Fun weekend

What I planned to be a quiet weekend ended up being very busy but fun! Friday night we went to the HS football game against River Valley & yeah!!!! Minford won by a landslide!

Saturday we took Charlee's bestie Laken & met Annie's besties Ben & Anna Kate in South Point, we ate at McDonald's & finished lunch off with a delicious chocolate cream pie Jennifer made (yummy). Then we all went to see the 3D movie "Fly Me To The Moon" (highly recommended) at Pullmans Square in Huntington. This was a great kid/adult movie, after Jennifer, Ben & me got over initial motion sickness. Annie & Ben sat together & even held hands on the escalator (of course at their mother's persuasion, we gonna arrange their marriage yet!)

Annie said "I am never gonna wash this hand again!" Nevertheless we had a great day & so thankful that they were able to join us. We miss you guys so much and treasure little chances to spend time together. Of course here are some pics taken with one of those dinosaur disposable cameras, Jennifer & I both forgot our "view the moment, delete if no good and take another" digital that we are so spoiled with. Sorry Jennifer they did not trn out very good, but I have a copy for you. Thanks again to the Duncan's for joining us, Annie is already planning another day

Today was busy but a good day, we had a great message this am & evening from a potential candidate, I really enjoyed him (reminds me of someone else's pulpit humor. Will be praying hard the Lord sends us a new pastor & also that He sends this family to the right church. And last but not least I am a grandma now to (2) Robo Hamsters they are only about as long as my little finger (all the bigger they will get) Charlee name her girl "Gracie" & Annie named her boy "Gavin" ........so if anyone wants Robo hamsters I am sure we will be having some babies soon........at least according to Charlee "they have to get married first then they will have babies".......Then lastly Ethan picked a Ferret for his birthday, it is a cute little thing, Kurt Newsome has one named Cooter (Dukes of Hazzard) so Ethan decided to name his "Roscoe" , I think the only thing we have not had is a snake, lizard, spider or llama........but I can assure you the latter will come before the first 3 do! I need a break after this weekend, but it was a good one.

Thankful for weekend after a tiring week!

Annie & Sara

Annie & Ms. Linnie

Caitlyn, Cynthia, Laken, Charlee Kelton & Zac 1 of 60+ cupcakes

Boy am I glad it is Friday! This week just got started with school on Wednesday but it has been an emotional & physically exhausting week. I am just about ready to consider home schooling myself! Ethan is facing many giants this week & it has only just begun. Charlee is doing OK just trying to keep her focused and getting her to tutoring once a week. Annie loathes school! There are 26 kids in her class with 1 teacher! It is also the mix of kids in there many do not even know how to do things that most know at 2 & 3. I am concerned that the kids that do well will even get anything out of this class. Linnie is excellent but they need another kindergarten teacher, I am so sick to death of budget cuts! Are tax $$$$'s are still the same & I expect my kids education not to suffer as a result. I am just about to consider even switching schools! Who knows we may become Valley Indians & Ethan could be on a swim team! We will see what happens the principal said he plans to ask the superintendent to get another kindergarten teacher but everyone is sure he will say no, Education & health & safety are not a concern, but now sports on the other hand! It is just frustrating. I went to pass out the cupcakes today to both girls classes & was able to help Linnie a little, I don't know how she will do it, please pray for this situation it is not good. Here is a picture of the cupcakes I made (sorry pic is sideways).

My little girl off to school!

Annie Lawson first day of Kindergarten

Friday August 22, 2008

Today is a sad day for me and Annie, she did not want to go and I actually had to give her a little or should I say a moderate push onto the bus. Of course all was going well & Charlee told he they had assigned seats & she had to sit in her section, next thing Annie went to pieces. Fortunately Annie knows Fran (bus driver) & she let them sit together. It was so hard to make her get on that bus she will be a different person now! They are not a baby anymore once they start school. & kindergarten is different than preschool she didn't have to go to that. So I sit here lonely this morning....all my babies are now in school & oh how fast the years go! Ms. Linnie said she did excellent at her assessment yesterday & I know she will do fine, but she has no desire to be there. She said to her little friend Sara yesterday as they were playing (Sara will be in her class) "well I ain't going to school I don't like it & it is boring!" There is only one class between her & Charlee's so that is also comforting, but big cousin Levi is not in there building now, he is at the Middle School so no one to run off bullies (like that's a worry where Annie is concerned haha). I reminded her that I can't be with her but her Jesus is & He will help her when she is afraid or upset, she just smiled. So as a bribe I am taking cupcakes to school this afternoon (what will the bribe be on Monday?????

