Tomorrow...

I really can't believe...
1. We are in December of all things! Where has this year gone? and tomorrow I will have a 7 year old???? Seriously??? I just doesn't seem possible?? He is so smart! I am so thankful God has given me this wonderful, kind, intelligent, loving, you name every caring word in the book for this little boy and that describes Logan and he is MINE! And I still can't believe it! And he will be 7 tomorrow! He comes up to my boobs he is so tall... He melts your heart with he chipmunk cheeks, his teachers love him.

Another thing I can't believe I will be 31 on Sunday... SERIOUSLY... Pinch me someone... I am not old enough to be IN my 30s... That could explain the bags under my eyes... UGH!

Our amazing family vacation!

Travis' brother got married to Justine on October 2nd. We flew to California and decided to make it a family vacation. We went and saw the Giant Sequoias (saw 3 bears!), went to the beach. Drove to the Madonna Inn and the Bubble Gum wall in San Louis Obispo. Here are a few pics from our trip.

Another wonderful mommy moment!!

Well another mommy/daddy brag!

Logan is doing awesome in school! He is in a class of 14 boys and 6 girls. I talked to his teacher on Monday before the PTA meeting and she said it was a very trying class, but Logan was one of her top students! In fact she has to use him to escort many of the boys down the hall to the bathroom to make sure they are behaving while they are in there.

But that is not the brag...

This week I found out through another 1st graders mom that they started their spelling words, I just thought his class didn't get theirs yet... Well Logan's teacher always sends home a newsletter and her newsletter says I have sent home spelling words don't forget to start studying. I ask Logan where his were. He says oh, Sam and I (a girl that was in his class last year) have to be retested to be on another level. She wants to put us in another group. I was so proud. That just just says something about his teacher last year that the only kids in the room that need harder words came from the same class! I am going to shoot her an email and thank her! But anyways Logan needs harder spelling words!! My little genius!

Two years ago...

It has been quite the whirlwind...

Last year ago at this time I had a kindergartner and a 3 year old. I now have a 1st grader, Pre-Ker and Step Mother-In-Law, with lots of Step family to go along with her.

Yep you read that right... In one short year FIL (really it was six months) started dating another woman, he had been dating another woman as soon as Grace passed, in January proposed in May and got hitched in August...

And here we are! One big extended family. They left for their honeymoon yesterday. The wedding was August 15th. The ceremony was held in our church. My new Step Mother-In-Law's name is Barbara. The boys will call her Granny.

She, at times seems flighty, but that could be because she just had back surgery in June and could still be on pain meds... She sold her house in June and moved in with Larry. He will sell his as well and they are going to build a new one. She doesn't want to live in Grace's house. Mind you, Grace lived in the house a total of 5 days!

Because the moral of the story above is today is the 2 year anniversary of Grace's passing. WOW!! It just seems so hard to believe that another year has gone by. People keep living their lives. Time keeps going, it doesn't stop! I think her kids are still grieving and they are having a more difficult time understanding why Larry moved on more quickly. We will never know. Pastor Mike said he was surprised Larry waited as long as he did to remarry. He said men are usually remarried by 6 months. They just can't stand being alone...

Boy how fast time flies...

Meet the Teacher

Last night was Meet the Teacher for both boys. It went great. Logan's teacher is fun, out going and couldn't say enough great things about him. Her daughter was his reading buddy last year and talked non-stop about him. (we had no idea!) But that gives us a leg up! We walked into the room and she ran up and gave him a huge hug it was so cute, he was super embarrassed. I think she is going to be a 4th grader this year. The teacher told us that Ms. Bell (his teacher last year) said he was the smartest in her class. That just made my heart swell. He is going to do so great this year!

We then went to Cole's Meet the Teacher. It was informative to know he will have a very structured learning time all morning and by the end of the year he should be reading. I had hoped this would be the outcome but it just seems unreal. He is my baby. My baby is not old enough to read!!

Reaffirming Mom moment....

I had one super proud mom moment yesterday. I was picking Logan up from the Daycare and the teacher, who was new said. He is such and ANGEL! She said that like 3 times! All of the teachers at the daycare LOVE him and want him their group because he is such a great kid! Now that makes a mommy feel so great!! Lets you know that you are doing something right!!

Just don't get it...

Ok so I am trying to understand the reasoning behind being rude to someone who just wants to do their job... My husband opened his own insurance business in December and boy it has been super rough going. He has to a ton of cold calling and people are just plain RUDE!! Getting a quote done on your insurance is a free service and HELLO you just might get a better rate! And who doesn't want to save money these days??

