Student of the Month

The other day I went to help in Jesse's class, and as I was walking towards his class I see him with two of his classmates walking down the hall. I knew this walk, as I had seen it since the beginning of the school year. Students who are selected for Student Of the Month in their class get to have their picture taken and put up in the front office. Sure enough Jesse had the coveted blue ribbon pinned to his shirt. I am so proud of my Jesse Boy!

I've had a few talks with his teacher this year as she would inform me about Jesse's behavior and progress. She would tell me that at the beginning of the school year Jesse was quiet and had no problems, however as the year has progressed, he has become quite the talker. He isn't rude or mean, he just couldn't wait to talk to his friends until it was recess time. So to get his attention (since she knew Jesse was a good boy) she would have him "flip a card" (part of the behavior/consequences system the teacher has in place). Everyone starts on Green, and when you go to the next color, that means you aren't having a good day. Jesse hates to flip a card. He would even cry and say he didn't want to go to school cause he didn't want to flip a card. The teacher says when she say his name, to warn him, immediately he will say sorry, knowing what he is doing is wrong. I loved that he received this award (other than the fact that he is my son) but hopefully it teaches him that good things come your way when you do your best, and choose the right.

And on a side note, Jesse continues the long legacy of Students of the Month in our family, from Mom, to Damien. I know soon, Max will join the ranks. With three energetic boys I never knew what to expect when they got into Elementary School. But, so far I have been pleasantly surprised by how well rounded, and loved by their teachers they have been. Damien had a reputation by all his teachers even Principal at his Elementary School. When it came time to organize classes for the upcoming year all his former teachers would say, "Oh you have Damien in your class, he is such a great boy." What a good feeling that is as a parent. I love my boys!

Purchasing Time

Today I made a stop in at Goodwill to see what was in, as I tend to enjoy doing when I am nearby a thrift store. As I was wandering around I stopped and looked at a rack of purses (cause I needed one). I found one for $5 that I liked! Sweet! I looked around to see where I should head to next and I spotted this:

Immediately, my mind was taken back about 10 years to when Damien had this exact, same toy. I stood and stared, and my mind replayed the Christmas Damien received this toy, and how much he loved his Rescue Hero Command Center. The only things we have left from those days are the 20 or so Rescue Heroes, accessories, and a few VHS movies that he watched and watched til a blue line ran through the middle. He really LOVED Rescue Heroes. So, right in the middle of Goodwill, strangely enough, I found myself almost tearing up. I went over to see how much it was, and it too was $5. I walked away, then walked back. Got a shopping cart, walked back, put it in, and proceeded to wonder if I really needed to purchase this, and why? So I called Mike at work. I told him what I found, and asked if I should get it. I needed a second opinion since I found myself for the first time ever wanting to purchase something based on sentimental value, and maybe even trying to buy back time, a piece of time that I think may have been a happier time for Damien and I. He said, "Sure."

More times than I care to count, I have found myself in tense, emotional conversations with Damien over seemingly small matters, but nevertheless, they mattered at the time, in a big way. It seems no book or trip to the counselor seems to smooth out those moments with him, they are painful, frustrating and seem to leave a scar that I hope will diminish with time. I love Damien soo much as I do all my boys. I just wish I could get it right. He's had it rough, gone through lots of changes and still endures dual lifestyles. He does well, but I wonder now that he is in these dreaded teen years if it's weighing on him. I'm sure it is. And so I just pray for any insight I can get to help Damien along, and hopefully, send the message that I do love him and forgive him. I know I am supposed to cherish my children in the moment and not hope for days gone by, or wish for them to "grow up", but depending on the day, I am guilty of both.

Update: His reaction to my purchase when he got home from school was priceless! Made my compulsive purchase worth it. He couldn't believe what I had found! He even said, "I'm gonna play with it too." I loved, for that brief moment, listening to him talk about how much he loved these toys, the innocence it brought out of him and reliving those times with him. The feeling was indescribable.

Party like your cousin is 4!

Move over Star Wars.....Hello Princess!

Lily was in town for her birthday, and we got to celebrate with her. She requested a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake and we didn't argue with her on that one :) Max and Jesse were uninterested in the "girly gifts" she received. Thank goodness! That meant I didn't have to pry them off her presents.

