Spitting Image

I just found this picture of Amberlee and her dad, Robert, as I was snooping around in our garage.  This isn't the most exact picture comparison but anyone who has spent any amount of time around Owen and seen his facial expressions would have to agree that he is the spitting image of Amberlee.

St. Patty's Day

The morning started off with breakfast and a note from Patrick. He told the kids that he had a good year--- he had been "lucky" enough to find some treasure- and since he had heard that the kids had been good-- he wanted to share some of his wealth! BUT they had to find it first-- he made a map for the older 2 to use to find their own treasure.....

The maps

Success!! (Lucky for me, the previous day Mike had dug 3 holes in one of our flower beds to transfer our hedges---I just used a hole already dug--- I just had to cover it!)

Poor Owee was too little to come out--- he's in the "eating dirt" phase- so I kept him inside.

SCORE~~

Green treats and surprises!

Mike is 32

It was perfect-- Mike had the day off from work (having worked the night shift) so the kids and I got up bright and early--- raced to the store to buy a healthy delicious breakfast (donuts and choc.milk) and other groceries so that we could surprise Mike with breakfast in bed! (although- it wasn't much of a surprise-- since the house was so quiet it actually woke him up!- so he called worried about where we were)

I let the kids pick out what we gave to him-- so they chose the obvious option--Iron Man Operation. - their thought process was-- Dad likes Iron Man- and he is going to be a doctor-- plus- they were obviously going to benefit from this gift as well--- PERFECT choice!

We spent the day walking around a fun outside mall and going out to lunch.

Here are the kids waiting "patiently" for dad to bring them their lunch.

We are SO blessed to have such a wonderful father and husband.

WE LOVE YOU!

Friends

If there was one blessing in my life that has been a constant, it would friends. I truly believe that who I am today is in part due to the friends I've had. At every stage of life-- beginning clear back in kindergarten, I have had friends who were exactly what I needed at that time. Whether it was in junior high, high school, beauty school, living in Logan, living in Salt Lake, Kirksville and now Ohio- I have met and been blessed with the friendships of some amazing women. Each person has been evidence to me of a loving Heavenly Father- who is mindful of me and what I need.

I have loved living in Ohio-- not just because I live a block away from Sawmill which contains every store I could ever want-- but because of the friends I have made here. We have weekly playgroup, monthly craft night and texts here and there throughout the week. I always look forward to being with them- they make me laugh and cry (for good reasons) they inspire me, they have been answers to prayers- on more than one occasion (and especially this past month). Today we found out some FANTASTIC news (to come at a later post)-and just a half an hour after finding out- a few of them were standing on our porch with balloons, noise makers and a slinky's for the kids. I love these girls here-- I love what they have taught me and what they have brought to my life. Whether we stay here or if we move away for residency (we find out Thursday) these girls have made me a better person.

LOVE

Valentines Day! You'd think it was Christmas with the way that Samantha was excited to wake up that morning---looking to see what Valentines surprise we had for them--- or to see if the milk was pink like last year (oops...totally dropped the ball on that one, man that girl doesn't forget a thing!). And of course she was THRILLED to go to school and exchange Valentines with her friends.

Our Annual Family Valentine Dinner. Later that night we took around cookies to some neighbors. What did the kids wear? Their Santa hats of course! What else do you wear while you deliver Valentines?!?

Siblings

So PROUD

When I began trying to teach Samantha her letters and numbers over 3 years ago she didn't catch on like I thought she would. It just wasn't "clicking"-You could show Samantha a letter and 2 minutes later she couldn't remember it. I tried many different forms of teaching-we did games, having the letters posted around the house so that she would see them everyday, we did letter shaping with dough, writing with pudding- sand etc. Both Grandma's sent different tools to help-- but it just wasn't working. It was hard to tell if it was just a lack of desire, or if there was more to it. It began to be a stresser for our relationship. I cried a lot, I stressed, feeling like I was failing as a mother and both Mike and I prayed- a lot. When she went to preschool- I was hoping that someone on the "outside" would maybe see something that I couldn't-- and maybe know of a way to help it all "click". Her teacher was great--- but still no real change. I decided to try and take a break, and just work on it a little here and there--- trying not to push her too hard. We were worried about Kindergarten and really hoped and prayed that she would get a teacher who would be just what Samantha needed. Our prayers were answered.

When Samantha started Kindergarten she was placed in ELI (Early Literacy Intervention). After her normal Kindergarten morning class, she would stay during the afternoon and work with 3 different teachers in workshops. Each trimester they would evaluate her progress and then decide if she still needed ELI. I worried about how Samantha would handle going to school all day- but boy does that little girl LOVE it. Only once did she complain about the length of time she spent there-- and it really wasn't a complaint-- it was "Boy, mom I'm at school a long time" She has worked with 4 great teachers who she loves and talks about all the time (it doesn't hurt that 2 of them are young and beautiful!) It really has been such an answer to our prayers to see not only her enjoyment of school, but to see her new interest in learning, and how much she is progressing.

Last week, we received in the mail a letter saying that with the end of the trimester testing, Samantha has been approved and no longer needs to be in ELI! We are so proud of her and so proud of her hard work! I love how she is now always wondering how things are spelled-- wanting to read everything-loving to learn new things- it just makes me happy.

It's funny how at the beginning of this I worried about how it would be for her to be at school 6 1/2 hrs-- now I'm a little worried about how she will handle only being at school for 2 1/2!- But I do know of one little boy who will be so happy to have his buddy back.