Titus has been having a wonderful school year so far. We had many ups and downs last year, his first year of school, but this year seems to be going so much better. He started school on August 15th and goes three times a week. Twice he has come home with a brown. Otherwise it's been all smiley faces in his folder. His teacher has an amazing system for the kids behavior. Each child has a little lamb and at the start of each day their lamb is in the green pasture, closest to the Shepherd (God). As they make poor decisions, they move to a pasture further from the Shepherd. I think it's such an awesome visual for young children to learn how bad choices mean we're getting further from God.
An e mail from his teacher on the first day of school-
Titus is raising his hand and participating in all we do! He received super star in PE today because he is following directions so well. He is resting in the tent today as a reward. :)
In Him,
Dawnmarie Kerrigan
This is an encouraging e mail from his teacher this week-
Titus is having another amazing day. He came back from P.E. Earning super star AGAIN! I told Titus, "I am so proud of you"! He replied, "And Jesus is too". :) Made my day!
In Him,
Dawnmarie Kerrigan
Poor little Quincy misses Titus when he's at school. He sleeps well in the mornings and doesn't wake up until after Titus has already left. This morning I went in to get Quincy and he asked, "Where's Titus." When I told him Titus was at school he said {very slowly and deliberately} "I don't want Titus to be at school. I want Titus to be home."
Friday, September 14, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Two and Four
Quincy had a birthday on Monday which means we now have a four year old and a two year old in the house. And a 35 year old since Steve's birthday is today. :)
Quincy at the age of two is so much fun. He is right now watching Tom & Jerry, laughing. With Titus back in school three days a week, I've had the time to just focus on Quincy. Playing with him and laughing with him. He really is such a happy guy. So content. Steve said this week about Quincy, "he just likes to be played with."
I can take him with me easily almost anywhere. He is content to sit on my lap as long as he has his fanti, his thumb to suck and a car in his hand.
His birthday fell on Labor Day this year so Steve and Titus were off from school. We went to our favorite little stretch of beach in Miami and spent the morning.
I think I missed out on some of the fun that age two is with Titus. When Titus had his second birthday, we had just moved back to PA and I was a month and a half from giving birth to Quincy. It was in the heat of the summer and I had a lot of leg pain. I was uncomfortable! And then Quincy was born and I was suddenly juggling having two kids. It's been fun with Quincy to enjoy this age. To really focus on him and listen to his little voice...he talks so much and in sentences (just like Titus did). Snuggling with him. Watching him discover new things and just loving life.
He is so happy and we are so in love with him.
Quincy at the age of two is so much fun. He is right now watching Tom & Jerry, laughing. With Titus back in school three days a week, I've had the time to just focus on Quincy. Playing with him and laughing with him. He really is such a happy guy. So content. Steve said this week about Quincy, "he just likes to be played with."
I can take him with me easily almost anywhere. He is content to sit on my lap as long as he has his fanti, his thumb to suck and a car in his hand.
His birthday fell on Labor Day this year so Steve and Titus were off from school. We went to our favorite little stretch of beach in Miami and spent the morning.
I think I missed out on some of the fun that age two is with Titus. When Titus had his second birthday, we had just moved back to PA and I was a month and a half from giving birth to Quincy. It was in the heat of the summer and I had a lot of leg pain. I was uncomfortable! And then Quincy was born and I was suddenly juggling having two kids. It's been fun with Quincy to enjoy this age. To really focus on him and listen to his little voice...he talks so much and in sentences (just like Titus did). Snuggling with him. Watching him discover new things and just loving life.
He is so happy and we are so in love with him.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Mom Guilt.
It's suffocating. I deal with it almost daily.
Did I yell too much? Did I discipline out of anger? Did I feed them enough healthy foods? Did I take them out to play enough? Did I play with them enough? Did I read to them enough? Do I talk on the phone too much and leave them to entertain themselves? I want them to know they're important to me. I want them to feel like they're important to me.
Titus is now four. Quincy almost two. What happens in their lives at this age they will possibly remember as adults. Especially Titus. I remember when Titus was two and I thought to myself, "I need to get my anger under control because he might remember me like this." Two years later, I'm still feeling the same way.
Steve and I deal with the bigger life issues.
Are we doing the best for them in raising them here in south Florida? Would it be better if we had the physical support of our families? Do they feel loved enough? Do they feel secure enough? Especially here without grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles? Was it the best decision to hold Titus back a year?
