Yeah Yeah yeah

I know that my posts have been lacking, uninspired for a while. There are things that I just don't want to relive and hash out on paper. Not because they are bad, but because its just not interesting. No brilliant parenting tips here. I'm just winging it, trying to do the best I can, and I'm pretty sure most of the things I do will never grace the pages of a book. Unless I were to write one titled "Yeah that's really not gonna work for me." haha. Have a child and the mommy wars begin, especially if you really want to do it right. You know better than your parents. Oh, wait, were they winging it to? Doing the best they could in the situation they were in? Nah. That can't be right.

I've come to terms with the facts: I liked using diapers. I wasn't able to breast feed my newborns, much less send some in my 3yr old's thermos to Tuesday school. I love the idea of homeschooling, but it wasn't meant to be for our family, and I fell in love with our kids school....public school. Shudder. I have no idea what attachment parenting really is. Yeah, we had a sling but my husband used it more than I did and and while a couple of our kids have "coslept" with us it was not by my choice. Those little bodies produce a lot more heat than you'd think.

I could go on and on painting a picture of how "bad" of a parent that I am. No really I could. But, somehow, I have great kids. Yeah I know being their mom makes me a wee bit biased, and they aren't perfect, they are kids, after all. But, they are intelligent and kind and funny. Someday they will make great parents. That's everything we're all striving for right? We get caught up in the other stuff, and the hustle and bustle, but really all that matters is the kind of people they grow up to be.

It's been an interesting school year for me. I'm learning to let go and see what they can do. This year, I told the kids that I didn't give a flying flip about their grades, but we would continue to go over the things they missed. Amazing how they take off when they no longer feel pressure to perform a certain way. We've been talking a great deal this year about initiative as well. With technology, there is no reason for them to sit around and wait for someone to teach them. If you're curious look it up. Its ok to go beyond the classroom at home, to delve further into your interests.

Still working on the middle child. We are still figuring each other out. He's not like any of my other kids when it comes to learning. Above average intelligence with a big chip on his shoulder. I keep thinking that one day he will realize that he's younger than his brother and sister, not less. The things that he can't do are things that he can't do YET, because he is younger. And of all things he doesn't like praise. I mean, ever know anyone who doesn't like praise? It shuts him down. You gotta be sneaky about it. After the first six weeks of school, I pretty much left him alone, just doing what had to be done for school. This seems so wrong, but he flourished. It's gotta be his. He has to own his accomplishments. Lately, I've been working a few things in here and there if he asks. Reading a story about bats and his questions and we looked up some very interesting facts. Reading a required story about diego rivera and we looked up pictures of the actual places that were cartoon drawings in the story. And, interesting enough, things that I thought were a waste of time for him in the past, left a bigger impression than I thought. He tells his younger siblings so many interesting things. He is a great teacher. His younger brother is reading because of him.

You can only do so much. They are what they are. So, enjoy today.

I havent been on the blog much lately. I've been creeping around adding more and more GT blogs to the list of blogs I am following. I have been thinking that I probably need to come up with a theme since I don't think random counts. LIfe is pretty good right now. Brian had a clean scan so we get to pretend to be normal until his next treatment in March/scan in April. Can't beat that. It gives us a few months to get some medical bills paid off before we aquire some more. I really should go back to work full time or pick up some more work to get us out of debt, but so far I haven't found the time nor the energy.

The kids are doing well. Let's devote a paragraph to each one. lol.

Angie is growing up and such a good kid. I'd like to brag that its because I'm such a great mom, but really its just her. She is very in tune to other's emotions and feelings. When I was in Vegas she competed in the 4H food challenge competition and her team got second. This semester she completed a whole year of theory work in voice, so when she goes back in January, she will be at grade level. She did awesome at her UIL meet this year. 1st in ready writing, 1st in music memory, 1st in artsmart, and 2nd in listening.

My sweet Tony is an avid reader. So far he is the top reader for his grade. It took some trickery on my part. He's always read a lot, but he wasn't testing on his books. Last year their school went to a web-based instead of a school based testing program. So, every book we have in our house so far has had a test, but he wouldn't take them unless the book was also in their library, which was true under the old system. So, i broke the ice by buying the library a copy of the book he was reading at the time. Lol. I just want him to read what he's interested in, and continue to love it. He did UIL music memory and got 1st place. T doesn't do pressure too well.Can't remember if I've blogged about the fact theat he's developed a tic. The ped says that its stress related and that he should grow out of it. So, house rules are one event. I'm hoping that healthy pressure in small quantities will help him in the long run. Same with piano. He has a wonderful teacher. I'm thankful that she understands him and is focused on making it fun with just small amts. of pressure. She says that I don't have to enter him in the competitions in the Spring, so we will see.

