Thursday, September 23, 2010

Chicago Marathon

I'm not a runner (yet) but I have some friends who are running in the Chicago Marathon.

However they aren't just running to run they are supporting a wonderful Christian ministry called Family Empowerment. Please think about supporting them even if you don't know them because they aren't running for themselves but other people. All donations are tax deductible. All money raise goes to the organization too. The marathon is Oct 10th!!! Here is the link to support them. Their names are Valarie and Ken Garrison. Even if you can only do $5 it helps families in need. Thank you for considering! God bless :)

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Teeth

I can't remember how much detail I went into about Monkey and his teeth...too lazy to go look it up! Anyways, the dentist sent us to the orthodontist to have them scan his mouth to see about his permanent teeth. Well his head is too small and their machine couldn't take a picture of his mouth. He is one of the smaller kids in his class, which makes sense since he is also one of the youngest. He is 49 inches tall and weighs 50 lbs. Well yesterday he tells me to come by him and he shows me that he has a second tooth loose!!! This is good news in one sense and bad in another. Good because it shows that he is just going to be a late tooth looser but he will loose them. Bad because his mouth hasn't grown much more to give those permanent teeth room to come in straight. I'm hoping that tooth takes about 2 months or more before it falls out. Then maybe he could have a 3rd tooth loose at his next dentist appointment and make our dentist less worried about him! Because I'm not at this point and I hate when doctors are worried when I'm not and then they start to make me worried when it is all for nothing. We've had this happen a few too many times. Our children are slow growers...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Ahh Life is so good...busy but GOOD!

I love the busy-ness of the fall I think that is one of the reasons it is my FAVORITE season. Plus it means my birthday is soon, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner too! How can you NOT love it. The changing colors the cooler weather but not too cold. It is prefect to me. I have a few minutes before I need to go pick up the two youngest from school so I thought I would update the good ole blog! I think I will do a person by person update as well. We'll start with the kids and then the parents :)

GlamorGirl: She is in 4th grade this year and has her first male teacher. She has talked about having him as a teacher for years and she is so excited she finally has him...haha. He doesn't believe in a whole lota homework which is AWESOME. Everyday she comes home with stories of the day and things they are doing and learning in class. I think it is going to be a great year for her other than the fact that her two besties are in the other class. She will make new friends, she is like that! And it isn't like she never gets to see her besties because they eat lunch together, have gym together, and recess together. Things are going good for her.

Monkey: He has one of my favorite teachers at that school. I say one because I have A LOT of favorites :) I have talked to her a few times already this year about his eyesight and other things. She told me that he is a very bright student and very smart like his sister. Last year his grades were rough and it really bugged him to the point he stopped trying. I think this year will be MUCH more positive for him. He is also in class with a bunch of his friends who were in a different class last year so he is happy about that. Time will tell but I have a really good feeling about this year for him as well! He loves going to school this year which is so neat to see and he has started to enjoy READING. Yay!

Red: This year has started off really rocky for him. This summer I tried my hardest to get him to continue reading but he is so stubborn and would just sit there or moan and groan to the point I just stopped trying. It is showing to be his downfall this year and he is REALLY struggling in his reading. I have talked to his teacher several times about his reading homework. They read it in class first and then at home. But you would think he never saw the material before when I sit down with him. Last night I started doing something different with him to help him. We read the homework twice and then we do the next days reading once. I make him do the phonics flash cards too. He hates it but I think if we keep doing it he will get better and feel more confident in his reading and then it won't be such a power struggle for him to do his reading. UGH This could be a rough year for him but I really hope not.

