Happy New Year!

The last day of 2007...wow, I can't believe it! Time to start new goals, soon time to go back on our "normal" routine. Tonight we will go out to eat with my parents....something we have done for about 3-4 years now. We go early so that we don't have to keep the kids waiting. We don't do anything special after that, in fact, I will probably be in bed at 10pm!!! (what a party pooper!). I'll try to spend today and tomorrow writing down some of my goals for the year and posting that. 2007 was a good year. I enjoyed watching my children grow and mature. I was able to get away twice this year with Jack....once to San Francisco and once to Memphis, TN. I am thankful for my three wonderful children, and my loving husband, and am anxious to build many more memories together. Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Thanks, Angie,....And The Lost Tooth

I know....weird title. I am just trying to combine two blogs into one. First of all, thank you cousin Angie for the dress! Jenna loves it and the shoes!! It was good to see you and I hope we can get together again soon. This morning, Joshua goes to the bathroom, comes out and says "mom, I have a surprise for you". He lost another tooth! I didn't even know he had a loose tooth this time. It's his front tooth. I hope the tooth fairy has some money! I feel really bad for him though. He has a small mouth, a lot to do with the cleft palate he had when he was born. His mouth does not have room for all his teeth, so he has to go back to the dentist in February and have 3 teeth pulled at one time (unless they come out in the mean time). Then, he may have an orthodontist look at his teeth and when he goes back for his regular checkup in June, have 3 more pulled!!!

Uncle Mark and Things That Got Accomplished...

I wanted to write this down before I forgot, and to look back on it one day. Mark came home for the holidays and we had it arranged for him to watch the kids for us so that Jack and I could go out for lunch and do some last minute shopping. He came over Sunday after church. I told Joshua and Jacob that Uncle Mark was coming to babysit them and Joshua piped up and said "Uncle Mark knows how to babysit?" Also, while Mark was here "babysitting" Mark said something to Jacob about a "warning", and Jacob stopped Mark and said " I know what a warning is".....!!

I got a lot of things done today. I can only imagine what could be done if my kids were away at school and I had every day to do things like today. I got my room cleaned up (and that was major), my closet cleaned out, the microwave cleaned out (I hate that job) two loads of laundry, the sheets changed on my bed. Jack also loaded up the blue chair and is on the way to my parents house. I love that blue chair. I had a lot of memories of rocking my children in it. It was in good shape, but we changed colors and furniture, and I was really getting tired of it sitting in Jenna's room. She didn't have room for anything else. I felt bad for her. I can't wait for us to get a bigger house in a couple of years.

Look How Far $5.50 Can Go.....

The Saturday before Christmas I started on my adventure....saving money! Actually, Joshua has gone through about 3 pair of jeans and really needed a pair, so I went to Kohl's. Kohl's had sent me this $10 if you spend $10....now I like that kind of a deal. I don't have a credit card with them, so I don't know why I get these deals. Anyway, I found a pair of jeans for Joshua on sale for $10!!! (so I got a free pair of jeans for Joshua!!) He was with me so I had him try them on (he is so skinny!). Then, I found this shirt for Jacob on clearance for $4.25. It's actually two shirts in one! Yeah! Total price $4.25. Then, Joshua and I went to Chick Fil A. I had a coupon for a free chicken sandwich, and he had one for a free french fry. We went to two different people and split it....cost.....$0. Next, I had one more coupon to redeem, so I got this storage container for my Christmas decorations (that are fragile or home made), markers, sharpies, pencils, and crayons.....cost $1.25!!! Wow!!! I LOVE TO SHOP!!! So, this is what we got:

1. chicken sandwich

2. french fry

3. jeans

4. 2 shirts

5. storage container

6. crayons

7. markers

8. package of sharpies

9 mechanical pencils!!!

Slowly Making Progress

We are slowly making progress around here. I did go to Walmart to get groceries, and Jack took down the tree (thanks sweetheart!) I finished tagging all my clothes for the exchange sale (although I gave most of them away) and I finished all the toys but one (I ran out of packing tape). Now all I have to do is the bikes and toys under the house. I hate this job, but it's a good way to get rid of things and make money! I won't make as much as my July sale, but every bit helps. I also got the van and Honda vacuumed out, so I can keep crossing things off my list. Just think what I could get accomplished if I didn't work!!

BUSY!!

I have been a busy beaver! This is what I have done today....

1. Slept till 8!

2. Ran to Target (the gift card was burning in my pocket)

3. Did 2 loads of laundry

4. Touch up paint the bathroom

5. Played with Jenna and her new doll house

6. Got all the clothes put on hangers for the consignment sale (that is only step 1)

7. Put my new comforter together

8. Took down curtains

9. Got another bag ready for goodwill

10. Made a blog entry!!!

I took down the shelf in the bathroom. I thought it was looking tacky. Michelle gave me this fish picture plus another one that I have not put up yet. I touched up some paint where there were marks. I bought this fish rug with my gift card (thank you Emma and Emma's mom). I also got my new comforter on. I still need some toppers as now I don't have curtains, I I don't have all the pillows out yet on my bed. I plan on painting my bedroom in January. Tomorrow I will take down the tree, and try to make more progress on the consignment sale!

