Derek just found this as his screen saver on his ipad. We don't know who did it... but it sure is cute!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Random Stuff
Catching up...
Last week our church held our annual VBS. Y'all--- this is no ordinary VBS--- this is VBS on steroids!!! It is the most amazing amazing thing you have ever seen in your life. Our church goes all out, as it is our biggest outreach of the year in our community. Each year Mrs. Patty (children's director) picks a Bible Story as the theme. This year it was Noah and God keeps his promises. One of my favorites! I love Noah! Head on over to my friend Brittany's blog so see some amazing pics of our Summer Spectacular. Brittany worked some long hard hours to help pull this thing off. Thank you so much Brittany for all of your hard work! Sadly I have no pics of my own to share. I took my camera... but never took pics! We had as many neighborhood kids as we could fit in our car or more! Thanks to Derek for taking the kids when I was flying. He's such a good daddy!
On Saturday night, our friends asked us to go with them to a concert in the park.
It was so fun.... and FREE.... I love free stuff!
Miss C and Ella
Brooks has been begging for Derek to take him to play golf for months.
They finally went to play! and Ella somehow talked her way into going too!
So she got her best tennis golf outfit on and rode around in the cart with them.
She had a blast!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Precious Words from a 14 year old
I know this is supposed to be a Father's Day post.... but... I have to document this first.
Today.... I think that Derek and I received the biggest compliment that a child could ever give his parents. And I don't think that he even realized what he was saying.
It was during the sermon in church and Preacher Rick was telling a story about a teenage girl that was dating a bad dude and was doing drugs. (by the way, I'm a horrible story reteller... so the story went something like this...) The dad tried and tried to think of ways to stop her from the things she was doing. Finally, he did research, and came to the conclusion that she just had a "bad story" and that he needed to change that and give her a "better story". So the dad did more research and decided to fund an orphanage in Mexico which costs about $25,000. So he did this and then called the mom and teenage daughter for a family meeting. Well the mom and daughter were mad and couldn't believe that he had spent all their money on an orphanage! After some time, the daughter began researching the orphanage on the internet and really came around on the idea. She became involved in fundraising for it and became passionate about it. And after a while, she dumped that bad dude and she quit doing drugs. For, her daddy had given her a "better story". So Preacher Rick's point was to give your family a "good story". (among other points)
This is when Brooks leans over and whispers in my ear, "I dare anyone to have a better story than us."
Precious.
I'm not saying that we are the perfect parents - by far we are not. Truth is, there are a lot of families that are doing amazing things and we could never measure up to a lot of their "stories". But to have a child say that to you, as a parent, makes your breath catch and a lump in your throat. I guess we aren't doing too bad of a job after all.
It's so interesting to me that I titled this post "CHANGING OUR STORY"
God is in every detail.
Even if he does make you wait a lot longer than you want to for something he has called you to do!
And I thought we were going through a not so great teenage stage with Brooks. Just when you want to pinch their heads off.... they do something that makes you want to hug them so tight!
Love you Brooks! Thank you for the best compliment ever!
Today.... I think that Derek and I received the biggest compliment that a child could ever give his parents. And I don't think that he even realized what he was saying.
It was during the sermon in church and Preacher Rick was telling a story about a teenage girl that was dating a bad dude and was doing drugs. (by the way, I'm a horrible story reteller... so the story went something like this...) The dad tried and tried to think of ways to stop her from the things she was doing. Finally, he did research, and came to the conclusion that she just had a "bad story" and that he needed to change that and give her a "better story". So the dad did more research and decided to fund an orphanage in Mexico which costs about $25,000. So he did this and then called the mom and teenage daughter for a family meeting. Well the mom and daughter were mad and couldn't believe that he had spent all their money on an orphanage! After some time, the daughter began researching the orphanage on the internet and really came around on the idea. She became involved in fundraising for it and became passionate about it. And after a while, she dumped that bad dude and she quit doing drugs. For, her daddy had given her a "better story". So Preacher Rick's point was to give your family a "good story". (among other points)
This is when Brooks leans over and whispers in my ear, "I dare anyone to have a better story than us."
Precious.
I almost didn't believe my ears, and I asked him to say it again.
I'm not saying that we are the perfect parents - by far we are not. Truth is, there are a lot of families that are doing amazing things and we could never measure up to a lot of their "stories". But to have a child say that to you, as a parent, makes your breath catch and a lump in your throat. I guess we aren't doing too bad of a job after all.
