I did it!

On the day the stock market dropped more than it ever has in history....

I ordered my kit to start selling Usborne books!!

Ok, so the timing may be a little scary but I am still so so so excited!!!  I have wanted to do this for a year and a half and I am so pleased to finally be able to move forward with this.  So if any of you are in need of a book or would like to have a party, just let me know.

If you've never heard of Usborne Books at Home, you can visit my NEW website at www.ubah.com/Y2288   

Yeah!  There is a link to email me on my page also.  Can't wait to to hear from all of you and set you up with a party.  Oh and my first 20 hostesses can get a special prizes!

                   

Back to Normal!

I enjoyed posting about Hearts at Home last week and sharing what a wonderful ministry it is for moms.  But I have to say I am glad to be back to my normal ramblings today.

Last week was another week of "milestones."  Aiden turned 5.  How is that even possible?  He has grown so much and gotten so big.  It is unbelievable!!!  He also has given up on naps...although I am hoping for one today after a late night and an early morning.  I really do kinda enjoy the quiet time with him...but I also enjoy some quiet time alone.  

I also started getting up at about 6 (when Shane gets back from  his bike ride) and going for a walk.  I go a little over a mile.  My only day "off" is Sunday for now until I get the habit established.  Today I actually walked and jogged.  I just love it (well not the jogging part yet but I've been told that you start liking it eventually)!  I listen to music and watch the sun come up.  It is a great way to start the day.  My energy is so much higher all day!!  My house is even cleaner since I've started walking...are the two related?  I don't know and I don't care!

And Griffin is weaned.  He was only nursing at night before bed and Wednesday night after church he just didn't seem to care.  So I just gave him a little sippy cup of milk and that was the end.  He hasn't nursed since.  It is a little bittersweet.  He is my last baby and now he is getting so big too.  But there are new and different stages to start enjoying.  And the joy of wearing a real bra again is just wonderful!!!  It changes a woman I tell ya!  Anyway, Griffin is also walking a lot now.  They are still hesitant steps but he is trying to get around that way.  So sweet!  

We started learning about the first day of Creation in school.  So we studied light, opposites (as in God separated light and dark), different ways people have lit their homes through history, etc.  Aiden is also doing some handwriting.  Maverick wants the "power to read" but I told him I won't sit down and teach him that until he poops in the potty.

As far as my weight loss goes I lost 1.6 lbs.  Not great but I'll take it.  The "2nd week slump" on Biggest Loser was encouraging.  Some of those people didn't lose any and they worked LOTS harder and have lots more to lose.  So I am just keeping at it.  I"ll get there.  I confess that I weighed this morning and seem to be doing pretty good so far this week....I hope I keep going!!

So that is the wrap up of last week and all that is going on.  Later!

AND THE WINNER IS....

Ok, first a disclaimer...I know I didn't post about Hearts at Home the last couple of days. I just got too busy. Again, if you would like to go...I will be going (with Cherish) and you are invited. It is well worth it. If cost is prohibitive, they do offer "scholarships" I think.

Secondly, to check out Hearts at Home and their ministry visit their website at www.hearts-at-home.org.

OK...now for the winner...

Harried Harris Mommy- Congratulations!!! Maverick drew your name out of a hat for me. Email me and I'll give you the link and you can choose your book!

And we'll be back to regular posting this week!

Some FAQS about Hearts at Home

according to me...

You can check out all they have to offer at their website www.hearts-at-home.org. 

The national conference is in Normal, IL.  This is where I attended.  They also have conferences listed in Grand Rapids, MI and Rochester, MN.  There is also an international Mom's Day Out!

This year's national conference (well, the next one) is March 13 and 14 at Illinois State University in Normal, IL.  I will be going so if any are interested...let me know...the more the merrier!  

A few notes about the conference.  No children are allowed...even nursing babies.  Although this made me sad because I couldn't go last year, it is nice to have a place where there are no children and you can just be with other moms.  We got lunch at the conference both days.  It was a nice picnic lunch.  We got a "fast lunch."  You have less time to eat and we sat on the floor in a hallway (with a BUNCH of other people) but it was fine.  There is a slow lunch option but then you miss a class each day.  We figured we can go out for a nice lunch another time.  It was perfect.  There is also dinner served before the Mom's Night Out if you choose that option.  We did and I think I would again.  The food was pretty good (lasagna I think) and it meant we were right in the building and could choose good seats.  Many leave and go to a restaurant for dinner though.  Parking is rough but they work hard to make it work.  Everyone is so friendly.  The classes offered are on a WIDE range of subjects so there would be something for EVERYONE!!!  If you can...you really should go!!!

