What did I accomplish????

school-- we need to DEFINITELY do history and science. We also need to work on Bible so I can finish up the book soon. We need to finish up our Midwestern states study, because it has lasted 1 week and 3 days longer than it was supposed to! I have a little bit of lesson plans done but REALLY need to concrete them for the next 6 weeks!


work on VBS stuff

I have a CT scan on Monday morning  my follow up appointment is July 1!  Pray for good results or at least answers!
Tuesday is Flag Day and I hoped to do some activities with that

Thursday I am keeping a friends kiddoes for a few hours in the morning and we will be doing a few activities with them

Saturday we are driving to Austin for the day

I have to catch up on laundry-- the kids "found" a bunch of clothes in their rooms that had not apparently been washed! Plus I need to do sheets and misc blankets

I need to start cleaning out stuff for a possible garage sale--which even if that doesn't happen I still need to clean out!

I need to put my menu and shopping list together for Thursday

I need to order and return library books to both Houston and Harris county

I need to move pictures from both the laptop and my desktop to the external hard rive.. just haven't done it in a while and noticed how many pictures needed to be updated while looking for one earlier

I need to finalize Sea World plans on Thursday

I also need to finalize Matt's bday party plans for the 26th

I need to find a babysitter for the 28th-- (hint hint grandparents reading this)

I also would like to make sure to take the kids swimming at moms house...

I need to mop... I mop the kitchen often but the rest of the house not so much! I am going to give Emily a sponge and put her in her bathing suit-- good plan, huh!

I need to remember to have FUN with my kids and occasionally be the YES mom.

I need to deal with some Lego League stuff also and get the fundraising letters out, soo we can pay for this league!

I would love to find Matt at least two more pairs of shorts at a thrift store but am having trouble and looking takes time! {{{sigh}}}

I would also like to send some of my newest picture shots to Snap fish so I can see print quality!



PLUS I DID THIS TOO!

I also grocery shopped (two stores) and saved a total of    %, dollar wise that is 54.00 in savings!  The only thing I bought NOT on my list were a few extras of some chips and cereal that were on sale and an ice cream snack for the kids.

Cleaned out Emily's bookshelf and found a number of books a friend needed.

Dealt with a leaking ceiling which turned out to be an easy fix-- thankfully!

Had an unexpected night at home along with hubbie-- be are really big spenders!  We got two Little Ceasars Pizza's and tea from McDonald's.  Later we went out and tried to get a dessert but ended up with a pint of ice cream from Walgreen's!  We watched HULU and went to bed!  WOW... look at us party!

in addition to just life in general!  Hope y'all are having productive summers too!

Austin City Limits...

No we did not go to Austin City Limits-- although I have always wanted too!  But we did do a lot inside the city limits of Austin!

We left on our journey at 6:20 and Saturday morning-- had a few delays like coming back home for my phone!

Dave dropped us off at the state capitol, the kids and I had a little photo shoot, while Dave worked for awhile.

After Dave came to pick us up we headed to the Austin Children's Museum--- if while in Austin to not bother to pay the 6.50 to get in (which we didn't as we are reciprocal members) because it is really not worth it.  I love children's museums but this one was very small and just not the best, maybe if you have really small kids?

After the museum we went and ate lunch at Austin Pizza... it was in downtown near the capitol and 6th street in the part of Austin that YELLS-- KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD, and it was weird!  We however did not eat pizza at DeathMetal Pizza!  It was good though... and not too expensive.

We left and headed to the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Museum and library.  It is free!  In fact it is the only presidential library to be free to all....of course it is your CIVIL liberty to be free from want, so I guess you deserve to get in free.  He was a democrat for those who do not know and really almost worse than Obama!  We enjoyed his family album, we enjoyed seeing things about the time and the seat of the president, we enjoyed that he was from Texas but really it stopped about there! He really set a whole lot of "bad" in motion during this presidency!  We also have "GLAZED over civil rights so far with our kids (we have not reached that in history) so it was hard explaining some pictures and things-- we were also trying to be careful HOW we explained it, if you know what I mean! 

