Today I am thankful for...
~My sweet Kyndra telling me about a boy in her class who doesn't live in our town. I asked her what town he lives in and she said he lives in Rodeo City, which some of you may know is a motel just outside of town. I had to explain this situation to her. She was broken hearted and wanted to know if we could help them. I am so thankful today and ever day for my kind hearted daughter.
~Kylee writing her name on her paper in CCD class tonight and completing her work on her own. I have recently been informed by her pre-school teacher that I just may help her out a little too much on her work. We have been working to curtail that learned helplessness and it was working tonight.
~Listening to Kylee sing "I'm In The Lord's Army". The lady leading the songs said, "Oh, we shouldn't be too loud." Has she met my children? They don't understand too loud, but I don't mind them being too loud when they are shouting AMEN!
~Clay relief maps gone right in my class today.
~Working together as a family on our new chore chart. What began as really stressful has now turned the corner to relieving stress.
~The fact that I can go to bed right now at 8:30, because I have a headache.
Good night all... sleep tight.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday Gratitudes...
Today I am thankful for...
~Kyndra washing and conditioning Kylee's hair this morning. We only asked her to go check up on her sister in the tub and she went the extra step to help her out.
~The big tub of train tracks, Tony's old Matchbox cars, planes and various other things with wheels that we got down out of the closet. The girls have had no interest in TV since we let them dump it out in the office and play to their hearts content.
~Fishy swimming lessons... I love all of the opportunities for kids our town has. Kylee is now a fishy and loving it. Kyndra is now a fishy with flippers.
~Cinnamon Life cereal for dinner.
~And, oh yes, that fence job that Kyndra's teacher had for us. Some of you may be familiar with "The Farm" from the bridges math curriculum... well the our fence job is for just those farms that have invaded our school hallways for years. Now I am thankful for being a mom of a first grader who is going to create one of those farms, and we get to cut the thousands of pieces of fence. I really am thrilled to be able to help :) Just wondering where this farm will end up after it is completed???
~Three new magazines in the mail today, including Family Fun with lots of fun holiday ideas.
~The turkey centerpieces the girls and I made this weekend and the generous certificate Tony's mom sent us to purchase our holiday bird with. The best news out of these turkey gratuities is that Tony's parents get to spend Thanksgiving with us.
Catch ya tomorrow :)
~Kyndra washing and conditioning Kylee's hair this morning. We only asked her to go check up on her sister in the tub and she went the extra step to help her out.
~The big tub of train tracks, Tony's old Matchbox cars, planes and various other things with wheels that we got down out of the closet. The girls have had no interest in TV since we let them dump it out in the office and play to their hearts content.
~Fishy swimming lessons... I love all of the opportunities for kids our town has. Kylee is now a fishy and loving it. Kyndra is now a fishy with flippers.
~Cinnamon Life cereal for dinner.
~And, oh yes, that fence job that Kyndra's teacher had for us. Some of you may be familiar with "The Farm" from the bridges math curriculum... well the our fence job is for just those farms that have invaded our school hallways for years. Now I am thankful for being a mom of a first grader who is going to create one of those farms, and we get to cut the thousands of pieces of fence. I really am thrilled to be able to help :) Just wondering where this farm will end up after it is completed???
~Three new magazines in the mail today, including Family Fun with lots of fun holiday ideas.
~The turkey centerpieces the girls and I made this weekend and the generous certificate Tony's mom sent us to purchase our holiday bird with. The best news out of these turkey gratuities is that Tony's parents get to spend Thanksgiving with us.
Catch ya tomorrow :)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thankful Series...
I am going to start my first blog series (well, maybe second). I wanted to blog each day next week about the things in life that I am thankful for, but I realized that one of those things would be that the girls and I will be gone to visit my family. And, so it begins now and everyday until we depart that I will focus on all the many, many things in life that I am thankful for.
Which are...
