Some Mommy favs....

Anita @ Mud and Coffee asked me to post some of my book favs. These four are my all time #1's. I'll keep thinking and add a few every week.

This book is awesome. Especially for Emma, it asks God all kinds of questions and then changes font as God answers. At the end of every section, there is a place where the book backs all of their answers up with verses from the bible. It is an awesome and fun (b/c it rhymes) read, but can also be used to teach from. Just pick one question, use the verse, and run with it.

I Love You the Purplest....it's about a mom who has two boys. Both boys wants to know who she loves more. She never answers with, "I love you the most." She love one the reddest and one the bluest. In the end, mixing the two loves...makes purplest!

I picked this book for Colby. It is an neat play off of The Little Engine that Could. At the end of every school year, I am having his teacher write in it. When he graduates he'll have a memory book of all of his teachers and their thoughts. It's the perfect book for him, b/c when I started it, in preschool, he loved trains.

I am currently searching for a similar book for Emma. Can't decide. Any ideas?

Don't read this book unless you want to cry. The title brings tears to any mommy. The same author of the mommy date book...this book is about all the lasts. We remember the firsts, like the first tooth, first ball game, etc....but what about the lasts? The last little league game, the last lost tooth, the last time your child sits on your lap. I try to appreciate these times more, b/c I know they won't last forever. I think I'm going to start writing a letter to my kids in this book after every year, has a preserver of the memories that stand out in my mind. I will give this to them either on their graduation day or wedding day.

Hope you guys enjoyed....I love books and will have lots more to share!

1000 Words Thursday!

A Mommy Date!

Colby and I needed a break.

Emma was gone.

We needed to "bond."

So....

We took 1/2 day off on Friday.

We went to Kirksville.

To boot shop.

Did we get boots?

Of course.



1st, we stopped at McDonald's for lunch. Where else would we stop? Colby's choice = chicken nuggets. We were getting our drinks and who walked in? Daddy....so he got to have lunch with mom and dad. Double fun!

As we were looking for boots, we had to check out the animals. Colby had $5.00 to spend from Grandma and Papa for Valentine's day.
Decisions....decisions....
He chose another dairy cow with "milkers"...(udders) and a colt. He has a whole herd down in his bedroom.

All in all, we had a fun day. I love spending time with just one of my children. Usually, it's Emma b/c Vance is always doing guy things with Colby. This time, it was a much needed date for Colby and Mom.

If you would like to start this tradition, check out this book:

I love it!

The Big Surprise

On Saturday, I threw a party for Bree. Vance turns 30 in a couple of weeks, and so I told her it was for Vance. I had her come and help me decorate and she even brought food. I knew the only way to trick her was to involve her. I have to tell you, after all that trickery, I was mentally tired. Lying is hard work. I've never been good at it, which I guess is a good thing. I have spent a lot of the last few months stuttering through explanations. Bree is one inquisitive girl!
The day we painted the majority of my house, in November, is the day we set the date! Can you believe it!? We have been planning this for 3 1/2 months. I had lots of help with the guest list and food...thanks girls! It was so much fun to plan and the anticipation was about to kill me. Think about lying to your best friend day after day...it gets exhausting. Last year, I threw Vance a surprise party for his graduation from lineman school. I guess I'm getting pretty good at the whole scheming thing! The birthday girl and myself.Some of the decorations.

Heather and Dave

Corin, Cindy, Erin, and Amee....accomplices

The cake...curvy, purdy, turnin 30!

After many of the guests left, we played left, right, center. Apparently, Vance and I are pretty good at that game. We have a HUGE amount of quarters now. We also had a pretty comical round of Catch Phrase. I just love that game...so fun! Especially with hand movements!

