But, I don't want this to end

This break has been a sweet breeze in our lives. Some of the kids were not able to purchase items for their siblings or Ben and I. I encouraged them to make coupons as gifts. When the first one was opened I cried. There was thought and caring put into the act. It was priceless. Here is an example of one such coupon:

(it reads: This cupon is good for 10 minutes of Putting makup on me.

To esther from Sam

P.S. not on Christmas!)

My favorite gift was one made. Ben and the kids wrote words of encouragement and love on a coffee mug. I have used it everyday since!

One of the kids "group" gift from Ben and I was a new Connect Four game. Since both Ben and I had Monday off we decided to make it a championship out of it; a Connect Four championship with leader board, tee-shirt and all.

 I was undefeated. Then I played my second game with Ben (second place) and I LOST. That shirt should'da been MINE. Next time. It will be. =)

This was the fourth photo I took. Shack that up to a learning curve with the new camera. This would be the "gosh Babe. Didn't you take enough pictures" look.

  

 The kids also received the game Twister. WHAT A BLAST! This was the first night of Twister glory.

Thank you GOD for times of fun and memories. What a joy!

90% is not the same as 100%...

but it's DARN close! I have completed 90% of my finals. The remaining item is an in class essay about the Constitution of the U.S. Breezy, baby. BREEZY!

I am thankful for SO much through this time of improvised schedules.
Ben is a huge asset. He takes the kids to mid-week church activities and helps them all with homework. He has also become quite the chef. I cannot have done what I have without his efforts and support.
My Mom has been picking up the Twins from school every Wednesday. This enables me to work later than their pick-up time. I have been able to keep both jobs because she has helped out.
The kids are ever becoming more responsible with their activities. Es and Sam get to the bus stop on their own. Every kid has improved their school abilities and grades. This is a huge task!
Friends have been encouraging and offered advice as I have been in desperate need.

My heart is full of appreciation and gratitude. I am who I am because of many people.
Thank you to me is not just a term. It is a way of life. So, I will honor you all as I press on.

THANK YOU.

Time repeats

So do songs. In my brain. On rainy days. Even when I am sitting in class, taking notes. The song continues. In my brain.

I only have three weeks of this term remaining. This has been the most difficult term yet. I'll take the appendectomy of winter 2011 over repeating this term again. Yeah. Rough. The end is in sight though. I have just a single year until I graduate. Aw.h.sum. I have already registered for Winter term. I now need to meet the electives section. Thank God.

Weeeel, I gotta hit the books. I've got a 5 page ART paper due the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Ouch. Hopefully my Prof. will receive it well. =D

All is well. That in itself is beautiful.

My hair used to be red

I have had my hair colored for several years now. It used to be that I went in, asked for some low and high lights to just enhance my natural color (never covering all my locks). These days it seems that there has been a need for more enhancement than I remember. When I chose the color years ago, I never wanted to cover all my natural color due to it's awesome redness. This natural-ness of red color is fading. FADING. I was sad to begin with. Then I thought....
Just add some.more.red.

With a capital B.rilliant. This is what I requested.

It's been several weeks since my idea and I love the look. Since the color I have also had it cut. TEN inches. Then cut another several inches. I.love.it.

Curious aren't you? You will be able to see all when I post our family's bi-annual photo shoot.

Ha-ha!

the lighting was great

so I put my reading off, grabbed our o.l.d. camera, and took advantage.

My view of the 2.5 acre park behind our house.

This one I asked the kids to show me how family "looked". Voila!

Nuf said

Crater Lake. October 15th, 2011. For Grandma Betra.

I should be studying right now...

...but before I forget, I need to post our current schedules. I will forget. I know it.

Sundays: all kids practice for Christmas drama 9-10.30. All stay for service. Home. RELAX (or catch up on studying).

Monday: Ben and I get up at 4.55am. Work-out. Ben leaves at 6.40. I wake kids. Breakfast 7.15-7.45. Take Twins to school 8.10-8.30. Walk Es and Sam to bus stop 8.55-9.10. STUDY. P/U Twins 2.30-3.05. Begin dinner. 4.40-4.50 meet Es and Sam's bus. 5.30-6.15 dinner. 9.30 blessed sleep!

Tuesday:All is the same until I drop the Twins off. 8.50-9.50 internship at PCC. Class 10-11.50. Intern noon to 2.20. Directly P/U Twins and home by 3.05 (beginning the 18th the Twins will be p/u at 4). The remaining is the same.

Wednesday: All is the same except this is late start for Es and Sam. Bus p/u 9.55-10.10. I work my first job this day (my last day is the 12th of this month. Then I will be working my PCC job during this time) until 5. My mom p/u the Twins. Dinner and then church. THEN SLEEP!

Thursday: Everything the same as Tuesday.

Friday: Morning is the same. Then I intern from 9.30-12.30. After the 12th not be working the internship this day (Wednesdays instead) but will use this time to study.The rest of the day matches Monday.

Saturday: enjoy being a family!

We've switched up several ideas as a family. There is no TV watching from Monday a.m. to Friday morning. We used to have a huge cleaning day on Saturday, but we've begun talking little bits of our Saturday chart thought the week.

