January 2011=Complete!

January seems to have whizzed right by!

I have found that updating my facebook informs more family members and friends than blogging does.  So, I have been doing that lately.

Some MAIN things...

Kheaven:

-Cruising along/between furniture wonderfully.

-Can point to my eyes, nose, and mouth when asked.

-Continues to say/do new things everyday!!

(Yesterday he said, "I will," after his sister said it.)

-He has a neurology appointment in a little over a week.  Hopefully all is well!

Here's a pic of the handsome baby-man:

Austin:

-Caught on to addition with no problem at all.
-Is working on word problems and doing great!
-Is doing MUCH better in phonics and sounding out words!

-Has been listening and helping out around the house wonderfully.  :)

**If you have kids and let them use the computer, 

visit this website for kids, www.starfall.com!  It's awesome!!**

Austin dressed himself and posed himself for this picture.  

He then had me turn a copy of it sepia 

b/c he wanted to make it look like an "old picture."  

I love his creativity!

Nayeli:

My amazing little princess turned three!!

It was a wonderful day.  Honestly it all seemed to go in slow motion, in a good way.  It was in the 70's and we all played outside and went for a walk.  Then we played at the park and headed to McDonalds where we had and shared cake with new friends!  After that we headed home and opened presents.  She is the BEST present opener EVER.  She gets excited about everything!  It's precious.  

The headbands in this pic of her were some of her presents...  She wanted them all on, cuz she's cool like that.  ;-)

Other than turning three Nayeli

-Is learning some Spanish.

-Super interested in reading, so we are constantly looking at books.

-Sometimes she makes up stories to get her brothers in trouble.  lol...

We're working on fixing that.

I'm glad she's creative in her own ways too though!

-She also sings all the time!

:-)

I have been doing pretty good at keeping up with most of my new goals.  As I mentioned, we had McDonalds for Nayeli's birthday, which isn't on my list of healthy things to eat...  McDonalds is a weakness when time is an issue or it's a busy day and we're out and about.  I'm sure eventually it will be eliminated almost completely though.

For my photography I have been taking at least one picture everyday.  It's a 365 Project and at the end of the year I will look back at all the photos I have and see my year.  Each day I try to take a picture that encompasses the theme/main thing in that day.  It doesn't happen that way everyday, but more than I thought it would.  :-)

Happy end of January/beginning of February!

♥

Tugging My Heart Strings

I keep hearing songs... love songs I suppose... and I can't help but feel they're for the babies without homes. A baby that's mine... who's waiting, or who hasn't even been born. I feel connected already and I can't wait until the day I bring him/her home. It's so strange. I have never felt so compelled about anything in my life!

Hi There 2011!

It doesn't really matter how one year ends and another begins, each has it ups and downs. Every day is a chance to make new choices, to take a step in becoming who we want to be, to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of others.

The new year doesn't typically mean a lot to me. I try to take a day at a time. I do like to reflect a little more around the end of one year and the beginning of another... I also like to re-evaluate my goals and make adjustments if needed.

Don’t Buy “Stuff.”
The kids have enough toys. I have enough “things.” We ALL have enough clothes! There should be no reason, other than impulse to buy things. Yes, sometimes it feels good to make a purchase, but we just end up with more than we need and all that stuff is completely overwhelming!
Eat Fresh!
After watching Food Inc. I am completely motivated to eat better. I have been working on this, and sometimes it doesn’t feel like the cheapest choice to make, but after doing it for a few months I’ve found that it is cheaper than the way I was eating before, by about $150, at least. Before I started buying almost all of my food from the organic section at the store I was spending $500 a month on food. Now I’m down to $350. I am also working on eating what’s in season and when the Farmer’s Market opens back up I am hoping to become more acquainted with it!
Keep Up With Housework.
During this time apart from Austin I have had time and energy to catch up on some housework. I still have a little way to go, but by the time he is back I should have things how I have wanted them for a very long time. It is my goal to keep up with this throughout 2011 and beyond! I plan on being held accountable to this by posting pix either here or in a blog every week of my home. Even if that means I have to clean to take the pix... Then I HAVE to clean. ;-)

Along with what's listed I want to work on some different things with my photography... I want to read the Bible more, maybe get all the way through it finally... And I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting to mention, but they're on a piece of paper or in my head somewhere. :)

Here's wishing everyone a positive perspective on life, hope when all seems lost, strength at your weakest points, and the ability to recognize the moments that make it all worth it!

