Dates with Kids

Hubby and I have decided to go on dates with our 2 girls (5 & 7). We have decided to allocate 25$ per child.

On our first set of dates, I took the oldest and we went shopping at the mall – she loved it! Hubby took the youngest and they went to see a movie – a movie she wanted to see.

The next day, we switched kids and the youngest and I went shopping while the oldest and daddy went to an Art Gallery – afterward they bought some canvas, paints, and brushes at the dollar store. My youngest is still saying thank you to me and it’s been 2 weeks.

This was an awesome experience for all of us. We got to spend time alone with each child and they got all our attention. My oldest daughter discovered she likes Slushies and my youngest discovered that her and her dad have more in common. Can’t wait to do it again, next month.

See more progress on: be a better mother

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43things.com, mother, children, family

Blast From the Past!

realhoser's Hangout: Church at New Location Starting This Week!

Recently, on my hubby's MSN space blog, he got an awesome comment! I just had to share what a great guy he is!

Hey Jeff,

Ok this is a little off topic but I have some things I need to get off my chest. I have tried over the last 8 years to get in touch with you with not a lot of luck. Seeing how I can't get in touch with you I will post this and hopefully you'll get it.

All I've ever really wan't to say to you is thank you! You have no idea what a profound influence you had on me when I was young. Sure I was a bit loopy and somewhat out of control but somehow you saw past that and considered me as a friend. Without your influence I may never have been a man of faith, but not just that I may have not have survived my teens. I will always remember your acts of kindness towards me.

I just wanted you to know that people really do care about you and how your doing. I think your space here is terrific. Keep your head up, live hard, laugh hard, and thank God for Hoser's like you!

||||||
(¤¿¤) Frank
O

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realhoser, Life

Sunset

sunset02
Originally uploaded by elf_friend777.

I just so love this picture. I don't remember if I took it or if hubby did, but that doesn't matter because it's just soooo beautiful!!!!

We took the kids down to Florida for March Break this year and this is a sunset on the Gulf of Mexico, Braedenton Beach.

Everytime I look at the picture I don't think about the great time we had on our vacation, but I'm always reminded of God. I'm having trouble putting into words what feelings this picture emotes for me. I can see beauty yet so much more, much deeper. A brillant love. Love of creation, love of me.

What do you see?

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sunset, Florida, Beach

Valentine's Day

It's almost here - ughh. Now don't get me wrong, I like Valentine's Day. What I don't like is all the pressure but on guys to buy stuff for their women. And the disappointment if a woman doesn't receive any recognition on Valentine's Day. And then, of course, there are the multitude of people, especially women, who don't have a significant other to spend this romantic holiday with.

Personally I have learned to not expect much if anything on this day. I think I've gotten flowers, once on Valentine's Day, but I'm okay with that. I know I'm loved 365 days a year and most days he shows it.

Our girls are still young and so I try to focus on the main theme of the day - LOVE. We try to do something special for each other on this day. Usually we make/give cards for/to Daddy and each other and then we cook a special dinner and eat by candlelight. And we talk about how much we love each other.

I wish the focus was more on LOVE and less on "if you truly love me, you'll give me flowers, candy, and diamonds". Although if they were offered, I wouldn't turn them down. ;-)

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Valentine's Day, Love

Went Shopping

I enjoy shopping and this weekend we actually had some money to do it. LOL

We bought a DVD tower. It will not hold all of our DVDs but we want to start to tidy up the clutter (see my 2006 Accomplishment List). Here's the long story - We received a new-to-us TV and stand from hubby's brother and it won't fit in our entertainment unit, so we emptied the unit and moved it downstairs and are using it as a toy storage system for Little People stuff. Now we have no place for all our DVDs, so we bought a DVD tower in the same colour as the TV stand. - end of long story

We bought some clothes for the kids ($8 for 2 long sleeve shirts) and the girls bought some books. I also bought a couple of books - Star Wars trilogy (Episode IV, V, VI) and Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli. I got the Star Wars books because everytime we watch the movies he talks about the books he read when he was younger and I wanted to know what he was talking about. When we came home, I went straight to reading and have read the first chapters of Star Wars IV and Messy Spirituality. I'm trying not to read to fast or else I won't have anything to read for the rest of the month.

Just some of my babbling. What books do you like to read?

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shopping, Star Wars, Michael Yaconelli, books

2005 in Review

Oh heck everyone is doing one and who am I to be a non-conformist in this respect. ;-)

Let's see what has happened in the past year that matters or makes a difference to me.

