Of Sports and things...

This is Cody's fourth year playing basketball at church. This is, however, the first year that he's really getting into it. He had pictures done today (you'll see those when I get them back from the photographer) and played a great game. His only big weakness is dribbling the ball...he can make some points, he's great at defense (he's one of the tallest kids on the team)...but he has trouble dribbling.


And then there's my other two goofballs before the game....


Andrew's speech therapy has been going well enough that we have now been able to do biweekly sessions with the speech therapist instead of weekly. His speech has improved remarkably over the past year!!! Now, it's time to continue the work at home and in daily conversation.

I've finally done it!! I joined the gym. I'm looking forward to getting back in shape. Eating healthy has been one way to get my body in better shape/weight, now it's time to add some exercise!!

Dan is in the process of moving our shed from my mother's place where we used to live to our current residence. Should be an interesting experience. I'm just looking forward to having storage space again!!!

Goodness....and patience....

So as I sit here typing, I'm listening to my youngest wind down from his first true temper tantrum...yea, that may sound mean, but they are purely crocodile tears.

It started out as me telling the middle one, Andrew to eat his dinner (he had been sitting there for an hour looking at it like it was going to metamorphisize into some weird bad guy from Power Rangers - hello its merely honey ham, broccoli and noodles!). Well, Nathan, the youngest, decided to engage Andrew, at this point in time, in a conversation about playing hide-and-go-seek. OK...this is my 2 year old having a conversation of this type with my 4 year old...

Needless to say, I told Nathan to leave Andrew alone so he could eat his dinner. Nathan stood up as straight as he could (he's only 4 inches and two years behind Andrew, keep in mind - he's tall) and crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Now, I'm talking about full blown "bass mouth" as my grandfather used to call it. He stomped his foot and looked at me defiantly. I told him if he did it again I would have to spank him for disobeying. So what do you think he did???? Yep, he went after Andrew and not only bothered Andrew, but pushed him out of his chair.

So yes, I had to pop his bottom for it. His response - he literally threw himself on the floor (the floor of our cozy doublewide shuddered), started kicking the floor (I think the foundation itself was rattling at that point), and started crying for Daddy....like HE was going to save his this fate. Not so much, babe.

So....here's the news around this household.... Here's a pic of Aunt Theresa and Nathan. He wasn't too sure of her at first, even though they've met several times since he's been born...but he warmed up to her quickly when he discovered that I would take a picture of him with her. My youngest son...shades of his photogenic mother...always willing to pose nice for the camera!!! But as you can see from the other pic...she did have to chase him a little bit....while Padme sat there to see how much she could pilfer off of her plate.

Alas, homeschooling....I agree with it. I would love to say that I could do it forever. I don't know that I can. Not with Cody. He needs more structure which has been hard to provide here at times - especially with the two little ones running around, and Andrew needing so much help with his learning style and speech... We're trying to get him into a charter school (they're free, but the kids that get accepted are picked via a lottery system) that's local. He would have the same math program and testing that he was used to in a homeschool setting, but....his chances of getting in are only going to be by God...please pray. We do have a new elementary school that is being built and will be ready by his fourth grade school year - it's about a mild up the road from us. Dan and I feel comfortable enough with where Cody's morals are at this point to send him out there "into the world." The school systems are getting better out here where we live, in this part of the county. Even if he just goes for a few years and then wants to come back home, I think it will do more good in the long run, than harm.

Wintry weather?

Winter weather warning? Puh-lease...not one snowflake. What we did get were some pics of the kids - being kids(duh what else would they be??)
Cody decided to take a break from school to squint - I mean smile at the camera (anything to take away from his school work).

Meanwhile, Andrew tortured, I mean played with the puppy. I look at these pictures and can't believe how much of a spitting image Andrew is to his father!!!! Cody is my exact likeness...and Nathan is our mutt - I mean mix. The mutt has her own picture in her new dog bed. Yes, I bought her her own bed for her crate. She LOVES it...and is quite content to sleep in it as much as possible.


And Nathan was just content to watch everything and pose for the camera as much as he could...

Hmmmm...busy morning. It was one of those rainy, cold days that make you want to stay in bed all day and do nothing...so it was basically a day in which we were all trapped in the house and had to get things done (school, made cream cheese, played...).

My brother-in-law just got married to his gal recently - no ceremony...they lived it up. They went to Vegas and had a blast for their nupitals. You go guys!!! I'm so happy for them! We love you guys so much!!!!

What I see, I eat?

No...the above title really isn't adequate I suppose. I'm on Day 9 of a "yeast cleanse." I'm cutting out all sugar, high starchy foods, taking lots of acidophilus and just watching what I'm eating. Actually, I'm watching what everyone else is eating and wanting it badly...but that's besides the point. I'm more energized, lost 7 pounds so far and don't feel hungry at all. I really don't miss the sugar part, but I do miss some of my homemade bread with butter. Oh, my bread, very soon I will be able to eat you!!! Actually, this "yeast cleanse" should only last another week or two...

Things have settled down after the holidays - I think. Although, the dog looks like she's broken....she's constantly laying funny. She's getting bigger and more stubborn - I guess it's true what they say about a pet being like their owner. ; ) She's still working on housetraining though. She can't be trusted out and about in the house yet. I don't know whether she just doesn't get it, or she's just trying to irritate us....

So far, Dan's job continues. There was a bit of a scare with his job security again recently...but God is gracious and the bills are getting paid and he's still at his job - for now.