Night Time

Every night we have a routine with the kids.  Their bedrooms are upstairs, so we'll all head up together and they'll brush their teeth (if they did not brush them in my room downstairs).  Jase will then go in his room and look at a book or play Legos for just one more minute (as if he didn't play enough during the day).  We start off in Ally's room.  We have always done devotion together in Jase's room, but it got to be more of a distraction than a benefit, so while splitting them up may take a while longer, it gives them each some one-on-one time and the time seems more productive while in their room.

 

So in Ally's room, she has her own little routine and wants to read like 3 books every night.  She will be stuck on a certain book for a few weeks and we will read it every night.  Lately it has been a Disney Princess book that contains all of the princesses with all their stories.  Now, I don't get to read it, I have to sit there while she reads the stories to me.  She starts off with Snow White, then onto Cinderella, then Sleeping Beauty, then Ariel.  Let me stop at Ariel and tell you a funny from the other night.  She was looking at the pictures and telling me about The Little Mermaid and how she likes to swim and explore.  "And Prince Eric, he likes Ariel. And Flounder and Sebastian are Ariel's friends. And these are Ariel's sisters and they sing a song 'All the single ladies, all the single ladies, if you like it should put have a ring on it.'" I about died {and yes she doesn't say the right words: if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it.}.  I asked her if they really sing that song?  She said "yes they do." And her face was so serious! Disclaimer: Ally has heard that song from two places: Alvin and the Chipmunks and Disney Live at Reliant.  Never in a million years would have I expected her to say that!! I just love her!

 

After she finishes her books, then I'll read a devotion that is geared towards preschoolers.  It has a short bible story, a song, bible verse and then a prayer.  The book is great and was actually a hand-me-down from a friend.  We have read through the book probably 5 or so times and we just keep looping back through it.  Repetition is good so they can memorize God's word. Then we'll have prayer time: her first, then me.  All of this is going on while I am holding Finn.  After 20 minutes in there, he is ready to move on! LOL!

 

Jase's routine is pretty similar to Ally's.  He'll either show me a new Lego scene he has created, or read a book to me or I'll read a book to him.  Then we'll do his devotion.  For Christmas we got two new books and we are currently reading both of them at night.  The first one is one we received from a friend and can I tell you how much we both love it!!  It is called The Jesus Storybook Bible and the way it is written, it is wonderful, definitely a page turner.  Tonight while I was in Ally's room, Jase must have came in her room like 3 times showing me pictures and stories from this book.  I'm so glad he loves it.  It is just like reading the bible, but in a way where it is easy for a child to understand and Jesus is woven throughout the whole book; they do a great job of helping you see the big picture of the bible and God's love for us.  Anyway, a great book and I recommend it! Lastly, I'll read the daily devotion from Jesus Calling.  This is a good, short read and the book is written as if God is talking to you.  I do like it and Jase does too, but some of the scenarios they refer to he cannot relate to; he's still young.  Then we have prayer time: him first, then me.

 

At the end of some most days I feel completely drained and just want to go in their room, say a little prayer, turn off the light and go downstairs.  And if I'm honest, that would cut my time upstairs from 40 minutes to 5 minutes.  But tonight while Ally was looking at an old photo album and pretending that it was a book and telling me a story to go along with the pictures and having me repeat words "say giraffe, Mommy...ok, good", I realized that I'll never get these times back and to soak it up.  And Jase running into Ally's room to show me his Jesus bible and excited about the real stories that took place long ago...I just love it!

Sky Zone

On Thursday we went Sky Zone for some jumping fun! It was Homeschool Happy Hour from 12:00-4:00 pm, so we took advantage of the special...field trip! I had never been there before, but it is a HUGE place full of trampolines! When you arrive you sign a safety waiver, get cool hi-top shoes {bring socks}, listen to a short run down of the rules and then start jumping! It was pretty cool and the kids absolutely loved it, and we were the only ones there {we met some friends there as well} so that was neat.

Here is a short clip of everyone jumping! Jase said he wants to come every week!

25 Years!!

25 years ago to this very day, my mom and step-dad married.  Man I wish I could have found a picture from their wedding day.  And not so much to focus on them, but to show off the do I was sportin'! I had my hair fixed for their wedding and bless the lady's heart (Bernice...I still remember her), but she made me look like a 65 year old lady and I was 7!  HUGE poof in the front with a mullet look going on in the back. Maybe I'm glad I didn't find the pic!

 

In all seriousness though, I am super proud to call them my parents and blessed they are celebrating 25 years together.  They have stuck together through thick and thin, which is a great testimony in itself. Shawn and I have been married for over 8 years and I can honestly say that life does not come without trials.  So in my eyes, 25 years of marriage is an accomplishment that not many people do not reach, especially in this day and age.  May the Lord bless them with many more years.  I love you both!

 

Outside Time

Yesterday Grandma and Grandpa {Shawn's parents} met us at Chick-Fil-A and treated us to lunch.  It was nice to get out of the house and visit with them for a bit.  The kids, of course, loved seeing them!

