Thank you Lord. October 12, 2009

Tonight the kids played so well together.  I was happily surprised!

I think part of it comes from watching Supernanny.  Zac didn’t want me to turn it off.  So we ended up watching two hours of the show (two families).  After the shows, he was implementing Jo’s techniques for working with children.  He was telling Reagan “I just don’t want you to pull on my arm.  That hurts me.  Can you say sorry?”  She would then say sorry and he said “That’s great.  Now give me a hug.”      It was very cute!!!  He was also very helpful and agreeable to me.  What a wonderful change.  I think Supernanny should be on 24/7!!!

Later in the evening, they were playing hide and seek or tag or something.  Zac came into the living room and hid in our blanket basket and pulled a blanket over his head to hide.  Reagan went right to him and pulled on the cover saying “Oh, wow!!  A gift from the Lord!”    Then she broke into song:  “The Lord has been good to me.  So I thank the Lord for giving me the things I need.  The sun and the rain and the apple seed.”     It was TOO cute!!!

Those that know us know we don’t attend church.  So to hear her say this was astounding.  She learned it at pre-school.  She goes to the New Haven United Methodist Church preschool program.  Chris went there as a child as did Chris’ aunt’s Linda and Kathy.

Reagan was also explaining to me a few days ago how God made the Earth and everything in it.  She explained each day he made something different and then made a lady doctor to take the baby from the other lady and then He held the baby (she did a rocking motion with her arms).  I asked if she learned that at school and she said she learned it from Anna (my friend Von’s daughter).  What a little minister Anna is!!  It was wonderful to hear Reagan acknowledging the God I know exists.  I guess this is God’s way of finally reaching me and telling me it’s TIME FOR CHURCH ALREADY!!!!!!

Mom’s Lesson September 24, 2009

Today is Thursday. Which means Zac’s 2nd fencing class after dinner.

I realized something last week.   After the class I was critiqueing him all the way home. “You shouldn’t hold your foot like that”, “You need to do this…”, “You need to always watch the teacher”….  etc.  Not once did I say good job, you looked great, or anything.  I realized this later at home.  So I quickly told him that I thought he looked like he was having fun, he looked awesome and I was so proud of him.

I’ve known that I am an opinion pusher but I also need to work on my judgement speaking.  I need to let the teacher teach and let Zac learn from the teacher.  I need to be there if Zac wants to practice at home and do my best to just support what he’s doing instead of always telling him he should improve on what he’s doing.

If I’m NOT ME, maybe he can be him!!

This is a huge lesson for me to have learned.  I hope I can do better after tonights class and in all things to come.

A few days’ worth September 23, 2009

Monday, I had quite a fun day listening to Reagan.

First off, gave her a bath after Zac went to school.  While drying her off she says “This is the dryest water ever!”   Next, I gave her cheese and crackers for lunch with a side of strawberry yogurt.  She decided to spread the yogurt on the cheese and crackers and eat it.  After getting some on the table she says “Mom, I think I have a messy situation here”.  So I give her a rag to clean it up and as she’s doing this she yells “SHAM-POW!!!!”.  (this is from iCarly, their version of the Sham-wow is the Sham-pow).  Later that day, she was doing a seek-&-find game on the computer.  I had to read her the items to find, but she was finding them with no help.  She turns to me and says “I’m the ultimate finder”.

Yesterday, I took the kids to Pizza Hut for dinner.  Our fave waitress, TAMMY, was working.  After talking with her for a bit about our sons and their behavior issues at school, I said “This year, though, Zac’s had a great day every day.  It’s finally in his head.”  He says “No mom.  It’s not in my head.  It’s in my medication.”

This morning, Zac rode his bike to school for the first time.  He was so excited.  I just stood at the end of the driveway and watched until I couldn’t see him any more.  It’s great watching the kids get older and doing bigger-kid things.  I don’t get emotional and cry about it all.  I am just in a bit of awe that it’s happening right in front of me.  One day they are little and the next, they can do something I didn’t realize they could.  I am happy for them as they realize each new adventure, each new trial, is a step in aging,  getting older and more independent.