Well, Griffin is upset with me for one reason or another so I need to go.  

But before I do...DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE CONTEST!!!!

Getting the Giggles!! Another Hearts at Home post!

OK, so first a disclaimer...I am stealing a thought that Cherish (her link is in the left column) shared last week.  It is not SPECIFICALLY about the conference either.  It is about having fun with other moms.  My friend Cherish, another mom Kindra and I all decided to go up a day early and do some shopping.  I had just found out I was pregnant with our third child and wanted some new maternity pants (even though I couldn't wear them yet).  And who couldn't use a day walking mindlessly through a mall...although I enjoy the food court more than the stores most of the time.  

We checked into our hotel and met an interesting character at the front desk.  He was very feminine and had only one front tooth...but it was centered instead of like he was missing a tooth and it was huge.  This is mean but picture Larry the Cucumber.  It was very distracting as he spoke and while we were getting directions to the mall, Cherish got the giggles.  Not just little giggles but SERIOUS giggles.  She finally had to walk away.  You know the giggles that you just can't shake.  After we got outside we all collapsed in a fit of giggles.  People walking by probably thought we had all gone crazy!

But, although the poor man (who was dubbed Snaggletooth by another lady that we knew in our hotel)should not have been the target of our giggles, it was great to just laugh.  So often as a mom, I feel like I am constantly putting out fires of one kind or another,   Share your toys, do to others as you would have them do to you, leave the baby's face alone, share, where are you, did you poop in your pants, share,  eat your dinner, don't spit, no bubbles in your cup, blah, blah, blah...and I laugh and play with my kids too.  I laugh at the same knock knock joke OVER and OVER even though it wasn't funny the first time, I compliment all their little accomplishments like wiping all by themselves and FINALLY eating their lunch, we celebrate each day that we can.  And I do fun things with other moms...but rarely without at least one of my kids if not all three.  But to really "let myself go" with no one to take care of but me.  It was like coming up for air and was so refreshing and fun!!!

I guess the point of this is that although I learned a lot at Hearts at Home...taking the time for FUN with just other moms, who appreciate the same jokes as you do, is another wonderful blessing of Hearts at Home. And how often do we really get that chance to just get the giggles and enjoy them without having to try to set a good example.

DON'T FORGET to enter the contest.  The question is posted in yesterday's post.

Hearts at Home!

Two years ago, I was invited, for the first time, to attend Hearts at Home.  I had been to Women of Faith and I loved that.  But this was a little different.  It wasn't just for women...it was for moms.  Moms who stay at home and those who don't.  It was for all moms who want to raise healthy, happy, well-rounded, Christian children.  It was for moms who feel stretched thin and stressed out.  For moms who have everything all put together on the outside but are falling apart on the inside and for those of us who it is apparent some things are falling apart.  It is also for the perfect mom who does everything right and really needs no help (hey, the rest of us need someone to roll our eyes at right?)  Moms of boys and girls; only children and many and multiples.  Happily married moms, not so happily married moms and single moms.  Moms of babies, moms of toddlers, moms of preteens, and although I don't know for sure, moms of grandbabies (AKA grandmothers).  It was described as a work conference for moms, a place to learn skills to make me better mom.  I was interested, very interested and my best friend Cherish and I decided to go.

It was a weekend away.  Things were scheduled for a Friday and Saturday...although you can attend just one of the 2 days.  Friday night was  "Mom's Night Out!"

We registered for both days and chose the classes that we were interested in.  I picked some on disciplining young children and chores, building marriage relationships, starting mom's Bible studies, etc.  When we got our schedule we found out what workshops we got in to.  Although, honestly, if I didn't get into one I REALLY wanted...I went anyway and skipped the one I was "assigned."  I think there were 4 sessions each day along with the main sessions with everyone together.  

It was a WONDERFUL weekend.  I learned a lot and have forgotten a lot of it too.  But we laughed (sometimes till we cried), and we just cried some too.  We sang and worshipped.  We talked to other moms.  And we shopped...oh I forgot to mention the TWO HUGE ROOMS full of booths to buy things....Hearts at Home stuff, books for kids and for us, shirts, jewelry, cards, so much stuff!!!  

