Stories Of Sweetman's

January Cherry Pickin'

2011-01-17T12:39:00.000-08:00

What is Cherry Pickin'? You ask.
In the coupon world- it is going out to get the best deals for you from the store sales... so here is what I have gotten this week:

These two pics are of RITE AID cherry pickin' I started off with 6 toilet papers for $1.00, then I got $6 in UP Rewards, they are $1 off your next purchase coupons, so, that makes my TP- FREE! I then took the rewards back in and applied $3 to my Viactive chews and got back another $3 in rewards. I applied $1 of that to my facial tissue and got back yet another $1UPR. ALL of the school/office supplies were marked $1.99 and get a $2 reward. They were not ringing up correctly, so, they just zeroed them out for me and they were all FREE! Somewhere in that mix she took some money off the Viactives and anyhoot...So, I still have $4 in rewards to use thenext time I shop! That makes all of the TP below and everything up top $2 out of my pocket, SWEET Cherries!

OK- To the right of the TP is my Walgreens cherry pickin' 8 storage bags @ .99cents = $8, 1 therma care @ 2.50 - $1 coup AND then a $2.50 RR = FREE (coup that prints for next purchase.) 2 Lysols for $7 - $2 in coups + $2 in RR = $1.50 each, a snickers for .49cents, a pack of sharpies for .99cents, Joint Juice for $10 - $1 coup +$10RR, 3 Carefree pantiliners @ .99cents - $1.50 in coups-- Either way, I paid $1.06+$12.25+$.42 a total of $13.73 and I still have $4.50 left in RR- making out of pocket $9.23

Then there is .16 pillsbury and .75 campbells soup at Meijers

FREE Toothpaste at Krogers

and

.87 snuggles, .47 sauces and FREE yogurt at Walmart!

That was all apart of sweet Cherry Pickin'!

So- since it was so sweet, I had to go out for more...

I'll update soon!

Nolan Mark Sweetman- Our Angel

2010-11-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

I obviously am not much of a blogger, since my last post was in Feb.
I suppose it has become much easier to Facebook... Yet, this is an online journal type of activity and at this moment it is a good tool.
I went to the doctor on November 19th, my husband's birthday, to have a regular OB check up. I was four months pregnant, 16 weeks and 3 days to be exact. The baby's heart had stopped beating. I had gone in telling my doctor that I had not felt the baby and was worried because I knew I had at least felt flutters or something by this point in time. She stated that we would have an ultrasound and make sure, sure enough, it was gone. The baby had died. So, the next step was to choose to destroy and "abort" the baby or deliver the baby. We choose to deliver the baby in hopes to know what the baby was and to also see if why the baby died could be determined.
We went in, around 9PM, and they put a cream on my cervix to get my labor going. I actually progressed well. Sometimes it takes 48 hours plus to deliver this early and by 10:30 on the 20th I was ready (something we prayed for.) They stated that my placenta may not deliver easily and suggested an epidural in case the doctor needed to pull, tug, etc. When I laid back down after the epidural, typical Leah Sweetman delivery, the baby was there. The nurse delivered our little boy. The doctor came in and they took the cord from around his neck as it was twisted and wrapped four times. The cord had actually cut into his skin. They stated they had never seen one so young, so tangled. He was from the tip of my fingers to the palm of my hand. He was complete with fingers, toes, eyes that were opened, a sweet little mouth. He was obviously a boy, he had the cutest little legs and you could see his muscles and know his built was just like his daddy's. Mark and I held him, sang to him, prayed over him and kissed him. We named him Nolan Mark, a name we had pre-picked when we found out we were pregnant. We took pictures of him and yet do not desire to share them. Although to us he was as complete as he ever will be here in this place, I suppose we fear others may not understand as they look at a baby that small. I do not want to feel as though I need to explain his beauty because we know he for sure was beautiful. The children saw his photo, a photo where Mark was holding him in his hand. They all kissed it as we prayed at his burial. He was buried at the foot of Mark's mother's grave, she had just passed away from cancer. We took a blanket there, sat on it and read God's word together and listened to the song Better Is One Day. It is true, like God's word says, "Better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere." Nolan will never know the pain of this place. I praise God for that. Yet, I will never know Nolan in this life. I have to wait for eternity. I wonder how he will be, if he will be a baby, a boy, or a man. I wonder if he will know I am his mother there. I wonder if we will know who our family is there or if we will all just be related as children of God. Maybe it is prideful to desire him to know me. Yet, I pray I can one day know him. We are doing well. We have a sense of peace through the pain. I am empty now and confused. Nolan was a surprise pregnancy and we were both in a bit of shock to learn of him. Yet, now I just want the empty gone and I desire to be pregnant and have that 5th child that became apart of us and our dream. Many, especially family, were not too thrilled about our pregnancy. They however do not know what it became to us. Or maybe it is that they know how painful this child rearing can be. We know all too well how to love is to hurt. Thank God that love is worth it and it is the greatest of all from God. I wish Nolan was where he belonged, inside of me, his heart still beating, sucking his thumb as he grows into the 8 lb Sweetman baby he was dreamed to be. I wish I could tuck him into his room with his brother, knowing that those two boys just 2 years apart from one another would grow up being best friends, playmates, the cause of a few bruises to one another. There are many things I wish that will never be...so, I just pray. I pray that all of my children claim Jesus as their Lord and personal savior. I pray that this life will be so small in comparison to an eternity together in Heaven. Heaven is now a sweeter dream because Nolan is there. He was a gift to behold. The Lord gave and HE took away. I am sure he has his reasons and maybe one day I will understand them. Until then I know We Will Remember The Works Of His Hands (a song from church today, a reminder of the beauty!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoqV2ucPsaI

