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!