Hello Summer

After a brief and cold Spring summer has sprung upon us. The sun, green grass, long days, and of course the heat. And if your a mom there's also sand in the shorts. Sigh. I picked up JT from the babysitter's today and he was covered head to toe (literally, it was in his hair) in sand. I was cleaning him up and noticed when the shorts fell on the ground that sand soon followed. Yuck. He got one long hot shower and we got about 1 inch of water on the floor. It's tough trying to lean into the shower to scrub him down and get everything off.

I wouldn't say I'm a neat freak but I dislike dirt. Dislike seeing kids walking around with snot running down their nose with dirty hands and faces. It's just something I have trouble grasping. And now I have one of those kids. I suppose it's because he's a boy and as a girl I wasn't one to get that dirty. I just need to get used to it, right?

Although on the bright side...only 5 more months until colder weather is here. :) Remember I LOVE the cold, love sleeve shirts, jackets, and soft scarves and hats, winter boats and cold nights. I'm also VERY excited to put the Christmas tree up in our new house. I can't wait to see it twinkling in front of our livingroom window.

Ok ok, I'm back to the bugs and the heat.

It's our decision

As most kids count down to the end of the school year I am counting down to when JT starts preschool the end of Aug. A little over 3 months and he'll be in school.

While buying a piano on Saturday, the salesman saw the city we live in and asked how the school district is. I said huge. It's 2 cities with LOTS of kids. He said but the area feels and looks like a small town. I agree. It does have the small farm town feel and that's why we love this area.

A coworker and I were talking about JT starting school and I mentioned how many people have mentioned how smart he is. She asked about our school district and how they should have programs for him if he is an advanced learner. I also told her the district is huge and I worry about him getting lost. Not lost in the school but lost in the system.

Our decision is this, JT (and all future kids) will be going to private school. They will be going to school at our church and God willing to the high school I graduated from (which is a school supported by our church's synod). This decision was fairly simple. TC and I both went to grade school through our church's. TC went to a public highschool and I to a private highschool. We want our children to be nurtured everyday in God's Word. I know the standards the teachers hold.

This is our decision. So why do I feel I have to defend it? Why do people turn up their noses when they hear 'Private School'. TC admitted to me his preceived idea of a private school kid. You know the Preppy dressed kid driving the BMW off to lacrosse. Wrong. When I hear of a private school kid who goes to a Christian school I think of a teenager going through the tough years with teachers who when a student approaches him/her they take out their Bible and pray. They aren't hindered by what the government says. I know the teachers hold the same values I do in how they live their lives. I know that JT will be able to know ALL his classmates. I graduated 8th grade with a class of 6. I walked along with 74 of my fellow senior classmates as we graduated in 1997. I loved going to my 10 year highschool reunion knowing everyone. TC went to his 10 year highschool reunion and had people talking to him he didn't even realize were in his class.

And again, this may not be most people's choice for their kids, but it is ours and we are happy with it.

Motivation

I love this blogging roller coaster. I write pretty regularly and then I don't. Then I'm up writing and then it dries up. It's pretty hard keeping up with the writing when only 3 people, if that, check in. That's even including the few I have no idea who they are. I have one person who comes up as unknown and that's pretty scary. I just looked and someone from Australia and Canada checked. I understand Australia as it came from my friend's blog but Canada? They actually had to know my blog address. I don't know anyone in Canada. I know people who may go to Canada but they don't know my blog address and it isn't published.

I suppose I should just be happy someone's logging on. Although in this day and age I worry about hackers and not so nice people. So I had removed our pictures from the side. Just for my sanity. I didn't have a watermark on them and I don't want people copying them and using them to their discretion.

So hopefully soon I'll get motivated again to write. Until then enjoy this beautiful weather (if your in MN) we have coming.

Family Vacations

Ever since TC and I got married we always talked about what we would do for family vacations. That one special trip once (or twice) a year. While growing up my family would visit this resort in Western MN every Spring and then every Fall. Money was hard to come by so we were only there for the weekend. We always had a blast (even if my mom just sat in our hotel room all weekend and watch TV, sigh). TC's family would drive somewhere every year.

Sure we could keep going up North and stay at Eagle Ridge in Lutsen MN. We've done it a few times and will keep doing it. But it's hard when most of his family still live in that area. When they find out we are going up there they expect us to go visit. Honestly, we are on vacation. Don't get me wrong we love them and will happily take a weekend and make that our main agenda to visit all his family members up there. We have a blast every time but want something JT (and future kids) can remember as that special once a year vacation with our little family.

TC got an email from his uncle last week that said he won a free stay at this, well I don't know what to call it. They have cabins on a lake and you can fish or even hunt. It's in Canada and very beautiful. His uncle has been here before and loves it. TC was looking at their website and saw that you can rent cabin (with all necessities, laundry, running water and housekeeping etc) that sleeps 6 for a week for around $300. Now that's a steal! We talked about it and how fun would it be to go up there and fish. Hang out on the dock and watch the sunrise and sunset.

So we decided next year will be our first year. We are SO excited! TC will be getting his passport soon for his trip this year with his uncle (which is over July 4th weekend). JT and I will get ours sometime in the near future.

I'm so excited to start this new family tradition. The memories that will be created will be wonderful. Can you see us sitting in a boat watching JT catch a fish? Going to the cabin to fry it up for supper, then sit in front of a fire and talk and enjoy nature.

I can't wait!

Been a bit busy

Wow, these past few weeks have been a bit busy. Things are slowing down and I'm grateful for that. We had a wonderful Easter. Went to A & B's house where our friend's daughter thought it would be fun for JT to look for Easter eggs. It was gorgeous outside and he had a blast looking for the Easter eggs.

It was fun listening to JT talk to friends at church about what the Easter bunny gave him. (We don't dwell on the Easter bunny. Well actually we haven't talked about the Easter bunny. We believe Easter is more about the rising of Christ and not a bunny.) Well I overheard a friend ask JT if the Easter bunny came and JT said NO. That is true he didn't come but he did find his Easter basket. Another friend asked if Easter bunny came and again JT said NO and they said well maybe he'll come after church. I guess we'll need to let JT know that people will ask but he doesn't visit our house.

Work is stressful. Many layoff's, budget cuts, and more work than one person really should take on. It's suppose to be getting better and I hope so. I hope it's sooner rather than later.

Well I'm going to spend time with TC. Sorry to cut this short. I wanted to jump in and let you all know we are here.

9 wonderful years!

Nine years ago today TC and I said I DO. It was a cold, sunny, with a hint of snow, exciting, and exhausting day. People say you forget your wedding day. Well you at least don't remember most of it. I remember a lot of it. I remember the DJ not having our songs, TC's car filled with packaging peanuts, how he looked in his white tux and the look on his face the first time he saw me. I remember all the pictures that were taken, how I wanted my bouquet to be bigger, how our pastor forgot to announce us as the new Mr and Mrs. I also remember how we both got shorted on our wedding cake and only got a tiny piece while our guests got these huge pieces.

But the most important thing I remember is the foundation our marriage is set on. God's Word and faithfulness. He is number one, we are second. The trust and respect for eachother and knowing that TC will be there with me no matter what. I love him with all my heart and am looking forward to another 100 years with this wonderful man.

Conversations with JT

We were getting ready to make supper tonight and TC was asking me if I would cook the asparagus. This is how the conversation unfolded.

TC (speaking to me): Can I trust you to cook these? (He was holding the bag of asparagus)

ME: Are you sure you can trust me with those?

JT: You can trust me that I'm not going to eat those.


JT got sent to the corner and I got a stern look from TC because I was laughing so hard.