Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Day With Anson

This past Sunday Anson had a game over in I. Falls. Our Christmas program was that evening so Jerem decided to stay home with the girls so Ava could nap. Anson and I had a wonderful time together, talking and enjoying the wintry scenery.



He took over my phone for awhile and started snapping pictures.


The road was less than ideal and the way home was worse since it was dark and I had 3 deer run out in front of me.



We had some great (deep) conversations. Every time I had a suggestion on how to deal with a situation Anson would say "thanks mom for telling me that. Sometimes I forget those things". Precious moments.


:)


I feel like I look a wee bit crazy in this picture. Cracks me up.



Okay, so this really isn't an awesome picture of Anson, he's right behind that pole. The team worked so good together, was such a fun game to watch! The score was 9-0 but they really worked for every single goal they got.
I know some parents complain about hockey and all the time and travel involved,but if its a way to spend an afternoon with my son and bond....I'll take it!!!
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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

DIY Tuesday

We’ve been having stocking issues. Or rather, stocking HANGING issues. Jerem and I both agreed as to where they should be hung but have never purchased stocking hangers. We rigged it up the good old fashioned way with some fishing line going down to the banister. Fine and dandy except for the moment you’re RUSHING down the stairs and forget about the invisible force of taut fishing line and snag a finger nail…or two.

I found a 2x4 in the garage and went to work. (Which is pretty typical considering the million other things I SHOULD be doing. I like to get distracted with ‘projects’). We also do not have a nativity set. One of those things we’ve just never gotten. I decided to incorporate a nativity scene in the the stocking hangers. Here’s what I came up with. I’m sure once I start filling the stockings the holders will tip, but for now they’re just PERFECT.

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(And now that I look at the picture I realize I did not hang the stockings in order. Sigh. Sorry Mindy, I’m making your OCD cringe I’m sure).

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Memories

Memories are a funny thing. I’ve been thinking about specific times from my childhood lately and trying to remember as much as I can from that moment or experience. I realize I can recall a lot LESS than I could 10 years ago. Yikes! So, I decided to start blogging about some memories that might seem insignificant, but are part of why I am who I am today.

I wish I had a picture to go along with this post. It’s about a summer spent in Des Moines, IA in 1991. My grandpa on my dad’s side was dying from cancer, and since my dad was a teacher he had the summers off. My parents decided to move to IA for the summer to live with Grandpa in his last days. I don’t remember how long we were there for, felt like all summer to me. My grandma had already passed away years before, my memories of her are few and blurry.

There are certain smells that bring me back to that summer. A gas cook stove is one. Another big one is a laundry mat. To this day I can not go into a laundry mat without thinking of being at grandpa’s. There was a stone wall at the back of his yard, and if you climbed up that wall you’d find yourself in the parking lot of a laundry mat owned by his neighbors. We spent a lot of time there doing laundry that summer, and spent time over at the neighbors as well. A couple younger than my grandpa but older than my parents that treated us like family.

I also remember 4th of July. I remember being jealous of kids who had cool 4th of July t-shirts. My cousins were there by that time and my mom took white Hanes t-shirts and made all the kids matching shirts with ribbon and firework designs. You know, the type of thing you see on Pinterest now and go “oh that’s SO COOL”. I remember loading up in the van and going to watch the fireworks with the cousins.

I also remember not being so nice, hard to believe I know. My older sister was in the front yard swinging and I had a hammer in my hand and thought it would be funny to hit her on the head with it. Mom caught me, scared me to death on how someone did that and killed the other person. It was an effective story, I’m proud to say I’ve never hit anyone on the head with a hammer since.

I remember finding a bike in a store on a previous visit and saving my money so hard for it, and coming back that summer to realize it was no longer available.

The funny thing is, I don’t remember much about Grandpa from that summer. I remember being told to go see him in his room and it kind of scaring me ‘cause he was just laying in bed not looking like the Grandpa I remembered. I remember hearing panicked voices as they discovered he had tried to take himself to the bathroom and had fallen again. I remember talk about something called hospice, and how after that a nurse came every day. Driving to the airport to pick up my aunt ‘cause “there wasn’t much time left”.

I don’t remember any arguing from my aunts and uncles, and this I am so thankful for as I realize in that type of situation the ugliness of some come out. No, there was no arguing, just sitting around the table listening to them sing hymns in perfect 4 part harmony. Barbecues in the backyard with my dad’s cousins and siblings. It was like a family reunion that lasted all summer.

I remember knowing that he had died. Crying with my sister because her and my grandpa shared the same birthday and he died shortly before her 10th birthday.

