Mommytography 365-2

Do you like my hat?
I do I like your tea party hat!

My sister Jackie had a tea party for the girls and the big kids made a party hat. Too cute and the kids had sugar overload. Drinking out or real china tea cups and all. Tristen had a sippy cup with juice she's just no that good yet.

Mommytography 365-1

Molly hard at work her Kindergarten work!
The life cycle of a bug.
Her working hard is always a great thing! :o)

Mommytography! 365 project.

So I've seen these 365 photo projects. Think I'll start one to motivate me to be a little better at updating the blog for those folks who care to see the kids, the house, the critters, and whatnot that goes on in our daily life. Looking forward to this and will pull out my camera & have it on hand today for that perfect too cute moment, they happen regularly but I'm hardly ever ready. I will try to update each afternoon, or evening. :o) Below is the link I found from another blog I came to follow.

http://workofheartandsoul.wordpress.com/heart/365-project/

Chloe Turns 7!

2 Days after Christmas 7 years ago we welcomed Chloe to our little family! :o) We celebrated her birthday w/ a few of her girlfriends, w/ pizza & cupcakes @ Stephan's mom's place on Chloe's birthday. Chloe, Molly, & Mikayla had a sleepover w/Grandma R, then the following day Stephan and I took the 3 girls out to lunch at Applebee's and went to Chuck E Cheese to play games after. In the evening there was another sleepover at our place, the kids where very well behaved! Chloe had a blast!

Christmas 2009!

Yet another Christmas came and we where faced w/ Stephan's police officer schedule. He was scheduled to work Christmas Eve into Christmas day, we had a little plan to make it work out, and where gonna make do w/what time he could manage to be awake on Christmas day. Then the call came 2 days before Christmas, he was able to get off!!! FANTASTIC!!! That is the best gift I ever receive is for him to be home with us for all our family festivities without the worry of getting to work. So we had our usual Christmas eve evening w/my family, Christmas morning opening of presents here with the kids, then off to Stephan's mom's for Christmas breakfast, the kids opened their gifts after, then played w/ their cousin Mikayla the rest of the day, then the rest of Steph's side of the family arrived and we had Christmas diner! Christmas was small and wonderful for us this year. Hope everyone else had a lovely day.

Crabtree Falls

On Sunday morning we all piled into the van with the addition of Ryan & Warrie after a yummy breakfast. Picnic lunch, snacks and drinks on board as well. We made a 2 1/2 hour drive from our place to Crabtree falls, for a hike and family photos. The weather was just right!!! There where great photos taken, and beautiful sights to be seen. Fall is in full swing out there w/not much green to be seen. 5 hours where spend up on the trail!

Disney On Ice

What fun! My sister scored free tickets about 3 years ago to the Disney Princesses on Ice she took Chloe and I along. Chloe and Molly had both been asking about going, but nothing came close enough these past 3 years. So Disney on Ice returned to our area for a 100year special show. My sister Jackie, called and said she was getting tickets and was taking the girls and me to the show. We kept it quiet from The girls for a few to we wouldn't be asked repetitively. Last night was out night to go, so we had diner @ "slide fries" (Chic-fil-a) and carried on to the show. The girls where spoiled with cotton candy that came with a crown, and then a snow cone that came with a neat little mug and spoon. We all enjoyed the show, and the girls have been pretending to be ice skaters and are singing song while doing so. Molly was disappointed to not see Tinkerbell at the production, but was happy enough to see Gimmeny Cricket, and Pinocchio. Of Course every princess there ever was, was in the show so both girls liked that too. Such a fun girls night, Tristen hung out w/Grandma R for a few then she was returned home to spend the rest of the night w/ Daddy and Ryan. I got some pictures of the 1st half of the show, but all of my batteries where dead for the second half.

Happy 30th Birthday to Stephan

This past weekend we celebrated Stephan's 30th with a casino themed party. There where friends and family at this event! It was a good time. I have some photos of the cake didn't turn out exactly like we wanted it, but turned out cool all the same!

Molly's smarter than she lets on!

So yesterday I worked from 730a-330p.... the girls went off to 2 different grandma's and after my drive to pick up all the kids, we took Chloe to dance. I decided it would be an off night for phonics, since Stephan was drilling the kids with their math work, and I was beat.. A beat mom does not go well with teaching especially new things. So I lounged on the couch and read while Stephan did the math stuff, and Tristen played about on the floor. Next thing I knew there was Molly smiling, with her last 2 readers in hand. She asks "Mommy may I read these books to you?" My answer, "Of Course!!!" She climbed up and surprised me with wanting to read even when I was allowing her to slack off, and not needing too much assistance. Molly likes to play dumb at times, and this can be a frustrating thing with homeschooling her, but the moments in life where she by her own will reproduces the fruit of all the hours spend learning, it is the most rewarding thing in the whole world! I'm thrilled with the girls desire to learn, and also with the fact they just want to be kids and discover through play and exploration!

