Sunday, January 31, 2010

Snow!!!

We got snow!!!
Not a whole lot but snow!
The boys all had snow ball fights and slid down the street.
Beau and Liam both tried to make a snow angel but there really wasn't enough snow to do that.
We got a little more tonight. I hope we get a lot more while we are sleeping.
Sadly the roads were so bad today I had to call out.
I'm hoping to make up some of those hours tomorrow if the roads are better.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Rental

We have had 3 renters so far. This one seems to be the best of the bunch...that is said before I see the inside of the house. He has a 6 month lease with the option to do another 6 months. I'm not sure if he plans on doing moving out or staying another six months. Month six is March so I want to have time to either get it on the market again and info out for rent. I hope he replies this weekend....even if it's just to say he doesn't know yet. My prayer is this house sells. I am thankful for this renter and that God has provided!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Reading

Beau is reading!!!!
Today Beau brought me Hop on Pop and asked me to read it to him.
I asked him to try to sound out the words. With ease he read the first couple pages!!
I'm sooo proud of him!

Tall

All of my boys are tall for their age. Austin is probably right in the mix for a 16 year old boy. He is close to 6'1. Liam is wearing sizes 5-7 depending on what it is. Beau is wearing size 4-6 depending on what it is. We have both Liam and Beau in the same Sunday School class because Beau isn't ready to be in class by himself. Liam is in the right class and Beau is in with kids a year older. Lauren and Jaelyn join us for Church. So when I take the kids to their class I have 3 for one class....Liam and Lauren are the same age and basicly the same size. Almost every time there is a new teacher they remind me the class is for 5 year olds and the bigger kids are down another hall. Thank you for that info, they are 5!! I smile and say "They are 5 but Beau is 4 and won't stay in his own room so they have given him permission to stay with his brother." They always say something like "Wow they look like they are 7!"
I know since we held Liam back one year from starting school he will tower over the other kids! But I also know he will do very well and in a couple years they will catch up. Beau wants to be taller than Liam. He will eat just about anything we tell him it will help him grow taller! LOL!! I think Beau just might be the tallest of the 3...I'm looking forward to seeing my grown sons one day!

Last Tuesday at Target

I have changed my hours at Target to get ready for the daycare. So tonight was my last night at the store on a Tuesday...at least for now! WooHoo!! I'm looking forward to more dinners at home. This should also give me more hours with Target...or at least that is my hope! I hope to get at least 23 hours a week now at Target. I hope to get back my health insurance for next year. I'm looking forward to not having to rush off on Tuesday nights. Thank you God!! I am so thankful for my Target job and being able to be at home with the kids during the day.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Sweet Talker

All that extra sleep has given Beau extra sweet words.
I am still working on the nursery room. It's hard to get a lot done during the week, but I try to do 10-15 minutes a couple times a day and I can see it's slowly changing! I was moving some things around while the boys were eating. Beau popped around the corner all smiles…He said “Mommy your aren’t a Mommy you’re a Princess!” I told him “I’m both!”
My little sweet talker!

Awake Yet?

It's 11:30am and Beau is still asleep. He had a hard time going to sleep last night but I think he is growing. I have a feeling when he does get up today he will be an inch taller! He has been eating more than Liam lately. I think I just heard him get up! I can't wait to hear all about his dreams...

Monday, January 25, 2010

Be a Person of Your Word

I'm teaching the kids to be a person of their word. I want them to learn that what you have doesn't define who you are and that if you say you are going to do something you follow thru with it. I want my boys to grow up to be honest men. So many people say they are going to do something and never do it. They don't follow thru on their promises. They are like the boy who called wolf. No one will trust them or believe them because they have lied so many times. I don't want that for my children. I want my children to be honest and a person of their word. That will make a huge difference in their lives. At work their employers will know that when they say they are sick or will have a project done at this date it is true. Or if they are the employer their employees will know if they say they are working hard to find benefits at the best rates possible the employees know they are being honest. That will make a difference in their friendships, dating, marriages and relationships with family and friends. Sadly I have been lied to more often lately by family members. This only makes me feel more strongly about teaching my boys how important it is not to lie. The lesson I'm also gaining from this situation is some people are not truthful even when you are. I am a person of my word...at the end of the day it does make a difference in who am. When people ask me questions they know I'm going to be honest. When I give my word I'm going to do somthing they know I will follow thru. Sadly sharing DNA doesn't mean having the same morals. It's one thing to disagree and be honest another to flat out lie. I hope no one ever views my children this way. I pray they learn the value of being a person of your word and honest. God will teach those that lie how horrible it is by the consequences that will come from their choices. Boys make good choices, be honest with yourself and others, be a man of your word. God will bless your socks off!

Olivia

Now at 8 months she is picking up different words. Just a couple right now but I can see she is trying to say others and wants to talk with us more. Her stories are always interesting so I'm looking forward to hearing them in English! LOL!!! Big football games yesterday. How do I know Olivia watched the games with her parents...."OOH YEAH" We are still working on rolling...she moves around very well for baby who isn't crawling yet. Working on that one too. I think she is working on speaking and we are trying to get her to roll and crawl...lol! I'm sure when she is ready she will be on the move and fast!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Liam on Getting Married

This week Liam came to me with a very worried face.
Liam "Mom I can't marry Lauren..she doesn't live with us. We have to live together to get married."
Mom calmly "You can marry Lauren. You have to go to college first then marry Lauren then live together. God wants you to be married first then live together. You need to finish college first because you guys want to have 100 babies...you will need a very good paying job to care of them."
Liam relieved "Ok, no one explained this to me but now that I know we don't live together until we are married I can marry Lauren and be happy."
Liam, it's always interesting to see you put things together and learn and grow! I'm so happy you look forward to being married. Your Dad and I want all 3 of you boys to be wonderful husbands and fathers.

