Sweet Dates with my Sweethearts!

Around Valentine's Day, Brandon and I attended a dance at church for couples, in which we hired a babysitter so that we could attend. It was that event that spurred the boys into wanting to go on their OWN date with me. :) So Brandon helped Kaden plan a special date for just me and him. He wrote letters on candy hearts and sprinkled them all over my bed with with a note that said "Will you go on a date with me?" Another note laid close by that said, "Unscramble the hearts to find out where we are going"

So I did some unscrambling (and laughing...because there aren't many places that have the letter X in them...and I KNEW Kaden's favorite restaurant was Texas Roadhouse). Kaden wore a sweater for the occasion and a belt with his jeans (Brandon talked to him about how we always look our best on dates) and I got ready to go as well. We got our official pre-date pictures and were off!

Kaden was such a gentleman. He held my hand and opened my door. And he chose to sit next to me instead of across. We ordered our food and talked...mostly he colored and laughed about silly things.

But he was so. darn. cute. :)

The food ended up taking FOREVER...and even though we didn't complain, the manager gave us our meals for free. So not only was it a SWEET date, but a FREE one (well, minus the tip)

Spencer begged and begged to go out with me after that. So one night when Brandon was home for a few minutes, we actually all went out together (I had been hoping for just a Brandon date at this point since I hadn't seen him much and Abby was home to babysit, but a mom/dad/Spencer date was what we ended up with. :)  Spencer opened the door for himself, held my hand until he was within sight of the yogurt place, and hardly could stand that I made him take a date picture with me. Looks slightly pained here, right? :) He was SO excited about the frozen yogurt though...which I loved watching.

He's only 4...and a half (which is a fact he shares with EVERYONE).

and I'm hoping his date manners develop...at least by the time he's 16. :)

Love sweet dates with my sweet, sweethearts. :)

The School Board Meeting

As disgruntled as I feel when a wee one wakes me at 3:30 in the morning, I also often am a tad bit grateful. I love the really early morning silence. It is as though my thoughts and feelings all seem to make sense, and I feel impressions so much stronger than when we are in the middle of a busy day going a million directions.

On my mind this morning was an experience I had last night. I attended my first school board meeting. I didn't know they really even existed for parents to attend...and had no idea what was discussed. And if the truth be told, I only went to plead our case for a situation they were discussing. But attending that meeting tonight was a life-changing moment for me.

They gathered everyone and had them stand. And then someone opened the meeting with a prayer.

As he spoke, my eyes filled with tears. He asked for there to be a spirit in the meeting that would allow them to be guided to make the best choices for the district. He gave thanks for the blessings of so many wonderful students in their boundaries. He expressed how difficult the year had been for the district (several lives lost due to various things) and asked for comfort for the families and friends of those affected.

And my heart was so touched.

See, I've long thought that with the fighting to make church and state a separate thing, that something like what happened tonight was a thing of the past. I can't admit to being up on all the latest politics or knowing all the current policies on things. But tonight in my heart I added to that prayer, for a recognition that despite all the naysayers, WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD. I silently prayed giving thanks for the man who prayed for guidance so that the board could do the best possible for the children....even MY children. For giving me the insight into a situation  never knew existed.

As the meeting unfolded, I was amazed to watch each member vote on issues. I listened to their concerns. They played devil's advocate. The brought up pro and cons for each issue tabled. They really, truly put thought into what was being discussed. It was so much more than I ever could have pictured. And it really, truly changed my outlook on a lot of things...

It was a last minute decision to go to that meeting...but I feel such sweet assurance that it is truly the place I needed to be...to feel the sweet spirit, to see how the administration worked, see the freedom we enjoy as Americans, and most of all to get a glimpse of God's hand and how He is slowly taking pieces of our life and moving them in a new direction.

A whole different boy!

For the past way too many months, poor Carter has had ear infection after ear infection...
the drainage, fevers, sleepless nights, and pain made it all too much, and we finally were able to get in to see the ENT and audiologist...

THANKFULLY, he was able to get ear tubes a week ago...LIFE-CHANGING MOMENT!

