Everything is still a blur...

Is it just me or does time travel way too fast? Cameryn just turned 8, Monday! Are you kidding me? Im not that old am I? Between work, homework, chores, life etc.... everything is just a blur and it makes me realize I better take more pictures!!!

She had a great day and was so excited about being a year older. I think that was the best present she got. Kade on the other hand did not appreciate being left out of the gift openings. We had some explaining to do but he gets it. Channing just wanted to open presents whether they were hers or not and play with them too. She always has first dibs at least for the first 5 seconds, then she moves on. Her attention span needs some stamina training.

Speaking of stamina, I could use some training. Good grief. Where have all the precious moments gone. Will I remember all of this in 10 years, 20 years? Where is that darn camera!!!!!!

Where have you been?

Let me see if I can quickly recap the last 5 months to catch us all up.

May 2010-I went back to teaching but instead of kinder I got TAKS tutoring for 5th graders. Hold the comments it just keeps getting better.
We also started the kids in swim team and junior dolphins (swim lessons) so everyday after school we were at the pool for an hour. Then the meets were on Saturday from 7am to 2 pm.
Colored my hair dark.

June 2010- Channing turns 1. WHAT! Dont be offended if you didnt get invited to the party, it was last minute and minimal. Mom, Dad and Travis. Remember we were still living on one income. My first paycheck didnt start until July and it was prorated for the amount of days i was going to be employed from May to June. Oh and add to that I had to pay for child care before i even got a paycheck. (I told you it keeps getting better, and im not done yet)
Still in swim, Kade moved up to the team to compete, what a rush! Our kids love swimming so it looks like we have a long term committment ahead of us.
Went to Garner this year, had a blast as always.
Camped at lake conroe for the weekend. Kids caught some fish.
Kids stayed for almost two weeks with the g-parents in Troy. I missed them the first day and every day thereafter twice as much!
Went to Lake Buchanan, caught some fish.
Yeah, that was just June.

July 2010- Went to Marble Falls for a marriage retreat with FCA.
Picked the kids up from the g-parents.
Taught VBS.
Went to lake livingston in an awesome Lake house with some families from church. Jet skis, tubing, caught more fish.

August 2010- finally slowed down the summer only to kick it up for the school year. Inservice began Aug 17. School started Aug 23. Had to take the kids to the school with me a couple of days to get everything set up. Kade pulled the fire alarm (it did NOT have a cover on it) Found out I would be teaching 4th grade Math and Science instead of 2nd. Both still a far cry from kinder.... Got a new principal..this makes three since ive been there. Ready, Set, GO!!!

Sept 2010- Cameryn is a genius even in second grade, she makes a 100 on every spelling test and even on her District Math Assessment. Her teachers name is Mrs. Weid, I told her it reminded me of Wodney Wat. She didnt appreciate that.
Kade was dying to go back to school too and Channing is a social butterfly, she just wants to go, go, go so even the daycare is fine with her. I think she just likes wearing her leopard print crocs.
Last but not least, I just got asked to teach 4th grade self contained. That means I get my class all day instead of switching mid day with another teacher for Lang. Arts. And i get to teach all subjects by myself. I was a bit nervous at first but today was the first day and I think im really gonna like it. My fourth graders are super cool and very well behaved. Fourth graders like to talk alot. Tomorrow in writing we are going to tell lies. I think they will love me for it. (thanks to Sara for the idea, i'll let you know how it goes)

PS ..That picture is way old!!!! I need to update soon. yikes

Worth the wait

Sorry it has been a while , things tend to move at a frantic pace around here, especially when you are rearranging furniture and changing the purpose and function of 3 major areas of the house. Channings room, Game room, living room.

This time we have a new comedian in the family.

Cameryn was doing her homework this week and one of the math questions had a story about a robot that could do math problems. The last part of the question asked the students to draw a picture of what you would want the robot to do for you. Cam drew a picture of a robot doing her homework. (of course, why not)

Then we were enjoying the outdoors later, and siblings will be siblings, especially mine when they have to share the ride on toys they have. So it was time for Cam to give up the 4-wheeler to her brother. As she was departing, Kade said "It's my turn, Woo-hoo!" Cam said "Your woo-hoo is about to turn into a Boo-hoo." I couldn't help but laugh, you have to admit that was a pretty good one.

Good Reads

Yes, I actually do find some occasional time to read. Maybe 5 minutes here and there but Im not reading Medical Journals either. So I thought I would share a few of my favorites.

This one, Love and Respect, saved my sanity, ok it saved my marriage and changed my outlook in more ways than one with just the first 2 chapters. The best part is it is Christian based and makes a ton of bible references to back up the teachings in it. It really humbles the soul.

This was a good find too and very entertaining. Scott heard an interview with the author on KSBJ so i picked it up. Very easy read and it covers everything including abusive relationships, dysfunctional families and how your husbands relationship with his mother affects your marriage.

NOTE: Do Not Read this book if you are a feminist and cannot take hearing advice relayed in a very masculine manner. But the guy is very funny.

He has also written Have a new Kid by Friday which i will be reading soon as well.

This is my current read. It seems interesting because it explains how and why we have some of our personality traits and how they are related to whether we are the oldest child or the baby, etc. I picked it up to help me figure out my oldest child and her particular ways. We butt heads in certain areas and I thought this would help explain it and cope. Im becoming a big fan of this Dr. Leman, again it is christian based and he's quite humorous.

