Pics of the Week

I hope you all had a......

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE inventive spelling.  It makes my heart sing!  I always tell the kiddos in my class, "If you write the sounds you hear, I'll be able to read it!"  This rings true for my own kiddos as well.  This was drawn by our middle child. She's in kindergarten and loves writing and drawing.  She's a girl after my own heart.  :)

So as promised (just a few days late) here are the pics of what my girls wrote for their Santa Lists. 

Pay close attention to the picture on the right.  :)  This is from our middle.  She wrote "light bulbs" as a need because we need light bulbs.  :)  What a sweet, sweet girl she is. 

This guy also showed up at our house last week...

Recently he's been swinging from the fan chain.  He will be finding a new "sneaky" place tonight. 

We also went here for two days. 

Everyone had a BLAST!  I really enjoyed that our oldest two could go out and swim a little on their own.  So nice! 

I did a race on Thanksgiving Day with my mom and dad.  My knee hates me so running was out this year.  I've started therapy for that guy.  Fingers crossed it gets better!

Then, after a HUGE meal at my sister's house, we headed to Cleveland for more food and fun!  :)

Our youngest was into pretending she was sleeping and wanting me to take her picture.  What a silly little lady. 

That's what we've been up to!  According to Wal-Mart, I only have 20 days left until Christmas. SERIOUSLY????  YIKES!  I'm in BIG TROUBLE!  Hoping you're doing better on your shopping than I am.  :)

From our Brown eyes to yours....

Christmas Lists... Tis' the Season!

At our house, we have been trying to scale down our junk, stuff (this is the nice way of putting it). :)  This has been easy-ish for us since for a few months ago at church the message was about giving to people who don't have as much as you.  We have been trying to reiterate that to our girls because at times, when looking at their playroom you can't even see the floor.  Do you feel me?  I mean sometimes I step and pray I come down on carpet and not a little figurine. 

So, the Christmas season is coming upon us and my girls have been asking to write a Christmas list.  I'm all for the list because it gives many ideas for what to get these girls, but I asked them to wait until I could type one up for them.  I was inspired by this pin I found,

 

Today we sat down and started talking about Christmas lists.  I asked how many things were enough for a list.  I didn't like the answers.  My oldest said, "Last year I had 16 things on my list!" See why I didn't like that answer?   :)  I came up with this little guy.  Thanks to KG Fonts, Ink 'n Little things for the frame and I'm not sure who I got the Polka Dot background from, so if you know please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due.  :) 

  CLICK HERE FOR YOUR COPY or click the picture above. 
It was my hope that they would really think about what they put down on this paper.  I know it's so hard when they see the ads and their eyes grow to be 50x their normal size.  I remember feeling those same things when I was younger too. This is why I gave them 6 wants and not 3.  :)  I just want them to be selective in what's chosen since we've gotten rid of a lot of stuff that was not played with or wanted anymore.  We have given bags to a few charities and it feels great! 
 
How do you handle Christmas Lists???? 

From our BROWN eyes to yours...

A Little Catch up

So we've been busy.  I know, I know.  By the time I think about blogging, my eyes are shut and I wake up at 2:30 AM on the couch!  ugh!  So while I should be entering grades right now, I'm catching up on this little old blog. :) 

 

Here's a few things we've been doing. 

 

Skating

 

Picking the *PERFECT* pumpkins at Nee Nee's pumpkin farm in Indiana.  I can't remember the name of the place.  :)

 

 

Campfire at Nee Nee's

 

 

Pictures before Cousin Laura's wedding.

 

 

Pictures at the wedding.  I couldn't catch our oldest, she was ALL.OVER.THE.PLACE. Everyone had an amazing time.  They had a photo booth and we came home with about 12 of those little strips.  What a fun idea!

 

 

And big sister helping little sister with homework.  My heart sighs.  Hope this continues. 

 

 

So... we've been busy which means a little less blogging.  I never imagined how having three kiddos would multiply business by like a thousand times.  Also, having two ladies in school makes life a little bit crazier as well.  Second grade... WHEW... need I say more?  The reading, the review sheets, the reading, the math fact practice, the reading.  Now, I am a firm believer in reading (I mean.. I teach, right?!) but how on earth can I log every second my oldest reads when she reads all.the.time.  That's not an understatement.  I mean the girl is ALWAYS carrying a book or magazine of some sort, reading.  :)  It makes my heart sing, but I just can't log every minute.  We do the best we can. :)

 

Tomorrow night is Insanity night for us, I mean for me.  The girls LOVE going to the childcare center and playing while I'm getting my butt kicked and sweating in places I didn't know could produce sweat.  The great thing for me is tomorrow I will be doing Insanity in these new kicks!

