Pictures while Driving

So taking picture while driving a car is not usually recommended but I did take a few shots on the road and while stopped at a few bridge construction zones. I also slowed down for some of the shots. We were headed to Bennett Spring State Park to go fishing and camping with my parents. The kids and I had a safe journey and saw such wonderful things.

Janea's Birthday

The cake...we boought a store bought cake and I added the words! It turned out pretty good!

A new book written by a favorite author that was really wanted!

The birthday girl with her birthday cake!

Blowing out the candles put into her piece...daddy was afraid of germs on the whole cake...lotta candles!

Janea's big present this year was the trip to Worlds of Fun but we had a nice day and fun on her actual birthday too. We also are going camping this week with Grandma and Grandpa...I think I will need a vacation from all this fun!

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!!!!

New Brakes are Needed

So after waiting ALL day to find out what is wrong with my car. I found out that my front brakes need some work and the rear brakes need cleaning and it will come in under the amount that I budgeted for.

Praise God for it not costing an arm and a leg.

So the kids and I are going camping for the end of the week with my parents...should be fun!

I hate Waiting

I took the car into to have the brakes looked at.

I'm worried about how much its going to cost.

I'm hoping its an easy fix

I'm hoping they get it done today.

I don't like dropping and waiting...but I hate waiting around too.

I hope they call soon.

I hope it's not going to cost an arm and a leg

I hate waiting.

Worlds of Fun Day

Janea wanted to go to World of Fun for her Tenth Birthday. Her birthday is coming up on Tuesday so Saturday was the perfect day to go. It was hot and tiring but we had a lot of fun. Here's quite a few pictures of our day of fun and Family!

Janea's ready to go!

Jaron's super excited!
Tickets for the day!

First ride...Camp Snoopy and the Red Baron

Dan and I had fun with all the Snoopy stuff...like the Kite Eating Tree

Woodstocks Airmail...the Detonator for kids

Jaron loved it!

Lucy and I had a nice session...love that it only cost 5 cents!

More fun on the Easy rides!

Dan got some help too.

Dan fooled the guessers and won prizes for the kids

We got wet on the Fury of the Nile!

The kids with their Daddy won prizes...Jaron got a dragon

Janea got a Violet Wolf!

Dan and the kids waiting for a rollercoaster

Waiting to ride the Spinning Dragons

Jaron's not quite tall to go on most but could go with Daddy on this one!

On the rollercoaster!

Jaron after the rollercoaster

The Octopus....a spinning nightmare for Mom...got super sick on this one

Kids loved this one....would have rode it multiple multiple times if allowed.

Dan went one time with them....I was still recovering from the Octopus!

Dan picks his shot and the kiddos pick their noses at the shooting range

Dan and Janea went to ride the prowler and Jaron went to ride some Jaron sized rides.

We had a great time and will definitely go again another year! Love quality family time!

Pool's Open

The pool opens today!

The kids are excited!

I'm not as excited, but I have a few books and a new bathing suit top so I will go with them and hang out and read while they swim and play!

I think we will need more sunscreen, but now I read stuff that Sunscreen is bad for you so I don't know what to think....

I'm looking forward to soaking up the sun( in moderation of course)

2 kids, the UPS store, the DOR and me

Today we ran errands.

We had to go and see if my tax receipt was at the UPS store and then we had to go to the DOR...aka the DMV...aka the liscense plate place(as Jaron calls it) so that I could get my car plates renewed. I was supposed to do that in May but May was so busy and stressfilled that I kept postponing taking care of it and before I knew it..."POOF"...May was over!

Well, now the car is legal again! Wahoo for me...at least all I had to do this time was change the sticker unlike last time when I had to put new plates on the car...plus I was only 3 days late as opposed to 2 months or so behind. So it's all good! Hooray for small victories!

So as a reward for the kids...I took them to Quik Trip...it's the little things that make them happy some time and for that I am grateful!

Sleeping In

I got to sleep in today...

I slept till after 8 on a Thursday.

I love Summer....

My body is thanking me!

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!

JUNE!!!

It's June!

Hooray!

The first TRUE day of Summer Vacation!

One of my favorite Months of the Year!

Only 24 days till Dan takes a vacation from work!

WAHOO!!!

