Swim Lessons in October!!

Tonight was the first night of Little Divers. Boys had a lot of fun and were pretty relieved when I told them the lessons were inside at a hotel. Although, Tyler wanted to hang out in a hot tub.

This week we are supposed to figure out one way to take care of God's creation. We will see what we come up with.

God Moments

I could have had a bad week last week.  I could have had (more) breakdowns than I did.  I could have failed to realize God was by my side EVERY step of the way.

I just had one of those weeks where God answered my questions in a very obvious way.  Sometimes he answered questions I failed to ask.  I wondered.  But I didn't come right out and ask, "why?".

This week just made me realize that I probably pass over these answers from God ALL. THE. TIME!!  Maybe because sometimes I don't like the answer.  Sometimes because I'm too busy to listen/see the answer.  Sometimes he's answering a question I don't realize I have.  I don't know if that makes sense or not but I really experienced that this week.

I'm going to work on hearing and seeing His answers without requiring him to be quite so obvious with me.  :)

Is it a) Awkward; b) Creepy; or c) None of the Above

The boys LOVE to use the words "awkward" and "creepy."  Don't be impressed with their vocabulary.... they use them incorrectly 90% of the time.

Last night, I was taking Tyler to his first basketball practice that was at a local grade school (let's call it "C" assuming his school is "AR").  I told him we were going to C and he said, "that's the school that is the opposite of AR.  The gym and classrooms are on the opposite side....."

And then he described it as either "awkward" or "creepy". Take a guess.  Really.  Guess.

"....That's creepy!  And the building smells like ranch."

I love that kid.  I may have let him run with calling it "awkward" actually.  But not creepy.

You know when your kids say things wrong and it's sooooo cute?  That's how I feel about this.  I hesitate to correct them because I'm so entertained when they use it incorrectly.  I'm slowly correcting it.  Slowly.  This one I didn't correct because I was laughing too hard.  Maybe next time.  After all, I don't want him to be the awkward kid who is creepy or is it the creepy kid who is awkward???  Maybe I'm not the best teacher....

I9 Fall Ball

This was our first year doing fall ball through I9. AJ had a great time. I had a great time as well since we picked the kids on our team which meant I got to hang out with some of my favorite fellow Moms. Here are some memories from the season....

Before and After

Before

After

 



After-After

Best of the Week

Every week we have so many things to be thankful for.  Here's what stood out this week.

1. AFUMC Basketball started this week.  Went smoothly.  The boys (all three of them) had a good time.  I love seeing Kevin coach these sessions.  He's totally in his element and is so, so, so, so very good with the kids.
2. I've always known that God blessed me with an amazing group of friends.  I'm overwhelmingly thankful for them this week.
3. School pictures came home.  50% of them turned out.  Sorry Tyler.  Gonna do a retake this year!
4. Fall parties were Friday.  Kids had a great time and I didn't flip out on any of them.  :)  Kevin got to experience school parties for the first time.  Another post later on fall parties...
5. It's been a rainy weekend.  We haven't had a lazy, rainy day in a very long time. 
6. Boys had kids from three different families over this weekend.  They all played so well together and had a lot of fun.  Thankful that they have chosen good friends.

Quote of the week from the kiddos:
          AJ:" Tell me something unusual." 
         Ty: "I just saved 15% on my car insurance."

  

 

 

Rainy Day Mishap

It's October 9 and today was the first time it's been raining when school got out.  I started to stress about 2:15 when I realized it was raining and likely would still be raining at 2:55.  So I tried to plan.... because that's what I do.  Brainstorm all my potential solutions.  Weigh all my options.  Make a decision.  I had a few big obstacles:

1. When the boys left for school this morning, we did NOT discuss a plan for rain.
2. I could not get into their little heads to figure out what they were expecting from me.
3. I JUST read the school's newsletter last night and it stated that:
1. Parents should not email teachers to arrange pick-up procedures.  It's the parent's responsibility to be prepared for inclement weather. (OOPS)
2. It clearly stated that children shouldn't ride scooters to school and if they did they should be stored in their lockers - not on the bike rack.

IDEALLY - I would have sent this email:

Teachers-
So sorry to bother you but I didn't realize it was going to rain this afternoon.  Could you please let my child know that I will pick him up outside the first grade classrooms?  Please have him pick up his scooter from the bike rack before coming to my car.
Sincerely,
The-Parent-Who-Ignores-Your-Rules.

