Easter has come and gone

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. The weather was great for hunting Easter eggs, blowing bubbles, playing outside, and taking pictures. The kids had a great time and so did we. I love more than anything watching my children run and play outside without a care in the world. We got up earlier than we normally do on Sunday's so the kids would have a chance to explore what the 'Easter Bunny' had left them. Layla is still to young to understand what Easter represents, but we tried to explain to Chancelor that Easter wasn't about the Easter Bunny, but instead about Jesus. At almost six years old, I still think Chancelor is still a little young to try and explain to him the crucifixion, death, and Resurrection of Christ. I don't quite know how to explain it in terms he'll understand, but we talked about it. How I pray that my children will come to know Christ and put their faith in Him alone.

I was able to get a picture of each of the kids getting ready for church in their Easter outfits. Chance is in the process of tying his shoes or putting socks on and Layla is looking at him.
The past serveral weeks have been so busy that I feel like I've missed out on so much with my children. I don't like that at all. I don't want to miss out on anything or feel like I'm so busy that I don't have time to enjoy with my children. I took advantage of that last Friday. The weather was wonderful and while the kids played outside I got the cameral out. The results.....
I realize I need to take a time out and enjoy my kids...I realize that I don't need to get so busy that I don't have time to listen to what my kids are saying....I realize I need my kids as much as they need me...and I realize that it's going to take work to change the habits I have. We tend to get so wrapped up in 'what has to get done' that we don't take time to look at our kids. While I'm cleaning the house, washing the dishes, folding & putting away clothes...I see my kids...but I'm not really looking at them. This is one thing that I really want to change about myself. I know that there are those things that need to be done, but my children will only be children once...and well, I don't want to miss it.

Until next time....take a time out....look at your children....listen to what they are telling you! We love you and God Bless!!!

So much to do...so little time!

I know I know. Once again I've gotten slack. I'm not so sure if I've gotten slack or if I just can't find the time to blog. I love blogging, but I can't seem to find the time to do it. I feel horrible about that! I look at other blogs often and I wonder how in the world they manage. Seriously, I think I might need some help with time management. I know that must sound insane, but seriously!

I get up every morning at 6:30am. I begin my day by getting Chancelor up. While he's getting dressed I fix his breakfast. While he's eating I get myself ready and then get him out the door for school. When he's gone I get Layla up and ready to take to my grandmothers, then I'm off to work. I work until 6:00pm and sometimes later. When I get home there is homework to look over, mouths to feed, baths to be given and hopefully some quality time to spend together before the 8:00-8:30pm bedtime.

I still have laundry to do, a house to clean and all that. So if you have any suggestions on how I can manage my time...it will be greatly appreciated!

I'll post more and pics very soon and I promise that!!!

Until next time...God Bless You all!!!

Rainy days and a Leprechaun Trap

Rain rain go away!!! Why must it rain on a weekend? I'll never understand that. Layla wants to slide on her slide. Chance wants to run around outside. I'm not sure about other peoples kids but mine need to go outside on a daily basis. They NEED to and I NEED them too. Oh rainy days that's impossible. On a weekend that's rainy we tend to get a little silly. Staying indoors makes us that way.
Chance had to build a Leprechaun trap for school and it was due today. Although we hated being stuck inside due to the rain, we were able to enjoy the time we spent building a Leprechaun trap. Chance believes his Leprechaun trap will be the best and I almost have to agree :) This was the first time any of us have ever built a Leprechaun trap and I really hope it works. Maybe we'll get lucky and catch a Leprechaun...who knows??


Notice that all our family had some part in building this trap. As we started getting to the more tedious parts of it Layla laid down for a nap. If you've never built a Leprechaun trap before with your kids I urge you to do this next year. It was a lot of fun. Seeing the smile on Chance's face was priceless! The finished product isn't that bad either :)

Chance had a wonderful week at school last week :) YIPPIE!!! He was so proud of himself and what else could a parent ask for? When I dropped him off at school this morning his teacher came out in the hallway as I was leaving and said the most wonderful things about my child. He was well mannered and was so easy to get along with. My heart wanted to explode. I knew my child could be sweet. I knew my child could be good. I also knew I had taught my child manners. How thankful I am that he can now slow down enough to think about the decisions he makes. Way to go Chance!!
The rain kept us inside but we had plenty to keep us busy. Ethan came over for a few hours Saturday and we had fun talking with him. Please remember him in your prayers as he should leave for Texas this week for the final part of his training.

I hope each and everyone had a wonderful weekend and was able to spend quality time with your family. Spend time with your kids and forget the way your house looks. They'll be grown up and gone one day.

Until next time....we love you and God Bless!!!

Whatever Mommy

This week Layla has learned some new things. I'm not sure what I think about some of them. Is she old enough to be sarcastic or sassy? I'll let you all decide. Here's an example.

Me: Layla, do you want to go eat at Pizza Village?
Layla: I go eat Pizza Billage wif Mimi.
Me: I'll call Mimi and see if she wants to eat with us, ok.
Layla: Ok.
Me: Go get your shoes so we can get ready to go.
Layla: Whateva Mommy.

