Beth participated in a Kinetic Theater Camp last week. She loved it. She designed and made costumes, created puppets, and put on a fabulous show. The group worked together for less than twenty hours before their first performance, and then they also performed at the grand opening of the new arts center here. I was impressed with the entire group, and I loved how excited Beth was to participate each day. Even better she called people and invited them to come on her own. Thanks to all of you that supported her by coming out. She really appreciated it! I think we may have found the thing that makes Beth shine!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Long Time No See
So it's been a super long time since I've posted. Yes it has. Now I'm supposed to give some excuse about why but I don't really have one. I've wanted to do other things that update. Silly I know, but we've been doing our same old routine. The kids are out of school for the summer and driving me batty. I never thought I'd be one of those moms that dread summer and look forward to sending my kids back to school, and in some ways I'm not. I love having them home with me, when they aren't fighting, whining or vandalizing the house. It's been super hot the last week (as it has been lots of different places across the country), but it's even too hot to go swimming. And the park is definitely out of the question.
Beth is doing great. She had a two week stay in Hickory with Grandma and her cousin Chloe. They had lots of fun. Beth came back super tan, since I think she went swimming just about every day. She's learning that it's easier to just do what is asked rather than pitching a fit about it this summer. This is a good thing, although it can very grating when she is in the middle of learning this truth. This summer she "moved out." She sent me a letter telling me she was running away. And then pasted a sign on her door with our house number and the letter B after it. She happily posted one on the boys room with the letter C on it. Conveniently she doesn't have to follow our rules when she is living in her own place. She's had lots of play dates with friends, and has started to become a big help around the house when she wants to.
Caleb and Jacob stayed home with me, while Beth was at Grandma's. They went to a day camp here. And were the rabble rousers of the entire thing. Lots of crafts. Their favorite day was bug day. Caleb has shown a determination to get things done. He is doing his summer workbook faithfully in the hopes of either earning a double Bey Blade pack or a kid guitar. I think he'll decide once he gets there. He doesn't like the workbook, but he understands the reward at the end of it. He has built several elaborate roller coasters this summer. And he battles with his Bey Blades. He likes the show (which he discovered on the Roku). He has such a soft heart, and he tries to protects his brother and sister whenever he sees them getting into trouble.
Jacob has been busy acting as an artist this month. Unfortunately he has decorated our stairs with green crayon (it comes out with WD-40 and dish soap) and today our carpet with purple marker (so far the rubbing alcohol has not done the trick as recommended by Crayola's helpful website). Jacob has acquired a new skill set which includes reading your mind and using the spell "Wingardium Leviosa". He likes to wake me up in the morning by standing two inches from my face and whispering "Mom, it's Jacob. It's morning. I'm awake, come downstairs with me." He is our early riser this summer. (Beth will sleep as late as I'll let her.) He loves doing his workbook pages and is flying through with very little help from me. This means that he'll be very ready for kindergarten next year. My baby is growing up so fast. If he wants something he will say "I command you to . . ." Rob adores this, which means that it is happening much more frequently. Jacob is obsessed with the game Plants vs Zombies" and even convinced his aunt to download it to her iPad. He can tell what each plant or zombie does and which ones to match up, but I still have to play it for him. His speech is coming along.
We finally managed to go to the beach this last weekend. We've had car issues one right after the other this summer, and it resulted in me not having a car for a week and a half. But all is better, so we headed to the beach. We went to Fort Macon, the aquarium, the beach and the fort. The kids loved looking for ghosts at the fort. They also had fun at the beach since it was a yellow flag day the waves were rougher, and good for boogie boarding. It was a good trip.
Rob and I celebrated our 12th anniversary a few weeks ago. It doesn't feel like we've been married that long. But I guess we better have with a kid that's almost ten. Yikes. He's busy working with the 11 year old scouts. It's got its ups and downs, but I think he likes it overall. I'm in the primary and I like it. So simple and fun. That's about it for now. I hope you all have a good week!
Beth is doing great. She had a two week stay in Hickory with Grandma and her cousin Chloe. They had lots of fun. Beth came back super tan, since I think she went swimming just about every day. She's learning that it's easier to just do what is asked rather than pitching a fit about it this summer. This is a good thing, although it can very grating when she is in the middle of learning this truth. This summer she "moved out." She sent me a letter telling me she was running away. And then pasted a sign on her door with our house number and the letter B after it. She happily posted one on the boys room with the letter C on it. Conveniently she doesn't have to follow our rules when she is living in her own place. She's had lots of play dates with friends, and has started to become a big help around the house when she wants to.
Caleb and Jacob stayed home with me, while Beth was at Grandma's. They went to a day camp here. And were the rabble rousers of the entire thing. Lots of crafts. Their favorite day was bug day. Caleb has shown a determination to get things done. He is doing his summer workbook faithfully in the hopes of either earning a double Bey Blade pack or a kid guitar. I think he'll decide once he gets there. He doesn't like the workbook, but he understands the reward at the end of it. He has built several elaborate roller coasters this summer. And he battles with his Bey Blades. He likes the show (which he discovered on the Roku). He has such a soft heart, and he tries to protects his brother and sister whenever he sees them getting into trouble.
