Grades are in for the Semi-Annual Progress Report.
English: A+ (100)
Handwriting: A+ (100)
Spelling: A+ (100)
Math: A+ (99)
Social Studies: B+ (89)
Science: A (96)
Darn that Social Studies! : ) She's just like her mama. I never cared for it myself.
Great Job, Maddy! I am very proud of you!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Happy Birthday Maddy!
Tomorrow is the big day! Maddy will be 7 years old! It's so hard to believe that the sweet little baby I once held is growing up so fast! Slow down, please!!! If I could stop time I would. I always get emotional when another birthday rolls around. I do want her to grow up into a respectful young lady (and give me lots of grandbabies...many many years from now, of course) but another year older is another year closer to her being gone from our home. She tells us that she is never leaving us! She says she has no desire to get married and have babies. However, she is in love with a boy from church already! ; ) Although I am always sad to see her leave a stage of her life and enter into a new one, her stages have never ceased to make me love her more! I do sometimes long for that fat baby I used to hold, and for that toddler with the squeaky voice, but as each new stage of her life approaches, I love it more than the last one. She is at such a fun age right now. She loves make-up and pocketbooks, American Girl dolls, Build A Bears, reading, games, gymnastics, dancing around the house, and just acting plain silly. I love that we can have mother/daughter conversations with each other and she actually pours her heart out to me. I love how she will come up to me and say, "I want to ask you something." It's like a wrapped present when she says that because I NEVER know what's coming next. I just love this little girl with all of my heart and I am so incredibly blessed that God chose me to be her mommy!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Out of the mouth of Miss Maddy
I always get a whole story every morning told to me about whatever Maddy dreamed about that night. This morning, she told me of how she dreamed about a little girl up the street named Megan.
Maddy: "I dreamed I went to Megan's house and she had LOTS and LOTS of dogs!"
Me: "Oh really? Were they big dogs of little dogs?"
Maddy: "Well, half of the lots were big dogs, and the other half of the lots were small dogs!"
May you have LOTS of whatever makes you happy! : )
Maddy: "I dreamed I went to Megan's house and she had LOTS and LOTS of dogs!"
Me: "Oh really? Were they big dogs of little dogs?"
Maddy: "Well, half of the lots were big dogs, and the other half of the lots were small dogs!"
May you have LOTS of whatever makes you happy! : )
Monday, November 16, 2009
Mondays with Maddy
No time today to share an old picture and a story, as I have to start supper (we don't have dinner, we have supper around here..lol), get Maddy to gymnastics, and then go teach a coupon lesson to some friends. Instead, I thought I'd share some of the many pictures of Maddy's photo shoot with you all. I present, our daughter....
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Mondays With Maddy
I've been going through old baby pictures of Maddy for the past few weeks. There is no organization involved, but oddly enough, I can remember the day and time and how old she was in every single picture. Maybe it's a mom thing, or maybe just an OCD thing, but either way, it's a blessing! From now on, I'll share a picture of my sweet daughter (and maybe a story too), so that anyone who didn't know her when she was a baby can get to know her.
This picture was our first family photo. Granted it was taken with me upside down and you can't see Ryan's face for the mask, it's still our first family picture and one that I will treasure forever!
I remember the night of her birth like it was yesterday. I remember when the nurse brought her to me, I fell in love with her! I remember Ryan leaving my side to go kneel down beside her bed as they were cleaning her, and singing Happy Birthday to her. I remember the song that was playing on the radio, "My Girl!" How perfect was that? I knew she was gonna be a big baby. After the ((insert obscene number)) pounds I gained, I knew she had better be big! She was 2 weeks early and 8lbs 15 oz, so I guess I grow 'em big! After I heard her cry, that was the one thing I wanted to know, how much she weighed. It wasn't that I was in a competition or anything. After all, it was my body that would suffer the consequences of all the peanut butter shakes and double cheeseburgers! I just didn't want to gain all that weight and she come out a 5 lb baby. Then I would have felt really bad! : ) After the doctor got her out, I started worrying if she was really a girl. I mean, we saw a girl on the ultrasound, but sometimes they can be wrong! So I asked the doctor, "She is a girl, isn't she??" And his response was, "Oh yeah, she's a girl. Now just lay real still for me, cause I'm about to pull her baby brother out!" I think that was the moment when I had my first panic attack. Only God knew at the time, that this sweet angel would give me my fair share of panic attacks over the years! And He was right! The joys of being a mom...are priceless!
Introducing Madelyn Alexandria Kouvolo, our long awaited miracle! 12/12/02
This picture was our first family photo. Granted it was taken with me upside down and you can't see Ryan's face for the mask, it's still our first family picture and one that I will treasure forever!
I remember the night of her birth like it was yesterday. I remember when the nurse brought her to me, I fell in love with her! I remember Ryan leaving my side to go kneel down beside her bed as they were cleaning her, and singing Happy Birthday to her. I remember the song that was playing on the radio, "My Girl!" How perfect was that? I knew she was gonna be a big baby. After the ((insert obscene number)) pounds I gained, I knew she had better be big! She was 2 weeks early and 8lbs 15 oz, so I guess I grow 'em big! After I heard her cry, that was the one thing I wanted to know, how much she weighed. It wasn't that I was in a competition or anything. After all, it was my body that would suffer the consequences of all the peanut butter shakes and double cheeseburgers! I just didn't want to gain all that weight and she come out a 5 lb baby. Then I would have felt really bad! : ) After the doctor got her out, I started worrying if she was really a girl. I mean, we saw a girl on the ultrasound, but sometimes they can be wrong! So I asked the doctor, "She is a girl, isn't she??" And his response was, "Oh yeah, she's a girl. Now just lay real still for me, cause I'm about to pull her baby brother out!" I think that was the moment when I had my first panic attack. Only God knew at the time, that this sweet angel would give me my fair share of panic attacks over the years! And He was right! The joys of being a mom...are priceless!
Introducing Madelyn Alexandria Kouvolo, our long awaited miracle! 12/12/02
Monday, November 2, 2009
Mondays with Maddy
Maddy went missing on Saturday, and in her place, was a cute little blonde haired girl who prefered to be called Hannah Montana! Hannah was adorable, but we're glad to have our Maddy back!
Speaking of Miss Maddy, for some reason, she has been writing Madelyn on her papers. Not every time, but a few times here and there. I am beginning to wonder if she is going to switch names on us soon! The name Madelyn would be fine, of course, since that's what we named her, but to me, she'll always be my Maddy Bugg! We called her "Baby Maddy" when I was pregnant with her, and she was Madelyn her first year of life, but when she started talking, "Maddy" was a lot easier for her to say, and it just stuck. With a name like Madelyn Alexandria, you have to have something short to call her! : ) It makes me a little sad that "Maddy" may be a name of the past soon, but as long as she doesn't stop calling me "mommy", then I think I can handle it.
Your daily dose of funny....Last night we were getting a bath and she kept tootin' non-stop! She does it a LOT and thinks it is just so funny! She said, "Gah I toot all the time! I think I'll have gas for the rest of my life!"
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
*Tuesdays* with Maddy
Everyday with Maddy...is sweeter than the day before!! Well, that's my excuse for not blogging on Monday atleast!
Little Miss ate some garlic butter from Little Ceasars on Sunday evening and got sick as a dog! Three loads of laundry throughout the night, and 4 hours of sleep was rough! Combine sleep deprivation with the fact that my computer got a horrible virus on Monday afternoon, and by the time my favorite IT guy had time to fix it, I was already in bed, sick as a dog. It's been an adventure the past couple of days!
Maddy has said some funny things lately, and I try my best to write them down when she says them, but that doesn't always happen and then I forget. Here are a few that I did write down....
