simple random truths

It feels good for it to be sunny enough to wear sunglasses again. And he sure looks darn cute in them….

When your child’s preschool teacher asks you how your mother is doing since her house fire, you know it’s time to once again address the lying issue with your 4 year old.

When you yell “Anna where are you?” and hear a voice from the bathroom say “I poopy” it’s already too late and not gonna be pretty.

You know you’ve created a true girl when you find her painting her own toenails (and even though it ended up all over her foot you can thank God it was light colored polish and she didn’t spill it, then you can't resist snapping a picture.)
When your almost 7 year old is telling you facts about penguins, sea life and the solar system that you didn’t even know existed it will make you proud and sad at the same time realizing once again just how fast they grow.

A sunny week in February can completely change your outlook on life. You will drop everything to be outside, be inspired to put plants in your planter, start seeds indoors, sit back and for a few moments feel as if everything is right with the world.

Tomorrow's friday!!
Happy Weekend!

An ode to teachers

I got this "teacher" forward and while it made me chuckle, it also got me thinking about the teachers I know, the teachers I have had, and just how blessed I am. The public school system gets such a bad rap, sometimes I just feel the need to focus on the positive. In the past eight years Craig and I have been so blessed through the fellow teachers and staff that he works with. Each of our babies were showered with TONS of gifts and a week of meals delivered to our home. "Surprise" gifts have shown up countless times, and so many of the teachers he works with have become close friends, almost like family to us.



Each time I volunteer in Will's class or watch Craig manage energy-filled kids for their turn at PE I am amazed at the love I see poured out into these children's lives. I am so thankful that Craig and many other teachers get the opportunity to show Jesus' love to their students. When I walk into his school I feel safe and surrounded by people who care about me and my family. My parents recently went to the grandparent lunch and they too were amazed at the the whole atmosphere of the school. Their comment was, "wow, I didn't know there were public schools like that anymore."



Part of what makes this distict so special is that from 2nd grade though 12th grade there is weekly bible school. Each class get an hour a week of bible school taught by volunteers from various churches in a building right next to the school. It is optional, of course, but almost all kids attend. Everyone I tell this to finds it incredible. And so I thank God again for another blessing in our public schools.



God is present everywhere, if we just invite Him to be. I believe he walks the halls of that school, as I have prayed each morning for him to be with Will and Craig every moment of the day. I honestly feel His presence when I go there.



By no means do I dissaprove of any other type of schooling, or do I say public school is the only way to go. I am truly amazed by all teachers, whether you teach at a private school or you are a mother homeschooling her kiddos. I truly feel that if we seek God and listen to his Holy Spirit's direction we will each make the choice God desires for our kids. I know He had been present in our decision.



And so, on a lighter note I will leave you with the forward that got me thinking on all this. Hats off to teachers!!! Whatever kind you may be, everywhere and anywhere!!

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE A TEACHER? by Jeff Foxworthy

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.
2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.

3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms/Mr. _________" and know you have been spotted.

4. You have 25 people that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.

6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and your planning period.

7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toilet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.

9. You want to slap the next person who says "Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off."

10. You believe chocolate is a food group.

11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. Y ou believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."

13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behavior when you are out in public.

14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!

18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."

19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,

21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.

I'm trying out some new layouts. Links will return, soon!

I'm thankful today

I know I have blogged about this before, but Wyatt has a really sensitive tummy. He's been a real puker from day 1. This weekend while in GP, we went out to breakfast and he ate a bunch of fried food, bacon and downed two cups of strawberry milk. As we were finishing he didn't look so good and I knew what was coming so I rushed him outside where he puked and puked all over the restaurant flower beds.

The next morning we had another big breakfast and then we had promised the boys that we would take them to get a phosphate at the pharmacy so we headed there. Wyatt drank his down in about a minute and a half and again, didn't look so good. As we were crossing the street he puked again all over the curb. People were driving by with grossed out looks on their faces.

Now, TODAY (4 days later) I pick him up from school and find out they celebrated TWO birthday parties so he not only had a cupcake, but also 2 cookies and juice. We had plans to go out to lunch with a friend, so he then shoved chicken nuggets and fries down along with an orange soda. We let the kids play outside on the play equipment before heading home. Just as I'm opening the front door Wyatt pukes again over the tile entry way, and then finished it off in the yard. (He really isn't sick.....no fever at all and he's completely fine once he gets it up!) It just happens when he's had to much junk. It has really taught me a lesson to watch what he eats, though. His little tummy just can't take it all!

So, why am I so thankful?? I was just now imagining how much worse it could have been. He could have thrown up all over the restraunt, me, the play place a Burger King, the inside of the van........yuck!! Of the three I only had to clean up one and it was just on my tile entryway. So I feel really thankful!

Spring is getting closer (that is my second "thankful"). Yesterday we walked to the park and I let the kids play as long as possible, soaking in the sunshine and vitamin D. We came home and played in the yard a bit and I pulled out a bunch of dead things that I neglected to do this fall. I LOVE spring! I am so ready to go buy those seed packets. Yay, it's almost here!