We left and headed to a sno-cone spot in Austin (I don't really know how much of a spot it was because we were the only ones there), they were pretty tasty and REALLY refreshing!

After the sno-cones we attempted to head to Barton Springs.  It is a dammed area of the river that is a local SPOT!  Well it is really local because there were HUNDREDS of people there.  People parked EVERY where, it was insane--- just standing in line to GET in there were over a hundred!  So we left!  We didn't feel we could tend the kids in such a massive setting-- Dave and I had no suits and wouldn't have been in the water with them, we might try later in the year when kids are in school!

So to pacify the non swimmers, who had been promised swimming all day we went to see Mr. Poppers Penguins-- with our savings from NOT going to Barton Springs (for three dollars a person).  It was a pretty good see-- a few parts were not needed and I could have done without but really overall a pretty good movie with a great message. 


So as you can see we had a FULL day!  We did so much and really had a good day- VERY little stress.  I got VERY annoyed at Dave for about 15 minutes but he agreed he was BEING very annoying!  :0)  All in all a WONDERFUL day!

Happy Fathers Day...

Happy One Day Late Fathers Day to YOU....

Can you tell he is the father of my children???

Weekly Wrap Up-- Week 42

Monday---


Went for my CT scan-- went much better than last time with the Valium, now just waiting for the doctor to get back to me!

The kids worked on math, handwriting.

We almost finished chap 3 in science and completed the mini book and crossword puzzle in the notebooks.

We read about Chopin in The Spiritual Lives of the Composers and also read about him in this new composer study I found in my STUFF in storage.  Don't you love when you buy these great things to use and forget about them! 

I baked cookies.

I checked off my list of things to accomplish this week!
It was a good day!

Tuesday---

I am sitting here typing this up and I am telling you I cannot remember a single thing about Tuesday!



Wednesday---

we did history at Amy's house.  We studied about Eli Whitney, Robert Fulton and Noah Webster.
My mom talked about Indians found in some of the newly emerging Midwestern states.  The kids tried succotash-- made with the Three Sisters!

We had a flooding roof-- but alas all was well after an ac line flush!

Amy ended up keeping the kids so we had a wonderful surprise of being alone for the evening!  We are really nightlifers! We ended up getting a Little Ceasers Pizza, tea from McDonald's and later on a pint of ice cream from Walgreen's.  We laid around watching Hulu and went to bed early!

Thursday---

I kept a friends kids and we played with play dough, chalk on the porch, the wii, Lego's, had a snack, swung on the swing, played with click its and answered four jillion questions all in the first hour-- WOW, it's been a while since I had little ones!  It was fun and when the kids got home they were able to all play and keep them occupied.  Kate read stories, Matt played Wii and Emily played with the dollhouse!

We went grocery shopping-- two stores.  I saved 54.00 dollars! YEAH.

all the kids did math and we finished up chapter 3 in science--I have to post some of Kate's artwork soon! 

the kids also have reading assignments from history that they are working on.

Friday--

I am posting early so on the to be done agenda is swimming at my moms and the Harris county library.

We will also be starting chapter 4 in science and doing math, spelling and Michigan for our state study!



We have 12 days left of school but only three (counting today) are school days-- today should be my last day but since I skipped doing any work for two days I had to add on and we have vacation Bible school next week so we are going to the 28th!

So only ONE more weekly wrap up for this "year" and I will lawfully have completed my 180 days!  We are of course not stopping and we aren't wrapping up much curriculum but my 180 are up!  So next week I will "move" the kids ahead their grade and start my count down again!

because

I have nothing to say I shall leave you with this rule
.

DO

UNTO OTHERS

AS YOU

WOULD HAVE THEM

DO

UNTO YOU.

Really is the best rule isn't it.



Bucket List...

Last year I made a summer bucket list too, I did about a third of the items on the list.  Even though I did not accomplish doing all the things I wanted.. making the list did make me stop and really think of some things I DID want to do.  I think because I wrote it down and purposed to do them.. I was more inclined to make the experiences happen!  So I decided to make another bucket list for this summer.  Some are repeats from last year, some are things I never got around to last year and the rest are NEW things that I want to do.

