Well, we have had an exciting day here in Texas...SNOW...and lots of it! It started snowing at 3 am and is just now winding down at 11 pm! About 10 inches total here...more snow than FW has seen ever in one day!
So, we had fun during the day, building snow forts and having snowball fights. Casey's classes were canceled and so was worship team rehearsal for the night. Then, we found out that classes are canceled tomorrow too! There was much rejoicing!
Now, we are hearing what sounds like fire crackers going off, but it's not. It's the sound of tree branches (large ones) breaking and falling to the ground. I took a picture of the one that just fell across the lawn from us. The snow is really wet and heavy. So, I'm hoping we don't lose power! The electricity has flickered a bit, but hasn't gone off...so I'm typing fast so we can shut everything down for the night.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Fun, full weekend with family
My mom and aunts flew in to spend the past weekend with us. It was a busy, but fun time. We spent all day Friday at the zoo. It was a bit chilly in the morning, but it had warmed up a little by the afternoon. You know you've worn the kids out when they start asking, "Can we go home now?" For dinner we went downtown to Cantina Laredo. I have to say that it is my favorite place to eat downtown even though it is the ONLY place we have eaten at downtown! Why mess with a good thing? Unfortunately, I had the beginnings of a migraine and it only got worse as the night went on. The only other eventful thing that evening was the show my mom put on while we were walking to the restaurant, let's just say that she doesn't always see well and there were planters on the sidewalk...
On Saturday we went to the boys basketball game at the church. After the game we went to the Stockyards. It was a bit chilly...okay, it was cold and windy. We saw the long horns saunter by in the "cattle drive" and then went to Riskey's for some good barbecue. We spent some time shopping and visiting stores and the museum and then decided it was too cold and we were too tired. That evening we ordered pizza in and visited and played games.
On Sunday we went to church and then to lunch at Chef Pointe Cafe. Everyone ordered something delicious from that gas station/5 star food place. After lunch we went bowling! That was a lot of fun. Aunt Patty pretty much creamed us and Aunt Cheril pulled ahead of Josiah by one or two points to not finish at the bottom! Ethan had two strikes and Josiah had one...and we all were glad the bumpers were up or our scores would have been much lower! Casey took the boys home and the gals went out to do some more shopping. Phew! What a weekend!
It was a great time and now we are looking forward to our next visitors...we don't know who it is, but after all the fun I just described I'm sure someone will want to come visit, right?
On Saturday we went to the boys basketball game at the church. After the game we went to the Stockyards. It was a bit chilly...okay, it was cold and windy. We saw the long horns saunter by in the "cattle drive" and then went to Riskey's for some good barbecue. We spent some time shopping and visiting stores and the museum and then decided it was too cold and we were too tired. That evening we ordered pizza in and visited and played games.
On Sunday we went to church and then to lunch at Chef Pointe Cafe. Everyone ordered something delicious from that gas station/5 star food place. After lunch we went bowling! That was a lot of fun. Aunt Patty pretty much creamed us and Aunt Cheril pulled ahead of Josiah by one or two points to not finish at the bottom! Ethan had two strikes and Josiah had one...and we all were glad the bumpers were up or our scores would have been much lower! Casey took the boys home and the gals went out to do some more shopping. Phew! What a weekend!
It was a great time and now we are looking forward to our next visitors...we don't know who it is, but after all the fun I just described I'm sure someone will want to come visit, right?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Company coming!
Well, I guess since I haven't posted in over a week that means we are pretty much back into a routine of ordinary days. The boys are really doing well in their school work lately. Josiah is excited and enjoying school again and that is so wonderful! He is starting to read and put words together. He gets so excited. Today he was working on a page while I was upstairs and he came running up the stairs yelling, "Mom, I did it! I read this whole page of words!" Yay! Those are the kind of things that make me so glad to be homeschooling.
We are all anticipating the arrival of grandma tonight! The day has finally arrived. My mom and my two aunts are flying in tonight and will be here till Monday. I'm sure this weekend will be anything but ordinary.
We are all anticipating the arrival of grandma tonight! The day has finally arrived. My mom and my two aunts are flying in tonight and will be here till Monday. I'm sure this weekend will be anything but ordinary.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
We have had some wonderfully terrific weather this past week. Most days were between 60 and 70 degrees! Love it! Last night we grilled out with some of our friends at the seminary. It was a little strange to be sitting outside eating in January! But we love it and so enjoy the company and fellowship with our friends. I think the boys get just as excited (if not more so) that we do.
