Thursday Thirteen Edition #3

Thirteen things I loved about my children as they were growing up
1. Childhood innocence
2. Energy levels
3. Their new perspective looking at things
4. Their laughter
5. Uninhibited Hugs
6. Phone calls
7. When they say "I love you"
8. Sharing information about something new they learned
9. Their excitement
10. When they remember my birthday
11. Gifts they gave me that were handmade.
12. Accepting me even when I made mistakes
13. When they share something with me that is important to them.

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Thursday Thirteen

alarm clock

I was thinking back as to what I tried to do to teach my son and daughter responsible behavior. I remember when they started the 7th grade they thought they were old enough to stay up later, don't all kids think they have to go to bed too early! So I decided that wasn't a battle I had energy for, so I bought alarm clocks. I told them yes I believed they could make a responsible choices so they could decide what time they should go to bed and here is an alarm clock. You will be responsible for setting it and getting up when it goes off. If you over sleep and are late for school I will not write a note for you to be excused. This a new responsibility; remember the later you go to bed the harder it will be for you to get up. They struggled a few times before they made the connection. After awhile they were managing their time a little wiser. It was a win win situation, I didn't have to struggle to get them to go to bed or get up and they knew they had choices.

Thirteen Thursday #2 Imparting lessons

13 ideas I tried to share with my children when they were growing up
1. Pick your friends wisely, for you are known by the company you keep.
2. Sometimes friends will disappoint you, try to remember they are not perfect and neither are you.
3. Honesty is the best policy.
4. Own up to your mistakes. Don't make them twice.
5. Don't start a fight however if the fight comes to you don't be afraid to finish it.
6. Stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves.
7. Bad language should be reserved for the garage and if must be spoken do it in the garage!
8. Give the other individual the benefit of the doubt, someday you will need someone to give you the benefit of the doubt.
9. Think before you speak. Hurtful words are like a mirror that has been broken the cracks can not be repaired and once spoken the hurtful words can not be taken back.
10. When you speak ill of someone else, that reflects more on you than on the individual you speak of, with time others will form their own opinion of the person as well as an opinion of you and what you said.
11. Don't believe everything you hear and read.
12. Don't tell everything you know. A pint of example is worth a barrel full of advice.
13. It's the little things in life that determine the big things.

Summer Fun

It is Sunday evening and I'm trying to catch up the laundry getting ready for next week. We spent Saturday at Silverwood Theme park. Had a great time swimming and riding roller coasters. When Kim and David were kids I would try to take them to WaterWorld in Denver Colorado for a weekend swim. One year we were able to make it to DisneyWorld and enjoy the water park there. What fond memories.

Thirteen Thursday

Thirteen fond memories
1. Holding my daughter Kim and son David, for the first time.
2. Introducing David to his big sister Kim.
3. Introducing Kim and David to their Great Grandpa Rush.
4. David scaling the side of the crib, flipping himself over the rail and crawling out to the living room without making a sound and looking so pleased with himself.
5. Kim holding her little baby brother.
6. David eating lasagna the first time at his aunt Gail's.
7. David and Kim at Disney World.
8. Watching Kim and David graduate from Highschool.
9. Being a part of Kim and Eric's wedding.
10. Going with David to West Point for the first time.
11. Attending and being a part of Kim's graduation from her nursing program.
12. Attending David's graduation from West Point.
13. Attending my granddaughter Tolina's birth.

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Family History

I was counting up the number of family members that I know of that have served or are serving in the armed forces. I started with my son, my grandpa, my father, my brother, two cousins, one uncle, two nephews and a niece, two brother-in-laws, tw0 father-in-laws and I am sure there are several more that I do not know about. I have several cousins that I have lost track of through the years and many relatives that I just learned about because my cousin was doing a family tree search. Sometimes family history can be so intriguing.

Debt we owe

We watched a program on the television about fireworks and science behind the display effects. Made me wonder what the troops are doing when deployed overseas and especially in a war zone. I'm sure they would much rather be home with family to celebrate the fourth. We have so much for which to be thankful and owe so much to the men and women who are are overseas protecting our interests and fighting for those who can not fight themselves.

Fourth of July

My family and I wanted to wish everyone a happy Fourth of July.  Have fun and be safe.

Army Mom