This December, Mike is participating in the St. Jude Marathon. The kids and I are doing the Family Race (1 Mile Run/Kid's Marathon). We would love for you to join us by sponsoring us. Click on the link below to go to Mike's page. While there, you can make a donation to help us fight childhood cancer.
www.mystjudeheroes.org/mjinnette
This will be Mike's third year to run in the marathon. This year, the kids said they wanted to participate in the Family event. So, on December 3rd, all of us will be out in the cold weather. It is all for a very worthy cause: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
If you aren't familiar with them, check out their website. They were started by actor Danny Thomas to help cure childhood cancers. They also work with Sickle Cell Anemia patients. St. Jude does not turn anyone away, even if you do not have insurance or money to pay. They have a very high cure rate for some cancers and are constantly researching cures for the rest. I am very proud of Mike and my family for wanting to help out.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Chaos Rules Too Much
My house is loud and chaotic. Three kids, a dog and all the noise they make is only part of it. We are a family of yellers. Unfortunately, I'm not talking about the color. With the exemption of Mike, although he will raise his voice when necessary, the kids and I seem to always yell about something. If someone is aggravating the others, there is yelling. If someone doesn't get their way, there is yelling. If a child is trying to parent one or more of the other children, there is yelling. We yell at the dog. We yell when we are mad. We yell when we want something. We yell when we don't want to do something. I yell from one room to get someone from another room, even if they are at the other end of the house. We are also very critical of and negative towards each other. It has become such a part of our family that we don't even realize when we do it. This is just not acceptable.
While praying this morning, I apologized to God for all the yelling we do, my critical spirit when it comes to my kids, and how it has bled over to how my kids react and respond to one another. God speaks to us in a still, quiet voice and that is how we should speak to those around us. Not knowing how to change myself and my family, I prayed for direction and guidance, along with a HUGE dose of wisdom. God showed me that instead of pointing out all the negative things the kids do, point out the good things and the not-so-perfect tries and reward them. He reminded me of the marble jar in my cabinet. Every time I saw the kids cooperating with each other, doing something nice, talking to each other without sarcasm or venom, etc., I will put a marble in a jar labeled with their name. At the end of the day, I will total up all the marbles in their respective jars and keep a running total. When they get to a set amount (say 30 or 50), we will redeem them for somewhere they want to go like Chuck E. Cheese or McDonald's. Now, if I see or hear them not getting along, I will give them a chance to correct it. If there is still a problem, I will remove a marble and they have to do a job from my Job Jar. (The Job Jar is filled with jobs I want done around the house like wash the backdoor windows, clean the walls beside the backdoor, wipe down the baseboards in different rooms, clean the hall bathroom, put up dishes, clean out the microwave, etc. I stopped using this jar a couple of years ago because the kids would BEG to pick out a job so it wasn't much of a punishment.)
After I got everything ready, I set the kids down and explained what we were doing and why. So far, there has been a good response. I have had to get on to the kids a couple of times but not as often as usual. The volume around here has gone down considerably. The kids are getting along much better. I know this is something I will have to stay on top of. The kids are going to revert back to their old habits and so will I. But change has got to come so I am hoping I can remain diligent and keep trying. Kids do not need to be raised in a house full of chaos. They get enough of it from the world around them. They don't need it at home too. This should be a place of shelter, a place to get away from the chaos and find peace.
Isaiah 26:12a LORD, you establish peace for us...
Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Proverbs 16:7 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Proverbs 3:17 Her (wisdom) ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
1 Peter 3:11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)You will keep in perfect peace the mind [that is] dependent [on You], for it is trusting in You.
While praying this morning, I apologized to God for all the yelling we do, my critical spirit when it comes to my kids, and how it has bled over to how my kids react and respond to one another. God speaks to us in a still, quiet voice and that is how we should speak to those around us. Not knowing how to change myself and my family, I prayed for direction and guidance, along with a HUGE dose of wisdom. God showed me that instead of pointing out all the negative things the kids do, point out the good things and the not-so-perfect tries and reward them. He reminded me of the marble jar in my cabinet. Every time I saw the kids cooperating with each other, doing something nice, talking to each other without sarcasm or venom, etc., I will put a marble in a jar labeled with their name. At the end of the day, I will total up all the marbles in their respective jars and keep a running total. When they get to a set amount (say 30 or 50), we will redeem them for somewhere they want to go like Chuck E. Cheese or McDonald's. Now, if I see or hear them not getting along, I will give them a chance to correct it. If there is still a problem, I will remove a marble and they have to do a job from my Job Jar. (The Job Jar is filled with jobs I want done around the house like wash the backdoor windows, clean the walls beside the backdoor, wipe down the baseboards in different rooms, clean the hall bathroom, put up dishes, clean out the microwave, etc. I stopped using this jar a couple of years ago because the kids would BEG to pick out a job so it wasn't much of a punishment.)
After I got everything ready, I set the kids down and explained what we were doing and why. So far, there has been a good response. I have had to get on to the kids a couple of times but not as often as usual. The volume around here has gone down considerably. The kids are getting along much better. I know this is something I will have to stay on top of. The kids are going to revert back to their old habits and so will I. But change has got to come so I am hoping I can remain diligent and keep trying. Kids do not need to be raised in a house full of chaos. They get enough of it from the world around them. They don't need it at home too. This should be a place of shelter, a place to get away from the chaos and find peace.
Isaiah 26:12a LORD, you establish peace for us...
Isaiah 32:17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Proverbs 16:7 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Proverbs 3:17 Her (wisdom) ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
1 Peter 3:11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB)You will keep in perfect peace the mind [that is] dependent [on You], for it is trusting in You.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Not Listening
Ever had one of those days when EVERYTHING you did (or didn't do), touched or said went horribly wrong? That was my day yesterday.
The kids were suppose to help me around the house with some chores (plus their everyday chores) AND get along with each other. Their reward for doing it would be to see CARS 2. Monday, I told my kids about it but wanted to wait until Nathan was here so he could go with us. My bunch helped out and were relatively good Monday.
Tuesday was a completely different story. No one wanted to listen. The kids wanted to do their own thing and did not get along. I was constantly having to get onto someone. Like Monday, they had their everyday chores to complete (get dressed, brush their teeth, make their beds, put up their pajamas, and generally pick up any mess). They also had to unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, finish folding clothes and putting theirs up, pick up the living room and sweep the kitchen. It should have taken them two hours max (and that was if they took lots of breaks).
The movie was going to start at 1 p.m. At 12:30, I still had not gotten a shower (because I was busy being a referee), the dishes still hadn't been done, the clothes needed to be put up and the kids still needed to eat lunch. I know I should have told them we weren't going but to be honest, I was looking forward to two hours of relative peace and quiet. So, instead, I ignored God's promptings to stay home. We finally got out the door at 12:50 after I had a quick shower and only one child ate lunch. The line for tickets was long so by the time we got to the front, the 1 o'clock showing was sold out. The next showing was at 1:35 but was in 3-D. The problem with that was I wasn't planning on spending the extra $15 for 3-D glasses. I know I should have turned around and left and brought them back another day but I was being stubborn. (The next 2-D showing was at 4 p.m. but we had plans last night.) Instead of listening to God prompting me again to stay home, I paid the extra and went inside. Snacks at the concession stand cost almost $29 for four kids combos and a pretzel and Coke for me. The movie wasn't crowded and we were able to get some great seats towards the front. The kids did great during the movie, but towards the end, each one had to go to the bathroom (one child had to go three times!). When the credits started rolling, I wanted to wait around because Pixar usually has something extra at the end. That's when the complaining started again. And, wouldn't you know, Pixar didn't have anything extra!! Bummer!!
