It's a Pirate's life for me...for 1 day anyway!!

Like I really have time to blog... but I have 1 hour and it relaxes me!!!... so why not! (Not soooo relaxing when pictures don't want to load...but here we are!!)

This birthday season (2 boys' birthdays in October turns into a season in our house!) -- we decided to join the birthday madness together.  We were moving into our house at the beginning of Oct so Isaac was asked if we could have one together... I let him pick the theme (with a little persuasion!)  HE chose PIRATES!!!... I already had SOOOOO many ideas.  I would have made any of them work, but I try to stay away from character lead ones... I don't know why, they are perfectly fine and fun and fabulous... but I was thrilled to throw my pirates a great birthday bash... Lots of pictures in this one... but helps with the explaining!!!



The Birthday Boys... they were soooo excited about their cake, and so was their mommy!

Of Course the cake was a big hit!! 

I made 2-- 9 x 13" rectangular cakes... cut the bump off of one -- for the top of the treasure chest and added the remainder of that cake to the bottom of the chest... frosted the entire cake with chocolate buttercream frosting and piped the decorations on from there.  I made a wedge out of styrofoam to prop the top cake board up... you don't need much of an angle... alot less than I expected... maybe only like 10 degrees.  We had ordered the Gold Coins (both chocolate and fake plastic ones) from Oriental Trading Company... the 2 different shades of gold really worked well on the cake!  The jewels are piped to look like necklaces or loose rocks!... Adding the eye patch really helped!... just dangled it from the corner.  This really was quite a simple cake for how big of an impact it made for a party!!

 We used some "treasure maps" I found again on OTC for both invitations and the hunting clues for the treasure box!  On the invites we wrote:

A'HOY MATES...
Isaac turns 6 and Trevor turns 4.
X marks the spot of the Parrrrrrty (insert address here).
Hoist your anchors and set your sails to arrive (insert date here). 
Be there at 3:30 pm or risk Walking the Plank!

They were also a big hit... I don't believe in RSVP's but you could add that too (never get an accurate count from them -- I am one of those that forgets to RSVP... so if I'm invited and I did not send my regrets, then I will be there... ha ha... Oops!!)

So much fun was had on the plank... just a long board we prompt up on 2 five gallon buckets!... At first some were nervous (esp. Trevor) but by the end of the party they were all super fast at "Jumping into the sharks"... that is what the game became....

So onto the Treasure hunt... The boys and I made up treasure bag (favors, that included an eye patch, bouncy balls, it was fall so all of the candies were "metals" colored.. hershey kisses, york peppermint patties... and of course both sets of gold coins!)  and wrote the names of the kids expected at the party on each bag... THAT way EVERYONE gets one!!! The "box" was filled with the favors and I created "clues" for a treasure hunt that sent the party goers all over the house... one clue led them to the bathtub... another to the movie cabinet...another to the cereal cabinet.... Then one day close to the party the Treasure box disappeared... the boys were not happy... I had hid it already.  And Isaac figured out "X" marked the spot... but I scolded... ha.... him to get away from the decorations!!!  lol!!!

  Decorations also found at OTC... The X made with warning tape.. where the treasure's last clue led them...

I made the Treasure box by covering a box that a ream of paper comes in with paperbags and coloring with crayons and markers to get shades of brown... the "leather straps" are the handles of the paper bags colored with black marker... Don't forget the key hole!

 Be sure to take LOTS of pictures of your pirates... especially saying what Pirates say "ARRRRRRGHHHHH."

And to leave you with a pirate joke you can share at your party... The boy's uncle asked Isaac this one day... and he didn't really get it!  Ha...

What is a Pirate's favorite letter?

 You would think it is the " RRRRRRRRRRRRgggghhhh!"

But it's the "C"... sea... get it!!!!! 

 Hope it's a pirate's life party for you someday too!!!... WE all had a blast!

Simple Thank YOUS...

