Incentive Earned

The kids and I went and saw this movie this evening. It was cute! The kids had a great time! I so enjoy getting to reward good behavior and doing something fun with the kiddos.

Incentives Package

I have been after Janea to clean her room for about 2 months. I help her and it gets messy immediately afterwards. It's a little frustrating.

This weekend Jaron has been on task....he cleaned his room, he's been picking up toys in the living room before bed, he's even vacuumed because he wanted to.(I've honestly wondered who he is a couple of times because I couldn't believe how helpful he has been) I decided that if Janea can get her room done then I will Reward the children with a movie.

They are dying to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakel and there is no school today so if they can get their chores done by 2:00 then we will go and see the 4:10 showing of Alvin. Well, it's not even 9 yet, Jaron is dressed without prompting and Janea is in the process of cleaning her room.

Gotta love a good incentives package. I will gladly sit through the movie if it means that my children are happy helpers...Dan and I were discussing this, it's not bribery but rewarding a good job.

Wow...

January is half gone!

This year is already starting to fly by. I can't believe it. The kids are back to school, I am back to school, Dan is working and we are all trying to start having better habits.

The kids have been spending lots of quality time with their Dad and the Wii. My aunt had sent Christmas money for the kids and we used it towards another Wii remote. So now we have 3. All three of them can play together! It's a good and noisy thing! The game of choice is Super Mario Bros for Wii...it's a lot of fun but they can be rather rowdy with it.

I'm starting to build better habits for myself. Please check out my cleaning blog for my progress and successes and failures.

My sister called me today from her vacation in Puerto Rico...I'm so jealous of her getting to go to a warm climate! I am wishing for some warm weather right about now! However, she really needed a vacation and so I am happy that she has gotten this break!

We are thinking of taking a mini vacation during the kids Spring Break...if they get a full week...snow days may have interfered. So we are waiting and debating about what to do. Dan will take some time regardless since he doesn't get the holidays the kids and I do. So we have things to look forward to in the near future!

This year is off to a good start!

MMM...MMM...Good!

Guichos Mexican Food Takeout+pizza= YUMMY!

I didn't have to cook and we all ate food we like...a good night at my house!

Differences

I've been exploring the concept of difference.

I'm fascinated with how different the genders can be, siblings can be, animals can be.

I love how God created everything to be just a little bit different. We are not clones or copies of one type. We all are unique people, with unique quirks and things that make us interesting. No two people are exactly the same. Even twins are different. This is so fascinating to me on so many levels.

In my classroom the differences between boys and girls was quite interesting. During Free Choice time today all the boys chose to go and play with toys on the carpet. Legos, pyramid blocks and building wheels were all used to make cars, trucks, airplanes, and other cool sculptures. The girls though were writing and coloring and using crayons, markers and colored pencils to make their creations. All the students were being creative, just in different ways.

I'm so thankful for the variety of differences in this world and how God makes all of us just a little bit different from the people around us. Makes life fun and interesting!

1 + 1 = Happy

This morning on my way to work I had 2 happy things:

1. Dan took the garbage to the curb during the night and I didn't even remind him to do it. I thought for sure that I would have to take it before I left for work and he remembered and I didn't!

2. I was driving and looked in my rearview mirror to turn on my defroster and I found a message in the ice....I LOVE U!

I was feeling very loved and special thanks to 2 of the simplest gestures of love by my man!

Getting Back to Normal

I am sitting at my desk at school.

I have been teaching all morning.

My classroom kids are all here with me.

It's been a good day.

It's getting back to normal.

My classroom kids are slightly more cranky than normal.

They are excited to see their friends.

They are enjoying making one another laugh and enjoying their company.

It's getting back to normal.

My morning was a little rushed.

I worried as I left.

The kiddos made it off to school without a hitch.

It's getting back to normal.

The snow has finally stopped.

The sun is going to shine.

The temperatures may go above freezing.

It's getting back to normal.

How Do you Spell Relief???

Remember that old commercial where they ask "How do you spell Relief?" And people would answer and say...R.O.L.A.I.D.S. well if you were to ask me how I spell Relief...it would be R.O.U.T.I.N.E.

School looks to be on for tomorrow! WAHOO!

No more being cooped up from the frigid cold and snow days!

Don't get me wrong...I enjoy a good snow day...but we had 3...about 1 more than I like...and the kids got an extra week of break.

I am looking forward to being back on a routine, to knowing what to except during a week, and having less "free" time on our hands.

I know many people aren't looking forward to going back to school but I am!

Wii...will...Wii...will...

Fight! Laugh! Drive me Crazy!

The boys are working together to try and get some secret sections on the Super Mario Game we have and oh my goodness it's challenging...they argue, laugh, argue, cry, argue...get frustrated...yell at the game all for FUN!

I'm sitting in a chair watching and listening to them.

It's both fun and annoying all at the same time

Crazy Adventures on A Cold Day

Okay, our adventures weren't really crazy, they were just ordinary errands and getting the car looked at but it's more fun to say they were adventures!

When Dan got home Early Thursday morning after driving in a bad storm he told me that the turn signal in his car was broken. I took that to mean that his turn signal wasn't working(which it wasn't) and that it was a little fix...he thought the switch was broken. He was right. I called and got the car in today to the mechanic and the multi switch on the car was broken. They got it fixed right away...which I am grateful for...and it didn't cost as little as I had hoped but not too much either, very thankful for that!

Well, after driving the car to the mechanic and leaving it there, we headed for the bank, and then my sweet husband put gas in my car...I hate pumping gas on a Frigid day and was so thankful that he did it for me. It's been in the single digits here in Missouri...and that's just cold. Thankfully the wind hasn't really been blowing to badly when we were out so with lots of layers on its bearable. And we all are wearing lots of layers!

The kids played in the snow today...this isn't good building snow but we have huge drifts around the house that are fun to stomp through and make paths....they were really cold when done but they had fun, and they got out a little bit of their cooped feeling. Janea and Jaron both are tired of being stuck in the house all day. It makes not only for long days for Mom, but they are just crabby.

So all in all it was a day of adventures...tonight its a yummy dinner and then hanging out as a Family! That's a good Friday!

Cold!

My nose is cold.

My toes are cold.

My fingers are chilly.

I keep adding layers of clothing...it's not really helping.

There is a chill against the walls.

The floor is cold.

The kids have taken to sitting on the vents at times.

The floor by the door is covered by a blanket to keep out drafts.

The laundry room door window is an ice sheet.

The bathroom is bearable with a space heater on when using it.

It's COLD!

Safe and Warm

Dan is home safe...got home around 4 this morning. Had trouble getting into the driveway due to the layer of thick ice from the snow plow but he is home. Safe and Warm...he's asleep now, the kids are still asleep, I wish I was asleep but I woke up when Dan got home and was unable to go back to sleep.

I think I'll make some hot chocolate, curl up with a book or a taped show on the DVR and wait for the kiddos to make their appearance.

It's going to be a cold one today...glad for a snow day and a warm house.

A Storm is Brewing

We are about to get another big dose of winter weather.

I'm home today since my school, the kids school, and about every other school district I know of cancelled school for today.

We're supposed to get snow and then an Arctic Blast will move through with gusting winds and brutally cold wind chills. That will happen tonight and there is a chance of blizzard like conditions over night...when Dan is driving home....so I will be in watching and praying mode tonight as I askGod for safety for my husband as he drives home from work. He's a good driver and careful but the weather is so yucky and I am worried about visibility for him.