I know there is no "perfect parent". But I don't want to damage my children. I want them to have great childhood memories. Not just the days of going to the beach or the zoo. I want them to get that warm fuzzy feeling (do boys get that? :) when they remember their childhood. When they picture their childhood home. I want to give them a "childhood home." They've both had so many homes and none of them have truly been "ours."
Which brings us to another area of parenting guilt. Probably the biggest one for Steve and I.
With every house that we thought would be ours but then would slip away, Steve and I would get overwhelmed with the feelings of letting the boys down.
We've moved them so many times. I kept thinking, "what is this doing to the boys?" And I would think, "I hope they don't remmeber all the homes they've had."
Then one day it occured to me that maybe I do want them to remember. I want them to know that God always provided a house for us. He always protected us. In their future, when they go through difficult times in life, we can tell them the stories of our family and how God was always there providing for us. We can use it to encourage them and to build their faith. These events are our family story.
I pray that I will learn to depend on God more during my parenting "failures." I want to remember the obstacles we face as a family so that I can encourage them later in life with the stories of how God provided for our family.
Did I yell too much? Did I discipline out of anger? Did I feed them enough healthy foods? Did I take them out to play enough? Did I play with them enough? Did I read to them enough? Do I talk on the phone too much and leave them to entertain themselves? I want them to know they're important to me. I want them to feel like they're important to me.
Titus is now four. Quincy almost two. What happens in their lives at this age they will possibly remember as adults. Especially Titus. I remember when Titus was two and I thought to myself, "I need to get my anger under control because he might remember me like this." Two years later, I'm still feeling the same way.
Steve and I deal with the bigger life issues.
Are we doing the best for them in raising them here in south Florida? Would it be better if we had the physical support of our families? Do they feel loved enough? Do they feel secure enough? Especially here without grandparents and cousins and aunts and uncles? Was it the best decision to hold Titus back a year?
I know there is no "perfect parent". But I don't want to damage my children. I want them to have great childhood memories. Not just the days of going to the beach or the zoo. I want them to get that warm fuzzy feeling (do boys get that? :) when they remember their childhood. When they picture their childhood home. I want to give them a "childhood home." They've both had so many homes and none of them have truly been "ours."
Which brings us to another area of parenting guilt. Probably the biggest one for Steve and I.
With every house that we thought would be ours but then would slip away, Steve and I would get overwhelmed with the feelings of letting the boys down.
We've moved them so many times. I kept thinking, "what is this doing to the boys?" And I would think, "I hope they don't remmeber all the homes they've had."
Then one day it occured to me that maybe I do want them to remember. I want them to know that God always provided a house for us. He always protected us. In their future, when they go through difficult times in life, we can tell them the stories of our family and how God was always there providing for us. We can use it to encourage them and to build their faith. These events are our family story.
I pray that I will learn to depend on God more during my parenting "failures." I want to remember the obstacles we face as a family so that I can encourage them later in life with the stories of how God provided for our family.
New School Year
Titus on his first day of school-
Quincy enjoying time at home-
Life is moving right along. Too quickly yet I still find myself wishing the days away at times. Many times.
Titus turned 4 on July 15th. He started his second year of school on August 15th. We have him in the 3's class for the second time due to his late summer birthday and his high level of activity. :) He has several of our family friends kids in his class this year and a little boy from his class last year. He's had five days of school thus far and is doing really well. Steve takes him in the morning which has been great for them to have that time in the car together.
We're currently living in a house in Plantation which is 30 minutes from Calvary. It feels much further than that. The last place we lived was seven minutes from Calvary. We had to be out of our townhouse at the end of July as the owners were planning to move back in. We started house hunting in April thinking that would be enough time. It wasn't. We put in several offers and nothing seemed to work out for us.
As our time was running out, we were back and forth in our decision of what to do as we had a couple of options. We could rent...again. Or we could move into temporary housing while waiting for a short sale that had already been partially approved. With half of our stuff packed and less than a month until we had to be out, we went to PA to visit the families and to get away from the stress of our living situation.
Once we returned to FL, we decided to stay in a house that had been offered us by someone at the church. A huge blessing. Though it is far. Although I'm trying to remember that is minor. Our stuff is all in their garage. And in some closets. And in hallways. I struggle in going back and forth between being so grateful that we were given a place to stay when we needed one...and being frustrated by living in someone else's house. As a wife and mother trying to keep us all running...clothed and fed, when I often can't find something in the kitchen or I suddenly remember that I need something which is packed away in a box in the garage.
