Writing to Remember

Monday

Scrappy Caps.  This thing about did me in.  But apparently, Jaxson's class is reading a book and they need to make a scrappy cap to use their "imagination" when they are reading the story.  Which really means that the parents have to be crafty and come up with something-quick!  Jaxson decided on a Star Wars theme (shocker!) and chose Dagobah which is Yoda's swampy home.  I stapled some leaves to the hat and some figures of the characters.  And for good measure-Luke's X-Wing that was stuck in the swamp. Add couple of lightsabers that were really glow sticks and....voila!  Done.  And Jax was very happy!

Tuesday

Justin had to go to Little Rock to deal with the car business.  While there he went to Starbucks and found out this deal was happening.  Yes!  I miss having my Apple Music so this will kinda be the same thing.  Especially when Julie will request songs from the radio and I have to explain to her over and over again that the radio just plays the songs.  I can't chose them.

Wednesday

There is a lot of germs going around the preschool.  Which makes me thankful for it being the second to last week of having to be there.  I ended up with an old fashioned cold.  Man, I felt terrible.  I stayed home from Wednesday night church to take care of myself.

Thursday

Muffins for Mom at the preschool!  This was our photo booth picture.

Friday

I was still recovering from my cold.  Which makes me sound like a baby.  But it really got me good. I ran a couple of errands and parked myself on the couch and enjoyed my day off.

Saturday

The Compassion Experience was in our town and I really wanted to see it. (It's basically a recreation of what a child's life is like in extreme poverty.  Compassion helps get those children sponsors so they have adequate medical care, food, and education.)  I also wanted to take Jaxson so he could see how other kids lived in other countries.  We ended up all going and Julie wanted to see it too.  Well, we went to the first child's story (An actual true story of a real child!) and it was based in Africa and the little boy had to go to jail for stealing.  Poor Julie started crying because she got scared.  It really wasn't scary, but to her it was.  So Justin held her and the boy's story did get much brighter-once he was sponsored. Afterwards, Jaxson and I went to the little girl's story while Justin and Julie went to the car.  We really enjoyed it and it helped open Jaxson's eyes to see that these children didn't have much and lived in very tiny homes.  His bedroom is bigger than the homes these children lived in with their families!  Jaxson asked a lot of questions about that afterwards.  Julie wouldn't talk about her.  She may need therapy after all that.  (Sheesh.)

Sunday

Happy Mother's Day!  Also, stomach bugs are the worst.

On Thursday, the preschool had a Muffins for Mom for Mother's Day.  I got to go in Julie's class and see that she made a cute card and painted a nice flower pot.  It was pretty cute.  She was happy to have me in her classroom, but she really hurried to eat her muffin so she could play with her friends.  Luckily, since I work there, I just slipped back into my classroom and visited with my student's moms instead.  It's funny how she wants me to be there-but only on her timing.

On Friday, Jaxson came home with a cake and pretty cute card.  He decorated the cake by himself.  He's done this every year at school and this is the best he has ever done!  Usually, there is about a million sprinkles and six inches of icing on it.  Either way, I've always enjoyed them though!  Just funny to see how he's growing up-even in his cake decorating skills.

Inside the card he had filled out questions about me.  That seriously was the most entertaining part!  I like how he put that I loved to see Star Wars with him a bajillion times.  (We do share that in common!)  And I like the quote of me saying to him, "That he's my favorite boy."  That's totally true!  I always tell him that.  And he always rolls his eyes at me when I say it.  But apparently, it must of stuck with him and he actually does appreciate it.

I also like that he put that if I could go anywhere in the world it would be Shell Ross.  That's a local nursery store around here and I love looking at all the plants and flowers they have.  But I do have to say that if I could go anywhere in the WORLD, I'd probably venture out of state.  Or country even.  But it's sweet that he remembers I like that store!

So on actual Mother's Day, Julie woke up not feeling the greatest.  Not bad.  But just not herself.  She was fine at church but later on in the day she was sick with the stomach bug.  Yuck.  I just counted my lucky stars that she is old enough to tell me when she was going to be sick and I could help her.  Poor girl. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Today we went on our Preschool Field trip to the Wonderplace.  Only Julie was calling it Wonderland which I guess is about right since it was pretty fun for her age.  It's basically a place to play with water tables, sand, dress up, art, and lots of climbing structures.

I didn't get hardly any pictures because she was too busy playing with her friends.  And she kinda acted like she didn't know me-maybe I'm embarrassing her already at the tender age of 5?

I think the water table and sand area were her favorites.  When she did grant me permission to check in on her (ha!) she was always at those places.  She had a blast with her friends and didn't want to leave.  However, I was hungry and had a lot to do so we left as soon as her bestie had to go.

