Katie's Baptism

There is nothing like the feeling of your fifteen year old, boy crazy teenager coming to you and saying "I am getting baptized".  Proud could begin to define that emmotion... but it was sooo much more!!! Finding out she was doing it because she wanted to, not because a friend, boyfriend or potential boyfriend was doing it... made me all the more proud.

Sunday August 29th the church Katie attends because thats where she likes to go... held a group baptism at Lake Nixon in Little Rock. 33 people got baptized that night, counting my girl. They grilled burgers and hot dogs, had chips and watermelon, fun in the water, paddle boats and prayers. My baby girl grinned from ear to ear after her baptism was completed and made a couple new friends in he process.

Sometimes being a momma is the best feeling....

Playing Preschool. Week 1

So week one we tried to learn to write and recognize the letter A, learned words that begin with the letter A, learned the color RED and how to count 1 item. Annabel got a cold part way into the week but we just bustled on through. She can write the capital A however I am not sure she recognizes in word form... but she is only 2 right?! We did a scavenger hunt around the house to find RED things... that was fun. She was really good at it and it turns out we have tons of things colored RED in our home. Then we counted each red item as single items. We practiced drawing 1 of several things, colored lots of RED pictures, practiced doing puzzles and ate apples for our midday snack. As a treat we colored a Woody (from Toy Story) tshirt too.

Saturday my mom came over and we did a mini review of what we had learned. I was surprised at what she could tell my mom. Yay Annabel for a great first week!!!

Next week is the letter B, counting 2 items and the color Blue. We will probably review on Monday from last week and then move on.

LMAO ... I'm signing up for juggling classes

I'm starting to think as a teenager I should have taken a juggling class. My schedule looks like someone colored all the blocks in to be funny... yet in reality they are all filled with things to remember. One of which was the Jr. High Jamboree last night. While attempting to watch my boys kick butt during another football scrimmage; I also attempted to take pictures, keep up with a 2 year old that believes she is a teenager, chat friendly with my son Blake's bio mom and console my sweet teenager daughter whom chose the game to break up with her boyfriend.  

The boys did great!!! I got some good pictures. Somehow the 2 year old is still living and made it home safe and sound, albeit sticky, sweaty and covered in dirt smudges. The broken hearted teen "doesn't want to talk about it" although her facebook says her eyes are swollen from crying and life is never going to be the same.

Yep... this is my life.

Beginning of 2010-2011 school year

As any other mother of school aged kids will tell you the month leading up to school starting is crazy busy. I loaded up all 4 of my kids, drove into Little Rock and spent a good portion of our day buying school supplies, keeping up with a fussy 2 year old and picking out backpacks. After which we ate lunch and went home. This is just 1 day of stress, heat exhaustion and complete frustration in the back to school process. We also had to buy clothes, get hair cuts, get new shoes, get school schedules, find everyone's classes on their schedules, find and open lockers a zillion times so we are prepared for that first day of school and then sitting through 2 hours of unairconditioned lectures for what is called "Open House" at the High School ... all while dragging around my princess toddler in the 100 + degree heat.

So now the first couple days of school have passed, we endured crowds and heat for the boys' first football scrimmage of the season and enjoyed a relaxing first weekend afterwards. (of which I must mention my boys were amazing!!!)

Now home with just the toddler all day I have decided to start preschooling her. We spent 1 hour of our first day writing the letter A, counting things that we have 1 of and learning the color red. Annabel then insisted on an icy pop and watching Toy Story 2 for the zillionth time. Now everything in her room which happens to be red has been pointed out to me and I am desperately attempting to get the laundry caught up before I have to run and pick up sweaty football players from their after school practice.