Office

Here's what my office looks like for a few days. While it is the beach, it is pretty dreary and extremely cold!!!!

Movie Mania

George is with me at a conference in Orange Beach for a few days. We have been trying to do things we could not normally do at home with kids. So far we have seen 2 movies. We saw Night at the Museum last night and Freedom Writers tonight. Both have turned out to be great movies!

My favorite of the 2: Freedom Writers because it is an educational flick. However, it is so much more than that. Hillary Swank plays a first year teacher and chooses to teach in a district that has voluntary integration in California. It is a very diverse group of students who are labeled as worthless. She is to teach them English.

It stereotypes most school systems perfectly. There are the "chosen" administrators who care less about kids and blame students when they act uncouth in their classroom. However, they never think to examine their own teaching techniques as the cause for the misbehavior.

Of course I won't give it away but Hillary does what is right for her students in the end.

I am so thankful to be employed with a system that believes in students and challenges teachers to do whatever it takes to get kids to learn at high levels. I get sad sometimes that I never was able to teach kids in that sort of environment. Most of my teaching was done in a system that cared more about their rules and regulations than what kids actually learned. If the desks were in a row and kids were quiet and working then you were a good teacher.

I am so thankful that my kids will learn in an environment that is open to do whatever to reach kids. If it means they stand on tables or sit on bare floors to learn- that's great. Sometimes doing what has always been done is not the best thing to do.

Spiritually speaking, I have to examine my life that way too. Sometimes I get into ruts and I do what I have always done but don't accomplish much. Staying comfortable can often be dangerous. I thank God for the freedom to write whatever I want on this blog and my prayers are with those who have to keep their thoughts private for fear of death. That is a reality for many people in this world. Go see Freedom Writers and if you are not inspired to write- something is wrong with you.

"Phone ears"

Can you believe that preschoolers have MP3 players? My kids have FP3 players from Fisher Price and they are loving it. Sadie calls the ear phones her phone ears when she is in a hurry and it cracks us up. I have downloaded all sorts of Disney tunes for them. It is so funny to listen to them sing because it is so loud. The nice thing about these is that they are kid proof and also have stories you can pair with icon pictures.

These kids are growing up in such a digital age and you just cannot help but wonder what they will be when they grow up. Where will technology take them? I read Freidman's book, The World is Flat last summer and it is an eye opener for what our world is becoming due to technology. It affects all facets of our world.

Anyway- my intent was that these new gadgets would keep my kids occupied on the plane, during long waits in line and just during boring times! So far so good- they both fell asleep last night with them and I had to pry them off their ears.

Packing Ughhh!

Can you ever pack enough for a trip? People that can pack one outfit each day and minimal "others" just gripe me. I am trying to lay out all we will need and it is a daunting chore. I have a list of things that Disney recommends and boy howdy is it a lot. I am going to do the best I can and then just punt if I have to. Stone's teacher keeps asking if she can get in his suit case and he woke up from his nap today and asked me why people would want to travel in a suit case when they could just fly with us- what a sweet boy.

Sadie has not stopped sleeping with her Disney stuff that the Grave's (Michelle, Kevin, Justin, and Maegan) brought her. She got a Tink bag and shirt, a precious Mickey shirt that is beaded or shiny as Sadie calls it. She also wears her Mickey poncho around the house. They gave the kids light necklaces that are just too cool. Stone looks at himself with his new hat on and thinks he looks cute. We are very appreciative to them for enhancing our trip. They are already practicing for autographs with their light up pens.

Needless to say, we will probably be prepared thanks to all the friends who have helped us and given us great advice. We are down to 5 days and counting!!!!!!!

Back to packing- Uggh!!!!!

Little Drummer Boy

Our little drummer boy had his first lesson today. He started taking drum lessons from Gary Asher. When you see the pictures you will understand why he had a hard time paying attention to the real reason we were with Gary- to learn to play the drums. Gary has wall to wall drums and I mean floor to ceiling when I say that. It is amazing who he knows and whose drums he has. He had a set of drums from the Tom Hanks movie That Thing You Do and from Drumline. It was really cool.

