Some of the same...

No big adventures lately :( Ben has been working a lot. On his days off it has been nice to just relax. We have started Mommy and Daddy days. Every month, Blake and Hunter will get an afternoon out with just Daddy and another afternoon our with just Mommy. I felt this was important especially for Hunter. In fact, the idea came to me when I was talking to Hunter after he had gotten into trouble. It dawned on me that the only time I spend just talking to him is for school or when he is being scolded. He needs some more positive face time with mom. :) Saturday I let Hunter decide what to do. We ended up going to the park. We played soccer, football, raced up the slides and just had a grand time. He actually decided he was hot, tired and hungry before I did! He then picked our eating place...Taco Bell. Yum! After we had lunch we tried out the Orange Groove. It is a frozen yogurt place that I know highly recommend. It was a great afternoon. He is such an amazing little ball of personality. My entertainer.

Home schooling is going great. We have a routine going now. Parker is starting to get the hang of it as well. He was pretty whiny at first when he wasn't getting the attention that he thought he needed.

I discovered a book that I want to recommend to all my teacher and parent friends. It is called "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" I was really worried about how little my boys seemed to pay attention to others and their feelings. I started searching for ideas and ways to make them more aware that there are other people in this world, not just them. And, that their actions can impact how a person feels. This book uses the idea of bucket filling to explain just that. When you do or say something nice to someone, you fill their bucket. When you are mean, you dip into their bucket and empty it. The more full our buckets are, the happier we are. The boys really liked the book. Everyday we are talking about ways that we helped fill others' buckets and how we may have dipped some too. I have been able to point out a few times that others at the store helped fill my bucket. A nice man took my cart back for me at Costco, so that I didn't have to walk away from my children in the van. Very sweet. It is only $9.98 on Amazon. Buy it!!! :)

We have entered Parker's birth month. Makes me soooooo sad. I don't want my baby to turn one. I know, I know...it has to happen. I am using this perfect moment to research and read up on photography. I have found a lighting and backdrop kit that I am going to order next week. I have some awesome ideas for Parker's 1st birthday pictures. And if they don't turn out...we will just have to take him somewhere.

Parker has been so funny lately. He personality AND temper have really sprouted. He LOVES to climb and will not stay off the couch. scares me!!! Just when I think this house is baby proofed, he learns a new trick. He just pushes he train, or anything else over to the couch and climbs right on. He also loves to just take off in a full run and bounce off the couch. He will laugh and laugh at himself. Momma is finally in his vocabulary...he just chooses to not say it often.

The social part of me is starting to go crazy. Without working it has been harder for me to meet new friends. I really miss all my friends and girls' nights. BUT, we have our first library and park play date later today. It is with one of the boys that takes Karate with Blake and Hunter.  Hopefully it goes well and we can start meeting up more often.

I have rambled a lot today so I will close for now. Last exciting news though...first visitors are due in 21 days!!! Linda, aka Maw maw, and Kenzie are coming on the 24th. The boys and I are so excited!

Here are a few recent pics: