Tuesday, June 30, 2015

swim lessons 2015

My mom signed the kids up for private swim lessons with a friend from their church.  I was very reluctant about her having six kiddos in the pool with a young man that was like ten the last time I saw him.  When we picked the kids up on Saturday, she shared a video of R2's lesson and I was impressed.  He handled R2 better than I do.

On Sunday morning, we went to the pool so the kids could show us what they learned and Wow! What a difference one week made.  HR was putting his face under water, kicking, and his confidence sky rocketed.  Boo and LE learned several new strokes and Boo picked up some speed.  R2 is still apprehensive, but we see an improvement in him.  Thank you, Mr. Chris and Miss Summer.

Monday, June 29, 2015

slumber party

The kids were gone all last week for VBS and swim lessons.  The girls left Sunday for church camp, so the best way to celebrate?  Slumber party in Mom and Dad's room!  And the best part, they all slept till 8:40 a.m.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Riverside Nature Center presenter

Two presentations in one weekend, the kid is making a name for herself.  On Saturday, LE was invited to present at the Riverside Nature Center's grand opening for the city's new riverside trail.  We had to dodge some rain, but it was a really good turnout.  I was walking towards PawPaw's tent, a lady stopped me and told me I had to go see the little girl at the tent and make sure she would sing for me.  It made me such a proud Mama.  She has a gift and a passion for something, I am excited to see how God uses her.

Friday, June 26, 2015

museum of cowboy art camp

Last year the girls were invited to participate in the Museum of Cowboy Art's children's art camp.  My mom and dad did a demonstration on pioneer life and the girls were given a scholarship in exchange.  This year, the camp was on Native Americans and LE was invited to be a presenter in exchange.
I got to see LE do her presentation and heard several kids respond how cool it was.  Both girls came home with lots of memories and fun projects they created during the week.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

dogsitters

We are getting our doggy-fix again this summer.  We have been watching this guy for the past week and we have plans to take care of Digo and Max later the summer.  Hoping it cures the kids' blues of missing our furry kids.
The girls wants to start a dog-sitting service, just hope they keep it to the small breed variety.

Friday, June 19, 2015

boys just wanna have fun

This past week, the girls were visiting grandparents for an art camp, which meant the boys had Daddy and Mama all to themselves.  We spent some time at the pool, had a lunch date to CFA, made play-dough, read books, played BINGO with our assisted living friends and had lots of cuddle time.  It amazes me how different two from four is.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

preschool fun

The girls are gone this week, so the boys and I have had lots of fun without them, shhh don't tell them.  On Monday, we had a Mommy/Sons date to Chick-Fil-A and Daddy took them to the pool while I taught a class.  Today, we made play-dough.  This was HR's first cooking project and he loved it.  We went to HEB and he helped pick out the ingredients and was very disappointed when we went to bed and still had not made the play-dough.  So, this morning when he woke up he brought me the cream of tartar to remind me we had a job to do.

Cooked Play-dough recipe
yield: 4 portions
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 T. cream of tartar
1 t. oil
food coloring of choice
Essential oil of choice

Mix flour, water, salt, cream of tartar and oil in saucepan.
Add food coloring to mixture.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat when dough forms a ball.
Cool before using.

We added
6 drops of grapefruit essential oil, but you could also add glitter, or sand for texture.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

berry pickers

A friend from one of my classes is out of town and invited us to raid her garden of blackberries and peaches.  We all agree fruit from the garden just tastes better.  Thank you Miss Richie.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Leepers Day

Governor Abbott declared June 9, 2015 Leepers Day in the state of Texas. Leepers is the case of homeschoolers vs. the Arlingon School District in which parents were granted the right to home school their children.  We celebrated with 300 other homeschoolers at a local park over lunch, sandy and wet fun.
I messed up and didn't realize the sprinklers were not on during the week.  The kids were lathered in sunblock and in bathing suits for the day.  I noticed R2 laying on the ground disturbed b/c there was no water.  The parks guy noticed to and I mentioned I had prepped them for the water park.  Park Guy said, "what's a party without water?"  So, he turned the water on for us.  Not that I support pouting to get your way, but good job kiddo.  He was the hero of the party.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Express Game- boys first baseball game

We were invited by some friends at church to an Express game earlier this week.  It was the first game the boys have attended other than watching Jacob play high school ball.  They did really good for several innings, but once the hot dogs were gone they started to get bored.  LE caught a souvenir ball that was thrown into the stands and was caught dancing on the jumbo tron.
Thank you Miss Elizabeth for a free family night out!!

Thursday, June 11, 2015

chalk walk

While we were visiting Mimi we headed downtown to a Chalk Walk.  My niece was her school's kindergarten outstanding art student for the school year.  With her honor she was chosen to assist her art teacher at the chalk walk.  Her school's design was the sun with a girl in the boat.
I had never been to a chalk walk before.  These pieces of art were amazing.  These are a sample of our favorites.  The kids are Calvin and Hobbes fans, so that was a no brainer.  The Norman Rockwell was the featured artist.  The girl in the top right was done by a friend of our family and her art students.  Which is your favorite?

