Mommy Growing Pains

My children are all happy and healthy and growing like weeds. I'm the one having the growing pains!

Josiah lost a tooth yesterday and another one today. That is a 2 tooth gap that you see. Within a week or so, he will likely have a 3 tooth gap. (Oh yes, it's the middle of January and this boy rarely has a shirt on.)

Yesterday Isaiah really discovered his voice. Today I put 3-6 month clothes in his drawer and then this afternoon I looked over and he has hanging on to a toy on the play mat.

Of course I tell myself I don't want it any other way. I really don't. Something would be wrong if these milestones didn't happy so quickly. I can honestly say that, to the absolute best of my ability, I'm living in and enjoying every moment.

Heslop Family Amazing Race

Over Christmas break we watched almost a full season of Amazing Race. We planned to watch the season finale tonight and, in anticipation, Aliza prepared an Amazing Race for the family. It was boys against girls and Aliza was the producer.

It took a little bit of decoding to figure out the clues based on the spelling. =)

The excitement was palpable. Josiah was competitive. Anna was super excited and willing to do anything. Aliza did such a great job with the clues...I'll fix the spelling for your reading enjoyment. ;)

Detour: Clear It up or Set It Up. Clear It Up: Memorize the living room setting. When you're ready, we (Aliza) will break it and you'll fix it. Note: one team at a time. (Translation: Memorize the placement of the couch throw pillows and everything on the side tables. Aliza will destroy the room and you will put it back together. Aliza will judge how well you do.) Set It Up: Memorize the table setting. When you're ready, we will break it and you'll fix it in time for dinner. Note: one team at a time.

The boys chose setting the table and the girls cleaned up the living room. The boys passed with flying colors and the girls had to "keep working on it" as the judge said.

Road Block (a task that only one person can complete): Sticking: You will have to pick some stickers and put them on the lines on the paper.

The boys were long gone, but Anna did an awesome job for the girls!!

Route Info: Go to your rooms and make your bed. When you think you are comfortable you will get your next clue. Note: If your room is taken, wait or choose a free room.

It took the girls a couple times to figure out that "When you think you are comfortable" meant that you had to be laying in the bed to get your next clue. Apparently the boys figured this out right away!

Pit Stop: Go to the DVD shelf and there is your Pit Stop. The boys won and their prize was a pile of books.

It was so much fun that Aliza immediately produced a second leg of the race to be run immediately following lunch!

Route Info: Kitchen Song: Use the kitchen utensils to make a song. When we (Aliza) thinks its beautiful you get your next clue. It took both teams a couple tries, but Daddy figured out what pleased our judge first.

Detour: Make a Lego or Summer Day. Make a Lego: Build a Lego boat out of Legos. When we think it is ready to be played with we will give you your next clue. Summer Day: Make a pretty sweet place to hang out. When we think you are having a good time hanging out, we will give you your next clue.

The boys built Legos, but the girls pulled ahead with their sweet place to hang out. I wish you could have seen Anna's enthusiasm.

Road Block: Picture Practice: Copy the picture in front of you. When we think you copied it perfectly we will give you the next clue. Note: Be careful with my crayons. (Insert Mommy giggles here.)

The girls got a head start, but Anna didn't quite understand the clue so she had to start again. Daddy didn't quite get the picture right (lol) and Anna got a bit of leeway for her age so the girls were handed their clue first.

Pit Stop: Go to the girls' room for your Pit Stop. It was a foot race to the finish line. Daddy had to pick up Isaiah before he ran so the girls finished just ahead of the boys. The girls prize was a stuffed animal.

The children really really wanted to do more races, but Mommy and Daddy thought it would be best if we stopped while everyone was still having lots of fun. At supper Anna was still begging for another race. She had to settle with watching the Amazing Race tonight. Aliza and I had a team that we really wanted to win. They didn't win, but it was still fun to watch.

Just a Fun Moment to Remember

About halfway through the school year, there is a break in the regular reading program for a Booklink. This is a stand alone book that the student reads and there are lots of additional activities to go along with the book. The reading assignments are longer and the video teaching is shorter. It works to build the child's confidence in reading. There are two more Booklinks to do during the summer or at the end of the year. Josiah finished his first book today and enjoyed the activity--making a chariot out of a cardboard box.

Josiah decorated his chariot with tractors.