Reminded of Lent

2010-02-17T21:07:00.000-08:00

My friend Marcy reminded me, via her blog, that TODAY is Ash Wednesday! I am growing in my walk with God and this has been on my heart and mind -- yet I had not taken the time to look up when Lent season began. Today I was with a friend and had mentioned the need to look it up and see when Easter was (the Holy Spirit is so good!)
So, thank goodness for the good in Facebook that had me looking at Marcy's beautiful blog reminder. http://locustpointeacademy.blogspot.com/2010/02/focusing-on-lent.html
I have since stayed up and began planning our lent season. I printed a great calendar from
http://childrensministry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/lent-fridge-faith-2010.pdf
I also plan to limit the TV time and computer time we us as a family and spend more time in HIS word and doing HIS work.
I am going to ask my children to give up something and replace that time serving and being the BODY of Jesus. Ideas I have is using our prayer journals, adopting an elderly person from a nursing home, taking food to shelters, cooking a meal for someone each week, making cards, etc.
I also plan to make a paper mache Easter egg and leave a slit in it for the kids to write a love note to a family member each day and then on Easter we will open it and read the notes together. The direction for doing that are on the childrens ministry webste when you print the calendar.
I have been doing the Lord's Table course through www.Settingcaptivesfree.com and have been blessed through this study to be able to reconize the gift of the Holy Spirit more in my life. I menion this because I am so thankful that God did not let me miss another day of this Lent season. It was on my mind, in my heart and I am thankful that I get to focus more on HIM and plan to stay more in tune with my fathers plan.
Please pray that this season is special to my children, husband and myself and pray that God brings us closer to HIM through this time. I too will pray for you and as Marcy is doing on her blog--please give us as a family any special request so that we can write them in our journals and lift you and yours up in our prayer time.
BE BLESSED AND BE CLOSE TO YOUR FATHER THIS LENT SEASON AND ALWAYS!

My Brinley Gale

2010-02-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

This is my beautiful daughter, Brinley Gale, who will be turning 3 on 3:16 ;)
She has a speech delay and has trouble communicating, yet she is LIGHT and so beautiful to us. She can run in my high heels, faster than I could. She calles them her "ancy ooes" (fancy shoes)and she is almost always in a pair. Here lately she has chosen my wedding shoes. Mark asked if I was going to just let her play in them and I said "well, at least someone is wearing them!" She loves to say "ance" with me mommy and I spin her around the kitchen as she twirls. We have a fireplace in our family room and the fireplace area is her stage where we watch he "ing" (sing) many times a day. She can carry a tune. I am in prayer for my sweet baby because she is about to go to school for a pre-school program through our county where they will offer her speech for free twice a week. She is happy and says "I go ool, ee!" ( I go to school speech!) I am torn about it because I know she needs the speech help so much yet the idea of her not being home with me 4 half days a week just seems unreal.
I understand her words and I am afraid that the teachers, ect won't be able to and that they will miss the way my baby shines and how smart and special she is.
Please say a prayer for Brinley, so that she will get her words this school year (March-June) and not need to go again next fall.
Anyway--back to her-- she is the best big sister who loves her "baby" and takes such great care of him, to include pulling him by his neck out of the bathroom as he attempts to play in the toilet (his favorite new pass time) or she will share her food with him in the car (like when he was about 5 months old and she fed him a fry!)
The love she has for him and her other siblings is so precious. I am blessed that they do not have jealousy--yet really find joy in one another and even our 12 yr old, Nathan, would do anything for his Brinley Gale.
Brinley's favorite things to do right now are to cut, play playdough, read her picture books, sing, dance, do "school" and eat her rice cakes!
I thank God for her, she makes me "SO HAPPY" and she says I make her the same. It could not get much better than this!

A Stay at Home Moms Title

2010-02-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

You know,I think I need to change my name to a driving mom or an on the go mom. I do not feel like I am ever a stay at home mom. Yes we "homeschool" but outside of our school moment we seem to be out of the house, out the door. My house and my van can show the proof! I want to simplify things a bit and actually stay at home... driving Alexus to and from her school each day stinks. It is about a 2 hour out of the day job to do by time you load and unload 5 other children and sit in the car riders line. I have thought about changing her school, but with not knowing what will happen at our next court date with her, I guess it is just better to keep her there. Then at least she also won't have another change to face in this 6 yr old world she is in.
O well-- until then I guess we will be an on the go each day kind of family. I used to LOVE Tuesdays and Thursday knowing we could stay in PJ'S all day if we wanted too! Pretty soon we will be back to co-op Monday's, bball practice and YMCA Tuesday's, Church Wednesdays, Bball practice and YMCA Thursdays and Field Trip Friday's--top the week off with Bball game Saturdays and Church Sunday's and tell me if homeschoolers are unsocialized?
I need a vacation---in my home for a week!

2010-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm not on here much---yet I am going to try to update the "blog world!"

I have lost weight--between 8-10 pounds in 17 days. I am giving all the glory to GOD because I am not on a "diet" per say, yet I am on a life style change; a change of heart where I note that I have made food way to important to me...I am a noted glutton who lived in sin where food is concerned. I am using the tool www.setttingcaptivesfree.com to help me on this walk. They have a program called The Lords Table and it is a FREE, 60 days of intense Bible study, geared to free you from gluttony program! I pray I chose to obey God and turn to HIM instead of food in my boredom, stress, etc....resulting in the added bonus of weight loss!

Brinley Gale had her speech evaluation yesterday for Jefferson county public schools. After she turns three in March the bus will come and take my baby to school four half days a week where she will have speech on two of those days. It is a very hard thing for me to do--yet she wants to go and is happy about going on the school bus and she needs the extra push by kids and teachers alike to get her out of the comfort of where we understand her mumbles. We know "me ush ma ee" means I want to brush my teeth and unfortunately it is not helping her to communicate better so that others can understand her.

Bryson is WALKING...when he wants to of course. He is still favoring to crawl but he gets up in the middle of the room alone and walks when he chooses! All of the kids are pumped about that.

WE DID SCIENCE! HA! I am making myself do it FIRST a couple of days out of the week. So often I do not get to it because we wait until after lunch and by then we are all just done with school. SO--now science will be an AM class a couple of days a week. Today we made soap and looked at the embryo of a bean! Yeah us!

Nathan is doing much better and has done his school very well here lately. I have all the older children in basketball and they are doing great and having fun. Brianna and Alexus have made baskets which they just are so happy about having made.

We have started to attend a new church. We do not know where God is going to take us with this but we know he has guided us this far. It has been great, full of "meat" and like minded large homeschooling families. They do lots of outreach work, separate their boys and girls in middle and high for Sunday school programs. They also have K and up go into service with you, which Mark and I have really enjoyed that worship time with the kids. It is an adjustment, we love our church family--but we really hear God saying "it is time for you all to go."

Changing ME...

