Thanks Tank Thursday

Every week I start this wondering what I am going to write and as I write I think of more and more things that I have to be thankful for. I am so glad that I joined my blogging friend in this exercise. I hope that you sit down and take a moment to be thankful with me.

Bible Study: In the new year I took a leap and joined a Bible study at the church where my girls attend preschool. I have enjoyed this study very much and am getting so much out of it. I am so glad that I decided to do this study. Btw, it's the Beth Moore Fruit of the Spirit Study.

The little moments: The other night as I was washing dishes and listening to the kids fight over telling Matt about their day or what they were doing that moment I realized that I will one day miss the fighting, constant chatter, and laughter. I has been stressed but as I came to this realization I smiled and relaxed. I will one day miss all these little things when my children are grown. So, in the mean time I will try to enjoy all the moments that they bring to my life.

Birthday Excitement: A week from tomorrow Abby will be turning 5. I can't believe it has been five years all ready. For her it seems like forever. She has been asking for months if her birthday is tomorrow. Now with it just a week away it seems like her excitement is unbearable.

Kindergarten: Along with Abby's 5th birthday comes Kindergarten. Registration starts on Monday and Abby couldn't be happier. Now I just have to get her to understand that she has to wait until August before Kindergarten starts.

Swimming Lessons: Both of the older kids started swimming lessons last week. And they are loving it. I was surprised at how much both kids had forgotten from last summer. I am really glad that we decided to do lessons now so that when we open the pool in a couple of months the kids will be ready for swimming.

Crafts: With Abby always wanting to make something I have been more diligent in getting out all those craft supplies lately. We have made window clings, flowers, drawings, books and more in the past couple of weeks. And Abby is loving every minute of it. This weekend I plan on Gabriel making his bird feeders and frame for boy scouts. I am thankful that they are enjoying activities that require more than watching tv does.

Cooking: I've been trying to include one of the kids in cooking dinner at night. It could be as simple as dumping cans into the crock pot or cracking an egg but they seem to be enjoying it.

Hot Tea: I know I've said this before bu I love my hot tea at night. It seems to relax me and be the perfect end to my day. It's kinda like my clue that I am home for the evening with my family.

Pictures: I am thankful for all the wonderful pictures I have of my family and friends. As I have begun working on this years Photobook I have realized that we have shared so many wonderful times together. And it's wonderful to look back and see the changes in the kids. I love pictures.

Wordless Wednesday

Elizabeth Says

Matt was holdong Elizabeth this evening before he left for class and Elizabeth sees some hair sticking out of the top of his shirt. She grabs hold and says, "Look, Dada. Fur." And then she starts pulling, laughing and grinning. Matt asks her to stop pulling his hair and she reapeats that he has "fur". We did finally get her to stop pulling and to understand that it is hair not fur. But her laughter and smiles brightened our day.

Say What??

Yesterday, Gabriel had a substitute at school. Two things happened. He was not suppose to be running and jumping on the playground because of his foot. He did this anyway. Had I known Mrs. Mocas was not at school I would have sent a note. But I didn't and it's not her fault. Gabriel should have known better. Right? Anyway, that's not what really got me. We were having milk at dinner and Gabe looks at me and tells me that his substitute at school told him milk was bad for you. Can you believe telling a child that!?! Gabriel said he told the substitute that it was good for you and the sub. told him he was wrong. He even went so far as to show some website to him. (He couldn't tell me the website. All he knew was it had a cow with a circle and line running across it.) I volunteered in the class today and was told by his teacher that she aid had informed her he stayed on the computer all day and didn't help the kids at all. I guess like teachers some are better than others. But in my mind this was a horrible sub.

Playing devils advocate I am aware that there are reasons people can't or don't drink milk. But I don't feel like it was okay for the sub. to be telling my son or anyone else this.

Last week was one of those weeks you really want to forget. Here's our week last week.