2011 SUMMER BUCKET LIST

eat frozen yogurt with friends

thrift store shop for clothes

hit a few garage sales looking specifically for decor items

go on an overnight with Dave

pick fruit at a farm

search half price books, thrift stores and used book stores for reads

finish up Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day as a summer science.

Take the kids to a water park.

Eat dinner outside at Kemah.

Go to the beach.

Visit the turtle hatchery.

Participate in The Houston Nature Challenge

Visit with the grandparents more often.

Swim!

Find new parks in Houston we haven't been to before.

Go see the summer dollar movies.

Watch a movie under the stars.

Go on a boat or wave runner.

Go the farmers market.

play games with the kids.

learn to cook 5 new recipe's

Go to a theater production.

go to creation station at the MFAH

sew curtains for the dining room (this involves me SEWING)

take a camera class from leisure learning or somewhere else.

walk on the beach at night.

eat out at a new fun restaurant.

invite friends over for dinner.

go to VBS

paint the girls bedroom

have an old fashioned picnic

work on making the back porch kind of cozy

read a biography about a great person

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me...

1. I have been to Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador on mission trips. 


2. I was in the hospital 7 days with Kaitlin and was induced 5 times!  It was a nightmare.


3. I used to (and still inclined to) curl my sheet or blanket under my feet because I was scared a witches hand would come up from under my bed and grab my feet.


4.  I had multiple ovarian cyst removed in 9th grade.  I have the video- (somewhere) of the actual surgery and it is cool.


5.  I used to hyperventilate bad and my dad would walk around the block with me breathing into a paper bag.  Now I call the panic attacks but don't generally use a paper bag.  (I probably should)


6.  I watched Arachnophobia as a teenager.  I don't know why as I was already terrified of spiders.  My sister and I were on either side of my dad at the theater.  It was really suspenseful and when we left my dad had bleeding claw marks on both arms walking out of the theater. I don't do suspenseful!


7.  I buy books that are wonderful (not self help but just Godly "help" books), I have awesome intentions to read them all but only ever end up reading half of them! 


8.  I cannot stand situation where I have to "go up front".  It just happened on Sunday the children's church leader called the LEADERS up on stage and I went and stood on the farthest side.  Truly inside I wish I had been ANYWHERE else.  I would feign injury, clean poop up, pay someone else or NOT come before I ever want to stand up in FRONT.


9.  I am always afraid that people will not remember me.  I don't mean remember everything about me but that I guess I am so unmemorable that they would truly NOT have a clue who I am.  Therefore when I go to Baybrook Mall (near where I grew and up and went to school for 9 years) I will cross to the other side of the mall or turn and go the other way if I saw someone I knew before I would assume they KNEW me.


10.  I went to Las Vegas before Matt was born, we flew into Nevada and LITERALLY on a whim we drove like 8 hours to Las Vegas and stayed in NEW YORK, NEW YORK.  We walked the strip at like 1:00 in the morning and I remember being amazed at HOW many families there were!  It was not like what I had imagined.  I did (confession time) truly WANT to see a hooker because I never had except on TV.  We saw a few slightly scantily dressed women but most were just passing out flyers for shows.  I remember feeling disappointed.  I know weird right!

Don't you hate when you jump the gun....

Matt was playing Wii. I asked him to finish a chore, he got up with a great attitude and commenced working on the chore. Emily must have sat down at the Wii and began playing. Matt shouted "Hey Emily". I stopped him and asked why was he yelling. He went on to tell me how Emily had taken over his game... blah, blah, blah.

I get so frustrated over this. {{{sigh}}}

I know I did it when I was a kid-- so sorry MOM!

Anyhoo- I began to speak to him, AGAIN, about attitudes and loving PEOPLE over THINGS. We talk alot about this with Matt. He is so sweet and so kind but also so selfish.. the most selfish of all three kids. So we deal with this heart issue a lot.

all. the. time.

