Looks Can Be Deceiving

I love this picture of my boys! And I would love to be able to tell you that this is how they are most of the time. in fact, I would love to be able to tell you that this is how they are 50% of the time, no- make that 25%. The reality is that they fight A LOT. I have an older child who is controlling and bossy. I have a younger child who will not be bossed around, thinks he can do whatever his older brother can do, and hits and screams instead of uses his words.

I had a younger brother. We get along well now, but boy did I dislike him growing up. He always tattled. He was treated better and got to do more than I did. He was the favorite child. :) Any of you feel this way? I am trying to determine if it is the age difference between them (4 years) that causes such problems, the fact that they are both boys, or just their personalities in general. Let's face it, we all wouldn't choose our siblings to be our best friends, if we had the choice. And others truly have a great reltionship and friendship with theirs. And how can you help them grow up so they are close as they become older? Any ideas?

Happy 2 Year Blog Anniversary Matt

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of my hubby Matt's blog. He has put in tons of hours recreating the look of his blog. If you normally don't go there, check it out today: www.mbbarrett.blogspot.com

I normally write about my kids and what they are doing. But today I thought I would switch gears and tell you about my best friend and partner for life- Matt.

For those of you who don't know Matt, I think it is safe to say that you are truly missing out. Shortly into our relationship my mom nicknamed him "Mr. Wonderful". Little did I know 12 years of marriage later how much he would live up to that name. I am continually amazed at his love for life, sense of humor, kindness, patience, gentleness, wisdom, intelligence, loyalty, ability to have fun, sense of adventure, hard working nature and his ability to love unconditionally. He is an amazing dad to our boys. He is beyond wonderful to me as a husband and best friend. I look forward to growing old with him. I treasure going to bed together at night and waking up next to him in the morning. I feel blessed beyond measure that God allowed him to share his life and love with me. Congrats on your blog anviersary honey. Keep entertaining us and making us think. I love you!

I am going to cry!

Okay, I had a great post ready to go. I thought I would try to add an image from the web to it. My hubby very quickly talks me through it. I try it, but I cannot get the image to open up on my blog. I try to delete it and now the whole post is gone. So instead of a funny post to end the week, you might get to read it on Monday morning. Can I just say how frustrating that it????

Have a good weekend!

Nothing to Say

I know, I know....I have not blogged for a few days. The truth is I have been busy, but also have not had a lot to blog about.

Tyler started preschool Monday. I took pictures which I will add later, but keep forgetting to get the camera out of the truck, which Matt seems to have more than me. He woke up Monday morning crying about not wanting to go to school. Once I used some positive reinforcement (bribery, for those of you kidless people) with McDonalds for lunch, he was good to go. He seems to really be liking it.

Matt and I are deciding whether or not to host a "life group" for our church twice a month. We are finally ready to start getting involved again. It has been nice taking the time off at church and just sitting in services and being fed. But, having worked in churches, we also know how important it is for the church members to get involved. Churches could not exist without good people willing to do some work. So, that is one thing we are looking at doing. I am also planning on working at the church, for 4-8 weeks, while the current secretary is on maternity leave. It is so funny how just when I think I am going to have some time to myself, my time seems to fill up with other things.

Jake starts a 5 weeks science class today after school. He is so excited. He was telling me this morning how he might get to dissect a small shark with his teacher. He is also gearing up for karate. I am a firm believer in not filling my kids' time with too many activities. Even though he may want to do a ton of things, I limit him. I feel it is just as important to be a kid, to come home from school and have a snack and then rush out to play with friends as it is to be involved in extracurricular activites. Who knows, maybe I am an old fuddy duddy....

The house is almost 100% unpacked. This weekend we will conquer the garage, and I have 2 rooms left and we are done. It has been nice to have "normal" weekends here. It feels good. And after today we will be done with all of our houses in Iowa. YEA! Sorry this is not more inspirational! You will survive!

Have a great weekend!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

I have tried to add a picture to my profile, without the help of Matt. We will see if I was successful. I have to admit I really enjoying blogging, and I love hearing from all of you.

Phoenix in January???

Old People and Popsicles

Popsicles. Do you remember making them with popsicle makers, or are your memories of popsicles going to the store and buying a box?

Two days ago Tyler found the one set of popsicle makers I have in a drawer. When I explained what they were he was absolutely fascinated and wanted to make some "right now mom". So yesterday morning we took grape juice and made our own popsicles. Every 20 minutes for about 2 hours I was asked "are they done baking yet?".

FINALLY last night after dinner we all took part in the tasting of our own, homemade popsicles. Matt and I reminisced about popsicles, pudding pops...and then Jake was kind enough to throw in his comment, "so these are the kind of popsicles old people ate in the olden days?"

Enough said!

A Mix of Nothing

1) Happy birthday today to my baby brother, who is now 27 and many inches taller than me!!! Even though he and I never got along growing up, I am so happy that we are living in the same area now and can get together and enjoy each other, since we never did when we were kids!

2) Jake's first day of school I get a call from his teacher at 3:45pm wondering if I was coming to get Jake. He was convinced that we had agreed to meet at the flagpole after school. First of all, refer to previous blog about our walk to school. Secondly, I didn't even know there was a flag pole or where it was!!!

3) Vacation was wonderful! Although it was 100 degrees and 100% humidity, boating, swimming, etc. were great. It was much needed, as the last 7 months of life have been stressful. Thanks Nana and Papa for a wonderful 4 days! We're looking forward to next year. Funny story: Tyler decided he wasn't ready to go home, so he put 2 and 2 together and realized just b/c Jake was starting school didn't mean he was, so he offered to stay longer and he would just come home by himself later. :)

4) Monday night I called my 94 year old grandpa. He is not in good health and most don't think he will live to see his 95th birthday, which is in November. While I called initially out of respect for my dad and to make grandpa smile, I got off the phone in tears and never happier that I took the time to call, for me. It is weird saying goodbye, without really saying goodbye, knowing I may never talk to my grandpa again.

That is my very eclectic post for the day. That is kind of how I feel my life has been lately. Enjoy the day!

Third Grade Here He Comes!!!

Today starts a new chapter in our lives as parents. Jake started 3rd grade this morning. It seems so weird to me that we have a 3rd grader. He was so excited!! (so was I!) We all walked him to school, since this is a new school and it was his first day. He then proceeded to let me know he DID NOT want me coming to walk home with him. He was just fine and wanted to walk home with the neighborhood kids.

It won't be long before Tyler is also headed to school. I do not have much more time to be home with him either. Life just seems to go by so quickly. I think they were both ready for each other to head back to school.

And to think we have had him about 1/2 the time he will be with us, living with us (dorms at college are for a reason!). I am so proud of him. This is another new school for him, but he woke with such a great attitude and excitement. I am now a mom of a 3rd grader!

Picture Lessons

As I posted the other day, we are headed off for vacation tomorrow. The last week has been extremely busy for me, so sorry about the lack of posts. But before we headed out of town my faithful (and peer-pressuring) husband took time to teach me how to post pictures. So this post was an experiment.

These are not the most fun pics, but they were the most recent, from our 6Flags trip.



At the end of a very long day they stopped to take one more picture with their "superheroes". Remember me saying we got drenched at the end on the log ride????

Much to our relief there was an area for the smaller people who couldn't ride all of the "cool" rides big brother could.