Tuesday, June 09, 2015

family reunion 2015

This past weekend was our annual family reunion.  Almost all of the cousins were there, with the exception of the newest addition who is still too young to travel.  It was a great day of BBQ, swimming, kickball, and celebrating our PawPaw.

Monday, June 08, 2015

graduates 2015

This year is the graduation year for the last class I taught private school before I became a tutor for home schoolers and then a Mama.  I was invited to numerous celebrations, but b/c of our family reunion I could only make a couple.  At one party, I got to catch up with three boys from that class.  I have special memories from each year I taught, but the years I taught first grade were probably my favorite years of teaching.  I had incredible parents, incredible students, an awesome head master and co-workers.  The last time I saw these boys I was the tallest in the picture.
  Congratulations class of 2015.
Eamonn Kent, Nicholas Winckel, Michael Cherry.

Sunday, June 07, 2015

just like PawPaw

Happy Birthday PawPaw!  The boys were building them a playscape in the backyard just like you.  R2 even had his tool belt on.

Friday, June 05, 2015

National Doughnut Day

June 5th is National Doughnut Day, I think the last time the kids had doughnuts was June 5th, 2014; no wait when Daddy had his camp out.  Needless to say it is a special treat to get doughnuts around here.  We decided to take doughnuts to the fire department too and they invited us in to see the fire station and fire trucks.  Spontaneous field trip, SCORE!!
A certain two-year old was a little more brave than his older brother's first visit to the fire station, but HR was still a little apprehensive.  Even R2 acted nervous.  Thankfully, there were no sirens or tears.

hear me roar

After my terrific day on Tuesday, I feel as if I redeemed myself as a Mom and a human.  I taught four classes; two aquas and two senior fits classes in less than 12 hours. To add icing to my day, I got home I had the privilege of teaching my nine year old long division.  And the cherry on top was when this superhero pointed to his diaper and said "be-ohh" which means water.  He then, pee-peed in the potty for the first time in months.
Thank you God for the valleys and the mountain tops.

Tuesday, June 02, 2015

worst.day.ever

I only title this post as such b/c of my last entry.  Really I can think of lots of titles for this post.  #parentfail #tantrum #terribletwos #deathbyembarassment #twominutewarning #judged #lessonlearned

When Boo was three or four, several years ago, anyways; we were at a local high school spring concert.  We had sat through multiple bands and the girls were growing restless and I had threatened too many times to leave that it was becoming an idle threat.  As the band stopped, we began to leave the silent, very crowded, dark theater and my Boo begins to cry, "No, please Mama don't spank me".  All to the amusement of every adult in the audience, but not to the annoyed band director.  I thought I was going to die.  Really die.  But now, years later I can look back at that moment and laugh.  Because of that experience and the knowledge from that day, I write this epic fail of today's eating out disaster.

My friend, Natalie and I met with our eight children for lunch at Ikea.  Kids eat free on Tuesdays, so it is a popular spot for frugal home schooled families on Tuesdays.  I didn't get the memo that some schools were already out b/c the place was packed.  After lunch, Natalie and her crew went one way and we went the other.  The kids always like to stop and look at the kids' rooms on our way out.

Usually, I religiously give my kids a two minute warning before we head out, but today I forgot.  HR was in the middle of cooking something on a toy kitchen when I said it was time to go.  LE and Boo had already walked to an area ahead of us, so we needed to catch up with them.  This didn't matter to him, he was not ready to go and he let everyone in the kids' dept, correction everyone in IKEA know.  He threw himself on the floor and screamed.  I picked him up to carry him out and he continued to kick, scream, shout and cry.  Like through the entire half-mile trek back to the front of the store.  Of course, everyone looked at me with the same judgmental eyes that I stare with when I witness a child pitching a fit in public.  I was mortified.  Oh, did I mention I am wearing a brace on my left wrist to imobilize it?  And I had three other kids in tow?  Or how about that R2's shoes were untied?  So, it was even more of an epic moment when I stepped on the untied shoelace and caused him to fall, thus child #2 began crying.  Oh yeah, and we are only in the cabinet dept at this point.  

So, I learned something today.  NEVER EVER JUDGE another parent for their parenting choices.  I would have totally disciplined my child in public had it not been for big brother. So, if you happened to have been in IKEA today around 1 pm and heard the wailing of a child who sounded like they were being taken from the parent, it was me and my toddler who will think twice before pitching a fit in public again.  And a Mama who will remember to give a two minute warning from now on.  And yes, he got his as soon as we got into the privacy of our car.  Hopefully, he will not be eight before I can look back at this day and laugh.