February at a Glance...Blink and it's Over!

February was cold and full of fun!

We were snowed in A LOT! The boys actually went to school a total of 3 days in two weeks. I was so glad that Ihad made a grocery store run before the wild weather hit. While stuck indoors we made from scratch cinnamon rolls and fruit kabobs. The boys also used their imagination often while playing indoors including super hero's and army. Our dog Shelby even got in on the act. The month also included Valentine parties at school with lots of candy!

The end of basketball season ended with K-Man playing the best game of the season the last game. He scored 7 points and demonstrated being a leader on the team. He also showed an agressive side...not always seen. I think he has just become more confident in his abilities.

K-Man also had a great accomplishment in Februaury. He was asked to be a greeter at the school. Greeters have shown good character at school and have been chosen by their teachers. We were so proud of him. K-man was very nervous the first day, but ended up having fun opening the door for his friends. It was an all week privilage.

Another huge highlight was going to rodeo!

It took us double the time to get there because of the snow and ice on the roads, but the boys would have been soooo disappointed if we didn't try to get there.

We were able to watch some of the kids show their animals, watch cowboys ride for 8 seconds and eat HUGE hotdogs...fun!

Having to Sit

It has been an interesting last several days...I went from having a rash to having to sit.
While I am waiting for some blood work results, the Dr. has instructed "No Work and Minimal
Activity". In other words I'm having to sit.

What do I do with all this sitting time?

I have been reading blogs, visiting Amazon (dangerous!), planning future craft and baking projects found on the web... all while listening/watching all things girly on TV.

While this may seem fun (and it is!), I am already chomping at the bit. I don't sit well and I sure don't like watching my adorable husband having to do everything!

I keep telling myself...enjoy, relax, read!!!
Sigh.

Brrrr!

Today as I look at the clock...

• I am still in my Pjs
• I was able to read a chapter of my book during the day
• I have done three loads of laundry
• I have had A Lot of warm coffee
• I have sat by the fire
• I have watched the kids play together (I have toys all over the living room)
• I have a load of wet clothes inside my front door
• I have gotten the chance to blog and browse Blog Land
• I didn't have to sit in the pick up line
• I didn't have to go to my payed job
• I don't have to get K-man to practice tonight
• I have gotten to see a beautiful view out all my windows

Gotta Love Snow Days!

First Time

There have been a few of things that I have done for the first time over the last couple of weeks...

1. I did a Bible study with someone I didn't know very well. I have done many Bible studies with friends and girls I have things in common with. However, this time was very different. The two of us are different in many ways: she is full blooded Indian, she has experienced prison, her husband is working on his citizenship,...the list could go on. I have met the girl along with her husband and children at church, but I have just smiled and said "Hi"...no real conversation. Well, I decided, when asked, to participate in a Bible study with her.

The study was wonderful (of course it was!!!) and my heart exploded with love for this woman and her "giving it all" to God. She has a a lot to loose deciding to let God be her guide. Her hunger for the Word was so humbling...so humbling!

B-Boy went with me and played with her little boy. Comments he whispered in my ear, "Momma...their house is short; they don't have carpet; where are their closets?; they have only three boxes of toys; I want to keep my coat on...I'm kinda cold; Did their house burn-it looks different." I'm not sure what picture this paints, but the picture is painted on my heart and on B-Boys too.

Though they had little, she was so proud of her home. The mattresses on the floor were made, the house spotless and there was a candle lit. I was humbled by her contentment and the way she took pride in what she did have. Her home was warm and I felt very welcomed.

God was present and working in all of hearts that day. May God continue to bless her richly.


2. Had two families/couples over for supper/lunch in less then 3 weeks! My adorable husband and I desire to have people in our home... To make our home open to everyone in our church family and to build lasting relationships and memories. The later couple that we invited over were an older couple that we respect and we believe are very wise. It was wonderful!...After the meal I was showing them the boys room. As I opened the door there were strings hung from the ceiling fan and things were tied to the bottom of them (including a sword!) flying around the room! I was so relieved that they had raised THREE boys and didn't think I had monkeys for children :)

3. I baked a Chocolate Buttermilk Pie...enough said!

Opening Weekend

K-man's first basketball game ever was last weekend!

After a stomach ache and "This is the worst day ever!"...

He did GREAT!

K-man loves basketball, but he does not like to mess up or stand out. So, the first practice and the first game of any sport are often challenging getting there. However 5 minutes into it, he's good to go!