Julianne has been wanting a pretzel for days now from Sam's Club.  But I didn't want to go there just for a pretzel so I was glad they had them at Target too!  She was so happy with her pretzel and coke.  I never heard a word out of her while I was shopping and getting everything I needed.  I need to do that more often!

See?  She is happy as a clam while I check out the clearance aisle real fast!

Jaxson had his awards assembly today.  And he was very proud of his awards!  He got the Super Star award (no tickets) and the Silver Award for all A's and B's. 

Unfortunately, he did not get his Perfect Attendance award.  He woke up with the stomach bug one day this past quarter and threw up right before school.  He was very upset that I still wouldn't send him to school in his condition that morning!  

Shocking, I know. 

Tonight, while Julie was supposed to be in bed sleeping, she was actually playing a memory card game with Pink Panda.  (Pink Panda is one of her very nearest and dearest stuffed animals.)  And Julie was losing to her panda!  After I caught her playing instead of sleeping, she told me that Pink Panda was winning and that "Pink Panda is just beating me up!" 

It was too cute not to correct her!  I just had to laugh.  And sadly, Julie lost to Pink Panda two times in a row.  She just couldn't believe it and neither could I!

This past weekend was so gorgeous out!  We decided to take the kids fishing and see if we had any luck. 

Even Julie wanted to try it out!

Just waiting, and waiting, and waiting.......

While we were waiting, a bunch of ducks came over to us and were extremely friendly.  They quacked and ducked in and out of the water.  Julie was in awe over them.  I wish we would have brought some bread for them.  I'm sure they were a little disappointed in us.

And finally the kids' patience was done with fishing and we headed to the playground.  Jaxson was very proud of himself for climbing to the top of the rocket ship.  It is pretty tall.  Poor Julie tried to keep up but got a little scared.  She tried the first level and got a little freaked out.  She climbed back down.  Then she mustered up the courage and tried again and made it to the second level.  But then she had to get down again.  She tried one last time and she made it to the third level.  There, she was convinced she was stuck so I had to coach her back down.  After she was on the ground (and safe!) she told me that she will wait until she is 6 years old until she tries that again. 

It was a fun little morning adventure.  We did not catch any fish and I was secretly glad because I didn't want to deal with the whole mess of cleaning them up!

Julie says the funniest things.  Here are some samplings below:

• I was putting Julie to bed and she was very mad about it since she was NOT tired.  After her fiftieth time of coming out of her room I really got after her saying that if she got out of bed, we would have to close her bedroom door.  As she stomped away to her room she muttered, "I am not even tired and I don't want to go to bed.  I can't even yawn yet."
  

• We were on a walk/bike ride in the evening and Julie asks, "Daddy?  Can you pump some gas in my wheels of my princess bike?  Jaxson says they are getting flat."

• On another walk, we were going up a hill and I said that my legs were burning.  Julie looked at me and said, "no they're not."
  

• I was explaining to Julie how to pick up her room.  I told her to find a toy, pick it up, and put it in it's home.  Julie responded to me by saying, "That's a great idea-but.....I don't want to."

• On any given day- Julie:  "Jaxson pushed me."  Jax:  "No I didn't!"  Julie: (singing) "You're pants are falling down and hanging on a wire!"

• And lastly, this was in her book she made at preschool:

Her life long dream is to be an ice cream truck driver when she grows up.  In fast, she told Justin and I that when she drives by our house she will see if our car is there. If it is-we can buy ice cream from her. If not, then we don't get any ice cream.

On the bright side, it looks like a college fund is not necessary for her.  Ha!

Well, we had an ice day over a week ago.  And now we had snow!  We got out of school on Monday around 1pm and haven't been back since.  I guess February is giving us a taste of what winter should really be like!  I don't mind it though. Even if we will be going to school until July 4th!  Ha!

This was the most perfect snow ever.  Fluffy, wet, and easy to make snowballs with!

And snow angels!

The kids each had to make their own snowmen.  They were really proud of them!

It was a fun day.  I enjoyed sleeping and watching some daytime TV.  I never do that.  But when you can't go anywhere or do anything, I can justify watching Dr. Oz and Jeopardy.  I had fun playing outside with the kids.  It was great because once we got cold, we came inside for some hot chocolate!

We woke up to sleet and freezing rain this morning.  This ice storm had been hyped up all week and you just never know if what they forecast is really going to happen.  

So when the kids woke up this morning, they were so happy to see snow!  They couldn't wait to build a snowman.  I had to bring down their hopes a bit by letting them know it was sleet and ice-not snow. 

But you know what?  Jax didn't mind at all that is was ice.  In fact, he enjoyed sliding around and hunting for big icicles.