We're waiting for a short sale and thought we were almost there. Everything had been approved. We had the inspection and a second appraisal that was needed. We had a closing date. Less than two weeks to go and we were informed that the bank wasn't going to accept our contract the way it was. The way it had already been accepted.
So...we wait. And pray.
We should know tomorrow what will happen with this current house. If it doesn't work out we will start our search again.
Quincy enjoying time at home-
Life is moving right along. Too quickly yet I still find myself wishing the days away at times. Many times.
Titus turned 4 on July 15th. He started his second year of school on August 15th. We have him in the 3's class for the second time due to his late summer birthday and his high level of activity. :) He has several of our family friends kids in his class this year and a little boy from his class last year. He's had five days of school thus far and is doing really well. Steve takes him in the morning which has been great for them to have that time in the car together.
We're currently living in a house in Plantation which is 30 minutes from Calvary. It feels much further than that. The last place we lived was seven minutes from Calvary. We had to be out of our townhouse at the end of July as the owners were planning to move back in. We started house hunting in April thinking that would be enough time. It wasn't. We put in several offers and nothing seemed to work out for us.
As our time was running out, we were back and forth in our decision of what to do as we had a couple of options. We could rent...again. Or we could move into temporary housing while waiting for a short sale that had already been partially approved. With half of our stuff packed and less than a month until we had to be out, we went to PA to visit the families and to get away from the stress of our living situation.
Once we returned to FL, we decided to stay in a house that had been offered us by someone at the church. A huge blessing. Though it is far. Although I'm trying to remember that is minor. Our stuff is all in their garage. And in some closets. And in hallways. I struggle in going back and forth between being so grateful that we were given a place to stay when we needed one...and being frustrated by living in someone else's house. As a wife and mother trying to keep us all running...clothed and fed, when I often can't find something in the kitchen or I suddenly remember that I need something which is packed away in a box in the garage.
We're waiting for a short sale and thought we were almost there. Everything had been approved. We had the inspection and a second appraisal that was needed. We had a closing date. Less than two weeks to go and we were informed that the bank wasn't going to accept our contract the way it was. The way it had already been accepted.
So...we wait. And pray.
We should know tomorrow what will happen with this current house. If it doesn't work out we will start our search again.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Father's Day 2012
This morning the boys and I got up and walked to the Dunkin Dounuts to get breakfast and the 7 Eleven for coffee. We came home and set the table. Titus told Steve to stay upstairs for five minutes. When we were ready, Titus went up the steps and said..."Happy Father's Day Cha Cha Cha. You're five minutes are up." He had Steve close his eyes and come to the table.
Quincy's plate. Orange juice, a muffin and a motorcycle-
After breakfast we went to the beach. I love these pictures of Steve and the boys-
Shoot-
Score-
Titus saying, "Put it right here"-
I love the father-son interaction here. I can tell Quincy was pouting-
I wish I had gotten the shot right before this one. Quincy had his hands fully out stretched upward to Steve. On Friday night I went to a worship night at church. The worship band played and a packed church sang for two hours. The worship pastor shared inbetween sets of songs. At one point he told us that for the next song he wanted us to all raise our hands as we sang the chorus. He said doing so is like when a child raises his hands towards a father. He told a story of his children doing that when he would come home from work. I could picture in my mind the boys running to Steve with arms raised for him to pick them up. I loved seeing it happen today on the beach. And I loved that picture of us and God.
Titus' little hand wrapped around Steve's neck-
After the beach we came home for naps. Went to the pool in the afternoon and then the boys drove cars on Steve's back. This was a fun little shirt I made for them all :) -
Quincy's plate. Orange juice, a muffin and a motorcycle-
After breakfast we went to the beach. I love these pictures of Steve and the boys-
Shoot-
Score-
Titus saying, "Put it right here"-
I love the father-son interaction here. I can tell Quincy was pouting-
I wish I had gotten the shot right before this one. Quincy had his hands fully out stretched upward to Steve. On Friday night I went to a worship night at church. The worship band played and a packed church sang for two hours. The worship pastor shared inbetween sets of songs. At one point he told us that for the next song he wanted us to all raise our hands as we sang the chorus. He said doing so is like when a child raises his hands towards a father. He told a story of his children doing that when he would come home from work. I could picture in my mind the boys running to Steve with arms raised for him to pick them up. I loved seeing it happen today on the beach. And I loved that picture of us and God.
Titus' little hand wrapped around Steve's neck-
After the beach we came home for naps. Went to the pool in the afternoon and then the boys drove cars on Steve's back. This was a fun little shirt I made for them all :) -
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