Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Halloween and more...

Well, another holiday has come and gone and the kids are getting so big!  The boys really enjoyed being Power Rangers for Halloween (Mason red and Jacob blue) and my girl and I rocked the Little Mermaid costumes (which my kids thought was so silly that Mommy dressed up - Dad also had an Ironman shirt).  This year was really different!  A big storm came on Halloween which messed up trick-or-treating for alot of kids.  We decided to trick-or-treat at my aunt's house in Nashville and the local Publix grocery had a Halloween event that night (with each department having games and candy or even face painting - nice way to spend a very wet and stormy night).  We also went on the night our city said would be Halloween (which was the next night).  The kids had so much candy - grand total of 10 pounds all together.  Of course, who can eat that much candy so we decided to do the great candy buy back at a Pediatric dentist office (that is where they weight your candy and either pay you for the candy $1 a lb or give you a gift then ship the candy to the troops over seas for them to have a snack).  My oldest and youngest chose a very cute water bottle but my middle child picked the money ($2.50) so he could go put that with his piggy bank money and buy a toy he has wanted for so long (Big Bang Trigger Happy).  So a win win overall.  The kids did select a bag full of candy to keep that they will eat in probably until next year (you know, the good stuff - Kit Kat's, Reece's peanut butter cups, etc).  Overall, a very fun and memorable Halloween.  Now, bring on the turkey.  :-)

Water bottles from the Candy give away

 The small bags they selected for themselves

Big piles of candy (to take to Candy give away and keep)

 Trick-or-treating with friends

 Check out Jacob's face painting

Getting some blue paint

Her little butterfly face paint

My girl getting her face painted

Power Rangers doing some shopping

Me and the kids with my aunt
Power Rangers and Mermaid ready to trick-or-treat

My silly Mermaid


Nets at the zoo 

 Petting a Kangaroo

Kids with their pumpkin

Carving our 50 lb beast pumpkin 

 Getting the insides out of the pumpkin

 Time to punch glow holes










Saturday, September 7, 2013

School Life

Well, since my last post some things around here have changed (and this post should explain my absence from blogging).  We found out the day before Kindergarten/KR started that my middle son did not get into the KR program.  Since I did not have a deposit down anywhere in case he didn't get in (and nothing seemed to indicate he wouldn't get into the program), I felt really really depressed and sad, didn't know what I was going to do, but I did not want to send him to Kindergarten (he was not emotionally ready).  To make a long story short, I decided I would home school him this year and he can start Kindergarten next year.

Here is the cool thing.  I didn't want to do it, but God had other plans for me that were better.  I was planning on this year being 1 more year with Jacob and maybe taking some education to get me back on track to go into the work force in a few years.  Every school I called didn't have a spot for Mason or was super duper expensive.  As my husband said, stop fighting it and just home school him this year.

After lots of prayer, I decided if I was going to do this, then I was going to treat it just like a school environment (he needed help with structure and learning to raise his hand and sit still for 7+ hours a day with breaks in between).  I have a syllabus every day and have had some awesome church friends who home school help me by giving me books to copy, ideas, etc.  We started as soon as Kindergarten started (so we are almost 4 weeks in).  He didn't like having to sit for so long and would tire to begin with but he quickly learned to endure the work load (so check 1 on my list of success).  Jacob is also getting to learn with him, but he is not made to sit still as much, he is only 3 (so this is good for both boys on being with others in a classroom).  The next success took a little longer, but now he raises his hand when he wants to ask a question (success number 2).  He has also learned to use his inside voice more and rest on a nap mat (success 3 and 4).  Now we are working on not talking all the time (he is a chatter box, but it is getting better).  He has also started to talk to me about his day and what he did and wants to do (this has been a long time coming and I couldn't be a happier Mom).  It makes me smile that my son wants to interact with me and we can have a conversation.  I have loved seeing both boys learn from me and I get to see how they are growing and maturing.  It has given me the confidence to home school Jacob for preschool and KR for the next few years.  I believe Mason needed me as much as I needed him this year (this has been a special year so far and we are both learning so much).

