6th grade volleyball

Maddie has waited many years to play volleyball. I think I put the bug in her when she would watch practices and games back when I coached.

Well, the time has finally come and she is able to play this year. She is still learning to master the art of serving but I see her improving every game.

She is fearless when it comes to diving for the ball. I am actually quite amazed by it.

Her partner in crime....Olivia. I really really like this picture.

I have had fun with Olivia's mom Rhonda.....and well....I guess Phil riding to the many away games. Phil even put up with an unexpected shopping stop. I think he waited patiently in the car while we power shopped. ;)

Nathan's 10th Birthday

Nathan's birthday was at the beginning of the month. But with me working like crazy I just haven't had time or the energy to really blog.

I have had the morning off and while the laundry and dishwasher are humming I am finally going to get these pictures up.

We had such a nice day. On the spur of the moment we had the neighbor boys stay the night. (remember how I said no more slumber parties??? I'm a sucker. )

sweetness.

The next morning we went to the donut shop and then the boys had to go home for a soccer game.

Nathan's request was to go bowling. So bowling we went.

J and I had a contest to see who could win. We of course had our rewards. And then we tied. LOL!!

I love this kid.

He is sweet and funny and kind hearted. He can be ornery with his Maddie and so sweet to Emma it just slays me. His favorite subject in school is recess. :) I think he is mastering the art of looking nice .... for the ladies. ;) one inparticularly ( is that a word?) sweet sweet girl. Who he could marry and I would be thrilled! If only I could talk to her mom. But I swore my secrecy to him.

We each take turns praying on the way to school in the morning. You should hear him pray. It melts my heart. He really talks to Jesus like we should. Like he is right there in the car with us. (I think I should start writing down the things he prays for and the way he says it. )

Later that night we had his bday party with family.

Notice I forgot to get a picture with Nathan and his parents????

I LOVE this picture of Gail and Dewayne. It is so very sweet.

We missed Joy and Luke and Jonathan and Melanie.

I hope my son, that you know how much you are loved. By God and by me. You are a gift given to me from God himself. I rejoice in that God chose to let you live those many years ago. You have been a joy to watch grow. Live your life for Jesus son. Let His light shine through you in all that you do. Follow Him and you will prosper in all you do. God is good. No matter what. 10 years. I can't believe it.

Homework time!

Look. Look at my son, who is so diligently working on his homework.


Why then, you ask, is he giving me this look????

Well.... this might have something to do with it. Emma girl was laughing and laughing trying to distract him from his work.

I think she did a pretty good job of it if you ask me. :)

Since I was making dinner, I handed her off to Daddy to entertain her.

 

He was thrilled. I think. ;)

 

A small update....

We have adjusted well into the swing of school. The kids seem happy. Maddie is full on in the throws of volleyball. It seems we are going from practices to games. So between that and my work schedule we have been.....busy.

Emma has a cold. Her nose is a constant faucet. I think her nose is turning red and chapped from us wiping it so much.

Emma was fascinated with the kleenex box one day.

I am so thankful that I was able to steal away late one night and visit with my friend Hannah who was in town. I had such fun catching up. Miss yah lots girlie!!

I have pictures of Nathan's 10th bday to post as well as pictures of some vball games of Maddie. But honestly I am just too tired. So I am off to bed. And yes. It is only 9:00. I am officially old.

1st day of school

The 1st day of school was a good day. I was glad for that. The morning went well. Everyone remembered their lunches, and book bags and school supplies.

When I picked up the kids from school, Nathan said.......wow....you weren't kidding.....Miss (insert teacher's name) really IS meaner!! All I will say is ......I really hope he has a good year. I know 4th grade is already going to be difficult for him. But.....well.....let's just leave it at that. :/

Maddie is excited for volleyball. This is her 1st year in sports. I think she has looked forward to this time for a couple years now. She had her 1st game Tuesday. For only having 1 practice (let's just not talk about that!!!) they did a good job. They did lose. But they got....experience.

I pray they have a good school year. I am a nervous wreck with Maddie at school without me this year. Her sugar already dropped to 32, thankfully it came up quickly. It was the 2nd day of school. I almost flipped out. Thankfully Uncle Doug was there and her teacher did a good job keeping me in the loop. Excitement really messes with her sugar. With a new schedule and all new things going on around her, it has taken some adjusting to maintain her sugar. If you think of it, say a little prayer as we find a schedule that works well for us to help curb any potential diabetic problems. I pray for wisdom in dealing with this as well. I am also thankful that I work with such great people that if I needed to, I could go take care of her at any given moment.

9 months

I am now 9 months old.

