Merry Christmas

I love this time of the year!I love decorating... and having friends over.
I love cooking for friends and giving gifts to people that I love!
I love all the little treasures I have been given (even the ones I should have thrown away years ago)
I love seeing how long I can keep my flocked tree from burning down my house...
I love listening to my boys read the story of The Three Trees...
I love our "It's a Wonderful Life" tree (even though I don't like the movie)
I love Kyle's tree because it has the oldest ornaments...
I love shopping in the rain for flocked trees...
and I love that my baby still believes in Santa (even if it's "just for his mama")

but most of all...

I love celebrating our Saviors birth because it's a time for me to remember how blessed I am!

Happy 15th Anniversary!!!

This weekend was our 15th wedding anniversary! We had such a great time together in SO Cal!
The highlight for me was meeting Pioneer Woman and having her sign copies of her cookbook for me! She was gracious enough to sign several copies for me, and even did a special page for each of my boys with their names on some of their favorite recipes! How sweet is she!
While we waited in line for hours, I got to meet some other wonderful ladies. It was fun to share our stories of how we all enjoy Ree's great blog!
Tony was a great sport... as always! Gosh I love this guy!!

Mac Madness

You know it's been too long since your last post when:

you've forgotten how to do a new post!

It was a busy, wonderful summer!

211 baseball games later (yes... I counted --- I needed to know why my yard and house have gone to pot in the last few months)... but we're finally done with baseball.
No one is more happy than Kyle... he just couldn't fathom another tournament.

He was too busy getting ready for school... in his own way.

LORD HELP ME NOW!

These showed up today...

And mommy is trying to be as excited about these as I was the 7 guitars that have shown up at our house in the last few months.

Really!

I am...

and sometimes, especially when I listen to Kyle practice his electric guitar, I'm thrilled!

This is the night we went to his first GIG during the summer at The Barking Dog...

I sure love this kid...

even if he is 5 inches taller than me (without my heels).

SO, yeah...

haven't had much time for blogging- but I miss it!

Mr York...

Mr. York and I want mom to come home soon!

Where's The Time Gone?

A.J. just had his 11th birthday. Since his draft baseball team, his MC team, and his all star team doesn't give him enough time on the baseball field.... he wanted to go see a game with his friend for his big day!

Love this kid.

Don't always "get" this kid... but I love him more than anything in the world!
Nana and grandpa kicked down with some cool gifts... like always!

Enjoyed having a few friends over before the game...

11 best things about AJ:

1. Has a heart for worship

2. Loving and fun to be with

3. Always has a smile on his face

4. Can always count on him to find whatever I've lost... anything from my keys to work materials!

5. loves to help

6. has great manners

7. kind heart

8. my baseball boy

9. works hard

10. good friend, and always something nice to say

11. only son who puts away his dad's and my clothes the right way

AJ,

I'm proud of the person you are becoming. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for you! There is no doubt in my mind that, with your servant's heart... and love of worship, you will continue to bless everyone you come in contact with. I feel especially blessed to be your mommy, because I get to experience that fabulous smile every day! I love you son!

Heavy Heart

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/666679.html

The article almost makes it sound like this kid was in a gang; but we don't believe he was.

He was a good kid.

For the last 12 years he's helped in our classrooms.

His mom still works with me at the school.

He was just at the wrong place, at the wrong time. (just a side note-- our principal was shot at, at the same location last year, but the bullet didn't kill her. She went 'around' the corner from the school to get gas... that's how close she was to school.)

And now he's dead, and I feel like I can't pick my heart up off the floor!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

The Modesto Nuts let my kids have batting practice on their field the other day.

(I wonder how Mark McGwire likes that name for his old minor league team... geezzzzzzzzzz)
Colton is convinced it helped him hit his first over the fence home run last week.

And AJ thinks it helped him hit his walk off 3 run RBI last night to win the undefeated team.

And Caden was just happy to be hitting where the PROs practice.