Peanut: She is LOVING preschool. She gets really sad on the days she has to stay home but I'm not ready for her to go everyday. I like having one on one time with her a few days a week. She has been getting extra pages send home with her that I am going to keep for next year when she isn't in school. I have decided that we are going to hold her back so that she is the oldest in her class and not one of the youngest. There are other reasons but that is a whole separate post! I just can't believe she is 3 years old. She has such a BIG personality too for such a little person. Red's teacher Mrs. R told me yesterday she saw Peanut with her friend Kate (who is Mrs. R's granddaughter), Kate ran up to Mrs. R, "Grandma!" and gave her a hug so Peanut ran up to Mrs. R "grandma" and so Mrs. R gave her a hug too. Peanut has adopted many of her friends grandparents which is so funny to me! She's not shy that's for sure.

Me: I'm running around like a crazy women now that school is in session. I try and get all my errands done on the days that all 4 kids are in school. I only have one present to buy for Christmas and my immediate family is done. Such a great feeling. Still need to talk to the extended family and see what we are doing about presents this year. Then I'll know how many more presents I need to buy still. Tonight is the first night this week that I am cooking a meal. Monday we went out with my dad, Tuesday was Peanut's birthday dinner, and Wednesday was AWANA clubs and they serve dinner there! After dinner I am going out with some ladies, can't say anything more about that. ;) Friday my friend and I are going apple picking, then Friday night is the first night of JAM (jr. high ministry at church) outreach night, we are doing Minute to Win it, it should be so fun. Saturday we have a birthday party. Sunday we have church and another birthday party. Then the next week should settle down where we only have something Wednesday night and Friday night...though I do want to take the kids to a pumpkin farm one day after school. It is cheaper on the weekdays than the weekend. Then that Saturday is Peanut's friend party. See I'm busy!!!

Jeff: Schools have started so his job has gotten busy again too. He has meetings at night which is either days off or overtime. He has been doing a lot of training days too. He has the day off for Red's first field trip this year and so he will go with him. Jeff and I are going away for a weekend with a bunch of couples from church. We are both really excited about that. As far as church goes, he stepped down from Sunday morning worship (very happy about that) and sparkies, he is doing JAM, kids' Sunday morning hour worship, and has a role in our Sunday School class.

Life is good and God is good. We are so blessed...

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

My Baby is 3 years old!

Last night we went out to eat with my dad and step mom because they are leaving for Greece on Friday and Monday was the only day both of us were available to celebrate Peanut's birthday. We went to our usual eating establishment. She got the cutest outfit for her birthday! She is planning on wearing it tomorrow to school.

Last night after she went to bed I decorated her door with letters she got and a birthday sign and then I decorated her bed with streamers. About 1:30am she woke up. I told her to climb into our bed in between us. Apparently she was sticking her fingers in J's ear so he kicked her out about 2am. She was scared so I told her I would lay with her for a few minutes. I was trying to wait til she fell asleep but everytime I tried to ease out of the bed her little hand would swing over and touch my face to make sure I was still there. By 3:15 I was done laying with her and I didn't care anymore that she still wasn't sleeping. I kissed her and told her I was going back to my bed. She gave a small whimper and that was it. I have no idea when she went back to sleep. She said she was scared of the dog in the house because it was trying to bite her. I think she got woke up by one of the neighbors letting their dog out to go potty and it barked. Needless to say, this morning came super duper EARLY. Peanut woke up and got showered with birthday wishes, hugs and kisses. She opened her cards before we took the kids to school. Then we went for a birthday breakfast just her and I. We had to do some not so fun things like go grocery shopping but it needed to be done. Then she had gymnastics! Which is her present from J and I. We are having her party in a couple weeks. We are going to go out as a family for dinner at her choice of places so we'll see where we end up...the kids are trying to persuade her to say Chipotle, she isn't a big fan of their food, it's too spicy. But when I made it she LOVED it, I didn't put as much spicy ingredients as the recipe called for. Great now I'm hungry for Chipotle. Peanut has had a wonderful birthday so far, but her birthday always means my is right around the corner!