I haven't seen weather like this in many years and it's a good thing we don't have them every year, cuz, I might lose my sanity...

The Never Ending Winter

Okay, I will admit that I am probably exaggerating...but seriously, it feels like this winter is never going to end. We are only technically 15 days into "WINTER" but for the past 15 days we have had ice, snow, cold, snow, brutal cold, wind chills below zero, snow, and tonight we are bracing for another round of SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids have another snow day tomorrow. I may have a snow day tomorrow, or I may not, being a small private school we don't have the same issues as other schools and so we don't as readily cancel, but we may, I'm not in charge of the decision. The weather people are predicting Blizzard like conditions for Wednesday Night/Thursday morning...so some worrisome nights for Dan.

I'm just not enjoying this winter at all. It's full of things that make me tired...so I am off to snuggle up with a good book...or just sleep.

Seriously???

The kiddos have a snow day tomorrow...and there is no snow.

They should call it a COLD day...I think that is why there is no school.

So now I am trying to figure out what the kiddos are going to do tomorrow since I will still have school. Oh the joys of teaching in a district that isn't your kids....what to do? what to do?

My little Bookworm

Janea is becoming quite the bookworm.

Library visits are becoming part of our regular routine.

She is sitting in the chair in the living room with her nose buried in a book. I think a bomb could go off and she wouldn't even notice...

She is so much like me at times it's scary!

Just for Me

So I started a new blog today.

It's just for me, for my thoughts and feelings about cleaning and the stress that is caused by being a "MESSY" person. Too often I add the cleaning stuff and my stress to this blog and while it does have a place, it's not the funnest of things to read. Therefore, this blog is going to be about family stuff and my new blog...Changing my Thinking...is going to be just for those times when I need to talk about my struggles with house cleaning. House cleaning may find it's way to both blogs.

Feel free to check out my new blog as well as coming and seeing what's going on in the life of the Jonathan's!

Team Work

All night tonight the boys have been playing Super Mario Bros for Wii.

It's been an interesting experience to say the least...well, I gotta go, Jaron's heading to bed and I've got to play...

Welcome 2010

All day I have tried to think how I would start my blogging this year. Do I change it? Do I keep it the same? Do I add more pictures? Do I not use pictures? What to do, what to do??

Do I have an answer? NO, so I think I will go with the flow, whatever strikes my fancy, talk about the things that I feel need to be talked about. Vent if necessary too. It's my blog and I can use it the way I need it.

I've never been a good journaler. In fact I stink at it, I can write something every now and then but for some reason I can blog, and I do blog and I enjoy reading past entries and see how things have changed and ways that I have grown as an individual. It's also fun to read things about the kids then and compare it to the kiddos now. So I am embracing the year ahead. I am looking forward to the things that strike my fancy to write about. I look towards seeing if I can continue to post more in the year to come. My first year of blogging, I was okay at it. I started in late April early May and I had around 80 entries. In 2008 I had around 230 entries. 2009 ended with around 256 entries. This year I am going to try to hit the 300 mark for one year. That's not an entry a day, but it's a goal to keep this record of our lives.

Welcome 2010 to my blog. I look forward to seeing what is in store for me and my family in the coming year. I'm honestly looking forward to seeing what God will do and what's going to be on the horizon for this year.

2009 was for us...

A very good year.

We had no major sickness.

We had no serious disasters.(No flood or other type of thing)

We laughed a lot.

We played a lot.

We took our first REAL family vacation and had a wonderful time.

We learned.

We matured.

We have opened some new paths and closed some old ones.

We LIVED!!!

Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow, SNOW...

Since I watched White Christmas about 4 times on Christmas Eve I have lots of the songs stuck in my head.

One of my favorite songs is the SNOW song...where they sing about how wonderful it will be to be in snow in Vermont. But that's the song...I really don't like snow....in fact it could be said that I almost hate snow.

Don't get me wrong, I like SNOW days, I appreciate that as a teacher I get these days from school. I just don't like SNOW....it's cold, its wet, its cold, its wet, it's slippery, have I mentioned it's COLD...I hate cold. I hate that feeling of being cold, and wet. It's no fun in my book. I love fall and cool weather, I enjoy Spring...I LOVE SUMMER! I would much rather be hot than cold.

It's snowed so much recently. I'm tired of it...if we didn't see another snowflake this winter I would satisfied with the snow we have gotten. However, it looks like there may be alot of snow this winter, and a lot of cold that comes with it....I will have to deal with it. It may be a LONG WINTER!

Laundry, the Kitchen and a Baby

I am working on getting my house in order.

Big jobs can be overwhelming so I am trying to tackle small portions and by the end of the week I should be about done.

LAUNDRY: Laundry is my nemesis...it's always there. Even if I get all the laundry done, by bedtime there is new laundry to do...sometimes I think we should join a nudist colony so we wouldn't have any laundry but seriously that is an "EWWWW" kinda thought...I have real issues with nudity...especially naked dreams and the like...in fact I was always worried in high school that the rapture would happen while I was in the shower and it would take a while and the whole world would see me float into heaven naked...but I digress...all this to say I hate laundry. Well, I have all the laundry sorted and ready to wash, and after Dan leaves for work I get started. I'm trying to do at least 2 loads a day and keep up with it. I also am teaching the kids to put their clothes in the right color bins to help me...hopefully a big step in the right direction.

Kitchen: Today this is my focus, I have reorganized a cabinet, cleaned counters, floors and got it into much better shape. Honestly, this is the easiest room to clean because we use it the most but still it REALLY needed to be done. I need to develop proper and good habits for cleanup as soon as we are done eating. My goal for 2010 is to not go to bed until all dishes are in the dishwasher and the kitchen is ready for the next day...I really need to be more diligent in this area....I can't change the world, but I can change ME!

A BABY: I got to see my friend Crystals new baby today. I went to the hospital after lunch and got to just visit and hold the little darling girl. She is so sweet and precious. So small and tiny and she slept for nearly the whole time I was holding her. There is something just so wonderful about new babies. I love them.

Well, I better get done posting and get back to the laundry...see it's a never ending cycle....still working on my goals for the new year.

Reality Check

True Confession: I AM A MESSY PERSON!

I don't like cleaning, I don't like it, not one bit.

My house needs to be cleaned....really cleaned...it's bad, really bad.

So I will be doing my least favorite activity over the next few days. I have a week off of school and I need to clean house and so I am going to do it. I will focus and look at my house with the eyes of someone else and get it into shape....I may even post before and after pictures of my successes.

So here goes....if you don't here from me for a few days....the house may have won!~

White Christmas

We all know that old Christmas Song...."I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...just like the one's I used to know"

Well, we got one this year. Christmas Eve a storm blew in and it's finally leaving us now!

Christmas Eve is spent at home, we open presents the four of us and hang out and then go to the Christmas Eve service at church. The last few years I have gotten the opportunity to read a Christmas story for the service for the children. I love doing it.

Christmas Eve was a long day....Jaron was very cranky and just wanting to open presents...which I kept making him wait for. He really doesn't like waiting. So he makes it until Daddy wakes up and we spend a cozy afternoon opening gifts and celebrating together...glad for the family time. During the afternoon it begins to sleet and finally changes to snow...I am getting anxious as the day goes by since my sister Wendy was traveling down from Omaha. She made it safely and soon after my mom calls to say that they are not traveling the hour down the road to Pleasanton for the Christmas Eve service where my Dad is pulpit filling, and I am relieved that they are going to be safe. I was disappointed that our church cancelled our service but at the same time I don't like driving in yuckiness so I was also relieved. We had a nice enjoyable evening at home.

