Ode to Spring Break

I love the sunshine,
and the warm breeze.

I love the chirping birds,
and the flowers in bloom.

I love the smell of sunscreen,
and the quiet seriousness of Jaeden playing with his cars in the dirt.

I love picnics outside,
and sidewalk chalk.

I love wagon rides,
and sleeping in late.

Spring break, please go S-L-O-W-L-Y!!!!

Beating Cabin Fever!

This is the fourth (I think) snow day we've had in the past couple of weeks and we are going stir crazy here! Today I was canvasing the Internet looking for some ideas to cure our boredom and I found a recipe for making snowflakes out of flour tortillas. Ah ha, it was like striking gold!


First, take plain flour tortillas, fold them into fourths and cut them like you would with paper snowflakes.



Next, cover them with melted butter, Jaeden refers to this step as "painting" them.

Next, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and bake at 350 degrees until crispy.

Lastly, enjoy!!!!!!

Christmas Treasures

This year, Christmas was exceptionally fun. Jaeden is at the age where he really "gets" what it's all about. If you ask him, he'll say "Jesus!" This is a list of things that I don't want to forget about this Christmas.



-While putting the tree up, Jaeden got excited and exclaimed, "Can we do Christmas now?"



-Shopping for him this year was fun because we got to pick out gifts from us and gifts from Santa. At my house Santa always brought the really cool gifts, but at our house Santa just brings a few things. We've decided that we don't want to be upstaged by an imaginary guy!



-Telling Jaeden about Santa was a lot of fun. I know some people frown upon that, but we've decided to go ahead and do it. We are leaving out some aspects of him (like seeing you when you're sleeping-creepy, and knowing all things, etc). We want to keep the perspective on Jesus, but we also want to have fun with it.



-Jaeden moved everyone out of the manger (including baby Jesus) to make room for his trucks. Poor Baby Jesus couldn't even find room in the stable this year!



-Jaeden is obsessed with three starfish ornaments that my mother in law made. He would constantly take them off of the tree and carry them around say, "Look, they're ready for the pool!" (they had bathing suits on)



-During the Christmas Eve service, he stood in a chair while we were singing and covered his ears because "the music was too loud!" You'd think we were raising an 80 year old man!



-Jaeden loves Santa! On the day we went to see him, we rehearsed what he would say to him (sometimes he talks about off the wall stuff and no one knows what he is talking about-didn't want that to happen with Santa). When his turn came, he walked right up to Santa, hopped in his lap and told him exactly what he wanted: "A green car from the movie 'Cars'." He had one and he left it at a restaurant, so he thought that maybe he should ask Santa for one.



-On Christmas Eve we gave Jaeden a whistle to blow that tells Santa that our house is ready for Christmas, he couldn't wait to blow it! It was really sweet to see how excited he was! He was very concerned, however, about Santa's reindeer. He asked if Santa had a car, we told him that Santa drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. I don't think he bought it-the look on his face was priceless! He was also concerned that the reindeer might come in the house while Santa was inside also. He said, "Those reindeer won't come inside."



-Santa left Jaeden the car he wanted right inside his door-he has played with this car nonstop! He was so excited that he got it that morning, he kept exclaiming, "Did Santa bring me this green Doc?"



-After opening all of his presents, he said, "Can we wrap up some more presents?"



-Lots of people were telling Jaeden this year that Santa only brings presents to good boys and girls and that if he's good, Santa will bring him presents too. We don't like that because no one is good all year long. We don't want Jaeden to get the idea that he is good enough on his own and that he doesn't need a Saviour. We used this as an opportunity to teach Jaeden about grace. Even though he wasn't good all year (remember all those spankings and time outs?) he still got presents because he is loved. God does the same thing for us because he is a good God who loves us. We did not deserve to be saved, but God sent Jesus to us anyway to die for our sins and provide a way for us to have eternal life for all those who believe. There is no better Christmas gift than that!



Merry Christmas!

I was going to post pictures, but since the actual date is February 3, I figured it was pointless now! I know, I stink at this blogging thing!

Do you hear what I hear?