The kids begged that Justin and I go out, so we promised we would after lunch.  But brrr....it was so cold!  Ice was everywhere. 

My poor plants:

The swingset:

And the trees-boy were the tree branches heavy with ice!

And poor Julie.  She wanted to play outside.  She wanted to like the ice and enjoy it like Jaxson did.  But it was just too cold and too wet.  And when her boots somehow got ice in them and her mittens were a little wet-she gave up and went inside where it was warm.  I don't blame her cause I followed along right after her!

It's been a long time since I've done a day in the life post.  I figured today would be as good as any-so here we go!

6:29am  My alarm goes off and I totally snooze it in my sleep.

6:30am  My second alarm goes off and again I sleep-snooze it.

6:40am I finally realize that I NEED TO GET UP!

7:30am I'm dressed and ready for the day.  I get the kids breakfast while I work on getting all of us ready for school.

8:00am Justin takes Jax to school.

8:20am Julie and I leave for school.

By 8:30am, I'm working in my classroom while Julie is running around and playing at the preschool playroom.

9:00am  The preschool doors are unlocked and we are ready for our students!  It's letter C week and I have all sorts of crafts for my two year olds.

12:20pm  School is done for the day.  Whew, the two year olds wore me out, yet again!  They sure are cute, but sometimes it's like herding cats when I need to transition them to the playroom or to the music/art room.

Julie and I come home and eat lunch.  We run boring errands such as the grocery store and the library.  But when we come home, Julie and I practice her Bible verses for Awana tonight.

In case you didn't catch all of that with her hopping, skipping, and falling-here are the Bible verses she was talking about

God loves us and sent his Son. 1 John 4:10

All have sinned. Romans 3:23

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For God created all things.  Revelation 4:11

I'm super impressed with her.  Awana has this app for the iPhone that sings the Bible verses.  She loves this app and sings along with it all the time.  

Afterwards, it was time to play.  Every day she asks me to play with her.  And while playing Lalaloopsies is really not on the top of my list, I somehow get roped into it.

Lalaloopsies is very messy.

3:30pm Luckily, I'm saved by the bus!  Jaxson's bus to be more specific!

Isn't it nice that he is dropped off right in front of the driveway?  When I was a kid my bus dropped me off at the very bottom of the street and I had to walk UPHILL all the way to my house.  Which was the very last house on the street.  In 5 feet of snow.  Without snow boots or a jacket.

Oh, I kid.  But seriously.  It was a steep uphill 10-15 minute walk.  Kids these days have it too easy.

After Jax has his snack it's homework time!  Specifically, reading a book, practicing reading words, and spelling words.  Ugh.  I hate homework.

4:15pm  After his homework, I make some sugar cookies to take to the preschool tomorrow for them to decorate.  C is for cookie, you know!

Julie paints while reminding me that she is starving for dinner.

5:00pm We eat dinner.  I just heated up leftovers from last night.  I try to make more on Tuesdays so I don't have to cook on Wednesday with Justin being at the church for dinner and Bible Study and the kids heading off to Awana.

After dinner, the kids sit down with the iPad and watch a movie on it.

6:00pm Jamin picks them up for Awana.

I work on planning the next Cub Scout Den meeting, my lesson plans for tomorrow, and my Sunday School lesson.  I'm in a season of having to be really organized or else I will forget something.

8:30pm  Jax and Julie come back home. I get them in the shower/bath and ready for bed.

9:00pm Bedtime for the kids!

I try and relax but really I just want to go to bed too.  I get so tired around this time!

Here is the Week in the 2012 that I did.  Jax and Julie are so tiny and cute!!!

Today the preschool went to the pumpkin patch.  All the kids were excited for it, even though I'm sure the majority of them had no idea what to expect.  Julie told us last night she was picking out a purple pumpkin and getting lots of candy.  And when I asked where in the world she got that idea she said it was from her preschool teacher.  And since I work with her preschool teacher, I knew that really wasn't true.

We first started out with the pig races.  And that was actually fun.  I was wondering how the kids would react with that and they seemed to enjoy it a lot.  We also went over to the goats and fed them out of our hands.  Julianne was not impressed with that at all.  She's never been an animal person and this just confirms that she still is not a fan of animals.

We also went on a hayride too.  It was pretty fun to drive around and look at their decorations for Halloween.

During all of those fun activities, Julie kept asking when she would get her pumpkin.  So finally at the end, we were able to go over and pick one out.  Of course, it was too heavy for her and so I ended up carrying that around.  Along with one we picked out for Jaxson.  They were heavy but I plan on making pumpkin pie out of them so they will be worth it eventually.

By the time we were done, I had a cranky girl on my hands.  I knew she was hungry.  But clearly she was also tired!