Zac has made huge strides in school this year. I'm so proud of him. Parenting him is always a challenge, but I love that kid. Hopefully I do right by him. He is really really bright. He may actually end up passing up his siblings, but he doesn't want anyone to know he's bright. And I have to leave him the heck alone. He's made a great deal of progress with his reading mainly because he loves to read to his brother and sister. ANother thing he doesn't want anyone to know, he is very caring and tender hearted. Today we drove by the old Santa Anna hospital. Zac says there's that creepy ass old hospital. Funny. I should be more upset by this. But, he's not calling anyone names and he knows knows not to talk this way around others.

Aiden is enjoying pre-K and often asks to 'do school' at home. I could teach him to read and he would have no trouble learning, but I have debated the semester away. He knows all the letters and sounds and Zac has taught him some words. He often asks to spell 3 letter words. I just don't know if it's better to teach them to read early or to fill them up with facts. What I'm saying is, I just want it to be fun. If there's a mistake, I've made it. Aiden still loves me lots which is nice.

Emi is growing like crazy. She is a smart one too. Super girly and she knows how to manipulate us. Right now we are trying to teach her that crying won't get her way. I think that's just part of being Three. Sadly, she has all her siblings wrapped around her finger too. This week we've had several conversations about them staying out of it when we are parenting her and she is crying. LOL. Funny when you have more kids, you worry that they aren't getting what your older kids got. When Angie and Tony, and even Zac to some extent, were younger, we holed up at home, played with them, read to them etc. So, this fall I've made a big effort to try not to drag the younger kids to every football game etc, but funny thing is, Emi WANTS to be at the older kids events. She wants to do things with them.

Summer camps

This week will be the last of the summer camps. Yeah. You should know that I'm a little neurotic when it comes to this venture in parenting. I start in March planning our summer including reading lists, workbooks and other educational items, and yes, summer camps. Every summer, I come away with a few more things to add to the list of things that just don't work for us. Hopefully, along the way I have given the kids a good memory or two.

I posted pictures of Threshold, the GT camp at Hardin Simmons. THis mom gives it two thumbs up! What a great experience for the kids. They get to spend the whole week with other kids who love to learn.

Last week, Angie, Bella, and Angie's friend Marin spent the week at The Grace Museum Culinary camp. Wow, it was amazing. I was more than a bit jealous. TSTC provided the instructors and they spent the week cooking healthy versions of kids favorites. For example, they made pizza with honey instead of sugar in the dough, and ranch dressing with yogart instead of mayo. Each day there was a drink of the day, watermelon lemonade, coconut smoothies, old fashioned low fat chocolate malts. Yum. They got a cookbook and a t-shirt as well that they decorated during camp. Angie was really excited to learn that their instructor won the very first episode of chopped. We even pulled it up and watched it on youtube.

Tony and my nephew Landen spent the week at a drama camp at the Methodist church. They did a musical version of the jungle book. It was so good. My son was definately in his element this his microphone and killer dance moves! Gosh I love that kid.

Tony spent this week at zoo camp. This is his third year, and probably last, at least at the Abilene zoo anyway. The boy knows alot about animals! Thankfully, midweek I decided to pay for the after care program. T stayed at the zoo and Katie picked him up when she got off work. It was his favorite part!! He helped feed animals and then played zoo tycoon. And, I saved a ton of money on gas!!

I picked up a book called Parenting Gifted Kids, by james Delisle. In between other "fun" mindless escape reading, I've been reading this book here and there. I have to say, its a great read, and not just for parents of kids who are "gifted". Over the last year I have read several snoozers in this area, and this book has really been speaking to me. Maybe, its because I believe in his messages. It talks about teaching your children that "better at" does not mean "better than". Amen preach it to the choir!! Seriously though. Everyone wants their kids to be smart and successful, but its kind of a waste if we don't teach them to be good people.

In a few weeks it will be back to school time. Not a major transition in our house. I bought the Target boxes from the school, so I just have to go pick them up. We reuse backpacks and I have a few in the closet I bought on clearance should anyone need a "new" one. I will make sure everyone has tennies that fit, and that's about it. They can usually wear shorts into October, so I will usually buy jeans later after the back to school hoopla wears down. A friend at work gave me a list of a couple of consignment type places to try. We'll see.

Big trip to Canada the last week of August/first week of September, and then its back to the Dave Ramsey attacking the debt plan.

Summertime!!

I really need to start blogging more. I guess I just haven't been feeling it lately as you can probably tell from the last few posts. Truth is I'm not feeling it now. My kids are growing like crazy and super cute so I should have lots to write about. Guess I have bloggers block :)

Summer is in full swing here. Every year I overplan, worrying that the kids are going to be bored and not have anything to do. Well, summer is flying by.

We picked up Landen and Bella on Tuesday and they will be here until the end of July. Bella and Angie are thick as theives and having a blast. She went to VBS with the kids this week, the library program and gymnastics. When I took the kids to open gym, Robert, the owner, let her do gymnastics too. She was over the moon. Landen is doing good, I just need to work on finding an older kid for him to hang out with. He's pretty content to hang out with Brian. We've been swimming the last 3 days, and today Brian let him drive the car down the road to take out the trash. Next week is swimming lessons.