I swear, if Christmas break did not come this week, I don't think I would have survived until Friday! Tonight I've compiled a list of funny things that have been said in my classroom this week-they are the only things that have kept me sane!

1. First, Holiday Music Night was Tuesday. The kids have been practicing since Halloween. On THURSDAY a kindergartner comes in and says, when I tell them we are doing art today, "We aren't practicing our Holiday Music Night songs?"

2. As my 3rd graders are rehearsing for a musical they are presenting in February, a student says (with a look of horror) , "We're doing this in front of people?"

3. Today, a kindergartner asks for a drink and says, "I need one real bad-I have pains."

4. A fifth grader lost his painting, then finds it. It didn't have a name on it, so I told him to write his name on the back. He goes back to his seat and PAINTS his name on the back. Then, his friend comes in and says, "That's my painting!" The first kid responds "No, it's mine, see, it has my name on it." I reply with, "You JUST NOW put your name on it-that doesn't mean it is yours!"

5. 5th grade student: Mrs. Yankey, is Santa real?
Me: (not sure if I'm being set up or not) Well, there was a real man named Saint Nicholas who helped the needy. I think that might be where we get our Santa Claus.
Student: (looking at her friend) See, I told you he was real.
Friend: She's just saying that because we're kids!

6. Me, on Monday: You need to be back for Holiday Music Night at 6:15. Not 6:00, not 6:35, but 6:15.
Student: Will 5:20 work for you?
Me: No, it won't, but 6:15 works for me!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!! Thank goodness for the break-one can only take this much fun in small amounts!

Birthday Boy

Dear Jaeden,

Today is your fourth birthday. I can't believe I'm writing those words. It only seems like yesterday that you were born-really and honestly I have no idea where all of the time went!

I remember the day you were born as if it had just happened. Sit back, and let me reminisce for awhile...



The story starts two weeks before you were born. Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Grandpa, Helen, George, and Aunt Jenny were all camping at Red River Gorge. It was a good trip-very warm for that time of year, but I had the worse back pain while we were there, especially when riding in a car. I just thought that it was because you were growing and running our of room. It wasn't that. Anyway, jump ahead two weeks to November 4. It was a Friday night and I was working the fall festival at school-it was a long night and Mommy was very tired. After the fall festival was over, I was stacking some folding chairs when someone warned me that I shouldn't be lifting them. I wish I had listened! That night I drug home two bags full of teacher's manuals because I was going to put together my maternity leave sub plans that weekend. I was beat, more tired than I had ever been in my life, and our house was a wreck! I remember, that night, having just enough energy to take a shower and flop on the couch.



The next morning I woke up at 6:30 am because my water broke-I didn't know what that meant even though I'd read in my pregnancy books that that meant you would be arriving soon! I woke your Daddy (it's a good thing he was thinking clearly because I wasn't) and he took care of everything! I kept telling him that my book says that it could be weeks before you were born, but he was insistent that we go to the hospital! Jaeden, if your Daddy hadn't been there, you might have been born in our bathroom!



When we got to the hospital I still wasn't convinced that you were really going to be born that day! There were two of us in the triage unit and I heard the nurses talking about us. They said, "One is just is some pain, and the other is definitely staying." I still didn't think they were talking about me (sometimes Mommy is really dense)! Finally, a nurse came in and said, "I spoke with the doctor on call and she said 'Let's have this baby today!'" I was shocked! All I could think about was how messy the house was and that your crib hadn't arrived yet! My mind was whirling one thousand miles a minute, I was so flabbergasted that I couldn't even ask the important questions like, "Will he be okay?" "Are his lungs developed enough?" "Will we get to take him home with us?" I could just stare stupidly at the NICU doctor, nod my head, and try to take in what he was telling us.



The day was long, Daddy and I watched UFC fights on the TV, I was hungry, and I wanted to call everyone and tell them, but I also didn't want everyone waiting in the hospital all day long (I knew it could be hours before you actually arrived). When I couldn't stand it any longer, I called everyone and they came racing to the hospital. You have a great Nana and Grandpa, and Aunt, and Momma and Poppaw. They couldn't wait to see you!



