About a week ago, I bought a Barbie toy for the little girl on our church's Angel Tree. I had it sitting in the gift bag in the kitchen and Ryan grabbed it, brought it to me, and asked me to open the Barbie so he could play with it. After lots of fighting and tears, I finally got the box away from him and explained that it was for a little girl who isn't getting much for Christmas, and proceeded to hide the toy -- out of sight, out of mind. Then, in true fatherly fashion, Bud went on to explain to him that little boys don't play with Barbies. They are for girls only. And that was the end of that.
I thought Ryan had forgotten about it until yesterday. Out of the blue, he asked me about it. Here was our conversation:
Ryan: "Mom, do they have Barbies for boys?"
Me: "No."
Ryan: "Why not?"
Me: "Because they don't make Barbies for boys, only girls. Why? Do you want one?"
Ryan: "Yes."
Me: "Why do you want a Barbie?"
Ryan: "Because they're bootiful!"
Well, ok. Now it's not so bad. At least he wants them because he thinks they're beautiful, and not because he wants to brush their hair and try cute high heels on them. Whew!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Cold and Rain - Perfect for Deer Hunts & Graduation??
I didn't think I'd be saying this while Ryan is only 3 years old, but I am. He went on his first deer hunt today with JD and Daddy. It was rainy and cold and Bud didn't think they'd see anything, but they did and he actually shot 2 deer - a doe and a small buck. The doe ran after she got shot, but didn't go far. The boys went out and had their first experience tracking a deer - they were so excited when they found her.
Then they each held a leg while Bud gutted the deer. They held up really well watching all that (I don't think I could have done that).
But all that aside, we were so proud of Kelli! 12 of us sat through the rain and cold just to watch the 5 second moment when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. I couldn't help but cry a little bit. I know how much dedication it takes to finish school while working full time and raising children. It's something that many people just give up on, but Kelli didn't. She pushed through even when she didn't want to, and finally got to this day! And the coolest thing? She never has to go back to school again.
Then they each held a leg while Bud gutted the deer. They held up really well watching all that (I don't think I could have done that).
While they were busy deer hunting, I went to Kelli's graduation. After many years of dedication and perseverence, she graduated from the University of Incarnate Word. She got a B.S. in Business Administration. We have all been looking forward to this day for a long time and it will definitely be a day to remember. One that we'll look back at and laugh one of these days.
UIW holds their graduation ceremonies on their football field. Uncovered football field. Rain or Shine. And rain it did. All day long. It was about 45 degrees and it rained the entire time. We thought for sure that they'd speed up the ceremony, cut all the pre-presentations and speeches short, but they didn't. I couldn't believe it, but I was also surprised when the crowd started booing. It's amazing how quickly adults turn into children when they're put into a situation like that. There was complaining and whining and booing when it didn't go our way. It was actually kinda comical.
But all that aside, we were so proud of Kelli! 12 of us sat through the rain and cold just to watch the 5 second moment when she walked across the stage to receive her diploma. I couldn't help but cry a little bit. I know how much dedication it takes to finish school while working full time and raising children. It's something that many people just give up on, but Kelli didn't. She pushed through even when she didn't want to, and finally got to this day! And the coolest thing? She never has to go back to school again.
Yay Kelli! Class of 2011!!!
Update 12/14/11 --- The UIW made an official apology to the graduates for not having a back-up plan and ruining this special day for so many people who've worked hard for it. They refunded $60 of the $100 graduation fee and plan to hold a reception for the graduates in January. Kelli's response: "I'm not going to that - I've already graduated and don't need another party." She's in good spirits about it. While it was a wet, cold day, it was very memorable!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
The Adventures of Zerg
The boys look forward to finding Zerg each morning when they wake up. Except that they've taken to calling him "that crazy elf" instead of Zerg.
Here are some of his recent adventures:
Here are some of his recent adventures:
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| In the candy bowl. |
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| Hanging out in our new Christmas tree. |
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| Taking target practice. |
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| Unrolling the toilet paper. |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Zerg's 1st Night at the Blairs
Just as he promised, Zerg brought back some snow-covered donuts from the North Pole for the boys. When they woke up this morning, they immediately walked out and started to look for Zerg. Ryan found him first and immediately wanted to grab him, but we quickly reminded him that Zerg could lose his magical powers if he was touched.
So Ryan left him alone and went over to enjoy his snow-covered donuts. (He put them around his eyes like they were binoculars, which explains the white eyebrows!)
JD wasn't all that crazy about the elf's "hiding place" because he followed me in the kitchen and this was our conversation:
JD: "So that's the best he could do?"
Me: "What?"
JD: "That was the best hiding place he could find?"
Me: "Well, he still needs to be able to watch you guys, so he can't be totally hidden."
JD: "I think he must have lost some of his magical powers when we touched him last night."
That kid is way too smart for his own good. . . . .and I guess Zerg needs to think a little bit harder about where he "hides" tonight. Haha!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Elf on a Shelf
We are starting another new tradition this year. Elf on the Shelf. http://www.elfontheshelf.com/
I heard about this from my friend Erica Cerwin - she has done this with her girls for the last several years, and when she told me about it last year, I knew I wanted to start it this year now that the boys are old enough.
