What’s This, Mom?

In August Dale and I celebrated 10 years of marriage.. Can you believe it? 10 years?

For me I look back and just wonder where did the time go? When I lay on my bed at night and close my eyes, I can remember the moment like I am still there…the night I got engage and laying in the bed and putting my hand in the air and the light from outside the window made my ring sparkle. I remember holding my dad’s arm seconds before going down the isle and him turning to me, “Princess, if you don’t go thru with this I’ll give you $1,000 cash.” “Daddy, you’re testing me. I love him. Are you ready?” “Ok, Baby Doll.” I feel his arm, smell his cologne, see his perched lips and hear his voice…yet…its been 10 years.

Dale and I have talked about going to Hawaii for our 10 year anniversary since we got married. As it neared we realize this was going to be a difficult adventure to complete. I had Aiden July 3 and he wouldn’t be 2 months old when we leave for Hawaii. There was NO way I was leaving a newborn behind for a week. How could we bring him and explain to the other two they are not allowed? But we both knew if we didn’t go for our anniversary…we would not go at all.

I also was not up to my full self so we enlisted the help of my mom. So for our anniversary Dale, me, my mom, Zander, Lexi and Aiden we all flew to Hawaii.

The time flew while we were there…The first day was filled with flying there, getting the rental, driving to the cottage, settling in a quick trip to the little market across the street.

The next day was filled with errands as we look for a Sam’s Club, Walmart and some where that sells goats milk. Then a nap and FINALLY a trip to the beach.

The kids looooved the different types of plants and trees. The colors were so vibrant and the absolute picture of tropical. Hawaii is so different and opposite from where we live. . . water, humid, color, sounds, smells…We had a rain the first night and it brought out some little creatures that my kids were thrilled to find..The theme of the first few days was, “What’s this, Mom?”

Lexi in a Grammie Shorey’s Famous Dress

When my mom came to visit she bought something very special with her. She brought a dress that she wore in a picture of her and her siblings. In the photo, she is probably a preschooler. I remember her telling the story that she was originally sitting in the chair that is in the photo but the photographer kept putting the hem of the dress in a way she didn’t like above one knee. When the photographer would walk away she would brush it down smooth and then the photographer would try to fix again. Finally Mom was made to stand next to the chair and her sister was placed in the chair. This famous dress has “lived” some years and made it to Arizona.

Mom and I took a few pictures. As you can tell Lexi was not thrilled to be taking pictures, but what a special moment to see a 3rd generation in the dress.

Flower Science Fun

Zander loooooves science.  This year we are just introducing Biology, Botany, and Physics.  We read some great books recommended by Sonlight and every week we do at least one experiment.  He also keeps a Science notebook/journal; which he loves looking thru and talking about the different things he has done.

Here are some pictures of when we began looking at plants.  We looked at the different parts, drew them in his notebook and labeled them.

Playdough Fun

With a new little one around the house and I was getting ready for vacation; I made some home made playdough. The kids had a blast and I was able to get things done. Here’s the recipe I use.

Koolaide Playdough

• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 pkg unsweetened Kool-aid (just the dry koolaid)
• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Directions:

In a bowl, mix flour, salt and kool-aid

Stir in water and oil

Knead with hands for about 5 minutes.

You might need to add a little more flour or a tad bit mroe oil until you get the consistency you desire.

The first day the playdough is a little gooy but after that its great. It last a long time especially if you take very good care of it by putting it in a ziploc bag and/or an air tight tuberware.

It smells great and if the kids decide to try to eat it..it taste bad but won’t hurt them. =)

Use like regular playdough and have fun!

Zander and Daddy on a Bike Ride

Zander was getting to big for his trike that he just absolutely loved so during the summer (2009) we purchased a “big boy bike”. With his birthday and Christmas only a couple weeks from each other, I find that its really hard to wait for certain things to be given as a gift. Dale agreed that Zander would get much more use out of it in July than waiting for Christmas and then it be too cold. (these are Arizonian kids how wear winter coats, gloves and hats when its 70 degrees out)

I’m glad we made this decision, Dale and Zander rode bikes together up until the move in November. I’m glad they are able to spend this time together especially since Aiden has joined us so that Z could have more one on one time.

While the rest of us took the van, Dale and Zander rode to Burger King.

these pics are from July…I’m a lil behind but working on catching up.

I’m behind but not for long

Ok sooo I have not posted to my blog since October. This is not because there is not thing to say and that we are boring people. Just the opposite.

