The Dreaded Question...

With my husband a principal we often go to events (like we did last night) where I meet other staff members, school board members, parents, alumni, etc. I love meeting new people and getting to know them, but I still...even after 9 years...still dread when they ask me, "Where do you work?". The dreaded, awkward question for me...

I do some graphic design work from home and I often find myself saying, "I stay at home with our kids and do design work from home". I tag that on as though that makes it more justifiable that I stay home. Is it true? Yes...is it bad that I tack that on...not necessarily...it's just that my motives aren't for any reason other than to justify why I stay home and to make it sound like I have more purpose. As though being at home to raise our kids isn't enough.

99% of the time after saying that people respond with, "you're the one with the hard job" --or something similar. Ummm...sure, some days are better than others, but I think that's the way it is with any job. Sometimes my employees (aka my kids) drive me a little crazy, but I sure do love them! The reality is, I don't think I have the hardest job....I think I have the most rewarding job.

I love that I get to spend so much time with my kids, that I know why they are so happy or so sad...because I was there during their experiences. I love that I've been there when they just started to smile, talk, and walk. That when they ask "why?" about EVERYTHING I can teach them, I can share Truth with them when we wake up, when we walk along the road (or drive in our van), when they lie down and when we go anywhere and do anything. I love that their friends come here to play more often then they go to their homes and that I get to help teach my kids how to be a friend to them because I see their interactions, I love that I'm here when our kids come home from school so that I get to hear all about their day before anyone else, I love that I can keep our house in order so that when Dan's home we can enjoy time as a family, I love that my kids know they can call me from school if they don't feel well and that I'll be there in 5 minutes to pick them up...ok, I could go on and on....the reality is...some days, I think I do have the harder job (Seth's biting phase DEFINITELY won me that award for a season) but 99% of the time...I'm just thankful for the job I have, for my husband who is equally as excited that I'm home with our kids, and for the Lord who has blessed me with all of this.

In reality, I don't want to do anything else. I love staying home and I'm so thankful that the Lord provided for us during Dan's first years of teaching so that I could stay home. Nope, I don't think I have the hardest job ever...but I DO think...I have the BEST job ever!

 I mean...how could you resist this???

The Pumpkin Patch

Dan's mom and stepdad were in town for a wedding this past weekend, but since the wedding was Friday we got to enjoy all of Saturday with them.  The kids were thrilled!  We decided to spend the morning at a local pumpkin patch.  Here are some of our fun pictures from the morning.  

 Cleo, a friend of the family was in charge of the horse rides at the pumpkin patch.  

She gave each of the kids a turn riding in the front of the wagon.  

Seth of course couldn't get enough of the horses!

 Family picture moment

 grandma with the grandkids

 Dan and I

Our photographer (Alayna) told us we needed to do a silly face one also...

since we are such good listeners, we complied

Life-long friends

We always look forward to having these good friends come and stay with us. The family walks in the door and all of the sudden the kids disappear to talk, catch up and play, play, play! Though they don't see each other all the time, they pick up right where they left off and have a blast.

The same can be said for the parents. It is sooo refreshing to have our long conversations filled with heart provoking conversations mixed in of course with lots of fun and laughter. We can't wait for their next reservation at the Holder Hotel (thankfully it's already on the books, so we have something to look forward to)!

Way to go Alayna!!

There's a certain special someone that was listed in the paper this week as a student of the week. Check it out!

We are so proud of you Alayna, not just because you were student of the week, but because your character and willingness to help out is what caused you to be student of the week. Every teacher whether it's your homeroom teacher, gym teacher, music teacher, the principal or other helpers in the school, they all comment on how helpful you are and what a good example you are to your peers. You're my most favorite girl in the whole wide world!! We love you Alayna-girl. :)

Storytime

I signed Seth up for story time at the library. It's every Wednesday. I figured it was a great opportunity for him to feel like he has 'school' like the big kids, and for me to see how he will do next year in preschool and to see what areas we still need to work on.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all nervous when we went today. However, he walked in holding my hand, waited in line to get his name tag, found a seat on the floor in the front row while I found a seat in the back 'mom area'. He sat soooo well, raised his hand when he wanted to talk, and didn't reach out to play with the hair of the girl sitting next to him (kind of amazing b/c hair is his Kryptonite...he LOVES to run his fingers through hair). Story time is about 30-40 minutes. The librarian reads 3 books and has some songs or poems mixed in between. It's kind of a long time to sit, but he loves reading books and so he had a great time! Now we'll see how the rest of the weeks go...