Don't ever doubt

....the glory of our God! It amazes me. Even when I know of all the things He is capable of, sometimes I still find my mouth dropping open. Many, many years ago....God created the Earth! After the women's retreat, I discovered this was no small thing. He measured and measured to put it in the exact spot it needed to be in to maintain life. Then on the 6th day, he made man. Now, we all now the story....Adam, loney Adam, so God made Eve. He took a rib from Adam to make him a perfect partner, Eve. I have often marveled over God's handiwork of the human body. There are lots of intricate workings of the human body....things that have to happen to make everything else work.


Apparantely, we have a protein called laminin. Without this protein, everything would fall apart. It hold us together! When the discovery of this protein took place, scientists found what it looked like. Can you guess?
A CROSS! Can you believe it? There are crosses inside our body holding it together.
When you feel like you can't go another step, remember all of the crosses hanging on for dear life inside your body! It amazes me.
I am also astounded by God's patience. He made this possible hundreds of years ago, and then sat patiently by, as he waited for the technology to be great enough to discover this laminin. Do you suppose he pushed or prodded a few scientiests to get them headed down the right road? I would have!
If you would like to listen to the testimonial that I heard to discover this amazing thing, click here. It is 15 minutes long, but awesome! Definitely the best part of the retreat!
Enjoy!

Beauty Tips....

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her 'beauty tips .'
It was read at her funeral years later. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Turning 30!

Happy Birthday, Bree Shaw! Here's to 30 more years with me as your friend:)

Balancing Life

Do you ever feel like your parenting/life is off balance.
I will decide that we need to play more games as a family. We will then play games every night...teaching our kids new games and involving everyone.
Then I will go or see some one's kids and be reminded...oh yes, they need to play together without adult interaction all the time.
So, I start making them play more on their own...which they do fine with. They spend ours and ours in their rooms together or apart letting their imaginations run wild.
Then I will see a small child sit down at the computer and know exactly how to get things going. So, I will work a little on my children and computer skills.
Do you see my never ending circle? It's not that I'm second guess my parenting and how much game time, computer time, t.v. time, etc...my kids get. I just get in a rut and forget that there can be a mixture of EVERYTHING. It's kind of like wearing the same 5 things every week...which I am very guilty of or cooking the same 7 meals every week. It's the reminders that....I haven't done something in awhile. I'll clean off the book shelf and find some old easy readers that I would have worked with Colby on. Why haven't I got these out for Emma? I feel like I need lesson plans for parenting sometimes. It makes me wonder...will my children turn out well-rounded or will they be lopsided. It's such a hard balance to maintain and not enough hours in the day!

1000 Word Thursday!

A pictures of my children writing their names for the first time. Both pictures are taken on my chalkboard at work. I think it's funny that Colby didn't care to write his name until the summer he was 4.

Emma wrote her name the summer she was 3. I love her smile. So proud.

Thanks for checking me out! Click on the icon to see more 1000 word Thursday posts.

It finally happened!

I got a Bunco....twice! That's right, no one's ear drums will ever be the same! It was quite a thrilling experience. You can see my face was red from all the excitement!

Heather also got a Bunco. She didn't get one last month either. It was very sad for us. Amanda, a first timer, got a Bunco too. She didn't come last month. I neglected getting a picture of her:)

Bree and Heather got to model Bunco Birthday Babe crowns all evening. They celebrate their birthday's together on Friday.

Bree got a cake. She's turning 30!...and she won 1st place!

Corin was the Bunco Babe...getting 3 buncos and then winning the roll off!

Darla got 2nd place.
We had lots of fun and good food. Can't wait until next month...bring something green!

How well do you know me?

So, I'm digging in my bottom desk drawer at work.
Why, you ask?
Because I forgot to get Jenn masking tape at Wal-Mart.
No big deal you say?
Yes, it is a big deal...I was walking INTO Wal-Mart when she asked me to get it and I still forgot.
I tell her that I have Velcro lines at work she can borrow.
Do you think I can find them?
No.
It's driving me crazy!
I'm really proud to remember to look for them, and then I can't find them!
Grrrr....
So, back to digging in my desk drawer.
I don't find the Velcro, but I do find a 1/2 full, open bag of candy corn.
From OCTOBER!
Do I throw it away...
or
Do I eat a piece and see if it's still good....
Think
Andrea....
Hmmmm....
Yep, I took a bite.
Now, I need to visit the dentist!
It was hard
and
yucky.
Will I still do the same thing next time?
Yep.
That's what makes me, ME!

