Friday, December 17, 2010

Christmas Activities

This year I must say I feel I did do better preparing for the holidays. With the exception of a forgotten Gingerbread House to make and no sugar cookies to decorate yet, overall, I have done pretty good.

We have had a light week in school....just keeping up with Math, Grammar and Phonics and our regular daily activities such as piano practice. We have been "studying" Christmas with activities such as memorizing and studying a few Christmas carols. For some reason, my boys do not like to sing out loud, so I am working on that. We learn a song together, then I am encouraging them to sing it which is going surprisingly well, we talk about what it means, and then they write it out from memory.


We also have been reading Bartholomew's Passage which is a daily advent reading, I highly recommend. There is 3 books in the series and last year we read through Jotham's Journey. They are stories written with a part to read each day and a lesson to take from that days reading. Almost every day is a "cliffhanger" so we can't wait to get to it the next day! I have one left to get for next year!


Christmas cards are out, packages are sent, only one left to wrap! How do you hide a guitar? I had to pull off an amazing feat to hide bow and arrows already...


We had a great time decorating the tree! I got the boys their special ornaments at a craft fair this year and they really liked them! Connor actually told me that he could give up all the presents, but it just didn't feel like Christmas without a tree. Think I should test that next year?


He got an Oregon Duck ornament which goes quite nicely with his new jammies, don't you think?
We had to remember the year of the bunny....so there you have it!



Here is Connor with his "football" section. The tree rotates around slowly and they love watching their ornaments come around to see!

And of course....Bean with the flock he adds to the tree!Here is the completed job and we threw in the big dog for the shot who really doesn't care about Christmas but will love the bag of beggin strips the boys picked out for him!


By far, my favorite Christmas decoration is this Angel as part of the Jim Shore collection. I think she is SO beautiful and I love the nativity carved into her skirt!


I had a baking party with some moms from FIGS, saw A Christmas Carol play at my neighbors church and had a Happy Birthday Jesus party with my homeschool group! Tonight is my husband's company Christmas party. Then I need to find time to make some of those sugar cookies with the boys!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

What would you miss?



Almost every morning as I make my way out to the kitchen, I am greeted with a dirty coffee cup on the counter. In the earliest days of my current position as "home maker" this would most likely cause an argument or at least a deep discussion. As a matter of fact I recall clearly one of those such "discussions" where I remember throwing out very valid arguments about how I am "not respected" and treated like a "hotel maid" over dirty socks.



Well, I have grown up a lot since then and have come to see it very differently. It hit me very hard one day....



I WOULD MISS THIS IF HE WERE GONE!



It tells me that while I was sleeping all warm and cozy in my bed, my husband got up way before the crack of dawn to start his day. He enjoyed a few cups of coffee in this cup while probably checking the news and sports scores (during football season). He prepares a fire for the boys and I, so we are comfortable as we start our day. He then makes his way to work where he gives his all to the company he works for so I can be home with our kids.

Honestly, I don't know why the cup can't make it to the sink, or even in the dishwasher, but I don't care. I like it there telling me "Good morning" every day since I don't see him before he leaves!

I know my husband respects me and appreciates everything I do for our home and I respect and appreciate everything he does for this family. As a matter of fact, I recall the turning point for me. The kids and I had taken a long trip over the summer and he was left here to work. After about 3 days, he called me and said so sincerely something to this effect....

"Honey, I am such a slob....thank you for all you do around here."

He really isn't a slob at all, we just have a system that works well for us. I know that if I asked him to put the cup in the sink or even the dishwasher he would, but I like doing it for him. I like it there for the reminder it serves and I have chosen to see it as one of the reasons I love him so much. I realize how sad and lonely I would feel if it were not there one day and that is a another huge Reality Check for me;)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Reality Check

I have often felt very unique this day and age to say that I have never watched the mega hit reality television shows that have become so popular. Shows like Survivor and American Idol hit the home screens and has been a "sensation" ever since. Of course since I breathe and live in the United States I can't help but know of some of them such as The Biggest Loser and Jon and Kate plus 8, but they have never interested me to devote any time to them.


However.....recently one show peaked my interest. I have had many people mention the show, "Undercover Boss" and I was intrigued enough to set the recorder on a few episodes to see for myself. I actually enjoyed it. I stayed up way too late actually watching two episodes in a row one night. I went to bed really feeling like I enjoyed the show and had many warm fuzzy feelings for all the great stuff that happens at the end. If you have seen it, you know what I am talking about.