We exit the theater and start out towards the van. Next thing I know, Hannah and Nathan take off in a dead run across the parking lot for the van! Will and Andrew take off after them before I could stop them. Once we get home, the fighting starts again. But this time, I had more than my fill of it and did something really stupid. Instead of listening to God to separate the kids and put them all in timeout, I started yelling. I also started arguing with my mom over it. By the time Mike got home and Mel came to get Nathan, I had reached the knot at the end of my rope and was hanging on for dear life.
All throughout the day, God spoke to me in His still, quiet voice. Instead of stopping what I was doing and listening to what He had to say, I kept on barreling through my day making an absolute mess of it. God let me finish doing all the damage I could do, then helped by picking me up and holding me tight. Listening to God is hard to do but I hope I can become better at it. My life would be so much more peaceful!!
The kids were suppose to help me around the house with some chores (plus their everyday chores) AND get along with each other. Their reward for doing it would be to see CARS 2. Monday, I told my kids about it but wanted to wait until Nathan was here so he could go with us. My bunch helped out and were relatively good Monday.
Tuesday was a completely different story. No one wanted to listen. The kids wanted to do their own thing and did not get along. I was constantly having to get onto someone. Like Monday, they had their everyday chores to complete (get dressed, brush their teeth, make their beds, put up their pajamas, and generally pick up any mess). They also had to unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, finish folding clothes and putting theirs up, pick up the living room and sweep the kitchen. It should have taken them two hours max (and that was if they took lots of breaks).
The movie was going to start at 1 p.m. At 12:30, I still had not gotten a shower (because I was busy being a referee), the dishes still hadn't been done, the clothes needed to be put up and the kids still needed to eat lunch. I know I should have told them we weren't going but to be honest, I was looking forward to two hours of relative peace and quiet. So, instead, I ignored God's promptings to stay home. We finally got out the door at 12:50 after I had a quick shower and only one child ate lunch. The line for tickets was long so by the time we got to the front, the 1 o'clock showing was sold out. The next showing was at 1:35 but was in 3-D. The problem with that was I wasn't planning on spending the extra $15 for 3-D glasses. I know I should have turned around and left and brought them back another day but I was being stubborn. (The next 2-D showing was at 4 p.m. but we had plans last night.) Instead of listening to God prompting me again to stay home, I paid the extra and went inside. Snacks at the concession stand cost almost $29 for four kids combos and a pretzel and Coke for me. The movie wasn't crowded and we were able to get some great seats towards the front. The kids did great during the movie, but towards the end, each one had to go to the bathroom (one child had to go three times!). When the credits started rolling, I wanted to wait around because Pixar usually has something extra at the end. That's when the complaining started again. And, wouldn't you know, Pixar didn't have anything extra!! Bummer!!
We exit the theater and start out towards the van. Next thing I know, Hannah and Nathan take off in a dead run across the parking lot for the van! Will and Andrew take off after them before I could stop them. Once we get home, the fighting starts again. But this time, I had more than my fill of it and did something really stupid. Instead of listening to God to separate the kids and put them all in timeout, I started yelling. I also started arguing with my mom over it. By the time Mike got home and Mel came to get Nathan, I had reached the knot at the end of my rope and was hanging on for dear life.
All throughout the day, God spoke to me in His still, quiet voice. Instead of stopping what I was doing and listening to what He had to say, I kept on barreling through my day making an absolute mess of it. God let me finish doing all the damage I could do, then helped by picking me up and holding me tight. Listening to God is hard to do but I hope I can become better at it. My life would be so much more peaceful!!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
God blessed us with an absolutely gorgeous day today!!! The temperature was around 71 degrees. The sun was shining. There were a few clouds in the sky and there was a slight breeze. After basketball games this morning, I made the kids go outside to play. The last time they did that was when it snowed on January 10. That day, we built a snowman and had a couple of snowball fights. We all needed to be back outside again. (All three kids were sick with a stomach virus for almost two weeks. We really needed this!) Mike and I opened all the windows in the house to air it out. The kids rode their bikes in the backyard, painted, played on the playgym and clubhouse, played horseshoes and badminton, practiced getting baskets for their next basketball game, and leaf fished (fishing without a hook). Quite a few times I had to deal with them not wanting to stay outside but after a while, they forgot about watching television and playing inside.
After playing for a while, Mike and Will started raking the leaves in the backyard. All three kids had fun jumping in the huge pile of leaves then picked them up and putting them in bags. Only a quarter of the backyard was done and we filled three 55-gallon yard bags and most of a 30-gallon yard bag. This is after Mike raked up leaves this fall.
It is suppose to rain tomorrow and everyday through Wednesday. The high tomorrow is supposed to be 55 degrees. Mike said a chance of snow is predicted for Wednesday. Only in the South can you have snow one weekend, sunshine and warm weather the next weekend, and snow predicted again the week after. Gotta love it!!!
After playing for a while, Mike and Will started raking the leaves in the backyard. All three kids had fun jumping in the huge pile of leaves then picked them up and putting them in bags. Only a quarter of the backyard was done and we filled three 55-gallon yard bags and most of a 30-gallon yard bag. This is after Mike raked up leaves this fall.
It is suppose to rain tomorrow and everyday through Wednesday. The high tomorrow is supposed to be 55 degrees. Mike said a chance of snow is predicted for Wednesday. Only in the South can you have snow one weekend, sunshine and warm weather the next weekend, and snow predicted again the week after. Gotta love it!!!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Family Vacation
After all the busyness of Christmas, Mike and I took the kids to Chattanooga to visit Dick and Daphne, Mike's dad and step-mom. I thought we would never get on the road.
Mike had to work Monday and Tuesday, so I tried to get everything packed and ready to go. It is easier said than done when you are trying to unpack all the mismatched clothes and short-sleeve shirts your kids put in their suitcases and telling them they can't take everything they got for Christmas. I could not keep my focus on what I needed to do and would get distracted at every turn. The kids were helpful in that they cleaned my bathrooms, dusted, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher and whatever else I needed them to do.
Hannah's friend MaKayla was going with us so her mom Ami dropped her off late Tuesday afternoon. While going through our bags to see what to put in the van first, we realized that MaKayla's suitcase was still in the back of her mom's van - 45 minutes away. Ami and I met halfway at Sonic. The kids ate dinner while Ami and I made the exchange. As I am pulling out of the restaurant, the car behind me started honking at me. It was Ami again. She forgot to give me a permission slip in case something happened while we were gone. So, we both pulled back into the parking lot and Ami gave me the paper. Once we get home, Mike helped me get the van loaded with all the suitcases, toys, bags, food, cooler, pillows, blankets, movies, DVD players, etc. We make the kids take a potty break while we walk through the house one more time then get on the road. We finally pull out of the driveway at 8:55 p.m. Yes, you read that right - PM. Since I had to make an extra trip I wasn't planning on, Mike thought it would be good to top off the gas tank. We pull into Sam's and notice the gas station closed at 9 p.m. It was 9:02 on the van clock. Since Mike had not eaten, we decided to forget getting gasoline and stopped at Krystal's. Normally we are in and out within 5-7 minutes. That night, we left about 15-20 minutes later. We finally got on the road at 9:30 p.m. Mike bought two 8 ounce coffees, one for me and one for him. I drank both of them plus most of a 24 ounce cafe mocha Mike bought when we got gas at the Linden exit. (In my defense, I was tired after all the packing and late night plus I was driving.) Needless to say, I was wired and could not stop talking once we finally got to Chattanooga. Mike and his dad were amused.
