Recently we got a new stove. The other one was old and the oven was temperamental and it just didn't get along with us very well. After we got the new stove I was excited to keep it nice and clean. We started putting the cast iron skillets in the oven rather then leaving them on the stove top to avoid to much clutter. Being that I tend to do a million things at once this new behavior hadn't yet clicked with my brain. I turned on the oven and went about my business. Until....
Yes until I started to put dinner in the oven and realized that space was other wise occupied. I started to cuss and thought better of it in middle of the sentence and changed it to "Shit a duck!!!" Now most days this wouldn't be a big deal but this particular day I had an audience of both Bridgette and Tim. They both started laughing at me and wouldn't stop. "Mom how do you do that?" "Does it hurt?" "Mom you are so funny!"
Well I had to admit that it was a bit funny. I mean who ever thought of cussing "Shit a duck!" One comment led to laughter and I told Bridgette I had to check her for ducks. She started laughing and running around, "Don't let Mom check for ducks." When Sydnie got home Bridgette had to share our recent adventure....
Sydnie get very still and in a very serious voice announced "I'm scared." I was on instant alert and asked her "Why?" She replied "I have a turkey in my butt." I had to chuckle. Now we have turkeys and ducks and if they are mentioned the whole household giggles. It is fun for me because they are all ticklish and I am not. Hence I get to check for said turkeys and ducks.
I love my life!
Friday, November 4, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Iowa Tests
As a parent we all believe that our children are the best. Well, because we know they are. Last night we had parent/teacher conferences for the girls. This year Bridgette is in 3rd grade and Sydnie is in 5th grade. This is our second year at Corpus Christi Catholic School. I wasn't nervous to say but prepared for any surprises. The girls get good grades although they both brought home grade cards with some B's.
We started with Bridgette's teachers and the first thing they did was bring out the Iowa Tests that were taken earlier this year. This test has more data then the United States government uses. The highlight of the results though are that Bridgette tested a composite score of 4.6. What does this mean? She tested at 4th grade 6 month. Wow!! Some scores were higher and some lower. I had to chuckle her listening score was 5.9 (5th grade, 9 month) but also 99%. What does this mean? It means that she listens better then 99% of the norm group of kids her age. What that means to me is that she CAN hear me when I tell her to do her chores. I suppose that she does still have selective hearing!
As we moved on to Sydnie's teachers the great things continued. On Sydnie's Iowa Tests her composite score was 8.6 (8th grade, 6th month) WOW!! Some of her scores blew me away. She is testing in Problem Solving and Data Interpretation at 11.5 (11th grade, 5th month), Reference Materials at 12.4 (12th grade, 4th month)!
The best part of all the conferences though wasn't how great their scores were but above all how well the teachers feel the do in school. We heard how pleasant and kind they are. What a joy they are to have in class. How well adjusted they are and how self motivated they are! These things don't surprise me but it is always great to hear from others how fabulous your kids are.
Thanks Corpus Christi for bringing out the best in my girls and thank you girls for making being you mom the best job in the world!! I love you more then words will ever express!
We started with Bridgette's teachers and the first thing they did was bring out the Iowa Tests that were taken earlier this year. This test has more data then the United States government uses. The highlight of the results though are that Bridgette tested a composite score of 4.6. What does this mean? She tested at 4th grade 6 month. Wow!! Some scores were higher and some lower. I had to chuckle her listening score was 5.9 (5th grade, 9 month) but also 99%. What does this mean? It means that she listens better then 99% of the norm group of kids her age. What that means to me is that she CAN hear me when I tell her to do her chores. I suppose that she does still have selective hearing!
As we moved on to Sydnie's teachers the great things continued. On Sydnie's Iowa Tests her composite score was 8.6 (8th grade, 6th month) WOW!! Some of her scores blew me away. She is testing in Problem Solving and Data Interpretation at 11.5 (11th grade, 5th month), Reference Materials at 12.4 (12th grade, 4th month)!
The best part of all the conferences though wasn't how great their scores were but above all how well the teachers feel the do in school. We heard how pleasant and kind they are. What a joy they are to have in class. How well adjusted they are and how self motivated they are! These things don't surprise me but it is always great to hear from others how fabulous your kids are.
Thanks Corpus Christi for bringing out the best in my girls and thank you girls for making being you mom the best job in the world!! I love you more then words will ever express!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Birthdays
For anyone that wants to know I am 29. I was 29 last year also and 29 the year before that. My daughters know that I am 29 and every once in awhile they will try to trip me up and challenge me to my "real" age. I don't think they get it yet that I am 29. Enough said. I realize my children are aging. Robby is 22, Dennis will be 20 tomorrow, Sydnie is 10 and Bridgette is 8. Heck at their ages I was pretty proud to announce how old I was too. At my age I suffice to say I am 29.
Last night Tim questioned me regarding my age. This is a bit different. He is my most avid supporter to the age of 29. He loves being married to a younger women. He has informed the girls that even when my body has aged and I have white hair and possibly a few wrinkles I will still be 29. So yesterday as he turned 37 he questions me as to what happens when we have been married 29 years or 30 years?? First of all we have a ways to go before I truly have to answer this question. Secondly I am prepared for such question. When we have been married for 29 years people will have to realize that our love is so strong Tim knew it before I was born. So on that day he swooped into the hospital stole me and my heart and forged my signature on the marriage certificate.
It could happen you know!!
Last night Tim questioned me regarding my age. This is a bit different. He is my most avid supporter to the age of 29. He loves being married to a younger women. He has informed the girls that even when my body has aged and I have white hair and possibly a few wrinkles I will still be 29. So yesterday as he turned 37 he questions me as to what happens when we have been married 29 years or 30 years?? First of all we have a ways to go before I truly have to answer this question. Secondly I am prepared for such question. When we have been married for 29 years people will have to realize that our love is so strong Tim knew it before I was born. So on that day he swooped into the hospital stole me and my heart and forged my signature on the marriage certificate.