I'm working on me. It sounds awful, but I've been having a tough time recently. I'm a wife, a mom, a daughter, but its so hard to be defined by what you mean to others, especially when you rarely feel appreciated. Now, I'm not trying to diminish the value of motherhood, its a job I take seriously. But, I need to start doing a few things for me. The kids are getting big enough that I don't have to hold then constantly so I get to actually swim some in the pool. My arms are sore, and I love it!! I joke that I am a daughter of poseidon. I've been trying to wean myself off of sugar, and am upping my fruit and veggie intake.

Brian bought me a NOOK and I am loving it. I have been checking out e-books from the library. I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is to be able to download a book from home, read it, and then it just drops off after 21 days if you forget to return it. I throw my NOOK in my purse, or I can use the NOOK app on my phone and I can read anytime I want.

Well, I finally got my camera back from my mom's house, so hopefully I will get some pictures on soon. The kids are growing like crazy. Tomorrow we are leaving for Colorado. We haven't been for over 3 years. The kids are excited, but am I too. Colorado Springs is beautiful and there is so much to do. Juanita and I have been emailing back and forth about ideas and activities. I think its going to be a nice visit. We have to be back for Brian's treatment on Wednesday and his PET scan on Friday.

Can you believe that March 17th will be one year? It hasn't been easy, but I can look back at the last year and see how blessed we have been. I'm looking forward to what the next year has to offer.

Future Mad Scientists

Yesterday we finally made our trip to the FW science museum. Tony has been asking for forever to see a mummy and the exhibit leaves Jan 3. I had no idea how packed it would be. This was our first trip since the museum was remodeled. Brian and I were a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it is super nice, but we kind of liked the old smaller museum. This one is beautiful, more spread out, but has a mall feeling rather than a museum feeling. The Egypt exhibit was awesome. I was a bit bummed that my kids weren't more excited, and the mummy kind of freaked Angie out. She refused to look at it. But the whole exhibit was very interesting and she did say that she liked the hieroglyph exhibit.


I have two other science musuems that I hope to check out in the coming year, The Mayborn at Baylor, and the San Antonio HEB tree house. I have to tell you that the Planetarium was AMAZING! I know very little about stars/space/astronomy, but after that visit we will be visiting other planetariums for sure. They gave us a link for a star chart to print out and put together, and if you haven't tried Star Walk on the iphone, I think it is my favorite app ever. I was so surprised at how much the kids enjoyed the planetarium, even Aiden and Emi. When I asked the kids to tell me their one favorite thing of the day Aiden said that he thought the "trip through the milky wave was the best". I probably should have corrected him, but I thought it was super cute. They had a couple meteorites on exhibit, and Zachary showed me a rock today that I am pretty sure is one. Its the same color and texture as the one they had and it is very heavy. Who knows? He's had it on his shelf at least a year, I would be curious to find out though. That reminds me, I hope to also get to the meteroite exhibit at TCU.


When I asked Zachary his favorite thing, he refused to tell me, and when Amie was cutting his hair today, he told her to go to Sea world instead! My inlaws call him a ball buster. He's a mess for sure. Later he will subtly bring up the thing he liked.
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I packed a cooler and they no longer allow outside food and drink, so we ate our lunch in the car. The kids didn't mind because they got to watch tv while they ate and Brian and I sat on the tailgate. Dave Ramsey would be proud, but its not just about the money, but about health and waste. It is ridiculous for us to buy hot dogs, nachos etc and watch the kids not eat. But, make them a sandwich and give them some fruit and they tear it up. Now I did let them have cheetos but still what a treat. I hope that they have good memories of lunches like this.

These are just a few pictures. Overall, it was a good day.

On to the New Year

Well, Our Christmas has come and gone. The kids slept in this morning, highly unusual, and definately a sign they are ill. The oldest four were on antibiotics. The boys were doing pretty well this morning, but Angie did not feel well at all. She made it through present opening and then I took her back to the Dr. He said that he wanted to see her again if she wasn't feeling better today. So, I went and picked up a different medication for her, and came home to find Emi running fever. Well, the local pharmacy closed at 1pm, so back to Brownwood I went for the medicine that Dr Woodward called in for Emi.

I came home and made chicken ala Stella like we planned. I should have made Campbell's chicken noodle soup no more than everyone ate. I'm a little disappointed that we missed the candlelight service at church, but the kids all felt bad, and it just seemed wrong to go to a Christmas service without my family. Praying next week is better.

