One more week

Until I'm free!! Well....free for about 3 weeks, then summer semester starts. Just the same I am more than ready for the break.

A quick update from last week - we decided to move Alex's loft bed in front of his window. This will allow him to lay in bed and look out the window (what he was trying to do both times he fell out) without the danger of him falling out. So far it seems to be working - he looks out the window until he falls asleep.

This week is his first t-ball game, I'm pretty excited for it. I hope he enjoys it. His last practice he seemed to really have fun - not only was he obeying his coaches, he was doing so enthusiastically! He has been grumbling about going to swimming lately. He moved up a class (Pike Plus) and I think he is just adjusting to going from being able to do everything that was asked of him (Pike) to being back at the 'beginner' stage again. Although Kent & I do not want to force the kid to do something he doesn't want to do, I see swimming as a life skill first, a sport second. He's going to keep going. Once he can swim to the point where I am comfortable he won't drown if he were to fall in a pool, he doesn't have to go anymore. I'm not concerned about him doing swim team or any of that. I just want him to learn (more or less) how to not drown.

So back to me - almost ready to wrap up the year at both LLCC and UIS. I have now finished 2 of my 10 courses for my doctoral program, and will be taking another course this summer. As of right now I am planning on only taking 1 class this fall (my required class) but I have come across several adjunct teaching opportunities that I am going to apply for. Don't get me wrong - I love LLCC, but every semester it seems iffy as to if I'll get more than 1 or 2 classes (I really  need 3 per semester to be able to pay for my UIS class without having to yank my monthly savings account contribution). I have no intent of leaving LLCC but if I could pick up 1 or 2 other classes elsewhere that would provide enough income for me to take 2 classes/semester and get this wrapped up more quickly. So as soon as I'm finished with my last paper for my class I need to start working on my cover letters and update my CV. Hoping and praying I can figure out how to make all of this work and ultimately trusting that God knows the path ahead of me and will take care of us. I refuse to take out student loans to pay for this degree (which I estimate will take $20,000) and am just going to have to be content living on a tight budget for a while. I know it will be worth it to graduate debt free and be able to immediately start building our house (or buy one, if I'm not able to find a job here). Would much rather stay here and build on our property than to have to move. If you know me, I refuse to live in town so that limits things as well!

My kid has no fear.

No pictures this week. Sorry.

So we built Alex a loft bed. He has a rather small bedroom (compared to Haley's tiny room...that's what happens when you're firstborn). He has a fairly large train table which takes up a lot of room. We decided a loft bed would be an excellent option for him as he would have a lot of room to play underneath it.

We built it, using some plans we bought from menards as a rough guide (We mainly robbed the supply list and possibly used step 1...then deviated). Alex's ceiling slopes, and he has a ceiling fan, so I wanted a custom bed. I figured it was cheaper to make it ourselves than to purchase a loft bed (really expensive) or buy a bunk bed (slightly cheaper) and modify.

He's been doing great in it, he's got rails so he won't roll out. Good thing too because he's usually asleep riht up against the outside rail.

Saturday night, about 5 minutes after we put him to bed, I hear a crash followed by a scream. I run in to find him laying in a heap on the floor, on his back, on a small pile of toys next to the window. He'd been messing with it and fell out (and from the way he was laying...I'm pretty sure he did a full somersault in the air as his head was pointed the opposite direction it should have been.

So I scooped him up, cuddled him. Kissed his boo boos (fairly impressive set of small bruises on his back - thanks to the toys) and discussed what happened. I put him back to bed, he immediately went to sleep. Last night (Sunday night) - went right to sleep.

Tonight - didn't go right to sleep. After several trips down there to put him back in bed, and several more times of him getting OUT of bed (he has more excuses than I can recall at this point)...I finally warmed up his rice sack, crawled up on the bed, tucked him in, gave him a hug and had him promise me he would go to sleep. He promised, and sounded sincere (hey, sometimes it works!). 10 minutes later I hear a crash and a scream. I go in and find him in a pile on the floor with the curtain rod dangling. He was definitely hurt - thankfully not bad. He's got a very impressive bruise/scrape on the left side of this chest. So I scooped him up, cuddled him. Kissed his boo boos and discussed what happened (see a pattern here)? I took him in the bathroom to show him the nasty bruise on his chest. That's gonna really hurt in the morning. I sent him out to sit on the couch b/c his crash and screams woke up Haley...so I had to calm her down and get her back in bed. She came out and gave Alex a hug. She seemed genuinely worried about him.

So I had Alex help me pick up the toys and told him he was no longer sleeping on the loft - we were going to wake up daddy and have him help me move his mattress to the floor. (Side note - I did have the toys picked up in the area that he fell.....learned that lesson Saturday night - so he just hit the floor...and curtain rod he pulled down with him).