We arrived at Dick and Daphne's at 4:15 a.m. and got the kids settled quickly. Mike and I slept until 10:30. Mike's brother Rich, Michelle and their boys drove down from Pigeon Forge and spent the day with us. Brent and Jennifer, Mike's step-brother and his wife, along with their two boys came over too. We ate a wonderful dinner and opened Christmas presents. We had a great time.
Thursday found us being lazy all day and not doing anything. We thought about taking the kids to the park and letting them run around and play but we never got it in gear.
Friday, we all went to Brent and Jenn's house. The kids ran around outside and played (the temperature was around 65). Everything we ate was delicious. The kids have a picnic outside and enjoyed it. Jennifer made chocolate fondue as a snack. GOOD!! It started raining late and rained all night and most of Saturday. Mike and I took the kids to the Creative Discovery Museum Saturday since it was wet. The kids had a blast playing and looking at all the exhibits. Their favorite was the water feature at the very beginning. If they had a choice, they would have never left.
Saturday night, Cody and Erinn came over along with Brent and Jenn and their kids to celebrate New Years and Cody's birthday. Erinn is pregnant and due any day. She wasn't feeling few well so they left early.
After an awesome breakfast, we left Chattanooga around 1:30 for home. We made good time and made it home by 7:15 after stopping for lunch in Dickson. I was so excited to be home. We really enjoyed our trip but it was nice to sleep in our own beds.
Mike had to work Monday and Tuesday, so I tried to get everything packed and ready to go. It is easier said than done when you are trying to unpack all the mismatched clothes and short-sleeve shirts your kids put in their suitcases and telling them they can't take everything they got for Christmas. I could not keep my focus on what I needed to do and would get distracted at every turn. The kids were helpful in that they cleaned my bathrooms, dusted, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher and whatever else I needed them to do.
Hannah's friend MaKayla was going with us so her mom Ami dropped her off late Tuesday afternoon. While going through our bags to see what to put in the van first, we realized that MaKayla's suitcase was still in the back of her mom's van - 45 minutes away. Ami and I met halfway at Sonic. The kids ate dinner while Ami and I made the exchange. As I am pulling out of the restaurant, the car behind me started honking at me. It was Ami again. She forgot to give me a permission slip in case something happened while we were gone. So, we both pulled back into the parking lot and Ami gave me the paper. Once we get home, Mike helped me get the van loaded with all the suitcases, toys, bags, food, cooler, pillows, blankets, movies, DVD players, etc. We make the kids take a potty break while we walk through the house one more time then get on the road. We finally pull out of the driveway at 8:55 p.m. Yes, you read that right - PM. Since I had to make an extra trip I wasn't planning on, Mike thought it would be good to top off the gas tank. We pull into Sam's and notice the gas station closed at 9 p.m. It was 9:02 on the van clock. Since Mike had not eaten, we decided to forget getting gasoline and stopped at Krystal's. Normally we are in and out within 5-7 minutes. That night, we left about 15-20 minutes later. We finally got on the road at 9:30 p.m. Mike bought two 8 ounce coffees, one for me and one for him. I drank both of them plus most of a 24 ounce cafe mocha Mike bought when we got gas at the Linden exit. (In my defense, I was tired after all the packing and late night plus I was driving.) Needless to say, I was wired and could not stop talking once we finally got to Chattanooga. Mike and his dad were amused.
We arrived at Dick and Daphne's at 4:15 a.m. and got the kids settled quickly. Mike and I slept until 10:30. Mike's brother Rich, Michelle and their boys drove down from Pigeon Forge and spent the day with us. Brent and Jennifer, Mike's step-brother and his wife, along with their two boys came over too. We ate a wonderful dinner and opened Christmas presents. We had a great time.
Thursday found us being lazy all day and not doing anything. We thought about taking the kids to the park and letting them run around and play but we never got it in gear.
Friday, we all went to Brent and Jenn's house. The kids ran around outside and played (the temperature was around 65). Everything we ate was delicious. The kids have a picnic outside and enjoyed it. Jennifer made chocolate fondue as a snack. GOOD!! It started raining late and rained all night and most of Saturday. Mike and I took the kids to the Creative Discovery Museum Saturday since it was wet. The kids had a blast playing and looking at all the exhibits. Their favorite was the water feature at the very beginning. If they had a choice, they would have never left.
Saturday night, Cody and Erinn came over along with Brent and Jenn and their kids to celebrate New Years and Cody's birthday. Erinn is pregnant and due any day. She wasn't feeling few well so they left early.
After an awesome breakfast, we left Chattanooga around 1:30 for home. We made good time and made it home by 7:15 after stopping for lunch in Dickson. I was so excited to be home. We really enjoyed our trip but it was nice to sleep in our own beds.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Big Day!
Happy Birthday Jesus!!! Merry Christmas!!
Last night, I was up wrapping presents until 1:30 this morning. Before last night, I only had one present wrapped. So, after the kids went to bed and went to sleep, I started on the gifts. God answered prayers last night because I ran out of wrapping paper and bags. God stretched everything to where I had just enough to cover everything I needed!!! Mike had to wrap my gifts with paper bags but, hey, it worked!!!
About 6:55 this morning, Hannah came into our room excited about what Santa brought her. She asked if she could play with her toys. When I asked her to go back to bed because Mike and I had a late night, she very sweetly said okay then crawled into bed with me. She then jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Mike was in there and I told Hannah to use our other one. She said she would wait then suddenly changed her mind and darted out of the room. When she did, Hannah pulled the cord to our space heater out of the socket. She started apologizing like crazy. She was so funny and sweet!! Will got up shortly afterward and let Andrew sleep so we went up and looked at what Santa left. Andrew woke up about 30 minutes to an hour later (he was up late last night).
The kids racked up!! Hannah was most excited about her Barbie Jet; Will, his Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash. Andrew loved the Hot Wheels cars, Thomas the Train set, and Will's Hot Wheels city pieces.
Mom, Dad, Joan, Melanie and Nathan all came over. We opened presents and had a huge lunch. Joan cooked a ham and made Ambrosia (some without coconut for me). Melanie brought broccoli and cheese and a cinnamon butter braid. Mom made dressing. I made green bean casserole, corn pudding, rolls, and a breakfast casserole.
While everyone was coming in and while we were opening presents, it started snowing!!! It is the first Christmas in 93 years that we have had snow fall on Christmas Day. A couple of times in the past we have had snow on the ground Christmas Day but it was already there. It didn't stick because the ground was too warm but it was beautiful!!
The kids are playing one of their new Wii games. I am getting ready to look at some of my new crochet books. Mom bought me one on edgings and trims and other on stitches. I am so excited!!
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Remember the Reason for the Season - JESUS!!
Last night, I was up wrapping presents until 1:30 this morning. Before last night, I only had one present wrapped. So, after the kids went to bed and went to sleep, I started on the gifts. God answered prayers last night because I ran out of wrapping paper and bags. God stretched everything to where I had just enough to cover everything I needed!!! Mike had to wrap my gifts with paper bags but, hey, it worked!!!
About 6:55 this morning, Hannah came into our room excited about what Santa brought her. She asked if she could play with her toys. When I asked her to go back to bed because Mike and I had a late night, she very sweetly said okay then crawled into bed with me. She then jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom. Mike was in there and I told Hannah to use our other one. She said she would wait then suddenly changed her mind and darted out of the room. When she did, Hannah pulled the cord to our space heater out of the socket. She started apologizing like crazy. She was so funny and sweet!! Will got up shortly afterward and let Andrew sleep so we went up and looked at what Santa left. Andrew woke up about 30 minutes to an hour later (he was up late last night).