It's so interesting to me that I titled this post "CHANGING OUR STORY"
God is in every detail.
Even if he does make you wait a lot longer than you want to for something he has called you to do!
And I thought we were going through a not so great teenage stage with Brooks. Just when you want to pinch their heads off.... they do something that makes you want to hug them so tight!
Love you Brooks! Thank you for the best compliment ever!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Summer
I love summer. It is my favorite season by far. Have I said that before? Summer holds three out of five of our birthdays. Summer ROCKS!
We started out the first weekend of summer with a tennis tournament for Brooks. He did AMAZING! We were so so proud of him. He finally lost to a cheater. A true cheater. I WAS SO MAD! I was texting my tennis playing friend. I was pacing. I was disgusted. I WAS SO MAD! Brooks had to learn a hard lesson that when someone cheats over and over and over again, to set his racket down and go get an official. I wanted to punch that kid in the nose, that's how much of a cheater he was. It was very frustrating. Here are a few pictures of him playing the cheater.
This weekend we got to meet with our little ACU adoption fellowship group. I just named it that! :) We got to meet sweet little Dinkenish that has been home for 5 weeks now. It was so great for me to see a toddler adoption and how well adjusted she already was after just 5 weeks. I was so glad that I got to pick that momma's brain. I had like a million zillion questions for her!
But then we had to shoot out of there... because there was a certain basketball game on TV that Brooks was about to bust a gut over. He had planned for all his buds to come over and watch. It was really fun! Those boys were a hoot! I'm not exactly sure why they all took off their shirts. weird.
We started out the first weekend of summer with a tennis tournament for Brooks. He did AMAZING! We were so so proud of him. He finally lost to a cheater. A true cheater. I WAS SO MAD! I was texting my tennis playing friend. I was pacing. I was disgusted. I WAS SO MAD! Brooks had to learn a hard lesson that when someone cheats over and over and over again, to set his racket down and go get an official. I wanted to punch that kid in the nose, that's how much of a cheater he was. It was very frustrating. Here are a few pictures of him playing the cheater.
This weekend we got to meet with our little ACU adoption fellowship group. I just named it that! :) We got to meet sweet little Dinkenish that has been home for 5 weeks now. It was so great for me to see a toddler adoption and how well adjusted she already was after just 5 weeks. I was so glad that I got to pick that momma's brain. I had like a million zillion questions for her!
Little kid table
Big Kid Table
Really big kid table
All the kids
But then we had to shoot out of there... because there was a certain basketball game on TV that Brooks was about to bust a gut over. He had planned for all his buds to come over and watch. It was really fun! Those boys were a hoot! I'm not exactly sure why they all took off their shirts. weird.
MAVS WIN!!!!!!
THAT WAS SO FUN!!!!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Last Day of School 2011
It has been an amazing and wonderful school year. Everyone got to be "top dog" (the oldest grade) at their school and there was a lot of fun and privileges that come with that. We sure thought that during this school year, we would be bringing Little Man home and adjusting to life with him.....sigh.....................
The last day of school is always a fun and crazy day! I absolutely love it! There is so much excitement in the air and anticipation of what the summer holds. I ADORE SUMMER! It has always been my favorite season by far.
So we started out the day with Ellison's 4th grade graduation. This is a huge deal and marks the end of her elementary school years as she moves on to intermediate school next year. tears. I can't believe that we don't have a child in elementary school anymore. People kept making that same comment to me.... but I always have to say... one day Little Man will be back here at this cute little elementary school! That might be fun, or it might not.... if I'm 80!
Sweet pics of graduation...
And as the tradition continues for the 3rd year in a row... the kids came home to posters on the door of their new grade and their summer plans! I stole the idea.
So now, everyone moves on.... and I CANNOT believe that I now have a high schooler, a middle schooler, and one in intermediate. Where does the time go. In the blink of an eye they grow up. Literally.
We are so excited for summer.... but I have to say that my joy of the LDOS totally got robbed and I was super cranky and freaking out because I got jury duty for Federal Court!!!!! I have never done jury duty and am very nervous about it. I am on call for TWO WEEKS during the time that we planned to go on some kind of family vacation (nothing planned yet, cuz that's how we roll). Anyhow, I am super bummed. If I blog about it, do you think they will dismiss me?