~My dear friend Taunya who will no longer have much time to read this blog, as she is the proud mother of twin boys. Alec William and Blake Anthony joined us on Taunya's birthday, November 7th. They are little, but doing well. I am completely overjoyed for my friends. I seriously think Taunya may have been a little sick of me forgetting her birthday, so she just had to give birth on that day. Now if I forget I will really feel bad.
~The upcoming trip that the girls and I are taking to see my mom and dad. We are staying in a hotel in a town near where they both live. We are going to make ourselves completely available to visit with just them. I have no idea what those three nights and four days will include and that is the beauty of it. As necessasary, I have no expectations. In the very least we will swim in the pool, jump on the bed, eat happy meals, and shop at the second hand stores that I used to go to with my grandma (gulp, a few tears at that thought). In my greatest hopes, my girls will get to spend some quality time with my mom and dad. They will get to better know these two little angels that we are blessed with.
~The wonderful essays my students are working on about what they are thankful for... and our upcoming feast on Friday. I was nervous to pull off a feast on my own (minus my six year teaching partner who has moved on to snottier noses aka. first graders), but I think it just may be wonderful. I am learning not to underestimate myself.
~My star student of the week's photo montage that was the talk of the class. She, that would be my friend Grace, was beaming as her classmates admired her pictures (thanks Anne). There was laughter, conversation, and most importantly a huge smile on Grace's face as her friends gathered 'round her pictures. It melted my heart.
~Our new bed that will be delivered tomorrow. I feel that we have come full circle as our current bed was our first "big" purchase together. It was such a huge deal all of those eleven years ago. And now we are starting over, this time with a head and foot board as well as a pillowtop... ahh!!! Dreamy!!! Best of all, our old bed that really isn't awful is going to a single mom with four little boys who is starting from scratch... total and complete scratch.
~Our dinner tonight of ham leftover from the church breakfast, scalloped potatoes from a box (I know that probably mortifies some people... sorry), mini pancakes (not from a box) and scrambled eggs (from a chicken). Kyndra hardly took a breath as she was so excited about dinner. Really it is those $1.13 per person dinners that really pack the most bang.
~The fact that my wonderful husband is going to Kyndra's class tomorrow to pick up fence that needs to be cut. I am not exactly positive what the fence is for at this point. I am sure it is the construction paper variety, but nonetheless I LOVE that he is willing to help and be present. I really struggle with not being present and truly appreciate his efforts.
More to come tomorrow and the next day and the next day...
I would love to know what everyone is thankful for these days :)
Which are...
~My dear friend Taunya who will no longer have much time to read this blog, as she is the proud mother of twin boys. Alec William and Blake Anthony joined us on Taunya's birthday, November 7th. They are little, but doing well. I am completely overjoyed for my friends. I seriously think Taunya may have been a little sick of me forgetting her birthday, so she just had to give birth on that day. Now if I forget I will really feel bad.
~The upcoming trip that the girls and I are taking to see my mom and dad. We are staying in a hotel in a town near where they both live. We are going to make ourselves completely available to visit with just them. I have no idea what those three nights and four days will include and that is the beauty of it. As necessasary, I have no expectations. In the very least we will swim in the pool, jump on the bed, eat happy meals, and shop at the second hand stores that I used to go to with my grandma (gulp, a few tears at that thought). In my greatest hopes, my girls will get to spend some quality time with my mom and dad. They will get to better know these two little angels that we are blessed with.
~The wonderful essays my students are working on about what they are thankful for... and our upcoming feast on Friday. I was nervous to pull off a feast on my own (minus my six year teaching partner who has moved on to snottier noses aka. first graders), but I think it just may be wonderful. I am learning not to underestimate myself.
~My star student of the week's photo montage that was the talk of the class. She, that would be my friend Grace, was beaming as her classmates admired her pictures (thanks Anne). There was laughter, conversation, and most importantly a huge smile on Grace's face as her friends gathered 'round her pictures. It melted my heart.
