Two things on my mind and heart...

First, Emma...




FIY this will contain some TMI...sorry!




For the past year Emma and I have worked hard on potty training. It has not taken. Her will will not give in. Since the beginning she has decided that she will hold her poop in and not let it out. She does this when we are working on using the potty and when we are not. She has a fear of it. We have been to the Doctor and have medicine, but even with help she continues to be very stubborn. I could cry. It's one thing to have a child that will not use the potty and refuses to tell you when she has to go, it' another thing to have her hold in her poop and be fearful about it. I do not want to end up in the hospital. This is a mind problem. Everyone tells you not to discipline and be very understanding. But after this long, it can drive a person nuts. Give it up already, Emma. Sorry, I am tired of it. I see all the cute panties we could buy and it makes me sad. She is so smart! John tells me to pray and keep also praying with her, I am. But even that gets old. I know God will help us through, but I want results. And I feel for her when she is in pain. Please pray along with me. I just want her to wake up and go Mommy, I want to wear panties today. I have to go poop on the potty, Mommy. I want to hear these words more that I love ,Mommy, or you are beautiful, Mommy. I need help!









Second thing...




5 years ago when John told me I needed to go back to work, I almost lost it. It would be nice to get out of the house some and make extra money, but I could not think of a place that would hire a stay at home mom who could only work for a few hours a week. Well, God took me to Kohl's. It has worked out to be there and they have worked with me on my hours, what a blessing. Now, I want to be done. After working there for 5 years and having done retail off and on before that, I am coming on 7 years or so of it. I hate retail at Christmas. I could go on about all the things that I don't like, but those of you who have done it know. This past year has also been very different because I have had to learn how this store in San Antonio works. It is a busy store. It is in the heart of the city in between two others. This means we get returns from all the stores, we make calls to other stores to find different sizes and colors for customers. We are also right at the intersections of the two major highway systems. Very easy for people to get to. I just can't get over now people just seem to come out of the wood work, they just appear out of thin air. I. Am. Not. Kidding. And with issues of payroll and I am sure the economy, they only have one person in customer service all the time. Very hard to keep up.




This brings me to going back to school. I took one class in DSM and really liked college. But we moved and I had to put it off. I feel I am being called into the health care field. With good pay and I hope some flexible hours, I feel this would be a good fit for our family. Last week I had "phlebotomist" come to my mind. Getting blood samples from people in a doctors office or clinic sounds fun! I am praying about this. The course I am looking at would only involve going to class one day a week from 8 to 4:30pm for 16 weeks. Then a month of clinical working four days a week from 8 to 4:30pm. The month of clinical would be hard for our family but I think we could work it out.




Before I get to ahead of myself, I do want to list the blessing that Kohl's has been to me.




I have perfect hours.




I am making good money for retail.




The coworkers are nice.




My supervisor is wonderful.









So, right now I will be sticking with Kohl's and continue to pray for a good attitude when I am there. With the hope that in the new year, Lord willing, maybe I can go back to school.









Please pray with me about these two things. Emma really needs it! Thanks for letting me vent. I don't know what God is doing, but I am praying for answers soon. Maybe we will win the lottery! Ha!







Also, I just read an update on my good friend in Iowa who is 32, and married with two beautiful girls. She has cancer...and I complain about my job. Wow, get a grip, Jayne! I love you Becca, you are in my prayers!

New look...

I have been seeing some really cool looking blogs over the past few months and decided it was time to update mine. I love www.shabbyblogs.com they have cute things!!! This is the one I liked for Fall it's called "autumn sunshine". I also may use "shabby brown" and "emma" in the future. And being the wiz at computers that I am...not...I can't remember how to change the background of my text and header. Wish I knew everything, but I don't. Oh well, I will keep trying to fix that. The colors don't go together any more.
I am also thinking about taking a "Nikon" use your camera class. John could teach me, but we all know how that goes. When to make the time. Plus I think a class would get you started from the beginning, and that's what I need. As I post pics from my little "Sony" I am not happy with the quality of the photos.
Just short and sweet update today. Have to head to work. I did get a rest in today, that was nice! After working out, school, Pumpkin Spice Latte and shopping! See ya!