Using 5 minutes out of your day to give simple information such as your name, and birthdate could save you hundreds of dollars but if you slam the phone down on my husband you would never know how much money you are saving!! Bet you never thought of it that way! Also I bet you never realized that once he gives you a quote, just saying sure I will look at it and never doing anything about it, is just a rude! He took time out of his day to crunch numbers and find you the best deal and you never even picked up the piece of paper or opened the email he sent back.

Those policies that could be saving you hundreds are also what puts bread on our table. Just some food for thought...

July 2009

This has been a crazy month and it is only the 15th... I have traveled to Boston and then came home, washed clothes and spent the weekend praising the Lord for all He has given me and my family with a group of ladies from my Sunday School class in our yearly retreat at Glen Rose. It was a much needed spiritual retreat that re-centered me on where my life was.

The boys had a great and AWESOME time at Camp Gimmie. The pictures are on the post below. They got to go to the horse races and unfortunately while there had to see a horse be put to sleep. It was injured during a race. My mom said that it was quite traumatizing for her but the boys didn't really understand what was going on.

I met my mom half way to pick the boys up in Abilene and we drove by our old house. It is up for sale AGAIN! So sad. They are asking twice what we paid for it, but they ripped up the beautiful flowerbeds we put in the back and let the grass completely die in the back as well. So depressing. Here is what it used to look like...

We had spent ALOT of $$. This house had no sprinkler system and we had spent countless hours trying to make this back yard look good!! What can you do now...

Camp Gimmie 2009

Click here to view these pictures larger

Last week...

This is it... Logan's last week of kindergarten. I really can't believe it. My little baby it growing up. He went to his 1st official girl party over the weekend. Twin girls and it was a swimming party to boot. He is reading chapter books. I mean who is this kid??

Now this is a deep thought and random fact!!!

So hold on....


At 5 minutes and 6 seconds after 4 A.M., on the 8th of July,this year, the time and date will be:

04:05:06 07-08-09


THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL THE YEAR 3009!!!

Can it really be true?

I am old enough to have a 6 and 4 year old??? Cole turned 4 yesterday!?!?! Seems like he was just born. I remember the events of his birth so clearly. Everything leading upto it. It took 2 days! He came 2 weeks early because he wanted a cool birthday 05/05/05! And boy does he live upto his specialness. He is a great kid and I just can't believe he is a preschooler!! I am old enough to have children! When did this happen??? They aren't babies anymore! Bring on the kleenex.

Swine Flu

This thing is out of control! I have never seen such chaos! I am about to go into a meeting to discuss shutting down the university for a week! REALLY!?!?!

I mean a free vacation is nice but going that extreme... I am all for taking precautions and we have lots of nasty, dirty, germy kids on the campus. Lots from different countries. But I wash my hands and I hope others do too. I know wishful thinking! Darn Swine flu!

Logan's field day is canceled tomorrow. Telling him this morning was heartbreaking! He looked so defeated! He was so looking forward to field day. Can you remember how much fun that was when you were in elementary school? I was going to volunteer too. It was going to be so much fun!!

I just hope they reschedule!!

Put into perspective...

Last night Travis and I went to our church for a nationwide video conference that was hosted by Dave Ramsey It was AMAZING! It was called Town Hall For Hope! I have heard alot about Dave and now I can see why so many people listen to him.

Number 1 he is funny! His humor really keeps the mood light and as anyone knows talking about money is not fun at all! And this man knows what he is talking about!

Number 2 he is down to earth! He hit on points that were totally relevant to what was going on with us. It felt like he was talking to Travis and me... It felt like there was no one else in the room at times.

He has a financial seminar called Financial Peace University that Travis and I are going to sign up for in the fall. We aren't in major debt. Or we weren't until Travis started his new business but haven't even begun to work on retirement or college for the boys and we need an action plan and I really think FPU will help us!

Last night was truly inspiring!!

Our Easter 2009 Pic

I wanted to try something new so I here is our Easter pic. Too bad I didn't stand up straight. I was looking HOT... Stupid posture... Don't we look like a cute family???

 

Can't catch a break...

Travis started his Allstate business in December and he has really been trying. Everyone knows how private he is. It must be really bad because he spoke up in Sunday School and put it on the prayer request list. Then today he let an employee go. I don't think he could pay her anymore. His boss person said that if he doesn't hit his numbers at the end of May he will have to close his doors. I know I should be freaking out but for some reason I am so calm and I don't know why.

