Community April 14, 2009

Wow! I just left a meeting with a really nice couple who are looking for childcare for their youngest son. I just had the idea yesterday to keep 1 or 2 kids in my home so that I could generate a bit of income and still be with my own kids. And out of nowhere (well Craigslist actually) I’ve already hooked up with this family and their little boy will start tomorrow.
They just moved here from out of state  to open a new hotel in downtown Atlanta. It seems they didn’t know many people, and childcare in this area is OUTRAGEOUS!!   The mother is a mom of 4 just like me, and was a bit apprehensive about leaving her baby boy with a stranger (who wouldn’t be).   Plus I’d be introducing someone new into my home and was a little apprehensive myself.   After emailing back and forth a few times and checking out each other’s internet pages, we decided to meet.
I was surprised at how easy going we were with one another. It was almost like we were already girlfriends who could have talked forever about this and that. And our boys played together right away.
It got me thinking about the idea of community. And how when God has destined certain people to be in one another’s lives, things like distance, time, or familiarity don’t even matter.
I am so happy to be able to put this mother at ease and care for her precious little boy during this time of transition for she and her family. We all need each other and are at our best when we step outside of our comfort zones and embrace new people and new opportunities.

Family Night #3- Camp Night April 7, 2009

Soo a few years ago we decided we’d like to try camping.  So for Christmas Shaun’s family bought us a bunch of camping stuff (tent, lamp, knives, etc.).  Well it was a nice thought, but we never went.  That January I found out I was pregnant (with my main man Eze), and camping was out of the question.  Truthfully it was probably always out of the question.

So in thinking of a family night, I thought camping would be fun….INDOORS of course! The 6 man tent was enormous in my little urban living room.  But the kids had a BLAST, and said it was the best family night so far!

This is a picture of Shaun putting the tent together.  It took him 2 HOURS!!! He insisted on “being at one” with the directions-even though they were partly in FRENCH!  It was pretty self explanatory, and a little trial and error would have solved any problems in 30 minutes.

Shaun grilled hot dogs (camp food right?) and Brats…yummo!  I made broccoli, corn, and rice as sides.  Nothing to do with camping, but we needed veggies on those plates!  Oh, the little girl on the right is my niece Sakiah.

After dinner we all played Uno.  Eze is not naked.  He is just in his uniform- underwear.

Kendi ALWAYS wins…she’s brutal!

We did a little improvising with the marshmallow roasting   Still over an open fire…still good!

We did a smores tasting.  I made three different types of smores..regular, banana (slices of banana in between the marshmallow and chocolate), and cherry (same as banana, but with cherries). We then rated each on a scale of 1-5.  I think 1 was- worst thing I ever had in my life.  5 was-Delicioso!

Shaun tallied the voting sheets…..And the winner was…..A TIE!!…banana and cherry won…Shaun and Kendi LOVED the banana smore…me and Tae loved the Cherry…so it was a mathematical tie.

The kids spent the night in the tent (all except Eze)….

And fun was had by ALL!!…tune in to see what we come up with next week folks!

God is Waking Me Up! April 5, 2009

I have been waking up lately.  Sometimes at 3am, sometimes 5.  It’s not like me to do this.  I’m generally a really good sleeper.  Once I’m sleep, I’m sleep.  But also once I’m up, I’m up.  So if I toss or turn and my eyes open all the way, it doesnt’ matter what time it is, I’m up for an hour-at least.I’ve gotten up at least 2 nights every week for the last couple of weeks.

I’m taking this as a sign.

My days are so ridiculously busy that I forget more than I remember.  It’s crazy!  I don’t remember being this busy when I was working outside of the home every day.  I’m sure I was.  I just don’t remember.  Anyhow, I’m taking all this waking up as a sign that God wants to talk with me.  Pretending that I’m going to find time in the day to pray and read scripture is a joke.  I can’t even find the time to clip coupons and make my meal plan for the next two weeks-and I’ve been trying for 3 days now (meanwhile we’re wasting money eating out b/c I haven’t been to the grocery store…because I haven’t decided what to buy and what coupons to use..wild!). Middle of the night time is probably the best time for God and I.

Soooo I’ve grabbed my bible, I’ve prayed…God, I’m listening!