 

After the kids finished their meals, they traded in their prize for an ice cream cone. I had nursed Finn before we left, but he was eyeing everyone that was eating!! I ended up with Ally's ice cream cone and gave Finn his first taste of ice cream and boy was he a fan!!! He was sucking my finger like there was no tomorrow! 

 

 

Allyson was making shapes in the back seat with a straw she smuggled out the door!

 

After we got home, we went out back and played on the playset.  Finn would crack up when I pushed the kids or when I would swing with him.  I had Jase catch some of it on video! {If the video isn't shown below, you can watch it HERE.}

 

 

 

And before I went inside, I caught the kids having a light saber duel. Disclaimer: Ally would NOT stop saying the word "kill", she was way into it!! {If the video isn't shown below, you can watch it HERE.}

 



My Big Girl

Jase was doing his school work this morning and usually Allyson will just play and occasionally she'll want to do "work" too. This morning I was helping Jase and she said "where's my school book?" My mom had just bought her a numbers sticker book, which is right up her alley! She did great this morning and finished 3 pages before getting down from the table.

This afternoon I was folding clothes in the living room and Ally came downstairs and asked if she could help! Well, sure! She has been wanting to help me more and more lately, I am really enjoying it. Yesterday she helped me move clothes over from the washer to the dryer. I don't want the kids to dislike these tasks, so I'm glad they like helping me, at least for now!

 

School at Home

We are well into our second semester of Kindergarten and it is going well.  Now don't get me wrong a lot of the days and maybe even most days are hard, but at the end of the day I can say that it has been worth it and I'm glad the Lord laid it upon my heart to do this.  Being able to see his growth and light bulbs go off first-hand has been a blessing.  And to be able to spend all this extra time with him has been priceless; life is so short.

 

Here are some things that have taken place this week.

 

We are using Explode the Code for reading and as you can see what is on his mind . . . Star Wars!! I do love his imagination though!!  A cape prompted Luke Skywalker, mad made him think of Darth Sidious and seeing a cane brought Yoda to mind!

 

 

He found a head band, why not sport it?

 

 

This has to be one of my favorites. Daddy came home and was reading Peter Pan to Ally in the playroom and Jase was busy playing the Wii.  I was around corner in the kitchen working on supper, and when I peeked in and saw Jase had joined them (with Wii controller in hand), I had to capture this moment.

 

 

Jase received a birdhouse kit for Christmas from my parents and he and Daddy put it together Tuesday evening. We have been studying birds in science, so this was a great tie-in to our lessons.

 

 

I went downstairs to check on Finn and when I came back I found this note.  This is the second time he has left me this note.  I asked him if it was the same note from before and he told me no, that he had just written that one. Times like these make me smile!

 

Phenomenal Brownies

Over the last week have been talking about God's truth and what exactly is truth in our lives. We read a story with two boys that were hiking in the forest and the topic of creation was brought up. One of the boys said that he believes what his science teacher told him about creation and that the world just appeared with a big boom; it just made itself. And then the other boy stood firm on God creating the earth and to just look around at His creation and how it speaks to us. A little while later they headed back to one of their houses and there was a plate of brownies sitting on the table. The boy who believed the science teacher's reasoning of creation asked the other boy if his mom made them and he responded with "no, they just made themselves." It was a good way to sum up the story and relate back to the truth of God's creation.

On one of the pages was a recipe for some Phenomenal Brownies. Jase immediately asked if we could make them. I scanned the ingredient list and the only thing I was missing was the unsweetened chocolate squares. I told him I would pick some up and we would make them soon. While at HEB on Sunday I found the squares and after school yesterday we decided to make them.

 

 

I preheated the oven, sprayed the pan, had the kids put the chocolate squares in a pan along with the butter, we measured out the ingredients.  Oh no...I see a problem!!  They want me to beat this for 10 minutes!?!?  We are old school at my house and do not have a kitchen aid mixer, so the 10 minutes of mixing would definitely be "hands on".  At this point in time Finn is asleep and Ally and Jase are both on chairs next to me and I have a cake in the oven. I SO should have read the instructions prior to starting!! Oh well, here we go.  I set the timer for 10 minutes because I certainly do not want to beat one second longer than I have too.  Jase lasts for 1 minute and 15 seconds and then both of them bail on me.  I moved the mixer by the stove because I either started melting the chocolate or decided I better melt the chocolate before the 10 minutes is up {I can't remember}.  Anyway, 1 hand stirring the chocolate and butter and the other beating the sugar, eggs and vanilla!!

 



The 10 minute timer finally went off and I hurried the rest of the steps along.  Finny Finn was now awake {10 minutes of hearing the mixer, I can only imagine}. While I had too much going on at once, they turned out great!! This was the first time I have ever made homemade brownies, but after tasting them I can tell you that they were worth the work!! They were *phenomenal*!