Thankful Thursday- Conductor Bob

Have I told you that Little Man LOVES trains? He has a train bed, draws trains all the time, and talks about them all day! Our local mall has a train that you can ride, and we ride it at least once a week. Our Thankful Thursday this week was Conductor Bob, the conductor of the mall train Sunday-Wednesdays.

Conductor Bob goes out of his way to say hello to us even when we are not riding the train. He makes it a point to know his usual riders by name and always includes the kids when he is doing his job. Little Man likes to help him shut all the doors of the train, and helps him say "ALL ABOARD" when it is time to ride!

We made him a card to say thanks!


Little Man drew him his own train with a train track (look hard, you can see it...)


And we put Little Mans train drawing in the card.


Little Man and I headed to the mall to see Conductor Bob and to give him our card showing thanks.


And of course we had to ride the train.


Conductor Bob liked his card and Little Man's drawing.

We are having so much fun with the Thankful Thursdays! Want to join us? Feel free to steal the button at the top and use it! Just please link back to me in your post and comment on my blog to let me know that you are joining us! I wanna see your ideas!

Lots Of Big Decisions

I have been thinking about a lot of things recently. My kids school options, what I want to do with my life after the kids are grown and gone, our health and the way we eat. Lots of decisions to make. I have made several of these decisions and I feel really good about these decisions.

First off, my kids school. When we bought a house we picked one in one of the best school districts for the state. However, after doing research and seeing what they teach in public school, I had second thoughts. Then the state announced a massive layoff. The class sizes are almost 22 students per kindergarten class (before the budget cuts). Then I took a look at the school menu. Pretty much all processed crap!

So after considering private school verses home school, we have decided to home school. I have put MANY hours of thought into this and feel it is the best for my kids. I found a program that has classes once a week that you can take your child to to learn from actual teachers (for subjects you don't feel you are too good at) and even found a sports team for home school kids in case my boys want to play on a team. I will home school as long as my kids want to. Once they decide they want to go to non-home school then we will discuss our options with them and decide from there.

My second big decision was what to do with my life after having raised and schooled my kids. I want to do something that I know I will love. I have a half-finished nursing degree just sitting there. After Little Man was born I went back to nursing school to become a labor and delivery nurse and a certified lactation consultant. Then we moved and got pregnant with Little Miracle. I thought about becoming a doula, a birth educator or a midwife. I have decided on the latter. I will finish up my nursing degree over the next few years, them apply for midwifery school. There is one that is online with distance learning that is one of the top schools and that is the one I will apply for. I am in no rush. This will take me several years to finish but the job is something I will not start until after my kids are grown and gone, or if they decide to end home schooling.

My last decision did not take nearly as much thought. We are overhauling our diet. Starting small, but eventually we will be eating only 100 % grass fed beef (MUCH better for you, but I will let you do your own research) from local farms. We are also getting eggs, chicken, pork and fruits and veggies from local farms. We will be cutting out most processed foods. I cant even keep fake flowers alive, but I am going to try to plant a small garden and grow some things myself (with my moms help). This too will take some time to get where we want to be. I will be guest blogging about this journey on Modern Alternative Mama's blog starting in mid May.

Phew, lots of decisions! And still more to make! Do we finish out the almost finished basement for a school room? What curriculum will we be using? Am I going to be able to stop eating out so much and cook real, healthy food for my family? Where do I want to deliver at when I become a midwife? A birthing center? A hospital? A home birth service? Will I go crazy in the end?

I guess you will have to stay tuned to find all that out!

(If anyone has suggestions on good home schooling resources, I am open to them! We will be doing a Christian based study, so please keep that in mind if suggesting resources)

Music Monday

The song I chose for today's Music Monday (hosted by Render Me Mama) is "A Place For My Head" by Linkin Park. This song reminds me of some friends I used to have and how happy I am that they are out of my life for good.