Bunco Baby

Whew...I've vacuumed, mopped, dusted, washed, and I think I'm ready for my Bunco hosting night! It'll be fun, there are crowns, dice, and good food involved. I am also lending my house for the next two months for the respective hosts. Don't expect my house to be this clean those months.
An top of Bunco this week, I also have Sonlight and the Women's retreat Friday night and Saturday morning. Then, I'm having a birthday party for Vance on Saturday night. Think I could fit anything else into my week....? I still have Thursday night free!
Next week, we are trying to figure out a free night to scrap, Sonlight, Senior night, and Courtwarming and to finish it off...a wedding on Saturday night. Then, I start teaching Sunday School that morning! WOW!
I'll talk relax in March:)
Oh, for those of you who care...I'm on to the last two season of Gilmore Girls. I will be getting Season 6 tomorrow...I hope. Can't wait!
One more thing....Ang, I'm thinking about you for the next 2 weeks. Can't wait to meet your new little bundle!
Sweet dreams~

1000 Word Thursday!

This is what the living room looked like after making a dent in Vance's laundry from the ice storm.

Vance brought Colby back a huge checkerboard made like a rug. They love to play it. As you can see, Colby does not look impressed with his father's move.
He brought Emma back a baking set. With cookie cutters, pot holders, and an apron. She would really like some cookie dough to use those cookie cutters with!
Miss Emma all snuggled into bed!

I think...

That everyone should go change their blog so it doesn't have that annoying letter verification thing on it when you try to leave a comment! Bree and I came to an overwhelming vote last night!

A Fonder Heart

Absence makes the heart grow fonder....
I believe that.
My heart is very fond!
Vance is on his way home as we speak!
YAY!
He's coming to get Colby from school to have a couple of hours before Emma and I get home.
Maybe he'll get all they "Hey Dad's" out of the road, so I can enjoy a few "adult" minutes...I mean talking!
We've never been away from each other this long! 5 days...maybe 6 or 7, but this was nearly 2 weeks!
WOW!
A few updating comments....
I haven't been blogging because I am terribly addicted to Gilmore Girls! I am 1/2 way through season 4 and the suspense is killing me!
We are heading to Memphis for V-day with Michelle and Norm and then maybe back to our house to watch Fireproof. Is this a couple movie? Let me know what you think.
My daughter has now informed me that it is iweegle (illegal) to marry your bwuder (brother). I'm glad she learned that rule young!
I had a fun time in Quincy with Lauren and Mom. Ran the battery down on my van, it's a good thing we're cute (my dad just laughed when I told him that)...we got a jump! My mom actually got the guys....
I got to watch Corin's Levi yesterday. He is so cute. I love that age...where everything is funny! His laugh was so genuine! Emma informed me that he is a tod-a-ler. Not a baby, not a big boy...a tod-a-ler.
Emma and I also went to the dr. yesterday. Allergies. We got new med. to last us through the summer and I also found out Emma had an ear infection. Now, she thinks she is dying. "Mom, I'm going to chew carefully, so I don't hurt my ear infection." she'll say!
I was also talking to the dr. about this strange reaction I had to a Claritin pill on Saturday. I was SO thirsty! I drank and drank water and peed and peed. That is not like me, usually it's 3 times a day for me. I also stayed up until 4 a.m. and then made myself go to bed. The dr. told me it could be the kind of Claritin. I called my mom, b/c she's the one who gave it to me. She got kind of quiet and said, "Oh, no. I don't think I gave you Claritin, I think it was Benedryl!" Ooops! No wonder I was wired! My kids get the same way too. Most people give their kids Benedryl to put them to sleep. Not my kiddos! They start bouncing off the wall. Apparently so do I!
So, off to outdoor recess on a lovely day! I think sunshine just makes the day better!
Happy Tuesday!