2009-12-27T22:59:00.000-08:00

I know I can do this...
I am at a spot where choices have to be made. I have to choose if I should continue this homeschool walk with Nathan. I do not respond to his ADD, learning style, attitude, et well at all at times and I want to change the cycle that Nathan and I are on. It is so hard. Often times I feel like the woman God talks about who tears down her own house with her words and hands. I am destroying my relationship with Nathan. I want him to feel wonderful as he is, I do not want him to think that he needs medication or anything else to be wonderful. I know he is smart. My husband even said "heck if he can catch a squirrel, kill it, skin it, BBQ it, eat it, etc then he is good to go, lol! Seriously though, I just want us to make it. I strongly feel that even if he were in school we would have the same issues, because he is my Nathan, and I am his mom. We are going to have problems until I change the cycle of response. Your fuse gets shorter after so many years of repeating yourself. YET, I love him and I want him to feel that. I want to be TEAM NATE'S # 1 FAN!
If we learn nothing else this school year, please be with me in prayer, that we learn that I love him and that he chooses to have respect for me! I will update about our progress soon!
Thanks!

The Body

2009-12-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

Today was a day that held mixed emotions. Someone at church brought me $300 in gift cards! I guess it is a moment where it was super helpful yet I felt guilty. I mean we have so much more than so many. I did not ask for this, yet it was an obvious blessing. It does not take me venting to show that 8 people on one income is not always easy, lol! Yet, we have been managing. Mark about went into a depression. We do not know who the giver is/was. An elder just stated "as a church when someone gives us a huge amount of money, should we say "well, we are doing OK, we do not need this." or do we take it and be thankful for it?"
AWW how I long to be in the spot again to be the giver. My comfort is knowing that God knows that if we had it we would give it too. I cant be worried about those who gave, I can only be thankful. Although it is KILLING me not to know who did that! lol
They were HIS body to us and I am thankful for that.
How has HIS body blessed you .... He is a pretty GREAT GOD!

Our Family Member update

2009-12-03T19:27:00.001-08:00

Mark- His mom was diagnosed with lung cancer and tomorrow he goes to the chemo doctor with her to find out the treatment plan. It is stage four with 1-3 years given thus far, please keep her in your prayers. He has also finished a job at Ft Knox and may have the chance for a new position, yet that will not be for another year! Money is tight, but we can tucker through this year!

Leah- Is back in a decent homeschool routine. Adjusting to the new two little ones. Trying to get back to the YMCA enough to make a difference in my energy levels!

Nathan- Is doing much better is SO many areas. I am proud of his spirit and know that he is maturing. School may never be his favorite thing to do, yet he is getting through!

Brianna- Loves her school work, loves working along side Mark at all times in the yard etc. She is having some heart issues with adjusting to my neice being here (the same age as her!) Yet she says she is glad that she is here and all in all is doing well.

Alexus- Is missing her mommy and daddy a lot, yet is starting to have an easier time going to sleep. She has never slept in her own bed and is only doing so at my house. When she visits at her gmas house they let her sleep with them too. So, it is almost like we are the mean ones, stinks. She does really well at school. Her teacher tells me that she is JOY! That is beautiful to hear. I am glad she has a teacher who loves her.

Brinley- Can go to preschool on her 3rd bday if I sign her up through her speech program. I have many choices to make in that area. I will miss her so much, yet I know she needs more help with her speech. I think I will give it a try and if it makes her sad or upset then I will rethink the choice. She may enjoy it and need the break from Jaylyn (my 2 yr old neice.) I stillreally can not imagine putting my baby on a bus, even if it is for 3 hours- 4 days a week...hmmmm

Jaylyn- really is having a sad time with the separation from mommy and daddy, she asks for them a lot through out the day. She really has a lot of fun during our school day though and loves the YMCA.

Bryson- is getting braver. We MAY have a walker by Christmas. He is getting more teeth and is a horrible teether...he has a hard time with it. Pain must not be his thing! He has become SUCH A GOOD BABY now...major switch in words from a few months back! He is so funny and happy all the time PTL!

That's the update...

MAJOR LIFE CHANGES

2009-11-23T21:02:00.000-08:00

Well, within two months my whole world has been turned around. I have sent my foster daughter of almost 2 yrs home to her birth family, who never allows her to communicate with us, fun. I have also sent my step sister, age 15, who we have had for a year; home to her mom through our wonderful CPS system. I sat without extra children for about two weeks and then helped out my sister for a moment. A moment that turned into a CPS case and resulted in me getting temp placement of my two nieces ages 2 and 6. Let the adjustements begin. We have done pretty well all in all. My grandma and aunt came down the day of court and washed the backed up laundry after we had two weeks of chaos dealing with issues leading up to court. LOVE THEM! Now we have managed to do some school again and start getting to know these girls who will be at home with us for awhile. My children are adjusting alright, minus the fears I think my 6 yr old has. It was hard with what we went through with our FD and now I think my girl is thinking that she is about to take the back burner after all the mess we just came out of. So, making sure everyone knows how loved they are is key! We have never spent much time with my nieces as they have had parents that lived different than us. Yet, we look forward to getting to know them and having them know that they can trust and depend on us. It is most fun to introduce them to our church family and the love of GOD!
That is our family update, being that I have not been on since October!
Enjoy!
In HIS love
Leah

Life Can't Be Vacation All The Time

2009-10-07T18:49:00.000-07:00

As we were driving home from our WONDERFUL blessing of a Disney vacation this past Sep. I told my husband how "I wished everyday was a vacation day, where I could wake up and say where I am going to go to be entertained today? What fun am I going to be apart of?" My husband looked at me and said "Why isn't everyday a vacation for you? You do not have to go to work, you get to be home with the kids and you all could wake up and see what entertaining things the day holds!" He had me stumped! I was thinking why did Disney feel like Heaven and home felt like a place I dreaded to be at times! Then the reasons hit me, my husband is not with me all the time at home, it is just me and all the kids add school work, laundry, dishes, etc etc then you add the bills that come in the mail, the bank account that usually does not have the bill money in it all the way and the stress of our fostering children and balancing them with our bio children. Yeah, you know, the WORK GOD has for me to do! I guess we can't be on vacation all of the time, it leaves little room to grow, lean on God and become closer to HIM! I failed BIG time on our GOD time at Disney. I was so focused on entertaining our family that I did not take the time each day to spend with HIM! I think HOME is where my heart is and it is often where I call unto HIM and ask him to show me my work and help me to do it well.

I think vacation is great, do not get me wrong! We needed that time, we craved that time together! YET, there should be a balance, where home is entertaining and where our work can be done in joy!

Although being that Disney was so GREAT, it made me really know that I can't wait to see what Heaven is like!! :)

Has school begun?

2009-08-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Looking around blog world seems a bit slow and faded right now...
I am thinking most of us are only able to drop one liners on FB due to our schedules getting tight again. I pray all is well and school has begun smoothly!!
Enjoy your children! See ya soon!