I couldn't wait to watch my next episode so one night after Bryan went to bed, I warmed up my cozy, got in the chair and grabbed the remote. My anticipation level was high and I was eager to spend some time with my new friends and what felt like my new guilty pleasure.


Then it hit me. That "first date" feeling was already gone. These shows aren't real. There is way too many similarities in each of the episodes to not be scripted and rehearsed to a huge degree. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled at what they do in the end, and it seems they find some hard working people that deserve it. It still has some feel good moments in it, and is quite entertaining. I loved it when a CEO actually got fired from a job driving a shuttle bus, and when another CEO was belittled with a timer as he assembled a sub sandwich. But, overall...the excitement is gone for me, but it sure was fun while it lasted. If I was sick with fever laid up on the couch, I might enjoy an episode or two again;)

Bunny Business

I just realized I am behind in my update on our ER Bunny!

After much thought, consideration and a quick look at the checkbook, we decided to go against doctor's orders for the last few steps of the broken leg process.


We opted out of an x-ray and another sedation to be sure the leg was healed before permanently removing the splint. The bunny got to a point where he was really DONE with the bandage and we were almost having to re wrap every day, so we trusted what seemed to be his "animal instincts" and finished removing it for him one day. With a few snap of the scissors he was free and oh so relieved!

It was wonderful to see his personality come back so quickly and he was one happy bunny again!



He was back standing on his hind legs again which was so fun to see!
So far, our experiment has brought me to the following conclusions:


1) Bunnies are more high maintenance than I anticipated.
2) It is my nature to make things more high maintenance than they probably should be.
3) Brody is not quite capable of cleaning the cage by himself.
4) Brody is not capable of meeting the standards I have for the cage cleaning process, I'm not sure anyone is.
5) Although Brody loves the bunny very much, he still has to be constantly reminded to take care of it, no surprise there.
6) Even though he has to be reminded, he has yet to complain once or try to get out of taking care of little Dusty which makes me very happy.
7) Rabbits are messy little creatures, but worth it.
8) They really will use a litter box which is surprisingly cool.
9) For some reason God built them with really strong muscles and a very delicate frame, not a good match in my opinion...but hey....He knows all things, certainly not me.
10) They really do like carrots.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Smarty Pants

Since I keep this blog to share fun stories with others and to keep a record of memories I don't want to forget, I just have to post this one!

This was a recent conversation between Brody and myself....

Brody had just done something amazing, honestly I don't remember the what because he constantly amazes me! As I was working on meeting my words of affirmation love language quota for the day, I started the conversation like this.

Me: "Brody....you are SO smart! God gave you a great mind"!

Brody: "Yah, I know."

Me: "Come here a minute...(seeing a teaching moment opportunity and now cuddling on my lap). I know how smart you are and I think that is great, but do you know what is even MORE important to me? Who you are is much more important than what you know. I care more about the person you are in your heart, the way you treat others and the choices you make to honor God and do "the right thing".

Silent Pause...

Brody: "Mom"

Me: "Yes honey?" (in the most motherly voice you can imagine)

Brody: "Don't you think you have to BE pretty smart to know all
that and make the right choices?"

I just love that kid!

Here is one of his recent memory accomplishments...ALL the books of the bible listed in order! He really is SO smart though, don't you think?


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

First Sex Talk..............Check!

Believe it or not, my kids have never asked where babies come from! This has surprised me more and more as I hear other moms talking about the questions their children are asking them, and how much they want to know.

I ordered a book a while back as I knew it would be coming up soon, but of course I can't find it, so I borrowed a stash of books from a friend and picked one to introduce the topic. I decided that I needed to get the conversation going before the neighbor kid did. After all he recently taught them what a wedgie is, how to "call" your place, and how to look like you are picking your nose without actually doing it. I feel it was only a matter of time.

So, we cuddled up yesterday morning after doing our reading in Prince Caspian and our conversation started like this.

Me: Have you ever wondered where babies come from? How you were made?
Connor: Nope.
Brody: Yeah, I have wondered that.

Well...okay then, here we go! So, we read the book titled "How Did God Make Me? The Miracle of Birth" and it went really well. Very uneventful actually. Then we all made our fingerprints because the book discusses how God makes each one of us unique even with our own set of fingerprints so that was fun.

