Kyla Awarded Panther Pride Student of the Week!

That's right! Kyla was awarded the Panther Pride Student of the Week for outstanding conduct! I just got back from having lunch with her -- I took Sonic and we got to sit up on the stage. Her friend Lauren - the one who lives around the corner from us - was allowed to sit with us too. Schertz Elementary (they are the "panthers") allows teachers to nominate students for this award ... I'm not sure how many students how many times a month, etc....but regardless, her teacher nominated her because she has assimilated into the school so well and is always polite and courteous (her words, not mine!). If someone would have told me that she would be receiving this award in 3rd grade, while she was in kindergarten...I would have laughed out loud - especially if it had been the day that the scissors met the jacket! So for all of you out there with "unruly" kindergarteners - there is hope! Don't get me wrong - she wasn't a BAD kid and she never hurt any people (just a jacket, once)...but she did have a hard time following the rules at ALL times. I am so thankful that she is following them at school - now if we could just get them all down here at home. ha!






Summer is adjusting to life in the 1st grade with Miss Korbell - she isn't Miss Briggs, but I think she really likes her. I stayed after Kyla's lunch to sit with Summer while she ate and she invited her friend Lauren - from Miss Briggs class. She doesn't seem too upset that they aren't together anymore, which is good...but from time to time she mentions how much she misses all of them. As sweet as Miss Korbell seems...I doubt it will be long before Summer loves her just as much as Miss Briggs -- if not, then she'll be a really, really, really close 2nd!

This weekend I am going to Women of Faith in Houston with a few of the ladies from CrossPoint Fellowship. I haven't ever been to Women of Faith before...I never could work it out when the ladies from Friendship would go...I usually went to the National Women's Convention in Chattanooga instead. I hope this will be a time to build into the lives of some of the women here - I have really been missing my girlfriends over the last few weeks. I just keep sending up prayers that God will be opening a place in a few women's lives that I will be just the friend to fit! He has shown me a big part of this move was to get closer to Him and to not rely on my relationships/activities to fulfill me - but face it, I'm tired of spending so much time with me, myself, and I - I'm just not that interesting. ha!






Well, laundry calls - and if I'm lucky...and Luke keeps sleeping...I may actually get out my scrapbooking "stuff" and take a peek at just how very far behind I am. ugh! One of these days - boxes will be unpacked, walls will be painted, pictures will be hung, kids will be in school/sleeping and I WILL GET CAUGHT UP ON MY SCRAPBOOKS AGAIN! (Imagine that tirade w/the Gone with the Wind music in the background and me in a dress made of curtains! - the dramatic effect is increased greatly that way! ha! ha!)


Love to all - Bye!

Another year older....

Happy Birthday to me....happy birthday to me....la....la...la! ha! I just had to do that. Saturday was my BIG 35th birthday and I must say that I really don't feel a day over 34. I had a WONDERFUL weekend - although my plans had to change when my mom became ill. The day started w/Kyla's soccer game at 8am...a little early for a Saturday, but they didn't seem to care that it was my birthday and I wanted to sleep in. Kyla started the game at goalie and only let one shot by her - she even scored a goal in the last half of the game - her team won 4 - 1. Unfortunately, I took all of my pics w/my Cannon and not my dig. camera so I don't have any to share. Summer then had a game at 10am...and I must admit I was a little concerned about her. She had been complaining at each practice of how tired she was and hot HOT she was and how she didn't want to run...get the picture? But when it came to the game she got right in there and ran....and ran....and ran! Her team won as well 5-4....it was a nail biter! The girls loved having Granny and PopPop there to cheer them on! I must say the ability to visit with our family has been an even BIGGER blessing than I ever thought it would be. I guess you don't really know what you are missing until you have it! I grew up 500 miles away from my grandparents...I never knew any differently!





Mom, Dad, Adam, & Grace were supposed to come over that evening, however, Mom woke up w/a terrible migrane in the middle of the night and became VERY ill! (Side note-she was feeling up to a visit yesterday and drove over to see me.) When plans changed, Granny and PopPop stepped up and volunteered to babysit so that Kyle and I could go out to eat...just the two of us...like a DATE. I remember those....vaguely! ha! We drove over to Gruene (pronounced like the color green) and ate at The Gristmill - it is a restraunt that is inside what once was an old gristmill on the Guadelupe River. Fabulous food, conversation, etc. -- there were kids around...but not ours. At one point I heard a toddler fussing and I looked at Kyle with a big smile on my face and said - "NOT OURS!" I love my kids...but I loved getting out w/out them!





