Nothing like Gooney Bird on a rainy morning

While Sam was napping and it was raining, we had some Gooney Bird time!  If you have a kindergarten-third grade child, they will love Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry.  She is a funny funny child!   She wears wacky clothes, uses big words, and likes to be "right smack in the middle of everything".  More importantly she only tells "absolutely true stories".  Her stories are wild and really keep their attention.  I read these to my second graders way back when and somewhere there is a picture of me dressed up like her!  My only complaint is she is bossy.  I believe there are 5 chapter books now.  This morning I let the girls go pick out some clothes that she might wear and color a picture of her while I read a few chapters!  You can see it was a hit in our house!
(I wish they hadn't blocked out her name, because Leigh wrote it very neatly for a 4 year old!)

Summer Goals

My main summer goal is to have a great time with my kiddos!  The last two summers have been hard and honestly I really haven't enjoyed them too much.  Two summers ago, I was flat on my back and miserable!  Last summer, Sam couldn't walk which made it very hard to go places because he would scrap up his legs at the splash pad or the park.  Now, everyone can walk and the girls are at an easier age as well!  Here are some of my goals...

1.  Read...I am not putting a number goal like I did last year.  I am keeping my list on the side of the blog, but Sam wants me to read the same books over and over and Sara Beth wants me to read chapter books, which just take longer.  I think I read 6-7 chapter books last summer; this year we will probably read one or so a week.  Also, I have to make sure I take time to read age appropriate books with Leigh and give Sara Beth some time to read out loud to us!

2.  Spend lots of time at the pool...and for my kiddos to enjoy it!

3.  Play lots of games...today we played about 10 hands of UNO and it was so fun!  I need to teach my girls how to lose gracefully!

4.  Potty train Sam.  I have offered my sister-in-law, Laura, big bucks and she won't bite--so I guess that means I will have to do it!

5.  Keep my house clean enough for a spur of the moment looker--and hopefully to sell it this summer!

6.  Read... and this time I mean me!  I got three books for my birthday that I would like to read this summer, plus a lot more on my list.

7.  Eat lots of Popsicles and get lots of snow cones!

8.  Spend time with friends!

9.  Memorize Scripture...I will be working on one or two verses a week with the girls during breakfast.

10.  Cook quick and easy things  and buy 80% of our dinners at the farmer's market.

11. Play lots of cars with Sam.

12. Play outside--very early in the morning because of the heat!

13.  Bake a lot with the girls.

14.  Try not to get too hot--it makes us all miserable if we are hot!  I know, this is going to be impossible, but we won't be spending much time outside in the afternoons!

15.  Try to do at least one craft a week with the kids.

16.  Sew... that's for me.  I started some shorts for the girls way too long ago, and haven't finished them yet!

17.  Use less gas.  This won't be hard.  During school, I go through about 2 tanks a week.  Last week, I used only one!  I called Zeb to celebrate!

18.  For Sara Beth to be comfortable riding a bike.

19.  Follow Dr. Tom Elkin's advice and put the kids (both that are arguing) straight into time out if they come to me to tattle.  If I do this consistently, I know it will make for a more peaceful summer.

20.  Carve out a few minutes, even if just 5 minutes, to spend with each kid individually during the day!

I am sure I will add a few more as the summer progresses!  The first week of summer has been so nice! I look forward to many more fun weeks!  Happy Summer!

Early Memorial Day morning at the park!

Popsicles on the porch!

Mother's Day evening we went and played with Doe for a bit!  I thought this picture was too good not to post!  

I was spoiled!

Last Saturday was my birthday and I ended up very spoiled!  It's kind of fun to have a weekend birthday because it tends to get dragged out!  Friday night Zeb arranged for our very beloved babysitter, Miriam, to come for a long time!  He took me shopping out at Renaissance and then we went to AJs for dinner!  We had 8:00 reservations which is super late for us--normally we are in bed shortly after 8!  On Saturday, the five of us went to Corner Bakery for breakfast and then to the park for an early playtime!  After that, we hung around the house, played a little, and did some Saturday chores.  That night, my in-laws came and kept the kids and we went to eat Mexican with Molly and Wiley.  (I really wish that I had gotten a picture!)  It was so fun and relaxing!  The fun didn't stop there though, because after church on Sunday my parents took us to Table 100 for lunch!  


During dinner on Friday, it hit me that I have loved Zeb half of my life!  Ha!  I was pretty certain when I was 16 that I was going to marry him!  At that point we were just best friends!  A year later we started dating and the rest is history!