I love June!

Where Does the Time Go?

I can't believe how big my kids are. They are growing and maturing and developing into fine young people.

This Guy is going to 2nd grade in the Fall...It's like he was just a baby a short time ago...I can't get over how mature he is becoming.

This girl is going to be in 5th Grade...she turns 10 in 9 days. It's not possible that she was so little just a short time ago. She has a zest and spice that is truly her own. She is becoming a TWEEN...and I'm a little sad about it.

I'm going to cherish the time I have with them this summer...and the fun we can have together!

Bad Blogger

Sorry...life has been crazy and hectic.

Yesterday was my last day of school...Today was the kids last day.

Tomorrow, I'll write a real post about the comings and goings....but today I'm tired.

Don't worry, we're still alive, just have been extremely busy...

Thursday

Only a day more and then I get to hang with my mom and sister and kiddos for the weekend.

My mom and I are taking our annual excursion northward to visit my sister in Omaha. It will be FUN!!!!

I so need some fun this weekend...been a stressful week at work and I am ready to unwind!

Love my family!

Feeling Weary

I'm feeling weary.

The weather is dreary.

It's a weary-dreary kind of day.

But yet, I'm at peace...know why?

GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Enough said!

May I Be this Today

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24

Waiting

I'm not good at waiting.

I hate waiting.

God is teaching me to wait.

I can't go into specifics or anything but I am having to wait for BIG info.

I don't like waiting.

It's really hard.

Please pray that I can wait and that the news I am waiting on will be to His glory and if He is willing be what I really want...PLEASE GOD!!!

Proud Momma

Tonight at the Awana Awards Night my kids got the following awards:

Jaron--1st Sparky Book Award for the Skipper Book and Runner Up for Sparky of the Year Boys.

Janea--Excellence Award(for the completion of 2 Truth and Training Books) and Clubber of the Year for girls!

I'm one proud Momma!

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!

Playing Catch-UP

After Spring Banquet I took the weekend off.

I really did nothing this weekend. And it was okay. I needed to just VEG...made for work being harder this morning but really it was worth it.

Janea and I went to the Library. We ate out(part of my mother's day present) we hung out, we watched a movie with the kids, it was just nice relaxing time.

Well, today I am playing a bit of catch up...trying to get some laundry done, trying to make sure I have all my ducks lined up for the week. Trying to have a good week as it's super busy!

The end of school is always super busy...this year seems doubly so, Janea is so much busier as well.

Spring Banquet

A fun evening.

A lot of work.

So glad it's over.

This years was much smoother than last years, only one small hiccup!

I received a Teacher Award, for Leadership, I'm satisfied.

Looking forward to a lazy weekend.

Thankful for the family time no matter the circumstance.

The End.

Socks

I had a nice long chat with my sister tonight.

We talked all about things that are going on in my life and about things that I need to change, and ways I feel that I need to grow Spiritually and all. Well, somehow we got onto the topic of socks.

We both HATE folding socks. Its a hang up from our childhood. My mother had this box that she labeled..."the Graveyard of Lost Socks". In it went all the socks that didn't have matches. Then the next week she would look to see if the match ended up there. She was good at it, she could find the missing socks and we would joke about the "Graveyard" and have fun with it. So when I got my own house I decided to have the same thing and yes it's a practical way of finding missing socks but to me it's also a curse...see sometimes, Socks get LOST....permanently, and you never find the match. Well, I now have a graveyard of Lost Socks on my dryer...where I put the ones that are missing matches....and it never gets empty....there are always missing socks. I have lots of mismatched socks...in fact I have so many that I even have BABY socks...and my kids are NOT babies...I have made this looking for the mismatched sock into something my mother never did...and it's become my curse.

Well, my sister now throws them away....isn't that an amazing concept....one I don't do...I just hold on to these mismatched, missing socks like they are worth my time and effort. 9 times out of 10 I never find the match! And yet I am holding on to these socks like they are GOLD. Am I so worried of breaking the bank that I can't just buy new socks when we need them? Am I afraid that if I get rid of them I will somehow miraculously find the match?