George is in the basement practicing with him right now and he is being very patient with Stone. The hard part right now is playing right, left and then changing to left, right when you are not fluent with which hand is right and which is left. Stone came home from school with a green stamp on his right hand so that is his visual reminder for now.

I hope over the next three months that the code of music becomes meaningful to him and he is able to translate that into playing music when presented a piece. We'll see how it goes and I'll keep everyone posted! See more pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/68212054@N00/

MANIA

This is what happens when you even mention the word Disney these days! Pure mania breaks out. Thanks to Mimi for fueling the fire with a new video of Disney World attractions! This was when they announced to Mickey Mouse that they were here! I assured them that he would be able to hear them anywhere in the park.
Thanks to Uncle Andy, Aunt Leah, Emma, Eliot, and baby Daniel for sending the precious Mickey photo book. We can't wait to get autographs and put cute pictures in it. Leah did all the cute work ahead of time by putting the stickers on the pages. She knows me well- it would have been 2014 before that happened.

Riding Dumbo

This is Stone's artistic inerpretation of what the Dumbo ride might be like. By all accounts, I think his choice of subjects was genius! I love those kiddos!

Wiggle Jiggle

I had to post this even though it may be TMI (too much info). My cute Sadie who is oh so blonde, asked me Sunday morning as I was getting dressed why I wore a brazier.
At first I was offended- why wouldn't I wear one but then I realized she was three and could not have meant that in an insulting way.
I did not have an immediate politically correct answer so I just brushed her off and said, because my mommy told me to wear one. Well that was not a satisfactory answer so she came up with a jeopardy answer in the form of a question on her own.
She asked, "You wear one so they won't wiggle jiggle?" Ding ding ding- give that blonde girl a twinkie!!!!!
I said yes and went on my merry way- wiggle jiggle free!
Don't you wish every one was wiggle jiggle free?

Shopping is NOT fun

I have never liked shopping as long as I can remember. Today was no exception. It is somewhat difficult to shop with the kids, but that's not the reason I don't like it. I tried on about 10 outfits in one store and left with nothing. That is a lot of work for nothing. Being short is terrible when it comes to buying clothes. I was trying to find some casual sets to travel in but inevitably they were all too long, too tight in the rear and too loose through the waist, or just weird looking!!!!!
Has anyone ever heard of petites besides the major stores??? It would be nice to go into a discount store and find petites. Oh well, I'll go to the expensive stores next week and pray for a sale.
On the bright side I got the disposable cameras, valentine cards, a house warming gift for Aunt Stacy and Uncle Lee, and other little stuff. Grammy found us some light sticks at another dollar store- we need those for night time at Disney- thanks Grammy.
I think I have everything I need and I plan to start packing next weekend so I will have plenty of time to think of any necessary items without feeling rushed.
George worked at the church today and had a great time. He said that Hans V. does an incredible Arnold Schwarzenegger impression. Only George would ask someone from Germany to do that. I asked him if he made him do the "pump you up" skit from Saturday Night Live and he said Hans did that for him without having to ask. Can't wait to hear it for myself. There's never a dull moment when George is around.
We went to see Aunt Stacy and Uncle Lee's new house tonight. It is in Hayden, AL and it is very cute! We had fun visiting and laughing. Stone provided lots of entertainment as always. He went home to spend the night with Mimi and Pops. Sadie wanted to remain with her mommy. She's passed out next to me now- I'll move her in a little while. Shopping is not her thing either but she was a trooper today.
Well- it's been a busy Saturday and I am ready for some shuteye!

Disney Count Down!!!!

The Logan's are going to Disney World very soon. In 13 days we will be there. I am so excited!!! Tomorrow I am taking the kids to the dollar store to pick out disposable cameras for their use on the trip. It will keep them busy while waiting in lines and we might actually get some neat photos from their perspective (minus all the rear end shots we get! )
My sweet friend, Sweesha (as pronounced by my kids), let me borrow her Canon Rebel digital camera. Is that a friend or what? She came by tonight and had chili with us. It was good to see her and spend some time with her. The kids loved her visit the most! Pray for her as she is having an MRI and brain scan on Monday due to recent symptoms- they are concerned she may have MS. I will let you know the results, but she is in good faith that God is sovereign and is already in control of that situation.
Stone got a haircut today so that he would be all cute for the trip- thanks Mimi!
I am putting together outfits that can be versatile for whatever we have. I am going with layers that could be put on or taken off with ease. For anyone going to Disney anytime soon you must explore http://www.allearsnet.com/. It has taught me so much that I would have never known!
I am also working on posting pictures over the weekend. I intend to download pictures from the trip each day so that those who cannot be with us can see what we are doing and interact with us!!
Now it's time to say goodbye to all our family.....M-I-C-K-E-Y....I am way too excited. Adios

