Boy Time!!

It's Francie's turn to go to Nana's house to have some "girl time" which means Will and I had "boy time"!! They are very different!! This time instead of painting nails and playing dolls, we did manly things like shaving!! :) We also played video games, basketball, roller-bladed (Will NOT me), and watched a motocross movie!! There was a lot of action and we had so much fun!! We went shopping to get a prize- Will got a Bionicle!! And to top off the whole adventure we met our friends Ms. Angie and her son Ammon for breakfast at Chick-fil-A this morning!! The boys played in that play area for over an hour!! We had a great time (I'm still wondering why we didn't meet them for breakfast more during the summer- next summer it is a must)!! I didn't get any pics of them because I left my camera at home! BOOHOO!



It was a very special time! Will is growing up so fast and I know it won't be long before he doesn't even want "boy time"!! I am treasuring this time with him!! He is such an amazing child- so sweet and tough!! He loves adventure and is excited about everything in life!! I love him so much!!

Hip, Hip Hooray!!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!! I have a job!! I will be back at SMCS with Will and Francie and all our friends!! I got the call late last week- but better late than never!! Really, it helped my attitude about going back to school to not know whether or not I would be able to- because now instead of crying, I am so excited to have a job I can't wait to get started!! I truly am grateful to be at SMCS! I am praying this will be a wonderful year!! We only have 7 days left of summer (teachers have to go back a week before the kids)! This summer was amazing!! I got to be a bum the whole time and it was great!! It helps to have a break when you are teaching and I am blessed to have been able to enjoy this time!! I feel much more refreshed than I have in a long time!
**** Thank you for all of your prayers!! I could not have made it through this summer without them!

Dentist

I have never really loved to go to the dentist! It's not my favorite- so I have been hesitant to take Will and Francie. However, they have pediatric dentists now that make the experience much better than the olden days! We went to our first appointment and they were so sweet!! They had video games and a home-living area in the waiting room- the kids loved it! Then they talked to Will and Francie after watching a movie about a dinosaur going to the dentist! They met the dentist and he joked with them!! Everyone made sure to tell Will and Francie what the tools were and what they were about to do! The lady that cleaned Francie's teeth was especially wonderful she sang to her during the cleaning and made Francie laugh and she gave her lots of hugs- Francie didn't cry at all during the cleaning!! Will did a great job as well!! I was very proud of both of them! They walked away with a bag of goodies too- new toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, 2 stickers, a sugar-free lollipop, pictures with the dentist, and a treasure from a machine (you get a token if you do a good job and you put it into the machine for a prize)!!! Will got to take home a picture of the x-rays of his teeth- so cool!! It was a great visit!

Casual Fridays?!

Greetings again, friends. I hope this post will answer a question that I am sure has been bugging you for some time. This probably goes without saying, but just to make sure we're on the same page, I'm talking about your desire to find out how landscapers observe casual Fridays. In offices on Fridays men everywhere are freed from the bondage of having a tie cinched around their necks. What about landscapers? I mean they wear t-shirts and roll around in the dirt all day, how can they possibly get any more casual? Well, friends, may I present to you "Hawaiian Shirt Fridays!"




I must say this is part of living the adventure. If you have never had the experience of putting on a Hawaiian shirt to work in, you have not lived. The older I get, I am gaining a greater appreciation for the subtle absurdities in life. The Lord gives us all a story, but unfortunately we often miss out on the good parts while dreaming about good parts we hope are on the way. I may never get to dive the WWII Japanese war ships sunk in Truk Lagoon in the Caroline Islands or sail the Mediterranean, but, friends, I have worked in a Hawaiian print shirt with a group of Mexicans also wearing Hawaiian shirts. If that's not adventure, then I don't know what is...

Goals!

Well, I have met one of the two goals I had for the summer! (I didn't want to put too much on me, since this is the first break I've had in a long time) ;). The first goal was to read all of the Harry Potter books- ten years ago I started reading the first Harry Potter and I read through the third, but I could not stand having to wait a year or so in between each before the next one came out, so I said that once she got them all finished I would read all seven straight through! Which I have done!! I loved them!! I also have watched all five movies this summer and I can't wait to see the new one out tomorrow!!
The second goal of the summer is to clean out and organize my closet! We'll see if I can reach that one in the remaining weeks of our summer vacation! Even if I don't get to that one at least I have gotten the most important goal finished! :)

Girl Time!!

Will went to spend the night at Nana's house the other night so she could have some one-on-one time with him, which meant that Clint and I could have some one-on-one time with Francie (or really just me because Clint has had so much studying to do to get ready for his comps)!! Anyway, Clint's grandmother used to do that for he and his cousins and I think it's pretty sweet to get some special time and attention from your grandparents. So, Francie and I got some girl time!! We, of course, went shopping!! And also made a trip to the bakery!! She got some treats and a toy and some new panties (we're in big time potty training mode)!! Then I gave her a manicure and pedicure!! It was fun!! I love, love, love having a little girl!! I am very blessed because I got a sweet one!




























***P.S.- Clint finished his tests today!!! He feels great about how well he did!! :)
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!! We couldn't have made it this far without them!

I Love the 4th of July!!

The fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays!! When I was little we would go to the holler in Tennessee and barbecue a whole pig!! The whole family would sit around the pit visiting with each other, kids playing, good food, then we would do fireworks!! I loved it!! I love fireworks!!!



This year we hung out together at home! Clint made the most delicious ribs and we sat on the deck and the kids played in the sprinklers!! Then we visited Granny Loon and ate dinner with her!! It was so special!! Later we went to Homewood for "Thunder on the Mountain"!! We had so much fun together! It was one of my favorite fourths in a long time!!

"What other nation is so great to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?" (Deuteronomy 4:7)

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!