This morning we were up EARLY to get ready for basketball. We had to be at the church by 7:40 am for their 8:00 am game... thankfully there aren't too many of those. Unfortunately, Casey pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve or something between his neck and shoulder blades. He's not been very comfy, that's for sure. But, he is so good and doesn't even complain much...just groans and grunts when ever he moves. :>) He also got a hair cut today.
Oh, back to basketball. The boys are doing better every week. Ethan made some good passes and dribbled a bit today and did a really good job on defense. Josiah threw the ball in a couple of times...which just made his day. But the real treat was in the last 10 seconds a team mate passed (handed) the ball to him and he took off dribbling! He went towards the wrong basket...but that was ok. The buzzer went off signaling the end of the game and he turned around and was just beaming! He said, "Mom, did you see me dribble!" It was precious.
We ran a few errands in the afternoon including a trip to the library, so we spent most of the afternoon reading. It was nice. The boys were in bed by 7:30 pm and it's almost 9:00 pm and I think I'm heading that way too. Sundays come early so I need to get good sleep so I'm not too cranky in the morning!
This morning we were up EARLY to get ready for basketball. We had to be at the church by 7:40 am for their 8:00 am game... thankfully there aren't too many of those. Unfortunately, Casey pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve or something between his neck and shoulder blades. He's not been very comfy, that's for sure. But, he is so good and doesn't even complain much...just groans and grunts when ever he moves. :>) He also got a hair cut today.
Oh, back to basketball. The boys are doing better every week. Ethan made some good passes and dribbled a bit today and did a really good job on defense. Josiah threw the ball in a couple of times...which just made his day. But the real treat was in the last 10 seconds a team mate passed (handed) the ball to him and he took off dribbling! He went towards the wrong basket...but that was ok. The buzzer went off signaling the end of the game and he turned around and was just beaming! He said, "Mom, did you see me dribble!" It was precious.
We ran a few errands in the afternoon including a trip to the library, so we spent most of the afternoon reading. It was nice. The boys were in bed by 7:30 pm and it's almost 9:00 pm and I think I'm heading that way too. Sundays come early so I need to get good sleep so I'm not too cranky in the morning!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Homeschooling
When we moved to Texas this summer we decided that I would homeschool the boys. It was the best option for us moving into a new place. I've never been that excited about homeschool...give me a good (affordable) private Christian school and that's what I would have preferred. It seems though that private and affordable don't really go together. So, here I am homeschooling my boys and I realized just recently that this is exactly what we needed. I'll try to explain.
Ethan is very smart...sometimes too smart. And, he is very matter-of-fact. If he thinks he knows something, well then he knows he's right too. He and I have tended to butt heads a little (or a lot) since he was about 4 years old! When he was going to school I would try everything to get him to tell me about anything that happened and it was like pulling teeth! He was always exhausted from his day at school and by Friday he was a walking zombie and really cranky. I felt like we were disconnected and I didn't know what to do about it either.
Ok, so back to homeschool. We took about 3 weeks off in December/January while Casey was out of school and just had fun together. Starting back up with school was a little difficult the first week, but we are running smoothly now. So, yesterday I was explaining a math problem to him and he wasn't getting it. So I showed him a few examples and finally the light clicked on and he said, "Oh, I get it." Now that was good enough for me to see that he got it so I started to walk away. He got up and followed me so I turned around and before I could say anything (like, "get back to work") he gave me this huge hug. I asked him what that was for and he said, "because I love you and I like it when you help me." Ahhh so, that's it! I love having my sweet boy back and am so glad that homeschooling has helped us connect and communicate better.
Ethan is very smart...sometimes too smart. And, he is very matter-of-fact. If he thinks he knows something, well then he knows he's right too. He and I have tended to butt heads a little (or a lot) since he was about 4 years old! When he was going to school I would try everything to get him to tell me about anything that happened and it was like pulling teeth! He was always exhausted from his day at school and by Friday he was a walking zombie and really cranky. I felt like we were disconnected and I didn't know what to do about it either.