Christmas Day and we had a blizzard overnight...there is a lot of snow and it's been drifting all over. We delayed going to my parents until the afternoon to let the snowplows do their job and so it will be safer. At 1:30 we get ready to leave...get the car warmed and off we go...we don't get far before we got stuck in a big snowdrift. A neighbor pulls us out and we make it out of our neighborhood and then I hike back to the house to get the kiddos and we walk to the car after packing a bag to spend the night at Grandma's. We get there with few problems and Dan leaves to head home...he isn't staying at my folks...on his way home he gets stuck multiple times and finally gives up calling me to say he is stuck at Quik Trip and the tires are not helping since they have no tread left. Wendy and I go and rescue him and get him back to our neighborhood.

The kiddos and I stayed overnight with my folks and had a nice time just hanging out. We played games, took pictures and played with our new toys. Sleeping arrangements were a little atypical but it was all good.

Today we spent the day hanging out, watching it continue to snow off and on, and getting new tires for my car. My dad was able to help us get unstuck and over to get new tires...what a difference in driving for me! Bad roads plus bad tires equals a really bad combination! We are home now and looking forward to sleeping in our own beds and hanging out playing Wii together.

It was a great Christmas, one of lost of memories and fun and stress! I am so thankful for all the fun we can have as a family.

Wishing...

There are days I wish that I did Santa and presents from Santa. All our presents are under the tree and wrapped and ready to go.

The kiddos know the True Meaning of Christmas and know that Santa was once a man named Saint Nicholas and that he did good things. They also know that Reindeer don't fly and they don't worry about the Santa side...

the down side is Jaron knows that today is Christmas Eve....or in his mind...I want to open presents NOW!!!! All I have heard all day is things like this...

• I just want to open one now...
• Is it time to now...
• Can I please...just one....I won't ask again I promise....I just want to OPEN ONE PRESENT PLEASE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>PLEASE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Why won't you let me Mom??? WHY???

If we were on Santa watch we could just track him or something and then I could put the presents out later....oh well...maybe he'll take a nap this afternoon.

Little Things Matter

Tonight I got some great snuggles and hugs from my son. We were watching TV and chilling in my room and he just needed that extra one on one time with me. Really made me remember that the little things like snuggling are what they are truly going to remember from their childhoods. It's the little things that matter to them and that they tuck away. They will remember that I took time to talk and cuddle with them. They will remember that I made an effort to go to their schools and help out...those are the important things...not the presents, and stuff but the time and effort I spend with them. These really do matter.

Wrapped with Care

Today I took 2 trips to the kiddos school to help with the Christmas Activites in the gym. I manned the pinecone ornament station. It was fun...tons of kids...but fun!

Between the 2 parties I wrapped almost all of our Christmas Presents. I have 3 or 4 little ones to wrap tomorrow but for the most part I am done.

Tomorrow, we pick up the last few little things since the kiddos are off school. We should pick up Grandpa's present that is enroute to our humble little town and maybe do some holiday baking. I am in the mood for some yummy cookies!

I'm looking forward to all the remaining little things that need to be done between now and Christmas!

One could get used to this

I had a very low key day!

I chilled, napped, ate, read, shopped, and relaxed.

It was just what I needed!

I get another low key day tomorrow!

I could get used to this!

Wahoo!

I am officially done with teaching for the Holiday Season!

I don't have to go back to work until January 4th!

I'm so blessed to be able to be home for awhile!

Countdown to Christmas Vacation

Wahoo...only one for day!

One more day!

Then I get 2 delicious weeks off of school!

My house needs me at home for longer than 2 days!

My kids need me home too and they need a break from school!

The kids have 3 days of school...so I am going to help with their parties next week. It'll be nice to be the mom rather than the teacher!

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Excited!

Funny Thing...

As I was leaving the classroom today, on my way to the laundry room, so I could wash a bucket of washcloths that we use to clean the tables, I peeked down the yellow hall and into the green hall. What do I see but a little boy...touching his toes, with his little bare bottom greeting me from the wide open bathroom!

Gotta love getting mooned by a 3 year old!

Gotta love preschool.

Wow...what a Day!

Okay, it's only 1:45 in the afternoon but wow I have had a super busy day....

Here's a taste of our crazy day...

I wake up late...the house is cold, my bed is warm and I don't want to get up...so I finally drag myself out of bed and on my way to the kids rooms I check the thermostat...WHAT!!!62 degrees??? That's not right, it should be closer to 70...

Get the kids up, they are moving slow since they are cold and not feeling like getting out of their warm beds...Janea also check the thermostat and she is getting a little panicky because it's cold...but we muster through.

At work, my boss is out sick and I am running late and I am worried about my house and the furnace. So I call our landlords and they get me in touch with a heating guy and he can be at my house this afternoon...well Dan is sleeping and I can't get a hold of him and so I am able to get away for the heat..turns out we had a non functioning connector so we were only getting a third of the heating power...fortunately we still had some heat unlike last March when it would not come on at all.

Come back to school...now sitting at my desk during naptime and wondering what is going to happen this evening...but grateful to be going home to a warm house.

Looking forward...

to only 4 more days of school this month!

to sleeping past 6:00 and staying in bed!

to getting to help out at the kids school for their Christmas celebration this year!

to wrapping presents and seeing if people like what I have worked on.

to enjoying hot cocoa and a movie with Dan sometime in the near future...he's been working a lot this month.

to Christmas and celebrating God's gift of Jesus to the world.

to being with my kiddos for extended time and just hanging out!

Baby It's Cold Outside

We are in a cold snap right now....it was 3 degrees when I left the house this morning.

It took at least 10 minutes for my car to warm up today and I was glad that I have a heater in my car....it was so cold!

I had a bad case of Mama guilt as I instructed the kiddos on what to wear to the bus and what time to leave the house so they were not standing in the freezing cold too long this morning. I am thankful we live right across the street from the bus stop but oh it was so cold this morning.

I am so thankful that it will be warming up soon...and that at least at night we are nice and warm in our cozy home. There are cold parts but thankfully I don't have to be in those constantly, like closets, and the laundry room. The back door had ice on the inside window but I have another door that keeps that cold air from coming in the house. So thankful for the warmth of my home!

I am also thankful for my little furnace that gives off the heat and that it is working! Wouldn't want to revist this scenario.

High Strung

Janea is working on the words for the spelling bee tomorrow.

She is a little high strung about it....freaking out and all!

She won the 3rd grade spelling bee and now feels she has to prove herself this year and be the 4th grade champion.

It's a little tiring trying to help her and help her not to freak out.

She could use some prayers that she is in the top 3 in her class. That she stays calm and is able to spell the words well and correctly. That if she isn't in the top 3 that she will remain calm about it.

I Just Dont' Get It

Why do children tattle ALL the time? Do they think I need to know that Jimmy just ate a booger and they think its gross? Do I really care that Susie looked at Sally funny? I just don't get it...at all...it makes me tired!

Why do weather people get you all excited about the weather and stressed and then they are ALWAYS super wrong? They predict BIG SNOW...you get no snow...they predict little snow you get a FOOT! Why must we play God and try to control the weather....I just don't get it.! Why do I fall for all the hooopla every year as well....I don't get that either!

Why does my back hurt when I sleep, why do my feet hurt when I sing, why does my head hurt when I stand??? Shouldn't my head hurt from thinking, my throat from singing and sleeping make all the stuff go away??? I just don't get it!