It could happen you know!!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Signs from God
Several years ago Tim and I went on a purging mission. We had several bags of things to keep and things to donate. At the time Robby and Dennis were maybe 10 or 11 years old. They decided to take all of the bags to donate to the church garage sale. Inside those bags were several stuffed animals and dolls from both Tim and I when we were children. Later we scoured those garage sales looking for those little mementos of our childhood to now avail.
At times through out the last several years one or the other of us would mention those stuffed animals nostalgically. Fast forward to Saturday as we are switching bedrooms and cleaning out the over abundance of things we have collected over the years. Tim asked if I was sure we wanted to start over again with babies, kids, car seats, etc. We talked and both decided yes we did but it did leave a lot to think about.
As I was cleaning out the bedroom I came across Cowboy Smurf. A bit odd because both Tim and I swore this Smurf had been with the box of lost mementos all those years ago. Tim in passing stated the one thing he wished he had back was his teddy bear. We continued to clean and soon I came across the box that held all the crib sheets. As I open this box what do I find. It was Tim's teddy bear.
As I found this bear and handed it off to Tim I searched myself to see what this means. I have to believe that this was God's sign to us that we are meant to be parents again. We are meant to expand our family. Will things be hard? Yes! Will we want to quit sometimes? Yes! Is this it the right move for us? Yes!!
At times through out the last several years one or the other of us would mention those stuffed animals nostalgically. Fast forward to Saturday as we are switching bedrooms and cleaning out the over abundance of things we have collected over the years. Tim asked if I was sure we wanted to start over again with babies, kids, car seats, etc. We talked and both decided yes we did but it did leave a lot to think about.
As I was cleaning out the bedroom I came across Cowboy Smurf. A bit odd because both Tim and I swore this Smurf had been with the box of lost mementos all those years ago. Tim in passing stated the one thing he wished he had back was his teddy bear. We continued to clean and soon I came across the box that held all the crib sheets. As I open this box what do I find. It was Tim's teddy bear.
As I found this bear and handed it off to Tim I searched myself to see what this means. I have to believe that this was God's sign to us that we are meant to be parents again. We are meant to expand our family. Will things be hard? Yes! Will we want to quit sometimes? Yes! Is this it the right move for us? Yes!!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Laundry
I generally do laundry on the weekends. I know others prefer to do a load or two a night but for our household we are so busy during the week I use the weekend to catch up. Generally the girls will help bring all the dirty laundry to the basement and I will sort, wash, dry and eventually drag it all back upstairs to fold.
Last weekend as this process began I noticed Bridgette had worn her socks to bed. I very casually mention to her that since she has worn them to school the previous day and then slept in them she may want to change her socks. Her come back is "Mom actually I have worn them for 3 days." I freaked...err...I calming advised she needed to change her socks and take a shower.
Fast forward to the trip downstairs where Tim and Sydnie are talking. Sydnie speaks up and advises that actually Bridgette's socks aren't dirty. How can these socks not be dirty?? They had been worn for 3 days and nights!! No Sydnie advises Bridgette has been showering with the socks on so they are clean from the body soap.
If only I had the mind of an 8 and 10 year old. The laundry would be clean and it wouldn't take an entire weekend to do it!!
Last weekend as this process began I noticed Bridgette had worn her socks to bed. I very casually mention to her that since she has worn them to school the previous day and then slept in them she may want to change her socks. Her come back is "Mom actually I have worn them for 3 days." I freaked...err...I calming advised she needed to change her socks and take a shower.
Fast forward to the trip downstairs where Tim and Sydnie are talking. Sydnie speaks up and advises that actually Bridgette's socks aren't dirty. How can these socks not be dirty?? They had been worn for 3 days and nights!! No Sydnie advises Bridgette has been showering with the socks on so they are clean from the body soap.
If only I had the mind of an 8 and 10 year old. The laundry would be clean and it wouldn't take an entire weekend to do it!!
Friday, August 26, 2011
New Adventures in the Martins' House
I am so excited about the newest adventures in the Martins' House. In October we begin the process of Fostering to Adopt. This is a program offered through KVC Behavioral Healthcare. Part of the reason I am so excited to begin this process is because I thought my baby days were over. You see I became a mother at 15 and again at 17. Fast forward a few years and I started over and had a child at 26 and again at 28. By then we had a 13 year old, 11 year old, 2 year old and a newborn in the house and our hands were full. We chose at that time to stop having children. We had the "perfect" family, 2 boys and 2 girls. Little did we know there is no such thing as a "perfect" family.
Fast forward a few years. We now have a 22 and 20 year old. Neither of which are still at home (Thankfully!!) and a 10 and 8 year old. Our house seems somewhat empty and like a baby right now would be great. Errkkk....wait a minute...8 years ago we were done having children. We had the "perfect" family. Am I really thinking about starting over??
Well yes I am. I am thinking of starting over. We have prayed, talked, researched and prayed some more. In then end God led us to these amazing people at KVC that agree with us. Another child would be great. If that child will be in our lives for a moment or a life time is yet to be seen. We are excited to know we are touching lives and making a positive impact on a child. It is amazing to think about. It is amazing to see Sydnie and Bridgette get excited. In Bridgette's words "Mom I want a 2 year old little brother." "Wait I want a little sister." Whatever she wants I know she'll be an amazing sister. She already is!!
Whatever the future may bring we are ready for the challenge and I know this adventure will offer many challenges. Stay posted it our journey. There may be many days of laughter, tears, frustration but most of all love!!
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