School – 4 weeks in September 19, 2009

This year has been VERY surprising.  Zac has not had one bad day yet!  Can you believe it??  Last year was so bad, I wanted to take him out of school and homeschool him because I couldn’t take the stress of every day not knowing how bad he would be.  If he would threaten kids or the teacher.  If he would throw things or himself on the ground.  But for this year, I requested the only male teacher they have for 4th grade.  And so far… no outbursts.  The teacher has even said that he occasionally has to redirect Zac if he gets unfocused on the task at hand, but he’s been very good.  I just can’t believe it!  Maybe he’s matured.  Maybe he just “gets it”, that he can’t behave like he did last year.  Or maybe, it’s having the male teacher.   Whatever it is…  I LOVE IT!!!  And I love his teacher, and I love 4th grade and I love my son!

I Love Jo Frost September 19, 2009

I LOVE the show Supernanny.  Where Jo Frost, a professional Nanny person, comes to America and helps out families in need with their unruly kids.  This really is the BEST show.  And everything Jo teaches works.  Anyway… what I’ve come to realize is the main focus of the show turns out to be the parents.  Once the parents change what they are doing, the kids usually fall in line.  So it’s actually not the kids’ fault at all.  SO… what happens every time this show is on at my house?  The kids are being loud, bugging me, trying to show me things….  and I’m yelling at them to be quiet, play in another room, just let me watch my show!   And go figure, the show that’s on, Supernanny, has Jo dealing with parents who say “Be quiet, play in another room and just let me watch tv”.

Last night, my kids were being amazing!  They were upstairs in the playroom and getting along.  There was one instance where Reagan upset Zac but he came to tell me instead of yelling at her and calling her BAD GIRL.  After I went upstairs and dealt with Reagan they were fine again.  So I sit down and start to watch Supernanny.  I got through the first 15 minutes and decided that I would use Jo’s advice.  Reward the kids for their great behavior.

I turned off the tv <GASP!!> and went upstairs and asked the kids which park they wanted to go to.  Zac turned off the Nintendo he was playing <DOUBLE GASP!!!> and started talking all about his favorite park.  When we got into the van, I told Zac I left my phone inside so nothing could interrupt us.  He smiled. 

SO…  Jo… right once again… would be proud of me.  I even rolled down the steep hill with Reagan.  However, upon getting up very dazed, dizzy and nauceous, I realized that I should never roll down hills!  I had to sit out playing the rest of the night.   It was only an hour at the park, but a very well spent hour.  And Zac and Reagan played wonderfully.   We even came home, made popcorn and watched “Flushed Away”.  A very cute movie, by the way.

Funny Shoes September 16, 2009

Reagan found this pair of shoes in a Kohl’s department store catalog and was laughing so hard!!!  She calls them “Tenni-Heels”.  She just thinks this is great!!  Tennis shoes with heels.  I LOVE the 4 yr old mind!!!!!!!

Tourist in our hometown September 16, 2009

9/13/09 – Fort Wayne hosted “Be A Tourist In Your Hometown” where 10 businesses opened their doors for free to the public.  It was crazy, busy, hectic…. but fun.  Here are a few pictures from our jaunt.

We went to the Foellinger Botanical Conservatory, The Indiana Hotel, The Lincoln Tower and Science Central.

Wizard of Oz display

Looking down from the Lincoln Tower observation deck onto the courtyard for the Courthouse

Lots of missing time… September 16, 2009

Wow… since last post… lots of time has passed.

After vacation with Chris along, me and kids went back to Wisconsin for about 2 weeks.  Then we stayed around New Haven/Ft Wayne for the rest of the summer.  School has now started for BOTH kids, Reagan being in pre-school.

This is Reagan, Nathan, Zac and Judea at my mom’s.  Playing games or just playing with toys.  Canaan was there too, but just not in this picture.

Here’s Canaan and Reagan.  I love this pic of Canaan because I didn’t know I’d gotten him.  He just stuck his head up and this is what I got.  GREAT!!!!

Reagan with Josh & Maria’s dog, Zena.  She LOVES cats and dogs.  Thank goodness Zena was patient with all the loving she got that day.

Here’s a shot of Reagan at the Pokagon State Park beach.  I didn’t get Zac in any pics from the beach because he was always running away from the camera.  We did this on a very hot day.  Me and Chris got burned and the kids got a bit of sun, but we had such a good time we hardly noticed.

One picture from a trip to Science Central.  Zac had been with a class trip, but me and Reagan had never been.  We went the week before school started.  They LOVED it so I want a membership next year.

Zac’s back to school picture for this year.  He’s in 4th grade.

