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 :)