I was ill for most of the year, starting January 1st - cold after cold - it was rather irritating!!!!! I was feeling great during July and August, except that it was so hot and with no air conditioning. My oldest daughter got the chicken pox, so we couldn't even go anywhere to cool down. We stayed indoors for the whole month - the first 2 weeks with the oldest the second 2 weeks to see if the youngest would get it (which she never did). It was an interesting time.

My oldest also finished Senior Kindergarten and started Grade 1 and the youngest started Junior Kindergarten. They so love school. I also started volunteering at their school one day a week and I love it too!

Hubby has been at his work for 10 years this year and so got an extra week vacation - so very cool!!! It was nice to have some extra time with him.

Thinking about it 2005 was rather mondane, but I liked it just the same. Maybe I'll remember some more things later and edit this post.

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review, New Year, 2005

Christmas Countdown

Only 4 more days!!!

I've still got so much to do.

• Shopping - almost everyone is taken care of, except for my girls and hubby.
• Wrapping presents - I'm leaving a few for the girls to wrap.
• Laundry
• Cleaning the whole house.
  
• Packing - going to in-laws for Christmas.
  

Or it just seems like there's so much to do.

The kids are out of school for 2 weeks starting Friday!!! I'm really hoping that I'll get at least one day to sleep in over the 2 weeks. I wonder if that will ever happen. ;-)

How's your Christmas preparations coming?

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Christmas, shopping

Christmas is Coming

My girls had their Christmas party with their school friends on Saturday. We had 9 children in the house. It was great and everyone had a wonderful time. The kids were so good. I just love hosting children's parties, especially Christmas ones!!!

Sunday, we put up the tree, prelit one. I was so worried that it wouldn't work. We bought it in October from Wal-mart and we never tested it. I think I got to hang about 5 decorations - the girls did the rest and the tree looks spectacular!!! I'll add a pic when hubby downloads them off the camera. Hopefully soon.

This year is our first year doing an Advent Wreath. I've always wanted to do one. The girls like lighting the candles, but I have to do something to make it a little more exciting for them and me.

I've started creating Advent Activities too. So I'll add those here too.

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Discussing Faith

Ever have one of those days - when you have a lot to do but really don't want to do anything?

I have laundry that needs washing, minutes that need typing, a PCC year-end card that needs re-working, and lunch to make. But what am I doing spending it online because I don't want to much of anything. I woke up this morning, with a bit of a sore throat and an overall yucky feeling.

Anyway, I wanted to get some of my thoughts down about the conversation hubby and I had the other day before I forget all about it.

I wanted to pick his brain a bit about what he thought of how Christianity is changing or not changing and if any of these things were bad or good. I don't think we narrowed down anything that was negative about change or no change in the church. We both see the need to reach out to others where they are at. Here's a brief summary of what I thought we talked about - although we have talked more since so it may be a combination of those talks too.

Right now I think (can't speak for hubby, he can do that) there are many (but not most) people (Christian and non-Christian) who are finding the "modern" way of doing church lacking. Most people are still content at the way things are and that is great. But I want to know how to reach the ones who find it lacking because quite frankly sometimes I find things in the church rather boring or old or not really where I'm at (hard to explain the feeling actually).

I want to see Jesus as more relevant in my life. I want to be a closer and understand better. I want to have some more experience. Does this make senes? Let's just say I'm one of the "confused" on the T-shirt (see post above).

Well will have to post more later.

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Christianity, faith

Great Weekend

I had a great weekend. Grandparents babysat the kids and hubby and I went out. We had thought about going to a movie but didn't like any of the choices. So we went to dinner, then window shopping in the mall, and then to Starbucks for "fancy" coffee. We were able to sit and chat - something that is hard to do with 2 young kids always around.

We talked about all sorts of things. We talked about our love of our children. How much potential we see in them, how much the same they are yet so different. We were able to have a great discussion about faith and how our lives reflect our beliefs.

I'll post more about the last discussion later when I have more time. I just thought I should try to keep up posting.

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family, Starbucks

Been A While

Well, it's been a while since I started this blog. I just want to make sure that I don't forget.

A lot has happened since June. My mom's cancer returned and she is terminal. She's almost done her chemo treatments. (She decided to be part of a study group which is experimenting with a new combination of medicines.)

Both my girls are in school now. The youngest in JK Tuesdays & Thursdays and some Fridays. I've been given some time on my own and have totally filled it. I'm going to be volunteering one day at the school.

I've had the opportunity to read the rest of Brian McLaren's New Kind of Christian trilogy. I read the first book last year and went to a seminar with Brian as the main speaker. I've just finished the second and third book this week. I couldn't put them down. They've started me on a spiritual journey that I'm sure will change my life and how I view my faith.

Anyway, I better get going and make supper. Maybe I'll be able to write more later.

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cancer, Brian McLaren, christian, books