I have to add what Leigh said on Saturday.  I had dessert on Friday night and Sunday lunch, however, on my birthday I didn't.  We thought we were going to get some on Saturday, but time just got away from us.  Leigh told me, "Mamma, It's not your birfday if you don't get bezzert!"  So sweet!  I love how she calls dessert "bezzert!  I have even gone so far as to threaten SB so that she won't correct her!

Thank you to everyone who made it so special!  I am very thankful for these 32 years that God has given me!  I am very blessed!

TOTS

We ended up so impressed with the TOTS program!  I think it is fair to say that Sara Beth had zero ball handling skills before this class.  Now, she is pretty good!  She might take after Honey and be a basketball player!  Even if she never steps on a basketball court again, she has definitely learned some skills that everyone needs to know!  And she has had a great time doing it!

Gymnastics

The girls took gymnastics this year at the Courthouse!  It has been great to see how strong they have gottten and to see how much they have improved.  Two weeks ago they had an exhibition so we could see all they have been doing!

Anyone know of a good lense for a canon so that I can get better close up shots????

This little guy was so good and had fun playing with his car and garage!  Don't worry, Sam! You will get them back one day at the ballfields!

Leigh's Program

Leigh had her music program at school a few weeks ago!  I know, I am SO far behind!  She has the best music teacher--Mrs. Connie Taylor!  I love it because Leigh calls her "Mrs. Connie Taylor".  They learned over 128 songs this year and they sang about 30 of them for us.  Leigh sang every word to every song!  I could pick out her sweet little voice even thought there were a bunch of kids on stage--this girl loves to sing!!

They were all a little nervous waiting to come in!

Her fan club...

Sara Beth and Leigh had Lesa Nuzzo.  We think she is wonderful!  I am so sad that she is retiring after this year and Sam won't have the chance to have her!

All I can say is "Oh my!"

Here is the FPDS Declaration

I left it off the last post!

Barnyard Praise

Today was the much anticipated kindergarten play at FPDS!  It lived up to its reputation!  On Monday, we got this sweet invitation!

Sara Beth's part was "Without God, life is empty, just like a hole in the donut."  So, of course, we started our morning with a donut!

During picture time, Sam found the perfect spot to read his book.

They said the FPDS declaration at the end!  This declaration alone says why we go to this school!  Quite impressive for 5 and 6 year olds!

The officer, an alligator, and a quote

The Pearl police officer that was killed yesterday has touched me as it has so many people.  Today, I had the privilege of watching about 100 officers escort his body to what I assume is the funeral home.  Traffic on Woodrow Wilson was brought to a standstill and I think everyone in the traffic forgot where they were heading.  It was one of those time stopping moments.  Leigh (4 yrs old) was in the car with me and asked a ton of questions.  I have always had a hard time finding the balance between sheltering my kiddos and being honest with them. (It was very obvious something major was happening.)  I have sort of gone by the rule of thumb that I will discuss a lot with them, but I want them watching none of it on the news. The questions started over and then continued for quite a while after we picked up Sara Beth (6).  After about 20 minutes of talking about what happened Leigh said "Mamma, I think we should pray about him, but I don't want to".  Sweet thing, knew that we should pray, but didn't have a clue how to.  I prayed and then Sara Beth prayed and it was one of those moments that I am so glad that I stay home so we can have lengthy, heady discussions during carpool!  We will continue to pray for his family and for the other officers involved.  And thanks to all the officers who put their lives on the line daily for our safety--including my cousin, Jeff!

I probably should have stopped the post there, but since I have a few minutes of quiet, I am going to awkwardly transition to something else...It is no secret among friends and family that I am very goal oriented.  However, with an almost 2 year old, 4 and 6 year old, I can make a ton of goals and never follow through.  I was listening to Focus on the Family the other day and Dr. Carlson said something that I have thought about many times already.  He said, " A goal without execution is nothing more than a good idea".  Yikes!  This came at a perfect time for me because I am now 10 days into doing the 30 Day Shred workout.  I have done this off and on for years a couple of days a week, but have never done it 30 straight days.  To say the least, it is kicking my butt.  My body has been sore and fatigued since I started because I am trying to add this on to what I already do, not in the place of.  I don't just want a good idea, I want the satisfaction of a goal met and hopefully a more toned body in the end!  Here is the link to his broadcast...Dr. Carlson's broadcast if you are interested in listening to it. 

And changing subjects once again, we have an alligator in the lake at the front of our neighborhood!  It is a ways away from our house, but I took the girls around the lake the other day and we got within about 8-10 feet of it.  It looks to be 5-6 feet and so far it isn't a problem.  The golfers actually like it because it is eating some of the nutria and other critters that tear up the course.  My girls think it is awesome and we scope it out EVERY time we drive by!  It likes to sunbathe on the fountain!