Pictures

I'm not on the computer much at home. I tend to spend my time doing other things like cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids, and sleeping. So I rarely post pictures since my work computer doesn't have the capability to get them off my camera or disk. So I thought that today I would post some pictures from the last few weeks.

This is my class science project. Worms...awake ones...are in the cup. I actually learned a lot teaching my kindergartners about earthworms. Did you know they have 5 hearts? Or that that little band around their middle is where their eggs are stored? Me either. Until last week.

In the talent show, the boys were Darth's minions. They were bad guys, but very cute bad guys.

Light saber fighting is a talent. They choreographed the moves and practiced for weeks. It was very entertaining.

This is Josh's science project on crystals. He grew several different kinds of crystals and learned a lot. He also won first prize in his class!

Adam's project was on invisible ink. He used 8 different liquids to see which would make the best invisible ink. Surprisingly, milk worked the best. He won 2nd prize for his project!

These are Julianna's first pigtails. Oh my goodness at the cuteness!

One of the many blessings of my job is that I get to take Julianna to work with me when I need to. She hangs out with my class or in the pre-school class. She's actually learned a lot and loves to raise her hand whether she knows the answer or not. One of the hazards of having her in my class though is that she sometimes gets into things. Like the day I sat down at my desk and found this.

I guess she thought I deserved a whole lot of smiley faces and stars. Then there was this.

Her little collection of toys under my desk...snacks and friends to share them with. I never know just what I'll find after she spends the day in my classroom.

Then there's this picture from Christmas. Just 'cause, you know, my kids are so adorable.

Happy Saturday!

10 Things Thursday

10 things I am NOT doing today.

1. Driving on icy roads.
2. Having a minor panic attack from driving on icy roads.
3. Changing out of my pjs.
4. Missing my daughter.
5. Zipping 10 coats or putting on 20 mittens (3 times).
6. Worrying about the weather.
7. Digging my car out of several inches of snow.
8. Enduring middle of the winter recess duty.
9. Celebrating the 100th day of school.
10. Wishing I was home...because I am.

Gotta love a snow day!

Happy Birthday George and Abe!

I'm so glad that George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were born. What with the whole American Revolution and Civil War situations. I'm glad they were around then and were able to lead our country in ways that changed the course of history. They were two amazing men whose determination and strength brought them from humble beginnings to the White House and into our history books and those of our great-grandchildren. So thanks, and happy birthday George and Abe. Oh, and thanks for the day off.

Because I love free days off. You know. The kind that have no ulterior motives. I don't have to buy any gifts or make any special meals. I don't have to be anywhere at any specific time. I don't have to do anything if I don't want to. It's just a day off. Which is just what I need today. My house is clean. My family is well. My taxes are filed. My blog is posted. So now I'm going to go snuggle with my daughter (the only other one who is up this early...and the reason I am), drink my vanilla chai latte, and read a good book.

Happy President's Day!

Old is in the eye of the beholder.

As of today, I am married to a man who is two years older than me. And he will be two years older than me for exactly two weeks, when I turn 39. Yikes. When did we get old? How did it happen? Actually, we were talking about it and neither of us feels our age. We still feel like the 20 and 21 year olds we were when we got married. Just a little more tired at the end of the day. And with kids. Which probably accounts for the tiredness.

I've loved my husband forever. At least for as long as I can remember. The crush in grade school and middle school eventually turned into young love and has over the years evolved into this comfortable, safe, wonderful life of memories and shared goals and parenting. He says I still make his heart skip a beat. And he makes mine skip two.

Is every day easy? No. Do we always agree? Umm, no. But even so, we are in this together. For the rest of our lives. And for that I'm glad. Even if he is old.

10 Things Thursday

10 words.

"awake"
worms
are
so
much
more
fun
than
"asleep"
ones

Wednesday WORD

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (various translations)

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first," doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.

Worms, and not the gummy kind.

I try, every day, to not only teach my students what I'm supposed to, but to avoid doing anything that will hinder their learning in any way. Well, today I very well may have traumatized my whole class. We are studying earthworms for our science project and I brought in a dozen worms that I picked up at the gas station on the way to school. Part of today's activity was to watch the worms and draw a picture of them. Umm, there was no movement to watch. But there was this. "Awww, look. My worm's asleep." "Mine, too." "Mine, too." Yeah, I'm afraid they were all "asleep." Some of the kids did figure out that their worms were dead, but that didn't stop them from being interested. I guess I should have just passed out plastic knives and changed the lesson to dissection. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow. But this time I'll check the worms before I leave the store to make sure they're "awake."

Wednesday WORD

Philippians 4:6-7 (various translations)

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Just Because...