Christmas is For Kids

I just love Christmas because of my kids. I love watching them open presents. I love watching them get so excited over things. We definitely had a wonderful Christmas. My brother was here from Ohio. I just think the pictures show it all..... especially that the word "kids" has no age limit....just kidding, Jack!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

The Bonus of Being a Teacher

There is a bonus of being a teacher....you get showered with gifts. Out of 21 students I have, I received 19 gifts. Here is the picture from the first day, but I actually got more the second day. I got a candle, ornament,lotion $ 5 gift card to Chick fil A, homemade bread and ghiradelli chocolates, home made chocolate pretzels, lotion, dunkin donuts gift card and cookie bouquet, photo holder and candle, candle, home made candy, a $10 to chick fil A, a coffee/cocoa mug set, $25 to Chilis, home made cookies, home made toffee, snowman candle, snowman and snowman ornament, snowman mug, box of chocolates, and a $40 gift card to Target (which will be spent immediately!!!)

I am honored to get such gifts, but more importantly were the sweet comments made by the parents thanking me and Melody for the work we do, or how much we impact our kids lives. They are all such a joy to me and I truly love each one of them. They are a blessing to me. I have finally found a "job" that isn't a "job" and something that I am truly good at and have passion about. I pray that if God wants me to home school next year that he will take the desire of teaching away from me, because I know I will really miss it. I struggle knowing where my gifts and talents are, and I just truly beleive I am good at this job, even though I am not the craftiest person in the world. I know there is a good chance this will be taken from me next year, and if not next year soon thereafter. Then, I'll have to find some other passion, something else that I am gifted in. I realize it doesn't take a genious to work with 3/4 year olds, but I see a lot in Joshua's teacher. If you don't like your job like she shows, then your students feel it and you make their year miserable!

Cute Preschool Crafts

These are some things that the kids made at preschool. Jenna made the reindeer with her hand, and then the light bulbs are her thumb prints. Jacob's of course is a tree from his hand. We put these on tiles, with felt on the back. I am not sure if they are supposed to be used as hot plates, but I wrap mine up and keep them in a safe place. Jenna's class also made these cute nativity sets today. I thought they were pretty cute. Jenna has a really great teacher. She really loves her kids. She even made each child a t-shirt, and I think they are really cute!!!

Cookies and Christmas Gifts

Look at this stuff Miss Melody made for me. I especially love the nutter butter santa's and the sleds with candy canes and licorice! How cute! Her plates of goodies never last long around our house......Oh, and I finally got my Christmas present (I knew what it was and could see it on Jack's dresser) Jack let me have my ring! ( I knew he wouldn't make we wait until Christmas!!) I tried and tried to get pictures of it, but I couldn't get one to turn out, even off my hand. It represents 10 years of marriage together and I love it!!!

Questions, Questions

Joshua is full of questions lately. I was making his lunch for school this morning and he said "do mommies ever get to rest or nap during the day?".....answer....no, Joshua, I don't get to nap during the day, but sometimes I do find myself nodding in car pool line. Then, two nights ago I had to punish him and Jacob for disobeying. I explained to Joshua that because I am in there cooking dinner, that he still had to behave. He looked at me and said "It must be really hard to be an adult, right? You have to work all the time, don't you?". (So that made it hard for me to follow with a spanking, but I did). Last night he actually thanked me for cooking dinner, after he added that baked spaghetti was not his favorite food! So Joshua, it is hard to be an adult and now you see why mommy is so tired all the time!!!

Jenna Did It!........

I never cease to be amazed…..Let me back up and explain the entire story. Friday night, Joshua spent the night with Travis. Of course they had a ball. Traci told me they woke up at 3 am and were watching Star Wars (Scott put an end to that!). Then, they were back up at 6 am. Anyway, we went to their house to pick Joshua up. After that, we went to dinner with Scott, Traci and Travis, and Donny and Kim Clayton and their three kids (all of these are friends of ours from BHBC). We had a great time, and it was good to see the Claytons again. Our party was so large that Chili’s had to put us at two tables. We let the guys take the kids and the three of us had some time alone (except for baby Preston, but he wasn’t any problem).

After that, we headed over to their neighborhood (they live very close together) and saw some lights and this man that dresses like Santa every year. They give the kids little gifts like crayons, markers etc. Anyway, Jenna actually got on his lap all by herself! She was really ready to get down after I snapped the picture, but Santa grabbed her and said “what do you want”? She even told him that she wanted a baby doll. I can’t believe she actually did this. Both Jacob and Jenna were terrified of the man last year. Way to go, Jenna! Oh, the funny thing is that we went to Food Lion Saturday afternoon and Jenna told me she wasn’t afraid of Santa anymore because he was just a man in a costume…..well, they had a “black Santa” at Food Lion. She wasn’t too sure about that. I walked out with her and said “I thought you weren’t afraid of Santa anymore”. She said “I’m not afraid of him….I am just afraid of that one!!!!”

The Christmas Program

Our church put on it's first children's Christmas program today. Jacob and Jenna were sheep and Joshua was a shepherd. They all did really well. It was a cute program. We ate lunch at the church and then had the afternoon off, and I really needed the afternoon off.

The Gift

So once again, my husband gives the nicest gift. If you remember, last year at Valentine's Day he made this slide show set to music of our life together (sorry honey, you'll never top that gift). When I got home last night, I finally got my "surprise" he kept telling me about. He printed out my entire blog, all the way back from my first entry. On top of that, it's in color, and it is put into a notebook! Wow! That's so incredible. Thank you for my wonderful gift, sweetheart!!!