Today while we were out at Pizza Village with Nana, Mimi and Nicole we were eating and chatting. My mom (Nana) told Layla that she liked her new haircut and Layla's reply...you guessed it! Whateva Nana!

On to another popular term for Layla. Doo-Doo. She will walk around and say Hey Doo-Doo, in this sweet little voice. After being told several times that it isn't nice to say that and being in time-out, if she says it and knows she's been heard, she immediatly apoligizes and puts herself in time-out.

That's not it! For the past two days she's been calling Chance a piece of crap. What in the world? Yesterday while they were outside playing she called him this serveral times. She was corrected and put in time-out. Today while they were getting ready to go outside as I was zipping Layla's jacket, she said Layla not call Chance a piece of crap Mommy? I told her no that that wasn't nice and if she did say that I was going to wash her mouth out with soap. I caught her stopping herself several times from saying that and was so proud of her. However, tonight as I was cooking, Chance was in his room minding his own business and I heard Layla as she was standing at his bedroom door say....Chance you are a piece of crap. Oh that was it. I said Layla, come here. She knew what was going to happen so she ran to Chance and said I'm sorry then proceeded to put herself in time-out. I told her again to come to me and she doesn't move. Once again I told her to get up and come to me and she stands up, covers her eyes and tells me she's lost (another new thing). Well, I go get her and take her to the kitchen where I put soap in her mouth and tell her that calling names isn't nice. She handled it better than I thought. She said I'm sorry Mommy!

Chance had another wonderful day at school and please be in prayer for us this weekend. We have to build a Leprechaun Trap for school. I'm not sure I know what I'm doing, but I'm sure that Chance will tell me if it isn't right.

From the new things that Layla comes up with to Leprechaun Traps, this weekend should be GREAT!!! Oh yeah...I almost forgot, my brother gets to come home this weekend so that will just add to the fun!!

Until next time, we love you all and God Bless!!!

Fun in the sun and a haircut

I'm not sure how many of you that read this know the kind of problems that Chance has had since he started kindergarten. I know a few of you do but for those of you that don't, I'll try to share briefly. Chance started kindergarten in August and the first two weeks did great. Then he began having some behavioral issues. He's always been a busy, on the go, climb the walls if you will, type of kid. Any activity that involved sitting down to do, wasn't anything he was ever interested in. I waited it out until Christmas break, to give him time to adjust. After Christmas break he got a new teacher and I thought this would help. It didn't. The behavioral issues were still there. Speaking out of turn, making noises, acting impulsive, not following the rules, not applying himself to his work...and so on. The problems also started on the bus and he was suspended off the bus. Ok..finally I decided that maybe there was a problem. Getting homework done was nearly impossible and I didn't want him to fall behind in school. I scheduled him a doctors appointment. Last Friday we went to the doctor and he was diagnosed with ADHD and put on medication. I know that many of you out there won't agree with putting your child on medication and that's your choice. I, however, had tried everything. I have prayed and prayed about this situation and asked God to guide me in my decision making. Anyway, I started Chance on his medication Friday and throughout the weekend, because I wanted to make sure my child wasn't going to be a zombie. I was totally amazed at the difference the medication made with my child. My child that always yelled when talking was suddenly using a normal tone while talking. My child that couldn't sit still long enough to draw a straight line, was sitting down putting 45 peice puzzles together. My child that would hit his sister back when she hit him, suddenly told her that it wasn't nice to hit. Still a kid that will go outside and run like a wild animal, but now has the ability to take time and do things, take time to stop and think about decisions he's going to make, and best of all has gotten good reports everyday this week at school. This is a first!!! Thank God!!! He's so proud of himself and I can't tell you how happy that makes me. He did inform me the other day that we needed to get him more puzzles cause he was getting bored with the ones he has already. How awesome is that???

From the looks of this flower springtime is approaching. We have enjoyed the warm weather and playing outside. A family friend brought Layla a little tikes slide over on Sunday and she fell in love. Today she told me that she wanted to slide so bad. She loves that thing. Chance has been busy when he gets home getting his homework done and then out the door he goes. He loves to ride his bike, popping wheelies, and going as fast as he can go just to try and stop so he can slide and turn. One of these days he's going to hurt himself, but for now it's FUN!!! We are all so ready for the warm weather to come and stay for more than a day or so.

So this week I took Layla for her first REAL haircut. Her hair wasn't long but it was down past her shoulders by about 2 1/2 inches. I've been trying to let her hair grow and get one length. Well, I talked with Sheldon's mom on Monday about how I wanted to get it cut and asked her what she thought. Of course she thought it would look good and asked me what Sheldon thougth. Well....you see I didn't tell Sheldon. He didn't ever want Layla's hair cut. He is all about long hair so getting him to understand that her hair needed cutting wasn't happening. So...I just did it and he found out when he got home. Her haircut is cute. Layla loves it and it's growing on Sheldon. Here are some pictures.
So far that's how our week has been. A wonderful Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday at school for Chance. I'll let you all know how the rest of the week goes for him at school. I hope each of you have had a great week thus far. Until next time, God Bless and we love you!!!