Dear God, thank you for this precious little bundle of enormous JOY that is my Peanut. She brings happiness to our family and to other people she meets. I love watching her grow into such a sweet little girl. I pray she will follow hard after you Father. I pray Proverbs 31 for her. Thank you for letting us parent her it is such a privilege. Amen

Monday, September 13, 2010

In-house Retreat

This year my husband and I are JAM leaders which is the Jr. High ministry at our church. My husband did Friday nights last year and this year we will do Wednesday and Fridays together. I am really excited about it but it will also put a HUGE damper on our social life of having people over as Friday nights we have a commitment. This weekend all the leaders and students for both Jr. High and High School were at church. It was such a great time. We started planning some of the theme nights and we have some really great ideas. J and I have wanted to be youth leaders since we were married but the kids came right away and it was too hard and now that our youngest is going to be 3 years old tomorrow it is making this ministry easier to be involved with. I was thinking the other day that I am going to start to feel old when I start to get my toddler kids in Jr. High, which will be awhile since they are only 4yo right now. But I bet that 8 years goes fast!!!

Other than that I am feeling sad today. For the last few days I feel like satan has been attacking me. I just wish sometimes I wasn't so sensitive and I didn't let things bother me. But it is hard when it *feels like we are never included or invited to things with our friends. (And I know we have 4 kids but still it is a sucky feeling) I get that you can't invite EVERYONE to stuff as I struggle with that when hosting. I probably shouldn't post this but it is who I am and how I am feeling RIGHT now. I'm sure it will pass but right now it just blows chunks.

*but I know it isn't true
**Update on this subject after I wrote that above paragraph I talked to my husband and we got to the root of my mood on the subject. It had to do with poor choice of words in a conversation I had about the outing, that were not true.

On a completely different note...I took GG out on Sunday after church with another mom and daughter. We had a complete BLAST. We took the girls out for lunch, nails, ice cream and then shopping! It was a great afternoon of fun. The girls decided to switch moms for the afternoon which was really funny. The funniest comment of the afternoon was when we were at Target in the halloween section. LDC had a black hat and mask on and was saying, "Have you seen my dead husband?" I told her, "He is buried in the ground" Then my GG says, "Yeah he is the one with rip on the top." But she said rip instead of R.I.P. it was so funny. I then explained to her how R.I.P. stood for Rest in Peace. There was many other laughs too but that comment was the funniest. Let's just say that LC and I had trouble keeping the pee in at one point! Those girls had us laughing so hard :)

Thursday, September 09, 2010

The First Day of School

Today was the first day of school for all 4 kiddos. Here is a group shot...
I took more pictures of them individually put I'm really not in the mood to upload them so this one will have to suffice. We got to school at 8am got Peanut settled in to her class with many pictures of her at school and with her teachers. Before we left her we prayed together for the school year, it would of been better if Dad could of been with us but he was at work. After all the hugs and kisses to Peanut we headed to the opposite side of the school. The older kids gave each other a hug and kiss and went to class. I walked with Red to his class and got him settled in and pictures taken. I then went to Monkey's class and did the same thing. Lastly I went to GlamorGirl's class to take pictures and she was so embarrassed. Most of the parents in her class didn't walk their kids to class so she was one of a few whose parents came and...I TOOK PICTURES, oh the horror of it all! I was out of the school by 8:30. Not bad for dropping 4 kids off. Then I hurried to get as many errands done as I could while I was kid free. I went to the chiropractor, two grocery stores, put the groceries away and uploaded school pictures to facebook (because you know that is IMPORTANT...haha) and then it was time to run to get the two littles. I got Red first because he gets done first and then we walked to get Peanut. She was so sweet when I picked her up. She looked at me and said, "Mom where's Monkey and GG?" I told her they stay at school longer and she was ok with that. During Peanuts nap. Red did his homework and worked at the computer while I made dinner for tonight! The kids wanted Chipotle Burritos and so I got recipes online. I made the marinade, salsa and cut up the peppers and onion for the fajita part. That took me the whole afternoon...a lot of chopping but it was SO worth it. Tonight the kids ate a TON. They each had two helpings. They aren't saying they are hungry tonight. I must admit it was a really good meal. Tomorrow morning I'm making pancakes (was suppose to make them this morning but didn't get up in time...ooops) with strawberry and blueberry toppings and I even bought whip cream too. I love being able to really start cooking again from scratch this summer has been too busy!

