Jalen, Jalen, Jalen

A few days ago, Jalen and I were in the van together and he started talking. "Mom, Miah is 2 years younger than me and Cameron is 1 year older than me, so why do I have the same bed time as Miah and Cameron gets to stay up a lot later than me? If I am closer to Cameron's age than Miah's age, then I should stay up later than Miah." He wasn't upset or rude, he was just sharing his thoughts out loud. So I said. "Jalen, that is a very good point. When daddy gets home tonight we will talk about it."
So hours later, Justin and I talk about it, and of course we agree that Jalen's bedtime should be changed. So the new bedtime is 8:00pm instead of 7:00pm. (I think the day light savings time thing, with it being light out so much later, got Jalen thinking about it all.)
So Now Miah still goes to bed at 7:00pm. Jalen now at 8:00pm. And Cameron's is still at 8:30pm.
So Jalen was all excited when we told him about it, and it was fun for Justin and I. He's such a good kid, and never complains, and just keeps a good attitude. So we put him to bed that night at 8:00 o'clock.
The next morning, I go in to wake him up at 6:30 am. The first thing he says to me, "Mom, about this new bedtime thing, I think on the weekends, I should go back to the earlier time, cause I don't want to get weak and exhausted. So like Saturday and Sunday I'll go to bed at the earlier time."
I just smiled and said, "Sure Jalen, whatever you think."

Signed my baby up for Kindergarten

5 years ago, I was dreaming of this day. I was a stay at home mom, with a 3 year old, 2 year old and a 4 month old baby. I was one of those girls who had all the answers on how to be a great mom, until I actually became a mom. Then I realized that it wasn't all up to me. These cute little individuals have their own minds, wills and emotions. So needless to say 5 years ago, I thought if I can just get all these kido's into school, life will get easier.
Well, now I am almost at the point, and yes, I realize things do not get easier they just are different. In some basic ways parenting is easier. They pick up after themselves. They tie there shoes and zip their coats. They use the bathroom all on their own, brush their own teeth, ya know all the basics.
But, with school comes a host of new challenges. Homework. Reading Minutes Everyday. Friendships. Appropriate clothing. Sports. Neighbor Kids. Lunch Room. Appropriate Books. Etc.
So, as I signed Miah up for Kindergarten and waited as she was 'tested'. I was excited and sad all mixed together. She is such a fun girl. She is easy and fun to take places and to just have around. It may be alittle lonely next year. But, more than that, it is the realization, that from this time on, she will always be in school. All of my children will spend the rest of their childhood going to school, spending time after school with sports, and other extra-curricular things. And then they will be 18 or 19, with their own dreams and plans.
Everyday I am giving up more and more control. Which is a good thing. But, wow so scary at the same time.
I am so thankful to not be home-schooling. I know there is so much the school offers that I could never cover everything, nor do I have the desire to try to cover everything. I think God makes everyone different, and even though before I had kids I planned on homeschooling, I now can see the light. It is not for me!
So I choose to send my kids to school to learn what they need to learn there, and then spend the time when they are home teaching them the things they need to learn at home. (And sometimes un-teaching the things the may learn at school, but hey that is all part of the process of growing up.)
Miah is going to love school. I know I did.

Friday the 19th

Well this was such a beautiful day! Right after school I took the kids to the park. We all had fun and enjoyed the sunshine, fresh air, and exercise. Then we headed home. Cameron and I made some cookies together. I adjusted a recipe and they turned out really yummy, (almost as good as grandma liz's)! The kids played outside for hours. I finally pulled them in at 6:30pm to eat dinner; salmon, broccoli, cucumbers and brown rice. I let them pick out a movie together. They narrowed it down between Toy Story 2 and Cinderella. And Cinderella won. So now they are cuddled together eating our homemade popcorn and the cookies Cameron and I made. I'd say it turned out to be a pretty good day. I am praying for NO SNOW tomorrow, as I have heard there may be some on the way.
Time for me to fill out the U.S. Census and then put the kido's to bed and then I have a movie of my own. What are you doing on this lovely Friday night? Leave me a comment please!

Let's catch up alittle.....

Hey friends,
It has been awhile. Every time I start to blog, I get interrupted and never finish, so I give up until the next opportune time. I will attempt to update ya all on the Maust household.

Major Happenings:

1. The boys are signed up for Upwards Soccer. We are all very excited and looking forward a great season in April and May. (And also hoping Pops Red will get to be one of their coaches.)
2. We are signed up and locked in to go on a family vacation to Virginia in July! We went to this same resort 2 years ago, and we haven't stopped thinking about it, so needless to say all five of us are extremely happy!
3. Spring Break is only 2 weeks away, and we are counting down the days. We're not going anywhere special, but not having school and the 'school schedule' will be awesome!
4. Swim nights at Penn started up a few weeks ago, so we are there once a week. It is such a great thing for all of us. Justin and I get to practice swimming for the tri-athalon we are training for, and the kids get to swim, dive, splash and play. It is perfect.
5. Book Fair is this week. This is like the highlight of the year for my kids. They love books, library's, book stores, etc. Thanks to Pops & G-mama they got some great new books.
7. My mom started a candle making business. So thanks to her we have a nice smelling house. She is making all natural, really nice candles, if your a candle lover you have to get one.
8. I re-arranged the living room a few days ago. It looks way better and so nice to clean behind and under everything.
9. It is Ropes Course Training time again. Every year about this time, Justin has a 4 day training for Ropes Course safety, so thankfully the weather is going to be perfect for it. (I'll be home cleaning up the yard.)
10. So far this year I have tried alot of new recipes and not had much luck with any of them. Every time I make something and it turns out bad, I tell myself, "I am never trying a new recipe again." But then a month later I forget and go at it again... why do I do this to myself?
11. And believe it or not, my kids are still totally into the Fusion Beads. They have been making them for about 6 weeks straight. I have been ironing those plastic beads about everyday. It is an activity that all three of the kids enjoy and have not grown tired of.