This weeks activities

It's been a long time since i've posted to our blog- but hopefully now i'll be able to keep up.
On Tuesday- Morgan had an awards ceremony. She made the honor roll and recieved an award for being the 2nd highest reader in the class. She was a little upset cause she was not able to take tests on all of the books she read, she thought she should be first- but lesson learned! Now she knows not to wait to take all her tests :-).



This is at her awards ceremony.



Morgan and her awards.




Morgan and her teacher- Ms. Christy Cupp.

Then today- friday- Aidan graduated from kindergarten.



He received his certificate and also received an award for having completed the highest level in music out of all of the kindergartners. Yeah Aidan!!!!!! There will be more activites next week- will try and post more pics then.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Can you tell my camera batteries are dead?

On the way back from WI in the beginning of Aug- my batteries died in my camera. Like the vigilant scatter-brain I am, they have been included on my list for over a month now. I feel like I can't right on the blog- because I have no pics to show. So rather than fret- I am gonna just sum up some of what's been going on in our crazy house.

Aug 19th- My baby girl turned 8 and both her and my little man started school. It was Aidan's first day of Kindergarten and it was hard for me to let him go in. The whole family went to walk the kiddo's in to their class.

We are now in a new school district so it was nerve-wracking for Morgan. Even though she is in 3rd grade and a veteran by now for the first day jitters- it was a totally new school with new kids, teachers, EVERYTHING. So..... we went and dropped Morgan off first. We all walked her to her class and she found her seat. Yes, I did get pics, but not with my digital camera, so we will see how long it takes for those to get developed.

After we got Morgan settled, we had to traverse a million cars to go over to the primary school to drop Aidan off. That was not fun! I'm used to a little school, with little traffic! Not so with Greene County Tech. Huge school and 2 different campuses. So we finally got over to Primary and took Aidan inside. He remembered exactly where to go from open house and was so excited to go and meet his "new best friends". The boy does make friends easily. Everybody loves his easy-going personality. We got him settled in and took a cpl pics and we were instructed by Aidan that, "I'm good mom. You can go now." So with tears in my eyes, we watched from the door and then walked away.

Then they got to ride the bus home that day for the first time ever. I have always taken and picked up my kids from school- so that was nerve-wracking for me! But I got over it and they are doing very good!!!

The next couple weeks were very busy for us- getting back into the routine of everything. We had some busy weekends with our congregation and then Labor Day weekend, my family was able to come down and visit. Karen came from WI and mom and dad came from MO. We had a blast. We went to flea mkts, played cards, ate good food, and got some good visiting in. I wish everybody lived closer so that we got to visit more- but I guess that's life.

Hopefully this got u caught up in the activities of our family. Please feel free to leave comments or e-mails. I love hearing from everyone and will get back with you as I can.

Lazy days of summer

Who really invented the saying "lazy days of summer"? Because I want them to come live a day in my life with my 3 crazy kids. When they are all home during the summer- there are no lazy days. Trying to keep the kids occupied is a full-time job. Forget everything else that has to be done- mom patrol has to find things to keep 3 engaging minds busy.

Between the reg stuff that we do year round: service, meetings, laundry, baths, all the household stuff like dishes, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms, etc. etc. etc. Then during summer we have to add more because just doing regular stuff would be "boring, MOM".

So we throw waterpark, swimming, library, going to the mall, chucky cheese, Jonesboro park, u get the idea of the rest. We throw all that into the mix.

I guess the main reason I do all of this is selfish. I have to admit it. As any mom knows- kids can destroy a house in 2.7 seconds. When my house is clean- I like to leave so that it can stay that way. Alot of times, we will do housework in the morning and then as quickly as I can, I rush everyone out the door. So the chaos of fun is partly my own doing.

Now, as the school year is looming again- I start thinking about the quiet that will ensue when two of my three are heading out the house. Ahhhhhh..... it makes a mom happy. Quiet does- not the kids leaving. Although, i guess they go hand in hand. Does that make me a bad mom? I'm not- I promise. I just love peace and quiet. And keeping my house clean. And being able to finish a task without having to stop to be a referee. And ........... I could go on and on- but the point I was trying to make would be lost. I was trying to say I WASN'T a bad mom.

