Small Wishes is a service that I created for Child Guidance Center. This service is for kids who do  not get much for Christmas. It is like a Christmas gift tree where the kids write their names, ages and what they want/need for Christmas.

I created this service because my Sunday School kids needed a mission project to do over the Holidays and I thought of Child Guidance Center because I used to work there as a therapist and knew that they needed something like this. As the Director of my Sunday School at Southern Heights Presbyterian Church, I thought this would be a good idea for the kiddos. The kids will take these papers with their names, ages and gift idea, go buy their item and give it to them. I can't wait to see the look on all the kids' faces when they give/receive the gifts.

Child Guidance center is a place where children go to help with their mental health issues. The kids work with counselors and therapists with a daily extended day program designed for ages 5-11.

Taygen is 3 years old and in her first year of preschool. 

I was sad, but happy at the same time. I am a stay at home mom, so for her to get instructions from someone else and be able to listen to another person is really important. I was sad the first day.. She got upset when I left her at school. The second day she did a lot better! I was sad and happy at the same time on the second day. She put her backpack away then sat down on her spot, like a big girl. I was so proud of her for not getting upset, but at the same time I was sad because she didn't give me a hug or anything. But she's in good hands and loves it, so I feel much better! 

This is Aden's second year of preschool. That means he will be going to kindergarten next Fall :(. He's getting to be such a big boy!

He just had his 5th birthday on the 9th of September. It just doesn't seem like he can be 5 already! Oh well, better enjoy them little while I can. I hear it goes super fast. 

Keira started 1st grade a couple weeks ago! She really likes it. She does have homework every night, but she loves doing work. 

There are a couple boys that she likes. Oh boy! Am I in trouble... I should say her dad is in trouble! ;) 

Here are my 10 ideas for celebrating Spring and ringing in the Spring Season.

Spring is my favorite season. It's not too hot and it's not too cool. My most favorite part of the season is doing/redoing the landscaping and just making my yard look fresh for the season.

1. Organize, organize, organize

     Be creative! Reuse old things or paint some old items a new color

2. Spend time with a friend

      Everyone needs their day to catch up on things. Why not use this time to get to know your friend more.

3. Have your first Spring picnic outside

     You are cooped up inside all Winter. Why not have fun and have your first picnic of the Season.

4. Update your house with Spring colors

     The Spring colors will make your house fresh, relaxing and it could have a calming affect ;)

5. Hang your clothes out to dry.

     Brings back memories of hot summer days

6. Work on your landscape

     Makes the house feel new and more welcoming

7. Clean out your closet

    Hardest job for me, but I feel so much better after I do this.

8. Patio furniture out

     Almost makes you have to sit outside ;)

9. Spring Crafts with the kids

    Kids love doing crafts, why not make a flower centerpiece?

10. Throw a Spring themed party.

     We all need a reason to get friends together, right?

I know it may feel like Spring will never get here (hint, hint Spring get here!) 

If you are anything like me, you love to clean. I Spring clean in the Winter, just to have an excuse to clean out the closets or organize.

I will give you some helpful tips that will help make Spring cleaning easier...hopefully ;)

• Make it easier on your self and do one room at a time
• Make a detailed list of what needs to be done in each room. It makes you feel less overwhelmed when you walk into that specific room.
• Break the cleaning down between 2 days
• Do the upstairs rooms (bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, etc.) the first day and the downstairs rooms (kitchen, living room, family room, etc.) the second day, or visa versa
• When working in the kitchen, wash all appliances (big and small) with soap and water
• Organize kitchen cupboards. Most people don't think about this. When most people think about organizing, they think of closets, so most people miss this step
• Wash all blinds and curtains
• Wash windows while you have the blinds and curtains down (a lot easier)
• Dust every crevasse
• Wash jackets/coats and hang them in your coat closet
• Clean out closets and put Winter/Fall clothes away or get rid of anything you don't use anymore
• Open the windows and just let the air in 
• Wash your door mats or buy more Spring like colored mats
• While you are vacuuming your floors also vacuum your couch and chairs 
• Put away all comforters and heavy blankets. Make sure you wash them before you store them
• If you have a curio cabinet or if you have shelves, update them with Spring colors and items
• I also rearrange my furniture in most of the rooms. When rearranging furniture make sure you do not put furniture in front of large windows. This lets you open your curtains, letting the natural light and fresh in. 

