Sunday

This day started on a sad note. Hubby got on a plane and left :( He is in New Orleans for the week. I told him... sorry, no fresh fish for you! :( I don't like it when he is gone!!  But, the rest of the day was pretty decent! I got to help with a friends baby shower. She is going to have her baby on Wed. That makes me excited! :D  I went to the store to get the stuff for the shower (cake... gifts....) While I was checking out, the lady asked if I was having a party.. I said ya a baby shower!! He will be born on Wed... she proceeded to ask me if it was my first!!????? So... Not that I didn't know already... but, I decided I NEED to loose weight. So, I have set myself a goal. 20 pounds by Aug. 6. That is 2 months. I am praying that God will decide that it is something that he can bless me with. I need to loose 100 but 20 is a good start!!!  Anyway, here we go!
Thank you God for this Sunday. Thank you for friends to spend an afternoon with. Thank you for my boys, that I can trust home alone. Thank you for the blessing of food. Thank you for your faithfulness to help us in our ongoing striving to not sin. Thank you for even caring about my desire to not be gluttonous any more!

A week in review

So, this has been a pretty good week! All in all that is. Had lots of family here last weekend for Erin's wedding!! That was fabulous!!! I LOVED having my sisters and brothers here!!!!  Made me so happy! It was also very nice to have my hubby home for 4 days. The family all went home on Monday. That was a nice restful day. I didn't want the family to go home.. but it was a nice day. The rest of the week has been pretty normal. Ethan started his college classes. That was fun. He is really enjoying it. Especially his drama class. He said it is like grown ups playing and it is what they are supposed to do! hehe He is really enjoying logic so far too. He says both the teachers are nice and he has enjoyed being around other people.
Now I just have to get our school ordered for our new school year. I don't like to take too long off. I have never done a 3 month summer break. I am not planning on starting now! :D  If I take too long of a break, I have a hard time getting back into it. I like being able to take weeks off here and there and not have to worry about it. Plus, I want to get used to the new "normal" of school.. our regular work along with Ethan's extra classes.
Hubby leaves town tomorrow for a week. I am going to make the kids help me with some big stuff while he is gone. I am hoping to get some painting done.. before the end of June I want to have the downstiars painted and the carpets cleaned. HA! dream on! hehe So, there is the update! Goodnight!!!

practicing what I preach

In trying to get my house ready for company, one of the things that I have MOST dreaded, is cleaning.... Ez and Ashers rooms *duh duh duuunnnnnn* I don't know why, but for some reason my 2 youngest boys don't understand "clean". They see it in every other room in the house. They have to clean their rooms and their bathrooms every day. They have to vacuum and mop every day. But for some reason, it never really gets fully DONE. It will finally get to where I finally say "good enough" but it is never DONE. One of the things that I have told other moms for a LONG time is that kids will do what is expected of them. No more, no less. As much as I say, "they can't do that yet" or... "they aren't old enough yet" or.. "they aren't ready" They will happily sit aside and not do those things. I mean hey... more play time right?  But if you say, this is how you do it, this is what I expect, and this is the consequence if you don't, they will do it! I have found myself guilty of doing to Ezekiel something that I always HATED when my parents did. I had my Ezekiel standard, and my every one else standard. I decided tonight, that enough is enough. I told the boys that I want their room spotless. I mean, under the bed, in the closet, I want it vacuumed even in the corners. Trash taken out, laundry taken down to be washed tomorrow, Like totally and completely CLEAN. I then sent Asher to start and told Ezekiel, you are the older brother. It is up to you to make sure it gets done. If it doesn't, you are the one that will be punished. You are almost 12 years old, you should be able to get a room clean like I expect it to be. Well guess what?? It was DONE totally and completely clean!!! I could see carpet! Even under the bed and in the closet!!! Just proves once more, you expect it... and they will do it!!  YAY for one less thing on my list tomorrow!!!!

Date night

I got a date night last night with my "little" boys. Saturday night is my date night with hubby, but he was busy last night so the boys and I went!

I mean really, can you think of any better or more handsome dates????  We went to Olive Garden which is a favorite of all of us. I think we spent the same amount we would have for hubby and I too, because he and I like to have a drink and usually go to a more pricey place! :D

My goofballs. I just love these kids!! I truly believe that date night is NECESSARY!! Especially between mom and dad. It is SO IMPORTANT to have that one night a week put aside for just time for just you! If money is an issue, you can go to chili's and get chips and queso and a soda for less that 20$. Or, you can go to the park and just take a picnic basket. You can even have "date night" in your own home. Make sure the kids are in their beds at  a reasonable time and make a special din din just for you and daddy and be just married people again like you were before the little goofballs came along!!!
I also think it is important to "date" your kids! They all need to feel important and loved and have one on one time with mom/dad. I mean not just take them to mc donalds where you are going to meet friends and they are going to be running around playing. I mean, take them somewhere that doesn't have a play place and just sit and talk to them!!  Maybe both of you order off the childrens menu or let the kid order off the adult so he/she feels on the same level as mom/dad. Go someplace fun and talk to them and let them know that you love them!!  Not just ya mom loves me she tells me and she takes care of me.. but my mom LOVES me! She takes me out and we have special dinner together and I can talk to her without my siblings talking over me or taking her attention away!!  Super important and fun time!!!
Ok, stepping off my soap box now. I am going to post a couple more pics of "date nights" with my guys!