Utoh, Here They Come and I Am Thankful

2009-08-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

Bryson is now cutting teeth. God love him, it looks like the two bottom ones will be a two for one!
It saddens me that he is that big already, yet, I feel so blessed.
A dear friend from church shared with me this past Sunday about the death of her grandson, who was due to be born in just 5 weeks of his death. The family is so heartbroken and it just breaks my heart to think about their loss. Please join me in prayers for baby James AND of course his family. May God heal their hearts and give them peace.
For now... I will rock my baby until he can feel less pain and thank God for the ability to hold him tonight.

How Do You Afford To Live

2009-07-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so inflation is the word and I really kept thinking, "I don't really see how the cost of gas can make me so broke!" I know it is more than the gas, etc. I guess until now I did not realize that about all of our expenses have gone up about 30% and we are holding on here. How about you?
How are people living off of one income, ok, modest, income at this time? We just moved our AC to 80 degrees, for anyone who knows us, that may just do us in!
I am curious how others are making it, what percentage is your house payment to your monthly income? I feel our house is modest, I love our house and do not want to let it go and my husband said "it really would not make that much of a difference to move, we can't afford to LIVE!"
So, share with me how your making it work!
Our house payment at this time, with my husbands OT cuts is now 45% of our monthly earned income. Yup, that is over what it should be huh! Groceries are at 20%, utilities are at 20%, gas is 20%, so that about does us in!
Ohh, yeah, we are still going to Disney, no comments please, lol! The trip is paid for and seriously, it would not make a dent in life, it would be like getting an extra paycheck because we have downsized the trip! So, we are going to have a bit of fun on our way out, hehe! After a year and a half of CPS, foster care hell, we are taking it!
In HIS love
Leah

I Suppose An Apology Is What You Need

2009-07-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

I suppose an apology is in order;
I must have done you wrong.
I suppose that when you look around you ,
You see that I am the one who doesn’t belong.
I suppose that you think that it is my fault, my doing,
It was me that abandoned your child.
You don’t look in the mirror or to your family;
They way that everyone left her, how it drove her wild?
I suppose that because I loved and that because I gave;
Must be the way I am wrong, I’ll take that to my grave.
I suppose it must have been the hugs, the prayers, the kisses, the fun
That did us in.
I suppose you just wanted her to sit and wait and cry until you began.
Until you began to see that you wanted more, until you chose to heal;
The way you treat me for loving her, in my mind is unreal.
I suppose an apology is what you need because with me she sang a song.
She could have been hurt, abused, or felt like she did not belong.
She and I will take the hit, we will pay the price.
Because to you the love we feel is not wanted, needed or advised.
It seems to me that you need me to apologize.

I love your daughter because she grew in my home.
I love your daughter because our family is where she has roamed.
I love your daughter because she was given to us to love.
I love your daughter even though it hurts to love.

I suppose I should say I am sorry to you, for getting in the way;
I can only hope that you should see that she is better for it one day.
It was not always easy or always fun;
A broken child can drain you, can drain anyone.
Yet I did not leave her, I did not walk away.
I have stayed loving, supporting and providing for her to this very day.
Yet for now I will apologize because that must be what you need.
I am sorry that you have hate for someone who served your family indeed!

Trying Something New...

2009-07-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 20, 2009

Friend Makin' Monday: Vacations
Hi Everyone! I just found out about this "Friend Makin Monday". Something that Kasey @ All That is Good has started! If you need a quick update on the rules and such, you can go here. You can link up at the end of this post with the direct link to your post for Friend Makin' Monday. Monday's task was~ VACATIONS!!
This task has two parts {numbered ever-so-nicely for you}. You can do either one or both ~ it's up to you!1. Tell us about the best {or worst} vacation that you've ever taken.2. Tell us FIVE places/vacations that you would like to take at some point your life. It doesn't have to be next year...maybe it's the vacation of a lifetime or somewhere you just dream of going years from now.
So, even though I am late, I am trying to see if I have this right, as I am new to Mrlinky too...
So, here is the try:

Our best vacation: I pray is still to come (we are going to DISNEY in Sep.) Yet I have had some great ones already. I have been to Italy, Greece, Bahamas, Florida, S Dakota, etc. My BEST so far may be the cruise with my husband for our honeymoon. It was to the Bahama's yet it was the time on the boat that rocked (no pun intended!)

Since I am late on this game...I'll stick to one task this week and look forward to seeing about doing this again next Monday... If it works out for me!

Mark and Me ;)

2009-07-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

I think this may be one of just a few pics of Mark and I alone!

It is something nice to have!

2009-07-20T20:04:00.001-07:00

We had our family pictures today! The photographer was great, Shanna Simpson, you can see more at http://shannasimpson.com/blog/

These photos are the sneak peaks she sent... I can't wait to see everything and get some up on my walls! Micaela has always wanted a family picture to include her. She would often say "I'm not in that picture" really sadly when looking at the ones we had done before she came to us! I know she may not be here much longer but we are a family and this is our photo~ 2009

What a blessing it was to have Shanna come out to the house. With this many kids JC Penny's seemed like a nightmare! Thank you Shanna!!!

IT's BACK....

2009-07-18T19:18:00.000-07:00

OK, so I have previously posted my concern to ever again regain the desire to home educate my children! Well, it is easing it's way back into my life! I have done our first week of "summer school" last week! We did quite well! Nathan is in football now and that routine of his has helped a lot! Brianna has enjoyed file folder games and an All About Me lapbook as well. This week I plan to add in Micaela with her ETC A,B,C book set. I am learning that with this many kiddo's in different levels, I need much more time to get things done than I previously needed! The problem of course is this little man who thinks sleep is over rated and that my arms are his domain! So, hopefully as summer ends and as Sep comes around he will be better at resting and playing without me! I just thought I would share that YES, when you are DONE, IT can return!
I went to Gheens (teacher resource place in KY) today and laminated more games, name plates, etc and really got myself in the groove for next week' school work!
You can find the fun file folder games that I am using at Shanna Clark's website
http://integritasacademy.wordpress.com
In HIS love,
Leah

VENTING....

2009-07-13T08:47:00.001-07:00

OHH I am so ANGRY! I woke up and thought here we go, great school day! We are going to get on track. I had told the kids after camp that we were going to start school back up so that our time off in Disney and our slacking last year due to having the baby etc. would all hopefully even out! Well, DAY 1... I just wanted N,11 to do a math lesson, his first lesson in Writing Strands and play a file folder game! Well, WS went OK... Math is still going an hour later!