So we were just talking and discussing... I could see his hardened heart was not hearing me... I stopped and said a quick prayer for the right words.

Tactic change.

I asked him if he knew that being a blessing to others, and thinking of others was what TRULY  gave you the greatest happiness? He blinked and I KNEW he was thinking... I am happy just doing my own thing!
 I mean and we ARE--- until we TRULY bless others and think of others first and we began to understand that the HAPPINESS we felt doing our own thing doesn't even compare to the happiness we feel by blessing and putting others first!

I related it to A Christmas Carol, I asked him if Scrooge was happy when he was only thinking of himself-- yes... he FELT HAPPY. But what happened when he really began thinking of others.. HE discovered TRUE happiness and he was blessed beyond measure! Matt's little face registered understanding... I saw the chunks of hardened heart falling down around his feet and my heart breathed a sigh of relief. I gave him a hug and walked away....

Later, when realizing that the chore STILL wasn't done I called him to me. I asked why (not in the nicest way because of frustration) why his chore was not finished.

He answered.. I got distracted when you talked to me.

I immediately jumped on him... the reason he didn't do his chore was because I stopped to correct him.. blah, blah, blah! I was REACTING badly. I don't mean yelling or screaming I just simply mean handling it badly!

He replied that he had gone outside to think about what I said.

HEART PLUMMET.

When Matt tells you he has taken time to think on something.. HE HAS. He took to heart what I was saying... from experience I even think he must have spent time with God talking about the situation and asking HIM to help him be less selfish.

I felt so bad. I don't mean that the chores SHOULDN'T be done but if I had just waited. If I had just left it alone. If I had just.... SOMETHING.

Anyway... I felt bad. It is NOT all about chores being done. I need ears to hear and eyes to see.. GOD please allow me to SEE the work inside my CHILDREN.. May I not be noisy gong or loud cymbal but let me see YOU working in them and have words to edify and lift up, words to encourage and strengthen.

I said not another word about the chore which he went about doing.

He was so kind and selfless all evening long... sweet, giving and thoughtful.

God thank you for working in his heart.. thank you for giving me words to speak...

This week....

I have stuff to do...

• school-- we need to DEFINITELY do history and science. We also need to work on Bible so I can finish up the book soon. We need to finish up our Midwestern states study, because it has lasted 1 week and 3 days longer than it was supposed to!  I have a little bit of lesson plans done but REALLY need to concrete them for the next 6 weeks!
• work on VBS stuff
• I have a CT scan on Monday morning
• Tuesday is Flag Day and I hoped to do some activities with that
• Thursday I am keeping a friends kiddoes for a few hours in the morning and we will be doing a few activities with them
• Saturday we are driving to Austin for the day
• I have to catch up on laundry-- the kids "found" a bunch of clothes in their rooms that had not apparently been washed!  Plus I need to do sheets and misc blankets
• I need to start cleaning out stuff for a possible garage sale--which even if that doesn't happen I still need to clean out!
• I need to put my menu and shopping list together for Thursday
• I need to order and return library books to both Houston and Harris county
• I need to move pictures from both the laptop and my desktop to the external hard rive.. just haven't done it in a while and noticed how many pictures needed to be updated while looking for one earlier
• I need to finalize Sea World plans on Thursday
• I also need to finalize Matt's bday party plans for the 26th
• I need to find a babysitter for the 28th-- (hint hint grandparents reading this)
• I also would like to make sure to take the kids swimming at moms house...
• I need to mop... I mop the kitchen often but the rest of the house not so much!  I am going to give Emily a sponge and put her in her bathing suit-- good plan, huh!
• I need to remember to have FUN with my kids and occasionally be the YES mom.
• I need to deal with some Lego League stuff also and get the fundraising letters out, soo we can pay for this league!
• I would love to find Matt at least two more pairs of shorts at a thrift store but am having trouble and looking takes time!  {{{sigh}}} 
• I would also like to send some of my newest picture shots to Snapfish so I can see print quality!

and that is my week--- without stuff COMING up... What are you doing?????

