This morning Emma decided to get Halie's guitar out and start strumming. While she has no idea how to play, she did a wonderful job. I was enjoying it. Then, she put words with it and made it all explode. Boo was sitting next to her as she played and was humming along. It would have made the sweetest picture, but instead I was sitting here typing out the words before I forgot them.
"When we knew you were going to be born, my sister was so upset. She thought you would get all the attention. BUT now you can do all kinds of things. You can sing. You can dance. You can jump. You can talk. When we got you, little Boo, it was all really good. It was all really good. Ohhhh yyyeeeeaaahhh.You're gonna grow up. You're gonna be great. When you put your little fingers on my nose and go oink, oink, oink it makes me smile because you're super cute. I love my baby sister. She's gonna grow up to do so many great things. I was worried before you were born, but now I could spend my life with you. You are the person that I know is great for us."
YOU ARE THE PERSON I KNOW IS GREAT FOR US. I hope all 3 of our girls know that they are the people that are great for us and they bring so much joy into our lives.
Then came one about Mom:
"My Mom helps me be like this. She's the only one that I know that would be so nice and I love herrrrr."
I love that Emma loves her little sister enough to make up songs about her. It's little moments, like this one that help you realize that while we aren't doing everything right as parents....we are obviously doing something right.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
I DID IT! I deactivated my FB account!
I did it! I deactivated my Facebook account. While it is only temporary, I feel like I need to reconnect with the important things and people in my life. Will I miss it? OF COURSE! I'll especially miss all of the sweet pictures of the ones we love so much, that are too far away to see often and the snow pictures. :)
I will reactivate it some time after the new year. When I am gone, I don't want my kids to read how I felt about them on my FB page. I want them to know that I did my best every day to show them how much I love them, and they deserve some less divided attention...because lets face it, with 3 kids, a husband and the rate life moves it will always be divided to some degree.
We attended our first home school group outing yesterday. It was a handmade Christmas gift exchange at the park. Minus the wind, the weather was beautiful, especially considering it is December and was in the 70s. All three girls had a blast. The girls worked so hard on the gifts that they made. Halie made a tutu, bracelet and hair clip and Emma did the Box O' Princesses, (from the tutorial posted by Little Blue Boo.) They both came out perfect. I loved seeing how hard they worked and how much pride they took in their gifts. Both big girls LOVED the gifts they got. Emma got an adorable pink apron with a cute owl on it and Halie got a beautiful box with some bath fizzies. Handmade gifts are always better. They were also excited because they each made 2 new friends. They met more, but really clicked with a couple. It made me happy. It's a wonderful start to our new journey. Friends always make things better. I was introduced to a couple of really sweet Moms and one brought us all some handmade lemon hand scrub (that is wonderful) and some shower discs that are PERFECT for the winter months!
I completed Halie's PAL admissions orientation for public home school today. I know it's not "real" home school, but I feel like she needs something more structured than I can give starting in the middle of the year and with Emma coming home as well. We need to build a foundation before I try to finish the whole house, if that makes sense. Halie will officially be home for school after the Christmas break. Her orientation week and skills evaluation will begin on Jan. 7th. I am praying that she is not nervous and this is a great thing for her. She is so bright and I know that there are no limits to what she can accomplish, but even still- change can be hard.
My plan with Emma is to start the same day- the 7th. I know it's a little longer Christmas break than everyone else has, but Emma will go into the summer because my plan is to start with day one of 2nd grade. She needs to relearn a lot of it and now I am learning that there is so much that for whatever reason, she was never taught. It will be good. By then, we will be burnt out on having fun and I will be hearing the B word (bored) quite often I am sure.
Today we just enjoyed each others company. H and E have been going between teaching each other art and playing outside for the majority of the day. We went next door for a bit to "help" the movers pack up our neighbor/friend's house. Boo was being a ham. Our friend's name is Andrea, but Boo can't say it, so she calls her Annie. She ran around the house saying, "Annie, I here." When Annie never came out or responded, Boo came to where we were sitting, on the couch with her little head lowered and her pouty lip out. :( It made us all a little sad because we realize that our very loved friends won't just pop out when we call them anymore. With that being said, we know that they have amazing opportunities in front of them and we are very happy for them.