 



 

Simple, CHEAP thanks yous... Thank yous are soooo easy....soooo appreciated...... and such a great way to show your children what it means to have someone who cares about you, or helps you to GROW in soooooo many ways!! ;)

Here is a simple little pot we clipped and repotted a plant we already had in our house and spiced it up with a thank you note... "thanks for helping me grow." 

Inspirational ways to express our gratitude are made sooooo easy with Pinterest to assist us.  Numerous "food" ideas are great ways as well... "May your holidays be merry and 'Sprite'  " ... Love that one... willm have to use it soon!

This small pot was a direct inspiration from the amazing site, but you can adapt soooooo much just by personalizing your gift for your special occasion. Or adapting certain "holiday" ideas to suit your needs! 

Remember those who help you, family, or friends... even in the smallest ways.  We never can say thank you enough, especially when it affects your child!

Isaac helped plant this little guy...and couldn't wait to share it with his teacher! We were still in the apartment when we shared this thank you, so the typed up sign and clip art are displayed by sticking a drinking straw into the soil (due to lack of craft supplies!) ... but it sure worked well and I would use it again!... Easy to staple the card stock too!

Simple ...... and soooooooooo cheap!!  Cost about $3!!

THE life of a Kindergartener...

Boy oh boy JULY was my last post... well now I have plenty to blog about and catching up to do! A house to call home, crafts and decorating ideas, we've had a great pirate birthday party lately!!! So maybe I can find a bit of time to continue on this adventure.

The first of many ideas running about my brain is how Isaac is dealing with Kindergarten. Or how his mom is too.. for that matter.

The kid LOVES it... Here is why I know this.

So I picked him up from daycare today -- and he knows its Friday -- and the first full fledged conversation we have to have is when the next day of school is. This most recent conversation was a rough one, as he some how "blames" me that he has to WAIT until Tuesday to go to school, so that is 3 WHOLE DAYS MOM... (Monday is Veteran's day, so no school of course!) He really does get visibly upset that he needs to wait longer than normal to head back to the BIG K. I don't know what they do to him there (actually I do -- they are VERY informative!), but the kid can't live without it.

Here is another example of the angony I must put my kid through if he were to miss a bit of school:

He needed a well-child visit, because my baby turned 6! wow... So I got one scheduled and due to my schedules at work (crazy and all over the place) I wanted an early afternoon appointment. We were able to get one! So, Trevor had speech from 11:25 to 11:55am that day. I thought what a great time saver for me to grab Isaac at the same school for his 1pm appointment-- I grabbed my 2 boys, we then dropped Trevor off back at Daycare and I wanted to TREAT Isaac to lunch with his mom.

He seemed a bit on edge, but we all are sometimes, so we ate at Taco Bell someplace Isaac BEGS for and Trevor dreads -- thus the "treat" of it all!! (and that his mom is there right??!) He seemed to enjoy that -- but once we got into the Jeep I was questioned, "How long is this appointment?" I told him probably about 1 hour. "Oh so I can go back to school then," he stated with SOOOO much excitement in his eyes! I broke the news to him that it would be pretty pointless for him to go back for 1/2 hour and that he will probably not be going back.

He was then quiet...VERY QUIET. I was driving so wasn't paying much attention... until I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw my 6 year old struggling to hold bad HUGE tears that were building up in his eyes. My heart broke for him... I was so shocked and amazed at his awareness of the "burden" that he had to visit the doctor during his prime school hours. I didn't say anything at that moment... afterall, I couldn't figure out what to say? I was proud, yet anxious for him -- then the dilema that we would be arriving at the appointment shortly -- and what would they think I did to my kid when he is crying like that?? -- then I heard a BIG sigh in the back seat. It was beyond dramatic, he definately wanted me to see the troubles I was putting him through, because as I looked up into the rearview mirror -- I saw a growing boy that had a deathy smirk on his face -- clearly mad at ME for putting him through this. He whipped his head around to glare out the window. Then, I knew we needed to talk... after all, wasn't it obvious after that sigh??