Swimming...

Ice Cream Social...

We had an ice cream social at church for the kids... it was such a blast!  I am so glad that we did it and hope to do it again soon--- I love the kids getting together and just being with their friends.

Weekly Wrap up--- Week 41

So although I have had a much more productive week this week than LAST week where we basically ended up taking the whole week off... I still have not hit the books full force.   I also need to do lessons plans!

I had two days where kids were sick so not as much got done! But it's all good. I am simply focusing on what DID get done! Oh and Emily was gone for a half day on Tuesday.

This is not day by day but just an overall picture for each subject:

Bible-- we focused on our Word of Life scriptures, the kids have a ceremony coming up and Emily was trying to hit her verse test. Matt who hasn't learned many scriptures was challenged by his coach to learn some. We also focused on some heart issues and read scriptures based on those... but no actually book work. Next week we start up our curriculum again! We are looking to finish it mid July!

Math-- all the kids did math this week, Kate's book was lost for a day and a half but was found... THANKFULLY! The kids have about 3-5 lessons left, each kid is at a different lesson. After we finish I am going to take a break getting their next books. We are going to work on LIFE math, math games and flash cards. We will play Math Blaster and do timed tests and worksheets off the Math U See website. We will order new curriculum in Sept.

Science--   We started Chap 3 and learned all about Sea Lions, Seals and Walrus. It is a fun chapter and I love even seeing all the pictures of the seals and sea lions! The kids have kept up with their note booking, copy work and have read some library books on these different sea mammals.

We also went over our review cards for chap 1 and chap 2.

Spelling-- truthfully didn't touch it this week!

English-- the kids worked on nouns and verbs. They read SO much but this is all we did.

History-- we ended up missing our weekly history lesson because of being sick but the kids have each read two Thomas Jefferson biographies this week. We also went over our review cards.

State Study-- We went over the states and capitols. We also watched State Fair as part of our Midwestern states study. The kids also read the book Up North at the Cabin. We also started The Wizard of Oz for Kansas!

In other areas..

• we have changed up chores and how they are done.
• We rearranged the living room
• introduced a new pet into the home
• did eye patch activities
• sold the suburban
• cleaned around the house
• worked on some stuff for VBS
• cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner all week
• was surprised by my husband with a new camera. I did NOT expect it. We talked about it and I thought we decided it wasn't really the best time... too many other things that are important on the list and HE came home with one. He has NEVER in all our married and dating years done something like this! It is NOT his MO! So I am the proud owner of a new Canon that I can barely work--- but I shall learn! :0) We did however get the base and 18-55 lens... I will have to wait for my 70-300 lens! (Hint: it would be wonderful to surprise me with it for my birthday, or an early birthday present!)

Meet Amanda the guinea pig...

Fear vs. need for concern...

So I have been stepping out in faith lately.  I have allowed the kids to be out of my sight.  :0)

You think I jest.  But really I have an issue with this.

There are two parts.

Part 1: Dave and I truly believe that the "family" should remain in tact for the most time.  We do not desire to be away from our children for long lengths of time or actually much time at all! We do occasionally go on a date, we have left them over night at family members but generally we desire and YES enjoy having the kids with us in whatever we are doing.

Part 2: I deal with fear.  I deal with anxiety.  I deal with worry.  THIS IS NOT GODLY.  I am NOT putting my trust in God.  I don't mean I should put them in dangerous situation and just Hope or Assume that God will protect them (which He can but I have no business putting them in dangerous situations!)  I just mean there are some inevitable situations where our kids ARE going to be out of our sight!  Sometimes it is good for them to gain some Independence-- although I believe that this is ONLY necessary as they get older and in very small doses and situations and should be handled with care!  Now I struggle with HOW MUCH, WHEN, WHERE etc... and part of this is just normal struggle to try to make the right decision but A LOT of this is my fear issue.

I think we need to have a certain amount of concern--- without sin.
 A certain amount of wary---- without sin.
 A certain amount or question--- without sin.

