Finally! After watching every person in her class lose numerous teeth, Maleah finally lost her first one. She is so excited tonight! So excited that she is up two hours past going to bed. It's a huge deal losing that first tooth. She is growing up! Oh how I love my sweet girl.
Now she awaits the tooth fairy.....
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Freezer Cooking
Yesterday, a dear friend of mine got together and made 16 freezer meals (8 each). I love having them on hand. Now that I am teaching Wednesdays, when I get home I need to immediately start supper. Having these meals will be so convenient!
It's extra fun when you can do it with a friend. After assembling the meals, we rearranged the living room. Why not? It is cold. I am over winter. And, I needed a refreshing change!
Do you do freezer meals?
What have been your favorite?
I'd love some tips/ideas/recipes from all you pros!
It's extra fun when you can do it with a friend. After assembling the meals, we rearranged the living room. Why not? It is cold. I am over winter. And, I needed a refreshing change!
Do you do freezer meals?
What have been your favorite?
I'd love some tips/ideas/recipes from all you pros!
Friday, February 21, 2014
Annual review.
I love doing this with the kids! I ask them each the same questions about me every year. I giggle at their answers (not in front of them, of course), and tear up over other ones. I love looking back and seeing how their answers change or stay the same. I use this as my "annual review" to check in and see how they think I'm doing. Why are we so hard on ourselves? They think us moms are awesome.
I wrote their answers just as they said them...
Maleah, age 6
1. What is something mom always says to you? I love you.
2. What makes mom happy? When we obey.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don't obey Mommy and Daddy.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? You tickle me!
5. What was your mom like as a child? Kind of like me.
6. How old is your mom? 28.
7. How tall is your mom? I don't know.
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? The Olympics.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Clean the house.
10. What is your mom really good at? Taking care of us.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Nothing to me.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Cooks.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Ice cream.
14. What makes you proud of your mom? Everything.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Go on dates.
16. How are you and your mom the same? We look the same when we were little.
17. How are you and your mom different? I don't know.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you say it to me like a hundred times!
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? That he is kind.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Shopping.
Layla, age 5
1. What is something mom always says to you? Behave.
2. What makes mom happy? Daddy.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don't obey you. That disappoints you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? When she says funny words.
5. What was your mom like as a child? You had curly hair, sisters, and lived in this house.
6. How old is your mom? 29.
7. How tall is your mom? (stands on a couple blankets and points to a spot on the wall)
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? The Olympics.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Cook.
10. What is your mom really good at? Cooking.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Fixing stuff.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Take care of kids.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Candy (well, that's more like Daddy's)
14. What makes you proud of your mom? That I clean my room.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Cook.
16. How are you and your mom the same? We are both wearing purple today! And we both have the same hair.
17. How are you and your mom different? You have different things than me.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you care about me.
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? When he stays home.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Shopping.
Charlie, age 3
1. What is something mom always says to you? Go to our church.
2. What makes mom happy? Your wedding.
3. What makes mom sad? When I don't do it.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Be funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child? A baby or kid.
6. How old is your mom? 6.
7. How tall is your mom? (arms up really high)
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? Mom and dad shows.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go teach.
10. What is your mom really good at? Me don't really know.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Hanging pictures.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Clean up.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Everything.
14. What makes you proud of your mom? When you tell us.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Go to teach.
16. How are you and your mom the same? When me go to Mommy's stuff.
17. How are you and your mom different? You put your coat on. Me wear shorts.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? We give hugs.
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? Kisses.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? McDonald's.
I wrote their answers just as they said them...
Maleah, age 6
1. What is something mom always says to you? I love you.
2. What makes mom happy? When we obey.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don't obey Mommy and Daddy.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? You tickle me!
5. What was your mom like as a child? Kind of like me.
6. How old is your mom? 28.
7. How tall is your mom? I don't know.
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? The Olympics.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Clean the house.
10. What is your mom really good at? Taking care of us.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Nothing to me.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Cooks.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Ice cream.