After that- Boo went into total ham mode, as you can see.
Who needs a chair when you have a comfy big sister?
.JPEG)
And this...the infamous "diggin." I try to tell her Daddy that while he thinks she's funny, I am NOT going to have fun undoing all of these things she is learning. She was running around in circles saying in her gruff voice, "I dig gold, I dig gold." On the other hand, I would like to say thank you, Brenna. For giving Mommy more than enough blackmail pictures to ensure that you will never date. ;) Love you honey!
I will reactivate it some time after the new year. When I am gone, I don't want my kids to read how I felt about them on my FB page. I want them to know that I did my best every day to show them how much I love them, and they deserve some less divided attention...because lets face it, with 3 kids, a husband and the rate life moves it will always be divided to some degree.
We attended our first home school group outing yesterday. It was a handmade Christmas gift exchange at the park. Minus the wind, the weather was beautiful, especially considering it is December and was in the 70s. All three girls had a blast. The girls worked so hard on the gifts that they made. Halie made a tutu, bracelet and hair clip and Emma did the Box O' Princesses, (from the tutorial posted by Little Blue Boo.) They both came out perfect. I loved seeing how hard they worked and how much pride they took in their gifts. Both big girls LOVED the gifts they got. Emma got an adorable pink apron with a cute owl on it and Halie got a beautiful box with some bath fizzies. Handmade gifts are always better. They were also excited because they each made 2 new friends. They met more, but really clicked with a couple. It made me happy. It's a wonderful start to our new journey. Friends always make things better. I was introduced to a couple of really sweet Moms and one brought us all some handmade lemon hand scrub (that is wonderful) and some shower discs that are PERFECT for the winter months!
I completed Halie's PAL admissions orientation for public home school today. I know it's not "real" home school, but I feel like she needs something more structured than I can give starting in the middle of the year and with Emma coming home as well. We need to build a foundation before I try to finish the whole house, if that makes sense. Halie will officially be home for school after the Christmas break. Her orientation week and skills evaluation will begin on Jan. 7th. I am praying that she is not nervous and this is a great thing for her. She is so bright and I know that there are no limits to what she can accomplish, but even still- change can be hard.
My plan with Emma is to start the same day- the 7th. I know it's a little longer Christmas break than everyone else has, but Emma will go into the summer because my plan is to start with day one of 2nd grade. She needs to relearn a lot of it and now I am learning that there is so much that for whatever reason, she was never taught. It will be good. By then, we will be burnt out on having fun and I will be hearing the B word (bored) quite often I am sure.
Today we just enjoyed each others company. H and E have been going between teaching each other art and playing outside for the majority of the day. We went next door for a bit to "help" the movers pack up our neighbor/friend's house. Boo was being a ham. Our friend's name is Andrea, but Boo can't say it, so she calls her Annie. She ran around the house saying, "Annie, I here." When Annie never came out or responded, Boo came to where we were sitting, on the couch with her little head lowered and her pouty lip out. :( It made us all a little sad because we realize that our very loved friends won't just pop out when we call them anymore. With that being said, we know that they have amazing opportunities in front of them and we are very happy for them.
After that- Boo went into total ham mode, as you can see.
Who needs a chair when you have a comfy big sister?
.JPEG)
And this...the infamous "diggin." I try to tell her Daddy that while he thinks she's funny, I am NOT going to have fun undoing all of these things she is learning. She was running around in circles saying in her gruff voice, "I dig gold, I dig gold." On the other hand, I would like to say thank you, Brenna. For giving Mommy more than enough blackmail pictures to ensure that you will never date. ;) Love you honey!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Brenna is rarely still enough to fall asleep on my chest, but tonight she did. I think that she knew that I needed it. To feel her heart beat against my chest screaming that she is healthy and alive. My heart is aching so badly for all of the families involved in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. I cannot even begin to imagine what I would do to coupe, or how I would even manage to take my first step after hearing the news. I have literally been in tears on and off since I heard the news. I just think about my beautiful children and I feel so blessed. I think about Christmas coming so fast and the birthdays that we will celebrate soon after....then, I think about all of the families who will never celebrate a holiday or a birthday the same, all because of a senseless, selfish act.
