I'm normally quite a pessimistic person (or realistic as I like to call it), so I'm much more likely to write an entry titled "why my week was bad". I'm sure I could even come up with a lot of good things to write. But, today I'm going to force myself to be optimistic, so here's . . . "Why my week was good!"
First, we've been planning a trip to Disney World for way too long (3 years) and . . . we BOOKED it this week! There is no backing out now! We are going for the week of Thanksgiving and I've got some pretty excited kids and a REALLY excited husband. Yes, Matthew is the most excited of all. I'm still in a state of unbelief, because this is our first "real" vacation ever. SURREAL!
Second, I got my hair done this week. As a mother, getting my hair done usually ends up last on the list. It had been 6 months since my last cut and a year since my last highlight. This time I got to get both! To make it even better, my new friend from Church did it, and so I got some great girl time in too!!
Third, I finally motivated myself to list ALL of my fall kids clothes on Ebay and my auctions ended this week. I'm now an international seller, so I've got used children's clothing being sent to England, Scotland, Serbia, and Canada this time. I always find that fascinating. In the end, I made $600 (after all of the fees) and I was thrilled, because now all my school clothes shopping is paid for. It's a lot of work to Ebay, but it's a great way for me to make a little extra money and an excuse to do what I love . . . SHOP!
Finally, my house is somewhat clean and my wood floors are mopped. With a lot going on this week, that's a big surprise, but I asked Matthew and the kids to help out last night and we were able to get it looking pretty good. The kids even deep cleaned their bathroom and Matthew swept and mopped the wood floor. Now we are ready for visitors this weekend. We get to meet up with Richard Chen and his family who are visiting from out of state. I got to teach Richard on my mission and I've only met his wife once and never met his family. It should be a fun reunion.
So that is why my week was good!
Grandma Little gave Drew a card that said "Drew is not 2, he is 3" a couple weeks before his birthday. After that, we spent at least a few minutes every day talking about "my birthday" and turning 3. Needless to say, he was VERY excited when the day came. We decorated his door, so that he knew it had arrived first thing in the morning; and he came out to find the Diego Trike that is pictured above (from Grandma and Grandpa Hofer). It was the start of a very good day!
We spent most of the morning getting ready for our neighborhood "Froggy" party. Drew helped make cupcakes and took a good nap, and then the party began. We had 13 children (including Kristi's 5) and 8 adults. It turned out to be more chaos than anything else, even though I had several games and activities planned. But, it was fun chaos! Then, the moment came that Drew has been waiting for ALL year. HIS turn to blow out the candles. I wish I could have caught his full expression on camera! It was pure joy! It was such a fun day for everyone, but best of all Drew was sooo happy all day. Not one grumpy moment.
Note: Interestingly enough, Drew came down with strep throat in the night. Strange, since he really was very happy and well-behaved all day. So, we were off to the doctor the day after his birthday, and then did his three year check up a week later. Drew is the runt of the family (poor guy). He is 37 inches tall and only 30 pounds, which puts him in the 35th percentile. Both his brother and sister have always been in the 75th percentile or above. I guess that's fits, since he's my baby!
We finally had our last week of school and I felt like I spent the whole week there. The week started with Ethan's award ceremony. He got the Fabulous Friend award and I thought that was fitting, since his teacher is always telling us how well he gets along with the whole class. He had a great year, but I felt a little emotional about my baby going into 1st grade!
Next, I got to plan and attend a surprise baby shower for Morgan's teacher Mrs. Stiles. We coordinated it with another teacher to be sure the time would work. Then, I kicked her out of the classroom for a few minutes while we set-up. The kids were VERY excited, and WILD!! I was afraid the principal might get called in. They turned out the lights and screamed surprise when Mrs. Stiles came back and she couldn't believe it. We gathered money to buy her all of her crib bedding, curtains, and a few other things. We also had cupcakes with pacifier suckers on top. The suckers were a huge hit. It was very nice to be able to do that for her. She was a good teacher. Morgan and many of her friends will have her again next year because she's moving to 4th grade, so they are keeping the class together.
