Memorial Day

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Art class

Jereme and Jordon took their first art classes this past week. I am absolutely amazed at how talented they are. They have always loved to draw and paint. I never expected them to bring home these master pieces. I love my boys so much and am so proud! Jereme's are signed (loon and eagle) Jordons
are signed on only one but his are a loon and a fox.

Brianna's Birthday

For my Natalie

Soccer

The three oldest kids started playing soccer last week. They love and are always asking when their next game is. Joel is Brianna coach this year. It is so fun to watch everyone.

The Recital

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The new floor

For mother day Joel asked me what I wanted. After careful thought I decided it was time to get the floor for the upstairs in. It looks amazing and we had a ton of fun putting it in. I have before and after pictures below. Thanks Sweetie!

STRESSED

Today is one of those days. Jereme and Jordon are refusing to do school. So I thought I would take a break and do soccer. Nope, they were just running around like maniacs. Some days I wonder what I am doing. If it wasn't for the spirit making known to me that I needed to homeschool I would think I made a wrong choice. All the people I have talked to that have homeschooled their kids have told me that there will undoubtedly be those days where you feel like sending them away. That would be today for me. So, I sent them to their room for an unspecified amount of time. Really more for me so I can calm down. I think if I had a dozen cookies and a nap I might feel better, at least until my belly started turning. I think I am still on overload from yesterday. Yesterday was literally the day from hell. Our electricity got shut off. When I called my caseworker she informed me that she never received verification from my employer. I called my employer and they of course said that they sent it. So long story short after all day of running around and making phone calls they told me the power would be back on before midnight. I left the electric office and headed to meet joel at the gas station. We both were so low on gas I don't even know how we made it there. Joel inserted the card and began to fill up. The pump stopped at $6.07. I call the bank and ask why my card is working right. I was then informed that the kids doctor office was holding the money for a bill. I call the dr. office and, to make another long story short, find out they mistakenly overcharged us by $250. Oh, but they can't get that back to us for a couple of weeks of course. So we leave the gas station to hopefully make it home. I am about 10 miles past an empty take and now joel has 1 1/2 gallons to make it through the end of the week. Just as we get home I realize that Natalie has diarrhea all over her carseat and obviously needs a bath. I go into the house and am reminded that we have no electricity. Joel attempts to get the generator started but no such luck. So I bathe Natalie while using a flashlight! Just thinking about yesterday is making me stressed out. I think I will go have something sweet!

Sleep

We have a problem with our boiler. It stinks! Literally, and our CO monitors go off every time we turn the heat no. Not a good thing. So while we have been pricing out wood boilers, we have to heat our home with our two fireplaces. I am so great full that we have fireplaces and that Joel gets all the wood we need for free. So last night the kids and I slept in the basement so we were closer to the heat. At one 'o clock I woke up to put more wood in the fire and found Jordon hiding under the fuss ball table starring at the fire. "Have you been there all night" I asked him "Yeah the fire was bothering me". When we first bought our house we had one of the glass doors on the fireplace break when he was watching it. It scared him to death. Although there is no glass on the fireplace down stairs I guess Jordon feels like it is his responsibility to keep an eye on the fire and make sure everything is ok. I felt so bad. I talked him in to coming to lay down and we said a prayer. With in seconds he was a sleep. I climbed back up on the couch to fall back to sleep. It wasn't long till I had three kids wake up and crawl on top of me. Picture one small couch, an 8 year old a 3 year old a 2 year old and me at the bottom. My back hurts and my neck hurts today. If I add up the total weight of the bodies on top of me it is over 100lbs. Needless to say I may need a nap today!

Jordon

Jordon read his first book today! I started homeschooling my kids this year. I was a little nervous at first wondering if I was going to be able to teach them all the things they need to know. I was particularly concerned about teaching my kids to read. When Jereme started reading it was like he just came home one day from school and was able to read. Part of me was sad that I was not the one who taught him, and the other part was glad that he got it so quickly and loved it. There are few things that compare to the joy of knowing that you have taught you child something so valuable that they will use everyday of their life. I love teaching my kids and I am so proud of my Jordon!