We can do this and keep our kids safe without the sin or mistake of NOT trusting God, needing control, assuming we have more care for them than God or thinking we can stop things from happening simply because we are with them!

I just need to find my balance.  I need to apply God's standard and pray and conclude what situation are okay, what is not and how I know!

A few weeks ago I allowed Emily to go with my friend Becky (shout out to Becky).  It was the first time Emily has gone with anyone out side of family members anywhere.  They went to the Children's Museum and had a fabulous time!  She had fun, she was well taken care of, she was safe... all was good.

I learned MUCH more through the experience than she did!!!

She is by the way 8.  :0)

None of my kids have ever really GONE places without me.  THIS IS NOT all because of fear remember..... but I can tell you which situation are fear and which aren't.
The first time I sent Kaitlin and Matthew to VBS.  I knew the teacher, I knew the church.  BUT I was hysterical leaving them. I cried, carried on!  I was so fearful and so scared.. I stayed in the church, made it to staying in the parking lot by Thursday.

THIS WAS FEAR.

Could something bad happen to them at VBS.. yes.  But I cannot live in this fear bubble!  I can not control. 

I have to be able to let go.  I can do it in very small doses... but it is VERY hard!  I generally KNOW when it is my fear taking and when I am just having a generalized concern all parents might feel! 

How do you handle allowing your children to grow up, yet still shielding them???






These are taken from The Amplified-- not my favorite translation but nice every once in a while...


The Lord is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27: 1


For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Timothy 1: 7


So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13: 6

I'm singin a little diddy...

Have you ever watched The Little Rascals? Well at one point  Buckwheat gets a dollar and he sings this little song...

"we gotta dolla' , we gotta a dolla' , we gotta dolla' hey, hey, hey, hey."

I just love it and I sing it often.  I know easily amused!

Anyhoo...." we gotta a title, we gotta title, we gotta title, hey, hey, hey, hey!"

Is what I am singing.  It is not as good as a license--- but since it will allow us to SELL the suburban.. I am a happy singer! 

I might even be doing a jig!

We have been waiting for WEEKS for this title and a conversation with bureaucracy last week--- yes I dealt with WAY too much-- led me to believe that it had been lost in the mail and we would have to wait for 30 days past the time it was issued (May 19) to be able to even ASK for a new title to be issued.  So we were looking at weeks and weeks more.  Well Dave and I concluded that either the lady at the regional office is off her rocker, lied or cant read properly OR God simply rerouted our title and it got mailed to my MIL!  SO whoo hoo!  Anyway it happens I am GAME!

 So I shall sing, and dance a jig!

"we gotta title, we gotta a title, we gotta a title, hey, hey, hey, hey!"

Struggle....

I get tired of the everyday struggle.

money.
cleaning.
school.
kids.
husband.
schedule.
routine.


So what to do?  What to do?

Money-- I cut out everything I could (actually everything I wanted, we could cut MORE but are good with what we cut for now.)  We are keeping the air at 78 degrees, which for us is a big deal.  We are turning off lights, trying to wash at un peak times, using the toaster over etc.  Of course just general cutting back in every area.

Cleaning-- part of my cleaning problems lies with I have been out and about a lot lately so things piled up.  So the easy change is simply staying home, we all know this is not always going to happen so that is where daily chores and routines step in.  FAIL.  I have offically decided to nix all chores for a while.  The chore charts I have are not working for me, just like all of the other ones didnt work for me!  So I shall simply make a list of what should be done and we will do until it is done.  In order to keep it "fair", I will put the list up each morning and the kids will take turns picking thier most desired chore first.  So no one should get "stuck" with the worst chore every day.  Emily will have the same pick as the other kids-- if it is a chore I deem her not able on her own I will simply help her on that day.

This will accomplish many things:

number one: all three kids will be well rounded in ALL chores.
number two: no child will "FEEL" they have gotten the short end of the stick all the time
number three:  I will be able to access where the kids are in their abilities so when I DO choose another chore system (because I can't help myself) I will hand out assignments accordingly
number four: there will be no set time frame to this.. I will say go do and they will do.  We will simply get things done as they need to be done. 

