Insight...

If you know me at all...you know I love my children with all of my heart...I love both of them for their uniqueness, their character...their sillyness...I love them so much and partly for how different they are. Night and day difference. But those differences can also cause frustration if I'm not careful. They can make me wonder how two children can be from the same parents? They can make me pull my hair out...

Abby starting kindergarten has opened my eyes to all new insights. The main one being that the next 12 years are pay back for all of the pain and suffering my parents endured from me as a child. :) I wasn't a bad kid, and Abby isn't either...she is just independent, controlling, bossy, etc...what is funny though, is she's just like that at home (which I AM thankful for)...as much as I get frustrated with it, I would rather deal with that side of my kids than someone else having to endure it. I'm very proud of the fact that our children obey and are respectful...to other adults. Anyway, we started homework...
The first night of homework, Hayden was so excited to help Abby. Because, as he kept saying, "I'm her big brother and that's what brother's do..." Abby on the other hand wanted none of it because that meant Hayden would be TELLING HER what to do...and that DOES NOT happen, atleast not in her mind. At this point, I will admit, I was upset with Abby...Hayden was being so sweet and had been so excited for her to start school so he could help her with her homework...it ticked me off. Hayden was okay with it...and I was twice as hard on Abby just to show her it's better to have her brothers help. Abby questioned everything I told her to do...why, why, why. Yes, I know it's good that she has an inquisitive mind...but really? Why can't the answer, "Because I'm the mom and I said so" be enough. (Yes, I know, Mom...just like me--got it!)
At this point I'd rather do the homework for her.
On the second night of homework, after I had made Abby rewrite her J for the 3rd time because she was too stubborn to watch me do it, Hayden walked over and whispered (loud enough for me to hear)...if you'd just get out the ABCs I wrote for you--you wouldn't need Mommy's help--She looks up, "WHERE ARE MY ABCs?!"...Off Hayden runs to get them (he's just so excited he can finally help)...He returns, gives the paper to Abby...and she turns to me, (no kidding) and says, "It's okay, Mommy--I don't need your help now!" Hayden and Abby did her homework the rest of the night. (And I will say, he did a great job)
One other insight from homework is that Abby does not care a hill a beans about details. She pulled out her homework which consisted of tracing, copying and then coloring 8 different shapes and informed me she was done with the first two parts within 90 seconds. You can imagine how it looked. Yeah, I made her erase the whole thing and start over. Hayden on the other hand takes his time and does his best. He is meticulous in what he does and it has to be right by his standards.
I will say, Abby's teacher had emailed me this morning and I'd responded including in there that I hope Abby listens to her better than she does to me while doing homework. She responded back, "Abby is one of my most well behaved children!!!" I was thrilled.

Hayden is such a sweet kid...and Abby is too...just in a different manner. And as much as I kid around and tell you all of this stuff...I mean it when I say she's exactly like me. I'm hard-headed, stubborn, bossy, opinionated...the list goes on. But I also think I'm pretty loving, creative, funny (at times), giving...and those attributes I see in her as well. I think all of these characteristics in both of our kids are going to help them in the long run. Hayden will learn how not to let bossy girls walk all over him and hopefully keep his sensitive side...and Abby will be independent and head strong. It'll be interesting to see them in 20 years or so. :)

One side note, I'm going to stick this in there. If you think about it will you say a prayer for Hayden and us. Most of you know Hayden has a speech delay...and although we thought we'd pretty much conquered the worst of it, it seems to have gotten worse since school has started. We'll be having him tested for therapy towards the end of the month...and I know it's not a big deal...but sometimes kids can be mean and it breaks my heart to think of him being picked on. I know, I know...I'm a sappy overprotective mother...but when I say I love my kids more than anything...I do...like all of you moms...and the worst thing in the world (atleast for me) is to see my child hurt. So, pray for us to handle this in a way that is not detrimental to his progress and pray for God to send Hayden one good friend at school.

