Saturday, September 21, 2013
Cheerleader in the Making
Even one of the cheerleading coaches' husbands said Chelsi is a born cheerleader. I agree. She loves cheerfair time of year and she did great. I had to video tape it this year. Hope her foster mom is reading.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Happy Birthday Jaemin!
I CANNOT believe my sweet baby boy is 5 already! My youngest child is actually 5! He has been such a blessing for the past 4 years and 3 months we've known him. We have not done any cake yet. We will be having grandparents, etc. over next weekend and he'll get to blow out his candles then. He did want biscuits and gravy for his birthday dinner, so that's what Brian made tonight and I made a quick stop at the store to get his orange juice. We gave him his birthday present too. He needed to have something to open ON his birthday. He liked the Duck Dynasty blanket okay. I really thought he would love it since he loves anything Ducky Dynasty, but it didn't quite strike him yet. He LOVED the Ninja Turtle color book best. Go figure, the $1 color book! But he's happy and he's made happy easily. What more could you love in a boy.
I took this picture this morning of my 2 birthday kids. Chelsi's birthday is tomorrow, but we won't be home together as a family until Saturday, so we're going to have her cake and ice cream then.
I took this picture this morning of my 2 birthday kids. Chelsi's birthday is tomorrow, but we won't be home together as a family until Saturday, so we're going to have her cake and ice cream then.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
My sweets
Now that the weather has cooled down, Jaemin couldn't wait to play outside. He actually stayed outside for awhile.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Growth for some
Chelsi and Jaemin lost a little weight, a few pounds each, for their annual checkup. Jaemin, of course, had to get a shot, but I chose to wait for the other shot and give his system some time. They both grew a couple of inches as well. Kaelin shot up 4 inches this year. The doctor thinks she's going to be relatively tall for a girl. Maybe even taller than mom!
Cole's all signed up for the ACT. He took it in the Spring and didn't do terribly for a sophomore, but he wanted to take it in October too. I hope he does considerably better just because it will boost his confidence. He said his teacher said it is all booked if we hadn't signed up by today, but we had no problem getting in when we logged back in. Now, we're having to have more specific discussions regarding colleges. He changed his list for who gets access to his ACT scores tonight. I really want to believe he's giving it his full effort. Time will tell just how much he's maturing with age.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Football Season
Just breath! Every time one of the kids starts their sports season, I get nervous. Especially, the ones that seem so hard and scary at times; football and wrestling. If Jaemin does it all one day, I'll be a wreck! Volleyball for Kaelin is tame at least.
Football already started, but today is Chase's first game since he broke his finger at camp. He'll have it all taped up under his gloves, receiver gloves over it and buddy taped on that. He gets to go back to doc in a couple of weeks and should be good to leave the tape off after that. This year he got a practice jersey with the same number as his playing jersey, so I have a jersey to wear to the game instead of the usual, boring shirts I always have to wear. Kind a different and hopefully breathing since it's going to be HOT!
Here's this year's official pictures and hopefully I'll get some good action shots too. I got my camera all fixed up and ready to go.
Football already started, but today is Chase's first game since he broke his finger at camp. He'll have it all taped up under his gloves, receiver gloves over it and buddy taped on that. He gets to go back to doc in a couple of weeks and should be good to leave the tape off after that. This year he got a practice jersey with the same number as his playing jersey, so I have a jersey to wear to the game instead of the usual, boring shirts I always have to wear. Kind a different and hopefully breathing since it's going to be HOT!
Here's this year's official pictures and hopefully I'll get some good action shots too. I got my camera all fixed up and ready to go.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Campout!
