Summer Fun

Really, I don't know if the boys will remember this as the most fun filled summer ever.

That's too bad, as it was also the longest summer break we will probably ever have.  Our school is under construction for the second summer in a row, and as a result, we had an extra three weeks to enjoy ourselves.

We didn't get to take a vacation, as we had to do a majorly expensive roof repair, which meant we missed out on the most looked forward to week of the year.

Instead, we tackled some additional home improvement projects that were long overdue.

We separated Sammy and Charlie, and gave each of them their own rooms.  This meant moving Evan downstairs to the basement guest room, which I think he overall enjoys.  He likes the cooler air (now that it's summer anyway), and he likes the privacy.  It also meant I had to paint Evan's old room and get it ready for Sam.  This about killed me, as it was the first room my Dad painted when we moved in.  He loved Evan so much, and he wanted Evan to be comfortable in his new room, so within a few days it was wearing a fresh coat of paint.  Evan picked out a planets and space border, which my Dad loved, being a space nut himself.  My heart ached as I removed the wallpaper and covered the blue paint with green, and the only way I got through it was by reminding myself that Dad would not want me to stop updating the house.  He was a firm believer in keeping on top of home renovations and painting, and I knew the painting would make him happy.  I also thought about how darn glad I am that I made him teach me how to paint only 3 short years before he died.  It's one of the most practical things he ever taught me.

Next I painted the master bathroom, and added some Uppercase Living accents that have been sitting in my closet for the last two years.  This job has been lingering on my to do list for years simply because I hate painting behind toilets.  Apparently, I am really great at talking myself out of unpleasant tasks.  VERY glad to get this one done.

Evan and I dug out a large area of sod in our backyard, killed a ton of weeds, and planted a perennial garden next to our pool.  We dragged bag after bag of mulch, and carted out load after load of sod, but sadly neither of us gained any arm muscle doing it.  Evan was disgusted at this.  I think he'd like to start looking good for the ladies.

And thanks to my wildly talented and handy brother Creighton, we were able to rip out the COMPLETELY craptastic sliding doors on the top and bottom floors and replace them with french doors that have the blinds between the glass that you can raise and lower with a magnet.  I love, love, love them.  I keep saying on Facebook that I really should have been nicer to Creighton as a kid, and I mean it.  We fought like cats and dogs.  Worse than that.  Once, as my Mom dragged me off the top of him at about the age of 11, she told me I was going to jail if I didn't stop it.  Creighton had an incredible talent of being able to push just the right buttons and annoy the hell out of me.  But now?  That boy takes the best care of me and my family.  When my Dad died, it was as if Creighton emerged from a cocoon.  He blossomed into an adult who is such an kind and caring leader.  He is truly the man and the leader of my family.  My Dad left hard shoes to fill, but Creighton does a good job of it.  I know my Dad has been busting his buttons with pride in Heaven just watching him.  I really feel like he is my older brother now, instead of my baby brother.  He is a blessing.

Which is all a long winded way of saying that instead of a really fun summer, it was a working summer, which is nice in a way too.  I did tell the kids we would try and do some fun stuff around town, so a couple of weeks ago we headed to the Children's Museum.

Our favorite part was the Wizard of Oz exhibit.  The movie has always been a huge favorite with Charlie and Sammy.  They loved sitting in the chair of the Wicked Witch of the West, and pretending to be flying monkeys.

We also really wanted to go to the zoo, but unfortunately we have been living through the hottest summer of our lifetimes (literally).  And it just doesn't sound fun to me to go to the zoo when it is 110 degrees outside.  We may have to move this goal to a weekend in the fall.

We've also been swimming almost every single day, and we've gone on some trips for ice cream and slushies as well.  

Sammy started out the summer knowing only his alphabet and sounds and a few simple words, and now he is already reading at the level of a first grader.  We went out to celebrate with a hot fudge sundae when he learned all of his Kindergarten and 1st grade sight words.  I am not above bribery, apparently.  Also, if I do say so myself, after all these years of practice, I am a kick ass reading teacher.  Want to know my secret for teaching kids sight words?  The good old fashioned Dick and Jane books.  Yep, the ones from the 1950s.  Dick and Jane knew what they were doing.  It works every time!!