So I "wrote to Santa" and asked him to send us an elf. We got the Elf on the Shelf kit today which includes a book and an elf. While the boys were taking a bath, I told them that I heard a jingling noise in the front and when I opened the door, there was something out there for them. They got all excited, and JD got a little nervous - he doesn't like it when he doesn't know what to expect. I assured him it was good and nothing to be scared of, but he was still a little hesistant, so he very carefully opened the door. That's when he saw the wrapped present with a note on top, and his eyes lit up.
They brought the present inside, sat down and tore into the box. They thought the elf was so cute and wanted to play with him. I explained that they're really not allowed to touch the elf or he could lose his Christmas magic. We read the book together and we learned that the elf visits Santa at the North Pole each night and gives him a report on JD & Ryan - if they've been naughty or nice that day.
The note from the elf said that they have to listen to mom and dad, share with others, play nice and say their prayers each night. And each night the elf will also come out to play and when they wake up in the morning, they have to find him. But they can't touch him!!!
Part of our assignment tonight was to name our elf. When I asked the boys, Ryan said we should name him "Jesus." I don't want to confuse the real Jesus with an elf so I encouraged them to come up with another name, and JD came up with "Zerg." And so it is, our own special elf named "Zerg." I love it!
Afterward, JD said that he was so happy that Santa sent such a nice gift and he wanted to do something nice for Santa too. So he asked me to draw a picture of Santa and Mrs. Claus so he could color them and write their names. So we left a note for Zerg, asking him to deliver the pictures to Santa and Mrs. Claus when he sees them tonight.
I heard about this from my friend Erica Cerwin - she has done this with her girls for the last several years, and when she told me about it last year, I knew I wanted to start it this year now that the boys are old enough.
So I "wrote to Santa" and asked him to send us an elf. We got the Elf on the Shelf kit today which includes a book and an elf. While the boys were taking a bath, I told them that I heard a jingling noise in the front and when I opened the door, there was something out there for them. They got all excited, and JD got a little nervous - he doesn't like it when he doesn't know what to expect. I assured him it was good and nothing to be scared of, but he was still a little hesistant, so he very carefully opened the door. That's when he saw the wrapped present with a note on top, and his eyes lit up.
They brought the present inside, sat down and tore into the box. They thought the elf was so cute and wanted to play with him. I explained that they're really not allowed to touch the elf or he could lose his Christmas magic. We read the book together and we learned that the elf visits Santa at the North Pole each night and gives him a report on JD & Ryan - if they've been naughty or nice that day.
The note from the elf said that they have to listen to mom and dad, share with others, play nice and say their prayers each night. And each night the elf will also come out to play and when they wake up in the morning, they have to find him. But they can't touch him!!!
Part of our assignment tonight was to name our elf. When I asked the boys, Ryan said we should name him "Jesus." I don't want to confuse the real Jesus with an elf so I encouraged them to come up with another name, and JD came up with "Zerg." And so it is, our own special elf named "Zerg." I love it!
Afterward, JD said that he was so happy that Santa sent such a nice gift and he wanted to do something nice for Santa too. So he asked me to draw a picture of Santa and Mrs. Claus so he could color them and write their names. So we left a note for Zerg, asking him to deliver the pictures to Santa and Mrs. Claus when he sees them tonight.
Thanksgiving 2011 - Great Food and New Traditions
As always, the food this year was TERRIFIC! And even more terrific because we got to enjoy it. We are very lucky because our families live so close, but it also makes it more stressful than it probably should be. The holidays are always so jam-packed and hectic - from the coordinating of multiple homes to visit, and rushing from one family's home to the other - to carting the kids around, and trying not to eat too much at one house because we know we have to eat again in just a few short hours at the next house. It just doesn't always make for the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday experience.
But this year was so much better. We had dinner at Beau & Stacie's house at 5pm on Thursday, so I spent the morning baking. I made my first Homemade Apple Pie - even the crust was homemade. It really turned out beautifully.
But this year was so much better. We had dinner at Beau & Stacie's house at 5pm on Thursday, so I spent the morning baking. I made my first Homemade Apple Pie - even the crust was homemade. It really turned out beautifully.
Just finished the crust. Yes, my laptop is out
because I got the recipe off the internet.
The apple filling has been added. I used 5 fresh
red apples, sugar, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar.
Then topped with chunks of butter. Yum!
Here it is -- ready to go in the oven.
And....the finished product. It's so pretty!!!
Everyone said the apple pie tasted great. I tried it and didn't think it was sweet enough (go figure!). JD ate 3 pieces of it over 2 days, so that's a great sign. Most of all though, I really enjoyed baking it. And I never would have done it if Stacie hadn't asked me to bring an apple pie to Thanksgiving. I was a little disappointed at first because I have my "traditional" dishes, but after I got used to the idea, I was excited about baking something new. All in all, I enjoyed the process and was pleased with the results.
On Friday, we went to my dad and Linda's for Thanksgiving with my side of the family. It was really nice having Thanksgiving two days in a row, rather than twice in one day. We got to enjoy time with both of our families without feeling rushed - plus, we got to eat a Thanksgiving Feast twice! This is our new tradition - we will celebrate Thanksgiving on my dad's side on Friday from now on!