Funny thing when you have five kids, you have an entire minivan full of gifts, and when you get it in the house, each kid has a relatively small pile. The big ticket gifts this year were: Angie got a new bedset that I guess you would describe as more "tween". Its aqua and white and brown, and of course it had to have polka dots. Thank you JC Penney's for selling each piece individually and for being the only place that I ordered from that didn't offer free shipping, but once I saw this set, I didn't like anything else. The other big ticket item was an Ipod Touch. We bought one for all the kids to share. I have to say that I was extremely proud that they weren't super excited about it. Don't get me wrong, they were fighting over it this evening, but around the tree, they were more interested in other things.

I work tomorrow. Blah. Its so tough to leave the kids when they aren't feeling well, so, I have to say if I get cancelled tomorrow, I'm not going to be super disappointed. Census drops during the holidays, and mom said that they were cleaning house yesterday, but I don't mind earning time and a half for tomorrow. I've got our debt snowball planned out for 2011.

Merry Christmas

Well, the kids all got a sinus infection for Christmas, so we didn't get to go the museum or to see the lights. I hope they are feeling better in the morning, since we are doing Christmas tomorrow. I made homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time, and they are entirely too tasty. I will have to make them again before next Christmas, because I didn't let Angie help me and made her keep her germs as far away as possible. Brian and I will both take some to work Christmas day.

I still plan on making the Chicken dish even if Brian and I are the only ones up to eating it. Its been a couple of years since I made it, so we are both pretty excited. Right now we are anxiously waiting for the kids to settle down so that we can set our living room up.

You would think that I'd be bummed about working Christmas, and I am a little. But tomorrow will be just as special, and the time and a half going into the New year won't hurt either. This is our first Christmas that the kids haven't gone down to my mom and dad's so that Brian and I could do gifts. I have to say, it really threw Tony off. He says "what do you mean we aren't going to nana's?" How's Santa going to come if we aren't there? Since we have to stay there tomorrow night? Are you sure Santa will come tonight?" It was cracking me up. This is one kid that totally doesn't believe in Santa, hasn't for at least 3 years, but he's the one that plays it up the most.

Tony was so upset tonight trying to figure out if his Sunday school party was last SUnday or this SUnday. He said that they were having a party for baby Jesus. He said he volunteered to bring the party game, and was planning to do "Pin the baby Jesus in the manger." He did not appreciate that I found this hysterical. :)

Early Christmas Present. and other random stuff

Brian's petscan was negative!! Whoop whoop!! Praise God. This week I haven't felt too spiffy. I went to our last FPU class and Brian stayed home with Tony who has been very ill. While I was sitting in the class, a peace washed over me, and I knew that Brian's scan was going to be fine. For the first time in three years, I felt like we could plan for the future, like we would see the goals he talks about in the class. I'm not always the most spiritual person, and it wasn't anything that was said, but rather it was something that I FELT. I text Brian that his PET scan was fine right before he called me to let me know. I already knew.

The kids are on Christmas break from school. Yes, their school still calls it Christmas break, not winter break. Next week we are going to the Fort worth science museum to see the mummy exhibit before it leaves, and then Thursday we are making cinnamon rolls, and going to see the lights in san angelo. We are having our Christmas on Friday because Brian and I both have to work Saturday. It will still be fun though. We will have cinnamon rolls, read the Christmas story, and have a nice dinner. We usually have Italian food, and this year will be no exception. Chicken Estella. The older kids only have one assignment over the break. We read the Invention of Hugo Cabret, and the kids went to the NCCIL to see his art on display. Their GT teacher wants them to try to do a pencil scetch in his style from the book. She have them paper and said they can draw anything they want. Since they are getting drawing books for Christmas, we will work on this project after. Such a change from last year when Brian was getting chemo during the holidays.

Last weekend my mom took Angie shopping for clothes and dresses for Christmas. I had to laugh. I think my mom was a little disappointed because she said the only thing that Angie got excited about all day was the material and the pattern they got at the fabric store. When I talked to Angie on the phone, she was super excited that nana was going to teach her to sew her own pajamas. I'm pretty excited because the material patches the new bedset that Brian and I got her for Christmas. :)

Two funny kid sayings today: First, Emi was in the kitchen dancing with her dad and singing "Shake shake shake, shake your booty." She pokes Brian in the saggy pajama pants and says, daddy you don't have a booty, its missing". Then, before dinner, Angie and Zachary were supposed to clean the table. Brian and I are often amazed at the lengths that Zach will go to avoid work. So, Zachary goes to put a toy up and doesn't come back until Angie is almost done. Brian gets onto him and Zachary says "I'm really sorry, I'm just going to take my marbles and hide in shame in the laundry room until dinner is ready." Haha. I couldn't help but laugh.

Blogging and Resolutions

Well, today I read my friend Christi's blog and it really inspired me. I NEED to blog more. Most of my blogs are about Brian and the kids. Everyday, uneventful stuff. But, I am not a scrapbooker, so I need to do better. So, even though it is December, I decided that this will be my New Year's resolution.