*After Wednesday night Team Kids: "Whew, I have fun with my friends, but they sure do wear me out!"
*Sunday night/Monday morning around midnight as we were cleaning her up: "Gosh how in the world am I gonna make it through the night?" : (
During devotion, we were talking about good qualities and Ryan asked her, "What is one thing that God sees when he looks at you?" We were aiming toward a "friendly" or "kind" answer, but she thinks for a minute and then looks up and says, "CUTE!"
Yes, she sure is cute! That's why she's survived almost 7 years!! TOTALLY kidding....well, kinda!
Little Miss ate some garlic butter from Little Ceasars on Sunday evening and got sick as a dog! Three loads of laundry throughout the night, and 4 hours of sleep was rough! Combine sleep deprivation with the fact that my computer got a horrible virus on Monday afternoon, and by the time my favorite IT guy had time to fix it, I was already in bed, sick as a dog. It's been an adventure the past couple of days!
Maddy has said some funny things lately, and I try my best to write them down when she says them, but that doesn't always happen and then I forget. Here are a few that I did write down....
*After Wednesday night Team Kids: "Whew, I have fun with my friends, but they sure do wear me out!"
*Sunday night/Monday morning around midnight as we were cleaning her up: "Gosh how in the world am I gonna make it through the night?" : (
During devotion, we were talking about good qualities and Ryan asked her, "What is one thing that God sees when he looks at you?" We were aiming toward a "friendly" or "kind" answer, but she thinks for a minute and then looks up and says, "CUTE!"
Yes, she sure is cute! That's why she's survived almost 7 years!! TOTALLY kidding....well, kinda!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mondays With Maddy
Maddy was in a wedding on Saturday and did great. The only hard part was telling her to be still....constantly. I felt like I was speaking to a wall! This girl can NOT be still. No, I am not medicating her. I don't feel that's right. She's a child, and children are supposed to be bouncy, happy, playing little people. LOL! If she just sat there all the time, then I'd be worried. The only time she sits still is in Church (because she fears the wrath of her mother!), school, and if we go to a movie. Movies at home, well, you'll find her watching TV with her legs behind her head, doing splits, and cartwheels. No lie! But, don't let that fool you, because she can recall everything in the movie!
I think she has found a new buddy in Crystal. Normally, she doesn't say too much about the adults in her life, but Crystal, well...Maddy has fallen in love with her. Crystal was busy getting her pictures taken and Maddy said, "I'll be right back!" So she jumps up from our table and runs to Crystal, just to tell her that she's going to see grandma and grandpa after the wedding! That is so out of character for Maddy to do that, so she must love her new cousin!
The only other thing to report is that she is getting very tall! I don't notice it, because I see her every day and it's very gradual. But it showed in her dress. When I bought her dress back in July, she stood bare feet and it touched the floor. When she put it on Saturday, it was atleast 3 inches off the floor! I had no idea she had grown that much in 3 months! She may be tall like her daddy afterall!
I think she has found a new buddy in Crystal. Normally, she doesn't say too much about the adults in her life, but Crystal, well...Maddy has fallen in love with her. Crystal was busy getting her pictures taken and Maddy said, "I'll be right back!" So she jumps up from our table and runs to Crystal, just to tell her that she's going to see grandma and grandpa after the wedding! That is so out of character for Maddy to do that, so she must love her new cousin!
The only other thing to report is that she is getting very tall! I don't notice it, because I see her every day and it's very gradual. But it showed in her dress. When I bought her dress back in July, she stood bare feet and it touched the floor. When she put it on Saturday, it was atleast 3 inches off the floor! I had no idea she had grown that much in 3 months! She may be tall like her daddy afterall!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thankful Thursdays...on Friday!
Better late than never, huh?!
I am thankful for....
1)PBS! <-So I can get breaks during the day!
2)Happy Cow Milk <-Because not only is it the healthiest milk, it is soooo good!
3)Pumpkin muffins from Rose Hill<-Enough said!
4)Almost being done with school for the week <-Because of a very self-motivated little girl!
5)The Doctors TV show <-For providing me information about health!
6)Tri-Art at Clemson University <-For the $2 plays we get to go to!!
7)American Girls!!! <-although, my bank account isn't very thankful!
8)Our Wednesday night class that Ryan and I teach <-We have a themed week each week and this past week was crazy feet week! Ryan and I have more fun than the kids!
9)Our church <-We are so spoiled by awesome people and the most wonderful pastor ever!
10)My cousin, Michael, is marrying my great friend, Crystal tomorrow! We are thrilled to have her a part of our family (officially). LOL!
So, there you have it! Short and sweet and to the point!
I am thankful for....
1)PBS! <-So I can get breaks during the day!
2)Happy Cow Milk <-Because not only is it the healthiest milk, it is soooo good!
3)Pumpkin muffins from Rose Hill<-Enough said!
4)Almost being done with school for the week <-Because of a very self-motivated little girl!
5)The Doctors TV show <-For providing me information about health!
6)Tri-Art at Clemson University <-For the $2 plays we get to go to!!
7)American Girls!!! <-although, my bank account isn't very thankful!
8)Our Wednesday night class that Ryan and I teach <-We have a themed week each week and this past week was crazy feet week! Ryan and I have more fun than the kids!
9)Our church <-We are so spoiled by awesome people and the most wonderful pastor ever!
10)My cousin, Michael, is marrying my great friend, Crystal tomorrow! We are thrilled to have her a part of our family (officially). LOL!
So, there you have it! Short and sweet and to the point!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mondays with Maddy
My little girl is a mess!!! But she's also a sweetheart and I love her so much! I have truly been blessed beyond belief to be chosen to be her mom. I will be starting a Monday blog with all of her latest "sayings" and "doings".
Saturday night, Ryan and I wanted to watch a movie so we tried to get her to go to bed a little earlier than she normally would. She normally goes to bed around 9pm. We told her to go brush her teeth and get ready for bed. She ran to the kitchen clock and said, (with her hand on her hip, mind you!) "Umm...is this clock broken or something?" I said, "No, not that I know of." And she came back with "Well, it says it's 8:00 and I don't go to bed till 9!" Gah she doesn't miss a thing! She's smarter than her parents sometimes!
She did end up going to bed shortly after 8, btw! She didn't win that battle! This is how we normally find her whenever we head to bed....
Saturday night, Ryan and I wanted to watch a movie so we tried to get her to go to bed a little earlier than she normally would. She normally goes to bed around 9pm. We told her to go brush her teeth and get ready for bed. She ran to the kitchen clock and said, (with her hand on her hip, mind you!) "Umm...is this clock broken or something?" I said, "No, not that I know of." And she came back with "Well, it says it's 8:00 and I don't go to bed till 9!" Gah she doesn't miss a thing! She's smarter than her parents sometimes!
She did end up going to bed shortly after 8, btw! She didn't win that battle! This is how we normally find her whenever we head to bed....
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thankful Thursday
I've officially caught the crud that's going around. But God says to praise Him in the good times and bad, so here it goes..
1)I'm thankful for Alka Seltzer Cold! In the midst of feeling like a big pile of poop, it gives me a little relief atleast.
2)I'm thankful that the rest of my family hasn't caught this yet!
3)I'm thankful that we took this week off from school!
4)I'm thankful that I have pretty much lost my voice, so that way if I'm asked a question I don't want to answer, I can plead the 5th! LOL!
5)I'm thankful for the ability to stay in my pajamas all day if I want.
6)I'm thankful that my husband loves me for who I am and not what I look like, because I haven't looked good at all this week. LOL!
7)I'm thankful that my daughter knows how to make her own waffles(frozen) in the morning so I can still sleep even if she wakes up before me.
8)I'm thankful for my comforter set because it came at a good time!
9)I'm thankful for the black out curtains we bought to go along with the set. They filter 98% of the light that comes through our room so it's nice and dark in there!