However, the best part was that when I talked about the miracle of the birth of Jesus...a HUGE massive light bulb went off with Connor and he said in that very familiar tune...."Now I get it!" It is amazing how much information we throw at our kids that they don't get right away. So much of it comes in bits and pieces and I am happy that the timing of our first "sex talk" was around Christmas. He understands that the "daddy part" came from God himself, and a little bit more understands the miraculous birth of our Savior! He is now connected with a huge part of The Christmas Story.

I believe it was perfect timing.

I'm sure Brody got it too, but he was also pretty interested in the role of the belly button, and that the mystery of that body part has finally been revealed.

I guess our next talk will have to be how the mommy and daddy parts come together, but I'm sure that is down the road and I will pray that the neighbor kid holds off until I'm ready.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Bye Bye Better Home....I will miss you

I have made a decision to let my subscription cancel to the magazine Better Homes and Gardens. I have to say that I LOVE this magazine and it has been a truly agonizing decision.



However, I have stacks of them tucked in secret places waiting for me to get to them. I have a file with pulled out pages of great ideas, and wonderful decorations that no matter how hard I try, I can't recreate. Truthfully, I am just not a Better Homes kind of girl.



Yes, I have pulled a few great recipes such as a garden fresh chicken pasta salad and a huge hit with the boys; banana chocolate chip muffins. But overall, that is it. Mostly I just look through them and feel a sense of frustration.



Frustration, that I would never find that or make it look that good even if I did.

Frustration that I don't want to spend the time or money to make things such as napkin rings that would look out of place in my home.

Frustration that turning an ordinary oatmeal container into some extravagant gift package just seems like too much work.

Frustration that the plants and flowers they name are never at Home Depot.



So, I am saying goodbye. If I feel withdrawls, I might reconsider. If I get through my current stack, I might reconsider. If I have a moment of weakness where I feel incredibly crafty, I could reconsider.



But for now, it is goodbye. My home might not be a "Better Homes and Garden Home" but it is mine and for now, I will spend some time in that contentment. After all it was my word for the year and this magazine did NOTHING to promote that for me!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Connor's Birthday!

This year Connor's birthday fell on Saturday and was spent with some of his favorite things. Aunt Lara was visiting and he started the day with presents! As you can see in the picture, he woke up at the crack of dawn which is very unlike him on a normal day! Can it get much better?






Sure...throw in Paddington's Pizza for lunch and football on the tube later and you have a hit of a birthday to put a smile like this on his face! Here is the birthday boy with a thin crust pepperoni and black olive pizza, a vanilla creme soda and a sucker! YIPPEE!



Also, he really wanted to decorate his very own cake this year for his home party! Big shocker.....a football theme!



This year for his 9th birthday Connor chose a party! We give our kids a choice between a party or a present from us each year. We do this not only to control the cost, but to teach them about making choices and prioritizing. This year Connor was very involved in the party planning. I was thrilled to have a party with our friends here in Oregon, even though he chose Chuck E Cheese for the place;) Actually, I have to say that the people over at Chuck E Cheese were fantastic and we had the party on Monday morning and literally had the run of the place until the party was over which made it very pleasant!

We made some football cupcakes that were a lot of fun and I think I heard from more than one of my friends, that my sister is one of the best Aunts around. I think I can agree with that!




I think it was a great time for birthday fun and I just can't believe it has been 9 years since I became a mother.


Dear Connor,

I can't believe that you are 9 years old and the same baby that I once held almost non stop in my arms. I really enjoy you. Your passion never ceases to amaze me. You have a true dedication for the people and the things that you love. Loyal describes you pefectly, and lucky are the ones that you call friend. I admire the way you think of others. Your ability to feel true repentance is rare and your heart is SO easy to reach.

You love to have fun and play is a huge priority in your life. I have to resist the urge constantly to push that brilliant mind and step aside and let you be a kid. You love to create toys and games. You start many many projects and finish only a few of them, but your joy clearly comes from the idea!

You have an incredible memory and love to learn and read. You are confident in who you are, and I see that grow each year. You are a peacemaker and a very easy going young man. You are cautious about most new things which as your mother, I can truly appreciate;)

Your laugh is contagious and your smile is happiness and contentment rolled into one.
I love being your mom and feel honored each and every day that God blesses me with the privelage. Happy Birthday to you!
Love, Mom

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thankful for 10

During our bedtime routine on Thanksgiving night, I asked the boys what they were thankful for. We just happen to love lists and round even numbers around here so they decided to come up with 10....