My Grandpa was such a special guy, he wrote each of his grandkids a poem when they were born. It is something I will treasure every day. He always did magic tricks for us too, and ‘this is the way the lady rides’ on his knees. I have no doubt he spent hours in prayer for his grandkids and kids, in my memory he was that kind of guy.

So those are my memories from an entire summer, doesn’t seem like much but I realize it’s the little things that mold a person into who they become. If I had a mom that bought stuff for us like all the other kids, I believe I wouldn’t have the creativity to create things now. I appreciate family so much because I spent a summer surrounded by one of the most loving families I believe I’ll ever experience. And most importantly I know to never ever hit someone on the head with a hammer.

Monday, November 5, 2012

BFF Diary By Paige

I found this gem while going through Paige’s folder last week. Scroll all the way down for the story typed out and the translation of it. (She doesn’t have the best spelling).

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BFF Chloe

When I go to Chloe’s house. I find that she rely (really) like’s me a lot. She will be my BFF for ever and ever an (and) til she dise (dies) and I am not kiding (kidding) it is fo (for) relly (really) reall (real). She is my cusin (cousin) of (for) reall (real). and we will Play for ever. Love Chloe a Lot. 

BFF Chloe

It is so fun being Chloe’s cosin (cousin). She like’s in (it) to. I Like her a lot because she is my cosin (cousin) we are BFF Best Friends Forever. I love Chloe.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

To Do List

Anson and Paige get off the bus at 4:00 P.M. With it being the end of my daycare day, it’s pretty chaotic around here. Sometimes they start homework right away, but usually they wait until after the kids leave so they can concentrate better.

Last week they decided to wait, and I found them like this.

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I asked what they were doing and Anson said they were making a list of things to do on Saturday. The lists were practically identical, except they picked different chores. It was so fun to see what they thought up on their own and how they worked together to make sure their lists would coincide.

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Anson’s list. He put his up on the fridge right away.

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Paige’s list. She put hers in a notebook and then up in her room. Took me awhile to find it.

I’d like to say everything on the lists got done. It didn’t. They actually ended up getting invited to a brother/sister friends’ house that rides their bus for a sleepover Friday. So Jerem, Ava and I had a nice quiet evening here and when they came home Saturday they picked a few things to do off the list.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Good Morning Friday

9/28/2012-My last Friday morning in my baking day attire (for the year). Not my last Friday watching the kids wait for the bus. Poor kiddos, waiting for the bus in the near dark.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Romans 3:10 and Ephesians 2:8,9

I’ve prided myself on not being “one of those moms” who thinks their kid can “do no wrong”. Even so, its funny when a child of mine gets in trouble outside my home, I tend to immediately want to reason away the child’s behavior. Not all the time, but lets face it-us moms are our childrens’ #1 fan. That’s just the way we’re wired.
Anson got in trouble on the bus a couple weeks ago. Apparently he wasn’t staying in his seat, rough housing, etc. (According to his sister he was being mean to them, but she DOES like to exaggerate to get him in trouble). He’s a pretty soft hearted kid, so the picking on those younger than him is one we’re usually not too worried about. Anyway, I was chatting with my SIL about the matter and our conversation went something like this.
Me: I mean, I feel kinda bad for him. It is an hour bus ride each way. That’s a long time to not goof off. Don’t get me wrong, he should be behaving, but I get how it can be hard for an 8 year old to not sit still that whole time after being in school all day.
Kim: That’s how long our bus ride was growing up too.
Me: Yeah, I guess the rules are there for a reason. I just don’t get why he’s having such a hard time. I do a devotional with them every morning before they get on the bus, and pray with them. They should be angels!
Kim: Umm, yeah…pretty sure it doesn’t work like that
Me: WHAT?!? And here I thought I had this mothering thing down!
Obviously some of that was said in jest. All the same it got me thinking. As an adult I spend time every day in the word and in prayer before the kids get up. Does that stop me from being selfish during the day? Responding too hastily to the kids? Having a short fuse with Jerem? Not at all! Romans 3:10-None is righteous, no, not one.
We can try and protect our kids by only letting them watch certain t.v. or no t.v. at all. We can keep them home and home school so they aren’t influenced by the world as greatly. We can pound the gospel into their heads. But WE CAN’T SAVE THEM. Also, WE CAN’T DECIDE THEIR ACTIONS FOR THEM. As much as I’d like to make all the right choices for my kids, I CAN’T. What I can do is continue to teach them from the Word. Continue to pray with them and for them. Continue to raise them in a way that the Lord instructs. (And by “I” I am referring to the parenting Jerem does too. I’m not the only one who deals with the kids.)
Today was a good reminder for me that just like I stray on a daily basis from what I know is right, (after nearly 30 years of life), certainly my kids aren’t going to be perfect and only make choices that are right. How thankful I am for the promise of Ephesians 2:8-9
For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not YOUR OWN DOING; it is the GIFT of God, not a result of WORKS, so that NO ONE my boast.
Our children will be instructed daily as to the way they should live as a child of God who has a testimony of His salvation.  But they will grow up knowing that it isn’t on any good deed of their own that they are going to make it to heaven. Its not by being good on the bus, its not by not lying, not teasing. It’s by our Saviours finished work on the cross and that alone. Praise the Lord!!
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Monday, September 24, 2012

