Happy teacher's day.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.  (Or your parents--whoever is responsible for teaching you to read.)

Robin eggs.

No, no. I'm not referring to nature and springtime.  I'm talking about the candy coated whopper goodness that arrives this time of year. Just so happens to be my favorite Easter candy.

My candy splurge began with my 7 year old's Easter egg hunt on Wednesday.  "Baby, bring Mommy all your chocolate, please?"  Yesterday was Jace's hunt which was also quickly confiscated by the Queen Bee. Today will be another hunt in which I am like a child waiting for Christmas.

Yes, I am THAT teacher that doesn't give out treats because I eat them all.  Yes, I am THAT socialistic mother that makes all her children pour all their candy into one bucket so we can all share more candy.

Don't roll your eyes, because you know you do it too!  All this candy talk around holidays reminds me of a Johnny Test episode where the kid decides to create a holiday between Easter and Halloween just for candy.  It's a pretty genious idea being as candy from Halloween CAN last until Christmas.  That candy until Valentine's day and that candy until Easter.  It makes sense to have another "holiday" (minus the holy part, I guess) to break the long time between spring and fall.

Johnny Test



With all the candy talk, I most certainly have not forgotten why we celebrate holidays, Easter in particular. I am grateful that I have been forgiven much in my life and will take the opportunity this weekend to reflect on a huge sacrifice made for me.  I know that it is my responsibility as a mom to explain the true meaning of Easter to my children even though they can't completely comprehend the enormity of Jesus' death.

Happy Easter to all and to all a good night!

TEW

The following is a blog I wrote in 2007 when my best friend decided to move 4 hours away.  I'm omitting a lot of the juice but couldn't think of a better way to begin a blog than by this small paragraph.

A best friend that sticks by your side for almost eight (twelve now!) years straight...come hell or high water.  It started on the drive to her house on Northampton in 1999 in her Accent when she made a phone call to her brother saying, "Hey, I'm bringing home company.  Can you hurry and sweep.  I'm at the stop sign." 
This was my type of girl...

Once again my BFF is moving to another city.  Only an hour and a half away but still away.  Oh-I meant to say moved...past tense.  Kind of like a thief in the night! 

I consider myself to be very blessed in this little thing called life-great husband, smart and healthy children, super supportive and loving family, a place over my head, a vehicle to drive, food on my table, last but most certainly not least-a Tiffany.  No, no-my Tiffany is not sold in stores nor am I willing to share.  She always plays a very important role in my strong support system that encourage me to follow my dreams.  She's also quick to give me a reality check on my wonderful "epiphanies."

For what it's worth, we have endured many things in this life together.  Here's to many more memories!!!!  I love you, Ms. White!

Beach pics-May 2006

Is spring broken already?

So, it's officially over.  Spring break proved to be quite rainy and cool but I enjoyed it nonetheless.  I'm not sure if other teachers feel my same sentiments but I am almost glad spring break is over so that we can hurry up to finish out the school year. 

Just for the record: the 6-7 weeks post spring break without a holiday is equal to an elementary teacher's eternity.  It's comparable to the six weeks before Christmas for retail employees.  We're just trying to survive it, that's all.  We have testing, field days, honors days, graduation, etc.  It's truly amazing what a school can cram into such a short time period.  Did you notice I mentioned nothing about Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic?  Because it doesn't happen. 

We enjoyed a very relaxing breaking of spring.  Of course I had to make sure that Jace and Ty stayed on their routine so they went to daycare. :)  I relaxed, cleaned the house, relaxed some more, cleaned my van, and relaxed even more.  No complaints here!  I even managed to pretend to be creative.

I'm sooooooooo ready to break summer...

Number 3 of 4

That's my birth order number (also known as a middle child).  For the record, I just so happen to share that spot with my mother and Jace.  If you've never done any research on birth order and the effect on one's personality it would be worth the Google one day.  I read Kevin Leman's book many years ago and would have to agree with most of the psychology especially because I live with an only child!

When I learned that I was pregnant with Ty (and overcame the shock), I immediately realized that Jace and I have the wonderful connection of being number 3 of 4 in a big family.  I am a self-proclaimed overlooked middle child.  My big sister did things first (make up, puberty) and even my older brother had the honor of being the oldest boy (sports, first to get a CD player).  My youngest brother is the baaaaaaaaaby.  He was the last one to go to kindergarten and the last one to graduate high school.  Let's record him sleeping so we don't forget what a sleeping baby/child looks like.  Oh wait!  What's that, you say?  Now that you mention it, there was another daughter in the Adams family-the third child!