10 Reasons I’m Lucky to be His Wife April 2, 2009

The other day in a moment of pure love insanity I told Shaun that I loved him and was lucky to be his wife.  I’m a bit stingy with the “sweet nothings,” so my comment totally shocked him, and he wanted MORE.  He said, why don’t you tell me 10 reasons why.  I didn’t of course, because I wasn’t sure I could think of 10…lol

But I know he’s stressed about 10 million things, and maybe feeling just a little BLUE (although he’d never admit it), so I thought I’d think of 10 (even if I have to make some up)…here I go…love you dude!

1. Because you’re faithful…always have been, trusting you always will be

2. Because you love your children…in a way that’s gentle and reassuring

3. Because you’re driven…you never stop reaching for MORE…love that about you

4. Because you’re strong…not the muscle kind of strong (although you can open a jar of jam with the best of them)..but the steady, dependable, can get through anything kind of strong

5. Because you’re interesting…never a dull day with you baby!

6. Because you’re forgiving…of me and the entire world!

7. Because you’re a good provider…God’s got your back on this one…but you make His job easier by always being on top of things…I know it’s hard, and I appreciate you for it!

8. Because you don’t have all the answers, but sometimes you pretend to for my sake…may not be healthy, but it’s a genuine act of love…you protect me

9. Because you endure your constant pain without meanness, and with very few complaints…God bless you!

10. Because I hate that this is the last one….you give me so much to feel lucky about…

This was EASY!

Wanna share why you love your man,  or woman (in case there are any guys out there who actually read this blog)?

Family Night #2: Movie Night March 29, 2009

This is long past due for posting.  We had our second family night last Tuesday, but left for a visit “back home” (Kentucky) on Wednesday, so I haven’t had time to post the pics.  I LOVE this family night thing…movie night was fun!

Here’s what we did:

We don’t have a flat screen TV to go over the fire place.  We want one really bad, but don’t have that kind of cheese (money).  So, we have to watch television in our room (there’s a small tv in Eze’s room for the kids to share too).  So the girls made this sign and put it on the outside of our bedroom door.  It says:  Welcome to the movies.  Now playing: Bolt.

I had the idea for us to watch the movie in the car like we were at a drive-in, but our car (a Pacifica)  is too small and our family too big.  The kids spread out towels on our bedroom floor instead.  On the menu was nacho’s (in the pan like at the movies), popcorn, a rare cup of soda (whole foods brand of course…no HFCS nor color additives), and an even more rare box of movie candy (courtesy of Wal-Mart).

Of course the kids’ favorite part was the candy and popcorn.  Tae picked out Whoppers (unfortunately my fave too…I ate most of them myself), Kendi had gummy jolly ranchers, I had M&M’s, and Shaun had Reese’s Cups, Ezekiel had some of EVERYTHING.  He was sooo wired by bed time.  It reminded me why I never give them candy (that and the cavities of course).  I had to go to 2 different targets to find those popcorn boxes.  It was worth it though..they were so cute.

Shaun with his King Sized Reese’s Cups…they’re his favorite.

Bolt was a really cute movie. Fun was had by all!

Ideas for this week?  Tae suggested a Walt Disney night. Have no idea what you do with that.  She’s been into Walt Disney facts lately…not sure where that came from.  We’ll have to see what we come up with.

My Sweet Little Savannah March 23, 2009

I LOVE babies!  By the time my kids get to be about 2 1/2, they’re no longer babies and they get on my nerves a little bit.  Still love them, just not in the head over heels, over the moon, goo goo, gaa gaa, baby kind of way.

My little Savannah is almost 2 months old now, and I’m like, WOW time flies!  I never get sad over my children growing up.  Actually, I do.  What I should say is that whenever I do start to get sad, I stop and thank God that they are getting older.  Because if they’re not growing, they’re dieing and I’d much rather the former be the case than the latter!  Anyhow, here are some pictures of my sweet little angel!

Laying in my bed looking quite chunky.  She WAS the runt of the family-born at only 7.3lbs (other two were 8.6lbs).  Now she has definitely caught up with where her brother and sister were at her age.

