MOVING TO A NEW BLOG!

That's right, new BLOG:

http://babbleaboutlife.blogspot.com/

Go Emma Go!

After a few weeks into preschool, Emma's teacher approached me about switching Emma to a different class. The bottom line: she was bored. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that last Emma was friends with the older kids and this year, they all started kindergarten. So we switched to the afternoon class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The teacher thought Emma would get more out of the class since Tuesday is library book day and Thursday is homework day. The other bonus is that they will be focusing on math and reading later in the year. It has been an adjustment since we always "do" stuff in the mornings, however, it has been a nice change to our routine. Daddy was a little concerned about homework day, but it is really only four pages out of a little workbook that she colors and draws shapes in. His response was, "Homework? She's 4??" It has taught her the responsibility of getting our work done before we go to school.

Yesterday, the teacher approached me about teaching Emma to read. I have been saying for months that she is close to "getting it." There are three kids they are teaching to read and Emma is one of them. I sat down with Emma and her teacher yesterday and we went through how we are going to start. They picked out the book The Reader Max the Cat and she learns all the words before they present the book. This week, her words are: Max, cat, sat, and bad. I present letters to her and tell her the sound and she picks the letter and we put them together to create the word and she sounds it out. When she got home from school yesterday, we practiced and she picked it up really well. So she knows four words!!! Yay!!!! I'm so proud of her and she is pretty proud of herself too. She is anxious to learn MORE words.

Good Morning!

Good morning!

We can pretend we are sharing a good cup of coffee (or tea, or Diet Coke or Dr Pepper) while enjoying....

Good Morning Blessings

This morning when I wakened
And saw the sun above,
I softly said, "Good morning , Lord , Bless everyone I love."
Right away I thought of you
And said a loving prayer,
That He would bless you specially.
I thought of all the happiness
A day could hold in store,
I wished it all for you because
No one deserves it more.
I felt so warm and good inside,
My heart was all aglow ...
I know God heard my prayers for you,
He hears them all, you know.
****************************************
My mom sent this to me in an email this morning and really lifted my spirit. It also goes hand in hand with the Bible verse the girls are learning right now at CBS . . .

"Don't be afraid . . . your prayers have been heard." Luke 1:13

We practice it every morning when we wake up, at lunch time, at dinner time, and before bed. Emma learned it pretty quickly. It took a little bit for Ellie, but I am so proud of her. She has it down and it is soooo cute! It makes my heart melt to hear them recite them.

Motherhood

Seems like it has been a while since I last updated the blog . . . . still trying to catch up on all of my chores that I ignored while my sister was here! Oops! My mom's group started back up, as well as Community Bible Study (CBS). The middle of the week is crazy with Emma's school schedule in there too AND don't forget Ellie's nap schedule! It's all about schedules which doesn't go well with my laid back personality as I HATE feeling rushed to get out the door. That is becoming the "norm" though!

For the past several months, I have gotten back on the exercise track! I started doing a few exercise videos on Exercise TV and came across Cindy Whitmarsh. At first, I was doing it to lose my belly bulge that I always complain about, but don't really do anything about. Her workouts are intense. The first couple of times, I thought I was going to die! Then I discovered that Cindy Whitmarsh has two kids and has a body like that. SO . . . I decided I need to just suck it up!!! I wasn't sure how I was going to fit it in with everything else, but the girls have adjusted. They know that everyday mommy exercises to stay healthy. And yes, that is what I am doing, I'm staying healthy. Emma already makes comments about who has prettier hair or teeth or whatever. I want them to realize early on that it is important to be healthy and feel good, not be skinny or fat.