So this is the first post of a whole week of posts dedicated to Hearts at Home.  I am going to write each day (I hope) something about this wonderful ministry.  

Also, Hearts at Home is sponsoring a CONTEST on my blog!  So I have a question for you.  Leave a comment with your answer and you will go into a drawing for a Hearts at Home book.  Here is your question.

**If you had a whole free afternoon and you had showered and needed no extra rest and your house was clean and you had some extra money that you could afford to do something...what would it be?  Where would you go and what would you do?  And would you go alone or with friends?**

From the mouths of babes!

So this morning we were getting dressed and Maverick was putting on his "tank top undershirt" and it got stuck like this on his head.  And he looks up and says..

"Look, I'm Jesus."

Apparently, he has noticed the head coverings of Bible times.  Maybe on his coloring pages in Sunday School.  

My weekly weigh in!!

So I weighed in yesterday but with lots of outside stuff going on I didn't share.  I lost 6 lbs last week.  Before we all get too excited about it though I should make 3 disclaimers.  1. I weighed in on different scales.  2.  I ate enough Mexican food last week before weighing in to feed a small elephant for the day.  3.  Last week I weighed fully clothed (the other library patrons were thankful I'm sure although no one said anything...so rude LOL) after eating supper.  Yesterday I woke up, peed, and weighed in my underwear (hey...clothes have to weigh SOMEthing).  

But all in all I lost 6 lbs.  And I'll take it.  My biggest accomplishment I think for the week is that I walked EVERY day.  I am not sure how far I've been going but I got out and I walked and I never missed.  Even yesterday I was irritated about something and instead of eating (which is my normal response)...I went for a walk.  I have also counted all my calories all week!  Yeah!

Of course, we are going to the fall festival tomorrow so.........things aren't looking good for the weekend.  They don't exactly have a diet "Carnival" food stand!

Trouble with Rhyming!

Today at lunch Aiden started rhyming words.  Boat, goat, float, soat (I mentioned this is not a word), etc.  Then I said "What is something you wear when it is cold outside that rhymes with those words?"  His eyes lit up and he answered, "Jacket!"  I told him that you wear that outside in the cold but it doesn't rhyme.  He looked at me and said "Oh yeah,...coat."

So we got there.  I don't think he listened to the entire question before answering.  He was just so excited!  LOL

A New Goal!

So last week, with a couple friends, I joined a weight loss challenge.  It is 10 weeks (I think).  It ends the week BEFORE thanksgiving (whew!!!)  We weighed in for the first time on Thursday night after eating a huge Mexican meal and drinking lots of water.  We wanted our first weigh ins high, right!?!?!?!   There are 5 of us on the team, all with different specific goals.  We have names ourselves "The Wannabes!"  Why? you may ask.  Well, it is simple.  Although we all have different specific goals we ALL "wannabe" skinny!!  Ha, ha...thanks MamaGene for the inspiring name!

Since then I have been tracking calories on sparkpeople.  It is a great site where you can log the food you eat and it tracks your calories for you.  I can also track other important nutrients...calcium, iron, fiber and a number of others.  It helps you set goals for amounts of water to drink and everything.  I even get an example menu (which I rarely follow but it gives me ideas).  I also enter all the exercise I do each day....walking, gardening (today) and Pilates for cardio.  And it gives me strength training 3 days per week (which is the goal I chose).  It is a great site and is REALLY helping me.  

Also, this is a site where I find recipes to try.  Some are healthy and others are not but it has all the nutrition info included.  You can also use a recipe calculator on that site and you type in your favorite recipe and include number of servings and it tells you your nutrition info for each serving.  It is very handy.  

Several of us on the team (well, I know Cherish and I) are watching Biggest Loser on Tuesday nights too.  It is fun to watch and is inspiring.  I am so glad I have not gotten as unhealthy as some of the contestants and it is makes me appreciate the relatively easy job I have to get healthy and slim again.  

Anyway, like Biggest Loser, I will be weighing once a week (on Thursday) and I will report my losses (and hopefully NO gains).   Unlike like Biggest Loser though, there will be no pictures of me in a sports bra, so have no fear to visit again.  Your eyes will be protected from that!

The beginning of the end...

in more ways than one!

