Pearler Beads ;)

As a parent I am always on the look out for good toys and projects that the kids will like and won't be a waste of money. I recently did a social work internship at a partial care for kids and they had these neat things called pearler beads. I enjoyed playing with them and decided to see if I could find out where to get some.













I found out they sell them at Michale's and Wal-mart it cost me about $30.00 to get started but the kids have loved them.

They are making things for their friends and cousins. They think they are great. We have spent the last two Sunday's just playing with pearler beads. I highly recommend them. The are great for most ages even Aspen has been able to make some things. Be warned, however, kids like to put them in their mouths even 12 year olds.







These are some of the things we made today.














I am taking them to our Thanksgiving parties so everyone can make something. I think everyone should have pearler beads.

There's hope.

As a parent I think there are few times in life when you get validation from your child that you are doing a good job. Zak just turned 12 in October and he is definatly a tweeny. He thinks he can do what he wants when he wants and a lot of times it is very frustrating.

Today, Zak got home from school and told me they were in the locker room after PE and Jamie one of the boys in the class pushed Dustin another boy up against the lockers. Zak said he grabbed Jamie and took him out in the hall and said "You're going to see a teacher." I thought wow. He is listening and he is responsible. It was a proud moment.

Another thing that I think is pretty cool, Zak as everyone knows is a huge sports nut and especially likes football and the Pittsburgh Steelers. A couple of years ago we went to an ISU football game. I knew one of the players and pointed him out during warm ups. Just before the game started TC the player I knew and some other players knelt in the middle of the field and prayed. I pointed this out to Zak and we both thought it was pretty cool. Since then he has been pointing out to me when the NFL players are praying together. Last week after one of the games there was a group of players from both teams kneeling and praying together. Just that he notices that they are giving praise to God is awesome.

Maybe he'll turn out ok after all.

HOLY CRAP!!!

Tonight Kassidy & Cheyenne were helping Zak with his science project. We used the shredder to shred some stuff and so we emptied all of the shredded paper into the garbage can. Kassidy walked over to the garbage and said "Holly Crap!" It doesn't sound right to hear Kass loudly say anything but when she said Holy Crap I just laughed. Sweet, little, innocent, Kassidy saying something that had I said at her age I would have been in big trouble. All I could do was laugh.









By the way this blog is dedicated to Amber because she doesn't think I update my blog enough. I don't have time to enjoy the drama she experiences in life so I will just have to update with my simple joys in life.

Summer's Gone

This summer hasn't been the greatest. It started with Zak getting hit in the mouth with a baseball and breaking his tooth and having to have a root canal.



A few weeks after school got out Chey got 11 stitches in her leg and a week and a half later she broke her arm, only 15 hours after we reached Hawley Creek. From there we ended up with 2 flat tires and a dead battery.


We had a great time with Jana and her kids while they were here but we were still trying to figure out things with mom so her trip seemed to go by fast.





Finally decided to go to Utah and to Lagoon for a quick family vacation. We found a good hotel to stay in. When we arrived we decided to go for a swim. The pool was as cold as the canal. They later told us the heater for the pool wasn't working.



We got to the gates of Lagoon and just before we pulled in Aspen puked all over the car. We finally got to Lagoon and the weather was stormy. There was a lot of wind and lightening so they shut down several rides.


We got on the Carousel and they had just switched operators and the one operator forgot to give the key to the new operator. We waited 20 minutes before giving up and going on another ride.



Zak and Cheyenne started school last Monday and Kassi started on Wednesday, and unbelievably my baby started Kindergarten on Thursday.

















I start class tomorrow and I just can't believe that summer's over already. Where did it go?