Here's a picture of all the grandkids over at my dad's house:
L-R: Seth, Boyd, Timothy, (sitting) Sean, JD, Ryan, Sheyenne, (standing) Bailey, Sawyer and Ashton.
On Friday, we went to my dad and Linda's for Thanksgiving with my side of the family. It was really nice having Thanksgiving two days in a row, rather than twice in one day. We got to enjoy time with both of our families without feeling rushed - plus, we got to eat a Thanksgiving Feast twice! This is our new tradition - we will celebrate Thanksgiving on my dad's side on Friday from now on!
Here's a picture of all the grandkids over at my dad's house:
I Finally Broke Down . . .
. . . . and did something I said I'd NEVER do! I bought myself a pair of skinny jeans. What are skinny jeans you ask? According to http://www.wikipedia.org/, "skinny jeans have a snug fit through the legs and end in a small leg opening that can be anywhere from 9" to 20" depending on size." Back in the 1950's, they had something similar called cigarette pants.
Anyway, I don't think they're a flattering style so I said I'd never wear them. Well, I lied. I bought myself a pair last week. I HAD TO!!! I really wanted to wear boots this winter and boots don't fit over regular cut or boot cut jeans, so like I said, I HAD TO!!!
And the really weird thing is that I like them. Alot!So as the old saying goes --- "Never Say Never!"
Anyway, I don't think they're a flattering style so I said I'd never wear them. Well, I lied. I bought myself a pair last week. I HAD TO!!! I really wanted to wear boots this winter and boots don't fit over regular cut or boot cut jeans, so like I said, I HAD TO!!!
And the really weird thing is that I like them. Alot!So as the old saying goes --- "Never Say Never!"
Thursday, November 24, 2011
24 on the 24th
Thanksgiving is the season to stop and recognize all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. God has blessed me with so much and since Thanksgiving falls on the 24th this year, I decided to list 24 things for which I'm thankful. So here goes. . . . .
I'm Thankful . . . . .
1. for God's faithfulfulness and unconditional love.
2. for my entire family and extended family, and more specifically the 3 guys in my life (see # 3, 4 and 5).
3. for my husband, Bud. We've been together for over 16 years now and have been through alot during that time. Really good times and really hard times. But through it all, I know he loves me very much and I'm lucky to have him.
4. for my first born, JD. As long as I live, I will never forget that moment when I saw my baby for the very first time. When the nurse brought him around the corner into my view and I saw the most beautiful, perfect baby boy I'd ever laid eyes on. Until that moment, I never realized it was possible to fall in love so quickly.
5. for my baby boy, Ryan. What a joy! With his platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes, he looks like he belongs in Kelli's family, but I'm so happy that he's in mine! He has certainly added a bit of spice to our lives with his spunkiness, energy and loving spirit.
6. for our church - First Baptist Church of Castroville. Before we found this church, we only went to church occasionally. I never thought we'd find a church that would feel like home and change our entire lives. The moment we walked into FBCC, it felt different. We love it there and have gotten so involved - with bible studies, children's activities, AWANA....and Bud even plays in the worship band.
7. for our wonderful church family. We never realized how important a strong church family is to your spiritual strength and growth. We have the greatest group of people at our church.
8. for our really terrific friends - friends we can count on any day for anything. For that, we are so grateful.
9. for our jobs. In a time like today so many people are struggling to find good jobs, and Bud and I both have great jobs with great companies.
10. for our health. We thank God everyday that we have our health and pray that he continues to bless us with strength and healthy bodies.
11. for our nice home on a little bit of land, with room for our children to run and play.
12. for all of our service men and women who put their lives on the line every single day for our freedoms, laying their lives on the line in order to protect our freedoms and defend our safety.
13. for teachers - it's an underpaid and underappreciated profession. They have a big responsibility and our future depends on them.
14. that Bud has been given the opportunity to play in our church worship band. It's something he wanted to do when we started going to our church and I'm so thankful that it's happening for him now. I3
15. for my hobby - scrapbooking. It's something I love to do, and I always look forward to spending time working on my scrapbooks, archiving the special moments in our lives. I just hope that they will be enjoyed for many many years to come - by my kids and their families too.
16. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm thankful for technology. I love my iPhone, and Facebook has allowed me to reunite with some friends that I've lost touch with over the years. I love being able to stay in touch with special people in my life on a daily basis. And what would we do without the internet?!
17. for the relationship I had with Granny and Papa Jack. They're both gone now, looking down at us from Heaven, but my relationships with them while they were here are very special to me and had a huge impact on the person I turned out to be.
18. for my sister and very best friend, Kelli. I don't know what I do without her friendship and love.
19. for coffee! Need I say more?
20. that my boys have their dad. There are lots of kids out there who don't have dads who are active in their lives. Mine have a dad that loves them more than life itself, and he loves to do boy things with them, like wrestling (too much of this!), hunting, playing baseball, drumming, fishing and building things.
21. for the purity and innocence of children. I just wish it would last a lot longer than it does.
22. when my kids say adorable things that bring a smile to my face, heart and soul.
23. that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and because of Him, I know exactly where I'm going when my life here on Earth comes to an end.
24. for all the changes (improvements) God has made in our lives over the past year. God is actively working in our lives, and for that, we are eternally thankful!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!!!
I'm Thankful . . . . .