Friday, January 22, 2010

A's Again!

Austin, today you brought home straight A's again!!!
WooHoo!!! One step closer to a full ride scholarship! I’m so proud of you. You continue to grow and mature and become a man I can be proud to call my son. Continue to learn from your choices both good and bad. Continue to learn from others choices. Wise people don’t have to experience everything for themselves…they learn from watching others too! The difference between wisdom and knowledge is the scares from making those choices….knowledge comes from making those bad choices and living thru the consequences. Put God first always! Know you are loved!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Winter

We had a couple days of warm weather this week. I enjoyed not hearing the heat kick on and the kids loved wearing shorts and short sleeve shirts. Well that weather is gone and the cold and rain is back. I’m very thankful for the rain. We had a drought for a couple years so I enjoy the rain. I used to let Austin put rain boots on and splash in the puddles when he was younger. He would take a warm bath afterwards and I would make us hot coco and watch a fun kids movie. I haven’t done that with the little guys yet. Maybe next month I’ll pick up some rain boots for them. I know they will love it!

Neighbor Change

Three houses across the street from us are for sell. That makes it sound like we live in an awful neighborhood or are horrible neighbors. One was transferred and it looks like their house in under contract. The second is up for sell as part of a divorce. The third is getting married! I'm very happy for her but I'm going to miss her. So now I'm praying for wonderful Christian neighbors with great kids.

Corps

It seems like every month Corps face changes. He now looks like a grumpy old man but is the sweetest puppy! He is slowly calming down...I have hopes in a year he will be very calm and I will struggle to get in outside to go potty! LOL!! I think Brewster is looking forward to that.

Enjoying a Warm Winter Day!

It felt like 70 degrees. It was so nice I took Austin and Beau to the park.
Liam wanted to stay home with Daddy...he didn't know we were going to the park.

Austin & Max

Beau


I see so much of my Dad and uncles in Austin now.

Liam

I love this picture...Beau's feet aren't even touching the ground!






Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Way behind

Ok so I haven't blogged in months. I will try to post some pictures from the last couple months today. I’m going to try to blog weekly again. Things have been a bit crazy but I can see the calm coming. I’m working on becoming a registered in-home daycare. Only a couple more things to complete. Right now I’m waiting on paperwork. I’m getting excited about doing this. I miss having a house full of kids.

The Maynard’s blessed us with a computer for the kids!! The one they had been using was so old they couldn’t do any of the learning software. Now with the new one they are having a blast! Of course their favorite thing on the computer is Webkinz…one of the Christmas presents from Lauren! I’m going to use this computer with the daycare too. I’m praying to find some toddlers to watch.

I’ve been moving more things around to get the house ready. I can’t do much during the week but I’m trying to do as much as possible during the weekends. I’m also picking up Saturday shifts at Target. I’m trying to work 23-28 hours a week. That will help increase my checks but even more help me qualify for health insurance for next year. I took off sooo much time in 2009 trying to help my cousin I lost my health insurance for my boys and myself. I want to make sure that never happens again. I hope to qualify for 2012 by October. The extra income will be a huge blessing too! No it’s not going to pay anything off but it will help pay things down!

I’m still going to do the photography business. It’s just on the back burner for now. Right now I’m doing it as a gift. I know there are so many that just can’t afford to get pictures done right now. So I’m going to build my portfolio and bless others!

Austin is signing up for track today. He started his new classes yesterday. He had to write an essay about himself. I would like to read that! I had to work last night so I didn’t get a chance to read it yet. It seems like I blink and he has grown another half an inch. I just took several bags of things he outgrew to a friend’s. I have a feeling I will have more for them in a month! Austin has been able to work a couple days this month. He helps a neighbor who does landscaping. I need to get some pictures of him working one of these days. Jeff – his boss – has become a mentor for him. He also has a wonderful mentor from his Bible study group – Nick. I thank God for placing more honorable men in his life!

Liam is growing like a weed. I have a feeling he will be taller than at the young age of 10 if he keeps growing like this. Next school year should be very interesting. I think he will tower over his peers! LOL!! Liam is such a lovable young man. He is doing much better about picking up his room and the playroom. He loves having Olivia here. He wants to have his own sister. I keep telling him to pray. I ran across a bag in the attic this weekend full of clothes for Liam!! WooHoo. Some are from 2 years ago when I found pants on clearance at Target for $1.25 and sweaters for $1.15! I had started to pray again for God to fill his drawers as I noticed things were again getting small on him. I’m amazed by how much he has grown this winter.

Beau is about an inch shorter than Liam. He is still very thin. I’m very thankful for the adjustable waist pants! Thankfully as I move things out of Liam’s dresser Beau can use most of them. Beau is really getting the hang of reading small words. We are working on their school books daily now. Beau isn’t into as much as Liam is but I know that will change the easier writing gets for him. I’m praying for a learning partner for him. I would love for God to fill my daycare spots with children close to Beau’s age. That will help him when Liam goes to school. Beau also loves Olivia. He wants a sister and he wants to name her Olivia – “Because he loves Olivia soo much”…my sweet boys!