The most important part is, don't stress about it, have fun with it. Look at it as a whole new beginning for your house. You can make it fresh, bright and feel new again. 

Anytime I clean, whether it be Spring cleaning or just my weekly cleaning duties, I always have my music on. It makes the time go faster and I have more fun that way. I love opening up all the windows and front door and just let the fresh air in. It makes it brighter and makes your house seem bigger. Another fun part is when I let my kids help. The kids get so excited about helping. Yes, they have their own daily chores, (making beds, picking up their floors, picking up toys off the floor) but it makes them feel more important when they have more responsibility. They love to dust and dance around to the music. 

When you read a book to your child, you think, "that looks so easy to write, why didn't I think of that?" Well, I did! I have written a Children's Book! I never thought I would say that! I have told Dan a couple times that I was going to write a book about being a stay-at-home-mom ( I still am, but later in the future!).

My book is called 'Silly Moon'. Keira Jade inspired me to do this book! We were coming home one night from the Y at about 5:30 p.m (it was still light out) and Keira looked out her window and saw the moon and said, "Silly Moon, what are you doing out during the day?" And I got to thinking about some words and later that night I sat down and wrote a 8 page book children's book.

Now, you watch the movies and think writing a book is so easy. I'm going to use Private Practice as an example... One of the characters had a horrible experience and writes a book about it. You see she has the manuscript and talks to people about publishing it, bam! The next show she has it published....NOPE, not that easy. Believe me!

I Googled publishers in Lincoln, Ne. and got a list of about 10. I picked out what I thought was the best 6. I called each of them the next day and told them what I was looking for and only one of them (because 5 of them are not publishing any more) gave any kind of advice, that was Infusionmedia Publishing, if anybody is looking for a great publisher!

I thought, hey, I can just call a publisher here in Lincoln, schedule a meeting, take my manuscript (drawings and everything) there sit down and talk about my book and by the next month it would be published. Not exactly....I finally got some answers from my infusionmedia publisher and she said that I needed a Literary Agent and before I met with them I had to have a proposal (which is a 1-2
page query about my book, myself, and what I want to do in the future with my book).  This is
someone who does everything for you, finds an editor, illustrator, then finally finds a publisher and gets it published for you for 10-30 % of your profit that you make off the book. Or...I could do it myself for thousands of dollars and still get no where in the end. So, of course, I told her that I wanted an agent. She gave me advice to go to my local library and check out a book (buying the book would cost about $80) to look up children's book literary agents. I don't really have time to go to the library so I googled it. I didn't find much, I did find one in Lincoln, but of course they are not doing that anymore, just my luck!

So, with many hours of looking up agents and how to write a proposal for an agent, I was exhausted and feeling quit down about even getting a chance to get my book out there. Dan was sitting beside
me and he knew I was getting upset (sad not mad) he was playing with his iPad then showed me an
app to write my book on and get it out there on ebooks. I still get to write my book(s) and get it/them viewed without going through all the trouble of paying 3 or 4 different people to get my book published and probably not make any money off of it anyway. This way I can spend less than $50, get my book out there, and my book will be "Published" in my mind. Keira drew all my pictures.

Keira turns 6 in a week. I can't believe how much she is growing up.

Her height is in the 15th percentile at 43 1/8 inch. Her weight is 40.6 and is in the 25th percentile. Her BMI and blod pressure were good. She didn't have to have any shots.

We did get some bad news though. I talked to her doctor about the idea that Kik might have asthma. The doc said that there was no actual test for asthma that she had to use an inhaler. So, she has an inhaler that she has to use whenever she does any kind of physical activity.

She's doing really good in school. Had parent teacher conferences a couple months ago. Her teacher is really impressed with her 'age level reading.' Her teacher is using Keira as a tutor wherever needed, so she doesn't get bored with her daily work.

She as an eye dr. appointment with the specialist to see if her eye is any better on Tuesday.