There is a Friend

There is a friend!


And my heart feels THAT much better.


Not all kids at Jayden's school are devils mean.


And I wish I had a camera to see the looks on their faces today as they saw each other at Costco.

A girl.  

Jayden and this girl stood in front of each other, arms to their sides, HUGE grins on their faces...


Jayden says, "Hi, Anya, how's your day?"


She replies... "It's good Jayden how is your's?"


and more awkward, silly, cute grins.  Then she says....

"I'll see you at school, Buddy."

She called him Buddy.

Kids are SO Mean!

I'm still a bit upset about {THIS POST}, because Jayden's still upset. He's such a cute, sweet, hard to not love boy. I don't get how he doesn't have friends. I don't get how kids are so mean to him.

To be honest I would honestly like to pull him out of school and keep here where I can protect his feelings. He has such an amazing teacher though, and his school is REALLY helping him with his reading and doing things with him I probably would be no good at.

Nothing's worse than going out to the playground and not having friends to play with, or to go through elementary school not having a friend. And what's even worse is when you are the parent that knows your son has no friends. They throw his shoes in puddles, call him a loser, when he's so much more than they are. Both Gino and I have told him... Stand up for yourself, Jayden. You have OUR permission to do whatever you need to do to protect yourself from little asshole children {okay, we didn't say asshole children to him.... but that's what they are!} And you know what he says.... It's not right. It's not right to be mean to other children.

Jayden, I'm going to tell you right now that I know you were put on this earth for things that are so wonderful, because you are so wonderful. 

His BFF is Gone... and I'm so sad :(

This year when Jayden started 2nd grade and started is Mrs. Rice's class he made his first BFF. Jayden had been through K-1 without a BFF.  I don't know if this is normal.  I don't know if it's because Jayden is different (IMO in the BEST way possible) but I do know that when he got moved to Mrs. Robert's class and he was no longer in Isaiah's class I learned that Jayden had truly found his BFF.  


Isaiah would come to my car ever, single day after school to ask if they could have a play date.  They now only had 1 recess together and yet they still remained so close.  I loved this.  I loved that Jayden finally knew what it was like have that one best friend!  


Today he came home and I asked him if he played with Isaiah at recess and he said no, he moved to California.


MY HEART ALMOST STOPPED!


His best friend is gone.  No goodbye.... just gone.  And my heart is completely aching for him.  I remember when we were considering moving to Colorado and he said to me, "But I can't leave Isaiah, Mom."  SIGH I could ramble on and on all night long... I really could. 


I was moved around a lot as kid...... seriously here's how it goes:


K - started in Jackson, CA ended in Lodi, CA
1 - started in Lodi, CA ended in Jackson, CA
2- completely in Jackson, CA - wow... a year of stability :)  
3- started in Jackson, CA ended in Ely, NV
4 - Ely, NV
5 - Started in Ely, NV ended in Fallon, NV
6- Started in Fallon, NV, moved to Ely, NV, then moved to Jackson, CA then back to Ely, NV 
7- Full year in Boarding School in Sheridan, OR Delphi
8- Started in Fallon, NV ended in Jackson, CA
9- Started in Jackson, CA, then went to New Haven in UT
10- Sacramento, CA Country Day School for the entire year
11-12 home study and graduate early


and the kicker.... I was not a military brat.  Nope.... that's just the life of a dysfunctional family for you.


That my friends is some absolute craziness, and that my friends is why I am so adamant about staying planted where we are.  I want my kids to be in ONE place.  Luckily for me, for the most part I kept going back to places I had already made friends.... so I'd just pick up where I left.  Through all that moving around though I kept one friend through it all... her name is Jenise.  Jenise and I actually started Kindergarten together in Jackson, CA.... the first place on my crazy school list.  Today, with me living in Oregon and her in Sacramento we are still best friends.  We will always be best friends!  


I was hoping that Isaiah was going to be Jayden's best friend like Jenise was mine.  I'm so heartbroken that they won't be.

The Run Down...

Ella has developed this high pitch squealing scream when she sees anything that's little girl related. Then following that scream is her saying, "Ella!" She's explaining to us all that since that is something that she loves it is Ella's. I love that. I love the excitement that comes squealing out of her. I just am absolutely head over heels in love with this precious little girl! 


