Here are some pictures of Joshua's birthday and his Pirates of the Caribbean cake!
Here was my project while Jack was gone. I finally painted the last room in our house that had white walls….our bedroom. I painted it blue to go with our new comforter. I still need new curtains. This project was supposed to last most of the week, but I started Saturday after lunch and finished about 11:30 pm on Sunday night. I am glad to get rid of the white walls.
My other excitement is the news from President Bush regarding the tax rebates. Jack and I wanted to take a nice family vacation this year, but we couldn’t quite get it to fit into our budget. With this extra boost, we could go. We wanted to go this year because we need to start getting the house ready to sell, and after we buy a house we will never be able to afford to do much of anything extra. Our goal is to sell in a year and a half to two years. Anyway, I am just amazed at how God can work things out. Hopefully, it will go through and we can make travel plans mid February! Another option is that we could save it and send the boys to a Christian School. Happy Friday! Oh, Guess what…….JACK COMES HOME TONIGHT!!!!
As much as I hate being alone, I think in a way it is very good for me. It makes me appreciate the gift God gave me when he gave me Jack. I take for granted all that he is and all that he does for this family. I haven’t fallen asleep as easily this week because I am the “protector” of the family this week. There is such peace just knowing that he is here to protect me. It’s something that I don’t even think of when he is here. I feel a little lost not having my best friend around to talk too. I so look forward to the phone calls at night just to hear his voice and to tell him about my day.
All of this reminds me of when we were dating. He lived an hour away so until about 4 months before we were married, we only saw each other on the weekends. Our phone bill was huge! I remember my dad was about ready to pass out when he saw the first phone bill, even after I assured him I would pay for it all!! I remember that our “reunions” were so sweet. I couldn’t wait to hug him, to see his face and just talk to him. I remember crying my eyes out when we said goodbye on Sunday nights!! It was horrible!
I am such a blessed woman to have a man who loves me the way that he does (even though I will never understand why). I appreciate him and all that he does even more. I realize that the decisions about school don’t have to fall on me….he is here to carry the load too. Jack, I love you with all my heart. You are everything to me! I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night!!! I may even wait up to midnight to see you!!!
I had to go to plan B. Monday, I was going to take the kids to see Veggie Tales, and it was sold out!! They were so disappointed so I went over to the $1.50 theater and we got to see The Bee Movie. It was really cute and they enjoyed it. So, Saturday for Joshua's Birthday, we will try to go see Veggie Tales with Travis. After that, we will eat dinner with Scott and Traci. We went today to pick out his cake....one guess as to what he chose......Pirates of the Caribbean!
I can't believe Joshua will be 7 on Tuesday!! Jack and I came up with this plan last year. It got to be too much to have a party for every child every year. Not to mention it gets really expensive. Last year Jacob had the party, this year, Jenna gets a party. (Maybe on my 40th I will have one ha ha) I still let the other two pick out something special to do. Joshua of course chose to spend his with Travis, but there isn't much you can do in January. I guess we will pick him up around 1 and let them play for a little while.
Tomorrow it is back to work. I got a little spoiled with 3 days off, and now I will have awhile before I get another break. Two more days until Jack comes home!!! Please hurry!!!
"Mom, he took my action figure"
"Did not"
"Did too...I saw you"
"Mom, Josh won't let me in the bathroom"
"Jacob hit me"
"don't change that channel"
"I'm telling!" (that's my favorite)
"MOM....."
Wow, just another reason I miss Jack. When are you coming home again? I thought it was Wednesday when I woke up, but realized it was only Tuesday. It's hard having the kids off for 3 days on top of Jack being gone. I am glad not to work, but if I did, at least it would keep me busy!!! It made me feel so good yesterday to talk to the clerks at the stores! "How are you doing"....I felt like saying "hmm...do you REALLY want to know"? Seriously, things aren't that bad. I do miss Jack terribly, but we are doing fine. I almost feel like a super woman!! I do have to ask all the moms though...do your kids fight a lot, and if so, how do you handle it without losing your cool? (mom's whose children are grown can answer too!!)
Only 7 1/2 days until Jack comes home. Jack left this morning for Phoenix. At least he is going to a warmer climate! The kids and I will be fine. My only concern is that this possible winter storm coming in tomorrow! I hate feeling locked in the house, but I am not driving in this mess. I never got a chance to drive in it in Illinois, so I have never experienced it. I am going to be one of those crazy people....going to the store today to get milk, OJ etc. just in case. Without Jack here, I am not going to get out if it gets bad. Happy Friday!
