Thursday, January 21, 2010

funny. real funny.

This week, my girls are memorizing Psalm 73:28.
It's a great verse.
"But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds."
Today, Kourtney said the verse and I asked her what the reference was.
She couldn't remember, so I asked if she wanted a hint.
Me: "Okay.....Psalm...the year I was born..."
Kourt: "Psalm 73....uh...."
Me: "The age I look"
Kourt: "48?"
Me: "You're grounded!!!"
Guess I set myself up for that one.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

my funny memories

My daughters always like me to tell them funny stories of things they did or said when they were little. It's fun to recall the moments and my girls get a good chuckle. I thought I'd post a couple on here that we've recently discussed.
Kourtney:
My now ALMOST 12 year old....was just as sensitive as they come!
Before having her, I worked as a preschool teacher.
I was so excited when she turned about 2 or 2 and a half. I thought about how great it would be to sit and have "circle time" and sing fun songs together.
One day, I started singing, "On Top of Spaghetti."
BIG mistake.
She was fine at first, "On top of spaghetti, all covered with cheese." But, it took a turn for the worse when, "I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed."
Crying began at, "It rolled off the table and onto the floor."
And full on sobbing when, "....and then my poor meatball rolled right out the door."
You can only imagine how hard it was for me, after overcoming my shock at her tears, not to burst out laughing! Poor kid really felt sorry for that poor meatball!!
We never did get to finish the song.
Probably for the best....it has a pretty sad ending.
Remember, it rolls "into the garden and under a bush....and then my poor meatball was nothing but mush."
I'm positive she could NOT have handled that!
What a tender little heart that girl had!
She still does....but, living with her sarcastic, joking parents....she's toughened up a little.
Next, we have one of our classic Maggie stories.
Oh Miss Maggie Pie! Such a lovely almost 10-year-old.
She was the easiest baby I ever had!
And then she turned 2!
She looked like a little angel. Blond, silky hair, great big green eyes....and the most scratchy, gruff voice you ever heard.
What great growth and character development took place in me, thanks to that girl!
One funny memory I have of her was at a time when she was mad.
Not just mad, but furious!
We were in a store and she wanted something (can't remember what)and her daddy said, "No."
That was not cool as far as she was concerned and she was going to let him know, in no uncertain terms, how she felt about it.
She threw a great big fit.
We decided that wasn't going to happen in the store and we left.
The shock of us leaving the store caused her to fall silent for a minute.
Then, in anger, she looked at her daddy and said, "You're a circle head!"
Boy, was she mad!
It took everything in us not to laugh....but instead, to discipline.
Last, but not least is Miss Jacklyn.
Our current 2 year old.
Something about that age, huh?
She keeps us on our toes all the time.
There's not a shy bone in her body.
Just last week, there was this precious older man in the grocery store.
He was a little hunched over, he wore a cowboy hat and some brightly-colored suspenders.
He saw Jacklyn looking at him and his face brightened.
He waved at her and said, "Hi!"
As CLEAR AS DAY, my sweet, charming, friendly little angel said,
"Mommy, he is a funny looking guy!"
I can't even tell you how I reacted.
I don't remember. I just know I was mortified and down another aisle faster than lightning.
I am so happy that I've been blessed with these 3....very unique and very wonderful girls!! They are such a joy!!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

our daily walk


This is the little trail we walk down every.single.day.
My older 2 daughters have a job. They walk Rooney, this adorable puppy, and get paid for it!

It's perfect, really. We have our own pooch, too. Gracie. She delights greatly in the daily walks and having the responsibility of walking Rooney just ensures that Gracie will get some exercise as well.
Recently, another friend has joined us on our walks. Just thought you might want to see who it is. He goes, affectionately, by the name of "Oooh Oooh."

Life is fun.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

back to life....back to reality


We will start school back up tomorrow after 2 glorious weeks off...and one week, prior to vacation, that really shouldn't count as school. Mostly pre-Christmas stuff. I know a certain 4th grade teacher, however, who also did lots of pre-Christmas stuff before break....and it counts. So, we will count it, too.
Every day of school that we do now makes our summer vacation come even sooner. That's what I tell my girls. And that's what I have to tell myself on days when I'm just not feelin' it.
Hopefully my little welcome sign (shown above) will help morale tomorrow. Kourtney is eager to get back into a routine. Maggie rolls her eyes at the thought of school. Or structure. I think I'm somewhere in between.
I don't have a list of 2010 goals. Not yet anyway. I do think I'll have the girls sit down and think about this. Maybe even write something down. Maybe not. We'll see.
However, one thing I'd like to try to implement in this new year is better planning. I'd love to remember that we eat dinner every single night when we get home from swim practice and actually think ahead to have something waiting. Crockpot recipes would be a great idea! Or at least some sort of dinner in mind.
I also think I'm going to try to do my lesson plans over the weekend prior to school starting. Heck, I could even be crazy and try to get them done on Friday afternoons....like the aforementioned 4th grade teacher does! That may be too crazy for me. We'll see.
All I know is that doing my lesson plans on Monday morning, when school is well underway is NOT how I want to finish off this school year. I've even been know to write them up on Wednesday. I look back in their books to see what the girls have already done and THEN write it down. These lesson plans are purely for my own peace of mind. I don't turn them into anyone. Nobody else ever even needs to see them. Unless, of course, one of my darlings wants to work ahead.....she can peek in the lesson plan book and see what I'd like her to do next.
Anyway, all that to say, I hope to be a teensy bit more organized. And I really hope I don't lose my mind on our first day back to reality. I'll let you know how it goes. I better go start those lesson plans now.
Over and out.