A Good Day

I am having a really good day so far. Just wanted to share my good mood. I wanted to write down some random thoughts I am having today.

It is funny how the memory works. It seems that physical pain is forgotten very quickly, emotional pain stays forever, and emotional or physical joy is there but takes some work to remember.

Being a kid was so much fun overall for me. However, I don't readily remember a lot of it. Memories have to be sparked by a picture, or conversation. Is this how it is for everyone? I think I have a pretty good memory when it comes to events. Like Jacob says "that is just how my brain works, I'm good at remembering." However, I am terrible at remembering names and interactions with people. So many people in the small town where I live know who I am, but I have no clue of how I know them or what their names are. I feel really bad about this. Does this mean I am self centered or stuck up?

In high school I was often called stuck-up, I never really felt that way though. I really wanted to be more outgoing, but I am a pretty shy person and it is hard for me to initiate conversations. I usually have to have a reason to talk, I can't usually just chat with people. It isn't that I don't want to, it is just hard for me.

A student asked me yesterday "When you were in school here, didn't you want to leave and go somewhere bigger?" I told her that I really liked school and had a lot of fun. I was excited about moving out on my own, but I never hated it here. I have always been proud of where I came from. I think most people look forward to bigger and better things no matter what stage of life you are in, or how happy you are. I have traveled all over the US and to 8 European countries. I have lived in MN, Columbia and Stewartsville. Each place has advantages and disadvantages. Right now Stewartsville is the best place for our family because we are close to my parents, I have a great job, we can afford to have a farm, we live in the country, and we feel safe and secure.

It is just strange to me to think about how complicated life is. It is a series of choices. One different choice anywhere along the way could have made everything completely different for me. I am pleased with the path life has taken. What I have right now is an amazing culmination of bits and pieces of everything that I have tried and liked. My life has been like tending a garden. You plant things you think you will like and as the garden grows weeds sprout, plants bloom and spread, and some die. You have to pull the weeds, replace some plants and nurture it. In the end you have a beautifully full garden that is just right for it's spot. Amazing!

A Word Cloud of My Blog

This is a visual representation of my blog that I created on wordle.net. It is called a word cloud. It used the most often used words from my blog making the most often used words larger than the rest. It gives you a quick look at what I have said in my blog. As you can see I talk mostly about Jacob and Jeffrey, my boys. I am trying to come up with some ways to use this in the classroom. It could help kids find the main idea of selected text, or a way to organize some main ideas from their notes. Any other ideas are welcome.

The Best Birthday Yet!!

I have had the best birthday in 32 years today. It actually started on Sunday. We went to the T-Rex Cafe for lunch. We had a great time.

We were headed home and decided we weren't ready to call it a day. We turned around and went to the Irish Fest in Downtown KC . We all had a great time there as well.

We stopped for dinner near the Power and Light District and headed home. On the way home the boys sang happy birthday to me several times. They were so sweet and made sure that I had fun all day.

Monday we went to dinner and played mini golf. Once again a great time with several performances of the birthday song. We ate ice cream and got an ice cream cake for my actual birthday. Tuesday I woke up to the boys singing happy birthday and dancing. They were very excited about having cake later. I had to go to work and class and when I got home they sang to me again and gave me the best presents ever. They both had drawn me pictures and put together a scrapbook page at mom's earlier in the day. Then Jacob performed a birthday dance and sang an original song. His song was something like "your the best mommy ever, I love you, You do nice things for us, even when you don't let us do what we want to do you are still the best mommy in the world..." It was great. Jacob was a little worried that I didn't like it because I was crying, but I assured him that it meant that I loved the song.

Their excitement was the best present ever. And thank you to Seth too for tickets to the MU v. Nebraska game. That is going to be a lot of fun! I love my boys and am so grateful to have the opportunity to be a mother and a wife. It makes even ordinary days an amazing gift.

Finished week one

This was the first full week back to school. It was pretty good except we found out that there is a possible case of the H1N1 flu in the school. A lot of people are worried about it. I am not that worried. It just sounds like the flu to me. Other than that things went very well this week.