The kids racked up!! Hannah was most excited about her Barbie Jet; Will, his Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash. Andrew loved the Hot Wheels cars, Thomas the Train set, and Will's Hot Wheels city pieces.
Mom, Dad, Joan, Melanie and Nathan all came over. We opened presents and had a huge lunch. Joan cooked a ham and made Ambrosia (some without coconut for me). Melanie brought broccoli and cheese and a cinnamon butter braid. Mom made dressing. I made green bean casserole, corn pudding, rolls, and a breakfast casserole.
While everyone was coming in and while we were opening presents, it started snowing!!! It is the first Christmas in 93 years that we have had snow fall on Christmas Day. A couple of times in the past we have had snow on the ground Christmas Day but it was already there. It didn't stick because the ground was too warm but it was beautiful!!
The kids are playing one of their new Wii games. I am getting ready to look at some of my new crochet books. Mom bought me one on edgings and trims and other on stitches. I am so excited!!
Hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Remember the Reason for the Season - JESUS!!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A Small Victory
When it comes to potty training, I am by no way an expert. Hannah was 3 years and 2 months old when she was fully potty trained. Will decided he wanted to go all the time just after his 4th birthday party. Andrew has shown very little interest. On occasion he might humor Mike and me but, instead of doing anything, he decides to play.
Things started changing a little one day at the end of last week. Just before getting in the tub, Andrew decided he wanted to try to go potty (without any prompting from Mom or Dad). He actually peed in the potty and was really excited. The next evening I was getting the boys in the tub to get the dirt off them when Andrew decided to try using the potty again (without prompting). He did it again. Yesterday (Sunday), the boys were outside playing and decided to run around sans clothes. When Andrew was ready to come inside, he got himself dressed in his pajamas. Mike and I both told him to put on a Pull-Up before he had an accident. Instead, he decided to put on underwear. He did really good and even took himself potty a couple of times. This morning, instead of putting a Pull-Up on, I put him in underwear. He did awesome!! Mom said he even took himself to the bathroom three or four times. After the kids and I got to the ball fields to watch Mike play softball, I noticed that Andrew had had an accident. I took him to the bathroom and got him cleaned up and he was ready to go. He stayed dry the whole time. I put a diaper on him before putting him to bed because he usually has a full diaper in the morning. (This is one of the two areas we haven't worked on. The other is doing #2 in the potty - that was the accident at the park).
Mike and I are so proud of him. We are also cautious because we don't want him to feel pressured. I will be SO glad to get him out of diapers. January will bring in ten years of changing diapers with no breaks between kids. You can see why we are excited but cautious.
Things started changing a little one day at the end of last week. Just before getting in the tub, Andrew decided he wanted to try to go potty (without any prompting from Mom or Dad). He actually peed in the potty and was really excited. The next evening I was getting the boys in the tub to get the dirt off them when Andrew decided to try using the potty again (without prompting). He did it again. Yesterday (Sunday), the boys were outside playing and decided to run around sans clothes. When Andrew was ready to come inside, he got himself dressed in his pajamas. Mike and I both told him to put on a Pull-Up before he had an accident. Instead, he decided to put on underwear. He did really good and even took himself potty a couple of times. This morning, instead of putting a Pull-Up on, I put him in underwear. He did awesome!! Mom said he even took himself to the bathroom three or four times. After the kids and I got to the ball fields to watch Mike play softball, I noticed that Andrew had had an accident. I took him to the bathroom and got him cleaned up and he was ready to go. He stayed dry the whole time. I put a diaper on him before putting him to bed because he usually has a full diaper in the morning. (This is one of the two areas we haven't worked on. The other is doing #2 in the potty - that was the accident at the park).
Mike and I are so proud of him. We are also cautious because we don't want him to feel pressured. I will be SO glad to get him out of diapers. January will bring in ten years of changing diapers with no breaks between kids. You can see why we are excited but cautious.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Pictures
I cleaned the pictures off my phone today and found quite a few I have been wanting to post. So, here they are in random order. Enjoy the show!!
Andrew and Hannah 9/5/09
Will and Andrew 9/5/09
Andrew's ice cream goatee 7/3/09
Hannah and Will just after Hannah returned from camp 6/5/10
Hannah and Will 6/5/10
(back) Michelle, Alyssa, Will
(front) Andrew, Nathan, and Hannah
at the Zoo 10/12/09
Hannah, Andrew and Will 4/3/09
me 3/16/10
Mom's car after her wreak 4/15/10
Mom's car after her wreak 4/15/10
Will's chocolate goatee 7/3/09
A plant in the "Once Upon A Farm" exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09
A water feature in the "Once Upon A Farm" exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09
Mike feeding a parakeet at "Birds and Bees" exhibit at the Zoo 5/28/10
Will and Hannah feeding a parakeet at the "Birds and Bees" exhibit at the Zoo 5/28/10
One of the panda bears at the Zoo 10/12/09
Andrew feeding a parakeet 5/28/10
Will, Hannah and Andrew at the Teton Trek exhibit at the Zoo 10/12/09
Andrew and the Easter Bunny 4/1/10
Andrew and the Easter Bunny 4/1/10
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Getting Caught Up
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. With three kids practicing and playing ball this spring, my schedule revolves around them. We have practice and games every night of the week. Since I spend most of my day (and night) on the road or sitting at practice, I think of a million things to post on my blog: events that are happening, cute things the kids say, my thoughts on different matters, etc. By the time I get to the computer at home, I've forgotten what I wanted to write. For a while, I carried a notebook with me so I could write down things I wanted to remember. Guess I need to put it back in the van.
Will and Andrew had their first games this week. Will's team lost both of their games but they really tried. He plays coach pitch. Andrew's team doesn't keep score (he plays 3-4 year old t-ball). Hannah's games start on Monday, then it gets really interesting around here. All three play on Tuesdays at two different fields. Yeah, like I said, interesting. Most nights, we eat dinner around 4:30-5 p.m. By the time they get to bed after 9 p.m. (really late for them), they are hungry again.
Andrew has been singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" lately with his own little twist. Instead of "gently down the stream," he sings, "gently down the scream." Also, Andrew has gotten his opposites mixed up, except for his left and right. When something is cold, he says it is hot. Up is down and down is up, etc. Trying to understand what he means is interesting and difficult at times. Sometimes I just have to laugh.
Mom had a car wreak last night on her way home from work. A car had stopped to turn into a subdivision and there were a couple of cars behind it. She didn't see the brake lights of the last vehicle until it was too late. Mom said she buried her feet and brake pedal in the floorboard but wasn't able to stop in time. When she hit the car in front of her, it started a chain reaction that ended three cars later. Her radiator is busted and the front end is all messed up. Praise the Good Lord above, no one was hurt. Mom is sore across her chest where the seat belt was but that's all. Mom is upset. She has been involved in accidents before but this is the first one that was her fault. I'm just happy that no one was hurt or worse.
Gotta get off here. Hannah is trying to make dinner (her idea) and I need to supervise.
Will and Andrew had their first games this week. Will's team lost both of their games but they really tried. He plays coach pitch. Andrew's team doesn't keep score (he plays 3-4 year old t-ball). Hannah's games start on Monday, then it gets really interesting around here. All three play on Tuesdays at two different fields. Yeah, like I said, interesting. Most nights, we eat dinner around 4:30-5 p.m. By the time they get to bed after 9 p.m. (really late for them), they are hungry again.
Andrew has been singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" lately with his own little twist. Instead of "gently down the stream," he sings, "gently down the scream." Also, Andrew has gotten his opposites mixed up, except for his left and right. When something is cold, he says it is hot. Up is down and down is up, etc. Trying to understand what he means is interesting and difficult at times. Sometimes I just have to laugh.
