Writing to Remember

Jaxson recently celebrated 100 Days of School!  He was so excited because they were going to have a celebration-meaning that they made a special necklace, hat, cake, and a parade. 

Now, I didn't know that parents could come to the parade but was happy that Kristi got (what seemed) like the only parent notice to come to the parade. 

So Julie and I showed up bright and early at 9am and was able to watch the kindergarteners and 1st graders march around! 


And count to 100 by 1's, 2's, 5's, 10's, and 25's.  That seriously was some major excitement for the number 100. 


Well, what Jax is lacking in excitement, he is making up for in being super serious about his counting!  The celebration was the highlight of his week!

2014 Verse:

My one word:

HERE (Focus on the here and now. As the verse above describes.)

Home Management

Clean out closets (Julie's is cleaned out.  Mine is started.)

Organize Attic (I need to wait until it is a bit warmer.  This 20 and 30 degree days are so cold!)

Project Life

Finish 2013 album (I'm in October 2013.  Slowly, slowly, I'm catching up.)

Pick out 2014 Album, core kit, and page protectors (Done.  I went with Jade edition.  And I love it!)

Books to Read

Sticky Faith by Kara E. Powell, Brad M. Griffin, and Dr. Cheryl A. Crawford

Courageous: A Novel by Randy Alcorn

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

Beyond Ordinary by Justin and Trisha Davis

Patchwork Dreams by Laura Hilton

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Complete by Arabah Joy

Holy Parenting by Benjamin Kerns

God's Story, Your Story by Max Lucado

Declutter by Laura Marler (Done in January.  Eh.  It was ok.  It was any advice that I haven't heard before.)

Believing God by Beth Moore

The Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore

To Live is Christ by Beth Moore

When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore

The Apostle:  The Life of Paul by John Pollock

Raising Kids with Character by John and Susan Yates

Bible Study

1000 Gifts Devotional by Ann Voskamp (I haven't started this yet.)

James Study with Mars Hill Church Podcast.  (I'm up to date with this one.  Loving it.)

Bible Memorization

I'm memorizing various verses in the book of John guided by Ann Voskamp.  She has some great printables for this as well!
I'm up to John 6:68.

Jaxson's birthday fell on a Thursday this year and somehow we ended up celebrating on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  A three day celebration for Jax was right up his alley.

On Thursday, I brought cupcakes to school during snack time and the kids loved that!  Jax doesn't talk about his friends much, but I had several kindergarten boys come up to me and tell me that they were Jax's friend and some even said they were his best friend!  That was nice to know since whenever I ask Jax about who he plays with he just shrugs his shoulders and says he doesn't remember.

(He was pretty happy after his cupcake!)

Jax couldn't wait to go to PE on his birthday and get his "Birthday Spanking."  I'm not sure what that all entailed but apparently all the kids think it is cool.  He's got a really neat PE teacher that just loves her job and all the kids and makes PE lots of fun.

While he was at school, Julie and I decorated our dining room with Skylander's stuff.  It totally surprised him and he loved it!

After Justin got home from work, we opened presents and we had some family came over to wish him a happy birthday!

Here he was thinking about his wish...

On Friday evening we went up to a restaurant called All Aboard.  We had heard about it-that the kids would love it and they did!  A train up above the tables goes around the track and delivers your food.  Both Jax and Julie were fascinated with the train and couldn't wait to see which table it would drop off the food.

Jax wore his conductor hat all night, but Julie took hers off after a couple of minutes because she was wearing her bow and it just got in the way.  (This girly, girl is very proud of her new bows!)

On Saturday was his bowling party birthday.  We picked up his Skylander cake and was so proud of it!

The kids loved to bowl and Julie got a ton of spares!  This is how she bowled and let me tell you, it sure worked!  She held her own during the game with all the big kids!

After the game, it was time to eat cake and open presents!

