Facilitating Traditions

This morning at church the youth ministers encouraged families with young 'uns to write a family mission statement. Zach and I worked on one for awhile and came up with something pretty decent. But it got me to thinking about priorities and making good memories, which led me to think on family traditions. We Bishops have a few of our own: opening presents from each other on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning, family game and pizza night on Fridays, reading three books + singing two songs + saying 1 prayer each and every night with the boys. These are good things and I like them. I want to acquire a new tradition or two though. I want to develop those truly heartwarming family moments that our children remember forever.

I will never forget my mom pulling out the Elvis Presley Christmas album every single year and singing along to it while we decorated the Christmas tree. That is a precious memory to me and I want our kids to have a bunch of similar ones. Since my mom can't do that anymore, Mike and I found that Elvis album on CD a couple of years ago and we play it around our house to keep that memory alive. (I'll have ahahahah Blue (ahahah) Christmas (ahahah) without Elvis.)

So, what do you guys do with your kids? Give me some excellent ideas!

Fast turn around

I know most of you already know that on Tuesday evening I was contacted by Southwest Tennessee Community College for a job interview. My interview the next morning went exceedingly well and I was offered a job teaching in their developmental writing program. I was offered two or three classes, I only accepted one. I am already committed to teaching the homeschool co-op writing class that meets on Tuesday mornings and I just didn't want to accept more than I could easily handle.

Tomorrow afternoon I will head back to SWTCC and sign all of the official documents and receive the textbooks and syllubus that goes with the class. I'll have Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday to familiarize myself with the books and the material and then we'll be off and running on Monday morning.

The amazing thing with this class is that it meets from 10:50 to 12:20 on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Alec is in preschool from 9:30 to 2:30 on Monday, Wed., and Friday. The schedule should give me time to drop Zach, then Alec at school. Drive over to the campus and make any necessary copies/transparencies/etc. before heading to class. After class I should be able to squeeze in my workout time at Curves before heading back to pick up the boys. I'm very thankful for this. I am committed to working out 3 or 4 times each week (without children nearby) and this schedule will allow for that.

I want to thank everyone for prayers and advice after the last post. I'm still not feeling 100% me, but I think that once our routine becomes more established I'll start feeling better. I'm such a stickler for routine! I feel so lost without one.

Anyway, that's what has happened here in the last couple of days. God works pretty quickly at times, doesn't He?

For me

I think the move and getting settled and trying to find a niche is all starting to catch up with me. I've been feeling more and more restless and anxious, just not myself. Last week I joined Curves and have been working out there on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while both of my boys are at school. It is helping me, having that Andrea time. But I'm still not feeling quite "normal." I'm not laughing as much as I should, and that bothers me.

So, I'm asking for prayers and advice. Come on ladies, breathe your words of wisdom on me!

First day of preschool

Monday was Alec's first day of preschool. He is in a M-W-F program at a nearby church. It meets from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The first day was ETERNALLY long for me. I missed my little man. He is such an entertainer and such a source of joy for me. My day felt so empty without him. I know that in a few weeks I'll be used to my days without both of my boys, but it does take a little getting used to.

As usual with Alec, pictures are something of an inconvenience. I had a really hard time getting him to stand still, look at the camera, and smile. It's hard to tell from the photos but he was actually really excited and truly enjoyed his first day.

"Look at me for a picture!"

(Uh-uh.)

"Smile!" (Uh-uh.)

"Is that frown going to freeze on your face? Turn it upside down!" (This is what I got.)

" Slow down so I can see your face!" (Nope.)

"Look at Mommy for one good picture?! Pleeeeeease?" (Not gonna happen.)

Finally, when I picked him up from school. He volunteered for a photo with Ms. Susan. Sigh.

Free Boxed Lunch

A couple of days ago I was working on unboxing a few more items from the garage and Alec claimed the empty box for his own. It quickly became his car and then transformed into his own house. He spent most of the morning in his "house" playing with toys and later bringing in a blanket and "sleeping buddies."

At lunch time he requested lunch in his box. I said okie doke. It gives a new definition to the term "boxed lunch."

Update and Fancy Alphabet

Quick update on Zach's first day of school. Yesterday, when I picked him up and asked how things went, he grinned at me and said, "Great!" I was so relieved to see that smile and hear his answer. Apparently there were two cool guys in his class that are now his friends, though he doesn't know their names. And when I asked him about any cute girls in his class he grinned again and said that there were THREE cute girls and he even remembered that one of them was named Nicole. I find it interesting that he remembers the girl's name, don't you? His only complaint was that they only had one recess and it was at the end of the day. That is kind of a bummer. To celebrate a successful first day we took him out for pizza and games at the local Stevi B's.

On to the fancy alphabet. The boys painted the letters of their names and today I did a bit of decorating in their room. A few days ago I asked Mike to remove the old wooden doors to the boys' closet because they kept sticking and/or completely coming off of their rollers. Anyway, we replaced the doors with curtains on a tension rod. I think it looks cute and it is much easier for the boys to get in and out of there. Eventually I want to repaint their room but that task is near the bottom of the to-do list.

Here is Alec painting. He was very serious about this job.

This is Oliver's favorite daytime spot. He alternates between bird-watching, squirrel-watching, and cat-napping.

First Day: Third Grade

After months of prayer, Zachary began his new adventure as a student at Ellendale Elementary. I've been so worried about him, and he's been so nervous about this day. But as always, our prayers were not in vain. I consider it a HUGE victory that he made it into his classroom this morning without shedding one single tear. He was even willing to gift me with a few smiles for pictures.

However, he was intensely nervous and I am spending my day today in prayer for him. One friend, just one sweet friend is all he needs and I ask you to join me in this prayer for my sweet boy!

His teacher is Mrs. Nelson and I'm also praying for her.

Friday night date

Mike and I haven't had much time alone lately. We spent a week in a tiny hotel room on base in Washington (with two kids) before we began the six day drive to Tennessee. So, that was almost two full weeks in a hotel with kids and cats in tow. After we arrived in our new house we had a couple of days of madness before Mike's brother flew in to help us. He stayed a few days. After Bud left, I drove with the boys to Oklahoma to see my family. I got home from Oklahoma on Monday night and Mike's parents arrived on Wednesday. It has just been kind of crazy lately. Not a bad crazy, but just a hard-to-make-time-for-your-spouse crazy.

However, because Mike's parents are here with us this week, we have free babysitters! So, Mike made reservations at the Melting Pot for tonight. Yay! I love the Melting Pot, but it has been YEARS since we've splurged and gone there as a couple. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to things settling down around here soon. Mike and I usually put our kids to bed around 8 p.m. and then spend the next couple of hours hanging out with each other. We haven't even had that small chance to connect for the past month or so. I'm ready for normalcy!

Friends

So, we've been here about three weeks, give or take. The best thing? My friend Sara is only two hours away, in Searcy. I left a couple of very good friends behind in Port Orchard (Maria Byrd and Tracy Anderson, I miss you!), and I would be desolate without them, but for the fact that my college roommate and sister-in-heart lives so close to me now.

Sara brought her two cuties over yesterday. Our children had not seen one another since Alec was a newborn and Laura was about a year old. Grant had not yet arrived. Didn't seem to matter much. They hit it off and had a great time.

Now I just need to see my other HU sissies. Cara, Maria Roberts, Anna, y'all come see me soon!