Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Friendly People!

Tonight we went to Ches' work picnic, then to trivia at Jose's! : )  We were in third place before the final question..but we took a chance.  And lost!  It's ok, we had a great time!
She's helping Carter with homework!

Marta is going to join cross country track, so we will go to get her sports physical tomorrow!  She has just jumped right into American life, I love her enthusiasm!

She said Italian people aren't as friendly, which I just can't believe!  I'm glad we are all being hospitable, and I haven't actually been to Italy..but in movies they seem so kind.  I guess I should get out more, haha!

I'm thankful for super friendly kids at her school, and really precious friends (and NEIGHBORS!) who have already loved on her!
Bike Riding again last night!

And Mary Claire and Marta are going to volunteer at Diabetes Family Camp from Friday till Sunday!!  I'm proud that Mary Claire is even GOING..I mean, WooHoo!!  Maybe Marta is giving her confidence?  Or she knows Emma, Elizabeth, and Ashley will be there?  Maybe it's because she gets to stay in the AIR CONDITIONED volunteer cabin with private bathrooms?!  Whatever the reason, I'm THANKful!! : )

Welcome, Marta! : )

We've had a wonderful start to school!  Mary Claire started last Thursday, and Marta, Clay, Ethan, and Carter all started Monday! : )  We are doing well, and I hope we haven't kept Marta too busy.  She's totally fallen right into step, and has done everything we have!  She didn't even take a day of rest after 18 hours of travel from Bergamo, Italy to our little corner of Arkansas! : )  


She's been awesome.  We are blessed.

Clay is still running daily for cross country and practicing early every day for band.  Mary Claire is learning to drive.  She drives every day to school (with me!!) ..although as soon as she masters not turning left on a red light (!!!), and parking, she'll be driving herself and Marta to school.  Ethan is enjoying middle school and changing classes.  He is not thrilled about dressing out in physical education with a bunch of kids..but he'll make it.  We've all suffered the indignities. : O  And Carter loves first grade!  He has earned five WOW tickets (he gets to turn them in for a treat or special event when he earns ten)!








My dinner is almost done, just thought I'd record a little history as it speeds by.  It's been a blast!

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Summer, Senior, and Schooltime!

I need to start taking even FIVE minutes just to record our history, haha!  Things happen so fast around here.
Vacation! At the Liberty Bell..Carter needed to see it again!! : )

Catch up: Clay will be a SENIOR!  We already had senior pictures last week. (!!!)  Mary Claire will be a junior, got her drivers license this week!  We made a quick trip to Kansas City on Monday.  Ethan will be in sixth grade, and he and Ches went to Cleveland last week for a father-son trip to the National Sports Collectors' Convention.  Carter will be in first grade, and he's ready for school to start!  He's been riding his own bike, and he's up to 4-5 mile trips!  Talk about some calves.. : )
The Senior.

We're also inviting an exchange student to live with us through the school year!  Marta will be with us till next summer, and we're excited!  She's from Italy, and she'll probably teach us more than we'll teach her.  She's going to school with Mary Claire, and she will be here Saturday! : )
Gatsby, my great Goldendoodle!

Bulletin board for Marta : )

Our family at the Chicago concert for Father's Day!

Grab a camera!!  They are loving on vacation!! : )

Chestnut Hill, PA.  Lovely.

Bike ride to Chick-Fil-A!  Only 17 miles, and 95 degrees! : O
I have been decorating for a couple families, and we moved some furniture into the youth house at church!  It was fun, I got some stuff for it on Monday at IKEA!! : )  Here is some progress on a budget:
Furniture, and the coolest light from IKEA! : )
She's officially a driver!! : )  Hooray!!

Hope your year is full of fun too!  Hugs and prayers as you send your littles (and bigs!) off to school! : ) Woohoo!


Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Camp, Decorating, and YouTube!

Ethan had a week at boy scout camp last week!  I can't say it was great..he sent a letter wondering when we were going to visit him (and mailed it hours before Ches got there)!  It wasn't awful, he got to do sooo much, earned lots of badges, learned, swam, kayaked, and even got cold at night!  But..he doesn't think he'll go next year.  I'm thankful he's honest.  I'm thankful he tried it.  And..he learned about himself.  We'll try something new next year!

Two kids ready to go hike!
Going hiking!

Ethan using a pole to rescue another child.
Ethan practicing water rescue 


Mess Hall!

Ethan!

