Birthday happiness

It is funny how the older we get the less our birthday means to us. I am now 35 and no I don't think that is old. But it is funny how the little things are the things that mean the most. Every year since I was born my mom has played "The best gift" by Barbara Streisand on my b-day. She will call me and say nothing but the song is playing. Don't bother talking she won't talk back just let the music play. I love it! Traditions are a wonderful thing.

My brother flew in on Tues and had to fly out on my b-day. But this is the 2nd year in a row he has been here for my b-day. We all went to dinner last night and he came by this morn for a little bit before he flew out. It is sure nice to spend time w/your family even if it is a small one.

My kids all did s/thing for me. Corrin made dinner and dessert all on her own. The best part was she didn't even have to be asked. Connor went w/his Grandma a week ago and got me some perfume he knew I really liked. He thought it was a huge secret even though Grandma had let on but I kept up the ruse. His heart was what won me over. Ian gave me one of his fave hot wheels and a hacky sack ball and he wrapped them himself. Also a book he made at school that he read to me. Kolette made me 2 pictures that she had wrapped herself too. But I gotta say the hugs and kisses were my favorite parts.

Nope I don't mind birthdays as an adult b/c what gifts mean the most aren't the ones you can buy in the store you only find in the heart of s/one you love.

Out of the mouth of Ian!

I am so glad that God has a sense of humor and blessed me w/my Ian. That boy is always thinking and doing the unthinkable. Not bad just not what you would expect. He loves to create and begged me at the craft store for this bag of buttons and his own wire. So since I had told him No the last time I decided to get it for him. The next day at Kolette's recital he was sitting there making jewelry for his friends. He made his friend Natalie and her little sister a bracelet. He makes them for me and his sisters and makes Kolette rings out of wire as well.

So we have all these cupboards in our toy room. He likes to play in this one bottom cupboard and decided it was alot of work to open and close the door on it. So since on his 5th b-day my in-laws got him real tools he took the screwdriver and took off the door. Gotta admire his willingness to do it himself. So then he decides that his bear needs a hook to hang his scarf from he goes and gets a nail and uses his hammer and puts a nail in the side of his bunk bed. Grr... drives me crazy but yet he is using his brain.

So yesterday he is susposed to be getting dressed up for school and the Christmas concert was yesterday as well. So he refuses to wear his nice new sweater and turtleneck. He says he is susposed to get dressed up and needs to wear his Darth Vadar costume. He said the girls were wearing dresses and the boys get to dress up. I told him that they weren't wearing their halloween costumes but he insisted. So we settled on a nice black button up and a real tie. He loved the attention from the ladies and as he calls them "his girls" for looking so nice though.

Honestly he will argue w/me over clothes as much as Corrin. One of the other Kinder teachers told him she liked his shirt one day and it happened to be green. So he decides that he needs to wear a green shirt everyday b/c she liked it and she is pretty and nice. I had to tell her to tell him to wear red since that is his fave and he has lots of it. This boy wears cologne and worries about his hair. What am I going to do w/him when he hits puberty? He is such a darling sweetie but he already notices the pretty girls. He will even chase or push boys who mess w/his girls. You are very lucky if you are counted among his girls.

He just makes me wonder what next will come to mind. For now we will enjoy his being 5 and take it a day at a time:o)

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Wow you can never predict the weather in our neck of woods. We have had the temp as low as 1 only last week and today we were dumped on w/snow. Yikes! It is alot and quite a difference. Now snow is fun to play in and look at. However I am not a fan of driving in the mess. So my wonderful brother who is flying in today choose today the snowest day to come in:o) Oh well only Corrin knows he is coming so it will be the icing on the cake for the kids. Snow + Uncle Mac = Utter happiness for my kids.

So we have been on the mad search for snow boots. Why oh why do my kids feet have to grow? Kolette lives in the land of happy hand me downs. Corrin that is never her world and now that Ian's feet are a size bigger than Connors neither of them can share. Soooooooo we tredge to Ontario yesterday too look for Ian. We look at K-mart and to no avail. However the lady thinking that my son can fit into a size smaller than he is was rather amusing. Whatever! So we start to go to Payless and they have NOTHING. So my mother in law calls and says she got some for Ian. Oh happy day! But unfortunately they were girl boots. Sorry but I refuse to do that to my sweet boy. So this morn Ian wore a pair 3 sizes too big and that is the way it goes till we find some. I sure wish s/one would have a secret stash and I would happen to stop in their store and we would all be happy.

So for now the search is on...

Black friday or thurs whatever...

Ok I have never been a huge Black Friday kinda gal. I have no problem getting up and going to JoAnn's early in the morn but my experience there has been rather pleasant. I have the drill down grab a number first thing then grab fabric. Actually have a friend grab the number and I grab madly at fabric. Then you wait and get your fabric cut. If you are friendly you can sweet talk others into letting you have a couple yards of the super cute fabric they have in their cart after they are done. It is early but nice. However this year I didn't deem it a good enough sale and after FINALLY getting my craft/closet of crap cleaned I didn't want to ruin it w/more fabric I didn't have the room for.

So. . . my friend asked if I wanted to hit Wal Mart and I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to do that. I decided against it but she asked if I wanted to drive to Boise on Thanksgiving and go to Toys R Us which opened up at midnight. So we did and it was really cold. However the wait for over an hour w/o coffee I might add they finally let us in. We had to use a cart w/a childseat on it for it was all that was left. I basically made it thru the main aisle all around the store. I did however get some great deals and feel much more prepared but not completely ready for Christmas. However it is just amazing to me how rude people can be. I seriously stood there not moving w/a lady pushing her boxes up against my back and my stomaugh was pushed up against the cart. But yet I waited nicely. But NOOOOOOO not this rude lady w/the nose ring. She pushed up an aisle that had NO room the wrong way and ran over a mans foot and just kept going. My friend Buffy she is much better at telling people to back off nicely. She told a lady who kept bumping her w/her cart repeatly to stop b/c it wouldn't get her any further. Grrr.... But after waiting in line for over 2 hours we were finally free. I got home at 4am and thankfully caught a little bit of sleep. Thank the good Lord for good children who didn't destroy the house while I got a tiny bit of rest.

Now we will see how much I want to go next year. The company was great and the deals were good so we will just have to see how much insanity we are willing to put up with. . .

Thank You!

I just want to say THANK YOU to all the service men and women who are serving our Great Country!!!! My big brother Mac is currently serving our country and has been to Iraq twice. I am so proud of him and how he is fighting for our freedoms. I am also thankful for my Father In Law who served in Vietnam when people who were enjoying the freedoms he fought for spit at soldiers and protested the war. And yet they still serve. THANK YOU just doesn't seem like enough to say. So I hope that everyone will hug or say thank you to a Vetran today or anyday for all they do.