Brody
1. God
2. My Parents
3. My Brother
4. My Pets
5. Food
6. Reading/Books
7. Drinks
8. Sheepie
9. Sleep
10. Sugar (Gum, root beer, and cool whip)

Connor
1. God
2. Mom and Dad
3. Food and Water
4. Brody
5. The Pets
6. Clothes and my bed
7. Books
8. Our House
9. Football
10. Vitamins

One interesting fact to note here; they came up with these lists ALL on their own with one exception. After Connor heard Brody list God first he moved Him up a notch;)

Thanksgiving Day opened up the door for some special sweet treats which highly affected the end of Brody's list as you can clearly see. The most unusual addition is the vitamins on Connor's list and of course after all the football on Thanksgiving Day I was not surpised to see it make the cut!

However, over all I am pleased for the most part where their priorities seem to be at their young ages and I thought these were too cute not to share!

Monday, November 22, 2010

November Notes


I started out so good and have had so many ideas and thoughts to blog about it, but it just hasn't been happening. I believe the weather is partly to blame. Here in Oregon, fall or an early winter is in full swing and since we practice zone heating....I am found more often in the living room by the wood stove. The computer room is completely in the back of the house and I am spending less and less time there because there is no wood stove! I have pulled out the space heater so things might pick up, but the ambiance just isn't the same.


However, I feel the need to catch up some....so here is some notes from November so they aren't forgotten!


It has been a busy, but fun month already. Our last boys club event was wonderful! We had the grandparents of one of the families volunteer and they delivered a fantastic afternoon. There was a devotion, followed by the making of their very own personal stomp rockets!




I had to make them pause to take this picture because I couldn't get one that wasn't blurry! The best part was that Mr. Martin was a shop teacher and had lot of experience setting
up for a class setting like ours. All the boys were allowed to cut their own PVC pipe and hoses and it was such fun for them. I tried not to be nervous as I watched each one of "my boys" pick up a hacksaw and go to town:) Here is my brave friend Becca holding the board for Connor and Brody to have their turn!



We also had our Harvest Party with our co op and spent some time decorating gourds which was a ton of fun for the kids. I love having these adorn my kitchen counter for the holiday season;)




School has been going great. I decided last Monday to take a week or two off from our traditional Sonlight "core" classes so we can start American History in the fall at the same time as a few families that will also be starting. This will make it fun to plan some field trips and share ideas so I am excited about that. With the free time, we decided to study the dinosaurs and the age of the Earth from a biblical worldview and it has been very interesting. We also spent some of the extra time finally reading the first of the Chronicles of Narnia...The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe which we finished tonight and enjoyed. Here is a few shots of what our school mornings have looked like around here...


Connor and Brody love to make desks in odd places and this day they set the cushions on top of the arm rests with the back pillows and had so much fun doing their work there. As you can see Owen liked it too.I absolutely LOVE this picture. Jake certainly likes to be where the action is when he is not sound asleep and as Connor was working on his vocabulary, he got to spend some quality time with boys best friend. I think it is so sweet the way he is petting him with one hand and holding that book with the other.

So, now we are getting ready for Thanksgiving reading books about Squanto, and the Pilgrims and enjoying some much needed time off that Bryan has been blessed with. Aunt Lara is coming Friday to visit for a few days which us all very excited and eager for the week to hurry along!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

"A Fly Also Lives"

Recently I finished reading The Chosen by Chaim Potok. It seemed to take a little while for me to really enjoy it, but once I got to a certain point, I could hardly put it down. I realize that it has been almost a week since I finished it and I can't get a certain part out of my head. I keep thinking about it over and over again so I wanted to share it.

This is a conversation between the main character and his father and I believe it to be life changing if you let it.

"Human beings do not live forever Reuven. We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. So it may be asked what value is there to a human life. There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer so much if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye?" He paused again, his eyes misty now, then went on. "I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man who lives that span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasruable though its quantity may be insignificant. Do you understand what I am saying? A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning. That I do not think you understand yet. A life filled with meaning is worthy of rest. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Merely to live, merly to exist-what sense is there to it? A fly also lives."

Wow and Amen!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Bean Wisdom

It is time to share some of Brody's recent journal posts. They are so enjoyable to me and something to treasure.


Part of what makes these so special right now is the writing. I love the way he sounds out the words and since they still fit on one page, I decided to scan them so you can view them in their original glory!
Here his assignment was to define what Love is to him...




