Big Milestones

I know what you are thinking...."Two posts in two weeks!"  Don't get too excited.  We will see how long this lasts.  But, the past two days were too big not to mention.

Yesterday, Cavett headed off to his first day of second grade.

 

He was a bit timid about the day to start off. So I let him know. I LOVED 2nd grade. I LOVED my teacher, Mrs. Stinson. I LOVED making my new best friend for life, Sarah Grace. I had great kids in my class. I just knew that Cavett would have the same experience. We filled him with homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread made into French Toast and made it to school without a hitch.

 

At the end of the day, when I picked him up, the first response was, "All we did today was learned the rules."  After a bit of coaxing with frest baked chocolate chip cookies, we learned he has a new best friend, Tyler Douglas whom he sits next to.

 He did a bar graph learning about how students got home: car riders, bus riders, walkers, day care.  They organized their school supplies.  But, recess was still the best part of the day.  And, oh, Miss Horton is pretty nice and she is engaged, so her name might change at some point this year. 

All in all, a good start to the year.

Today however left us with some challenges.  Luckily, I was up when Stephen was and prepped for Kendrick's Big 5th Birthday.  He awoke to 5 balloons in his room and a big banner and presents in the living room.

It was "Yes Day" for him which means that he can ask any reasonable question and the answer will be YES! But, before that was to begin we had to get Cavett to school. Unfortunately, I had a dead battery in my car. Fortunately though, I called a dear friend and she swung by and picked him up just in the nick of time! 

Kendrick's fun day began by asking for Max's Donuts for breakfast.  (For you Shreveporters, these rival Southern Maid.  Best in Allen, TX)  He ordered two chocolate with sprinkles and a chocolate milk, while I had my protein bar...he ended up only eating one. 

A present was what he wanted next but Dad wanted to be there, so we took one present to his office and opened it there.  A new duffle bag for all his karate gear.

Next up was a playdate at the park meeting all his students in his new Transitional Kindergarten class.  I just couldn't see sending a 4 year old to public Kindergarten even if he was going to turn 5 the next day.  He's not ready anyway and I know I won't regret this choice.  His best bud, Luke was there who we will carpool with this year and we made a couple of new friends-Matthew, McKenna and Hank. 

Best Buddy, Luke

New Friends!

Lunch with Dad was requested at Chick-Fil-A with a Brownie Sundea to follow.  The eyes after all that excitement were looking weary, so I suggested a movie on my bed.  Looney Tunes were the choice of the afternoon.  No nap was taken, but the down time was needed. 

 

The afternoon entailed the usual-Karate lessons.

 

For dinner he chose "Peanuts Roadhouse," a.k.a. Texas Roadhouse in McKinney, but earlier in the day their had been a gas leak/explosion near the restaurant, so they were closed.  Luckily, we have another "peanut" place near us-Logan's Roadhouse.  Definitely not as good, but fit the bill.  We had fun dropping peanuts from our noses at targets, playing tic-tac-toe with peanuts and shells, and creating designs and pictures from them.  Who cares if he ate his Mac-N-Cheese?

 

After dinner we opened his other presents.  Clothes, a crazy fort building thing-a-ma-jig, and WALKIE TALKIES!

 

 

 

Truly, Kendrick's only request for "Yes Day" other than food was to stay up late and watch a movie.  So, wish granted, even though his brother cried himself to sleep.

 

Happy Birthday, to my baby.  I can't even believe it's been 5 years. 

Camping Lessons

Resurrection Fern-Just like the kind growing on a tree near Dadoo's grave.

I know I haven't written in 8 months, but this last summer trip warrented some notes and thoughts.  This past weekend we packed up the camper on Thursday and hit the Arkansas back woods and roads to a very familiar place for me--Petit Jean State Park.  It is a 1,000 ft. plateau just northwest of Little Rock with some specatcular sights.  I went there many times as a kid camping on the weekends with my family and several other families.  It was practically just as I remembered.  The only thing missing was the lack of water flowing in the river causing only a trickle down the magnificent would-be waterfall.  There were also the memories of Dadoo playing his guitar, singing around the camp fire with hot chocolate in hand.  Good times, my friends.  I just hope that my kids treasure these family times as well. 

So, now on to the lessons learned during this particular trip...

Lesson #1- If there is a long hike you would like to take, alsways do it first.

Lesson #2-Take carbs on hikes like Pirate Booty.  It will make all the difference in the world.

Lesson #3-Always do the Junior Park Ranger Program  It's worth the extra effort.

Park Interpreter, B.T. Jones and Petit Jean with the kids.

Lesson #4- Pop-Ups are worth the money when it rains.

Lesson #5- Compasses can provide fun games and activities once you figure out how to use them.

Lesson #6- God's creativity and imagination is amazing.  He made some pretty cool things.

Eye of the Needle at the Bear Caves.

Rock House Cave

Natural Bridge on the Seven Hollows Trail.

The light trickle of Cedar Falls.

Cedar Falls Canyon

What we named-God's Jenga.  Kids are trying to pull pieces out.

Lesson #7- Among those cool things God designed, are Dads.

Lesson #8-What we write here and now will probably be around for centuries to come. 

A pictograph drawn by Native American Indians probably around the 1500's. 

Lesson #9- Hide the marshmallows from the "Masked Bandits," even if you are just making a quick jaunt to the bathroom.

Lesson #10- Reece's Peanut Butter Cups make the world's best s'mores.

Lesson #11-There is nothing like worshipping God from a mountain top before you head home on a Sunday morning.

What a great trip and place! I can't wait for our next camping trip!

It's 2012...

Well, I guess I should say Happy New Year, or Happy Birthday, or...I don't know...I can't keep up.

I have just completed editing our Blurb Picture book for the year 2011.  I'm already behind in blogging about 2012 by a month.  It seems I am becoming out numbered.  What seemed to be several of me getting it all done, is now just me (and God).  Now, I take nothing for granted.  I think I am now accomplishing more for Him and his Kingdom than I ever have before, but the blog thing is just going to have to be put on the back burner for the year and I'll have to see how it turns out come Family Picture book 2012. 

Nothing is wrong. 

Family is great.  Everyone is healthy.  The office is prospering, and in fact Stephen may be taking on another side job 1-2 days a week, for the fun of it.  The kids are doing great in school, baseball and karate. 

It's just I am deeply committed right now and doing a ton more reading, researching and teaching, not to mention there is no baby in the house anymore, which means there are no nap times to accomplish my desires.  I am now teaching the K-2nd Children's Choir, teaching 5 year olds at BSF (which takes more prep), I'm volunteering for Cavett's teacher and music teacher more and we are beginning to lead a small group at our house.  Not to mention I need 150 CPE credit hours to renew my teaching certificate.

I hope you will forgive me and know that you can always find snip-its and pictures on Facebook.  In fact, I am uploading Cavett's birthday party next.  So in the words of Paul's letters....

May the Lord of peace himself give you grace and peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you.