From this picture, you would think we won the game. Nope...40 to 2!
He did great and had fun.


What I am going to try to do better at the game this weekend:

• not yell as much...it was encouraging stuff, just too much ;)
• Not constantly thinking "GIVE K-MAN the BALL!"...all kids deserve to touch the ball.
• Try to film more...between trying to take pictures and yell, I didn't get much on film.
• Maybe not sit by my adorable husband...hmmm. We just need space during sporting events :)
  
  
  

"Out of the Mouths of"... my boys

There has been snow all around us, however we haven't seen a bit of here on the home front. K-Man decided to take matters up with the "Man Up Stairs" last night:

" ...oh, and dear God, could you please increase the percentage of snow..."

This year the boys have been deer hunting with my adorable husband on various occasions, however no deer has even been seen. This weekend B-Boy had a plan.

"Dear God, could you please let us see a deer and keep it still so we can shoot it..."

Yep, there have been some heart pats this weekend.

Happiness!

Somebody Said...

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,

But he with a chuckle replied,

That maybe it couldn't,

But he wouldn't be one,

to say so until he tried.

I absolutely love what I do. I feel blessed to be able to work outside my home two days a week at a nursing home as an Occupational Therapist. I feel I have learned more from my patients than they have learned from me...well, maybe we have each taken something from our relationships.

One of the things I have had to learn over the years is how to find a connection with my dementia patients in order to help them. One of the women that we bought Christmas gifts for happens to be one of the dementia residents that I was able to develop a relationship with.

She often became very anxious and would holler out. She also had low vision which also made it very difficult for her. When I would find her in her room anxious or tearful, I would walk in singing..."Clara, Clara, Bo Bara, Banana Fanna Fo Fara...(something to that effect.) Her face would light up and just like that we were long lost friends in a world of singing, sayings and rhymes. From there, we would be able to dress, groom, and complete other things to get ready for her day.

I went to work only to find out that my "Clara Bo Bara" had passed away.

I was honored to have learned many wonderful songs, stories and sayings from her. While we were delivering Christmas presents to her, after a couple of songs, I introduced her to B-Boy. She started telling him the saying that I typed above. He laughed so hard. So, we all said it over and over again. Even on the way home B-boy wanted to say it over and over...so catching and very wise.

My Clara had so much to share and was able to do that with me and my little boy. Clara wanted friends and she found a simple friendship with me through songs... Isn't that what many of us want. To share a bit of ourselves with others and feel needed. To have simple friendships that are not exhausting, but joyful and fulfilling.

Clara, Clara, Bo Bara... Thanks for the frienship I also needed.

The Smallness of Happiness in 2011

I read an article in the magazine Real Simple on the way home from our family Christmas celebrations down south. The article was about happiness. It really has gotten me thinking about my motivation for myself in 2011. There are many...many things that I could "name" as my new year resolution, however I'm thinking about just keeping in simple...I'm going to work on changing the way I view happiness. Simple, right?

Well, I'm not sure how simple it really is, but this is my plan. I don't think happiness is something to be achieved or gained (stay with me!). I think happiness is moments, maybe even a split second emotion from an experience, a comment, or even an achievement (big or small). Happiness is not static. The adventure of life is to savor the feeling of happiness before allowing yourself to move on to the next experience. So, I want to focus my energy on savoring the smallness of happiness and not chasing the "worldly BIG happiness" or the achievement of the "happily ever after" life.

I have the tendency to see the downer points of the day or I find feeling "less than" because of the things I have not finished or accomplished. Or in other terms- I missed the happiness of the day and may even have said," I had a bad day". Really, was the whole day bad or were there moments of tingling happiness that I chose to breeze over! I have decided to savor happiness this year...celebrate the true emotion of happiness. I have a journal I haven't written in for the last year and I am simply going to attempt to right one small "happy feeling" moment in it each day (even if that is the only thing I write). At this point if I don't complete the goal of writing in it everyday, I'm savoring THIS moment of happy excitement of the idea and actually blogging about it! YES!!!!! (I'm also a heart patter for various reasons...so, if you see me pat my heart, I'm may just be having a small bit if happiness!)

HAPPY New Year!

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

I always feel that the time from Thanksgiving until New Year is a complete whirlwind! I even find myself at times grrrrring about the holiday season. I feel like I have a hard time Enjoying Anything between Everything that needs to be done and the things I want to do. SO.... New approach! Instead of keeping the whirlwind feeling lingering inside me, I'm going to look back and savor the moments that brought "goosebump" moments to my arms and heart. Even if the moment only occurred for a split second.