~Our new bed that will be delivered tomorrow. I feel that we have come full circle as our current bed was our first "big" purchase together. It was such a huge deal all of those eleven years ago. And now we are starting over, this time with a head and foot board as well as a pillowtop... ahh!!! Dreamy!!! Best of all, our old bed that really isn't awful is going to a single mom with four little boys who is starting from scratch... total and complete scratch.
~Our dinner tonight of ham leftover from the church breakfast, scalloped potatoes from a box (I know that probably mortifies some people... sorry), mini pancakes (not from a box) and scrambled eggs (from a chicken). Kyndra hardly took a breath as she was so excited about dinner. Really it is those $1.13 per person dinners that really pack the most bang.
~The fact that my wonderful husband is going to Kyndra's class tomorrow to pick up fence that needs to be cut. I am not exactly positive what the fence is for at this point. I am sure it is the construction paper variety, but nonetheless I LOVE that he is willing to help and be present. I really struggle with not being present and truly appreciate his efforts.
More to come tomorrow and the next day and the next day...
I would love to know what everyone is thankful for these days :)
Friday, October 30, 2009
Borrowed Leaves...
We don't have leaves of our own yet. Our mini-orchard trees are just babies and our new Red Maple only spreads a few leaves in our yard. I really don't imagine we will ever have many leaves, as we built our house of wood on a place where the wind huffs, puffs and blows terribly hard on a regular basis.
But... thankfully our church had some leaves we could borrow and partake in piling, throwing, and jumping in.
But... thankfully our church had some leaves we could borrow and partake in piling, throwing, and jumping in.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Birthday Hats...
Kylee turned four yesterday. We can hardly believe it... it seems like it was just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and she needed us for everything. I thought I should record exactly "what is up" with her these days.
She...
-loves Barbies
-loves Polly Pockets
-loves playing dress up
-is working diligently on learning her letters
(there is a deal on the table for a breakfast out with mommy when
she has mastered them)
-wants to wear only dresses and velcro shoes
-is sleeping in her new BIG bed
-has started swimming lessons and loves it
-started CCD with mommy and Anne as her teachers
(this is truly going to be a test for both of us)
-eats endless amounts of cheesesticks and yogurt, but that seems to be about it
-still cries when we take her to pretty school
-enjoys painting
-asks to sleep with someone every night
-is afraid of the dark and must have her nightlight on and her music box playing when we put her to bed
-quotes the monsters from Monsters vs. Aliens quite well
(her favorite is quote is when Bob greets the giant robot and says, "hey there, hi, we are here to destroy you". She does it in a completely animated manner)
-tells us she loves us all day long... we are the best mommy and daddy in her heart and to God and the sun and back.
Tony brought home his retired work hats. It was hard, but he managed to part with them and now the girls are wearing them all the time. They were this year's birthday hats. And, by the way I was joking about Tony having a hard time parting with these blue cowboy hats... not really his favs. This beautiful package from Taunya contains lots and lots of Polly Pockets... yeah! Thanks Taun.
She...
-loves Barbies
-loves Polly Pockets
-loves playing dress up
-is working diligently on learning her letters
(there is a deal on the table for a breakfast out with mommy when
she has mastered them)
-wants to wear only dresses and velcro shoes
-is sleeping in her new BIG bed
-has started swimming lessons and loves it
-started CCD with mommy and Anne as her teachers
(this is truly going to be a test for both of us)
-eats endless amounts of cheesesticks and yogurt, but that seems to be about it
-still cries when we take her to pretty school
-enjoys painting
-asks to sleep with someone every night
-is afraid of the dark and must have her nightlight on and her music box playing when we put her to bed
-quotes the monsters from Monsters vs. Aliens quite well
(her favorite is quote is when Bob greets the giant robot and says, "hey there, hi, we are here to destroy you". She does it in a completely animated manner)
-tells us she loves us all day long... we are the best mommy and daddy in her heart and to God and the sun and back.
