I had to stick up for him.

Spencer and Jordan have been in a Karate class after school once a week. They have been enjoying it, especially Spencer. I have been proud of him-he has been trying so hard. He's so shy and always worries that he isn't good anything, so I have been just so proud of him for trying and sticking with it.

So I really had to stick up for him yesterday. I am the parent who checks the kids in every week and makes sure they are signed out after. I got one of my kids in the class free for doing this, so that was a good perk. So the kids come filing in each week, take their shoes off and start running around. Well, a couple weeks ago, Spencer and his little friend were the only 2 kids to come in and sit right down and start stretching and getting ready. The teacher marked them down for that and after class said that Spencer was one of the stars of the class. I really built him up after class-told him how proud I was, etc. So on the way to school Thursday morning we talked all about how today for sure he would be getting an invitation to test for a belt since he had been doing so well.

Well, yesterday he did the same thing-came in, got ready and paid attention. The coach started the class by telling the kids he would be watching them and looking for the kids he would "invite" to "test" for a belt. I sat and watch the class and Spencer did really well. At one point, the coach lined all the kindergartners and first graders up, and Spencer stood at attention and did everything he asked. Oh, and it's not pertinent to the story, but Spencer was the tallest kid in that group, as well.

So at the end of class, he told the older kids and the kids on the "blue line" and any kid that had a check on their hand to come over to get their "invitation" to test for a belt in two weeks.

This is where I got mad. Spencer was not on the "blue line" nor did he have a check on his hand. WHAT???? I was so upset. I had watched him all class and he was great. I wanted to rip into the coaches. I know this may seem "dramatic" like Darin always tells me I am, but I could not understand it. Spencer was of course heartbroken and felt like he failed. He was obviously confused as he totally expected he would get an invitation.

So I stood with Jordan-who did get one-I think he gave all the older kids one- and asked him about it when it was her turn to get her paper. He told me to talk to him after class, so I did. I told him that he had told me Spencer was top the week before and that I felt like he had done the same work today. He said he was getting better; although he did seemed surprised that he hadn't given Spencer one. It think he realized he had over looked Spence because at one point he had the little kids in 2 lines and Spence was in the back.

So he offers to test Spencer right then, but Spencer was already upset and thought he "didn't think I did a good job." He ran off and was crying. It was cute because Jordan ran over and was consoling him. She was just as upset as I was that he didn't get and invitation to test.

I probably was not as clear as I should have been. I should have just asked the coach why Spencer didn't get a check. One of the problems is that there are entirely too many kids in the class-nearly 40 kids. And how on earth can one coach watch that many kids at all times? Anyhow he grabbed Spencer and they had a little talk after his little crying fit. But Spence said he couldn't tell me what they talked about. ( Later in the evening he said he would get another chance next week. I felt a bit better after that.)

I finally got out of there half an hour after we were supposed to-mostly because the coach had to talk to all the kids, and I was ranting and raving all the way down the hall. Little did I realize the assistant coach was walking right behind me the whole time....awkward!!! At least the main one wasn't-although I worry about him telling the main one how upset I was.

Did I go a little overboard? Maybe. Should I have just left and told Spencer to try harder next time? Maybe. When Spencer cried and ran off, should I have just left it at that so he could learn a lesson? Maybe.

I may not have made the best choice in the situation, but I would do it again.

So I have so much to do on my blog, I decided to work backwards on my memory card.

A few weekends ago, we decided to make some treats. I signed up to take cookies to Landon's preschool for his class Valentines Party, and it was Jordan's day to take snack. She was especially happy because it happened to fall on my birthday; which meant cupcakes, of course!!

So I got all the stuff ready. It was a bit of a risk to make sugar cookies in one day, and turns out I failed miserably. I'll get to that later. But the cupcakes were a success!!! I found a candy kit at Michaels, so we made the candies, then cupcakes and decorated the cupcakes.
The top pic is Landon working the microwave.

Here are the kids watching the candy melts in the microwave. I thought it was cute how they were all watching. 

Jordan getting ready to go!

Putting candy in the molds.

Landon and Jordan working very hard.

Spencer has to check and see what the top of the candy will look like.

Jordan not so happy about how hers is turning out.

Jordan on to the cookie dough. It looks funny because we wanted to make it pink. Yeah, didn't turn out so well. And I didn't keep it refrigerated long enough.

I need remedial training in sugar cookies!