My kids do NOT generally gripe about chores-- in fact they pretty much do them with out complaint... it is the REMINDING them to do it that has my goat!  I want them to be responsible on their own, but it is just simply not working for me right now!  So I will just "nicely" bark orders.  Everything will get done, I won't feel resentment or frustration--- and furthermore take the resentment and frustration out on the kids.  So that is the plan for now!  I shall update you when it changes!


School-- I have been only mildly frustrated with school this year.  I remember being MUCH more frustrated last year.  I do feel we have not done as much as we could BUT I think maybe I set my standards too high and I don't always account for the "we do more on one day than another" system we seem to use in my house.  So if I SIMPLY let that go and move on my evaluation of this year was actually pretty darn good.  The other part of my frustration comes more from the curriculum chosen.  I already gave you my picks for next year-- they will only change slightly- and I think some of the  changes will help.

The other aspect is more individual schooling.  I am unsure how SCHEDULE wise that will work out but I am going to simply have to make it happen.  I am going to write out things I specifically want EACH child to grow and work on this coming year... and hope to see great improvements in those areas by this time next year!

I often get frustrated with time-- I want it to happen NOW.  But Biblically I am reminded of SO much sowing and reaping mentality... so much planting and harvesting... those things took time.  Some changes, some evolvement, some growing TAKES time.  I shouldnt be in such a hurry to assume NO change means it is not working-- I need to be patient.
Kids-- I have already adressed some things with the kids as part of my frustration and my plans to work on certain areas in their individual lives over this next year.  So the only thing I will add to this area is actually about each child individually.  I really need to find ways to help EACH child grow.  I feel we do so much together which I want, and desire and feel is biblical-- but sometimes I think I miss the individual kids needs sometimes too.  So I am working on that.
Husband-- hubbie knows what our frustrations are right now and I know each of you have gone through seasons with your spouses!  It is on both our parts and something we simply have to work on individually and together. I have often said in the past that I want to make time for us more and then I fail to do so.  I plan on really trying to make that time happen.  I also want to say that we are hitting 14 years, there are many things I would do differently given the chance but I wouldnt CHANGE my life with him at all.  I just might tweak it!  :0)  I love him more than I did when we got married.  I hate being a part from him.  I just know there are areas we could and should work on ... as does he.  Hopefully this will be the year!  Also trying to remember the whole time and patience thing!

Schedule and Routine I will lump together-- I always try and fail in this area.  I assure you it is partly becasue it is not how and I am wired and partly because I have very little will power-- which falls into many other areas of my life.  I don't yet have a plan for this other than MAKING ANOTHER PLAN... so we shall see.  I do know that I desire it... but that is not enough.  I do know that I do better when it is in play, as do the kids!  So  I guess I should just DO IT!  :0)

What I accomplished this week:

With Memorial Day, license hoopla, Emily having "camp" with friends for three days from 10-2 there was really ZERO schooling going on, so I will not do a weekly wrap up! However I will show you what I accomplished.

I learned that goverment bureaucracy is a pain in the patootie.

I learned that I am a person without an identity.

I learned that now I have an identity but it is only through my maiden name.. so 14 years of marriage has been nullified. :0)

I learned that I really don't like govenment offices and that I am:
# 1 way too sarcastic to be in one without getting carted off to jail (or wherever they take NON Identity people!)
# 2 I am way too emotional to DEAL with those in goverment jobs.
# 3 REALLY, REALLY a libertarian. :)

I learned that I am REALLY, REALLY bad at paperwork!

So I learned a lot and I did actually accomplish things!

I passed a drivers test- of course I only got 72% right but I passed!

I got my marriage license-- not another persons but my own, thank you very much!

I worked on finances and brought down our YMCA bill, cut off a Club Penguin account, brought our Netflix account down and lowered our Comcast Internet bill (which btw was done by simply calling and asking them to lower my bill!  I didn't threaten to leave I just simply asked if I could have a lower bill-- they lowered if by more than 14 a month, which adds up right!)   This will once it all kicks in will save us a total of $107.00 per month! It's something... over 1200 a year!