Tony brought home his retired work hats. It was hard, but he managed to part with them and now the girls are wearing them all the time. They were this year's birthday hats. And, by the way I was joking about Tony having a hard time parting with these blue cowboy hats... not really his favs. This beautiful package from Taunya contains lots and lots of Polly Pockets... yeah! Thanks Taun.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Just The Family...
I just realized that this weekend was spent solely with my family. We didn't hang out with anyone, besides ourselves. I just read a wonderful blog about being content and that is just what I am right now. It must take a 48 hour dose of two adorable, loving, little girls and a fun, considerate husband.
We...
~had our first family movie night, seriously, that I can remember anyway. Tony does not sit still for the length of a movie, ecspecially not a kid appropriate movie. We were able to captivate him with Monsters vs. Aliens. We all started out cuddled on the couch, but needed our space about halfway through (around popcorn and M & M time).
~hung out (the girls and I) at school for three hours while Tony slept. I got my classroom library reorganized by genre. Today I picked up camp chairs for my reading corner (I really hope lice don't like camping chairs).
~BBQed chicken and made twice baked potatoes for a lovely dinner for four. I was sad that I couldn't remember where exactly everyone sat. It has been too long since we sat down for a nice family dinner. We used to never miss... time to slow down.
~dressed the girls in matching pumpkin shirts and went to Tri-Cities to let Kylee pick out her own birthday present. She choose a pre-school teacher Barbie set and a baby nursery doctor Barbie set. We dined at Red Robin and hit Costco and the Mall.
~read books, drew pictures and watched cartoons.
~did lots of laundry and a smidge of other household chores.
~went to church.
~heard I love you about a million times!!! and got oodles of kisses and hugs!!! The girls are so generous with their love... what a blessing!!!
I have to remember to pencil in these family weekends... I do think they are good for the spirit. Next weekend the girls are going to spend the weekend with grandma and grandpa ALONE. I usually always go, but they are ready to go by themselves. Tony is working both days. It is going to be so weird... I am guessing I will cry. At least we will have just had this weekend that was "Just the Family".
We...
~had our first family movie night, seriously, that I can remember anyway. Tony does not sit still for the length of a movie, ecspecially not a kid appropriate movie. We were able to captivate him with Monsters vs. Aliens. We all started out cuddled on the couch, but needed our space about halfway through (around popcorn and M & M time).
~hung out (the girls and I) at school for three hours while Tony slept. I got my classroom library reorganized by genre. Today I picked up camp chairs for my reading corner (I really hope lice don't like camping chairs).
~BBQed chicken and made twice baked potatoes for a lovely dinner for four. I was sad that I couldn't remember where exactly everyone sat. It has been too long since we sat down for a nice family dinner. We used to never miss... time to slow down.
~dressed the girls in matching pumpkin shirts and went to Tri-Cities to let Kylee pick out her own birthday present. She choose a pre-school teacher Barbie set and a baby nursery doctor Barbie set. We dined at Red Robin and hit Costco and the Mall.
~read books, drew pictures and watched cartoons.
~did lots of laundry and a smidge of other household chores.
~went to church.
~heard I love you about a million times!!! and got oodles of kisses and hugs!!! The girls are so generous with their love... what a blessing!!!
I have to remember to pencil in these family weekends... I do think they are good for the spirit. Next weekend the girls are going to spend the weekend with grandma and grandpa ALONE. I usually always go, but they are ready to go by themselves. Tony is working both days. It is going to be so weird... I am guessing I will cry. At least we will have just had this weekend that was "Just the Family".
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Our Latest Insults...
Kyndra and Kylee really seem to be getting on each other's nerves these days. It is hard not to laugh when they are insulting each other because they use such funny words. There is a lot of "head" and "pants" involved. "Meanhead" and "crabbypants" are two favorites. Kylee often tells Kyndra, "I am frustrating at you". Kyndra is constantly complaining that Kylee "is in her business". There is constant mimicking and endless face making. Kylee's latest comeback for everything can be viewed on this video.
Don't get me wrong we are truly working on using our kind words, but I am thankful these are the worst of our insults (for now).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