Good practice for rescue!

I helped another sweet lady with paint colors, flooring, countertops, backsplash..and I've just been brainstorming lately!  She has wood cabinets, trim, and an ivory tile floor..so here are my ideas:

I love this rug from Lowe's, this tile backsplash from Home Depot, this pot for flowers or a plant on the kitchen table, and this mixer (because a matching mixer is glam!)..and a good excuse for a new mixer, haha!  She has located a beautiful light quartz counter with a few gray and khaki veins.  Add SW7030 Anew Gray walls or BM HC-44 Lenox Tan, wood trim and cabinets, some white slipcovered chairs at the table and kitchen desk, and some white drapes and/or woven wood blinds..and a fresh redo.  Not too expensive! : )

Here's a gathering of the above:


My precious Sarah Bernhardt peony I grew from root stock!  For Mother's Day three years ago, we got ten..and they are all beautiful!  They didn't bloom the first year..and this year the plants are so strong!  Sometimes we grow deeper roots for a season before we can bloom.  We're gathering nutrients and strength.
I think we are starting a youtube.com channel!  We are goofy, and unskilled, and have no idea what we're doing, but what the heck.  Our kids are silly..and they make us laugh!  And sometimes we actually make videos about how to do something with diabetes/pumps.  We made a video about reusing a Medtronic 670G sensor after being asked how to go about it..and we decided other people might benefit?  So we'll do diabetes and be goofy.  Maybe we'll learn something in the process?!

That's all I've got, haha!  Pray for your neighbors, literal and not, and give out a couple hugs!

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Teas and ParTies!

Good morning!  I'm trying to stay on track, haha!  A few more big moments I need to record for my kiddos when they're all grown.  They love to look back..Carter was looking for a picture of my mom when I was a kid.  He was eating Fruit Loops, and asked what the bird was, ha!  I told him Toucan Sam was in the commercials on television when I was little.  He asked about me and what my mom looked like.  Mom-find a picture please!!

This was at our Mother Daughter Tea party (actually the after party!) at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks.

Sweetie!

I kidnapped Ethan and we went out for a well-visit at his doctor's office and then Freddy's-his favorite burger place! 
Carter played t-ball this year! : )

My friend's entryway I redid! (New mirror, lamps, frames, moss ball, candle holder, wood diamond)
My friend, Tiffany!  I went to her son Joseph's first communion! : ) We have a picture of us riding Square2Square, but this one is better, haha!
Mary Claire just celebrated an entire month of birthday!!  She had dinner at P.F. Chang's, and this was right before dinner. : )

We had cupcakes back at the house after dinner..since she was saving her fancy cake for her party!  And Gatsby was soo thankful that he could join us, haha!

She bridged to Girl Scout Ambassadors in May too!  This is the last level of girl scouts!

Her group with their moms!

We went to play miniature golf one Sunday, and Lukas went with us. : ) We had McDonald's ice cream and yogurt afterward!

This was getting ready for her party..all kinds of light pink!  Pink tulips, pink roses, and white hydrangeas..so beautiful!

We made a banner the weekend before with strips of fabric in gold, white, and light pink..and los of tulle too!  On top of it in gold glitter, it says, "happy birthday"..but you can't really see it! 
Lots of food..


Everything she wanted..pizza, cheese puffs, teddy grahams, fruit, watermelon punch, etc.  It was weird..but exactly what she wanted...and it was HER birthday!

And her cake! : )


Her really good friends!

Ethan was sad he had a December birthday..so we had a Swim Party just for fun a few days later!!

We went to the Amazeum, and we worked in the Hershey's chocolate lab!  Here is a pod with nibs : )

This is working in a sand table at the Amazeum..the topography map changes as they move the sand around..making mountains and lakes..it was cool!

And I worked at the NWA Mom Prom!  The proceeds go to JDRF Family Camp every summer!

And Tiffany was my work/volunteer/prom date, haha! : )  Seriously, she volunteered to work with me!
Seriously, a busy and spectacular month!  Two graduations, two parties, prom, decorating, tball games, anniversary, bridging and a tea.. I don't even know if that's all, haha!  We're still sane in June, and I'm totally resting and making up for a crazy month!

Hope you are making it, and you get a quiet season of rest.  Mine is summer, even with the kids home, making late breakfasts (for extra friends too!), and lots of towel washing..I'm super thankful to be off a schedule. Come at me, June!