Ready for School?

It saddens me that people are READY NOW for school to start.  Do we have rough days, of course, but it doesn't make me want to send them off and not see them for 7 hours a day or whatever it equals too.  I love being around my kiddos, maybe I won't always feel this way, but right now, I miss them so much when I leave them to go have time for myself..........HA!!! 

I am excited about homeschooling them, but totally NERVOUS too!  Glad we can start withe easy stuff and see how it goes.  :)  Public school is so different these days, not saying all districts are bad, but I don't like where our society is going. 

The part that's going to be the hardest part for me is being structured!  I'm such a spontaneous person and don't "do" schedules that well.  LOL

Are we going to have bad days, of course and I know it's not going to be easy, but I at least want to try to do what God instructs us.  Do I think people who use public school are not obeying the Lord??  NO WAY, who knows, it might just me in a few years.  ;)

Anyways, just had to get this off my chest.  :)

Have a great weekend and do something outdoors, it's beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swimming Fun

The kids and I had a ball this past week swimming.  Yesterday, we had company while swimming!  We went to The Splash up in Sherman and had a really good time.  We had daddy with us this time and a long time friend of mine, Kristy and her daughter, Ava.

They had a really fun time and here are some pictures from yesterday:

 

Here are the 2 big slides and the lazy river is in the back left of the picture.  The open aired slide was REALLY fast and maybe just a tiny bit scary.......LOL

 

Here is the slide that empties into the deep end along with the diving board.  There is also a basketball goal type thing in the water that you can play with.  You can see the people in the bottom of the picture playing, but I didn't get the goal in there.

 

Here is the entry to the toddler area.  There is a splash pad, dumping cones, and a fun little toddler slide underneath the dolphin and wave.  Zachary LOVED the slide.  The main pool area that we played in is to the right of this picture, but you can't see it.  Zachary and Sadie had fun jumping off the sides of the pool into the water.  Sadie was going under the water by the end of the day when she jumped and was having so much fun.  The wave pool was REALLY strong and the kids loved going round and round.  HAHAHAHAHA

 

Here are the 2 kiddos on the way home after about 3 hours of playing in the pool, swimming, and jumping!  We all had so much fun and no griping expect when we decided it was time to leave.  It was getting pretty hot even in the water and the pool was getting a little bit more crowded.  Overall, we had a GREAT time and so glad that daddy was there to enjoy it with us. 

 

We're so blessed and I thank God for all the fun that we have and the opportunities that He gives to us.  I pray that we continue to give All Glory to God b/c He's the One who takes care of us and gives us what we have.  May we never take any pride in anything we have, but focus on the One who gives to us.  Father, may we pass onto our kids our love for You and that they will also call you, Father.

Jumping in the Pool!!!!

What a summer it has been.  It's been fun, fast, and fairly cool.  I'm so not ready for these HOT temperatures to stay without a break till probably the end of the month.  :)

We went swimming 2x today and had a blast!  We went this morning first by ourselves and then Mimi called after we had had lunch and asked if we could take her to our neighbors house too and swim again.  Of course, we went!  LOL  So, the kids are sound asleep and just waiting on them to wake up.  They are both gaining so much courage in the water and I'm so proud of them.  Zachary definitely challenges Sadie because she wants to do whatever he is doing.  So, while Zachary was learning to jump off the side of the pool into the water by himself today; she decided she was going to do that too.  She had help, but she was having a BALL!!!!!!!

Check out the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuoRQw-gOnk  (Sadie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhlg4nGNWxk  (Zachary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcSsmd_CRCs  (Sadie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279oFY8um9c  (Zachary)

The kids had so much fun and I can now hear Sadie waking up and calling my name.  So, hope you enjoy the videos of my sweet babies growing up too fast and loving the water!!!!!!!!!

Showered with Blessings!

Our friends have been so kind and giving to Sadie.  Sadie LOVES Snow White and has now for a while.  She has been given so many dress-up costumes and has several Snow White costumes to last her for several years as they are different sizes.  My mom found a Snow White plush doll to give her and another friend gave Les the 7 dwarfs, not knowing that my mom had a stashed away Snow White doll to give Sadie at the right time.  I called my mom when Linda gave them to Les when he was helping her move.  I was so excited and could hardly contain my excitement for Sadie to wake up the following morning. 

Today, my bestie and her 2 girls, gave Sadie a Snow White dress that fits her perfectly!!!!  And to match, Snow White dress up shoes, and a red headband with Snow White on it.  She looked like such a pretty princess!!!!!  Of course, she was so excited to see it; along with a few other costumes.  I can't wait to dress Sadie up in the Minnie Mouse dress and shoes.  I hope she'll wear them for me......HA!

Along with the plush doll, my mom also found a few pairs of sandals for her.  She has given her 1 pair of them.  Then I bought a long sleeve red shirt (Snow White) from a friend and my mom made it into a short sleeve shirt for me.  So, she'll be able to wear it now (and she already has!!!!!).

