Just messing around!

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Nicholas goes to "big" school. On those days Justin wants to go to school, too. So we have started some preschool workbooks at home. Justin will turn 3 in April so he is eligible to attend the same program that Nicholas currently attends. We have the color red down, so now everything is red. We've had alot of fun but our attention span reaches it's max around 2 minutes unless it consists of coloring big trucks or firetrucks. Our fridge is covered with many masterpieces. Amazingly Alissa continues as long as Justin. We also have the best of both worlds in handwriting. Alexis and Justin are righties and Nicholas and Alissa are our lefties!

During one of our preschool days, I decided to take Justin for a little tour of Nicholas and Alexis' "big" school. He was really excited so I am hoping that when the time comes to actually go to school we won't have any trouble leaving him. Alissa just liked that fact that the halls were huge and she could run as fast as her little legs could carry her. On the way to pick up Nicholas from his class, we saw the swimming pool, cafeteria, the library and the gym. As we were going through the halls we saw one of the signs that Nicholas' class made for the power lifting team. I couldn't help it, I had to share it with you! Each one of the kiddos have their arms up showing off their muscles. We continued to walk through the halls and there was a first grade class going to the basement so I asked Justin to stand to the side. Most of the students going by were kids he recognized from the daycare. He felt so important because you could here the kids say, "Hi Justin!". He was high-fiving a couple of boys and the teacher even looked at him and said, "Hi Justin.". After all the high-fives, Justin walked on liked he already belonged. For a moment a little part of me felt sad. Ben couldn't have said it any better..."Nobody told us they were going to grow up this fast!"

Woo-Hoo!!

A week ago today, we went cold turkey off the bottles! Alissa is taking the sipppy cups but she's not attached to them like we thought might happen. So far so good....

Alissa's vocabulary is GROWING and fast. Nick is now letting her do ALL the talking :) School is now half over. Nicholas is ahead of his class so there was no conference needed. Alexis is still having a little trouble with phonics but her other grades are soaring. Justin will start school in the fall so we are starting to get prepared and keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well...oh my little rascal :)

Road Trip~Spring Break 2009

We are going to attempt a 17-hour road trip to my old home in Rupert, Idaho! With 4 kids in a vehicle that long, I am in need of some desperate advice. Our trips normally consist of no more than 6 hours, so we are up for a challenge. For one week, we plan to see family, hike mountains, go fishing and visit my grandmother. We are going to be very busy but hope to have ALOT of fun. If anyone has any ideas on how to make this trip easy (if that's possible) I would love to hear about it. Hope to hear from you soon!

Oh Happy Day!

On Friday, the kids had their Valentine's parties. They had a lot of fun. Of course I still have yet to figure out how Nicholas gets chocolate ALL over his face after ONE bite from a doughnut. While Nicholas' class just ate and exchanged cards, Alexis' class exchanged their cards then played games. Her class was the biggest so we usually came in last, but they had fun! I can't wait for the next party :)

Coming soon: Spring Break 2009

Thank You!

Today I read an article that touched my heart. In 1968, a newspaper photograph captured an image - a white firefighter from South Boston with his lips pressed to the mouth of a black baby from the Roxbury public housing development - at a time when riots sparked by racial tensions were burning down American cities. They remained strangers for 40 years, until yesterday. The firefighter retired. The child grew up, lost family to drugs or illness, even lost her adoptive mother. After a few failed attempts to locate the firefighter, she came in contact with a news reporter. One thing led to another and she has now been able to give her thanks to the man that saved her life. To this man it wasn't about the color of her skin, it was about a child.
Sometimes we don't think about these special people that risk their lives just so we can continue to live ours. They go above and beyond the call of duty. They are all those who serve in the military, our own firefighters, nurses, doctors and anyone else I have failed to mention. Thank you!

It's freezing!

Justin and Alissa are my little munchkins when Nicholas and Alexis are off to school. Last week the temperatures were below freezing in the morning with a high for the day of 35 degrees. Therefore if we went anywhere, I bundled up my Eskimos and off we went. Of course it took longer to get dressed and buckled in then it took to get where we were going. Alissa's gloves didn't last long, along with her socks and shoes. We did try our best though!

Please pray...

The last couple of weeks have been a little rough. Our oldest daughter has decided that school isn't important. Well, we got our first call from the principal the other day and it wasn't very pleasant. Ben and I were upset and for many days thought that maybe we were doing something wrong. Then my wonderful sister-in-law told us that she has had 9 years of bad examples and that we were doing something good because in 9 months she had changed and they had noticed it. It's kind of like being caught in something and not knowing what to do. A part of me wants to shelter her and protect her from the evils of this world. Then a part of me wants her to experience the natural consequences of life so I can be her mom and Ben can be her dad that she never had. I see deep down she hurts and I want to fix it right now!
My biggest fear is that when we got termination of rights and I sat in front of her mother testifying, that now for some odd reason I feel like I am letting everyone down. What I mean is that I remember telling her mom that I was going to do my best to give her the chance of a lifetime. A chance at life that she was never given. So many people have failed my daughter in the past and I don't want to be next. I know she can do better. I know she wants to have an education because she always talks about who is significant in her life. When we talk about growing up, she says "I want to be like Tia BB and work in an office and be someone important and have lots of friends." Or she'll say "I want to be a nurse like Tia Stacy or you mom." Believe me these expectations have gone from "I want to work at Sonic or be a waitress. They pay really good." to really looking up to important people. I remind her that she can do anything as long as she puts her mind to it. Needless to say, Ben and I strive everyday to push her through her homework, to participate with every school activity, and show her that we are there for her no matter if she gets a 60 or 100. Please pray for us...God never gives us more than we can handle. I just wish he didn't trust us so much.

Can one really show their age?

OK, so my daughter and I decided to sit and watch Mamma Mia for mom and Lexi night. Much to MY enjoyment it was a musical! And did I forget to mention that the songs were all from ABBA?! Now, I'm not that old but I actually remembered almost every song. The joys of growing up with older siblings. So now I have MY daughter loving the songs, singing and dancing to "Dancing Queen" and well every time a free moment comes along pop in the DVD, enjoy the music (again and again), and cherish the moment. As for Ben, well.....let's just say he REALLY likes to ride the 4-wheelers:) So now it's time..."to sing a new song Chiquita"!