Happy Birthday Kinsey!

There is so much to tell about this weekend! We celebrated Kinsey's birthday this weekend and it was so much fun! Each year, Kinsey has a theme that she wants for her birthday and this year it was Hanna Montana. Thank you very much to everyone that was able to come and celebrate her special day! We were so scared that it was going to rain but it turned out to be a beautiful day. All of the kids enjoyed jumping in the clown bounce house and playing in the sprinkler and slip n' slide! After an exciting day jumping and playing in the water we watched the Fishers fireworks to end a perfect 4 year old birthday :)

Peep Show At The Pool

Anyone that knows my girls, knows that they are not shy. Both girls, especially Kinsey, will make friends with any child or adult they come in contact with. For the most part, I feel that this "outgoingness" is a good quality for the them to have. It has been good for them because they have made many friends at the pool as we have spent almost everyday there.

Last weeks regular trip to the pool turned awkward as a new family joined and gave a little peep show. Now, I believe there is a time and a place for everything. However, I do not feel that sitting on the edge of a kiddie pool with ten children around is the right place to breastfeed a toddler sized child. As she made no attempt to cover herself, who do you think finds the time to talk to this woman? Of course, one of my children! Clearly, this puts me out of my comfort zone-which I hate (even though I lied in an interview once and said I like to be out of my comfort zone...we all know how that turned out).

Trying not to draw attention to the situation, I try to draw Kinsey's attention over to me...clear across the pool. She wanted to know what this woman was doing to the baby. I am now forced to walk over and guide Kinsey away, which was even worse because she had no clue why I didn't want her over there.

I know that some women are totally comfortable with this but I am not...not in public anyway. There was a locker room not even 10 feet away or she could have covered herself. I think they make special coverings specifically for breastfeeding, which would have been fine. Am I just crazy or would this have bothered you?

My Thoughts

A few thoughts...Loved this from Jill's blog. I hope to see this in everyone else's blog!

I am: confident, loving, honest, loyal, determined, stubborn, romantic
I think: No Child Left Behind was passed by people who have never stepped foot in a classroom as a teacher and do not understand the reality of many of our children
I thank: the Lord for the mistakes I have made because it has allowed me to find myself
I know: God has a plan for me and I must follow His lead
I wish: for world peace. seriously.
I believe: in forgiveness-even though it's hard for me
I hate: that gas prices are over $4.00
I miss: Laughing hysterically about the small things with close friends from college and high school
I feel: sad for those who judge others
I shop: once a year at tax refund time
I hear: A golf show on TV
I wonder: what the world will be like when my kids are older
I dream: about traveling to Europe
I love: teaching 6th grade in Indianapolis :)
I care: deeply about being a good mother and instilling good values in my children
I always: talk about pressing teaching issues with people who probably don't care as much as I do
I celebrate: by dancing when Kaitlyn poops in the potty
I sing: AND dance in my car, with and without passengers
I cry: during almost every country song ... it's really bad
I don’t always: call my friends as much as I should
I write: everyday in my writer's notebook to become a better writing teacher
I pray: every child will value education as much as I do for them
I lose: myself in watching my girls pretend play
I listen: to my students to learn how to teach them
I am scared: of death
I dance: a pretty good "around the world"
I need: to make more time for myself
I dread: getting up early
I surf: blogs everyday
I anticipate: moving next month :)
I laugh: at everything my girls say and do

A Whoppin' Five Dollars

Nothing is better than a bargain. I love to find great deals. However, when Jason gave me a five dollar limit to get a bathing suit, I told him it was impossible.
We spent this past weekend in Fort Wayne for Father's Day. Kinsey and Kaitlyn love to play on the slip n' slide at my mom's house. I also thought I would take them to the pool while we were in town so I had my bathing suit with me. As we were leaving Fort Wayne, in a hurry for some reason unknown to me, I forgot to grab my bathing suit off of the door in my mom's bathroom. I did not realize it until the following day when I was two hours away and getting ready to take the girls swimming. Now what? I had to take them to the pool or there would have been a three year old melt down that I wanted no part of... and a really big goal of mine is to get a tan this summer.
I went to my drawers and found an old bathing suit that I wore a few years ago...I quickly found it that it does not fit well anymore. But I wore it anyway ... for the kids. That evening I find out that my best pal Kellie is having a pool party on Tuesday. Of course, she would have this when I don't have a bathing suit that I like. Jason really wanted to go so he could hang out with Ryan so he told me to just go buy a new one---for $5.00. I told him this was impossible but I would go to Target and see what I could find. At first glance I thought for I didn't see anything under $20. However, after searching through the sale racks, I found a very cute navy and white polka dotted top for $4.98. Not a bad deal but I still needed bottoms to match. Suddenly, on a rack all by themselves (I think there was a beam of light from heaven illuminating them), I found solid navy blue bottoms that matched the top. The price tag on them said $0.00. They were part of another bathing suit that was not in sight. So I took them to go with my $4.98 top.
I did it..I found a bathing suit for a whoppin' five dollars. I was shocked but found out it can be done! Happy Shopping :)

