Neon Moustaches... and other birthday tales.

Morgan's birthday was this past weekend and we celebrated with a party on Saturday night. (It went well, even with what I talked about in the previous post.) The music and laughter was rather loud... but I wouldn't have had it another way. Those kids can put away some food, candy and cake as well!! The last kid finally went home Sunday afternoon. And I have a year to recover until the next birthday! Morgan's theme was "neon". The kids enjoyed all the glowsticks, glow necklaces and bracelets. They also dressed in neon. Along with anything neon everyone had to wear moustaches. Morgan's signature is a "mustashh". The only way I can explain the moustaches is that the kids love anything out of the ordinary. Halfway through the party the kids spilled out into the street to have a "Hot Dance Party". Thank goodness it was cold or I probably would have never got them back in!

This is a great group of kids. I love them all like my own! They are all so fun-loving, energetic and happy. The way they can take just about anything and make a good time or joke out of it is a breath of fresh air. (notice the hair-do's for example!)

My best friends growing up was my youth group and it's the same for Morgan. Yes, we found mischief but I think you can make a connection to your youth group not like your other friends. Plus, I started dating Chris through my youth group! (Not to rush things with Morgan!!)

Morgan and her friends celebrating as she prepares to make wish!

She had a special cake made by her best friend, Delaney. It was yummy! We also had moustache cupcakes. What party isn't complete without that?

l to r: Delaney, Grant, Jon, Ronnie, Bethany, Morgan, Hannah, Olivia, Jasmine, Tito and Allie

Happy Birthday, Morgan!!

Weekly Journal

I was reading a fellow homeschool mom's blog (http://www.thehomeschoolchick.com/) who once a week answers some writing prompts in her "journal". What a neat way to keep up with what is going on and keep record of things we've been doing. I've adapted just a bit to fit our family, but the idea is still to answer these questions once a week.

• In my life this week...

This week has been about planning for Morgan's birthday! She had some things she wanted to do and we had her party as well. Seems like birthdays turn into a week-long affair here!

Rachel and Ryan were out of school on Friday and so we officially started Spring Break! YAY!! We're not really doing anything. But that sounds okay to me!

I turned in all of the final girl scout cookie sales info for our troop. This has been over a month long process. I'm proud of the girls, but I'm glad cookie sales are OVER!

• In our homeschool this week...

With the nice weather this week we had one school day at the park. It was nice! It does us good to have a change of scenery every once in a while. We are working on LifePac 8... 2 more to go and we are done!

• Rachel and Ryan are learning/doing this week...

Ryan brought home a science project - the solar system! I plan on having Morgan help him and I can have 2 kids learn with one project. Sounds good to me! Rachel is still doing her drawing and origami. We are considering putting her in professional art classes. We believe her talent needs to be developed. She drew plans for a clubhouse she wants to build this summer for her and her friend. She drew it 3D, had the area, perimeter and all measurements needed. Sometimes that child's brain boggles my mind.

• Places we're going and people we're seeing...

I would like to visit the zoo or a museum or two over spring break. We will see. I still have to work some, but I can go in really early and be done by when the kids get up.

• My favorite thing this week...

Was getting to wear my flip-flops for a few days!! And I guess that could lead to my least favorite part... the cold weather that came back. Warm teasers are so cruel!

• What's working/not working for us this week...

We still are struggling with finding the time to get everything done with school. The last few weeks either someone has been sick, we've had doctor/dentist appts. or a whole laundry list of things. There has to be an easier way! I'm not sure what I need to do to help this.

• Homeschool questions/thoughts/ideas...

The homeschool convention in Cincinnati is next week, but I'm not sure if I am going or not. They have had a huge blow-up about speakers, differences of opinion, etc. and I'm just not sure I want to bother traveling that far to participate. I may just wait until the June conference here in Indy. I'm so up in there air as to what to do for next year anyway.

• What else is on my mind this week...

Morgan is 14! What?!?! How did that happen? I don't know if I will ever survive this teenage thing. I keep telling myself that I'm not the first and I won't be the last... but that still doesn't help much! Is it strange that mothering a teenager is the one thing that has drawn me closer to God than anything in my life before?

• A photo/link/video/quote to share...

In our marriage class at church this past week we talked about money. This verse came up and it is one of my favorites!!

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? -- Mark 8:36.

And I love to hear Toby Mac sing about it as well... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coHKdhAZ9hU

Let's get this party started!

Okay, so I'll admit. I love to plan parties. Maybe a little too much. Now is this such a bad thing? I don't think so. Morgan would say otherwise.

