While the girls are away...

The boys and Mommy will play

and be Mommy's big helpers :)

I have an Eight year old!

Eight

Alona decided this year that to celebrate her birthday she wanted to have a sleepover.
I was getting quite worried, I handed out most of the invitations more than a week in advance
most of the replies were coming back that they would be able to come but then would come get their girls at bed time. I didnt want her first attempt at a sleepover to be totally ruined.
I was pleasantly surprised when Donna's mom called to tell me that she would be coming!
And not that she would only allow her to stay until bed time, but that she would come for the party!!

Alona was so excited for her friends to show up and get the party started. She was waiting outside for more than a half hour, until she got a little discouraged and decided to come eat some pizza. And then they all showed up!
After eating pizza and breadsticks they played hide and seek, that was really fun! There were some good hiders!
When Paul came home for his lunch break
they were all called in for presents

Alona got a camera and walkie talkies from Mom and Dad.
Some books, notebook, pencils and a ball from her friends
And then they spread out sleeping bags, candy, popcorn and root beer floats
for a night of fun movies

Before two of the girls left we watched the Tooth Fairy

and then Alona and Donna decided to watch Enchanted and stay up until one am talking
They decided to fore go sleeping on the floor and put their sleeping bags on the couches
probably not a good idea, its easy to roll in a sleeping bag...right on to the hard floor

Kate came back and joined us for breakfast. French toast, eggs and fruit
and then the girls made necklaces from the assortment of beads that we have

After the girls left and we had cleaned up we invited our friends the Hardmans over
and had cake and ice cream!

Alona had a great birthday! Thank you to everyone that made it wonderful!
What a great Eight year old that I have!

who am I

I was asked at our first PTA meeting this year to name my strengths, and I couldn't do it. The thought of digging deep enough within myself and seeing something that I am good at, something that would bring something valuable to the PTA. Something that they would know oh, Heather is good at that we should go to her! I couldn't do it.
Quite often I am having my husband reassure me that I am good at something, or that I am good enough. It is nice to have that reassuring voice, to know that I am good at this, that I can do this or I am wanted! So it got me to thinking, what am I good at, what is there to me?
So first some strengths, characteristics that I have come to the conclusion that I have...

determined, strong willed, compassionate, stubborn, understanding,
independent, realistic, humble, reliable

I will try to think of some of why these characteristics make ME.
Determined, I was determined to get married. Though underage, I didnt let that stop me, I persuaded my aunt and uncle to sign me over for that. Paul and I saved our paychecks and paid for our wedding ourselves, we went to the flower shop, to the decorator, the cake decorator, did it all by ourselves and got it done. I even took Paul, his brother and my uncle to the tuxedo shop where we had them measured and paid for it all (which is why Paul and my uncle were the only ones with full on tuxes). I guess this also falls under Independent as well.
I was determined to have children, a strong desire in me to have a baby. Paul kindly gave in to his wife, four times, and now we have four of the sweetest children.

Strong Willed, well strong willed and determined seem much in the same, but to me strong willed is more of me being Strong and being able to make it through, through anything.
I have made it through much in my life.
Now I have quite a bit on my plate, being co-leader of the girl scout troop. I am trying to keep up with it. I have to be the reliable one, the other leader has much on her plate. Repeatedly calling to remind her that we need to schedule a meeting, to constantly ask her to send me things that I need. To be willing to plan and make this a great year at girl scouts, and do it with everything else..
I am a "commissioner" on the PTA, currently I am dually responsible for Hispanic Heritage Month. I have with two-four children went to different stores and asked for donations to help with this. Spent more than three hours at the Elementary school, in meetings, in the small little copy room, copying, cutting, passing fliers out and making posters and hanging them up.

Alona is struggling with some things in school. Her teacher has expressed concern with Alona not staying on task or completing her work in time. I have set aside time each night to help her work on things that she needs to from school and hopefully she can do better at finishing the work she is given and staying on task.
Okay so determined, strong willed and independent.
Basically, I take on a lot (by myself) and find it within me to keep going
to get things done that need to be done..

