School and Such

Both boys brought home excellent report cards yesterday. Jake has mastered everything but his address, which he knows for me but forgets it at school for some reason. Nothing to sweat over, he'll get it. His teacher says he's coming out of his shell, hope he doesn't come out too much-lol! We signed him up for his first year of pitching machine. He is a little nervous about it but I know he will do great. His daddy has taken him to Two Bit Bandit to practice on the machines and he did just fine. We are so happy that he got a great coach for his first year of pitching machine. He's on his buddy Cooper Aigner's team, I was so happy that Coach Jordan picked him! We will have a great summer at the ball park! Although it is baseball season, we cannot seem to get the basketball out of Jake's hands. That is all the little guy wants to play. He will play for two hours non-stop. He was so happy to be able to get his new scooter (that he got for Christmas ) out this week. He has played outside (both boys have) so much this week and has gone non-stop from the time his feet hit the floor in the morning! My little guy loves getting outside and dirty, he's definitely all boy!!! He is practicing for our Kid's Church Easter program. He loves going to church and I know the Word is getting into his heart. There is not a night that goes by that the boys don't remind us to do devotions.

Jordan brought home all A's and B's and made honor roll again! We are so proud of him and everything he has accomplished. He loves school and his teacher. I am so thankful that he has gotten great teachers every year! He struggles a little in English but we found him a tutor and he loves Mrs. Bruner too! She tutors him two days a week and he is doing so much better. He is a math and science guy and I am so proud of that! There are times when he has to be pushed but his confidence is blossoming more and more every day. He is on his second full week of Acceleration Training in Evansville. The trainers have him running on treadmills, running short distances, box jumping and tons of other things. He loves it and we are so proud of the effort he is putting into it. We were leery at first to sign him up because we thought it would be too much. We talked it over with him and he wanted to train, so we went for it. He is also playing baseball this spring/summer and got a great coach and is on the team with his friend Cody. We attended his first ever school play last night. He was apart of the theater gang and did a great job! He is also practicing for the Easter program at church. He loves going to church as well and I know God has something in store for him. He has a tender heart and loves God and is great with the little kids at church. The boys also love hanging out with their friends at church, they are a great group of kids!

We have exciting things planned for spring break and are currently planning our summer vacation. I am so thankful for everything the Lord has given me. Sports and grades are great but knowing that my kids have Jesus in their hearts, that will get them farther than anything this world has to offer them and I couldn't be more proud!

A funny end to our Christmas Vacation!

Brad and I took the boys and met Mindy and Justin at the movies to see the Chipmunks! It was such a great movie. The kids laughed and danced, it was such a great ending to a wonderful break! Both kids got off to school today fairly well, Jordan was up for about 3 hours once we put him to bed. He couldn't sleep, I think he was anxious to go back to school. I must say, this was an awesome break but a sad one too. It looks like this will be my last Christmas break to spend with the kids because I will return to work this fall. I am sad but also ready to take some time for myself. I love my kids and have enjoyed being at home with them the last 7 years but it is time for me to focus on me.

Valentine's Day (post take 2)

On Valentine's Day we headed to Ft. Branch to see my best friend Laurie and her family. The kids had not seen each other in a few months, so we decided it was time to get them together. Laurie and I have been friends since we were 2 years old. She is like a sister to me and I treasure our 30 year old friendship! She was the first of our friends to have a baby, and Miss Emma was it! Emma is 10 and loves softball, basketball and horses!
Macy Claire is the 4th child of the bunch! She is in girl scouts and is trying out soccer this year!

Zander Mason is the baby of the bunch. He is a funny little guy! He likes to run around the house naked or half dressed! Zane Isaac is a twin to Zack who you will meet next! He is in boy scouts and plays basketball.

Zack David is Zane's twin brother. Zack is in boy scouts and loves video games like his dad!

We ordered pizza from Sandy's pizza, it was yummy!