Even though our summer was busy and maybe not the most exciting, I have enjoyed spending these days with my kiddos.  Even the days when Charlie's been grumpy, or we've had too many appointments planned.  I am sick to my stomach they will be over all too quickly!

5 Years

5 years ago today, I married the love of my life.



Five years! I just can't believe it has been that long. I am still in awe that we found each other, and that God has blessed us with this time together. Marriage is not easy, but Jeff makes it all worth it.

And even though these five years have sped by, it has been long enough to create this...


Taken outside our cabin on our recent lake trip

The family I always wanted. From the time I was very young, I knew that God wanted me to be a wife, a mom, and a teacher. I felt these callings deep down in my heart, and I spent a lot of time dreaming about them. And now that I have these people to love and call my own? Awesome. I am so, SO blessed!

Happy Anniversary Jeff! I love you more than you will ever know. Thank you for walking through life with me!

Today Was a Good Day

Today I got to work with 29 smart, quirky, full of life, energetic 1st graders.

I got to kiss my children awake. I got to watch Charlie and Sammy run with delight on their faces into their preschool classroom which had been transformed into a "spooky house" (preschoolease for Haunted House).

I got to cook dinner for my family, and help my Evo with his homework.

I did many of these things in a home we are blessed to have.

My husband is home from a week in Las Vegas. I was lucky enough to greet this adorable man at the door (in my adorable apron I might add-very June Cleaver!). Is there anything better than being married to your very best friend? I love him to pieces, but especially after he is home from a trip.

I read a good night story and said prayers with my little ones, and had a nice talk with Evan.

I am right now snuggled up on the couch enjoying Monday night football with my gorgeous Mr. Kleffman.

I am so, so, so very lucky. I am so glad I took small moments today to soak it all in. Thank you God, for my many blessings.

Feeling Blessed to Be Alive

I had the scariest moment of my entire life this morning. On our way to work/school, with all three boys in the van, I hit a patch of black ice on the road. We did 4-5 complete 360s, went off the road twice, was on two wheels at one point where I really thought we were going to roll into the ravine, went into oncoming traffic and missed hitting 2-3 cars by inches, and caused another car to go off the road to avoid hitting us. The entire time we were viciously covering large areas of pavement and grass. I am so thankful God was watching over us and keeping us safe. All I could think about was that the kids were in the car with me.

We have teased my Dad for many years for repeating the same life lessons to us kids over and over and over again, but today I was supremely thankful for this habit of his. I could hear his voice in my head, as if he were right there with me saying, "DON'T stomp on the brakes Christy! Turn into the spin!" Which I did, although I don't know how. I was so aware of everything that was happening, almost like having super senses, and you just totally react on instinct. It was a strange calm, and as we were headed straight towards oncoming cars, I remember calmly thinking, "Okay-this one is going to hit us. Brace yourself." Miraculously, no one hit us, we didn't roll, and eventually, we ended up facing the right direction and in the right lane.

I will never in a million years forget those moments or the sound of my kids screaming in fear.

All the rest of the way to school, we SHOUTED our thanks to Jesus and our guardian angels, who were working over time to get us out of that one. I hope they are rewarded with whatever it is angels enjoy. I had so much adrenaline pumping through me, my skin felt prickly for quite awhile afterwards.

I am SO thankful to have all of my children in one piece, a van that is in one piece, and the chance to have a normal evening tonight, where I can love and hug my kids.

Am I bald yet? Because I am pulling my hair out...

This was our night last night:

I had a meeting after school last night that went a little late. By the time we left school it was 4:30. Not good for our schedule, that's for sure! We rushed home, I got the toddlers settled with a video, and by 5:00 Evan and I started on eye therapy. It was already 5:40 by the time I was able to start cooking dinner. Which meant that the natives were getting restless. When Charlie and Sam get hungry, they have the intense urge to wrestle each other to the floor and bite each other. Perhaps they are envisioning eating their brother for dinner? I don't know, but it happens every time.