Oh Happy Day

Prepare yourself for random ramblings....
"Oh Happy Day" is a song we sing at Sonlight. I don't really like it:)
Last night a few of us scrapping girls got together at my house. One scrapped, Cindy and I CLEANED...ewwww! A couple others just chatted. It was fun to catch up. Can't wait for next time!
I am leaving early today to go to Quincy with Lauren and my mom. I'm excited about it! We are shopping for Lauren's prom dress and she has an interview at the college she's thinking about going to. We are also spending the night in Canton...a hotel makes it all more fun:). I'm taking my kids to Bible Grove for the rest of the day, night, and most of tomorrow.
Saturday night we are going to a party for my Aunt Julie. She passed her RN boards! YAY for her...that was a long road, but she made it.
Sunday, church and then a Home and Garden open house.
Tuesday...my honey comes home! Whoo Hoo!
Plus, the weather is warm, the sun is shining...the only thing better would be for me to break out into song! But I'll spare you.

And so on...

#24 I often find myself over thinking the spelling of the littlest/simplest words b/c I teach phonics and I've looked at these words all day and then they just start to jumble in my mind. My hardest word now...greatful/grateful! Strange, I know.
#25 I would love to be on the Amazing Race, but I would not be a good team with many people. I do not want to be one of those screaming, ranting women...so therefore I could not go with Vance or my sisters for that matter. I think it has to be someone you are good friends with, blunt and to the point, but not rude. Bree would be a good candidate!

O.k. that's 25, maybe more to come!

1000 Word Thursday

I love this little DIVA!

Gratifying

Don't you just love a great day? Where what you did affected others? You helped people...mankind...made a difference!?
Vance called me last night, so excited. They were getting ready to "heat up" a line that they have worked on for 3 days. Everyone who had worked on it got together, turned it on and I can just hear the whoops and cheers from here! He was in great spirits last night....talking a mile a minute. They gave 200-300 people power!
He also said they were bringing in 2000 construction linemen today. Their job is to build lines...quickly! I can imagine how quickly it will go with 2000 of them! Still no idea when they will get home, but I talked to the mil of a construction lineman and he's not coming home until March! Wow...now I feel grateful.
Another gratifying subject....Who was surprised by the temperatures yesterday? ME (raising hand)! I did not know it was supposed to get so cold. My main water hydrant froze and so I had to pack water from the house to the ponies and dogs. Not a huge issue, but I was afraid that the frozen pipe would bust and cost many issues, damage, and money. I called my mom to ask her opinion and she told my dad. He came out and checked everything over, decided it was just the hydrant...no other lines and then unfroze it. Carrying 5 gallon buckets of hot water to the hydrant and then unfreezing the hose to water the big calves so I don't have to do it today. Thanks dad....I'm grateful! By the way, we discovered that a 5 gallon bucket will fit in my kitchen sink and my faucet is tall enough to allow the bucket under it. That made filling it up much easier....something to think about when building/renovating.
So....did I do any gratifying work yesterday? Of course, teaching is gratifying everyday. I feel like I make a difference, mold, love, reach children every minute of everyday. Did I turn on the electricity? NO, but hopefully a few light bulbs came on!

One more thing

No, I did not think of anything else to add to my list.
A blog I read, is going to post letters on Friday. Letters to our 20 year old self. To help us raise kids. Kind of like that Brad Paisley song...."A Letter to Me." What would you say to your 20 year old self, to help prepare yourself for parenting. Go here to learn more. I'm thinking of what I would put in my letter. I hope you "old parents" out there can chip in and help us out.