1. for God's faithfulfulness and unconditional love.
2. for my entire family and extended family, and more specifically the 3 guys in my life (see # 3, 4 and 5).
3. for my husband, Bud. We've been together for over 16 years now and have been through alot during that time. Really good times and really hard times. But through it all, I know he loves me very much and I'm lucky to have him.
4. for my first born, JD. As long as I live, I will never forget that moment when I saw my baby for the very first time. When the nurse brought him around the corner into my view and I saw the most beautiful, perfect baby boy I'd ever laid eyes on. Until that moment, I never realized it was possible to fall in love so quickly.
5. for my baby boy, Ryan. What a joy! With his platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes, he looks like he belongs in Kelli's family, but I'm so happy that he's in mine! He has certainly added a bit of spice to our lives with his spunkiness, energy and loving spirit.
6. for our church - First Baptist Church of Castroville. Before we found this church, we only went to church occasionally. I never thought we'd find a church that would feel like home and change our entire lives. The moment we walked into FBCC, it felt different. We love it there and have gotten so involved - with bible studies, children's activities, AWANA....and Bud even plays in the worship band.
7. for our wonderful church family. We never realized how important a strong church family is to your spiritual strength and growth. We have the greatest group of people at our church.
8. for our really terrific friends - friends we can count on any day for anything. For that, we are so grateful.
9. for our jobs. In a time like today so many people are struggling to find good jobs, and Bud and I both have great jobs with great companies.
10. for our health. We thank God everyday that we have our health and pray that he continues to bless us with strength and healthy bodies.
11. for our nice home on a little bit of land, with room for our children to run and play.
12. for all of our service men and women who put their lives on the line every single day for our freedoms, laying their lives on the line in order to protect our freedoms and defend our safety.
13. for teachers - it's an underpaid and underappreciated profession. They have a big responsibility and our future depends on them.
14. that Bud has been given the opportunity to play in our church worship band. It's something he wanted to do when we started going to our church and I'm so thankful that it's happening for him now. I3
15. for my hobby - scrapbooking. It's something I love to do, and I always look forward to spending time working on my scrapbooks, archiving the special moments in our lives. I just hope that they will be enjoyed for many many years to come - by my kids and their families too.
16. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm thankful for technology. I love my iPhone, and Facebook has allowed me to reunite with some friends that I've lost touch with over the years. I love being able to stay in touch with special people in my life on a daily basis. And what would we do without the internet?!
17. for the relationship I had with Granny and Papa Jack. They're both gone now, looking down at us from Heaven, but my relationships with them while they were here are very special to me and had a huge impact on the person I turned out to be.
18. for my sister and very best friend, Kelli. I don't know what I do without her friendship and love.
19. for coffee! Need I say more?
20. that my boys have their dad. There are lots of kids out there who don't have dads who are active in their lives. Mine have a dad that loves them more than life itself, and he loves to do boy things with them, like wrestling (too much of this!), hunting, playing baseball, drumming, fishing and building things.
21. for the purity and innocence of children. I just wish it would last a lot longer than it does.
22. when my kids say adorable things that bring a smile to my face, heart and soul.
23. that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and because of Him, I know exactly where I'm going when my life here on Earth comes to an end.
24. for all the changes (improvements) God has made in our lives over the past year. God is actively working in our lives, and for that, we are eternally thankful!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!!!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
JD's 1st Deer Hunt
Finally. . . . . it's the day Bud has been anxiously awaiting for the last 5+ years. When we found out we had a baby boy on January 30, 2006, Bud immediately couldn't wait for the first time to take him deer hunting. While 5 years old might still be a little young, he decided to give it a shot (no pun intended). So last weekend, on Sunday, November 20th, Bud took JD out for his first deer hunting experience. They went to the Keller's Ranch in DeHanis where Bud has been going with Kory Keller.
Before he left the house, I gave him the camera and looked at him with the sweetest, puppy dog eyes I could muster, and asked him if he'd take a couple of pictures. I didn't want to interrupt their hunting experience, but I really wanted some pictures of JD's first time. Bud obliged, and I think he's glad he did too.
Bud said JD did very good - he was as quiet as he could expect an energetic 5-year-old to be. And he only fell asleep for a little while, and when he woke up, there were deer at the feeder. They didn't shoot at anything on their first hunt, but JD said he definitely enjoyed going. I think he really liked being out there with Dad, and he's looking forward to their next trip this season. Hopefully they'll get to shoot something that time. There's a whole other part to the deer-hunting experience that he's yet to learn.
Before he left the house, I gave him the camera and looked at him with the sweetest, puppy dog eyes I could muster, and asked him if he'd take a couple of pictures. I didn't want to interrupt their hunting experience, but I really wanted some pictures of JD's first time. Bud obliged, and I think he's glad he did too.
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| Here's a picture of JD's first climb into a deer blind. |
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| Here's a picture of him getting ready for a couple hours of sitting still, being very quiet, and watching for deer. |
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| And here's a very proud Daddy moment. |
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| Watching out the window . . . . patiently and quietly. He already looks like a pro. |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Turkey Time
We had our first school project this past weekend - Our Family Turkey. JD's teacher gave us an outline of a turkey and we had to decorate it with things from around the house, ie. feathers, paints, fabric, uncooked noodles, etc., I didn't have time to go to the craft store to buy materials, so we had to use whatever we had around the house.