And daddy loved it the most I think...

It's that time of year that we all love.

All 7 teams are in full swing... literally.

So there's not much time for blogging, or cleaning, or home cooked meals.

but... boy, oh boy...

this is one of my favorite seasons so far!

Go DODGERS!

U TUBE FRIIIIIIGHT-

Tonight I got a really frightening phone call...

We try so hard to protect our kids... to do what's best for them... but sometimes; you just don't see the drop offs. (Or worse, you ignore the twinge thinking you're just being "over-the-top")

I certainly didn't see this one coming... because I've always thought myself to be pretty careful with my boys and the Internet. Our boys are NEVER on the Internet without me or their dad in the room. They learned that from their dad. T doesn't even go on facebook without someone else in the room because in 2 clicks... you can wind up somewhere you didn't mean to be.

Last weekend, we let him spend the night with 2 of his best friends at one of their houses for a birthday sleep over. All 3 boys are 12. All 3 considered "bright," and "good kids".

They decided to open a "joint U Tube" account to post their "home made" videos on. What kid doesn't like to see video clip of himself!

BUT... THEN IT TURNED UGLY.

This afternoon (2 nights after the original silly video was originally made with the 3 of them dancing around to music with pants on their hands), one of the boys edited one of the videos to include an audio clip.

In an attempt to "be funny" he made reference to a bomb, in a box, at school.

Now remember... my son doesn't really go to school with the 2 boys anymore (because we left when his 10 year old brother got cut with a pocket knife by another student who tried to stop him from telling the yard duty that she had the knife. And did I mention that we NEVER even got a phone call about him getting hurt because they "agreed to keep it between the principal and the student who brought the knife.")

Not only does my son not even go to that school anymore, but 2 of the boys didn't even have any knowledge that 1 had edited the video and included the audio clip this afternoon.

Fortunately, the mom of the boy who didn't edit the movie saw it tonight and deleted the account, along with all the videos.

But... lucky me! We get to deal with this mess tomorrow because... EVEN THOUGH HE'S NEVER SEEN IT (IT GOT DELETED BEFORE WE KNEW ABOUT IT)... OTHER kids from the school did see it. And his name... and face... was on it!

GEEEEEEZE.

talk about a LIFE LESSON!

March Madness

Caden absolutely LOVES to plant flowers; and since I've been promising we'd "get to it" for several weeks now, I figured today was the day...
He was SOOOOO excited...

and I am too, because it means I get beautiful pots like these.

But all of a sudden-- we had this beautiful rainbow in the sky:

because it started to POUR, right in the middle of our planting frenzy...

But one of the MANY things I love about my better half...

he doesn't let anything get in the way of "his plans". And a "little rain" didn't slow him down a bit. (I'm hoping it doesn't kill my newly planted flowers either, seeings how the poor things are more like drowning...)

While I ran inside to get in my warm bath that he ran for me because I was FREEZING, he stayed in his shorts... in the rain... cleaning up so we could get ready to go out for the night.

And I have to say... I hope my boys turn out JUST like their daddy, because I sure love him!

and my babies too!

4 Corners

Every once in a while... I get to enjoy of monumental mommy moment that will forever be impressed on my forgetful heart.

Today I cried --- and I NEVER cry!

let me back up...

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself as a homeschooling mama.

For many reasons-- not the least of which is that I'm a public school teacher!

I've questioned our decision to do it this year... more times than I can count. Some days I just feel like they didn't "get enough"... and I should have been more patient... Yada, Yada.

Yesterday the 3 oldest boys had their end of the year testing. And when my "most challenging" son came out of test within about 25 minutes... I cringed. When my "Genius" child came out, half drugged because of his allergies and said, "I had to just guess on a few mom, I can't even breathe. I just wanted to be DONE." I rolled my eyes and thought, "That's just great - Some teacher I've turned out to be!".

