Storms and a Confused Creature

We've had several nights of really bad storms in our area that produced tornados all around. This last storm we had our church opened up their basement. We made a last minute decision and decided to go because we were pretty worried. We ended up staying there until midnight. I'm laughing now, because we showed up with a suitcase each, our computer (it has all my pics) and our important documents. I had our stuff packed all day and planned to shove it in our safe place. The bathroom. I wanted to be prepared that if our house got blown away, we would have some stuff. Joplin isn't far from us and it really scared me seeing what happen to them. Everyone else at church had like a pillow and blanket. They probably thought we were nuts, but I felt very safe. :o)

With all the rain we had a creature in our yard. I think it confused our yard for a pond. Josh let the kids go out and look at it. Jackson got to hold it. I don't like reptiles of any sort. Blaah. I cringe at the thought of Jackson holding this thing, but apparently Josh sees no harm in it.

Yuckie frog and scary clouds.

It was huge.

Ick. They really liked this frog.

A Very Big Boy Thing!

Since Jackson turned five, he is responsible for doing a few chores around the house. Just little things. He takes his plate to the sink and wipes off the table after we eat, puts all his own laundry in the dirty clothes, and helps put folded laundry away (usually the towels and washcloths.) This morning there were some folded towels and wash cloths in our living room chair. Josh had folded them before work (isn't he sweet!) and when I was making the beds, Jackson went and put them all away. I didn't ask him or tell him to do this. I didn't even know that they had been folded....I was so impressed! I thought it was a very responsible, big boy thing to do. He chose on his own to help out around the house without being asked to. I'm still like, WOW!! My goal has always been not to raise a sloppy boy. This a.m. was a proud moment for me! It is so nice to see that hard work and persistence pays off. I usually just cling to Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. It isn't always easy to get our children to do the things they should, but if we don't give up, we all win!! :o) Now off to work on the things we aren't doing on our own yet.... I love my kiddos!!

We're ready!

Somewhere in between the monsoons and the cold days (another cold, rainy day today), we had a taste of summer. A bright and beautiful, slightly hot day. We took full advantage by spending most of the day outside. We had a picnic and popsicles. We went barefoot and played in the water. Does it get any better than that? Our little blue swimming pool from the last couple of years had a hole in it so we improvised with a large red bucket. It was close quarters and Jackson and Jordan both wanted the hose, but they were happy enough just to have water to play in. We're ready for Summer!! Bring on the heat!!

Hopefully we will have more days like these.

And a few less days like these. I'm hoping for just enough rain to make my garden grow. :o)

Happy Birthday Jordan Kate!!!

Yesterday we celebrated Jordan Kate's 2nd Birthday. We had a small, sweet party with our families. Aunt Jessie made her an adorable butterfly cake and Jordan loved all the great presents she received. We had a wonderful time celebrating our little blessing!!!

Jordan you are such a precious baby girl! I love all of your hugs and kisses. You are my cuddle bug and I'm so blessed by you. I love watching you grow and learn and experience life. You are growing and changing in so many ways. I love each stage you go through (except for teething and I think you are with me on that one.) You have taught me so many new things. It's great having my girl around when the boys trample off to go on father-son fishing trips and their other outings. I thank God for you and am especially grateful that you are healthy and strong. You are a beautiful girl inside and out. You will ALWAYS be my Sweet Girl. I love you Jordie Bear!!!!!

A little about Jordan:

Jordan is especially fond of big brother. She wants to try everything Jackson does and is impressed by him in so many ways. They get along and enjoy each others company most of the time. They do get into their little tiffs and Jordan pesters Jackson and Jackson gets a little ruff with Jordan, but overall they do a great job of playing and sharing and enjoy having each other around.


Daddy and Jordan have a special bond. Every morning when she wakes up she comes to get in bed with me (if she's not already there) and says "daddy work?" She wants to know where he is. When Josh gets home she hears the garage door open and sprints to greet him with a hug. She is always eager to help daddy with any chores or run errands with him. Jordan is still a momma's girl in a lot of ways, but more and more she wants to be with her daddy, especially if he has food. :o)

I just love having a two year old. I know a lot of people refer to them as the "terrible two's" but really, I think it is soooo much easier than when she was younger. I think it is fun because Jordan is starting to show her own interests. She loves anything pink and princesses and ponies and fairies and her books. I love to watch her sit and play more independently and explore her little world. She goes to bed better, she communicates with us, she sits at the table and eats with us, she travels in the car a little better now...so many things that were hard or impossible when she was younger are now enjoyable again. I love that Jordan is two because somehow she is still my baby in a lot of ways, yet she is a big girl too. This allows so much more freedom for both Jordan and me.

