First Day of School

Yesterday was the 1st Day of School here (as I think it probably was for all PUBLIC schools in TEXAS since they passed that new law last year!) We were SOOOOOOO excited - the girlies, not necessarily mom! - and we had really built it up that they would all be at the same school this 1 year. Even bigger than that, it was Kendie's 1st day of Kindergarten...and she was sick! She had to stay home!! I was so sad for her to have to miss it. Her teacher sent her an e-mail and told her that all of her new friends were worried about her. Her reply, "WOW! I already have new friends!" Thank you Ms. Rhonda for taking the extra time & effort to make her feel special! Another funny thing that she said the other day when I told her we needed to get her special ring that I have gotten for all the girlies when they go to Kindergarten so they know that Mommy & Daddy love them was, "NO! I don't want a ring - I KNOW that y'all love me!" Ok, well I guess that'll save some money...I have to go now as I have a very impatient little who wants to play Noggin.com!!

Last Day of Summer...

Today is the last official day of summer - of course, we still have the weekend before school actually starts on Monday, but today is the last weekday. I think that the girlies are very excited and ready to start, but I can honestly say I'm really not. I have never been one of those mothers that is ready to get them out of the house because she "needs a break." I truly enjoy spending time with my girlies. Yes, there is the occasional times when I wish they wouldn't fight or squabble, but overall we have a lot of fun just hanging out (I think). We were on the go so much this summer that I never even heard "I'm bored!" - I do think it helped having them brainstorm & make the "I'm Bored" jar and come up with the consequences if they said that too much - but we NEVER used that once!! We have to run to WalMart to get a couple of things for school. I pre-ordered the supplies this year which was nice except some of the things are kind of weird - Addi's "pencil bag" is really a red bank (money) bag - I am NOT going to make her use that when everyone else (who purchased their own supplies AND the others w/ mothers like me) will have a fun, cutesy one! Also, I tried to make sure of the brands on the list (some brands do just last better than others). Emee & Kendie's markers are Crayola but Addi's is some weirdo brand that I have never heard of & the last time we pre-ordered they didn't work but a week. I want to pick up the stuff NOW while it is on sale! I think that we are going to the pool too for the last time this year this afternoon. We had a great time in San Antonio. It didn't rain until Monday as we were preparing to go to the airport. It was really overcast the other days, but that didn't stop us so the girlies really enjoyed the Lazy River. Dave & I both got massages - heaven! Emee had another birthday party and finally got the much coveted Hannah Montana wig!! I'll get pictures up later! The last day of summer is slipping by me...

Hyatt Hill Country

Today we are leaving for our last get away before school starts. We are going to the Hyatt Hill Country outside San Antonio to meet up with all of Dave's family. There are usually 25 of us when we all get together, but I am afraid some will be missing as they will be wrapping up summer jobs or heading off to college. Still, the HHC will not know what hit them, I am afraid!! Last time we went, when my MIL went into the little snack shop and was charging something, she heard one of the ladies behind the counter say to the other, "This is the REAL Mrs. ****!!!" That is scary!! Believe it or not, I have most of the packing done - just not in a suitcase yet - we packed as we watched the Olympics last night. WHOO-HOO!! Way to go AMERICA and especially Nastia and Shawn!! OK, funny story: Last time we went to the HHC (we didn't go last summer), we were all in the dining room at breakfast. (You just kind of throw something on and tumble in because you change into your bathing suit right after that & spend the whole day at the Lazy River.) I saw a girl a couple of tables over and kept thinking that she looked familiar - I decided that she must have gone to college where I did because I just couldn't shake the feeling that I knew her. I was about to get out of my seat to go over & ask her if I knew her from school when it hit me who she was. It was Mary Lou Retton! HELLO, how stupid would I have felt if I had made it over there? She would've thought that I was just some groupie thinking I had a good line into meeting her! We saw her on the coverage last night and I told Dave that I guess we wouldn't have to worry about her being at the HHC this year! Also, I told Dave that I bet public high school had started or will start before Shawn Johnson gets back and I wondered if she would get an excused absence for missing the 1st few days? Dave said he wondered if she would have to have a Dr.'s note or if it was OK that the WHOLE WORLD saw her on TV instead and knew what she was doing!! LOL!! I was so proud of them both! Well, I better close so I can go get a few things done and then it is off for a couple of days of just floating around in the Lazy River, playing on the sandy beach, enjoying family, and hopefully some time for the big girls at the SPA!! Thanks again to wonderful grandparents who do everything that they can to provide times for their family to stay close, connected & involved in one anothers' lives! Pray for SUNSHINE!! :o)

Sad Day

I went to the funeral this morning of my dear friend, Ernestine. While I KNOW where she is and how much she is enjoying being free of her earthly body that had failed her in so many ways, I still am very sad. The thing that bothers me the most is that 3 different people have told me how much I meant to her and how every time that they went to visit her, she asked about me and told them how much I meant to her (even her sisters from out of town mentioned me to a lady from our church last night). I am privileged and honored that she held me in such high regard - I couldn't ask for a better compliment - but I feel that I failed her by not taking more time to be with her or visit her these last few months. Dave reminded me that we have had a busy (& physically demanding) few months, but what about before that? and all the other stuff I have made time to do? I know, I know, I have a family to take care and that she totally understood, but I still feel like I should have done more for her...:o( I have learned my lesson - I will try to do better about "seeing" to people and taking time for others. I seem to have a special place in my heart for the "more mature" crowd at church and maybe it is not just enough to go up & check on them at services and give them a hug - I might be the one they are looking to for a little more. Who knows? I just know I want to try to make more effort because I don't want to feel this way again! I will miss Ernestine's sweet spirit - she was beautiful inside and out. She always had a twinkle in her eye and I know it radiated her goodness from within. I only hope that I can be a fraction of the LADY she was - truly a woman of Proverbs 31.

8-8-08

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMEE!! Today is Emee's 7th birthday and we are having her party tonight. It is a Hannah Montana party - I hope that it is "the best of both worlds!" It was supposed to be a backyard party, but I think it will be inside now as it is supposed to rain. Needless to say, we have to "pick up" and the girlies are not real happy about that! I hope to have a lot of pictures to put up after the party. Our camera was "misplaced" for a while so now that it is "found" we can have pictures again! I hadn't thought yet about how it was 8-8-08 - I'm really into thinking that dates like that are neat, but just hadn't thought about it. I am also SUPER excited about the Olympics, but didn't know that 8 was such a special number to the Chinese. Once again, you learn so much in the mornings at the gym!! Of course in my case, just watching the news is so beneficial - I just never do that - I can honestly say that I haven't watched TV at all this summer (except the news at the gym). Poor Dave, he will once again be an Olympic widower!! I LOVE the Olympics!! Actually, maybe he will watch more with me - I think he likes the Summer Games better than the Winter. Kendie has already watched some swimming trials with me so they "will help her be a better swimmer!" Incidentally, I wrote a post about us surviving our Family Reunion in Oklahoma, even though it was 106 degrees (HOT, HOT, HOT!) but I lost the post and didn't feel like writing it again right then! Kendie fell in the lake but remained calm & swam to where my cousin was & when he pulled her out, she said, "Sometimes those things happen..." We weren't outside right then - she had been on a walk with an older, responsible, adult cousin and Kendie didn't come in & tell us they were back - just went to the dock to fish...NOT what she was supposed to do! Anyway, I found out much later that she kept her fishing rod in her hand the whole time - just swam with it!! I think that is so funny! Dave had been concerned how the girlies would do in the water with their clothes on...guess we know one girly will remain calm, cool, and collected!! Better go get busy! Have a good 8-8-08!!!