I have been hearing so much about the children. I think it is just so hard to make any sense of it. Of all of the people, why take the lives of innocent children. I haven't heard enough about the school staff. The teachers that hid their classes in closets and under book shelves. The teacher that hid her class, told them to be quiet and when the gunman entered, told him that she had dropped them off at the gym. She very selflessly saved those precious babies lives and lost hers. Or the custodian that ran up the hall telling everyone to get down, making sure that classroom doors were locked. Or the police and medics who have these horrific images burned into their minds.
I know that there are no words that can be said that will help bring any sense to this. There are no words that can take the immense pain away that these families are feeling. What we can do for them is pray. We can pray that they find some kind of peace. We can pray that they remember that one day, they will be reunited with their precious angels.
Even those of us who were not directly impacted by this tragic event have been impacted for life. This is something that will never leave our minds. We are not just grieving for these families, we are grieving with them.
So, in the morning- when your kids get up at the crack of dawn and you didn't plan on waking up until 9....instead of complaining, take the extra hours to love on them. Tickles in bed, watch their favorite cartoons and try to copy the funny characters voices, let them help you make breakfast or let them pick out their outfit for the day and when they come in the living room to show you, tell them how stunning they look in their red shirt, yellow pants and pink boots. Praise them for who they are and all that they bring to your life. TELL them how much you love them, don't just expect that they know. Remember that God knew you. He wanted YOU to have those beautiful souls for a reason.
With the hustle of life, we tend to miss out on so many important moments. For the Moms and Dads that were so wrongfully stripped of their mornings, hug and kisses and sleepy I love yous, TAKE ADVANTAGE of these moments that you are blessed with.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. No matter our age, we are never guaranteed tomorrow. I will keep these precious children in my mind for the rest of my days. I will let it be a reminder to me that I never know when the last time I see my kids, my husband, my Grandma or my friends will be. I WILL do my best to make every moment count, because we never know when it will be our last.
Heartfelt prayers are going out from our family, for these beautiful families involved.
I have been hearing so much about the children. I think it is just so hard to make any sense of it. Of all of the people, why take the lives of innocent children. I haven't heard enough about the school staff. The teachers that hid their classes in closets and under book shelves. The teacher that hid her class, told them to be quiet and when the gunman entered, told him that she had dropped them off at the gym. She very selflessly saved those precious babies lives and lost hers. Or the custodian that ran up the hall telling everyone to get down, making sure that classroom doors were locked. Or the police and medics who have these horrific images burned into their minds.
I know that there are no words that can be said that will help bring any sense to this. There are no words that can take the immense pain away that these families are feeling. What we can do for them is pray. We can pray that they find some kind of peace. We can pray that they remember that one day, they will be reunited with their precious angels.
Even those of us who were not directly impacted by this tragic event have been impacted for life. This is something that will never leave our minds. We are not just grieving for these families, we are grieving with them.
So, in the morning- when your kids get up at the crack of dawn and you didn't plan on waking up until 9....instead of complaining, take the extra hours to love on them. Tickles in bed, watch their favorite cartoons and try to copy the funny characters voices, let them help you make breakfast or let them pick out their outfit for the day and when they come in the living room to show you, tell them how stunning they look in their red shirt, yellow pants and pink boots. Praise them for who they are and all that they bring to your life. TELL them how much you love them, don't just expect that they know. Remember that God knew you. He wanted YOU to have those beautiful souls for a reason.
With the hustle of life, we tend to miss out on so many important moments. For the Moms and Dads that were so wrongfully stripped of their mornings, hug and kisses and sleepy I love yous, TAKE ADVANTAGE of these moments that you are blessed with.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow. No matter our age, we are never guaranteed tomorrow. I will keep these precious children in my mind for the rest of my days. I will let it be a reminder to me that I never know when the last time I see my kids, my husband, my Grandma or my friends will be. I WILL do my best to make every moment count, because we never know when it will be our last.