Compassionate and understanding, this is an easy one for me. I have been called as compassionate service leader twice. God really knows what I am good at. I (usually) am able to see others needs and am willing to help them in any way, even if it is listening, watching their children, etc. Though sometimes I give a little too much and it takes its toll on me.
When I hear, see others life stories, things that are going on in there life, I can understand where they are coming from and not judge them and I love that.

Realistic...one Too many times people have not come through for me, or have not lived up to what they should have. My mother not trying to get us back or be a part of our lives when I was a teenager (12yrs old), I remember at 11 years old being taken away and at nights I would sing myself to sleep in the shelter home with hush little baby, I wanted my mother. Being SO alone after having my last two babies, literally losing it especially after Kacen was born. Even in the simplest things, like right now I am so broke, I am helping to put together the Family Fiesta at Provost, the other lady that is working with me, is hyped on things being copied in color. In order to that you have to have money to go take your copies elsewhere and then the PTA will reimburse you. I dont even have the money to make the copies to get reimbursed..so I copied them in White! And I speak in English and Spanish would not have fit on the paper so I did not put spanish translation on my fliers or poster! Part of being realistic is knowing my limits now and spending to much time on something and doing way too much makes me too stressed out and occasionally gives me panick attacks, so I TRY to be realistic with how much I can handle and its hard.
Especially when it comes to our kids and finances, I wish I could afford more for them

I am realistic in knowing that people dont always follow through, that they are not always there for you, that other people and their own lives are most times more important and will overshadow things

I am stubborn, when I am hurt I stay hurt for a while but I am humble enough to be the first one that will go to that person to work things out, I cannot stand letting things be for too long. Thouhg at times it bothers me that I have to be the one to suck it up and work things out, part of my stubbornness but I am glad my humility wins over :)

I posted on facebook what others Think some of my strengths are
and here are their answers as of me writing this,

*Courage, Brave...I have more than one!
*Patience. You've got it in spades. It's amazing what you do.
*energy
*Hardworking!
*Determenation
*righteousness. creativity. patience. those were the first 3 that came to my mind. you are an amazing woman!!

A lot of people my age and older have a lot of small talk of things that go on through their day, that they bring up in conversation . I dont seem to have much small talk left in me anymore. The little things in life dont bother me so much anymore and they havent for awhile. I easily let them go. Its the bigger stuff that gets to me and with that as long as I am talking things out with people everything is fine.

little tidbits..I cook, not as much from scratch as I used to, my stress dont allow for it. I clean, my house isnt the cleanest OR the dirtiest and I am okay with that. I am a mom to two soccer players. To two little rambunctious boys that stay home with me during the day, a third grader and kindergartner. I try to help/ allow them to have as much fun as possible, and stay within our means doing this (man is it hard, I want so much more for them). I teach my children responsibility, the differences between wants and needs and love teaching them new things.
I was asked at the Dr.s office, what I do, what kind of job that I have... and I told him, I dont work... I should have spoke up, I work! I work hard to be a good mother to my children, even though I dont bring in an income, I bring much to my family! In love, support and strength

Abbi's first day of school

Abbi is officially a kindergartner!
She had her first day this week. She is super excited about kindergarten and loves going!

Kindergarten open house Wednesday September 1

Abbi sitting at her desk for the first time

Thursday September 2, 2010
first day of school
We all walked her to school and were waiting outside for the first bell to ring to take her to class.

She hung up her back pack right under her name
and then went and sat down, she was so excited to learn that
Kindergarten is not like other grades

in Kindergarten you play first!She had a wonderful first day, they not only read books,
but they read Two books.
The books were about racoons, and a mommy and little
racoon and how they kiss, they kiss on the hand.
Which is so sweet, I have been getting "hand kisses"
the past two days!
She made a raccoon puppet and ran and jumped in the gym.
She also had recess.
Next week she gets to eat lunch at school.
She all ready knew two kids in her class, Archer and Suelie (sp?)