Friday Facts

Ok since my lame brain can't come up w/original things myself I am again stealing from Tiff. Feel free to do this fun list yourself.

Thankful for

I am thankful for my family and my beautiful kids. Ian has a boy in his class that has some issues and Ian has taken him under his wing. He will go and sit by him and ask him if he wants to do his next letter or whatever they are working on. Also when walking down the hall this boy will talk loudly but if he holds Ian's hand Ian will just put his finger to his lips and the boy will listen. It is so sweet to see how patient Ian is w/others I could take a few lessons from him in this areas.

Listening to

Dora in the backround while Kolette yells out the answers. Drives me nuts but at least she feels good enough to participate in it.

What's for dinner?

Beans and ham. Of course I didn't start early enough so it is going to be late. Kolette's being sick has thrown a monkey wrench in the cooking dept. But at least we will eat . . . eventually

Looking forward to

I am looking forward to the day that Kolette doesn't get sick in mysterious ways. After a week of her being on antibiotics she has pneumonia and even threw up blood earlier. Talk about freak me out. I think I have chilled out quite a bit from what I was when she was younger. I mean she has been at 104 something all week but until she got to 105 today I didn't freak out and it didn't exactly freak me out but alert me to move forward. So someday I hope that she will not go to the extremes when she gets sick. But then again it keeps things from getting boring so for now I will just accept it.

I am needing or wanting

I am wanting a winter where we don't end up in the hospital. I am not a pessimist but more of an realist. I figure that if we stay out of the hospital it will be a good winter. And by hospital I mean not the ER but a stay. I really need Kolette to be strong this winter.

Missing

I am missing for one the battery charger for Donnies camera I got him for his birthday in July. Of course he says it is all my fault but I don't agree. However it is missing and I have looked everywhere I would think it could possibly be. I really don't want to have to order him one but it's looking like that is the next step. Darn! I am also missing my brother. My kids love to have him around and he is such a good influence on them. Hope he comes to visit soon but North Carolina sure seems really far away right now.

Quote of the day

Don't know how to make the sound but the sound when you rub your finger over your lips like you are crazy. That sums up how my day has gone just plain confusing.

Not me this week

I guess I will attempt Not Me Monday on Tuesday or make it now Thurs. This is taken from Tiff who took it from I don't know but she always gives credit where credit is due so I will attempt to do the same.

Sunday nite I did NOT have a little girl w/a fever of 104.4 and still let her go to preschool the next day. I would NOT do that. But then again I do NOT have a little 4 year old who does NOT follow the sickness rules. So I did NOT call the doctors at 4:30 and ask if they could fit her in. She did NOT have an ear infection. However considering her past this is soooooo mild in our book. Also since I started this posting 2 days ago I also did NOT have the same little girl climb into my bed this morn w/a temp of 104.9. She is truly a mystery!

I went to Ian's class yesterday and I did NOT hear a child swear loudly. I did NOT ask the teacher if she heard the same thing? She asked the word and I did NOT say it rhymed w/Sit. Wow that is a first for me to hear that. In my other kids the worst they ever came home w/was s/one said the "S" word (shut-up) and the "B" word (butt).

I also am NOT one to call my neighbor who owns a coffee shop in Ontario and have her pick up coffee for me and vice versa for when I am over there too. I also did NOT tell her to rip up the check she gave me and have her put for credit for coffee. No I am NOT addicted to their yummy coffee. I will also NOT place blame for this coffee addiction on my sweet friend Holly. No I would NOT do that to her.

I am NOT stressing that I am not prepared for Christmas at all. I would NOT stress out this early in Nov that is so not me. I am NOT anal like that.

I was NOT called a Grizzly by the doctor today. He was referring to me and how I am a mama bear when it comes to my children. I will take it as a compliment. However this does NOT mean I didn't inform him of how Mama bear I can be. Thankfully he does jest w/me a bit so for that I am thankful esp after all the doctor mess I have currently gone thru.

I know I didn't follow the rules of the NOT me Monday to the letter but I am sleep deprived and so this is how it is for this week. Hope you all have a wonderful week full of NOT's.

Mama Bear on the loose - Don't shoot!!!!!

It is an interesting thing that happens when you give birth to your first child. You think you are so prepared for having a new baby. You have the nursery all set up, clothes you wonder if your child will ever fit into, you have the name picked out and know if you will nurse or bottle feed even know who will change most of the diapers. But the one thing I don't think you are prepared for is the intensity of love and protectiveness you feel the instant they set that screaming precious child on your chest. The thing that catches you so unaware is that the feeling just gets stronger and stronger every day. And then you have another child and you secretly wonder while you are pregnant if you can possibly love another baby as much as you love the first one. And then once again you have that precious newborn set on your chest after you have labored to get them out and your question is instantly answered because your heart has enlarged that very moment and you have forgotten that you ever just loved one child. Then you have the 3rd and then the 4th and each time your heart grows more and more. It is such an amazing feeling and the best thing in the world. You as a Mom the most wonderful name you have ever been called are called to duty. You get to love them, watch over them, wipe them over and over, feed them, stay up w/them when they are sick, worry over them, kiss and hug them as much as you want. The list goes on and on. But the one thing that you are so unaware is ever going to happen is your Mama Bear instinct comes out. You have seen it in your own mother and silently been so proud that she loved you enough to go to the lengths that she did but never knew what it felt like to go thru it yourself. For some of us it happens early like when your child is struggling for life in a hospital and the staff is telling you things and you know they aren't right and you fight for your child and then they live. It proves that as mothers that we know what our children need. And then s/times it happens later when a child or adult it mean to your child. You are shocked to find that strong feeling coming out again. But what makes no sense to me is when people don't get your Mama Bear instinct. When you are doing what is your job as a Mama Bear to do and they try to deny it. What is hard is that no matter what you need to do what is best for your child and for that instinct I am thankful. I just pray that I can use my Mama Bear instinct for what God intended it for and not for harm. But when questioned I will stand tall and say I am proud Mama Bear and I love my cubs!

The perfect pants

Ok, it is a little crazy that a pair of jeans can make my day but ohhhhhhh they are so doing that for me today. I went shopping over the weekend and found 2 pairs of jeans but one of them was just perfect for me. So I bring them home and pull them out of the bag and AHHHHHH they didn't take the thing off of the leg. I don't want to ruin the pants and try to get it off myself so have to just wait. The store was in Nampa and I SO not running right back.

Anyhow my mother in law took them back and got the tag off. Yahoo!!!! These pants feel so good and it makes my day! Yep I am so a girl and a nice pair of pants does it for me. Now off to tackle a laundry room full of laundry my super pants will help sustain me thru this yucky task!!!!! Da da da DA!!!!!!!!

Medical frustration AGAIN!!!!!

