Kindergarten Days

This week will be the last week of Kindergarten for Joshua, Alex and Amanda. I am so sad to see it go but I am very much looking forward to summer vacation. No getting up and rushing out the door. Just relaxing days by the pool.

Ahhhh, who am I kidding. No matter how hard I try to relax, it never happens. But this summer will be spent enjoying my kids, even in the busyness of it all.

Here are a few things that happened at Kindergarten in the last few weeks.

The beginning of May the kids had a fundraising Marathon at their school. I was a bad mom and did not go to cheer them on. I had Bible study. That's an acceptable excuse, right?

Anyway, if they raised a certain amount of money they got to go to a roller skating party. I asked them if they wanted to go, thinking they all would say no. But to my dismay surprise they all wanted to go.

None of them have EVER roller skated. Thankfully Isaac did not want to try, so I only had 3 to teach.

A little tip to anyone bringing kids roller skating for the first time....DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS!

I had sore toes for a week!

They all did really good and I was quite proud of them. There were some falls but overall they did great and now want to go roller skating again. Great! I can't wait! (note sarcasm)

Then, they finally celebrated 100 Days of school. It took them a while since they only go 3 days a week.

Of course I took the picture about 5 days after they celebrated it, so Alex's hat ended up a little crinkled.

When I was in Kindergarten I remember Letter People. Imagine my excitement when the kids came home and had to pick one letter to dress up as. Some things haven't changed after all these years! Finally something that my kids can ask me that I had. "Mom, did they have letter people when you were a kid?" "Why yes they did!" I'm not in the stone ages after all.

I sent the kids off as Super Socks, Cotton Candy and Horrible Hair.

After I took Amanda's picture I realized that she looked like she came from the 80's. And yes, that would make her hair horrible!

Preschool is Over

Yesterday, Isaac had his last day of Preschool.

It's hard to believe that my "baby" is so big now!

His class had a little program for the last day. They recited Bible verses, poems, sang songs and acted out a few books.

Here he is sleeping while all the other kids came over and took the hats off his head. He had the snoring sounds to go with it. He did a great job! I think I might have a performer on my hands.

We ended the morning with cookies and lemonade in his classroom.

Afterwards he got to enjoy a lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with us. I think Isaac is going to miss his time alone with Mom and Dad while the other kids are away at school.

In My Chair

After cleaning up lunch on Sunday, I headed to my chair with the computer and found......

SuperPenguin and SpiderFrog.

They got kicked out.

The Crumbs on the Floor

If all the beds in my house are made every morning.....

that means there is no one here to sleep in them.

If there are no toys left on the floor at the end of the day.....

that means there is no one here to play with them.

If all my dishes are done...........

that means there is no one in my house to cook for.

If there are not piles of laundry......

that means there is no one here to dirty clothes.

If I don't have crumbs stuck to my feet as I walk across my kitchen floor.....

that means there is no one in my kitchen eating.

Today I am thankful for the all the dirt, grime, crumbs, laundry, dishes around my house each day because that means I am surrounded by family to love and to love me. Family to enjoy.

My list of Gratitude continues. 550 ~ 558

piles of laundry to wash and fold

crumbs stuck to my feet

tripping over toys

beds to make

long lists of things to do

soft, warm socks on my tired feet after a long day 

a nice rain so I don't have to water my new grass

a phone call from a friend and a listening ear

the excitement of a one year old at the little things in life



May you find joy in the little things today!

Why I Quit Shopping At Target

I quit shopping regularly at Target a few years ago. But yesterday I went back and was reminded WHY I quit shopping there.

When Alexandra, Amanda and Joshua were born I did most of my shopping at Walmart. Basically because diapers and formula were the cheapest there.

Then when Isaac was born, I didn't always have someone to watch the kids and I had to take them with me. So I started shopping at Target because they had carts I could fit all my kids in.

Then I had a problem. I could not leave that store without spending at least $100. When I was done with diapers and formula, it was time to move on from the temptation.