All I ask from my 1-2 readers is prayers... Prayers that Travis is guided in the right direction. Even his own dad won't buy insurance from him because his policies cost more from the other guy. I mean REALLY you don't want to keep food on the table for your grandsons? Seems a little ridiculous to me... WHATEVER!

We just ask for prayers!

We are busy and lots of pics...

Wow, here we are it is April! I am swamped at work. Logan is almost done with his 1st year of public school and Cole will officially start Pre-K in August! Holy Cow! Time is totally flying! He will be 4 next month!

Both boys are playing t-ball. I teach on Mondays, Logan has a t-ball game on Tuesdays, I teach again on Wednesdays, Cole has T-ball practice on Thursdays, Logan has a T-ball game on Fridays, Cole has a T-ball game on Saturdays and then Church on Sundays! Wow we are BUSY!! But gosh it is FUN!

Here are a few pics from the last couple of months!

Such a blessing!

I usually try to keep my medical stuff on my other blog but yesterday I went for my 6 month check-up and I am doing really well. And I just had to rejoice. I think we have found a plan that works. I am just maintaining. Sure I get headaches but they are minor compared to what they used to be. I know what my triggers are and that is great! Also he said it was ok if I just wanted to take Excedrin instead of the prescription pain medicine. His only concern was reflux so he wanted me to start a 14 regime of Prilosec. I can handle that. What a great visit!!

I changed a life today!

It has been a LONG time since I have actually been able to help a student and feel good in my job. Today I got to do just that. This was an older student who just wanted to get her Bachelor's degree so that she could get hired by the railroad. I went above and beyond and sent her to be advised by a department on campus. She had a ton of Technical hours from her previous school and we usually don't take those.

This dept has said they are going to honor them (which is great and only leaves her with 48 hours to graduate!) She was so pumped by her meeting across campus that she came back to talk to me and is now filling out an application. Rarely does this happen.

I had been having a stressful day with crazy demands being asked of me. This student has made the day so worth it!

Innocence...

Travis' brother is getting married in Oct and we found out the logisitics of the wedding.

Travis will be a groomsmen. Logan will be the ring bearer.

Abby who will be 17 months will be the flower girl and Cole will be her escort! Well Logan got all serious and said. Will Abby be dressed like a flower since she will be the flowergirl? It was the CUTEST thing I had ever heard! When we told him no he was so disappointed. Then he said well can she at least wear a flower on her head. We are guessing he meant Anne Geddes style...

Awe the innocence of children!!

Frustrated!

Today at lunch we got a letter stating Logan didn't get in the Accel program. Everyone around us knows how gifted he is. He is Math and Science gifted but not think out of the box gifted, which is what this assessment required. It was the Cogat and KOI tests. The paper said we had 10 days to appeal.

I called the lady in charge at the school explaining my concerns and asked how likely the appeal would be to be overturned and said very unlikely. I am so upset. Logan is bored. He reads on a level 14. She says I have had kids in 2nd grade not reading in this program! WTF!! She says their ability to read has nothing to do with their giftedness... I am so frustrated.

Just because the kid can take popsicle sticks and build something... but they can't read...

We will not appeal. We will wait again till next year. Logan will continue to ace all of his work and at the end of the year I am going to ask his teacher to recommend him be placed in the Accel class. It is a cluster class. I have sneaky ways of getting past BS too!!!

Welcome to a new semester...

Well I started teaching a new class last night... Interpersonal Communication. As we were waiting in the hall for the class before mine to let out, I am standing their quietly. Now as we wait noone knows that I am the instructor. I am young! I am ALWAYS mistaken for another student on the first day.

I am standing right next to a couple of girls who are going to be in my class and I am listening to their conversation. They are talking SUPER loud. It goes something like this....

Girl #1 "Have you seen all the work we are going to have to do in this class?"
Girl #2 "No I don't even have the book yet!"
Girl #1 "Well you should have started reading Chapter 1 because that is what the syllabus said you should have done before coming to class today.
Girl #2 "How do you know?"
Girl #1 "I found it online. This Mrs. Kincade lady is going to be HARD, I mean she is MEAN. Look at all this work! And all the assignments... How are we ever going to get it all done...

Just then the other class lets out and we walk into the classroom. I continue to walk to the front of the classroom while they pick a desk. I set my stuff down and turn around. The look on Girl #1's face was PRICELESS!!!

Later as I was going over Chapter 1 in class I got to use her as an example of how sometime when you are speaking your message gets sent to the wrong sender, i.e your instructor overhears how mean and hard they are! She just blushed and then retracted what she said in the hallway and said that I had totally diminished all her original thoughts! Good to know!