I am starting to wonder what kinda country we live in. I hadn't given my kids their flu shot yet and had to wait till after they all got better before we got it. So today I called the Dr. office. They asked me what kind of insurance I had. I asked why it mattered. They said it did so I and apparantly we have "private insurance" aka we are not on Welfare or the Medical card. So I got really frustrated and told her that makes no sense and that it sounds alot like Obama care and that I don't like it at all and to call me when they have some in. I get off the phone and it makes me even madder.

So I called the clinic in town and they are out but they don't go by that policy and suggest I call the health dept. I call there and the lady there says that they are probably saving them for those that can't afford to get the shot. I told her that I was going to be not Pollitically correct but how is that fair? I said that my husband has a job and pays his taxes and why should my kids be penalized for having insurance.

So I call the my Doc's office and ask for the Office Manager or the Doctor. They give me the Doc's nurse of the day. I asked her about it and she says that they save them for the VFC aka Vaccines For Children. Also another word for welfare. GRRRRRR.... So anyhow I tell her that I don't see how this makes sense. I said I have 2 kids w/asthma since babies and another diagnosed recently how does s/ones kid who can't afford it deserve it more than my high risk kids. I said that I didn't see how this was even legal. I told her that the other doctor offices weren't doing this. She said it was Supply and Demand. I said how about if I "demand that they give me some of their supply"? I am so ticked. She called me back but left a message w/o an answer just call so in my opinion that means you are out of luck. I am so mad. Why should I have to put up w/this or anyone else who chooses to pay their own bills. This is reverse discrimination in my opinion.

Sorry but this is just so frustrating for me. Hope you all have wonderful healthy weekend I am sure hoping that we will.

Random pictures

Ian and Kolette sharing a hug
Kolette w/a 103.5 fever. Ian wanted her to feel better so he gave her the "Miss Krissy" balloon and one that he drew on for her. It made her happy. Gotta love that boys big heart.
Momentarily toothless. He refused to wiggle the tooth it has been loose for over 6 months. Crazy boy the tooth fairy doesn't motivate him at all.
Connor and his friend McKenzie shooting marshmallow guns. Apparantly the tree makes for better shooting on unsuspecting victims.

Not me Monday

It is Not Me Monday revisited again by me. I stole this idea from Tiff who stole it from s/one else forgive my not remembering the name of who.

This week I did NOT have everyone in my house sick. They did NOT find it more interesting to their Mama to shake it up a bit and not be sick all on the same day. Our school district did NOT have over 30% of the kids sick daily and continue until today and who knows how much longer. I did NOT buy my kids all their own water bottles forbidding them to drink from any fountain at the school and get them their own hand sanitizers. No I would NOT panic like that I am a totally a calm person. Corrin did NOT test positive for Influenza on Thurs after being sick for 4 days. I did NOT later that same day freak at Kolettes oxygen being at 91 along w/a fever of 104.3. No I would NOT do that. I also did NOT argue w/the doctor in town that 93 isn't a acceptable O2 level. I did NOT tell my favorite doctor that the girl answering the phone calls is a twit. I would NOT do that. I did NOT cringe when Donnie got sick too. However I am thankful that I avoided the entire sickness.

I did NOT miss church on sunday in fear of passing more germs. I also did NOT sleep in after a very long week of sleeping on the couch w/countless kids. My back did NOT get mad at me for that either.

I also did NOT offer to spray my 5 yr old w/water if he didn't get out of bed this morning. I would NOT ever do anything like that. I did NOT silently giggle when Corrin wrote a song about her brother Connor who had to have his hair spiked against his will. I did NOT dry off the paper she wrote it on to save for later. I would NOT do something like that.

I also am NOT secretly thrilled that soccer is over for Connor and happy Corrin's is almost over. I am however going to enjoy my week and hope you do too!

When you were my age. . .

It is so funny that my Kolette looks just like me but her personality and some of the things she does are so much alike. It is so funny to watch and when I tell my mom and she just laughs I know it is my payback. So when I was a kid I used to line my babies and animals up and cover them w/the part of the sheets I folded away from me. Kolette she will line hers up and cover them too. She changes her clothes and wants them to match way more than i think necessary. My mom just laughs.

So her latest thing is to ask me questions like this:

Kolette: " Mommy when you were my age how old were you?"

Me "I was the exact same age as you"

Kolette: "Wow"
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Kolette: "Mommy when you were my age did you have a preschool teacher named Miss Krissy?"

Me: "No when I was your age Miss Krissy was my age"

Kolette had a look of pure confusion to think that Miss Krissy hasn't always been preschool teacher.
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Kolette had a yellow balloon blown up and I drew a face and hair and wrote Kolette's name on it. So she named the balloon Miss Krissy. Now Ian grabbed Miss Krissy and started to swing her around. This caused crying and him laughing. So then he runs off and shuts himself in my room w/Miss Krissy. Kolette is near panic and crying b/c Miss Krissy is in danger. I had to get Miss Krissy back and talk to Ian. She took Miss Krissy to preschool to show the real Miss Krissy. Yesterday to help her feel better Ian went and found the low on air Miss Krissy and gave it to her to sleep with. But Kolette is mourning the loss of Miss Krissy full of air. I am going to have to invest in more balloons so Miss Krissy can stay alive in our house. I am so glad we have such a wonderful Preschool teacher.

Ok I give...

Oh my gosh it is crazy around this one dog town. Honestly it is totally infested w/flu. Our school of about 578 has on average 100 or more kids gone. Wondering why the school is still open. I mean that is just the Elem school and the middle and high have lots of kids gone too. Granted not all cases are bad but I do know of a few one who was life flighted. How scary. We have tested positive for influenza but which strain who knows. Honestly who cares we are sick and I am going to leave it at that. Yes I am still the insane freak I have always been but I have a bit more knowledge than I used to. So freak out level is bound to change and as long as Kolette and the rest of the crew is breathing aka not having respiratory problems or landing in the hospital I figure I should just chill. Crazy God is teaching me. Who would have thought?

Hoping everyone else is staying healthy. I am hoping no one figures out they are missing ballet, school or soccer b/c then all you know what is going to break loose.

Please Doctor can I have a prescription for a nap? I promise not to abuse it and become addicted. Wait I don't know if I can keep that promise but I know getting only 3 hrs of sleep isn't good.

Small joys

I love the small joys in my life. One of them is Connor wants his alarm to go off in the morn so he can sneak up and snuggle w/me for a few minutes before the chaos of getting ready in the morn. I love that Ian who can sneak into my bed so quietly that you have no idea he is there until you almost roll on him still comes in. Although this morn he was a little heater. I told him he had a fever and he said "no it's the sunshine making me warm" by the way the sun wasn't up yet. Even Kolette snuck in for a kiss this morn.