Sunday afternoon Gabe falls down the last few steps in the basement 20 minutes before we leave to take Abby to a birthday party. He screams bloody murder but on calming down seems to be okay. Later, as we are walking through Sam's he starts complaining about his foot. After inspecting his foot we realize it is swollen. After we get home we ice and elevate said foot but swelling seems to get worse not better. That evening we call a friend who is and orthopedic and he says to see how it is in the morning and that if it is not better to bring him in for a x-ray. All the while we are wondering how bad it really is and if we really need an x-ray after all he is walking on it and even wanting to ride his bike to school the next morning. It can't be that bad can it? So on Monday we wait until the afternoon and then decide it would be better to find out everything is fine than to find out we should have done something sooner. So we make an appointment on Tuesday afternoon to get a x-ray. And we find out he fractured his metacarpal, which thankfully means no hard cast to deal with just a wonderfully ugly post-op boot for the next 10 days, hopefully. Which also means we are having to work extra hard to keep him from running and jumping so as not to delay healing. That's been a lot of fun.

As well as Gabe falling down the stairs, poor little Elizabeth starts getting sick. By Sunday evening Matt is telling me that I will be taking Elizabeth to the doctor the next morning. I guess that told me. ;) I find out during her doctor's appointment that she has croup and an ear infection. Meds are prescribed for said illnesses and I am sent home. So I had a sick Elizabeth at home until Thursday when she could go back to school. And boy do I think she was as ready as I was.

I the mean time Matt has started getting sick too. It started in his head and has now settled into his chest. I have given all my good bedside manners to the kids so poor Matt has had to deal with, take some medicine or go to the doctor routine from me. I'm sorry honey!

Then on Friday we notice Abby start with the sniffles and congestion and is slowly developing into a cough.

I have also succumbed to the illness. All I want is a bed but kids and congestion have kept me from it except for the time yesterday mid-morning I was able to lie down for a short time. Thanks to my wonderful husband.

Thanks Tank Thursday

We've had quite acouple of weeks, with all the snow and cold we had come our way. The kids enjoyed the break but I think they were as ready to get back in school as I was to have them go. I have so many things to be thankful for this week so I am going to start filling up the tank.


1. Sunny Days: Today we are full of sun shiny skies. And boy are they a beautiful blue. Cloudy days really do affect my mood so I am really glad to see the sun today.

2. The Promise of Warmer Weather: With our lows in the single digits and on some occasions like last night in the negatives, I am so glad to see the promise of warmer weather this weekend and into next week.

(This was the snowfall we got Tuesday morning on top of the 11 inches that was still there. We had a 2 hour delay on Monday and Wednesday.)
3. Taking Control: I am thankful that I have taken control of areas of my life I let slide. I feel more confident and happier because I have.

4. Money Matters: I am a shopaholic. Plain and simple. Which has caused us some grief. This is one area where that I have taken control over. And I am doing quite well. Which Matt has been very happy to see.

5. Clean Sheets: I hate washing a folding sheets. I really, really do. But for the past two weeks we have had clean sheets on every bed in the house. I love sliding into a bed with clean sheets. Now if only I can keep up with some of my other household chores.

6. 10 more weeks: Matt only has 10 more weeks before he graduates with his MBA. I am so proud of all the hard work he has done and is currently still doing. I will be counting down the weeks with him. ONLY 10 MORE MATT!!! Matt Graduates On May 10th!!!

7. Clean Kitchen Floors: This week I discovered that my kitchen tile grout is not a dark brown but a light tan. Which means is was dirty, I mean very dirty. How did I discover this you ask? Well, one of the kids spilled some smoothie and it splattered and I missed some spots. Which dried and crusted and took a ton of work to get up. As I did the major clean up I realized that the grout was changing colors. So I scrubbed and scrubbed the grout on the kitchen floor until it was clean. Anyway, I now have a very clean kitchen floor. One that at this moment I would not hesitate to say you could eat off of, but only if you really wanted to. :)

("Dark brown grout")

("Light Tan Grout")
8. No TV During the Week: I have implemented a no tv or games policy during the week, mainly school nights. I did this because so often they were entertained and then I would forget how long they had been watching or playing. It has been such a nice change of pace. Gabriel is spending hours in his room setting his toys up for battles. Abby and Elizabeth are playing dress up and babies. And then there are times that they play together, all three of them. I have loved watching their imaginations grow. Though I do have some educational games they can play on the computer.