The name game

I read the sweetest story yesterday of how our music minister, Bryan Haskins, named his miracle baby boy (read here http://www.justonemore.info/). I thought I'd share why my children have their names.
I was pregnant in January of 2001 but had a miscarriage shortly after finding out. We had been trying to have a baby from the time we were married in November of 1999. SO, needless to say I had names picked out. I felt she was a girl, so her name would have been Sydney Hope Logan. There was no special reason for it- I just liked it.
I then found out a few months later that I was pregnant again- this time a boy (I wanted 3 boys most of my life-why I don't' know). I loved the name Stone but wanted him to have a middle name that meant something special and I wanted to use the initials from the first baby so they would carry meaning even though we did not have her. I went to a family reunion on my father's side where there was much discussion about the patriarch of his family- Locke Houston (L.H.) Jones. My oldest brother carries the middle name Locke. I understand that L.H. was a hard working man that you just did not mess with. I liked what I heard and loved the name Houston. Therefore, I now have Stone Houston Logan. It fits him in every way!
13 months later I gave birth to a little girl- just what I needed but I did not know that at the time! I played with her name over and over. I love my daddy and always have been a daddy's girl so I wanted to name her after him but it just never fit. I had Merry Lawrence Logan picked out for a long time but like I said- it did not fit. Now I know why- she is such a Sadie and all that know her would agree. While she is girly like a Merry Lawrence, she is not dainty nor prim. She is a pistol, a ball of fire, determined and stubborn as the day is long!!! Much like her mother and her Aunt Catrina. Her middle name is my grandmother's (memaw) maiden name. If there is one person who can make me laugh and that I just enjoy spending time with (other than my husband) it is my memaw. So I wanted my little girl to have a part of her. Therefore I have Sadie Hamilton Logan. It fits her in every way!
And now you know that I named my children and my precious husband let me and he agreed- no arguments, no discussions- it was quite easy.
I thank God every day for my children and the joy,challenges, and hope they bring to me.

Soap and the VCR

What a morning! My precious 5 year old son was using some language that we don't allow as a way to interrupt my conversation with his grandmother (he was saying "what the heck is that" over and over). I gave him a warning and said that I would be with him in a moment, then he said it 2 more times. I calmly stopped my conversation and took him by the elbow into the bathroom where I put a drop of liquid soap in his mouth.
Of course he went ballistic and the priceless part was this comment (as he was crying): I'm going to call those VCR people and tell them you put soap in my mouth! After much confusion, I finally realized that he meant DHR- in my line of work he has heard me talk about that a few times. I have always said it is for mean mommies.
I guess they will be coming to get me soon!
Got to go and brew up more mean things to do!

What a Day!

Today, Monday, was a holiday in most professions. I got to enjoy the day with S and S at home! We watched our newest movie, Air Buddies, and snuggled in as it became dreary and cold.
I enjoyed putting together some of Stone's birthday presents and coloring with Sadie.
I always am amazed after a day with the kids that some moms do this everyday. I just am not cut out for that!
I am thankful everyday for Godly parents that take and pick up my kids from preschool each day! I wish I had known my grandparents as well as my kids know theirs. The Bible speaks of the wisdom of our elders and what we can learn from them. I have to say- I think I have the wisest parents of all!
Last night was our Leadership Community (LC) at church and George was able to discuss his current involvement in the music ministry and what God is doing through that opportunity. His basic message was- get plugged in and be a Crosspointer as opposed to just coming to Crosspoint. I am so proud of him. It was a great LC.
Well, I am going to call it a day- Oh- and for those of you who know me this will be a shock- but I have to go and check on dinner. Yes, I said dinner! I am cooking tonight (for the 6th night in a row)! God still performs miracles- even to the least of these!