Daddy saved the day!

Just before bed we went outside with the kids so they could catch fireflies. Alyssa saw a firefly caught in a spider's web and after I said that it looked like the spider had already started wrapping him that Alyssa started to cry! So Daddy was able to be her hero when he came to rescue the firefly. So instead of the firefly losing out - it was the spider. Daddy freed the firefly from the web! Then we watched all the fireflies that were collected fly away.

Sunday afternoon at the pool

Beautiful day yesterday but maybe not for the pool. We enjoyed our Sunday afternoon at the pool except after getting wet it was hard to get out of the pool without being cold!

Diving board today?

Here's a picture of John with the diving board in the background. It's the small diving board that he jumped off of on the last visit to the pool. He's still not happy if anyone tries to talk about that.

Jeff asked John a few times if he was going to jump off the diving board. John would get mad and say not to talk about it. John will put his hand over my mouth if I try to tell the story to anyone!

Although our last trip to the pool was about a week and a half ago, John was still pink with peeling skin! (Poor guy got my fair skin - at least he didn't get the red hair). Of course I felt bad for not putting enough sunscreen on him - or reapplying it. He hasn't been helpful in letting me put it on him (and I still need to try the spray on kid) but yesterday he seemed to cooperate better so I was able to slather on a ton of sunscreen - it took awhile for the lotion to finally absorb.

"Just Do It!"

So how many of us are guilty of saying "we'll have to get together soon" and then nobody making any effort to actually do it. Days, weeks, months, and years pass by and we always wonder where the time goes! We have so many excuses.....and most of the time we just need to "make" the time and schedule events and as the Nike saying goes "just do it"- we need to make time for the important things in life. That phrase should be used for almost everything in life. The hardest part of most things is just starting it!!!
Well thanks to my cousin Renee she called me on Friday and the next evening we met up at the plaza. After having dinner at Brio we walked around and then made a stop at Cold Stone Creamery (I had never been before and now know how they came up with their name). Was so nice getting out of the house and meeting up with my cousin. Jeff was such a sweetheart and had a great time at home with the kids. Thank you Renee!

Trip down Memory Lane

So yesterday Alyssa wanted something out of a box in storage. Upon opening the box I found things from high school and college days. Several trophies from high school and even some grade school softball trophies from when we lived in Arkansas! Well of course I'm thinking I need to donate or recycle these things somehow while Alyssa is telling me she wants them in her room so then she can give to her kids! Wow! That's looking ahead to the future for you!! So until I find out what to do with them (besides just adding them to the landfill) they will be in Alyssa's room! I found a jewelry box that she just fell in love with. The minute her dad came home from work she wanted to show him - she was so excited about that!

Then later in the day I saw some old pictures I'd saved on the computer....from 2000.
Picture of Jeff and I at Hilton Garden Inn Chicago work picnic. Photos of me from a friend's wedding in June 2000 (the kids asked me who that was).

Tinkertoys or Hullaballo - yahoo!

So this morning while John was at preschool Alyssa decided she wanted to play a game so she pulled out the Tinkertoys. She made a mom and dad cat and babies.



Then we played Hullaballo. The next thing I knew it was almost 11:30 and time to pick up John. So Alyssa says "time flies when you're having fun, right Mom?" And said, "this was the bestest day ever!"

Shortly after getting home from preschool John ended up falling asleep. He must have been tired since he slept for about 2 hours. Alyssa was happy to be able to spend more time "without John bothering us". Later that evening though he was still asleep after Alyssa fell asleep. ALyssa is normally the one who never goes to sleep.

Have you had your piece today?

Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.

~ Psalm 90:12, NLT




I saw this in the Sunday comics and I had to laugh. I was just telling someone the other day that we "Moms" need to make sure to take a bigger piece of the pie for ourselves. Even if we have to squeeze it into our day for just a few minutes - I always feel more at peace with myself and with my family. We should also make time to "get away" from everything to do something you want to do at least once a week. Even a 20 minute run or walk outside can do wonders for you physically, mentally and spiritually. Helps you to be more productive and in much better spirits to handle all of the whines and cries we deal with every day. I've found that when I take the time for me I'm much happier which usually makes my kids and husband happier too! So making the time for ourselves doesn't just benefit us but the entire family!