Throughout the store they have clearance areas with all kinds of items with these little red tags.

C'mon! It's just not possible to pass up shoes for $3.74! And of course you can't just buy 1 pair, you must buy 4 pairs.

Don't even get me started on the Dollar Section!

I'm getting better though. Although I failed yesterday, my last 2 shopping trips to Target I actually left with only things on my list.

Target definitely has us women figured out. Oh, how I love and hate you little, red clearance tags! 

Brothers Divided

You Know You're a Mom When.....

............your centerpiece consists of Smencils.

(If you're not sure what a Smencil is, it is a colored pencil that is scented.)

So Thankful For My Family

Yesterday was Mother's Day. Although it is a day where we all celebrate Mom's, for me it's a time of thanksgiving. 

I'm reminded of all the faithful mother's that have gone before us all. Who spent much time in prayer, teaching their children, and caring for their children. I'm thankful for my mom and all she taught me. I'm thankful for my mother-in-law and how she raised her son.

Then I am also thankful that God made me a mom. There was a time in my life that I wasn't sure that was going to happen but God has blessed me with 4 beautiful children. I am so thankful for each one of them and each moment with them. I am thankful that God has called me to be their mom and has given me this great responsibility of teaching them, caring for them and loving them.

I know that I have already made and will make many more mistakes along the way but I am thankful for a God who has given His grace to me as a mom and walks along side me through all the challenges. I am also thankful for a godly husband that supports me and loves me as well.

My family knows that the 2 things I really want for Mother's Day is time with them and a bouquet of tulips. 

I got both.

Here is a picture of the gifts I received from each one of my kids. The joy they had in the days before giving me their gifts was absolutely priceless. They all found a secret hiding place so that I wouldn't find them and then woke up that morning so excited to give them to me.

Here is  close-up of Isaac's gift to me so that you can see what it says.

My heart overflows with thankfulness and joy at the great gift these children are to me.

Checking my Priorities

Sometimes my kitchen sink looks like this.

And sometimes it looks like this.

I'd share a picture of what it looks like without any dishes but it is a rare sight.

One thing I have to do every week is weigh my priorities and as you can see, dishes are low on the list OR just always on my list.

We are all busy and it's easy to say 'I don't have time.' But what don't you have time for?

Is it getting into God's word?

Spending time with your husband?

Teaching your children?

Helping others?

Building relationships?

As you make your 'to do' list remember to prioritize. Make sure that what is most important isn't crowded out by dishes that are always done, floors that are spotless, time on Facebook or Twitter, and watching your favorite TV show.

Beauty King

Mini Caramel Pull-Apart Rolls

If you love Monkey Bread like my family does, you will love this recipe. I found it in my 2011 Pillsbury Calendar. Monkey Bread is easy to make but this is even easier!

It gives everyone their own little serving of monkey bread.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cans (7.5 oz each) Pillsbury regrigerated biscuits

Directions

1) Grease or spray 12 regular-size muffin cups. Mix butter and brown sugar; spoon 1 tablespoon mixture into each muffin cup.

2) Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in 1-gallon bag. Separate dough into 20 biscuits; cut each in 6 pieces. Shake pieces in bag to coat. Place 10 pieces in each muffin cup.

3) Bake at 350F for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 minute; turn upside down. Serve warm.

My Gratitude Continues......535-549

Eucharist [thanksgiving] is the only full and real response of man to God's creation, redemption, and gift of heaven.

Alexander Schmemann

The Cross

The Resurrection

Death is swallowed up in victory! (I Corinthians 15:55)

New Dresses for Easter

Curls in the girls hair Easter morning

Weeds Picked

Flowering trees

Helping my kids spell words to write in their gratitude journals

Freshly cut grass

A filthy, dirty little boy after hours of playing outside

Cleaning the house, yard, and garage & getting rid of stuff

Van full of stuff to the thrift store

Garbage cans full of things cleaned out

Growing plants and some not growing so well

Seeing on a receipt that Brad use a coupon