Jax had a blast during his impromtu three day celebration.  I'm tired...and poor Julie could not stand that someone else was getting tons of attention.  She has it already planned out that she wants a princess birthday party and that she is going to dance at her party.  Now, I'm not too sure I'll be planning a three year old princess dance party, but I'm sure I can plan something she would approve of.  Sheesh.

Happy 6th Birthday Jax!  You are such a blessing to our family and such a sweet kid!

Jax had an awards assembly this morning.  And unlike the Christmas Sing-a-long, I actually knew about it this time and could attend!

Jax received a Superstar award and a Perfect Attendance Award.  I was pretty proud of him and when it was all done and I wanted to get his picture taken, he obliged.  And then he asked if he could go. 

I guess I was crimping his style.  He had more important things to do than to hang out with Julie and me!

Well, we made it through the holidays.

I've had my fill of Kuga. (similar to Kuchen)

And Doughies. (similar to Knepfla)

There were lots of Lego building following Christmas.

I made my Goals for 2014.  (And I am fully aware of Proverbs 16:9.  2013 was a prime example of that.)

We had a slight snowfall.

We enjoyed a nice southern New Year's tradition of black eye peas and greens on New Year's Day.

Jaxson even made a New Years Resolution for his assignment at school.

Translation:  He is going to help Dad and Mom clean up the back yard.  (I sure liked that goal!  And he has been a big help as we have been working on our landscaping back there.)

And now it's freezing out.

We definitely aren't as cold as the rest of the country, but seriously.  When it feels like 2 outside, that's cold!

Now that break is done, it's back to school, work, and clearing out clutter!

2014 Verse:

My one word:

HERE (Focus on the here and now. As the verse above describes.)

Home Management

Clean out closets

Organize Attic

Project Life

Finish 2013 album

Pick out 2014 Album, core kit, and page protectors

Books to Read

Sticky Faith by Kara E. Powell, Brad M. Griffin, and Dr. Cheryl A. Crawford

Courageous: A Novel by Randy Alcorn

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

Beyond Ordinary by Justin and Trisha Davis

Patchwork Dreams by Laura Hilton

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Complete by Arabah Joy

Holy Parenting by Benjamin Kerns

God's Story, Your Story by Max Lucado

Declutter by Laura Marler

Believing God by Beth Moore

The Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore

To Live is Christ by Beth Moore

When Godly People do Ungodly Things by Beth Moore

The Apostle:  The Life of Paul by John Pollock

Raising Kids with Character by John and Susan Yates

Bible Study

1000 Gifts Devotional by Ann Voskamp

Bible Memorization

To be determined...(I'm waiting to see what Ann Voskamp does. I'd like to follow along with that group this year.)

Goal check up for December!

Financial

Buy a 2nd car.  (Done in February.  I did not think we would accomplish this one so fast!)  

Buy a new (to us) reliable car for the family.  (Done.  Cute 2009 Ford Focus.)

School

Tot School is on hold indefinitely until we are settled in our new house.

Home Management

Use Little Green Notebook's cleaning schedule and stick to it!  (This is working great.)

Weekly:

Vacuum

Mop

Clean bathrooms

Monthly

Dust

Clean oven/microwave

Spot clean walls and carpets

Personal

Books

Here is the list I want to read.  I'm shooting under the table because if I finish this list, I can ADD MORE. 

Erasing Hell by Francis Chan (Done in August.  I was surprised that it was such an easy read for such a heavy topic.)

The Fitting Room by Kelly Minter (Finished in September.  Meh.)

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin (Read in March.  It was so good!)

Holy Parenting by Benjamen Kerns

Is the Bible True?:  How Modern Debates and Discoveries Affirm the Essence of the Scriptures by Jeffrey L. Sheler (Read in February.  This was super interesting!)

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (Finished in November.  This was a really good book.)

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Michal: A Novel by Jill Eileen Smith (Finished in May.  It was pretty good.  An easy read for sure.)