Shaving Cream Mayhem

It was supposed to be a quick stop at Target on our way home from Fort Wayne. Jason and the kids waited in the car and I quickly ran in to get shaving cream and shampoo for the kiddies. Literally could have been a three minute stop. I walked back to get shampoo for the girls and all went well. I even got them a new fragrance. As I stepped into the shaving cream asile, it was almost an instant panic attack. There were so many to choose from! I have no idea what kind of shaving cream to get Jason...sensitive skin, dry skin, aloe, smell good, avacado, and on and on. I ended up just choosing the one closest to my hand at the time. Now, all I had to do was get shaving cream for myself and I was out of there. I walked to the women's section of shaving cream which was all connected to the mens. See, all the shaving cream-mens and womens-is all on one long shelf. It has these pusher things that when you take one, it pushes the next one forward. So of course, when I choose mine it just so happens that the whole front panel falls off. That causes every row to push EVERY can of shaving cream forward and onto the floor at my feet. It sounded as if an entire shelf fell apart. It was as if time stopped...and suddenly they were all done falling and I was left standing with one can of shaving cream in my hand and probably 100 at my feet. People must have come from the entire store to see what happened because I think everyone peeked around the corner to see what happened. The lady in the asile across from where I was told me to just run. As I went up to the check out, I suddenly felt very uncomfortable buying shaving cream because someone (ME!) left 100 of them on the floor. When I got up there, I heard on the cashier's radio.."Uh, someone must have ripped the shaving cream cans off the shelf because they are all on the floor. We are going to need some help. Anyone free?" I just looked at her, smiled, and ran out to the car. I think they probably have my picture posted in Target. I'll probably stick to Wal-Mart until the whole thing blows over!

To Wal-Mart It Is...

Once a year Sarah and I pamper ourselves. Nothing is better than when Sarah tells me her toes need some lovin' because it means that we get to get our yearly pedicure at the beginning of summer. Of course, this summer was no different. We set a date that I would be in Fort Wayne that we could meet.

I met Sar at her house...which is the most beautifully decorated house I have ever seen...and we set out. We stopped for Shoaff shakes at Higher Grounds as usual--a favorite of ours! We talked about where we should go to get our pampering and I suggested this little place called "Fancy Fingers" that is close to her house. As we pulled up the sign was not light up and it did NOT say "Open." We checked a few other nail salons before realizing that nail salons are not open on Sundays...obviously we do not pamper ourselves enough to know this!

Suddenly Sarah remembered she saw a nail salon at....WAL-MART! I thought this was hilarious but thought it was worth checking out. After all, I did just drive two hours to spend this day with her. When we got there, she was right. The nail salon was right there, ready for our business. As we sat in Wal-Mart getting our yearly pedicures, we laughed the whole time watching people checking out. However, I thought they did a very nice job and the nail techs were also very nice. So if you are in need of a pedicure...the new Wal-Mart on Dupont has a good spot. It truly is the one stop shop!

Songs and Dogs

To be a child again...what thoughts would go through our minds? Where would our imagination take us if we were uninhibited by harsh realities of life? Perhaps we would see things for what they really are: precious.
As Kaitlyn played on the floor, she was completely unaware of the world around her. In her hands, a portable red and yellow Dora CD player. Not just any CD player; one with headphones and a microphone. In front of her sat her favorite toy dog that Grandma got her for Christmas (the one that starts as a puppy and grows up).
She sat quietly, listening intently to the soundtrack of The Heffalumps. Then lovingly, glancing at her pup-who was faced directly at her-involved in her world, she gently placed her perfectly sized headphones onto her dogs ears. Turning to her puppy sincerely, "Can you hear puppy?" Gazing at her toy dog smiling in approval as if she understood him say yes. She let her pup listen for a short time. She took the headphones back and listened some more. Then moved on to her next task of a completely unrelated nature.
For that one small moment I got to see what thoughts were going through her mind. I got to see her imagination take her to a truly precious place full of love, compassion, and sharing. I was able to see how she sees the world...and through her eyes, it's a pretty nice place.