What we are up to....

Well, I guess I would say that we are up to a whole lot of nothing. At least it is our nothing, right? The kids finished school on Thursday. I now have a 4th grader, a 3rd grader, and a kindergartener. Mr. Aiden will go to Tuesday school in the fall, so Tuesdays it will be just me and Emi. The kids had a very good school year overall. I think many were surprised that they did as well as they did considering the stress our family has been under since in December. Both of the older kids made all "A"s. Angie's year average was a 95 in math. To hear her tell it, its because she isn't good at math. She received several awards including student of the year for third grade. Tony recieved some awards as well, but his are wadded up in the bottom of his backpack :)

I promised the kids two camps this summer if they made all "a"s so later I'm sure I will be writing about GT camp, softball camp, and zoo camp. The kids are also doing gymnastics one day a week, vacation bible school and a soccer camp. Tony has been telling me for a couple of years that he wants to paly soccer, but when I told him that it was played outside and that he'd have to run after a ball, he wasn't so sure. So we are trying an inexpensive 4 day camp.

Angie has a dance recital next week. She has a practice Wednesday, a dress rehearsal Thursday and a full recital Friday and Saturday. Ugggh. She loves her ballet class, but not so much the childrens broadway class afterward. There are only four girls in that class so the teacher really points out every little thing they do wrong. I told Angie that its not personal and that she just wants to help her improve, but its like watching the air being let out of a balloon--watching her face in that class. On the way home Thursday, we talked about maybe only doing one dance class or maybe going back to gymnastics. We will see what the summer brings.

One of the mom's Thursday was talking about her daughter's voice lessons. So I ask where they do voice. She tells me Howard Payne, "but its really expensive". At first I was pissed. These snooty dance mom attitudes get under my skin, but then I thought "she's right, it probably is more than I'm willing to pay." We are on a budget, but I was thinking more about other prices we pay. And Brian and I are trying very hard to put our kids in things that are going to build them up. They have wonderful spirits and I don't want that changed.

I talked to my boss about going to part time, so I will be taking the leap in July. I am nervous, but I'm also excited. I think two days a week will be a huge help to our family. We're doing some things to prepare and budget, and there are going to be some things that we have to say no to, but I think it will be good. We cancelled our directv and our movie store membership. Next month we hope to pay off the last of our credit card debt. Brian changed his shift to 4, 10 hour shifts, so he will be home every evening. This will be better for the kids, but I worry about the extra driving on Brian.

yep that's right, he's back at work. He's working 8 hour shifts to start with. He's doing pretty well, and has a PET scan June 18th. Please keep praying that this scan is clean and that he continues to heal.

Happy 2nd Birthday.

Little Bit is officially Two. Man its gone by fast. She is too cute. But don't let her cuteness fool you. She is a little scrapper. We have truly been blessed. Happy birthday Emi.

Field Day

This was actually last week, but I am just now getting pictures up. The kids was blessed with some money this year when someone left money in their will. The gentlman wanted part of the money to go toward track renovations. The track was asphalt and who knows how old. The new track is that spongy stuff. The football field was also seeded so field day took place on the smaller practice field. So, there weren't as many events this year as in years past, but the kids still had lots of fun. It opens with a parade of classes.





These final two pictures are of the 4th grade class. One of the girls Leann, had a brain tumor the size of a softball removed a few weeks ago. They had "team Leann" signs on their tshirts.

Growing up.

As some of you know from face book, Little Bit has decided to start flipping herself out of her crib. I have the picture of her black eye on my phone to prove it. So, last week Brian ordered her a toddler bed complete with a Dora bedset. Every female cartoon character is "Dora" in our house according to Emi. So,Brian took the crib down and Little E has been falling asleep in our bed and getting moved to the bottom bunk. This is the first toddler bed in our home, but We'd like to put loft beds in the girl's room later when we feel Emilia will be safe sleeping on one.

The boys had to help build the bed.




Then Emi laid down for a nap.


If only she'd do this every day from now on.

Take me out to the Ball Game

Not sure why they picked this pose but it cracks me up!