A couple months ago she asked if she could have a party for her birthday. I said yes, partly because I wanted to plan it. Pitiful, I know. So here we are less than 24 hours away and I'm in the full "adrenaline" of it all. Morgan keeps pulling me back down and keeping things in check.

I envisioned huge platters of food, elaborate decorations, an unforgettable "theme" and the cutest party favors ever. I saw a whole evening of activities coming together for our theme, whatever that was to be.

Morgan envisioned all her friends coming over, hanging out, playing a few games and eating a ton of pizza and Mountain Dew.

This is where it gets tricky. Compromise.

Yes, we had to compromise. Mostly I had to back down and not insist on things feeding from my party-planning obsession. Morgan and I are alike in a lot of ways, but not when it comes to things like this. Morgan is a "minimalist" and I am a "go overboard and then some" type of person. Now that she is a teenager and tells me just what she wants and how she wants it, I can't live out my wildest dreams through her. Bummer.

It is about her, not me.

Its her party, not mine.

What I like may not be the same as a teens taste.

I know, I know.

I guess this birthday party stuff is just an example of things to come. How dare she grow up and have her own opinion! Just kidding. She has grown into a fine young lady who stands up for her thoughts and values. I guess that is the ultimate goal. Even if it is hard to accept sometimes. :)

Finding the humor...

Ryan has had his fair share of sickness over the last few months. Poor guy, it just doesn't seem fair!! He was first diagnosed with mono followed by a few other things. Today it was topped off with another "weird" diagnosis.

Salivary gland infection. Sigh.

So basically he had a cold, fever, etc. which turned into an infection since his body is still compromised from the mono. And where did the infection settle? Yes, his salivary gland. I guess because it is close to his tonsils and other glands that were affected by the mono. He looks like he has a mouthful of food stored in his cheek and gum.

Okay, so where was the humor today? Well, Ryan is a funny guy. And what makes him funny is that he doesn't even know he is funny. As we were sitting in the exam room waiting for the doctor I pulled out my phone to take a picture of him. I was thinking I could compare the swelling and see if it was getting better or worse. He looked a me with a very strange look and bluntly told me that I better not put it on Facebook. HAHA!!! My son knows me too well. :) He didn't tell me to not put it on my blog though...

So later we were listening to our answering machine messages when a strange voice came on and said it was Nancy, calling for Barbara and John. She wondered if everyone was alright and wondered if he (I'm assuming John) was feeling better. She was worried about him and wanted to call and tell him to get better soon. We all started laughing... it was obviously a wrong number. Ryan didn't laugh and wanted to know who it was, very matter of fact. I told him it was a wrong number. He said, "No it isn't! She called to see how I was and to tell me to get better!" He was sure she had called just for him. hahahahaaha.... silly kid! Thanks, Nancy, for calling to check on Ryan!

Oh well... after such a long, crazy, tiring day it's good to find the humor!!

Patience... such an exhausting word!

"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." -- James 1:3-4

My children know I am not a very patient person, so they probably find it funny when I tell them that some things just can't be fixed that fast. I don't think they believe me when I tell them that patience is a virtue! And why would they? I struggle to find the patience to sit in a drive-thru line. I definitely could use some help here when it comes to "do as I say, not as I do".

Endurance is not taught by any other lesson than the process itself. I must keep going even when the days are long and hard. So, I'm trying to teach myself as well and lead by example.

I am placing my hand in His!

Bracing for the worst... praying for the best.

In our studies today, Morgan and I researched and talked about the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear threat that is going on in Japan.

Just exactly how an earthquake happens and then a tsunami forms is an amazing thing, to say the least. I really didn't know too much about how a nuclear power plant worked, so it was a great science lesson for us both. Sometimes things such as these are hard to wrap my little brain around.

However, you can talk all about the "science" of it you want, but those poor people are living a nightmare. To me, that is the real lesson. Living minute to minute not knowing what is going to happen next. Sure does make me thankful... and hopefully teaches me to think outside "my little world".

Random thoughts on a Saturday morning...

Praying for those involved in the Japan earthquake/tsunami.

It's hard to look at all of the pictures coming out of Japan. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the devastation that those poor people have just witnessed and lived through. Their world literally shaking to its core for minutes! The tsunami that soon followed just wiping through land and all that was on it just like it was nothing.

I can't help but think about how man can get so confident in their own abilities. And then God's power of Mother Nature comes through and shows everyone who is really boss. We forget who really is in control and can make or break anything at any time.

Are you kidding me?

