Friday Night Reflections

Today the bugs and mama and their Ammah went to see Frozen. The boys loved it, and Tabitha slept through it. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly reccomend it! 

Well it's been another fun week. Reflecting on the past week, I would have to say these are my thoughts:

• hug your parents and spend time with them. Listen and love on them.

• be real to your friends. If they ask how you are doing and you're hanging a crappy day/hour/week/etc let them know and be specific as to how they can pray for you. Do the same for them.

• turn off your phone and be present with your lil munchkins. Hug them and look into their eyes and tell then you love them every day.

• the grass really really might seem greener on the other side, but it can also smell like poop underneath that pretty grass. Tend to your own grass. :)

• don't be afraid to try something new. The worst that can happen is you fail. Wisdom comes from learning from failures too, not just from successes.

I think that should do it for now, have a great week ;)

Friday night reflection on the week from experiences and observances out with my kiddos:

• Hold and love on the kiddos while they're small, you can't spoil a baby. 

• Let kids play and get dirty when they're a little bigger, they can get a bath later in the day. 

• If you're going to a park, and there is a chance that the kiddos might get muddy, bring a change of clothes. 

• Bring multiple sand toys to share with park friends. 

• Let the kiddos try to negotiate kid to kid arguments but step in when the situation could use a little guidance. 

• Don't chat on a bench with your girlfriends without looking at what the heck your kid is doing, you just might have that kid that is being a bit of a bully and needs to have some redirection. 

• And don't forget the sunscreen

Annual Nevada Trip... 2013

We went on our annual trip to Nevada to visit family and had a great time! The bugs were able to visit with their cousins, we attended a huge birthday party and everyone climbed "candy mountain". Poor Jackson got a touch of the stomach flu, so he missed out on a day of fun but luckily he got over it fast!!!

Here is a picture of the boys (Charlie, Jackson, Greg, AJ, and Doug) on the mountain... Will post more pictures later!!!

John Williams is the Man!

The bugs have a favorite youtube video, by far. Thought I'd share it with  you!!

Celebrating Jackson's 5th Birthday

After the craziness of the holidays was over, we threw Jackson a fun birthday party to celebrate him turning 5! We went to Pump it Up (a bounce house place) with a few of Jackson's friends and had a blast! The theme he chose was Mario Bros. 

The folks at Pump It Up really did a great job setting up the party. It helps, too, that the party room is very colorful and goes with a Mario Theme! 

 Star cookies I made for the party

 Yoshi's Fruits

 Toad's Veggies

 Princess Daisy's Goldfish

 Princess Peach's Puffs (Trader Joes Corn Puffs)

 Power Up Water and Bowser's Big Punch

 Mario birthday Cake

 Sweaty Heads after bouncing

Friday postings

Hi friends,

I think I might try doing a themed Friday post. Not sure what yet but something! I guess it will develop in time :)

Jackson turned 5 this week!!!! Just amazing how time flies! We are having a bouncy party for him after the new year to celebrate the big 5!

Recently we have been busy with Christmas parties for school and Sean's work, my nursing finals and wrapping up school for the boys calendar year.

Since I've been out of school (a whole week!) I have been busy being an elf -- making presents for Christmas gifts this year, baking cookies, and sewing my little crafty heart out.

What I can show you so far of finished projects are cookies and stockings! While I have gotten the sugar cookie recipe down, and the frosting/icing recipe down, the actual frosting of the cookies needs a little more practice!

Never failing as a parent

So, browsing through Facebook today before MOPS was interesting. Found an awesome article posted by a friend, and realized that the article was written by one of the bloggers I follow: the Pregnant Chicken. She's just awesome: down to earth, nitty gritty, and even uses 'colorful' language that we all think but don't all necessarily say (every day) about pregnancy, parenting and everywhere in between.

So, if anyone is out there that actually reads TLB, then, please also check out Pregnant Chicken!


And, the article I was referencing is "Why You're Never Failing as a Mother" can be found HERE.

I hope everyone is having a very festive holiday season! We're gearing up for Christmas here ourselves, and personally I am so very excited to be done with this semester of nursing school (I have a final exam tonight!!)

 

Beejo Ito arrives!

We have a new guest in the Rowland house: Beejo Ito, the elf.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy thanksgiving to everyone!!

Here is a pic of ammah (my mom) and the boys playing a I spy computer game.

Put the Top Down, Daddy!

We are having car issues with the van, so we put the kids carseats in Sean's mustang and hit up the park. The kids loved having the top down, that is, until Charlie realized the sun would be on him the entire time!

Thanksgiving Feasts

This is the week of Thanksgiving, where we reflect and think of all we are thankful for. I'm thankful for so many things, but one of which is the school the boys attend: St Paul's Preschool. This school has been so supportive and gone above and beyond what they really need to do for our family. The director and teachers go to IEP meetings for Jacksons speech and OT, they stay late to talk over plans for the kids, they put countless extra hours of their personal time before and after they clock out for their students... The list just goes on and on...

This week was the schools Thanksgiving Feast, so I was there Monday and Tuesday to see the boys sing and dance, and enjoy some bread bakes by the kiddos themselves.

Hope everyone enjoys their Holiday and reflect on all they have to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!