What's New?

Today is June 2, 2010. Today is the last day that Austin and Abi will be in public school (at least until High School). I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I am excited to be the one to teach my children, to actually be the one raising them instead of their teachers and school administration. I have been looking at curriculum, researching field trips, trying to think of science projects, gathering information of local co-ops, and deciding how to go about making sure they get proper exposure to physical activity and music. The process has turned out to be a lot of learning for me!

Austin will need to be challenged. He does not need a lot of repetition, and he enjoys trying to figure things out for himself; however, he will be lazy if I allow it. I have a feeling the hardest task for me will be staying one step ahead of him. I do not worry much about Austin, I know his desire to learn will overtake my inefficiencies!

Abi is a very hands-on/kinesthetic learner. In this last grading period at school she went from an on-level 'C' reader (end of Kindergarten) to an 'H' reader (end of first grade). At home we made her read everything from the menu at a restaurant to a set of books that I brought home from the library. The more she does it (especially when it benefits her), the better she understands it. She also recently started asking Mark to do math with her every night before she goes to bed. He writes several problems down for her and she goes through and answers them. Mark focused on bigger numbers, particularly on multiples of 10. She has done so well! I hope that she keeps the want to learn well into our school year. I do worry about Abi though, because she is a firecracker! If she is not interested in something, there is nothing I, or anyone, can do to make her interested in it. That will be my challenge for her.

Our homeschooling year will start officially on September 1, 2010.

Now that I have all of that off my chest, I can put down what's been going on in the Brewer house. For the most part, things are very calm. Mark and I have been working hard on making a budget and sticking to it. It is hardest for me since I am home all day and I am a shop-a-holic! There are a lot of things I want to do, so I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize! 

I have been sewing a lot lately. I made a costume for Becca's Roman day at school, a dress for Kelly's birthday, and I'm in the process of making Kelly a skirt and halter top combo. I have some other ideas in the works for a little boy dinosaur quilt, a little boy baseball outfit, and a couple of other things. I've also been making lots of hair bows lately. I've listed them on my etsy account, but haven't had any luck selling them yet. I haven't really pushed the whole etsy thing because I'm afraid I'll get burnt out of sewing. I really like doing it right now, and I just don't want to lose that 'umf'!

Anyway, I'm so happy to be starting the summer. When the seasons change it gives me new periods of time to look forward to. I look forward to hanging out with Naomi and the girls. I look forward to hearing about the kids' visit  with Grammy and Papa. I look forward to meeting my new niece. I look forward to lounging daily at the swimming pool. When I keep "the looking forward" attitude, I realize how blessed I am. Thank you God, for everything!!!

Saturday in the Sun

This Saturday was a fantastic day! We started the morning with a garage sale that was supposed to happen last weekend, but was rained out. The kids wasted no time jumping into the sprinkler! We didn't make it through the time that we originally set for the sale. We ended it about three hours early, it was exhausting and hot outside. I wanted to get rid of all that stuff we had, but not that bad! So, we packed everything up and Mark and the kids washed the cars and the dogs instead!!! Once Abi got the water hose, she found it hysterical to chase Mark around spraying him!

Mommy's day, a done deal!

Abi wrote me a song for mother's day this year. Here's the translation: You're the pumpkin pie to my heart. You have the prettiest smell in the world. You can dance lovely. Nothing can stop you from dying. [another word/sentence I can't read] You are like a queen to me. She also gave me a little porcelain snowman that  she painted. Austin gave me the new Fireflight CD, which I love!!! Mark gave me the Francesca Battistelli CD, which hasn't made it into my CD player quite yet!

Austin and Abi both made me a multitude of cards. Another mother's day in the books. Another day I was and am so blessed to be a mommy. I often try to remember things from when they were smaller. They both always ask Mark and I to tell them stories from when they were little. One of Austin's favorite stories is from when he was about 9 months or so. We came home from work, Austin was hungry so I put him in his high chair. I warmed up a gerber graduate container of spaghetti and meatballs. I went to change out of my BDU's. When I came back, there was no spaghetti on his tray. The dog was licking the container clean. I threw my hands up in disbelief. As I looked up, I noticed that there was spaghetti strung across the ceiling even to include around a corner into the front hallway!!!

This past weekend, Abi and I went to have our hair done while the boys went to a shooting range. Abi wanted desperately to color her hair pink. As a compromise, we let her cut about 4-5 inches off. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about the end result. But wouldn't ya know it...she looks so darn cute with it short too!

In exactly 20 days, Mark and I will celebrate our 9 year wedding anniversary. The kids are going to Grammy's house for a few days, then Mark and I will celebrate. I am REALLY excited about the big 10 because we are planning on going on a cruise. Our original plan was to go alone, but the more we thought about it, the more we have thought about how much fun we would have with some of our friends! So far, we have at least three other couples that want to come with us. I can't wait, it is going to be so AWESOME!

A Five Year Plan

I'm sitting here watching 'Life' with the family. We are watching the episode that details the camera men filming the animal encounters; in particular, the episode of a komodo dragon attacking a water buffalo. As several of the dragons snacked on the dead buffalo, Abi declared that she will no longer be eating meat. You have to understand that she reminds me daily that she is a meat eater because she is a tiger. I will keep you posted on how long this protest last. I myself dissected a fetal pig in biology my freshman year of high school. The same night for dinner, my mom made pork chops and pork 'n beans for dinner. That was the day that I stopped eating beef, pork, and any other meat. I went two years without eating any poultry. But then my dad fried a turkey for Thanksgiving, and that was all she wrote. I still do not eat any beef or pork, and probably won't anytime soon. 