10)I'm thankful for a very independent daughter, who understands when her mommy is sick and knows how to play by herself.
So, there you have it! I can be sick and still be thankful! Gosh I surprised myself!
This is what my sweet daughter did all afternoon while her sick mama was in bed!!
Ooops...let me add something here. Since my uncle likes to stalk my blog, here is a shout out to him...
I am thankful for my uncle, Keith. I am thankful that he (so far atleast) is the only sane uncle I have, he doesn't scratch and sniff like someone else I know, and for giving me those mudslides and strawberry shortcakes years ago. Haha!
1)I'm thankful for Alka Seltzer Cold! In the midst of feeling like a big pile of poop, it gives me a little relief atleast.
2)I'm thankful that the rest of my family hasn't caught this yet!
3)I'm thankful that we took this week off from school!
4)I'm thankful that I have pretty much lost my voice, so that way if I'm asked a question I don't want to answer, I can plead the 5th! LOL!
5)I'm thankful for the ability to stay in my pajamas all day if I want.
6)I'm thankful that my husband loves me for who I am and not what I look like, because I haven't looked good at all this week. LOL!
7)I'm thankful that my daughter knows how to make her own waffles(frozen) in the morning so I can still sleep even if she wakes up before me.
8)I'm thankful for my comforter set because it came at a good time!
9)I'm thankful for the black out curtains we bought to go along with the set. They filter 98% of the light that comes through our room so it's nice and dark in there!
10)I'm thankful for a very independent daughter, who understands when her mommy is sick and knows how to play by herself.
So, there you have it! I can be sick and still be thankful! Gosh I surprised myself!
This is what my sweet daughter did all afternoon while her sick mama was in bed!!
Ooops...let me add something here. Since my uncle likes to stalk my blog, here is a shout out to him...
I am thankful for my uncle, Keith. I am thankful that he (so far atleast) is the only sane uncle I have, he doesn't scratch and sniff like someone else I know, and for giving me those mudslides and strawberry shortcakes years ago. Haha!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thankful Thursday
I know, it's Wednesday. But I only have approximately 45 minutes until it's Thursday, so I'm getting an early start. Because that's how I roll! Always thinking one step ahead, and that's a good thing! So to give me some motivation to start blogging again on a more regular basis, I'm following in many other bloggers footsteps and stealing..um..I mean...borrowing their ideas! ; ) I'm not making any promises, but I will atleast *try* to blog every Thursday to post what I am thankful for that given week.
1)For my loving husband who works so that I can stay home and take care of our daughter and the house. I am working my dream job thanks to him!
2)For my beautiful daughter, Maddy. She means the world to me and I would be so lost without her. She tells the funniest jokes ever and her crazy dance moves and off the wall questions make me fall in love with her over and over again on a daily basis. Not to mention her adorable freckles spread all over her sweet face!!
3)For fall weather!!! Fall is my favorite season and it brings with it the atmosphere that I wish could stay year round.
4)For Pumpkin Spice Frappucinos at Starbucks!! =P
5)For the priviledge to homeschool my daughter. Some would look at it as a burden, something they dread doing or wouldn't/couldn't do, but I love it and it's truly a blessing!
6)For the fact that my teaching is paying off! Maddy has passed every test so far with flying colors. I guess I'm doing something right!
7)For a field trip to Happy Cow tomorrow!
8)For the season premier of new shows! Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, and SVU! Gets me all excited!
9)For the consignment sale coming up in 2 days! It's one for the whole family..not just for kids! I hope to find some good fall clothes!
10)For Bargain Foods! Funny, I know, but I LOVE this grocery store! And I am going there tomorrow!!! YAY!!
1)For my loving husband who works so that I can stay home and take care of our daughter and the house. I am working my dream job thanks to him!
2)For my beautiful daughter, Maddy. She means the world to me and I would be so lost without her. She tells the funniest jokes ever and her crazy dance moves and off the wall questions make me fall in love with her over and over again on a daily basis. Not to mention her adorable freckles spread all over her sweet face!!
3)For fall weather!!! Fall is my favorite season and it brings with it the atmosphere that I wish could stay year round.
4)For Pumpkin Spice Frappucinos at Starbucks!! =P
5)For the priviledge to homeschool my daughter. Some would look at it as a burden, something they dread doing or wouldn't/couldn't do, but I love it and it's truly a blessing!
6)For the fact that my teaching is paying off! Maddy has passed every test so far with flying colors. I guess I'm doing something right!
7)For a field trip to Happy Cow tomorrow!
8)For the season premier of new shows! Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, and SVU! Gets me all excited!
9)For the consignment sale coming up in 2 days! It's one for the whole family..not just for kids! I hope to find some good fall clothes!
10)For Bargain Foods! Funny, I know, but I LOVE this grocery store! And I am going there tomorrow!!! YAY!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Monday Mumblings
It's been a while since I updated, but I've just been waiting to get that "perfect" post in my head. No, this one is not it. So for now, just some things going on in our lives.
This past Friday marked a year from when baby E came to live with us. I always thought she'd be here to celebrate that milestone with us, but God had other plans for her life. As time goes by, I miss her more. When she first left us, I was too numb to realize what had happened. I tried to supress my tears from coming, and tried to carry on with my life. It's been over 3 months and I can't say that it ever got any easier. I did okay for a while, but when that anniversary date came last Friday, it was a constant reminder that she is no longer in my arms! I know the whole "5 stages of grief" thing, but I think that was wrote by someone who has never really experienced grief. The final stage is apparently acceptance. I know I'm not there, or if I'll ever be there. I had a dream a few nights ago about her leaving, and the very thing that happened that day, was played out in my dream that night...every single horrifying detail. So, no, I am not at the 5th stage yet. I don't know what stage I'd be considered at this point. But I do know that my life will never be the same. Losing a child is life changing, just as welcoming a child is. It becomes a part of you, a part that I will carry on for the rest of my life. I hope that I don't always tear up when her name is mentioned or thought of, but losing her will always be a part of me. Why does God think it's in mine or his best interest for me to experience losing children? I don't know the answer to that question. Hopefully one day I will. Ryan always said that he thinks God allowed us to go through 2 miscarriages to teach us how to truly love a child. Maybe he's right about that, because I love Maddy so much that words can't describe. So why did He allow us to lose the other child that we wanted so desperately to be ours (legally)? I don't know yet...maybe there are more children in our future. Maybe not. But I will keep praising Him either way and letting Him live through me. It would be very easy to get bitter at God. I'm thankful for my faith in Him, and know that He holds my future!
We are in our 6th week of 1st grade! Next week is a break week! We're on a 6 week on/1 week off schedule, so I'm really looking forward to having a nice long break next week to do...nothing! Maddy is doing exceptionally well this year so far. She has passed every single test that I've given her!
Ryan and I saw Mark Lowry in concert last Friday night. Grandma kept Maddy overnight and we had a date night! It was so nice to see him in concert and just LAUGH OUT LOUD! If you ever get to see him in concert, GO! You will not be disappointed.
So, those are my random mumblings! I'll try to get my mind wrapped around something in particular for the next post! : ) Happy Monday, everyone!