The last day of school is always a fun and crazy day! I absolutely love it! There is so much excitement in the air and anticipation of what the summer holds. I ADORE SUMMER! It has always been my favorite season by far.
So we started out the day with Ellison's 4th grade graduation. This is a huge deal and marks the end of her elementary school years as she moves on to intermediate school next year. tears. I can't believe that we don't have a child in elementary school anymore. People kept making that same comment to me.... but I always have to say... one day Little Man will be back here at this cute little elementary school! That might be fun, or it might not.... if I'm 80!
Sweet pics of graduation...
Nene came for graduation!
oh, momma's looking rough. it was a rough morning.
One of her Bff's since 1st grade, Miss S
We LOVED getting to have Mrs. B this year! Halle Caroline had her also.
her switch teacher, Mrs. I was a joy to have also!
And as the tradition continues for the 3rd year in a row... the kids came home to posters on the door of their new grade and their summer plans! I stole the idea.
This would be Ellison's new favorite pose. I have found several pics of her on my camera looking exactly like this! ha!
There was a fun last day of school swim party for Ella!
So now, everyone moves on.... and I CANNOT believe that I now have a high schooler, a middle schooler, and one in intermediate. Where does the time go. In the blink of an eye they grow up. Literally.
We are so excited for summer.... but I have to say that my joy of the LDOS totally got robbed and I was super cranky and freaking out because I got jury duty for Federal Court!!!!! I have never done jury duty and am very nervous about it. I am on call for TWO WEEKS during the time that we planned to go on some kind of family vacation (nothing planned yet, cuz that's how we roll). Anyhow, I am super bummed. If I blog about it, do you think they will dismiss me?
Big Fat Catch Up - Part 2
So--- I have finally had a chance to download more pics from my camera from the last 2 weeks....
Ellison had her 4th grade talent show where she did "The Ice Cream Freeze" with a group of girls. They were so cute. One of the mom's of the group helped the girls practice for about a month after school for this.
We were invited to a little Memorial Day party which was lots of fun!
The kids gave themselves "tattoos". nice.
Halle Caroline had her awards ceremony at school where she got many awards. We are so proud of her! Here she is with some of her friends after the awards ceremony.
Ellison had her 4th grade talent show where she did "The Ice Cream Freeze" with a group of girls. They were so cute. One of the mom's of the group helped the girls practice for about a month after school for this.
Ella and one of her BFF's - Miss G
The whole Ice Cream Freeze group!
We were invited to a little Memorial Day party which was lots of fun!
The kids gave themselves "tattoos". nice.
Halle Caroline had her awards ceremony at school where she got many awards. We are so proud of her! Here she is with some of her friends after the awards ceremony.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Big Fat Catch Up
Oh y'all! I have so much to post that I'm overwhelmed. Stupid me hasn't blogged for like 2 weeks during the craziest month of the year. So much going on!!! Well let's see... we've had tons of end of school year things going on.... Ellison and I also went to Sky Ranch Camp with her whole 4th grade.... and Derek and I slipped away at the last second to Cancun for a few nights (the one privilege of having flight benefits). We love this awesome little boutique hotel there. (It's not the party Cancun that you are probably thinking of).
Let's start out with Brooks' 8th grade banquet/dance thingy... I had to take the girls to cheer, so it was up to Derek to get pictures. He said that Brooks and his friends allowed no pics... so after he let them out... Derek told me that he was "like the papparazi"... This is what he got. Not exactly what I had in mind... but oh well.
Next up... Ella's 4th grade sky ranch trip...
Learning about Native Americans!
Her Native American name! Nice.
We have twin boys that live behind us. We spend time with their family on the weekends sometimes. Here's J and Ella.
Woo! That was fun and exhausting!
Let's start out with Brooks' 8th grade banquet/dance thingy... I had to take the girls to cheer, so it was up to Derek to get pictures. He said that Brooks and his friends allowed no pics... so after he let them out... Derek told me that he was "like the papparazi"... This is what he got. Not exactly what I had in mind... but oh well.
Next up... Ella's 4th grade sky ranch trip...
Learning about Native Americans!
Her Native American name! Nice.
We have twin boys that live behind us. We spend time with their family on the weekends sometimes. Here's J and Ella.
My one dorky pic with Ella! Represent... 147 million orphans at Sky Ranch! Holla!
4th grade Pic!
Woo! That was fun and exhausting!
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