This term I am taking HE 242 (WEBonly), HST 201 and ART 205 (WEBonly). I am considering taking classes through this summer to enable my graduating at that terms end (if my memory serves correct I will only have 11 credits that term).
Es and Sam both are required 7 periods. They are maturing FAST! Es: Science, Math, CSI, Orchestra, Social Studies, Choir and Language Arts. Sam: Orchestra, Art, PE/Health, Language Arts, Social Studies, Math & Science. They do not share the same lunch time, but they see each other in the halls and their lockers are in the same spot. And of course, they ride the same bus. =D The Twins are enjoying the second to last year of their homeroom. I am amazed at the sponges the kids are. The literally soak up all this information. That is....if they are paying attention to their teacher! This is becoming less of an issue. THANK GOD!

Well, that's it. Nos vemos. See you!

We've been invaded by the body snatchers

Are you scared? I AM! During the past few weeks I have begun to realize that my kids are on their way out. Out of childhood and into teenager-dom and adulthood. Out of my arms and into the big, wide, some-times, scary world. How do I know this to be true? Well, I'll tell you.....

The two oldest ride the bus home from school. My heart was ever watchfull and attentive that very first ride. I thought I was going to stretch out of my skin to grab and hold them close! And when Sam (6th grade, 11yo) rode the wrong bus route....for 6 minutes I couldn't breathe. I wanted to do something, but was unable. If you are a parent and you've lost sight of your kid, even for a moment, you know that feeling. It is that despite, gnawing, yearning, passionate desire to....protect. To conquer the evil that you know is lurking. And you thought this was about a bus ride. It is. This bus mishap brought about all these emotions and thoughts. What if he, not only got on the wrong bus, but then got off at a stop on that wrong route? Did he tell the driver his plight? I wish he had his own phone. Maybe he's still at school. I love that annoying boy. I WANT HIM HOME. Needless to say, we all had a talk about how to handle these types of situations. My lesson was: even though they are older and more mature....my heart doesn't recognize that fact. My heart will always break, swoon and yearn for them. For their best. For their well being.

The next bit of evidence is their verbiage. The words they use and how they use them. "Mom, was this (item....movie, car, article of clothing) made in your time?". Them instructing ME how to preform certain household tasks or culinary procedures. Sheesh.

I know I am working myself out of this parenting job, and I accept that. The thing that has been unexpected is the heart ache. The turmoil of soul that training and raising this Quartet has brought is not something anyone could have prepared me for. My only hope is that I am the mother they need. That this teacher I am will give them all the tools and training they need to cultivate a love for learning and a love for God. I never knew this order was so tall.....may God help me.

Esther. 12yo. 7th grade.

Samuel. 11yo. 6th grade.

L-Joey and Zach. 9yo. 4th grade.

We're ALMOST there!

As I type Ben is removing the secondary subfloor in the dining/front room. This will allow him to lay the hardwoods without covering the baseboards. This is the last of our house projects. YAY!

We have stayed here for the past four nights. The kids bath is done now.

Now all we need to complete is.back.to.school.shopping. My brain will not compute. Didn't school just let out for the summer? Since I worked all summer I didn't get to see the kids as much as I would have preferred. BUT vacation is coming! Ben and I begin our vacation tomorrow!!!! I won't be back until the 8th of Sep. and Ben the 6th. The first day of school for the Twins and Sam is the 6th. Sis begins the 7th. I begin the 26th with my last full week of work being the 12th.

How has your Summer gone? Do YOU have any fantastic Fall plans?

And the list goes on

We have had the keys to the house for a week and a day. We've had a few set backs. Ben had to sand the hardwoods twice, and the tile work was set back by....technology. The new tile cement was touting ease of time, but it set up TOO quick. So, back to Home Depot for the regular stuff. I bet that was his tenth trip in a week. =D The kids have been helping TONS. I am so proud and blessed by them. They have been cleaning, painting and assisting Ben and I in our jobs. We have been assisted by our church family and my parents. Many others would love to help but 1) they have jobs or kids that need them 2) we're getting to the done side of this thing. YAY!

Thus far we are done with: painting, carpet cleaning, 1/2 bath renovation, carpet in master and first floor existing hardwoods.

What is left you may be thinking??? Today Ben will be laying the tile he cut, cutting and laying tile for the kids bath. The kids and I will be finding all the sprinkler heads and cleaning them. Moving their rooms over, moving the fridge in and possible moving our perishables over.

Tomorrow will be bathroom day. We'll be putting the toilets back and cleaning. Ben will begin to install the new hardwoods downstairs. By weeks end the ducts, furnace and AC will be cleaned, and the cable and internet will be swapped.

Ben and I have to work all next week, but the following week WE'RE OFF! YEEESSSSS! Some where in all of this I need to school supply shop with the kids. Oh yeah, and get a little rescue dog. =D

I love being my own landlord. Sweet Baby Jesus thank you LORD!

Sam. He blistered his hands and didn't even know.

Joe.

Zach.

Sam's room.

The Subway pick-nick we had the day we told the kids.