This past Friday marked a year from when baby E came to live with us. I always thought she'd be here to celebrate that milestone with us, but God had other plans for her life. As time goes by, I miss her more. When she first left us, I was too numb to realize what had happened. I tried to supress my tears from coming, and tried to carry on with my life. It's been over 3 months and I can't say that it ever got any easier. I did okay for a while, but when that anniversary date came last Friday, it was a constant reminder that she is no longer in my arms! I know the whole "5 stages of grief" thing, but I think that was wrote by someone who has never really experienced grief. The final stage is apparently acceptance. I know I'm not there, or if I'll ever be there. I had a dream a few nights ago about her leaving, and the very thing that happened that day, was played out in my dream that night...every single horrifying detail. So, no, I am not at the 5th stage yet. I don't know what stage I'd be considered at this point. But I do know that my life will never be the same. Losing a child is life changing, just as welcoming a child is. It becomes a part of you, a part that I will carry on for the rest of my life. I hope that I don't always tear up when her name is mentioned or thought of, but losing her will always be a part of me. Why does God think it's in mine or his best interest for me to experience losing children? I don't know the answer to that question. Hopefully one day I will. Ryan always said that he thinks God allowed us to go through 2 miscarriages to teach us how to truly love a child. Maybe he's right about that, because I love Maddy so much that words can't describe. So why did He allow us to lose the other child that we wanted so desperately to be ours (legally)? I don't know yet...maybe there are more children in our future. Maybe not. But I will keep praising Him either way and letting Him live through me. It would be very easy to get bitter at God. I'm thankful for my faith in Him, and know that He holds my future!
We are in our 6th week of 1st grade! Next week is a break week! We're on a 6 week on/1 week off schedule, so I'm really looking forward to having a nice long break next week to do...nothing! Maddy is doing exceptionally well this year so far. She has passed every single test that I've given her!
Ryan and I saw Mark Lowry in concert last Friday night. Grandma kept Maddy overnight and we had a date night! It was so nice to see him in concert and just LAUGH OUT LOUD! If you ever get to see him in concert, GO! You will not be disappointed.
So, those are my random mumblings! I'll try to get my mind wrapped around something in particular for the next post! : ) Happy Monday, everyone!
Monday, August 24, 2009
First Grade
We started our school year today. Maddy is a big First Grader this year! Our subjects are English, Math, Spelling, Handwriting, Science, and Heritage Studies..aka Social Studies. So far this morning has gone pretty well. I fully intended on getting up early and working out before starting school, but the beauty of homeschool is that if plans change, so be it, as long as we still get the work done! : ) Needless to say, I'll be working out this evening instead of this morning!
We started with Bible reading for about 30 minutes. We started in Genesis, and I hope to have the whole Bible read with her by the end of the school year. Then we went downstairs to the school room for the rest of the subjects. English, Handwriting, Spelling, and Math will take up the whole year. There are 54 Science lessons, so we're doing Science 3 days a week. There are 60 Heritage Studies lessons, but most require 2-4 days per lesson, so that will take up most of the school year, give or take about 20-30 days. Ryan will be doing music lessons with her on Thursday evenings. Our schedule is so jam packed in the evenings, that we don't have time to do music everyday, but she is such a fast learner that I think she'll pick it up in no time. Mondays she goes to gymnastics for an hour and a half, Tuesday nights are soccer practice nights for an hour, Wednesday is Church, and Ryan and I are teaching the first grade class, so that keeps up busy! Thursday is gymnastics again for an hour, so our free nights are Friday and Saturdays. Maddy also joined the Kid's Choir at Church so that will keep her busy on Sunday afternoons.
Well, I must go. Our lunch time has went a little past what it should. We're off to do a science experiement right in our front yard. Ahh..the beauty of homeschool! The world is our classroom!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
We survived Atlanta!
We decided to take Maddy on a little trip to Atlanta last weekend. Our purpose for going down there was to go to Six Flags, thanks to a generous friend who gave us some complimentary tickets! We had a lot of fun, although Maddy is still scared of most rides. She must get that from her daddy! He never rode a roller coaster until he met me, and now he is a thrill seeker too. Well, he has yet to ride the one where you lay on your back, but he's making progress! I, being a big thrill seeker, did something that I never thought I'd do. I chickened out of riding something for the first time in my life! The ride is called Acrophobia. It looks like the devil designed it. It's a 200 foot pole and there are seats all around the pole. It's very similar to any of those "drop" rides, but this one appears (remember, I didn't ride it, so I have to say appears) to be much more intense. It takes you up 200 feet, while spinning you. Strike one! I get very sick on "spinny" rides. Yes, even the Carousel! Then, once you're at the very top, it tilts your seat to where you're looking straight down at the ground, instead of looking out like most *sane* rides do. Then after about 5 seconds of looking straight down at the ground and hoping that you don't fall out, it drops you....very fast. I couldn't do it! I stood in line trying to find my courage from somewhere, but when Ryan looked at me from the outside of the line and (laughed first) told me that I didn't have to do it, I took his advice and got the heck out of line! Maybe one day I'll ride it, but I'll have to be knocked out first!
Saturday, we went to Underground Atlanta. When Ryan and I were dating, we went and had a blast. Oh, how that place has changed. It was down right scary, and definitely not a place for kids, so we left. We went to the mall and they had a Disney Store, so we bought Maddy's Halloween costume early! She will be Hannah Montana this year. We ate at Joes Crab Shack after the mall and then Ryan suggested Toys R Us. Thanks, dad! ; ) Maddy got a new backpack for co-op, and if you bought a backpack, you got a free lunch box! Can you guess what kind she picked out? You got it! None other than Hannah Montana!
Sunday was probably the highlight of our trip, according to Maddy. She got to go to the American Girl store for the first time! She had a BLAST! She didn't know what to think as she was walking around looking at everything. She ended up with a big Kaya doll, a Ruthie mini-doll, and a Felicity book. She tried to talk us into getting Chrissa (her modern doll) a new hairstyle and some earrings! She's sneaky like that! We told her that she had to leave something for when we go back in November. I bet you can't guess why we're going back!!! Ahh, you should know! It's to see Miley Cyrus! HA! ; ) We got to eat at the American Girl Bistro. A 60-something dollar meal for 3 people, but she's our only one...she's allowed to be spoiled! : ) The food was great, and EVERYTHING in the bistro was PINK!!! Ryan looked so happy to be sitting there in a pink room with pink columns, pink tables, pink chairs, pink menus, and everything else pink! No, really, he did enjoy it. He wanted Maddy to be a boy so bad he could taste it, but I know he wouldn't have it any other way now.
I guess I should talk about our hotel. When we booked our hotel through Expedia, I had no clue that it was going to be where it was. We booked it because it was cheap, and it was less than a mile from Six Flags. When we turned down the road to get to it, there were 5 strip clubs, 2 "toy" stores, and a liquor store! If that wasn't bad enough, there were 3 or 4 "undesirable women" selling their services! Ahhh!!! The hotel itself wasn't too bad, although the beds were so hard that Ryan and I debated about sleeping on the floor instead. It really made me sick to my stomach to think that we had brought our daughter to a location like that. There was nothing we could do about it, since it had already been paid for. Trying to get out of it and get our $ back would have been like pulling teeth. Trust me, we've tried before! On Saturday night, Ryan was getting out of the van and sorting our bags, and Maddy and I were still sitting in the van. A lady that would make a corpse look good, came walking up to Ryan. She said, "How are you doing, honey?" Ryan cut his eyes at me in shock and then looked down and tried to ignore her. She kept coming!! It wasn't until I got out of the car, that she turned around and walked off. I told Ryan that he should have asked her how much she charged, in case times get tough, I'll know what the market is. HAHA! TOTALLY KIDDING!!!! I have never been in a situation like that and it just blowed my mind! And Ryan's too! At least we know not to ever go back there again!
So, all in all, we had a great trip, despite the skanky women and the scary people at Underground! When we go back in November, we'll definitely put more $ towards a hotel, and hope and pray that the beds are softer, and the only people offering "services" are the people doing valet parking! ; )
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Our Own Horror Film!