Gotta get cha WOOHOOO back!

2009-07-11T20:08:00.001-07:00

I was sharing with my aunt this past weekend, as we were at Kings Island and at my gmas house on the lake, that I miss my WOOOHOOO! One might ask "what's a WOOOHOOO?" Well, your WOOOHOOO is when you let it all out and just have FUN! I remember when I was younger, any ride at K.I. was game! I LOVED the fastest, tallest coaster rides and spin me around baby as fast as you could because I was going to WOOOHOOO all the way through! NOW, as I was in line for the Diamond Back, I was calling Mark to say my final goodbyes and stated how the only reason I was talked into that ride was because IF I died I would at least leave them rich when KI had to settle! On the lake, I thought, "I'll tube with Brinley" because I know my aunt y'all... people go flying off the tubes....I was one of those WOOOHOOO'N awhile back as I body slammed into the water! Well, you would not believe this but she dumped me AND my 2 yr old! It was a AGHHHH moment!
"Why would one loose their WOOOHOO?" You might ask!
I think in my case it is because I have had some children in my life that once the WOOOHOOO would start they did not know how to calm back down. So, I thought that if I just would think of my kids as a boiling pot of water, that if I just kept the lid on, they would not boil over, out of control. So, I started to lid up my WOOOHOOO's to control theirs and well I think that I need to get them back out more often! As I was in line for that coaster, I saw people twice my age there and twice younger too. I am not TOO OLD to have a WOOOHOO! Then as I drove home I remembered how I used to sing SO LOUD in the car and I said next time when they are all awake, I am going to sing LOUD again and if it drives me a bit bonkers to hear all of them singing then well, I am gonna WOOOHOOO through it!
Being a mom should not always have to be SO SERIOUS. I think when we loose our WOOHOO'S we may start loosing fun parts of ourselves that God could use to make our children laugh and show them that loving HIM can be a fun lifestyle full of WOOHOO moments!

Post some WOOOHOOO moments on my blog and well... GET CHA WOOHOO BACK TOO!

Bridges

2009-07-07T18:56:00.001-07:00

I feel like I am a divorced woman awaiting for a bridge to be built with my ex for the sake of my child. I am a foster mom. A mom who has been raising a little one for 17 months now, from the time she was 2 and a half to now 4 yrs old! She is to be reunited soon from what they now say. I have to start thinking about helping her to transition into her new home. I am going at this blind and with a heavy heart. I do not have a relationship with the birth mom, this is all new and it will be a "process" so I am told. I do however know this little one and I know she has no idea that she would ever wake up one day and not be mine. I am mommy to her, my husband is daddy and our children make up her family. I know that she is going to be sad if bridges are not built. I will be broken hearted if I am never able to share with her birth mom the stories that I hold dear to my heart in concerns with our little one. I want her to know the kind of oatmeal she likes, I want her to know how much she loves Toby Mac and how she is a worshiper with music. I have so many funny moments, so many personality growths, so much knowledge about this little one to share. What will my little one feel like to have lost the routine of how she was tucked in for the past year and a half? I hope a bridge can be built. We know that the children of parents who are divorced do better if the parents communicate. This mom struggles having a conversation with me. I do not know if the bond her child, our child, has with me is too painful. I do not know if she feels judged, etc. I only know I want a bridge. I need one, my little one needs us to put us away and her first! Please join me in prayers for a bridge to be built!

Jumping, Bouncing Baby Boy

2009-07-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

Sweet little Bryson who loves to be on my hip,
Daddy got him a bouncer to see if he would sit!
He enjoyed the toy for a moment but then puffed out his lip,
He thought, "mommy bounces when she walks", and he threw a fit!
Bryson knows that toys do not make up for mommy's hold,
I pray that this hip bouncing is not his favorite way, as he gets old!

Thank you Shanna Clark - File Folder Games are GREAT!

2009-07-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Brianna really enjoyed playing the Rainbow Ice Cream file folder game that Shanna Clark created! I loved that the cones did not use the correct colors to spell the color names, like some games do, that give away the answers! Brianna actually had to read each color word and the add the correct topping to the cone! She really felt proud when it was all said and done and asked "mom, can I play another one?" I thank you Shanna for reminding me of this great homeschool tool and encouraging me to use them more often! I look forward to adding to my collection!

Proud little one...

You really should go and get some yourself! The Clark's sell their FF creations at their online website that is full of inspiration and fun! Just click on the link below!! All of their file folder games are available for purchase individually or as a collection on their Collection 1 Cd-ROM!

http://integritasacademy.wordpress.com/file-folder-games/

Shanna Clark's File Folder Games ROCK!

2009-07-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

Prayers for Emily and her family

2009-07-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

I went to the North American Christian Convention or conference, whatever is was, this past week and read an article about Me Time in a free outdated issue of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. It really blessed me. The woman who wrote the article had her families photo in it and under it stated that the baby girl in the photo had died at 7 months of age. It gave her blog address and just a bit ago I went to visit to see what happened to this precious baby. I have spent the past hour or so reading the grief entries from this mom, Amy about her beautiful Emily. I struggle so much with joy right now. I am in the process of loosing Micaela and I think about how I want her to leave me. A part of me is just so shut down and I don't want to give anymore, I'd rather her be mad at me so that she never has to miss us. I just want my family to be who it is going to be and I want her to be with her birth mom since that is what they (CPS) are going to do. I just want it done. Yet, there is a process of transition to go through and I want Micaela to feel loved as she leaves us. We have been her family for 17 months. I need to trust that there was a purpose for that time. As I read through this moms blog, although the circumstances are so much different, I could not help but to be encouraged to hold and love the children, including Micaela just a bit tighter, for as long as God privileged me to do so. I pray for this family. Emily was born on the 4th of July, she would have been 2. I am sure Micaela's mom weeps for her. I get to have the opportunity to give her back her daughter who I pray is a little girl who has felt loved while her mother healed. It is not about me more than ever right now. Please pray for us as we go through this, pray for Micaela, her mom and our family to be able to build bridges and help Micaela to not feel anymore loss. Also, please pray for Amy and the rest of Emily's family so that they can have total peace from God and that their hearts can feel joy in knowing that she is in HIS arms.

To learn more about Emily you can read her families blog..
http://raising-arrows.blogspot.com/

Will IT come back again...