A Place For My Head



I watch how the moon sits in the sky
On a dark night shining with the light from the sun
The sun doesn't give light to the moon
Assuming the moon's going to owe it one
It makes me think of how you act to me
You do favors and then rapidly
You just turn around and start asking me about
Things you want back from me

I'm sick of the tension, sick of the hunger
Sick of you acting like I owe you this
Find another place to feed your greed
While I find a place to rest

I want to be in another place
I hate when you say you don't understand
(You'll see it's not meant to be)
I want to be in the energy, not with the enemy
A place for my head

Maybe someday I'll be just like you, and
Step on people like you do and
Run away the people I thought I knew
I remember back then who you were
You used to be calm, used to be strong
Used to be generous, but you should've known
That you'd wear out your welcome
Now you see how quiet it is, all alone

I'm sick of the tension, sick of the hunger
Sick of you acting like I owe you this
Find another place to feed your greed
While I find a place to rest

I want to be in another place
I hate when you say you don't understand
(You'll see it's not meant to be)
I want to be in the energy, not with the enemy
A place for my head

You try to take the best of me
Go away

Rainy Day Fun

We had some nasty weather today here. I was awoken at 5:30 am to thunderstorms. Little Miracle was awake too, so I rocked him back to sleep. I managed to get back to sleep only to have the kids up a few hours later. I kicked Stephen out of bed, and slept till 10:30! That was very nice!

After I got out of bed, I made breakfast/lunch for the family. Then we did one of my favorite past times as a kid. We built a blanket fort. Ya know, pull all the chairs out of the dining room, pull all the extra sheets you have out, and make a tent!



We tied it around the TV so we could watch the weather and some movies. We watched a bunch of Veggie Tales. Little Man loves his "Bob and Larry"



I wanted Little Man to nap in his fort, but he would not settle down, so I had to take him to his room to nap. He was NOT happy about that, but he did take a short nap.

After naps, we made some cookies and lounged around in our fort. Little Man loved sitting in it! We read many books, played with blocks, and watched movies. We even ate dinner in the fort.

After dinner, I checked the weather and saw the heavy stuff was still kinda far out. Little Man had been in his rain boots all day (this kid finds them in the morning, and puts them on, regardless if we are going anywhere or not) so I decided to go puddle jumping. We LOVE puddle jumping!



I even pulled out my rain boots and jumped in a few puddles myself.



Little Man had LOTS of fun. He was so wet that we stripped on the front porch before going inside so we didn't get puddles inside!



We came inside and took baths. I took this pic of my boys in almost matching jammies.



As we were taking down the fort, Little Man was crying and saying "my tent!!" He did not want to see it go. But, Mama likes a clean house. Maybe we will put it back up tomorrow.

Thankful Thursdays- Trash Man

I have decided to do a "thank you" weekly. We may or may not do it on Thursdays, but I will blog about it on Thursdays. We started with the mailman . Today was trash day, so we figured we would move onto the trash man.

So here you have it. The first Thankful Thursday.



We colored a card for the trash man.


While wearing our dinosaur jammies and our rain boots.


Daddy even helped today. See his train at the top? (Hey, hes no artist, but he had fun too!)


We then secured it on the trashcan with a small piece of tape.


Little Man was once again asleep when the trash man came. I watched as he grabbed the can. He was a little confused by the card, but he took it and read it. He then put it in the front of the truck and continued about his job.

Who should we say thank you to next week?

Who are you thankful for? Are you teaching your kids to say thanks?

Music Monday (A Day Late)

The song I chose for today's Music Monday (hosted by Render Me Mama) is "Your Not Alone" by Meredith Andrews. I first heard this song when we were in church one Sunday shortly after experiencing the molar pregnancy. I was feeling very hurt and alone and this song really touched my heart. Now whenever I am feeling down, I listen to this song and realize that I am not alone in no matter what I am going through.

Your Not Alone


(this is a live version. you can see the actual music video here)

I search for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and now I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
saying

You're not alone
for I am here
let me wipe away your every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home
saying

You're not alone
for I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest nights
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you....