Meanwhile, Evan has now gotten a VERY late start on his regular homework, which GOD BLESS AMERICA! included ALGEBRA. Cue the scary music. I swear to you, I was in 7th grade before a teacher uttered this dreaded word in my presence. It is no joke when you hear a teacher say they are pushing down the curriculum to earlier and earlier grades in order to cram in all the info kids need to have before high school graduation. Needless to say, Evan was not able to do this assignment on his own, and now began begging for help. All the while I am trying to get dinner on the table.

We made it through dinner somehow, but afterwards I managed to dump an entire glass of sticky orange juice on the floor. At the same time Sammy took his own diaper off (which was full of poop) and tried to sit down on his potty chair and got poop everywhere. At the same time Evan was crying through his after supper chores because he had so much homework left to do.

I had to excuse myself for a time out in my bedroom. I worked on finding something to be thankful for while I was in there. IT. WAS. HARD. I tried hard not to cry. It didn't work.

Somehow we got through the rest of our night. The miracle, and not a small one either, was that I was able to still greet my husband with a smile and a hug when he got home, instead of wrathful anger because he was home late again. So at least we didn't top things off with a fight. Instead, Jeff noticed things seemed to be in a bit of disarray, and he cheerfully helped me to restore order. And then we all felt better.

I am REALLY hopeful though that tonight is better. Because tomorrow? My baby turns 3! I can't believe Charlie will be officially leaving toddlerdom behind (I am hoping he leaves the temper tantrums behind too!!) and is becoming a preschooler. But, we are going to welcome this new age in with a big party and a CELEBRATION tomorrow! Charlie and I can't wait!

Hmmm....

We had Godfather's Pizza delivered for dinner tonight. As I opened the door to the delivery man, Sammy poked his head out the door and said, "Oh! You bring McDonald's for Sammy!" Luckily the guy got a chuckle out of it.

Charlie, my child with the appetite of a bird, ate three pieces of Hawaiian pizza. Even the pineapple! When he was finished he declared, "My tummy feels so happy!" That's what it feels like to be full, buddy!

Today Sammy proclaimed that the name for an ambulance is a happy mint. What's sad is that the stuff he says is so funny that you can't help saying it yourself. So, today we talked about riding in an alligator, seeing a happy mint on the road, and about why owls growl.

This is the first weekend of the 2009 tax season at our house. Jeff works for a large company here in town as a tax accountant. It's corporate taxes, not personal, which is good since I hear the hours there are worse. God bless the spouses of each and every personal tax accountant!!! BUT...it is not a fun time non the less. In previous years, they have hired on extra people during tax time to help with the work load, but this year with the bad economy they will be doing all the work themselves. FUN!!! Even more hours! I am just thrilled.

BUT!

In my effort to have a thankful and merry heart, here is what I am focusing on, with a smile on my face. Please ignore the fact that my smile may be pasted on top of gritted teeth. I am new to this thankful bit! I am working into it slowly. So without further ado, here's my list.

1. I am thankful my husband has a job during these tough times.
2. I am thankful that his job is one he is loves, and provides him with personal satisfaction.
3. I am thankful the job allows us to have a comfortable home in a safe neighborhood.
4. I am thankful my husband has a strong work ethic, and that it is important to him to provide for and protect his family.
5. I am thankful that I have lots of family close by who help me out with the kids when the going gets rough for me during tax time.
6. I am thankful to have Jeff period, no matter what his job and the hours it requires of him.

See! I feel much better already. I am going to chant these tomorrow as Jeff goes in to work and I am missing him. My book also recommends playing music and dancing as you do your work to help lift your mood, so I have organized a kitchen dance party with my kids Saturday morning.

There is a family at my school that lost it's husband and father this week very unexpectedly. He was only 47 years old. I cannot stop thinking about and praying for the mother who is now left alone with her three children. I can't imagine having so much life still ahead of you without your spouse to walk through it with you at your side. It really put a lot of things in perspective. Who cares about long work hours? I am lucky enough to have my husband here on earth, and that is what's important.