The men are gone tonight, so I promised the 3 little ones they could camp in the living room on the floor. We ate ice cream (IN THE LIVING ROOM) and they're watching Chimpmunks now. Hopefully, they'll go to sleep. I guarantee some of them will be in a recliner or on the couch by morning.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Funny Parenting Post
http://wellcommons.com/weblogs/larryvillemom/2013/aug/21/5-ways-were-making-parenting-harder/
They're totally serious, but this writer has a great sense of humor. I, personally, do not really find any fault with the way our parents raised us. They made mistakes like I do, but as a whole, I think they did well. I do think this author has a point, but it could go much further (at least 10) than 5 Ways. Add Facebook, etc. Not everything is puppy dogs and roses in life, but that's how a lot of parents want it to look on the outside. I don't know if it makes them feel better, superior or what exactly.
The good old fashioned ways of doing things isn't always worse. Sometimes, there's room to improve, but we don't have to make drastic changes to parenting to do that; just change with the changes. Such as you can't let your kids ride in the back of a pickup anymore. Obviously, you will get arrested for child endangerment. Parents find the need to compete with each other on how much time they're spending with their kids (but are they really if they're maxed out in activities and trying to have everything set up just perfectly for their child's life).
So, to begin with the 5 things the author mentioned:
1) Birthday Parties - Never done the themed thing. I know that would stress me out and no one, I repeat no one, wants ME stressed. We decided long ago that the kids would have parties for their birthdays at 1, 5, 10, 13, 16 and 18 (milestones). All other birthdays are only spent with those living in this house. The birthday kid gets their pick of supper and we have cake and ice cream. Not over indulgent, but it's still special. On the birthday years, they have their grandparents and Godparents over as well as picking 3 friends to come over or 1 friend to stay the night. We don't go to venues, etc. Just at home where they can play and adults have conversation.
2) Elf on a Shelf - Never did get this thing. Everyone brags about the time they spend doing this at work, but I personally find it hard to squeeze in the Tooth Fairy when random teeth of 5 kids fall out over the years. Apparently, the Tooth Fairy is over extended as well.
3) Organic Everything - Nope. 5 kids, 2 adults (may as well count the older 3 as adults too) means a very hefty grocery bill already. We throw in the fruits and veggies and make things from scratch, not a lot of processed foods or out to eat, so it's all good. That would break our budget and we'll all be fine.
4) Kids Sports - Yes, we do feel it's important for them to participate in AN activity. Not all activities. They don't need to be overextended and neither do we. Again, no one wants a stressed ME. They each pick one they love and we go with it. They'd rather be outside hunting, fishing, walking in the woods or just lying with our dogs than constantly be in a regimented activity almost 365 days a year. That's what most sports have come to. At least at our school. They'll be well-rounded this way. They even have time to squeeze in a job as our 16 year old has found.
5) Pinterest - I've seen some pretty cool things there. Only because other people have posted them on Facebook. All-in-all though, Pintest is too much for a Type A, OCD individual like myself. If I can do it, I may, but I don't need to have my house look like a magazine, my food look presentable enough to be on the internet or anything of the sort.
As for school lunches, if your school doesn't allow them to just eat anything, they're pretty healthy. I know ours are. Our kids are good with most of them. Occasionally, the 16 year brings leftovers to eat at school, but not too often.
Parents need to quit trying to outdo each other in the parenting arena and just parent. Quit trying to be better than every other mom out there (the most creative, the best cook, the most volunteered, the coolest, whatever). Try to just be mom. Be home. Have dinners together. Don't try to be their friend. Let them get hurt. They're going to eventually and we're here to protect them from life. Life hurts you, so they better be armed with how to deal....do it while they're still young. We need to help each other. Talk about our low days when we feel a lot less than perfect....you know you have them, admit it. It makes you feel better to find out you're NOT alone. Instead moms and (yes, some dads) spend all their time with their peers just trying to tear them down or make them feel inferior. What does that tell or say to our kids.
I'm not perfect and by the grace of God, my kids seem to be doing well as human beings, but we have to have done some things right. I pray I continue to find the right people to bounce my erroneous parenting ways off of to improve. And I will continue to steer clear of the ones that only exist to make me feel worse. The internet can be such a curse. We no longer have to visit at a child's birthday party, we just have to post all of our perfection on Facebook.