School...

Well, I decided to get the office ready for Ean and Evan. I was going to do school on the dinning room table, but I never seem to have that clean. John told me a few days ago that it's a good idea to have the kids always study in the same place each day. It helps them to know that when they sit in that spot it's time to study. I had already got our shelf ready, so I got a card table out and decided to make that the desk. It fit right next to our shelf. Perfect!

I even put their names on the table! Just like I have seen in all of my friends pics on FB of their kids going to Kindergarten.

The shelf with all of our school stuff on it. It's organized right now! I still don't know how to turn pic in blogger. Ugh. Sorry!

Emma's "desk" complete with her name. She wanted to sit with me, but I cannot hold her and answer the boy's questions. Plus, after each problem, Evan has to tell me he is done. It was a busy day. Emma cried when I told her she needed to sit at her table. Hoping she gets the idea soon!

Ean's first day of 1st grade!

Evan's first day of Kindergarten!

Abeka has you record the kid's height three times a year. The kids are all 3 in apart! Very funny! This is Ean's page.

Here is Evan!

Emma at her desk before that melt down. She is 3ft tall today.

Working hard on math.

On Labor Day, I was really down about starting school. Being really tired from work and just feeling like I have to do everything for everyone. I did not even want to think about school. Am I even qualified to teach them? Satan really has a way of beating a person up. But, I got the table around and that helped a little. In August I had ordered books and organized the book shelf. I was very glad that was done early! Then, we all went to bible study this morning. At the end of our discussion groups we break up into prayer partners. I got a lady of wisdom, and she was very excited to pray for my request. My request was prayer for getting school started this week. Her prayer almost made me cry. What a blessing to have that encouragement on this day! She also told me how proud she was of John and I. That we were willing to take this task on. She was wonderful! After being home schooled myself and always feeling different, and now going back to that, I really needed her this morning! God is so good.

The boys did well. We are still getting used to working together. It is exciting to see them learn. Still praying for the rest of the week!

Boys and Girls...

I love the fact that I have been blessed with boys and a girl. Here are a few things that they did this past week.

Emma's "goin to Wal Mart" outfit. When she found out we needed to go out to the store, this is what she put on. Her purse is never far from her side! It's packed with little toys. She cries when I make her leave it in the van. She wants to be like me and take it everywhere.

I found this dress at Target for only $1.50. Can you believe it! These kind of finds give me a high. No, I am not addicted to shopping!

Ean wanted to put these new Toy Story 3 posters up in his and Evan's room. I said sure! Right now I will take TS3 any day. I wonder what the future holds in this area? Don't even want to go there.

Ean is doing the "Mario" pose. See the difference between boys and girl? Emma in her dress with purse and high heels. And Ean ready to take on the next bad guy that comes along. This just makes me smile!

Words...

Ok, every family has them. Those words that only your family says and knows what they mean. Let me give you some examples...



Paci...aka pacifier

B...Ean's burp rags

Burp...Evan's burp rags

Guck...anything that has fallen on the floor or is yucky

Spit...vomit or throw up

Blunanas...bananas

Buggies...any bug, bee or wasp we might see

Getting thrown...see pics below.

This could freak a Mom out, but I have gone with it. Evan asks John every night if he can "get thrown". I think Evan lives for this. I love that the kids will have these memories of their Dad when they are grown up. I love my family!

John's project...

Every time we have moved, about 5 times now. We have to, I mean John, has to pack up all of his books. He has over 1000. I am thankful that he now owns a "nook"! At a home schooling conference a few years back, John saw these book shelves. They are made of pine, and that makes them light and they can be moved with a dolly! No more packing up and unloading ever again! Here are some pics of John working on them. I am so thankful for all the work he did on these. I love them!







All made before paint.

Painting!

All painted.

Getting full!

posting from my phone.

just trying this out.