Why do some mothers dress their kids in like 50 layers and then the day is warm and the parents show up in short sleeves and they still make their kids wear a thick coat and a hat??? They can run around in summer clothes but their kids can't??? I just don't get it???

Why do little kids tell you all day long they are tired and yet when given the opportunity to rest and relax and sleep they fight sleep with every fiber of their little selves??? I just don't get it.

I'm sitting here shaking my head and pondering these pointless questions...why...I don't know I guess I just don't get it!

Yeah Baby...

Tonight I went to Kohls and got the last of my Secret Santa gifts to exchange at work for our Secret Santa.

I got some killer deals at Thanksgiving and spent 72 dollars while saving over 100. Well, I got 10 dollars in Kohls cash on top of my great savings. So tonight I was able to get my Secret Santa some stuff without spending any of my own money! Wahoo!

Love deals like that ...plus the stuff I bought was marked down so it was like the store was giving me stuff for nothing....love it!

I see how coupon shopping can be very addictive...wish I had more time for it all...

Another big step

on the road to independence.

Saturday I took Janea to the library and she got her own library card!*

She filled out all the paperwork herself and got the card and so off we went to find books.

Janea has been reading the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket and she has been waiting for ever for book 11...which hasn't been returned to the school library. Well she got books 11 and 12 of the series and a Dear America book...

We haven't seen much of her for the rest of the weekend as she has been engrossed in her books. She finished book 11 Sunday and is about half way through book 12!

She's such a good reader and I am glad to be able to foster this side of her...

* yes I know that young children can get library cards sooner than at 9 but in our family you have to prove you are careful with books before you are allowed the responsibility of checking them out in your own name! You also become resposible for keeping track of due dates, and paying any fines with your own money...

The Parenting War

Have you ever felt like every parenting moment is a battle?

That the little crabby not cooperative person is going to make you absolutely insane?

Have you ever honestly considered sticking them in a box and shipping them off to another family member somewhere far from you?

Today was full of battles...both literal and figurative.

Jaron decided that he was going to be selfish and crazy.

He was uncooperative and threw a fit for over an hour over stuff.

We are working on not being greedy.

We are working on giving as well as getting.

We are fighting alot...so far the parents are winning...but there were moments today.

Moments that I felt like giving in and saying "fine...okay:"

We persevered...we conquered...we made it through

I'm ready for bed!

Prayer Request

My dad broke his wrist today.

He was playing raquetball and fell and really broke it! The smaller bone is broken in 3 places.

He will be having surgery tomorrow...Friday to have a pin put in.

Please pray that the surgeons will be able to place the pin correctly, that my dad will have minimal pain and that he will have a complete recovery.

Also pray for my mom as she takes him in and waits for him to be done and as she is his nurse for the next few days.

Struggles

I am struggling with my attitude toward a student. He is struggling and acting out and that is making me not want to be his teacher...I don't like this feeling and so I am struggling.

I am struggling with juggling all the balls that are my life right now and I find that I am dropping more of them all the time...I don't like this feeling and so I am struggling.

I am struggling with the fact that I am who I am and sometimes I am not as kind and considerate as I should be and I hurt people who are in my life...I don't like doing that and so I am struggling.

I am struggling with knowing the best things to do, the right timing of things and seeking God's will for choices and decisions that need to be made. I am struggling with the fact that my timing and my husband's timing for things is different and my contentness isn't always his contentness and I am called to be a help to my husband but I feel like a hindrance and so I am struggling.

"Lord, please take my struggles and turn them into things that are beautiful for you. May I be the wife, mother and teacher that I should be. May my life bring beauty and joy to others. May I have the forgiveness of those I have wronged and know the proper way to humbly ask for forgiveness. Make me more than who I am but turn me into someone who is a reflection of Jesus.."

Cyber Monday

I got a great deal today on a present for one of my family!

I love great deals!

I am so UBER EXCITED!

I love finding good deals on things people will really like for Christmas!

I love my family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today we spent the day at home and at Grandma's.

We ate lots of yummy food, and yummy pie made from pumpkins that I had picked myself from the pumpkin patch!

We laughed at cried as we played UNO! The kids, me, Aunt Wendy, and the Grandparents had lots of fun being competetive with one another.

We got our game plan together for buying Christmas presents and starting shopping tomorrow as we decide which crowds to brave and how early to brave them.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be with family. The blessing of a full table, full bellies and leftovers! I am thankful for the home I have to live in, the shelter over our heads and the furnace that helps to keep us warm. I am thankful for my eccentric mother who decided to do something new and exciting to decorate her kitchen for the upcoming Christmas season and my fabulous father who goes along with her craziness and my sister who makes us all laugh so much.

I am thankful for my children, who keep me on my toes, fill my life with joy and stress me out from time to time.

I am thankful for my husband, who loves me and works hard for his family.

I am thankful for my Salvation and the gift of the Savior who died on the cross to take away my sins. I am thankful that my children are learning to know God, I am thankful for the sweet prayers they say and the decisions that they are making at a young age.

I am THANKFUL this Thanksgiving! Thank you God for all the blessings of this life!

Starting a New Chapter

Wow...I can't believe we have started this new phase of life.

We have begun the time of Extra-Curricular Activities. Janea not only is a member of the Student Council at her school she is also joining the newspaper club. She will be staying after school on Thursday afternoons to work on the school newspaper. She will then be taking the late bus home on those days.

I can't believe that my baby girl is so mature and able to be doing all these things. It's remarkable to me how rapidly you go from one phase to another. I'm proud of her and nervous for her at the same time.

Life will really speed up when Jaron is able to do clubs and activities.!! I think I will relish the extra home time I have with him!

Big Words

This weekend the whole family was full of big words.

Some examples of the words we were using with each other:

Desecrate--Jaron used this to talk about the Wii game he was playing with Dan.

Chagrin--me to Dan in car

Exasperated--Janea when referring to her little brother and his constant demanding.

I am so thankful that we are able to use big words with one another but I can also say honestly that when the kids use words we don't typically hear them them use it makes me feel like I am going to bust a gut laughing!

High Speed Weekend

This weekend will be packed full of activities and such.

I'm excited and nervous about all we have to do!

I am so THANKFUL that next week is a Short Week....Only 2 working days! WAHOO!

So I am off to Choir Practice, then home to grab the kids to go shop for a baby gift for a friend, then off to a baby shower, then home...then groceries, laundry, cleaning, and then BED!

The kids are glad for a short week, and so are Dan and I. It will be good to have some quality family time coming up. We need it.

Thanksgiving Feasting

Tonight was the Thanksgiving feast at my school.

It was such a blessing to get to spend time with the school family and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. I got to eat Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, chinese noodles, chinese others stuff, pasta salad, and rolls. Then I got a piece of pumpkin pie...I love fall! I love getting to be thankful.

Today I am thankful for my job...my great boss who so gets me and all my quirks...including my big mouth...my co-teachers, my class and all the fun that we have as a school family.

I also love that my children can go and hang out with my school family at any time.

SO THANKFUL!

I give up

Men, I just don't always understand them.

I am having a Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus kind of day.

I LOVE my husband with all my heart but there are times I just don't get him.

I give up...God understands him....God tells me to love him....God created me to be his helpmate and I will help him....but I don't think I will ever COMPLETELY Understand him.

WW III

We have World War III going on tonight.

Usually my children get along great but tonight they are trying to kill one another.

Oh how I wish Dan were home tonight...

