New Summer Skills

I knew there would be perks to having a girl. The drama is NOT one but the attention they give to table activities like coloring is definitely a perk. Allison is very into coloring. She has recently become very good at staying in the lines and very annoyed when Kyle "scribbles". She tells him, "Just put your head down, look very carefully and stay in the lines!" Here she is doing just that!

Sandals

Allison has a love for flip flops and has several pairs of them. However, they get looking rather dirty very quickly it seems and they also just aren't the best for every dress/outfit or activity. I cannot shoe shop with her or she is just too opinionated and we leave with nothing. However, I've learned that if I bring a pair home, she LOVES them. I feel so proud when I've outsmarted her! Here are the sandals I found in May at Target (late post with busy June) I am surprised at how much they go with. I also got a brown pair but she's only worn them once. I don't think they are very comfortable but she really wants to like them (they go between her toes like flip flops and are kind of like a pair I have.

Last Day of Preschool

Allison was SO proud to be the one performing and Kyle watching. We had a gorgeous day to say good-by to Mrs. Kathy who is moving to Illinois and to play with preschool friends one last time!

Kyle Graduates!

Vacation Pictures

Here are some pics from vacation :
Tub/Pool in the condo-

Boating on Table Rock lake:

Dogwood Canyon- beautiful waterfalls!

Carousal at Grant's Farm

Let Summer Begin

Well, I guess this weekend is the official start of summer. Get out the white sandals and purses (does that rule still apply?) Kids finished school last week and so far outdoors is where they want to be all of the time. We are still figuring out how to get some chores done. I keep telling them that we can't play all the time! I'm looking forward to some play dates that havne't happened with kids' schedules not coordinating during school and pool time.

The big backyard dilemna that I metioned in my previous post has been interesting. Last year Kyle wouldn't leave our backyard to even play with the neighbors directly behind us. This year, he wants to play with someone all the time. Maggie is a future kindergartner that lives 2 houses down and behind. We just discovered her at kindergarten round up. The kids knew each other from preschool but it's far enough away that we really didn't realize they lived in that house. SO, now Kyle and Maggie wait on each other to come out. So far, he's obeying the boundaries I've set about going to her house and I can still see him. Peter hasn't come around as much. He was here every time we were out a couple weeks ago and lives far enough away that I haven't allowed Kyle to travel there. I can't see their front or back when he's there. Peter is another fellow to be kindergartner. It's great having some kids around during the day to play with. A lot of the kids have working parents so we don't see them much except after dinner and some on the weekends.

The final battle of the summer will be Allison and her naps. I just endured an hour battle. She can fight sleep in the afternoon for a LONG time. But, if we ever want to enjoy some later evenings, we need her to occasionally catch some zzz's in the afternoon. Otherwise, it's bed by 8 pm (for the sake of us all!) Kyle, on the other hand, naps about once a week and has been so obedient about it.

Hiatus

Well, my blog has had a bit of a hiatus, obviously. First of all, I kind of thought noone was reading it. Then, I just realized I had turned on comment moderation so I had bunch of comments that I'd never seen (back all the way to August of last year) I'm such a dork! Anyway, I'll do a quick catch up and then on we go....

Thankfully, the need for the Neti Pot has died down. I went through nearly a box (that is a lot) of saline packets this winter.

Kyle graduated from preschool. I'll get some pics from that soon. He has changed SO much this year. Socially he's much more extroverted. He'll approach kids he doesn't know on the playground to play, wants to run the neighborhood now (another blog to come soon) and is just more confident. He also has started reading some which is surprising every time we'll be driving down the road and he'll read a sign to me. He found the cotton candy on vacation by reading. I said "how do you know they have cotton candy." Kyle: "I read it Mom" Me: You can read? and on and on. He was laughing so hard at me not believing he could read that. It was a fun moment. On the medical front, all is well. He is seizure free on the first attempt of meds and has had no side effects that we've noticed. Huge praises in that issue we discovered the end of Feb. Next prayer is that meds will remain effective and that he'll outgrow them around pubert (67.3% do)

Allison is getting a little less dramatic. I found a solution to the closet that seems to be cutting down on wardrobe fits. She is loving school and that has been one thing that really has changed her this year. She likes "being big" and I think that has helped her in some way to feel like she's not being left out. I'm not verblizing that well but it has been a good thing. And, I was proud to know she is a "good girl" in the class and has actually helped 2 other girls come out of their shell(one hadn't spoken all year but when Allison befriended her, she started talkin)! She knows all the kids first and last names and many details about their lives. She WILL be in the know, that is for sure. So far, most of the details are accurate, even her classmate with the unfortunate last name of Butt.

Grace Kids Camp is in such full gear that I'm sure I will not post a lot of things until that is over in a month. It is such fun and I'm so thankful for the job. Most think that must be crazy but I do really like it and plan on at least 1 more year and maybe 2! We are bringing up inner city kids this year (150) so pray that goes smoothly. It's definitely "brave not safe" as we heard about this winter from our pastor.

New phrase

A new phrase that Kyle's teacher says and I've adopted. All parents of toddlers/preschoolers might find it handy.

You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

Love it and use it often. :)

SinuCleanse

I heard about this life changing device on Oprah and saw it demonstrated. I was curious about it and then a friend told me her testimony last winter. So, last winter I bought one and started using it. This winter I've become aware once again that EVERYONE needs a Neti pot. When I get a cold I will do it 2 times a day and it is amazing the amount of "stuff" that comes out of the sinuses with this device. Immediately I can breathe so much deeper and I think it is also helping me clear of my colds quicker and also keeps my sinuses from getting infected since the mucous does not sit up in the sinuses. I wish I had known about it when I was pregnant as I that is one symptom that drove me crazy and I'm sure this would have been helpful. Anyway, I'm a believer! As one friend who is also a Neti pot believer said.. it's life changing!! Well, off to do my neti pot!