...there is nothing cuter than babies and puppies. (Especially these two babies.)

Alone

Some days I just want to be alone. But I'm very, very rarely alone. So the mere thought of it makes me sigh. The quiet. The freedom. I can only imagine.

But contrary to the norm, yesterday I was alone for a little while. Julianna woke up with a runny nose and watery eyes, so I wanted her to stay home from church so we didn't pass the cold around to all the other unsuspecting preschoolers. Arrty agreed to stay home with her and the boys jumped at the chance to spend the whole day at home. So off I headed to church by myself. I can't even remember the last time that happened. If it ever has. I got there just before services started and sat down in our regular seat. And did nothing. I didn't dig fruit snacks out of my purse. I didn't unzip a backpack looking for crayons. I didn't answer the question, "Can ______ sit with us?" I didn't scooch making room for four other people. I just sat. During the songs I didn't have to shush anyone or remind anyone to sing or take anyone out to the bathroom. I just sat and sang and prayed and listened.

And it was nice. For about 10 minutes. Then not only was I alone, I was lonely. I didn't know what to do with myself. It felt weird. I almost ate Julianna's secret stash of fruit snacks from my purse just for some semblance of normalcy. It became so very obvious that I am not complete without my family. Church isn't complete. Nothing is. They are a part of me. Not just a part of my life, but a part of me.

Yes, being alone is nice sometimes. But I'll remember that feeling of incompleteness the next time I long for a moment alone. And remember that alone turns into lonely really quickly.

What A Girl!

Julianna and I went shopping on Saturday. We went through the pink toy aisles in 4 different stores and looked at all the babies, Barbies, bunnies, and bows. It was so fun to watch her push buttons and ooh and aah over all the fun toys. I can't even count how many times she said, "Awww, that's very cute!" I'll tell you what's cute. My sweet daughter. (She ended up with a new winter coat for next year, a pair of Dora tennis shoes, a pair of silver church shoes, and a Belle doll.)

I don't know when the last time you potty trained a child is, but there is a lot of cheerleading involved. "Woohoo, you peed in the potty!" "Yeah, your pull-up is still dry!" "What a big girl you are!" Well, it seems like all that encouragement is rubbing off on Julianna. Today when we were in adjoining stalls in the bathroom at school, she said cheerfully, "Good job, Mommy!"

Sunday night I was washing dishes and realized that Julianna was awfully quiet. I looked around and she was nowhere to be seen. Uh-oh. So I went looking for her. I called down the hall for her, then opened the door to her room. I didn't think she was in there because the light was off. But then I saw the light from my phone shining from her hand as she stood in the corner. I turned on the light and looked at her. Before I could say a word, she closed my phone, handed it to me, and said, "I was saving it for you so Swiper the Fox couldn't get it!" Thanks, Jules, but I'm pretty sure a cartoon fox doesn't want to swipe my phone. (During the "saving," she called my mom, who by now can expect at least a few calls each week from her granddaughters.)

One of the hazards of having children so far apart is that the sweet little girl often hears, and amazingly quickly learns, older boy stuff from her brothers. For example, Julianna knows all the characters from Scooby Doo by name. And she is fully aware of Pokemon, video games and Star Wars (including how to use a lightsaber). The other night I was reminded of this hazard when I was putting laundry away and she walked into my bedroom and so, so sweetly looked at me and said, "Mommy, you're not a poop head."

Things I Learned Today

I do NOT like it when a four year old says to me, "You're not the boss of me." Ummm, yes, I am indeed the boss of you. Now get in time out and stop hitting your classmates.

No matter how many times you tell 3 and 4 year old boys to stay out of the puddles, they will still walk right through the middle of every puddle on the playground.

In fact, if they are standing in the middle of a puddle and you tell them to get out of it, they will just stare at you like they've never heard the English language before. Puddle? What is this "puddle" you speak of?

3 jackets does not = 1 coat. The mom who sends her 3 year old to school in 3 spring jackets instead of 1 winter coat does not have to put 10 coats on preschoolers 4 times a day. Three jackets means 4 extra sleeves to turn right side out and 2 extra zippers per recess. And, by the way, wearing three jackets doesn't mean your child doesn't need gloves. Unless he wears one jacket and wraps the other two around his cold, pink hands.

Avatar totally copied Ferngully. The kids watched Ferngully today at rest time and I was surprised at the similarities. Human male changes into native forest inhabitant. Female rescues him from local fauna. Bad guys in bulldozers. Talking trees. Glowing flora. Basically the only difference is that in Ferngully they have wings instead of tails.