Jacob has been busy acting as an artist this month. Unfortunately he has decorated our stairs with green crayon (it comes out with WD-40 and dish soap) and today our carpet with purple marker (so far the rubbing alcohol has not done the trick as recommended by Crayola's helpful website). Jacob has acquired a new skill set which includes reading your mind and using the spell "Wingardium Leviosa". He likes to wake me up in the morning by standing two inches from my face and whispering "Mom, it's Jacob. It's morning. I'm awake, come downstairs with me." He is our early riser this summer. (Beth will sleep as late as I'll let her.) He loves doing his workbook pages and is flying through with very little help from me. This means that he'll be very ready for kindergarten next year. My baby is growing up so fast. If he wants something he will say "I command you to . . ." Rob adores this, which means that it is happening much more frequently. Jacob is obsessed with the game Plants vs Zombies" and even convinced his aunt to download it to her iPad. He can tell what each plant or zombie does and which ones to match up, but I still have to play it for him. His speech is coming along.
We finally managed to go to the beach this last weekend. We've had car issues one right after the other this summer, and it resulted in me not having a car for a week and a half. But all is better, so we headed to the beach. We went to Fort Macon, the aquarium, the beach and the fort. The kids loved looking for ghosts at the fort. They also had fun at the beach since it was a yellow flag day the waves were rougher, and good for boogie boarding. It was a good trip.
Rob and I celebrated our 12th anniversary a few weeks ago. It doesn't feel like we've been married that long. But I guess we better have with a kid that's almost ten. Yikes. He's busy working with the 11 year old scouts. It's got its ups and downs, but I think he likes it overall. I'm in the primary and I like it. So simple and fun. That's about it for now. I hope you all have a good week!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
2 Agent Contests
If you are interested in pitching to agents you have to check out these two contests!
1- YATopia is hosting an elevator pitch contest with Bree Ogden. Awesome right? The contest is open until midnight on July 13th. Genres are Middle Grade and YA and the manuscript must be completed!
2 - LoveYA is holding a Twitter Pitch contest with Kristin Miller from D4EO Literary agency. She is looking for young adult and middle grade books. And the books need to be completed.
Enter both or one. Either way you are looking at two great agents reading your ideas! Good Luck!
1- YATopia is hosting an elevator pitch contest with Bree Ogden. Awesome right? The contest is open until midnight on July 13th. Genres are Middle Grade and YA and the manuscript must be completed!
2 - LoveYA is holding a Twitter Pitch contest with Kristin Miller from D4EO Literary agency. She is looking for young adult and middle grade books. And the books need to be completed.
Enter both or one. Either way you are looking at two great agents reading your ideas! Good Luck!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mothers' Day
I created a short little slideshow for Julie and my mom and thought I'd share it. Enjoy.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Carowinds!
This weekend, we pulled the kids out of school and went to Carowinds. It was an exciting day, and not too hot or crowded. Beth went on her first "loop de loop" roller coaster with her cousin Chloe, plus she rode her first wooden roller coaster (it was big), and inverted coaster. Honestly it was a big day for her. Plus she learned that she loves spin rides.
Caleb rode on the wooden roller coaster (it was small, but bigger than all the other ones he's been able to ride) five times. He also hit many other fun and scary rides and had a lot of fun. He's ready for the big coasters, but unfortunately not quite tall enough. It's frustrating as a parent, because we see kids lots younger than he is, but tall, and they are riding all the rides Caleb wants to go on.
Jacob rode the smallest roller coaster once, and a few other rides. He started out on a ride that was a bit more intense than Rob and I thought it would be. So he was overly cautious most of the day. Still he had fun and was happy.
Rob rode the three big roller coasters with Beth and then Afterburn and The INTIMIDATOR twice. And he hung out with the kids and had a good time overall. I know he had fun hanging out with Karen and the cousins too.
Then we had a nice relaxing day in Hickory. Jacob got to pick strawberries, which he has been asking to do for weeks. The boys got to go crazy in the backyard and have fun in general. Beth hung out with Chloe and her friends and swam in the lake (yuck!) but she loved it of course. All in all it was a good week.
Rob is finally getting over his round of strep. He ended up being home with us for most of Spring Break because he was sick and contagious, and then he had Friday off. He enjoyed playing Portal 2 and sleeping a lot. He slept during the day and played at night.
I've been thinking a lot about the severe weather and all the people who are affected by the tornados in Alabama. In some ways it makes me feel so helpless, and at the same time it makes me grateful for the gospel and the hope it brings. Our stake is getting together a group of people to head down there this weekend to actually help clean up the debris and help. Things like this make me want to hold my kids closer and cherish every moment that we have together. Family is what really matters, because in the end it's the only think you can take with you, no matter what.
Have a great week!
Caleb rode on the wooden roller coaster (it was small, but bigger than all the other ones he's been able to ride) five times. He also hit many other fun and scary rides and had a lot of fun. He's ready for the big coasters, but unfortunately not quite tall enough. It's frustrating as a parent, because we see kids lots younger than he is, but tall, and they are riding all the rides Caleb wants to go on.