Life is getting easier

I have had many moments lately that have made me aware of how life has gotten easier in the last year.

1. The biggest is having 2 kids potty trained which I don't think I take for granted yet! It is so nice and recently both are in undies at night too with me taking them at about 1030 every night. I wasn't sure it would work for Kyle because we had tried not long ago but he's doing great (5 nights in a row) and very proud of his accomplishment.

2. Leaving the house with my keys and any purse/wristlet or any carrying device I want -- NO DIAPER BAG!!! I have thought I should have a change of clothes for each in the car just for those fluke times when something crazy happens but I LOVE being able to leave the house with my purses. I have kind of overindulged this year in that area. I think I have about 4 new carrying devices at least from the last year.

3. Naps only rarely have allowed us some afternoon play dates which are so nice, especially in winter when the days can get a little long. It's nice to get some house things done in the am, head out after lunch and not feel like after 1 pm we are quarantined! The other nice thing is that museums, etc. are much less busy during that time. Of course this is just for Tues and Thurs. The other days they'll be at school by 9 am

4. I am LOVING working on VBS during the week and actually feeling I have a "job" When I'm in that mode I'm very aware of my need for my own outlet and accomplishment beyond the kids. I think there have been times in the last 5 1/2 yrs that not having that has taken its toll. I think that working full time for 14 yrs prior to staying home probably has something to do with that. I will say it's a little hard for me to flip that switch and jump back in mom mode. But, I'll figure that out with time I think and if I know I have a day coming up to work on things I'll be able to let some of the work tasks stay on hold.

I'm sure there are more but the kids are getting their breakfast now and although they are great with the solid part of breakfast, I'm not ready for liquids yet!!

Changing schools

Well, just days after posting my last post and stating that I was confident Allison's school was the plan for now, Kyle's preschool director stopped me and they had an opening. So, we thought about things and asked Allison what she thought. She wants to go to Kyle's school. I had thought if she was sad to leave her school, I might just let things be. BUT, since she really wanted to change and it would make my life easier, we are switching to EUMC in Feb. The positives will be no more waste of about 45 min in parking lots on Mon and Wed. With drop off/pick up being 1/2 hour different we have had some wait time. Not a big deal but it is 1 1/2 hours /week that feels wasted. The other positives are that it is cheaper, it is one more day so she will actually go m/w/f and I won't have to be late to my wed am Bible study.

Anyway, field trips, parties and just preschool stuff will be easier and she'll go there next year so she'll already be used to the school. Glad she's flexible about it. And now to decide what days to send her next year. Registration is Jan 30th - preschools sign up very early for the fall. I wish I knew if Kyle would get am kindergarten like I hope but I'll just have to trust that it will all work out in that way. I think Kindergarten round up stuff starts around April.

Allison's First Day of School

With Allison not napping much anymore and GKCamp planning needing to get underway, I started thinking that I needed some guaranteed time to get things done. Last year the 8 pm - midnight hours were not ideal. That is what spurred me to find a program for Allison starting this winter instead of in the fall. She was SO excited today and told Kyle he would be starting Kindergarten (since that was the plan and she remembered that her starting of school would coincide with that event.) Anyway, he obviously did NOT start Kindergarten but she did start preschool. She was very excited and maybe a small twinge of nervousness (or that could have been me transferring my emotions to her- who knows!) As I bent down to tell her good by she looked a little unsure but the teacher asked if she'd like to come get a sticker and she was off to her room for a fun day at school!

She is going to a school about 1 mile from Kyle and on Mon/Wed from 930 -130. He's M/W/F 9 am - 1 pm. So, it works out really well and although I'd prefer her to be at his school (for convenience sake) I'm confident this was the plan for her. She only goes 2 days a week which is the most I really wanted her to go and the school is so small that she has 6 kids to 2 teachers. What a ratio! I also learned of 2 families that go there and so that made me feel confident in the choice.

Anyway, her highlights were craft time and playing with the dolls. There is only 1 other girl in her class so she will surely talk of Gaby a lot and I have no worries about her hanging with the boys. She has had lots of practice in that area!

Happy New Year!

We brought in the new year with the Plavchak's (my cousin and her family). We were at their house last year with many of the cousins (7 out of 10 I believe). This year that didn't work out so we just kept the tradition alive for our families. I will say spending New Year's Eve with my cousins and their families (no matter how many or how few) is going to rank as my favorite way to spend the holiday. I hope we can keep this tradition alive!

This year we went to the Children's museum in the afternoon. JT had been there when he was younger but didn't really remember it. The kids all had a lot of fun. We came back to our house to eat spaghetti and played a lot of Wii - Bowling, Ski jumping (wish I had a picture of Mark doing that), Boogie (like karaoke with dancing). The kids all went to bed at 930 with the adults hanging in there until nearly 1 am. It was truly a really good start to the year!

We ate too much, laughed a lot and just created good memories. We couldn't decide if our sore sides were from laughter or from playing Wii. Maybe a little of both!

Christmas Holiday

This was such a fun year with the kids. I anticipate that Christmas is going to just get better and better as they get older. Our season started with the Preschool Lane breakfast where Kyle got a new Bible, the Purdue PMO Chrismas concert, Kyle' preschool program, a great time with both sides of the family and time at home as well. A hit for Kyle was the karaoke machine, Allison was all about baby dolls and gear. We ended our season on the 27th by going to the Lion King.
A few photos of our celebrations:

Pictures form Nov 2008.

Fall Women's Retreat- A great weekend time away. I should really do a whole post on this weekend some time when I'm feeling contemplative. God really showed up (or maybe I was just finally listening) Hmmmm.....


Kyle's preschool Thanksgiving luncheon.