My Country Kids

I love that my girls aren’t grossed out by things.

Like rodents shot by their brother.

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They’re even nice enough to go throw it away for him.

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They know to stay at a safe distance as he tracks down another one to shoot.

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Unfortunately the squirrel was smarter than Anson and got away. Maybe next time.

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Just a typical Sunday afternoon at the Haack house.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Confessions of a ‘Super Mom’

 

I am NOT a ‘super mom’, ‘wonder woman’, or any term I may have led you to believe I am.

I have one chore at hate above all else. (Well, this and ironing. I finally caught up on that this week. 26 shirts later I was done).

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I wish I could tell you this is all of it. It isn’t.

Sometimes I feel like I give the wrong impression of myself from the photos I post. I am not the amazing, busy all the time, ‘super mom’ you have created in your head. (Gasp, I know!!).

Truth be told I have plenty of time in the day to keep a clean house, but sometimes I just don’t feel like it. There, I said it. I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!! I’d love my house to be one where it is perfectly homey and ready for company at any time, but I’m not in a season of life where that’s possible. At least that’s what I tell myself.

You want to know another secret?

I don’t always watch my children very well.

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That was toothpaste folks. And it wasn’t just on her. You have any idea how hard it is to wash off toothpaste? I’ll send miss Ava Lou over to your house if you want to find out. I’m sure she’d be happy to empty a tube for you.

I have another confession.

Sometimes an entire day will go by and I don’t dress my child. In fact, there were many days this summer where she wasn’t wearing much at all. I figure that’s a perk of living in the country. I wasn’t too stressed about it.

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I also let my children play in mud. Some like to more than others.

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Why do I have a feeling no one is surprised that the picture is of Ava? What a child.

Anywho, all this to say. I may like to make you believe I’m awesome and on top of everything, but I’m not. As much as I love the life the Lord has blessed me with I struggle with the ‘mundane’, so therefore I just ignore it sometimes. As in the laundry. Speaking of which, I better get cracking on it if I want to be done by midnight.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

 

From this…..

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To this….

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Some things never change.

On the other hand…

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..some ‘things’ change in what feels like a blink of the eye.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Miss Ava Lou! ava's birthday 003ava's birthday 004

She received that backpack for Christmas last year and with the kids leaving for school every morning, well, lets just say it’s become her newest obsession. She sleeps with it, eats with it, takes it EVERYWHERE with her.

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We had a nice quiet party with her best friend Ali (daycare friend) and family, and the Derek Olson family. It was a perfect evening for supper on the deck!

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Who wouldn’t love 24 different colors of play-doh?? Her and Kodiak have been playing with it all morning! And yes, about 3 colors have already been mixed together.

 

A big shout out to my little brother Clark! He’s turning 10 today! Wow! I was a little pre-occupied with my wedding when he was born, but I remember him as a sweet little baby. Hard to believe he’s getting so grown up. Love you buddy!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Part 2

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When we left Princess Ava Lou she had set off to find the friend she knew was waiting for her. She left the Magical Forest and went deep into the Enchanted Wood.
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Although she didn’t know exactly where she was going and couldn’t see anything but trees she knew that a girl in white disapeared in these woods every day.
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Just when she was about to give up all hope she heard a noise that made her turn and look up….
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..and there, perched in a tree like a bird was the girl she had been looking for.
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Because this girl was often at school Princess Ava Lou didn’t realize that this was another princess from her castle, Princess Paige.
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And although Princess Paige was required to dress like a princess she certainly didn’t act like one, and spent all her free time playing in the Enchanted Wood, climbing trees and exploring.
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Princess Ava Lou and Princess Paige started playing together, sharing secrets, and becoming friends.
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Then off in the distance something caught the little princess’s eye.
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And so they set off together to see what other adventures awaited them.
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The spent all day in the Enchanted Wood, realizing that the other had been there all along, under the same roof.
At the end of the day Princess Ava Lou knew that even though she had been looking for a friend, she had found someone even more special.
A sister.

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