• DVRing all the Christmas movies from the Hallmark Channel. I only watched a few, but it was wonderful to watch them anytime. I always feel warm and fuzzy inside after watching them.
• Fudge all over the boys faces after licking the beaters.
• K- Man making a list of the goodies he wanted me to bake (fudge, puppy chow, candy covered pretzels, sausage balls, and candy covered popcorn).
• B-boy seeing Santa for the first time at the mall..."I see Him! I see Him! He's over there!"
• Watching the boys write their Christmas lists...adding to it all month long. I love the way K-man spells his words and how B-boy forms his letters.
• Shopping for clothes (with my boys in tow) for a couple of ladies living at the nursing home I work at. The boys were so proud when they picked out a blouse that I actually bought for the ladies.Wrapping the gift while I thought about what each of the ladies meant to me.Watching them open each present and feel and touch each piece of clothing. Seeing the boys' big eyes as the ladies were so excited about the gifts.
• Seeing the boys look in awe at the Christmas tree ornaments and gifts.
• Driving up to the outside of our house being decorated with Christmas lights for the first time.
• Finding the perfect place to put our Department 56 Snow Village.
• Looking at all the past ornaments made by the boys over the years.
• Having a marshmallow fight following opening the marshmallow shooters Christmas morning.
• Listening to B-boy see Christmas lights on the way to church. He would see the same lights every time we went, but listening to him you would have thought he had never seen them before!
• Singing at the nursing home with friends from church.
• Looking at Christmas lights with Paw Paw and Gramzie singing Christmas Carols at the top of our lungs!
• Watching B-boy in his Christmas program. He was a very ADORABLE wise man.
• Listening to B-boy practicing singing all the songs that he would be singing in the program. I can still hear him singing ...."Si--lent Night..." all over the house.
• Going with K-man on his field trip to an Opera House for a Christmas show/play. Yep, I teared up...always do! There is nothing better then seeing your child's bright eyes experiencing Christmas.
• Going with friends to see the play Rodolph. B-Boy was scared out of his mind of the Abominable Snow Monster! Watching the boys get autographs from all the characters after the show. Yep, I teared up at the end...always do!
• Getting 10 Christmas cards on one day!
• Hearing the boys excitement as they looked at what Santa brought before they "woke us up".
• A couple of days before Christmas- Listening through the boy's door as K-man explained what Santa does on Christmas Eve.
• Seeing my adorable husband in his new house shoes, shooting the boys with his new Nerf Gun!
• Listening to all the Christmas music being played EVERYWHERE.
• Seeing our nieces that we haven't seen since this past summer.
• Sitting on my Parents front porch for two hours on my Mom's new porch swing watching the boys play outside

Sigh...

Yes, once again, in the mist of the CRAZINESS of the holiday season there were memorable moments that deserve their time to be savored.

Sigh...

Little One, Little Two...Little Indians

I'm Thankful for My Two Little Indian Boys!

October at a Glance

Pumpkins!

My Pumpkins holding their Pumpkins!

This year was the 3rd Annual Pumpkin Carving Party at our home.

K-man dove right into the carving process in true boy form.

He really has become such a pro!

Just a little bit of help here and there.

Now, B-Boy is still not into the pumpkin slim, but wants very little help with the drawing and carving part...A bit scary, I know!

Yep, my 4 year old has a knife!

But it's a small knife...

Sorry, I didn't include the completed pumpkins, OOPS!

(take my word for it...they were spooky!)

My adorable husband turned a year older.

Poor guy, he gets a birthday smashed between B-boys birthday and Halloween.

He never complains. This birthday, He blew out candles and then we all ran off to cheer him on in his has last game of the softball season.

No, you did not jump into another universe...

These are my SUPER HEROS...

ready to knock, kick, karate chop, slash or shoot anything into oblivion they can get their hands on (including each other)!

See!

Halloween was fun this year.

We rode in the back of "Blue" and the boys just jumped and ran to each door (fighting the evil villains while saying "thanks you" for the candy)! Yes, it is all on video.

Sunday lunch Spooky menu:

Black Battie Spaghetti

Brainy Broccoli

Ghostly Garlic Bread

Baked Eyeball Apples with Raisins

Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip Bars

(for dessert)

Whew!

Day at the Deer Lease

Today the boys are spending the day with Daddy at the deer lease. They will be refilling deer feeders with corn and preparing for rifle season. The count down began months ago and the boys can hardly wait...the big boy too!

