I do have a few blog posts to catch up on but I had a learning experience last night that i would feel really ungrateful if I did not blog about it.
I decided to make chocolate chip cookies last night right about the time Andrew and Ally were going to bed. I got the first two batches cooked with no problem. I put the second batch in the oven, set my portable timer and went downstairs to spend some time with Jim. A little while later Ally came panicked downstairs. She said, "Mom I smelled something funny so I went into the kitchen to see and there's smoke coming out of the oven." I quickly looked at my timer, yep, I still had over two minutes before the cookies were to be done. I ran upstairs and sure enough my kitchen was full of smoke. The digital screen on my oven was unreadable so I quickly hit the off button. The screen then said 'clean, cool.' What?!? Clean? How did that happen? I was frantically racking my brain, could I have accidentally turned the clean on? I was absolutely sick! The oven stunk really bad and the top of the oven was quickly turning from the pretty white it was meant to be to a disgusting burnt brown. As Jim and I hurried to open windows, get a fan going, etc. we realized there was no way I could have accidentally turned on the clean cycle, the oven had to have done it itself, which can only mean one thing, the oven is dying.
My first thought, seriously? Can the timing be any worse? I just had to replace my washer and dryer and now my oven? All before Christmas? Why? Just as quickly as these thoughts came to me, my thinking changed! I quickly realized how grateful I was that Ally was still awake and smelled that 'funny smell' and came to tell me and Jim right away. I realized that since there were still cookies on a metal cookie sheet in the oven when it switched to clean mode a fire could have started which would have been A LOT worse! Everyone in my family was safe and that's the most important thing. As I look back over the last few months I realize there were blessings in disguise that I didn't truly realize until now. Like the fact we decided to get a new barbecue grill for my birthday. And I was able to replace my crockpot when it died. And that after only using said crockpot once and breaking the bowl while cleaning it (yes I am brilliant) my next door neighbor had a bowl she was getting rid of that fit mine perfectly and she was willing to give it to me for free. Another blessing is that even though we had to replace our washer and dryer, and right before Christmas, the timing was actually good because we got a good deal with the Black Friday sales. I have learned that if you look hard enough, and yes sometimes you have to look really hard, we can find blessings in everything, including our trials. I'm so thankful we were blessed in the midst of this trial.
So for now, our oven is on the side of our house and while we are looking for a new oven (which are expensive, by the way) we will be eating a lot of cold food, crockpot meals and using my grill we were blessed to get. The good news is that even though it still stinks really bad, I still have a kitchen to prepare these meals in. I'm so thankful my Heavenly Father is watching out for me and my little family and this situation wasn't any worse than it was. I'm also grateful for lessons learned during our trials.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Proud Mom
K, I don't really like to post things like this post 'cause let's face it, every mom thinks her kids are the best, most smart, cutest kids in the world. But, I have to put this in our family journal for this year because I am so proud of these two.
We recently had parent teacher conferences at the school. I first met with Ally's teacher who only had kind things to say about Ally. Ally is doing really well with her reading and math and every other thing they are learning so far. She enjoys reading and learning so I think that makes things easier on her. The best thing for me to hear is that the teacher often relies on Ally to help out a boy in her class who struggles with Autism. Her teacher said she keeps him by Ally because she knows Ally will always help and is always kind to him. This really warmed my heart. I know how kids can be especially to someone who is different. I'm so glad my daughter is not only kind to this boy but more than willing to help him when he is struggling with assignments, etc. Of course, Ally is Ally and is not perfect. I did need to talk to her about being a little too social and talking when she is not supposed to. The good thing about Ally is that when I talk to her about something that needs to be changed, she is quick to change it. All right, she is quick to change it when it's at school, home is a different situation.
I then went and met with Andrew's teacher. I knew this one would be easy. Andrew loves to read and learn. He is really excelling in all subjects but especially math. His teacher too could only say wonderful things about Andrew. Although it didn't surprise me what he said, it was the way he said it. I could tell he enjoys having Andrew in his class and enjoys the challenge of teaching Andrew. His teacher is also his math teacher. He does timed 1-12 multiplication tables and Andrew completed his in 3 minutes 43 seconds, the fastest in the class. His teacher told me he can't wait until they try the other tables to see how fast Andrew can do them. He also said that Andrew always pulls out a book and reads when they have any down time. He said he thinks Andrew will always excel at school because of his love for reading. I have to say, I struggled with smiling too much and crying because I am so proud of this kid. But, like Ally, his academic achievements aren't what make me the proudest. On his interview sheet under greatest achievement so far he put, 'when I helped (a boy in his class who has cerebral palsy) score a touchdown in football.' This boy had never scored a touchdown and Andrew told me one night he wanted him to score a touchdown and he was going to help him accomplish it. I love that he has such a kind and caring heart too.
I am so proud of both my kids for the way they are excelling in school and also in being kind and loving beings. They make me so happy to be their mom. I love them both so much!
