wise words.

"Same man is sad because it's good to be different." -Grayson
Wise words from a seven year old.

Makes me feel like *maybe* I'm doing something right around here. ha!
(I gave Grayson a sketchbook the other day because he loves to draw so much. I'm so glad I did!)

Thanks so much for your comments and emails after my last post! We're working on some solutions around here and I'm feeling very hopeful and optimistic! :)

Mamas & Teachers, I need your advice!!!

My boys are so completely opposite when it comes to school.
Grayson (in 1st grade) is a perfectionist. He seriously has a fit and gets so upset if he does not make a 100 on something. We tell him all the time that he can't be perfect all the time.
(Sidestory: Actually I tried to turn it into a learning moment one time and told him that nobody was perfect and that only one person had ever been perfect -meaning Jesus- and then Brian asked do you know who that is? He answered "Yeah, Mom!" hahaha!)


(No tv, no video games so he reads a lot.)
Anyway...Brennon (in 6th grade) is...well, let's just say that he doesn't care if he gets 100's or not. In fact, it's report card day. He's been grounded all school year, since the first 6 week report card. He's been failing (at least) half his subjects. It's not that he can't do it because I know he can and he's definitely smart enough. It's like he suddenly doesn't care anymore. He wasn't turning work in. He wasn't bringing books home. He has just had NO motivation whatsoever.
And while I was hoping for improved grades this quarter...it didn't happen.

So I need some help, mamas & teachers....
What can I do???
I'm seriously at a loss. We've taken away video games (his beloved activity), no tv until after 7pm and only if he does his homework and studies. He's had to bring home all his books and packets to work on every night. I've made him study spelling words every night.
I have to go meet with his teachers and principal but he's in serious danger of being held back this year.
It comes down to this...
How do I get this kid motivated????
Any ideas???

P.S. In other news, he just now started the Hunger Games series for the FIFTH time. Yep, all 3 books four times and already starting on the fifth. I think he loves the books as much as me. Maybe more!

this is why I love the internet.

Friendships. Yep, that's why I love the internet.



This is me with Annie from the blog The House That Jade Built.
It's pretty amazing how people come into our lives, isn't it?
I initially met Annie through Drop A Lovebomb when we dropped a love bomb on her and her family back in October, 2010 while she was pregnant with Little Miss Ollie.
When we realized how closely we lived to one another & several places and other things in common, a friendship began. I met Annie in person for lunch one day when Ollie had a heart doctor appointment in the town where I work.
From there, I discovered Shakeology and Beachbody thanks to Annie. This discovery has changed my life! It's how I'm losing weight, feeling great and having energy once again!!!! I'm now a Beachbody coach and am SO excited to help other people also meet their health goals!!!!
I went up to Annie's house this past Friday and spent the night so we could head to Springfield early on Saturday morning for a Beachbody corporate meeting/training day. It was such a great day!!!
I mean, how many corporate trainings end with the entire place of 170 people doing the Cupid Shuffle??? haha!


It's a great feeling to be SO excited about what the future holds!!!!

Speaking of the future, I'm starting a P90X challenge group on April 1st!!!
If you want more info on this (or on Shakeology or any of our other programs), please send me a quick email at jamie_habermaas at yahoo dot com. If you want involved in the challenge group, let me know asap as I'm only opening it up for a select few people!!!!

While at Annie's house, I commented that I'd never been in such a happy house! Her decor is incredible!!!! Check out this instagram photo I snapped in the living room...


You can see her home tour on her blog under the "My House" tab or just click here.
Looking through her pictures seriously makes me want to redo my entire house!!!! Right. Now. Ha!

How's Ollie doing you may ask???
She is fantastic. She now has a healed, healthy heart!!!
She is quite a little rockstar!!!
It was quite a treasure to get to hold the the baby we prayed and prayed for even before she was born!!!!


I'm so blessed by the people that have been placed in my life.
Thank you, Annie. You are a treasure.

A 12 year old's thoughts on Hunger Games

So it's no secret that I'm wholeheartedly addicted to the Hunger Games series.
My husband Brian has also been reading them (much more slowly) and my 12 year old Brennon has read them. But Brennon has not just read all three books once. No. He's read all three books THREE times (so far). He reads them all in just a few days and he also LOVES them.

One night I went in to say good night to Brennon and he totally shocked me...


He started singing to me. He sang the song that Katniss sings to Rue!!!!!
Be.Still.My.Heart.
He MEMORIZED it. Are you kidding me???
This kid amazes me.
I think it was that night I realized that these characaters had really came to mean something to him so I decided to "interview" him with his thoughts on the books...
(Granted he keeps his answers VERY short like a typical boy, lol.)

*Disclaimer: If you have not finished the series, you may not want to keep reading. He may give away some things that happen that you might not want to know about yet!!!!


What did you think of the series?
It was very good but sad sometimes.

Which of the three was your favorite book?
All of them.

Who was your favorite character?
Katniss because she's the main one, I guess.

Who's your favorite supporting character?
Thresh

What are some of your favorite moments/things that happened?
When Katniss sings to Rue and when Mags dies.

Did it make you cry?
Yes, when Rue died and when Katniss volunteers as tribute.

Did the books end the way you had hoped?
Yes, the Capitol falls.

If this really happened and was on tv, would you want to watch?
Maybe.

Are you excited to see the movie?
Yes!

Would you tell your friends to read the books?
Yes.

That's all he had to say, lol.
What he doesn't know yet is that they don't have school on the 23rd for some reason so I'm going to let him go to the midnight showing with my friends and my friend's daughter (who is also in his class and has read them).

I love how the books bring together people of all ages and how all ages love them.
Counting down until the 23rd...