Back in School!

Soo..maybe I'm back to an all adult audience now.  I let the craziness die down. (Ok..it never really does, but you know what I mean!)

Seafood at sunset on vacation.

We are finding ourselves in an entire new world.  Again.  School has begun for Mary Claire.  She started at Haas Hall this year!  It's a Fayetteville public school, but it's a charter school, so it's run completely differently.  It's currently the number one school in Arkansas!  So exciting.  We are only there by the grace of God.  Really.  

Shopping in Branson last week : )

The short story?  When she was homeschooling this spring, I submitted her name to the lottery for Haas Hall for this fall.  There were 192 incoming ninth grade students on the list by lottery pick time.  They pulled eight numbers in July (July 11th, I think).  Hers was one of them.  I don't know about you..but that was God's grace.  We could have chosen not to accept the position, but it felt like getting a huge break and a massive opportunity all at the same time.

By March, she was back in her public junior high, but it wasn't perfect.  She registered for iSchool (self-paced kinda like home school, but in a building with facilitators), but she decided to withdraw and stay at the same school for fall.  This was the plan..until the lottery!

Her first day was yesterday, and she did great!  She had lunch with super friendly seniors (some were 16, and had skipped a grade).  They have had the friendliest staff, teachers, students, it has honestly been a huge blessing.  I should say HUGE. ; )

Mary Claire and Sophia, her sweet tenth (!) grade friend!

Since she goes to school in Fayetteville (20 minutes south of us with no traffic), I transferred Carter over to the east side (closer to her) to a Catholic preschool.  We have friends there too, so he'll be okay.  It's closer to her hours, so it works for drop off and pick-up.  He's excited to take naps there.  Seriously, he's more excited that he got to choose nap bedding!  I ordered this submarine crib sheet and toddler pillowcase at pbkids.com.  Then I went to Fabric Gallery and let him choose two colors of minky dot to make a matching blanket.  The child picked red and green.  Eeek!  At least it'll be in style for one month a year, haha!  I added his name in blue to break up the Christmas vibe.

In a dressing room having fun..and M&M's!

Ethan is still in his same school, and he got one of our favorite teachers!  He will be in Mr. Ruddick's class, and he's excited!  Clay had him for fifth grade, and I wish Clay had gone with us to see him.  Clay really admired him (and even did his final speech on Mr. Ruddick last year!).

This summer at his favorite museum, the National Air and Space Museum!  (we stood in over 100 degree heat for 50 minutes just to get in..we aren't sure why everyone decided to go there at once!)  The best was when he and I did flew the simulator-I was the pilot and he was the gunner!

Ethan and Clay will start school on Monday.  Clay will be in tenth grade (ahhh!! it happens soo fast!), and we did his before-school endocrinology appointment today to get all his paperwork ready then ran his tub of snacks and notebook by the high school.  Wow.. it all changes.  Now, the nurse just wants him to do his own thing.  He'll text me pictures of his meter/blood sugar at lunch and bolus himself. o_0

He got his driver's license a couple weeks ago!  He can't drive alone till the end of December..but still!  It's awesome!! : )

He will only see her if he needs snacks or supplies or in case of emergency.  Gone are the days of little kids getting checked three times a day (totally what we used to do!). She was very nice though.  Just don't feel like I'll really get to know her as well.  Maybe that's a good thing.

His tub of snacks and supplies: juice boxes, water bottles, peanut butter crackers, cookies, strips, lancets, glucose tabs, Advil, etc.

We are headed to see Pete's Dragon in a few minutes.  I remember watching the original in my neighbors' house (Pat & Anne) in the late 70's.  It was awesome.  I can't wait to see the new adorable Pete!

Natural History Museum, it was a good trip. : )

JDRF Walk and #NDAM

Feeling nostalgic tonight, I just saw Love the Coopers.  Go see it.  Such a sweet (and hilarous!) movie.  I'm ready for Christmas now. <3 font="">

I never got to say an amazing THANK YOU to everyone who HELPED, DONATED, and WALKED with us for a CURE for Clay and Mary Claire in the JDRF Walk to Cure 2015!  I'm sorry that life stepped in, and it's taken much too long to express my complete and overwhelming gratitude!

