My boys...

When we first found out we were having a boy (almost 5 years ago) I was warned by my husband that raising a boy will be nothing like raising a girl. I only had one sister....so I really had no clue. I had to trust him...he should know he is a guy right? He said that I get to be "mommy" until they are old enough then he is to be turned over to dad. Totally get it now. Totally get it. Easton is almost 5 and Weston is 3 and the only thing they want to do is hang out with dad. They don't care where it is or what they are doing..as long as they get to ride in his truck and be with him....life is good. One slight problem...not whining or complaining here at all because I absolutely LOVE my job...but I am with my boys all day while my husband works outside of the home. Even though I do joke on some days...hey why don't you take one of the boys to work with you...he has only said yes a time or two...I am responsible for teaching them and raising them when dad is at work.

As Easton is showing more interest in learning new things (educational related...math, reading etc) I am finiding out that he learns much more differently than the girls did. With the girls I could sit down with a book and read and learn new words. They were ok with coloring pretty pictures of rainbows. Easton not so much. At the beginning of the year I pulled out some of the same things that I did with the girls at his age...he had very little interest. Let's just say he is a barrel of energy and NEEDS to be moving. Sitting down doing schoolwork is not his cup of tea. I am sure the time will come where I may have to redirect him, but he has so much energy bundled up...I need to just work with that. I can't imagine having him sit at a desk all day or even for 1/2 of a day or even for a single hour. That just isn't him. I also have the energy x2...Weston is right there with him most of the time. If you haven't raised 2 boys close in age together...you have no idea. None.

Some things that I have noticed with Easton that works with his extra energy is to play games where he has to run from one side of the room to another. He wants to be running...but sometimes we just can't be outside when it is 10 degrees out.

The boys seeing who can jump the highest...while I was eating breakfast...

For reading, I might write words on flashcards and hide them around the room. I call out a word and he has to run around and find it and then bring the word to me.

For math I lay flashcards out and blocks with the answers. Sometimes I put the two close together...sometimes I put them across the room. I tell him it is a race...he loves races...so he goes as fast as he could.

Sometimes we just play games. He loves BINGO, Boggle, or hide and go seek type games.

For reading there are some great aps for the ipad. He likes to read books and play educational type games. That is ok with me...as long as he is learning and is enjoying it.

He LOVES building things, so a lot of times I tell him to go build a tower as big as he is or build a gun out of xyz.

He also loves shooting nerf guns, so I might have him do an addition problem or spell a word and for every problem he gets right he gets to take a shot.

I know a lot of friends are struggling with their boys (and girls) if they are teaching them at home...or helping them with homework in the evenings. Maybe what you are doing isn't working...try something new. Maybe they need to be moving like Easton does. Maybe they will only be interested if there is a game or some type of competition involved. Maybe they are just not ready or not interested in learning what you or their teachers are ready for.

Remember EVERY child learns at their own pace and no two children are exactly alike! Have fun with them while discovering what is the best way that they can learn new things!

 

 

 

 

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Ready for a re-do!

Let's just say these past two weeks have been two of the longest weeks that we have had in a long time! We took off the week before last from school because we were getting hardwood floors installed and had two Valentine's Day parties to get ready for. The kids and I needed a break...so we took it. The week went off without a hitch except for my grandma passing away. My energy level was extremely low towards the end of the week and the flood gates opened for who knows what. I haven't been so sick in quiet a long time. Thank goodness it was a weekend, so I could just lay in bed. I was hopeful that Monday would be a new day...Katelyn then got a fever. She was fine on Tuesday. Then Joc got a fever. She had to miss my grandma's funeral. They both had a fever Wednesday. Nothing on Thursday and then sick again until today. So far as of tonight we are fever free! Two weeks off from school and I am anxious to get back into the swing of things.

My grandma's funeral was lovely. Quiet a few friends and family came out....that really meant a lot. The gospel was preached and hopefully reached the crowd. You find out about different practices that are out there..that I still don't get. My mom got a card saying that 6 masses have been paid for my grandma. We are both a bit confused. If anyone can explain that to me, that would be great. The praying is done for my grandma...so not sure why someone has wasted their money on some more church services. Enlighten me please. Maybe they are paying for the families that are grieving?? Why should you have to pay though?

After taking a few weeks off from life because of crud, I headed back to the gym yesterday. It felt oh so good! I have A LOT of work to do in the next month. I am running a 10k (6.2 miles) and then in May I am running a half (13.1 miles). I hope my body can make it. I just want to beat my last years time by at least a minute....or more would be great.

Who else is a bit bummed that the olympics are over? I am. My goal is to one day go to an olympic event.

I am oh so excited when people visit us! A friend from Omaha came by and spent Valentine's evening with us. We have people visiting us a few times next month as well!! I can not wait! So as the weather gets nicer and everyone is coming out of hybernation, we would love to host anyone that wants to head our way.

There are quiet a few people that need some extra prayers right now. I won't mention their names...

A friend of mine is having a great deal of pain and has not been able to figure out what is wrong. She has 4 littles ones like us.

Also another friend is at the beginning stages of pregnancy and needs prayers for things seen on an ultrasound.

My mom and her siblings need prayer as they go through the grieving process of losing their mom.

And last a believer who I believe is fornicating. Hopefully she will come to her senses and repent. If a guy really loves you, he will wait. If he won't...he isn't worth it.

 

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Happy Valentine's Day 2014!

Who would have guessed that in four months of living here I would have met some awesome friends and my kids would be surrounded with lots of new friends. I sure didn't. It took me over a year and a half to make a single friend when we moved outside of Lincoln 8 years ago. These past few days we have been hanging out with friends at parties and having fun. A good nap was in order for me today!