This was also the first week of my last semester of grad school. Both classes seem interesting and pretty easy. One class only meets for 6 weeks, so that will be nice.

This was also the first week back to preschool for Jacob. He was excited to go and has had fun. It was kind of hard to get him ready this AM because he said he didn't want to go because it was boring. However when I got home tonight and asked him how today was he was happy with it. He said they played and played and worked and worked. He said he made a surprise for me, so I am interested to find out what that is. On the way to preschool Jacob made up a lovely song. I can't remember the whole song because it was about 5 minutes long with no repeats. A few memorable lines were: "I love my brother Jeffrey. He is the best brother I have... I love Jeffrey even when he takes my stuff... I wish Jeffrey could come to school with me and be with me every day... I have fun with my brother Jeffrey..."

All in all week one was pretty good and we are looking forward to the year.

Last Weekday at Home on Summer Break

Today was the last weekday at home with the boys before school starts. Tomorrow and Friday Seth and I will be in KC. Today was fun. This morning the boys finger painted. Jacob was very cautious and careful with his paints and Jeffrey just dove right in. They both loved it in their own way.

After an attempt at a nap, the new laptop arrived. Jacob played maze games for 2 hours. It was nice for him to be able to play the game without the computer freezing up. After supper we had to go to preschool registration. The teacher went over all the information we needed to know and asked if there were any questions. Jacob raised is hand and said "I have a question." He asked when the first day of school would be. She told him it will start in 12 days. He is ready to go back. I am glad that he likes school and hope it stays that way.

When we got home I wouldn't let him play on the computer any more. The boys found the boxes and had just as much fun playing in those and they would have on the computer.

I am excited to start my 3rd year of teaching, but I will miss my boys during the day.

MKT Trail - Columbia

We had a great time in Columbia a couple of weekends ago. We decided to take all of our bikes and ride on the MKT and the Bear Creek trails. Before lunch the boys and Seth rode on the MKT. Well, Jeffrey just went about 25 feet between the waterfountain and the bridge. He had fun!

Jacob and Seth rode up the trail about half a mile to try to find a wrench at the grocery store. We needed it in order to attach the trailer for the boys onto Seth's bike. Jacob couldn't make it up the hill so they came back. Jacob was worn out!
After lunch at CJ's for all of our favorite columbia food, we rode on the Bear Creek Trail. We finally got the trailer hooked on Seth's bike and the boys loved riding in it. I was riding in front of them and did't think to take a picture. Even though they didn't have to do any work behind Seth's bike they were very tired. They slept almost the whole way home (which never happens).

Spring 09

We have had a lot of fun already this spring. Even though it has rained a lot, we have found time to have fun. Before Easter we decorated eggs. Jeffrey had a hard time waiting.



Jeffrey just didn't understand why we had to wait for the eggs in the cups. He thought we should just eat them right away. I ended up letting the boys eat 2 each after we had colored them.

The boys looked so cute for Easter.


After church the boys all had donuts. It is a special treat that they get if they are good. (Yes even Seth.) Although I am not sure Seth should have gotten a donut since he hit a parked car after church. He was bragging about how good he is at parallel parking and backed right into the car behind us. It didn't do any damage. We left a note so they could call if they saw something that we didn't. Luckily they didn't call.

Seth is building a corral for the cows so he can AI them this spring. The boys have enjoyed seeing the tractor here and climbing the new fences.

Today we played with bubbles and t-ball. Jacob can hit the ball pretty far. He insists on hitting left handed. I didn't argue with him, but thought it was funny. Jeffrey loves all kinds of ball. He likes to hit, kick, and throw. It was no surprise that he wanted to play t-ball too. He was more interested in it than Jacob was. Jacob only hit twice and then he went back to blowing bubbles. I didn't have a chance to get Jacob's picture playing ball.

The boys are at such a fun age. They are able to play together and love being outside. I can't wait for the summer. I have to take classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and on Tuesday nights. Even though I will be gone at those times I will have a lot more time to spend with the boys once school is out in 2 1/2 weeks (12 school days).