2009-06-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

OK, I am supposed to be doing school on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer!
I have done notta thing! I say this also as we still have not finished our last years work (that being the reason for the summer school!)
I have that feeling of becoming the school bus mom or just having my kids desire to self educate in about 10 years! Will the desire to teach return? Is this JUST summer time? It is the end of June and I do not think that it has hit me that it is even SUMMER time yet! Although my school desire is nill to none! Anyone else feeling this burn out...this gonner of an emotion? I need to take a dip in the pool...I have not yet...maybe that will give me my summertime feel and I will become a motivated educator again!

In Bloom

2009-06-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

Welcome to our garden... worked on by Mark and enjoyed by us all...

Lovely Lillies...

Many Hens and Chicks

Bee Bomb, I believe ;)

Don't know, yet I enjoy...

Our Family Flower, Lantana's

A view...

A Bumble Bee on my favorite flower friend, my lavendar!

I pray sweet sites, smells and touches are around you too...

Things have come to pass...

2009-06-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

Bryson Knox, now 5 months old, has found feet and toys...

Ate his first meal and loved every bite...

Yup, every bite...so much so that taking pics was not wanted.

The girls are loving summer and the ice cream in the freezer...

Micaela has since turned 4!!

Brinley Gale has decorated the house...yes, that is also on her lips, her room was decorated in PUKE later that evening!

Micaela has had a haircut, as had the other children, PTL!

She enjoyed this...

The Sweetman children, Nathan and Brianna have graduated from their homeschool courses of the year....

And, well, me.... I am thinking "I thought summer time was supposed to be RELAXING?"

Still Alive...

2009-06-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

No pics yet, I will post more when I am alive! We went to Ohio this past weekend, my boy is on the dock of the bay fishing his time away still. We go and switch Brianna for Nathan next Monday. They love going to gma's house! She has the LAKE and all the SNACKS!!
We have come out of graduations, disney dinning plan stuff, a baby who ate his first foods, and school's out for summer... ohh we survived M's birth family wedding stress also! I should have NEVER signed up for this foster mom business....way to stressful for me. I was thinking today about Brinley and Bryson and how wierd it would be for them and for Micaela to wake up one day and not have each other. We are talking HALF of Micaela's life has been here with them and she loves them so much. It is such a mess...join me in praying it to be over soon!!! I just need what is going to happen to happen. I need to know who my family is and I need to be able to live my life without this stress! It is breeding hate in me and I "hate" that! :)
But anyways.... summer should start to slow down now... the pool is open and the kids are tanning, lol!

Teaching For Christ 3rd Annual Cookout @ The Sweetman's

2009-05-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my small group, Teaching For Christ! Each year since Bethany and I started this small group we have hosted the FAMILY picnic for Memorial Day! This year we moved the date, in case of rain, to Friday! The weather was perfect, the food was great and the fellowship, as always, was the best! :)
Enjoy pics of super great friends whom we are so blessed to share this homeschooling journey with!
The pool stayed pack, until about 11PM :)

My hubby, Sarah and Brianna...

My "Little Man" happy in Laurie's arms...

My Brinley Gale who would not stay holding onto her noodle...

My Micaela who despite not really liking the pool, enjoyed herself and told me tonight "Mom, I don't cry anymore, I just float around...I like the pool now!"

My Nathan and Camden :) Who Bethany stated really did not like water too long ago, he really ended up having a great time in the pool!

The kids having fun...

Daddy and Brin...

Great friends...

O.K. Friends

Super mom Amy...and Chris reading in the gazebo...

So glad to have Laurie back :)

Bethany and beautiful Lincoln, who loves aunt Leah's sweet tea!

9 minivans, 12ish adults and many many children = a homeschooling cookout :)

Our Schoolroom

2009-05-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

When I first started homeschooling I wanted to see other homeschool families schoolrooms, know what a "school day" looked like at their house, etc etc. Dana Britt recently posted schoolroom pics on her blog and got me wanting to show off my creation that we have been working on for the past couple of years! So, here is the
SWEETMAN SCHOOLHOUSE SCHOOLROOM:

You go down the stairs...

Into the kids familyroom...

And there you go...

The little ones have things to do...

Our dry erase board and shelves and we use a table for our work area...

Brianna at times also uses the little desk...

We have a sink area, nice for art...

You can also see our "library" on the shelves in the kids familyroom area!

On the otherside of our fridge I have ABC-123 mat puzzle pieces with magnets for sentences, and hooked on phonics, etc as a center area for the kids to use also.

BOTANY AND ASTRONOMY NOTEBOOKS :)

2009-05-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available. You can see samples on the Apologia website here:
These journals are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal.
Each of the notebooking journals include:
A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
Review Questions
Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice
Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.
See the sample pages here:
Botany: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=128
and
Astronomy: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=127
Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: www.jeanniesjournal.com

ME? Go to work? Well OK!

2009-05-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

I have an interview tomorrow at Days Inn... I am so scared that they might actually hire me. lol
Mark had stated that he was going to go and get a second job, well, I can't have him working two jobs and me being at home, so off I went to put in applications for front desk clerks for 2nd shift. Now I am scared. On one hand I can see having the evenings "off" from motherhood and enjoy some adult conversation, a good book in between guest and have the baby brought in once to feed. Yet on the other hand, I am thinking about all that I will miss. I will be missing dinner with my children, probably weekend time with my family, tucking them in at night...hmmm, I will never be in bed before midnight. How do I do this....
I guess I will have to just think about it as being from 4:30-8:30 without my kids, then they would be in bed either way. That is if they even would hire me for the hours of 5-midnight.
I just pray that my babies will be OK and that this won't cost them anything...
hmmm....me....working, well, OK...We will see...

FIELD DAY 2009

2009-05-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

This would be the result of a dream that Nathan and I had... when we pulled Nathan out of 2nd grade in December of the school year, as spring came along we thought "What about Field Day?"
So, my friend Bethany and I said "OK, time to get one together!" We have since held Field Day at Fairdale Christian Church for the past 4 years!!! This past year was different though because Bethany and I had to let Field Day go. We both grew by leaps and bounds family wise this past year, as a matter of fact Bethany was in Africa picking up her two new sons during this event!
A wonderful large homeschooling family, The Clark's, made a choice to plan field day 2009! Our homeschool group Home For His Glory also helped and sponsored the event! Many hands went into the pot to pull it off! God even blessed us with no rain until about 5 minutes after they had cleaned up!
It was so super! We had a blast, although it was quite muddy out that day! The kids really look forward to and enjoy this time with our homeschooling community! It is after moments such as these that I am reminded how God loves us and has given us so much! Some people struggle to belong, fit in and have friends. God has blessed our family with a whole community of people to love and share our homeschooling journey with! Thank you HFHG and especially the Clark family for all of the hard work put into this years Field Day!!

