like.

I HATE Technology tonight...particularly my cell phone and computer. I have spent the last 2 and half hours on a presentation for our Spring Banquet at school and now I can't download it to a CD to take to be proofed tomorrow...and my phone won't keep my network signal so I can't make any phone calls or get my messages when they arrive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have any ideas on what might help I would appreciate it and I think I need to buy a new phone...joy!

Communication?

When you work opposite shifts and you don't see much of each other you find interesting ways to communicate. Here is the progression of our communication...

1. Notes on a white board on the door....before we had cell phones we had the trusty white board..I would leave him notes before bed...he would leave me notes on his way to work...it mostly worked.

2. email...I had a cell phone, he didn't, we were living with the extended family with non magnetic doors so we would email back and forth....during this time I also had email in my classroom that was readily accessible so we "talked" this way...it worked for the most part.

3. cell phones...I have a phone, he has a phone...we talk and text back and forth and there are still days when we have a "failure to communicate" now comes the fun of making sure that the time to talk is conducive to both parties and we are in an area where we don't drop our calls. In addition we still use the trusty note on the door trick with magnets...

All in all its important to communicate and bad communication is still better than no communication!