Little Monkeys

Lately, Nathan and Ben have been have started to love listening to books on CD when we are in the car. This has made for some fun (and quiet) car rides. The boys listen intently and sometimes when we get close to home Ben will ask me to slow down so he can hear more of the story. Sometimes we listen to Adventures in Oddessy or GT and the Halo Express. Other books that we listen to are: The Little Engine that Could, books by Eric Carle or 10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. However when we listen to 10 Little Monkeys, we often can't hear half of the story because Nathan is laughing so hard. I love having fun silly times with my boys, even in the car. 

Sweet Ben-isms

Ben: hey mom, who do I look like to you?

Me: I don't know. Who?

Ben: Papa! We both have jackets like this

... he was so proud! This kid melts my heart and cracks me up at the same time. He sure does love his papa!!!

Nathan James: Mr. Silly Pants

Oh Nathan- you always keep us smiling and laughing! I love your giggle and the way you always make us giggle. I love you and I can't believe you will be 2 years old next month. 

Love Always, Mommy

The other morning while Ben was at school, Nathan was playing Superheros and I was next to him grading some papers. Soon, I heard him start playing music so I looked up and realized that he had set up all his superheros so that they could watch him play his music. He had me cracking up!

love these blue eyes and long lashes

cute little smile

sweetness

silly boy loves to sit in boxes

Nathan James: Mr. Silly

The other day we were driving around getting some stuff done and Nathan just kept saying over and over again: "I'm Nathan James, I'm sick". I have no idea where he heard this or if he wasn't feeling well and this was his way of communicating that to me, but it had me cracking up!

Every night Ben flosses, brushes and uses fluoride rinse. Nathan is really into brushing and flossing too and each night he tries to steal Ben's flossing tool so that he can do it by himself. Tonight he was being especially silly so I decided to video tape him and as always- he had us cracking up!

Student of the Week

This week Ben got to be Student of the Week at school. He had to make this little poster and answer questions like:

What is your name?

What is your birthday?

What is your favorite food? (bread and jam or ice cream)

What is your favorite animal? (puppies)

What is your favorite Bible story?

Who is your best friend? ("all the nice people in the world")

He also got to bring one share item to school each day this week. So far he has chosen:

1. monster truck

2. Legos

3. Leap Pad

4. The book: Bread and Jam for Francis (along with bread and jam to share with the class for snack that day)

Tomorrow is his last day to bring share and he just can't decide what to bring . . . I wonder what he will choose in the morning :)

Focus Word 2013

I have a great friend who told me about something that she does at the start of each year and I have always loved the idea! Each year she picks a "focus word"- an idea or trait that she wants to pay extra attention to during the upcoming year. The past couple of years I have wanted to try this myself but it seems that I just struggle to come up with that "one word". But this year I made myself a promise that I was going to do it- no excuses.So I might be a little late but I have finally chosen my focus word for 2013: CONSISTENT! 

In 2013 I want to work on being a consistent:

... friend- somebody that my friends know they can rely on and trust, somebody that is dependable and goes our their way to help others

... housekeeper- not slack off of keeping my house clean so that my family has a safe and inviting place to call home. I am typically pretty good at this but I want to get a little more organized in my routine so that nothing gets overlooked

... educator- I want to look for new innovative ways to reach my students and improve my course and make sure that my class is a place where students are treated fair, feel safe and have a clear understanding of my expectations

...wife- one that greets my husband with a smile when he gets home from work no matter how crazy my day has been and a wife that consistently treats her husband the way I am called to by the Lord

...parent- I want to be a consistent parent so that my children know no matter what (even if I am tired, frustrated, stressed, etc) that my expectations of them are the same and that I will follow through with any good/poor choices that they make.  I want them to know that I always will make time for them and that they are deeply loved by myself and the Lord.

Consistency.... that is what I want work on in 2013- that is my focus word and the area in which I am requesting you to pray for me! What is your "focus word" and how can I be praying for you?

Rainy Day Bliss

To say that these boys love to play in the rain is an understatement. They woke up this morning, saw the rain and asked if I would get their rain boots and cozy clothes ready for when Ben got home from school. And sure enough, the second we got home from school, the rain boots went on and the boys were off playing! 

The boys collected sticks from around the neighborhood today and used them to make a water dam and then raced them down the gutters. When I was little girl my grandma/pa lived in Utah and had a water way in front of their house. My cousins and I used to get boats and race them in the water that flowed there. The water was fast and cold but it was  lots of fun. Watching my boys race sticks this afternoon took me back to when I was little. Great memories!

racing sticks

splashing fun

climbing fences- boys will be boys

little feet in little boots- I love it!

Ben chasing me and Nathan

I'm sorry but these little spider-man underwear just had me  racking up! Too cute Nathan!

All of this fun was followed up by PB&J sandwiches with potato chips in the middle (don't knock it till you've tried it) and a cup of hot chocolate. I love to listen to them giggle, squeal, and splash in the rain. It was a great afternoon which made for great naps- what more could a mama want :)

A Love of Reading

When I was little my sister and I loved a book series called the Boxcar Children. It was a huge series and we just couldn't get enough of them. My sister especially, could fly through a whole book in one day. And now here I am as a mom, getting to read these books to Ben and loving them all over again. Well the other night my parents came over to help with bedtime routine and Ben asked my mom to read to him. As I sat there listening to my mom read to Ben, I couldn't help but think about how special this was- listening to my mom read to my son a book that I loved when I was little. Thanks mom and dad for keeping the love of books alive in my kids and for reading to them when you come over at bedtime!