Upon seeing Josiah decorating his chariot, Aliza remembered that she had also created a chariot when she was in 1st grade. Aliza was adamant that we had saved that project in the garage. She was so convinced that she and I trekked out in the freezing cold wind to find her box and, sure enough, it was in the garage. Here she is in her chariot in December 2012:

Here she is today in her chariot--I'd say she has grown!!

Isaiah--3 Months

We couldn't quite convince him to smile hugely, but smiles come so easily these days. He pushes way up and while we were taking pictures she was pushing his legs and almost scooting forward. We told him to stop--just relax--enjoy being a baby!! =)

Joy Dare::December

1955: Warm enough for this:

1956: Eat/wake/sleep--happy Mama, happy baby

1957: Technology that allows me to stay connected to a friend in another country
1958. Happy mail
1959. Enough sandbox time that I got the house straightened up
1960. Feeling ok about some busy days
1961. Celebrating my Gramma's birthday
1962. Clean bathrooms
1963. Aliza helping Josiah through a tough spot in school
1964. Trying to capture the smiles

1965. A busy day of a different sort
1966. Well behaved children in multiple public places
1967. Aliza asking intelligent questions out of curiosity at the doctor's office
1968. Watching the Nutcracker Ballet with my girls (and Isaiah)
1969. 3 children SO excited to show Grandpa every treasure they own
1970. Anna asleep beside Grandma and Grandpa's bed
1971. Baby dedication and fellowship afterwards
1972. A very mature conversation with Aliza
1973. Not-even-remotely-good-for-you apple pie
1974. Napping with Uncle Jeff

1975. Children all asleep before 9:00!!
1976. Learning to play chess

1977. Made it to the end of the day
1978. A very rare lunch in the living room to watch a TV show
1979. Earlier mornings
1980. Isaiah slept through our night
1981. Baby smiles that make his eyes squint
1982. Aliza busily reading new library books
1983. Josiah completing schoolwork without a meltdown
1984. Having insecure thoughts and seeing that they were unfounded
1985. Venting made me feel better
1986. Isaiah slept through our night two nights in a row #itsatrendnow
1987. Josiah's office--like Grandad's

1988. Working hard on school with great attitudes and getting it done by lunch
1989. Surprise mail and feeling SO special

1990. Losing track of time while walking around stores this evening
1991. Looking right at me and smiling

1992. Tillamook cheese!!

1993. Enjoying moments of holding Isaiah, Anna snuggling up with me during rest time, Josiah wanting to be close and reading out loud to Aliza with her snuggled up against me
1994. Blowing bubbles

1995. Reflecting on this year with Jeremy
1996. Today's cupcake--Butterscotch cheesecake
1997. Keeping school as simple as possible this week
1998. A patient hygienst
1999. Josiah raking pine needles with Great Grandad
2000. Nestled in with Great Gramma

2001. Won an important battle
2002. Making a conscious effort to take a more gentle approach to correction
2003. Our neighbors that just welcome us in like family
2004. My Dad stopping in for a minute and the children running to give him huge hugs
2005. Challenged and being stretched
2006. Listened to radio broadcast with Katie Davis from Uganda while I wrapped presents
2007. Going to bed and realizing I am happy
2008. Decorated gingerbread men

2009. Baby coos
2010. Community Christmas dinner with friends
2011. Christmas break from school!!
2012. Another smooth road trip
2013. Baking cookies at 9pm as soon as we get to Grandma Karen's house
2014. Everybody wants to be close to Grandma

2015. Hearing a testimony of hope in spite of difficult circumstances
2016. Relaxed Christmas celebration filled with excitement and joy
2017. Seeing Aliza's love tank filled after getting one on one time
2018. A grinning Anna tucked in with shimmery sparkles around her eye, her doll on one side and a duck named Quack on the other side
2019. Josiah built his Legos all by himself. Makes me feel happy and a little bit sad that he didn't need help.
2020. Lots and lots of happy playing
2021. Watching Jeremy enjoy brother time with Joel
2022. Despite the late brother nights, Jeremy still did the early morning feedings for me
2023. An evening walking around Target with Brandi and Karen
2024. Everyone had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa and everyone is happy to be home
2025. 4 kids in their own beds and a silent house
2026. Thankful that I can drive so Jeremy can get some work done while we are on the road
2027. Stamp party