And I've also been thinking about the NFL contract talks. How ridiculous is it that they can't decide what to do with 9 billion dollars?! If that was my only worry!! Meanwhile, in our state we are arguing about organized labor and it destroying the middle class man. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with organized labor, but I do believe in what is going to help the middle class.

How wrong is our society when 2 arguments such as these... the same but so different... are going on?

Okay, so that was my random thoughts for this morning. :) Now onto enjoying my Saturday with the family!! Enjoy your Saturday!

Okay, I'll admit...

I slacked on my goal of keeping this blog.

but... but.. well, in my defense, this has been a crazy past month or so!! Here... I'll list you just a few things that have had me busy. Trust me!! I've been so busy sometimes I didn't know if I was coming or going.

1. Work! Valentine's Day is one of the hardest holidays that we have in our business. It's over and thank goodness!

2. Girl Scouts! A fellow mom and I have taken on the huge job of being "cookie mom". The troop has worked at least 2 cookie booths every weekend over the last month. Followed by us filling orders, keeping the money straight, making bank deposits, picking up more cookies, etc. etc. I am SO looking forward to March 22!!! However, I just keep thinking about our goal... a trip to Washington, DC in June. Our troop has sold over 1800 boxes of cookies!!!

3. Kids! School for the twins, homeschool for Morgan and everything in between. Homework, lesson planning and all that good stuff. Doctor and Dentist appointments seem to rule my life sometimes.

4. Church! Now, that is a good thing. We have made a conscious effort to become more involved in church. We are attending a great marriage bible study on Wednesday nights. Morgan is very involved in teens. She wants to go early, stay late and not ever miss anything! She and her friend sang in a "talent" competition through our denomination and made it to the next level! Go Morgan and Delaney! And in the midst of it all, her youth pastor left to work at another church. It took an emotional toll on all of us. Sometimes those things affect us more than we realize.

5. Weather! This has been one harsh winter. Now, being from Indiana I am used to the crazy weather. I don't know... this has been one doozey of a winter though. Maybe I'm getting older and things like that bother me more now. Ugh!! The constant stress/anxiety of worrying about snow, ice and everything in between is more than enough!

6. Well... I can't really think of anything else... but I'm sure there are lots more things... I'm sure of it!! I've probably been so busy that I just forgot about it!! ;)

Okay, so in making this list I realized I've done the exact thing I've been trying not to do! Get so caught up in the everyday things that I lose sight of the really important things. I need to keep doing this blog to keep myself in check. Keep my eyes on the goal... me and my family's relationship with God and our relationship with each other.

In the middle of all this craziness, I have read some good books and devotionals. I've listened to some great music that has inspired me. Our pastor has challenged us in our prayer life. The marriage class has given me some things to work on with Chris. And God has spoke to me through His word.

So, in all seriousness things do seem to be calming down a bit. I'm determined to stay ahead of the game and not fall victim to the hustle and bustle of life. I don't want to miss the important stuff!!

Happy Birthday, Rachel and Ryan!!

My goodness... that's a lot of candles on their cake!

So somewhere in the midst of this crazy winter, we get to celebrate the birthday of some pretty special kids. Rachel and Ryan turned 11 on Sunday, February 13. They will forever be my Valentines! (eventhough it's a day early!)


11!!! I can't believe it. For their birthday this year they couldn't decide if they wanted money, a party or what. Ryan decided on money, while Rachel decided that she wanted a gift.

Ryan bought some new video games with his birthday money. Rachel, on the other hand, is a child after my own heart. She wanted a Nook. So, we made the deal that I would chip in on it and we could both share it. We have really enjoyed it!! Money well spent, we both agree.



Rachel wanted to go out to eat and see a movie with some friends. We saw "Gnomeo and Juliet" and ate at Culver's. Both were her choice. I had a good time watching her and her friends. The movie? Well, not so much.

Ryan had a sleepover with his best friend and played video games all night long. He wanted fried green beans to eat. Hahaha... that silly boy.

Rachel and Ryan have been blessings to our lives, to say the least. They have tought us so many things and didn't even realize it. They are so sweet and loving!! Ryan told me on his birthday that he was glad I got pregnant and had him. A little strange choice of words maybe... but so sweet!!

Happy Birthday to my little miracles!!

I think I can... I think I can!!

Okay, so my goal for this weekend is to update my blog. I really want to keep doing this and not just let it fall by the wayside. Until then... enjoy my current favorite song!

http://www.vevo.com/watch/david-crowder-band/sms-shine/US82Y1000066