Mom had a car wreak last night on her way home from work. A car had stopped to turn into a subdivision and there were a couple of cars behind it. She didn't see the brake lights of the last vehicle until it was too late. Mom said she buried her feet and brake pedal in the floorboard but wasn't able to stop in time. When she hit the car in front of her, it started a chain reaction that ended three cars later. Her radiator is busted and the front end is all messed up. Praise the Good Lord above, no one was hurt. Mom is sore across her chest where the seat belt was but that's all. Mom is upset. She has been involved in accidents before but this is the first one that was her fault. I'm just happy that no one was hurt or worse.
Gotta get off here. Hannah is trying to make dinner (her idea) and I need to supervise.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Games We Play
To pass the time in the car or van, whether it is on long road trips or a jaunt to the store, the kids and I play games. Some I played as a child; others the kids and I have created. They are loads of fun and can be addicting.
One I taught the kids is Slugbug. For those who aren't familiar with this game, a slugbug is a Volkswagon Beetle. They were popular when I was growing up. Fortunately, their popularity has rebounded and they can be found in abundance nowadays. When you see a VW Bug, you yell, "SLUGBUG!" The first one to call it get a point. The person with the most points once you get to your destination wins. I find myself playing this game when I'm in the car by myself. At one time, it had gotten so bad that I knew where all the "regular" places were and would start looking for them when I was with the kids. It wasn't cheating; I was making my trips around town work to my advantage. The kids are amazed because I can see them quite a ways off. The trick: knowing the body style and headlight shapes comes in REALLY handy.
We play the same game with Ford Mustangs. When you spot a mustang, you yell "Mustang!" This one is a favorite of my kids. They love those cars (as does their mom)!
One my kids came up with was Twinkie Banana. When you find a yellow vehicle, you try to be the first to yell either "Twinkie" or "Banana" (the difference: the darker color is a twinkie; the lighter one is a banana). Sometime we just yell "Twinkie Banana" to cover all bases.
My nephew Nathan and a friend of his created another game using Dodge and Jeep vehicles. If you spot a Dodge, try to be the first to say "D-D-DODGE!" If you see a Jeep, say "BEEP-BEEP JEEP!" The person with the most wins. This is another game where knowing the body styles, headlight shapes and emblems really well works to your advantage. This is a hard game because your tongue will get twisted up, especially if you see them close together.
One I do sometimes on my own is finding vehicles all the same color. It's amazing how many vehicles you can find all of one color at one time when you're paying attention. The next time you are out driving, take a look around you and see how many cars there are all one color. It is really interesting.
A game my kids like to play on long trips is the Alphabet Game. Melanie and I used to play this when we would go on trips to Ohio and Florida to visit family. I taught this to the kids either last year or the year before and they liked it. To play, you search for signs that have the letters of the alphabet on them, starting with the letter A. Once you find the letter you are on, you move to the next one. You must go in order and you can't skip any letters. The hardest letters to find are Q, U,V and Z. You can go miles and miles before finding the right sign. You have to keep your eyes open and read every sign you see. Sometimes we play together. Other times we play individually, seeing who can get to the end first. This game can be played during the day or at night, while the car games are best during the day.
I've tried to make up a game similar to the Alphabet Games using numbers instead. I haven't had much luck on this one. This one is not as much fun because numbers are everywhere.
When I was a teenager, my friends and I would thump the ceiling of the car every time we saw a car with one headlight. Sometimes I catch myself wanting to do this for no reason. Strange, I know.
Do you have any games you and your familiy play while in the car? Are there any you played as a child? I would love to hear about them. We are always looking for something new to play.
One I taught the kids is Slugbug. For those who aren't familiar with this game, a slugbug is a Volkswagon Beetle. They were popular when I was growing up. Fortunately, their popularity has rebounded and they can be found in abundance nowadays. When you see a VW Bug, you yell, "SLUGBUG!" The first one to call it get a point. The person with the most points once you get to your destination wins. I find myself playing this game when I'm in the car by myself. At one time, it had gotten so bad that I knew where all the "regular" places were and would start looking for them when I was with the kids. It wasn't cheating; I was making my trips around town work to my advantage. The kids are amazed because I can see them quite a ways off. The trick: knowing the body style and headlight shapes comes in REALLY handy.
We play the same game with Ford Mustangs. When you spot a mustang, you yell "Mustang!" This one is a favorite of my kids. They love those cars (as does their mom)!
One my kids came up with was Twinkie Banana. When you find a yellow vehicle, you try to be the first to yell either "Twinkie" or "Banana" (the difference: the darker color is a twinkie; the lighter one is a banana). Sometime we just yell "Twinkie Banana" to cover all bases.
My nephew Nathan and a friend of his created another game using Dodge and Jeep vehicles. If you spot a Dodge, try to be the first to say "D-D-DODGE!" If you see a Jeep, say "BEEP-BEEP JEEP!" The person with the most wins. This is another game where knowing the body styles, headlight shapes and emblems really well works to your advantage. This is a hard game because your tongue will get twisted up, especially if you see them close together.
One I do sometimes on my own is finding vehicles all the same color. It's amazing how many vehicles you can find all of one color at one time when you're paying attention. The next time you are out driving, take a look around you and see how many cars there are all one color. It is really interesting.
A game my kids like to play on long trips is the Alphabet Game. Melanie and I used to play this when we would go on trips to Ohio and Florida to visit family. I taught this to the kids either last year or the year before and they liked it. To play, you search for signs that have the letters of the alphabet on them, starting with the letter A. Once you find the letter you are on, you move to the next one. You must go in order and you can't skip any letters. The hardest letters to find are Q, U,V and Z. You can go miles and miles before finding the right sign. You have to keep your eyes open and read every sign you see. Sometimes we play together. Other times we play individually, seeing who can get to the end first. This game can be played during the day or at night, while the car games are best during the day.
I've tried to make up a game similar to the Alphabet Games using numbers instead. I haven't had much luck on this one. This one is not as much fun because numbers are everywhere.
When I was a teenager, my friends and I would thump the ceiling of the car every time we saw a car with one headlight. Sometimes I catch myself wanting to do this for no reason. Strange, I know.
Do you have any games you and your familiy play while in the car? Are there any you played as a child? I would love to hear about them. We are always looking for something new to play.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Spring Break and Time Changes
The Time Change to spring forward an hour occurred Sunday morning at 2 a.m. and the kids started their Spring Break this week. Even though we lost an hour, we are all still getting up about the same time, even with them sleeping late. It sounds weird, doesn't it? They are getting up around 8, which is 7 before the change. Their normal wake time for school is 7 a.m. I know. I know. Stop it. Okay!
We've been busy this week. Monday was spent grocery shopping. It isn't the funnest thing to do while you are on vacation, but it was a necessary evil. We were completely out of fruit and veggies, bread, eggs, and milk. The kids were really good, though and helped out a lot. They played outside riding bikes and scooters, and playing basketball.
Tuesday, the kids and I went to the Memphis Zoo with our friends, Tracy Gallagher and kids. Our kids are all about the same ages, so they have a buddy to have fun and partner up with. We met up there at 9:30 and left at 1. We took our lunch and ate it while watching the Sea Lion Show. The kids had a great time running around, seeing all the animals and hanging out with friends. All of us were wiped out. Andrew finally fell asleep for his nap after 2 p.m. and slept until 6. He walked the whole time.
Tomorrow, our friends Jack and Marilyn are taking Hannah and their granddaughter, Emily, swimming at the Y. The girls go to the same school and are about a year or two apart in age. They've met a couple of times and enjoying playing together. The boys and I are probably going bowling, but I haven't completely decided. It's either the park or bowling.
