life lessons

Okay so you know what?

I've been a single mom all week long...

We've been missing the big guy around here (business trip)

A N D you know what else??

(pic taken last March when he came home from a long trip..)

I am pooped!~

It's the first day of school and I am tired.

exhausted. spent. ya know.

Seriously single mom's are amazing to me.
How do they do it?
The amount of energy it takes to get 4 kids fed, dressed, and ready for life by yourself is crazy!

Good crazy , but H A R D W O R K!

Mom's should give themselves more credit for how much we accomplish in

one. single. day. period!

So here was my last night to do list:

~make a good healthy dinner, (brain food for school!)

~help Mace go poop every second,

~organize their back to school homework,

~help the kids with their new outfits and backpacks,

~buy last minute school supplies,

~get them all showered, cleaned and ready for their big day,

~Do a Family Home Evening on getting ready for school.

(I found some great quotes that hopefully motivate them for school)

~and lastly, Family Prayer

oh and this list does not include the daily tasks us mom's do every day:

dishes, laundry, mopping, making beds,

cooking lunch and dinner, vacuuming, potty training, driving,

picking up the house, organizing, yada ,yada, yada

our list can go on and on. Can't it not?!

(and it repeats the next day!)

Anyway, here are a few of the quotes I had the kids

read for Family Home Evening.

They each got one and had to explain what it meant.

(And sorry to bore you with them, but I want them for my blogging journal!

At least my kids will know I tried ha :)
(And yes, kind of cheesy but the kids soaked it all up like a sponge.)

Ashlyn's quote- "God ever works with those who work with will."

her serious response: God wants to help us and to have us succeed, we just have to have the DESIRE and ASK to be helped. perfect. I didn't need to help her...

Jake's quote-"If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old." Lord Chesterfield (I told him to think of a tree...)

his funny response: My tree won't grow if I don't try to learn every day. I will stay a small tree with one leaf and get no shade. PRETTY GOOD Jake! I told them every year their tree of knowledge will get bigger and grow stronger every year until they are a huge tree! They have to try hard each day, but it will be worth it. They will be a big strong tree with strong roots that will thrive on this earth.They totally got it.

Austin's quote-"know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do." by Menander

His thoughtful response: 'Like learn what I am good at and work on it every day. Try to always do the best at what I do.' Ha pretty good Aus! I added that they each have gifts and talents they were born with, USE them and they will bless your life! They are each special in their own way. Heavenly Father will help them if they do they do all they can do for themselves.

I know, I know, kind of cheesy but the kids really listened to it. They really thought it was cool.



Mace's quote-"every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow. " Doug Firebaugh

His crazy response: (and no I did not expect him to get it, but the youngest always wants to feel included right?) "Mizzz Thompson is my schooool teacha mom. Yup. When I am a big boy I am going to have a boy too and Landri my cousin will be with me and have a baby girl." Alright Mace, good try! Really I told the kids to always strive to do their best in all they do: school, sports, homework, everything! Just try your hardest and you will become a better person each day.


All of the kids- "follow your honest convictions, and stay strong." William Thackeray.

Their excited response: CTR. Choose the Right. Always. Austin said also to do what's right and not listen to peer pressure. Wahoo he said peer pressure...he knew what it was! As a mom I felt proud some of my life lessons have been sinking into their little minds.


AND as mom's, don't we all worry we are

never doing enough

to prepare them for life?!

I know I do.

Life is tough and it is a crazy world out there. I feel so strongly it's our job

to direct and guide their little hearts to what's true,

and equip them with all the tools they need to survive out there! I need to try harder and teach them more life lessons....!

so enough of that:

ON TO THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

Last years pic of the first day of school. Aug 28, 2008

(how I loved my yard on 8125. We put it all in ourselves. )

This years pic today: Aug 26, 2009




Off they go...it takes about 10 seconds to walk to school. Really! And yes we are lucky to be one house away from the pathway to the school!






So Ashlyn, Austin, and Jake





good luck to your first day of school,
always do your best,

(and listen to my life lessons alright?! )

and yes dad will be home tonight! no more tears Mace! yay
Loves always! mom