So we will be soon trading in the busy days of summer for the busy days of school. I will still have one of my little munchkins with me- but when you go from 3 to 1- it's like having no kids. Gracie is truly becoming her own individual and every day is an adventure with her. I will post more pics later or our summer adventures- for now- I don't hear anything so I think I must go investigate the cause of silence. What do you think they are up to now????

Travel, Travel, Travel

As we left our house Monday evening at 10 in the evening, I had my camera in my purse and was convinced I would take pictures at every given opportunity so that we would be able to remember this fun vacation. As happens with me, I have wonderful intentions. I got no pictures of them snoozing in the car on the 11 hour ride up to Wisconsin and no pictures since we've got here. More on that in a bit.

We arrived Tues morning around 9 and we met up with my sister Karen and her husband bill to go eat. I don't know why, but since I was a child, breakfast food has always been my favorite. I love french toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits, etc. My favorite of all breakfast foods would have to be fried potatoes or something along that line. Home fries, hash browns, fried potatoes, u get the gist. Anywho- we got on a funny subject about me and my infatuation with breakfast.

Eggs.

I don't like eggs, but I think the perfect breakfast should include an "over-easy" egg. I have always made them when we do a big breakfast at home, and when we go out to a restaurant, I always order them. But I hardly ever eat them. How weird is that?? To me, the perfect plate of breakfast food includes 2 over-easy eggs. I just don't like them and my OCD will not let me just not order them- that would be too easy. So that's that.

Back to talking about pictures. After breakfast we decided to go meet up with my two brothers, Carl and Wally. I actually remembered to take my camera in that time. But did it ever come out of the purse? Nope. So now 2 good instances for pictures have went by.

Later that afternoon, me and my kids, auntie Karen, and Melissa and her kids all headed to Bay Beach. It is a small amusement park for kids that I remember going to when I was little. The tickets used to be 10 cents but then couple years ago they changed it to 25 cents per ticket. It has rides for adults as well (tilt-a-whirl, scrambler, ferris wheel) and tons of kiddie rides. All for 25 cents a ride. Most of the big ones are 2 tickets- oooohhhhh- so they cost 50 cents. I know, we're big spenders. So, anyway, we are in the park and I go to take pics of the kids on the first ride, only to realize that I left the camera in the car. FUNNY!

The next day, we had plans to go to my brother Carl's house for a bonfire. I thought about my camera many times during the day and made a conscience decision that I'm not going to forget my camera yet AGAIN. So I managed to remember it, put it in my purse, actually brought it with me in one of my many bags that I have to carry because of the 3 kids (purse, diaper bag, food bag, etc.), remembered to take it out of the car and got it out of my purse to start taking pictures. Three pictures in......... my batteries die.

Why?? Why?? Why??

I thought I would share the funny reason why I have no pictures from the first 2 days of our week. I am fully relying on my pals to fill in the blank pages of my vacation scrapbook.

Individual Attitudes

As I was putting my children to bed last night after the meeting (these pics were taken right before we left- and I didn't have a chance to crop or edit them at all- they are just raw pics) I got to wondering about the complexity and difference of children. How is it that three kids from the same parents, same grandparents, reside in the same house, go to the same KH, play in the same yard, have the same daily influences- How can they be so different? I understand everything about DNA and I'm asking the scientific question- I am wondering how three innocent people start out in the same environment, but gather different experiences and become different people in their adult lives. Take my three children- Aidan could not be more different from my girls if he tried. Before I had Gracie- I was for sure that there was a mistake and my two oldest were not related. Aidan is the epitome of laid-back and could not be more happier to just be still. When Morgan attended her first day of kindergarten- it was the quietest day in my house since Morgan had been old enough to formulate words.