Two years ago today my life was changed once again forever and one of the biggest blessings was brought into my life. I will never forget that day, for many reasons-wink wink, and I'm so thankful to have been given the opportunity to be a mommy to a girl!!!

Getting ready for Homeschool

I've only been randomly blogging lately because I've been on a mission. A mission to get my house and life organized in such a way that homeschooling will run smoothly and it will be something I enjoy instead of feeling like it is something I have to do. I want to be as non-stressed about this as possible so I can be the best mom and teacher (and wife) as possible. (I hope being stressed now getting organized leads to less stress in the future.) I've been waist deep in working on a curriculum, but before I got any farther, I felt I must get a bit more organized.
I'm usually good about organizing, my problem is staying that way. I need to simplify in order to get and stay organized. My new motto is "less is more." I really believe that to some extent. I don't have before pictures, but Jess came over last week and we cleaned out the playroom, and both my kiddo's rooms and rid each of them of everything that is not liked, used, needed, broken, to small...you get the point. This left my bedroom with 4 totes, a trunk, and a trash bag full of stuff as well as a shelf, and that is just the kids rooms. Not a pretty sight! I'm horrified by how much JUNK we have and don't use and it is going going gone!!! I love to garage sale and I'm telling you that it is wonderful for finding amazing deals on really great stuff. Many things in my home that I am keeping has been garage sale finds, but the reality is I find much more than I need or want and my 50 cent finds have left my life and schedule too cluttered, thus I not going to do it much any more. (on occasion and only with specific shopping needs in mind.)
Also, I have really focused on what home school is going to look like for us. We already have a play room and I have designated that as the "class room." I've gotten in real teacher mode and made a list of everything we will be doing on a daily basis and kind of a description of how I wanted to use this room. I took out EVERYTHING that didn't fall into my little box of what I wanted this classroom to look like. Each day we will be doing a circle time, music, pretend play, and some school lessons on the chalk board in this room. I also have the desk for computer time for the kids and lesson planning, blogging, mail , etc. for Josh and me. In the closet I have stored art supplies, games, and workbooks. It is pretty basic and simple and that is the way it is going to stay. Away with clutter!!


Next we were on to the bedrooms. I also made a list of what that should be like. (I know I'm a nerd, but it works!) When I think of what I want my bedroom to be like I think of words like relaxing, pretty, and a getaway. I want the same for my kiddos. I don't want them to feel overwhelmed when they go to their room, I want their bedrooms to be a place where they can go and have some quiet play and relax. Just a room they enjoy being in. Since Jackson and Jordan obviously have different interests for the most part when it comes to toys, I put their own toys and books in their rooms. This allows each of them to have a place to go and play quietly on their own. (And a place for me to send them when they keep fighting over something they both do like.)

We also have an extra dinning room that I have designated as a school space. I have placed their table there because it is on tile and my list says this is where they will sit and do their schoolwork, art, various play (ex. Playdough) and projects, and their daytime meals.

I still have a few rooms to go through and a big garage sale to have, but we are well on are way with mission organization and I'm so excited. I feel like I've been on the same mission for a year, but I feel like I can breath! I'm hoping and praying this will free up some time spent always picking up and cleaning and make for days that are as relaxing as possible and foster an atmosphere of love and learning and lots of play! I have had lots of friends ask me about my curriculum. I'm not purchasing a curriculum for kindergarten, I'm creating one based on the Arkansas Department of Education frameworks, but I'll tell more about that some other time.

"THE" Donut Shop

The other day I wanted to take the kids to do something, but I didn't want to be gone very long so we decided to go to our new favorite place. "THE" donut shop...Old Tyme Donuts.

Jackson wanted sprinkles. He usually goes for the chocolate one, but I guess wanted to mix things up a bit. Maybe it was the hair. He wanted to go spiky today.....


Jordan was making me laugh way too hard. She would take a bite of donut, then wiper her mouth. Take a bite, wipe her mouth. She did this every time. It was hilarious to me. I love my kids. I thank the Lord for the small things that keep me going! :o)

We've got PIGTAILS!!!

We are fixing to celebrate Jordan's 2nd birthday and I'm happy to say we've got PIGTAILS!!! They are ity-bity tiny ones, but I got them to work. This is something I've looked forward to since I knew I was having a girl and I'm a little tickled by it. Too bad she didn't like them AT ALL and ripped them right out. We'll just have to keep working on it.

A little catching up to do.

Shame on me! We have been busy doing fun things lately and I haven't even been blogging about them. Last week Jackson had his Awana's Awards Ceremony. He finished up his last year of Cubbies and will start Sparks in the fall. We are very proud of his hard work and the patches he had earned this year...he mostly enjoyed playing duck, duck, goose in the gym afterward, but we managed to capture a little of his excitement about his accomplishments as well.