Openhouse

Well, we've made it through day 1 of our annual openhouse. The weather was not particulary cooperative in the morning but by noon the sun came out and it got busier. Sunday is usually the busier day anyway. Kevin's aunt and uncles usually come and visit, eating donuts and drinking coffee. It's nice they can come and meet up with one another. Kevin's friend from college, Steve, sometimes comes.
Janelle is doing great on cash and catching onto things fast. We worked out a few bugs today but all in all, it went very good. Even last night I was feeling ready, confident that there wasn't anything major I'd missed. I am very tired tonight. Anyway, a good nights sleep should cure that! I'll be fresh as a daisy for tomorrow!
Hopefully, I can blog some more next week.

Sunday

Yesterday our kids were invited to Martin's for the afternoon. They came home around 5:30 and with some cue to each other, began begging for a sleepover here. To make a long story short, the 4 girls are sleeping in our tent in the bush and the boys made a tent in Josiah's room. They are going to spend the morning, which I'm sure will be long enough for the boys since they were up at 6:00am! Haven't heard anything from the bush yet, but apparently they took provisions, including TP. I have to head to work this morning, so the two big girls are babysitting. It's neat how D'Arcy and Sheri's kids are so close in age to ours and the same gender! Laiken and Sam are two weeks apart, Katrina and Aerin are about 1.5 months and Josiah and Jaden are 2 months apart. They all seem to get along great....the boys are getting better as they get older. Yesterday they played soccer, baseball, roamed around back in our bush, played in Josiah's room, without one fight!
It was so beautiful yesterday! Kevin and I were able to begin some outside work for a new project we're starting. I'll write about that next time.

Here's to sunshine and a cool breeze!

Picture

Here is the picture I promised.

Tuesdays

I love my Tuesdays. I start my day getting lunches and kids ready, then I have to drive Samantha and Katrina over to the school so Samantha can catch the bus to her gifted class in Clinton. As I head back, I have time to think, pray or just enjoy the beauty of the morning.When we started this in the fall of 2004, I almost dreaded it, but now it has become an enjoyable part of my routine. It has been so cool all the animals that we've seen. Our list includes fox, deer, red tailed hawk, and wild turkeys. So far I have yet to catch any of this on film. I try to remember my camera but it seems the day we see something, I've forgotten it. A couple of weeks ago, there was a beautiful mist hanging over the "valley". As we crossed the Goshen, it came into sight. I will try and post that picture sometime. I haven't taken the time to figure that out. Anyway, as I was saying, I enjoy Tuesdays because they are my one day that I plan to be home doing laundry, cleaning, catching up on my banking, work outside or whatever I need to do. I did miss Heart to Heart for the first week or two but am glad that I made the decision not to got this session. I need this one day to be at home. I don't know how people work full time with kids. They must be more organized than me!
Today Bri cut my hair. I love getting my hair cut especially when it turns out beautiful as always. (I had to say that because she told me she reads my blog! Just kidding Bri! I enjoy our "times" together and I really do like how you've been cutting my hair!)
Kevin and I are dicussing reno plans. They are pretty major. I do not enjoy making big money decisions so this has been a bit stressful for me even though I am excited about the outcome. Looks like this summer it will begin to happen if all goes well. We're planning to add a room onto the back of the house to enlarge our eating area which in turn will enlarge the kitchen and livingroom also. Maybe even add a garage! That will be so sweet. Room for hockey bags, snowboots, and hopefully our van! Actually, both of us agree that if we have a garage it will not be full of stuff, it will be for our vehicle. But I think the hockey stuff might fit too. We've already had a plan drawn up, an estimate done and priced cupboards and kitchen stuff. A few more questions to have answered and we will make our final decision.
Anita and I went for a walk tonight. It was so nice out and I didn't even collapse when I got home! Thanks Anita for motivating me to do this. I enjoy it and will hopefully get in better shape as the spring goes on.
This is a good website for checking out movie reviews. www.pluggedinonline.com
I use it all the time, especially to check out kids movies. It's very detailed and helpful.
Well, that's my blog for tonight. Nothing deep. Just life.

My Space, My Kids

I'm reading the book MySpace,MyKids right now due to the fact that I have an almost teenager in the house. I need to understand how all this works so that I can make informed decisions and protect my kids. Jason Illian, who wrote the book, really stresses privacy and teaching your kids/teens how not to leave a trail that will lead to them. This is a really good read for any of you who want to understand the Internet a little better and how to use it positively. The author writes "You are the parent, and you have been empowered by God to raise your children. Don't leave this tremendous responsibility up to the media, the culture, teachers, or the next-door neighbor. Be actively involved in your teens' lives, and when you are faced with a difficult situation, remember to be patient, honest and firm with your kids. Above all, remember that your job is not to make your kids happy-it is to make them holy."
This is such an important reminder to me. I loose sight of what my job is as a parent sometimes and need a gentle nudge back in the right direction. I do feel I have failed in many areas, some too late to change. There are days when I wish I could turn back the clock. I have definitely learned alot since then and would do a few things different. I don't think they are life altering changes....it's more the eating of the veggies, discipline issues,etc. Also showing the kids that Mommy's not perfect. Far from it. I am vulnerable and weak. But at the same time, I would be more confident and make decisions. But here I am. Imperfections and all.
Anyway, read the book. It will be in the church library as soon as I am done with it.

g2g(got to go)
L8ter.
gn (good night)
Just a bit of cyber language. You would not believe all of it!