Tristen Proof!

So we have not been so good about childreproofing the house. This house in particular has challenges that our past 2 homes didn't. No seperate room for the computer and all Stephan's "office" stuff. Tristen can also clear a bookshelf in no time flat. So out came the super play yard I purchased when Chloe was little, I didn't use it much with Chloe or Molly. Now it's a handy item. So in the open space of the family room. Tristen has a few toys in her play yard, and then pushes the play yard across the room to move closer to where everyone else is. I was checking mail and suprise Tristen was right behind me play yard and all! Had to snap a pic! She also tries to fit it into the kitchen! Just though I would share!

Lake trip and a little update.

This past weekend we had a 2 day trip to the Lake! We spent our time getting R&R! It was a much needed do nothing kind of trip. Something about being near the water the kids just chill out, and have fun. There where drinks, movies, games, and cat naps!

So a little update since I've been slacking.

Home school is going very well, I'm very glad I started the kids weeks before the public schools officially started. The early start has made it possible for some light days of school work, making it more manageable for Mom to work on days that Dad is not off by shipping the kids off to Grandma K's house! This is helping to speed up the debt payoff.. to make some of our dreams come true. All is well, Chloe is just flying through her 1st grade work, Molly is gaining more interest now that she's figured out the reason she has to practice her words and letters over and over is to accomplish the ability to read and write! Tristen, is still scooting, and has taken a few independent steps here and there no running yet, she enjoys her board books, crayons, and to play w/her toys while we have school. This fall we are looking forward to at least 1 more camping trip, and many trips to the zoo and parks. Coming up is Stephan's 30th bday party! And many other fun adventures in our little life! God has done great things for us!

Go Camping and Take a HIKE!

This past weekend we took a group trip to Serando Lake in Lyndhurst, VA, where we camped for 2 nights. The Rouze 5 arrived, picked out 2 camp sites to accommodate 2 additional families that would join us. There where dirty kids, bumps, bruises, bugs, and much, much more. We had yummy food cooked on a camp stove, or over the fire. Stephan drug us all little 2 year olds included on a supposed 0.5mile hike up a mountain to an "overlook rock". The hike tough for those who are out of shape, the view worth the trek. On the way back down, I being more worried about little kids and pregnant hikers, managed to turn over booth ankles and crash to the ground... not so fun just glad it wasn't Stephan w/ Tristen strapped to his back! I have decided as ugly as hiking boots are I would like a pair for myself, if Stephan plans to continue these type of hiking trips. Chloe braved the trails again a little later the same day with her ambitious daddy, while mommy and sisters rested. We had music around the camp fire, and where even joined one night by some wandering JMU students that just so happened to be there with my little brother, but w/ no cell coverage they couldn't call him over to join us. It was nice to see my little brother twice while we camped, Chloe and Molly where delighted to see Uncle Chris! This park will be on our list of places to return. This momma dreams of a camper, especially after listening to some kind of wild animal make it's call as it made it's way through the camp ground.... creepy.. :o) We seem to always have a blast while camping. Enjoy a few photos.

Molly Turns 5

Our celebrations of the big 5 where small, as our budget has been small w/ mom not working pretty much the whole summer. There where 2, and they where both equally special, and these smaller celebrations may be a tradition to be continued due to the decreased stress in getting everyone and their "brother" together for 1 day. Celebration #1 was a "pool party" put on by my sister Jackie, the request was for a trip to the pool, and a day spent w/ Aunt Jackie and Cousins. I planned to pick up cupcakes, a ballon or 2 and call it her "pool party". Well Aunt Jackie got to the store before I ever was ready to leave the house, and called to say that she had bought cupcakes, lunch, and Molly's birthday gift. So my trip to the store was simply for Molly's Ballons and some sun screen as we where all out. The day was perfect for the pool, slightly overcast yet hot enough for swimming, we practically had the pool to ourselves. Then Grandma and Grandpa Kruse joined in the fun came to see the kids swim, then we had lunch, sang happy birthday to Molly, and she recieved her presents from Aunt Jackie and Grandma & Grandpa K. Her second celebration was at Chuck E Cheese with Grandma & Grandpa Rouze, Ryan & Warrie, on a weeknight one has the run of the place, the kids had a blast young and old. Molly recieved her 1st Webkinz, and is loving her little white lamb. A very happy 5th birthday it was. And our Molly girl is doing well w/ her Kindergarten studies! :o)

PA Birthday

We took a weekend trip to PA to visit w/family, and to celebrate Syd's 5th birthday, in the form of a pool party. We all had a good time, and I actually remembered my camera for this trip!