Let me catch you up on the goings on here since before Thanksgiving. Tuesday they had a family feast at Tuesday school, and Aiden's class sang a couple songs. Well, Thanksgiving, mom and I worked, so we had our get together on Friday. I was under the weather that day, so I slept in a bit, but we went down to mom's and had a wonderful meal and hung around and played cards. Angie really likes to play the game Golf and you can add many players, so that is what we did. We had one seath that people kind of rotated out of as they had to do things.

The kids had a big GT project due at the beginning of December. They had to pick an endangered animal, research it and write a report. There was a list of things that had to be mentioned, like, habitat, diet, etc, and they had to include photos. Then they had to complute an art project that related to the subject. Angie chose Pandas. For the first time, she typed out her report, and that was a little slow going, but she did all the typing herself. I helped her edit it, and showed her how to insert pictures. Brian suggested that we get a keyboarding program for them to start working on. For, her art project, she chose to make a panda out of beans. Brian was going to trace it with our projector, but I felt i could help her free hand one. It turned out pretty well. Tony wanted to do a poster, so we dod a trifold poster on alligator gar. He was going to do a painting on canvas, but he decided to do his painting on the outside of the trifold which I though was a pretty good idea. He wrote his report on paper, but I did help him type and print it some, then we glued it to the poster. It seems each year they are able to be a little more independent.

It was really hard for both Brian and I not to take over, and it would have been so easy for us to take over, but I really want these kids to grow up to be self motivated. I've also been helping the kids with UIL. At dinner the other night, Tony said "mom I am so glad that you tricked me into doing UIL. Ahhh, words every mom wants to hear, lol. But I told him that he WILL do one event a year, and that if he doesn't pick it I will. He thought he was being sly by telling me that his grade hadn't had any sign ups, and then come do find out they did and he "forgot" to sign up. So, I emailed the teacher and told him that he forgot and she gave him the study materials. Sir Tony got 1st place in Music memory. He will also get a team medal for 2nd place team. While I may have to make Tony participate, I have to reel Angie in a little. I told her three events MAX. So she picked her three, but then she had to resign from oral reading because the changed the event schedule and it conflicted with art. So, she got third in music memory, along with a team 1st, and first in art, along with a team 1st.

Aiden had a program at Tuesday school yesterday. It was interesting to see him with the other kids. He is alot smaller than everyone else in his class, and he may be the youngest. They separated him and Audrey and there was already another Aiden in her class. His teachers are very complimentary of him every week. I've heard that he's very smart and sweet, but his size isn't the only thing that reminds me of Tony. Aiden doesn't really like the other kids that much.

One of Aiden's Tuesday school teachers has been volunteering at the school and reading with Zachary. Man he has really turned a corner the last couple of weeks. I have been pulling teeth with him for over a year getting him to learn sounds and sight words. But, all of a sudden, he's READING!!! Not only that, he is starting to like it. He's also writing more and he will ask me how to spell words. And, without even realizing it, he's teaching Aiden.

Angies voice lessons are going well. She is learning to read music and seems to be really enjoying it. We went to our first Opera as a family. It was titled "the Emperor's New Clothes". It was kid friendly, and her voice teacher had the lead. Angie really liked it, but I was really surprised at how much Emi liked it. I also felt alot better about her choice to stop taking dance when her dance teacher didn't even recognize her, but the dean of the pre college music department came up and hugged her and told her that she was glad she came. Then last weekend, Angie sang at the mall in a Christmas concert. She sang mele kalikimaka. Lol. But she did very well and was very brave to stand up there alone and sing. We were really proud.

Contemplations

Yesterday was an interesting day. Wednesdays are busy days for us with school, my volunteering, gymnastics and church. But that isn't really the interesting part. Yesterday after gymnastics we went to the hospital to see a little girl who was in Zachary's class. She had her appendix removed and his class made her a card. I stopped and got her a super cute balloon. Well, we get there and Zachy tells her he hopes she feels better soon, and Tony starts nudging me that he wants to sing her a song. Well, there were several people in the room so I tell him no. We stayed a few minutes and when we got into the hall he proceeds to tell me how disappointed he is that he didn't get to sing. We talked about it and I agreed to let him go back in there. I knock and tell them that he says he's not going to be happy unless he gets to sing. So, off he goes totally making the song up. It was great. He does this all the time, so I forget what a gift and a blessing it is. I thought the girls dad was going to cry. Her mom posted on FB that Tony made there day. I've been kind of stressed lately and it was good to be reminded that children are a blessing.

We were at a low point with our FPU. Yesterday I was wondering if it was even worth it. I was also wondering if I should just go back to working full time. So, at gymnastics, I read in my devotional that I'm doing right now titled "Raising Godly Kids, and I got my answers. Yesterdays lesson was about the most important thing you can give your kids is your time. Then we went to our FPU class and the lesson was on mutual funds, but it was also very inspirational about making the climb. Sometimes when you are climbing a hill, you have to go down in order to get some speed to get up.