On the way home from grandmas last night, Maddy said, "My nose is bleeding." Well, I figured it was just a little nose bleed, but when I turned around to look, she had blood everywhere! It scared me to the point I was shaking. Luckily, we had to pass my parents house on the way home, so we made a stop there. My poor baby had blood all over her dress, her face, her arms, legs, everywhere! I have never seen anything like it, and the end was no where in sight. Her whole face was red from where she was trying to wipe it. I tried my best to keep her away from the mirror while I got her cleaned up, but she managed to catch a glimpse of herself. I thought, "oh no...she's gonna flip out!" Lord knows I was flipping out! When she looked at herself in the mirror, her exact words were, "This is cool! I look like a clown!"
So much for my girly girl! She has moved on!
So much for my girly girl! She has moved on!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Lazy Summer
Not much to post this time. We've been enjoying our summer by sleeping late, having breakfast on the couch, lounging around in our pajamas all day...not doing much of anything except relaxing! So as you can see, there isn't a whole lot to talk about this time. LOL! Maddy is closer to 7 than 6 now and it's breaking my heart that she's growing so fast! I want her to grow up and be a successful adult (and hopefully wife and mommy some day, although she tells me NO!), but another year older is another year closer to her being gone. She thinks she is about 16 and is already laying out a plan for getting her first car. She wants a yellow Volkswagon Beetle! What's so funny is that when I was a kid, a little older than her, I used to want a yellow Bettle too! I never told her that, and when she picked that as her first car, it was really sweet. She is so much like me, and she has a few of her daddy's personality traits, but for the most part, she's a mini-me! She now knows how to get on the internet, and her favorite site is youtube. I really thought I had more time before any of this happened!! She likes to listen to Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Carrie Underwood songs, and will type them in herself. I made her a list of their names that she keeps right by the computer so she can search them. This afternoon, Ryan and I told her that we were going to take a nap, and she said, "Okay, well, I'll be doing my normal Sunday thing...listening on youtube!" LOL!!! When I woke up, she told me she had a music video that she wanted me to watch. She said, "I think you'll recognize it." Turns out it was *Just A Dream* by Carrie Underwood. I started crying, because it's such a sad song and she looked over at me, laid her head on my shoulder and said, "Yeah, it really is sad, isn't it?" Little stinker!!!
So, that's it for now. We'll be starting school again next month. We've taken too long of a break this summer, but I'm starting to find the motivation again. I've switched curriculum this year, so that helps to motivate me. Maddy is ready and would start back tomorrow if I was ready. I'm thinking of closing the homeschooling blog, since I don't use it very often. I'll be making a decision about that soon. If I do, I'll post all of her school stuff here. Who knows! All I know is that it's summer, and I just want to be lazy! : )
So, that's it for now. We'll be starting school again next month. We've taken too long of a break this summer, but I'm starting to find the motivation again. I've switched curriculum this year, so that helps to motivate me. Maddy is ready and would start back tomorrow if I was ready. I'm thinking of closing the homeschooling blog, since I don't use it very often. I'll be making a decision about that soon. If I do, I'll post all of her school stuff here. Who knows! All I know is that it's summer, and I just want to be lazy! : )
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Soap
Maddy loves to take baths with me. I don't mind it most of the time, but it makes shaving pretty hard when she's in the tub with me. I bought some really good smelling soap a few weeks ago that we both are obsessed with. She was washing her body and said, "This soap smells so good and I can put it all over my body. Well, I guess I can put it everywhere except for my booty, cause if I put it on my booty, it would make the soap stink!"
Guess a lesson in hygiene is in order....LOL!
Guess a lesson in hygiene is in order....LOL!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Can you tell she loves to read?
We're organizing books today. She's racked up quiet a collection. There were alot more, but we gave them away, when we didn't expect another baby in the house. Oh well! I don't think E will hurt for any books. LOL!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Trophy Time!
Last night was the Team Foothills Annual Banquet. Maddy was so excited because she got her GymKix trophy, as well as her 5 year trophy. Yes, you read that right. My big girl is only 6 and got a 5 year trophy. LOL! She started gymnastics at Foothills when she was 13 months old and has stuck it out this long. We had a rough year when she turned 3, because it was then that she went to her "big girl class". Until then, Ryan or I were always with her in the "parent/tot" class. That was always more of a workout for me than it was for her. LOL! Then she turned 3 and moved to a class where mommy and daddy had to stay behind the window. That really upset her and she didn't want to go out with the other kids. So, for a good 6 months, Ryan or I sat out in the gym on the sidelines to give her the peace that she needed. She loved the sport, just not doing it without us.
The next year when she turned 4, she was asked to be a part of GymKix. It's a performance team that travels around to different College ball games as well as school functions and nursing homes, etc. It took about 3 months and then she became a totally different child. She was still a little skeptical, so every performance I would just pray, "Lord please let her go out there without me". They might have expected me to fill in for her, and the thought of me doing a backbend or a cartwheel, well, they might as well go aheand and have 911 programed into their phone. Hahaa! By the end of that year, she was a shining star. This year was no different. She was front and center on her routine and had all the self confidence in the world. I still wonder where did this child come from. All those days I wanted to choke her for screaming and crying for me, well, they were worth it, I guess. ; )
She'll continue GymKix another year this coming year, but unfortunately, Mrs. Krista won't. : ( She has been Maddy's gymnastics instructor since she was a baby, and we will miss her sooooo much! Maddy has learned so much from Mrs. Krista. Last year she learned her backbend kickout, and this year she learned her back handspring! All thanks goes to Mrs. Krista for working with her and helping her along the way. We'll miss you, Krista! And to our big girl, way to go! We're very proud of you! Just one request though, can you pass on some of your endurance and flexibility? LOL!
With Mrs. Krista, the one to thank for Maddy's gymnastics skills.
Posing with her GymKix trophy and 5 yr gymnastics trophy.
The next year when she turned 4, she was asked to be a part of GymKix. It's a performance team that travels around to different College ball games as well as school functions and nursing homes, etc. It took about 3 months and then she became a totally different child. She was still a little skeptical, so every performance I would just pray, "Lord please let her go out there without me". They might have expected me to fill in for her, and the thought of me doing a backbend or a cartwheel, well, they might as well go aheand and have 911 programed into their phone. Hahaa! By the end of that year, she was a shining star. This year was no different. She was front and center on her routine and had all the self confidence in the world. I still wonder where did this child come from. All those days I wanted to choke her for screaming and crying for me, well, they were worth it, I guess. ; )
She'll continue GymKix another year this coming year, but unfortunately, Mrs. Krista won't. : ( She has been Maddy's gymnastics instructor since she was a baby, and we will miss her sooooo much! Maddy has learned so much from Mrs. Krista. Last year she learned her backbend kickout, and this year she learned her back handspring! All thanks goes to Mrs. Krista for working with her and helping her along the way. We'll miss you, Krista! And to our big girl, way to go! We're very proud of you! Just one request though, can you pass on some of your endurance and flexibility? LOL!
With Mrs. Krista, the one to thank for Maddy's gymnastics skills.
Posing with her GymKix trophy and 5 yr gymnastics trophy.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Yogurt Feeder!
Your Maddy-ism of the day...
She was feeding E some yogurt while I folded the laundry. I told E, "Wow you have yogurt all over you!" And Maddy said, "Yeah, well, I guess I'm not a very good yogurt feeder." It's never a boring moment at our house!
She was feeding E some yogurt while I folded the laundry. I told E, "Wow you have yogurt all over you!" And Maddy said, "Yeah, well, I guess I'm not a very good yogurt feeder." It's never a boring moment at our house!
Friday, April 17, 2009
A day with my Bugg
Today was homeschool day at Biltmore. We booked a "Grandma Fun Day" for E, and woke Miss Sleepy Head Maddy up and we were on the road by 7am. It's been a while since I've seen 7am. Don't hate! I've got kids that love to sleep!
