Basketball

Andrew is #15 on the Lakers.  He is having a lot of fun playing.  The coach gets a little excited and isn't very good at losing (and we lost today)!  Andrew wasn't feeling well and didn't play much today b/c he was completely out of it.  He had to get a shot yesterday at the doctor during his well visit.  On a good note, his ears are clear!  Also, he made a basket today!  Way to go Andrew!!!!!

The View From Here

This is what I've been staring at for the past 6 months and the majority of today!  I've been working so hard to get this writing lesson plan and rubric done and I'm really tired of just sitting here working on it.  The kids have been awesome today and I'm so thankful to get some work done.  I've washed dishes and fixed breakfast and lunch today but the majority of my time has been right here.

This is my school website where it all takes place.  Here is another view of my work space for today.  I started out at the kitchen table but ended up here.

I sit right in the middle holding my laptop typing away and this is probably where I will be for the next week since I have 3 HUGE projects left to do and turn in by August 8th!

Hope your view is better than mine!

2 weeks to go

*2 weeks left of our summer
*2 weeks left of my last class
*2 weeks before Andrew starts 1st grade
*2 weeks before I cry like a baby leaving him there all day
*2 weeks before Grace is lost without her brother and we both cry all day

Wow, 1st grade!  I can't believe we are almost there.  Of course, I can't believe I am almost done with this class either.  When I finish on August 8th I will be certified to teach English Learners.  I cannot believe all the work I have put into these 4 classes and the amount of time spent away from my family or with the tv babysitting my children because I had to work on an assignment.  It has been a tough 6 months and the next 2 weeks are going to be rough but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.....finally!

Today I took a meal to a family from our church and the kids helped me make cookies and while they were putting the little criss cross pattern on them (peanut butter cookies) I explained that we were taking them to a family b/c their mommy had surgery and couldn't fix dinner.  I want them to understand that we do things for others, not just for ourselves.  I think my kids have become very self-centered this summer and want, want, want.  I'm sure it's normal but I need to let them see me doing things for others rather than just doing.  Anyway, we got in the truck for tumbling and the battery was dead.  Grace was a little upset that we couldn't go but she was more upset that the truck was broke and we couldn't "sell" our cookies to the church!!!!  I guess she missed my whole lesson I was trying to teach but it was so cute when she said it!

She already has a heart of giving and compassion, she just has a hard time displaying it sometimes.  She tried tonight but got really shy in front of our neighbors and punched her daddy instead.  It's like the emotions are just too overwhelming in her mind and she doesn't know what to do with it all. 

And so I leave you with a picture that has nothing to do with today but what is a post without a picture?

Many of you already saw this on facebook but if you can't really tell what is happening, you should click on the picture to enlarge it.  This is why mom's are no fun.....dad's come up with all the tricks!

Wow!  This last week really flew by!  Grannylou was here visiting and we were busy most of the time!  We bought Grace a new bed and got furniture from David's grandmother.  I'm hoping to repaint it but of course, like everything else it must wait until school is over.  Only 3 more weeks!  I have 5 more assignments, 6 more discussions questions, 3 more summaries, and 12 responses to classmates.  Sounds like a lot but I'm counting down now! 

We had a few days that were really cool last week and we were able to open the windows and enjoy fresh air.  Right now I'm sitting with the windows open enjoying the fresh air before it gets too hot and I have to turn on the air.  One thing about living here is the {mostly} cool evenings and mornings.


We only have 3 weeks until Andrew starts school.  FIRST GRADE!!!!!!!  I can't believe it!  Time just flies by.  We found him a backpack.  His only request was that he wanted a backpack with a picture on it.  We looked at several and he settled on one with Mario catching a baseball from the Mario Slugger game.  Funny that Mario is still around.  He could change his mind when we go shopping but when we bought his we also got a free lunch box which he let Grace have since he got one for his birthday.  If he wants a different backpack then he has to buy it with his birthday money.  

Thankfully he didn't grow too much this year and I only have to buy a few uniform shirts.  A few got ruined last year and some are too small but most of his shorts fit and I got an awesome deal on some shoes for him the other day.

Well, it's back to school work and cleaning and supervising my children today!!!!  

I'll leave you with a picture of me with my sweet girl. 