Valentine artwork

We just got back from a 4 day Winter Vacation to beautiful southern Oregon! We visited Ama and Papa and had a great time. We had gorgeous weather, the kids played a lot outside, and Craig and I even got to go out for lunch and a movie while Ama babysat!

As I was cleaning up the house today I found a bunch of Wyatt's artwork. This and MANY others were all over my kitchen table, and overflowing out of the art basket, but I thought the one below was so cute. There is a really big heart and then these two "lovebirds" thinking loving thought towards each other. Anna scribbled on the back before I rescued it, so there are pen marks bleeding through. But it is pictures like this that really let me into my little Wy-boy's mind. He has so much love to give and so much creativity, energy and imagination to channel. I love all his little talents and I'm so excited to see how the Lord will use him. He signed it at the top Love Mr. Button....completely backwards. Right to left and a mirror imaging of the letters. Slightly freaky.....but I have talked to a couple teachers who assure me that it's normal 'til about 2-3rd grade, and my niece, Reilly, (a lefty too) did the same thing with whole stories when she was little.

Love is in the air.....

Mmmmm....sugar cookies, with sprinkles! Anna just picks the sprinkles off and licks the frosting.

Wyatt enjoying his cookie

Wyatt concentrating hard on his craft (notice the tongue).

My husband never ceases to amaze me. After almost 10 years of marriage he has become so good at knowing what I love and what makes me tick. I feel like I'm really a simple girl at heart, but I do anticipate a little "thought" on his part for V-day. The less money spent the better!

He had a little scavenger hunt set up for me this morning complete with a D.B coffee and another CD he made. What I love most is that he wrote about every song and why he put in on there for me. I just love it. One of the most meaningful gifts ever.

The above are some pictures of the kids Indoor Park Party. I meant to take more pictures at Will's party this afternoon, but I forgot my camera. I was so bummed because I got to bring Wyatt and Anna and they each got root beer floats and sugar cookies. There would have been some cute pics, I'm sure. But I must get over the mother-guilt.

Happy Valentine's Day!

just wondering?

Just one of the many questions I asked myself today:

When will this child learn to use utensils??

(ps......it's yogurt)

He's got it under control

There are so many little things that happen in the day to day, but I have been reflecting on this one since it happened last week. It is such a good example of how God is always taking care of us. Even with the little things in life.

Last week Craig was leaving for work and he went out to start his truck up. He came in REALLY upset and told me that his truck box was wide open and his tool box was missing. Now, this isn't any old tool box. It's about three feet wide and a foot and half deep and I can barely lift it. It has all his most used, favorite tools in it (since we don't have a garage). Beside that, tools are one of Craig's most favorite things in life. It would be the equivalent of having someone steal all my finished scrapbooks. He was really upset.

We talked for a couple minutes and I said I would call our insurance to see if they would cover the stolen tools. He decided to go out and have another look around, just to see if they messed with anything else. He came back in a few minutes later and had found his tool box sitting right behind our van. It was such a huge sigh of relief. And it turns out, after talking to some neighbors, there were several other "pranks" on our street that night.

We realized that in the grand scheme of things, tools are pretty insignificant, but we felt so blessed to know that God really does care about the little things, and he's got eveything in control.

So, I just had to share.

He's always good for a laugh

I'm so thankful. Whenever I need a laugh I just need to hang out with or listen to Wyatt. Here are a few things that made me chuckle today:

Wyatt get very serious and says, "I have ISSUES mom". I ask him what kind of issues. He replies, "just ISSUES."

In my attempt to clean I was just about to throw away a broken Christmas ornament that Wyatt had found and been playing with. I tried explaining to him that it was broken and no good. He threw himself into hysterics and the tears started..."please mom, please, if you throw it away I will be just HEARTBROKEN." How do I say no to that??

Driving into "town" is always a highlight for my redneck kids. On the way in Wyatt was chattering with glee over all he was seeing. "Look, the golden man....look, the carousel, look, mom, there's the giant world." Soon we came to a stoplight with a 76 station (big spinning orange ball in the sky) and a cemetary. Wyatt says happily "Look there's the spinning ball.......and there's the place where they put dead people!"

Good morning!

This is what happens when mom doesn't get her shower until AFTER the kids wake up.....stick pretzels anyone??

She looks pretty guilty, huh??

(sorry about picture color, some setting on my camera is messed up)

For your enjoyment....

....I have added a couple blogs to my list! Check them out!

The first one is my friend Jessie's photography site. Jessie and I met in college, and she now lives on the East Coast with her husband and adorable daughter, Ava. Jessie is a talented photographer who runs her own business from her home office/studio. We've been lucky enough to have her take pictures of our kids and family when she is on the west coast, which I cherish. check out her blog http://jessicapasson.typepad.com to enjoy her amazing work.

The other is my dear cousin Harmony's blog. Harmony is in Argentina for the next five months, living and improving her fluent Spanish. She just started her blog http://viajesdearmonia.blogspot.com and I am excited to stay connected with her in this adventure.