I didn't even realize how quiet Aidan was until Morgan was gone. How crazy is that? My mother says it's my fault and I was just like Morgan when I was little. I deny it and say that I was the perfect angelic child, quiet, clean, and the ideal image of peacefulness and tranquility - This is my blog and I'm sticking to it. I still have no idea where Morgan got her love of talking- and no I don't want to hear any long lost stories from when I was little. I said that this is MY blog- I'm telling it like I remember- jaded as that memory may be.
ANYWAY- back to what I was saying. My children- let's focus on their imperfections, not mine. I am still bumfuzled as to how all three of them are still so different. Aidan has a very tender heart and is easily crushed. On the other hand he has a hair-trigger temper and we are currently working on controlling that. Again- I have no idea where he got that.... Everyone in my family is meek and gentle. And his dad has never raised his voice in his 36 yrs of life... HAH! I can blame part of our children's imperfections on him... that's right. I don't have to take all the blame.

Now Gracie is a totally different story- she is definetly her own individual. She has learned to hold her own against the older ones. She can use her lungs to make sure they fully understand that she does not want help with anything. Stubborn, Stubborn!! "I DO IT! LEAVE ME ALONE. I DO IT!!" I don't know where that stubborn quality comes from either. I'm nothing if not flexible. Well......

All in all- I guess they are a perfect combination of our best and worst qualities. I wouldn't want them any other way. Well.......... Totally kidding. They keep me on my toes and these past 8 yrs have been an adventure and I know the next 20 will be the same. To go back to the begining- It does amaze me that they are so different. We can truly see Jehovah's marvelous qualities in the complexity of a childs mind and personality.

Sunday Afternoons

There is something so relaxing about Sunday afternoons. I think it's programmed into us from the time we're little. Sunday morning's should be spent at the KH, get some lunch, and then depending on your age and mood- you should engage in some form of activity that is relaxing. When I was a teenager, it was a sin to be still, so we had to still go somewhere and do something- but it was usually more relaxing than the regular rigamarole that we did for the rest of the week. After I got married and both me and Michael worked full-time, we usually spent Sundays with our friends, going to movies or just chillin and hanging out. After we had children, Sunday afternoons have been spent taking naps and playing with the kids. After everybody gets up- we usually go somewhere or have a family over for supper.

For me, Sunday is not so much about taking a nap, but rather about the time I get to myself when everyone else IS taking a nap. Because Michael has been working 2nd shift for a couple of mths now- I don't have 5 seconds to myself because the kids are home from school and they don't all nap. But on Sundays- the kids are quiet for a couple of continuous moments.

I started this post on a lazy Sunday afternoon- but then everybody got up and my peace was over. So now, 2 wks later- I'm finishing it up and posting it. Hope you enjoy my thoughts on our family day. Happy "whatever-day-is-your-favorite" day to you.

My babies

Since we've done nothing exciting in the past couple days- I thought I would write about some of my older pictures of the kids before I started this site.

Most of them are self-explainatory. Just my beautiful babies and their smiles.





Gracie is famous for her big cheesy grins. If you go to take her picture-
she turns into a big ham.

The next picture shows how big of a drooler she was when she was cutting teeth. It took about 6 mths for the first four to come in- and this is what she looked like the entire time.


Aidan went thru an obsession with his cowboy hat for a couple weeks. He thought

it was the neatest thing EVER. I'm ok with the fact that the phase passed.

Gracie was infatuated with a little boy in our kingdom hall (who had the cutest freckles) and when he would come to our house- she was next to him all the time!!

Morgan has always been very protective of her as well. She's another "little momma". When Gracie gets hurt or needs something- Morgan is right there for her. Gracie likes to play with Bubbie, but when she's hurt- she goes straight for Morgan.

I've always felt that Morgan had an amazing freeness about her. She's a wonderful child. She loves to talk, loves to read, and for the most part- she is always smilling or laughing. She loves to have a good time and when she's playing- her happiness shines!! Lord knows that me and her bump heads alot- and she's not even a teenager yet. But when it comes right down to it, she is the most tender-hearted person I know.

All of my children have their unique personalities- the girls are more outgoing than Aidan. He is laid back and a little shy. I guess as they get older they will change even more. I look forward to watching them as they grow and hope the best for them as they turn into adults with their own lives. I think all mom's have dreams and hopes for their children, I'm sure dad's do too. I pray that my children stay close to Jehovah and make sure that he is a part of their life forever. That is my biggest worry as they grow. As far as the rest, I'm sure

that they will grow to be amazing people.