I asked JD what he wanted to use and he just wanted to color it with crayons. That wasn't gonna fly, so I came up with the idea of using scrapbook paper for the feathers. I cut small pieces of paper in each color category and we made little collages on each feather.
Then we used brown pom-poms I had leftover from a Halloween project last year. I cut the fur off each ball and we pasted that for the body of the turkey. It really helps to be a scrapbooker because I had all kinds of cool stuff on hand to use for decoration. The eye is a sparkly blue brad, and the beak and gizzard are colored in with Stickles (glittery puffy paint).
I really liked our end product. I think JD liked it too. . . . . I think.
I asked JD what he wanted to use and he just wanted to color it with crayons. That wasn't gonna fly, so I came up with the idea of using scrapbook paper for the feathers. I cut small pieces of paper in each color category and we made little collages on each feather.
Then we used brown pom-poms I had leftover from a Halloween project last year. I cut the fur off each ball and we pasted that for the body of the turkey. It really helps to be a scrapbooker because I had all kinds of cool stuff on hand to use for decoration. The eye is a sparkly blue brad, and the beak and gizzard are colored in with Stickles (glittery puffy paint).
I really liked our end product. I think JD liked it too. . . . . I think.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A Day of "Firsts"
Today was a day of firsts for me:
We only saw a doe and a spike, and they walked up right before dusk. Bud was hoping something bigger would walk up, so we waited. Then it got too dark. Bud wants me to go one more time and try again. I think I was a good hunting partner. I stayed quiet (it wasn't easy) and patient (also, not easy). But all in all, I think I did pretty good. Especially considering I didn't think I'd ever go hunting.
Ever since Bud and I started dating 16+ years ago, he's been asking me if I'd ever go deer hunting. My answer was always "no way." This year, when he asked, I said I would consider going. I just saw the pure joy he had for deer hunting, and it's been a long time since he's had an opportunity to hunt, and I guess I got caught up in his excitement. So I told him I'd go. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed hanging out with him doing something for which he has an obvious passion.
- First time I volunteered for the Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) at JD's school
- First time I rode in Bud's hunting truck (the white one he bought a couple months ago)
- First time I went deer hunting
- First time I sat in a deer blind
- First time I put crosshairs on an animal :(
We only saw a doe and a spike, and they walked up right before dusk. Bud was hoping something bigger would walk up, so we waited. Then it got too dark. Bud wants me to go one more time and try again. I think I was a good hunting partner. I stayed quiet (it wasn't easy) and patient (also, not easy). But all in all, I think I did pretty good. Especially considering I didn't think I'd ever go hunting.
Ever since Bud and I started dating 16+ years ago, he's been asking me if I'd ever go deer hunting. My answer was always "no way." This year, when he asked, I said I would consider going. I just saw the pure joy he had for deer hunting, and it's been a long time since he's had an opportunity to hunt, and I guess I got caught up in his excitement. So I told him I'd go. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed hanging out with him doing something for which he has an obvious passion.
Friday, November 11, 2011
JD's 1st Bus Ride to School
Today is a big day for JD. He got to ride the school bus for the first time ever.
Ever since he started Kindergarten in August, I've been taking him to school each morning and dropping him off. Then I take Ryan to Nanie's. Every once in a while, JD will ask me when he will get to ride the bus. I wasn't sure if he was gonna have the chance or not.
Well yesterday, we were leaving the neighborhood and saw the school bus stopping near the mailboxes to pick up some kids. I stopped and told the school bus driver that my son wanted to ride the bus every now and then, and asked if I needed to let anyone know. She said to call the school and check. So I did. They said as long as a bus comes to his neighborhood, he could ride anytime he wanted. So we had ourselves a plan.
I'm off work today and Monday (Nanie and Bada) are taking a weekend trip to the coast, so I told JD he could ride the bus both days. He wasn't nervous about it at all (Bud and I were), but he did want to know if the kids in his class would be on the bus. I explained that bus is for kids that live in the area, not necessarily the kids in his class. But I reassured him that it would be fine - he would make new friends because he makes friends easily. He agreed and said "you know why I make friends easily? Because I'm super nice." That's right - JD is super nice and has such a sweet heart!
So today was the day. He drove down to the bus stop and got there just in time to see the bus pull up. JD jumped out of the car with the biggest smile on his face. We walked across the street and he climbed on the bus. I only got one picture though :( because my memory card was full on my camera. And it's not a great picture either. Bad Mom!!
As the bus drove away, we waved to JD and I got a little teary-eyed.
School Bus = Official Big Boy
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thanksgiving Feast
I think JD was surprised to see all of us there. He knew I was coming, but didn't know that everyone else was coming too. So it was a really nice surprise for him. We had a really nice Thanksgiving lunch, and surprisingly, the food was pretty good. Oh, and JD really enjoyed his peanut butter & jelly sandwich too.
John 3:16
The other day after Bud picked up the boys (Ryan from Nanie's, and JD from school), they were on their way home and JD asked Bud what John 3:16 was. He'd learned it in Awana and even though he knows it and recites it all the time, it must have slipped his memory for the moment.