Thanks for sticking with this post...it was a long one huh? I'll have more to update later. Hayden has another game tomorrow night, so I"ll be posting pictures on Friday. And I have a bargain shopping story to tell too, ya'll know how I LOVE a good deal!! Have a great Wednesday...talk to you soon.

The Worstest Day in the life of a 5 year old!

Okay, I have funny story...

On Tuesday, I picked the kids up from daycare and started with my normal questions..."How was school? What did you have for lunch? Did you learn anything new? Etc"...

Abby pipes in and says the following (not kidding here)... "Mom, I had the worstest day. The worstest day of my WHOLE life" side note--all 5 years, mind you...I responded, "Abby, what happened?" As a mother, I'm thinking...Abby got in trouble, someone hurt her feelings during recess...something to constitute the worstest day of her life...

Her response, "The air conditioning wasn't working in our room, and it was awful...it was the worstest....it was hot and I was sweatin' and I couldn't take my clothes off...it was jus the worstest!!"....I should pause and explain that whenever Abby comes out stripped down to nothing but her undies her reasoning is always "I'm sweatin'"...so it was the worstest day for my 5 year old little girl because she was sweatin' and couldn't take her clothes off.

One of my coworkers pointed out that I should be glad Abby knew that she couldn't take her clothes off at schoool...could you imagine that phone call from her kindergarten teacher?
It would go something like this..."Mrs. Jackson, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Abby is in the principal's office and will be suspended from school due to indicent exposure. She streaked around the classroom and this school district does not tolerate that kind of behavior!!!" So, yes I'm thankful that she knows to leave her clothes on even if it makes for the worstest day ever.

Cincinatti...There We Went...

***FYI...the REDS won the game--7 to 6...don't have a clue who they played though!!!*** (This piece of information is primarily for our good friend Keith--thanks for keeping me on my toes!!!)

If those of you who read this blog (all 6 of you) live in the Nashville area...I highly recommend taking a trip to Cincinnati for a quick family vacation.

We met my dad and Donna there for a weekend trip and the kids had a great time. Of course, I forgot my camera everywhere we went...so I only have pics from what I took with Dad's camera.
First we celebrated my dad's 55th Birthday (ha ha...your welcome, Dad!) The kids love cake can you tell??





The boys went to a Reds game on Saturday night and they loved the new ballpark...they said it was awesome. (They didn't take a camera so I have no pictures of it!) But they did have a Build-A-Bear Workshop at the park and Grandpa Jim and Hayden made Abby a pink baseball bear with a Reds dress...it was so cute. Hayden also got to make a dog for himself because he played his puppy dog eyes on Grandpa Jim...here's a picture of Abby with her bear the next morning (she was asleep by the time the boys got back to the hotel).




The girls stayed at the hotel and swam on Saturday night. Abby jumped in, climbed out, jumped in...and on and on atleast 30 times. It was hilarious. She was entertaining all of the people around. (And she slept great that night...it was a win win!!)


On Sunday, we went to King's Island...which is a huge amuzement park.


Family Pics at the Park...Look we even got Hayden and Abby to hug eachother--they were so excited!!





It's like a Six Flags and Wet-n-Wild combined...it was great...we didn't make it over to the water side partly because I'm paranoid about my kids in water with large groups of people...it's a phobia--I know. Hayden rode his first roller coasters (for those of you from TX--you know the TX Giant at Six Flags...yeah, Hayden rode one comparable to that!!) How's that for a first timer. (He was also scared to death...it was a lot of fun)...Abby rode a small coaster, but stuck to the less heart stopping rides. She loved seeing Dora's sing along.

Here are some pics from the park...








They were exhausted after the day...

But when we got back to the hotel we had a tea party (with a tea set Ab got at King's Island--Donna insisted Abby needed it :) -- it has Dora on it)...Hayden was even a good sport and played along...although, he made sure when Abby wasn't around to tell Grandpa Jim that the "tea" he was giving them was really coke... :) He's so funny.