Blessed Sunday

Today I was blessed to be able to take a nap with Josh. It's been a long, long time since he's taken a nap with me. I remember like it was yesterday the days I would lay on my side on my bed and tuck him under my arm next to me. I remember the feel of his tiny, newborn body and the smell of his sweet head. And the joy and contentment of being a new mom. Today he wasn't tucked under my arm. He can almost tuck me under his. And he doesn't smell the same. But that mom feeling? It was the same. Maybe even more so.

Ramblings

I am surviving without a microwave. It's tricky to cook without an oven or a microwave, but we've had hot meals every night thanks to the crock pot, deep fryer, and stove top.

Thursday I had to run into Target and took Julianna to the toy department. I was intending to buy her one of those little Furreal puppies that the girls at school have and she loves so much. She picked one out but then when we got to the My Little Pony aisle she wanted a pony instead. She chose a purple one and gladly gave back the puppy. Whatever she wanted was fine with me. Besides, the pony was half the price of the puppy. When we got home, she took her pony in to show her daddy. "Daddy, look at my birthday present," she said. (Umm...it's not your birthday, little girl.) He looked at the pony and said, "Oh, is it a My Little Pony?" "No," she replied, "it's MINE."

One morning on the way to school, Josh was helping Adam study for his spelling test. One of his words was miraculous, but Josh pronounced it miracle-iss. Adam said, "It's mirAculous. Not like 'Jesus was a miraclist.'" So like Adam.

Speaking of driving to school, we saw moose three mornings this week. Three one day and one each of the other two. What a place we live in!

I learned this week that you are only supposed to put one space between a period and the next sentence. What?!?! That is not what I learned in high school typing! And I totally just had to backspace once after that exclamation point.

I bought a new cup this week. I love it. It's the Aladdin To Go Tumbler. Just what I've been looking for. It's hard plastic with a lid and straw. And it has two layers so it doesn't sweat all over my desk. It's perfect for ice water. And it was clearanced at Target! It is this one.

I've discovered yet more joys to having a daughter this week. Among them are playing with girly toys like dolls and ponies and Littlest Pet Shops. (Which I would have totally loved when I was little. And kinda love now.) And buying pink and/or sparkly things. And watching princess movies.

I've even been looking for a Littlest Pet Shop horse for my...ummm, I mean Julianna's, collection.
Have a great Saturday! I'm off to watch Snow White with my daughter.

Show and Tell

This is my puppy and she's very special to me and her name is Heartflower and I like her a lot and she's a girl and she's very special and I got her at my friend's birthday party and he was turning one.

These are my puppies that I got for my birthday from my friend that I haven't saw for a long, long time. They're named Hailey and Puppy and this one is a girl and this one is a boy and they can do this. ("This" is to sit on her head.) Actually this one is named.............hmmm.............ummm..............Parley. And it's a girl, they're both girls, and I like them a lot and they're so cute.

This is my ds with a kitty game and I also have Walk Around the World and it's special and the Dora one is special but not that special--E. do you have a ds? Okay I'll give the Dora one to you.--and I just know that's its fair to share and I just thought that this one would maybe be a really good one and also it's a really good game and--Z. is really funny--and I went with my aunt and this is my show and tell and she bought that ds game for me and also I really wanted a xbox but everyone voted on Triple Play and I really like games but Triple Play was funner and it was a Christmas present from my aunt and--I have to say that Z. is so funny--and I just love it so much and it was just...and I got another pillow pet and its name is Molly and I have the same two pillow pets as Simone and Molly is my ladybug pillow pet and that's it.

These are my Littlest Pet Shops. I really like them and they are very special to me and I ordered this one and I got this one and I found this one and they're very special to me and they're very special to me and they're all girls and this one is Tigerlily and this one is Raina and this one is Squeaky and this one has rainbows around it and clouds and this one comes with a bubble head and it has a little cute tail like Z.'s hamster and her tail is very special and this one is very, very special to me and she has very sharp teeth and she has like little hairs coming out and a really wiggly tail and my hamster haves really tiny ears and one tooth and I really like it and that's it.

These are my Pet Shops and I have a kitten and I have my seal and there's so much accessories. I have a lot of accessories and Z. wants to trade and they are really special to me and this is something that goes on the head and then she can sing and this is the shower that A. plays with and the pet shops sing in it and this is the mirror and I bend it like this so it's like a sit down mirror and this is the hanger for all the things and this is a flower and its wooden kinda and this is a little hair brush and this is the blanket and I sometimes put it on my nose like I did with my sticker and it's really special to me and this is my favoritest seal and these two are best friends and they love each other and they are really nice and they won't bite--they're just toys--and I pretend they're real but they're just toys and the tiger comes up and says...nothing. And they are really special and they're so cute and they are really best friends and they like me so much...and I love A. the most. (A. is the only boy in class.)