I love that when I helped out in Connor's class earlier this week I tapped him on the shoulder to let him know I was leaving; he got up hugged me, gave me a kiss and told me he loved me. I don't know how much longer that is going to last. I know he is getting older and he will eventually want to not do that in front of others. Corrin still does but she is a girl and she really doesn't care who sees her love on her mom. She will cross a room and do it.

I love that when I take my kids to school even with all her friends and the entire older grades outside Corrin will still stoop down and kiss and hug Ian. She has no idea she makes his entire day. She will also say hi to him everytime she sees him. They have P.E. at the same time so she keeps her eye out for him. She has even hugged him in the hallway. Love it!

I love that all the kids will give Kolette a hug as soon as they come out at the end of the day. She misses them so much it sure makes the time lost somewhat better.

I am glad that it is the small things that bring me joy. For they won't stay small for long but Lord willing they will always stay close to each other and to me. Kids Rock!!!

Soccer Update

I can't believe I haven't blogged about soccer yet this season. Just crazy busy but it's with my kids so not too many complaints. Corrin's team has changed to a different division so they travel to most of their games but have 3 right across the street from our house at the park. They have won 1, tied 1 and been creamed twice. But I still love to watch them play. Corrin has actually scored 2 times so I have enjoyed watching that. Connor's team on the other hand has never lost a game ever since they started playing in kindergarten. So it's not quite the same watching his games. Of course w/Corrin traveling to games I get to coach half of Connor's games. I don't mind but sure am glad to hand the reins back to Donnie. He is so amazing w/the kids and I am so proud of him. He just wants to see each of them do their best and get better. It is an amazing quality he has. We are blessed to have him for Coach and Dad:o) Life is good, God is better!

Teeth, teachers, soccer and illness. . .

Funny how life throws us curve balls. Connor is so attached to his teeth that he refuses to wiggle them. I write letters to the school to describe what kind of teacher I want. We sign our kids up for soccer and they are at the same time so I miss half of Corrins and Donnie misses half of Connors. I leave the house w/Kolette so illness strikes. But honestly what makes any of us think that we have any control over anything?

Connor has to face the inevitable and lose the tooth eventually. This time by jumping on his sister in a laundry basket covered by a blanket. Corrin gets exactly who I wanted for her as a teacher. She has health issues, we have a teacher in the kinder die and so they move Corrin's teacher to that spot. We get a new never taught before teacher. But this teacher deserves our respect and kindness just as much as the much desired teacher. Kids in sports that is just par for the course. Kolette isn't in the hospital so I am happy. I guess I am just learning to go w/the curves that are thrown my way. I am not in control as much as I like to think I am.

I am sorry for the deep thoughts today. I guess when you don't post much you have to jam it all together. My life has gotten hectic but isn't it all worth it? YEP!!!! God is in Control and Hallelujah for that!

Change and me relaxed? How odd. . .

It sure seems funny how I post so much less when my life is busier and I have more to post about. Well change seems to be in the air. After Janet passing they finally hired a new Kindergarten/1st grade teacher. The only hitch is that they hired Corrin's 4th grade teacher. Now the background is that she was a kinder/1st grade teacher and when they had a kinder class too small to have 5 teachers and a big 4th grade class they swapped her up. So although she is awesome w/Corrin's class she has health issues and Corrin has an unusually hard grade. So while the kinder/1st will be so blessed to have her we will miss her so much. But for me the control freak I am amazingly calm about this change. Corrin met her new teacher today and she will team teach w/Corrin's teacher for a week and then they are all hers. Wow - - - this is going to be strange. But considering all the circumstances w/everything I think God is completely in control here and I don't need to get in the way. So I will look forward to meeting this completely new(this is her 1st year) lady who will be Corrin's teacher. But for those of you who know me this puts me completely out of my comfort zone. God is in Control!!!

Coffee

Just a silly post for today. It has become a busy life since the school year has started and soccer is now in full swing it is busy. But I have to admit I have become a coffee addict. I would first like to thank my friend Holly for starting this wonderful habit. I spent a few days at her house back when I only had one kid and she introduced me to it. She has laughed at me alot over the years as I have ordered a mocha w/a quarter shot of decaf. Next i would like to thank my friend Kristi for introducing me to a coffee house that makes heaven in a cup. Yum. For these wonderful friends I owe you a coffee of your choice. Love ya coffee sisters:o)

Dealing w/loss

This has been a hard week. We lost a dear friend and cousin this week. Losing s/one you love is hard all on it's own that's for sure. But when that person dies b/c someone else decided to end their life is a whole different ball game. For me it is so hard to understand why this would happen. I don't understand mental illness at all. I think it is so confusing. But the hardest thing is explaining this to my children. I tried so hard to not give many details other than she died. But she is a teacher in our school as well as related to us. So unfortunately kids talk. So Corrin now has the details of it all. She doesn't understand but says she does. Connor my very sensitive boy just bawled. How do you help a child understand s/thing you don't get yourself? I tried to tell him that she just passed away but when all the details started to leak out at school I had to say more. I have told him that her husband was sick in his brain and that he made a bad decision and that is why she died. I told him she is with Jesus and holding her son that died as a baby. But it sounds so empty. I don't want him to have to deal w/this or any of my kids either.

Ian's teacher is the only one out of all my kids who's teachers who told them anything about her dying. She didn't say details and knowing and loving her I know she handled it very well. She was very close w/Janet. Ian called her Matt's mom which was a title she loved. She was a very wonderful lady and teacher. Ian is young so it is different watching him deal w/it. But she always said hi to him everytime we passed her class for the past 5 years and we have spent time at their house. It will definately take time to adjust.

I just hope everyone can pray for the family, friends and the entire community b/c this affects so many. The funeral is set for Sat and hopefully from there people can start to heal but i think it will take a very long time. Rest in Peace Janet. We loved you.

Out of the mouths of babes. . .

It is funny to hear how your kids act when they are out of your sight. I know that my Ian is a stubborn little boy. He is a very sweet boy too but man is he stubborn. He is also very independent. So last week he decided that he didn't want to put his workbox away in class and then didn't want to get in line. So he lost 2 straws which means that he gets no treat at the end of the day. So I talked to him and told him that he needed to apologize to his teacher for not listening b/c this approach worked on Connor. He got really upset so I told him to tell his teacher that he would listen better from now on. So the next day I took him in and told his teacher he had s/thing to tell her. Of course he wouldn't so his teacher said she would talk to him later.

I run into her today while helping in Connor's class and she filled in what happened that day he was susposed to talk to her. She said she tried to ask him later if he had anything he wanted to say to her. He said no. So right before the end of the day she asked him if he had anything to say to her b/c she knew his mommy wanted him to. He answered "My mom wants me to but I don't"

And that is that. His attitude is better and he is proud of that but wow he knows his mind I guess.