We Love Wii

The other day I was cleaning when I came across the Wii. So I called Ben in and decided I would show it to him. Wow, who knew what I was starting??? He is loving playing Wii. He plays Mario Kart, Super Mario Bros, Cars 2, Diego Dinosaur Adventure, Wii Sports and Wii Nick Jr Fit. It is fun to watch him get into it and work really hard to get better. It is sweet the way he hands the remote to other people and enjoys watching them play just as much as he likes to play himself. He is only 4 so we are very careful to watch how much time he spends on it and we remind him constantly that playing Wii is for those that makes good choices- it is a privilege, not a right. So far, he is doing great and we are having fun playing it with him.

Mommy Goes On Vacation

This past weekend I did something that I have never done since I had Ben- I took time this weekend to go away (just myself). There have been times where I wanted/needed a break, but I think I have always been under the impression that leaving the boys meant that I wasn't doing my job as a mom. However I have recently come to learn (and have now experienced) that actually the opposite is the truth- it is because I take some time here and there to myself that I am a better mom.

So this weekend, thanks to my husband, I was able to get away and take some time to refresh and re-energize  The weekend started with a trip up to San Francisco to see my cousin Holly and meet her new little baby Sam. So I downloaded tons of pod-casts from Family Life and Focus on the Family: Marriage and Parenting, I packed lots of snacks and drinks, and I was off. It's a 6hr drive to SF and normally I wouldn't be excited about this long of a drive but I have to say that this was a really amazing time for me. I left Ventura at 6am and spent the next 6hrs listening to pod-casts about mothering boys, teaching boys manners, what it means to be a godly mom, etc and it is amazing how much you can soak in, absorb and process when you are not continually interrupted. It might sound clique but this 6hr drive really gave me time to speak with and connect with the Lord about who I am as a mother, what I can be doing better, and to reconnect with him. I am so thankful for this drive, the beautiful sunrise along the way and quiet time with the Lord. It's amazing how the Lord knows just what we need!

Once I got to SF (Friday around noon), it was time to meet Sam- and boy, he was worth the trip. He is just the sweetest little guy, so tiny and snugly.  I have really missed newborn snuggles and thankfully Sam was more than happy to be snuggled and kept cozy! He definitely had me cracking up though with all of his little billy goat noises-- too funny! It's amazing how easy it is to fall in love with somebody that I have just met! And in addition to hanging out with Sam, I of course got to hang out his mom (my cousin) Holly. She took me to yummy places to eat, to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39, and lots of other interesting places. SF is definitely a very busy, interesting place filled with many interesting people and lots of historic charm. My visit was the perfect blend of sight-seeing  and adventures but also quiet times of just rest, movie watching, baby snuggles, great conversation, and catching up. I am so thankful that I got to stay with Holly, experience SF and watch her be an amazing mommy to Sam. He is lucky to have her and I was lucky to get to visit with them both!

sweet little Sam- one month old

there was a sourdough bread place that made all these little creatures. I bought a turtle for the boys :)

Staci and Matt came to visit baby Sam too

gorgeous views

Staci and me at the Golden gate bridge

Sunday morning, I woke up bright and early and got back in the car and headed to Sonora. It was about a 2hr car drive and it was nice to just drive, watch the sunrise and rock out to all my favorite songs that I don't get to listen to when I drive with the boys :) The people driving around me probably had a good giggle at me rocking out but sometimes a mom just has to let loose haha! 

My trip to Sonora was a little last minute but I decided that since I was that close to my cousin (and best friend) Kirsten, I just had to stop by and see her, her husband and her kiddos. I miss them all so much and do not get to see them that often. So I worked it out with her husband and drove there early Sunday morning, knocked on their door and surprised her. It was awesome! I then hung out there for a few hours, caught up with everybody, drank yummy coffee, and enjoyed homemade sourdough bread. It was a short time but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. I love Kirsten and her family and it was the perfect Sunday morning!

After visiting for a few hours though, as much as I wish I could have stayed, I missed my own family and it was time to get back in the car and head back home. The drive was quiet and peaceful. I listened to more pod-casts, this time about marriage, being a servant wife, balancing being a wife and mom, etc. There was no traffic and lots of snow and frost which made for a picturesque drive home.

It was hard being away from the boys for 3 full days but in the end, this little road trip is really what I needed. I was able to come home filled with joy from visiting loved ones, seeing new things and just taking care of me for a little bit. But more importantly, I cam home renewed and refreshed with a head and heart refocused on the Lord and his desires for me as a wife and a mom. 

While Mommy Is Away . . .

 . . . the boys will play! And play they did indeed. While mommy was away on my little vacation, the boys stayed home with daddy and did lots of fun boy things. They rode bikes at the BMX track, played around the house, had snuggle time and even went to see the butterflies migrating in Goleta. There were a few scrapes and bumps while I was gone, but everybody is alive and in one piece and the boys really had a great time with their daddy and in the end, that is really all that matters! Great job Daddy!

BUTTERFLY MIGRATING IN GAVIOTA

park fun

Nathan with his paci and puppy- his favorite way to spend a morning :)

silly Ben

Nathan playing outside with daddy while Ben is at school

train time- a favorite pastime at our house

Nathan riding at the BMX track

his first shiner after getting run over by a big kid on the BMX track

bumps and bruises