A Fire Ant, An Astro, And A Diamond Doll


For some reason Zachy was more concerned about his sucker being in the picture.


Love this time of year.

Kidisms

Well, I have a few pics to post, hopefully I will get to that next week. Since my last blog, I made yet another field trip to the Abilene zoo. This time with Tony. They were studying habitats in school. I was impressed by the kids use of "science" words. Their favorite being ecothermic. I also got a big kick out of watching the other kids around my budding zoologist. "hey Tony, over here, what's this?" Tony, Tony come look, and on and on. My, self-proclaimed "NERD". As, we were leaving ball practice Thursday, he turns to me and says "can I do homework now?" I say sure when we get home. His response "Yippee I'm a nerd again".

My sweet Emilia is turning two this month, while I turn 35. Since we've been home, her vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds everyday. We've been working on colors and shapes, and it cracks me up when she grabs a book and goes, Zachy's color (pointing at blue), Angies's color (pointing at pink), Aiden's color (green), Coney's color (red), and Me(her saying Emi) color (pointing at purple). So funny. And yes she calls Tony, Coney. LOL.

Angie took TAKS for the first time this year. I'm crazy curious to see how she did. She was so nervous. Yes, you can add the TAKS test to the list of reasons to homeschool. The pressure these kids feel is just ridiculous. Now the rest of the year will be fun goofing off stuff. I cannot believe that she will be a 4th grader next year. Crazy.

Zachary is learning to read. We actually started before Brian and I left for Baylor, and are starting back up. I am so proud of him. Yeah, he'll learn in kindergarten next year, but he's ready, and he's picking it up fast. He's our outdoor kid. He's a bit sassy, but overall a good kid. He's getting really good at figuring out how things work, and at trying to fix things.

Aiden is still my baby. I mean big boy. His middle name is Thomas (means twin), and I am amazed daily at his likeness to Zachary. They are hanging out more and more. Yesterday I looked out and they were both sitting on the hood of the truck arm and arm sharing a big secret.

We are playing softball, baseball and teeball until the end of the May. Angie is doing well. Zach is doing well, and Tony is Tony. He has a nice arm, when he tries. His first game was rough, and the parents are just ridiculous. The things that they say to their own kids is just terrible. It's a bit trying to me, as a mom, but I keep telling myself that he's learning life lessons. I admit to not sleeping well after his game. He has one coach who has no helpers, so he can't watch everyone.
Last practice, one of the other boys was throwing rocks at him, and Tony was standing there crying. I told him he didn't have to take that. His response "Really, mom?" I say yes, and he proceeds to get in this kids face and says "hit me one more time and you are not going to like what happens to you." And he stopped. Also, his coach forgot to play him last game. I was not a happy lioness. Brian says to me "that's the way it is in sports, if you aren't good, you don't play". Like the two boys sitting in the grass are good? I was just about to say something, and Tony goes up to the coach and says "hey are you going to let me play or what?" The coach says to Tony, oh, Tony, I'm so sorry, I forgot. So, Tony went in, and had a good play before they had to call the game because we were getting beat so bad. I was so so proud of him for sticking up for himself.

Well, I'm exhausted. Home depot with 5 kids and Brian and I got the front flower beds weeded and mulched and a few things planted and started on the roses on the side of the house. I have 3 red climbers and today I decided I needed two more and to mulch that too. Well, that side is solid rock, so I think it took over an hour to dig two stupid holes. Hopefully we'll finish with the mulch tomorrow. We have one more large flower bed to finish, and i have a few planters to fill. I put out ant killer today so hopefully I can dig in them this week. I bought weed killer for all the stickers that have shown up in my yard, but it was cloudy all day like it was going to storm. We have way to many home improvement projects, but it felt good to accomplish something today. The kids were a big help carrying plants and the blocks for the edging.

I guess I should mention that Brian is doing well. He's still pretty tired, and had to get blood on Friday. His white blood cells and platelets are good. I'm hoping that his red blood cells stay up. His meds that he has to take to prevent bacterial and viral infections can be hemolytic. So, he's taking a multivitamin and folic acid.