BUT the kicker was having to wait an extra 2 hours, wondering "WHAT IN THE world??? A test that was "supposed to take all of an hour, ended up being more than 3 hours, and when the poor guy came out, he said: Mom... IT WAS SOOOO HARD--


I was worried. BIG TIME!

Worried that I hadn't done enough.

That we hadn't made the right choice in home schooling these boys.

But as it turns out...

I cried today...

Not because my "genius" child made "tremendous growth" ... He's always done that.

Not because my "smart" and "challenging" wonderboy increased his percentile scores more than he's ever done before. He's the kid that learns "inspite of," not "because of" how good his teacher is. He's lucky.

I cried today because my baby boy who has struggle EVERY day of his life in school... and has always been YEARS behind in school (which was why this journey even began)... Not only did he improve from being in the bottom 5 percentile in EVERY category on the STAR test for the last 3 years, even after being retained...

BUT because he scored IN THE 90 - 97 Percentile in EVERY subject--- which means he's ABOVE grade level... and in some areas... more than 2 years ahead!!!

SO YEAH...

I cried today for the first time in... FOREVER... because,

maybe, just maybe...

NO HOMEWORK + NO PARENT PROJECTS = ACADEMIC success after all!

Thanks MOM!!!

BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU>>> It wouldn't have been possible!

I love you!

Spring

I love SPRING...

It means that SUMMER-IS-A-COMING>>

it also means BASEBALL... Baseball... baseball...
And with 7 teams (plus Daddy's Sunday night games= 8)... that's a LOT for me to try and handle.

BUT, I love it... because the boys are sooooo happy to be on a field... any field...

either playing the game, watching the game, or practicing for the game--- they don't care which.

Now---

if only I can get the right kid, to the right field, at the right time, on the right day, in the right uniform (preferably clean....ha)...

It should be great seasons for everyone!!!

AND>>> if I could actually get a little school work in on the side, that would be a good bonus!

(but I have to say... I'm really looking forward to being "in control" over our school schedule and homework etc for the season! What a stress relief for us... not worrying about homework, and getting the little ones in bed after late games... and my personal favorite... NO OPEN HOUSE projects! YIPPEE) --

Swingin' It Single

This season is going to be so much fun... I can tell already!
I love baseball... for the most part!

The new season has officially started... and Tony already drafted his team last week.

AJ should be a lot of fun to watch this year... and we're pretty excited about his team after seeing their first practice yesterday. GO DODGERS>

Colton is fun to watch no matter what sport he's playing...

The part I'm not looking forward to its trying to juggle all 7 teams...



I HATE missing one minute of my kids games, but it's impossible to be on 4 different fields at the same time. So, we'll do our best... and between the world's best auntie and the best grandparent's in the world... my kids will usually be fortunate to have at least someone there to cheer them on.

but most of all,



I'm not looking forward to being virtually "single" for the next few months-- because if Tony is on one field, I'll be at another... and that's the hardest part!

Are You Kidding Me???

I remember worrying about my son starting middle school and all the pressures that go along with living through those middle years. But at the moment, I'm thinking I'd be happy with the worries of zits, girls, and lockers.... instead of GED tests and College.

Today I met with yet "another" 6Th grade teacher to discuss options for my oldest son.

WHY? Because I'm not sold on the ideas that his other teachers have given me for him.

They want me to get him hooked up with all these on-line courses, college prep materials etc.

Yeah, let's just SKIP JR. HI ALL TOGETHER... and while we're at it, we can forget high school too. Who needs dances and sports and proms?

Basically, they don't think I'm "pushing" or "challenging" him enough. And guess what, they're right... if you consider success based on production of work.

I'm not sold on that idea that I need to push him any more because I'm not sure he's ready for that. Not just because he's not interested in becoming the next boy genius (and he's not), but because life if more than just acquiring knowledge.

Ironically (because I'm a teacher), academics aren't a big priority around here. It's more about teaching them to love God, know God, love family, and love sports. * not always in that order.