 
It was an absolutely amazing year for our family walk team!  We met our goal.  (I went to check our total, but the site is down right now for maintenance, ha!)  We have some friends who come consistently to support us every year, and we have some new friends who join us when they can, and we are thankful for ALL of them!!  The walk itself is more fun (as is the diabetes journey) when you have someone to lean on and talk to.

What a blessing it's been-the friends we've made, the lessons learned, and the shared purpose we've been given.  It's time to be thankful for the amazingness we have plus the not-so-amazing.  It's kinda funny that National Diabetes Awareness Month (#NDAM) is November..the month of thanks.  When we'd like to have said, "No, but thanks anyway."

So, I'm thankful to have meters to check my kids instead of ketone (pee) strips, insulin in pumps instead of glass syringes, nutrition labels on food for carb counts instead of guessing, for health insurance to pay for our strips, lancets, iv prep pads, sensor and supplies, and insulin.  Oh, and we are thankful for Dr. Banting for his discovery of insulin so that my children are still alive sharing this journey with us.  

Prayers that you are so blessed!  Love you, Holly

Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Thankful for soo much! : )

I've neglected poor little Blog for so long.  I get busy living and forget to document Life.  We had an amazing summer trip, and I never finished posting pictures.  I had a birthday, I'm officially forty-two, ha!  (As if I was faking it.)  And we had such a wonderful JDRF Walk this year..lots of friends who are just like family, and we've had soo much support and love!  And we just (didn't) celebrate Clay's two year Diaversary.  It's been two long years since D came to visit again.  We've grown together.

Roller Coaster CAPITAL of the world!!  (Carter is ready, obviously!)

He was going on the absolutely SCARIEST ride!  We all chickened out..especially after we learned there was a 1 3/4 hour wait!!  But this child did it!!

I have things on my mind.  Always do.  I always wanted a Titus/Timothy group to teach/learn from..and maybe I should be doing some teaching.  I'm not the youngest momma anymore, and I've lived and learned a little.  I'm not the most eloquent or perfect by any means..but a note to say I appreciate you can build bridges and soften hearts.  

American Girl in Chicago..first and LARGEST store!!

Did I mention GORGEOUS? and soo spacious for downtown Chicago square footage.

and we do love some Lego stores!

The most fascinating fountain in Chicago: Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.  The children's pictures change (1000 of their own kids) and the photos center with their mouth on the fountain..so the water comes out of their mouths even as the photos morph.  Beautiful art and soo many to enjoy it.

We got to visit the Bean (aka Cloud Gate), also in Millennium Park!

and we visited the Sky Deck at sunset.  Amazing looking west.  The kids are sitting out over the city.  No..I didn't join them.  I'm a 'fraidy cat.

It was formerly the Sears Tower, now called Willis Tower.  It's an amazing visit/sight at 103 floors high.  Love that we get to take our kids to see these gifts!

One of the girls by world-renowned Spanish sculptor, Plensa.  They are different from every angle, it's almost unimaginable..except they are real.  The look changes as you look from far at an angle to straight on.

One thing I'm gonna say just for today is to send a thank you note.  It bothers my momma heart (thanks to my momma) when my kids don't get a thank you note after a birthday party/gift.  My kids have to sit and write thank you notes, and they don't understand when they don't get one.  They wonder if their friend liked the present they took to the party, especially if they birthday child didn't say thank you or that they liked it.  I think we should take the time to write one today.  For the kind words we received on Saturday, for the small thoughtful gift last week (or for the time someone took to donate to our team!).  If I've ever forgotten to send you a note, I'm sincerely sorry.  I make notes for my notes, and double back to try to remember every single person and thought.