Oh wow-I'm actually in one. Oh yeah...my fingers were messy so I had Darin take a shot. And don't mind the box spring in the background-we had picked up furniture for the spare room the day before and it hadn't quite made it to the basement yet....

Ah...pride!! They worked!!

And the final product-cupcakes for Brownies.

a close up.

I watched an episode of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network...I think...and she talked about photographing her food. My attempt wasn't as successful.

Right now.....

......Darin is watching TV in the playroom, the kids are playing in the basement, and I am all alone in the nice quiet living room.

I neglected my blog for some time now, so I sat down to put a bunch of pics on and do a few entries.

Well, my laptop is having issues. I think I have a virus and I'm not sure what to do. There are a zillion windows that pop up saying various things about my hard drive. It's quite frustrating. I can access the internet, and but I cannot even get pictures off my memory card in my laptop. I may try to get some off picassa web albums, but they aren't the ones I wanted to put up....

Ah well. So I will do a quick run down, on life. I wanted to do some catch up, but I am going to just start where we are and then fill in as I go.

We have been in our house since Nov. 3rd. The move was awesome-the movers were soooo great. I highly recommend hiring movers if you ever have to move!!!

I pinch myself on a daily basis. 

Seriously....

I LOVE OUR HOUSE

Sometimes I just sit and look around and an in awe that we even live here. Really, I can go on, but I'll just TRY to give my top ten.

10. All the floors are awesome....tile, wood, marble, Love them. 

9. Custom blinds in every window-most of  'em are the kid you can put down from the top. Love that.

8, Love the sunshine early in the morning in our living room windows. 

7. A pink room for Jordan and a blue room with a Spider man decal for the boys. Really, I would have chosen every color of paint in this house.

6. Cabinets...cannot tell you how much I love that they pull out. And the trash is built into the cabinets. 

5. My counters are fabulous. They are granite, which was not a must for me, but I LOVE them.

4. Space. Lots of room, lots of space. Like right now-we are all spread all over the house. 

3. My office. It is a wreck right now, but I have visions of what it an become. 

2. And amazing yard. Seriously awesome.

1. Two car garage. Pulling in the garage with groceries in the rain...enough said. 

So we are super happy in the house. We did have one issue with some plumbing leakage during the first few weeks, but thank goodness for a home warranty to cover the cost of the repair.

We are still learning all the light switches, but after talking to the previous owner, who we have a great relationship with and have seen at neighborhood holiday parties, there are some switches that they never really did figure out.

We are in a new ward, which has proven quite a challenge. Having to drive 20 minutes was a big adjustment. It was pretty sad to move from across the street from the stake center to 10 miles away from our chapel. I used to drop Jordan off at activity days and I could either ask one of the many ward members there to bring her home, or I could go home get the boys ready for bed then go back for her; or I could run some errands, or hang out with good friends while she was busy....

not anymore.

There is nothing near our chapel. It is in a beautiful area-very picturesque, nice for good weather, but no running errands or visiting friends because I haven't really made many yet. 

Which brings up the next part that has been hard-meeting people and making new friends. Although there are super nice people and good members in the ward, it does not give off very welcoming vibes. The only people who talked to us the first few weeks were people who knew we were moving there, or ones we know from the other ward before it was changed in the last stake realignment. 

It has gotten better, but it has been hard for me to go from knowing everyone in the ward, knowing the names of every kid in primary, to not knowing many people and being totally out of the loop. I went to a birthday dinner for a friend in the ward I have known for a few years and had a nice time, but felt like I wasn't really part of the group...hard to explain. I have been meeting more sisters, though and now have a visiting teaching list and was told I have visiting teachers, so that's good. I keep getting told it will take time, so I guess I really need to be patient. 

We had a nice Christmas. I felt like I didn't really do as much holiday stuff as I wanted, but we fit in our favorite things-a trip to the Temple, National tree, National Harbor, yummy food, parties, and a great concert-Natalie McMasters.  I did get our decorations out, which was fun to figure out where to put everything this year. We now have a mantle for the stockings, so it was fun to get them up. We found some nice stocking holders we liked and I think it turned out pretty nice. I do have a pic of that I'll have to put up.

There were lots of little things I wanted to get to, but we have many more years in this house so I let myself off the hook for this year. I didn't even do teacher gifts for Jordan and Spencer's teachers. I did Landon's just because I had a little time one morning, plus they put up with him!!