Catching girls

It's really funny to watch Ian go to school. He has always gravitated towards the girls. I thought I needed to find him some boys to play w/but I don't know why I worried. He has his little posse' of girls that he plays w/daily at school. So I am signing Kolette up for Ballet last week and one of the Mom's there was saying her son told her that all Ian talks about is his brother, Dad and the trucks. So I ask Ian who he plays w/at recess again. He names all the girls. I ask him if he plays w/this one boy. He says "No, he just follows us around". So one of Ian's favorite girls tells her mom the same thing about this other boy. Only she says that she told the boy "Stop following me I need time to myself!". Now this little girl is very opionated so I am sure she said this quite loudly.

So yesterday Ian goes to the shop w/his dad and I went to Costco w/the rest of the kids. Ian was in the shop yard digging holes w/a shovel. His Papa asked him what the holes were for and Ian replied "To catch girls". Hmmm.... not sure what to think of that boys thinking pattern.

Privledge not a Right

Just a small vent on my part. I am busily trying to figure out if our school is going to be showing the Obama address to the school children. The thing that makes me the maddest is that if I didn't watch Fox news or or have a Facebook account I would have NO idea. My opinion on the public schools is this "It is a privlege not a right to have my children in your classes". So I am trying to figure out whether or not they are going to show it and if they are at what time. I will pull my kids out b/c I DIDN'T give them permission to show this to my kids. I want my kids to go to school to learn the basics not be brainwashed by the President. People would be in an uproar if they had done this w/Pres. Bush. So I am not sure if my kids are going to get a 3 or 4 day weekend.

Missing the big kids

Last week Kolette was kinda enjoying having her mommy all to herself. Well yesterday she said it was too quiet at home. So we walked to watch who was at recess. We saw Connor but he was playing w/his friends and I didn't want to bug him so I told her we weren't going to tell him we were there. She starts to cry. I told her we would come back and see Ian or Corrin later. So we sneak down and are watching for Ian. We notice everyone else we know and finally we walk by and 2 of his friends tell us where he is and he comes over. I told him she missed him and wanted to say hi. He had a notepad and a pen so he draws her a quick note and puts it thru the fence. She was on cloud nine. She said hi to all his friends that she knows and we left. Then we notice that Corrin's grade is also outside. 8 of Corrin's friends come over but no Corrin. The girls all say hi to Kolette and say that Corrin stayed in to work on writing(optional??? what's up w/that?). So we say goodbye and walk home. Kolette still wanted to see Corrin but we had to wait till school was out.

So we go to the school and are waiting for the kids. Connor comes out first and she gets a big hug and kiss and then she gets the same from the rest of the kids. I just love that she loves her brothers and sisters and that they aren't afraid to love her back. They are all keepers!!!!

Letter to the toothfairy

Corrin has gotten into writing to the toothfairy. Either for herself or Connor who doesn't want the toothfairy to take his teeth he wants his mom to have them. This the the letter Corrin left for the toothfairy tonite

"Dear Toothfairy,

Thank you for the gold coin. What is your last name? Mine is Shuster. Can I keep my tooth for tomorrow so my mo can take pictures and then you can take it tomorrow night. Is it okay if I keep the money tonight? Are you a boy or a girl? Do you like Candy? I do. Are you tall or small? Do you have short hair or long hair? I have long hair. I am in forth grade. I love forth grade. Do you go into different countrys or stay in Oregon? Do you have brothers or sisters or both? Are you oddst or youngest? What are their names?I am the oddest and I have 2 brothers and my sisters name is Kolette. Do you have any kids? Whare is your favorite color? Mine is blue.

Love,
Corrin"

This is the letter that the toothfairy left for Corrin.

"Dear Corrin,

Nice tooth, it came out fast. Can you ask Connor to wiggle his?

My last name is Floss. I have long curly hair. I am a girl. I don't have any kids I am gone too much doing the tooth collecting. I have 40 sisters and 7 brothers. I work everywhere. Blue is my fave color too.

Keep brushing,
Toothfairy"

Letter from Corrin

Corrin learned how to make a man out of one piece of paper and was so excited about it. Anyhow she was susposed to be in bed and I went upstairs and found she had made me a man and this is the letter that was inside.

"Dear Mom,
I made this man for you. You are sweet, loving, kind, nice. I stayed up till 8:45 but it was worth it. We did this in class but it was bigger and you have to guess which desck is mine and it has my girl that I did it looks like me alot and it took two hours to do at school and we did it from a pieace of paper.

From Corrin"

I left the spelling the same and the extremely long run on sentence the same way she did it. My heart is just huge right now w/the love she showed me in a man and a piece of paper. What a kid I will keep her. Like there was any doubt

Open house night

Well after a week of dreading my kids going back to school tonite we went to the school. It was Open House night and they got to take in all their stuff. I am so happy w/the teachers they all got so that has not been my worry at all. It's the letting them go part. However we went to Ian's class first and this is like home to me since Corrin and Connor have been in there for the past 4 years combined and we LOVE Mrs. Forrest. Ian was so happy to find his cubby and spot to sit. He even tested out his seat and it fits just right. Then onto Connor's class. Now this teacher we have never had before but I have talked to her a few times. The first words out of her mouth were "I am so happy to have Connor in my class I know his mom will help out alot" so I guess my reputation is a good one. I love to help in the class and so the opportunity to do it w/a happy teacher makes my day. Lastly was Corrin. She has had her heart set on her teacher and she was not disappointed her teacher is a real sweetheart. She is however battling breast cancer so we have her high on our prayer list. She was a real doll and also very happy to have a Mom help out in the class. I LOVE IT!!! So I am going to go to bed w/a happy heart tonite and tell the tears to not come until after I leave them on Monday. However I don't know that they will listen. Thankfully the good Lord has my back I just need to remember that. Reminds me of the old hymm "Yes, He cares I know He cares ..." can't remember now but it makes me feel good b/c I have spent too much time worrying and God is in control and I have been trying to drive this wheel of life all on my own and it's not working. But I still hate to leave my babies and esp hate to send my Ian when he has never been away from his mommy. Ok I end it here...

Not Me Sun/Monday

Ok I am not even half as computer savy as Tiffani but I am going to do a Amy not as good as Tiff version of Not Me Monday. However my Not't have to do w/Sunday hence the title.

These are just a few of the things I did NOT do yesterday. I guess I should go back to Sat. I did NOT got out on a date w/my hubby for our Anniversary 15 yrs thank you very much. I had every intention to get back early but forgot Donnie's always late. So we left the kids at a friends for her 14 yr old daughter to watch the kids. I did NOT promise we would be back early and not get there till 10:30. I would NOT ever say I was going to be early and not be. So my kids didn't get out of bed very easily yesterday for church. I did NOT take a 7 yr old to the bathroom w/Kolette to have a
"talk" with him. He did NOT protest the entire way there. I did NOT offer to make him miss out on Childrens church if he couldn't keep his hands to himself.