Monday, September 06, 2010

A First

On Saturday night GlamorGirl had her first sleepover. The girls were really good. No fights or arguments just playing together and having a lot of fun. Her friend E is a very sweet girl who doesn't try to get GG in trouble but doing stuff they both know is wrong. This summer she has had a few friends like have been bad influences on her and E is a good influence so I am happy to have her over whenever! Though I'm not sure about her sleeping there...not sure I'M ready for that. I also don't know how well she will do. She is pretty much a homebody. Has a hard time sleeping in hotels and such so we'll see. But they only live 3 minutes from our house! They were really cute when I put them to bed. We blew up an air mattress in the spare bedroom so they wouldn't wake up Peanut. I gave them each a finger flash light and told them they could talk but they had to be quiet because the other kids were sleeping. I also shut the door and told them when we went to sleep I would come check on them. At 10pm when I went in to say we were going to sleep and they told me they decided it was time for them to go to sleep. They came to that decision because the church picnic was the next day and neither of them wanted to be tired for it. I was so proud of them they made a great choice! I didn't take any pictures and now I wish I had taken at least one of them in the bed together. Oh well. At least I blogged it!

Thursday, September 02, 2010

oh the DENTIST!

Why does EVERY dentist visit give good blog fodder??? There was this dentist visit that still gives me nightmares and this visit was good entertainment. Our appointments were at 9:30am. We got there early in hopes that we could be done early and get some grocery shopping done before lunch seeing as we had NO FOOD for lunch. They called GG and me to the chairs. I sat down, got the cover put on me had the seat adjusted and then the power went out. Great! Can you image in headache rescheduling 5 people will be for them and for us?! They tried calling the electric company and got a message saying they didn't have any specifics at this time. After about 15 minutes in the dark we came up with a plan. I left the two oldest at the office and took the two youngest with me to get some groceries. As soon as the power came on they were suppose to call me so that I had 30 minutes to get back there, the time it would take to clean the oldest twos teeth. They called me at 10:25 which was fine because I had grabbed everything I had needed and was headed to the check out. I called back to see how much time I had before the kids were done and the lady told me they were done and that they were waiting for me. I think she got side tracked and didn't call me right away! Ugh that was a bit annoying so I drove back there and stuck my meat and dairy in their mini fridge. Because of the power outage they were trying to get us done and out as quick as possible...but Peanut had other ideas on that subject. The plan was for me to get her set up in the chair and leave when my room was ready. She was NOT having that. I ended up sitting on her chair and holding her and then she was completely fine. They didn't do the whole cleaning with her since it was her first time and she isn't quite 3 years old yet. I have a feeling we are going to have a rough go with her in the chair next time. The dentist showed her the polisher and put it on her teeth and then turned it on for a second and she freaked. We'll see what happens in 6 months when they will actual clean them :) The dentist reports on the other kids were as follows. GlamorGirl needs to brush better and brush her gums and also brush morning and night. She told the dentist she was too busy to brush at night. Not sure what that was all about as that is usually one of her excuses to stay out of bed! Monkey got a referral to an orthodontist because he has only lost ONE tooth and none of the other ones are loose. I guess that concerns him. I told him I didn't loose my first tooth until I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. I was older then the average kid. But not only is his teeth not coming out but he doesn't have a whole lot of room for his adult teeth to come in. He wants us to just get it check out...really hoping our dental insurance covers this but thinking it doesn't. Red had a great check up. The dentist said he is doing a great job, way to go Red! I have no cavities either.