This one just had to have the picture with it. The topic was..."If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be?"



This was our field trip with our co op group to Bauman Farms!
Here he got a free day because of course he had to journal about his new bunny. This is also one of my favorites. It shows his sweet nature to me;)

There you have it. Some "Bean Wisdom" for today.....may you have a good one!

Maybe you will now desire a trip to New Zealand, some candy from those you love, and you might just go out and acquire some pets and vet bills to make your life complete!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

End of the Season

Saturday marked the end of our first organized sports season. I have to say we went out with a great big bang for a few reasons.

I was dreading our last game as it was against an undefeated team, it was the earliest game time at 8:30 in the morning and it was supposed to be pouring down rain. The hardest part though about the season ending is that we were just starting to look like a team! All the parents were talking on the sidelines about how the last few games looked like real games and were quite enjoyable. The coaches did an amazing job through the season and they brought the kids a far way from the chaos that was there is in the begining. Both Connor and Brody felt like it was just getting started and were sad to see it end.


Connor made some huge improvements in the last few games pulling some flags which he really tried hard to do. More important though, he got over a fear he had of making a mistake and really got into the games. Here is the best action shot I got the whole season. He actually got this kids flag and as you can see had to work really hard for it, he is on the ground turned the other way! It was very exciting.





Brody never did get a flag and he wanted to so bad, but he did get to carry the ball a time or two and seemed content. They both had great attitudes and were excited about each and every game win or loose.






Overall we had a great experience with Upward Sports and they are both already making plans to sign up next year. I talked to them about other sports but there is nothing else they want to play which is OK with me;)


Back to Saturday....I believe in the first 30 seconds the other team scored a touchdown and then quickly got another and let's just say it wasn't looking good. However, they played hard and actually came back to win it with an ending score of 26-22! It was a very proud moment, more than it probably should of been and that "soccer mom" in me reared a tiny part of her ugly head. I know that she exists and do my best to control her though.

To cap off a fun season, something happened at the last Star Ceremony that I am most proud of. Both Connor and Brody earned the hardest star to get and that was the "Christ-likeness" star. When they called them up the team mates shouted things like.."yeah for the brothers". The assistant coach explained that they earned the stars for the way they looked out for and treated each other all season. That brought tears to my eyes and I was very excited that their relationship was honored in this way and that others recognized it. What a wonderful thing to happen!


So, next year I am sure we will be out there again. Because of their age, they will be separated on different teams which will be an interesting factor to see played out. I will be there with my fancy new sport brella, my new folding chair, a lot of my regular self and what the hec...I'm sure I will unleash "Soccer Mom Suzie" once in awhile. After all, that is MY boys out there!

The ER Bunny

Yes...I wish those letters stood for something like "exotic radiant bunny", but they actually do mean just what you probably thought. Meet our Emergency Room bunny!








Here is how it happened..


We went out after church and got the bunny a litter box because it is too hard for Brody to clean the cage with the heavy tray, and we heard there is a really good chance to teach them to use it. I proceeded to take the bunny out and put him in his exercise pen while I got the cage all cleaned up and ready. Bryan decided it was a great time to clean off the patio as well. (Have I mentioned how messy bunnies are?) Anyway, being a guy he did what guys do and brought up the leaf blower...which it turns out really scared the hec out of Dusty. It scared him so much that he flipped out... literally... and broke his leg. Bryan noticed it because it was dragging and when he picked him up to look at it, it was awful! The back right leg could just do a full turn and was just hanging there. Bryan was sure that the bunny would have to be put down, not thinking there was anything they could do and was also sure that he was suffering. So, we prepped the boys and after the tears decided to head to the emergency room because of course this would happen on a weekend;) While in the waiting room, I used my nifty little iphone and did some research and it turned out the results weren't as bleak as we thought.


After meeting with the doctor, we had three choices..

1) Put him in a very small space and keep him confined as possible and let the bone heal. This option came with a huge risk of infection.

2) Splint the leg which obviously came with a price tag and an inconvenience.

3) Have surgery with an osteopathic specialist to fix it properly which probably cost as much as a car and would be a tougher recovery.



We went in the middle and splinted the leg. Bryan and I fully admit that this was done mostly out of guilt since the bunny was in our care when it happened! Also, I have to admit if the bunny was a jerk of a bunny or jumped out of the cage, we might not have been so willing:) Truthfully, he is a darn sweet bunny and a real good pet, with a great personality.