I breast fed all 3 boys for some length of time.  Aiden for almost a year, Maverick for 5 months and I am pushing a year with Griffin.  After a discussion with Shane last night, we decided that I would start weaning Griffin.  I have been thinking about it for while but he is just now 10 1/2 months and I didn't want to do it too soon.  The doctor says I need to nurse him till he is a year but I am just ready to give it up and I think he is too.  He has only been nursing before nap and before bed.  If we are out and about he skips the nap-time one with ease.  So I am cutting that one first.  Today was the first day and it has gone great.  He went down for his nap easily with a cup of milk and then some rocking and, of course, Puppy blanket.  He is sleeping peacefully.  Yeah!  I am planning to have him weaned by around the start of October...only a month earlier than recommended...not too shabby.

The other end isn't as exciting for me.  Aiden seems to be giving up naps altogether.  It makes me sad because  a little quiet time for me during the day makes for a much happier mommy.  That makes me feel a little selfish BUT who doesn't need a break.  It is also hard cause he doesn't play quietly very well and I feel like I am telling him to be quiet for the WHOLE afternoon while the little guys are sleeping.  But he is growing up and I guess this is to be expected.  He is sleeping in a little longer but that doesn't help me cause the little guys still get up at 6:30 or so.  I am going to start adding a little to his school day while the little boys are napping....some handwriting and bigger boy memory work (like his address and phone number).  I am also trying to read Charlotte's Web aloud.  Once I get it settled in my brain that he isn't going to nap, I think it will actually be nice to have some time with him to do big kid stuff.

I guess both things are an indication that my little guys are growing up and becoming big guys.  It is sad and exciting all at the same time.  I guess I just need to get ready for the next chapter!

Cherish is having a contest!!!

My friend Cherish is having a contest at her blog for moms and moms to be.  If you fit in that category, go check it out.

http://edexploitsszkldyn.blogspot.com/

I will be having a similar contest starting next week!!!  Make sure you stop in and leave a comment for both of us!!!

A day in the life!

So today we did another day in our curriculum.  Just in case...we are using Weaver Interlock.  Today we started our second week worth of lessons.  It went really, really well.  We started with learning about the Trinity.  I have to say last night as I was reading over the lesson I was thinking...really?  The trinity for preschool and kindergarten boys.  But I decided to plunge ahead anyway.

So we started the morning (after getting dressed and brushing teeth) with a walk and bike ride on our new road (see precious post).  It was great.  When we got back home, we did calendar time.  It didn't go too well.  I think Aiden is getting bored with it.  I am going to continue it for Maverick though.  Anyway, I let them play for a while before calling them to the table where I had a bowl and an egg for each of them.  I asked both of how many eggs they had in their hand (both answered 1).  Then I asked them to crack their eggs into their bowls.  Luckily both have practice at this.  We counted the parts of the eggs (3=yolk, white, shell).  We discussed the fact that although there are 3 parts they each still only had 1 egg.  Then related that to the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.  Oddly enough, I think they kind of understand it.  Then because I just couldn't waste 2 eggs, we made peanut butter cookies.  Again reinforcing the idea of 3-in-1.  Peanut butter, sugar, and an egg (3 ingredients) make peanut butter cookies (1 finished product).  They had a blast!!!  We also discussed that although there are many parts to our family, we are still just 1 family group.  We drew pictures of our family.  Maverick didn't do this so much but Aiden drew most of us.  The catch is that in his picture many of the people are "pooping"...his description.

We did some exercises in groups of 3 (jumping, hopping on 1 foot, toe touches, etc).  We are working on memorizing our address but it isn't going so well.  I am planning on making sock puppets one of these days to help learn that but today isn't looking like a good option since naps were pretty much non-existent.  

While Maverick was laying in his bed crying (after he woke up Griffin), Aiden did some pages in his handwriting workbook and practiced writing his name. He did very well but we need to work on making lower case letters in his name.  He writes them all in capital letters.  

Now things are disintegrating fairly quickly...could it be from no naps?...and they want to watch Hermie...so off I go to plug them in for a little while!!

Although this afternoon has been a bust overall...it has been a pretty great day!!!

He Did It!!!!

This morning Griffin took his first few steps.  He has moved his foot before and we called it ONE step...but this time, he was taking some steps!!  I am so glad we got it on video!!!  He is getting so big!!!

The New Road!!!!

Having fun as we were just getting started.

Racing off into the sunset.

Griffin is having a great time in his stroller not bouncing on the big rocks!!

