and just like that it all changed....

Well let's see. It has been a minute since I blogged. However I decided to change our family blog to private and start to use it as a journal instead of a public platform.
An update is that I am or was student teaching. I was going to be student teaching until May 2nd, however that all went down the drain when the Corona Virus hit.
Spring break went from one week to 4 weeks and possibly the rest of the summer.
The world is going crazy and people are buying up toilet paper by the dozens. The shelves are bare, and it seems like end times. People are loosing it and I maybe am underestimating the effect this will have. We had planned a trip to Ireland with my Dad however with the travel bands that seems to have been put on hold.
I have to admit that I am going a little stir crazy at home. I am used to being at school, teaching with kids. Now I am lucky and get to teach my own kids for a little while.

Fireworks!

Happy 4th of July!

I am thankful to be an American but must admit I worry about our country. Here is to hoping by this time next year we will see positive changes!!

DAY DREAMER

I happened to notice Ayla laying in the grass, watching the clouds, lost in thought.. 

I love this little free spirit of mine!

The Fire Dancers!

AT THE PARK THERE WERE FIRE DANCERS...

 BRIEA WAS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY AMAZED. 

 SHE WOULD YELL OUT DURING THE PERFORMANCE, EVEN WHEN IT WAS QUIET "AWESOME!!!" 

 THE LADIES LOVED HER. THEY WOULD COME OVER BY HER ALOT AND EVEN KNELT DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER TO DO A BUNCH OF TRICKS. 

 THEY DID A GREAT PERFORMANCE AND IT WAS FUN TO WATCH. 

 THIS LADIES NAME WAS BRITTANY. SHE WAS GREAT AND WAS REALLY KIND TO B. 

AFTER THE SHOW, BRIEA ASKED IF WE WOULD TAKE HER OVER TO MEET THIS NICE LADY. SHE WAS GREAT AND LET HER HOLD PART OF THE FIRE WANDS FOR THE PICTURE. B WAS SO EXCITED. SHE EVEN INVITED BRITTANY TO WATCH FIRE WORKS ON THE BLANKET WITH OUR FAMILY. 

4th Activities!

After the parade we went to Colby Park for all the fun that Windsor Heights had planned. 

 They had live music, which Briea absolutely LOVED. All she wanted to do was dance with everyone in the crowd. 

 There were Princesses there too. This made the girls VERY HAPPY!!

 Hanging out with my Love!

 My patriotic flower child!

 They had a bunch of inflatables set up. It was fun watching the kids play and race against other kids. 

 Cullan did pretty well. 

 So did B considering the girl she was going against was much older. 

 They had some fun Frisbee spin art...

 and Balloon animals!

 Here is our crew listening to live music and waiting for the fire works.

 My silly girl.

 These boys crack me up..

 Ninja Cullan with balloon nun chucks

 Briea practicing her hula hoop skills. 

 Somebody can no blow a bubble!!

 Miss B. 

 Muffin loved rolling in the grass. 

 Mr. Hula Hoop

 He actually has some pretty sweet hula skills. 

 Ayla and some popcorn. 

 Cullan eating some yummy Italian Ice!

One last photo with the Princesses!

4th of July Parade

Monday morning we got up and walked down to the end of our street. Lucky for us.. that was on the parade route. It was a fun little parade. We enjoyed watching as people went by. 

 Muffin really enjoyed the parade. Especially the part where they threw dog treats to her!

 Have I mentioned my kids love parades. They jump and yell and get so excited. Candy.. No Candy.. It really doesn't matter... They just love parades!

 They cheered for the wagon train.....

 and for the HOT HOT HOT fire truck. 

 I love this picture of them all jumping up and down... It just makes me happy. 

This picture... well it melts my heart. I love t his picture of B with her Daddy!

It's been a while...

SOAP BOX MOMENT 2016: (THIS WILL BE MY ONLY ONE FOR THE YEAR) I don’t usually like to get on here and rant about things. I like to post fun things or cute pictures. However, this is something that has been bothering me for a while and my hopes are not to call anyone out with this post but to help others be more aware.

I have to say that this is a hard post for me to write because it is something that I struggled with also. Luckily as an adult I have found confidence in myself and love and support in a man that has helped me overcome a lot of my confidence issues.

With that being said… Let me just ask if you would love to be greeted every time someone saw you with your biggest insecurities being called out, sometimes loud enough for all to hear? Please think before you make comments about weight to a child. They are fully aware of what you are saying whether the comment is direct or indirect. As a person that struggled with weight as a child and now having a child that struggles with weight. They are fully aware of what they look like. TRUST ME when I say that they get picked on at school, they hate clothes shopping, when their siblings can just pick something off the rack but we have to hunt for things that will fit them. They look in the mirror every day and put on clothes every day. You are not ENLIGHTENING them to their situation. They know. What you might not know is that they may have a medical issue that makes weight an issue for them or maybe they eat to suppress their feelings. (I know quite a few adults that struggle with that so I don’t know why people don’t think that it might just start in childhood as a way to cope with something) And I hate to break it to all the “well meaning” adults. But they eat when they hear those comments about losing weight or being heavy. What really kills me is when an overweight child says they are hungry. Children that are obese get hungry just like children that are not. So why, as adults do you feel that it is your place to call them out or make them feel bad for feeling a basic human feeling of hunger. Are they supposed to starve because they are overweight… Making comments about portion, having seconds, or anything like that DOES NOT HELP. I have watched as those comments are made and it is like I can see a little piece of my child’s heart break each time. Of course the child will try to smile and agree with the adult. They will put food back or not get something because they are trying to be obedient. But the reality is that it is killing them inside. I know because I have felt exactly what my child is feeling and I know the embarrassment and pain that goes along with it.

I think that anyone that knows me, knows that I am not a coddler. I let my children experience things and suffer consequences whether from me or from natural consequences. So know that I understand children will get picked on growing up and have to learn to work through it. I am all for that. However, I am also all for that practice of, if you have such grave concerns about my child’s health that you need to call them out,  then please address them with me (or the parents of that child). If you are not concerned about my child’s health but still feel the need to make comments then you can stop NOW.. because all you are is an adult that is bullying a child.

Christmas traditions!

This year we found this great house in Wagram as the winner of our holiday lights award recipent. The home owner was Mr. Stewart and he was thrilled to have won! He said "I will never forget this!". He was so sweet! 

play date pics