Sadness

Today was my first day home with the kids for the start of my Spring Break. Finally!!! That's all I can say about that! However, it was a very bittersweet start to vacation time as on Thursday we lost one precious little 9 year old boy who was a student in an elementary school where I work. His mother also works at the school and on Wednesday he was accidentally hit by a pick-up truck while he checked the mail. His mother and little brother were right there as well...soooooo incredibly tragic and heart-wrenching. I can't imagine the pain they are going through and as a parent I don't know how you cope. It shakes me to near paranoia with how do I keep my kids safe! The sad fact is though that I can't, nothing is a guarantee in life ...accidents happen, illnesses happen, and it only takes a second for life to be forever changed. I read parent blogs, news stories, even the files of some of my students, and my heart breaks into a million pieces. I pray every night that children would never get killed, get cancer, experience abuse or trauma and yet I know it is not a prayer that is likely to happen. I don't know why these things happen and would like to be able to make sense of it all, but it never will. At least not to me. I
This morning I was watching The Early Show on CBS (I actually got a moment to watch something besides cartoons) and a boy named Justin was talking about his diagnosis of a inoperable brain tumor. His goal is to shoot 40,000 baskets which represents the number of people who are diagnosed with brain tumors in the United States each year! He is also raising money for the National Brain Tumor Society in the hopes of funding more research and a cure for others. I was really impressed with the poise and ability this 13 year old showed in describing his goal. Here's a link to the segment and his website if you want to check it out. What an inspiration.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

www.justinsquest.com

I was very thankful to have this Good Friday holiday to be with my kids and enjoy some quality time together. I will definitely be holding them tighter this week and counting my blessings.

Getting Ready for Easter

Easter seems early this year and it feels like we have a lot going on in the next few weeks! Spring Break is rapidly approaching (Can I get a Woot! Woot!), Easter is next weekend, and Luke's 3rd birthday is coming up! At the local park they had an Easter Egg hunt for the kids on Saturday. It was cold but at least once they started the eggs were gone pretty fast! Luke got plenty in his basket so that was good. He had fun and announced in the end "I won... those kids didn't get all the eggs." At the end they could trade their plastic eggs in for some dimes and a brown paper bag with some candy. He liked the candy part! There was a worn out looking Easter bunny who looked like he had seen better days. You could pose your kid with them for a picture but Luke wasn't having any of that! But he had fun and gets the idea of an Easter egg hunt. He knows he should be a "nice" boy so the Easter bunny will bring him a basket. When Cooper gets in trouble Luke says the Easter bunny is not going to bring anything for Cooper. This morning I said Cooper was being good and Luke said, "The Easter bunny will bring Cooper a T.V. (really T.B. is what he pronounces) to watch!" lol I'm not sure why Cooper needs his own T.V. to watch.... Daddy's still waiting for a big flat screen for himself!

Yesterday, Nana and I also took Luke to get a much needed haircut! He wasn't too excited about it but he got to sit on my lap again and he held still for the girl. They made it shorter than I thought, but I think it looks cute! Almost a real big boy haircut!

It kinda tickled!


Last Monday when I had off of work, I did manage to take both kids to the library for the first time. Luke liked that but he wanted to play puzzles instead of look for a book right away. Charlotte was busy trying to climb on the kids chairs and falling off when I was trying to help Luke look for a book. She's at a difficult age to contain right now since she just wants to run around by herself! We eventually found some books and managed to get out of there. The weather turned out pretty good so we also went to the park by the lake. They loved that as well!
Charlotte HAD to walk by herself- a new thing now she does the alligator "death spiral" to get out my arms whenever we are outside.

Spring!!!.... I think

It's been sooooo nice this week with temps in the mid-60's after work! The spring peeper (frogs) are always singing in the dark when I open the door at night or in the morning, the birds are chirping, and I've spotted a few purple crocus bundles blooming by the side of the road. Oh, and I did see a baby horse and a baby cow when driving past some Amish farms yesterday so I took that as a good sign that spring has finally arrived! We've been able to take the kids (and Cooper) on much needed walks after dinner. It feels so nice to have sunshine on your face and get some fresh air. Unfortunately, the next few days are predicted to be cold, rainy, and possibly some snow. What a bummer! But at least we have had a taste of what spring can bring and look forward to warmer temps again soon.
Spring Break week is right around the corner and I am ready for the vacation time to just relax a little bit and play with the kids. I'm hoping its nice enough to go to the park and I've never taken Luke to the library so maybe that's something else easy we can do. Hopefully the kids will let me sleep in a little bit that week! That's probably wishful thinking! haha I don't think I'll be "sleeping in" like I used to in my early 20's for about 20 more years but at this point in my life that's okay!

Awww they're holding hands...


"Why am I wearing so many colors Mom??"


A much needed drink break after the walk...