I've got to say, we've got a whole different boy on our hands! It's like the past 19 months of development all clicked in a matter of days.

He is vibrant and happy. He can HEAR us! He responds appropriately when we give him a yes or no. 

And after feeling really sorry for myself that here he has never once said MOM, I heard him say over and over while grabbing my hand and trying to get my attention the other day, "Naw-Ne".

My heart melted. 

To some it probably sounded like jibberish. But I know, deep down inside, in his own little way he was trying to call me by name. And to a mom who has never heard her little boy say that, it's a really special thing.

He is eating well again (not that he looks like he ever WASN'T eating well, weighing in at a hefty 30 pounds, but he is trying a good variety of foods again and eating LOTS of it!) :)


He LOVES playing with the legos...he builds things very intently.

He adores reading books...

And he races across the living room any time he hears the door open...
which, if you haven't seen, I have to say you're missin' out!

It is just SUCH a relief to have our little guy back...
to have him feel some sense of comfort...
and to see the little guy who has been hiding inside this whole time.

AWESOMELY AWESOME...

I have had a few of the most awesome days I've had in a long while...and I feel like I just need to take a few minutes and write about it...

On Thursday evening I attended an event for the Spouses Medical Alliance I am a part of. There were all sorts of giveaways and such at the end, and I (whose winning luck is almost non-existent) ACTUALLY won something that night! Not just a SOMETHING....but a day at the SPA.
Pedicure...hour long facial....Swedish massage...the works!

(still screaming with excitement!)

I AM SO, so, so looking forward to the day I get to go. It is something I could have never justified spending the money on for me...and it will be SUCH an awesome treat!

On Friday I packed myself up and drove to Austin (kid-free) to see my friend Jessica, who had invited me to join her for a special conference where Julie B. Beck was speaking. (she is one of the leader's of the largest women's organization in the world and you can read more about her here) I was able to meet Jessica's friend, Annie, and loved getting to know her as well! SUCH a sweetheart. :)

The Friday night meeting was So wonderful! And afterward we attempted to go get some Orange Leaf, only to drive the whole way to find it closed...so we settled for some Chili's and split some yummy food, laughed and talked, and stayed up WAY past my normal bedtime! :) (though, I am afraid in my old age that most KIDS stay up past when I usually hit the sack!)

Jessica was so kind to let me stay with them that night, and after a few hours of shut eye, we dressed up and headed BACK to the church for another session of the conference. Again, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I scribbled page after page of notes...not wanting to forget a single thought, impression, or pearl of wisdom she shared. We left feeling absolutely uplifted and edified!

But it was much too soon for it to be over...so to buy some more time in our fantastic day Jessica and Annie introduced me to Thai food...yep, my first time! :) I loved watching their excitement...oh they were too cute! :) And it was an exciting event. I felt incredibly courageous (living on the edge, right?! :) for trying a new food I had been pretty apprehensive of.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, Brandon was manning the fort and the keeping watch over our 4 children. I received a text as we were finishing up our meal, and I wasn't sure if I should laugh or be concerned...but it was too funny NOT to share. :)

Brandon: I think I'm getting too old to do cool tricks. I almost died.  I tried to qualify for America's Funniest Home Videos by running down the slide in the rain.

ME: We are all laughing hysterically trying to figure out how that works. :)

Brandon: I had grand visions of leaping over a puddle at the bottom. Instead, my feet flew up in the air, I landed on my right kidney, and slid in a heap into the puddle at the bottom. I got the wind knocked out of me so bad I can't even tell the kids to stop laughing...because it WASN'T funny.

ME: I'm crying for you, literally. (I was laughing SO hard the tears were just STREAMING down my face at this point)

Brandon: It would have been worth $1,000,000 if someone had been filming it. But somehow I don't think the wet grass stain on my bottom, the bruise on my back, or my newly acquired old man walk is enough to win the grand prize...