So here we are at the New Year. We are trying two new things. One of which was what I wanted to put pics for. I decided that since Darin doesn't leave for work until nearly 7:30, I wanted to have family prayer before he leaves each day. So I go in and start getting the kids up around 7:10 ish and get them into the living room. We have done ok this week...I end up carrying the boys in and they fall back asleep on the couch. Landon has got up on his own the last two days, though. I really enjoy it. I like that Darin gives us all a hug and kiss before he goes to school. We have a chat about the day and we can pray for what ever blessing we are in need of that day.

We have been working on scriptures again as well. The primary gave us a schedule to finish in the year-specific verses to read each night so we will finish by Dec 31st. I'm excited because I feel like it is doable. It isn't a huge amount each night. Now if we can get the kids to sit still and pay attention, we would be doing well. It is a bit of a struggle each nigh, but we have done it.

So remember how it was quiet and peaceful when I started this, well, the kids found and Landon is now making a fort with the pillows on my nice "new" couches.....Until Darin just yelled that Wipout is on:)

So, I've been hiding out for a while so I better get back to the organizing I started, but I had to mention one last thing...Last but not least.....

We're going to Europe this fall!!

Woo Hoo!!! Darin booked us a cruise for our 10th Anniversary. We will leave out of Venice, have a stop in Italy, a couple stops in Greece, and one stop in Croatia!! 

Can you say excited? Another thing causing me to pinch myself. Am I really living this life? 

Yes, I am, and it's pretty dang great!!

 

          

Sadness

I know my first post on my blog after moving into our house should be all happy and full of joy, but my heart is quite sad at the moment.

Mostly for my little girl.

Tonight was Jordan's first Activity Days night with our new ward. When I told her she was going, her first question was if it was with "her" activity days. I told her it was with the new ward to which she replied "I don't want to go."

Of course we went, and when we walked in, it was quiet and all the girls just looked at her. I said "Hi, this is Jordan" and the leader just looked at me a bit confused. Well, I didn't find out until the end that she was the Mt. Vernon ward's leader.

I talked to a couple moms before they were done and met more sisters in the ward, so that was nice. When I got Jordan, she seemed to be talking to other girls, but then in the car, she told me she never wanted to go back and that she wanted to go to her old one.

I felt so sad.

Reality set in.

We aren't in Franconia Ward anymore. Even after going to church on Sunday, tonight in the car it just seemed to hit me like a ton of bricks, and I totally started crying. Jordan was crying, too. I'm crying right now. Pathetic, I know.

I felt so sad for her. I felt so sad for myself. I miss my friends, too.

It was the first time I wondered if I was selfish by (in my usual dramatic way) ripping my kids from the only thing they have ever known. The only ward they have ever gone to. The good thing is that the boys have TONS of boys in both of their classes, so they should be great. Jordan has 1 little girl in her class, and she isn't 8 yet, so she wasn't at activity days tonight. We need to have her over so Jordan can get to know her.

I know I'm probably being over dramatic, since it's been only 2 weeks, but I really love Franconia ward and miss it soo much already. I know we're in the same stake, but I feel so far away from so many people I love so much. It was pretty comforting knowing there was always someone I could call on within 5-10 minutes away if I needed something. We were there for 9 years and were pretty attached. It is really hard starting over again in a new ward. Gives me more respect for the military people I am friends with who have to do this every few years!!

So, I'm sad at the moment. I can't fall asleep, so I figured I would do a post about it to may be feel better.  When I'm over it, and can move on, I'll do a post about the many, many, many awesome things I love about out new house!!!

The newest memeber!

Jordan is the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in our family!

Jordan's baptism was this past Saturday. We were so excited for her. She has been preparing for a while and was super excited. She was able to get baptised the same day as her best friend Lizzie and her friend Ryan who is in her primary class. The other night we went to the church to get her baptism outfit. Friday night she and daddy practiced how she would be baptised. Daddy was nervous he wouldn't remember the prayer since he hasn't baptised anyone since his mission, and he could remember the prayer in Spanish clear as a bell.

We were excited to have the baptism at our chapel and not have to drive to Mt. Vernon. We were also super excited that Auntie Marion and Auntie Karin came for the special day. They arrived on Saturday and were with me when I picked the kids up. They had Ella the dog as well, so the kids were excited.