One, I had a baby. He doesnt like to sleep, unlike my previous kids who slept all the time. He also eats more often and you guessed that means needs more diaper changes. Also he’s my first who thinks he must be held at all times. ugh We Love You, Aiden!

Two, I have been potty training Lexi. At first this is very time consuming as I try to put her on the potty every 1/2 hour and then hour and so forth until she starts telling me she has to go. This also requires more time for changes when accidents happen and more time for laundry and bed changing.

Three, I homeschool. This requires time to research, time to prep, time for the lesson and time to explore with the children. From 930 to 1230 we do some type of school…reading, math manipulatives, coloring, cutting, writing, workbooks…right now we have an ant farm and butterfly habit going that we are observing and making lap books with. I will say that Sonlight (the curriculum we use) does help me with my schedule but I add hands on activities and extra fun field trips. And now that things are doing better he has 2 extracurricular activities: Awana and Karate.

Four, chores. Every woman’s nightmare and daily nag on our conscience. Laundry, dusting, vacuuming, moping, bathrooms, trash/recycles, dishes, kitchen, meals/snacks prepped, cooked and cleaned up, mail, bills, errands. It is tasks that has a never ending list and a never ending cycle. Daily, weekly, semi weekly, monthly chores… Ladies, here are two resources that have helped me get my life back on track. www.modivatedmoms.com and www.eatathomecooks.com

Five, WE MOVED. In November, we moved. Not only did we move; we moved 55 miles away and in less then 2 weeks. I packed and packed and packed. I am trying to not unpack but yet stay organized and the place livable. We will be moving again. Long story email me if your curious.

Six, A Baby Connection. All though I have put this on hold. Some of my customers still wish to make purchases and need customer assistance with some issues. I should have put the business on hold a long time ago cause after 2 weeks of on hold message on the site….I got flooded with sales.

Seven, I have a husband. I love him dearly. He requires quality time. This one on the list (husband him self) actually helps with some of the list but he also adds to the list. He also makes more work, more laundry, more dishes and more picking up around the house. He also added football to our list..he is not home to help on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursday as he is at practice. I do not see him till after 11pm and most nights till midnight. Also this occupies our Saturday. Takes an hour to get there, have to be there 2 hours before games, the game last 2.5 hours, then an hour to get back home. (thank you Grammie Sackrider for your help with the kids during this time)

Eight, a little personal her but I have a thyroid problem. Right after Aiden was born, I was ill. (not as bad as with Lexi) but I couldn’t get it regulated and I had extreme exhaustion. Any one with a thyroid problem that couldn’t get it fix will relate. On top of not being correct, I had a newborn up at all hours of the night and day.

Nine, the holidays happened….For Thanksgiving we went out of town to visit my brother. I loved seeing them. (they probably noticed my extremed exhaustion) I loved being there and wish we lived closer…for christmas we did some traditional activities and joined Dale’s family for the day. Dale’s sister came to town…Zander’s birthday with festivities happend…My birthday…

Ten, LIFE. I have several more I could list but I’ll just leave with this for all the rest of the things that happen cause LIFE happens…

I say all this cause although things are crazy…I want to remember this time and things are getting better. The number one difference I can see is I’m starting to feel better, get my energy back and therefor can deal better with it all. Aiden is starting to sleep thru the night. (I know doc say 5 hours is sleeping thru the night but that just doesn’t cut it. sorry. I NEED more sleep than that. If 5 hrs is sleeping thru the night, he has been doing that for a very long time but sleeping thru the night for me requires not up and playing in the middle of the night.) I’m getting more organized and back to routine and structured life. ahhh the way I like it. I also am developing friendships and spending time with some great ladies. Thank you, Rosa and Monica, for my surprise birthday party. It meant more to me than you know.

The blog is important to me as I want to look back and see our lives and how it unfolded when I’m old and grey and even read my thoughts as we went thru it. I’ve been working on some posts to catch up my blog from where I left off till now. In the next several weeks you will see part of our lives for the past 4-6 months on fast forward. =)

Zander remembers!

Sometimes as a homeschool mom, I wonder just how much does he retain or learn.  One of his lessons in science was about rainbows.  He recently was watching a cartoon and I heard him say, “Hey, that isn’t right!”  I looked up to see a rainbow.  I asked, “what’s wrong?”  He said, “that is not the correct order of a rainbow.”  I smiled.