But because I read that newsletter and I don't want to break any stupid rules and I don't want the teachers to hate me and I truly don't want to create more work for them, I decided to park on the street behind the school.  I knew they would see me.  They'd still have to walk in the rain a little bit but I'd save them half of the walk at least.  So, I drove to the school.  Waited.  Saw them walking down the sidewalk and was relieved my "plan" was going to work.  One of my friends drove by as the boys were approaching my car. I waive at the boys.  My friend and I were chatting about the unexpected rain.  I look in my rear view mirror, and the boys are riding their scooters home...  I have been left behind!

I get home.  I'm laughing.  I ask AJ why he didn't get in the car.  He tells me, "I wasn't sure if I was supposed to!"  ?!??!?!?!??!  I ask Tyler the same thing.  He gives me the exact same answer.  So then I ask them why they think I would have been parked there if not to give them a ride home.  AJ said, "I thought you were just watching to make sure we got home OK. I didn't know if I should put my scooter in your car."  !?!?!?

And now please refer back to point #2 - "I could not get into their little heads to figure out what they were expecting from me."  Yep!  Never, ever, ever, ever crossed my mind that they would see me and think I was planning on watching them walk home in the cold rain... for fun.  It all worked out though.  They got home.  They did not melt.  And now I know, next time, I let them walk and I stay home curled up in front of the fireplace!

Fall is here

It has been cold the past few days.  Friday it was 32 degrees out when the kiddos left for school.  I yelled downstairs to see if they were ready to leave and Tyler said, "almost."  I walk to the stairs and looked down to see him in shorts and a tank top.  :)  Guess he was in denial.  Nonetheless, he left the house in sweatpants, long sleeve t-shirt, and a fleece.  Mom - 1, Tyler - 0.

 

It was cold on Saturday for baseball too.  Sure sign that fall is here.  That means it's fireplace time.  I *heart* my fireplace!!  I've noticed now with our new furniture that something is missing in this room.  What do you think?  Doesn't Kevin need a pipe?!?!?  I mean I don't want him to really smoke one but I think it would really class this place up!

Politics as Understood by my Children...

Even though we don't typically talk about politics in this house, politics regularly come up since every commercial is a political message these days.  Here was our conversation at dinner:

AJ: Who gets to vote for the President?
ME: American Citizens who are 18 and older. (Relieved the political questions are this level.)
AJ: Do you know who you are going to vote for?
ME: Yes.
AJ: I hope it's not Barack Obama because the commercial says he's killing American families.
ME: Uh, he's not actually "killing" families literally...this isn't District 12.

<Random comments from Kevin and me trying to explain killing means hurting... but not physically hurting...etc.... etc... >

Tyler: (clearly not paying attention to the past five minutes) So even people in Kentucky can vote??

Apparently, watching "Call of the Wildman" has skewed his opinion of Kentucky.

Thoughtful PinSpiration

I'm inspired every day when I scroll through Pinterest.  (Yes, I am on Pinterest Every Day and I'm not ashamed of that! Keep reading...)  The crafts.  The meals.  The desserts.  The clothes.  BUT ALSO, the quotes.  So let the creation of "Thoughtful PinSpiration" be born!

This one was pretty timely.

It has always bothered me the reactions to every one's "busy" schedules.  We do indeed GLORIFY it.  We are so proud of what we can accomplish in an hour, in a day, in a week etc.  The part that bothers me the most about the topic of "busy" is that we all become judgemental about it.  We are in awe of those who accomplish so much in their busy lives and we look down on those who don't keep as busy as we believe they should.

So what qualifies as busy?  Working at a job?  Cleaning a house?  Changing diapers? Volunteering?

Does sitting out on my deck enjoying the beautiful weather count as busy?  Surfing Pinterest?  How about doing crafts with my seven year old?  Does catching up with my friends count?  How about laying on the couch with my hubby watching TV?  Do those give me "busy" credit. I would bet not.

I'd rather be doing more of the latter.  The thing is, we all have 24-hours in each day. I'm not a math genius but 24 hour = 24 hours ... regardless of how you spend them.  I've been a full-time working mom and I've been a part-time working mom.  I'm here to tell you, they are both hard and they are both "busy." 

Life can keep us all busy but I'm going to focus on not being so busy.  I'm going to say, "no" more.  I'm not going to thrive on being busy anymore.  Life is passing by SO quickly!!  If I don't slow down, I will miss it.  Didn't Ferris Bueller teach me that?!?!?

So I am going to enjoy this amazing fall weather....even as it gets colder.
And I'm going to surf Pinterest so that AJ and I can do a Halloween craft tomorrow.
And I'm going to be to call/text/email my friends and family.
And Kevin and I are going to lay on the couch and watch random TV when the boys are tucked in.
And most importantly, I'm not going to apologize or feel bad about it.  I'm proud of that.

And when I struggle.... I'll pray.... because that's what I'm advised to do...

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11:28