Next, was Morgan's awards, which I got no pictures of, because Drew and Ethan were naughty and the lighting was bad. But, Morgan got an Accelerated Reader award and an Awesome Author award. She was surprised that her teacher named her Awesome Author and I think she was kind of proud.
Finally, I helped with Ethan's end of the year party. We had ice cream sundaes (with no toppings, since none of our parents remembered!). Then, we played a couple games and the kids all got frog tattoos. It was actually kind of a flop, because the rest of our games got rained out. But, no one seemed to mind and the kids were all happy with their frog prizes. I really appreciated how much Ethan's teacher Mrs. Hendershot got to know him and how well she tried to meet his learning needs.
AND NOW. . . SCHOOL'S OUT! I always love the first week of summer. The kids are always happy to be home and I usually have a lot of energy, so I'm looking forward to it. This year, I only have one week with them and then I'm off to Girl's Camp, so I've got a ton to do. Welcome summer!!
I am always trying to come up with more activities we can do as a family. I've also been trying to find ways to stay active, so I decided it was time for me to get a bike! I searched around and ended up going to my local bike shop and getting a modest hybrid bike, which I love! My next mission was to find a way for Drew to participate in this family activity. He is old enough that the bike trailer idea was not appealing to him, so I found this very cool bike seat that attaches to the front of an adult bike. I put it on my bike first, and found it to be a TON of fun but a bit dangerous for me to stop, so now it's attached to Matthew's bike. Drew LOVES it! He feels like he's "driving" the bike.
Since getting my bike, our family has spent many evenings out on bikes! It's been so long since I rode, that I forgot how good it feels to fly down a hill. Ethan likes to be the leader of the pack, and he definitely rides fast enough. We are also glad to have him in front because he tends to be a little crazy and none of us want him to crash into us! Drew thinks he's part of a race the whole time and is very happy to be "winning". Morgan likes to take her time in the back of the line. In the end, we all have a good time and are keeping active. I really enjoy biking as a family and look forward to going out on some longer rides this summer!!
People who know me well, know that I'm a shopper. But, I have to get the best deal possible, and in most cases, it needs to be online (because my kids are naughty in the store). So, one of the ways I do this is by earning cashback on my purchases. I started with some of the online cashback sites. More recently, I've been using Discover Card cashback. I am hooked, and will probably always keep my Discover Card around, because it is such a great program. Discover Card is trying to spread the word on this program, so I'm blogging about it in order to win a $50 Gift Card. We shall see!
Before I buy anything online, I check ShopDiscover.com to see if they are a participating merchant. Some of my favorite are HPshopping (5%), Nike.com (10%), Shoes.com (15%), and all the Gap Stores (5%). Then, I link through the Discover website to these sites. When I'm ready to check out, I can still use coupons and free shipping offers in most cases. I make sure to pay with my Discover Card and then I send my order. Now, here's the good part. Most online cashback sites make you wait 60-90 days to get your money. It's a slow process. In my experience, I've recieved my cashback by my next billing cycle almost every time! Very quick!
Finally, I love the options that Discover Card gives me for using my cashback. I can either apply it directly to my account balance, get a check sent to me, or use it to buy a gift certificate at a participating merchant. The gift certificates are very tempting! I can spend $40 of my cashback bonus, but can get a $50 gift certificate. Another bonus! In a day where we all have to watch our spending, this is a wonderful way get the best deal!
UPDATE: I WON! Woo Hoo!
My grandpa Fred Benjamin Heuer passed away on April 21st.
He was 90 years old, so it was somewhat expected, but I still didn't expect it to happen right then. Matthew and I had plans to go to New York City for our anniversary during the time the funeral was scheduled. After a lot of phone calls and emotions, we were able to cancel our plans, pack up the kids and drive to Michigan. It was interesting, because we had just returned from Michigan one week earlier. The HUGE blessing in that was seeing my grandpa one last time. But, the kids were not looking forward to another 9 hour drive.