So, maybe I'm exaggerating.  I wasn't neglected.  I'm sure I had lots of attention....now where are those pictures to prove it??? :)

Seriously.  It's really just more fun watching my mom defend herself when I pull the "middle child" card.  I think I turned out quite all right!

Onto the purpose of the blog.  Jace.  Terrible twos.  Little brother.  Big brother.  He has a need to make a name for himself and I completely understand.  He is a very tough and aggressive little boy who is a natural "Daddy's boy."  We joke that Skylar was everybody's baby.  He loved attention from anywhere he could find it.  Caiden was a bona fide "Mama's boy" and technically still is.  Ty is a "Mama's boy" but is more open to Daddy than Caiden was.  Jace is 100% about Daddy.  One of his favorite things to tell me is, "Let Daddy do it!"  Of course, I always loved that for diaper changing time.

Jace is tough.  As with Skylar, he often leaves me scratching my head for methods to work with him.  This Johnson Mama is always having to think one step ahead of these testosterone filled ducklings.  Two weeks ago, Jace's daycare called me at school to tell me he was sitting in the office because he was being so aggressive and kept hitting other children.  (He tells me he was "fighting Chancey.")  I walked over (thankfully, daycare is right across the street from my school) and gave him a very stern talk and threatened to bring over the "spank spoon" if we have another problem.

Fast forward to today.  Not even an hour ago to be exact.  Another daycare phone call.  "Mrs. Johnson, I have Jace in the office here and he hit a child in the face with a dinosaur."  (Breathe, Dawn, breathe.)  UnFortunately for Jace, I was in between classes and could immediately walk over with the "spank spoon" for correction.  The child's cheek right under his eye was quite swollen and very red.  I felt sorry for the little boy but he kept saying, "I okay."  My Jacey can be so sweet sometimes but when he is mean, he is mean with a vengeance.

What is it "they" say?  Go hard or go home.  And that's what Jace does.  Now to find a happy medium...

Gooooooooool!

The official opening ceremonies of the Y's soccer season were on Saturday morning.  Both of my older boys have played before but Skylar had taken 2 seasons off.  I take credit in talking them both into playing soccer this season and am very glad I did.

If you know my Skylar, you know that he's a perfectionist (wonder where he got that from) and very competitive (a natural first-born).  EVERY time he has played, he has had the misfortune honor of having Chris as his coach.  As destiny would have it they are two peas in a pod.  Twins separated by 22 years.

We were glad that he would have a different coach this season.  Not really worried about Caiden because he really doesn't have a problem with paying attention and following instructions.

Fast forward to first games of spring 2011 soccer season.  Caiden played first.  He has a really good team and the coach is very dedicated and does a great job with them. 

Caiden was a little "off" his game.  He became tired quickly and wasn't very aggressive.  Do I sound like a heartless mother?  Really, I want my children to perform to their best potential.  That's all.  His team won which is a wonderful way to start off the season.

When Skylar plays, I become very nervous.  He is ALWAYS the smallest one on the team and is the child that is easily distracted by an ant.  When he ran onto the field Saturday, he shocked the coach and all the other parents.  He was probably the most aggressive one out there and had a few "almost" goals.  You can imagine my excitement/relief/jumping up and down when he finally scored a goal.  

I felt like I was watching a futbol game in Spanish where the announcers get sooooooooo into it!


GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!

I am soooooooooooo proud of my babies!

Bumps, and bruises, and blood. Oh my!

What a painfully, eventful, yet unproductive weekend!  Thank God for a day off on Friday, but the guilt of waisting it by doing nothing sometimes makes a day off not as enjoyable.  Then, the time change.  My children awoke at 6:15 on Friday and Saturday anyway.  I do welcome the time change but I tend to stumble forward for the first week of the change.

My 2 year old has become quite the bully adventuresome little boy.  On Thursday, I did my usual Mom's taxi run to the daycare first then LP.  As I went to my 1 year old's room to pick him up, he was in time out because he kept climbing the back of a chair.  Amused, I went on to Jace's room.  Lo and behold, he's also in time out.  He was in trouble quite a bit last week for being made of snakes and snails and puppy dog tails.  When I asked him why he was not sweet, he told me that he "kick blocks hard" and "fighting Chancey."

Fast forward to Saturday morning while big brothers and friend played the Wii...

That lovely goose egg is a result of a long plastic sword meeting a forehead.

Then later that day, baby Ty was knocked down our steps outside the back door to look like he had a bad lip injection.

My poor babies.  The odd children are beating up the even children. I'm really crossing my fingers to avoid future E.R. visits.

Anybody know any good deals on a padded house with foam toys for sale?