This is my Zhu Zhu and it's very special and his name is Squeaky because he squeaks a lot and he's very special and I got it for Christmas and I always sleep with him and that's it.

This is my Barbie and I love her very much and my mom buyed it for me and she can sing and I always sleep with her.

Bonus show and tell: A.'s mom brought in their new puppy. The second most adorable chocolate lab puppy I've ever seen! The girls in class were oohing and aahing over her when Z. said, "She's so cute I could just marry her!" A. replied, "You can't marry her...you're a girl and she's a girl." No mention of the human/puppy issue.

Wednesday WORD

2 Timothy 1:7 (from various versions)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.

God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.

Heaters and ovens and microwaves, Oh My

A week and a half ago, one of the heaters in the living room stopped working. Then last Wednesday, the element in my oven went out halfway through cooking a pizza. Then Sunday night my microwave quit. No big deal about the heater. The working one keeps us warm. And the oven? Besides pizza what do I need it for? But the microwave? How did our grandmothers survive without one? So early Monday morning I called Sears to see what to do about it. Luckily we bought the extended warranty and it's still covered. So I was given my agreement number and told to take it to our nearest Sears store for a replacement. Cool. I can do that. So I took it to Sears, waited for a while to be helped, waited for another while for the girl to figure out what was going on, waited another while when she called the warranty place, and was then told that my microwave had to be sent away to see if it could be fixed or if it should be replaced depending on the cost effectiveness of the repair. Wait a minute. Sent away? Repaired? So I sighed a little, didn't say what I was thinking, and took my broken microwave to receiving to schedule a repair. And I waited. The guy finally came out and told me that they had to send it to Seattle and that they'd let me know the verdict. It should be back by February 3rd. "So how am I supposed to cook popcorn for the next 2 and a half weeks," I asked. He didn't think that was nearly as funny as I did. Maybe he thought I was serious. He probably gets yelled at a lot. But not having a microwave for 2 weeks? If that's the worst thing that happens to me this week I'll be happy. And if they do end up sending it back from Seattle, do you think I could get them to fill it with Ivar's fish and chips? That would make me double happy.

So in over thinking (like I usually do) this whole appliance failure thing, I think I've learned a lesson. I've been a little angry at God lately and let him know it. Maybe he's showing me, somehow, that I should let it go. Give it to him. He takes such good care of me. And he loves me. And everything will be okay if I just wait. Just like I have to wait for my tea water to heat up in a kettle on the stove.

Someday Too

Someday I will wake up to an alarm clock instead of a sweet little voice saying, "Mommy. Hey, mommy!" Someday I will go to the bathroom and look for little fingers to peek under the door and not see them. Someday I will sit on the couch and be cold because I will not have a kid or two or three sitting next to me or on my lap. Someday I will sit on that same couch with no one to tell me how they don't want to get up because it's so comfortable using me as a pillow. Someday I will watch tv and miss the best parts because no one will say, "Mom, did you see that?! Rewind! Rewind!" Someday I will go to bed without having read picture books, sang songs, tucked anyone in, or laid next to snuggly little bodies. Someday it will be too clean and too quiet. Someday. But not today.

Someday

Someday my house will be clean and stay that way for longer than 2 1/2 minutes. Someday I will only have to worry about if I need to go potty. Someday I will cut apple slices and peel oranges and eat them myself. Someday I will be able to watch movies that are not animated. Someday I will open the pantry and not have fruit snacks and granola bars and Lucky Charms fall on me. Someday I will walk through the living room and not have to step over Legos and Pokemon cards and plastic horses and sippy cups. Someday I will have time to read something other than Biscuit's New Friend and Dora's Birthday Surprise. Someday I will pour a glass of Diet Coke and not have to hide it or share it. Someday. But not today.

10 Things Thursday

10 great things about snow days.

1. Snow days are like getting a bonus. You don't know they're coming so it makes them that much sweeter.
2. Nothing is planned. You were supposed to be at school, so nothing else is scheduled. Nowhere to be. Nothing to do.
3. It's the perfect excuse to stay in the house all day.
4. And a perfect day to stay in pajamas all day. (Not like I need a snow day for that, though.)
5. Lots of free time to snuggle under a blanket with a cup of chai latte and a good book.
6. All day long to play with and love on the cutest little 2 year old in the whole world.
7. Time to catch up on all those hours of dvred shows with the family.
8. Time to catch up on a few chores that tend to get missed in real life.
9. Not having to drive on treacherous roads.
10. A nap. A long, sweet nap.