Fear the Deer

Go RANGERS!

Number 4 and Counting!

I can't believe that my little boy is 4!

The years have gone by with whirl winds of fun and boyish adventures!

For B-Boy's birthday, he was given a blue and green "big boy bike".
Just like he has strongly suggested over the last 6 months!
With some minor adjustments by Daddy...

and some loving encouragement...
He was off to discover the "big boy world" around him!

Truth be told, B-Boy was having a bit of trouble getting his bike moving smoothly.
So, later that morning when we couldn't find him, he was on the drive way giving it all he had until he rode the bike perfectly. I'm telling you...if we can get his stubbornness going in the right direction, he might solve world hunger!

Sweet B-Boy,
We love you so much.
Your smile lights our hearts and your tender hugs warms them!
You have a flare for adventure and a warm spot for your brother.
Your love for God is evident through your questions and comments.
I believe God will use you to strengthen many.


Hot Wheel Birthday Party...Here B-Boy comes!

The family on B-Boys's special day!

Lilah, K-Man, Ali, B-Boy, and Anson.

The making of an exciting party!

Ok, with over 200 pictures taken

(with the help of my mother-in-love...thanks!)-

These are just a few.

A Hot Wheels Pinata was a MUST!

B-Boy got the last hits to send the candy flying!

We also played relay races (just like Hot Wheels race).

The kids beat the parents in "fill the jug of water, "egg carry", and the "sack race".

Those pictures were left out for good reason!!

The blowing out of the candles is always a lasting memory of a fantastic birthday party!

B-Boy hugging the gift he has asked for...seriously, for over 3 months!!!

The excitement could not be missed!

Another gift that was a major suggestion was a GREEN ROPE with a CASE!

Grammie and Poppa could not come unless THIS was B-Boys gift!

Do you see a pattern here?

This is not a child who beats around the bush!

It was a great birthday event.

Grammie and Poppa, Gramzie and Paw Paw, and Auntie Lindsey and Lilah were all able to be there and share in the fun! Birthdays are such a Joy!

Hope you had as mush fun as we did celebrating your life sweet B-Boy!

Would you like a bit of COFFEE with that FALL?

When TWO of my most favorite things collide

it is worth noting~

Can't you just smell the coffee brewing?...(I actually can!)

More Then I Would Like to Admit...

There are some things about me that I do not like to admit to...but here it goes.

• I' m an all or nothing person: neat freak some days...SLOB other days; happy...blue; worn out...energized; baking mood...no baking; running...nothing; time on computer...what is a computer; crafting...unfinished projects! I never really find myself in the middle (grrrrr)
• I'm competitive. This trait frustrates me to no end! (grrrr)
• I'm a health freak. (yep, I'm one of those people!)I absolutely love to learn about nutrition and new information on health strategies. I can't understand why some eat and take care of themselves the way they do. I get overwhelmed by other people's shopping carts at Wally World-(ask my adorable husband how I fume :)). I enjoy trying out new recipes that are "good" for you. This aspect of myself can drive my adorable husband nuts. He is a sweet and carbo man... (we are getting there with some compromises :)). My kids have no problem with it- they don't know the difference between white flour and Almond flour in my baking.
• I'm not as friendly as I once was. Or maybe I just don't feel like being social and meeting new people (ie. mom's at the boys school, mom's of kids on the boys sports teams). Don't get me wrong, I'm nice! I'm just a bit of a homebody with just a few close friends and thats good enough for me. I know, it sounds CRAZY! Maybe, it's that I'm consumed with family and the friends I have now. Maybe I don't have the energy for the drama of lots of friends...MAYBE I'm content!
• I withdraw. Sometimes I need to be with my own thoughts. It can last a couple of days or a week. I think its good.
• I'm motivated by frustration. You want to know my secret to clean cabinets...i can't get something out!...then my all or nothing personality comes out and the whole kitchen has been gutted and reorganized!!!!!! You want to know my secrete to a spotless house...I have been a SLOB for a couple of days and I become frustrated with myself at allowing the boys to have piles (Ok, my pile too!) everywhere! Motivation for running...pants don't fit (FRUSTRATION)!! Blogging again...frustrated that so much time of my boys was not documented!
• I'm stubborn. Enough Said!

Ok, I think these confessions were painful enough. I have a huge closet full of things I do not enjoy admitting. However, I think it's good to remind yourself that YOU HAVE FAULTS and Only through God's mercy are you made PERFECT in HIM! Pride is distructive...Amen!