My oldest child, Rebekah, is wanting to learn what Mason is learning (she didn't even know which state she lived in on a map).  This has encouraged me to do educationally fun activities on the weekends as a family.  So, we will probably take a trip to the local Frist art museum, Cheekwood, the symphony, local parks, etc.  All 3 kids are so eager to learn and it is fun to see that love for learning (it makes me smile).  Rebekah even spent her Saturday after cheerleading working on worksheets from Mason's work this week and wanted to learn more about frogs from the Internet (one of the books we read this week was Jump Frog Jump so the activities were around that book).

Also, we celebrated Jacob's gotcha day yesterday with some dear friends who have an adopted son who has the same gotcha day (he is from Russia).  Since her husband is part Korean, we celebrated with Korean food and cake (the kids loved it)!  Such a special day for our little guys and our families.  It is hard to believe it has been a year since Jacob became our son.  Happy gotcha day Jacob!!!  We love you!

Below are pictures of what has been going on around here (enjoy)...
Happy Gotcha Day! 

 All 3 Playing

 All 3 Learning Together

Brotherly Love  

Cheerleading 

Cupcakes 

1st Day of 1st Grade 

Happy 3rd Birthday Jacob! 

Our Home School Area 

Learning At Home 

Jacob's Reward From Chuckee Cheese 

Mason's First Field Trip (Helping Mommy Retreat Plan) 

Microwave Shopping 

Sense of Hearing Day


Monday, July 29, 2013

Birthdays and More

Since the last post, a lot has been going on.  July has been a very busy month.  We have had 4 birthdays during this month in our family.  Since this was Jacob's first birthday here in America, we didn't know what he would think about it.  Needless to say, he has loved it (especially cupcakes)!  Our little guy turned 3 this past Friday and we made sure celebrate all day long.  We went out and got a McDonald's Happy Meal for lunch, shopping for his present at Toys'rus, and finishing the day out with homemade chicken Japchae and a cupcake.  He also got to celebrate with his brother at Mema's earlier this month with a Super Hero theme (that he loved) and a Ice Cream party with his brother here at home with friends and family.  It was so cute when he woke up on his birthday and he told me he was 3 and showed me with his hand.  He also decided a few days ago to be potty trained (YIPPY)!!!  So far so good - no accidents for the past 4 days.  We also got both boys into their newly restored big boy beds (which use to be their Daddy's bunk beds) with their bedding from Aunt Amy.  They also got to help decorate the room and they love their new big boy bedroom!  So as school is approaching we are finishing out July with full speed ahead.   

All 3 kids helped sand and paint (they loved helping and did a great job) 

Painting (doing a good job kids)!

The boys' new beds and redesigned room















Trying on his Hanbok (fits really well now) 

Sprinkler Time at his birthday party 

Cars - his favorite kind of toys 

Happy Birthday Boys (my 5 and 3 year olds)!

 Loves the gift he got at ToysRus (Batmobile with Batman)

 Japchae (yum)

 Happy Birthday little guy

Enjoying cupcakes at a friend's party

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

What We've Been Doing

Well, after vacation we got back into summer here at home and having a blast!  I have been working with all 3 kids on their skills for school next year (even though Jacob will be here with me, he got to work on his skills too) and playing hard outside as much as possible (swing set, rocks, sand - you name it, they will play with it).  We have also been having fun with friends and family (Jacob got to go to his first wedding-one of his favorite babysitters).  One of the most awesome things we did that I didn't know how it would go was a mid day movie at the local cinema.  We watched Smurfs and I survived with all 3 kids by myself (even carrying popcorn, drinks).  It was very relaxing on a hot summer day to just chill in the theater while the kids enjoyed their food and movie.  Now, we are getting ready for the 4th, both boys' birthdays this month, and various other birthdays and celebrations throughout July.  Another good news item is that Jacob got his TN birth certificate finally so now we can file for his certificate of citizenship (almost finished - yippy).  Overall, life is good and we are having fun fun fun!  3 has been an adjustment, but very very doable.  Love all 3 of my children and can't imagine life without them (they are each special in their own way)!  Below are some pictures of what we've been doing (enjoy):
 
 Our kids dressed up for the wedding

 At the kids' table (they loved it)

 Jacob being silly
 Hugging the bride

 Hanging with Pa

 Wiped out

 Bring on the fireworks

 Enjoying the fireworks at home

 Brothers taking a break to play with rocks