The Letter 'A'

Who says you can't learn your ABC's while making a pizza?! Riley LOVED this little project. Not only did he get to help me make lunch, he also learned more about the letter 'A'. Just another one of the perks of homeschooling!

This and That

~1~

Both boys are now in big boy beds. We had to sell the bunk beds. Sometimes boys and bunk beds don't go well together. So we bid farewell to the unstackable bed and bought ones that could be separated. Safety first! Sam moved right from his crib to the twin bed without a hitch. I love that both my boys are in their own little twin beds (without rails, too!) and so do they. The only sad thing...it just reminds me of how fast they are growing :(

~2~

Between school and work I am one busy woman. Not sure I have ever been this busy. Chad and I don't get to spend as much time together as we did before but when we have free time we cherish every minute. Kind of makes it more special! School is going great. Well, all except for the fact that my math teacher is not my most favorite. I am almost done with my CNA class. It's crazy to think that in just a couple months I will be (if I pass state testing) a CNA! ME...a CNA. Capable of working in a nursing home. Part of me wants to work as a CNA while working on getting my nursing degree but on the other hand I enjoy (for the most part!) working at Shoe Carnival where I know for sure my schedule is light and flexible!

~3~

Speaking of school and work...between the two they keep me away from the house four nights a week. That means Mr. Wonderful (he really is!) is on duty! At first it was quite rough and I had my doubts. Silly me. It took a bit of adjusting but I quickly realized that he is VERY capable of caring for the boys when I am not around! Even though the boys wear him out he really does enjoy it. I am so glad they have this time alone...even though I hate being gone so many nights a week!

~4~

I think I need to hire a maid. I don't know how some people keep their homes so stinking clean with two or more little ones running around. Maybe they just have more motivation that I do. Pretty sure that's what it is. Know of a place where I could buy some?!

~5~

Riley's 4th (!) birthday is coming up! Where has the time gone? He has requested an Army themed birthday. So that's what he's getting. All he has asked for is an Army tank. Of course it's something that's hard to find. I think we will just do another family party here at the house. I like things nice and simple, and so does Riley, though he would love to go to Chuck E Cheese...but that place gives me the creeps! No thanks! Just last year he got a little red Strider bike and he loves it, except for the fact that it's red and not blue. He said he would like a blue one and that Sammy can have his red one for his birthday! Anyhoo, since you can do all kinds of fun things with a Strider bike I'm thinking about getting him a little bike ramp. Nothing crazy, just a simple and small up then down type of ramp. He says he doesn't want it because he wants the Army tank...he might just get both!

~6~

One last thing...do NOT let this happen to you!

It's simple

Well, if you are three and a half years old!

Riley and I were discussing other ways to get our frustrations out other than throwing yourself on the floor and thrashing about. He, not I, though sometimes I wish I could act like that!

I asked him, 'Riley, do you have any ideas what you could do next time you get so very upset?'

He looks up at me and says that he will just go to his room and think about it till he could calm down. Okay, easy enough...

So then I asked him where he would go if we are at the park next time he throws a huge fit.

He looks at me with huge eyes and says, 'We can just build a bedroom for me at the park!'

How could you not squeeze that little face and kiss him all over!? He was so serious with his idea, too.

Then he went on to tell me that I needed to get a set of pink tools to carry around with me just in case we needed to build a bedroom while at the mall, Wal Mart, church and various other places we regularly go.

It was a simple solution...for a three and a half year old!

WWW

Yes, this picture is a few months old but I just love everything about it. The three people in it, the scraped knees, the toys, my flip flops...the whole thing! It's my life...and I love it! So since I love it so much I thought it was worth of a WWW.

What: Mommy snuggling with her boys

When: Fourth of July 2010

Where: Mayfield High School

Elbow grease

With a little elbow grease this solid wood table

(that I bought at a yard sale for THREE BUCKS)

was stripped of it's chipped and sticky black paint

back to it's birthday suit.

Well, he kept his pants on!

(yes, that is my shoe in the top left corner. I despise shoes, even when working with power tools!)

I loved the table and the price tag but I didn't love the finish. So I went to town sanding away (barefoot and without a mask!) and stopped when it looked like this!

Sprayed some black spray paint on, let it dry, wiped on some poly and it's like a whole new table.

I do realize I don't have an after photo but just imagine the top matching the legs!

Next project, painting a new (to us) bedroom set crisp white!

Boys

Boys

Will

Be

Boys

Stream of Consciousness

I've got a lot to say these days but I just haven't been able to sit down and sort it all out. Some day soon I plan to do a post dedicated to our trip to Michigan to see Ryan! We had a great time and I can't wait to share the details with you! Right now I'm eating pancakes with Nutella (you should really go get yourself some!) and syrup. Was going to avoid the syrup so as not to eat such an unhealthy dinner but oh well! It's all good. I did spare the dreaded sticky stuff on the children's dinner. We all know what a mess that would be with two toddlers! Not to mention the dog with awfully fuzzy and crazy hair!

School started Monday and so far it's been a breeze. I have classes on Monday and Wednesday starting with General Psychology and ending with Math. The math is pretty basic because, well, I stink at math. Stink isn't really the word to use...it's really more like, I suck at math! Yea, that's better. Doesn't sound better but it's more accurate! Both my teachers are pretty awesome. My Psyc teacher is in our Sunday school class and his wife was my geometry teacher in high school! At least I know where I can go for help! On Monday my math teacher taught class without shoes on! Now that's my kind of teacher. Shoes are overrated. Seriously. Well, they are!

While we were out on the water in Michigan I snapped this great picture of Chad. I happen to think it's one of the better pictures I've taken of him. He's just not a good picture taker. Something happens when that flash goes off. His face just goes sour, or he's got the goofiest grin or his eyes are closed. Now that I think about it, Riley pretty much does the same thing. Unless he doesn't know I'm about to click!

(And yes, those are picnic tables in the water!)

Looking at that water makes me just want to lay on the beach and relax. But none of that nonsense is going to happen these days. Partly because we don't live that close to the lake and partly because I have a lot of walking to do just between two classes. I mean, could the buildings be any further apart?! Oh well. It's all good. At least till it's pouring down rain or the snow is three feet deep. Oh who am I kidding, we live in Kentucky. Not sure the last time there was three feet of snow on the ground. At one time anyhoodle!