I'll Cry if I Want To!

Today, when I picked up B-Boy from MDO the teacher whispered to me that he had cried during centers and after lunch today. She explained...

"He said he was tired."

When we got home and after I had explained the situation to my adorable husband, he asked B-boy why he had cried at school. The innocent response was,

"Momma cries when SHE's tired!"

Yep...SHE does!

Yes, he is very adorable...

However today, he was NOT so much a cutie pie!

I decided that I needed to get some professional pictures taken. Just some quick shots to "freeze the moment" of my fast growing and changing boys. So, with today being a holiday we loaded up as a family to spend some time together in the BIG city which included the boys pictures being taken in a studio...

This is where the HAPPY THOUGHTS end! Imagine my 6 year old strutting in taking his pictures with ease and poise. THEN COMES...B-BOY! We drag him in and he crawls under a chair and won't come out. He refuses to even talk to the girl (who is smiling, but thinking that I have NO control over this child...I'm thinking she's right!). I look at my husband like, "what are we going to do?" He drags B-boy out and takes him to another room. He is there for a long while....Then out comes the "mule-stubborn child" with furrowed brows- No change!

30 minutes later we have NOTHING! Bribery has not worked, "your breaking my heart" has not worked, threatening has not worked! I have lost control of the whole situation! Yep.

We leave the studio with the idea that we will return following more intense bribery..."Your brother is getting... and YOU ARE NOT!"- no change. Will not budge. When it finally starts sinking in B-Boy cries loudly explaining he does not want to smile! We go over he will get NOTHING until he smiles for the camera!- no change. Will not budge.

Finally, are 6 year old comes to the rescue and takes the "mule-stubborn child" into the bathroom for a talk. 5 minutes later out walks "angle child (for today)" and mule-stubborn child" both with huge smiles on their faces. B-boy is ready! Not sure what was said and I could care less, but we were going to get the pictures done TODAY!

He smiles all the way to the studio and it takes SERIOUSLY 7 minutes to finish the whole session! AND I SERIOUSLY needed a LARGE sweet tea after the whole ordeal.

So, no cutie pie today! GRRRR.

Joys of School?

The K-man has been at it for two full weeks...

What things are different: (First Grade vs Kinder):

• Reading books for AR tests every night vs. two times a week
• Math homework two days a week vs none
• Spelling tests on Fridays vs none
• Tardies count vs. a smile and a sweet "hurry up"
• Lockers vs cubbies
• Teacher don't make eye contact with parents vs hug you and the child (not really, but get the point)...ok, a bit harsh. K-man's teacher is very commutative via e-mail.

So, really the homework has been the real adjustment for us and K-man starting first grade. It has been hard encouraging K-man do the homework when he is worn out and "brain fried". He often takes some down time and then spends about 30 minutes with the school work for the night while I'm finishing up supper.

I usually try to ask, "what was your favorite thing today?", but I have had to alter my probing because I have been answered on multiple occasions, "nothing! all we do is WORK!"

-sigh

With that said, he has not told me he isn't going back... yet!

For B-Boy, the adventures at home with Momma could not be better!


However, I am "brushed" to the side when his big brother comes home.
I wouldn't have it any other way!

Oh...B-boy is not real excited about the homework either!

Learning to Read

With learning to read comes a new awareness of the world around you.

As the K-man has increased his confidence in reading, I often hear him reading signs in town, book titles, signs I have in the home, labels...the list could go on. I usually just smile and say something like, "great reading', "that's right!"...however, this summer I had a heart stopping moment.

We were exiting off the freeway when I looked in the rear view mirror at my two boys in the backseat only to notice tears rolling down the K-man's cheeks. When I asked what was wrong he pointed to the man holding a sign at the traffic light. "Help. Have no Home."

"Momma, that man doesn't have a home!"

As I choked back tears and looked at my innocent little boys in the backseat my heart broke. I said something like, God knows that man's name and God IS working... It just made me sad that K-man was realizing things are not always, "Ok." There is hurt, hunger, sadness and loneliness in this world. We stopped before going in the next store and I prayed with all my heart! Out loud I was praying for the man to know God and for protection..., inside I was also praying for God to keep my boys' hearts soft for the hurting and to strengthen them for the hurt they will face and witness.

May we have soft hearts for the hurting, the hungry, the sad, and the lonely.

May we never stop reading!