It seems like our excuse for most things is that "I don't have enough time" or "there aren't enough hours in the day". Is that how you feel sometimes (or all of the time) too? This morning I saw the encouraging word of the day (above)....it reminds me that I need to make the time for the things that are important. What matters the most to us in life? What is more important....a clean house or happy kids and yourself? Usually your kids can help you answer that one. One day Alyssa asked me if I felt like Cinderella? I asked her why and she said because I was cleaning all day! :) We really need to listen to our kids - they usually are able to put things into perspective for us!

What's PB & J?

So what's PB & J? Alyssa asked me the other day when I asked her if she wanted one! :)
As I've probably mentioned before, Alyssa loves to have picnics. So after I put some PB & J on a bagel and a few other requested items in a bag, we walked (I pushed Alyssa in the stroller and John rode his hot wheel) to the library. After getting their "bug" stickers from the library - for the summer reading program - and checking out some books, we headed over to the park. Both on the way there and way back there were a lot of times that I was pushing them both - Alyssa would hold out her feet to push John on his bike. I worked up quite a sweat! That was my work-out for the day.

T-Bones Baseball game

We enjoyed the late afternoon at a T-Bones game. The kids would have loved running the bases after the game, but they weren't going to last much longer so we had to leave in the 7th inning with the game tied at 10.

Rainbow of emotions

Alyssa drew this while we were at church. It is a picture of her under the rainbow and at the bottom is our family. I think you can probably figure out who is who....me (red hair), Alyssa (yellow hair), John (spiked hair) and Jeff (glasses - not sure why he has green hair). I wonder if all of the other faces were feelings she had prior to church. I always forget what triggers her tempers but she was crying and mad on the way out the door.

Pool Party

Well Alyssa was invited to a birthday pool party today. One of the girls from her spring soccer team was turning 6. Was surprised how many of the girls were already able to swim. Guess I need to sign Alyssa up for some more lessons this summer. For the party favors they got a little fish bowl with a goldfish. By the time everyone was leaving there were few fish that were still alive. Alyssa's was alive but by the next morning it wasn't! She wants to keep the dead goldfish. I'll let Jeff figure out what to do about that one!

Fearless

So we made it to the pool today just after 10am. Kids enjoyed playing in the kiddie pool with a slide and several mom's from the Mom's group were there. So when the big pool opened at noon Alyssa wanted to go so we walked over there. So Alyssa hopped in the big pool - with shallow - zero entry. The next thing I knew John was running to the other end of the pool. I tried shouting out for John to stop but nothing came out (due to my lost voice)so I quickly hurried after him. He seemed to be on a mission and I soon found out where he was headed. The small diving board! I reached the side of the pool as he was jumping off. I threw down my sunglasses by the life guard stand and jumped in after him. He popped up out of the water and tried to keep his head above water by doing a doggie paddle - he looked kinda surprised. Grabbed him and hauled him over to the side of the pool. Not sure how I managed since I am not a good swimmer - the lifeguard told us that he was seconds from jumping in! After the shock wore off of him running off like that, I had to chuckle to myself - what a daredevil he is. Have to watch out for this one! Was kinda funny - would have loved to have captured that on video!

Cold in the Summer?

Well I promised the kids the other day that I would take them to the pool today. But my cold seems to have gotten worse. A cough now along with a sore throat and now my voice is really gone. I can barely speak above a whisper! What I really want to do is go back to bed and cover up my head and sleep the day away - hoping to feel better when I wake up.....but don't think the kids will go for that one. Alyssa is also not feeling well but am sure she still wants to go to the pool. So I just asked her how she was doing..."Not good" she says. So I aske if she is feeling well enought to go to the pool....."uh-huh"...that's what I thought!