Thankfulness

Here are 15 things I am thankful for as it is the 15th day of November.

1. My Savior Jesus Christ

2. My husband

3. My darling sweet daughter

4. My wonderful son

5. A nice warm cozy house

6. A car to get me where I need to go

7. Food, more food than we can eat in a week

8. A job where I can work with kids

9. My awesome class

10. My great parents

11. My super sister

12. My awesome church

13. Music

14. Washing Machines and Dryer so I don't have to go to the Laundry Mat

15. My dishwasher...so much faster and efficient!

I am thankful for so many things, things I haven't even listed but I am trying to be thankful everyday!~ Thank you Lord for all the blessings you bestow upon me!

That's my Girl!

Jaron is wanting to put up Christmas stuff. He so wants to set up the tree and decorate.

Well, this momma doesn't put up Christmas stuff until THANKSGIVING is Over...so we will wait until the end of the month and then put up our Christmas decorations.

Jaron goes to Janea and says..."Hey, you wanna put up Christmas Stuff?"

She replies" Are you kidding...it's not even Thanksgiving yet!"

That's my girl! I love it!

Top 5 for Friday

It's been awhile since I made a Top 5 so here goes for today!

1. The weather has been gorgeous all week. Not too hot or too cold. May be a good evening to go to the park.

2. FRIDAY!!! My favorite day of the week!

3. No homework tonight for the kiddos...we all get a night off!

4. Dan is home! Yee-haw for the whole family being home together!

5. Can stay up later know I can sleep in in the morning...wahoo!

Just Because

Dan called me tonight on his break...Just because!

It makes me happy!

Working Mom Blues

There is more that I would like to do today around the house.

It's already 8:20pm, the kids are in bed, homework is done, we went to McDonalds night for school, got stuff for our Operation Christmas Child boxes and for leader appreciation night tomorrow. There is household stuff I want to do...organizing and sorting, fixing and such.

That will have to wait for another day. We had other priorities and I have to be at work early tomorrow so I can't be up all night long fixing things. It's the working mom blues, something always has to be put aside for something else.

On a plus note, I have been able to maintain the neatness of my kitchen over the last few days and that is a good step in the right direction for better household habits! Gotta keep myself on track!

Can you Hear me Now???

Ever feel like you have to repeat everything you say?

Ever feel like the person on the other end isn't really hearing you?

I am there right now with the 4 year olds in my class. Sometimes I think they have no ears! I have been repeating myself all day so much that I feel like a broken record.

I think we do that to God sometimes. We are the four year old who is half listening or not listening at all to what He has to say. I am so thankful that God has infinite patience and love and doesn't feel the way I feel with my class sometimes. He is always ready to listen to me even if I am not always ready to listen to Him!

I am striving to listen and hear what God has to say to me today! How about you?

So much Better!

I am feeling so much better!

My kitchen is the cleanest it has been in a month...it's nice and clean, I can cook in it, I can wash dishes, and I can move around without tripping! What a nice feeling a nice clean kitchen is!

My stress level is much reduced and I got to reconnect with Dan last night. We went on a date while the kids when to Grandma's house! We went to Famous Dave's( so yummy!) and then we went to Barnes and Nobles to wander around the bookstore. I got 2 new books, picked up a present for Janea for Christmas and Dan got a book he had been wanting for awhile!

Today's jobs are to finish straightening up the house, get the laundry and grocery shopping done and get ready for the week ahead!

Life is good!

Off to a Good Start!

This morning is off to a good start. I am up, got my morning caffiene and got to have a chat with one of my best friends who is serving as a Missionary in the Phillippines! It was so good to talk with her!

Now I am off to clean my house, do a little bit of shopping and then I get to have a date tonight with my man!

It's going to be a good day!

Teaching is Hard

If you are reading this thank a teacher.

If you can add numbers together, thank a teacher.

If you can create a sentence and spell words, thank a teacher.

If you can figure out how to solve a problem, thank a teacher.

Teaching is a hard job. Teaching is a fun job. Teaching is a challenge at times. Teaching is a joy at times.

Teaching is more than just being good with kids. Teaching is being able to explain something so that another person can effectively understand it.

Teaching is my career and I love it...but it's a HARD JOB! It's not for wimps, it's not easy and I am super grateful for all my teachers and all the Hard work that they poured into me to make me the teacher that I am!

Something Crazy and Fun

My pirate name is:

Captain Bess Cash

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You're musical, and you've got a certain style if not flair. You'll do just fine. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Where did my baby go?

I can't believe how old my kids are. They are 9 years old and 7 years old. They are more responsible than they have ever been and still irresponsible as well.

Janea is on Student Council at her school this year. That's so grown up sounding. She's a member of STUCO. That makes her old. I still can't get over how she is in 4th grade! That's unbelieveable to me, she used to be in diapers and talking to Dora on the TV. Now she's into Disney Channel and more mature shows.

Jaron is growing up as well. He is in first grade and works on his homework when told and completes his work in a timely fashion with few complaints. In my mind he should still be in Preschool. He shouldn't be able to do 2nd grade math but he can! He's growing up so fast too.

I'm missing my babies, and yet I don't ever want to give birth to another baby. I am glad to be out of diapers and waking up in the middle of the night to meet a small one's needs. I like getting to sleep in on Saturdays and let my kids go play outside without having to watch their every step! So I guess it's a good thing that they are growing up and maturing. If they were to stay a baby forever I would be just as worried and stressed just about different things. I like my big kids!

Whew...where did October go?

I can't believe it's November already! This year is flying by and with school in session it seems to be going even faster than normal!

We had a great weekend. We went to the park on Saturday to take family pictures. It's literally been since Janea was a baby that we have set aside time to take a true family picture. We have had pictures for church websites and one's taken by ourselves and other family people but not ones where we really thought about it all.

One of my AWANA leaders is a Calvary student and wonderful photographer and she was willing to go with us to an area park and take some great shots of all of us. I am so pleased with the results and will be posting some of the pictures really soon.

Before we got pictures done I wanted to make sure that we would all coordinate together. As I was pulling clothing out of the closests and laying them next to one another I was getting more and more frustrated. Nothing coordinated really well and it would look terrible together. Dan was so sweet and told me to go and get Janea a new shirt to coordinate and look for a piece for Jaron as well. So I rushed out to buy her something appropriate and ended up getting both kids and myself something to coordinate with the shirt I had picked out for Dan. I think the end result really works and I am pleased. Plus, I got a new sweater out of the deal...score one for me!

Since we don't really do Halloween, the kids just hung out at home Saturday night...and Jaron was in bed before 8...I was a little worried since it was time change weekend, but he slept good until about the normal time the next morning...he was definitely all recharged and raring to go on Sunday! All in all it was a great weekend full of lots of quality family time.

I am so pleased!

Birthday....Birthday...Birthday!

I'm a little late in posting about Jaron's birthday. This ended up being a very busy week in the life of the Jonathan's. I'll blog more about that later but to Jaron!
My Baby turned 7 on Monday. I am not old enough to have a 7 year old!..Jaron had a great birthday. On Sunday we opened presents with Daddy and then went and saw ASTROBOY at the movies. Movies are a treat for us as we don't go that often. After the movie we went to Culvers to enjoy yummy frozen custard! We bought him some outside toys and it rained all day Sunday so he got to use his new toys on his Actual birthday! We had a fun birthday party over at Grandma and Grandpas house. Here are a few pictures from our house. I forgot to take the camera to Grandmas so those pictures are on her camera and I will post them when I get them.