Sticky Faith by Kara Powell

A Taste of Heaven by R.C. Sproul

Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews (I read this in about 1/2 hour.  It had practically ideas about goal setting, but much of it I had already heard of before.)

Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestreicher

The Year of Living Biblically:  One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs (Read in January.  This was really funny!) 

Books read at Book Club:

Life of the Beloved:  Spritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J. M. Nouwen  (Read in January.  This was ok.)

A Hole in the Gospel:  What does God Expect From Us?  The Answer That Changed My Life and Just Might Change the World by Richard Sterns  (I actually read this last year!  I think it will bring some great discussion.)  I didn't read it this time around.

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (read in March)

Books I've added:

Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst (Read in May.  I really liked this book.  There were some really excellent points to it.)

Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst (Read in June.  I really enjoyed it.  I like her style of writing.)

Star Wars:  The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks (Jaxson is asking me all sorts of questions about the 1st three movies of Star Wars.  Time to brush up on my Star Wars knowledge!) (Read in July.  Still wasn't a fan of this 1st movie/book storyline.)

Star Wars:  Attack of the Clones by R.A. Salvatore (Read in July.  Love it, of course.) 

Star Wars:  Revenge of the Jedi by Matthew Stover (Read in July.  Eh, I didn't like this author as much. Too much focus on the battle scenes.  Not enough on character development.  Maybe the movie is that way as well.)

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp (Finished in December.  She is my favorite author and I loved this devotional.)

Bible Study time

Memorize the entire book of James.  (I've memorized to 5:20.  I'm done!  It was a little anti-climatic.)

Study the book of Luke with the Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  January-March)

Watch Doctrine series with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  April)

Watch Redeeming Ruth with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. April)

Watch Nehemiah with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. May)

Watch Ephesians with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done. May.)

Watch Trial (1 and 2 Peter) with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  June.)

Watch Acts with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. November.)

Read the entire Bible chronologically.  I'm using this plan. I'm in Titus right now.  I'm behind right now and didn't finish in time.  But that's ok.  I will finish in January and start a new plan.

December 10, 2013

Jaxson lost another tooth tonight.  He came home from school today just wiggling that thing away until it was hanging on by a thread (or gut, as Jax likes to call it.)  And just before bedtime, he pulled on it and out it came!

He was a little worried that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't come because it was getting late, but I assured him that she will.  And that maybe she even had an app on her iPhone that told her to stop by Jax's house.  He thought I was being silly, but if I was the Tooth Fairy (ahem) that's what I would do. 

Anyways, I was prepared this time around.  When his first tooth was lost, we had just moved in to this new house and I boxes everywhere.  This time around, I didn't have to worry...the Tooth Fairy had gotten some cash and a new Star Wars Lightsaber tooth brush!

Jax's letter to the Tooth Fairy is so cute.  He needed help spelling some words, but other than that he wrote it by himself.

It says:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

I lost another tooth. 

Love,

Jaxson

PS I need to keep my tooth.

And while he should be sleeping, he was drawing this picture of the Tooth Fairy coming into his room.  He drew his door, the Tooth Fairy (complete with a wand!), his note, and her bag of teeth.  Pretty creative!

Now let's hope this boy goes to sleep soon, so this Tooth Fairy doesn't have to stay up too late delivering the goods!

Goal check up for November!

Financial

Buy a 2nd car.  (Done in February.  I did not think we would accomplish this one so fast!)  

Buy a new (to us) reliable car for the family.  (Done.  Cute 2009 Ford Focus.)

School

Tot School is on hold indefinitely until we are settled in our new house.

Home Management

Use Little Green Notebook's cleaning schedule and stick to it!  (This is working great.)

Weekly:

Vacuum

Mop

Clean bathrooms

Monthly

Dust

Clean oven/microwave

Spot clean walls and carpets

Personal

Books

Here is the list I want to read.  I'm shooting under the table because if I finish this list, I can ADD MORE. 