We had such a great time. She had her guide book and was reading about each room that we passed. It was precious! I think I paid more attention to her expressions than I did the rooms.
Enjoy the pics!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
We won!
I was driving down the road one day listening to HisRadio 89.3FM, and they announced a contest for free tickets to the Family Life Weekend to Remember Marriage Conference. I got home and figured what the heck, I'll give it a try. So I wrote a story about Ryan, and then I checked the prices for the conference if we went and paid for it. When I saw the price, I clicked off the site, because it was pretty steep. So, I guess I forgot about the contest, because I really didn't think that my entry would be picked when they had thousands of other entries to choose from. Well, guess what? They picked mine! They called Ryan to let him know and when he called to tell me, I was so excited! Life is full of surprises, and this was one for me! So without further ado, here's my entry...
Ryan and I met exactly one day after we "met" on America Online! I was scared to death because even 10 years ago, you just didn't know who you were really talking to online. He picked me up at my parents house and we went to Pizza Hut. The funny part is, he thought they took a credit card, but they didn't. So guess who had to pay for our 1st date? Yep, you got it..yours truly! And yet I still fell in love with him! I tell him often that he owes me twenty bucks, but his response is always, "I think you've been more than paid back by now." : ) Ryan is my rock. We have been through 2 very devastating miscarriages, and he held my hand all the way. When our daughter was born in 2002, I fell in love with him even more. He is the man I prayed for, and God gave me a miracle when He put Ryan in my life. We have had really great times and really sad times, but through it all, we've kept Christ in the center and He continues to bless us over and over again. We'll be celebrating 9 year in July, and it seems like yesterday that I walked down the isle to his loving arms. I thank God everyday for him, and I look forward to many more years of loving him!
We are planning on staying one night at the Hyatt during the conference, since that's where they're having it. The Hyatt is also where we spent our wedding night!
Congrats, my love!!! We're gonna have a great time!
Ryan and I met exactly one day after we "met" on America Online! I was scared to death because even 10 years ago, you just didn't know who you were really talking to online. He picked me up at my parents house and we went to Pizza Hut. The funny part is, he thought they took a credit card, but they didn't. So guess who had to pay for our 1st date? Yep, you got it..yours truly! And yet I still fell in love with him! I tell him often that he owes me twenty bucks, but his response is always, "I think you've been more than paid back by now." : ) Ryan is my rock. We have been through 2 very devastating miscarriages, and he held my hand all the way. When our daughter was born in 2002, I fell in love with him even more. He is the man I prayed for, and God gave me a miracle when He put Ryan in my life. We have had really great times and really sad times, but through it all, we've kept Christ in the center and He continues to bless us over and over again. We'll be celebrating 9 year in July, and it seems like yesterday that I walked down the isle to his loving arms. I thank God everyday for him, and I look forward to many more years of loving him!
We are planning on staying one night at the Hyatt during the conference, since that's where they're having it. The Hyatt is also where we spent our wedding night!
Congrats, my love!!! We're gonna have a great time!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Let Me Hold You Longer
This was sent to me through Facebook, and has really tugged at my heart. So many times we get so caught up in doing things, that we don't even realize how fast our children are growing up right before our eyes.
To all the parents out there, this one's for you...
Let Me Hold You Longer
Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts...
The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips.
The last time I lifted you and held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying, needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked.
The last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold.
The last time you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past----
Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favourite faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten, those last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in little league, last colored picture made.
I never said good-bye to all your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow----will I recognize your lasts?
The last time that you catch a frog in that old back yard pond.
The last time you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly, scattered images will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts...
The last time I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight.
The last time I pray with you and tuck you in at night.
The last time when we cuddle with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson, last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss today's sweet, precious lasts...
The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes, your room is still a mess.
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.
My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold on longer----want to recognize your lasts...
The last time you need my help with the details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.
The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed the seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold on to your lasts.
For some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away.
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.
One last hug, one last good-bye. one quick hurried kiss.
One last to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.
Written by, Karen Kingsbury
From a book titled "Let me Hold you Longer"
To all the parents out there, this one's for you...
Let Me Hold You Longer
Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts:
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts...
The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips.
The last time I lifted you and held you on my hip.
The last night when you woke up crying, needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket, wanting to be rocked.
The last time when you ran to me, still small enough to hold.
The last time you said you'd marry me when you grew old.
Precious, simple moments and bright flashes from your past----
Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favourite faded baseball cap.
Your last few hours of kindergarten, those last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in little league, last colored picture made.
I never said good-bye to all your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow----will I recognize your lasts?
The last time that you catch a frog in that old back yard pond.
The last time you run barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn.
Silly, scattered images will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your lasts...
The last time I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight.
The last time I pray with you and tuck you in at night.
The last time when we cuddle with a book, just me and you.
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.
The last piano lesson, last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss today's sweet, precious lasts...
The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes, your room is still a mess.
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.
My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.
I want to hold on longer----want to recognize your lasts...
The last time you need my help with the details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for advice about romance.
The last time that you talk to me about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed the seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold on to your lasts.
For some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away.
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way.
One last hug, one last good-bye. one quick hurried kiss.
One last to understand just how much you'll be missed.
I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.
Written by, Karen Kingsbury
From a book titled "Let me Hold you Longer"
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
God at work!
This video is so powerful! I just got home about an hour ago and was having a horrible day. I won't go into any details, because it really doesn't matter at this point. God knows what kind of day I had, and after getting home, putting Diva down for a nap, I came downstairs to cool off and this video was in my email. It was just what I needed to see. Normally I don't open a lot of forwards, but I did, and by seeing this video, I felt the Lord speak to me and tell me to let it all go. No problem that we can ever face compares to what God did on the cross for you and for me. With God as our leader and our comforter, we can get through anything. So whatever problem you are facing at the moment, let go and let God! Enjoy the video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3qBt-INLq8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3qBt-INLq8
Monday, March 30, 2009
A funny Bugg!
Maddy has really taken a liking to sleep here lately, and I love that! When Diva wakes up before her, she will walk into her room and bang on her bed and say, "MaaaMaaMa-dddddd". Maddy will get so mad!
We were supposed to go to a play this morning, but it's all the way in Clemson (25 min drive) and it started at 9:30! I asked Maddy last night if she still wanted to go and these were here exact words.....
"Um...I think I just want to sleep in. That is, as long as E doesn't wake me up. I get so mad when she does that, because you see, I may not take a nap during the day, but that's because I combine my night sleep with a morning nap. I just tag them together and it's called a sleenap. When E comes into my room and wakes me up, I don't get to finish that morning nap!"
This morning, everybody slept til 9:30 (Hey..we deserve that!) and when Maddy woke up, she came into my room, and the picture says it all.....
We were supposed to go to a play this morning, but it's all the way in Clemson (25 min drive) and it started at 9:30! I asked Maddy last night if she still wanted to go and these were here exact words.....
"Um...I think I just want to sleep in. That is, as long as E doesn't wake me up. I get so mad when she does that, because you see, I may not take a nap during the day, but that's because I combine my night sleep with a morning nap. I just tag them together and it's called a sleenap. When E comes into my room and wakes me up, I don't get to finish that morning nap!"
This morning, everybody slept til 9:30 (Hey..we deserve that!) and when Maddy woke up, she came into my room, and the picture says it all.....
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Love Your Man!
I recently read a great book. It's called *For Women Only* by Shaunti Feldhahn. I recommend it to every woman out there, whether you are married or not. It has really put things into perspective for me, and so this blog will be made to encourage all you ladies out there!
I've been married for almost 9 years now, and for those 9 years, I have been trying to figure out how my husband thinks, or why he thinks the way he does and why he does the things he does.Men are mysteries, and vice versa. This book has opened my eyes to a whole new light. I was reluctant to read it at first. I am not very good at making the "sorry" move and admitting I've been wrong. So for me, it was a very humbling experience.