Yesterday our Co-op had a Valentine's day party. We made Valentines for all of the kiddos, made cards for a nursing home, and enjoyed Valentine goodies.

 

Not knowing that our co-op group had a party of our own we had already started inviting away for our own party. The kids made a list of all of their friends from various activities. Quiet a few sick kiddos in the end and car problems, so we missed seeing several, but we ended up having a pretty good turnout! A thank you goes out to my aunt Nan who has supplied us with enough stuff to throw a party!

And to top off this day...a friend from church is coming over for dinner! No presents here...just great company is all I need!

 

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Memories of my grandma

My grandma Deloris died today. She is my mom's mom.

Let me take a few minutes to tell you a little bit about my grandma. Everyone has different memories of their loved ones. I am sure my sister, cousins, aunts, and uncles have their own memories...but here are few.

I remember visiting my grandma's jewelry and art gallery in the Old Market in Omaha. She was always trying new business ventures. Her main specialty was being a portrait artist. She was really good at it.

I would also dream of the day that I would get my ears pierced so I could get freebie earrings from her.

I remember this was the location where I had my first and probably only store bought cake for my birthday. It was decorated with beautiful flowers and had my name written on it.

I remember getting the news at church from my dad that this gallery that her and my grandpa spent years of work into, burned down.

I remember the crazy drives around town to run errands or visit my aunt Nan in Irvington. My mom should not have allowed me to drive with her. What on earth was she thinking? Some of the scariest times I have had in the car was with my grandma. She yelled constantly at my grandpa while she was driving...."Dick" (that was his name) she would scream at the top of her lungs. The last memory I had of them together on one of our crazy drives was my grandpa spilling coffee all over. Who would have known you couldn't set coffee on the dash?

My sister and our grandma

I remember her visiting us and bringing in several bags of groceries, with food I could barely recognize. Liver patte was her favorite. I will always cherish those times where she made Christmas cookies galore.

I remember her moving to Branson and the cute little jewelry store she had down the road from Silver Dollar City. She made quiet a few friends in the area and really enjoyed it there. I remember the hummingbirds visiting us at her shop and the "famous" Jubilee singers visiting.

I remember her talking about moving to the town of Pierce City, Missouri. I always just thought to myself...sure grandma...whatever. She always had big dreams. Well sure enough next thing you know her and my grandpa bought a two story fixer upper building in the historic little town.

I remember vacationing in Pierce City with my family. We would go on several day trips to Oklahoma, Branson, and Springfield, Missouri. We would always ask how far away something was...and she would just respond....it was just down the road. I knew better...that always meant an hour or two. She always had us take the short cut to places...some of the most windiest roads...she had no fear of driving around the sharp bends in the Ozarks.

She took us to the spot outside of Monet, Missouri...the spot where my grandpa and her were abducted by aliens.

She introduced me to the very special place, Jolly Mill, just a few minutes away from her home...where I would later get married at...even though she no longer lived there when I did get married. It will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Our last visit before her stroke was my most memorable. Maybe because it was my last "real" time before she changed....she had a Bible. She was actually reading. Taking notes. She also took us to her Bible church and her friends were all believers. We could see that her life had changed. This was the last time we had with her before we got the call that she had suffered a really bad stroke. That was in 2001.

They don't know how long she had been lying there. Someone walking on the street outside of her building heard her faint cries for help. When we got there the doctors didn't have much hope for her. They pretty much gave up on her. My mom and I drove down there every weekend that we could. We transfered her up to Douglas County Health Center as soon as there was a bed space. She had her ups and downs at Douglas county. She loved playing BINGO and winning stuffed animals for my kiddos. She loved when we visited. She loved when my mom brought her little treats.

For a time she was also getting back into drawing. She sketched a wedding photo for Sean and I. I treasure this.

Now the time comes where we cherish the memories that we had with her. We will miss her, but it was her time to go. We prayed for peace and healing. The praying for her is now over. Nothing further can be done for her. We can't pray for her salvation. That was something she already did. She believed that Jesus Christ died for her sins. That by grace she was saved, through faith---it was a gift from God. It isn't through works. Her salvation comes through faith. Not hope. Not the feeling of...I am pretty good. Her time on earth is now over.

One day I will see her again. It isn't here on earth though.

Don't think that maybe tomorrow I will change my life. Don't think that maybe tomorrow I will start believing. You do not know how many breathes you have left.

Ephesians 2:8-9. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.

Ecclesiastes 7:2. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

John 14:1-3. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; Trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have not told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you and will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

I stole these pics off of facebook...thank you if I stole them from you. My mom has all of our family photos.

 

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Out with Sprout!!! Omaha Peeps-- This one is for you!

Screen shot of Out with Sprout!

Omaha Friends!!!  Launching today, February 11th at 10:00AM is a great new website called Out with Sprout! It features fun, family events in the Omaha area! 

This new site was created by few of my friends, Rachel & Sarah....along with their hubbies.   Between the two families they have 5 kids and one more on the way....so they are in the know about what is going on the area.

They have everything categorized into different sections...so if you are in the mood to do a certain activity you just click on that link.

 The categories include:

• Cheer:  Sporting events
• Experience:  various shows
• Explore:  Nature and other exploratory activities
• Play:  Activities such as swimming, ice skating etc.
• Celebrate:  Holiday and special occasions
• Create:  Bringing out your childrens creativity!
• and the last three are indoor, outdoor, and FREE!  

Events are also categorized by day, week, and month.  Just looking at today's calendar....there are quiet a few events going on in the Omaha area today!!

Their website is full of fun graphics that are pleasing to the eyes of parents with children!  

If you are interested in advertising an event or your company contact them today!!

Spread the word via Facebook, Instagram, e-mail, text messages, Twitter...and of course word of mouth!!