8 days and counting

8 days to go until the voting comes to an end- what an exciting, exasperating time to be an american! while much of the back and forth get tiring (even for a political junkie like me!)

i have been thinking about all that we, as a family, have learned over the past 18+ months of campaigning and all of them are lessons we can apply to our lives:
-to stand up for what we think and back it up with evidence
-not to be bullied by others, regardless of how they represent their beliefs
-to listen to others, even when we disagree
-to talk about why we disagree, later, in private, so as not to hurt feelings of those we need to show respect for
-that adults don't always tell the truth, and just because someone is a teacher does not make their arguments factual
-that you can disagree with some positions of a candidate, but support the bigger picture.
-words matter
-your vote counts
-dinner is more interesting when you bring some ideas to the table
-that you can persuade people, if you are brave and well reasoned
And, the most important lesson of all:
-the choices we make today, shape our world for the future.

Then there were two...

k. will be 13 on tuesday and i'm just getting ready to make pancakes for the girls as the "slumber" party winds up. another teen in the house!?! how very exciting and rewarding for us, actually. you begin to see, more fully, the adults they are well on their way to becomming. this young lady is creative, smart, mature and wise. she is kind, funny and well liked. truly a blessing in our lives and the lives of others. we are incredibly lucky to have been blessed by her! happy day, coco!

a spin around the block

the mr. and j. were away at science camp this week, so joe and i took advantage and had a little driving lesson. it was something to be on the passenger side! he did great- mostly coasted down the street- 3 left turns and one right and back in the drive. what was funny- besides seeing him so nervous and concentrating so hard, was that someone else in the neighborhood was out doing the same thing at that moment and we kept passing them. the look on the two drivers' faces was equal parts "i can't believe i'm doing this" and "look at me"- much like when they were two and learning to climb, or some other dare devil type stunt!

21 months

it is shocking to me that c. is going to be 2 at the end of the summer- we certainly can't imagine life without her, and yet, it has gone so very fast!

as you can see, she has more hair than any baby should! she also has all her teeth...(that is her "fake" smile in the picture)

c. counts to 11 without help and 20 with help, she still loves to read, she enjoys sesame street and playing with her babies and knows some letters by sight.

at 21 months, she eats like a horse and tries a little of everything.

this little one thinks that if she closes her eyes, you can't see her, will hide from you to keep from getting into trouble, knows how to tantrum, and is becomming very familiar with "time-out".

her favorite things to say: Daddy's home! Barack Obama! Who do'd that? Outside,please! I love you mama! Hello, morning!

things to look forward to: big girl bed (mom is too lazy right now to take that on!)

well, duh!

This article outlines research that says the oldest has it tough in family. No kidding! Someday I would like to be paid to research the obvious. I could have saved them alot of trouble if they had just called me. By the time baby C. is Joe's age, she'll have a tv, computer, cell phone, car and driver, no curfew, and can office aide for every spot in her HS schedule! Why? I'll be too tired to care...

peace in our times?

well-things got emotional around here when K. presented Joe with a scrapbook of pics and a handwritten letter for his birthday.
the thing the mr. and I have most stressed with our kids is that long after we are gone, they will have eachother (God willing). generally they look at us like we have 3 heads when we say this. but, sometimes, you get to glimpse the future and having one of them say to the other- "hey- you are a good person and I care about you", puts us over the moon!

15

today my oldest is 15- obviously it has been on my mind as several blog entries have been about him of late.

when i came out to the living room this a.m. and saw five hulking boy-men sleeping, it made me smile. Joe has chosen his friends well, and isn't that a comment on the kind of man he is becoming? he and his friends amaze me with their talent and the potential they will soon be bringing forth to the larger world: musically gifted, downright funny, technologically savvy, relatively well mannered, kind, kind,kind...

so, joe, you are doing well and today your dad and i are going to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our efforts. you are well on your way to accomplishing any goal you set for yourself and we will be rooting for you the whole way there!

xoxo-mama

My Mom

Where does one begin??? I find it impossible not to get emotional when I think about my mom- her love for me and my family (one husband, six kids, 4in-laws, 14 grandkids) moves me profoundly.

What moves me the most about her is her faithfulness- to us, to God, to her friends. You just don't find anyone truer than her.

The thing I most appreciate about her looks is her beautiful smile. It is my first memory of her and will be the thing I remember forever.

What I love most about her personality is she says what she thinks.

As I have been enjoying having a baby in the house again after so many years, I find myself surrounded by memories of my mom and I- going to church, to Mrs. Lamb's restaurant, her fixing up my room at different points in my life, showing me how to bake, how to iron and how to clean- mostly i am left with the memory of just how much she enjoyed my presence in the world- enjoyed every moment. I am so thankful to have been so welcomed and loved!

So, now I return the favor- somewhat inadequately- on her birthday. I love you mom, I am lucky to spend time with you, you mean the world to me!

Happy Birthday! j.

down we go-

one by one, the mooklettes are getting a stomach bug! such easter fun... first little c., then all together the mr, joe and k. JT is currently debating whether he is sick or not,but i fear it will soon be out of his hands...as for me- hard to say, but i'm hoping for the best.
i think the easter bunny should save himself and bypass us

Happy 2008!

Happy New Year! No resolutions for me, just try everyday to appreciate my kids, loved ones and buddies!