Thursday will find us at Chuck E. Cheese's with Susan and her boys. We've been looking forward to getting together for a while. Susan home-schools her boys so it limits our time to do things together. It worked out that their Spring Break was the same as ours so we decided to take advantage of it and hang together.
Friday, we will probably go bowling again and maybe to the park. I know, we plan to do that twice but the kids love it. Since Hannah wouldn't be able to go with us on Wednesday, I thought we could go again.
Growing up, I didn't get to do a lot during Spring Break because my parents worked. I remember sitting at home and playing with Melanie and my friends instead of taking trips or going a lot of places. Since we don't know what the future holds, I want to do as much as I can and hope the kids enjoy and remember it. You're only young once, right? Or, at least until you have your mid-life crisis...HAHAHA
We've been busy this week. Monday was spent grocery shopping. It isn't the funnest thing to do while you are on vacation, but it was a necessary evil. We were completely out of fruit and veggies, bread, eggs, and milk. The kids were really good, though and helped out a lot. They played outside riding bikes and scooters, and playing basketball.
Tuesday, the kids and I went to the Memphis Zoo with our friends, Tracy Gallagher and kids. Our kids are all about the same ages, so they have a buddy to have fun and partner up with. We met up there at 9:30 and left at 1. We took our lunch and ate it while watching the Sea Lion Show. The kids had a great time running around, seeing all the animals and hanging out with friends. All of us were wiped out. Andrew finally fell asleep for his nap after 2 p.m. and slept until 6. He walked the whole time.
Tomorrow, our friends Jack and Marilyn are taking Hannah and their granddaughter, Emily, swimming at the Y. The girls go to the same school and are about a year or two apart in age. They've met a couple of times and enjoying playing together. The boys and I are probably going bowling, but I haven't completely decided. It's either the park or bowling.
Thursday will find us at Chuck E. Cheese's with Susan and her boys. We've been looking forward to getting together for a while. Susan home-schools her boys so it limits our time to do things together. It worked out that their Spring Break was the same as ours so we decided to take advantage of it and hang together.
Friday, we will probably go bowling again and maybe to the park. I know, we plan to do that twice but the kids love it. Since Hannah wouldn't be able to go with us on Wednesday, I thought we could go again.
Growing up, I didn't get to do a lot during Spring Break because my parents worked. I remember sitting at home and playing with Melanie and my friends instead of taking trips or going a lot of places. Since we don't know what the future holds, I want to do as much as I can and hope the kids enjoy and remember it. You're only young once, right? Or, at least until you have your mid-life crisis...HAHAHA
Saturday, February 27, 2010
All's Quiet on the Southern Front
This weekend has been great and quiet so far. It is the first weekend in about two months we haven't had basketball games to go to. The kids played their last games last Saturday and their Awards Ceremony was last night. Of course, the kids were up early (even though they didn't have to be) so I made scrambled eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast. Usually I make a big breakfast on Saturday mornings but, because of basketball, I haven't been able to for a while. In fact, the last time I made a big breakfast for the family was pancakes about two weeks ago, and I was able to do that before school one morning. Tonight, Mike is taking Hannah and Will to the hockey game with some of the other Dads at our church. Andrew and I get to hang out together and enjoy ourselves.
Last Friday was Grandparents' Day at Will's school. Mom called him that morning and gave him a suggestion. Since she wasn't feeling well, she asked Will if it would be okay if she missed going to school with him. Instead, she would take him out to eat anywhere he wanted to go Saturday after his ball game. Will agreed with the plan. So, Saturday he got dressed up and Mom picked him up for their date. His first choice was Chuck E. Cheese's but when they arrived, they found out there was an hour and a half wait just to get a table. So, Will's second choice was Texas Roadhouse. He had received a coupon for a free kids meal with his last report card and was begging to use it. He and Mom had a great time and he felt like a big boy. Mom let him order anything he wanted, including dessert, and eat all the peanuts he wanted, too. Afterwards, they went back to Mom's house and Will played by himself (without any other kids competing with him) for a couple of hours. When he came home, it's all he could talk about. In fact, the other day we were getting ready to sit down at the kitchen table and he mentioned how much fun he had and the food he ate too. I'm glad he had a great time. Mom wants to do it again with one of the others soon. I know they will enjoy themselves.
Last Friday was Grandparents' Day at Will's school. Mom called him that morning and gave him a suggestion. Since she wasn't feeling well, she asked Will if it would be okay if she missed going to school with him. Instead, she would take him out to eat anywhere he wanted to go Saturday after his ball game. Will agreed with the plan. So, Saturday he got dressed up and Mom picked him up for their date. His first choice was Chuck E. Cheese's but when they arrived, they found out there was an hour and a half wait just to get a table. So, Will's second choice was Texas Roadhouse. He had received a coupon for a free kids meal with his last report card and was begging to use it. He and Mom had a great time and he felt like a big boy. Mom let him order anything he wanted, including dessert, and eat all the peanuts he wanted, too. Afterwards, they went back to Mom's house and Will played by himself (without any other kids competing with him) for a couple of hours. When he came home, it's all he could talk about. In fact, the other day we were getting ready to sit down at the kitchen table and he mentioned how much fun he had and the food he ate too. I'm glad he had a great time. Mom wants to do it again with one of the others soon. I know they will enjoy themselves.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Pictures
Here are some pictures we've taken over the last few weeks.
If you look closely, you can see the Canada geese walking on the frozen lake. This picture was taken on January 30, the day after we got sleet and ice. The lake froze over and the geese and ducks were able to walk across.
Baron and the leftover sleet we received
On February 5, while Hannah was at school, Mike and I put up Hannah's new bed and rearranged her room. Click here to read the details about the changes that were made.
Hannah and Andrew enjoying Hannah's new bed
Hannah and Andrew playing
Mama, Hannah, Andrew and Will
The rest of the pictures are of today's surprise snowfall.
The first few pictures were taken of our backyard through our dining room windows.
The next two pictures are of our front yard and the small courtyard garden. Look at the snow on our fountain. It looks like a wedding cake.
After much talking in too (I was surprised), the kids finally went outside to play.
Andrew, Baron, Hannah and Will having a snowball fight.
Andrew and Hannah with Crystal, our snowwoman.
Another picture of Andrew, Crystal and Hannah
Crystal
Friday, January 8, 2010
Kids and Food
What is it with kids and food? Does anyone else have this problem with their kids? You make something you think (and are pretty sure) they will enjoy and it takes an act of Congress to get them to take just one bite. Most of the time it's not anything new. It's something they have had numerous times before and even liked but, for some reason, they won't touch it now. Then, you just throw something together and you think it tastes just okay but they rave about it.
One day this week I was in the mood for soup. The only meat I had available was smoked sausage so I cut it into small bites, sautéed it and made vegetable soup. The kids gobbled it down and raved on and on about it. Mike and I thought it was okay but not as good as what the kids made it out to be.
Yesterday I cooked a pot roast in the crock pot, made loaded mashed potatoes, and heated up a can of green beans. I also cooked a can of biscuits (Hannah refuses to eat ones I make from Bisquick) and made a gravy from the liquid left over from the roast. Hannah and Will both gave us a fight about eating. Andrew ate pretty well but it took some time (nothing unusual). At first, Hannah ate okay and raved about the potatoes. Then, all of a sudden, she turned into Ms. Hyde, refused to eat her meat and gave us a fit. Will, on the other hand, took very minute bites and took forever to eat half his plate of food (he didn't have a lot to begin with).
