mothers day recap...

Mothers day was good.

I don't really get into these types of days.

I have an old friend that says I'm 'no fun' because of it.

That is okay. Maybe so, but on the flip side as I said to my mom and mother in law this morning. "Mothers day is very hyped up. TV makes it feel that heaven will collide with earth in this beautiful display of appreciation and love."

I, personally think, that is a HECK of a lot of pressure on husbands and kids.

This very blunt statement was AFTER Kate pooped her diaper in the middle of the restaurant, all diaper changing stuff was in the car, I had forgotten wipes, but had napkins (eww.), the restaurant that we chose to go to with the family was late in getting us seated, making some of us a little cranky, Anne doing what appeared to be a canon ball onto the very nice couch in the front of the restaurant-not totally terrible, BUT the lady sitting ON the couch, looking like a twin of Queen Elizabeth, wasn't quite as fascinated as Anne was...just a few highlights! :)

That being said. The heavens and earth nearly collided and I enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day. we had a fabulous morning at church, a wonderful brunch, a heck of a nap and a great visit with my sister via Skype.

The point is, I'm a momma every day. 365 days out of the year. I feel the honor of it by watching my girls be the best little chicks they can be. I don't need a random Sunday in May to point it out. (although, it isn't terrible.... ;) )

I hope you had a great day too.

~chat soon!

Happy Mother's Day!

4 Generations...
to all the moms I know...

Mothers are the place where love

Emerges from the earth,

And happiness rings out like bells

In honor of our birth.

Mothers are the sun that lights

For life our inner sky,

So we may know that we are loved

And need not question why.

Mothers are the moon that shines

Upon our black despair,

SO even when we weep, we know

that someones always there.

Whatever fear, or stress, or pain

Might them to anger move,

We know that underneath the storm

We have, always, their love.

*Sent to me by the TRIGR study for Mother's day...no author noted. *

~Chat soon!

BRING IT ON!

Oh maaaaaaaaaaaaaan.

I just counted the days left till summer break...

fourteen

that's right ladies and gents...FOURTEEN.

14 sweet days till nothing-ville.

I mean there is stuff to do, but its only if we really want to.

I LOVE THAT FEELING!

If this summer is anywhere near last summer,

I WILL BE IN HEAVEN!

giggles, beautiful weather, vacations, weddings, swimming, catching fireflies, icecream cones, chalk, painting concrete with water..oh man, oh man, oh man.

Now, don't let me fool you.

There are fights, crying, thunderstorms, cold pool water, firefly-less nights, dropped icecream cones, broken chalk...yucky stuff.

But I'm SOOOO ready for it.

14 days and counting....(oh and some disagree-that today is not over so it is technically 15 days. But, I'm here and am not planning on going home, so there you have it.) 14 days!

~chat soon!

**disclaimer. i only count the days that i have to attend work, weekends are free. they don't count!**

Prayers of thanks...

There truly is nothing more amazing then the power of prayer.

Today, I have prayers of thanks. (I'm sure the Good Lord is thankful himself, I am a perpetual litany of please help!)



*Shannon, my friend from work, whose husband has been deployed for 6 months is coming home tomorrow. He will be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary and meet their son for the very first time. (the anniversary, not the first, but still able to celebrate on the very day...)

AND

*Kara, our dear friend, Casey sister, gave birth to her fourth child, a son, Finley Michael. 2 pounds. He was born at 27 weeks gestation. Continued prayers are needed, but so thankful it has come this far!



*Wrapping up my ELEVENTH year of teaching. I really feel each year is a gift. My job is amazing, no matter what I say on any given day. I am very thankful for the challenges, as well as the joys.



~Chat soon!

because...

sometimes you just gotta, stop and smell the roses! (or tulips!)

Will you read to me?

Last week I went to hear a speaker talk about reading, and getting parents to be able to get their kids at home. I went for two reasons. I'm a parent, and I'm a teacher. I get the dreaded question of 'how do I get him to read at home' all the time, and the answer isn't really all that easy.

Gary Johnson put it all into words and it was awesome and simple. How cool is that.

I am going to share it because I think it is important. I know a whopping 5 people read this blog, but maybe somebody will fall upon it and be able to use it...
Here are the steps of how to get young kids to read.
*this is word for word from his presentation...*
1. They'll do what you do.
How easy is that? Sit down, read. Even pretend. Just do it.

2. Make it easy to read.
Eliminate the things that make it hard (t.v.) 2/3 of kids don't read because they have a tv in their BEDROOM. Why would they want to read???? GET RID OF THE BOOB TUBE IN THE KIDS ROOM (he is a huge proponent of that!)

3. Good choice/bad choice at point of boredom
Your child is bored and cranky. It's close to bedtime. They really should be doing something constructive INSTEAD of watching tv. Encourage your child to make a choice. Read with dad or go to bed? If you read with dad, you get popcorn, go to bed, it's lights out. They will generally pick the reading. If not, let him go, try it again another night, he'll come back sooner or later. :)

4. Side by side
Read side by side. Snuggled up. They won't remember necessarily what was read but the moment shared. Gary says it blurs the line between loving dad and loving to read. (so sweet....)

5. Stop?
Don't stop at the end of the chapter. Stop right before. It entices the child to want to keep reading OR will keep them interested for tomorrow's reading time.

6. Stuff to read at all points of boredom
Crucial to make it easy to read. The breakfast table is the best place, whether it is the cereal box, comics, or the book that was being read the night before. Don't make the books hard to access at home. Spread them out for the little ones.

Really, this is the easiest concept, but besides saying to the parent across the table at conferences, 'it really helps just to read with him', I didn't have much.

Mr. Johnston also shared that the majority of families stop reading to their children at the age of 5, when the start kindergarten. If it is continued to the age of 10 the children are proved to be children who LOVE reading. AMAZING!

weekend...

I have mentioned time and time again that Adam and I are a team. We take the team approach on just about everything.
This weekend, my team member went to visit a friend for his birthday. I always get silently giddy for a brief second thinking of all the stuff I can get done.
Wonder when I will figure out that NEVER happens.
Friday night, went to dinner with some friends and the chicks.
Came home. Played. Tornado sirens started blaring.
Everyone downstairs. For FOREVER.
This time was super scary. (as if all the others weren't)
Adam keeps me calm. He wasn't here so it hit the fan. (only on the inside)
Didn't sleep either night. For no good reason.
The girls were on toddler overdrive. Questions, screeching, questions, screeching, messes, fighting, questions, screeching.
We made it though.
Adam is home and all is right with the world. :)
~Chat soon!