I scheduled and unscheduled a tonsillectomy. AND then rescheduled it.

I fought the battle with insurance and I won.. well I kind of, sort of, a little bit, in a small way won! I then got defeated again by the surgery center....Payment DUE on day of surgery... because we ALL have thousands laying around right!

I managed to not eat out this week minus ONE morning at McDonald's, but I did a lot of driving and leaving early so I think that is good!

I got a Harris County Public library card-- because you know fines at my own branch aren't enough... I need them all over Harris County. :)

I cleaned my house--- not like scoured or anything but you can walk! I also did laundry and grocery shopped.

I paid the mortgage, car payment, water bill, Internet bill, misc other payments and had a little left over to last for the next 13 days... yeah.

I got our history planned out for the next four weeks-- even got most of my books picked up or at least ordered!

I guess this week has been wrapped up!  Hopefully next week the only bureaucracy we will be dealing with is in the studying of it in history!  What did YOU accomplish this week?

What to do.. what to do...

Sweet huh.

I need pictures like this sometimes to remind me that she is sweet.  I need pictures like this to remind me that I am responsible for raising her to be Godly with or without ADHD.  Here is my special little online test... DO you think Emily has ADHD?  I mean IF you know her in person and can correct any of my scores please let me know...  she is showing a lot more lack of impulse control in the last 4 to 6 months. 

I understand that it is OVER DIAGNOSED but really, could this possible be?  

Defining ADD/ADHD

Medically, ADHD is a specific development disorder which begins in early childhood (by first or second grade) and is marked by distinct daily impairments in: resisting distraction (distractibility), inhibiting responses (impulse control), and regulating motoric activity (hyperactivity). In general, ADHD is a disorder of impaired self control, and neurological research has distinctly shown ADHD to be associated with abnormalities in areas of the brain which control and regulate behavior.

Six or more symptoms in each category must be present with a score of 3 or more.

0 = Never 1 = Rarely 2 = Occasionally 3 = Frequently 4 = Very Frequently

Inattention (low attention span)

Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:
3   Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities.
3   Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
4   Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
3   Often does not follow through on instruction and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions.)
3   Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.
2   Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework.)\
2   Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys school assignments, pencils, books, or tools.)
3   Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
3   Is often forgetful in daily activities.



Hyperactivity-Impulsiveness

Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

3   Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
4   Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situation in which remaining seated is expected
3 to 4   Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness.)
2 to 3   Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
3   Is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor."
2   Often talks excessively.
2   Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed.
3   Often has difficulty awaiting turn.
2 to 3   Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., at school or work and at home.)



What to do?  What to do????  I guess it is time to start researching, reading, praying, thinking, talking, doing... SOMETHING but the status quo is not working for me.

BUT I love my girl!

I am sorry but I have to add to my sob story from yesterday..

I drove and spent 1 1/2 today getting my marriage license.

I drove down to League City county clerk office (Galveston county). I went inside, asked for a certified copy of my marriage license.

She asked for year of marriage and husbands name.

I gave her the information, she asked no other questions.  I didn't have a problem assuming that Dave was the only Harold Thompson to get married in Galveston County in 1997!

So she notarized it, I paid and left!

SO EXCITED THAT IT WAS THAT EASY.

My friend Julie said it best---- that should have been my first clue!

Anyway, got to Amy's and got it out to show my mom the coveted marriage certificate and IT WASN'T mine!

It for Harold Loyd Thompson and some other woman in 1996!!!

So I called. 

I was told to come back in or they could mail it to me.

A little while later the gentleman called me back and asked for more information so he could have mine printed and ready to go when I got there.

I gave him all my info.  He couldn't find the record.

I am pretty sure I got married!

So FINALLY he said you were married in Galveston county but this record shows that you got your license from Harris County.  SO I went all that way for nothing!  Paid for NOTHING--- well someone else's marriage license!  Gas, TIME, stress!

SO I shall try again tomorrow--- in Harris County.

The saga continues!