So, we went back later and picked him up and it has been quite the ordeal around here. Turns out bunnies don't have much of a will to live! Who would of known? Anyway, getting him to eat and drink was critical in that first 24 hours so like a nurse I was there holding the water bottle and hand feeding him Timothy Hay and kale that we happened to have on hand. After a day he did start coming back to life and is now progressing very well.


Thankfully, we have not had to put one of those awful collars on him that prevent him from chewing. The first day, he put that hole in the top bandage, but has left it alone since. I am grateful for that because I imagine that would be a huge step back for him adjusting. We are just now getting our bunny back and I can't wait for that thing to come off his leg. Obviously the litter box training is on hold and we can't take him out of the cage, which is a big bummer for all of us!


I know there are people that are going to call us crazy for doing this and some that think we should of put all costs aside and gone for the surgery. We made the best decision for us, which is all we can do. The truth is we could afford it and this is a perfect example of why we save from every check that we can. Although it isn't at the top of our list on how to spend the money, especially with the holidays coming up and with both boys having birthdays, but we felt we owed it to everyone to do something since we could. We would of had no trouble explaining that we weren't going to do something if we really couldn't.


Plus, if you would of looked into Brody's sad eyes that day, trust me, you would of wanted to say you would do something too;)


I can't wait to blog that the splint is off!



Monday, November 1, 2010

Party Poopers!

So I was just visiting a few of my friends blogs reading about all of their Halloween fun and I feel like major party poopers!

This year was kind of strange...I just couldn't get the kids excited about dressing up. I felt I was totally pushing them and they were just very un-excited. They said they would wear their costumes from last year and didn't even sound interested in the carnival at church that we go to every year. So...I threw another idea out there....how about we buy some candy and stay home and watch a movie? They jumped and down and were thrilled with the idea....so there you have it. We hit Winco where I let them go a little crazy in the bulk bin section, then we spent the night snuggled on the couch watching "Air Bud, Golden Receiver". I might be a party pooper, but it is all my kids fault;)


Actually, they did put on some costumes to go visit a few neighbors that bought candy just for them since there is no trick or treat business where we live. I never thought I would see a football playing monkey, but now I have.


Also, what a great opportunity to share these memories.
Truthfully, they do dress up and seem to enjoy it...just recently they tailored these fine knight uniforms all on their own from foam board!

You know I can't help but think of that quote that paraphrased goes something like this...Every time you buy a child a toy, you take away their desire to create it on their own.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Big 07!

So this October my mom turned the big 70 and my baby turned the big 07. He is now the age on his football jersey...apparently a very big deal!







Even though he opted for the "no party" there was still plenty of presents from family and friends! We also had "the cousins" over for cake and ice cream.



He got some much needed money and a Petsmart gift card to buy rabbit supplies, and plenty of things to keep him busy! Here is just a few!







Kim and Zack sent a present for Brody and his brother...very thoughtful!










Well, Brody says..." I still feel like I'm six" but he is another year older, getting so big, and growing up so fast.

Dear Brody,

Happy Birthday to a very special boy that puts laughter in our lives each and every day. You love life and it shows. You are the "class clown" in our house. You play tough, but you still love to snuggle and I love both sides of you. You love your family, and care deeply for animals. Your bond with your brother is so apparent and puts joy in my heart that can't be described. You are confident and at the same time willing to admit when something frightens you. I love that honesty. You are so smart and learning comes natural to you. You tease Connor about his love for books as you lift your eyes from your own. You have a very logical mind which I pray that God will use in your life in a mighty way. I call you my "little negotiator" and am constantly amazed at how you see things and how you teach me to see them too. You embrace things that are unique and admire the extraordinary.

You are a true gift and a blessing from God and I am so grateful to be your mom. I know 7 will be great!

Love,

Mom

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

This is only a test....


This year I had a brilliant idea for Brody's birthday. His birthday was Monday and will receive a separate posting soon;)


Each year we offer Connor and Brody a big choice when their birthday rolls around. They get to choose between a party with friends or a present. We have explained how expensive it can be to have a party for kids these days and that if they want a party that IS the present and it has been a real good strategy for us. This year Brody chose a present. He said parties are crowded and there is "you know mom all those people". If you know Brody, I'm sure you are chuckling right now.