 Today it has been 2 years and 12 days since we discovered that our little precious princess has a heart problem. 2 years and 12 days since we learned that life is so precious and that horrible, sad things can happen to you, and more sadly to our children. I am so happy to say that Ella has been off of her medication for over a month now without any signs of SVT. It's scary, but it's something that her doctor really wanted to test and we're listening to him. I don't think that Gino's on the same page as me on this... in fact I don't even think I'm on the same page as myself, but for some reason I feel strongly about listening to what he says.


She is just this little bundle of smarts that I'm almost not too sure on what to do with. For a little girl just turning 2 I get a little concerned at how much she knows. How much she soaks in. I need to make sure that I am doing every thing I can to make sure that her little mind is soaking things up.... and good things! She's already interested in colors, numbers, I feel like she's going to be reading by the time she's 3. I'm extremely proud of her.


Jayden has been adjusting well with his new class. It definitely does help that it is his old teacher. I'm going to start helping him with goals so that he can feel the excitement when he accomplishes that goal.


I'm currently working on my goals that I plan to accomplish this month, this year, and for the next 5 years. I think that my plan is to sit down with him and do this with him. Have him have his goals written out just like mom and we can get excited together and for each other.


Gino and I are getting more and more excited about the new direction we are taking our life. We both feel so fortunate to have been given an amazing opportunity that will not only change our lives, but our children's lives, and children's children's lives... FOREVER.


So, life has been busy... but in such a good way!  We are in the middle of building this amazing company and I can't even begin to describe how exciting and fun our new adventure is for us.

School Budget Cuts Effect MY FAMILY

On Thursday we received a phone call from the Principal. Never a good thing... I'm extremely happy that Gino was the one to answer the phone!  I'm sure his stomach was turning as the principal announced who he was over the phone, but then he said... he's not in trouble or anything.  And here is where some happiness and irritation begins...


At the beginning of the school year I was a bit SHOCKED at the fact that my son is in a class with 30 kids.  I am pretty sure that in the previous years he was close to 16.  Um, a kid with Sensory Processing Disorder does not focus well with 30 kids in his class.  To top this off there were 6 3rd graders in this class, because thank you to the beautiful budget cuts there just wasn't enough room for them w/the 3rd grade teachers.  *SIGH*


Okay, back to the phone call... the principal informed my husband that Jayden is going BACK to his 1st grade teacher, who we & he ABSOLUTELY LOVES!  He's not the only one, there will be a few other 2nd graders going with him.  He will still be in 2nd grade and will be in a class where a few of his friends from church are... which is a nice plus.


Downfall:  I'm a little irritated at the fact that Jayden has become comfortable with where he's at, with his classmates, with his new friend Isaiah, and we are ripping him from that and he'll be starting completely over.

I'm just really disgusted that this is what it has come to.  They're cutting budgets in places that SHOULD NOT BE CUT!  It's going to effect our children and I don't like that.

A close family friend introduced to me something called Connections Academy which seems like an amazing home schooling program.  If things get bad we just might have to venture that way... and I don't want to take him out of school, but I want him to learn.  

Friday Favorites/ALOHA! ~ Reviews on Blogs?

MY FRIDAY FAVORITES ~ **if you're here for Aloha Friday and don't care about my favs of the week scroll on down**


What a week! Actually, it was pretty uneventful for me. Jayden started 2nd Grade.... that gets its own post in its own, but the same day he also started soccer.


Ella has officially started her terrible 2 tantrums today. I in no way paid any mind to them and completely ignored them... hopefully she gets the hint that a) she won't get her way and b) she'll get no attention from it.


My son actually brought me a shook up soda... I can't believe he actually did this.  


HUGE accomplishment for us.... Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (and unfortunately we missed tonight) we had family scripture reading. I'm trying really hard on structurizing my evenings in this house from the time Jayden gets out of school to the time they go to bed. The past 2 nights are complete successes on both kids in bed by 9pm! Jayden hasn't even been getting up to sneak down for water. I need this time. Gino and I need this time too. It's nice that when he gets home from work it will just be us.... no kids!


I've talked about Katie and Ryan on my blog, and I just wanted to say that it sounds like she's getting better every day, however, I know her heart is still aching for the loss of her husband. Please keep her and everyone who was touched by Ryan in your prayers for the healing of their hearts.


My friend Anne started a great new blog w/her friend. They post posts that moms and housewives can really use in their daily lives. Delicious recipes, sewing patterns, tips that we can all use. It's called {A Place to Bloom} they chose such a beautiful name for it! It's definitely worth the checking out!!