We've been waiting for a blacktop road for several summers now...and we finally got it.  Last night the boys, Shane and I all went on a walk/bike ride on our new blacktop road.  Actually, it wasn't possible before for the boys to ride bikes on the big gravel.  So this was a great and fun first for us!!

Here are some pictures of the nice time!!!

Oh, the places he'll sleep!

I just got these pictures of Griffin in the last few days and thought they were funny!!

He fell asleep sitting on the floor. If you look carefully you can see his toes peeking from behind the puppy blanket. I just can't imagine being able to sleep in that position.

The swing is always good for a quick nap!

OK, this picture looks like he is reaching for his cup...but I just didn't get it taken in time. He fell asleep with his mouth resting on the sippy part of the cup at lunch. The picture was taken at the time the cup slid away from his face! So funny!!

Maverick's third birthday!

Maverick turned THREE on September 7. I can hardly believe it. He is getting so big! We had some friends over to play and have cake and ice cream (and Nanny and Pappy came too). We invited Colby and family, Grant and family, and Starr and family. Starr couldn't make it so we had a house FULL of boys. Colby has 2 brothers and Grant has 1 brother. HOLY SMOKES!!! It was a lot of fun for everyone I think!!!

Of course, Maverick asked for a HE-MAN cake. I thought that was just lovely. I was hoping to get to make a baseball cake or something easy...but NOPE, not for Maverick. So I googled "how to draw he'man" (thanks Cherish for the tip), and then did the best I could.

Here is the He-Man cake all finished! (He-Man's hair got a little out of control and big...but oh well,what can ya do?)

Maverick is thrilled with his cake...and he knew it was HEMAN without being told. Whew! What a relief?!?!?!
Aiden made a Happy Birthday Banner for Maverick and he liked that too.
Here he is getting ready to open gifts! Of course, he is all smiles now too!!!

It was a wonderful birthday party!!! I just can't believe he is three already!!!

PS. I don't have many good pictures of his friends who came and I don't have permission to put them online anyway!

My young "men"

Today the boys were playing out on the deck. They had out their picnic stuff and had a restaurant. One was serving and the other was ordering, etc. They both had lowered there voices to be "men." It was hysterically cute. They asked to eat lunch out there and I said ok. The Little Tykes table was already out there.

So I made them each a little individual size pizza and lemonade. To continue the game I took them their drinks and food and "served" them like a waitress complete with a "Here ya go, sir." This is how the rest of the conversation went.

Me: Here is your pizza, sir.
Aiden (in his man voice): Thank you, woman.
Me (stifling a giggle): You're welcome. Here is your pizza, sir.
Maverick (in his best man voice): Thank you, woman.
Me (stifling a giggle again): You're welcome, sir.

I then run into the kitchen to giggle and get Griffin and my lunch, which we ate inside. The sliding door was open so I could hear the big boys outside. And I hear Aiden say (again, in his man voice)....."That's sooome woman!" (emphasis on some).

Oh, I did the silent laugh SO HARD!!! Aiden (and Maverick too with help) orders and is very polite in restaurants and he never calls anyone "woman," but I think we will work on practicing this skill at home too. Geez, I just need him to call a waitress "woman" or even worse a waiter!!!

Friday Night Game Night!

We have been playing games every night or every other night. We play all different games...the boys get to pick. Friday night Shane helped them pick and we played a game we haven't played much before. It is called Rivers, Roads, & Rails. We have had it for a long time but have never played much cause they didn't get it. Friday night they got it and we had a great time.

Griffin floated from lap to lap and under the table. His personality is shining through and he is getting so big. He kept taking my tiles and when I tried to take them back to play he would squeeze real tight and SQUEEEEALL! It made him angry! It was really kinda funny although I am sure I will be changing my tune later.

Labor Day Weekend!

We spent a fun filled 3 1/2 days at "Family Camp" at Cuivre River State Park near Troy, MO. Matt and Janie (my aunt and uncle) and their family planned it and we all went and had a great time. I didn't carry my camera around much but I will have a few pictures soon. Maverick and Aiden played their first game of kick ball and had a great time. And we all went down into a cave. I wasn't sure the boys would like that since it was mostly crawling on your belly but they did great. My uncle Doug got pictures of them down there...I'm hoping to get digital copies of those tonight.

I'll get some pictures on here soon. There are some other things I need to update too but I am way behind on my household chores and can't sit here and do a long post when I need to be doing other things.

More to come later......