Catching Up

These are obviously late but I finally downloaded pics from my camera!!!

 Love this picture.  Definitely needs to find it's way into a frame!

 Grace and her best friend from preschool.  Sure hope she gets into the same school we go to.  They adore each other.

 Passing out valentine's....of course with the help of her BFF!!!

 Andrew at his party.  Of course he is (almost) too cool for a valentine party and smiling with his friends.

Checking in.....again

It seems as if I get on here less and less.  This week I don't really have an excuses.  Andrew had a great basketball game last weekend.  They didn't win but he had 3 baskets and lots of blocking for his teammates.  Grace had a play date yesterday with a little friend from preschool and it was a lot of fun!  I got to have some mommy time talking and she got some playtime.  We are hoping to do this more often.  Today has been exhausting for me.  I took Andrew to school and came back home and went back to sleep for a while.  Thankfully Grace let me sleep while she watched a movie.  My throat hurts a little so I'm hope I'm not getting sick.  I am working the next 2 days and then 2 days next week as well.  I don't really have time to be sick.  Plus we have a busy weekend with basketball and Andrew's friend has a birthday party. 

I wish I could upload some recent pictures but I'm not sure where my camera is.  I may have possible left it in David's car but I keep forgetting to check when he gets home.  I'll try to remember to get it tonight so I can get some pictures on here.  I made some cute valentines for the kids to give their friends and wanted to show you guys.  Hopefully I'll be back soon.....don't hold your breath!

Cleaning out and being lazy

I am getting rid of some of the kids stuff and making room for new.  Just yesterday and today I sold the kids outdoor playhouse, a slide, and Andrew's train table (including trains, tracks and buildings).  It was a little sad to see it all go but such a relief to have more space.  We got the train table and tracks/trains for his 2nd birthday and it was used every single day for about 2 (or 3) years so it had a lot of love.  It was just time to go.  He has asked for a desk in his room so stuff has to go.  I think we are finally going to sell Grace's kitchen also.  I'm so sad about selling it but it just takes up so much space.  If it was smaller or could be pushed against a wall it wouldn't be a big deal.  Not sure what I was thinking when I got it but I HAD to have that specific one!  They have played with it a lot but she wants other things also like a reading corner.  I found one on Pinterest that is so awesome and I'm hoping that I can make it with the help of a friend and my mom.  I also want to get rid of our patio set.  We never use it and it makes my patio look really messy so I'd rather just have nothing out there or a small round table with a few chairs instead.  Oh, and I need to get rid of my dog.  In fact, I'd pay someone to take him.  He is tearing everything up trying to get out of the yard and we just don't have the time to deal with his issues and he needs someone that can give him the love and attention he needs.  It's just getting worse and worse as he gets older.  My goal is to go out everyday and throw the ball for him and play with him and hopefully that will help a little.  I'm also going to buy him something to keep him occupied during the day and see what happens. 


Andrew doesn't have school today so we are having a lazy day at home.  It is super windy and cold outside so I am cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!  Andrew had his first sleepover at our house last night so his friend is still here playing.  Thankfully they have all played together nicely and I can get stuff done without using the tv as a distraction for my kids!  Well, better get busy!  I still have lots on my list to accomplish today and typing on here isn't getting it done!  Next stop, bathroom!  Fun!!!!

Time flies

Wow!  Time really gets away from me.  I guess my schedule is a little too full since I can barely move as soon as I sit down in the evening and lately have been terrible at even making dinner for my wonderful family.  Man, I need to slow down.  Too bad that's not going to happen anytime soon.  Today I got a notice for jury duty in the mail.  I'm sure they won't excuse me since I wrote down that I am employed as a sub teacher.  The thing is, I have to pay for childcare even if I'm not getting paid and that is more than what they will give me each day for being on a jury.  If you write down that you are employed, they assume you have childcare and won't excuse you.  The thing is I might work 5-7 days a month if I'm lucky. 

I am back in bible study and for now it is on Tuesday mornings.  We are learning about the women of the bible and so far it is really good.  I'll switch to Monday nights when I start my long term position in April.  Not sure if I mentioned that on here, but I will be taking a 6 week position for a teacher that is having a baby.  It should start around the 1st week of April.  Today we learned about the Shunammite woman and how the faith she had in God and how she helped Elisha by feeding him and building a room for him to stay in while he traveled.  She didn't ask for anything in return and yet was blessed with a son.  It is a story that I may not have really paid much attention to especially since we never learn her name but I'm glad I know about it.  She was compassionate, hospitable, courageous, giving, selfless, and many other wonderful qualities.  The story is in the Old Testament in II Kings 4:8-37.  Last week we studied Mary and Martha.  Wonderful story as well.  I want to get the book about Women in the Bible to further my reading during this study.  This study will continue through November with a break for the summer.

The kids are doing well.  Grace is learning sight words and the -at and -an word families and loves to find the words in books and has small sight word books she can read!  She is loving it!  Andrew just got 100% on his math benchmark (he scored 100% on the other as well).  He continues to read above grade level and this summer I will be challenging him in comprehension and math to push him along.  He is practicing subtraction math facts to memorize as many as he can.  I am so proud of both of them.

For tonight, dinner is in the crockpot.  I made Angel Chicken (except we don't make it with pasta anymore and serve it over rice instead).  It is so yummy.  Guess I could change the name to Italian Chicken and Rice.   The recipe that I use calls for 1/2 cup chicken broth instead of dry white wine.  David loves it and the leftovers are good and the kids will eat the chicken so it's a good meal for everyone. 

 PJAmmin day at Andrew's school.  The kids were asked to wear pj's to represent all the hours that kids with cancer spend in their pj's.  They also collected donations and raised $1500.  Of course Grace and I participated as well.  It was a little embarrassing going to lunch at Panda Express in my pj's but I did it anyway.

 At an assembly at Andrew's school (same day) where we got to see wild animals including a 6 month old tiger.  My pictures didn't turn out that great but I'll try to put them on here another day.  Doesn't Grace look gorgeous in the above pic?  I love her smile!

Grace asked me to take this picture of her on the way to Andrew's basketball game the other day.  She loves that sweatshirt!  It's the school sweatshirt and she can't wait to go to kindergarten!  She'll want to wear that shirt all.the.time!!!