Our decision to go is one that I will never regret! It was a meaningful few days for me and my family. My whole family gathered. All 8 of my grandpa's grandchildren were there. Thirteen of his 17 great grandchildren were there. My children benefitted SO much from the experience. Morgan was extremely emotional, but needed the closure. Ethan spent many quiet moments standing near the casket wondering and thinking. He was very somber and took it all into his heart. I was touched by his maturity. I found joy in listening to some of the stories of his life. We had lots of chances to share memories. My family enjoyed many hours of late night talking, which we haven't been able to do in a VERY long time. It was very nice and peaceful.
I want to write a few of my thoughts about my grandpa, because I want to celebrate his life. My first memories of him were in his Jackson, MI home. It seemed like a long drive to get there, but we always looked forward to it. Grandpa's chair was situated right by the entrance into a hall that led to the bedrooms and bathroom. We always had to RUN by him in order to avoid getting spanked on the bottom on our way by. We also had to avoid his legs, because if we were caught in between them we would be trapped until we gave the magic word (which always changed). Needless to say, my Grandpa was fun.
When I got older my grandparents moved to Grand Blanc, MI. During this time, I especially remember my Grandpa's teasing. He would ask me questions like: How many boys have you caught lately? (NONE!) or What do you think? (About what?) The cost of rhubarb, or How is kindergarten? (Grandpa, I'm in THIRD grade!) He also had lots of nicknames for us. My older sister Kristi and I were Zip and Zap. He like to call my rear end Pike's Peak and would often ask me how Pike's Peak was doing. I had to be very cautious when sitting next to my grandpa, because he would often put his hand on the couch as I was sitting, and I would end up sitting on his hand. Then, he would make a hurt face and say "OUCH!". Grandpa had quite a sense of humor!
It was during this time that my grandparents started going to Florida and each of the grandchildren got to take turns visiting them. I remember my grandpa playing shuffle board with us, taking us on boat rides, and especially taking us to look for shells. He always took us out to nice seafood restaurants and it would drive him crazy when we would order a hamburger. He was always trying to convince me to order alligator balls (which I never saw him try either). Seeing him among his friends in Florida, I got to see how much my Grandpa loved to be social. He was very involved in the community and had lots of friends.
As I got older, I came to appreciate my grandfather's life more. I remember having to do a report in high-school on someone who lived during the depression. I got out the cassette recorder and did an interview with my grandpa. I was amazed with his life. He came from a very humble beginning. His parents struggled to make ends meet, but he always worked hard. He worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time to get through college. Our favorite story is when he hitchhiked and jumped train cars all the way to Nevada one summer to work in the gold mines. His hard work paid off, and he became a teacher, then a principal and then assistant superintent of schools. I ALWAYS new education was important to my grandpa!
After growing up and having my own family, I got to see the love my grandpa had for my children. His body wouldn't allow him to play as rough, but he still loved to tease them and trap them in his legs. He looked forward to seeing us. We lived close at the time, so Matthew also got to know him well. He always talked sports with him (another of my Grandpa's loves). After my Grandma died and we moved away, Matthew would continue to visit him whenever he was in town on a business trip.
Speaking of my grandma, one of my favorite memories of my grandpa in later years, was when my grandma was sick. My grandma and grandpa showed little affection, but I always knew they loved each other. After all, it was "love at first sight". When my grandma got sick, I got to see HOW much my grandpa loved my grandma. He stayed at her side EVERY moment he could. He held her and hand and kissed her. I was grateful to witness this expression of love. I know that their reunion was a sweet one!
One week before he died we were in Michigan. Grandpa was in the hospital, so we took all the kids to see him. He was weak and extremely tired, but his eyes would light up every time he realized we were there. Even in his weakened state, he wanted to play with my kids. Ethan was in a corner, and he said "What are you doing hiding over there?" Morgan was near his bedside and we saw his hand reach out to try and grab her. My kids enjoyed being with grandpa those last moments. Morgan and Ethan both chose to go back to the hospital a second time to see him again. I hope they will always remember him and know how much he loved them! My grandpa LOVED his family!