This morning, I made a homemade Orange Coffee Cake, the same one I made for Dick and Daphne while at their house. When I made it the first time, the kids all ate a bite and seemed to like it. What they didn't like was that it was called a coffee cake. No matter how many times I told them that it didn't contain coffee but you traditionally ate it with coffee, they did not believe me. I figured they would eat it (it was still hot and fresh from the oven) but they wanted frozen waffles instead.
UHGH!! It would be nice if they were consistent with their likes and dislikes and try new things without complaining. One thing I do, and generally have good results, is to bluff them. If we are eating something new or if they are giving me fits about something they don't like, I tell them they ate all of it the last time I made it, they loved it and asked for more. Something else I did was to tell Hannah that her friend Layne liked a particular meal. Most of the time, if not all, she would eat it all and ask for more. That tactic worked when we were eating a lot of Homemade Gourmet meals since Layne's mom is a consultant for the company.
One day this week I was in the mood for soup. The only meat I had available was smoked sausage so I cut it into small bites, sautéed it and made vegetable soup. The kids gobbled it down and raved on and on about it. Mike and I thought it was okay but not as good as what the kids made it out to be.
Yesterday I cooked a pot roast in the crock pot, made loaded mashed potatoes, and heated up a can of green beans. I also cooked a can of biscuits (Hannah refuses to eat ones I make from Bisquick) and made a gravy from the liquid left over from the roast. Hannah and Will both gave us a fight about eating. Andrew ate pretty well but it took some time (nothing unusual). At first, Hannah ate okay and raved about the potatoes. Then, all of a sudden, she turned into Ms. Hyde, refused to eat her meat and gave us a fit. Will, on the other hand, took very minute bites and took forever to eat half his plate of food (he didn't have a lot to begin with).
This morning, I made a homemade Orange Coffee Cake, the same one I made for Dick and Daphne while at their house. When I made it the first time, the kids all ate a bite and seemed to like it. What they didn't like was that it was called a coffee cake. No matter how many times I told them that it didn't contain coffee but you traditionally ate it with coffee, they did not believe me. I figured they would eat it (it was still hot and fresh from the oven) but they wanted frozen waffles instead.
UHGH!! It would be nice if they were consistent with their likes and dislikes and try new things without complaining. One thing I do, and generally have good results, is to bluff them. If we are eating something new or if they are giving me fits about something they don't like, I tell them they ate all of it the last time I made it, they loved it and asked for more. Something else I did was to tell Hannah that her friend Layne liked a particular meal. Most of the time, if not all, she would eat it all and ask for more. That tactic worked when we were eating a lot of Homemade Gourmet meals since Layne's mom is a consultant for the company.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
SNOW!!
Today we had some snow!!! Granted, it was not the 1-4 inches the weather forecasters were predicting at the first of the week (in all actuality, it is probably about 1/4 inch) but it's snow. School was closed today due to the road conditions in some of the rural areas. Hannah, Nathan, Will and Andrew went out about 9 this morning and made a small snowman and had a snowball fight. They were getting snow from wherever they could find it: on top of the trampoline deck, trampoline cover, play set, slides, patio table and the deck to name a few. They had a blast. The sun is out now and quite a bit of the dusting we received is gone.
Listening to those who grew up in areas that receive a lot of snow, they are amazed that schools are cancelled and that we get excited over a little bit. But, coming from someone who grew up here, ANY amount of snow we get is treasured. Sure, it is silly that just about everything comes to a halt. But, since we don't get enough snow each year to practice driving on, can you blame us? The only opportunity we get to have snow is usually accompanied with ice, something NO ONE likes to contend with, much less drive on. So, those of you who get way more than your fair share of the white stuff, please let us enjoy the little bit we get. To some of us, it's like Christmas morning all over again. Especially me!!!
I took some pictures and hope to get them downloaded off my camera today. The last set of pictures I downloaded off my camera was just after Halloween. I have 335 pictures to take off or delete. About one hundred of them have already been put on the computer; I just never deleted them off my camera. After I get them fixed up, I plan to post them here on my blog. We'll see!!
As a side note, my friend Susan just started a blog called "That's Whack!" Go by and check it out!
Listening to those who grew up in areas that receive a lot of snow, they are amazed that schools are cancelled and that we get excited over a little bit. But, coming from someone who grew up here, ANY amount of snow we get is treasured. Sure, it is silly that just about everything comes to a halt. But, since we don't get enough snow each year to practice driving on, can you blame us? The only opportunity we get to have snow is usually accompanied with ice, something NO ONE likes to contend with, much less drive on. So, those of you who get way more than your fair share of the white stuff, please let us enjoy the little bit we get. To some of us, it's like Christmas morning all over again. Especially me!!!
I took some pictures and hope to get them downloaded off my camera today. The last set of pictures I downloaded off my camera was just after Halloween. I have 335 pictures to take off or delete. About one hundred of them have already been put on the computer; I just never deleted them off my camera. After I get them fixed up, I plan to post them here on my blog. We'll see!!
As a side note, my friend Susan just started a blog called "That's Whack!" Go by and check it out!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas!!
It has been an awesome (and tiring) Christmas. The day started early (about 7:15 a.m.) when the kids got up and saw that Santa had stopped by and left them a little something. Hannah got a mountain bike, puzzle, the game Aggravation, and "Hannah Montana - The Movie." Will got a scooter, puzzle, Black and Decker play set (including tools, toolbelt, hat, screwdriver, hammer, etc), and the movie "G Force." Andrew got a Cars play rug, Mr. The King (from the movie "Cars"), a Black and Decker play set, the game Chutes and Ladders, and the movie "The Jungle Book." I got some clothes, a book and an envelope with a clue inside. Mike, playing Santa, hid clues around the house that lead to a gift hanging on the back of the tree. It was a Mommy's Bracelet that had all three kids names. I cried when I opened it. After searching around town for quite a while, Mike found a place in Atlanta, GA that could add Andrew's name to my existing bracelet. It was wonderful!! Mike got the Garmin GPS with heart monitor that he can wear while running. He's been wanting one for a few months and I finally got it for him. He also got Glenn Beck's new book "Arguing With Dummies," and a new travel kit. The zippers broke on the one he had because he had it well over ten years. Santa left Mike and me a Dance Dance Revolution game, Dance Dance Revolution mat, another controller and nunchuck for our Wii that came with another Sports game that has nine different sports. Mike and I got the kids a Snuggie each (it's a blanket with arms) and a toy.
Melanie and Nathan came over and we opened gifts. Mom wasn't able to come because she woke up with a 23-hour stomach virus. She sent over some of her presents for us and kept some others for us to open when she feels better. The kids got clothes (something Hannah and Will desparately needed!) from Mom and Mel. Andrew got a rolling Cars suitcase that contained a blanket, pillow and flashlight. He also got a Cars book where some Cars toys "drive" on a track inside. Will got a Hungry Hungry Hippo game and some Hot Wheels cars. Hannah got a Junie B. Jones book, an activity book and some red sparklely flats. Mom got us another nunchuck and controller for our Wii (now we have three - YEAH!)
Susan, Todd and their boys came over and ate lunch with us. I cooked my first turkey today and it was good!! We also had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, pineapple casserole, broccoli-cauliflower salad, and cranberry sauce. I forgot to cook the crescent rolls but we were not suffering for food. We had planned to also have ham but looking at the amount of food, I decided not to cook it and save it for later.
Now, the kids and Mike are watching "G Force" while I type away. Our guests left for their houses with some great memories made today. I hope everyone has a great day and remember the reason for this season - JESUS CHRIST.