9. Wii Fit: I have never been a video game junkie but Wii Fit has created one in me. I have been on the Wii almost everyday. It's fun and best of all I have managed to 1 up Matt on several of the games. And I feel like I am doing something a little more healthy for myself than sitting in front of the tv.

10. Music: I love music and it can really help lighten my mood. I have been playing more music in the house since establishing the no tv rule. The kids have enjoyed dancing to it. Yesterday, we even had a dance party and played freeze. We had a lot of fun.

A Prayer For Job Loss

This prayer really touched a cord in me today. Today and for the rest or the week, the company Matt works for will be firing people. They have already made huge cuts in spending, wages and in jobs. The job cuts started right before Christmas, happened again in January and now in February. I am beginning to think that there is no end to the job cuts. Everyone is constantly sitting on the edges of their seats hoping that it won't be them, I know we are. I do realize that some cuts have to be made in order to get through the hard times but I also worry about the people who are being fired and those who are having to fire so many people. What is this doing to all of them? What kind of strain is this putting on them; emotionally, socially, spiritually? Today I want to pray for everyone who knows someone who is losing their jobs or having to fire someone. Let's say this prayer together.

O God,
every good gift comes from your hand
and you have been generous to so many
in so many ways...

But the times are changing
and things we have taken for granted
are slipping from our hands and beyond our reach...

As the economy falters
keep our stride firm and strong
even when the familiar path
slips from beneath our step...

Renew our trust in your care for us
and in the help that we can offer each other...

Help us to know the things we truly need,
to let go the things we only want
and to know the difference between the two...

As we let go the extra things, the frills and frolics,
teach us to love the simpler things
and especially the simple joys
that bring us together...

Help us to accept what we have lost
and give us the strength to look again
for work and for hope...

Make us quick to help our neighbor
and to accept our neighbor's help...

Give us the grace of a new beginning
even when we're not sure
where or how to begin...

Renew our desire to be close to you
and refresh a spirit of prayer within us...

Hear us when we cry out to you
and give us confidence
that you hear our every prayer...

Help us to trust in you, O God,
"that all shall be well,
and that all shall be well,
and that all manner of things shall be well..."

Our Father...

(The quotation that ends the prayer is from 14th-century mystic Julian of Norwich)

-ConcordPastor

Wordless Wednesday

Math Addition Facts

Gabriel is learning his math addition facts for timed tests, which means he should know the facts by rote. He should be able to answer 25 in 2 minutes. But I find that he is counting on his fingers which is slowing him down. He has managed to pass the 0's and 1's and is now working on the 2's. But I feel like I am pulling teeth trying to get him to work on this. He is stressed about it. When he can't pull it out fast enough he hits himself on the head like that would help pull the answer out faster. I don't know if this is because I have put too much pressure on him or if he is putting it on himself. I have tried all the techniques that I learned while in school and tried a few I have found online. But I need help in finding fun and exciting ways to teach him his sums without the stress. So, if anyone has any awesome suggestions on how to make this task more fun I would love it. Or if you know of any great games for teaching this that would be great too. And Thanks.

Pack 559 Pinebox Derby Race, Tiger Cubs

Pack 559 Pinebox Derby Race, Tiger Cubs
Originally uploaded by Chuckles2277

This is the final race of Gabe's Den. His is the camo truck. In every race this is what you saw. Gabe was so excited to see his truck do so well. And we were excited too. We will be headed to the mall next weekend to compete in the District Pinebox Derby Races.

Gabe's Pinebox Derby Race

Gabe just had a great weekend. He won the Pinebox Derby Race with his truck! We couldn't believe it. We didn't put a whole lot of time into it and we didn't do all the things you are 'suppose' to do to make a fast car. We took this as a learning experience. But yesterday, he won his Den race hands down. He then we on to compete in the Pack race and won 4th place, which we thought was fantastic. He was all smiles yesterday. Now both he and Matt are having dreams of winning next year. Next weekend we will be competing in the District Pinewood Derby Races at the Fair Oaks Mall.

The boys cars in the "impound" awaiting their racing time. These are the 3 cars Gabe raced against. We knew he would get a trophy since there were only 3 boys in his den, but did not tell him that. Gabe's is the camo truck.


Gabe placing his truck on the track for his big race. Look at how serious he is being.

Gabe and his first place trophy.