Then to make matters more complicated I did NOT decide the perfect time to get the kids backpacks was yesterday afternoon. I did NOT have 2 boys messing around in the bra and panty section of Kohls. I did NOT hear Ian say he was going to buy Connor a bra. I did NOT offer to tape their hands together if they didn't leave each other alone. I did NOT wonder why I took all 4 kids shopping to Costco after that. I then did NOT consent to dinner out w/my in-laws in town. Now at least here the kids were good considering they were very tired. However since I have decided to be strict w/the getting on school time schedule I did NOT let the kids go to bed after 9. Then I did NOT have a hard time getting all of the up this morn even after 8. I am also NOT looking forward to getting Ian the reluctant up for school. That is NOT going to be fun.

Hope you all have a wonderful week of NOT's I know I will. But in all honesty I am very much not ready for my babies to go to school. And I am really wanting to be able to fall asleep w/o stressing over every little detail of what will happen on the first day/week of school.

Now I can breathe...

After wondering all summer who my kids had for teachers the wait is over. They posted the lists on the doors of the school. I am so happy all the hard work of writing letters this past spring paid off. Ian who says he is going to Mrs. Forrest and not kindergarten has gotten his wish and mine. Yahoo cartwheels all around for that!!!! Connor got Mrs. Moore and his best friend so he is a happy boy. And Corrin had her heart set on having Mrs. Garrett and she got her. She also got 2 friends and so that makes her happy since last time not one of her friends was in her class. However her teacher does have breast cancer so we will be putting in overtime praying for her healing. Now I just hope that I can help out during the times that Kolette is in Preschool so i don't have to miss being with her. I thank the good Lord for blessing my kids with great teachers. God is good all the time God is good!

From the mouths of babes...

Yesterday I was getting ready to just go to the store. Told the kids to get shoes on and all that jazz. Anyhow Kolette happened to be wearing a dress up ballet dress. I really didn't care as long as she got shoes on we were just getting bread. This is what Ian had to say:

Ian: No one is going to know Kolette belongs to you

Me: Why?

Ian: She is wearing a dress up dress

Me: Her face is clean, her hair is combed it is ok they will know she belongs to us

Ian: I don't think so

Hmmm sure makes you wonder s/times

Then Kolette says we should have tomato sauce to eat b/c it's Connor's favorite. He hates all things tomato. He objects and she lets out a laugh just like this: MwaHAHAHA! No joke. That girl is quite the tease. Cracks me up how much they know how to annoy the other.

Hot August Nights

Connor and Kolette were so tired after walking all day they took a break while daddy talked cars again!
Corrin is always willing with a piggy back ride. Ian was the lucky one this time.
I was excited to find a car as bright as the kids shirts. The very idea of having the kids blending in in such a crowded place drove me mad. So thanks to my friends Scott and Buffy these "Can you see me now" Harley davidson shirts are just the right thing. I heard comments everywhere we went about their shirts and how people liked them. I am sooooooooooo not a fan of crowds it makes me almost sick. So holding hands and bright shirts makes me relax. We did have a great time but I was so glad to be home.

Just a few more pictures

My Sweet Silly Girls
My sweet Connor Donovan who looks a bit like a Jack o lantern
My sweet Sunshine boy Ian Nicholas and his killer blue eyes
Dang this girl is growing up WAY too fast. My Corrin

My boys
Love that all their personalities show thru in this picture
Sweetness and silliness all wrapped in a cute little Kolette package

Sick kiddos

Just a quick note. For myself I wish I didn't need a kid puking on my carpet to get me to shampoo the carpet. However it looks just lovely. Well it looked lovely till Kolette decided to puke on it. I guess 2 kids down 2 to go and 2 adults. Bummer is we have plans to go to Reno for Hot August Nights. We NEVER go on vacation except for camping usually once a year after twisting Donnie's arm. But we have paid for the hotel and it is non-refundable now so Lord willing no one else gets sick. I am still confused that it is summer and we are sick. Hopefully this winter we will be extra healthy but w/a kindergartner this year I am not holding my breath. It seems like a breeding ground when they go to school and 5 yr olds are not so great at covering coughs or wiping their noses. However my kids are VERY trained but their mom is a bit on the overboard side of it all.

Hope everyone else has a healthy rest of the summer!

Life is good...

I have been trying to gradually get the kids school stuff bit by bit. Last week I got Corrin and Connor shoes. This week I took just Ian and Kolette to get shoes. Kolette just cracks me up. For one she is my clone in looks and one of these days I will figure out how to scan in pics and prove it. This is some of what she said to me in the car.

Kolette: Mama when you were my age how old were you?

Me: I was the same exact age as you almost 4

Kolette: Wow

or

Kolette: When I was a baby was I cute?

Me: You were a beautiful baby and I dressed you all in pink

Kolette: But was I cute?

Me: Yes you were cute

I guess the point is to only answer what is asked of you

Ian is on the other hand much quieter and quite the gentleman. We stopped at Costco for a snack and I split a piece of cheese pizza for them. Kolette was devouring hers and dropped part of it on the floor. Ian offered to let her eat some of his. Days like this make my heart hurt b/c it is so sweet. But I am also aware soon it will be me and Kolette only doing the shopping runs. Bittersweet. Ian is so excited for school so I am glad for him being happy about the change. However he doesn't think he is going to Kindergarten he says he is going to Mrs. Forrest. Silly boy but I guess since the lovely lady has been in his life since he was 17 mos so I can see his point. Now he just needs to get her for a teacher and it will all be perfect:o)

Winning and Losing...

Went to the fair today against my better judgment. It was 109 when we left Nyssa right before 7pm. Yikes that is WAY too hot. So anyhow we start walking thru the fair and I wanted to check out the photography section. A few days ago the day before the fair opened my mom calls me. She wanted me to enter my picture I took of Jaeson holding his bride Emily in one hand while she stood in it. I posted it a few posts ago. Anyhow I argued w/her that it wasn't clear enough. She said it was fine and I should enter it. So I relented and told her I would order the print but she had to pick it up and put it in. Yes I am a heel. So I checked it out and I got 3rd place! I know that isn't huge but there were pictures that I thought were better/clearer and they didn't get anything. So I am happy and next year will be intentional and put one in myself like a big girl.

Now for the Losing part of this whole ordeal. We were walking thru the barns and ran into my good friend. We sat and chatted for a bit while Ian and Kolette were playing w/her 5 yr old. All the sudden we look and they are no where to be found. We look close by and they are GONE! Panic sunk in and she sent her son to look, Donnie and Corrin went one direction and Kenda and I went the other way. NO SIGN of them anywhere!!!!! This is a 3 yr old and 2 5 yr olds. Yikes!!!! So Kenda gets a call and the kids are back some lady brought them back. Scare the crap out of me. Anyhow I lectured Kolette and Ian good and they were both very sad and I hope I got thru to them. I told them s/one will take them home and be mean to them and I will never see them again. No one will love them like their mommy and daddy will. They are so priceless all of them sure makes you panic. Not to mention you are stuck wanting to beat them and hug them all at the same time. Grr... but they are little and they are acting like it. Leashes sound really good right now. but let me tell you they never left my side after that.