Dan and I get into fights and stress over SOCKS...there are more important things in life than SOCKS. Why are these little things causing me so much stress...honestly I have better things to stress about...so I am going to take the wisdom of my sister and begin to throw SOCKS out when I can't find the matches. I am going to buy us new socks regularly so that we always have enough and I will not feel GUILTY for wasting money...heaven knows I waste money in so many other ways without feeling guilty I should not feel guilty over comfy feet.

Scripture Truth

My Scripture Calendar's Verse of the Day:

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I John 3:18

Feelings...

I'm feeling a lot of emotions right now.

I'm upset, and disappointed in myself.

I'm blessed with Great kids.

I'm blessed with loving parents.

I'm blessed in so many ways.

I'm trying to count my blessings and be content.

It's hard.

I'm needing prayers right now.

The sickie

I wanted to post his picture, but he's looking pretty pitiful....

I made him go to the doctor.....he'll be thanking me soon.....

He's now on four different medications for a sinus infection and a serious cough....

I'm feeling slightly sorry for being short with him....just slightly though...

Hopefully, he'll be on the mend and able to go back to work next week.

Here's hoping that Dan gets to feeling better soon!

Just Wondering???

Why did God make flies???

I don't know the answer to this one...but honestly Why???

They are gross, annoying, and weird...and one is buzzing around the kitchen right now and driving me CRAZY....

Flies, cockroaches, and other disgusting things....I love the beauty of God's Creation, I love the intricacies I see around me...but seriously...why Flies and gross things???

Moving Slow

I should be working on some projects for work. I SHOULD be...but I'm not having much progress, I'm moving slowly. I am tired this evening. I didn't sleep great last night and had a busy day at work and I am praying about something big going on tomorrow and my mind isn't focused on what it should be focused on...so I'm moving slow. Looking forward to heading to bed and relaxing and letting things fall into place more tomorrow....

It's funny, life is moving so fast and yet I feel like I am dragging....don't know why but tired today. Finishing up the main things tonight and then turning in and letting

Moving So Fast

I can't believe that Saturday is the First day of May! This year is zipping by.

The month of May is so jampacked for the kids and I. All the end of year school stuff is piling on.

It could be a little bit overwhelming. Hang on and Hold on Tight!

A Lazy yet Busy Saturday

I'm feeling tired tonight.

It's been a long day, a good day but a long day.

I should really go to bed but since all of the Good bedroom sheets are currently getting dried in the dryer that really isn't a possibility right now. I don't want to climb onto a wet bed, that's not a pleasant thing.

Yet it was a good day. An almost productive one.

I got to sleep in...I love sleeping in...till 9:15..when Dan woke me up to tell me that I needed to go and pick up the girl soon...she was at a T&T slumber party with some of the church girls. She had to be picked up by 10. After getting her home and Dan off to Bible Study I had a wonderfully long conversation with my delightful sister and discovered that I can take pictures and talk on the phone at the same time...I had never done this before and the pictures were of my hand but I have learned it is possible..weird things happen to me!

After Dan was home from Bible Study he was hungry and really wanting breakfast food so we headed over to IHOP and enjoyed a hearty breakfast for lunch...so nice on a cool rainy morning,er, afternoon. I then got to go grocery shopping ALL BY MYSELF! That rarely happens and it was quick and easy without needing lots of extra stuff...I love quick and easy!

We cleaned up the living room and did some investigating of some local organic suppliers of fruits and vegetables, and then just hung out at home. I love when the whole family is under one roof. We don't even need to be doing anything but being together. It's such a nice feeling.

Well, I'm off to check on the sheets....good night world, see you another day..

A Poem for Today

I should have stayed in bed,

I've fallen down,

I've bumped my head.

I should of stayed in bed!

My class is crazy,

I'm feeling lazy.

I SHOULD have Stayed in BED!

Teaching Troubles

Today we worked on Pp in class.

Here's the list of Pp words we came up with:
Puppet, pen, parrot, Preston, panda, pizza, popcorn, pants purse, person, people, pepper, persnickety, peace, peaches, potty, poop, pee-pee, purple, pepperoni.

I love how Pp brings out the bathroom words, don't u?

Well, I was getting ready to show the kids how to make a P in cursive and I couldn't do it...it was so hard! I couldn't figure out how to show the steps for it easily. When I write in cursive I don't think about it anymore and so trying to break down the steps was a huge challenge!