All of the family has departed and we had a great visit...pics coming as soon as computer woes are ironed out. So, too, will a New Year's card- just got to get one computer up and running 100%. I think that will be under control by later today!

I'm looking forward to having the rest of this week off from school and hanging out at home with the mooklettes. hope your little corner of the world is bright, happy and full of love!

ps- I do have a goal for 2008- to run 1000 miles...we'll see!

hello, it's me...

okay, it has been awhile since i last posted- real life takes over occasionally! hope all is well in your corner of the world...
what have I been up to? well...
-meeting and getting to know 18 new students. it is a nice group of children, however, they have many needs that we will spend the year working on. thank goodness janine and i love a challenge
-chasing after precious c. who walks everywhere. she is such a gift-always happy!
-getting three kids to three different schools. a first for us. each is doing well and working hard already.
-we had a nice shower for my niece andrea, who will be married in Oct. it was great to see everyone and catch up with them.
-book club- what a great evening! Can't Wait to Get to Heaven and recipies from the book-FUN...
-NOT running- seem to have developed some sort of mental block and have abandoned it altogether. not sure what that is about....
-trying to sneak in some moments with my husband. we are lucky to have older kids- we can go out and grab a quick meal here and there...

tonight is family night in America. we are lucky, as most nights mean all of us at the table for dinner together. we have started to say no to things that interupt our dinner time- we decided that it is sacred and comes first. don't get me wrong- it is not ozzie and harriet pleasant, but we are all together, each with our part to play, and it is only a matter of time before it will be impossible to call everyone to dinner and have them show up! life goes fast, and it is great to appreciate being together as a family- even if it means I have to cook!

Eleven Months

Hello People! As you can see- I am now 11 months old. Let the countdown to the party begin. I am standing now, climbing up on things, falling off of them and I yell at the top of my lungs (I'm a mooklette- you have to be loud to be heard around here!) Also, I love the pool and try to swim twice a day. One of my favorite things is to push buttons- on the VCR, XBOX or computer- I especially love to push them when my family is in the middle of using them- they get really excited when I do that.

I still nap twice a day and I use a bottle and a cup. I also play with dolls: I like to cuddle them, pat them and put them to bed.

Occasionally, I will sport a pony tail and my mom had to trim my bangs to get them out of my eyes.

Well, time to head out to the pool...Take care, XOXO- C.

Summer's Here

How do I know?
...it's 90 degrees at 6am
...I've read three novels in the first week
...I've put more miles on my car this week then I did all school year (geez- I love the school bus)
...there are wet towels hiding things on the bathroom floor
...9 times out of 10 the phone rings for the kids, not us
...I'm helping J. read Count of Monte Christo- also helping him "think" about it :)
...board games...library...crafts...LOVE IT!

Father's Day 2007

I want to take a moment and thank the two greatest men in my life- my father and my husband, for loving me unconditionally, showing me the way and being outstanding examples of what it means to be good men...

I also want to take some time, here in this space, to remember those killed in the war in Iraq...

3682 men and women... 3682 too many...3682 families and friends missing loved ones today and every day...

Way to Go, J!

He finished middle school and is on to high school next week! Our darling boy is certainly a young man, now. And darn it, if he isn't good looking, to boot! xoxo-mom

Happy Ten Months!

SNORT!
It has been a great ten months...I am so busy that I barely have time to write this blog entry for my mom.
I crawl everywhere, I get into things and I play alot.I say many, many things, but my family is only smart enough to pick up on mom, dad, Joe, brother, bottle.
No worries- I still bite, spit and snort. Someone has to keep these people on their toes!
Life is great people- get out there and enjoy it!

OMG- I did it- but not without help!

I ran 5 miles today with the excellent coaching of Kath! You are a superstar Kath! As I gasped for breath and grabbed my side "chipper" Kath talked me through the whole thing. Isn't great to have friends who support your goals??

More running news: the IPOD is up and running again and it talks to my shoes. The lovely female voice tells me how I'm doing and keeps track of how far I go and my pace.

Later today we will be off to the dreaded mall to find some Joe clothes for the 8th grade dance. Then we will head to Ken and Cheri's 25th anniversary party for some dancing. Hopefully, I'll still be able to move!

Good Times

We had a great time with the whole family on sat.! Thanks to everyone for making the trek and enjoying the desert with us! xoxo

8 Months

C. is 8 months and crawling, pulling to stand, still mac'n on Cheerios and goes to bed at 7 every night! Bonus: she says "brother" and has her /b/ and /g/ sound down...

She is also extremely attached to her blanket crocheted by Grannie.

PS This post is very late, as she will be 9 months this next week.

Good Morning, George, How Are You??

Forgive the Veggie Tales reference- I am in a veggie tales sort of mood with the approach of Easter and that's what I sing to C. every morning when she gets up. She watched that episode for the first time yesterday and started to laugh and smile when the song came on...

C. is 8 months old today and it has all gone so very quickly. She is sitting, crawling, eating Cheerios and, yesterday- wait for it- she said MAMA! She continues to be happy, healthy and a big ol' bundle of love.

Today Big Daddy will continue to build out back and we will get to church for services. It has been a good break, but has gone waaaaaay too fast! Decorating eggs tomorrow and, hopefully, the bunny will pay us a visit on Sunday.

Grading is complete, laundry is done, and now I need to write a lesson for my observation on Tuesday- probability...