ME: You have won it in my book. Can't wait for a reinactment! :)

Brandon: You may have to hurry home. I don't think I can lift anything heavier than the remote control. :)


- - - - - - - - oh, how I love my sweet husband. ;) The kids have all told their versions of that hilarious event, which have made me chuckle as well. One thing is for sure...I've got a great guy who keeps me laughing! :)

It was just a great few days...so nice to be away for the night, and then to come home and snuggle my little family again...so nice to see a good friend, who I look up to in so many ways! She is such an example of the kind of person that I believe Christ wants us all to be. And she and her husband have such a sweet, strong spirit in the marriage and home. And so, so thrilled as well that I was able to gain a new friend.

Good things were happenin' this weekend...and THAT feels so nice.

Now, for my tax return to come (e-filed and direct deposit and am on day 17 of waiting...) and we will be in great shape! :)

A new set of wheels...

Kaden was invited to a birthday party a couple of weeks ago. The invite said that famlies were welcome, as they had rented out the place. So we decided to jump at the chance to go do something fun and different. And quite honestly, I had no idea there was a skating place here. :)

A few observations:
Roller skating with small inexperienced children is somewhat painful...not just in the "fall on my bum" kind of way. See, I put those new wheels on my feet and it was a flashback to many a skate party in my childhood. It was a glimpse into something I had forgotten I really like to do. So having those skates on my feet made me want to race around the floor with grace and finesse. (okay, not that I POSSESS those qualities, especially on skates...but it sure makes you FEEL like you COULD. :)

But the wee ones...well, they've never experienced a new set of wheels. And so holding hands with a tense, wobbly little person takes the grace (and dare I say, fun?) right out of your skating! :) All kidding aside, it was really fun to watch them experience something new...and I loved spending time as a family.

Jenna caught on rather quick. Still a little unsteady, but she could go at it on her own after only a short while!

And then you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around..and then fall on the ground! :)

Spencer and me...

And then there was the couples skate. Spencer and I sat this one out and watched Carter while Brandon took the others out on the floor.

This was after a really big fall, where he banged his back on the side of the bumper at the bottom of the wall. Hard to explain, really. But it looked like it hurt. Bad.
I helped him up and he cried hysterically..."MOM, I JUST WANT MY SHOES BACK!"

Poor little guy.
Overall, the kiddos had a FANTASTIC time. They all slept super dreamy that night. :) And Brandon and I decided this would be a fun thing to come back and do as a date...to prove our skate awesomeness that's been in hiding for some 20+ years. :)

School Daze

I still have a few rooms to post from my house tour...but in the meantime, I've had all sorts of updates and pictures to post, that have just sat here waiting to be posted.

The school to-do's and celebrations have been prominent lately...

We had the 100th day of school...with a VERY excited little kindergartner...

Spencer also had his 100th day the following week...and I neglected to take any pictures. But he had a fun celebration and they made a big trail mix with 100 items.
Is it just me, or is this 100 days celebrating new in the past several years? I certainly don't remember it!

And then the rodeo came to town--the entire elementary school got to go on a field trip there, and Kaden was dead set on looking like a "real" cowboy. So white Sunday shirt on, belt, and jeans, with a foam cowboy hat on for good measure he went on his way to school...don't know that it's QUITE cowboy, but he sure thought so. :)

Jenna's class had an assignment/competition for their Valentine's boxes. It had to be made from a shoebox and be able to open easily.
So we got our creative juices flowing and came up with this wedding cake.
Abby (my sister) made the little Playmobil people into a wedding couple, and I have to say they looked really cute! :) Wishing we'd had more than an hour the night before it was due (someone forgot to show me the paper...  :) But she LOVED it and loved showing it off. 

She also recently participated in her school musical, ON THE RADIO.
She was a 70's girl--with her own little speaking part (everyone had one at one point or another). It was really cute. They danced and sang and it was a lot of fun. :)
We made her a pair of bell bottoms and she thought she was the coolest thing EVER. 

So much...in so little time! I sometimes look at my calendar and at the piles of reminder notes and paperwork that gets sent home and my head spins!
But we're plugging along...enjoying, best as we can, these school days (or daze? :)

My kind of winter...

Where the shorts never get packed away in storage...

the flip-flops are worn almost daily...

it's still chilly enough to wear a sweater in the morning, but gorgeous by noon...

Definitely my kind of winter!