I asked, what's wrong Isaac -- there was no teenaged "nothing" coming out of him, cuz all at once the tears could no longer be sustained.. they were pouring out of his now bagging eyes. "I want to go back to school."

How could you not attempt bringing him back after having your heart broken by these reactions...the reaction I got from the office when I signed him back into school post doctor's appointment -- was an obvious, "what the hell are you coming back for -- look"... I just stated "he had to come back!" As the reception smirked, I shrugged my shoulders, but with a little relief that my child can find the joys in school that so many are not finding, or are not having the opportunity to find. Let's just hope this ambition holds on for a VERY long time, as we know as a Kindergarten he has a very long road ahead of him!

He strives to be just what we are expecting him to be. It is amazing for all the expectations we have of kids, they still want to have someone be proud of them and they want to make us "happy." If only we can find more ways to relieve this stress for our children -- just be children. Yet, Isaac succeeds gracefully at these attempts to satisfy. Its amazing to me, the product that my 6 year old has become. So PROUD of him -- and yes I tell him that, as often as I can!

Something to be extremely proud of:

We had our first parent/teacher's conference about 1 month ago. Isaac was there too...different than what I remember them being. We were told -- He's a role model, and a great student AND friend to his classmates!! He is exceeding in everything (except recognizing coins -- there are only 4 coins and he just can't get that for some reason-- guess he won't be an accountant??!!) AND there are 4 reading groups will be starting (have since started) and we would like Isaac to be in the highest level one as he is soooo ready for that! =Made me want to hold back my huge tears for many reasons...it's amazing, I'm so proud, I'm glad it is easy for him as I dread when it isn't, but most importantly --- he is growing up WAY TOO FAST.

Choking up even right now. Of course there are times when this amazing 6 year old makes me want to pull my hair out, but how did I get so lucky to have a big boy in Kindergarten that can succeed beyond expectations of so many. How did we get this far, so fast?

As I pull this pop top off my Dr. Diet Pepper, I am reminded that he also wants to please his teacher... They collect pop tops, box tops for education, and UPC symbols (the latter we don't do??) and since it was mentioned in his class we have had a game warden in our house that monitors your every move..."Mom, can you drink a pop??" Yep, just so he can have a pop top for school... He is enthusicatic to say the LEAST.

So in conclusion, if you haven't figured out just how much Isaac appreciates his educational opportunities... I am sure there will be similiar stories to come! Love every inch of that 6 year old! 

Warm and Cozy...

Just a quick project that I am sure we will enjoy for a many years...Very happy that we can prepare the backyard of the new house...while we wait and anticipate the move in... so here is the warm and cozy project we did the other night.  It really only took about 1 1/2 hours to complete... and bit of sweat and sore muscles too!...

Here is where the inspiration photo on Pinterest came from...there were no instructions attached to this one, but I think we did pretty good...or better?  Now we just need the grass to grow in around it!

The inspiration...

Our project!  We meaning, Joe, dug a hole about 2 1/2 feet by 8 inches into the perfect "fire" location at our house -- well at least lets hope so...that may have been the challenge, too close. too far ...where to place it!!?  We used 20 bricks placed vertically around the circle.  (The hardest part was making the hole vertical and to keep them vertical without wasting space inside the circle!)  Then we filled in the space behind the bricks on the outside of the circle to stabilize them.  We stepped on the brick from the inside -- like I described to Joe...like you are stretching your calf... they seemed pretty stable. We filled the pit with pea rock...I am thinking the rain will drain better that way...it was in their picture so we decided to go for it!  Then we strategically placed the quartz pieces that I hand picked.. concentrating to see if I could find some of the bigger pieces with a curve to them... I placed them into the circle...overlapping the tops of the brick.  Next...we filled the empty spaces with the smaller and remaining quartz.  and FINALLY... we filled the spaces with dirt...again as I explained to Joe --like grouting tiles!!!