Angie has to be a school at 0730 to practice for UIL Art. Zachary hates it, but I think it is going to be a great thing for me. I dropped them off, went for a walk and did my devotional on the front porch. I had a whole hour to myself before Aiden and Emi got up. Aiden is a momma's boy. Such a double edged sword. I love it, but sometimes I feel like I'm being smothered and can't breathe. Today I feel more prepared to meet his emotional needs. And not surprisingly, he is not nearly as clingy!

Happy Halloween

Well, I haven't put any pictures on here in a while so here are a few. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

Fall

This fall has been a busy one. We have been to the beach, took the kids apple picking, and are still trying to settle into a routine. Brian finished his treatments up and I am so glad to have that stress behind us for a little while. We are taking the financial peace university class at the church. We have been working the baby steps for a while, but are hoping to get a break from medical expenses long enough to get somewhere on baby step two. I've worked some extra shifts this month, and signed up to work Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not popular decisions, but "live like no one else and later you can LIVE like noone else". Right? We've been talking to our kids about money alot and have even busted out the financial peace jr. Before Brian got sick, we were working the commission system pretty well, so now we just need to get back on it. I also have turned control of the checkbook over to Brian. He is very accountable to me about his spending, but I need to be more accountable to him. Plus, he has no idea what's in there. He's also done some grocery shopping lately with our food envelope. He really had no idea about the cost of things.

I'm re-reading "A Well Trained Child." No, I am not a homeschool mom, but this book has such wonderful information in it. Truthfully, every parent who is involved in their childs education is a homeschool parent to some extent. I really need to sit down and reprioritize what I want the kids to be learning. We start alot of things and don't finish them. Now, sometimes we come back to them sometimes not. Its been a rough year for Tony in particular. I won't dredge through the details, but school was not going well, and we were seriously considering pulling him out. We were just working through the details and trying to make him understand that it wasn't his fault. Well, his teacher is no longer there, and as of Thursday he has a new one. I've heard several versions of why his teacher left, but I don't know which one is the truth. But, I do know, that for the first time this year, he came home from school excited about it. He couldn't stop talking about his teacher and all the things he learned that day. He said that he was amazed that she even made math fun! Brian met her on the class field trip on Friday, I will probably meet her this week, but she has already scored major points with me. My kids love to learn, and I don't want that to ever be taken away from them.

I started volunteering at the school again. I really debated and prayed about this, because I felt like I let them down last year. Yes, they were understanding, and yes I had a good excuse with Brian's stem cell transplant, but I still don't like committing to things and then not following through. Plus, it takes time away from my own children still at home, Aiden and Emi. Well, I ended up signing up anyway. There seems to be ALOT more volunteers this year. Last year there were 4 of us, and I think there are at least triple that. So, instead of volunteering a whole morning, I'm volunteering an hour and a half in the afternoon. Most moms are volunteering in their kids class. Makes sense right? Well, I'm in the second grade class. Its a small class, 14 kids, and I listen to them read. I really feel that I'm supposed to be there. I listen to kids read and then I help them log onto their new AR system to test on the books. The books that they read to me, they passed. The books they read to themselves or at home, not so much. You can tell the kids that don't have someone at home helping them with reading.

Speaking of reading, and a well trained child, I have their homeschool reading curriculum as well. I loved their history books, the story of the world, and thought I'd give it a try. Well, I don't like it at all. I thought that I would because its phonics based, but I do not. So its back to the drawing board. I've really been trying to devote more time to teaching Zachy how to read. He's sounding things out, and learning site words. He reads simple books to me and then I read a library book to him.

Angie had her first voice recital this Saturday. It was really nice. The kids each performed a song, and then they had refreshments and then they had a class. Angie seemed to really enjoy her class. They studied the orchestra and even got to get their hands on some instruments. She did pretty well for her first performance, but she was so nervous, that I had butterflies in my stomach. Afterward, Zachary tells me "mom do you know how old that boy was playing the piano?" I say no, he says well I heard his mom say that he's 5. That means I'm old enough to take lessons and I think I should start next week. Haha. He wants to take voice. Tony says he wants to learn how to play the violin. Sometime I really need to write about his interest in Celtic music, but, if I have three kids in music lessons, as Dave would say, I need to stay gazelle intense.

Nerd alert....My next post will probably be about UIL :)

Ok, I don't know where this blog will take us, my mind is kind of a jumble at the moment. I read some of my back blogs and decided that I need to quit promising pictures that I never produce. Sorry about that. This cool weather has me drinking coffee again, and it probably isn't helping matters that I am on my third cup. Thanks again to my father in law, Sal, for your wonderful gift. My coffee still isnt as good as yours though. :)

First, I know you are concerned about Brian. His first treatment went pretty well. I think one of the worst part for him is the hung over feeling for the pre-meds. They make him so tired, but then he can't sleep, partially from all the weird jerky movements I think. Then the next day, he's just kind of moving through a fog. He had to take a day of PTO Saturday so that he could be near the bathroom. He hasn't exactly built up much since he's been back to work, but I am taking a class in October so I will have 16 extra hours of pay that month, so he won't have to feel guilty about being off work.