2028. Pizza and shrimp
2029. Going-to-bed-on-Christmas-Eve excitement
2030. Christmas morning--all the joy and excitement
2031. Just being in the moment whether that was watching Josiah build Legos , holding Isaiah, scrapbooking with Aliza or giving Anna attention
2032. Mom and Dad's house for Christmas dinner and visiting
2033. A reasonable doctor
2034. Recycling--it makes me feel like I'm doing something good (I had a ton today since I hadn't gone in almost 3 months)
2035. Succeeded in getting Isaiah down for 3 naps--a semblance of a routine
2036. Christmas mess strewn all over the house
2037. 2nd annual Christmas tea with Maria
2038. I could make it work for Jeremy to go golfing
2039. Jeremy helped me get food ready to take for Sheats Christmas tomorrow
2040. These smiles

2041. This mess

2042. The nighttime quiet that makes me want to stay up way too late
2043. The house was calling to be cleaned but it was more important to play Monopoly Jr.
2044. Out of town friends stopping by to visit
2045. Phone conversations
2046. Streaming sun on my afternoon couch spot
2047. Level 1 post Christmas cleaning almost done
2048. Definitely feeling like I'm in vacation mode this week
2049. 6 cousins on a trampoline--apparently they didn't notice how cold it was
2050.  A steak dinner that Jeremy really enjoyed
2051. A wonderfully full year 2014

Christmas--Round 3

I LOVED Christmas Day with my husband and children, but there is just something about getting to be the kid and going home for Christmas.

The grandchildren were so excited for Christmas--again. I jokingly said that what the children are going to remember about Sheats Christmas is waiting. I don't know how many times I said--"wait."

First of all, Grandad read the Christmas Story and we sang Joy to the World.

Then the children received gifts from the Aunts and Uncles. My Mom set it up so that children would open in groups in only one child per family would open at a time. This worked well for me because 1) I could see what each child was opening and 2) my goal for the day was that my children would thank each person after they opened a gift. I needed to help those children who don't read know who to thank.

Later, Josiah opened a bow and arrow from Grandma and Grandad. He was one excited and totally surprised little boy.

Isaiah fell sound asleep in my arms--and I held him--for as long as I could.

Bless Lydia's heart. Every time a present was put in front of her she started opening it and was told to WAIT! I guess she thought sitting on top of the box was her best option.

4 generations. In a great big circle.

Ezra helped himself to plenty of M&Ms!

My Mom surprised me with some scrapbooking things that I've wanted. I really thought that since she had been in my house so much this fall that she would have seen something that I needed or needed to be replaced of updated. I was pretty tickled to get some new pens--my girls have been pretty hard on the ones I have. And they will not even know that I got new ones. I'm hiding my new pens!! =) 

It was a perfect end to our Christmas week.

Christmas at Home--Round 2

Jeremy and I had the privilege of being able to give,--especially Aliza and Josiah--something that they both really wanted. It was really fun to keep secrets and watch them be really excited.

Aliza and Josiah both bought gifts to give. They gave their gifts first. It was special to watch them be so excited about giving the gifts they picked out for each other. Then it was Daddy and Mommy's turn to give--we were quite excited to give too!

Aliza was pretty excited about what Anna received. But Anna still had the, now expected, open mouth excited look.

Josiah is saying, "IT'S THE LEGO POLICE STATION!!!!"

"THIS IS SOOOO AWESOME!" He built it all by himself and had it finished by late afternoon. It is pretty awesome.

Aliza really really really wanted a My American Girl doll. She picked out the one that looked most like her. For weeks she was saying how badly she wanted it, but knew she wasn't going to get it because it cost a bit more than we said we were going to spend--and I had never paid full price for an American Girl doll. Aliza said if she got that doll for Christmas she would cry. She didn't cry, but she was a happy little girl!

Of course, Isaiah didn't have a clue what was going on and I really had free pass this Christmas, but I remembered that Sole Hope sold children's shoes. With the purchase of a shoe, you are also donating the cost of a shoe for a child in Uganda.

The sole is definitely made out of bicycle inner tube. The rubber is soft and flexible. They are also super easy to put on. The shoes are too big for Isaiah right now, but I think we will get some good use out of them.

It was a memorable, joy filled Christmas morning at our house! The rest of the day was pretty relaxing. Aliza wanted to scrapbook with me. I was happy to oblige! There was lots of happy playing and just enjoying being family. It's possible that I practically begged my Mom to cook Christmas dinner for us (and as it turned out my other siblings who were in town), but Merry Christmas to me--I didn't have to cook!