14. What makes you proud of your mom? Everything.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Go on dates.
16. How are you and your mom the same? We look the same when we were little.
17. How are you and your mom different? I don't know.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you say it to me like a hundred times!
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? That he is kind.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Shopping.
Layla, age 5
1. What is something mom always says to you? Behave.
2. What makes mom happy? Daddy.
3. What makes mom sad? When we don't obey you. That disappoints you.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? When she says funny words.
5. What was your mom like as a child? You had curly hair, sisters, and lived in this house.
6. How old is your mom? 29.
7. How tall is your mom? (stands on a couple blankets and points to a spot on the wall)
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? The Olympics.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Cook.
10. What is your mom really good at? Cooking.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Fixing stuff.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Take care of kids.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Candy (well, that's more like Daddy's)
14. What makes you proud of your mom? That I clean my room.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Cook.
16. How are you and your mom the same? We are both wearing purple today! And we both have the same hair.
17. How are you and your mom different? You have different things than me.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? Because you care about me.
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? When he stays home.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Shopping.
Charlie, age 3
1. What is something mom always says to you? Go to our church.
2. What makes mom happy? Your wedding.
3. What makes mom sad? When I don't do it.
4. How does your mom make you laugh? Be funny.
5. What was your mom like as a child? A baby or kid.
6. How old is your mom? 6.
7. How tall is your mom? (arms up really high)
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? Mom and dad shows.
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go teach.
10. What is your mom really good at? Me don't really know.
11. What is your mom not very good at? Hanging pictures.
12. What does your mom do for her job? Clean up.
13. What is your mom's favorite food? Everything.
14. What makes you proud of your mom? When you tell us.
15. What do you and your mom do together? Go to teach.
16. How are you and your mom the same? When me go to Mommy's stuff.
17. How are you and your mom different? You put your coat on. Me wear shorts.
18. How do you know your mom loves you? We give hugs.
19. What does your mom like most about your dad? Kisses.
20. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? McDonald's.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Lots & lots of snow!
We can't say we didn't have snow to play in this winter.
I'm realizing I have a love/hate relationship with it. The snow really is beautiful while it falls outside our beautiful, warm home. The kids love to play in it and it allows some fun days home from school. [love.]
But, we've had a lot of it. [starting to hate.]
It's hard to [starting to hate] when these little rascals find so much joy in it. So, I'll choose to [love] it. What I do know is this: I love seasons! I can't imagine living somewhere where it is always the same. Having said that, I'l be really happy to welcome Spring!
I'm realizing I have a love/hate relationship with it. The snow really is beautiful while it falls outside our beautiful, warm home. The kids love to play in it and it allows some fun days home from school. [love.]
But, we've had a lot of it. [starting to hate.]
It's hard to [starting to hate] when these little rascals find so much joy in it. So, I'll choose to [love] it. What I do know is this: I love seasons! I can't imagine living somewhere where it is always the same. Having said that, I'l be really happy to welcome Spring!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Friday, February 7, 2014
Waterpark weekend!
We had a fantastic weekend in Dubuque with Rod & Bonnie and Mark
& Angie and kids. We have gone every February for the past couple
years. It started as a way to celebrate Rod & Bonnie's anniversary,
and has stuck as a great family winter getaway. We headed down Friday
night and stayed until Saturday afternoon.
Having gone to the same place every year, it is remarkable to see how the kids grow there. This year, Charlie was mostly self sufficient, doing slides by himself, etc. It was his big "growing up" year, and it showed at the waterpark.
It was a great time together. The kids are so comfortable in the water, so it makes for such a fun time.
Our kids are so fortunate to have so many cousins their same ages. They make the best friends and playmates.