This week I discovered that I have been losing out on THOUSANDS of dollars. I have never been the bargain shopper, never paid any mind to coupons, and I'm actually sickened by it. {My Frugal Adventures} turned me on to this new adventure in my life and I am now proud to say that I AM A COUPON JUNKIE! And I'm PROUD OF IT!
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OKAY! Now for {Aloha Friday}!


How do you go about doing reviews on your blog? This is something I really interested in doing, but don't know how to start. This is something I definitely want to get into. I have done reviews for people I know... never really just a random person.

School Already?!?!?

This summer just FLEW right before my eyes. I feel like Jayden just got out of school and in 1 month he'll be right back in it.... and in 2nd grade! Where oh where did my baby go?

Mornings suck for us. I have a hard time getting up early enough and without structure things for us do not go well. {Kristen}, who hosts Works for Me Wednesday suggested morning cards. My thoughts exactly! I'm big on morning cards and next week's WFMW post will go into a little more detail about these cards, and not just for your kids ;). So first off I'm seconding what Kristen wrote regarding these nifty things.

My other advice for back to school is the following:

NEVER leave things til morning to prepare, no matter how tired you are, make sure things are set and ready for an easy morning.

2 weeks before school you should put your kids on their school schedule. Make sure that they are going to bed at school time bedtime hours

I suggest getting a workbook for the school year that they're going into to prepare them for things they'll be learning... that way they aren't too lost ~ and even seem a little bit of a smarty pants

Most of all, spend lots and lots of fun times with them before sending them back to school. Plan special little surprises for them like picnics or trips to the zoo.... maybe a camp out in the yard... treasure your last few weeks with them, because this next year they're going to grow so much. Treasure the time with them.

So, I'm sorry that my back to school tips aren't the best, but I'm tired, traveling, but wouldn't miss Works for Me Wednesday for the world. Join me next week to learn about how I have found the solution to organizing my housekeeping, my kids housekeeping and everything else in my home ~ it's working and I can't wait to tell you all about it! So make sure you are either following me on {Twitter} or my {RSS Feed} so you don't miss out on the secret I found. And check back in with me on Monday for my inspirational carnival {Just a Motivating Monday}!

Works for me Wednesday - Summer Learnin'

Welcome to {Works for me Wednesday}!!

Summer time is a great time for kids to start to forget all of the things that they learned throughout the year. That way when school starts back up it takes them a while to get back into the swing of things, because let's face it at the end of August Long Vowels and Short Vowels are pretty much the same thing in the mind of my 7 year old.

I found a way to see to it that this doesn't happen to my main lil' man!

Passing through my mall we have this awesome store where you can buy curriculum packets for homeschooling and a ton of other awesome educational things, and they had a stand right outside of their store with {Summer Bridge Activies} books. I stopped looked through one and was sold I bought one for my son going into 2nd grade and LOVE it!!!

It has a summer reading list, flash cards, a fitness program, things on feelings and every day there is a worksheet for them to do that keeps them brushed up on the little things. Plus there's a TON more things packed in this nifty workbook. Every day's worksheet is different, it takes them about 15-20 minutes for them to finish it up, and you don't feel like the day was a complete waste of their minds!

So, this summer this is what's working for this family, and my son even loves doing his worksheets! I highly recommend this program for the summer.

To read about what works for others head over to {We are THAT family}

IT WAS FAKE!!

I went to Jayden's conference and left so pleased. My little man isn't doing too bad, and I kept looking at the report card with this warm feeling in my heart.... he's doing so great!

So, the fact that he's doing great in school isn't a fake, but that report card was! We got another student's report card ~ so I have yet to see how Jayden is "really" doing LOL.

I have seen a huge difference in him and his school work. His reading comprehension used to not be as good as it is now. He's been getting 100% on his reading comprehension answers, and his math skills at home have been excellent.

I as a parent need to try harder though. There are days that I actually forget to have him read to me... there shouldn't be a day that goes by that Jayden isn't practicing his reading. I need to be more structured with the kids and myself. I need a time schedule in this house to keep me on track. I know that it doesn't work for some, but I think it would really work for us. Sometimes I get consumed in other things and I need to limit things for all of us.... computer time, TV time, and make sure that there is time for the things that matter.

I need to block time for my work for my grandparents, I need to block time for Wildtree and make sure that I'm not spending too much time on those things and not the kids. I should be completely done with everything by the time I pick up Jayden so that the rest of our day is spent together and that they have good memories... and this isn't impossible. It just takes organization and structure... and I need to get us there.