Thank the Lord He was watching over all 3 of those precious kids.

Cute pictures the Drapers took

Kevin and Maria Draper took these pictures of my kids. They have such an eye. LOVE them!!!!

Mayhem and craziness...

I have written so many posts and then thought no one really wants to see how very neurotic I am so I just don't post them. For the record I am a worry wart and I know that I am not in control God is. I have been stressing about who my kids get for teachers. I hate that I consume my thoughts w/this when I still have them home w/me. I am so thankful that I am able to help out at the school and be a part of my kids school life. It is a huge blessing for me. While helping out in their classrooms or w/the CPT I get to observe the other teachers and form my own opinion. So w/this information I write letters describing the teacher that works best w/my child and describing my child. I am allowed to eliminate 2 teachers. So I found myself writing 3 letters and they were all so different b/c all 3 kids need s/thing different.

I am finding that I am relaxing a bit b/c I know the Principal who is my neighbor knows my kids and think he choose well for them. He is however moving to Germany so he is no longer at the school so we will see how the year goes. My friend is the Vice Principal and I know she will be a wonderful asset to the school.

I guess what I am saying is I am trying my best to let go of it all and let God. Change is a hard thing but it can prove to be a very good thing too. So here goes to the rest of my summer and hopefully school won't creep up too soon. I am loving having my kids home w/me. I do know that life will get so beyond busy when school starts and I want to enjoy this time w/them they grow up way too fast.

Working on my attitude

Ok I have dealt w/car issues for a month now and i am not happy. My fuel filter is fixed by my wonderful mechanic and the guy who is working on my a/c is on my hit list. I have tried SO hard to be nice to this guy b/c he is the only person who can work on a/c in our town. But I took it in 4 separate times in 2 weeks to have it fixed. Fri he said it needed to be on a lift and he didn't have one free. ????????? ok so first thing on Mon I took it down. Donnie followed me and was washing the window of the pick-up and he asks if Donnie is mad. Ok, clearly doesn't know I am the ticking time bomb. I still was nice. Mon nite I call and he says that it will need to stay over nite b/c he has to order the part. Tues same story have to keep it over nite. So yesterday same thing again. I am getting really ticked! Call this morn and he actually tells me how it is complicated and takes alot of time. But in the same breath he says that he has people come in every 10 minutes wanting to talk. I told him maybe he should say "I can't talk right now i have to finish Amy's car". He says oh that wouldn't work. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? So I called Donnie and assaulted his ears. Poor guy but he loves me and forgave me. Then I called my "real" mechanic and told him everything that is going on and he said he would call Marvin and see what is going on. Thank you Jesus for Chris. Maybe by the end of the day i will have my freedom back. Sorry for the vent but I am working on my attitude a little bit at a time...

Listen to the little voices...

This is me in Costco today. We had already been to Winco and were just done w/our Costco shopping. I had treated the kids to a crispy thing and fruit smoothie. We are eating and drinking and Kolette says she has to go potty. In my mind I am trying to figure out the logistics of all this. I am driving the truck(yes it is a truck it has duels) and I don't have room for groceries inside of it b/c I already have my groceries in it from Winco. I don't feel safe w/Corrin taking her on her own either. I wonder how long would it take for s/one to shave their heads dress them like boys and leave w/them. Yes I have issues but they are worth too much to take the chance. So I said that i would take her when we were all done and we would stand outside and Corrin could take her in. This is what happened.

Kolette: I have to go pee bad!

Me: Ok, guys hurry we are going to go to the bathroom.

Kolette: I just peed i can't stop it!

Me: silently screaming at myself for not running when she had to go.

I did however manage to buy her pj's when we were in there at the beginning of our shopping trip so I had s/thing to put on her. She chose shoes that caught the pee very nicely. Yuck! This is so out of the ordinary for her I don't think it has happened since she was potty training and that was 2 yrs ago. Oh well live and learn. Of course it was 102 outside and she was wearing footie pajamas, but at least we were in the air conditioned truck vs. my suburban that is still in the shop! Grr... but that is another story.

Went to a weddin...

Yesterday some very good friends of ours children got married. We are really good friends w/the brides parents and friends w/the grooms. So it was kinda fun to go and not care where you sat and know both sides so well. It was a beautiful wedding and i took a picture of the bride and groom that I doubt I will ever see at another wedding in my life. They are both cheerleaders in college and this is their pose. It was fun to see them doing a stunt.

Car problems...

Ok, seriously I know that money doesn't grow on trees but it seems that the mechanics think it does in my backyard.

Right before the 4th I took my car in to get the a/c fixed said it needed more freon. Then after I got it back I didn't drive it b/c it wasn't starting very well. So took it to a different mechanic my regular guy and he had it for 4 days and put in a new fuel pump. So next time I get in my car it isn't cooling off. So I drive back to the Co-op and tell him it isn't working. So he works on it and says that it needed the seal fixed and did it. So went w/Holly to the YMCA on Wed and it worked ok. Then go to drive to Nampa to a bridal shower yesterday and it felt like I had the heater on.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this morning I was at the Co-op bright and early w/my car. i left it there all day and at 6 when I called him to get it he said he found the problem. Yeah! I am thinking how wonderful to be cool again. My happiness was quickly dashed as he said he couldn't put it on the lift b/c they were occupied. Bring it in on Mon. ARe you kidding me!?!? He is lucky it was on the phone I was about to scream at him. It is soooooooo cool here I mean it was 105 today. I am sure me and my 4 kids will enjoy that no A/C thing really well.

But I really don't want a car payment so how annoyed do I want to get?????? Grrr... he better fix it right this time or I am going to go nuts! It's not like that's a stretch for me. Think cool thoughts will be my new motto.

He ain't heavy he's my brother...

Took the kids to the YMCA yesterday w/my friend Holly and had a blast. But I have to say it was quite sweet to see Corrin go down the water slide and wait at the bottom to help Connor who can't swim get to the side was priceless. She went almost everywhere w/him to make sure he was ok. I even watched her go back and forth in the part of the pool that was up to Ian's chest. She is such a sweet sister. I love seeing all the kids feel comfortable w/her it's like they have a 2nd mother. I don't try to make her be responsible for them but knowing that she is watching out for them gives me so much peace. They know they are safe w/her even if they pester each other they love each other so much.

Ok, just looked at the pictures and that girl of mine is growing up WAY too fast. I wish there was a pause button they grow up so fast and all before your eyes.

