I also took some time to work on balancing our family budget - fun, fun, I know. It became a challenge to see what we could remove, what we could scale back and who we could negotiate with to reduce our expenses. I didn't really want to call and be "that person" insisting on a lower bill, but I changed my mindset and it was not that bad being polite but firm. I realized we only have $X and there's no longer a cushion of my paycheck. I didn't want companies taking more than they should and making it seem impossible for us to have a parent home with our kids. So, changes with Cox, Verizon and health insurance made up the bulk of the changes, then there's the tightening of the extra purchases on a monthly basis. I made quite a few calls to get everything accomplished, but it was worth it in the end, as we found a way to get our income to very closely match our outgo!
Besides all that exciting cleaning of closets and finance fixing, there was plenty of other things to fill the calendar! We got to celebrate Easter with the Derby side along with our niece, Evelyn's, 2nd birthday, MoPS wrapped up for the year, Jeff took the kids out to the Fir and Memphis houses to take turns riding on the mower, we all had dental appointments (no cavities-yay!), the kids and I went out to Eagle house on a Friday afternoon to strip some painted wallpaper, then I went back out on the following day while Jeff's parents watched the kids. Jeff continues to work on two houses simultaneously while keeping up with a busy schedule at work, and striving for the perfect balance of work and home. There is, of course, no perfect balance, my suggestion was just to be fully present when you are home with the kids so that time is quality.
So, speaking of time together, we asked the kids what they wanted to do on a vacation this summer - responses included: staying at a hotel to swim, seeing the elephants at the zoo, eating dessert before dinner, and going on a water slide. With that in mind, we decided this summer to take a "staycation" with the kids, doing some things around Omaha that we don't take time to do on a regular basis and staying at a hotel for a night or two. This will take less time driving somewhere and the kids still can do all the things they enjoy - a true win-win! Stay tuned for an update on how that goes, likely in July sometime. :)
Samara's Moments for the Month:
- We released our turtle and toad into the wild (since they were from the wild) at Zorinsky Lake. Samara was all excited about letting them go to live free and in the wild until turtle ran right from the box to the water and jumped right in! It was over so quickly. Samara was sobbing. Kalum "What treat are we going to get when we get home?" So typical, on both accounts in an emotional situation.
- We had Samara's last preschool parent-teacher conference. She is a joy to have per her teachers and they will be sad to see her leave. But, she is totally ready for kindergarten and they enjoyed seeing her kind of lead the younger kids in her class and show them the way of the preschool world.
- After a temper tantrum while getting ready for school (where she was kicking the cold air return in her room), I discovered it was dented in. I explained her consequences would likely be chores to earn money to replace it. When Daddy got home and after dinner they got out her piggy bank to see how much money she already had towards the vent. He was showing her how much money it would cost to buy and she was not happy that it was going to take so much of her money. "I was just about to get rich!", she said dismayed. Lesson learned - you break it, you buy it.
- Jeff put in "hillbilly" costume teeth and pretended that is what happened because he went to bed without brushing his teeth. The kids were completely fooled and horrified that is what happened. Samara was "sorry that they will look like that forever now" and Kalum said "you'll never be able to talk gooder again". Jeff could barely keep a straight face! Finally he told them they weren't his real teeth, but man, they were totally taken aback, covering their mouths in empathy.
- She was so excited that she figured it out today! When Jeff got home she was jumping up and down telling him. She also met a girl at the playground that will go to her kindergarten school, was icing on the cake!
Kalum's Moments for the Month:
- Breakfast topic one day: how Kalum would want to come visit me after he is a grown up. "I will come see you, and eat with you, for breakfast, lunch and dinners!" I'm sure you'll show up to eat after you've moved out buddy, no doubt!