Heartfelt prayers are going out from our family, for these beautiful families involved.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Life has taken over and left me in a cloud of dust. It's been 2 months since I last wrote anything. I don't think I have ever gone so long without writing. Here is a small update of what I can see now that the dust is starting to settle.
We are about to embark on one of the biggest journeys of our lives. We are about to become a home schooling family. I would lie if I said I wasn't a little worried and overwhelmed. Thankfully, I have met some amazing HS families through a community page that have been more than willing to share ideas and motivate me in the right direction. I already know that they will be one of the biggest keys to our success. WHY home school? I've been asked this question so much by the people I expected to get support from. E was recently diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD. She has had a really rough start to her education. Did you know- lovely public school has not even taught our 2nd graders to subtract yet? I don't mean borrowing, carrying and getting all fancy. BASIC subtraction. "What does that sign mean?" :( I taught her this on a Sunday morning in a matter of 30 minutes. SHE LOVED IT! Every day since she has come in asking me if she can work on math. I know my girls really well. I don't feel like they are being given the opportunity to reach their full potential. Will I do everything right? UM NO! Of course not, but with a lot of prayer, a lot of support from my husband and children who are actually eager to learn, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a grand adventure.
I have decided that first we will just have some down time. Maybe a week of freeing our minds and loving on each other. Just some time to make a clean slate. After that, I have a lot of little things planned to see where E is on the spectrum. I don't care if she is at a kindergarten level at this point- we just need to know the best place to start. Even if that means going back to the basics. Without a stable foundation there is no way she will be able to hold the massive amounts of knowledge she will be handed through out life.
As for H, she is next. After E is situated and going we will bring her home as well. Why not at the same time? I know my girls. E needs much more attention and will require me to be by her side 99% of the time. Eventually, I know she will learn to be self sufficient, but that won't be now. H is a self learner. She doesn't like you to tell her how to do things. I think she really enjoys the challenge of figuring things out and being proud of herself when she can say, "I figured it out." With that being said, this is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us. I would like to make it as easy as possible. You can't forget that we have a strong willed, wild almost 22 month old at home too. :)
I am beyond excited to start this journey!
I am totally open to suggestions and little tips/tricks or "you need to know" advice. :)
We are about to embark on one of the biggest journeys of our lives. We are about to become a home schooling family. I would lie if I said I wasn't a little worried and overwhelmed. Thankfully, I have met some amazing HS families through a community page that have been more than willing to share ideas and motivate me in the right direction. I already know that they will be one of the biggest keys to our success. WHY home school? I've been asked this question so much by the people I expected to get support from. E was recently diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD. She has had a really rough start to her education. Did you know- lovely public school has not even taught our 2nd graders to subtract yet? I don't mean borrowing, carrying and getting all fancy. BASIC subtraction. "What does that sign mean?" :( I taught her this on a Sunday morning in a matter of 30 minutes. SHE LOVED IT! Every day since she has come in asking me if she can work on math. I know my girls really well. I don't feel like they are being given the opportunity to reach their full potential. Will I do everything right? UM NO! Of course not, but with a lot of prayer, a lot of support from my husband and children who are actually eager to learn, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a grand adventure.
I have decided that first we will just have some down time. Maybe a week of freeing our minds and loving on each other. Just some time to make a clean slate. After that, I have a lot of little things planned to see where E is on the spectrum. I don't care if she is at a kindergarten level at this point- we just need to know the best place to start. Even if that means going back to the basics. Without a stable foundation there is no way she will be able to hold the massive amounts of knowledge she will be handed through out life.
As for H, she is next. After E is situated and going we will bring her home as well. Why not at the same time? I know my girls. E needs much more attention and will require me to be by her side 99% of the time. Eventually, I know she will learn to be self sufficient, but that won't be now. H is a self learner. She doesn't like you to tell her how to do things. I think she really enjoys the challenge of figuring things out and being proud of herself when she can say, "I figured it out." With that being said, this is going to be a huge adjustment for all of us. I would like to make it as easy as possible. You can't forget that we have a strong willed, wild almost 22 month old at home too. :)
I am beyond excited to start this journey!
I am totally open to suggestions and little tips/tricks or "you need to know" advice. :)
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