School is still going well for the girls, but Summer is facing a CHANGE - and those of you who know Summer and her PAST reaction to changes may be thinking much like me - OH NO! The first grade classes at the school are getting too big and they are bringing in another 1st grade teacher - Summer was one of lucky ones that the principal picked to move -- because Summer just seems so well adjusted and the principal wants to set this new teacher up for success. Perhaps a little backwards...but none-the-less when I talked to the principal it was more of a "this is what I'm doing" conversation and less of a "what do you think?" one. I told her about Summer and reminded her of our recent BIG move and she volunteered to be the one to break the news to her. At that point I just had to leave it up to God - He is always in control...repeat that to myself 30 times, right!?! Summer got in the car after school and gave me the news right away - when I asked her how she felt about it I got a smile and a thumbs up. Thank you God! I think I worried about it more than her! I guess in a year of BIG changes...what is one more! ha! I met the "new" teacher at Open House last night and she seems very sweet and very capable. Miss Briggs - Summer's "old" teacher will be helping her get situated as will the other 1st grade teachers. Miss Briggs is just such a WONDERFUL teacher, I hate to see Summer taken out of her room...but again, "God is in control"...."God is in control"....you get it.





It dawned on me the other day that many of you haven't seen our new home here in Texas and those of you that have seen it haven't seen it with grass and trees. I haven't spent any time on the outside of the house because there are still so many disaster zones on the inside, maybe I will be ready for that NEXT spring. But I figured I could leave you with this parting shot...all of you in Alabama are missed terribly...and those in Alaska too! ha!

Watch out....she's got a paint brush again!

Watch out!...She's got a paint brush again! That seems to be the words whispered behind my back throughout the house these days. It seems like a NEVER ENDING saga to rid these walls of their "eggshell" hue and turn them into surfaces that I can actually stand to look at. The upstairs walls are finally done - after a day of painting the kids/upstairs bathroom last week. Now I have moved on to the downstairs and to down the stairs by beginning the project of the foyer and staircase. The ceilings in the foyer/staircase are vaulted all the way up to the second story...I have yet to conquer those walls, but yesterday finished all of the shorter walls and half walls that lead up the side of the stairs. After taking about a 3 week break from painting I feel re-energized to start/finish the downstairs - colors are picked out - now the fun begins!





The only problem with all of the painting (well, not the ONLY problem, but the MAIN one) is that life has also began. School has started - which is a blessing and a curse - the girls are not here to be bothered by me and visa versa :-)...but they aren't here to help with Luke! Plus, soccer has started for BOTH girls. This is the first year that Summer has opted to play soccer instead of doing dance. My checkbook is very thankful, but I miss seeing my little ballerina in her tights and leotard w/that bouncy ponytail skipping off to the dance class each week! The girls practice TWICE a week (Mon. & Wed) and that wouldn't be a problem...but they are scheduled to practice at the EXACT same time at two separate locations. ugh! Tonight I will get to figure out who to drop off first and who to stay with until we get the other etc. I have yet to figure out how to clone myself so that I can stay with both. Some nights Kyle will be able to help me - but his schedule is still very WACKY and is only going to get WACKIER before it gets "normal" again.





Not this past weekend, but the one before - Boy it has been a LONG time since I posted last! - Kyle took Kyla and Summer dove hunting. The girls were very excited to go and "hang" with Dad...but my tenderhearted Kyla had a hard time dealing with the doves that weren't killed right away and had to be "helped along." She wanted to hold them...coddle them...fix them...not exactly what the hunters had in mind. Apparently there were tears - but it didn't seem to keep her from wanting to go back. Although, she wants to take bandages and warm water the next time...there MAY not be a next time if she shows up at her dad's side with a doctor's kit! ha! I took a few pictures before they left the house -- of course I did! It IS a scrapbook moment - the girl's first DOVE HUNT! -- and the funniest to me was the one of all 3 of them - Kyle, Summer, and Kyla...oh wait! 4 of them....because Luke backed himself into the picture as if to say - "What about me!?!"





Well - I PROMISE not to wait two weeks again to post...check back "soon" to see what else we've been up to. I will post later in the week on our trip to Cabela's in Buda,TX. Boy - we really had a huntin' filled Labor Day weekend!