We recently had parent teacher conferences at the school. I first met with Ally's teacher who only had kind things to say about Ally. Ally is doing really well with her reading and math and every other thing they are learning so far. She enjoys reading and learning so I think that makes things easier on her. The best thing for me to hear is that the teacher often relies on Ally to help out a boy in her class who struggles with Autism. Her teacher said she keeps him by Ally because she knows Ally will always help and is always kind to him. This really warmed my heart. I know how kids can be especially to someone who is different. I'm so glad my daughter is not only kind to this boy but more than willing to help him when he is struggling with assignments, etc. Of course, Ally is Ally and is not perfect. I did need to talk to her about being a little too social and talking when she is not supposed to. The good thing about Ally is that when I talk to her about something that needs to be changed, she is quick to change it. All right, she is quick to change it when it's at school, home is a different situation.
I then went and met with Andrew's teacher. I knew this one would be easy. Andrew loves to read and learn. He is really excelling in all subjects but especially math. His teacher too could only say wonderful things about Andrew. Although it didn't surprise me what he said, it was the way he said it. I could tell he enjoys having Andrew in his class and enjoys the challenge of teaching Andrew. His teacher is also his math teacher. He does timed 1-12 multiplication tables and Andrew completed his in 3 minutes 43 seconds, the fastest in the class. His teacher told me he can't wait until they try the other tables to see how fast Andrew can do them. He also said that Andrew always pulls out a book and reads when they have any down time. He said he thinks Andrew will always excel at school because of his love for reading. I have to say, I struggled with smiling too much and crying because I am so proud of this kid. But, like Ally, his academic achievements aren't what make me the proudest. On his interview sheet under greatest achievement so far he put, 'when I helped (a boy in his class who has cerebral palsy) score a touchdown in football.' This boy had never scored a touchdown and Andrew told me one night he wanted him to score a touchdown and he was going to help him accomplish it. I love that he has such a kind and caring heart too.
I am so proud of both my kids for the way they are excelling in school and also in being kind and loving beings. They make me so happy to be their mom. I love them both so much!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Which One??
Vanessa was a little overwhelmed by all the candy she got while trick-or-treating.
I can just read her mind, "so many choices. Which one should I choose?"
Aaah, finally, a good one!
I can just read her mind, "so many choices. Which one should I choose?"
Aaah, finally, a good one!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Halloween 2011
Halloween was once again crazy at our house. I had an infected tooth pulled the Friday before and was in a ton of pain all weekend. After getting the kids off to school in their school costumes,
remember our school doesn't let the kids where normal Halloween costumes, they have to wear something that goes with what they are learning, I went to the dentist and found out the infection went into my sinuses. I volunteered for Andrew's class party and then we raced out to Orem so the kids could trick or treat at Jim's work.
We then went to Jim's mom's house for piano and some trick or treating.
After that we went to my parents' for them to see the kids and some more trick or treating.
We then went home for more trick or treating and our traditional taco soup dinner. Jim was nice to me this year and took the kids out trick or treating since I wasn't feeling well. I had so much fun seeing all the kids and handing out candy. The bad thing for Jim is he took the kids a lot longer than I usually do so I'm sure they are going to want him to take them every year. It was a fun, although crazy Halloween.
remember our school doesn't let the kids where normal Halloween costumes, they have to wear something that goes with what they are learning, I went to the dentist and found out the infection went into my sinuses. I volunteered for Andrew's class party and then we raced out to Orem so the kids could trick or treat at Jim's work.
We then went to Jim's mom's house for piano and some trick or treating.
After that we went to my parents' for them to see the kids and some more trick or treating.
We then went home for more trick or treating and our traditional taco soup dinner. Jim was nice to me this year and took the kids out trick or treating since I wasn't feeling well. I had so much fun seeing all the kids and handing out candy. The bad thing for Jim is he took the kids a lot longer than I usually do so I'm sure they are going to want him to take them every year. It was a fun, although crazy Halloween.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Little Artists
Ally and Vanessa both love creating art so naturally Ally would be the one to give Vanessa her first water color painting lesson.
They had so much fun creating with each other!
They had so much fun creating with each other!
Money, Money, Money
Ally has her money everywhere, in her piggy bank, wallet, and recently put some change in a plastic box. Unbeknownst to me (I can't leave this girl alone for two seconds) Vanessa got a hold of the change box and had some fun with the money.
She was rolling back and forth in all the change. It reminded me of the movies when they roll around in all the money. Too bad for her hers was mostly pennies and not bills.
She was rolling back and forth in all the change. It reminded me of the movies when they roll around in all the money. Too bad for her hers was mostly pennies and not bills.
Pumpkinland
The kids and I met my mom and Kelly and her kids at Pumpkinland during Fall Break (yes I am behind on my blog). Pumpkinland is really fun, smaller scale pumpkin adventure.
They have fun blowups placed around for pictures.
The kids had fun in the corn maze
We all had fun posing in the wood frames
The kids then had fun playing on the bouncy toys and playground.
This was a really fun way to end fall break!
They have fun blowups placed around for pictures.
The kids had fun in the corn maze
We all had fun posing in the wood frames
The kids then had fun playing on the bouncy toys and playground.
This was a really fun way to end fall break!
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