Our creation...

I think we will enjoy many nights and hopefully create some memories around this fire pit! ...Next outdoor project...some form of permanent seating around it?  Maybe someday!... I really want big logs, but Joe thinks that is probably a bit out of our "project" ability!

Behavior and charting about it!

Behavior chart:  Something was needed as a way to soothe over issues for 5 and 3 year old boys who are confined in an apartment and just want to run around and be boys--yet still need to take responsibility for their behaviors.  So I combined some ideas I saw from Pinterest into a plan that would work for us -- so I thought.  I will explain the way Isaac, Mom, and Dad use the behavior chart and the way things are supposed to go and then I will discuss the sneaky ways Trevor isn't even involved and how it irritates Isaac.



Naughty Cars on top...get placed in the bottom bag if they misbehaved...Sticker chart for good behavior...notice
Trevor's random stickers = hard to control...should have adapted that for a 3 year old...just FYI!

What I needed to "accomplish" was disciplining in an apartment...(I used to be more strong willed at letting both kids cry it out, but I thought for the sanity of my neighbors, I would try something else!).   One of the charts the examples I found used coins to take away as punishment...we adapted and used "CARS" hotwheels of course--it has proved to work well (Isaac hate losing car card, as much as he hates when a really hotwheel is missing).

The boys and I decorated the charts together... I bought 1 orange poster board and cut it in half, we used a grid I printed to set the goal sheet in place and it can easily be replaced when full!  We used duct tape for a road... Isaac thought I was crazy until we put cars by it... then we had some random stickers and I found some clip art I printed and cutout to glue on to decorate the poster board to start out on the behavior chart adventure!... Each board has a large ziploc baggy on top and a small baggy to catch those naughty cars on the bottom (and we use it to store the sticker sheets to apply)...Staple them on good so they don't shift too much.  They had so much fun with it.  They just love projects- wish I had more time and room for them now- so if you make one be sure they are helping!!  Isaac asked so many questions throughout the project and how it was going to work, etc...there was no need to explain it in any more detail from there.  He is his Dad's son after all...  Joe loves to question and question too.  They were both so excited that they could earn rewards that both kids had 3 stickers before any cars were taken away = what a great start to the new disciplinary idea!... Wow am I smart... ha.... that didn't last long.

Ok so first...how it works... they each have their own chart. 

On the top of the chart are 6 "cars"..these get taken away if you are naughty.  We simply (ha) say, "Do you want to lose a car?"  Sometimes it stops at that...others they loose a car.  If they take away their own car then they only lose 1 (depending on the naughtiness--it has been know to lose 4 at once --yikes!)  if us parents have to remove the car because they are having a fit, or what not...then we take 2 cars away.  Isaac HATES that...cuz he has to stop his tantrum.  (This is why it works for him!!!)  If they are missing any of their 6 cars they don't get a sticker for the night, but if they have all 6 they receive their sticker!... We check the chart before bed every night and if they have cars taken away, they are put back on top for a fresh start tomorrow (actually because of the bedtime issues, we have been starting over then...so sometimes when they wake up in the morning there are already cars missing.) 

They can also earn their cars back if the have done something nice. -- shared a toy, helped out around the house, ate their SUPPER!!, were good at daycare (bad at daycare they loose 2 cars), etc... IF they still have all 6 of their cars, they get a sticker for being good!...

We set a goal for every 10 stickers and they get rewarded...some are more expensive ideas, most are free or cheap!...We went to the movie Brave today for Isaac's reward (Trevor got to go too...the down fall of 2 charts, but I was sure to remind the boys this was Isaac's "choice" and maybe if Trevor is nice he can pick one next time!!)  --good movie btw (Brave)-- $1 toys are great...Next is school shopping (Isaac picked it!!--he picks them all)  So, that had to be done anyway! 

So that is the gist of how it works... if you are naughty you lose a car -- have all your cars at the end of the day you get a sticker...replace cars to start over for the next day or by being nice!  Earn stickers by doing nice things throughout the day, or having all your cars before bed!