Erasing Hell by Francis Chan (Done in August.  I was surprised that it was such an easy read for such a heavy topic.)

The Fitting Room by Kelly Minter (Finished in September.  Meh.)

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin (Read in March.  It was so good!)

Holy Parenting by Benjamen Kerns

Is the Bible True?:  How Modern Debates and Discoveries Affirm the Essence of the Scriptures by Jeffrey L. Sheler (Read in February.  This was super interesting!)

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (Finished in November.  This was a really good book.)

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Michal: A Novel by Jill Eileen Smith (Finished in May.  It was pretty good.  An easy read for sure.)

Sticky Faith by Kara Powell

A Taste of Heaven by R.C. Sproul

Tell Your Time by Amy Lynn Andrews (I read this in about 1/2 hour.  It had practically ideas about goal setting, but much of it I had already heard of before.)

Understanding Your Young Teen by Mark Oestreicher

The Year of Living Biblically:  One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs (Read in January.  This was really funny!) 

Books read at Book Club:

Life of the Beloved:  Spritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J. M. Nouwen  (Read in January.  This was ok.)

A Hole in the Gospel:  What does God Expect From Us?  The Answer That Changed My Life and Just Might Change the World by Richard Sterns  (I actually read this last year!  I think it will bring some great discussion.)  I didn't read it this time around.

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (read in March)

Books I've added:

Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst (Read in May.  I really liked this book.  There were some really excellent points to it.)

Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst (Read in June.  I really enjoyed it.  I like her style of writing.)

Star Wars:  The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks (Jaxson is asking me all sorts of questions about the 1st three movies of Star Wars.  Time to brush up on my Star Wars knowledge!) (Read in July.  Still wasn't a fan of this 1st movie/book storyline.)

Star Wars:  Attack of the Clones by R.A. Salvatore (Read in July.  Love it, of course.) 

Star Wars:  Revenge of the Jedi by Matthew Stover (Read in July.  Eh, I didn't like this author as much. Too much focus on the battle scenes.  Not enough on character development.  Maybe the movie is that way as well.)

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp (Reading this right now.  I just love her writing.)

Bible Study time

Memorize the entire book of James.  (I've memorized to 5:20.  I'm done!  It was a little anti-climatic.)

Study the book of Luke with the Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  January-March)

Watch Doctrine series with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  April)

Watch Redeeming Ruth with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. April)

Watch Nehemiah with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. May)

Watch Ephesians with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done. May.)

Watch Trial (1 and 2 Peter) with Mars Hill podcasts. (Done.  June.)

Watch Acts with Mars Hill podcasts.  (Done. November.)

Read the entire Bible chronologically.  I'm using this plan. I'm in Acts 15 right now.  I'm behind right now.

When we moved into our new house, it took Julie all of 15 minutes to lock herself in her room.  All the bedrooms have locks on their doors and it's the kind you can't stick a pin in it and pop it back out.  You have to turn the lock in order for it to unlock.

So that was fun to do when I was knee deep into cleaning the house and Julie goes and locks herself in her room.  I had to sit on the other side of the door and explain to my two year old that she needs to turn the little lock in order for her to be free.  It took a while and she figured it out.

Well, I've been meaning to change out her door knob so she can't do that again.  Yesterday morning, I went to get her out of bed and the door was locked again.  Which means that before she went to bed last night, she turned the lock and I had no idea.  Luckily, since we are moved in now, I could just get a screw driver and undo the door knob.  (I didn't have that luxury when we were first moving in!  I had no idea where the tools were.)  I set her free and then made a note to get that door knob switched pronto!

And wouldn't you know that she managed to lock her self in one. more. time.  At that point I told her she had to wait for her daddy to get home and he could rescue her.  It was only about 5 minutes later Justin walked in the door and he saved her.  But in the meantime, I told her to just hang out and play with toys while she was stuck.

And she did have fun in there while waiting-I would peek in on her through the door knob hole.  She didn't seem to traumatized.....