I thought long and hard and came up with the perfect present....a bunny! Brody has been wanting a real sheep for a very long time but he is just so little. He really seems to want to take care of animals and I see a 4-H club or two in his future, but I am tired of telling him "when you get a little older". So, I felt a bunny would be a great "test" to see how he can handle the responsibility of an outside pet that requires quite a bit of care. I quizzed him a few months ago and asked if he couldn't have a sheep what other animal would he want and he said that a bunny would be really close to a sheep.

So, we are now a 3 pet family...dog, cat, and now the cutest little Holland Lop bunny you have ever seen!

We had to spill the beans early because daddy decided to build the hutch and it took up the garage for a few days. Also, I wanted him included in picking out just the right bunny for him. He was SO precious going to Petsmart and spending birthday money and a gift card on all the "stuff" that his new pet requires, and we found a breeder in Turner that was so helpful. The hutch came out great and Saturday night we picked up the newest member of the family, Dusty.






He is a real good bunny with a great temperament. He is not aggressive or shy and has a great personality. He comes to the cage when you go to the door and will sit for ever and let anyone pet him.

So far we are only on day 3 but it is going good and the honeymoon isn't over yet! We even got him an exercise pen and he is learning to put it up and down and get him out of his cage for exercise and fresh grazing. (Did I mention they are quite a bit of work?) I do think it will be great for him and he is so excited. I think it will be a good lesson to teach responsibility beyond the cat and dog and it is fun to see him so excited.




Here is his first night in his new home.

We learned quickly how much he loves clovers!

Today, he got to practice picking him up and holding him which of course was a very big deal. That bunny just snuggled right up to him.

I am thrilled that he loves his present this year and will update how the happy couple is doing;)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Letters to God

In the journal jar is an assignment to "write a letter to God" which both Connor and Brody have done in the past week. I felt these were worth sharing and preserving...


Dear God,
What made you think of creating the world? I've been curious.
Thank you for family and friends.
Thank you for giving us food and water.
Thank you for holidays.
Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and thank you for games.
I hope I can go to heaven when I die.
Love, Connor

Dear God,
You are awsome. And very big.
You made the world.
And you made me and my family plus Big Jake and Small Owey.
Amen.
Love, Brody

How sweet! I just love these letters and I adore these boys of mine!

One more chore


I absolutely dread ironing. Truthfully, I have enjoyed the last almost 20 years of no ironing. I loved my husband's T-shirt and jeans philosphy and have had no trouble putting something back on the shelf that looked like it would require ironing. After all....I did "press" full time with a job I had out of high school and feel I did my time. Plus after you have used a professional iron, you realize how inadequate the regular versions are.


However, that time has come to an end and I am now back to the task of ironing those button up shirts. Bryan wants to look nicer at work now that he is a superintendent and I definitely agree and support him. He has meetings with clients, suppliers and companies now and I am so proud of him.


Yesterday was my first day back on the job. The kids were giddy to see mom use the new iron and board I had to purchase. (I know I had an iron because I have used it on numerous bead crafts that the boys made over the years, but I couldn't even find it;)

They thought it was the coolest thing ever and that is when it hit me that they have never seen anything like it....mom ironing clothes?
Oh...the good ole days;)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Pillow Talk


I thought my mom's whole purpose was to be my mom. That's how she made me feel. ~Natasha Gregson Wagner

I love this quote and have probably mentioned it many times before. Most likely it is to remind myself to slow down and pay more attention or sometimes I pull it out to beat myself up when I am feeling really crummy about my ability to parent these two young children God has trusted me with.

Tonight though it comes to my mind and I long to capture some special moments with Brody . I do get busy, there are many things grabbing my time and attention. I hope more often than not it is my kids, but I admit I fall very short. I think all the time about regrets that I don't want such as...

"I should of read that story even when I was tired or played that game when there was laundry to do. I should of just played hooky from school and pulled out the board games."

Brody has started asking me to lay in bed with him at night when I go to tuck them in. I have to admit, it makes me sleepy, and that is why I find it hard to do sometimes. The evenings have been a very productive time for me lately and it is hard to bounce back after laying down and being read to, then laying in the dark to top it all off! However, he seems to really treasure these moments with me as much as I do with him. He is cuddly, sweet, and affectionate and even tells me, "I like it when you lay with me mommy." So, each night I am home I have decided that I will spend this time no matter how I feel or what I think I have to get done. It can all wait and these are important moments that I will never get back. Just last night we discussed some great things ....

"Mommy....if someone was going to turn you into a motorcyle which part of you would be the wheels? How about the horn mommy, and the handlebars and the...."