Check out the mud on Nathan ;)

Toddler Tank :Brinley Gale- Toddler Tank is the BEST!!

Awards! Micaela!

Awards! Brianna!

Ball Game: Micaela

Toss: Nathan

Marble Toes: Brianna

Meeting Maynard's

2009-05-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

Today was the DAY!! We met Bronx and Lincoln Maynard as they came off the plane to Kentucky from Ethiopia to be with their FOREVER FAMILY! The kids (mayman's) were so pumped as we drove to the airport to see their new brothers and friends! We just all waited with so much joy and hearts full of "hurry!" When we saw Bethany and Paul walking up we pushed the Maynard children out front and started being the picture people! Nathan and Brianna really enjoyed meeting the boys! Nathan said "Mom, can we go to Africa and get some brothers!" Enjoy the photo's of new forever friends and family member meet one another!

WELCOME HOME MAYNARD FAMILY...WELCOME HOME!

a BIG ole circle of LOVE!

TQ, a bit emotional! :)

2009-05-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

I sent Mark to go and get the $8.00 group photo for each girl and he brought me back all of these! The group photo's are on top of sheets of wallets! I THOUGHT by sending in the man, he would stick to the plan. I knew I could not have...well...I learned he could not either! At least this way *I* did not spend the money!! :)

Micaela's beautiful pictures- it was so big the whole thing would not fit ;)

My Brianna is so beautiful inside and out :) I love how she works so hard and enjoys her Dance program! We are so blessed that she is able to be part of this program this year!

Mayman's

2009-05-02T18:36:00.001-07:00

Well, we did the park! We seen some drama unfold between a fairdalian and a mexican, the mexican stole the fairdalians fishing pole, entertainment to say the least! The boys fished, the girls fed ducks! We seen mommy ducks with babies, TOO CUTE!
We talked about all of the predators the mommy had to protect her babies from, so we had science class! We came home and the little ones took a nap, the girls went to the church playground. I looked out the window to check on the girls and they were gone! Mark was outside on the roof "watching" them. He drove over to find them as my heart stopped beating and I was screaming their names like a mad woman. Well, I look over and he had them in the parking lot. He said they went inside the church to pee. So, they lost their afternoon snacks for scaring me to death and their park rights have been revoked. I know I am strict! It is next door, but things outside of my yard freak me out! Nathan cooked chicken on the grill. Carson ate corndogs, lol!
Theu boys went down the road to a derby party, the girls stayed home and took baths for hours! Nnow they are watching Bethovan 6 or something! They are all cuddled on the counch! The boys are downstairs watching the same movie in guy land!
Tomorrow we will attempt church with all these kids and then let the family take them to their evening church events, because Sarah wants to bring a boy over for a date! I also really need a chance to put away some laundry! Sarah will get the house cleaned for the boy....woohoo! Till next time...

Mayman update: Day 3

2009-05-01T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well, today is Friday and we went to the zoo, actually had great weather and even bumped into another homeschooling family there! We started our day off with homemade pancakes and eggs for breakfast. We arrived at the zoo around 11, the kids had a great time. The water park was open, I sure wish I would have thought to check on that, it was beautiful! Oh, well. We did Mc D's for lunch afterwards. Then we came home and the little ones took a nap, Annie loves naptime at Aunt Leah's :) After nap the outdoors were still calling. We had a few bumps in our road, like bloody feet a couple moments of physical abuse between children. Carson is not happy with my tactics, lol...I said you pick the veggie out that we will be having and then you have to eat at least one spoon full. Well, he agreed and he chose corn after asking "what's green beans?" He took two bites and said "I hate trying new food, it makes me want to puke!" Well, at least the kid got a kernal of corn in him, a greenbean would have been better! Maddee and Annie ate theirs :) Ask me about the milk...lol
Baths done and kids are asleep and tommorrow is another day! If the rain doesnt keep us out we plan to go to the park, let the boys fish and the girls feed ducks..we shall see.
In HIS love
Leah

The Mayman's

2009-04-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

We have our dear friends children for 10 days! The Maynard children as Bethany and Paul travel to Africa to pick up Bronx and Lincoln!!! It has been quiet fun growing by 3 children at once! Now I know why people with large families say "They only come one at a time!" hehe! I have been posting on facebook of our daily adventures! Yesterday Madelyn got handcuffs stuck on her ankle and Mark actually had to leave work early to get her free. She and Brianna asked Nathan to capture them, well, the key broke! Today Brianna and Maddee were taking a bath and when I heard screams and ran in there I saw 6 EMPTY shampoo bottles on the floor and soapy eyes! Then Brianna got a nosebleed when they were cleaning up her room and Maddee accidently hit her with a plastic bucket! Oh, here is a good one, Carson brushed his teeth and got the bristle of the toothbrush stuck in his braces and Mark had to use pliers to get it out! :) I SO NEED TO CHARGE MY CAMERA batteries!!Eventful I tell you, eventful! Yet fun and they really have had so much fun! The boys have a zipline going in the front yard now! I wanted to do the park, zoo or something tomorrow, but the rain may get in that way...hmmm!! O well, we will find fun!

Grocery Shopping...

2009-04-26T21:39:00.001-07:00

OK, does it take everyone else with a large family 2+ hours to make it through a grocery store or am I special, and dont tease me about my brain either, lol!
I do shop for two weeks at a time...how do you all do it?
I always spend an arm and a leg by time I am done, not to mention I need new arms and new legs also! I look forward to using our whole wheat stuff that I bought and maybe Mark will eat with us again...ugh that new found health nut! I need some great healthy things to make...ideas welcomed!
I also bought english muffins for the Maymans (maynard's and sweetman's)to make their own little pizzas out of this coming week! In just a couple of more days the Maynard kiddo's will be hanging with the Sweetman's while mom and dad go and pick up the BOYS!!! omGOSH...I really can't believe that they are almost HOME!! This is going to be such a great thing to be apart of! OK, see there is my brain...back to the grocery store... lol!!! Here is a few other meals we have planned and I really look forward to hearing/seeing what you all do too...big family meal plans please... Ohh healthy ones!
-taco's on 100% whole wheat torts, no tort just taco salad for Mark
-potato soup and grilled cheese (mark wont eat this!)
-whole wheat spaghetti
- eggs and ham with while wheat english muffins for dinner one night
OK..give me more ideas...