Barbie Dolls? A purse? Princess stuff?

(So that's what they sell on the isle we pass by quickly at the store as we are headed to the action figures)

Press on nails...What?!

We had soo much fun playing with our cousins. There was just so much to do.....

(Mark on Grandmas lap)

The energy in the air was ELECTRIC!

Oh...I could just eat this lil' guy up...he's such a cutie!

Pass #2 (Mark with Aunt Sarah)

(Pass #3 Mark with Cousin Damien)

The Boys!

(Damien showing Mark how to play on his phone)

(Pass #4 Mark with Cousin Taylor)

You sure made your rounds Mark :)

We partied, played, ate, and played some more. We had our share of time outs, as we just couldn't help it sometimes, but that's what happens when you get 8 cousins together. The noise level was many decibels higher than Grandma and Grandpa have experienced in a while. It is safe to say that we lived it up while our cousins were here.

We're gonna miss you!

Cramming in the FUN!

Becca asked me to watch the kids so she could pack up. I had to think if there was going to be enough room. Yep, there are 5 carseats back there :)

Wow! Six kids!

Thank goodness I had a leftover lasagna at home! (I must add, feeding those 6 kids by myself was no small task). By the time I warmed up the food, met everyone's needs, rounded everyone back to the table and sat down to eat, they were all done and I was eating by myself.

Next time I will get my 13 year old to help!

Family Picture Time!

Poor Katelynn, she was done! And Mark was along for the ride as usual.

What a good looking bunch!

Ok guys, lets take a picture....

But Mom....I can't see...

It's too bright.....

Alright...lets change directions here....now that's better :)

Except at this point....ALL were done with the picture taking.

Cousin Valentine exchange

Yum.....Chocolate and popcorn!

The girls

Soon enough Mark you will be running with the bunch! But for now, Aunt Sarah gets to snuggle with you :)

Netflix + Cousins + popcorn = Goodtimes!

Baba Flicks

A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.......Awww!!

As most people do, I have my type of movies that I like to watch. Of course, they happen to be love stories. I'm not much into Pride and Prejudice, or movies of that nature, I am talkin' modern movies where, the guy 'gushes' over the girl and just can't get enough of her, even with all the forces trying to pull them apart. There are tons of movies out there with this scenario played over and over with different actors etc. And I just love them! I saw the preview for the movie "The Vow" and immediately I was SOLD! And when the trailer makes me think of the amazing man I married, I definitely want to see it. So, before even telling Michael, he saw the preview on T.V one morning and called me into the living room. I looked at the T.V and smiled. When the preview was over, I looked at him for his reaction, and he said, "I bet you want to see that movie!"

I love watching these types of movies with my hubby. Yes! He watches them with me, and groans at all the cheesyness. (With a smile of course).

I even love when the movie gets us talkin' like this one. I asked him where he would take me if something like this happened to me, to help my memory? He said: Sweet tomatoes, Woodward park, the Temple, our old apartment, borrow his old truck and go for a drive :), San Franscico, the beach, River Park, The Balls' home, all places that have significant meaning to us.

These are predictable movies, I know.

Hubby groans, and I gush :)

Once again, my Honey humors me and is going to see this movie with me opening day!!

Now, I bet he wishes he could get me to sit through one of his Sci-Fi, or War movies......Opposites attract...Right?

13, 6, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2, 5 months....

Those are the ages of all the cousins that flocked to Grandma's house this weekend. We laughed asking Mom if she had started a Daycare with all these kids running around, and toys strung across the yard. Thankfully the weather has been nice and we've been able to exhaust some of that energy outside. Needless to say we have been having a great time catching up with cousins that we haven't seen in over a year.

Uncle Ben (I mean Uncle Mike) put together the trampoline...that Grandma just inherited :) The kids kept calling Mike....Uncle Ben the whole time. So finally, Mike, after working so long and hard for a while finally said, (after one more child called him Uncle Ben), "Uncle Ben shall not get credit for this." We all laughed! Thanks Uncle Mike, you are such a good sport!

I think we need to get a group picture with the kids together. Wonder how that will go.... Stay tuned, more fun to come. Up next, Lily's birthday!