My little Jedi

Xander is totally into everything Star Wars right now.
He has a couple of Star Wars Lego kits and plays a video game on the computer that's also Lego Star Wars. He loves Angry Birds Star Wars and really anything Star Wars at this point! It's tough to find age-appropriate things for him, but I'm doing my best. Any advice anyone has on this, please let me know!

 

I have been able to find some awesome books for him, though we haven't read them yet. I put them on hold at the library and hope to get them in the next couple of days so that he can find enjoyment through those for the rest of the summer. A couple, like the Jedi Academy (chapter book) and DK readers (easy readers) will probably keep him occupied for hours.

He's watched Episodes IV, V, VI, I and part of II. He wants to watch Episode III, but it's rated PG-13. I can't remember why it's rated PG-13, so I need to preview it again first. I suspect we'll be waiting a bit before we watch that one. And he desperately wants to see episode VII that comes out at Christmas, but I just don't think that's gonna happen either. We'll see. I have to admit that I love watching my boys geek out together over Star Wars, though. It's pretty much one of the most awesome things in my life right now. :)

May the force be with us...you. I mean you. But send some of it my way, 'kay?

Interesting articles and random websites

Sarah Bessey always says things in a way that touches my heart and blesses me immensely. This article fascinated me and reflects so many of my own thoughts.

This is obviously a hot topic since the Supreme Court ruling came out a couple of weeks ago legalizing gay marriage. This article and this one express my thoughts and love so much more clearly than I can.


I am so very proud of our babysitter, Erin. She is interning at a nonprofit called Promising Pages. She's pictured at the top of this article. We love Erin!


Fantastic! Read to your kids - all ages!! I fully expect to continue reading with my kids long after they can read well for themselves. Xander likes to do most of the reading now, but I still sneak a book or two in each night. :)


This is a great list - 100 acts of Kindness. My favorite is number 96. ;) And beware - if you do number 7 then it will probably get thrown out.


I turn 35 this year, so this 35 year old woman's advice on what she wishes she'd known in high school intrigued me. I agree. I want to save this list for my kids.


Y'all know what it's like to live with a threenager. And if you don't here's an article that will give you a peek into my life.

I haven't had a chance to download this app yet, but I can't wait! People are so funny when it comes to my kids - some folks think Xander is a spitting image of David (I happen to agree mostly - I think Xander looks like his Grandma with red hair) and others see the hair and think he looks like me. Others think AJ looks just like David (but if you look at my little girl pics you'll see AJ everywhere!) - I want to see what the experts think. ;)


I found this article very interesting! I love personality tests and I love reading so this was a great combo. I'm an ENFP, so my recommended book was Bridget Jones's Diary. Though I didn't care for the movie, I thought I might at least attempt the book. We'll see how far I get...


I read this article, and this one too, both having similar themes about over-parenting. There are so many things we do as parents that we think are helping, but are actually hindering our children. Let's "be instead of brag" and stop the helicopter parenting!


I am nowhere near being a professional blogger (nor do I want to be) but I heard about this ebook recently and thought it might be interesting to take a peek into.


My life lately....
"Sometimes sometimes sometimes it’s easy to lose us and our happy in the midst of this crazy life journey with twenty plus years of motherhood tucked in the middle. Tears. You’re not alone, sweet mother, if you’ve ever felt this way.  Listen, please, please, please. You are not the only mom who has ever stood in the kitchen with kids running around and dishes piled high and loud noises and tears have filled your eyes as you wondered what happened to happy.  It’s okay. For real. I know those moments hurt and can make you feel like you just want to throw your hands in the air and that sometimes you just want a break and sometimes just a hug or to be loved and told you matter. 
So listen.
It is okay. You are a good mom. Even in all those moments."

Sweet summertime

I haven't posted much lately. Lots of different reasons surrounding that, but honestly it just hasn't been a priority.
This summer has been filled with ups and downs. And I'm not handling all of them very well.

Early in June David's check engine light came on in his car (which is 12 years old). He took it in to have it checked out and they told us that it would cost $4,000+ to have it fixed - and the car is only worth $3,000-$4,000. We just funneled a ton of money into that car last fall when my stepdad backed into it. And we just couldn't justify spending that much money on something that will most likely need more work in the coming year. So David got a new car. And though I feel like we got a good deal and it was the right choice, it takes a toll going through that experience and making those kinds of decisions. So David now drives a white 2013 VW Jetta TDI, manual drive. I hope it lasts us a long time. I despise buying cars.

The following week my check engine light came on. We took it in and it needed over $1500 worth of love and attention. More financial stress.

During that week we decided to take Amelia Jayne out of her current daycare. It was emotional and stressful for me for many reasons, but mostly because I have a hard time with change and I have a personal relationship with Mrs. Joy. We chose to take her out because it was expensive, I had found a place I liked closer to home that was more affordable, and because I would have to continue to pay  Mrs. Joy even when we were on vacation to hold AJ's spot - which would end up being almost $500 over the course of the summer.

We were at the beach with David's family for a week in June - David only got to stay for half the week, but it was a nice time. There are certainly stressors there that I don't have at home, but most of them are very manageable and even fun. Then on Wednesday night, David got to the house which had no AC working upstairs. Thankfully we have two systems, so the downstairs is still fine, but we still haven't gotten that worked out yet. They finally came today and fixed it - a fairly easy fix, thank goodness. Dealing with service providers and home warranty companies are also last on my list of things I want to do.

David's been crazy-busy at work with deadlines and multiple projects going at once. Because of that he's been somewhat distant at home. This is definitely something I'm not dealing with very well. After a meltdown or two from me, we've been able to work a few things out and I feel much better at home. His big deadline is this Friday, so I'm doing my best to give him as much grace as possible and take care of myself in the meantime.

Xander started summer camp after school was out, which he seems to love. It's at a local church near our home. It's been convenient for me and exciting for him. He's met lots of new kids and had opportunities to go on field trips, have in-house field trips, do arts & crafts, sing and dance, and over all enjoy life. This is the one thing I feel has gone exceptionally well this summer.

Amelia Jayne started summer camp with Xander. When I decided to put Amelia Jayne in her new school in the fall, there wasn't a lot of reason to keep her at Mrs. Joy's when I could put her in the same camp as Xander. They're not in the same class or anything, but they still get to see each other in the hall and at praise break. I enjoy hearing them talk about the different activities they're doing since they do participate in a lot of the same things. BUT with this change has also come some stress. Amelia Jayne doesn't do very well with change either. She's excited and interested until the actual time comes. She did great the week or so leading up to her starting camp and she was excited that very morning, but then her anxiety and emotions crept in. She's cried (only slightly which is good) most mornings when I drop her off and then she has cried each afternoon when I've picked her up. She doesn't want to leave me in the mornings and doesn't want to leave her friends in the afternoons. It is a constant struggle with that one. I love her dearly, but she wears me out! Kind of like Olivia. Oh how that one reminds me of Olivia. :)

And then there's me.
I don't really know what to say except my emotions have been wild lately. I've had a couple of days that I just had to cry and rest and take a break from life. One day I called into work and took the day off just to deal with my emotions and take care of me. I started seeing a counselor which has been a wonderful, calming and eye-opening experience. I've been more vulnerable with friends, which I think is helpful, too. Some days are just fine and others are almost unbearable. I'm doing my best to keep a positive attitude and enjoy what God has given me - to remember to look on the bright side of life. :)