So to recap the book...
*Your love is not enough. We'd like to think like the song says "all you need is love", but that isn't true. I learned that respect means so much more to a man than loving him. As women, we hold all the power in our hands. We have the ability to either build up or tear down our men. Respect at home affects every area of a man's life. You have to respect his judgement, respect his abilities, respect him in communication, respect him in our assumptions, and most importantly, respect him in public. To tear your man apart in public is like ripping his heart out. Teasing can be torture to your man. And don't assume that he is ignoring you if he doesn't do something you want him to do or whatever the case may be. They simply just don't think like women.
*Your Mr. Smooth looks so impressive, but feels like an impostor. Sometimes he may try to hold it all together, but he may feel inadequate at work, or at home. So what should we women do? Don't tear him down. Affirm him. After all, if a man doesn't feel affirmation from his wife, he may look for it in other places. Take care of your man, ladies! Boost his confidence!
*Men like to be providers. It gives them a feeling like they can conquer the world to be able to provide for their families. Even if a wife works full time and helps with the bills, a man still feels the need to be that provider for his family. Providing is a primary way to say "I love you."
*Sex changes everything! Ahh, my favorite chapter! Sex unlocks a man's emotions, and guess who holds the key? ; )Listen to me ladies! If we are going through the motions and only "giving it up" because we feel that we have to, that is doing nothing for our men! He wants you to want him. The way it was put in the book says, that if you are only doing it because you feel like it's your duty or chore, he would much rather be sent outside to trim the shrubs, so go ahead and give him some clippers! Men want to feel wanted and desired by us. 74% of men said that if their wife had sex reluctantly, then it still wouldn't be enough to satisfy them. WOW...and all this time I've thought it was just the act that pleased a man! By a woman participating willingly, it gives a man a boost of confidence and makes him feel loved and desired. On the other hand, if we do it reluctantly, he feels incredible rejection and it can send him into depression. No lie! So what can we do? We can choose to love him in the way he desires. Get involved, and have more fun too, and most importantly, make sex a priority. As the book says, men want a girl next door in the living room, and a wildcat in the bedroom! So let's not cheat ourselves or our men! Now the only thing I can think of is that oldies song...."Let's get it on..!" ; )
*He is a keeper of a visual rolodex. Men are very visual. What does that mean? Well, if a woman is dressed to show off her body, she is an eye magnet that is incredibly difficult to avoid, and even if a man forces himself not to look, he is acutely aware of her presence. Secondly, even if there is no "eye magnet" present, every man has a "mental rolodex" stored and can intrude into his thoughts without warning. Think about this statement: A man can't not want to look. To quote one man from the book, "It is pleasurable-in a small way- in the same way that sex is pleasurable. Forcing myself to remove that thought from my mind is something as difficult as it would be to stop in the middle of sex." Now if it ended there, that would make every woman feel insecure, but it gets better. Every man has to make a choice. They can choose to dwell on the images and thoughts, or they can choose to dismiss them and honor their wife. Here comes the good part..there is reassurance in this. His temptation is often not primarily sexual. Every man is different. It's not because of you, and this does not impact his feelings for you. It used to be that a man had to find visual temptations, but now they can't be avoided. And last but not least, realize that God doesn't make mistakes. Women sometimes wonder "God! Why did you create him like this?" But you have to remember that God created man like he is, and He said His creation was good!
*He really does want romance! 84% of men want romance, and only 16% said they could take it or leave it. So why oh why do they not do enough of it? The number one reason is because they feel like their efforts won't be good enough. So what can we do? Encourage him, entice him, tell Harry what Sally needs, and keep him number 1!
The last chapter I won't say anything about. She warns all women before reading that chapter to pray first! And boy am I glad I did! The chapter is called *The truth about the way you look. Why what's on the outside matters to him on the inside." So I encourage you to read this chapter, but have your heart right first. ; )
In the end, there was a survey. The question to all men was "what is one thing you wish your wife knew, but you feel that you can't explain it to her?" And the number 1 response was "How much I love her."
So I challenge you, ladies, love your man, respect them in all areas of life. You will be a much happier wife and you've made your man feel like he can take on the world! Why should we want anything different than that?
For the record, the author and her husband have a book for your man! "For Men Only"! Pick him up a copy...and see what happens!
To my husband,
I love you more than words can express. I know for the past years in our marriage I've been trying to get into your head and try to figure out why you do what you do, but now I know. I look forward to the rest of our lives together. I am ready for this challenge!
I've been married for almost 9 years now, and for those 9 years, I have been trying to figure out how my husband thinks, or why he thinks the way he does and why he does the things he does.Men are mysteries, and vice versa. This book has opened my eyes to a whole new light. I was reluctant to read it at first. I am not very good at making the "sorry" move and admitting I've been wrong. So for me, it was a very humbling experience.
So to recap the book...
*Your love is not enough. We'd like to think like the song says "all you need is love", but that isn't true. I learned that respect means so much more to a man than loving him. As women, we hold all the power in our hands. We have the ability to either build up or tear down our men. Respect at home affects every area of a man's life. You have to respect his judgement, respect his abilities, respect him in communication, respect him in our assumptions, and most importantly, respect him in public. To tear your man apart in public is like ripping his heart out. Teasing can be torture to your man. And don't assume that he is ignoring you if he doesn't do something you want him to do or whatever the case may be. They simply just don't think like women.
*Your Mr. Smooth looks so impressive, but feels like an impostor. Sometimes he may try to hold it all together, but he may feel inadequate at work, or at home. So what should we women do? Don't tear him down. Affirm him. After all, if a man doesn't feel affirmation from his wife, he may look for it in other places. Take care of your man, ladies! Boost his confidence!
*Men like to be providers. It gives them a feeling like they can conquer the world to be able to provide for their families. Even if a wife works full time and helps with the bills, a man still feels the need to be that provider for his family. Providing is a primary way to say "I love you."
*Sex changes everything! Ahh, my favorite chapter! Sex unlocks a man's emotions, and guess who holds the key? ; )Listen to me ladies! If we are going through the motions and only "giving it up" because we feel that we have to, that is doing nothing for our men! He wants you to want him. The way it was put in the book says, that if you are only doing it because you feel like it's your duty or chore, he would much rather be sent outside to trim the shrubs, so go ahead and give him some clippers! Men want to feel wanted and desired by us. 74% of men said that if their wife had sex reluctantly, then it still wouldn't be enough to satisfy them. WOW...and all this time I've thought it was just the act that pleased a man! By a woman participating willingly, it gives a man a boost of confidence and makes him feel loved and desired. On the other hand, if we do it reluctantly, he feels incredible rejection and it can send him into depression. No lie! So what can we do? We can choose to love him in the way he desires. Get involved, and have more fun too, and most importantly, make sex a priority. As the book says, men want a girl next door in the living room, and a wildcat in the bedroom! So let's not cheat ourselves or our men! Now the only thing I can think of is that oldies song...."Let's get it on..!" ; )
*He is a keeper of a visual rolodex. Men are very visual. What does that mean? Well, if a woman is dressed to show off her body, she is an eye magnet that is incredibly difficult to avoid, and even if a man forces himself not to look, he is acutely aware of her presence. Secondly, even if there is no "eye magnet" present, every man has a "mental rolodex" stored and can intrude into his thoughts without warning. Think about this statement: A man can't not want to look. To quote one man from the book, "It is pleasurable-in a small way- in the same way that sex is pleasurable. Forcing myself to remove that thought from my mind is something as difficult as it would be to stop in the middle of sex." Now if it ended there, that would make every woman feel insecure, but it gets better. Every man has to make a choice. They can choose to dwell on the images and thoughts, or they can choose to dismiss them and honor their wife. Here comes the good part..there is reassurance in this. His temptation is often not primarily sexual. Every man is different. It's not because of you, and this does not impact his feelings for you. It used to be that a man had to find visual temptations, but now they can't be avoided. And last but not least, realize that God doesn't make mistakes. Women sometimes wonder "God! Why did you create him like this?" But you have to remember that God created man like he is, and He said His creation was good!