I want to say THANK YOU, to my mom and my friends who have made Sadie feel just like Snow White.  I love my little Ah Ho, that's what Sadie calls her!!

Here is a picture of Sadie in the outfit that Christy gave her.  :)

Zachary's Big Toe

GRAPHIC PICTURES



This morning Zachary said he had to go to the bathroom and wanted to go outside to go.  I said," okay, but hurry b/c we're not finished reading yet."  He was taking a few minutes, so I went outside to check on him.  When I called his name and stepped outside; I see him with this screaming face, but no sound was coming out.  I quickly examine in over b/c I'm a good 20 feet away from him.  I notice blood all over his big toe on the right foot.  I rush to him and try to figure out what happened.  I see there are blood spots from him to the garage, so I follow the blood b/c he can't talk.  I see the blood leads to the battery to his 4 wheeler.  I asked him if he dropped it on his toe and he said," yes."  I still couldn't tell b/c of all the blood exactly what was wrong with his toe.  I quickly take him in and begin to run some water over his foot.  I'm giving orders to Les and to Zachary.  I see that it is very bad; which you'll see in the pictures.

I quickly call the pediatrician to figure out if we go to him or if we go to the ER.  Our doc said that we needed to go to the ER b/c he didn't have the equipment to take care of his toe.  So, while I'm talking to our pediatrician; I'm quickly getting dressed.  I was in my swimsuit b/c we were going to be going swimming with the kids' cousins this morning.  I give Les a few more orders and Zachary and I are out the door.  I almost cried on the way to the ER b/c he was crying and you could tell that he was in a lot of pain.  That was breaking my heart.  We held hands off and on to the hospital.

After cleaning the toe off and on for about 30 minutes, X-ray; then we decided to go ahead and make a hole in the toenail to help relieve the pressure.  Praise the Lord that his toe is not broke, but he will lose his toenail.  The doc ordered him to stay off of it for 3 days or so.  We're to see our pediatrician on Wed to make sure that all is well.  He's starting on antibiotics today and hopefully it will not get infected.

Drumroll please............what you've all been waiting for.............the pictures!

 

This is before they put a hole in it to help with the pressure.

 

This is after the hole was put in and you can see on his toenail where this is drainage coming out.  He also has a little cut on the right tip of his toe and it's very red on the end/back of his toe.  It's just an all around BAD smashed toe with lots of blood!

Here are some pictures from a day that the kids and I had in Grapevine (we were picking up curriculum from someone).  We had a great time and ended with the explorer overheating....LOL  We drove to Les' work and exchanged vehicles.  Ended up being the thermostat, so all is well now.  Here are our pictures - ENJOY!!!!!

 

Alligator at the Rainforest Cafe - Grapevine Mills Mall

 

Another picture of it - Zachary loved how it moved!

 

The kids with the shark at Bass Pro Shop

 

Zachary with the alligator lunging at him with his mouth open.  He thought this was just too cool!

 

Zachary with the shark by himself

 

Sadie on the 4 wheeler

 

Zachary on the 4 wheeler

 

The kids and I taking the train ride through the mall - they were so tired by this point, but we still had a lot of fun.  Sadie looks tired in this picture......LOL

The "spot"

My mom has had this spot for several years now and they have just been watching this unwanted visitor.  My mom started a new round of chemo 3 weeks ago and had her 2nd round of chemo today.  She had a doctor visit first and the oncologist couldn't feel the spot; like he has before.  Praise Jesus!  When she told me, what a huge burden that had been lifted.  I have been a little anxious about all of this and even whether I should be tested for the gene.  Her doctor today told her that she was not a candidate for the testing and that neither was I.  I think she said that with her type of cancer; there is no testing.  She has a very aggressive form of cancer that just has trouble staying away for too long.  It really likes her!  And you know how we feel about it.......LOL 

I have several prayer requests and one is for me to try my best not to worry about the "what ifs". 

Overall, I'm doing really well.  Zachary and I are going to start a pre-k curriculum here probably starting at the beginning of June.  I know Sadie will be an active part of it too, but at the same time; just doesn't have the maturity level to understand or do all the activities.  I'll involve her though as much as can be.  I have been going back and forth as far as when to start him in kindergarten.  I have been thinking about 6 yrs old; which would be August of 2015, but not sure what to do yet.  I told Les that I would continue praying about it and just let my gut guide me.  Zachary and I have been working on learning to trace; which he likes.  It's not his favorite, but he will do it for me.  He gets so excited though once he starts and sees how good he's doing.  :):)

I have been back at work now 3 1/2 months.  I am really enjoying the 2 days a week schedule.  I have been very busy, but that's good for my brain.  ;)

Les and I are doing well.  We've been busy with various projects and extra "side work" for others.  However, the extras and diligently watching our money is what allows me to stay home and homeschool our kids.

Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings!