Mama Time ????? / Torture Time ????

Ok...so I get a babysitter (which I NEVER) and leave the boys to run to the grocery for a quick trip and to get a manicure and pedicure (which I NEVER do).  Seriously, the last time I had my nails done by anyone but myself was right before Jack was born.  So I wanted to treat myself.  So, I get there and the Japanese man, or Chinese, or Vietnamese or whatever, runs the water for my feet.  I put my foot in and basically received third degree burns the water was so hot.  So I ask "cold water PLEASE".  So then my feet soak, and he cuts on "the chair".  Oh my gosh, this thing is insane.....punching my back, squeezing my hips, pushing me out of the chair, I felt like I was at war.  So finally I am like "dude please cut this thing off,  or I  am going to come out with injuries".  So then I was like ok......let's relax.  So he goes to do my toe cuticles.  But before he starts on mine, he starts picking at his nails with the cuticle thing.  Seriously???  If they were sterilized before, they aren't now.  So he begins to push down my cuticle which hurts so bad it makes me want to claw my eye balls out.  Next, time to exfoliate the legs.  Seriously, it felt like he was rubbing the heads of needles into my legs.  I was almost in tears.  Then onto exfoliate my feet, besides the fact that it tickled, my feet were jumping because they were so sensitive I literally kicked the due in the face.  "oh, my bad sorry".  I am sitting there thinking ok the worst is over.  All he has to do is paint my toe nails and I am out of here.....WRONG.....time for the leg massage.  His fist ball up.  I am thinking oh crap, I am in for it.  He starts beating my legs, pulling on my toes, and twisting my ankles in directions they are NOT meant to be twisted.  Ya'll I feel like I am in a torture chamber, but the sad thing is I AM PAYING FOR IT.  So, finally he paints my toes and I run / limp to the car.  Safe at last.  I think being tied up by my boys is more relaxing than pedicures these days.  Hopefully it will be another four years before I have to endure that again.

Back To School

Happy first day of school.  I love homeschooling.  We had a fantastic day.  I love routine and schedule and the boys thrive on it.  I had to change things a little for this school year.  I added Sam full time this year.  And I went ahead and planned for Jack too.  He just wants to do what his brothers do.  We had a fun day planned.  I am trying to get away from typical school paper / pencil activities.  There is a time and place for that,  but the reason I homeschool is to make it fun and adapt it for each child.  Sam had an awesome day.  He has matured so much just since May.  He hung with us all morning and even came back for Science this afternoon.  We are using Apologia Science and are studying Flying Creatures.  We had this nest in a tree in our yard since Spring.  It fell to a low branch on the tree it was in durning a storm.  The mama bird sat on our house when it happened and chirped and chirped.....not a happy mama.  Anyway, today we collected the nest and there was an egg in it.  The boys were so excited.  Homeschooling at it's best.  Happy Day to all.  I love my boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And So It Begins!!!

Hamilton and Jackson began Fall baseball this week.  I was a little nervous because Jack skipped t-ball and is playing with 5 and 6 year old on a coach pitch team.  Hamilton has always played soccer, so he is starting out on a 7 and 8 year old machine pitch team.  They both did GREAT their first practice.  Jack is naturally atheletic and although Hamilton is not "naturally atheletic"  is is determined and wants to be the best.  So I may have two pretty good ball players on my hand.  I am going to make Jack keep playing just because I could eat him to pieces in his uniform.  His bat bag is bigger than he is and he is so cute dragging it up the hill to practice.  So let the fun begin.  We have practice tonight, tomorrow night, and Sat. morning.  So much for a laid back Fall.

I Love Him Bunches

I love this man.  He is so good to me.  We were watching a show on tv last night.  It was one of these raising six kids deal.  But the husband and the wife were trying to figure out who was doing more and were fighting over trying to figure out whether they were both giving 50%.  They even went to counceling over this.  Kris looked at me and said instead of trying to figure out who is doing what, why don't they both concentrate on serving each other and giving 100% doing that.  Kris truly works hard to serve me, and it has never been a question whether or not we were both giving and doing. 

I have been reading The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace and it has really revolutionized my way of thinking about my husband.  I am here to serve him and be his helpmate.  And I am to do that no matter how I feel or what mood I am in.  Now trust me I fail often.  But I do believe God is honoring my efforts to be a Godly servant to my husband.  He is multiplying my love for him daily.  We are more like minded than ever before.  Things that are important to him are now important to me and vis versa.  Bottom line is I am so thankful for his unconditional love,  his ability to treat me tenderly, his protection, his leadership, his insane love for our boys, his abiltiy to provide for our family, his support in my ministry endeavors, his forgiveness, and his love for our Heavenly Father.  I am truly blessed to be his wife.

New Dining Room

This is my new dining room and by far my favorite room in the house.  It is nice, elegant (I think) and just a great room for relaxing.  It use to be our computer room and I hated walking into the front door seeing the computer.   Plus the computer was too available.  I find myself spending less and less time on the computer which is a good thing.  So we moved a lot of furniture out and got some sitting chairs, and i also painted my ceilings and under the chair rail.  The round coffee table was my grandmothers.  I refinished it and it looks great.  I had my coffee and breakfast in there this morning along with my quiet time.  It was wonderful.

Jack and Sam's New Room

 This is Sam and Jacks room.  It is very simple and mainly just a sleeping room.  I painted the dresser and chest of drawers, got them matching quilts, and had the letters over the bed made.  It turned out well and they love love love shairing a room.  Sam's bed is actually a queen ,so Hamilton has slept with him many many nights.  (And would actually move in there with them if I would let him.)  I love that they love being together.

New School Room

This is our new school / playroom.  We love it.  The boys love it.  Better than all of that, I am through with it.  I had a lot of fun redoing this room.  It is fun and fuctional.   And we are about to put it to good use. 

We will start school sometime in July (haven't set a date yet).  We have everything in here we need.....including our computer which has previously been in the dining room.  I love the kids art work on the wall.  It just makes me happy.

An Attitude of Excellence

I really am amazed at how many people that simply do what it takes to get by.  There seems to be such a lack of servanthood.  Always an excuse.  And then when they serve they do just enough to get by.  I have been pondering this lately and I think of Jesus....the ultimate servant.  I think of the verse in the Bible that talks about whatever you do, do it as if you are doing it for the Lord.  And I think about how the body should opperate......as a body.  Each one doing what he or she is called by God to do.....investing the time and energy it takes to do something to the best of your ability.   I think overall it just makes me sad to see things done half heartedly, when I know if we were all giving 100% serving in our gifted area incredible things would happen.  I want God to burn in me an attitude of excellence in all that I do.....being a wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister, Sunday School Teacher, etc. 

Hamilton's New Room

Before

After....Bye Bye Baby Blue!!!