School was delayed today! I was so happy. We don't have to leave until 10 am! I was able to sleep in (is 7:30 sleeping in?), get on the treadmill, shower, fix breakfast, put a load of laundry in, pack Joshua's lunch, and it isn't even 8:30 yet! Wow, I could really use days like today! I only have to work from 11-1, today too. It's an hour later than normal, but only 2 hours instead of 3. I really could have used a day off, but I'll take it!!! Johnston County finally did something right last night by calling this early so that I didn't have to get up at 4 am to figure things out!
Last night we had a great unexpected "family night". Jack called and wanted to take us out since he is leaving tomorrow. We had a nice dinner and then went to Target. I sniffed out some more bargains. They had a lot of 75% clearance racks! I got the boys a white polo shirt for $1.74, and found the boys some shoes on clearance. They are so hard on their shoes and clothes! Thanks honey! I'll sure miss you tomorrow!!!
Jenna was with me in the kitchen at preschool making lemonade and she said "when I am a mommy, I want to make lemonade too". Then, Saturday I was putting spray on her hair after her bath and she said again "when I am a mommy, I am going to spray this on hair". It amazes me that a three year old can think that far and already start planning on being a mom. It makes me realize how much she looks to me too.
BUT.....the funniest thing had to come this weekend in church. She was sitting beside me in church and this man behind us said "Amen". She got the giggles and thought that was pretty funny. I calm her down an then we sing some more songs. The special music comes and I figure she is getting ready for children's church, but when the song was done, my little girl blurted out"Amen". It was so funny coming from this little girl, and she said it liked she meant it, not to be funny, and no one else said it that time so it wasn't like she was repeating anyone else. It was me this time who had to control my giggles!!!!
Yesterday in church we started our normal shaking hands. I ran into Karen, who works at our pediatrician's office. Joshua is going in today for his 7 year check up (he'll be 7 later this month) and I told Joshua we would see Karen tomorrow. I told him she works there and she will take our money (she checks people out). I started shaking hands with others when I feel this tap on my leg "mommy, will she really take our money,?" Joshua asked. I told him yes. I keep about my business when I feel another tap, and this time he sounded very concerned "but mommy, we really need that money!!!!" I just died laughing! Poor little guy thinks Miss Karen is going to take all our money. I found out later last night that he is more concerned that Miss Karen is going to take the money that was going to be used for his birthday present. I explained that he would get a birthday present, even if Miss Karen took our money!!!!
Whew....I feel like a ton has been lifted off me getting this project done. We have to finish the life cycle and the adaptation today and then I have to wait to get some color pictures printed from Jack's work (we don't have color on our printer) and then he can hand this in early! yipee!
Today, Jack and I are getting out for a few hours. We are paying Tiffany to come and watch the kids before she has to go to work tonight. I wanted to get out because he leaves next Friday for Phoenix, and then he will be gone the rest of the week. When he gets back from Phoenix, we are going to do something for Joshua's birthday, so we won't have a chance to have any alone time. We'll probably just grab lunch and then look around. There aren't any movies playing that I want to see, but it will be great to get out of the house again!!
For those of you trying to help me, I finally decided to email the teacher to figure out what she was looking for. Here is what she said....
A bird hatches from the egg, then it goes through juvenile stages before it is full grown. Have him show the bird hatching, a baby bird without feathers (perhaps in the nest with its beak open waiting for food from its mother), a bird a little larger with feathers, then the adult. He can label those "hatching" "chick" "chick" "adult".
I am so stumped on a first grade project. As you know, Joshua has a project on the wood stork. We are doing very well on it. It's due next Friday, but we are both hoping to finish this Monday night. He even wants to finish. Last night I made him do one more section, and after that he told me he wanted to go on and do more. We need to do the adaptation of the animal. It says it must contain" an adaptation that your animal has, the reason/purpose of this adaptation. How does it help the animal? What would happen if the animal did not have this adaptation?" All on three short lines 5 inches long and less than an inch and a half wide. I want to say "Lady, are you nuts!!!" But now, here is my big dilemma. The Life Cycle of the wood stork. It says "labeled color pictures showing AT LEAST four stages of the life cycle of the animal, use arrows". I have searched everywhere and can't find 4 stages. I mean this critter is not a butterfly. He is born, he dies....that's my opinion!!! Each block is worth 4 points, and if he puts 3 or less, he gets only 1 point. I just can't figure it out. I asked my brother, who is one of the smartest people I know, and he didn't know either. If anyone can look up the wood stork and figure it out for me, I would be forever grateful. I can't believe I am stumped by a first grader's work! Happy Friday!!