So he was upset. He was very quiet, sad, and he knows he screwed up. I didn't lecture him, I didn't yell - just discussed with him what happened, and why I don't want to risk it happening again. I made sure he knew I wasn't mad - just disappointed and sad that he didn't keep his promise to go to sleep.

Haven't decided what I'm going to do. The bed is over 5" tall - the top of his rail is above my eye level. That's a long way to fall. I'm not sure he if he learned his lesson. He apologized very sincerely to me for breaking his promise.

Love my little guy.

Trying to figure out the odds of him making it to adulthood without breaking his neck.....

April Showers!

We definitely experienced some much-needed April showers this week!

Other than Alex having T-Ball practice mid-week, it was pretty uneventful...or typical. Lots going on, just nothing out of the ordinary. I will try to remember to bring my camera to t-ball this week so I can include some great pictures!

I got a couple of great ones of Alex & Haley in Haley's crib. He LOVES being the first to go in her room in the mornings. I have to open the door (protector on the knob to keep him from going in and disturbing her while she sleeps) and quickly move before she sees me. Once she sees mom she wants OUT of the crib and that just ruins Alex's special time with her. After hearing them giggle for a while, and Alex come to my room to request "goldfish (crackers) and a pillow" I went down and took a couple of pictures of them. 

It rained all morning/early afternoon on Saturday. The sun came out in the afternoon and it warmed up enough I let the kids play outside in the puddles. After running and splashing they decided they were done, so I brought them in, cleaned them up and put dry clothes on them. 10 minutes later they were back in the puddles. :-)  This time they took some of their toy boats they play with in the bathtub out to sail!

There are few things that make my heart melt as much as seeing my 

two babies playing and giggling together. They loved that puddle!

So in other news, Kent hauled his first load of scrap this year. He helped the neighbors clean out their shed in exchange for everything metal in it. After he loaded everything up he brought the trailer over to our house so he could leave early Saturday morning (this was the week before, prior to zoo trip....just now remembering to tell you about it). Mom and I were outside and inspected and then stole of some of his scrap! :-)

A big cauldron, a tin cauldron, and a tin watering can. All will be scrubbed and repainted and used for flowers!

An iron stand. Not sure exactly what I'll put in it, but it's cool looking! Also needs repainted.

With spring coming its getting easier to find fresh veggies again. I scored some corn on the cob at the grocery store. Alex loves corn on the cob, as do Kent  & I. Last year Haley had to settle for corn OFF the cob. I cut hers up at first, but when she saw the rest of us eating it she threw a fit and wanted her own cob. She ended up eating TWO entire ears, plus nibbled some of Alex's kernels he left on his when he was done!! 

Just had to include a picture of my monstrous egg. Makes me hurt just thinking about it!

The carton wouldn't shut!!! Will have to use it for something special. And big. I love my chickens!

Easter Weekend

So we decided to spend the Saturday before Easter in St Louis with Kent's dad's side of the family at the zoo. We hadn't been to the zoo since I was pregnant with Haley (so Alex certainly didn't remember it - he was 2 1/2 then!).

The kids did great and we all had an awesome time. Kent's dad and step-mom, his brother Cory and his girlfriend, and Kent's step-sister Kelly and her family all joined us. It was very crowded - about 72 degrees, perfect weather! We took the wagon instead of a stroller and I'm glad we did. The wagon was perfect for the kids to hop in and out looking at animals, and gave them plenty of room to munch on snacks, drink juice boxes etc.

Just arrived! Getting ready to look at the animals!

Looking at some animals with daddy and Michelle

Waiting in line for the penguin house! Uncle Cory's favorite (and one of Mommy's!)

I had a lot of fun trying to catch a picture of a hippo underwater with Haley in the foreground. I always forget how big the hippos are - they are massive!

This picture does not give justice to the actual size of that hippo.

Waiting in line to ride the train!

Alex patiently waited all day for a train ride.

Less than 5 minutes after leaving zoo. Princess was worn out! Her favorite part was seeing the "elfedents" (elephants)

Alex was tired, but not so tired that he fell asleep on the way to get dinner

We spent the day before Easter in St Louis because we were going to spend Easter Sunday having my mom's side of the family over for dinner. But first we went to church for an Easter egg hunt!

Looking for eggs with the cousins on the hill behind Grandma's house

We tried this last year and the kids were everywhere. They are FINALLY getting old enough to at least sit in one spot for 5 seconds. Next year we'll work on posing and smiling at the same time! All the cousins - Alex, Haley, Lauren, Olivia, Mallori and Levi

What's more fun than cousins in a bale of hay? Tera, Sami & Me!

Despite the fact that she was sitting in an ant hill, Haley really loved sitting in the hay bale too.

Alex, Lauren (front) and Mallori and Haley (back) going for a ride on the gator. 

I often look at friends that live elsewhere - in warmer climates and more exotic places and think it would be so beautiful to live somewhere else. But you can't get this - family - elsewhere. I'm so thankful my kids will grow up with lots of cousins to play with.