- The kids are instructed to go upstairs and wash their hands. Samara is at the sink watch hands and I look in to see Kalum taking his wet hands out of the toilet and he's giggling. At the same time I'm thinking it, Samara says, "Kalum are you washing your hands in the TOILET?!" He then proceeds to dry them off on Samara's bath towel. That went straight to the hamper and he had an extra long hand-washing session in the sink. Boys! Seriously. I never thought I needed to specify that he should not wash his hands in the sink.
- Samara so far as been the one to get Wesson giggling best so far, but one day in April, Kalum got his going as well. Kalum was so excited that it was the first thing he told Samara when we picked her up from school.
- Growing up? He has become more reasonable in recent days. He still might start to throw a fit if something doesn't go his way, but you can reason with him and he adjusts fairly quickly.
- Loves hugs!!
- Playing cars and trucks and he told one truck to watch our for the big hole with "really fast sand". Haha - he meant quicksand!
- Kalum's alphabet song right now... A B C D E F G H I K K Kalum N O P (then goes through the end) Lol! we made sure to get a video of that before he realizes the alphabet doesn't actually include his namesake. :)
Wesson's Milestones for the Month:
- 6 Months Old!! Loves to hear clapping - grabs your hands so he can be part of the action. Got a cold early in the month, started off slightly fussy and waking at night, then full blown cold symptoms.
- 6 month Check-Up: 19lbs 11oz (85%), 28" long (92%) and head circumference 44.5cm (71%) He did well, even through the inevitable vaccines.
- First time swimming! Jeff's family was in town from Iowa and they stayed at a hotel. They invited us to join them to swim. Wesson seemed to enjoy the water.
- He likes to eat baby food, even opens his mouth like a baby bird for fruit (pears, apples, baby cereal). Veggies (sweet potatoes, avocados and peas so far) can take a little more coaxing.
- If he gets mad he now says, "blah blah blah" loudly! If he is done being in bed, wants to eat or to be picked up and you're taking too long. He's usually flaps his arms while scolding us.
- By mid-month he discovered the joy of splashing in the baby bathtub! As in...let's raise my arms and crash them into the water as hard as I can (should have worn my poncho to bathe him - will definitely consider it for next time!)
- Trying to find the best style for his locks on top of the head only - we pulled it up in a "man bun". Jeff asked, "can we just cut his hair?" So maybe the man bun is not the look we were seeking.
- First real ride in the shipping cart. Loved riding in the cart like a big boy at HyVee! Just sucked on his finger and watched the fluorescent-lit world go by. I think we've reached the end of carrying him in the infant seat carrier, it's just too heavy (for Mom at least). Jeff, however, just can't seem to stick his hip out enough to carry him with ease on his side. ;)
This month since I'm now not working, but for a few hours of training one week, I picked up my magazine from MoPS to read. It so appropriately was on the topic of Embracing Rest. One of the articles really made me think as it brought up the concept of "checking out" vs. actual rest. And it didn't just mean getting more sleep at night, but rather, what makes your spirit feel more restful? Time spent creating something, writing, reading, nature, exercise, etc. Finding that thing for you personally and making space in your schedule. Intentionally arranging this time in advance, on your weekly calendar, coordinating with spouse to make it happen. The same week I heard a radio program about the importance of not putting yourself last as a mom. The temptation is there to give your family your all and it is often easier to just let your me-time slip. It is, however, so important to take time to refresh yourself and your spirit so your heart can overflow to others. I had been praying that I would find the best use of my time at home with my kids full-time and God speaks to us if we listen. It seems like this is how he has reached me in the past, by aligning messages from several places at the same time. In reflection, I realized that watching TV after the kids are in bed at night might seem restful, but actually I'm just "checking out" and not lifting up my spirit. A summer goal: set up time for actual rest time (maybe that's just a nap sometimes, creating or quilting) and daily quiet time with God. I need to "be still" more often than constantly working on a to do list. God has this under control so I don't need to feel like I have to. All. The. Time. What can you plan into your calendar to allow your spirit some time to rest as we head into the summer months?