P.S. I realized after I posted this message I had forgotten to mention one very important gift the kids (and parents) received this year - a Nintendo Wii gaming system!!! My dad and step-mom bought it for the kids and we all have been having a blast playing it. It came with five games: tennis, golf, boxing, baseball and bowling. Both Hannah and Will are really good at Bowling. I started out doing great (my best score was a 202 with FIVE strikes in a row!!) but has steadily gone down hill. Tonight, I bowled a 98. Horrible!! Mike and I like to play it after the kids go to bed. Some nights, Mike will play all five games before turning it off. Now that we have three controllers, playing multiple players will be a lot easier.
Melanie and Nathan came over and we opened gifts. Mom wasn't able to come because she woke up with a 23-hour stomach virus. She sent over some of her presents for us and kept some others for us to open when she feels better. The kids got clothes (something Hannah and Will desparately needed!) from Mom and Mel. Andrew got a rolling Cars suitcase that contained a blanket, pillow and flashlight. He also got a Cars book where some Cars toys "drive" on a track inside. Will got a Hungry Hungry Hippo game and some Hot Wheels cars. Hannah got a Junie B. Jones book, an activity book and some red sparklely flats. Mom got us another nunchuck and controller for our Wii (now we have three - YEAH!)
Susan, Todd and their boys came over and ate lunch with us. I cooked my first turkey today and it was good!! We also had mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, pineapple casserole, broccoli-cauliflower salad, and cranberry sauce. I forgot to cook the crescent rolls but we were not suffering for food. We had planned to also have ham but looking at the amount of food, I decided not to cook it and save it for later.
Now, the kids and Mike are watching "G Force" while I type away. Our guests left for their houses with some great memories made today. I hope everyone has a great day and remember the reason for this season - JESUS CHRIST.
P.S. I realized after I posted this message I had forgotten to mention one very important gift the kids (and parents) received this year - a Nintendo Wii gaming system!!! My dad and step-mom bought it for the kids and we all have been having a blast playing it. It came with five games: tennis, golf, boxing, baseball and bowling. Both Hannah and Will are really good at Bowling. I started out doing great (my best score was a 202 with FIVE strikes in a row!!) but has steadily gone down hill. Tonight, I bowled a 98. Horrible!! Mike and I like to play it after the kids go to bed. Some nights, Mike will play all five games before turning it off. Now that we have three controllers, playing multiple players will be a lot easier.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Extra Long Soccer Day and Rainfall Totals
Yesterday was a great day for soccer. Good thing, because we had four games yesterday. Yes, FOUR!! Will and Hannah each had two games to get caught up on some of the ones missed due to the rain. We arrived at the field around 9:15 a.m. and didn't leave until almost 2 p.m. Will had games at 9:30 and 11:30 while Hannah had games at 10:30 and 12:30. Both kids did great. Will blocked a bunch of goals and Hannah got a goal. After we were finished, Mike, I and the kids went through the Chick-fil-a drive-through and at lunch at home. At 5:15 p.m., we had to leave the house again to head back for the Upwards Soccer Celebration. It ended around 7:30 then we ate dinner at Subway. The kids were exhausted and slept until 7:30 a.m. (Since the time change, everyone is usually up just before 7 a.m.) Hannah and I got sunburned on our faces; I also was sunburned on my neck, behind my ear and on my ear. You can see where my earrings and glasses were because they are white instead of red. After all the rain we had in October, it never occurred to me to get out the sunscreen. I hope I remember it this Saturday. We have four games again at the same times.
Speaking of rain, the weather forecaster on the local news said that the rainfall totals in October broke records. I didn't hear the total amount but we had at least 1-2 inches every time it rained, some days we got 4-6 inches. This area is also 11-12 inches over the annual amount of rainfall. According to one of the local weather blogs, Memphis received 10.56 inches of rain in October. Normal rainfall totals are 3.31 inches. The old record was 10.13 inches set in 1919.
Speaking of rain, the weather forecaster on the local news said that the rainfall totals in October broke records. I didn't hear the total amount but we had at least 1-2 inches every time it rained, some days we got 4-6 inches. This area is also 11-12 inches over the annual amount of rainfall. According to one of the local weather blogs, Memphis received 10.56 inches of rain in October. Normal rainfall totals are 3.31 inches. The old record was 10.13 inches set in 1919.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween Costumes
This year for Halloween Will dressed as a Thomas the Train Engineer; Andrew, Bob the Builder; and Hannah, a cat. Will and Andrew's costumes were easy - we already had everything. Hannah's was a bit trickier. Mike and I went to two different stores looking for a cat costume but everything was either too big or too small. While looking around at Target, I found a leopard outfit in a 12-18 month size and had an idea. I bought it along with a black t-shirt that said "Happy Halloween" and some black leggings. When Mike and I got home, I started taking the infant outfit completely apart. I sewed the leopard front piece and one of the sleeves onto the front of the t-shirt and the other sleeve to the back. I attached the tail to the bottom of the t-shirt on the back and the gold bow to the collar. It took about four and a half hours but I am very pleased with the results. The best part was: Hannah loved it. I found the leopard mask at Party Works.
Leopard costume: $9.50
T-shirt and leggings: $10.00
Leopard mask: $2.00
Hannah's face when she saw it: priceless
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Improvise, Adapt and Overcome
Mike says it is the unofficial Marine Corp motto: improvise, adapt and overcome. That seems to be the motto I live by nowadays. With Andrew not wanting to sleep in his crib, I let him sleep in Will's bed for naps and at night. Will slept in the floor and didn't mind. I bought Andrew a Cars toddler bed yesterday. He slept in it last night and it seems to be working for his nap, so far. For some reason, Andrew hasn't wanted to sleep. He has been up early (yesterday at 6 a.m. and this morning, 5:45 a.m.) and doesn't want to take a nap until late. Maybe now he has his own "big boy bed" he'll start sleeping more.
Last night while doing laundry, our dryer stopped working. The drum isn't turning. Mike and I discovered it late last night, around midnight. He took it apart but couldn't find the belt. Mike did find a roller lying on the bottom of the dryer case. I'm thinking either the belt slipped or broke because the drum isn't turning. Our old dryer has one of the rollers brake and it made a loud racket when the drum turned. Mike's not sure but thinks it might be the belt, too. We both hope it will be something easy and inexpensive to fix.
Will and Andrew in the RoadTrek
Andrew in the van on the way home from Chattanooga
Hannah on the way home from Chattanooga
Will on the way home from Chattanooga
Dick and Mike
Dick, Mike and the kids
Andrew taking a nap in Will's bed
(See the Cars video by his head. He wanted to sleep with it.)
Andrew playing with toys on his first day of school
Andrew while walking into MDO on the first day
Andrew sitting on his new bed
Last night while doing laundry, our dryer stopped working. The drum isn't turning. Mike and I discovered it late last night, around midnight. He took it apart but couldn't find the belt. Mike did find a roller lying on the bottom of the dryer case. I'm thinking either the belt slipped or broke because the drum isn't turning. Our old dryer has one of the rollers brake and it made a loud racket when the drum turned. Mike's not sure but thinks it might be the belt, too. We both hope it will be something easy and inexpensive to fix.
Here are some pictures we took recently.
Andrew and Hannah in the RoadTrek
Will and Andrew in the RoadTrek
Andrew in the van on the way home from Chattanooga
Hannah on the way home from Chattanooga
Will on the way home from Chattanooga
Dick and Mike
Dick, Mike and the kids
Andrew taking a nap in Will's bed(See the Cars video by his head. He wanted to sleep with it.)
Andrew playing with toys on his first day of school
Andrew while walking into MDO on the first day
Andrew sitting on his new bed
Andrew and his new bed while holding his lunchbox
Michelle, Dick and Mike
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