Ok, so back to homeschool. We took about 3 weeks off in December/January while Casey was out of school and just had fun together. Starting back up with school was a little difficult the first week, but we are running smoothly now. So, yesterday I was explaining a math problem to him and he wasn't getting it. So I showed him a few examples and finally the light clicked on and he said, "Oh, I get it." Now that was good enough for me to see that he got it so I started to walk away. He got up and followed me so I turned around and before I could say anything (like, "get back to work") he gave me this huge hug. I asked him what that was for and he said, "because I love you and I like it when you help me." Ahhh so, that's it! I love having my sweet boy back and am so glad that homeschooling has helped us connect and communicate better.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Upwards Basketball
Upwards Basketball (and cheerleading) is a program our church is doing (and has done for many years). Games are every Saturday for 1st-6th grade boys and girls during January and February. My boys are so excited and have really enjoyed playing so far. Each week the kids have Bible verses to memorize and they receive stars for different areas of participation. This year's theme is God is light, so they are memorizing verses that go along with that.
Ethan and Josiah are on the same team...which is great! Their team practices on Monday nights. And, last night both the boys made baskets...Josiah for the first time. He was so excited...his whole team and the parents watching were excited for him too. Most of the team is 1st and 2nd graders and I've only seen 1 kindergarten age kid (like Josiah) on each of the other teams. They are always matched up by wristband color so they guard a player with similar skill and ability. It is always so cute to see the little ones out there playing tag with each other.
I love to watch the boys and see how different they are and the way the respond to things. Ethan is almost always serious. He has fun, but he is serious at the same time. Josiah thinks everything is funny. If he catches the ball, he laughs. If he misses the ball and it hits him on the head and rolls away, he laughs even more. Ethan has been so sweet with his brother and helps him out. At the last game, Ethan walked over to Josiah (who was doing who knows what) and took his hand and brought him to where he needed to be.
Ethan and Josiah are on the same team...which is great! Their team practices on Monday nights. And, last night both the boys made baskets...Josiah for the first time. He was so excited...his whole team and the parents watching were excited for him too. Most of the team is 1st and 2nd graders and I've only seen 1 kindergarten age kid (like Josiah) on each of the other teams. They are always matched up by wristband color so they guard a player with similar skill and ability. It is always so cute to see the little ones out there playing tag with each other.
I love to watch the boys and see how different they are and the way the respond to things. Ethan is almost always serious. He has fun, but he is serious at the same time. Josiah thinks everything is funny. If he catches the ball, he laughs. If he misses the ball and it hits him on the head and rolls away, he laughs even more. Ethan has been so sweet with his brother and helps him out. At the last game, Ethan walked over to Josiah (who was doing who knows what) and took his hand and brought him to where he needed to be.
Monday, January 18, 2010
A New Year
It's been a while since I've posted anything...so I thought I would at least start the year off with a summary of the past few weeks. Here goes...it was great!
We had one of the best December's we've ever had. We did miss family and friends around the holidays, but having Casey around in December was a real treat that we haven't had in many years. We slept in, played games, ran around town...basically whatever we wanted to do! He did still work 20 hours each week at the church...but that was it.
Ethan has finally learned how to ride a bike...he got one for Christmas. Josiah, not wanting to be left behind is also riding a two-wheel bike. We inherited a small bike with our apartment when we moved in so Casey oiled the chain and put some air in the tires and that is now Josiah's bike.
The boys started basketball and are loving it! I'll post more on that later.
Casey started back to classes last Thursday. So, he is once again a busy man. The boys are back into their school work and are getting back into the swing of homeschool work again.
We had one of the best December's we've ever had. We did miss family and friends around the holidays, but having Casey around in December was a real treat that we haven't had in many years. We slept in, played games, ran around town...basically whatever we wanted to do! He did still work 20 hours each week at the church...but that was it.
Ethan has finally learned how to ride a bike...he got one for Christmas. Josiah, not wanting to be left behind is also riding a two-wheel bike. We inherited a small bike with our apartment when we moved in so Casey oiled the chain and put some air in the tires and that is now Josiah's bike.
The boys started basketball and are loving it! I'll post more on that later.
Casey started back to classes last Thursday. So, he is once again a busy man. The boys are back into their school work and are getting back into the swing of homeschool work again.
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