The kiss

A while back we watched "cloudy with a chance of meatballs". It was such a cute movie. The kids recently remembered the awkward kiss that was in there. The past couple of days it has been wonderful receiving "big cheek kisses" from all of my kids. I have been getting more love from them than usual lately. Lots of hugs, kisses, cuddles, and "I love you"s. I don't know what I did that invited so much attention. Was I nicer? Was I grumpier? Either way it makes me want to be better mom, and I feel so loved. I can't imagine my life with out my kids, they are so sweet and beautiful.

Blessed

Everyday I am constantly reminded of how truly blessed I am. Lately I have been listening to K-love the christian radio station. They have been talking about their experiences over in Haiti, and what they have been doing to help after their crisis. I was walking through Costco and it struck me that the people in that country, and many others would never in their life time see that much food. How blessed we are to have access to so much, and not go hungry. I woke up this morning to a chilly house, and can't imagine being so cold that I can't sleep or move. I have clean water, that I foolishly leave running while I do all the dishes, and brush my teeth. I take a bath when ever I want to and fill it up some times twice to get it hot again. It is hard to imagine life with out these things, and yet for so many my life seems like a fantasy. Living in ingnorance of the world around you is sometimes easier than facing reality. I can't wait for the lord to come again and lift the poor up and strengthen them. I am so, so blessed, how can I ever complain.

The artist in Natalie

Lately Natalie has discovered the joy in drawing. Since she can't be trusted with crayons and eats the markers we introduced her to the Etch- a- Sketch. She absolutely loves it. She carries it around everywhere. I think it is so cute when she lays down on the floor and is completely enveloped in whatever she is drawing. When she is done she always shows us her picture for our approval! I love you Natalie.

You are never too old to enjoy the wonders of Static Electricity!

Redecorating

Brianna and Jordon have become quite the duo. Actually they have become my reason for Advil, time outs, self indulgence in all things chocolate, and all loss of sanity. Silence is never good when they are together. Two days ago I experienced one of these moments where there was no noise and I instantly knew I was in for it. I rushed from bedroom to bedroom finding only empty rooms and then heard that high pitched chuckle that only Brianna can carry... coming from my bathroom. Making my way through my bedroom about to open the door to the bathroom I recognize an all to familiar smell.. peanut butter. I pushed the door open and the two of them just looked and me and laugh hysterically. With spoons in hand they had decided to paint the bathroom walls with peanut butter. I didn't know whether to laugh or yell so I handed them the wet wipes and told them to start cleaning. It was about this time that I realized that Natalie had been stepping in a huge glob while I was talking to them, and then Jordon pointed out that Sophie (our cat) would need to be cleaned as well. Yes, they painted the cat as well! Walking back to the kitchen with the peanut butter and spoons while the kids were cleaning the bathroom I couldn't help my self but take a spoon full of peanut butter my self! Thinking about it... they actually had a pretty good idea. Do you ever get hungry when in the bathroom?

Just Enough time

Incase you were all wondering what the least amount of time it takes three children to become elbow deep in sugar it is 1 minute. I discovered this the other day after moving my car in to the garage... I kid you no longer!

First one gone

Jereme lost his first tooth a couple months ago. It was hanging on by a thread. The only reason it came out was because he was jumping on the moon bounce and got knocked against the wall and it fell out. Since then he has lost one more. That one managed to stay in there until the new tooth was grown in completely and it fell out on its own. He is so funny. I was seriously about to take him to the dentist and let them pull it out. No harm done, and he is now two gold dollars richer.

Dress Up

The girls and I decided to play dress up a while ago. I had forgotten how much fun being a little girl can be! I love my girls!

Going for a Ride

A few weeks ago I noticed it was really quiet in the house. Natalie was asleep but Jordon and Brianna were awake and too quiet. I listened closely and heard voices coming from the garage. When I went out there the two of them were playing in Joels dead subaru. Not only were they pretending that they were mommy and daddy but they had their "kids" in the car ready to drop off at school. It was so cute... and kept them entertained for a long time. I think every house should have a broken car in the garage.

Jordon

For the past week Jordon has been crying really hard when I drop him off for school. He was doing so well, occassionally he would say I want you to stay, or give an extra long goodbye, but for the most part stayed willingly. I feel so bad, he just says over and over again
"I want you to be my teacher"
"I will miss you"
"Stay with me"
I hope he grows out of this quickly because it is breaking my heart!