Here are the kids and their band! They played guitar hero in the Media Room some of the evening!

The Fuller's and The Beard's ~ what a bunch!

I love this family, they are some of the best friends we have! David and Brad get along so well, they spend their time together talking about music and playing video games! Laurie is an amazing mother, she has 5 kids....I can barely handle 2!!!!

The Week in Review

First attempt didn't go so well!

Jacob's second attempt at putting his shirt on and he got it this time!

Jordan at EBA- my camera isn't the greatest in gyms!

This week has been a wild and crazy week. Monday night, Jordan had baseball lessons in Evansville and I had a PTO meeting to attend. It started with a Head Room Mom meeting first and then the typical PTO meeting. I love being involved in Jordan's school and we have a great group of parents that are involved at Loge! Tuesday night, was Jordan's first game at Evansville Basketball Academy. I love watching him play sports, so this was fun for me! Afterwards, we went and ate at Golden Corral. I'm not impressed with that place at all and it is really expensive, I think. Wednesday night was church and Jordan and I stayed home to study for his Vocab/Comprehension test on Thursday. We normally do not skip church to study but his grade is down to a 91% a "B" and he seems to have trouble with comprehending stories. I know a "B" is not bad at all but there are a few more tests to come and if we don't get a hold on it now, it will continue to drop. Plus, his teacher says he fidgets a lot in class, so I don't think his focus is there. His grades are "A's" in the other classes but for some reason he has trouble comprehending. I don't know how much should be expected from a second grader, so I am flying by the seat of my pants. This has made the week stressful for me because I'm trying to fix the issue and not just give it over to God. I have to do my part at home but I know prayer is ultimately the key! Thursday night, Brad had a meeting with the youth leaders from the community and was gone until after 9:00. Thursday was the most stressful because I was alone until the evening and the kids were wild! To top it off, the gas prices were predicted to be going up and I had people left and right calling me to tell me to get to the pump! I appreciate it but calm down people! To top the week off, I haven't felt the greatest, weird actually. I've been extremely tired all week. No, I'm not prego, I think it's the gloomy weather (and the fact I need to shed some weight!)! There have been some major milestones this week. Jacob moved up to the preschool class at church and recv'd the Jesus' Kids Award at church from Mrs. Nicky! And as you can see by the pictures, he's all about dressing himself. The first attempt didn't go so well but he keeps trying. As a mom, I want to do it for him but he is Mr. Independent! Jordan's first basketball game of the season was this week as I mentioned earlier. It's been a good week all in all, I just have to stop and remember that I am blessed beyond measure and my life could be much worse. Oh and did I mention, I am sick to death of cleaning up urine? Jacob can't seem to hit the toilet and I clean urine up at least three times a day. I don't mean off the toilet seat, I mean off the wall and the floor and the trash can. Thank God for little boys because my days would be boring!!!!

Weekend with Papaw and Mamaw Knight

Now it's time to cook and eat it!!!

Putting a little cheese on

Jacob

Making the pizza

Jake and Mamaw

Jordan and Papaw

Jacob's Mickey Mouse pancake

Jordan's Mickey Mouse pancake

This weekend Brad went to a men's retreat with guys from our church. The boys and I packed our things and went to my parents house in Hatfield and stayed the night there Friday night. The boys were in heaven being at Mamaw and Papaw's and of course, Mamaw rolled out the "red carpet" for us. She rented some movies, popped popcorn and bought the boys candy and to top it off....she aired up the air mattress for them to sleep on in the living room with her. Saturday morning was really strange but comforting at the same time. Waking up in the house I grew up in after not living there for so long, was like I was a kid again. Sure, I had slept there since I moved out but it took me back many years. Papaw was now home after working seconds and out the door at 8 a.m. the boys went playing baseball with Papaw. Mamaw made her famous Mickey Mouse pancakes for the boys and they each decorated them with sprinkles and other candies. We played all morning and then Papaw had to go back into work, so Mamaw came and stayed at our house Saturday night. When I was growing up, my mom and my sister and I (and dad when he was off) would make homemade pizzas. This was such a treat for us because we got to help. Since mom was coming over Saturday night, she decided we would make homemade pizzas and chocolate chip cookies. The boys love doing this and loved eating it even better (only Jordan, Jacob doesn't eat much of anything)! Saturday night came and we aired the mattress up again and watched movies until the kids were too tired! It was such a nice weekend spending time with my parents. I love watching them interact with my kids and seeing the joy my boys bring to their lives. My parents (and Brad's) are wonderful grandparents and I am so thankful my boys get to experience what I did growing up with my grandparents. These are memories that can never be taken away!