Final Day of Swim Lessons

We were able to finish swim lessons even with the ear infection.  We bought some ear plugs and got through the day!  One of the plugs kept falling out but we made it through.  Don't tell his doctor, but I have even let him swim at home and go under water.  Hopefully his ears are still going to clear up even with some swimming.  It hasn't been as much swimming as before.  In fact, it hasn't been warm enough to swim the last couple of days.  We have had the windows open for 2 days and it has been cold at night.  In fact, we wore sweatshirts while sitting outside one night!  Can you believe that in July?  What a wonderful break in the heat!  Now onto a few pictures!

Both of the kids had male instructors and they were awesome.  They were teenagers and had a lot of fun with their classes!  They really seemed to enjoy what they were doing!  Andrew's instructor was even concerned about him missing class.  All of the parents during this session were very happy with the instructors!  We are excited for next year to move up a level and practice swimming again!

Movies

About a week ago we took the kids to see Cars 2.  It was a cute movie but the first one is my favorite!  Grace doesn't like loud noises so we always have to carry the big Nascar headphones with us.  She likes to make loud noises but not hear them....silly girl!  Andrew was not happy about having his picture taken!  He had his first basketball practice right before we went and he was tired! 

Check This Out!

Click HERE to visit Today's Letters!  I've been reading this blog for some time now and love it!  They are doing great things and their friends just got the little boy they have been waiting for through adoption.  Em and her friend Em (the new mommy) are competing in a race to raise money for their adoption.  Even if you don't take the time to get to know them, check out today's post and come back and let me know what you think!

Ears

Well, it was confirmed today.  My little guy has yet another ear infection.  I thought it was swimmer's ear and that we would just get some drops to clear it right up.  Well, I think I waited too long to get an appointment and it is now an infection.....in both ears.  Yesterday I figured we had moved past a simple case of swimmer's ear since he had a fever of 102 for about 24 hours.  Because of the holiday we had to wait even longer to get an appointment and then his pediatrician  is out of town so we had to wait until the PA was in the office.  We'll go back in 3 weeks for his yearly physical and check up of the ears.

Tomorrow is the last day for swim lessons.  We had to miss today because of the fever and ears.  We bought ear plugs for tomorrow and any future swim dates we have.  I thought for sure Andrew would be upset about having to wear ear plugs but he actually thought it was funny.  The kid used to have a phobia of band aids and now he wear ear plugs.  Crazy!

Did I tell you that I'm in my last class for my CLAD certificate?  Finally!  I'm in week 2 with a paper due tomorrow night.  After that, only 4 more weeks.  The last week will be awful again but I'm so ready to be done.  I think I will be able to face that week only because I know that's the end and there will be no more school!  I passed my last class and was thrilled.  She was picky with her grading but the last week I got full credit on both papers.  I'm glad because I worked really, really hard on those last 2 projects.  I was up past midnight every night that week getting my work done. 

I don't have anything else really exciting to share tonight.  I will have more pictures to post tomorrow after swim lessons.  The kids will get certificates and popsicles from their instructors.  I bought a bag of lifesavers for each of our instructors and made a tag that says, "Thanks for being a lifesaver!"  I found another cute one to save for next year.  I didn't have time to make it happen this year, but I think it is even better!

Oh, something else exciting............Grannylou is coming out on Saturday!  We are all so excited.  I wish we could see all of our family more often.  Hopefully sometime this fall or winter we can get back to IL and visit with everyone!

4th of July pictures

 Not too happy that I made him have his picture taken....again.  Also, his daddy wasn't here to make him laugh!

The quality of these pictures isn't so great!  I didn't let my camera focus on a lot of them because they kids kept moving around.

Boating Fun

Andrew usually doesn't venture this far out in the lake by himself.  It's not very far but this is a big deal!

We had a lot of smiles and laughs today (until the very end).  The kids got tired very fast and took it out on each other.  Typical kid stuff!

 Enjoying the quiet moments with my little boy who thinks he is too big to give me kisses!  We had a lot of fun floating together (until he remembered he was too big for me)!

 

Grace was a little scared when we first took off in the boat and told her daddy to go slow.  She chose to sat in the front of the boat which probably made her more nervous but she is too little to remember being on the lake last year!  After a minute or two she told her daddy, "You can go speeder now."  She wanted to go faster and wasn't sure how to say it! She comes up with some of the silliest things to say.  

Oh, if you want to see more pictures from our boating trip, click HERE!!! 

She still says, "Remember tomorrow when we....."!  I love it!