So far I have learned that my oldest child is an aggressive, win at all costs, firstborn. DUH!! JUST LIKE HER FATHER! But I can appreciate that, I love those qualities about him and now that they are all balled up in a 7 year old I need to learn how to handle them and encourage those things about her.

Kade has more of the traits of the baby of the family, the comedian, but now that he has been bumped to the middle child, Im curious to see if there will be any changes. And I will end with this brief story as to appreciate the individual personalities of both.

In church sunday I let the kids sit with me instead of attend sunday school. Kade starts asking me when is the wedding going to start, isnt this the place where we have weddings, where is the bride, where is the wedding? You get the picture... So Cam could not be more pleased when i asked her to take him to sunday school since he couldnt put a lid on it. Meanwhile,Cam is gripping her collection money so tight in her little hand she is losing circulation and gets a cramp by the time the collection plate comes around. I'm interested to see what this little package called Channing has in store for me.

Lost and Found

Found in laundry this week, of course after it had been washed.
Pocket knife
chiclets gum pieces
toy ball
toothbrush

Nice to know everything is still normal around here.

WOW!

Kade swept the kitchen floor this morning and actually enjoyed it. I wonder how long I can make that last?

Channing is pulling up on everything to stand. Laundry baskets, window sills, crib, trash cans, bathtubs, you name it. Where did my baby go? And by the way she is a little spoiled rotten!

Cameryn gets to dress up like a 100 year old woman tomorrow for the 100th day of school. She is so fussy over everything being perfect when she gets dressed and fixes her hair that I see the 100 year old woman idea going down the crapper very quickly. We shall see. If we succeed in dressing up Ill be sure to post a pic. Wish me luck!

Everything is not the same.

My brother gets a lot of awards from the office and he showed the kids his latest prize the other day. You know how trophies usually have a statue that represents the occassion, baseball/baseball player, soccer/soccer player, etc. Cam says "Uncle Travis, why isn't he in a wheelchair?"

In other words

Those of you with kids know that everyday is an opportunity for a vocabulary lesson. I'm gonna make this short. Cameryns says
I have "basil" eyes- she means hazel.
Earrings make her ears "rusty"- she means crusty like from a scab.
and now she wants "crunches" for her birthday, you know, the kind you put under your arms and that help you walk. She means crutches.
Is the vocabulary lesson for me or her????

The human recorder

Kade is somewhat of a human recorder. Anything that happens or is said that you probably dont want him to remember or repeat he pretty much will, at random. Going to dinner tonight Daddy made the comment about something being dumb and Kade chimes in with "like cats are dumb, right Dad? Cats are duuuu-uuumb." This began his comical act until we arrived at the restaurant. In the background of the grown-up conversation all we can here is the chorus "cats are duu-uumb, hehehehe... cats are duu-uumb, hehehehe. He is his own personal entertainment.

Do unto others....

If anyone is going to call me out on anything you can bet it will be my middle child. He is quite gifted at this skill as I have found. I have been trying to teach and discipline through scripture and as the Golden Rules states "Do unto others..." I should well know by now, especially with Kade, otherwise I will hear about it.

I was feeding Channing baby food and Kade comes up to me after his nap and I put the spoon out for him to take a bite, jokingly of course, as some days it seems all I do is feed everyones face constantly around here. He did not look kindly on the gesture and being offended, took off to hide his head in the couch like an ostrich until he could gain composure to respond. And as should be expected by now, when he pulls his head out he enlightens me of course.... "Mommy! Even a child is known by his deeds! That was a bad choice!" Everyone makes mistakes, time for another life lesson. Good one, Mom.

Cameryn, on the other hand has definatley inherited my talent for tuning people out and turning on her selective hearing. I asked her to start her homework but, followed it up with an invite to sit in my lap and let me play with her hair prior to. The latter of which she completely didn't hear b/c of afore mentioned selective hearing. She was begruntled by the homework request so decided to shut me out. I had to snap her out of it to get my allottment of affection from her before the other two woke up from their naps. Mercy! I can't catch a break. Maybe i should take a nap.

Channing-eat, nurse, CAT-nap, (repeat). Need I remind her she isn't a CAT.

You wanna hear a joke?

Since the weather has been nice and cold Kade and I have been enjoying movie day, pajama day and the such. Yesterday he was on the edge, and in one of his bounds from couch to couch he says..."Mommy, wanna hear a joke?" of course I do, especially from him if you know my 4 year old son..."Why do chickens sit on eggs?, because they don't have any chairs." I digress.

Channing continues to enjoy discovering the newest sound and pitch that will eminate from her throat. Be it a squeal, bellow or plain scream, in turn encouraging the antics of the two older ones and as always, the results are rolls of laughter. Ahhh, the sweet sound of family. And let me not forget her ever increasing appetite and menu, today we had parmesean noodles. Yummy!

As for Cam and I , we discovered this morning that we need to add 15 minutes for bundling us all (4 of us) up in multiple layers for the 2.5 minute ride to school this morning. She was totally stressing about being late but luckily we made it with time to spare even though she still professed she was telling Daddy.

Daddy on the other had was home super early today, built a fire for us and was gracious in choking down yet another rendition of ham for dinner. I'm starting to amaze myself at how creative I can be.

New at this...

Let me see, i really enjoy following my friends and their stories so I'm going to try to figure this blog stuff out. Here I go....