Perfect Timing Turning 6 Years Old!

Big J had "Safety Town" last week. He learned all kinds of things about being safe from bicycle safety, fire safety, pedestrian safety, stranger safety (non-safety!), poisonous hazards, gun safety, bus safety and the list goes on. The parents are invited to stay each day for the 2-hour class. I usually stayed and most of the time I had Little L with me. It was really cool to get to see some of his fellow Kindergarteners, since the only ones who are invited to Safety Town are the ones who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. On the day that they learned about fire safety, they got to visit the Fire Station. Big J LOVES fire trucks and such . . . . and it was perfect timing that this day actually was his BIRTHDAY! So, I made a firetruck cake to commemorate the day. I don't know if he'll remember it forever, but I know I will. It was surely one of the cutest things to see his class and some of the firemen sing Happy Birthday to him as he stood up when "Officer Rick" called his name. My son is so shy in a group. Oh the smile on his face that day!!

Let's Go Camping

I had no idea that when I mentioned "camping trip sometime" in my prior post, that it would come sooooo soon. My husband came home early on Friday afternoon and said "Hey, let's go camping!" What????? I personally have not been camping since before the kids have been born . . . . way over 6 or more years ago. In fact, I would say it may go as far back as 8 years. WOW. It's not that I don't like camping, but I have put it off because I figured it would not be fun with little ones to chase around in a public outdoor, cramped up setting. Plus there is the whole sleeping thing with the little tikes. They are used to sleeping in their own beds and how do I explain that sleeping under the stars is much more relaxing? Ha! So, I knew it would mean alot to my husband if I would just go on this last-minute adventure . . . . and it did. On the way, he said "I've just fallen in love with you all over again." WOAH!! That was a pretty sweet sentiment. I didn't know that it would mean THAT much ;-) OK, mushiness aside. . . . our little 2-year old enjoyed walking all over the place and being outdoors, just as we expected. However, he did wake up at 2:30 a.m. and was out of his element, of course. He had a lot of difficulty getting back to sleep; and my husband went in the truck with him and got him back to sleep, off and on . . . . for the rest of the night until daybreak. Then we pretty much came back home. Soooo, it was a one-night adventure. But it was family time and it was an experiment I guess. I can now say that I've been camping with the four of us, in a tent, and sleeping bag!

My camera decided to break just at the start of this entire adventure! I think it's broken for good. :-( Getting a new camera is definitely not in our budget . . . but oh well, maybe we can find a good deal soon. So now I don't have any pictures to share with you of our camping trip. Just imagine wilderness, tent, and dirty kids!

Chillin' for Father's Day

My man deserves some relaxation . . . . so when he hinted awhile ago that he would love a hammock . . . I started my research. I like to surprise him so I never let on that this might be in his future. He probably catches on to me that all he has to say is ONE thing . . . . and then poof! it appears . . . but oh well. I like to pretend that he forgets what he says. There are sooooo many decisions to make regarding hammocks, and of course I knew NOTHING about them.

I finally settled on this one from The Hammock Company - pretty convenient name! It looks exactly how he pictured it would look. So he LOVES it. It is his gift for Father's Day and it was delivered this past weekend. I just couldn't stand to wait until the actual day to give it him. Why wait to give him the relaxation he deserves? So, he has already started enjoying the benefits! And what's the most awesome part? It can withstand up to 450 pounds of weight! That's enough for our entire family of four! And oh yes, we've tried that out! It came with the tree-friendly tree straps . . . . but before I could even turn around, my hubby had already put a hole in the tree . . . . I think the tree will forgive us. But at least with the tree straps, we can transport the hammock to another location . . . . say a camping trip sometime! :-)

So, Happy "early" Father's Day, honey!

Ready Summer!!

Random thoughts going through this brain of mine!

Starting our first week of summer break - kind of nice not having a morning routine of rushing Big J out the door for preschool. I will probably regret saying that in a few days when his penchant for bothering his little brother gets on my last nerve! But I will remind myself to savor these moments as a mother of little ones. We are never guaranteed of future happiness and joy - so I will take the joy of today!

I watched "Farrah's Story" last night on tv. I taped it from at least a couple of months ago. It was the story of Farrah Fawcett. I didn't realize she has cancer. She has chronicled her journey since finding out about her cancer in 2006. It was pretty sad, naturally. I think it makes me the saddest when people have a misguided notion about what God is like. I don't have all of the answers . . . . but when someone says that "God doesn't have time to answer your prayers", that really is frustrating to me. At any rate, I guess I was drawn to watching it because I was curious about her. I think she's rather brave to tape as much as she did. She really did let the camera see her at her worst - bald, throwing up, and all. I think her mission was to let the world know that her type of cancer needs more research funding.