"Mom...what are contacts for and why do you wear them when you don't have your glasses on?"

"You know I couldn't feel my first loose teeth because my permanent were already coming in Mommy, but now I think I will."

I don't know where or why this came up but thank you God that my little boy wants to spend this time with me, I know that he will be all grown up before I know it. I will treasure these nights and enjoy every minute and I thank you for blessing me with this incredible gift. I hope it gives him some sense of feeling so loved that he feels for that time he is my whole purpose.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Words of Wisdom....from Connor

This year I tried something different to spice up their journal writing a little. I wrote on slips of paper a lot of different journal starters for each one of them. Then they decorated containers and we folded them and put them all in the jars along with 2 each that says "Skip Journal Today". I assign journal writing two times a week on Tuesdays and Fridays and I have to say they have been doing really well with this format. It challenges them a little more but they also feel more in control since they pick it;)

I want to share a few that Connor has written so far this school year. I will correct spelling, but leave it as written. I wish they copied or scanned better, but this will have to do. Enjoy!

The Qualities that make a best friend are....
To make a friend you need to have 5 qualities. To make a best friend, I like to have a similar age. I also like to like a few of the same things. You also need to like each other. You need to be kind and good. I like having friends to play with.

What makes you laugh?
There is a lot of things that make me laugh. For instance, I really laugh at the word Bootie! Brody can really make me laugh. He does really funny things, but I can too! Once we made ourselves fall off the bed and Brody fell on me! (I just remembered that it was the couch!) Laughing is really fun for me and Brody!!!

What would happen if you threw a piece of trash on the ground? What if everyone did?
If I threw my trash on the ground I would be a litter bug. If everyone threw their trash on the ground, the earth would be trash! IUE!! Then everybody would have to buy a gas mask. It would not be funny, but it would be stinky.

I am the happiest when...
Normally, when I am happiest is when I am not sick. I am also happy when I am watching football. I am also happy when I am laughing. I also love eating. I have fun playing football. I love it when I am happy.

Love....(he had to define it as a vocabulary assignment which is where the first part came from)
Love is giving to other basic needs without having as my motive a personal reward. Love is also to have a passion or devotion to someone. Love is also liking something. God loves us because He created us. Abraham showed that he loved God because God told him to sacrifice his son. Abraham did it. But before he actually did it, God said not to and gave him a ram.

What would happen if there were no rules?
If there was no law, it would be kind of fun! It would be fun because the government would make silly laws. There could be no such thing as school. (that would be kind of bad) If they made sports with no penalties or coaches, the quarterback could do whatever. The bad thing about no rules is that people would do bad things, like stealing, cheating, and killing. If there were no rules it would be good and bad.

Honestly, he came up with no school being bad all by himself! He is really doing a great job this year and has come a long way. Writing is harder for Connor because he is very logical and likes to have the "answer" in print before him. I am proud of him for thinking about some of these topics and coming up with some pretty great stuff! He is growing up so fast!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Not a Bad one in the Bunch!


Last night we finished reading together "The Cricket in Times Square" and Connor's comment was to me, "mom I don't think there has been one Sonlight book that I haven't liked, they are all good." I am happy to have such a tremendous resource in Sonlight and I just really enjoy the times we share together with the Read Alouds.


Last week Connor, Brody and I finished a great book, that I have to mention here. It is called "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite De Angeli and we all really enjoyed it. We had been studying knights, castles and the Middle Ages and this was a wonderful way to end that part of our lesson. It was only made better by this wonderful one my friend gave to me as she knows I love old books! I adore this copy that seems to have been printed in 1949 and pulled from the library shelves of School District No. 42 in Benton County. The price on the jacket boasts a $2.50 price for a hardback book. I love that it was obviously enjoyed by so many and I am sure a bright new copy took it's place on the shelves.



The illustrations are wonderful and it is at the top of my list of "favorites"! The best part is the story and the lessons and how a young boy could relate to the main character, Robin. It is wonderful for asking..."What do you think YOU would do?" Oh, and how easy to discuss true character and fruits of the spirit when given so many wonderful characters! Robin is an excellent role model for any young boy in my opinion demonstrating true courage. We had some wonderful discussions around this book and it is one I will not soon forget. It asks us to identify "walls" that come up in our own lives and what "doors" we seek out and find our way through. This is one to keep, treasure and enjoy over and over again!