All Right! A New Razor Scooter!
Fun little toys to go with our new Wii Remote and hover toy.

Getting to ride our scooter on a beautiful fall day.

This is AWESOME MOM!

Now that we have 2 scooters the kids don't have to take turns and can have fun riding around together!

Oh how we Laugh

Homework is my least favorite thing to do with my kids...I hate it.

Last night, Jaron did not want to do his homework. He wanted to watch TV and have it magically finish itself. Well, I don't believe in magic and I won't do it for him so we sat together and finished it.

The whole time Janea and I are making up silly songs for Jaron as he completes his work. And he laughed...he has this big belly laugh that makes the whole world smile! He laughed, and laughed and laughed and hour later all the work was completely done...

It would have gotten done faster without the laughter but we all had so much fun just hanging out together that I relish the time!

My sides hurt from laughing so hard!

Finding Joy in the Small Things

I can smile when I see my children interacting.

I can laugh at silly things they say or do.

I can relish a hug or an I love you spoken from a heart of love.

I can prompt for a Thankyou in order to teach a heart of gratitude.

I can be helpful even though I may be tired.

I can do things because they are the right thing to do.

I can be the wife and mother that God would have me to be!

I can Love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind!

Sometimes We Hurt

This week my heart has been hurting.

When you teach kids they become your kids.(or at least they do for me) You love them, you laugh with them, they can make you cry and they bring you joy. You have those moments where your exasperated but that goes away when they have a great day and you accomplish so much. And then May comes and you pass them on for the next teacher to experience the same joy that you felt. By May, you sometimes are more than ready for them to go!

Sometimes, the day you have to pass them on comes earlier than you would like. Families move, change schools, or have other circumstances where they have to leave your classroom. It never fails too that this is that special child that really has wormed their way into your heart and is good, sweet, and challenging all at the same time and you are disappointed that they are the one that is leaving.

This happened this week. One of the three girls in my class had her last day at school on Thursday. On top of that, another parent from another grade had caused trouble causing me to have to be the sub for the First and Second grade class and my students had to join other teachers instead of getting to be with me, so I didn't get to have that last day with my student. I did join them for the good-bye party at the end of the day and get my hugs and the like, but I didn't get to have my kids make her good bye cards and pictures, we didn't get to prepare the other children that one of their classmates is leaving, we didn't get true closure.

I am so angry inside right now. I am angry that another parent can't see past the end of their nose and realize that his child is not the only child in the world. We all want the best for our kids, we do, I am no exception. However, I approach school decisions with the mindset that I know that the school is doing what is best for the MAJORITY of the children that are entrusted to their care. It is not my place to complain about how the school is run. I would never impose my will on them. His decision to make an issue of something, where an issue was not needed, caused pain on many different levels. My students, me, and others will be affected by his decision.

So I am hurting. I am sad. I am angry. I am disappointed. I need to remember that God is bigger than this and He can take the hurt away. I need to forgive that parent who I am angry with right now and pray that he starts to see that his actions effect others. I need to head to school Monday, ready to jump into the day and meet the needs of the 9 children that are in my class and see that they do their very best!

DA DA DA DAHH!!!!

Super Teacher to the rescue....she can wipe snotty noses with a single tissue, take care of mild disputes without blinking and teach 3 grades all at the same time with no breaks during her day!

DA DA DA DAHH!!!

Super Mommy to the rescue...she can help with homework, cause big belly laugh giggles and have fun with her kids all while being super tired and not losing it!

DA DA DA DAHH!!

Super Wifey to the rescue...she can check on new licsense plates for a vehicle, cook yummy food and pumpkin bread for her hard working spouse and make sure everyone has clean clothes!

DA DA DA DAHH!!!

Boy I am really tired...but I feel good for what I have accomplished over the last couple of days! I don't usually brag on myself but I went around the classroom singing da da da dahh...and just had to share it on my blog...but now if you excuse me I am heading to bed! Supermom, teacher and wifey all need a good nights sleep!

Beyond Exhausted

This has been an exhausting week and it's only Tuesday.

I have been teaching my class as well as teaching the first and second graders.

I have been teaching during my normal planning periods.

I have been getting any breaks at all.

I'm super tired.

My Weekend Plans

I'm posting these in hopes that I will feel motivated to finish my projects this weekend. I'm hoping that I won't be filled with chagrin as to not having finished a project.

* Laundry washed, folded and put away.

* All dishes washed and put away

* Garbage cans emptied and relined for as much stuff as I need to throw away.

*Living Room cleaned, organized and vacuummed.

* Refrigerator cleaned out and the weird smell located and disposed of

* Groceries purchased, banking done, and all things put away.

* Meal plan with Dan to help him with meals this week.

* Start the kids homework packets

* Quality couple time for the man and myself.

H1N1 Information

Here is a link to a blog that has an interesting video warning of the dangers of the Vaccine for H1N1. I am not ant-vaccine for important things but I do feel that Flu Vaccines are not worthwhile for me or my family and this one is not worthwhile for anyone. Check out the post below for more information

Desperately Seeking Shelly: Because I Had To Share

God Laughs

I think that God laughs at the futility of man. Take for instance the weather.

For years we have heard about "GLOBAL WARMING" and how we need to do all this stuff to make sure that we don't overheat the Earth. That we are causing damage and destruction at a rate never before seen and that it needs to stop before everything melts and all animals die.

Don't get me wrong. I believe that man is a very bad steward of the wonderful creation that God gave us. We treat the Earth badly and have caused the destruction of many things and we don't treat it the way God intended. However the Earth has changed throughout history and we don't have any control over it...God is in control of ALL THINGS.

Now back to the weather. We are having the coldest October that I can remember. I am dressing in layers and warm clothes everyday. I am making sure that my kids are warm enough at the bus stop and am soon going to be getting them hats and gloves. So I think that God is laughing at all the fear of Global Warming and is giving us some very cold weather to deal with. We may be in store for a wet and cold winter this winter.

Makes me look forward to hot tea, warm blankets, warm socks and cozy jammies.

A Case of Bad Attitude

I'm facing a case of bad attitude.

I'm feeling a little underappreciated and so I am finding fault with others.

I'm convinced my attitude is the right one.

I know my attitude is wrong and sinful and needs to change.

I'm asking God for help with this feeling.

I'm having to remember that my faults are big and to take the plank out of my eye before I remove the specks of others.

I'm learning and growing.

Priceless

Cost to rent a school bus...55 dollars an hour.


Cost to enter the pumpkin patch 5 dollars a person.


Pain in joints, back and feet...cost of a bottle of ibuprofen..5 dollars

Thank you Mrs. Jonathan from happy content children and parents....Priceless.


It's days like today that while I hate the hassle of field trips and the planning involved, makes for a great day and a lot of great memories from my class. I love my job!

Some things I'm Learning

God is Bigger than Anything...some friends of mine have really been sharing ways that God is so much bigger and even though I know it...seeing it makes it so much more real in so many ways.

To call my challenges Blessings...puts a positive spin on a hard situation and creates an opportunity to see the good even in bad things.

Prayer is such a comfort to the soul. I have been praying for friends and families and it's constant, there is no AMEN at the end rather a continuous talk with God about the little things...giving it to him means that worry is less and the stress is less it's such a true comfort.

My little changes make a big difference on those around me. I can make a positive impact on those around me through the little things...sometimes a bigger impact than I thought I was making.

My children can challenge me to grow in new and hard ways and I am both moved and a little afraid of these new areas in life. As they grow and change I too have to grow, change and adapt.