House to House.

Today our church family came to our home, w/lawn equipment, paint, and man/woman power. The result... 2 painted bathrooms, a super clean kitchen, a swept back deck, and much clearing of much overgrowth in the front and back yard, and strange junk that was dumped in the woods. We are forever grateful for the sacrifice of a Saturday, to spend, sweating working hard to make this house more beautiful! Many left saying they would come back again to help finish of more on another date! That is Love!!! God has brought some awesome folks into our lives, and has blessed us greatly!!

Deeper Still

DeeperStill - Greensboro NC from Rich Kalonick on Vimeo.

This past weekend I went away with a lovely group of women, 3 I knew and 3 I had never met. The 7 of us moms would leave our children with the fathers, or grandmothers, and embark on a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from out home to Greensboro, NC to attend the Deeper Still conference. We all left expecting something great and that is what was delivered, by Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore, and incredible worship lead by Travis Cottrell. These folks ministered God's love for us to thousands of women who packed the Greensboro Coliseum. I came across a video documenting the event. Enjoy, Hope some women who read this will be at the next conference! http://vimeo.com/5897091

Kindergarten Round 2!

This week, Molly has been especially busy and high energy. Since I had most of the house work under control, I offered to start up her Bible time daily. She was excited, so we did day one. Molly begged for more to do, so I went ahead and started her main work too, minus Math for now. So we've done 3 days worth of Kindergarten work, and Molly is eager to learn, and I'm glad I made the swap to Bob Jone's for home school curriculum. Many updates I'm sure will follow, but I'm thrilled that just 1hour of school work can calm Molly down so much! And she was so focused, and excited. :o)

We love camping!

Molly w/ the Seahorses

Chloe in a Bubble!

Molly Running on the beach, Chloe looking for shells.

Stephan and Tristen

looking for shells

MOLLY!

Tent Set up

A peak inside!

Another view inside.

So much that during Stephan's 2 week vacation, we didn't have plans to go away for 1 or the 2 weeks. In fact we had now plans until the week before he was to be off. I came up w/ the idea to visit the aquarium in Va Beach, and Stephan mentioned staying over a day or 2. So we opted to camp at First Landing State Park, it located on the Chesapeake Bay. The park was nice, our site was near clean bathroom facilities, and was a quick walk from the beach. We went to the aquarium, and other than that, spent time at our camp site or on the beach. So for half the price of 1 night in a hotel we spent 2 nights in VABeach (and that figure included our food that was purchased) This was our 2nd camping trip, the girls love it and ask when we'll be going camping again. Each time we are learning new things, and gathering good ideas from near by campers. Just the other day while working out, I received some good ideas from some seasoned campers. One lady was in her 60's and stated that her family always tent camped until about 3 years ago when they got a pop up. Pretty cool stuff. I don't think we'll be tent camping till I'm in my 50s. I hope to save some cash and in the next 2-3 years have a pop up camper so we can enjoy more seasons and places while camping, and a camper will make bigger distances easier! Unless someone wants to buy us one for Christmas!! :o) Enjoy the pics from our latest camping adventure to VaBeach. Stay tuned for more Rouze camping adventures!!

4th of July

Tristen and My Mom (Grandma)

The girls w/ My Dad (grandpa) and Snowden too!

For the 4th I went with the kids to my Mom's for a nice day visiting w/ family. The kids played w/their cousins in a pool my Mom put up. At good food, and had a nice time. Then later in the day I came home to get Stephan he had worked a double shift to then attend a cook out at his aunts house, and then go see fireworks. So more good fun with family.

2009-2010 School Books

Last week, we received the girls school books for next school year. We made the decision to switch from the Abeka program to Bob Jones. Chloe will move into 1st grade with the following subjects, Bible, Phonics/English, Reading, Handwriting, Spelling, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Molly will start Kindergarten with Bible, Phonics, Handwriting, Reading, and Math. This evening I went through the 3 boxes that arrived last week and we have received all the books we ordered. So I'll spend a few weeks decluttering my laundry room so I may use the shelves in there to store all my Teacher's Editions, and the girls books. I'll be working on a schedule for next year as well that will need to be stuck to as much as possible. I have a feeling this summer may just fly past, so it will require some work and discipline to get ready for next school year to flow a little more smoothly than this past year. But hey Kindergarten for Chloe is over, and she is doing great with her summer review work!! We'll be working on reading each day too.