Abby insisted she needed to wear a dress to the tea party (and makeup--of course)...but we didn't pack any dresses for this occasion so I improvised with one of my t-shirts and a little bit of ribbon...thank goodness I brought my jewelry packaging stuff!!

How cute is that? I know I brag about Hayden being a good brother...but really, to put up with having a tea party with his sister?? I know in a few short years they probably won't be able to stand eachother...so I'm enjoying these little moments now.

Again, it was a great weekend....Cincinatti Rocks (as Hayden would say)!! Thanks again, Dad--for everything...the kids want to do it again next year and I promised them we'd go to the water park too!!

Seeing God's Hand at Work...

Isn't it amazing when you get a glimpse of God at work? I mean, have you ever had that realization and go, "Wow! I'm getting front row seats to this?"

For the last two years, I have been trying to get my jewelry into stores to sell...and I will say I faced a lot of closed doors.

I have also been in the "process" of starting a website...but the cost involved with an e-commerce store is not cheap.

I have been creating a catalog for the last 6 months with very little progress.

Two weeks ago, I made the decision that 50% of my profit from my jewelry business will go to fund The Common Bond. From that time, potential opportunities have opened up that may allow me to put my jewelry in 3 different stores....also, I found out there is someone who may be able to create a website for me at a franction of the cost from the estimates I had received...and my catalog...should be out to print by the end of September.

How's that for God's hand at work?

I have no idea what the future will hold for iMage Jewelry or The Common Bond...but I know God is apart of this...and whatever His will is--it's going to come to pass...even though the details are not ironed out...and things may change--He is in control.
I think it's awesome that we serve a God who cares...not only about the big issues in our lives, but the little ones as well--like websites and catalogs. We still have a long way to go to get the foundation off the ground, but this just proves that we're not the ones driving this thing!

Thanks for all of your prayers, support and interest in this project. I can't tell you how excited I am about how many people want to be apart of this...I have said it before, but I'll say it again--I think...no I know...God is going to do great things with this and what a privilege that we get to be apart of it!

Beware...

Just a note...blogger seems to be having some issues. I updated the layout of this blog and my jewelry business blog...but when I went to update The Common Bond blog...it went crazy. I lost my layout button...now it says template...and under the help screen it says I need to update my account to the new version, but it doesn't show the button to allow me to update it. Ask me if I'm frustrated...go ahead ask me! And on top of it all...The Common Bond blog now looks ugly.

From what I've gathered off the blog help desk I'm not the only one with this problem...so just a forwarning...if you're planning on changing your layout or template proceed with caution!!

It's official...we have TWO school-age kids!!!

Abby started her first day of kindergarten today. I should say she officially started her phase in days...today she went for three hours and on Thursday she will do the same. Tomorrow is her last day in "Memaws" class at daycare...on Friday she will go for a full day and be picked up by the daycare bus with Hayden. She was so excited for school last night she told James she was ready to go to bed at 8:45...and by time I got home she was alseep (it was about 9:30). For some of you this probably seems late still, but you don't know my daughter...she usually stays up until 10:00 or so. (It's the 3 hour naps at daycare...I'm so glad those will be done!!)



Well, here's some pictures of the cutie patootie getting ready to head off to kindergarten!

Abby is very stubborn (no idea where that comes from) and we had bought some really cute capris to match her top...but we'd also bought this little skirt--that doesn't match quite as well. Of course, what does Abby want to wear this morning...not the cute capris...needless to say I chose not to pick this battle because atleast it semi-went together. :)

I'm going to brag about Hayden for just a second...he wanted to walk with us to Abby's class this morning so that he could make sure to know where to take her when he walked her to class...I mean really--how sweet is that?! I have to say I'm very proud of my kids.

Hello Kitty backpack...do you notice it's as big as she is?

More Pics from Texas!

Here are some pictures we got from Nana of the summer trip to Texas...looks like a crazy bunch, huh? Notice Abby's goggles--you'll see them in almost every picture (even if she's not swimming) she loves the goggles!!