Summer is Over!

Today was officially the first day of school, it went well. Ethan enjoyed classes because for the first time in many years he & Kylie have 4 out of 6 classes together. He has a scrimage tomorrow night & "fruit dinner" ever heard of such a thing so he volunteered me to bring strawberry lemonade, pretty easy!

Charlee enjoyed her first day & a Charlee story: She brought a little note with a puppy on it that said "Charlee had a great day! Ms. Ramey" She met me at her classroom door with it and was so excited, of course I made over her & told her I was glad she had done so well & how proud I was of her, but did not realize how important that little note was until supper as we were talking I asked did everyone have a good day at school in her class & she said not everyone but Ms. Ramey asked what I wanted for being so good 1) treat (if you know Charlee this is hard to believe she passed this up), 2) ticket to have lunch with teacher(this is a real treat for the kids) 3) a note to let me know how good she was & you see what she picked. I cried when she told me this, wondering if she questioned how proud I am of her, but then I realized this is just how Charlee is she has a caring heart & wants to make others happy.....well she sure di her momma tonight. Of course her response to my tears was "why are you crying mommy this is suppose to make you happy" I told her they were happy tears.

Last but never least Annie Belle informed me today that she wasn't going to kindergarten assessment tomorrow, I reminded her that she had to they needed to see what she knew...her response was "well I know what I know, & they can find out what the need to know IF I go Friday!" Pray for us the next few days only the Lord knows what will take place.

2nd Grade

Today Charlee was off to 2nd grade, she is so excited and met her teacher Ms. Ramey at Open House & found out they have the same birthday. Looks to be another good year this is a great class with a lot of involved parents, I think the teacher may have even been a little overwhelmed with the parents the other night. Charlee is sitting with her friends Laken, Kelton & Zac. I am a little concerned about a boy in her class, when I read the list to her & got to his name she said "Oh snap!" I looked down to see her almost at the verge of tears & she said he had bothered her a lot at recess & she said "mom I really didn't want him in my class he is a bully!" Please pray about this she does not need distractions nor a reason not to want to go to school not to mention I would hate for her kindergarten sister to woop up on this 2nd grade boy. Nevertheless I let one bully go a few years back, I never said anything & then he almost took one of my kids life so I won't sit back this time you can't wait til it becomes too late. I trust God will watch over my little girl & keep me in place until I feel the push from Him to approach it. Fortunately all of the parents feel this way & are concerned about this child. I can't wait til they all get home to tell me about their day. Annie has assessment in the am & her first day is Friday......Minford will never be the same.

Jr. High

I can't believe that little curly headed boy with his little buddy is a teenager. And yes I have cried many times this week and I am crying now! He is growing up, he started Jr Hi today I can't believe it, he will be 13 in a month, I was just sitting outside the kindergarten class at his assessment crying like a nut & I know that was just yesterday. I look at Bryce & get sad sometimes because he reminds me so much of Ethan and I really did not realize that you do blink & they are grown. He is such a wonderful young man, I am so proud of him and I wonder everyday how I was so fortunate to have God pick me to be his mommy. He is having many struggles right now with peer pressure & fitting in but I thank God that He has given Ethan the conscious that he has and the relationship we have that he talks to me about these things. My heart aches for him sometimes, and it is harder than I expected to make him understand that all this will pass & seem like a blur one day, cause it is hard for me to concieve as well. He has good friends & some that are just plain rotten, I just pray that God will use him in these kids lives in a positive way and that he does not follow their influence. He was excited about starting simply because he can see Kylie (his girlfriend) they do occassionally talk on the phone (very little though YEAH!) She is a great girl & has good christian home and parents, I pray this is the kind of girl God sends him. Of course Ethan has been in love with her since kindergarten when he hurt his knee on the monkey bar she went & got the teacher isn't that sweet, she told her mom once when they told her that when you like boy it is not about what he looks like but what kind of heart he has she said "well that Ethan Lawson sure does have a cute heart!" & his momma thinks so too. Last story about Ethan, at Open House his teacher last year wanted to speak with me & told me that she had just received his proficiency scores & he scored 520 something on the math section she said this is the highest score she has ever seen at Minford. The funny thing was I had just talked with his math teacher this year & told her although he does very well math is his weakness, he has to be pushed & easily frustarted, but what do I know. He is awesome! I love him so much & am so glad God gave him to me. He is wanting to start swimming Minford don't have a team so he even considered switching schools but someone told us there is a coach and teams that compete in Huntington so we may give that a try after football (anything to get him away from football). That would be good cause we could stop now & then & visit friend huh?