They're totally serious, but this writer has a great sense of humor. I, personally, do not really find any fault with the way our parents raised us. They made mistakes like I do, but as a whole, I think they did well. I do think this author has a point, but it could go much further (at least 10) than 5 Ways. Add Facebook, etc. Not everything is puppy dogs and roses in life, but that's how a lot of parents want it to look on the outside. I don't know if it makes them feel better, superior or what exactly.
The good old fashioned ways of doing things isn't always worse. Sometimes, there's room to improve, but we don't have to make drastic changes to parenting to do that; just change with the changes. Such as you can't let your kids ride in the back of a pickup anymore. Obviously, you will get arrested for child endangerment. Parents find the need to compete with each other on how much time they're spending with their kids (but are they really if they're maxed out in activities and trying to have everything set up just perfectly for their child's life).
So, to begin with the 5 things the author mentioned:
1) Birthday Parties - Never done the themed thing. I know that would stress me out and no one, I repeat no one, wants ME stressed. We decided long ago that the kids would have parties for their birthdays at 1, 5, 10, 13, 16 and 18 (milestones). All other birthdays are only spent with those living in this house. The birthday kid gets their pick of supper and we have cake and ice cream. Not over indulgent, but it's still special. On the birthday years, they have their grandparents and Godparents over as well as picking 3 friends to come over or 1 friend to stay the night. We don't go to venues, etc. Just at home where they can play and adults have conversation.
2) Elf on a Shelf - Never did get this thing. Everyone brags about the time they spend doing this at work, but I personally find it hard to squeeze in the Tooth Fairy when random teeth of 5 kids fall out over the years. Apparently, the Tooth Fairy is over extended as well.
3) Organic Everything - Nope. 5 kids, 2 adults (may as well count the older 3 as adults too) means a very hefty grocery bill already. We throw in the fruits and veggies and make things from scratch, not a lot of processed foods or out to eat, so it's all good. That would break our budget and we'll all be fine.
4) Kids Sports - Yes, we do feel it's important for them to participate in AN activity. Not all activities. They don't need to be overextended and neither do we. Again, no one wants a stressed ME. They each pick one they love and we go with it. They'd rather be outside hunting, fishing, walking in the woods or just lying with our dogs than constantly be in a regimented activity almost 365 days a year. That's what most sports have come to. At least at our school. They'll be well-rounded this way. They even have time to squeeze in a job as our 16 year old has found.
5) Pinterest - I've seen some pretty cool things there. Only because other people have posted them on Facebook. All-in-all though, Pintest is too much for a Type A, OCD individual like myself. If I can do it, I may, but I don't need to have my house look like a magazine, my food look presentable enough to be on the internet or anything of the sort.
As for school lunches, if your school doesn't allow them to just eat anything, they're pretty healthy. I know ours are. Our kids are good with most of them. Occasionally, the 16 year brings leftovers to eat at school, but not too often.
Parents need to quit trying to outdo each other in the parenting arena and just parent. Quit trying to be better than every other mom out there (the most creative, the best cook, the most volunteered, the coolest, whatever). Try to just be mom. Be home. Have dinners together. Don't try to be their friend. Let them get hurt. They're going to eventually and we're here to protect them from life. Life hurts you, so they better be armed with how to deal....do it while they're still young. We need to help each other. Talk about our low days when we feel a lot less than perfect....you know you have them, admit it. It makes you feel better to find out you're NOT alone. Instead moms and (yes, some dads) spend all their time with their peers just trying to tear them down or make them feel inferior. What does that tell or say to our kids.
I'm not perfect and by the grace of God, my kids seem to be doing well as human beings, but we have to have done some things right. I pray I continue to find the right people to bounce my erroneous parenting ways off of to improve. And I will continue to steer clear of the ones that only exist to make me feel worse. The internet can be such a curse. We no longer have to visit at a child's birthday party, we just have to post all of our perfection on Facebook.
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