Bud said he couldn't remember the verse, so JD reached into his school bag and pulled out his little green pocket Bible. He flipped through the pages, looking for "John" at the top of the page. When he found it, he searched for Chapter 3, Verse 16, found it and read it to Bud.
What a proud parent moment! Sometimes we wonder if we're doing the right things as parents. We are constantly questioning and doubting our tactics. Then we have a moment like this, when God shines right through the eyes of our children. All we can do is smile, nod and enjoy the feeling of pure joy in our hearts!
Bud said he couldn't remember the verse, so JD reached into his school bag and pulled out his little green pocket Bible. He flipped through the pages, looking for "John" at the top of the page. When he found it, he searched for Chapter 3, Verse 16, found it and read it to Bud.
What a proud parent moment! Sometimes we wonder if we're doing the right things as parents. We are constantly questioning and doubting our tactics. Then we have a moment like this, when God shines right through the eyes of our children. All we can do is smile, nod and enjoy the feeling of pure joy in our hearts!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Bud turned 35 today. The Big 3-5!
Today, he's one year closer to his 40s. :)
I wanted to make his birthday a special day, so I left work a little early around 3:45, stopped at the store, and rushed home to make him his favorite dinner - the same dinner I made for the first time on his 32nd birthday. He LOVED that dinner.
I made him Steaks with Peppercorn Cream Sauce. It's delicious. It's made with whiskey (reduced down), heavy whipping cream, minced garlic, crushed peppercorns and other spices. The steaks are cooked on the stove, then topped with the yummy peppercorn sauce. I also made his favorite sides: rice and corn. I know, lots of starch, but it's what he likes.
Today, he's one year closer to his 40s. :)
I wanted to make his birthday a special day, so I left work a little early around 3:45, stopped at the store, and rushed home to make him his favorite dinner - the same dinner I made for the first time on his 32nd birthday. He LOVED that dinner.
I made him Steaks with Peppercorn Cream Sauce. It's delicious. It's made with whiskey (reduced down), heavy whipping cream, minced garlic, crushed peppercorns and other spices. The steaks are cooked on the stove, then topped with the yummy peppercorn sauce. I also made his favorite sides: rice and corn. I know, lots of starch, but it's what he likes.
For dessert, we had fresh-made and still-warm chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. The boys helped blow out the candles. Gosh, that cake was so good. So much for the diet.
Happy Birthday Daddy! We Love You!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Dancing with the MonStars
Every year at work we have a Costume Contest. Over the last couple of years, it's become more of a highly-anticipated entertainment show than a contest. Teams get together and put on well-orchestrated, elaborate dances and skits. Last year, our Middle Market team re-enacted the famous flash mob scene from Oprah's Black-Eyed-Pea episode. It starts with what appears to be a crazy lady dancing to the music in the very front, then others near her join in and it eventually spreads and the entire crowd is dancing a choreographed dance. (It really is pretty cool - you should google it.) So we did that as our skit. And of course.......I was the crazy lady that got it started. Our team won first place which was $75 to use as we wished (we bought breakfast for the team).
So this year, we had a big name to live up to, and had to top it. We decided to do a Halloween edition of Dancing with the Stars. Complete with hosts, judges, crowd control, and of course, dancers. We had a couple of vampires that danced to Michael Jackson's Beat It, Frankenstein and his (pregnant) Bride dancing to I've Had the Time of My Life, and me and my prom zombie partner dancing to Footloose. After about 20 seconds of our dancing though, the entire group joined in and we did the classic Footloose end-of-movie dance. Needless to say, we won again. Two-time reigning champs! We're already trying to figure out what we're going to do next year.
So this year, we had a big name to live up to, and had to top it. We decided to do a Halloween edition of Dancing with the Stars. Complete with hosts, judges, crowd control, and of course, dancers. We had a couple of vampires that danced to Michael Jackson's Beat It, Frankenstein and his (pregnant) Bride dancing to I've Had the Time of My Life, and me and my prom zombie partner dancing to Footloose. After about 20 seconds of our dancing though, the entire group joined in and we did the classic Footloose end-of-movie dance. Needless to say, we won again. Two-time reigning champs! We're already trying to figure out what we're going to do next year.
Halloween Treats
I was feeling a little crafty so I made a couple of treats for Halloween. I made these Spooky Bottles for my coworkers, and also gave one to JD, Ryan, Ashton and Timothy. There were a total of 24 of them. I used the Piece of Poison stamp set from Stampin' Up for the skeleton and "Trick or Treat" message.
I made these for the kids in the boys' classes. They're clear cellophane bags and I filled them with candy corn or Reese's Pieces, then topped them with a cute stacked topper. The spider was cut out with my Cricut and pop-dotted for dimension. I really like how they turned out and they were super easy to make.
I made these for the kids in the boys' classes. They're clear cellophane bags and I filled them with candy corn or Reese's Pieces, then topped them with a cute stacked topper. The spider was cut out with my Cricut and pop-dotted for dimension. I really like how they turned out and they were super easy to make.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
My Kids Can Plank Too
Planking is all the rage right now. There are even websites dedicated completely to planking photos. What is planking you ask? Wikipedia has a great description, but to paraphrase:
"Planking" (or the "Lying Down Game") is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. You're supposed to mimick a wooden plank - the hands must touch the sides of the body and the head is turned face down, looking toward the ground. Having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game.