Swim Party

Charlee had a chance to get with her friends before school at a swim party for her friend Ethan's birthday. They had so much fun. She has a great group of friends I hope they stay this way, all the parents in this group are great. She had a busy weekend with a sleepover at Jodi's Friday night & this party Sunday. She is becoming the party animal!!!!! Charlee's whole idea of why school is important is socialization. This is one of her great traits. She will be a good friend, she has the cutest little giggle. I am so blessed to have her for a daughter & she tells everyone I am her best friend in the whole world, I just hope that stays that way. I love her & the other 2 so much. Sometimes I will say...."I wish I had a best friend like you when I was in school" & she will say..."you do now mom, remember we are best friends!" I want to just keep them at this age for a few years, they are growing tooo fast.

VBS 2008

We had a great VBS the theme was the best! The girls visited some area VBS's with friends but the material covered during this past week was excellent. The 7C's of history (CREATION, CORRUPTION, CATASTROPHE, CONFUSION, CHRIST, CROSS, CONSUMATION) detailed the most important truths of the Word in the 5days of VBS. The girls love their CD the music & songs are gret & we listen to it all the time. They had 8 friends visit with them and they were excited about that. A lot of special people did a lot of hard work to make this week so special! I know my kids appreciated all the care & love put into making it so wonderful. I had a fun time with th 4 & 5 year olds, they are so funny. Ethan only was able to attend one night as he has mandatory football practice (Jr High-hard to believe) he was pretty bummed about that. Anyhow it was a great VBS & the girls were blessed to be able to attend 3 other wonderful VBS's with friends.

The Beach 2008

We had a great vacation July 19-26. I loved having a vacation with my whole family together. The boys (Levi & Luke) enjoyed it so much as did my kids just for having them along. The condo was great very spacious, nicely located to everything & great price. The girls loved the beach but were a little scared of the tide....so there was not a lot of worry they would go out too far, as a matter of fact, a few abrasions from sand surfing. Ethan also enjoyed the beach, it has been a long time since he was there. We visited Build-a Bear & Build-a Ride at Broadway on the Beach. I enjoyed the beach so much more than any other time I have been there. Maybe because of the VBS theme, I seen the beauty of God's perfect world this week. It is so amazing to me that not only did He create all of this wonder in 6 days but the function & movement of it all, the timing of the waves, the rising and setting of the sun. WOW !!!!!it was really breathtaking to see His awesomeness. Mom & I talked a lot about creation & the ignorance of man, it is amazing that *******BANG*******and all this came about huh????!!!! well I wonder why if this is possible why hasn't there been explosions since with millions of other worlds just popping into being???? Ethan said "If we were created from monkeys/apes, why are there still monkeys & apes and why are they not evolving into more people?????huh????? This kid can argue with the best of them. Spine tingling is the intricate sea creatures and the many colors of fish in the sea and the adaptions that they have to protect themselves, we had the opportunity to visit Ripley's Aquarium. I could just go on & on......Then on the way home the mountains and sunset was beautiful... and I kept thinking God why have I never seen your beauty like this before? Maybe now it is because I am looking through 3 little ones eyes and trying to be the eyes my mom no longer has, but for whatever reason I am so thankful for such a wonderful vacation.

I am new at this but figure it is an easier way to keep up with Jennifer since she has never made a facebook account. Also I haven't been able to comment of Jennifer & Patty's blogs. I really enjoy reading Jennifer's entries, it is hard being away from the kids and this helps to still feel connected and when I read hose entries I laugh & cry cause I can see them doing these things. We miss them so much, especially this past week at VBS.