college kid

Well, this is all about Ethan. He is my oldest baby. He is 14 and 1/2 and is finishing his Sophomore year of high school. Which makes him able to do the early college start at ACC. He can take 2 classes a semester for free. Thats right.. FOR FREE!!! He did really well on most of his entrance test. He didn't do as well in the math section as he could have, but he can retake that. All that means, is he won't take any math based classes this summer. But that is ok because I want him to take fun classes to start with so he can get used to being in a classroom situation for the first time in his life. And get used to being taught. So, he is taking an acting class and logic. Anyone who has heard my hubby's favorite joke will understand that decision. He is happy and excited, and we are too! I am excited that he is growing up and moving on to the next stage of life. I am happy that he has been able to get through the things he needed to and do well enough to be able to be starting college classes right now. Lord willing, I would love to have him as close to done with a degree as possible by the time he is 18 so he can just get on with his life and get a job and just be done with school. God is so good!! Keep praying for us!

Mothers day

Yesterday, was mothers day. I had such a GREAT DAY!!!  My boys spoiled me rotten! It started on Saturday. They left me here to relax while they went shopping. They were gone for a few hours. I started to think they were lost!! I texted Ethan and told him to make sure they got me something good! He said they would get me bubble gum if I was good. :D After a while I decided to go lay down in bed and rest until they got home. When they got home, Ez and Ash came upstairs to "keep me company" while hubby and Ethan brought my present up to me. A few minutes later, they came up the stairs struggling under the heavy load of a big box. They were grunting and sweating. They were talking to each other about the best way to get this big box around the corner at the top of the stairs. They stopped outside my bedroom and said that I needed to come out to see it cause they couldn't carry it anymore. I went into the hall and took the tape off the top of the box... with complete excitement I opened this box that was so big, I could have fit comfortably in it sitting up! And there, wrapped carefully in plastic wrap, was my roll of bubble tape! HAHAHAHA I was sooo happy!!!  Just what I wanted!!!! Then they suggested that I come downstairs with them to enjoy my gum. I came down the stairs and looked in the living room and there was  A NEW CHAIR!!! They got me an extra wide rocker/recliner chair!!!!! I LOVE IT!!! I can rock.. I can put my feet up. I can lay ALL THE WAY DOWN!!! flat!!!!!! It is amazing!!!  Then, hubby took me out to dinner for a date at what has become my favorite restaurant here in Austin. Then yesterday, we went to church. Then I got to rest in my new comfy chair all afternoon. Then my boys took me to dinner at IHop!! yayayay!!! That was my mothers day. I hope every one else had a great one!!

New house arrangement

I am excited to report, we have a new home for our playroom!!! Up until now it has been downstairs in what should be our formal living room. For those that know us, we are NOT formal people.. so it isn't about having a formal living room. I just need to have my house to where I don't feel like I am living in a messy hole all the time. :D  With all the kids toys and stuff upstairs, I have my whole downstairs to be "grown up space".  I feel like my house is more of a grown up house now! :) We are going to put a TV in the office with the computers so that the video games and all that can be upstairs too. And they can watch their shows up there. They are excited. I need to take a picture of the "bed room" now cause there are 2 double size beds in there.. and then Gavin's little bed. lots of bed... NO floor space. hahahaha Gavin is THRILLED to be included in the bed room. Fun fun! And... ITS FRIDAY! I get my honey for 2 days now! :D  yay!  Happy mothers day weeked!

Baby Asher turns 10!!!!!

So, it has been 10 years since I had my last little baby boy. I can't believe that I am finally to the point that I have no little ones any more. No one in the single digits!! Big steps!!  I am so happy to be here!!
Asher is so smart, so happy, caring, giving, precious. Of course he has his... ahem... moments... but so do I!! :D  I love my sweet baby boy!!  I tried to put up lots of pics.. and it didn't work. So, for now.. just this one recent one *although he has gotten a hair cut now* hehe
I love you my sweet baby boy!

Here it is

Can you believe it? I did it already!!!  Here is my new blog!!!

http://wordsofthankfulness.blogspot.com/

Please "follow" me.. read it.. help me!!  I will continue to use this one for updates/pics/ and posts about the family and our daily lives so don't erase this one!!!  thanks friends!

Changing things up.

I am deciding to change things up a bit here on my blog. I have been trying to blog about life... but my life just isn't that interesting.. hehehe so... I am going to change things up a little and play and try to get a new look and a new site and everything... Instead of trying to have it just about family life, I am going to make it a little more personal. Talk about my personal life journey that God has me on. I am not leaving blog spot.. I will just have a new title and I will let everyone know. I will still use this one too for updates on the kids. Like Asher's birthday on Tuesday :)! If anyone can suggest things I can do and ways to personalize it better.... that would be great!