Mommy has gone to work, and some days it seems like she is gone forever. I don't like it that much, but Grandma and Grandpa take good care of me. Nathan was praying on the way to school this week. And while he was praying that I have a good day, he said " and be with Emma. Help her to have a good day at Grandpa's. Help them to know what to do with me.....well, they always know what to do. But help her to have a good day." I could see Mommy smiling. I think she likes to hear Nathan pray.

I am not only crawling, not only pulling myself up on the couch or my crib, but I am cruising along the couch or the coffee table. Mommy just shakes her head and tells me to slow down.

Gone are the days of leaving me on the floor to play for a second, Mommy has to keep her eye on me at all times. I really think that the stairs are a lot of fun. Which kinda gives Mommy a heart attack she says, but they look awful fun. Maddie and Nathan sure can run up and down them fast. Mommy says that she has to get a different gate for the stairs.

Mommy says that I am not a good eater. But. Well. I know what I like. I don't like that mushy stuff that Mommy calls baby food. I like to eat what everyone else is eating. I like to eat peas, potatoes, applesauce and carrots. I really like watermelon, especially when it is cold. Of course, I will only eat when I am in the mood. I really like milk the best. Mommy is just happy that dairy doesn't seem to bother me anymore. She still says that she won't give ME any dairy, but at least Mommy can have pizza again.

Mommy takes me to the park, and I really like it. I especially like sitting in the swing. There is even a swing there that Mommy and I can swing on at the same time. We can swing for a long time together. Mommy says its kinda relaxing. If there are kids playing then I like to watch them. They look like they are having so much fun. (Well....except 1 boy who looked a little older then me.....but could walk..... didn't have shoes on. Mommy couldn't believe how his mother let him run like that. She said I would always have shoes on. Mommy was afraid the boy would get splinters in the mulch.)

I also have learned to really like the stroller. Mommy is so happy bc now she can take me on a walk whenever she wants. She says she can't wait for it to cool down a little! Whenever I am in the stroller, I sit with my legs crossed watching everything. Mommy says I look very relaxed.

Mommy says that I am going to sleep better for her at night and that makes her very very happy. My bed time is 8 o' clock. Usually Mommy has to try and keep me up till then. If I go to bed much earlier then that Mommy says that I am up way to early for her liking in the morning.

The past couple nights I have even almost slept through the night. I got up 1 time. Mommy says that is ok. That she understands that I might be hungry. But she can kinda be grumpy if I get up more then that. I know she tries to not be grumpy. One night my tummy hurt so bad that I just couldn't sleep well. I woke up every 2 hours. Mommy finally realized the next day that my tummy hurt so bad bc I was constipated. She felt bad for me. I finally went poop and then I felt much better.

Mommy is still my favorite. ;) Although Daddy can make me laugh and laugh, especially when he plays peek a boo with me. I really like that game.

Do you know that we have this big black hairy thing that has 4 legs??? Mommy calls her Bella and seems to always be yelling at her. Well. I LOVE Bella. Bella can make me laugh, and she will play with me all the time!!! She really like it when I pull her hair. Mommy tells me all the time that I have to be gentle with Bella. Bella likes to give me kisses. And for some reason, whenever I am eating, Bella is sitting right next to me. She likes it when I drop my food.

We also have a little black thing with 4 legs. Mommy calls her Cupcake. But Cupcake always runs away when I try to play with her. I don't think she likes me.

I have 3 teeth now. 2 on bottom and I just got my 3rd one yesterday. Mommy says that I am just growing up way way way to fast. She said that she will turn around and I will be graduating high school. She tells me to slow down.

The day before school.....

Little Emma has taken a liken to playing with things she shouldn't. She likes to turn on and off the xbox bc the button lights up and makes a dinging noise. Silly Baby.

This was what was for breakfast this morning. It was my "last day before school starts" celebration breakfast. Well.....I am celebrating anyway. ;)

We had a great weekend at home. I got the house clean, laundry taken care of and groceries bought. Clothes are laid out. Lunches are partly packed.  School supplies ready by the door. Camera ready for the 1st day of school pictures. We are ready for school.

On a side note.....it feels weird to not be working at school. It's a good weird. Just a.....weird. I am not stressed about the next day lunch, I am not worried if I will have enough food. I am not wondering if I have forgotten an ingredient. I am not planning a Walmart stop in the morning for 1 more item. I am not.......planning. It feels good. I can continue to enjoy being a mother and not being consumed by my work. I am really thankful for the time that I had at school. I grew in the years that I worked there, but I am thankful that God has opened another door for me. It has allowed me to put my family before my job, and for that I am so thankful.