With M2M and CBS starting back up, it has been an adjustment getting back into the swing of things. I had a pretty low key summer and didn't really see many of the moms. It could be the heat or maybe we all just needed some downtime!!!! Since being back though, it has been a struggle for me not to compare myself to other moms. I think it is a struggle women have naturally anyway. Then you add kids to the mix and then I start quesitoning and doubting my abilities as a mother. WHY, WHY, WHY?? Those other moms are there for support, not to look down at me. Yes, I know this. I really do. However, these are some of the thoughts that have run through my mind in the past couple of weeks:

"Am I mothering them well enough?"
"Are my kids learning as much as they should be?"
"Did I make the right decision to stay home with them?"
"Why do I miss working so much when I love my kids more?"
"Why is this so hard some days and others it is easy?"
"How can I have such a hard day and that look at them and want to melt?
"Will I be looked down upon because I don't homeschool?"
"Should I feel guilty for needing a break once in a while?"
"Will I ever feel like I am good enough?"

I've just decided that I will always have that feeling of maybe I'm not as good as I should be, but I guess that is what makes me strive to be a better mom. Being a mom is hard work, but so rewarding and priceless. Even as I look back, I don't think I ever really grasped how hard it would be to raise them in this world. They are just so innocent and I want to hold onto that as long as I possibly can. I am convinced I just have to be at peace with the decisions I have made and will make and know that I am doing the best I can for them.

Yesterday though, I was in Ellie's class as CBS helping out. It was such a good experience. Ellie has grown into such a little person and it is fun to see her grow. There was a little boy loving on her. He wanted to sit by her, then he kept kissing her on the cheek, then her arms. Finally, she give him this look like, "Just get off!" He left her alone after that. What a little Diva! About halfway through the class, the head of the Children's Ministry came up to me and told me that I must be doing something right to have kids like Emma and Ellie. I thought to myself, you have no idea how much I needed that. Some days I am distracted by the monotonous-ness of our everyday life. I really need to step back and really look at them. They are mine and they are such a blessing to me. Through all the sibling rivalry, they are good kids. And before I know it, they won't be kids anymore . . .

"I'm ready to help you clean mommy!"

Note" the purse, backpack, hat and tiara!

According to Emma, she knows EVERYTHING about school and in the WORLD!

Tailgating last week at the Charger game . . .

Here is Emma and Ellie looking for wild bears in the garage.

Of course, Emma made Ellie go first!!

Broke!!

With only two payments left to make on our van, we decided it was time to replace Chris' car. Ugh!!! We have poured way too much money into his car this year and it started acting up again this week. And, his car always teased him as to whether it would start, but sadly, that was normal. We found this used Camry with low miles . . . . so now we have MORE car payments to come. Oh joy! We HATE car payments, but it is what it is . . .

Bye Baetes . . .

We had such a good time with the Baete's while they were here. Thanks guys for coming to visit us!!!! The house seems so quiet without you (I guess that is good and bad). All Ellie says is, "Where's Kaden mommy?" It was so nice having so much time with my sister. Something we haven't had in a while. It made me so happy to have her here, yet makes me sad because I'm not sure when we'll see them all again??? It is a BIG CONGRATS to Lisa. Lisa applied for a job and was selected for the position and is moving back to Colorado to pursue her career. She accepted the job, the house is sold, and now they are on their way. I'm so proud of you Lis!!

Oceanside

On Monday, we went to Oceanside with the Baete's! It was a lot of fun. It was our first time going to Oceanside and it was really nice AND the drive didn't seem to be that bad. Ellie managed to stay OUT of the water, but had fun in the sand. Emma loved the water and sand. Kaden, well it took him a while to even be willing to walk on the sand, but once he did, he had a great time!!

Baetes are here . . .

My sister and family arrived last Wednesday . . . . . it has been really nice having them here!! It has been a trip having the three kids together non-stop. They play pretty well together, but have their moments. It is definitely weird having a boy in the house!! Kaden and Emma are pretty inseparable, and then Ellie tags along when she wants to. Kaden LOVES playing the guitar!!! We are headed to the beach tomorrow, which should be really fun. Kaden's first time . . . . . we'll take plenty of pictures I'm sure!!

Aunt Lisa

La Quinta Park ~

CRAZY FACES!!

YES PEOPLE, SHE'S DRINKIN' A CORONA!!!! (three kids'll do that to ya!)

Here are the goobers getting ready to leave for the Charger game!!!!