Sun Kissed Sky

Sun Kissed Sky
The sunrise kissed clouds by our house

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Another Sad Trip

I've been talking for awhile about my family and how we are losing so many of them.  The first was my Grandpa on my mother's side.  It was just after Mr. A turned two weeks old so it was in 2004.  The second was my Uncle who was killed while on his motorcycle that was in 2007.  The third was my uncle who passed in 2010 and then was followed the next year by his daughter who passed of colon cancer she was 30.  This year my grandpa passed in fact it was just last Tuesday.  That's three deaths in three years alone.  It was my dad's father, brother, brother in-law, and niece.
                                                                   
My grandpa.

The hardest part has been the fact that we moved far from them when I was 15 almost 16 and could never afford to go back and visit so the only time we got to see any of them was when the came out to see us which we only ever saw my grandparents and a few of my aunts and uncles.  I didn't get to see my first uncle that passed since we left.  I saw my second uncle that passed when my first grandpa passed and then not again until he passed.  At that point I saw my cousin a couple of times and made a special run up to see her while she was in the hospital.  I got to play with her little ones and I thought she still had time.  I think I live in denial when it comes to my family but I really thought she'd be there.  Then I didn't go back for her funeral.  I got to see her before and that was enough for me. I spent many days sobbing though.  I kept thinking of my aunt and all that she had lost, I thought about my cousins and how they just lost their dad and sister, I thought about my cousins children and how they would not have their mother around and all the things she'd miss out on with her children that she should have had.  I thought about her husband and now doing it all alone and what the future might hold for him.  Maybe I should have gone but I was a mess and I could only imagine the mess that they were all feeling.
I wasn't ready for my grandpa to pass either.  I know he had been sick off and on with infections and other issues but I thought that this year was going to be a good one.  My great grandma is turning one hundred this July and we were all going to meet up for her birthday and have a family reunion.  Yes this year was going to be a good one and then I got the call.  I didn't cry just hung up the phone and then the questions came
I really thought maybe they could still save him and maybe he wasn't really gone but then I did cry and as the information of his passing reached me I realized that there hadn't been a way.  It was his time.
Time.  
That's an interesting word.  
There never seems to be enough of it. 
We always fool ourselves into thinking there will be.
We put off things until tomorrow because there will be more time tomorrow but there isn't.
Sometimes tomorrow doesn't come.
I'll always wish that I had more tomorrows with each of my family members. 
I'll always wish I had done more or contacted them more.
Saved more, traveled more, and just said more.
I didn't and I can't.
Can I change it all now?
I need to stop lying to myself and start changing it all.
There might not be a tomorrow and it can be that way for the youngest of us.
I can't wrap this all up in a neat bow and make everyone feel the way I feel
which is this desperate need for connectedness with my family
but I hope you at least think of all the family
you have and maybe the ones you've already said good bye to and maybe you'll want to forgive,
reach out, comfort, or just drop a note or flowers off to one of them.
Just remember your family forever no matter what and one day your
time with them will be over one way or the other
and what do you want your last memories of them to be?  
When do you want that last conversation to have been?
I want mine to have been recently.  
I want mine to have been in a happier or at least a time where I'm loving on them even in their struggles.
I want to be there even if it's just in a note or phone call.
And that's as neat as I can tie this all up
go out and live today.

Love,
Mommaraff. 

Review: Spanish For You! Estaciones


I reviewed Spanish for You!  Estaciones.  (if you click on Estaciones it will take you to a sample page)  It's for third through eighth grade and an easy introduction to 
Spanish.  I received a paperback teachers book and then downloadable audio files and pdf's.  
I am so thankful for the audio files since I know nothing about Spanish at all.  
One problem I noticed with the downloads is that they come in a jumble and I had to search through them to find what I needed for the lessons but the author has assured us that it's all taken care of now and easier to download too.
I actually used the audio with all three of my boys Pumpkin being only four had a little bit of a hard time but it was fun to hear him try to say them.  As for the writing and flashcards I used those primarily with my nine year old Mr. A.  We are actually going to go back over the book and start all over and I plan on making smaller flashcards and putting them on a book ring so I can throw them my bag and take them with me so we can review them on the go.

There is a ton of information in the book and the audio.  I would play the audio for the common phrases and read from the book what they meant and have the boys repeat them back to me.  We tried to use them through out the day but I had a hard time remembering them so when we go through the book again I'm going to use some little cards and stick the words around the house so we can remember to use them having the flashcards on the rings to bring with us will really help with that activity too.

Speaking of activities there are actually three pages in the teacher book with ideas of games and activities you can do.  A lot of the games need two or more players but that was okay because I played with my son and I needed the practice anyways.  I love being able to learn along side my children it's one of the joys of homeschooling.  Can I really speak Spanish right now?  Not really but it's more my fault than the books so that's the reason we are going through it yet again. 

There are five lessons for the third and fourth grades I focused on it lasts for about 27 weeks.  Each day takes about 10-30 minutes I think we took 15-20 minutes.  You can also just go at your own pace.  I really liked that the company was there for me if I had any questions or concerns which I actually didn't.  I would recommend it to my friends if they want a nice, easy, and affordable approach to Spanish.

The teacher book costs $64.95 for grades 3-8
and only $39.95 for just two grades like the 3-4 one.
Extra books are $12.95 each
There are teacher lesson plans you can buy the Estaciones one is coming soon but Feistas is already up and the cost from $14.95 to $12.95 and are only needed for classroom use.


You can purchase this and other products from Spanish for You! here.

Read other reviews from The Review Crew here





Saturday, May 4, 2013

Surprise!

I've announced it every where but here now so here it goes We are Expecting!!!!
So I've known now for about a little over two weeks and we are
thinking that I am two months along
and we are in a 
state of shock. 
Yes we know how babies are made and such but we really didn't 
plan for this or expect it.
This will be our fourth baby and I'm honestly hoping for a girl because I have three boys
already and I'm a little over run lol.  Have you seen all
the cute girl clothes and the little headbands and bows not to mention the shoes.
The truth though is that I would take another boy willingly.
I have saved my sons clothing just in case and while looking through
it the other day I was imagining another little boy in them and I got a little excited.
You see with the shock it's been really hard to get on board with it
I've taken to talking about being a pregnant person more
often than I have before because I'm trying to get the idea of it all to stick.
'Hey the pregnant mom gets all the pickles off the burgers so lay off'  was what the
joke was yesterday as my two youngest handed up their pickles and Mr. A tried to eat them lol.  

The morning sickness right now is kicking my butt.  I hate feeling this way all day.
I've also started watching a one year old which I get between six thirty and seven in the morning until two thirty when we pick his five year old sister up from preschool
and then I take them home for about an hour and a half to two hours when their mom gets out of work 
and picks them up.
This along with the pregnancy tiredness is making me extra tired.  By the time the kids go home
I just crash out for a bit on the couch resting or I take a shower to recoup.
It's gotten easier since I started and I can't 
wait for the first trimester to be over so I can have my energy back.
The great thing is that the one year old is a really good kid.
He's so sweet and honestly quiet.
He does like me to hold him a lot so my cleaning really doesn't get done until weird random times 
but that's ok it's all a season right?

Well there you go now you know what's been going on with us here :)
after my first doctor's appointment I'll let you 
all know my due date and other information.  
Have a great day!


Love,
Mommaraff.