Sad

It's day's like yesterday that make me thankful to be a stay at home Mom. I took the kids to the park yesterday and the same thing happened that had occurred a few weeks ago at another park.  Daycare's just happen to be there when we are. Johnathan is so little we usually stay at the swings. While there I had a little girl tugging at my shirt asking for help. I put her in the swing and she kept asking me to push her. At another park it was a little boy, I asked him where his mom was and he said "at work". The kids kept asking me to help them with things. All the while the day care providers were sitting and talking. I didn't see them once get up and help the kids. Now I have nothing against daycare providers, my twin sister is one, but nothing can replace the care  and attention of a Mom throughout the day. I feel for those who have to work and cannot be home with their little ones. It made me sad to see these kids begging for my attention. It would break my heart to have someone else watch them. Sure there are days that a break would be nice but then I think of those little ones tugging at my shirt wanting help. Just thankful I can be home with our little ones, for they are only little for so long.

Jocob's Preschool, Danika's Run

Jacob's preschool Program was yesterday at the Red Balloon Toy Store. He did such a great job. Each month Mrs. Turner had them memorize a poem. They performed some of the poems and a bunch of the songs they had learned throughout the year. He has learned all the alphabet and their sounds. He also reads some sight words. The older three kids all went to different preschools. Out of all of them, I've been impressed with her the most. She sends a calendar home every month to tell exactly what they will be doing. Took them on some fun field trips and is just on the ball. Her preschool is in Hyde Park but thankfully I carpooled with another Mom. 

She put together a memory book for each of the kids of the things they did throughout the year. She has a morning and afternoon class so around 20 kids. They all had individual drawings, pictures and other handouts they did in them. Can you see why I'm so impressed with her?  One fun activity they did is when the letter Q and U got married. All the boys had paper ties  (groomsmen) and the girls got flowers (bridesmaids). 

Jacob is excited for Kindergarten. He keeps asking when he gets to go to Danika's school. A friend in his Preschool will also be going to Bridger so that will be fun for them to be together again.

Danika did the Fun Run yesterday. SHE WON SECOND PLACE, out of the girls. All the fifth graders in the school district ran. It was so exciting to see her working so hard even though we could tell she was exhausted. She was so nervous at the start line but had said she would win for us (Kevin and I were there). 

She seriously looked like she was going to throw up though. 

 The guy in the left hand side is their PE coach. He came in half way through the year because the previous teacher retired. He seems like a drill Sargent to me. The kids say he really makes them work hard. I guess it paid off as Bridger took home a lot of medals. Way to go Sister!

The Newest Westwood

We got Flair today at the Humane Society. She is a lab/retriever mix (or so they think) She was a stray. She is so well tempered. The kids love her! They are excited to take her for walks. The neighbor kids also want to walk the dog. When we went to look at dogs she was the only one not barking at us. She just looked at us with her eye's so longingly. It's going to be an adjustment having her but I can see the benefits already.

No Poo!

Okay so I know the title sounds weird. I thought it was really weird when my friend posted it on her blog. I have decided to go Poo free :)  ShamPOO that is. I recently visited my cousin Brenda who's daughter has pretty curly hair. We were discussing hair products. She uses a product called DivaCurl and it has a cleansing product for hair that's No Poo. Sulfate found in shampoos leave's curly hair dehydrated. I have naturally curly hair and while growing up it was a thorn in my side. I couldn't control it. I ended up curling it myself in High school. I know now that my hair was SOOO dehydrated. The pics aren't the greatest, our scanner isn't working so I took pictures of pictures. I wanted to show you how unruly it was.

This is first grade. Not too bad but... look at....

SECOND GRADE...little more fluff

THIRD GRADE WOWSA!!!! Needless to say I hate this picture

FOURTH GRADE! DOUBLE WOWSA....yep hate this one more than third grade.

You can't see very well in the picture the huge Fuzz ball oh I mean pony tale.

Okay so I'm sure you're getting the point....my hair was fuzzy, my nickname was Bush woman....enough said.

Okay so here is my Senior Picture. I decided to let it do it's own thing. I remember taming it down with hairspray or I'm sure it would be a few more inches outwards. I loved my twin sisters hair growing up (she is right next to me on the right) She had nice wavy hair. 

I have been Poo Free for a week now and I can tell a big difference when I just scrunch it and let it dry on it's own. Here is a picture I had BriLynn take yesterday (remember she's three) I did it curly. Better huh?

Did you know you're not suppose to wash curly hair everyday???? Why didn't someone tell me that when I had trauma in elementary and high school? Here's a story for ya....I wanted straight hair so bad when I was in middle school that my oldest sister bought a product off the TV, you know those paid infomercials. She used it on me but before we even started my mom said "I would read all the instructions if I were you." We didn't. My hair turned GREEN!!!! Looking on the box it said "Not recommended for blonds or red heads". OOPS

I was in Drill Team and I remember marching in a parade and hearing a little girl say to her parents "Mom that girl has green hair" 

 IT GETS BETTER

So to get the green out we bleach it....So me, in my all knowing teenage mind thinks, I'll keep the bleach on longer so there is absolutely no green left. 

So my hair falls out! Not completely thank goodness but a big chunk of my bangs. I had to cut more bangs to hide the missing hair. Needless to say it was the most horrifying thing to me.

So if any of you have curly hair I would recommend No Poo he he.

Mothers Day poems by Danika

Danika is so creative when it comes to poetry. These are the poems she gave me today.

This was the first one, she said she wrote it last night.

My Mom's favorite color is purple,

And her eyes are sparkly blue.

She cleans, cooks and Hugs me,

She does the best that she can do.

She always helps me do things right,

And shows me on the way.

And now I can show her that I love her,

Because it's mothers day!

This is the one made during Sharing time today.

I love you so much!

Yes it is true!

I love you so much!

It's the best I can do!

I love you so much!

More than cookies or cake!

I love you so much!

More than this poem I make!

I got a little giggle from that one. What a great Mothers Day!

Financial Stress

I recently read an article about how those on Facebook are having more financial stress. I believe it.

Most people post about vacations and different purchases.

 It is seen as an online way of "keeping up with the Jones's." 

Do you ever envy others? I have to admit I have seen pics and think, 

how fun I wish we could do that or get that. 

There are times I think...I want a bigger house, a newer car, a cleaning lady ha ha...my list could go on. Wants are wants and I think we will always have wants in our lives. But what I need, I have. Those things I "want", they aren't important at all. They are all material things that I won't be able to take with me when I die. So even though I want a bigger home, our home right now suits our needs. I love that we could have it paid off in less than 10 years. (who knows if we will be here that long but it's still a nice thought). Our vehicles suit our needs and are in good condition (I hope I didn't just jinx myself). I am healthy enough to clean my home. If we had a bigger home it would just be more work to clean right?

The world would have us think that we need more of everything. More money, more vacations etc...

Family is what's important to me....not a career, not a fancy home. When I think of the mansions prepared above....I'm sure nothing compares.

Our little violinist

Danika had her orchestra concert last Thursday. She did such a good job. Sorry for the shaky video, she is in the middle. All you can see is her head. I had some closer videos but a lot of the videos wouldn't upload. I really wanted the last song they all performed, the elementary kids came walking down the isles playing, it was pretty neat. She said it was hard to walk and play at the same time. She is a second year and will be playing in Middle School next year. I'm glad she has enjoyed it so much. Her friend Caitilyn wanted in the picture, she started lessons this year. They are both in 5th grade but look at the height difference. I guess it shows ya how tiny Danika is.

We're so proud, great job sis!