follow up on the Kindness post...

So to all of you who remember a previous post about Emma and the preschool incident, I do have an update on the situation.

Each Monday and Wednesday morning, after dropping Cole at school, Emma and I enjoy some girl time for about 10 minutes in front of her teachers house until it is time for her school. We talk about various subjects that enter her mind. One morning she kept referring to her incident at school and about how we like ALL our preschool friends EXCEPT Nate. "He's MEAN.." she said. I then started talking to her about Christ and about how he would want us to treat others. I also reminded her that everyone is learning different things in life, and Nate must be trying to learn kindness to others and sharing. It's not ok what he did to her, and she could use her words to explain that, but that she can always choose to be kind to others, especially Nate. He needs friends the most, especially since he is having a hard time learning kindness.

After talking about how she might feel if others didn't like her because of a choice she had made while learning something, she suddenly decided that she COULD be friends with Nate, and help others of her classmate be nice to him.

A few weeks later, as I was helping Emma get out of the car for preschool, I recognized a parent whom I had attended the singles ward with several years ago. I remember him to be the kindest, most genuine and gentle person. I called him by name and we exchanged pleasantries. After talking for a moment, I asked who his child was. He replied Nate. He quickly asked who my child was, and I responded Emma. "Emma, yes we've talked about Emma." was his response. I just smiled and said "I BET you've talked about her". He quickly said.."no, no...I just mean I remember hearing about her!" I smiled and realized the irony of the situation.

I spoke briefly with Emma's preschool teacher and explained that I knew Nate's dad from years ago. I told her that I thought how funny it was that it was our two children that had interacted, but that I really remembered Nate's dad as being a great guy. She then quickly explained that he had lost his job about six months prior, that they had 3 boys, and the oldest was Nate.

Suddenly all of this situation came into a hard reality perspective for me. I could understand why a child might act out because of stress felt at home, that they could not explain nor control.
It made me even more grateful that I had been given the opportunity to talk to my child about a Christlike additude and how even without knowing another persons situation, we can still love others and show kindness.

So I suppose in this whole scenario, I was the one truly taught about how "K" is for kindness. My child picked up on all of this without ever knowing a single detail of why she was the recipient of another childs stress, but she was the one who without further explanation decided it was better to show love for others than to alienate them. I love the lessons that I am able to learn with my children.

Because of the new layout.....

Alright, because I'm not really educated on how to do all this blog stuff, when I changed the layout, it deleted a lot of my old stuff, including my list of blogs I like to follow etc. So, if you are not on the side of this blog page, will you please send me an email to jenniferadamscurtis at hotmail dot com, so I can add it again! I tried to recreate it, but don't think I remembered everyone! Thanks all!

"K" is for Kindness

Last Monday I went to pick Emma up from her preschool. She had her coat and hood on because it was cold. As I looked at her smiling face I noticed her cheek was a little red...no biggie. Then I noticed her teacher waving me to roll the window down. As I rolled it down she began to explain: "I feel so bad about Emma's cheek! Just as we had finished learning about "k" is for kindness, another little friend smacked her in the side of the face with a broom!" I asked Emma if I could see her cheek. She showed me and exclaimed: "Nathan did it! He whacked me in the face with the broom. So Miss Laurie put in him in TIME OUT! And he said, ' Man, am I in BIG trouble'. I of course smiled at the whole situation knowing that as long as Emma felt that justice had been served, you could have chopped off her right arm and she'd be fine with it. I also explained to Miss Laurie that, if Emma can fall head first out of a semi-truck, and not be hurt (bottom pic from 3 years ago), a little flesh wound would certainly not be her demise. It was not until later that evening that I remembered we were taking pictures of the kids at the elementary school for picture retake day. Oh well, the remainder of her triangle shaped gash can just be "nakuped"-over and her head can be turned slightly to the right!

The Holidays are almost here!

The holidays are almost here, and I have decided I really need to get better at this blogging thing! I choose to believe that I still have the ability to learn new and HARD things, so with that "confidence" I will be learning this blogging thing and adding pics and new and exciting elements to this thing!

I aspire to be you Angela! So if I am copying your stuff for awhile....no hard feelings ok?! :P

He's Finally Here!

To those of you who may not follow facebook, but do follow our blog. He's here! Riley John Curtis born June 25th at 8:03 am. Weighing in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., 20 in. long. He is definitely our smallest (but still not beensy!) Both he and I are doing well, and we should be able to get home by Sunday! Emma and Cole jr. LOVE their new baby brother, and can hardly wait for mom and baby to come home! As for pictures....I am unable to get some up here until I get home, but I promise to post some as soon as I get home!

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers!

We Love You!

Almost there....

So this week has been quite interesting. We are trying to keep the baby in...no wait have him...no wait!!! AHHHH!!!!

If the date stays as planned we have 8 days left and this pregnancy process will be over. But since this pregnancy from before it began has been quite the journey, I don't see the point in trying to stick to a plan.

My fluids are up, my fluids are down, we should think about delivering early, we can't deliver early. Could someone please just make a plan....I don't care anymore what...and stick to it!

There, I feel better now that I've vented! Thank you!

We have survived so far....only 25 more days to go!!

So we have survived the ever-looming end to preschool and dance for the season. Now we patiently await the arrival of our 3rd child!

I have consciously kept the next 3 and 1/2 weeks open so that I don't drop any balls, and so that I don't "accidentally" have this baby sooner! ;)

Now my only problem is keeping the kids entertained, while we WAIT!!! I have even found the time to get my hair cut and colored. I plan to update the blonde portion about a week before I go into the hospital.....that way....even if I die on the operating table, at least I will look good! :)

The kids keep asking how many more days until the baby comes out, and so Katie and I made a countdown chain for them to pull off a link everyday until it happens. I guess even when you tell a 4 year old "25 days"....it doesn't really compute. But when they see the chain getting smaller, then the visual should be enough for them!

I really am getting excited to see this new baby....and even more excited to let ANYONE else hold him ALL BY THEMSELVES!!!!! Yeah!!!

Here are a couple of updated photos of me and the kids (and my new hair).....ENJOY!!!