Donating

I was on RR tonight... I felt called to make a donation. There are so many things my own family needs right now. Tomorrow I am going out to use some gift cards I got for Christmas. There is a list of things we need/that would benefit us. I am going to make a donation based on what's left. I am going to pray about my purchases and see if I really need the things I am picking up, and if I can get other things that I do need with the gift cards... That way the money I would be using for what I really need can go to a child on RR.

I have been contemplating single adoption. I know that if I get myself more organized and figure out how to do paperwork... and get a vehicle, and a home... that I can do it. God will provide.♥

Semester Break

We're at the middle of the year. Things went great for a while, but life handed us some lemons. Keeping up with everything is a little tough, but I'd really like to stick it through until the end of the year at least. It is my hearts desire (at least I think it is) to continue the K12 program next year as well, but I need to become more organized and efficient before I can make that decision. Also, I have to consider Bubs, where he is in life, and what is best for him. He is a social creature.

I don't like thinking about all the things he would be introduced to in a public school environment. How do I teach him what's right and wrong if I can't be there and know what is all being put into his head and by whom?

If I enroll him in a public school I will still teach him things at home, and have him involved in a couple of extra curricular groups. I want to gently lead him in the right direction.

Ohhh Boys!!

Linking up with Greg's General Store today for Thankful Thursday!

I am thankful for my oh-so-amazing children,

the fact that all of our needs and many of our wants are met,

a warm place to call home in this cold season,

a flexible job that allows me to be available as a parent,

friends who are like family,

family who are like friends,

social networking, which makes it easier to keep in touch with those I love who are far away,

and so much more!

 Austin @10 months/Kheaven @14 months

Things are going well in our home this autumn.  

Austin's got some standardized testing coming up.  Last time he did great in everything but phonemic awareness.  His education specialist is going to start working with him once a week to make sure he doesn't get behind in that area.

Kheaven continues to be very vocal.  The other day he said robot, over and over again.  He's always amazing!  There are some issues with his infant child development team right now and we are praying for all of them.  It's a mix between them or their family members being VERY sick...  and it's heartbreaking because they all have the sweetest hearts.  Until we can see them again we are working on communicating using words and signing and also working on standing, cruising and guided walking.  :)

Nayeli is my quiet learner.  She observes everything around her and then one day she shows me she knows it.  She has started drawing more recently and is very good at circles and faces.  It's beautiful and she gets so excited when she makes a picture.  She's been getting into some things lately and continues to color in books and rip pages, but we're working on it!

I have been working more over the past month and it's great.  I work at night while the kids are sleeping and get home on time to get a little sleep before they wake up.  J is still helping watch them when I work, and when he's not available my close friend/Kheaven's God-mother watches them.

Austin's birthday/Thanksgiving was wonderful!  We enjoyed the company of each other and made new friends as well.  We visited with one of my co-worker's family for the holiday and they were very kind and welcoming.  There were plenty of kids there for them to play and interact with and they loved it!

Thank you to all of our family and friends who sent a gift!

♥

AND, this was us on Thanksgiving/Austin's 6th birthday!

:)

♥My heart is full.♥
What are you thankful for this Thursday?!

Ahh! I love stages of development!

Kheaven has been super spongy the past week or so.  Actually, it's been the past three weeks, because it seems like I noticed it the day after Halloween.  :-D

Tonight for instance, he has
said/sang Amen after prayer with the kids,
sang la, la, la,
sounded like he tried to say birthday, came out "berrrrduh"
said, "yeah" when I was reading the book, "I Can, Can You?"
let go of me to stand on his own, but then grabbed back on quickly...
moved between pieces of furniture while cruising,
made "gassy" noises using his tongue while crawling into the bathroom,
picked up a fake flower, held it over his head and said "umbrella" - When I said, "No, that's a flower," he held it to his nose and sniffed it!  :)

There were a few other things he did that were just...  amazing...  :)
All my littles are amazing.
Sometimes I think I'm just going to burst with love and appreciation of them!

Austi is six today...  I keep thinking about how absolutely adorable Nayeli is going to look in the dress my Grammy made for her.  I'll post pix of that.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving on time!