Here is a picture of what I get with Reagan daily.  I was at the computer and heard something in the kitchen.  I looked over and all I saw was this.  She was in the cabinet getting something.  I can’t recall what now.  She’s always into something.  Always testing her boundaries.  ALWAYS doing things herself and finding ways to push me over the edge!  But she’s so darn cute doing it!!!

Here’s one of Reagan’s first day of school pictures.  She’s been ready for school for two years at least.  And she loves it.  She’s in pre-school.

9/11/09 – this was taken in the van.  Me, Reagan and Quackers running errands.  We have the most fun.

This was at the cable company.  She loves the movie Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler.  So she wanted her picture taken.  Looking at the picture now, she tried to put her arm around him but it looks like she’s trying to grab his butt

9/14/09   Took Zac to a fencing open house to see if he wanted to take fencing classes.  He was so excited that I was happy to sign him up right then.  After the demonstrations, they let the kids try on the gear and hold the foils.

I love this.  Reagan is dolled up.  She loves dressing up and I had these old pumps from my mom.  They are a bronzey silver color.  She wears them ALL the time.  We’ll have them until they fall apart, I have a feeling.

Zac will kill me, but here… he’s playing in the pumps, being silly!  I think it’s funny!!!  He’s  a crack-up!

July Family Vacation July 20, 2009

Hade a GREAT time during our family vacation in early July!!  Went to Wisconsin to visit with Grandma Deb & Aunt Marissa.   Went to Missouri to see cousins and our friends, the Peacock’s.  Then on the way home, an overnight stay in Indianapolis.

^Loving the doggy slippers at Grandma Deb’s^

^Reagan gardening with Grandma Deb^

^Zac & Rea at the pool in Wisconsin^

^Reagan LOVES the tubes^

^Judea, Zac & Michael, waiting for Aunt Marissa to drive^

^Aunt Marissa and her Ranger^

^Reagan all dolled up in the bracelets, hair bands, etc, that Grandma gave her^

^Mr. Jeff directing Zac on where to drive.  Zac pulled Reagan in the wagon.^

^At the lake.  It was freezing but the kids didn’t care.^

^Zac riding a quad for the first time ever.  This was Nathan’s.^

^Playing with Samuel^

^Climbing at the City Museum^

^In the ball pit^

^At Six Flags, riding with Daddy^

^Tubing down the water slide, Zac & Rea!^

There were over 500 pictures taken so this is just a sample of what we did.  I hope it’s a vacation the kids will remember forever!  I hope to make photo memory books for them.  That way they can look back and keep the memories fresh in their minds.

Thank you to Jr Hunt for letting us stay.  Also a huge thanks to Catherine for letting us invade and crash two nights.  Thanks to my family in WI as well, but… well… we’re family so it’s expected we should get to stay with you!!! 

June 30, 2009

Since the last post, we’ve been pretty busy.

Reagan had a tumbling/dance camp that lasted one week.  She loved the tumbling part.  She liked the dancing but didn’t do the little “Shake your wiggles out” dance at the end for a short show for parents.  Said she didn’t like getting stared at.  I’m trying to understand how she didn’t mind the staring during her tumbling pass.   ??      The pic is her receiving her certificate/ribbon for attending the camp.

We’ve also seen quite a few movies:  free at local theaters and checked out from the library.  I do not recommend “How to eat fried worms” if you don’t have a strong stomach.

I took the kids to see The Old Crown Brass Band at Foellinger Theater (for free!).  It was enjoyable however the kids didn’t find it as relaxing as I did.  We did have an entire bleacher section to ourselves so they could run up and down and dance to their hearts content.  It was a great evening, though.   Zac liked it especially when they played a Harry Potter theme.

We also had a small birthday party this month for the kids.  We just had cupcakes and invited a few friends to the YMCA pool and splash park for a few hours.

We went to Canal Days in New Haven.  That was lots of fun since Reagan is now tall enough to ride more rides!!!

We’ve gone bowling……  for free……

Played at some parks…..  always free!!!……

Visited with Papa Randy….   priceless!!…..

Went to Michigan for cousin Katie’s high school grad party….

Played with bubbles…..

And also visited with friends…..

And June is just now coming to an end.

Thanks to everyone who’ve made our summer supreme so far!!  Can’t wait to see/visit others who will make our summer even more complete!