Our Family's New Addition.... and I need advice :)

Here's Sophie!! She's such a sweet addition :)

What a Sunday. It started for me at 5am waking up to Sophie pooping in her crate.... me not knowing, because it's dark and letting her walk out of the crate instead of carrying her. It was gross, and made me want to cry, but we dealt with it.

She's honestly done pretty well today on going to the bathroom outside.... I'm pretty proud! I must say though that dogs have HORRIFIC GAS! EWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! The kids have been having an absolute ball with her. They all run around the house chasing each other and having fun. Ella is hilarious and Jayden is so happy.

So, I'm funny in a way that I don't like change. I hate it actually, and when you throw something new in the mix I feel kinda down. I'm feeling that way today and I'm not sure if it's Sophie or if it's a decision that I think we're going to make. It actually could be a mixture of the 2.

A while ago I talked about an opportunity that my Grandma had offered us, which you can read about HERE. Basically I just never talked about it with her and made up my mind that it's not doable. There's no way in hell that I'm going to live in a *&it hole like Ely for 2 years. Just not happening. Well, she called today saying that she really needs our help, and I know this. I am the manager of this mobile home park there that is her's, and I know that there are many things that need to get done. Things that I can't make sure are getting done from Oregon. So, her new proposal is that we come for 6 months. This is a lot better than 2 years and is actually doable. If we leave when Jayden gets out of school then 3 months of that will be summer, in which we can take lots of little vacations with him. I won't need to actually be in Ely for the entire 6 months, we can do 3 weeks there, 1 week on the road.... or something like that. The next 3 months after his summer break I'll home school him until we return to Talent.

So, what's my husband to do about work when this is all over? What are we going to do about insurance since I do have a Cardiac baby? This is why 6 months just might be okay. Gino can take a leave of absence from Home Depot for up to 6 months (I believe this is the max he's going to check into this). At the end of our journey he will be guaranteed his job back at Home Depot, with no change in position or pay. Nice huh? For insurance we just pay Cobra and we will all remained medically insured.

The Perks?

1. We get a 6 month vacation from life with guaranteed jobs after we're done.
   
2. Get to live for free
   
3. All money I get paid just gets saved up
4. We get to travel
   
5. I get to spend time with my Great-grandma before she passes away
   
6. Did I mention we get to travel????
   
7. We will get to help my Grandma out in ensuring that the park is running smoothly and looking it's best.
8. We'd get to take the kids to the Salt Lake Temple.... Gino definitley needs to see that!
   
9. All the above isn't too bad right?
   

The Downfalls?

1. Well, first off I'd be leaving all my friends that I've learned to love so much.
2. I'd be leaving the beauty of Southern Oregon
3. I would miss out on the first 2 1/2-3 months of my nephew's life
4. I'd be in the miserable town of Ely
5. We'd have to change wards, which is something I really don't want to do, but I think we'd be okay here. We are a very strong family, we've been through it all.... literally, and I know that we can make it through about anything. I know that we can stay strong in the church, and if Gino has issues with it I'll just stay strong and set the best example I can.
6. Jayden would miss out on the first month of school.... luckily here they don't start school until September, so if we came back in October I'd only be homeschooling him for a month.

I think we might do it. We've been planning on moving out of this place anyways, since we're growing out of it. So, in June we can leave and come back in October to a new home.... maybe even one we'll own :)

I had amazing feedback on my last post regarding this topic, and I appreciate it all so much, so I'm begging for some here! Looking at the perks and downfalls, would we be dumb not to do this?

First Day of 1st Grade

I remember when they handed Jayden to me. He peed on me. I didn't care. I just looked at him and though 'He's so beautiful.' He was this perfect baby. So perfect it scared me. He was beautiful, he was so good.

Yesterday I took him to his first day of 1st Grade. This beyond Kindergarten, we're in the numbers now. It's almost like a countdown, or should I say up to when my baby will be leaving me.

Here are pictures of his first day ~ Gino was at work, so he there's no pictures of Jayden and me or Gino and him.

Finally after waiting all summer he saw his girlfriend. I got a picture of them seeing each other for the first time ~ I know, I'm a nerdy mom!

1st Grade Homework Ideas

It's Works for Me Wednesday and instead of me telling you what works for me this week I'm going to ask for some advice on something that I'd like to work for me. It's a backwards edition of Works for me Wednesday.

My son started 1st Grade today and for homework we as parents get to choose what to do with our kids and fill out a log. We never send in the completed homework, we just send back in the homework log.

I'm looking for some creative and fun homework ideas that I can do with my little guy.

There's lots going on over at Rocks in My Dryer that you should go check out!!