Jacob rode the smallest roller coaster once, and a few other rides. He started out on a ride that was a bit more intense than Rob and I thought it would be. So he was overly cautious most of the day. Still he had fun and was happy.
Rob rode the three big roller coasters with Beth and then Afterburn and The INTIMIDATOR twice. And he hung out with the kids and had a good time overall. I know he had fun hanging out with Karen and the cousins too.
Then we had a nice relaxing day in Hickory. Jacob got to pick strawberries, which he has been asking to do for weeks. The boys got to go crazy in the backyard and have fun in general. Beth hung out with Chloe and her friends and swam in the lake (yuck!) but she loved it of course. All in all it was a good week.
Rob is finally getting over his round of strep. He ended up being home with us for most of Spring Break because he was sick and contagious, and then he had Friday off. He enjoyed playing Portal 2 and sleeping a lot. He slept during the day and played at night.
I've been thinking a lot about the severe weather and all the people who are affected by the tornados in Alabama. In some ways it makes me feel so helpless, and at the same time it makes me grateful for the gospel and the hope it brings. Our stake is getting together a group of people to head down there this weekend to actually help clean up the debris and help. Things like this make me want to hold my kids closer and cherish every moment that we have together. Family is what really matters, because in the end it's the only think you can take with you, no matter what.
Have a great week!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Conversation on Math
Beth has decided she wants to be meteorologist. This conversation happened after she told me.
Beth: I hate it when teachers call on you when you aren't raising your hand.
Mim: You should raise your hand more, so they'll stop calling on you.
Beth: They only do it when I don't know the answer or I'm not paying attention.
Mim: Well you should be paying attention in class.
Beth: But math is boring.
Mim: You'll need math to be a meteorologist.
Beth: But math is boring.
Mim: You still need to pay attention.
Beth: Math was more fun when you could eat it. I got to eat my math in kindergarten.
Beth: I hate it when teachers call on you when you aren't raising your hand.
Mim: You should raise your hand more, so they'll stop calling on you.
Beth: They only do it when I don't know the answer or I'm not paying attention.
Mim: Well you should be paying attention in class.
Beth: But math is boring.
Mim: You'll need math to be a meteorologist.
Beth: But math is boring.
Mim: You still need to pay attention.
Beth: Math was more fun when you could eat it. I got to eat my math in kindergarten.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Spring Break!
This week is Spring Break--and I have been worried about keeping the kids happy. I've also looked at it as a trail run for the upcoming summer. We need lots of activities fast, and a clean house to keep us all happy. So far I don't know if that's going to happen.
Our week started off with a bang on Saturday with some rough weather that moved through the area. We are all fine, but we went to visit the kids' school, and their playground is covered in downed trees, and a power line or two. If school wasn't already out, I'm sure our kids would have missed school yesterday.
As it was Beth had a skate party to go, and so I took the boys to the roller rink for the first time ever. Of course it brought back memories of middle school, and the few times I went roller skating in college to pull on the heavy skates. I put on my skates so I could take the boys out on the rink, but neither of them ventured up to that. Instead they played games in the arcade. Caleb's really good at skee ball. And cashed in tickets to get prizes. Always a rip off.
Also Caleb colored Jacob's hair with magic markers yesterday, so Jacob was sporting punk rocker red and green striped hair. It washed out last night. I'm grateful for that since Jacob has his well visit today, and I don't want to give a bad impression to the pediatrician.
Beth's already complaining of boredom. Every suggestion is a no. We even went to the library to her her favorite books to read, and she won't be bothered to pick them up.
So far today we've been on a long walk (2 miles--Jacob did really well, only had to be carried the last half block home). And we've dyed the Easter eggs. They've rescued a caterpillar and managed to make a big mess downstairs. The boys are having fun together though.
Have a great Easter!
Our week started off with a bang on Saturday with some rough weather that moved through the area. We are all fine, but we went to visit the kids' school, and their playground is covered in downed trees, and a power line or two. If school wasn't already out, I'm sure our kids would have missed school yesterday.
As it was Beth had a skate party to go, and so I took the boys to the roller rink for the first time ever. Of course it brought back memories of middle school, and the few times I went roller skating in college to pull on the heavy skates. I put on my skates so I could take the boys out on the rink, but neither of them ventured up to that. Instead they played games in the arcade. Caleb's really good at skee ball. And cashed in tickets to get prizes. Always a rip off.
Also Caleb colored Jacob's hair with magic markers yesterday, so Jacob was sporting punk rocker red and green striped hair. It washed out last night. I'm grateful for that since Jacob has his well visit today, and I don't want to give a bad impression to the pediatrician.
Beth's already complaining of boredom. Every suggestion is a no. We even went to the library to her her favorite books to read, and she won't be bothered to pick them up.
So far today we've been on a long walk (2 miles--Jacob did really well, only had to be carried the last half block home). And we've dyed the Easter eggs. They've rescued a caterpillar and managed to make a big mess downstairs. The boys are having fun together though.
Have a great Easter!