BUSY DAY

2009-04-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Today started with me picking up Nathan and Brianna from a church overnighter...then I picked up Sarah from her friends house...move onto some lunch...then off to my nieces bday party where the kids had a great time...

This is my niece Jaylyn and Brinley Gale

My mom is putting up a Luau picture prompt while the girls have a snack...Nathan is in the woods...

Brianna looks so cute...

This here is the Birthday Girl...Alexus who is just a couple months older than Brianna. My sister and I were pregnant together twice... I kept going and she stopped!

When we got home, after taking Sarah to yet another friends house, we saw some neat gifts daddy was given today. One was a go cart, the other was a tiller for just $40 and then as you can see the kids loading in some plants that a sweet Mrs Dottie from our church gave Mark!

It amazes me how determined my boy is when things are in his interest!

Unfortunatly daddy has to replace a rope on the go cart before it is a "go!"

Yet the kids pushed each other in it instead! They are ready to ride! Mark's boss gave him this gift for the children! So sweet!

AGH, now my little man has fallen asleep in the swing...so off to bed on my couch I go... I have to get this baby back into a goodnight routine. Ear infections and sunburns set aside...tomorrow is our night!

School Outside

2009-04-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

Well, with weather at 70 degrees, who could stay inside? I wanted to wake up and "run!" I was thinking about the park or maybe the zoo. Then I came back to the realization that eventually I had to educate these children... so...we took our books outside! I think that it proved to be a nice break in routine for everyone! Even the dog enjoyed the company "bad dog!"

recess was the best part of the day :)

ummm...did I mention that I burned the baby? His face and left leg got too much sun. I was not even thinking sunblock yet! "bad mom!"

Brinley made circles :)

2009-04-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

Now we have a happy Little Man again....

Our Little Man has had an ear infection for a few weeks. He had one, it seemed better through Chiropractic care...then he had a double ear infection. His doctor stated it was OK to try and wait it out, but after a week and a half of fus fus fus we made the choice to get the Rx filled. Our doctor said that 85% of ear infections go away on their own...you just have to wait them out.

No more sad Little Man :( PTL!!!

2009-04-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday, 31st! I am posting this picture, despite me not wanting to, to show my overweight self. My husband as stated in earlier post has been loosing a lot of weight. I THINK that I am ready to join him in the game! It probably would be best if we were both on the same page. Besides that, the kids need to get off the sugar as well!
So, I will be attempting to make this 31st year of my life healthier than the rest! We are going to the YMCA tonight too. OK, I am starting this "year" off as .... 165 pounds. My goal is 130lbs. I did have a baby a few months back and I was actually down to 160lbs, then came Easter!

Thanks dad for the doughnuts this morning...it really helps as I planned to start 31 off on the right food track, hehe!

Some Dinner, a Display and then some Dessert

2009-04-20T18:30:00.000-07:00

Our HS CO-OP Dessert and Display night was tonight, they added Dinner too, which was great!
The kids each got to show dad what they had been up to at co-op! It was a good time! I am so thankful for our co-op and what it gives to my children and to me! Brianna took Spanish, Art, Fruits Of The Spirit, and Science. Nathan took a Pirate class, CSI, American History and P.E., Brinley Gale hung out with the 2 and 3 yr olds and Micaela came in late for a pre-K art class.

Daddy, Bryson and Sarah come to watch :) ...

Brinley Gale~ singing skinny merinkey dink

~Micaela

~Nathan

Brianna~

worlds best husband...

2009-04-19T20:42:00.001-07:00

yeah, that is him...eating a weight watchers ice cream bar! lol He has lost almost 30 pounds in the past 2 months and is DRIVING me nuts with how dedicated to loosing weight he is! I am proud of him and happy for him...unfortunatly it makes me mad at myself for not being so "dedicated!" I was eating a cadbury egg at this same moment! lol
Anyway...as I was up in Cincy for the HS convention, he was in at home buying me a new computer, new dishes, a new larger toaster and a few other things. THEN he cleaned my house, organized a get together of friends to be here when I got home, bought pizza for dinner, and a BIRHDAY cake...he is SO good to me~!
Bad thing, me being me, had to think and worse ask..."did you clean the house to show me that you could do it ALL and even get the house clean?" Unfortunatly I feel so lazy compared to him. I often feel like he could do it all...like what do I bring to the table in this family? I am a slacker at our school...a slacker at our home making, a slacker at getting bills paid, etc...then I had the moment where I realized that I really have the best husband for me. He loves me....and wanted to make MY birthday the BEST he could make it... I guess moments like this are pale in comparrison when we think about how much we just do not deserve JESUS. It made me feel like "I don't deserve all of what he gave me!" today...well...I am just THANKFUL.

Meet My Gang...

2009-04-19T19:18:00.001-07:00

I have a sister Sarah, age 15, a son Nathan, age 11, then there is Brianna, age 5, Micaela, age 3, Brinley age 2, and our baby boy, Bryson age 3mths!

TOP 5 REASONS TO NOT BRING YOUR BABY TO A HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION

2009-04-19T17:21:00.001-07:00

#5- Fitting into the small booths with a stroller is impossible and when you park your stroller outside of the booth it is moved by everyone!

#4- You may get puked on and realize that you forgot to bring a change of clothes for yourself!

#3- It is VERY hard to concentrate on curriclum choices and balance the needs of a baby (gas, spit up, keeping the baby from being kidnapped) although at HS conferences people are rarely looking!

#2- IF your child does not sleep then you may have a very sore shoulder and neck after a combined 20+ hours of carrying the child in a sling all weekend.

#1- When in a speaker session, the baby cries and you walk out (as to not disturb the speaker who may be video tapeing the session to sell copies later.) You may get horrid looks when you walk back in and then a friend (thank you Marcy) may come from a few seats over to inform you that your cell phone rang A LOT and it was hard to find in your stroller! To top it off, the baby may just start to cry again, this time you leave with your stroller (and cell phone in tack)to go out with the baby. You may just change the baby, the baby may just pee all over you and at that moment, you learn for sure that you should have brought a change of clothes and you wont be going back into that session again!

TOP 5 REASONS TO BRING YOUR BABY TO A HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE

#5- How often are there moments with just you and this baby?

#4- It is nice to inform a vendor trying to talk you into a sell, that you "may be back after you go and feed the baby!"

#3- It reminds you to take breaks and sit and rest awhile for a feeding!

#2- People hold the doors open for you!

#1- When you are stuck in a parking garage for 45 minutes due to "technical difficulties" and can't get out, at least you have the best company!