Finally, after many hours of waiting, you arrived. You stole my heart the instant that I saw you! After 71/2 months of wondering what you would look like-nothing could prepare me for how handsome you were! Shortly after your birth you were whisked away to the NICU to be monitored. You ended up staying in there for 8 days-you looked so pitiful hooked up to all those machines and IV's. I remember staring at the pure air numbers on your isolet, mentally willing them to go up so you could go home.



God was so good to our family, Jaeden. He took care of you while you were there and he worked everything out at home for your arrival-Nana cleaned our house, and, remember how I was worried because your crib hadn't arrived? Your crib arrived in the store that very day that you were born! It makes me teary just thinking about it, because, Jaeden, God is so big and so great, but he also cares about the little things, like a crib for a little baby boy. Never forget that. There is nothing too big that God cannot handle, but there is nothing so small that God doesn't care about. So, on days when you feel like God is against you, know that He isn't, he knows more about what you need and want than even you do. God will not let you down, but he will call you to trust him, even if you don't understand what he is doing.



So, you are four now, and you have blessed us in ways we could never imagine! We love your silly, quirky ways (even though they drive us crazy sometimes!). We laugh when you pretend to be different characters form books and movies, I get a lump in my throat when you sing "Jesus loves me," and when you quote verses like "God is love," and "God loved us and sent His son, Jesus" I pray that one day, those verses will be more than just words to you. That they will penetrate your heart, convict you of your sin, draw you to repentance, and save you. Because, Jaeden, when all is said and done, there is nothing more important than your relationship with Jesus. Don't ever fall for the lie that friends, money, jobs, girlfriends, or anything else is what gives you fulfillment. The only thing that will give you lasting contentment is claiming and resting in the saving power of Jesus-nothing is more important than your eternal destination.



Well, this letter took a more serious turn than I had planned, but I guess those things needed to be said! Mommy and Daddy love you sooooo much, monkey, and I hope you have a super happy birthday!



Love,

Mommy and Daddy

The Boy Who Wouldn't Eat Anything!

Those who know Jaeden know that he had an absolutely horrible time learning to eat solid food. It was a problem that, up until recently, wouldn't go away. I remember being so upset and worried that he would stave to death because the only thing he would eat would be cereal bars. Well, this summer has been a summer of milestones for him! He's been eating well for awhile now, but this summer he's tried for the first time (and LOVED) watermelon, strawberries, blackberries, ice cream floats, pizza, macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter. I know-what kid doesn't like those things?!

Another "issue" Jaeden has had for what seems like for ever is his fear of people-mainly kids. Today, we went to the zoo and I was blown away by what I saw him do! He played on the playground with other kids-without me standing over him, coaxing him to play. He also would weave his way in between kids to get closer to the animals (something he would have NEVER done last year).

Lastly, Jaeden has had a tricycle for a couple of years now (apparently my parents went on a buying spree when they found out we were having a baby-I think he's the only kid to have a tricycle on the day he was born!) Anyway, he refused to ride it last year, and even this fall and spring he would get really frustrated with it. However, it finally clicked this summer-no body's toes are safe now!

One more thing-Jaeden can write some of his letters and cut with scissors! His teacher last year mentioned that those were things he was having trouble with-won't she be surprised in the fall! He can write O, T, H, A, Q, I, J, F, E, and X. I'm so proud!

When I look back at all the things that he's accomplished this summer, it reminds me of how fast time flies, and makes the time I have with him even more special!

Ps-Did I mention that Jaeden is ALMOST completely potty trained? Yay!

Just can't get that song outta my head!

Last week was Vacation Bible School at our church-I've never had so much fun at VBS, nor had a song stuck in my head so long! Our theme was "Boomerang Express," and anyone whose done it, knows there is some very catchy music involved. Jaeden absolutly loves the songs and continues to sing them daily! His favorites include the theme song "Boomerang Express," (the one that is stuck in my head), "My Friend," "God Loved Us," and the song he refers to as "The Follow Song."



I am so grateful to be apart of a church that values children the way ours does, and one that works so hard to share Christ with even the youngest ones!