The idea is to find very original and unique places to plank. So when JD started crawling across the monkey bars yesterday, I had a great idea. . . . . introduce the boys to the newest fad. . . . . planking. I told JD what to do and after a few minutes, he was in perfect position and I snapped the picture.
Ryan caught the planking bug too.
I love these pictures!! Everytime I look at them, they make me laugh out loud.
If you haven't tried planking, you should. It's hilarious. To see some other planking photos, click here: www.planking.me/
"Planking" (or the "Lying Down Game") is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. You're supposed to mimick a wooden plank - the hands must touch the sides of the body and the head is turned face down, looking toward the ground. Having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game.
The idea is to find very original and unique places to plank. So when JD started crawling across the monkey bars yesterday, I had a great idea. . . . . introduce the boys to the newest fad. . . . . planking. I told JD what to do and after a few minutes, he was in perfect position and I snapped the picture.
Ryan caught the planking bug too.
I love these pictures!! Everytime I look at them, they make me laugh out loud.
If you haven't tried planking, you should. It's hilarious. To see some other planking photos, click here: www.planking.me/
Monday, October 24, 2011
A Lesson in "Rattles"
When I got home today with the boys, Bud yelled at me from the backyard to grab a shovel. When I came around the corner, he had another shovel in his hand and had a rattlesnake trapped. While he was mowing the yard, he saw the disgusting creature slithering along our foundation so he jumped off and trapped it.
When I got back with the shovel, he used it to cut the snake's head off before pulling the rest of the snake out for the boys to see. It was a small rattlesnake, but a rattlesnake nonetheless. The boys were intrigued. They wanted to touch it and pick it up. JD even asked if he could take the headless snake to school for show and tell. When we told him "no," he walked the snake to the back of our property line and threw it over the fence. I was proud of him for being so brave.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Women of the Bible
We are starting a new Bible Study in my ladies group called Women of the Bible. We're gonna learn about some of the significant women in the Bible and their experiences. I love this and am totally looking forward to learning about them all, and finding out what I have in common with them. Some things I might like, and some I might not like so much. But either way, I'm really excited about it.
As we were getting a short introduction to the study last night from the lovely lady that will be leading it, Debbie Torres, she was going through a list of questions that we might consider as we go through the next few weeks. Some self-evaluating questions like:
Do I have integrity?
What is my work ethic?
What are my priorities? And does it show?
What kind of wife am I?
Am I a good mom?
What is a good mom?
Am I someone I'd want my children to look up to?
On and on . . . . . but the ones that always grab my attention are "Am I a good mom?" and "Do I have my priorities straight?"
I think I am a great mom most of the time, but as most moms probably do, there are times when I'm not so proud of myself. Moments when I find myself getting really frustrated and yelling too much. I know the kids are only 3 and 5. . . . . but that's just it. . . . . . they're only 3 and 5. They're supposed to be clingy and needy. They're supposed to want 100% of my attention 100% of the time. They're supposed to be loud and energetic. They're supposed to test my limits (I hate that part, but I know it's a part of their development.)
Sometimes I have a lot of patience and am very tolerant. In fact, I get lots of comments from my friends about how patient I am. Sometimes I'm not so patient though - the kids' energy and questions and constant demands really wear on me. It's times like those that stick out in my mind when my friends comment on my patience. I also know that I work too hard, too much. My job is very draining on me both mentally and emotionally. Sometimes I feel like I come home with nothing left to give my family. That's when I really question my priorities. I know my family is my 1st priority, but sometimes it probably doesn't feel that way to them. And that makes me very sad.
All that being said, I know I tend to be very hard on myself. I expect nothing but perfection (hence, the working too hard!) in everything. That's a very high standard to put on myself so I'm trying take it easier (TRYING!!!). But sometimes I wonder if I had been alive 2000 years ago, would God have found value enough in my story to include it in the Bible? And what lessons would women today be taking away from it?
As we were getting a short introduction to the study last night from the lovely lady that will be leading it, Debbie Torres, she was going through a list of questions that we might consider as we go through the next few weeks. Some self-evaluating questions like:
Do I have integrity?
What is my work ethic?
What are my priorities? And does it show?
What kind of wife am I?
Am I a good mom?
What is a good mom?
Am I someone I'd want my children to look up to?
On and on . . . . . but the ones that always grab my attention are "Am I a good mom?" and "Do I have my priorities straight?"
I think I am a great mom most of the time, but as most moms probably do, there are times when I'm not so proud of myself. Moments when I find myself getting really frustrated and yelling too much. I know the kids are only 3 and 5. . . . . but that's just it. . . . . . they're only 3 and 5. They're supposed to be clingy and needy. They're supposed to want 100% of my attention 100% of the time. They're supposed to be loud and energetic. They're supposed to test my limits (I hate that part, but I know it's a part of their development.)
Sometimes I have a lot of patience and am very tolerant. In fact, I get lots of comments from my friends about how patient I am. Sometimes I'm not so patient though - the kids' energy and questions and constant demands really wear on me. It's times like those that stick out in my mind when my friends comment on my patience. I also know that I work too hard, too much. My job is very draining on me both mentally and emotionally. Sometimes I feel like I come home with nothing left to give my family. That's when I really question my priorities. I know my family is my 1st priority, but sometimes it probably doesn't feel that way to them. And that makes me very sad.