I still get to go on field trips..even in ninth grade, thank you, JESUS!!  We had a blast out on the trails at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville!  (His teacher and I also got to thank Alice Walton in person for this amazing facility right in our own backyard.  It felt awkward to ask for a photo..so we didn't.  We are uber cool like that.)

Maybe our society is moving into expectation, but I don't expect anything from you.  (Except a thank you note, obviously.  Just kidding!)  Maybe it's my Words of Appreciation Love Language talking. : )  Prayers for a blessed week for you..and lots of things to be thankful for!  Hugs!

 

Philadelphia Museum of Art and Cathedral Basilica!

Today is a long, picture-y post!  We had such a wonderful time in Philadelphia, and I can tell you this is only maybe 15-20% of my pictures..just my favorites. : )

If it wasn’t for diabetes, we could have walked longer.  Both kids were low.  Car traveling can make them go high (sitting for long periods of time) (and a temp basal of 180% during driving seems to work for both of them!), but city walking makes them go LOW.

soo..we've yet to master a family picture.  Maybe next year.

We stopped for coffee, chocolate pretzels in the park, and drinks.  Both Clay and Mary Claire were low in church, and we had to drop to 0% for all of Mass!  It definitely throws a wrench in your plans.

In my head, they are contemplating life.  In reality probably something much different, haha!

I was soo excited at this point!  A museum yet to explore, and I've wanted to go for SO long..like every year we come here!!

Reminds me of my little kids on the steps at the Lincoln Memorial.  Precious.

Seriously, so excited.

Looking out..Ches and Carter were on the bench straight ahead under the trees.

I like when I catch them not looking. : )

Jesus, the first painting I saw. : )

Frauenbildnis (Portrait of a Woman) by Gustav Klimt.  Just saw the movie (Woman in Gold) about a Klimt painting, it was amazing.

Peaches by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Mary Cassatt's brother and nephew : )

Homage to Maillol by Pierre Bonnard

Mont Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cezanne

Water Lilies, Japanese Footbridge by Claude Monet

Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh

Women Walking Along a Train Track by Carroll Sargent Tyson, Jr.

The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lily Pond, Giverny by Claude Monet

The Canal at Saint-Mammes by Alfred Sisley

Port of Le Havre by Claude Monet

Just loved getting a picture of him looking..he was avoiding camera exposure. ; )

The Grands Boulevards by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

The Zuiderkerk (South Church), Amsterdam: Looking up the Groenburgwal by Claude Monet

The Angel of Purity (Maria Mitchell Memorial) by Augustus Saint-Gaudens
(Her parents had it commissioned after their grief at losing her; she was 59.)

Rachel Weeping by Charles Willson Peale (His wife with his daughter they lost to smallpox), the story with it definitely touched my heart.

We were moved by the sheer amazement at the size of the silver collection housed at the Museum!!  It was endless!

The middle ones is for McDonald's, and the circle says, "Pry Off"

This was made for the "Legacy" of Jenkin Jones, I guess it was made for his family.  Absolutely beautiful.

This was presented to John M. Scott, Esqr. for his service to the city of Philadelphia.  Talk about family heirlooms.  This is gorgeous!  Wish we still did such amazing keepsakes.  The silversmith quality was impeccable.  January 1815, and the script was flawless.

I walked right by this.  Mary Claire pointed it out!  The door frame and worn wooden step are the frame!  Staircase Group (Portrait of Raphaelle Peale and Titian Ramsay Poole) by Charles Willson Peale

These would sell like hotcakes in the south NOW!  Beautiful scrolled, cut silver over glass, and MONGRAMMED.  It's a flask, and one I'd carry!

Modern Art

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

I was having this moment in Mass, and tried to capture it.  Everyone was praying together all lined up.  Didn't work, and I got chastised by my children. OoO

We went to light candles after church for our friends and family.  Beautiful veneration of Mary.  We ask her to pray to Jesus for us. : )

We are still out, but absolutely ready to head home.  We all miss our beds immensely.  And normal days and blood sugars, ha!  Hope you are having a great summer and staying cool!  Hugs!