EASY RIGHT??!  It works for Isaac, I'm not saying he is a great listener all the time, but timeout and talking things through with him, usually worked fine -- so the chart was really developed for the trouble-maker, Trevor James....

How Trevor uses the chart...

Mommy says take away a car...Trevor asks happily with fingers in the air showing "one or 2 Mommy??"  like its no big deal...When you show him there are cars missing like he only has 4 at night he just says,"OK!" and goes to bed...Isaac is totally depressed and wants to stay up so he can earn a few more back... When Trevor earns a sticker...suddenly there are 11 extra ones all over his chart.  Which is also hard to figure out when he has reached a goal, because he won't let you assist him in placing his sticker in the charted area...he's just happy with a sticker... He hasn't ever gotten a reward officially for him> like I said we all went to Brave, but????

Isaac gets SUPER irritated with Trevor, so much so that he almost loses a car, just after receiving a sticker, because Trevor either took too many stickers from his sticker page, or can't put them in order...or Trevor even put one on Isaac's chart once...who would have known the melt down that would create...and "I ruined" Isaac's paper when I peeled it off and some paper came with it -- oh yeah -- I am talking about Trevor being the naughty one!! ha....

I honestly don't even know how to correct the mis-communication of how the chart works to him?  Is that what it is????  Stubborn?  I don't have the slightest clue how to correct his current behaviors...He isn't HORRIBLE ALL the time, but when he is, he is just soooooooo very persistent...In a restaurant like today at supper = I am done Daddy...wanting to leave the table, but we aren't Trevor... "I am done", "I am DONE"...louder and louder, until we leave and he thinks he as accomplished his goal of leaving...and being so persistent.  We are going out very little after tonight supper... yikes...Isaac too -- he just can't sit still...must have ants in his pants or something? 

So... NEXT behavior idea?  We have 2 months left in the apartment...not sure what else to improve on for myself or him?  They do trade nights of falling asleep in my bed now, and bedtime has improved...It's my night!... That is all the fight is about now... and that is easily resolved. 

In conclusion, does a behavior chart work = very well if the child understands it -- not very well if not. 

Capital T for Trevor or Trouble?

I think Trevor is feeling a bit left out…. of the blog… Does he really know that the house was trumping his successes and/or behavior…

Ha.. I am still VERY proud of his daily huge steps and accomplishments with his speech, his outgoing-ness, his excitement…and he is more daring lately too!  One of his favorite activities is swimming… and it is much improving, but still freaks when you let go of him… But he lets me “dunk” him and is very happy.. unless you let his feet touch the bottom… BUT

Our Defiant, Strong-willed, Rebellious, Disobedient, Non- compliant, Stubborn, Determined, Persistent, Little Trevor IS BACK…. Wow… I will blog next about the “behavior charts” that I adapted from some pinterest ideas because it was obvious… behavior was needing so much more discipline for Trevor… so stay tuned for that outcome…

But first… Some of the naughtiness…actually just today he wore the perfect shirt for him "You can call me Super, Serious, Big Time Trouble:

He is most annoying to his brother:

Isaac is VERY tired at bedtime… he always has been, but lately he is REALLY worn out with T-Ball, Intro to Kindergarten, and just all the running around we do… we just have to fit in all these great outdoor activities.. Heck just venturing out to the “construction site” wears down the eldest son… climbing through mud... running around the bumpy, uncultivated yard – you would think this too would wear out the youngest… (I should mention now – They are sharing the same full sized bed.. laying the horizontal way, but with a bulky blanket separating their designated sections – they both just fit, so good thing it isn’t a year later) -- So come bedtime, “Nighttime” as Trevor calls it often, Isaac is ready for lights out and getting his much needed rest… Sneaky Trevor as you have figured out… not so much… He is WOUND UP… I am not sure if his head is even hitting his pillow until at least a half hour into this so called “Nighttime.” 