Having gone to the same place every year, it is remarkable to see how the kids grow there. This year, Charlie was mostly self sufficient, doing slides by himself, etc. It was his big "growing up" year, and it showed at the waterpark.
 |
| Kaylee loves to be right by Ruby, "watching/holding" her. Ruby loved the water! |
 |
| Cuteness! |
 |
| Here comes the big boy, all by himself! |
 |
| He also went down the tube slide this year and loved it. |
 |
| Oh Maleah. She loves floating around the lazy river. |
 |
| Linde and Layla play so well together! They were little fishies this year! |
 |
| A little slide, but it sure gets a lot of action! Here they all go! |
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| This is so my Layla. She just frolics about with a smile on her face. |
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| Even though he could go by himself, it was still fun to go with Daddy! |
Our kids are so fortunate to have so many cousins their same ages. They make the best friends and playmates.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Sisters
The kids are all in bed, and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't my favorite part of the day. The day was good, but this is better; chilled out kids who had a fantastic day, sweet prayers, lax time with my best friend, everybody home, the sound of the furnace, and the peace of another blessed day with them all.
As I was upstairs tying loose bedtime ends, I overheard the girls...
Layla: Maleah?
Maleah: yes, Layla...
Layla: what does 'I dare you' mean?
Maleah: well.....
Layla: and how about foolish, Maleah? What does that mean?
These girls. Hardly a year and a half apart. Do they have any idea how blessed they are to have each other? I'm so thankful for their friendship and look forward to the years they have ahead. I have two sisters. I know the blessing. And for that, I am so thankful.
Just when I think it's my favorite time of day, I hear bedtime conversations and my favorite time gets even better. Ahhhhh, finding rest in this gift.
As I was upstairs tying loose bedtime ends, I overheard the girls...
Layla: Maleah?
Maleah: yes, Layla...
Layla: what does 'I dare you' mean?
Maleah: well.....
Layla: and how about foolish, Maleah? What does that mean?
These girls. Hardly a year and a half apart. Do they have any idea how blessed they are to have each other? I'm so thankful for their friendship and look forward to the years they have ahead. I have two sisters. I know the blessing. And for that, I am so thankful.
Just when I think it's my favorite time of day, I hear bedtime conversations and my favorite time gets even better. Ahhhhh, finding rest in this gift.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Mondays...
People talk about having a case of the Mondays. I've heard the term a lot, and used to even toss it around myself. But, over the years, I have come to love Mondays. I like getting back into routine, the quiet it brings, the kids seem to play so well after the busy weekends (even if we don't do anything, they are busy in a different kind of way), and it just feels fresh to me.
Now, people talk about finally Friday! And, I have to admit that Fridays are hard for me! We are ready for a change of pace, the kids are at each other more, Maleah is tired, I miss my husband, and we are just plain worn out.
Funny how things change over the years and stages of life. I must be getting old.
Now, people talk about finally Friday! And, I have to admit that Fridays are hard for me! We are ready for a change of pace, the kids are at each other more, Maleah is tired, I miss my husband, and we are just plain worn out.
Funny how things change over the years and stages of life. I must be getting old.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
911
True story...
Layla called 911 the other day, on purpose, knowing full well what she was doing.
The super nice gal from Butler County 911 called me back and I was able to confirm we were just fine.
I talked to Layla in full detail about why we shouldn't call, when we should, examples of legitimate emergencies, on and on.
Then, I asked, "Why did you call 911 anyway?"
She answered, "Because I wanted to see the rescue heroes!"
About three minutes later she asked,"Do you think they are husband and wife?"
Oh, Layla. Think she missed my points entirely? She is seriously something else.
May we always remember the days of rescue heroes. Oh, and 911 calls. She keeps us hoppin'.
Layla called 911 the other day, on purpose, knowing full well what she was doing.
The super nice gal from Butler County 911 called me back and I was able to confirm we were just fine.
I talked to Layla in full detail about why we shouldn't call, when we should, examples of legitimate emergencies, on and on.
Then, I asked, "Why did you call 911 anyway?"
She answered, "Because I wanted to see the rescue heroes!"
About three minutes later she asked,"Do you think they are husband and wife?"
Oh, Layla. Think she missed my points entirely? She is seriously something else.
May we always remember the days of rescue heroes. Oh, and 911 calls. She keeps us hoppin'.
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