I am enjoying being part time. I'm not going to lie, its a HUGE cut in pay and we really have to stick to our budget, but it is so worth it. I had hoped to pick up some extra days here and there to start building our savings up, but that hasn't panned out and in fact I was even cancelled one day. First time in the 4 years I've been there. Census has been really crazy at work. One day we are busting at the seams and the next day our floor is half empty. This is probably the first time I can say that I am seeing the economy affect my job.

Each week when I go to work, the kids and I have this song and dance we do where they pretend that they are going to miss me. I always come up with something. You like having electricity? Groceries etc, well then I have to go to work. Last week, I said, "you like having gymnastics and voice lessons, Angie?" well then, I have to go to work. My sweet sweet daughter tells me, "mom, I'd gladly give those things up to have you here with me". Awww. She must have gotten her sweetness from Brian, because she sure didn't get it from me.

I went with my parents this weekend to Matagorda. It was really kind of comical and I could really make the national lampoons version of this trip. Dad had to clean mud dobber nests off the trailers ac blades. We spent the night before alternating between roasting and being cool, but having the thing sound like a jack hammer. We got attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes, my parents lost their truck keys, they had a blowout on the way home. The baby kittens almost drown in the bathtub after we've been dropper feeding them for weeks. I really could go on and on. But, really and truly in spite of all that, we managed to have fun. I guess its about finding the good in the bad. The park had a nice playground, a little nature center, and a neat pier. The kids loved the beach and said that they hit the shell jackpot, and I think mom was in heaven too. We got away from technology for a while. We read books and played cards. My phone didn't work there too well, and amazingly I didn't go into withdrawal. I am dreading that make up work from Monday, so next time we may have to venture a little closer to home.

Angie and I started listening to The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate on playaway. We are 4 chapters in and it is such a good story. I know some of you won't want your children reading it because it mentions Mr Darwins book. But, it is a fabulous story set in 1899 Texas, rich with historical Texas and civil war references, as well as references to science. It also focuses on the relationship of a 12 yr old girl and her cantankerous grandfather. So sad that I have to leave for work tonight and have to wait to hear chapter 5.

Pam is taking Brian to his treatment tomorrow and Katie will drive him home. If this week goes like last, I should be able to work Thursday as well. I think my dad will be there Thursday as well since they eliminated his overtime.

Hiccup

Hiccups are a real nuisance, the literal kind and the figurative kind. Well, we've had more than our fair share in this cancer journey. Brian's scan on Friday didn't go as well as expected. He had a small pea sized area show up on the PET scan. His Dr at Baylor was unable to palpate it in the office. He says that it could just be an inflamed lymph node due to a recent virus or because of ant bites etc, but given Brian's history, we have to assume the worst and treat it, unless Brian wants to have a surgeon go in, take it out and have it biopsied which could cause a whole slew of potential problems. So, Brian will be seeing his oncologist in Abilene and this week and setting up maintenance treatments to start soon. Some doctors do maintenance Rituxan once a month. Because of this spot, Brian has to do a more treatment-like maintenance treatment, so he will do Rituxan once a week for 4 weeks and have another scan in December.

Rituxan is a newer medicine known as a monoclonal antibody. The science is fasinating, but it basically only targets the cancer cells. So, it doesnt affect blood counts, you keep your hair, etc. Side affects are similar to a case of the flu....GI stuff, and nasal/sinus stuff. He told Brian that he can still work while he's getting treatments. Funny after seeing everything he's been through to discuss the flu as being no big deal.

December will be 3 years. So much for our kids to go through. Angie was 6 when this started, Tony 5, Zachary 3, Aiden 1 and I was pregnant with Emi. As we unloaded groceries from the car yesterday, Angie says to me, "I know dads cancer is back. You don't have to tell me. If that scan was good, you would have said so already." She shed lots of tears. How hard to be nine, and understand, but not understand.

So, we are trucking along, living everyday to the fullest, and remembering each day to be sure that the people we love know it. I think it finally sank in that we are going to have to deal with this for the rest of our lives. Keep your positive thoughts and wonderful prayers coming our way. We love all of you.

Change

Yeah yeah, I know I haven't gotten pictures on here yet. Here's a few random ones for kicks. The kids are all smiles about their lunchables. Seriously, they are super excited. When you are a family of 7 this is not something that is on your grocery list as a norm. This particular day, we were very busy at home cleaning, so this was an easy lunch (no dishes). That, and the fact that they wore me down at the grocery store.
The last picture is one of Zach and Aiden rocking out. It cracks me up, you put on a song they love and they immediately go for the Wii instruments. This particular day they are jamming to Weird Al's Lala la lasagna. Don't ask me, They LOVE this song and Zachary knows every word.