Brr..a chill in the air...

Makes my feet really cold. The days are growing shorter, the temperatures are cooler and we are in the middle of a beautiful fall pattern.

The days get warm enough but the nights are nice and cool. Really good sleeping weather, really not good waking up weather but I am adapting to the cool mornings and trying to make it less stressful for me by laying out clothes and making the kids lunches so that all I have to add is sandwiches and cheese in the morning.

Last night I made homemade pumpkin bread with the pumpkin we pureed from the pumpkin patch...it's all gone already. I took one loaf to work to share, Dan ate an entire loaf by himself, and I shared a loaf with my parents. It was so good I want to make more already but I will wait till later this week.

The kids were awesome tonight. They worked on homework with out complaining and they are playing so nicely together. I am truly a blessed mom to have such awesome kids. School is going decently and life is moving at a rapid clip. I am so thankful for a decent paying job, a school where my children are doing well, and a roof over my head and a nice warm bed to climb into at night.

Dan is at work and we miss him but I am working on keeping him on his meal schedule...he's doing well at sticking to eating healthy and I am very proud of him. He's really working hard at it. He's shown real dedication and I think he is really seeing the benefits.

Well, that's a rundown...it's almost bedtime and I need to get the kids to bed. So I am off to do the mom thing...

A weird conversation

"Mom?"

"Yes, Jaron?"

"What Color am I?"

"Your white, just like me."

"Not too white right?"

"No, your just the right amount of white."

"Good...that's what I thought...."

End of conversation...back to business as usual.

Family Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Janea and Mommy and Mr. Scarecrow
Janea is getting bigger! She is so tall!

Jaron is approaching 7 years old!

The family dressed for Trick or Treat!

Janea and Jaron are raring to go!

Running around the pumpkin patch!

My fabulous kids! Sitting in the Pumpkin Patch!

Jaron loves October! My birthday boy is the pumpkin king!

What about this one? It looks good!

God's beautiful Creation! The beauty of a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch!

Soapbox

Excuse me for a moment while I have a soapbox moment.

*Steps Up*

I am tired of parents who do not parent their kids. There are 2 types of parents the overparent and the underparent. Their are other parent types too but I am not bothered by them so I am going to focus on the 2 that are especially bothering me at the moment. Most parents I meet do not fit into these categories but there are a few that I meet that I feel I really need to address.

First up the Overparent! They don't just raise a child, they micro manage them! Every little things is stressed and worried over. These children are growing up to be unhealthy emotionally smothered children. They can't do anything by themselves. They are afraid and scared of every little thing. They go crazy when given some freedom because they don't know what to do with themselves. These are the children that need help with every problem on a paper because they are afraid of getting it wrong. These children also will break down and freak out if anything in their "perfect" world is not perfect.

Secondly, the Underparent. This is the parent who feels that it is my job as the teacher to teach the child EVERYTHING that they need to know. These parents are the ones who take no interest in the things going on in the classroom. They never know what is going on and they are also the ones who are the most offended when I point out an area where there child is deficient. They allow their child to run the show. If the child wants something they may say no for a few moments but eventually the child knows that they can drive the parent crazy enough and get exactly what they want. These parents are also frustrated by lack of progress at school and refuse to work on anything extra at home since it must be something wrong with the classroom...not the child.

Parents, you need to learn that you are the PARENT...your child is resilient, loving, fun and a CHILD. You do not need your child to be your friend. They are your child, and they do childish things, they need guidance and love and if I offend you sorry but children need DISCIPLINE. It's not ABUSE its DISCIPLINE. The word NO never hurt anyone. Children need to be RESPECTFUL of authority. They need to know that they may not hit, scratch, kick or bite to get their way. They need to be GUIDED and Shown how to solve problems through talking and that SORRY doesn't fix everything but it's a good place to start. Playing with your child is important but so is teaching them to be a functioning adult. Don't pick up after them, teach them to clean up. Don't feed them...when they are hungry they will eat! Don't dress them when they are old enough to get their clothes on themselves...it may take extra time but they can do it. Parents, please parent your kids....they are only little for a while and you can't do everything for them for the rest of their lives.

I know that sometimes there are problems and concerns such as genuine disibillities and the like but these are the exceptions not the rule. Its important to help the next generation grow up to be competent adults!

*Steps Down*

Sorry....but this has been bothering me for awhile...had to get it off my chest!

Shaggy No More

Tonight, I went and got my hair cut. I got quite a bit taken off and my hair cut just cleaned up a ton. It's so much better! Feels much more manageable.

Janea went with me and she got an all over trim and got her ends cleaned up.

After our hair cuts we went over to target where we picked up a few things in the dollar section and then got Janea 2 new pairs of jeans and 2 new shirts for fall. Gotta love a sale!

We had a nice time as mother and daughter...don't get too much one on one time with my girlie!

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!

Poor Kid

Jaron is just being put through the wringer right now.

Not only are his allergies really bad and he is struggling with his asthma, he also was attacked by a mosquito or other biting bug. In a very uncomfortable spot.

Poor kid...he's really swollen and in a little bit of pain...and so it's been quite uncomfortable for him.

When it rains it pours sometimes!

A New Treatment

This morning we tried a new longer lasting allergy medicine...grape flavored liquid...in conjunction with a breathing treatment.

So far so good, Jaron made it through school today and has an appetite this afternoon and has been working and playing.

I'm praying this helps with the allergies which will make him less likely to have an asthma attack.

He's still coughing but it sounds different then yesterday so that is a really good thing.

Thanks for praying for my little man

I hate Allergies

Jaron has allergies.

Jaron has allergy induced asthma.

Jaron has breathing trouble today from his allergy induced asthma.

Jaron is sleeping already...it's only 7:15.

Jaron took allergy medicine willingly.

Jaron is not himself.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words.

Right after I snapped this photo...Jaron caught me and said"Mom, why do you always take my picture when I am doing something crazy?"

I love my son but he does some interesting things! He spent at least 5 minutes playing with the side mirror of my car after we got home from going out for dinner last night!

Who could it be???

Who can tackle unfinished homework with the boy during the evenings...

Who can run bath water and bathe both kids in a single bound...

Who can make a trip to the UPS store to check if that thing we ordered is in...

Who can tackle the living room and laundry before taking a shower...

Who is super tired and just realized she has really stinky feet...

Who is thinking she needs a pedicure this weekend...

SUPERCOOL MOM THAT's WHO!!!!

Worry, Worry, Worry

Janea is worried today. She has a big test in Science today over geology.

She brought her midterm grades home this week and her science grade is a B...so close to an A it's ridiculous but now she is stressed that she is going to fail the test and get a low grade and be placed on probation and not be allowed to be on Student Council. She is all worked up and making herself really stressed about something that normally isn't a very big deal at all.

I have been praying that she will remember what she knows, that she will have confidence as she takes the test and that her worries will go away.

She is so motivated to be perfect that little things often make her stress more than they should. It makes for some harder parenting moments.

A Park Outing

Usually when I get home from work I don't go anywhere unless I have too. Sometime we run an errand or two and every Wednesday night is AWANA but other than that I like to be at home for awhile. I like taking it easy and relaxing with the kids. Tonight was different. The kids wanted to go to the park in the neighborhood. I knew it wasn't what I wanted to do but I also knew it was the right thing today so off we went to the park.
Janea has a scooter and Jaron likes to ride it so he got to ride it all the way to the park. Once we got there he had so much fun riding up and down the hill as fast as he could. He named it the Maximus hill! After awhile we went over to the basketball court where Janea was already shooting baskets. We had fun shooting around for a little while before we walked back home. Janea got to ride the scooter home since she didn't ride to the park and she did beat us home, and then informed me that we took too long and she was bored!
I am thankful to spend quality fun time with the kids and the exercise did me some good too. Now it's dinner, showers, homework and bedtime!