He leans over Isaac…right on top of him as if to say “Wake Up”  but only to bother him and it works.

He pulls covers off of Isaac… and the kid doesn’t even use the covers... he could go to bed with just a fitted sheet and his blanket in the dead of winter and be perfectly happy… making his bed is the worst one in the morning… Prior to the boys sharing a bed.. he must have taken this half hour cool down time to get every inch of blankets off of him.. but now he has found something much more interesting.  HE gets to pick on his brother.

He steals “animals” from Isaac – they usually fight over Buzz, and the Angry Bird… even though Isaac sleeps with 3 of these animals AT MOST, sometimes none… and Trevor easily has 10 in bed with him… just isn’t enough if I can have Isaac’s too…

He picks apart poor Buzz Lightyear.. most of his insides are out come morning (this started at the old house – not sure why…I have thought too deeply about it, but have already been down that autism path, so I am going to ignore those thoughts and continue with over tired and needs something to shut him down??)… but Isaac hates that he does that.  Buzz was officially Isaac’s and he is very protective of “his” toys although it’s fine with Isaac that Trevor has him, but just don’t “break him.” 

He gets out of bed… “I have to go poop”… “I hungry”…  He never used to do that… uh oh… what have we created.

My easy to put to bed, keep in bed kid has made a 180 degree turn… what happened. 

So we have been “punishing behavior” by using this chart – although we don’t want him to get out of bed to show the consequence which is part of how it works… we have taken animals away.. one night I swear I took 14 animals out of his bed… 1 at a time… I was getting VERY frustrated. We have even moved Isaac into my bed to fall asleep (I am not a huge fan of that one, because I believe Isaac will be the one who will want and need that sooner than later now??! – great I just create these circumstances don’t I?)  So one night.. I had more than the usual stuff to do (probably cakes as it has been crazy busy lately—yikes), So I told Isaac just to go straight to my bed and go to sleep.. He was great with that (see… yikes again)  but a holy fit from Trevor… I tried my best to be strong.. but after 25 minutes of “Isaac in my oom… Isaac by me…Peas (Please)…peas Mommy…Peas….. “  He got his dainty little way again.  And yes of all the words to use there.. dainty… cuz that is what it is… he has it perfectly laid out like he knows exactly what he is doing and is going to do it… over, and over, and over, and over, and over again until …. Well who knows… I guess he gets his way doesn’t he???  Isaac NEVER… no really NEVER got to me like Trevor can.  He knew and knows if he is going to be in trouble there are consequences... not my little Trevor.  He is sooooo persistent. They say that toddlers aim to please and don’t want to make their parents mad… In Isaac I see that everyday STILL… and in Trevor it is quickly fading…. Quickly…….He’s as tall as a 5 year old…guess he is skipping the aim to please phase of growing up… Ha… which is funny because in his speech sessions at the school and even the new place (We started at the college last week and he adjusted SOOOOO well!)  He is very concerned with following the rules and “pleasing” the SLP?  So I guess he knows that he can push his Mom and Dad around. = not good

He is a HORRIBLE eater… so quite a while back… I wrote a blog about supper dilemmas, well I will gladly take those days back.. at least he was coming to the table and actually drank his milk… or something.  You would have thought I asked the kid to finish his liver and onions when it was just Mac – n – Cheese 2 days ago.  He didn’t even touch it – didn’t even come to the table.  “I don’t want that…”  It was a gorgeous night and Isaac and Daddy went swimming and Trevor and Mommy had to stay home as punishment, cuz the chart didn’t work… the neighbors must have wanted to strangle me that evening…  ½ hour of listening to “Daddy….swimming lessons…go too… Daddy… peas (please)… Daddy….”  (Daddy had been gone for a while and he was yelling out the window to him… no pickup in sight”… also, they aren’t lessons that is just what he was calling it…. Ok, so that was cute…  Bathtime seemed to soothe him, but probably too close to swimming, so I probably burned that bridge too… and after listening to that for the ½ hour.  But he was still mad at me. 