You're not alone
for I... I am here
let me wipe away every fear... Oh yeah
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest night
Your darkest night
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life

I Am NOT Ready To Raise BOYS!

Little Man earned his "daredevil" status tonight.

It was past his bedtime and Daddy was upstairs getting him ready for bed. I was downstairs nursing Little Miracle. Daddy came downstairs real quick to make Little Man his bedtime chocolate milk. That's when Little Man thought it would be a good idea to ride this...



down these...



I heard him as soon as he took off down the stairs and was at the bottom shortly after he got there. He was VERY shaken up. I scooped him up and took him to the couch. After he calmed down I looked him over. I made sure nothing was broken or bleeding but called my paramedic sister after I saw this...



She asked about how he was doing (at this point, he was already doing a puzzle and trying to go back upstairs) and told me what to look for that would warrant a hospital trip. Then she said that I will probably have grey hair before she does (she has 3 girls) because I have boys and they do stuff like this all the time. I am NOT ready for this!

Oh- I think it was the toy that hit my wall.

(sorry for crappy cell phone pictures)

Music Monday

Im taking part in "Music Monday" over at Render Me Mama's blog today. Music Monday is all about music that means a lot to you.

The song I picked for today is "I Could Not Ask For More" by Edwin McCain. This song was a favortie for Stephen and I during the whole time we dated. We saw Edwin McCain in concert probably 15 times (no joke!) while we were dating. And every time he sang this song. This song was also our first dance song at our wedding.

-----
I Could Not Ask For More



Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smiling just to see the smile upon your face
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything to me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist

These are the moments I know all I need is this
I have all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've got all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
Every prayer has been answered
Every dream I have's come true
And right here in this moment is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me

I could not ask for more than the love you give me 'Coz it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
I could not ask for more

-----
Do you have a song that means a lot to you? If so, post it and then head over to Render Me Mama's and share it!

Saying Thanks

Are you teaching your kids to say thank you?

We started teaching Little Man to say thank you after he gets what he asks for. Ya know, please may I have "insert what I want here". Thank you for giving me "what I asked for". But that is not the thank you I am talking about.

I am always humbled by the people that will come up to Stephen when he is in uniform and offer a handshake. They usually always say "Thank you for serving our country" or some variation of. It is USUALLY older men. Ones who probably served our country during wartime also.

Have you said thank you to people that do things? I personally think a lot of jobs would suck to do. Especially in the summer. It is technically "spring" here, but it was in the 90's yesterday. Yeah, that's not spring!

Could you imagine being a mailman in the summer? No air in those trucks! How about a garbage man? I am sure trash stinks even more in the heat! Firefighters, soldiers, police men, the exterminator... I could go on, but I think you get the point.

Little Man and I are going to start saying "THANK YOU!!" to these people that do these jobs.

We started today. The mailman was our first. We made him a card and put it in the mailbox with a Coke in an icepack. We usually don't have Coke here, so next time it will probably be a bottle of water for him. And maybe some homemade cookies!



It is not just about saying thank you to these people. It is about teaching children to be respectful. Too many children today are thankless, selfish, spoiled little brats. Yes, my child can be this way too, but I believe it is a learned behavior. If we teach them to say thank you to everyone in their lives, maybe just maybe we can make the world a better place.

The mailman came when Little Man was napping. I had fun watching the surprise on his face when he opened the mailbox and reached for the mail. I know its not everyday someone says thanks to him! I watched him read the card open the freezer bag with the Coke in it. He fumbled around in his truck for a minute then put our mail in our box and went about his day. I went out to get the mail and I found something I was not expecting. The mailman even left US a thank you!



His mama musta taught him well!

Wordless Wednesday

Have I Told You That I LOVE Spring?

Back to the park today with my Little Man.


And my Little Miracle.


We played on the swings.


With Daddy!


We blew bubbles.


Then we put Little Miracle in the Mei Tai.


And headed off for a walk.


We walked in the woods.


And ran with Daddy.


And laughed at signs that need to come down.


It was a good day!