Savannah sitting in Taeyonna’s lap getting ready to go to church.  Check out the little bow in her head

Look at that little sleeping beauty!  They’re so perfect when they’re sleep

Sleeping in the laundry room.  It’s the only place she’ll sleep for an extended period of time without me holding her as long as I have a load going in the washer.

I love this picture of her.  She has an old look to her and has a bit of a cynical look on her face, I think.  Plus she looks pretty in purple.

Buncha Stuff Sunday March 22, 2009

*What a busy week!

*Kendi had a birthday (she turned 7, or was it 17?), started her 4th season of soccer, and had a girlfriend spend the weekend

*I hosted our first official family night, and planted a flower garden.  I spent a total of 6 hours outside one day to plant a little rinky-dink garden that may or may not grow.  My thumb is not green, but I really enjoy planting stuff.  At the end of that day though I was more sore than any work out I have ever done.  Who knew gardening could be so strenuous!

*I’m getting more involved at the Courageous Church...this week I attended our weekly service planning meeting, practiced and sang with the praise team, and filmed the video announcements…FUN stuff

*Eze has been sooo moody all week…just 2 year old blues?…I can’t take the fits, he’s about to catch a MAJOR beat down

*SHOUT OUT to my girl Taeyonna…she brought home a progress report this week and brought her math grade up from an embarrassing “F” (never had one of those in her life) to a respectable “B”…YOU GO GIRL!

*Realized my blog doesn’t have one pic of my baby girl Savannah...tomorrow I will devote an entire post to her using my fave pics of the little darling

*Trying to get Shaun up so that he can pat and grill some turkey burgers…the boy is BAAAAD on the grill

*About to play Barbies with Kendi…she’s a girl after my own heart…I was a total Barbie fanatic until I was like 14!!  Still collect them even now

*Looking forward to getting out of town for a few days later this week….taking Savannah to meet the rest of the family in KY….tata for now!

St. Patrick’s Day: King Team Style March 18, 2009

A couple of days ago I blogged about not being a stay at homer.  The whole missing my job thing was really bothering me.  I talked to my pastor about it, and he really encouraged me (I’m talking about Shaun by the way).  He told me to try applying all the energy I use to put into my job into creating a fun, learning environment for our kids.  This lady here also gave me some advice along the same lines.  She said that nothing is stopping me from “teaching” at home (I’m no homeschooler though…for sure).

Sooooo….I said all that to say that I was inspired by this woman to create a family night once a week.  I began tonight with a St. Patrick’s day dinner.  It was AWESOME! I’ve pasted pictures below with descriptions.

We began by decorating the room a little.  I couldn’t find a green table cloth, so we used Easter grass (available everywhere this time of year).  We also colored and cut out green shamrocks and taped them to the chandelier.

I bought plastic beer mugs from Target’s dollar section.  We filled them with green powerade.  Refreshing!

For dinner there was Beef skewers with corn, peppers, mushrooms, and onions (nothing to do with Ireland), green broccoli, and chicken and garlic rice (again nothing to do with Ireland.  was supposed to be dyed green, but I forgot to purchase the dye).

For dessert there was vanilla ice cream with a slice of lime with green pop rocks (the packaging was deceiving, the poprocks were actually pink!) Though they were the wrong color, they were SOOOO much fun to eat!  They all loved the sensation of the candy popping in their mouths…what a neat sensory experience.  The lime was just for garnish, but my kids don’t know anything about that because they all ate the lime….eeeeww!

All the kids received green gifts.  Ezekiel got a green bottle of bubbles, Kendi got a green jump rope (she has been on a major quest to improve her jump roping skills), and Taeyonna received a green whoopi cushion (bad idea…all the kids-including Shaun-have been fake farting all night.

We found Ireland on the girls’ Bratz globe and marked it with a shamrock.  Did you know it’s an island?

During dinner we went over some information I found about the history of St. Patrick and the history of the holiday.  This little lesson was Shaun’s favorite part.  We all learned a lot.

Then we learned about limericks.  We read some and then created one of our own. Here it goes:

We all sat down to dinner

I told Shaun he couldn’t twitter

He asked “why not”

“Because your dinner is hot”

And plus your head will get bigger ( last line added by Kendi)

Our first official family night was a BLAST! Can’t wait for next week’s theme…any suggestions?