At our consultation today, we were encouraged to have him take the GED test within the next few week, and begin classes at the JC this summer to see how well he'd enjoy taking classes there in the Fall.

He's already passed the high school exit exam as an 11 year old. Yeah, the one they give to 18 year old seniors before they graduate. His lowest score in any sub category was a 94... so I'm thinking the GED wouldn't be too hard for him.

But, WHOOOOO.... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? G.E.D? COLLEGE??

They want me to have my kid skip 7th grade, 8th grade, as well as his Frosh to Senior year of high school... just like that???

Again, ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???

He just turned 12 for Pete sake ... like, yesterday- literally!!!

He's a baby. He has no business being with kids that much older than him! He's mature in some ways, but life experience counts... and he just doesn't have much of that. He's a VERY young 12 year old in a LOT of ways... and I LOVE that about him. I love that he'll do whatever we ask him to do, he'll go where ever we ask him to go, he'll BE whatever we ask him to be. No questions asked... he just does it! Usually with a happy heart because he trusts use implicitly!

What a treasure that is! What a responsibility that is!

Oh, that I don't let him down.

There are a million questions racing through my mind. What about sports? What about friends his age? What about trying to get him to appreciate this God-given gift (which HE SO DOESN'T see as a gift)?

I wish he'd have come with instructions.

A recipe I could follow.

Directions I could read, understand and abide by.

After the meeting today... I felt like I'm really letting him down as his mother. I HATE THAT FEELING!!!

As I prayerfully consider what's best for him, I don't feel any closer to knowing what that looks like, or sounds like, or feels like. I'm painfully aware that what I'm doing now is probably not enough... but REALLY...

And as much as Jr. high and high school wasn't all of my fondest of memories... I can't imagine just "robbing" him of the experience all together.

My hubby thinks we have to at least consider it because that's the advice we've been given by so many different professionals, and friends who know him.

I...

I just don't know.

THOUGHTS ANYONE???

My baby turned 12 today....

12!!!

I love this kid-- my miracle baby!

Facebook Debate

If you haven't tried facebook... it really is A MUST.


I fought it for a while... but now I totally love it because I'm so much better at keeping up with friends this way. It's been great to hook up with friends from the past... and it's even replaced my overcrowded email inbox in a lot of ways (LOVE THAT) because instead of emails... friends just send messages on f.b.


Here's the funny thing-- Tony and I "share" a page (and you wouldn't believe all the grief we get over that). Well, it's MY page... but he's kind of taken over... which is pretty much how we roll on most things around here. After 18 years of that... you start to just go with it.


If nothing else... facebook highlights our differences... and has given us many a laughs over the confusion of who's page people are writing on. Last week his best friend thought Tony posted a message about taking a bath (as if)... and sarcastically said something about joining "me" in the tub. AHHHH.... talk about funny!


Tony loves people... lots, and LOTS of people. Even annoying people... not me.


Tony loves to be in front of a crowd, usually making them laugh... I'll do just about ANYTHING to go unnoticed.


Tony doesn't mind having his picture taken... I do WHATEVER I can not to be in one.

(THUS... our profile pix usually has him, and or the boys instead of me on it. )
Either way... if you get your own page, or you share one with your hubby... it's kinda fun to see what people are up to that you haven't talked to in 20 years.

Happy Birthday To Me...

Today is my birthday... and oh HOW I USED to love birthdays.

Yep... past tense!

We had to cancel our suite in Monterey because of baseball tryouts and 3 basketball games... but I'm over it. Really... because by the time your as old as I am, you really do want to just skip it.

Sorta... mmmmh.

Times...4

I miss bloggy world.

I miss my clean house. (If there ever was a thing? Probably not, but it makes me feel better to think that if I had time to do better... I would)

I miss my hubby and kids...NOT IN A UNIFORM of one kind or another.

I miss.... the "cool", "calm" me that I imagine myself to be.

But it's that time again...