Busy Day

So today we had a busy day. First John off to preschool. Then Alyssa decided she wanted to play hide-n-seek with me and then a game. We actually played the game of Operation (and followed the directions) and used the money and I was suprised how well Alyssa did. She mixed the money up before we had time to count it but we had a nice time. Then we packed a picnic lunch and picked up John from preschool. A stop at the library - for their bug stickers - they get a new sticker each week for the summer reading program. Then we walked over to the "pirate park" for lunch. After eating John decided it would be fun to jump off the back of the bleachers! sNo fear! After playing at the playground John found a mud puddle. So much for staying clean before their yearly doctor appointment. Alyssa had to get 5 shots before being able to start Kindergarten. She was brave and didn't cry until the very last one. A trip to get icecream at Shake's before heading home.

Father's Day

Nieces and Nephew

So these are my two adorable nieces - Clarice and Gracie - that I still have yet to meet in person. I am not sure who is who - but my brother can't tell them apart yet either. Looking forward to seeing them in July.
Great Grandma Wood with Mom, Edward and Andrea. Nice pictures!

So Alyssa enjoyed her last day of vacation bible school. She came home with a nature collage of resurrection scene. (I asked her to hold up her pictures - guess she was tired of waiting for the camera!) John was old enough to go to but he said he didn't want to and also he was running a fever last night so didn't think it was a good idea.
After vacation bible school we stopped by a park on a lake. Still overcast and lots of water from the thunderstorms last night so after 30 minutes or so we decided to get some lunch. I hadn't been to a Sonic in I can't remember how long and after hearing an ad about dollar milkshakes thought that would be the place to go. Amazingly fast service - food was delivered and then Alyssa said she had to go to the bathroom! Okay, not a problem.....so after we all went and came back we had our food outside in the shade. I had ordered Alyssa a vanilla shake with cherries and a cherry creamsicle shake (I was to have the one she didn't want or I guess we were going to share) since she couldn't decide. John had a kids meal of grilled cheese with fries and chocolate milk. His came with a watch type of toy, so then Alyssa asked me where her toy was. Well I didn't order her a kids meal because she said she didn't know what she wanted. And the hamburger she started to eat was the one I ordered for myself! :P So I ended up eating the hamburger that she didn't finish - and a few bites of grilled cheese and fries. Sometimes lately I feel like I am the "garbage disposal" since I hate to waste any food. So guess it's a good thing that I don't order anything for myself! :)
Since we've been home trying to get the house straightened up - still dishes from last night - and John was complaining of bugs in his ears. Gave him some advil and know we have a yearly exam for both kids on Tuesday so we will see the Dr. soon enough. So he was laying down in his room for a little, now he's watching DVD's with Alyssa so now is probably time I need to get them away from the tv and back outside. Guess I can always finish this up ....and maybe fill in Wednesday and Thursday later.
John just came up crying that Alyssa hit him. Asked if he wanted to go outside and he said yes and that we should "lockAlyssa inside".....why?...."because Lyssa's a baby" was his response.

Alyssa at Grace Church vacation bible school this Wednesday through Friday. Signed her up since a few of her friends from preschool were attending and it was only 5 dollars - what a bargain - can't get babysitters for less than that. After dropping her off John and I stopped by a friends house so John could play with her kids - I was supposed to go running but ended up chatting instead.

Shortly afternoon returning home with Alyssa and John, Jeff made it home early. He was off for the afternoon and we were all hungry so we headed to Olive Garden. We hadn't been in a long time so sounded good. It's only about a mile from home so I suggested that we all walk - but I was the only one who thought that was a good idea. Just minutes after our food was delivered Alyssa had to go to the bathroom...so then the other monkey decided he had to go to! :P Our waitress commented to Alyssa that she loved her many barretts (she said she has a daughter too). Alyssa and John were grabbing at the mints and when John dropped one in the car he started screaming. (I found it the next day when I was moving car seats to the other car).