Another topic on my mind: Judgmentalism. Now that's a can of worms! I think I'm about to lose my religion over it. It can totally yank my chain. I've seen it, done it, and been a victim of it. And then where do you draw the line: judgmentalism vs. having an opinion? I had that thrown in my face recently. Let's just say that I'm taking a little sabbatical from my responsibilities from church, and it didn't go over well with some people. I also don't appreciate the feeling of feeling unsupported. It makes me close myself up. I know God wants us in close fellowship with others, but when we open ourselves up . . . then get "judged" . . . back into my cave I go! Is this a crazy cycle, or what!!

So that was a soapbox that I'm not sure I adequately described, but it's been on my mind this week among the end of the preschool era. It's emotional around here! :-)

Let the summer good times begin. I'm READY!!!!

My Angels

I barely got through the day yesterday . . .

It was like someone kicked me in the stomach.

As the bus came down the road, it hit me - this is my firstborn's last day of preschool FOREVER. I'm not prepared. I definitely wasn't prepared for the tears that came throughout the day. I don't know why I bothered with the makeup in the morning. It was off within an hour. Yes, I'm sentimental, as one of my cousins pointed out to me. I always notice the milestones . . . . and I knew this day was coming, but when the bus actually drove down the road . . . woah, it gave it a final moment that I just couldn't possibly put into words. I walked down the driveway with my young man, then I paused at the halfway point. I had my 2-year old on my left hip, and my camera in my right hand. I posed to take the snapshot of Big J getting on the bus. CLICK. Done. The next time he gets on a bus, it will be with a bunch of K-5th graders (gulp). And just let me say that the bus driver we get next year won't even compare to the one we have had this year. She has a heart of GOLD. She gives the kids gifts at Christmas (out of her own pocket, I'm sure!), halloween, Spring Break, Thanksgiving . . . and . . . don't you know she gave Big J a gift yesterday too. That's when the waterworks started. The bus driver has an assistant (they really need one with kids who attend, given that their ages are anywhere from 2-5 years old), and the assistant called me down to the bus yesterday and gave me the big gift for Big J - a big bouncy ball and a big bottle of bubbles - CUTE. Just perfect for kids . . . along with the fancy laminated nametag that was on their seat on the bus all year long. I can now hang it on my frig. It doesn't stop there with the caring . . . whenever I had to call her to tell her that my son won't be coming to school because of illness, she was always concerned and gave me a listening ear. She would say "well give him a hug for us!" How sweet is that!!
















So I have to leave this school now! It's just sad. Not only has my little/big boy had these awesome angel bus drivers, but he has had the privilege of having the same preschool teacher for the past 3 years (at our request). She has been amazing. I remember the day we went to the Open House and he was barely talking . . . we gave her tips on how he was communicating. One famous thing was that when he needed to go to the restroom, he would just plug his nose! UGH. That's how he "signed". Oh how we've come a long way! My "baby" is fully communicative now. I'm glad we have a video of when he was 3 years old or it would be absolutely unbelievable of how he just wouldn't talk.

I know that seasons come and seasons go. There is a time for everything. I will get through it and it will be good. Kindergarten is a great thing! And my son has made great strides in the last three years. I give thanks to God for a place like this preschool and for the people that make it a success. I just want to cherish this milestone for what it is . . . an ending to something that has been truly wonderful.

Maw-wiage

I have been a moderate fan of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" - show on TLC. I say "moderate" because honestly, I really don't watch live tv anymore (we DVR a lot of things because it's quite handy . . . . but then we don't find the time to sit and watch it, and then it erases itself because it runs out of room . . . . blah, blah, blah). At any rate, I didn't even watch the show this past season. I didn't really know that they moved to a new house until I saw a show that I taped (but didn't watch YET!) that said that they moved! And I have wanted to get the book that apparently "Just Kate"? wrote . . . but I forgot to look for it everytime I was at a bookstore, . . . . at any rate, I've said all of that to say . . . . now that the media has pushed all of this in our faces lately with the stories of alleged infidelity . . . . I'm just greatly saddened by all of it. I really hope Jon and Kate can work out their marriage! I hope there really wasn't a problem so great that they can't forgive. I hope they can bring God at the center of their lives (if He's not already). I know they did attend church . . . maybe they still do. Of course everyone hates to see how much this will hurt the kids as they continue to grow and develop. But I did manage to tape that season premiere and I finally watched it this past weekend . . . that was probably one of the saddest things I've seen . . . two people who really seem angry at each other. I just wanted to be there and say "Please LOVE each other . . . . please forgive . . . . please!!!"

My husband and I are reading "Love and Respect" by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (actually we're in a small group that is reading this). It's been interesting. My next wish list book is "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman - I know it's an oldie, but I know that I've never read it and I believe it will help me understand my husband better. And then I want to read Dr. Chapman's newest book, "Love as a Way of Life". I believe if we don't take time to actually work on our marriage, the enemy will have a way of devouring it and then all of the sudden . . . BAM! It will be extremely weak. It doesn't really happen overnight, but it may feel like it. The enemy is sneaky in his work. Be diligent, folks ;-) When was your last date night?