Happy 40th Birthday Donnie~!!!!

It is my sweet Donovan's birthday today. We had a little get together after the car show on Sat. Just ice cream(homemade) and cake. I always tease Donnie that he never opens his eyes in pictures they are always squinty or else he doesn't smile. But I am so thankful that I am married to him and all that he is and stands for. He is a wonderful dad and husband. Nice to see his onry side captured on camera though. Now to make a homemade cake w/Connor for tonite.

Funny face

Just thought this was cute of Kolette eating ice cream. She thinks it is funny to wear your food this was completely intentional. My boys like to lick the bowl but the gives it new meaning. But she still has her tiara on so at least she is pretty while doing it.

My beautiful Ballerina

her favorite part of the dance that she didn't even enjoy during the performance this was practice

Kolette and Grammy(my mom)
She is at least attempting to do a move w/her foot.

My sweet Kolette had her first performance yesterday. She is the youngest one of all the girls she is 3 1/2, Alleynah is 5 1/2 and 2 girls are 8 and one 9 yr old. So it is ranging widely in ages. She loves to dance but the performance at Thunderegg days was a whole different story. She got up there and barely moved. She told me she was scared. I hope she grows out of it since I know she loves to dance. Either way she was darling and was fun to watch. I keep telling myself she is only 3. But the main thing is she looked beautiful so what else should I expect???

Dentist success

Just a difference in a good dentist. When Corrin was 3 we had a horrible experience w/the dentist. They even prescribed her to take valium. It had the opposite effect on her. After I called the pediatrician and told him they wanted her to go to the hospital to have her teeth worked on and we don't have dental insurance; he told me about a friend of his who is a dentist. He took the time to call his friend tell him what Corrin was like and it was amazing how wonderful they were with her. So now my daughter isn't traumatized b/c of finding a wonderful dentist who isn't even a pediatric dentist.

Now I waited before taking Ian in b/c of his shyness. They looked at him in March and I had to cancel the one appt for filling his teeth b/c it interferred w/a field trip. So I took him in today and he was so excited. He has been asking for forever when he gets to go in. Anyhow they let me go back w/him and he was an angel. The dentist even called the tools names like Mr. Whistle and Mr Bumpy. He told him that they were getting the bugs out of his teeth. Then he put the "squeaky cheese" in the "bug hole". Ian didn't even flinch when he got the shot. He told him it was like a mosquito bite that doesn't itch. Gotta love your dentist they make life easier in the long run. Now I have all of my kids happy when they go to the dentist. Yeah~!!

My baby is off to camp

Today Corrin went to Kids camp. This is the first time she has ever gone and I am excited for her but miss her so much already. I guess her walking off w/her friends and not looking back is just a sign of her growing up. But I wonder if she will survive w/o me and yet I know the answer is yes she will. I think life will go on if her hair isn't perfect and if she wears the same clothes everyday even though she has plenty to choose from. I am sure she will remember to take her pulmicort at night and brush her teeth. The nice part of it is it is only 15 minutes from town and my dear friend lives 2 minutes walking distance away. So either way I know she is ok.

I guess if she is comfortable w/those who are there and loves being w/her friends I did ok in raising her so far. She will have a blast and remember it forever so I am thankful she is able to go. Now to help the other 3 get thru it till she gets back.

What will they think of next?????

I am constantly amazed at the things my children will find fun to play or too precious to throw away.

First Gum is a huge treat in our house. I rarely get it for my kids b/c I for one don't like to clean it up off the floor. Another reason I don't like it stuck to clothes either to mine b/c they put it somewhere it didn't belong or in their pockets to save for later. I don't find that it tastes better when chewed along w/food. Kolette disagrees. But we had a major meltdown yesterday b/c Kolette found Connor's "Special box" and pulled out a colorful stack of s/thing semi-sticky. Connor is freaking out saying it is his and Kolette says " I don't know what it is but it is gross". So I touch it Yuck and say this is gum and it needs to go in the garbage. This brings more tears from Connor b/c he says "It is special b/c someone gave it to me". This brings us to a conversation of how the people are still special but the gum isn't after it is chewed. I am sure this isn't the end of gum saving he will just find a more secret spot to store it. My Mom and Mother in law both love to share gum w/my kids. Maybe i need them to tell my kids that they will give them more but only if they throw it away.

Also we had a small church picnic yesterday at the park. I was sitting on a picnic bench talking to a friend and watching the kids. My friend says "Don't bite!" and realize she is talking to Kolette. Kolette has her mouth wide open looking like Ian is a tasty dessert. I tell her to come over and end up meeting her half way. I asked her why she was trying to bite Ian and she says "I wasn't Connor told me to eat Ian for dinner" Ok how do you argue w/that logic? Crazy thing is we like to pretend that we are eating our kids bellies for dinner so I can see where this line of thinking came from. Kids they are always paying attention and ready to provide entertainment.

The many faces of Corrin

This is Corrin teaching Kolette to strike a pose and sing a song. They are quite the pair.
Corrin being silly w/her sister.


She has always been very photogenic. But it is still so amazing to me how fast she is growing up. 4th grade this year and she has such a good head on her shoulders. I am so thankful that after all the years it took to get her that God allowed her to be my baby. She is a wonderful blessing!

Precious moment

I know this photo looks sad but it is touching too. Connor is a very loving boy but has a hard time keeping his hands to himself. He loves to touch his siblings and Ian is usually a very tolerant person. However I have been trying to get him to say Stop when he doesn't like s/thing or when Connor is sitting on him to push him off. Well right before this picture Connor was pestering Ian and Ian gently pushed Connor in the nose w/his elbow. I mean it was not hard at all very soft but it bumped Connor's head into the tree. So Connor was crying. I told Ian to tell him sorry and Ian is so tenderhearted that he started to cry b/c Connor was hurt. He was trying to keep from crying and he told Connor sorry and Connor had just said "I forgive you". They may not see the significance of this picture but for me it very sweet and tender the love they feel for each other.

Many faces of Kolette

While playing in the park w/my new camera today I noticed some of the different moods of Kolette. This one is thinking of what I am a little afraid.


This one here is her angry yelling at her sister "Don't say that!" Corrin told her she had a small bum. Kolette says her bum is a "N-O-T big bum" She is certainly a fiesty girl.


This is her thinking she is very funny. I am not totally in on the joke but it is very hallarious. Now the bottom picture came before the one above it but I am not smart enough w/moving it. Tiff help!!!!!!!!!!

Patient Ballerina

The only picture I could get at ballet. This was waiting for it to start. The windows are plexiglass and my camera got an awesome picture of all the scratches in it and not much of the ballerina I was trying to get. But she has a outdoor performance at Thunderegg days that I can get better pictures at. Bummer they won't have costumes. That is most of the fun. I will have to get her one on my own to make it more exciting for Kolette.