He has been hitting.. not hard, but that isn’t the point.    

The rebellious part comes with the little looks he gives as he hasn’t even started doing something naughty but is about too… just saying… Trevor what are you doing, “Nothin”…or the immediate crying to get his way… heck he cries or tries to hide something that the kid could even have, say a nutra-grain (The kid eats them like candy) at snack time…before he even asks, just because he is acting in a way that he thinks is being sneaky and wants his way – even when I say you can have one, he says “Oh” as a surprised response as in… well, what else can I find to get into trouble after I devour this candy bar??!… Fake crying turned on and off.. HAS TO BE my BIGGEST pet peeve with him right now.  URGGGHhhhhhhhhhhh…….

The biggest challenge is that we are in this apartment complex… and he really can’t just cry it out like I feel he should be… learn to deal with the consequence and actually feel bad.  Even his “Sorry s” aren’t on track… snotty like a teenager acts.  (I think… at least that’s when I imagine that happens)

So that is just a glimpse in the world of my 3 ½ year old lately… there is more… as I try to figure out how to control these issues… I will let you laugh at the struggles of raising this defiant young lad. 

Breaking Ground...

They do get along!!...
The land doesn't look like
that anymore!!!..Lots has
changed already!!!

So this blog is WAY overdue... I have been hanging onto these thoughts and pictures for awhile... so time to get it off the computer and brain!

So on April 14th we called a few family members last minute for a tiny celebration -- breaking ground at our new home's location.  It was difficult for me to celebrate as I wasn't positive how the future was going to showcase the possibilities behind the exciting, yet stressful time.  Because as of then I was still deep into the job hunt and was hoping and praying that we could actually still allow ourselves this big step and allow for the enjoyment in constructing a house built just for us.  It was extremely difficult, but just having the faith that things will be ok... I went out to our home's site and enjoyed the simple celebration.

We had some great help getting things started!

It was obvious that my kids knew everything would be fine... I wish I could be so innocent.  At times they were digging for treasure... or China... or even "building" their own rooms.  Trevor could have dug all night.. he was ready to move in... and had sooooooo much fun trying to get things started!  They are just as ambitious as we are!  The little family members that joined us...wanted us to get moved in too!.. I really think they all dug every second they were out there (they even shared the gardening tools!!)--just as ready to get things started as I am!  They had so much fun, helping me to enjoy it a bit too...on a side note... during our tree planting adventures.. I asked Joe if he could believe that this was ours??!  And it was the moment that I really felt like my dreams could come true.  I started imaging my boys running and exploring their land and new house!.. Made my heart smile as well as my face!!!!!

Isaac took a break for
ice cream!

We enjoyed an ice cream social while noticing that the mosquitoes had gotten to move in before we will.

I have been doing a few "home" errands this week, just to wrap things up before I get started on the new life of 2 jobs and a different schedule to keep track of.  It's great fun to have a bit of retail therapy!... that I can enjoy...I can actually spend the money!  Also, we have been on the hunt for the tractor of Joe's...Isaac's...and Trevor's dreams... Snowblowing, mowing...just moving dirt... I suppose there is a need for these boys' dreams to come true.  Just what I wanted another bill to pay when we are just moving in.  YIKES....... Joe has been hounding me about... why are you shopping, what else do we need... ever since the house ideas was brought up... but I will defend myself in saying... even though he is buying less items... HE is spending much more money.... Why doesn't he see that?!

So onto the adventures of choosing the right floorings, lighting...paint colors... decor...garage doors...toilets... where do I stop!!! CAN'T WAIT!!  Probably most stressed about the lighting as I know it will have to stick around for a while....but have an appointment Friday to work on that!   Heck the walls aren't even up... They should be by next week!!!  Here we go... on the adventure of a dream come true!

The Beland Family is ready to move in... Where's the house?