New day

Well, after a long talk the other day with Ez, he finally (not really repentantly....) but FINALLY admitted to the cheating... I was talking to him about how when he is lying about something and insists on staying in that lie.. he is a liar.. and I can't believe anything he says. So, he tells me he did something, I have to check. If he says he didn't do something, I can't believe him. That really bothered him because he was trying to convince me that he hadn't done something else that i was accusing him of. So, he had to tell the truth about the cheating to try to get me to believe the other. I still don't believe that he wasn't lying about the other, but it is a step in the right direction.. And I think he understands the problem and how and why it needs to stop. We also had a long talk about responsibility and disciplining yourself. He has been better about chores the last 2 days too after that. I don't hold my breath that this will keep up, but it is a step in the right direction at least! Thanks for all the help!!

Weather and what-not

Well, today is quite a day here in Round Rock!! It is SNOWING!! And the snow is STICKING!!! Both nearly unheard of occurrences here. There are HUGE flakes falling right now. I am NOT totally thrilled. My kids are happy.. and of course, that makes me happy... but weather effects me physically. here is the thing... Cold makes me hurt.. but if I am inside where it is warm, I am not too bad.. but the CHANGE of weather is what kills me... and here, it can't get much worse!!! On Sunday it was 75 degrees and now, it is snowing and 34 degrees. There was a 30 degree drop between sunday and yesterday. That is what kills me! So, I guess if I lived somewhere that it was snowing or rainy alot... and I could be inside most of the time.. that would be ok. I just need to not have these big flip flops!!!

On to the "what not" part of the post. I am trying to figure out the best way to deal with something in my home and I would LOVE all the advice I can get. My son, has been doing A LOT of lying. And I mean.. when he knows he is caught.. he stays insisting on his lie. I have punished.. I have talked to him about what God thinks of lying... Last night he finally confessed *in a very quick not really repentant way* to his lie, when I told him that by staying in his lie.. he has become a liar.. so I can't believe anything he says. I don't know how to make him see that this can't go on and that he has to be honest... I have been getting so frustrated recently with my younger boys. I feel like a failure of a mom most of the time.. and they are REALLY GOOD BOYS. There are just some things.. and some times.. that I can't get them to decide to do the right thing. I pray for them.. and I talk to them... they all claim to be living for God so I try to talk to them from a Biblical standpoint, but I don't know if they don't get it.. or don't care, or just aren't wired to understand yet. I am open to any and all suggestions on how to deal that I haven't done. I also worry that I am expecting my kids to be PERFECT, which I know they can't be...
That is the update from here! I hope all is well for all my friends out there!!!

new years eve pictures

What a week!

Ok.. so it has been more than a week.. and I promised New years Eve pics that I haven't posted.. I think what I am going to do, is start doing a post with words.. and then do another post with pictures... I just get too frustrated with trying to put the pictures where I want them to be!! :) yes, I am too easily frustrated! hahahaah In my mind.. if you put a picture up after you write words, that is where the picture should go.. NOT all the way at the top to where you have to drag it all around to put it where you think it should have gone automatically in the first place!!
Anyway, so far 2010 has not been a whole lot different than 2009.. :) My 2 little boys have been in alot of trouble.. I am trying to figure out how to make them aware of their heart choices. Not let them get away with "I didn't think about it" or "I forgot" or... anything like that but to realize everything they do (or don't do) is a choice.. and that choices come from the condition of our hearts alot of the time. Or, maybe all the time. But that if they can't make a right choice to not do what they know they shouldn't or to remember to do what they know they should when they are here.. and safe and cared for.. they aren't going to make those right choices when they are out in the world and have none of the same Godly conditions.
I don't know really how to do this.. so I grounded them to their rooms. They have to keep their space clean without having to be reminded to clean it and to get their school work done without having to be told that it is school time. I figure if they are in their rooms, every time they think about wanting to not be.. they will think about why they are and maybe some changes will start to be made. That is my hope anyway. This parenting thing is SO HARD. I mean I never thought it was easy.. but I guess there are days that I realize that I thought that it would be a little more easy now than it is.. I mean, it is easier than it was when they were little. But I just want it to be EASY. I know I am fooling myself right. Ethan really is in the "easy" category most of the time. I hope the younger boys will get there too! Maybe this will be a kick in the right direction!! Or, it will be more than 3 weeks of their wasted time and some peace and quiet for me. .hahaha
Hubby is getting ready to leave town for a week. I HATE when he has to be gone. But at least this time, there is something exciting to look forward to at the end! *besides him coming back which I always look forward to* I have a friend coming to see me!!! YAY! And this is a friend that I haven't seen since we were in 2nd grade!!! For anyone that isn't fabulous at math.. it has been about 25 years since we have seen each other!! It is amazing to both of us that God implanted us so deeply in each others hearts that even after all this time we have both thought often of each other and wanted to be back in contact. We both know that lots of time has past, although it feels like we have never been apart. That is how easy our friendship is. I am enjoying getting to know her as an adult, and I can't wait to show her pics of all my life experiences that she wasn't able to be there for, and I can't wait to share some with her!!! Anyway, that is our life in a "nutshell" I will post some pics now! Which of course, will be what you see FIRST.. but ah well, I will get this figured out sooner or later!!