  I'm so excited.  :) I used to wear Mizuno's when I played volleyball, but I've not tried them out as running/workout shoes.  They were so comfy when I slid my feet into them.  You know how you just put a shoe on and it's like the heaven's open up and sing?!?!?!  That's what happened in Dick's today. :)  So.... I skipped working out today (sssshhhhh) just so I could purchase these babies.  :)  Can't wait to wear them! 

 

From our BROWN eyes to yours.... 

Goals... still going strong...ish :)

So.. I've had a few goals this year. 
1.  Put eyeliner and mascara on everyday so people don't think I'm dead or dying.  :)  CHECK!
2.  Dry my hair everyday so it doesn't look like a rats nest.  BOO!  I folded on this one the 2nd day of school. It was just too hard and too hot so my hair dried in like 30 seconds outside anyway.  :)
3.  We would pray everyday before we left for school.  CHECK!  For the most part, we stand in a circle, in front of the door holding hands and say the Our Father and Angel of God prayer I posted a few weeks ago.  Some days we are.... late getting out the door, so we pray in the car.  It works out just fine and my heart sings when the girls say, "Let's Pray!"  :)

Also, our youngest who is 3, said the Our Father in church this past Sunday so loud, it was so cute.  She knows about half-ish of the words, but it's so adorable to hear them coming from her mouth.  When it's finished, she looks at me and says, "Angel of God?".  :)  SO, for the next few weeks we will continue to say the Our Father, but then we will change to the Hail Mary.  I know these are all memorized prayers and ones that I grew up on, but I feel this is a place to start with our girls.  Once these prayers are known, I'd love to move into prayers that come from their hearts because you never know what their hearts will pray for.  :)  I'll keep you updated!

Other than that, we've been B.U.S.Y.  There is something always happening around here and when it's not, we love to get in our jammies and snuggle up to watch a show or read a story. 

My great friend Karen bought these shirts for us.  Our youngest got her shirt for her birthday and wears it like... EVERY.OTHER. DAY!  She LOVES that shirt.  Anyways, when I put it on, she squeals and says.... "Super Girl????!!!!!"  It's so darn cute.  And I know what you're thinking. BUT I DID remember to go up and put on eyeliner and mascara after this picture was taken.  :) 

From our BROWN eyes to yours......

Grandma....

Dear Grandma,

I miss you.  I miss you LOTS.  I miss seeing your smile and hearing your laugh.  I miss you asking for my girls for koosies.  I miss holding your hand.  I miss watching Lucy and hearing you laugh.  I miss strawberries soaked in sugar (mmmmmm...) and then poured on top of ice cream.  I miss taking you grocery shopping.  I miss spending the night with you.  I miss you.  I miss your big brown eyes.  I miss your soft skin.  I miss how you would refuse a snack or piece of candy, but eat it anyway.  :)  I miss you.  I miss taking you out to eat.  I miss watching you sword fight with my girls.  I miss when you would sing.  I miss your hamburgers and tapioca pudding.  I miss you.  I miss how you would talk about grandpa.  I miss how trusting you were of the people where you lived.  I miss you.  I miss holding your hand when we fell asleep.  I miss how you would say, "Excuse my back" when you turned over.  I miss your hugs.  I miss your kisses.  I miss you.  I miss how faithful you were to the Lord.  I miss hearing you say, "I love you."  I miss how you loved all of us despite all our inadequacies.  I miss seeing you feed the stray cats.  I miss your rocking chair.  I miss your waves as we would leave the nursing home.  I miss seeing you stand at the window watching for us.  I miss you.  I miss you blowing kisses to us.  I miss playing pokeno with you.  I miss you asking to keep my girls with you.  I miss you. 
I know you are with your hubby, your son, your mom and dad, your granddaughter, other family members and the Lord, but I MISS YOU!

 

From my weepy BROWN eyes to yours....

Time... Not on My Side

It amazes me how adding one more child in school changed the landscape of our little home.  Also, second grade has been rocking our world.  I mean we've gone from reading every night and occasionally studying spelling words to reading, math, spelling, etc. etc. every.single.night.  Now... our oldest only really has to do math 4 times per week BUT her teacher mom says... everyday.  Reading... well that's not really the problem, it's tracking the minutes.  I mean how do I track minutes of a girl who reads all.the.time.  She loves to read, but I can't keep up with it. The minimal needed is only 10 minutes per day and sometimes that's all she gets, but I know she's reading WAY more than that, I just can't keep track of it all.  Seriously teachers.... Our middle has homework each night during the week, which is ok, but I will admit sometimes she completes her homework when we get to school in the morning.  I mean really.... I'm trying to be the best mommy I can, but I also need time to do one thing for me which has now dwindled down to just the gym.  And I shouldn't say it as "just the gym" because I LOVE the gym!  I sing no more, play volleyball no more, dance no more.  It's tragic.  I'm trying to keep that one little last piece of me so I'm unwilling to give that part up but it also makes our nights a little bit..... crazier. My poor kiddos... our dinners are non-existent.  If we could eat out everyday.... we would.  Chicken nuggets and cereal are had VERY often in our household.  And now (since our youngest FINALLY is using the potty, can I get a PTL!!!) the youngest brown eyed girl can go to preschool!  Do I want to do that.. yet?  I mean she just turned three.  She is going to be on the young end of school which we haven't even discussed yet.  I'm not even sure I want to send her being on the young end.  Although she is VERY strong willed, so I don't think she'd be pushed around.  I'm really afraid we will be the ones called by the principal.  ;)  hehe..