The next time I post pics you will get to see all their new haircuts. Amie did a fantastic job with the oldest 4. I don't need to tell you how hard it is to find someone that is good with kids cuts.

But that wasn't the only change I was referring to with the title. I am officially a part time employee. Yep, I'm nervous, I'm scared, but I am also excited and I know that things will work out and that I will be rewarded for putting my husband and my kids first. I don't know yet how I will do my schedule, and am trying out a couple different things, but I do know that I will be working 2 days a week. This is huge for us. I'm cutting my income by 1/3. Who does that in this economy? We do.

I found an online public school. Now, I'm perfectly content with the school the kids go to. They are happy and thriving. But I was still curious. So, I requested info, but my children have informed me that they love their school. So, we continue as we were. We may revisit this again in middle school but for now, I'll just continue to supplement their education at home. So, we aren't making that change this year.

Catching up.

Tomorrow, I promise to try to get pictures on here, but right now everyone is in bed and I don't want to turn more lights on to scrunge around to find my camera. Last week, I had the kids go to bed early the night before gymnastics. Well, they were up and dressed before I even got up, and they made their own bowls of cereal. It was so nice that I kept looking for alien antennaes on these perfect children. Gymnastics went much much better after a good night sleep. So, I have vowed to make my kids have a bedtime for the rest of the summer.

I worked Sunday the 4th, and my parents set off fireworks here. There was a show closeby Friday night and Saturday night, but I just wasn't into it this year. Maybe it was the idea of sitting out in the rain and the mud. Brian is not a fan of sparklers and he is super parental about it. I always tease him about it, and he was the one that burned his thumb on one. We were both off on Monday. Brian was off because the 4th wasn't his holiday to work and his hospital recognized it on the 5th.

It was an amazing day. Brian and I had a huge argument last week, which is not like us. I said I just wanted one good day and couldn't remember the last time I DID have one. Well, monday everything was aligned perfectly, and God definately smiled on us. We all got up and took Tony to zoo camp. Yes, its kind of ridiculous to make an hour trip to Abilene to drop him off and to make that trip everyday for 5 days, but to see him in his element was 100% worth it. Well, we took the other kids to the zoo at 9:00 right when it opened. It was cool that day so the animals were active. We left about 11:30 to get lunch and the crowds were just starting to come. So, then we went to lunch at Rosas. Don't ask me why I like that place so much, I just do. Well we ate, and left just as the crowds were starting to come.

Notice a pattern here? We got to spend a nice day enjoying our kids without fighting crowds!!! We stopped in at Sam's to pick up my membership card and picked up some yummy fruit, nectarines, blueberries, and organic raspberries. We took the other four kids to the park by the zoo until it was time to get Tony, and once again no crowds. My kiddos had the slides to themselves!! Mom called and asked if we'd meet her in cross plains to pick blackberries.

So we picked Tony up at 2:30 and headed over to the berry patch. We picked 35 pounds of blackberries. Of course the biggest juiciest berries had to be on the bushes with thorns and bugs :( Pam plans on making jelly, I just froze three bags worth to break out in winter. I didn't want them to go to waste and I had picked up all that fruit at Sam's earlier. Oh, and the raspberries were demolished on the way to the blackberry patch. Peaches will be ready this week. I was scorching by then, so We headed home and I took all the kids swimming. One of my favorite things to do. Really. Put a hot grumpy kid in a pool, and presto chango, new kid. Promise it works every time. Now that Emi is big enough for water wings, I actually get to move around in the water some. In the words of Tony, "hollah" "Whoop whoop"

Tony had a blast a zoo camp. If you see him, you will have to get him to tell you all about it. He did a "research project" on the red spitting cobra, and he did his first power point presentation, which they gave us a copy of, along with a picture of the kids in his camp.

The gymnastics teacher was very complimentary of the kids this week, especially Angie. Miss Charity said that she loves her attitude. She keeps practicing when the other kids are moping that they are hot and tired and she tries to help the other kids, especially her brothers. Ahhh, proud mom moment.

Tuesday when we came home from berry picking there was a message on our machine from one of the ladies at our old church. We don't go there anymore because we both work Sundays and they don't have a Wednesday service. Pam has been kind enough to take my kids to her church, so when we started looking for a Wednesday night church, we ended up there because the kids are used to going there. Anyway, the message was so sweet about how they missed the kids this year at vacation bible school. Honestly, i would have sent them had I known about it. So, they went starting Wednesday evening. We went tonight to here the songs they learned this week. What a wonderful blessing.

Anyhoo, It my be a boring life, but its my life. Hope everyone is doing well.

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.

Christmas Pics