49ers, Steelers and Colts Oh My!!!

Stacey, Me and Nicole

Jordan, Camryn, Kaylen, Kendall and Jacob

Kaylen reading to Anna and Jacob

Our wonderful pastor, Kris Brown!

Bobby, Pastor Kris and Brad

Anna and Jacob

Kaylen and Jordan


If you are a football fan, you would know that last night was the first NFL game of the regular season! What a better reason to have a party!? No one agrees on who their favorite team is among our friends. We had Steeler fans, Colts fans, 49er fans and "no"fans at all! Our pastor and his wife stand divided on who to cheer for. Nicole cheers for the Steelers and Pastor Kris loves the 49ers. Brad and I agree on the Colts and our boys have been, what I call "brainwashed" into cheering for them too. At this point, Jordan does enjoy football and cheers for the Colts willing! I learned a long time ago, to like sports or live in sports "hell" my entire life. Before I met Brad, I could care less about any sport at all, much less understand football. I was or am not a "girly girl" but I just didn't care what guy threw what ball between which guys butt (I mean legs!)! Now, I am proud to say (after years of complaining) that I actually enjoy most of the sports he watches. I enjoy football (and understand it mostly) and love basketball. I also figured after I gave birth to my second son Jacob, that I was living in a house filled with males, that I better start liking sports. I still do not like car races of any sort! I also have to say, that my husband has compromised too. He attends musicals and plays with me!! We did have a wonderful evening spending time with our friends and eating good food! The kids love being together and get along so well. I am so thankful that God sent us to the church we now attend. The friendships we have made there will be forever!

Diego 123 Game

Instead of mastering a game like poker, rummy, blackjack, etc... I am mastering a game called Diego 123 Game. Jacob is so obsessed with this game, that it is all he wants to do during the day. We sit down on the floor and there are four, big playing cards. One is marked Walkers, Swimmers, Climbers and Flyers. The object of the game is to draw a card out of a little pouch and place it on the right category. It is a matching, color, number and animal learning game. It is so boring to me but as I watch him and his excitment I go back to yesterday. Yesterday, I worked the Book Fair at Jordan's school, Loge School. I could not find a babysitter for Jacob so I decided to be brave and take him with me. I figured I would stay as long as he would let me (depending on his mood). As I am taking him out of the van, a wave of emotion came over me. I ignored it and got my purse and locked the van. I grabbed his hand and began walking toward the school in the crosswalk. The realization that in two years I would be taking him into Kindergarten at that very school, in that very crosswalk was depressing. This stayed with me all day and as you can see, is still on my mind. We went into Bubby's school (as Jake calls it) and signed in and walked the hall to the room. This again took me into the future two years. He was such an awesome little boy that day, so grown up. I worked the Book Fair for three hours and he was as good as gold. He walked around looking at books, ate goldfish crackers and transformer fruit snacks. He was an angel. So this takes me to this very day as I sit playing Diego 123 game and I realize that this won't happen very much longer. The days of sitting and playing a game with mom will be a mere memory. So even though playing Diego over and over and over again does not thrill me and does not teach me anything, I am excited for him and will play it forever if he wants me to.