I LOVE my grandpa!
Whether for good or bad Odyssey of the Mind is over. I mentioned the struggles I'd been having with my group before, and I have to say that the whole process was a struggle. Those kids were wild! They bounced and chased all over my house, and after only completing half of what we needed to do at each meeting, I almost gave up! Even when they did focus, there were times I wasn't sure that it was possible for children to build a candy factory with a chocolate waterfall inside. I questioned whether 7 children under the age of 8 could really move all their scenery into a staging area and perform an 8 minute show with NO adult help or prompting. I was still questioning this the day before our tournament. But, it IS possible! Although the performance was hardly flawless, the kids really pulled through. It was especially fun, as a mother to see Ethan act so responsible during the performance. I don't usually get to see that side of him. In the end, I was glad that I did it. Whether I will ever do it again, now that I'm not sure about!!!
This is a picture of the kids after it was over. They are proudly holding their ribbons that they were given by the judges. You can see our "Candy Factory" in the background.
This was taken before the performance. The kids had to squish themselves and all of our props into a staging area before beginning. Everything HAD to fit in the taped off area, even their toes. They are kind of picky about things!
It has been hard for me to make friends and feel comfortable here in Virginia. Everyone has been friendly at Church and school, but I still haven't really been able to connect with anyone. It has been tough!
We worried so much about what home to buy when we moved here and I am SO grateful that I live on Firedrake Terrace!
Noah and Drew at Ellie's Birthday Kaela, Jack, Ethan, Drew and Morgan at Ellie's Birthday.
During the week, I get so tired of my family, and I wish I could have a break from them. But, then life slows down for a moment and we get to have some fun; and I realize that it's not THEM that I need a break from, but it's just the drudgery of life. I wish we could always just play together!
When I was a little girl, I was involved with Olympics of the Mind. I LOVED it! The name has since been changed to Odyssey of the Mind. When I found out that our elementary school offered this as an after-school activity, I was anxious for Morgan and Ethan to get involved. I explained to them how it was a creative play that they would get to make up (with their team) and present to judges. Immediately, Morgan didn't want to do it. That's the age she seems to be at. But, Ethan's mind was whirling. He already had ideas and was in the computer room drawing them. I was energized by his enthusiasm and realized that this would be a PERFECT activity for my non-academic, yet highly creative son. So, I volunteered to coach his team.
Every one of my children have gone through that stage where they have been my shadow. It is a stage that I don't particularly like, because I no longer have any personal space. I find myself feeling very claustrophobic. Drew is at that stage. Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I often have to creatively find ways to get some space.
We debated and debated whether Santa should bring a Wii for Christmas. We'd avoided video games because our kids already get enough screen time between TV and computer. But, it was Ethan's only Christmas wish. He believed so fully that Santa would bring him what he really wanted. So, we gave Santa the OK. I was determined that if we were going to get the Wii we were going to use it to "get off the couch" and move, so I researched the games and found one called Outdoor Adventure. It comes with a mat (kind of like DDR) and you use both the Wii remote and the mat. So, Santa left the Wii and the new game in front of the fireplace on Christmas morning.
Ethan
Drew
My husband Matthew has been working on a blog for our family for the past year. He loves keeping it up to date and does a good job. So, why do I need a blog? A friend of mine mentioned that blogs can be made into books. Then, when we were off visiting family over Christmas, I saw a book that someone had made. I realized that it wasn't just a book, but a history. Suddenly it hit me, that this is how I was finally going to keep my own history! I want my children to know about their mother. I want them to know some of my thoughts. So, here I am starting a blog. I plan to put the typical pictures and day to day happenings, but even more important I'm hoping to put a little of me into it. Wish me luck!!
