Thankful Thursday

Being a stay at home mom can be tough, and it can be especially tough to come up with creative, fun, and educational activities to do with your children.  Since my children don't go to daycare, I still feel it's my job to teach them basic preschool skills as well as plan outings and learning activities.  I want all those fun things that daycare provides, but I want to be the one to do them with my kids.  I actually quite like doing this so it's surprisingly fun for me.

There are a number of blogs and websites that I frequent almost daily for ideas.  I seriously do not know where I'd be without the world wide web and these other mommy bloggers out there who are so much more creative than I am.  I am so very thankful for these resources.  Here are several of my very favorites:




















http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/

http://www.dltk-kids.com/

http://www.first-school.ws/INDEX.HTM

http://www.kidzone.ws/

Wordless Wednesday - random pictures from June 28, 2011

Cars 2

This weekend Asher saw his first movie in the theatre!  Well, technically he's been before as a baby to the Mom and Baby movies at our local theatre, but this was his first real movie for him in the theatre.  We saw Cars 2.  Cars is his all time favorite movie, as most of you already know.  It was only playing in 3D and I wasn't sure how Asher would do with the glasses, but he did great.  We went with some friends of ours, and sent the dads early to get us seats (it was a sold out show).  Here are some photos of the event...

Asher was glued to the screen for the entire 2 hours.  He loved it!  He didn't even want to look away to take a drink or try popcorn for the first time.  Despite the fact that the movie was a little more action packed than I would liked for a 3 year old, it was a super fun experience.  I guess now that we know Asher does well in the theatre, we may go see more kid movies.  This is exciting for me!

Thankful Thursday

Yesterday was Asher's last day of preschool for the summer.  He has had a lot of fun there this year, I know, and I'm just really glad he was able to attend.

Today he received a class picture, and has been looking at it and talking about it all day.  He has said about it "these are all my friends" and then named off each one, "there's the truck!", and "Ruby is my favorite".  Yes, Ruby, a girl, who he apparently likes a lot.  Didn't expect this to happen so soon!

I'm so thankful for the friendships he has formed there, for the teachers investment in him, and for the new things he has learned.  As a parent it's easy to question if we're always making the "right" decisions for our children.  The decision to send Asher to preschool 2 mornings a week I know was the "right" decision for him and our family.

Some memorable moments from preschool this year;

"Mama you always come back, right?" is what Asher said basically every day I dropped him off for about 3 months.
"Thank you God for Roxy" is what Asher prayed sometimes at night after he's been to preschool for the morning.  Roxy is one of his teachers.
The days of the week songs that have come into our house from preschool.  Asher has sung these many, many times.
"Mama it's February".  I had never spoken to him about months of the year before...
Asher gets right in my face after I put his indoor sneakers on and says "bye Mama" before he eagerly runs off to play.  It's as if he knows he has to say bye but he's trying to get it done as quickly as possible so he can go do what he wants to do.  Too funny!

And now I'm just thankful to have the summer with my boys all to myself!  So many fun things to do and see... :)

Wordless Wednesday - new stuff in my kitchen edition

I want to say something...

... but I don't really know what.  My life really is more than the Wordless Wednesday's and Thankful Thursday's that you see.  It's a lot more.

A lot more chaos.  A lot more drama.  A lot more laughter.  A lot more tears.  A lot more hardship.  A lot more love.  A lot more busy.  A lot more boring.

The past 2 nights we kept Asher's door open overnight to let the air in the house circulate to cool his room down.  His door is normally shut.  In the morning he has ran into my room, climbed up on the bed with me, and cuddled, talked, and jumped as I woke up.  I love it, and don't, all at the same time.

I only have 3 weeks left of caring for Marek and Milah on Tuesday's and Thursday's before they move to the other side of the country.  I am sad about this.  I haven't talked much to Asher about it yet, but I know I need to start that conversation soon.

My dad is not doing well, cancer wise.  This sucks and scares me.

Being married is just plain hard sometimes.  It doesn't seem like this for everyone.  Is it?  Everyday I have to choose to respond out of love, even when I don't want to.  Somedays this is easy to do and somedays it is not. 

I need a haircut.

We are going to see the new Cars 2 movie in theatre on Saturday.  I can't wait to do this with Asher.  It'll be his first time.

I miss my friends.  Those that are close that I don't get to see as often as I'd like, and those that are far that I definitely don't get to see as often as I'd like.

My mom is great.  Really, really great.

I started taking a yoga class.  My instructor is a middle aged lady with a cute British accent.  I like listening to her.

We moved the toy room upstairs on the main level and the adult furniture and book shelves downstairs in the basement.  I am really happy about this decision.

Asher is having bowel issues and is now on a daily stool softener.

I need to start exercising more regularly.

We are renting a camping trailer for one week in August at a camp ground near a beach.  I can't wait for this.

I am taking a university course this summer.  I'm nervous about the workload.


I guess that's everything I wanted to say... thanks for listening!

Thankful Thursday

"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again"

Dag Hammarskjold

Wordless Wednesday - pink eye edition

I'm glad I didn't miss that!

I was wearing Levi on my chest in a baby carrier at church on Sunday.  He was facing inward, with his chest against mine, looking off to the side at a friend who was saying hi to him.  He's such a happy, social baby, and when my friend started talking to him, he smiled.

I know because I felt it.

His whole body lit up.  His posture changed, his head bent towards her, his chest opened up, and he reached for her.  I felt his energy and love filling up and pouring out of his little body.  I felt a change in him.  I knew he had his big smile plastered across his face - and he did.

Little Levi - your smile not only lights up your face, but you put your whole being into it.  It's amazing and I'm so blessed to get to witness it dozens of times a day.  I hope you know that when you smile, it lights up my soul too.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

... Asher going to preschool so I could have a nap with Levi this morning after his 5:30 AM wake up.

... lunch with a friend.

... boiled eggs on toast (I had a craving).

... some quiet time during the boys afternoon naps.

... sunshine-y afternoons when I can work in the house with the windows open.

... my mom getting off early to come spend some of the afternoon outdoors with us.

... finally getting my garden plot dug up.

... Asher's delight in the simple things.  His joy and laughter when playing with the hose today was priceless.

... lazy summer afternoon walks.

... that Asher ate sweet potatoes at supper time.

... that Levi eats basically whatever weird combination of food I puree together for him (tonight it was whole wheat pasta, black beans, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes).

... my mom putting the boys to bed tonight - she rocks.

... strawberries being $2.99 for a 2lb box at Costco.

... sleeping with the windows open.

... connecting with a friend.

... end of day showers when I can clean all the sunscreen off and go to bed feeling fresh.

... and I can't forget this one, my husband bringing me home ice cream earlier this week because he knew I had a rough day (it involved a suppository for Asher).

Wordless Wednesday - boy knees edition

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for old friends...

Wordless Wednesday - the smile I live for edition