Since Mark's promotion at work, he has been caught up in making many changes to the shop and how it operates. It has got me thinking about my "job". What changes would I like to see in our family, where are we headed in life? From watching 'Life', I realize that plans do not always work out. Surely, that water buffalo didn't wake up that morning thinking, 'gee, I think I'll be some one's lunch today'!!! But I would like to have some idea of where we are headed. I know that I will be homeschooling. After some not so great occurrence's in our neighborhood recently, I would like to move. There are also things about our house that I would like to change. Maybe it's just me dreamin' (as usual), but Mark and I are in the process of developing a five year plan. It has me really excited. Who knows, maybe some of the things we've thinking about will work out. I guess there is only one way to find out...proceed to the future!

Birthday Boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PUMPKIN PIE!!!!

Austin and Daddy- HOOK 'EM HORNS!
Austin before riding his first bike! Austin and Grammy mid-nap!
Austin brushing his chompers!

Austin with his first Astros hat and ball!

This year for Austin's birthday, he decided to do the same thing that Abi did. He had the choice between having a birthday party, or choosing one friend to go to dinner and a movie. He chose to invite Becca (I'll give the 411 on her in a moment) to go to the Aquarium for dinner and then to see Shrek 4 when it comes out in theaters. Becca is about 2 years older than Austin. When we went camping for Abi's birthday last year, Becca and her family went with us. Although Austin knew who she was, he had not really played with her. On the way home from camping, we asked Austin if he had fun. He said he really liked his new friend Becca. He said every time he looks at Becca "he just thinks about marrying her"! When we picked up Becca before dinner, she had the biggest smile I think I have ever seen. Austin and Becca sat in the third row of the truck and giggled and whispered all the way to the restaurant! They stared at the fish all through dinner. I didn't realize that fish could be so entertaining! Dinner was delicious. We rode the Farris wheel after dinner, then came home.


Abi and the sea turtle she named 'Spot'
Becca, Abi, a really big fish, and Austin

Becca and Austin celebrating his 8TH birthday

Where there is a kid, there is a Jennie...these words are all too true! Would you not believe that when Jimmie (my brother) came to visit last weekend, I did not snap one picture of him and the AJB's, or of Alisha, him and myself? The only pictures that I took were all to cute to pass up; pictures of Meredith eating ice cream. It was fun to get 'the gang' back together again. Mark and Naomi (with Grace and Mer), Keith and Rachel (with Cadance and Ian), Jimmie, Alisha, Mark (mine) and the AJB's got together for dinner and to catch up. It has been at least since Jimmie's wedding since we were all together! It was a lot of fun!Mer eating her ice cream

Last Sunday before church, Abi and Austin joined me on the back porch with their cereal. It was just a really beautiful morning. Occasionally I sit out alone. On that morning, Austin asked if he could sit with me. Abi was not far behind him! Austin and Abi eating breakfast

This Saturday, Naomi, Lizzie, Taunya, and I went to see The Spa Girls for a live event...we had a blast! And many, many laughs! Then we headed to Chuy's for lunch, YUMMY! Then I picked up Abi and we had our nails done with Sarah. It was Abi's first trip to the nail salon, and she LOVED it! She was disappointed that she didn't get her pedicure (because of a little communication error) but it subsided with ice cream and her own bottle of nail polish from Walmart! What a great mommy- daughter date!

Abi chose red polish...even after I suggested a much lighter pink!
treatment of a princess!

This is my last week of school until (at least) Spring 2011. We will begin our homeschooling journey in September. I have been researching home school curriculum, but haven't come to any definitive answers yet. There are so many things to choose from! Taunya suggested that Austin take an anatomy/physiology class with Cameron. The class includes dissecting a cow's eye, which Austin would probably think was great! Whatever we do end up doing, I am very excited!

Easter Sunday 2010

I suppose Easter weekend began like any other weekend-o-fun. Friday night we had Aunt Marie, Deve, Sluz, and Aimee over for burgers and game night to celebrate Mark's 31st birthday. Then Austin and Mark went to a guys movie night while Abi and I stayed home to paint our nails. Saturday morning began with cooking. I made a dessert and potato salad for our small group Easter get together. Unfortunately, I am a dork and forgot to take the camera. Hopefully, someone can forward me their pics! We had a great time; I spent time truly bonding with Pacey- she not only puked on me this time, but peed on me as well! She's so cute, I don't care! The kids and I came home while Mark worked the 5pm service.

Sunday morning was, as every Easter is, a special and exciting morning. Each year I struggle with deciding what that one special thing is that I am going to put in their basket. I love that Easter is a holiday to celebrate, but I hate that it is so commercialized with yellow chickens and chocolate bunnies! I struggle each year with not wanting my kids to feel left out from the candy-o-rama traditions; I want to be sure that they grow up knowing why our family celebrates Easter. It's not just because Walmart says we should. I want them to get some candy, but not for their candy to overshadow the true focus of the season. Last year, the AJB's each got a Bible for their big gift in their baskets. This year I made them each a bracelet with their names and a charm-a cross. Both were excited that they had a cross. We then got dressed in our Easter's best-




the AJB'S finding their baskets


2010 Easter at Copperfield Church

*****2009**********2008***********2007****


Abi at the Easter egg hunt


Austin at the Easter egg hunt

After church, we went home for a little rest. We went to Mark's dad's house for Easter dinner- it was super yummy! Mark and the boys threw the football around while Abi played with Tom's latest addition to the family, Alex.

Abi and Alex- a very lazy puppy!

We ended the day with family movie night- Alvin and the Chipmunks, the squeakquel!
The Brewer Family 2010