Buncha Stuff Sunday March 16, 2009

Savannah is very fussy, so this will be short.

*Sang in church today for the first time in years..LOVED it

*Cooked a pretty good dinner...oven fried chicken (good flavors, but burned a little on the bottom-told you I can’t cook), corn pudding (tasted good, weird texture though), and greens (don’t get too excited, they were from a can)

*I can’t bake!! My from scratch desserts are always a MAJOR flop!  From now on I’m going semi-homemade like Sandra Lee

*I always have all types of plans for what I’m going to do once Shaun and I relax for the night, but by the time the kids are bathed and in bed, and Savannah is resting, it’s 10:30, and we’re both pooped!

*Trying constantly to help Shaun think and work through some things at the church w/o seeming like I’m trying to take over…read this blog post by another pastor’s wife that was really helpful on this subject

* I love the Courageous Church…don’t get me wrong, church planting is nerve wrecking…but I love what God has allowed my husband to build so far..honored to be a part of it

*The team at Courageous gave us the funniest “happy baby” card today…will take a pic and post…LOVE those people!

*Motherhood is calling….Over and Out!

A Stay At Homer? March 14, 2009

I am a working girl…not that kind of working girl….a highly respectable, legal one.  I have had a job since I was 16 years old.  I’ve always liked having my own money to do with it what I pleased.  My mother was a single mom who worked hard, but didn’t have any left over to shell out for the things a teenage girl wants (clothes, dates, etc.).  So as soon as I was old enough, I got a job, and have had one ever since.

Well now I am married to a slob (sorry honey, but it’s true), and now have 4 very messy kids.  I have strict standards about how my family eats, and like to keep them involved in a variety of activities.  Each of them has a set of doctor’s appointments that have to be kept up with, as well as birthday parties and play dates.  I say all that to say that I now have a new job…MOM IN CHIEF (term borrowed from Michelle Obama).  I never knew it, but it takes a CEO to manage a household.  And I’ve also come to realize that I am that CEO.

I knew when I was pregnant with Savannah that it would be nearly impossible for me to go back to work as well as handle my responsibilities here at home.  So Shaun and I talked and planned on me staying at home with the small kids (Ezekiel-2 and Savannah-newborn) for the next couple of years. At the time of the discussion I was very pregnant and very tired, and the demands of my job were wearing on me.  So the idea of not working outside the home sounded like heaven.  I looked forward to it.

But now it’s here.  I’ve been home since December…that’s about 3 months now…and I think I’m going crazy.  Not really…but I do miss my job! Even though I taught 1st grade, I miss being around adults-my co-workers.

I miss waking up early in the morning with a sense of purpose and determination to be the best teacher around.

I miss getting dressed up in a stylish outfit with really high heels.

I actually miss fighting traffic to get to work on time.

I miss walking down the school corridor to my classroom, turning on the lights, and preparing the room for the day.

I miss making copies for the week and planning activities that I knew my kids would be excited about.

I miss the challenge of disciplining other people’s children and instilling in them lessons to guide them through life…

and most of all, I miss my paycheck…

I REALLY miss my job!!

But the reality is that we can’t afford a nanny, and I can’t bring myself to put my little bitty baby in daycare (I know for some it has to be done).  And we also can’t afford a personal assistant, so it’s up to me to manage the appointments, school projects, etc.

Here’s the thing though, I don’t like doing it, and I’m not even that good at it.  There is always laundry to be done, all of my house is never clean at the same time, I still can’t find the time to be an expert coupon clipper, and most of all, I’m bored! There is nothing exciting about folding and putting away laundry.  I’ve tried.  Even doing it to music doesn’t help.

I’m only happy when I’m outside of the house: playing with Eze at the Children’s Museum, teaching him the names of the fish at the Aquarium, finger painting at his Gymboree art class, etc.

So I’m wondering if the stay at home thing is just not for me? Or maybe I’m looking at it wrong.  I had to learn how to be a teacher, so maybe I have to learn how to be a MOM IN CHIEF as well?  Is it possible that I wasn’t born with it?  That having kids and a husband didn’t automatically qualify me to know how to do it well?  Could there be a learning curve?  Here’s a question you could help me answer:

Is being a stay at homer about housework or nurturing kids?