Homework

Yep I know this pic is sideways, but I took it that way so its going to stay that way. Tonight was of course another homework night for all three of us. Grey absolutely LOVES being like Mama and Sis so even when his preschool teacher doesn't send worksheets home to do we work in his book. It has been such an interesting process teaching both of my children how to read and write. Lucy caught on so so quickly. She recognized letters and words at a very young age while it has been a very difficult process for Grey. He still calls letters numbers and the alphabet song is still not memorized. I do think his struggles with speech have contributed to his struggle with learning. But he is accomplishing something every day and we are both so excited when that happens. Even holding the pencil correctly for an entire page is big. What I love about the first pic, well the two things I love, are that he drew a pic of a zebra. And he LOVES zebras. The second thing I love is that you can see his adorable brown fingers in the corner anxiously waiting to turn the page to the next worksheet. To me that is a MAJOR accomplishment-him wanting to do a third sheet.

This pic is my confession pic. Yep, I bribe my kids with candy. I have been really good about not buying so many processed and sugary treats for us to snack on, but a little incentive to do homework, pick up toys, or put away the dishes is A-ok with me. PLUS, Daddy is a pediatric dentist-he can fix it. BUT they do have to brush their teeth after the treats so I am not too worried.

And finally...I am not sure if I posted a pic of this when I posted pics of our home, but this has become(as I knew it would)my fav spot in my house. It is our schoolwork wall. Honestly the best part of being a mom to littles is the awesome artwork or 100% on assignments. LOVE. (FYI the numbers above the shelves-yes old metal shelves I painted and have used as magnet boards-are our address. It represents our home and I love love)

Alright time for bed after a night of online quizzes and scholarship applications for Me.

Weekend Update

The weekend started off with Grey going on a field trip to the zoo with his preschool-okay so they did not go during the weekend BUT the Lion aka Tiger-y and the elephant mask and the animal puppets made a LOT of noise this weekend. I had to study for my last midterm which was stressing me out A LOT. My mom knew the pressure I was feeling and surprised me with a dress I had seen the previous weekend and was dying for! Grey and I came home and SURPRISE! It was on my bed! Not sure I have said this before but I for sure without a doubt have the bestest mom in the whole world. My kids can attest to this. Then came the late nights of studying and Grey NOT staying in bed but sticking stickers on his forehead and staring at me. Seriously staring. Best part is it is monday night and my test is over and my classes and work is over and I have tomorrow off. No homework for me! But not for them :) Better them than me!

Midterms

Friday Night

The title has nothing to do with the pics. It is friday night, I am EXHAUSTED from the week, and want to do nothing more than lay on my bed catching up on my fav tv shows on Hulu. This is a normal week for Mama Val:
Monday: Get kids to school/Gma's house, I go to school, then work, then school, rush home to take babysitter home then get kids in bed.
Tuesday: DAY OFF!!! Get kids to school, go to the gym, pick up Grey from school, HOMEWORK, laundry, grocery shopping, pick Lucy up from school, take Lucy to 2 hour gymnastic class, HOMEWORK, clean, HOMEWORK, kids in bed (except for Grey cause he HATES going to bed).
Wednesday: See Monday
Thursday: Get kids to school/Gma's house, work until I can't think any longer, rush to the gym, pick Grey up from Gma's, pick Lucy up from school, have friends over, deep clean the entire house including mopping and vacuuming, make dinner (sometimes), HOMEWORK, bedtime.
Friday: Get kids to school/Gma's, work all day, pick up kids from Gma's (before we leave I always sit down by mom and talk, I need some mom time), home, dinner, then I sit on my bed watching Hulu while the kids play and fight, bedtime.
Weekends are insane. I usually have to go to school or work or something, I shop a little, HOMEWORK A LOT, try to get to the gym, and possibly make dinner. Sunday is church and HOMEWORK.

Now this is just an outline of my days. There are usually 10,000 other things going on between said activities. Seriously. And once in awhile I take a deep breath and enjoy the little moments (see below). But we are happy, we love our house, we love each other, and we keep going week after week. Pretty amazing little life we have. And of course an ENORMOUS thank you to Gma and Gpa for taking care of the 3 of us day after day, week after week.


(yes he is tickling himself. he was supposed to be getting ready for school or for the bath or for bed-I really can't remember but he wasn't doing it. he WAS making himself laugh though. and mama too)

Right now....

I should be heading up to my parents's for a yummy sunday dinner of roast beef and mashed potatoes (the dinner we have EVERY single sunday growing up because it is Jim's fav), but I am sitting at my kitchen table listening to the kids screaming (with joy) in our backyard playing in the snow. There has been very little snow days this year and I just can't bring myself to stop the happiness. Nothing better than knowing they are in complete kid heaven.

VDay 2012

Started the previous weekend. Both kids needed Valentine boxes for school. I HATE making Valentine boxes!!!! Nightmares from childhood when my mom game me a shoebox and shiny heart stickers. And that was it. So my box always looked like a shoebox covered in stickers while other children had cool, creative one. So although it cause me some PTSD, I helped the kids make some awesome ones-and spent not one cent on them (coolest part!) Grey "helping"......

BESTEST EVER!!!!!! Lucy's was a locker and for some reason we never took pics. All that mattered was that she LOVED it and kids at school said it was cool. (Mattered to me anyways)

Of course we made sugar cookies-Lucy wasn't feeling well so it was just boy and me.

What my two Valentines woke up to on VDay morning. Both were super excited :)

Grey was with me when I picked out a VDay outfit for Lucy. He INSISTED that he got a Valentine shirt also. He was soooo happy when he opened it and put it on. The cutest boy EVER!

I was in charge of Lucy's classroom party. I love doing them and being the "cool" mom. Lucy playing musical hearts :) She won!!!


This was one of the best VDays I had ever had. My friends spoiled me with eclairs, lunch, and love messages. Brian B. was so amazing that he not only got Quinnette two dozen cake bites, but me as well! And Darcie Ann sent me chocolate covered strawberries. It was all so good and I felt so loved, although I didn't exactly love that I actually gained a whole pound from all the love. (yes, I realize that I didn't have to eat them ALL within 2 days but I just couldn't stop...I had them for bfast, lunch, dinner)


Valentine night came and we were all exhausted from the sugar rushes and activities. But Lucy had one last surprise, Adam sent her flowers and a stuffed animal. We all had a great love day.

BHS Mini Cheerleaders!

aka Lucy's Heaven. She loved performing at the basketball game during half-time. She was amazing


Lucy's fav cheerleader and FAV babysitter Hannah