All that being said, I know I tend to be very hard on myself. I expect nothing but perfection (hence, the working too hard!) in everything. That's a very high standard to put on myself so I'm trying take it easier (TRYING!!!). But sometimes I wonder if I had been alive 2000 years ago, would God have found value enough in my story to include it in the Bible? And what lessons would women today be taking away from it?
Monday, October 17, 2011
Kids Say the Darndest Things - #1
Since my kiddos (like almost all other kiddos) say some of the cutest things, I thought I'd jot them down here when they happen. So here's the first one:
Yesterday Bud was getting them out of the bath when JD said "Dad, I can't wait until Ryan is 4 years old. Because then he'll be a big boy and not just a talking baby."
Hilarious!!! Where do they come up with these things?
Yesterday Bud was getting them out of the bath when JD said "Dad, I can't wait until Ryan is 4 years old. Because then he'll be a big boy and not just a talking baby."
Hilarious!!! Where do they come up with these things?
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Ryan is Diaper FREE
He did it!! Ryan made it through 10 days straight of dry nighttime diapers, so he got to start sleeping in underwear on Oct 4th. He has done really fantastic so far in the last 11 nights with only one accident. And that was my fault really. I let him drink WAY too much, and didn't make him go potty before putting him in bed.
So we are officially a DIAPER FREE FAMILY!!!
AWANA - 2nd Year
The boys started their 2nd year of AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) in September. AWANA is great because they get to spend time with other children while learning about God and memorizing Bible verses. They earn awards for learning and reciting their verses.
This year Ryan has moved up from Puggles (under 3) to Cubbies (3-4 year olds). Last year in Puggles, Ryan didn't really learn any verses because he was too little, so they read Bible stories and did cute little projects. This year though, he's actually responsible for learning at least one verse per week. I'll be honest, I was a little worried. He never really seemed to take an interest in that kind of thing like JD did. But man, he surprised us both! Ryan is REALLY good at learning his verses. In order to get his book and vest, he had to learn 3 verses! He learned one the first week: 1 John 4:10 "God loves us, and he sent his Son," and two the second week: Romans 3:23 "...all have sinned" and Romans 5:8 "...while we were...sinners, Jesus died for us." He also had to learn the Cubbies motto: "Jesus Loves Me." Once he knew all of those, he could get his book and vest. Here is a picture of him getting his book. Unfortunately his AWANA teacher accidentally marked the book wrong and didn't show that he'd said all three so he didn't get his book and vest with the rest of the kids. So here's a picture of Ryan getting his book during game time. And this weekend, he's going to get his vest while we're in the sanctuary in front of all the other kids.
For AWANA this Sunday, he knows three verses, so he'll be ready for his first patch next week! I'm so proud of Ryan!!!
JD has moved up from Cubbies to Sparks (Kinder-2), and has done fantastic so far. The very first verse JD had to memorize in order to get his book and vest was John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, and whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." He learned it in no time. I'm so proud of him. AWANA has been a lot of fun so far and I think JD really enjoys being with the bigger kids because game time is a lot more fun. The bigger kids are more competitive and understand how to play the different games a little better than the Cubbies did last year.
Here's a picture of JD getting his book and vest in the sanctuary on Oct 2. For tomorrow, he knows three new verses, so I think he'll be ready for his first award too. Yay JD and RYAN!!!!!
This year Ryan has moved up from Puggles (under 3) to Cubbies (3-4 year olds). Last year in Puggles, Ryan didn't really learn any verses because he was too little, so they read Bible stories and did cute little projects. This year though, he's actually responsible for learning at least one verse per week. I'll be honest, I was a little worried. He never really seemed to take an interest in that kind of thing like JD did. But man, he surprised us both! Ryan is REALLY good at learning his verses. In order to get his book and vest, he had to learn 3 verses! He learned one the first week: 1 John 4:10 "God loves us, and he sent his Son," and two the second week: Romans 3:23 "...all have sinned" and Romans 5:8 "...while we were...sinners, Jesus died for us." He also had to learn the Cubbies motto: "Jesus Loves Me." Once he knew all of those, he could get his book and vest. Here is a picture of him getting his book. Unfortunately his AWANA teacher accidentally marked the book wrong and didn't show that he'd said all three so he didn't get his book and vest with the rest of the kids. So here's a picture of Ryan getting his book during game time. And this weekend, he's going to get his vest while we're in the sanctuary in front of all the other kids.
For AWANA this Sunday, he knows three verses, so he'll be ready for his first patch next week! I'm so proud of Ryan!!!
JD has moved up from Cubbies to Sparks (Kinder-2), and has done fantastic so far. The very first verse JD had to memorize in order to get his book and vest was John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, and whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." He learned it in no time. I'm so proud of him. AWANA has been a lot of fun so far and I think JD really enjoys being with the bigger kids because game time is a lot more fun. The bigger kids are more competitive and understand how to play the different games a little better than the Cubbies did last year.
Here's a picture of JD getting his book and vest in the sanctuary on Oct 2. For tomorrow, he knows three new verses, so I think he'll be ready for his first award too. Yay JD and RYAN!!!!!
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