Between work, school, guitar and piano lessons... and batting lessons -- there really, really is NO time left.

so... I'm calling in a sub some time this week so I can catch up on sleep, and maybe even give myself a chance to read up all the blogs that I miss reading!

AND... He Scores.

This is THE most wonderful teenage boy we know!

15 years ago, we fell in love with him... and we couldn't love him anymore if he was our own!

(wow, that was a long time ago... and even then, you can see it written all over his sweet little face, that Josh wanted Tony to hold him)

Tony would spend hours, just holding him and praying that he would become the man God created him to become. (He said he was praying, looks like he was just sleeping to me)

Tony has gotten to teach him lots of things, but mostly... Josh has helped us.

Last night was the "Father vs. Son" basketball game at the high school.

Josh asked Uncle Tony to play with him.
My nephew has NEVER, in 15 years years... seen or talked with his dad; even though we all live in the same town. Last night at the game; for just a moment, my heart went out for them both, not just my nephew. For Josh, it's hard to miss something you've never had. But for a quick moment last night, I felt sad for his dad too. He's missing out on knowing such a fine young man! I felt almost guilty that Tony gets to have these special moments with his nephew instead of his dad.

And while my hubby is NOT a basketball player (which is like saying the Grand Canyon is "just" nice), Tony went and played in the father-son game with Josh because he loves him more than anything. And while J probably wasn't too big on Tony's granny shot from the free throw line (seriously) in front of all his buddies...even though HE MADE IT... he was still happy they could play together.

So, while T's not "really" his dad, he loves to act like he is because that is an honor. It is a privilege to be with Josh, and he will continue to shoot for being the man that Josh will count on when he needs him.

And sometimes you shoot and miss.

And sometimes you foul.

And sometimes...

sometimes HE SCORES.

What a game!

I'm hoping by the time our boys ask him to play in stuff like this, he realizes he's supposed to let them WIN!

Of course, since he can hardly walk today, I'm thinking that might actually happen.

Seizures

Caden hasn't been taken to the hospital in months for any seizures...

But hearing how John Travolta's son died yesterday... it FREAKED me out!

It made me realize AGAIN, just how blessed I am to have 4 healthy boys; and that every moment together is gift. Oh that I would cherish them, and appreciate all that I've been blessed with!

Prayers to the Travolta family! May they find the comfort that only God can give them.

Really?

Really... it's that time again. Basketball and Baseball seasons are ready to roll, so this week we paid for:

3 day Baseball Camp.....$150

3 Basketball team sign ups.... $280

6 Baseball team sign ups... $785

(yes, I only have 4 boys; but 2 of them play on 2 teams... because SOMEONE doesn't now how to tell DADDY no-- but I'm going to work on that for next season!)

3 Pair of Basketball shoes... $430

4 Pairs of new cleats... $ (only) 225

REALLY... they need new shoes again? I just bought shoes... can't they just share? Nope, their sizes range from 12 men (not bad for an 11 year old... to a mere mens 6 for my 7 year old) .

Ahhhh... let the good times begin! And may my boys rememeber this when they go to put my in an old folks home in 50 years!!!

Happy New Year

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions... but I'm a firm believer that if "you aim for nothing, you'll get nothing" so I've decided to blog some goals in hopes that I'll stay focused on reaching them.

Garth Brooks has a song: Live Like You Were Dying... (LOVE that guy!)

I want to live with no regrets.

I want to love more.
I want to listen more.
I want to be more patient with my kids and Tony.
I want to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, teacher... and more importantly, the Proverbs 31 Woman I believe I was created to be.

And yes... I want to lose the weight that I've gained this year (What New Year's list is complete without that one??)

As I reflect on this past year, I'm humbled and amazed at how blessed I have been as a wife and mother. In spite of me, for whatever reason, God has chosen to bless my life with more than I deserve. I hope I never take for granted all that I have... and pray that in 2009, I will continue to grow into the woman I need to be... as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and teacher.

May He Be Glorified In Me!
amen