Yummy Creamsicles

While John was at morning preschool (he's going mornings of Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July), Alyssa and I walked (about a mile) from the preschool to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. So doing my part in driving as little as possible. Jeff actually carpooled a few times this week too. Stopped at Walgreen's (the kids sometimes call it Greenwalls) for cards for Father's Day and told Alyssa she could pick out some candy. Major indecision again about it! After several minutes I told her she should probably decide soon and she started whimpering and saying " I always don't know". She decided on Dots - her favorite candy for the past few months.

So no problems or cavities - a perfect check-up for me and since Alyssa was so good sitting in the chair in the room with me that they let her pick out a goodie from the treasure chest. More indecision - I think I'm doing a good job trying to be patient - I suggested a pink bracelet and she decided that was good since it matched her clothes. The clothes she wears every day - pink monkey shorts and pink cupcake shirt. (I really need to go to Kohl's and get at least another shirt for her)!

Enjoyed the walked and Alyssa had my reach into the weeds to pick a flower for her. After getting our nails done last week Alyssa wanted to get a pedicure. I convinced her we would do them at home since I didn't feel like spending 50 for both of us to get that done. She had me paint a pink heart on her big toe and a flower on the other big toe. She didn't have a hard time deciding what she wanted then! And even told me the different color of glitter she wanted for her individual toes! I tried to take a picture of it but don't think it turned out so well.

Later that evening we went for a walk and John pointed to a tree and said "that's a tree like Grandma Lynn has" and also saw a weeping willow tree that John said and sounded like sleeping willow. We turned the corner and John says "there's a Honda Pilot". He loves to know the names of cars and always asks me what they are. I try to tell him whenever I can. So I looked around and couldn't find one. Well it was the car that was half way down the street! Wow! Good eyesight and amazing to know the car make/model. Guess that's just a boy thing!

Is it ever enough?

So we spent most of the morning/early afternoon at the coffeehouse - we stayed longer than anyone else in the group. I thought with it being rainy outside the kids needed extra active playtime in the gym they have there. When we left I said we could go to McDonald's and then the library. I thought that would be a "fun" thing to do but it caused some whining from Alyssa. She wanted to first go home (to retrieve the hair clips she forgot this morning) then to the library and then McDonald's. Tried to explain that with gas costing as much as it does we couldn't do that - a lot of backtracking (Alyssa asked what that word meant so it took me some time to try to explain...at times I really need to carry a dictionary with me!). So I gave her a few different options. She didn't like them. She wanted to do it her way. I said if she didn't give me an answer in 5 minutes, then I would make the decision. She cried out that she didn't want me to decide and she told me because I would choose to just go straight home. Wow! At least she knows what I want! :) I said if she continued to whine that we would just go straight home. That seemed to finally get her to quiet down. Not sure why but lately she can't make a decision about anything - even as simple as what to eat. At least she doesn't have to worry about clothes to wear - it's always the pink cupcake shirt with monkey shorts!
After McDonald's and the library made it home by 3:30 - now I need some "me time" to get my journal "homework" completed before the meeting tonight. Am doing a group discussion to help become a better Mom. Am reading books and trying to learn all that I can since "being a Mom" is my full-time volunteer job currently - so want to do all I can to be the best....or just better.....

So what about the mess?

So today I started to make some egg salad. The kids seemed interested in helping so thought why not. Alyssa and John loved cracking the eggs and picking off the shells. John especially liked putting the shells on the floor. No big deal - still hadn't cleaned up from last night's meals and there were still broken lollipop pieces stuck to the floor. So can just clean it up all at once. Kids seemed to have fun and I did too by not freaking out about the messes that were being made. So now I am left to clean up the mess - but happy to do so knowing the kids enjoyed themselves. Each day am trying to be more and more relaxed about things that really don't matter. So what if Alyssa is wearing her favorite cupcake shirt and monkey shorts for the third day in a row without getting washed. Just trying to do things each day the kids will remember - and most importantly to have fun. That's really what's most important not only to our kids but to ourselves.

Kids enjoying some treats at the Deanna Rose Farm