*He really does want romance! 84% of men want romance, and only 16% said they could take it or leave it. So why oh why do they not do enough of it? The number one reason is because they feel like their efforts won't be good enough. So what can we do? Encourage him, entice him, tell Harry what Sally needs, and keep him number 1!
The last chapter I won't say anything about. She warns all women before reading that chapter to pray first! And boy am I glad I did! The chapter is called *The truth about the way you look. Why what's on the outside matters to him on the inside." So I encourage you to read this chapter, but have your heart right first. ; )
In the end, there was a survey. The question to all men was "what is one thing you wish your wife knew, but you feel that you can't explain it to her?" And the number 1 response was "How much I love her."
So I challenge you, ladies, love your man, respect them in all areas of life. You will be a much happier wife and you've made your man feel like he can take on the world! Why should we want anything different than that?
For the record, the author and her husband have a book for your man! "For Men Only"! Pick him up a copy...and see what happens!
To my husband,
I love you more than words can express. I know for the past years in our marriage I've been trying to get into your head and try to figure out why you do what you do, but now I know. I look forward to the rest of our lives together. I am ready for this challenge!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
FOOD!!
Eat to live vs. live to eat, now that's the question!
Ryan and I, or maybe I'll say *I* have been hitting the gym hard and kicking the habit of bad eating for 24 days now. Ryan tries, but I think I'm a little more dedicated than he is, so hopefully my good habits will rub off on him, instead of vice versa! EEEK!!
So as we sat at the lunch table today, I started wondering, why does everything revolve around food? Our Church class is having an "after church lunch" tomorrow. Ryan said, "That's gonna be good." As I felt my hips growing further apart as he said that, I said, "No, it's not!" Sure, there's gonna be fried chicken, potato salad, and every other fixin' that a good ol' Southern Baptist would love! But I can feel myself gaining atleat a pound just thinking about it.
You'd never hear tell of anyone getting together for a game of softball or some other form of exercise..um..I mean...fun! Nope, food's gotta be there. You'd never hear of a family getting together for Christmas or any other time of year just to get together. Nope, you can bet your life there's gonna be food! Don't get me wrong, I love food just as much as the next woman with big thighs, oh shoot, I mean, the next person, but what has happened to us that we have to make the food be the center of our lives?
The other day as I was driving to the gym, I thought to myself how I was gonna celebrate when I reached my goal, and you know what thought popped into my head? Not shopping, not a mani/pedi, not a romantic getaway with my husband, nope...a celebration FEAST at a nice restaurant! Ahhhh!!!!
Seriously, I guess I have issues. LOL! Maybe it's the way I've been trained growing up, maybe I just go with the flow of the rest of society, or maybe I really do need some serious help. After all, I found myself leaning my arms and upper torso on the bathroom counter this morning just so I could see a number on the scale I'm happy with.
To date, since January 1st, I have had 8 oz of soft drink, and 5 french fries. I won't try to hide it. But that's much better than what I'm used to..french fries at every fast food restaurant! I'm looking forward to the end. Not too much more to go in the big scheme of things. But the depressing part is, no matter how much I lose, my body will never go back to the pre-pregnancy shape. Nope, my gut sags, my boobs sag, but that's okay, because I got a sweet little girl out of it, and everytime I see her sweet face, I'll embrace the saggin' skin and my ugly c/s scar! She was worth it!
Ryan and I, or maybe I'll say *I* have been hitting the gym hard and kicking the habit of bad eating for 24 days now. Ryan tries, but I think I'm a little more dedicated than he is, so hopefully my good habits will rub off on him, instead of vice versa! EEEK!!
So as we sat at the lunch table today, I started wondering, why does everything revolve around food? Our Church class is having an "after church lunch" tomorrow. Ryan said, "That's gonna be good." As I felt my hips growing further apart as he said that, I said, "No, it's not!" Sure, there's gonna be fried chicken, potato salad, and every other fixin' that a good ol' Southern Baptist would love! But I can feel myself gaining atleat a pound just thinking about it.
You'd never hear tell of anyone getting together for a game of softball or some other form of exercise..um..I mean...fun! Nope, food's gotta be there. You'd never hear of a family getting together for Christmas or any other time of year just to get together. Nope, you can bet your life there's gonna be food! Don't get me wrong, I love food just as much as the next woman with big thighs, oh shoot, I mean, the next person, but what has happened to us that we have to make the food be the center of our lives?
The other day as I was driving to the gym, I thought to myself how I was gonna celebrate when I reached my goal, and you know what thought popped into my head? Not shopping, not a mani/pedi, not a romantic getaway with my husband, nope...a celebration FEAST at a nice restaurant! Ahhhh!!!!
Seriously, I guess I have issues. LOL! Maybe it's the way I've been trained growing up, maybe I just go with the flow of the rest of society, or maybe I really do need some serious help. After all, I found myself leaning my arms and upper torso on the bathroom counter this morning just so I could see a number on the scale I'm happy with.
To date, since January 1st, I have had 8 oz of soft drink, and 5 french fries. I won't try to hide it. But that's much better than what I'm used to..french fries at every fast food restaurant! I'm looking forward to the end. Not too much more to go in the big scheme of things. But the depressing part is, no matter how much I lose, my body will never go back to the pre-pregnancy shape. Nope, my gut sags, my boobs sag, but that's okay, because I got a sweet little girl out of it, and everytime I see her sweet face, I'll embrace the saggin' skin and my ugly c/s scar! She was worth it!
Friday, January 16, 2009
What has gotten into her?
As I was in my bedroom folding laundry, Maddy must have stolen a bra from the basket. No, there will be no pictures to accompany this post, because my "*Double Dang* Slingshot" doesn't need to be posted for the world to see! HAHA! I closed the bedroom door and about a minute later there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find sweet lil' Boo standing there wearing my bra, and laughing! The things that happen when I leave the two of them alone for 5 minutes!
So after I struggled to get the bra away from Boo, because she loved wearing it, I about fell in the floor laughing when Maddy said, with girl attitude....
"I'm gonna daaaaance like an octopus sprayed with dental powder!"
What in the world?
So after I struggled to get the bra away from Boo, because she loved wearing it, I about fell in the floor laughing when Maddy said, with girl attitude....
"I'm gonna daaaaance like an octopus sprayed with dental powder!"
What in the world?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
My American Girl
Maddy received a movie for Christmas that she has been wanting, *Kit Kittredge An American Girl.* Now she is head over heels in love with the American Girls! I'm gonna be taking her to her first American Girl Day on Saturday, so we're looking forward to that. Kit Kittredge, in particular, was a 10 year old girl growing up during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Maddy's learned a lot about that era lately. Last night we finished her first American Girl book, and it was set back in 1933-1934. Since my grandmother (Maddy's great grandmother) was born in 1933, I thought that would be a neat thing to tell her. So, this is how the conversation went:
Me: "Hey, do you know who was born in 1933, when this book was set?"
Maddy: "Umm...Jesus?"
It took all I had to keep a straight face. I can't wait to go tell granny that Maddy thinks she and Jesus must be the same age! ; )
Me: "Hey, do you know who was born in 1933, when this book was set?"
Maddy: "Umm...Jesus?"
It took all I had to keep a straight face. I can't wait to go tell granny that Maddy thinks she and Jesus must be the same age! ; )
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