Fall is in the Air!

I woke up this morning on the first day of fall and had a smile on my face.

I love fall. I love the colors, smells and fun that can be had in the fall. I am looking forward to making apple goodies, gingerbread, and pumpkin cookies, bread and pie!

I am so happy that it feels like fall today too. It's hard to get into fall when it's really warm outside. Today is a cloudy, cool day with the promise of warmer temps tomorrow with nice cool evenings. I am totally enjoying it!

Janea's Posters

Janea is running for Student Council President and had to make election posters for the election. Here are the two posters we made for her to hang up before the election. Janea and I made the monkey one and Dan worked on the wordsearch one! We think they look really good. Keep your fingers crossed for the election on Friday!

Oh What a Beautiful Morning...

Oh What a Beautiful Day! I've gotta Beautiful Feeling...Everything is going my way!"

Well, I'm not from Oklahoma and there is no soundtrack playing in the background but it was such a beautiful morning this morning as I drove into work. The sun had been up for only a few minutes and the sky was a beautiful dark grayish blue with pink stripes that gradually turned to yellow.

I drive a road with Sunflower fields and the fields were covered with a white mist that seem to just hover over the blossoms...and the quiet was wonderful.

I usually listen to the radio on my way to work but this morning I just relished the silence and the view. It was a beautiful misty morning!

Poor Little Man

Jaron's allergies are bad right now.

His poor throat and tongue are in hyper mode and swelling. He just looks like he is pain and random body parts are swelling at random times. His eyes keep getting red and puffy and it just makes me feel so bad.

I am praying that the pollen count goes down soon since he is just miserable...and he won't admit it.

Best Laid Plans

I love what I do for a living. I really do! I love taking little minds and sculpting them and shaping them and seeing new concepts grow and take root. I love planning that lesson or activity that is hands on, fun, and exciting. I love everything about except the cleaning up afterwards.

Today for example, this week we are studying apples. So I had each student bring in apples to use for various activities. I have a large semi-circle table in my room and we all sat around the table and experienced apples. We smelled them, we tasted them, we felt them we cut them we just enjoyed apples. Then we made applesauce with a bag of apples. Even now I am sitting in my classroom smelling the crockpot full of apples cooking to be made into applesauce. I wish you could smell it! It smells so yummy! The kids are very excited too because they thought applesauce only comes from cans or jars!

I thought that cleaning up after my kids was hard....cleaning up after 9 pre-k kids who have been eating apples and such is hard work! Took quite awhile! I'm definitely going to be tired tonight!

Changes

This week is bringing a change for the family.

We all are getting new phones! We decided that it was time for Janea to have a phone for when they are home with daddy and I am at work. Dan's phone gave us a hassle last month and it's now more cost effective for us to have a family plan then our pay as you go. Pay as you go worked for awhile but now it's time to have the full family plan. My phone number will be changing this week. I will try and make sure that I get it out to the people who need it but if you need it please let me know in the comments or by email so that I can get it too you.

A Song, a Store, and a Stupid Computer

Yesterday, I needed to get a song to sing this morning in church. The whole family loaded up the car and off to Mardel we went to buy a track for me, some student council poster stuff for Janea and some classroom stuff. I picked the song "How Can I Keep From Singing" that Chris Tomlin sings. This song has ministered to me greatly and I enjoyed singing it this morning.

We also needed lunch stuff, so since we were in Overland Park we decided to stop at Costco to get the items we needed. I'm very proud of us since we didn't spend as much as we usually spend and only got the things that we really needed. We then stopped at CiCi's pizza for dinner since in September kids eat free with a complete adult purchase.

When we got home I decided to work on getting us a new cell phone plan and get all ready to purchase and it won't let me...I don't know why it won't but now we have to head to the Cell phone store today to work on getting new phones....grrr...such a pain. It'll be good to have new phones but it really is a pain in the bottom! So one busy day of our weekend down, another busy day to go and then back to the regular week.

Back to School Fun Night

Last night we took the kids to the Back to School Fun Night at their school. We had a good time playing the little carnival games and watching the teachers get all wet in the soak tank...I'm so glad it wasn't me! I also got the opportunity to talk with Janea's teacher about how she is doing and some of the things that may be in store for her this year. I am really impressed with how together, friendly and all around caring Mrs. Ballinger is. As we were at a booth, the Focus room teacher congratulates Janea on being chosen to be on the Student Council...which I didn't know...I had gotten home from work just minutes before we left for the School Activity. She is now going to run for President of the Student Council.
My baby is growing up so fast. I can't believe how much more mature she is and they way that she is starting to grow up and become much more aware of things around her. She still has her issues and attitudes but I am starting to see a much different side of Janea. She definitely is a leader and it's nice to see her get opportunites to use and develop those skills. I'm so Proud of her!

A Good Start

I had a great beginning to my day!

My buddy Katy who is in the Phillipines called me!

We had a short chat but it was so nice to hear her voice and to talk to her!

She is doing good and has found a way to call home for a decent rate!

Well, I am off to school but I had to share about getting to talk to a good friend today!

Hide em in my Heart

"I'm gonna take God's promises and hide them in my heart! So I won't forget I'm going to hide them in my heart! I'm gonna take God's promises and hide them in my heart, hide em in my heart"...sung to a nice tune...

Tonight at AWANA I talked about Psalm 119 and the verse about Hiding God's Word in our hearts that we might not sin. I love the fact that AWANA has kids memorize the Word of God. It's so important! I still remember countless verses that I have memorized through the years and I am able to recall them when I need too.

It's my goal this year in AWANA to stress the importance of hiding the Word of God in our hearts. It's so important to have that foundation!

It's what day?

I woke up this morning absolutely convinced that it was Tuesday!

It's not Tuesday it's Wednesday but the Labor Day holiday has be all thrown off. So all day I keep needing to remind myself that it is Wednesday not Tuesday...It's a really good thing that I remembered this morning since we have AWANA tonight and that would be a really bad thing to miss since this is the kick-off night!

Dan vs Food

Friday Night we went to Buffalo Wild Wings to see if Dan could beat the Blazing Challenge! It's basically eat 12 Blazing wings in under 6 minutes. Well, Dan did it! He ate all 12 wings in 4:30 seconds...and got a T-shirt to commerate the experience! Here are some pictures of Dan and the kids as they celebrated Dan's victory! Yeah Daddy!


The Back of Dan's Shirt!

SO Thankful for the Weekend

This has been a super busy week and I am so glad it's Friday

I'll go into more detail later but I am just glad for the 3 day weekend to just spend time with Dan and the kiddos. It's looking like ideal weather so we are going to have to get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature this weekend.

Life is busy, life is good, life is Life and I am trying to live it up!

Very much busy day

I just stopped for the day! It's been a very much busy day. The kids school had Curriculum night and that is an important way for me to be part of their education process so I went. I am very glad I did. Meetings in the evenings make me tired though and I am glad that it is time to head to bed so that I can deal with tomorrow's stuff tomorrow and relax!

In my classroom it was all about seeing. Tomorrow we are going to be focusing on hearing or smelling...haven't completely decided yet...should be another good day!