So Saturday came and we were running a bit late, but everyone got changed in time for the program to start. We took a few pictures before hand as well.  I was a bit worried that there might be drama when Jordan saw Lizzie in her dress, because she cried when I told her Lizzie was wearing a dress, but she did very well. I think the excitement helped her. Plus the fact that the church provides little white "leotard" thing to wear under the jumpsuit. She loved that and asked for one for herself.

Jordan and daddy, as well as the other 4 kids and daddies were so brave-the hot water heater to the font was not functioning, so the water was freezing cold. I felt so bad for them all. But, I was super impressed with Jordan-she just walked right down into the water!!!! Darin said the prayer and baptised her perfectly. She did make a big gasp when she came out of the water-like when the pool is too cold. Then the sweet thing stood there freezing in her towel so she could watch her friends be baptised as well. Lizzie's feet came out of the water, so she had to be done twice, and Jonaton missed a word in the prayer and had to do Ryan twice as well. The witnesses were Bishop Stowers and Ken Cazier. 

A few shots from the day

Jordan and daddy

 Ahh, that face. How I love that face.

 

Jordan and one proud mama!

 Lizzie, Ryan and Jordan

Jordan and Lizzie with their best friend Karly Vallejo. She has been friends with the girls since kindergarten, and we were so excited that she came to see the girls get baptised. She is a great friend and we love her family!!


 Our family after the baptism. The boys did start the day with ties...

And our family with Aunties. And of course, Ella. She spent the time in the car, so was happy to be out. 

 We did more pictures when we got home.

Kisses for the big girl!!

 Jordan and mommy with Aunties.

 And one more of my sweet little girl.

Preschool Picassas-weeks 1 and 2

I have been teaching classes at the local Rec center and this session I was 

able to add a new class to my  list: Preschool Picassos.

It is an art class, this time for 2-3  year olds. I have taken this class with Jordan and Spencer, so was excited to be able to teach it. 

I decided to try to find a book to read each week to base my project on. 

Here is my first choice.

We did lots of painting and talking about colors. I have a good group of parents and kids, 8 total,  and they all seemed to really enjoy it.

Week 2 The Rainbow Fish

I love this book and thought it would be awesome to teach about sharing and to do a cute project.

The book I got an idea from.

directions

supplies all ready. I got sparkly foam and cut out fins shapes. It was nice since they had sticky backs the kids could just peel off and stick on.

Landon helping me make my example to show the class.

And my finished product. A bit childlike, but then again, I am teaching toddlers:) The class went well and the kiddos loved working on it.

tires and fairies

Arggg.....I love this new way to get pictures on my blog-it's so fast, but I hate the way you do the text. So forgive the big spaces and annoying layout.

Today's family outing was a total and complete rip off from a friend's blog. Well, I asked if we could copy, and she didn't mind. So thanks Sarah, for the awesome idea!

The pics are in opposite order of the day, but I'm not in the mood to fix them. So here we are at the second stop for the day. Ann Marie Sculpture Garden. (and I'm too lazy to put in the link as well-just google it and you'll find it:) I had wanted to go a couple weeks earlier, but things got in the way, so we finally made it. Problem was, there was a HUGE art festival going on, so it was packed. Plus it was rainy. Darin wasn't too thrilled, and even after I said we could leave, he said no. We hadn't driven over an hour to go home.

So it had a display of fairy houses I wanted Jordan to see. The kids all really loved it. I wanted to take longer and really look, but we had scheduled a time with Steve to go look at houses and had to go back by a certain time, which I thought was an hour later than it really was. So we had to hurry.

Anyhow, the kids really had fun seeing the houses. Some of them were pretty cool-extremely ornate.

Kids looking at some houses

 One of Jordan's favorites

 This was my favorite. The Safari fairy house

 more house and a funky sculpture I liked

Here we are at the actual first stop of the day. Calvert Cliffs State Park, in Maryland. It was about an hour and 20 minutes from our house. I thought it was a bit closer, but it wasn't too bad. I was worried it was going to rain the whole time, but it only sprinkled, then was fine. When the kids saw the park, they got out and went running.

The all the play stuff was made from recycled tires. It was great. There was lots of climbing, running, and swinging. Even Darin and I got in on the action.

We really loved this place. I was thinking that I wished I had packed a lunch. We for sure want to go back on a day that we can spend more time. There's also a really nice hike to the beach and there's a place where you can do some fossil hunting as well.

The tire swing was pretty fun, although Darin got a bit excited pushing us and I got a bit dizzy. So fun, though.