Thanks for letting me get this all off my chest!   

From our BROWN eyes yours....

EXCITING NEWS!!!!

No, we are not pregnant. hahaha  Our oldest lost her FIRST.TOOTH.EVER!!!!!!!!!  She's 7, in second grade and has friends who have lost every tooth possible and are living off their millions!
Here's a little part of our conversation...

Oldest:  "I'm so excited for the tooth fairy to come!"
Me:  "I am too!!!"
Oldest:  "What if I get like 16 or 20 dollars?"
Me:  "Then I'm pulling out ALL my teeth and giving them to the tooth fairy!"
Oldest: "Can I take a day off school tomorrow for a celebration?"
Me: "WHAT?!?"
Oldest:  "Well... my friend says she takes a day for a celebration when it's her birthday."
Me:  "Really?  Well.. I'm your mom and I said... No."  :)

So here's to losing our first tooth!  I thank the Lord it happened at the sitter because I don't do teeth.  I will clean up vomit, snot, and wipe lots of yucky bottoms, but teeth????? those guys give me the HEEBIE JEEBIES!!!!  Yes.. we had to take a picture because the tooth fairy left us a letter and she HAS to take all the teeth to put in her tooth bank, so sorry you can't keep them. Not even your very first tooth.  :)

Also... we now have loose (wink, wink) teeth in ALL of our girls.

So here's the girl with one less tooth... well, I guess that's not absolutely true because her big tooth had already come in behind.  Man... we are in for BIG orthodontist bills. 

From our BROWN eyes to yours....

So Many Things to Share....

I'm going to rewind back to August 9th.  That was the day the hubby and I got married 10 years ago.  I can't believe it's been 10 years either.  So this was the year of tin/aluminum according to the Internet where everything published is the truth, right?!  :)
So this is what I got my hubby...

I know... just what he wanted... a photo shoot!  I can read him like a book.  hehe I thought it would be fun to have our 10 year pictures taken without screaming, crying, whining, beautiful children in the background.  It was just him and I and our photographer.  We weren't able to take tons of pictures because it was raining.  Funny thing is it rained on our wedding day 10 years ago, too!  :)  Good luck I think!  After the photo shoot we ate at Montgomery Inn!  It was YUMMY!!!!  I had the same old ribs and chicken with Saratoga chips and that delectable warm bbq sauce.  We ate there on our first anniversary too!  :)  On our first anniversary our server brought us a bowl of applesauce with a candle.  It was so sweet and memorable.....for me.  The hubby remembers hardly anything.  :)

Then, on the actual day of our anniversary I gave the hubby this

So I know I have a little 'splainin' to do.  :)  Hugs and kisses... obvious right?  A&W was aluminum.  And then there's the tin box.  Ok... mom, mom l., and like everyone turn away now or skip to the bottom. 

I read a wonderful post here.  You should do the same, like right now.  Yes, right now... then come back.  Ok.  So it's about how a mom and dad used to put a dollar in a metal box each time they.... had fun. (wink, wink) It's a really beautiful story, so I decided to copy, but instead used the tin aspect for our 10 year.  I thought it would add a little fun to our relationship and in the end, we will hopefully end up with a really cool 20 year!  :)

Then, the hubby surprised me with tickets to the REDS GAME!!!!  It was...... AWESOME!  We also got this

Isn't that amazing?!?!?  They will give you certificates for 1st game, foul ball, anniversary, etc.  The hubby wanted to get this and I'm so happy we did.  It meant so much!  While we were at the game, we saw our doctor on the KISS CAM!  How funny is that?!?!?! 

I have lots more to share about our lives this past month, but they will have to wait since I have to get up and go to work tomorrow and educate 80 beautiful little firsties.  :)  They are counting on me and I'm counting on getting some z's.  :) 

Tomorrow is the hubby's 40th!  What?!?!?!  Happy birthday, honey!!!!  I luh, luh, luh, luh, love you!

From our BROWN eyes to yours.....