Captain's Log ~ Day Two

Today was our first full day here at the beach.  Yesterday really doesn't count I guess, because it was a travel day.  We made great time!  Since we couldn't check in before 3, I didn't see the need to leave in the middle of the night to try to get here.  So, we managed to leave about 10:15 and still made it here in about 8 hours...only stopping once ~ yes ~ ONCE!  With four kids (one of whom has a bladder the size of the head of a pin), that is nothing short of a miracle!  We were reminiscing about past trips - as a family and as teenagers with friends and church trips.  Good times!!  As soon as we unloaded the car we had to get to the beach.  After a short walk we talked the girls into coming in so we could go buy food and get some dinner.  It was still close to midnight before everyone was asleep, but sleep they did!  The kids didn't get up until 9:15.  Actually, Ava was up about 6 but I sent her back to bed.  We hit the beach...swam, looked for seashells (which the seashells here are SO TINY!!!!  What is up with that?)  Sarah did find two of the smallest sand dollars I have EVER seen.  I was amazed!  I have never found a sand dollar on the beach - only in a shop!  So anyway...the girls got tired of building sand castles and burying Josh on the beach so we headed to the pool.  Then back inside for lunch and downtime.  The girls talked me into going back down to the pool so Charles and I headed back out while the boys stayed upstairs (actually, Josh just crawled in his bed and took a nap!)  Then when the boys decided to join this, we realized the importance of keeping one of the spare keys in the lock box on the door.  It's in case you are locked out BTW!  One hour and $50 later we were back in.  Yes - it was a little frustrating and poor Zachary really beat himself up about it, but you know...it's a lesson learned.  It's over, it all worked out, so why dwell on it?  Things happen and you have to consider them a "lesson learned" - THE END!  


So that was our drama for the day, but the biggest laugh of the day was when Zachary posted as his Facebook status that he went "Booby" boarding earlier.  Oh. My.  Word.  I just happened to check my FB after he posted that and after I composed myself and told him what he had done, he was scrambling to get to his iTouch to change it but couldn't.  We were all laughing soooo hard!  I didn't think about having him sign on the laptop, but oh well...lots of people got a kick out of it.  He is such an amazing kid.  I just love his heart -- I just wish he wasn't so hard on himself!  As soon as we got let back into the condo, he grabbed his wallet and tried to pay Charles the $50.  He felt it was his fault we got locked out because he and Josh were the last ones out the door.  Of course Charles refused, but I admire him for even offering.  How many 12 year olds would even think about doing that?


Tomorrow's agenda again involves beach and pool time but I really don't know what else.  I know we plan on going to the Naval Aviation Museum later this week to see the Blue Angels practice.  Charles and Zachary are going to go parasailing and Sarah and I will rent a jet ski one day.  Who knows?  That's really my idea of vacation ~ no agenda!  We do what we want when we want.  This week is all about us being just the 6 of us....and in Sarah and Ava's words "This is the best vacation EVER!" :-)

There's 104 Days of Summer Vacation.....

C'mon - you know you want to finish it - "and school comes along just to end it."  Nothing beats a good Phineas and Ferb lead in!  Actually, I don't know if we really do have 104 days, but nevertheless I will take what I can get.  I love the lazy days of summer.  Being able to wake up on my own before 7 a.m. is so much better than trying to drag myself up at 5:30 a.m.!  We don't have huge plans, but here's what I love about our "104 days":

Sleeping in

Staying up late

Grilling out

Swimming

Celebrating birthdays!  Bernie, Sarah and Ava all have birthdays in June...

Hanging out with the other "cove moms" at night, sitting outside and chatting while the kids (all 12+ of them) play all over the cove.

Going for walks

Riding bikes

Jerry's Snow Cones ~ never got there last year!!

VACATION!  (CANNOT come soon enough!)

Dancing - the girls do at least.  The other day I asked Ava what she was doing and she said, "I'm shaking my booty - that's what you are supposed to do when you are dancing!")

Not caring if the house is spotless.  This fall all four kiddos will be in school so there will plenty of time for me to catch up on that later.  Within reason of course -- I don't exactly let mold grow or anything!

Watching movies - I'm so glad the girls are old enough to sit thru movies now

Ice cream at the square.  This is a new one...Just sounds like fun.  I like some of the new yogurt places, but their stuff is so expensive...we could eat a full meal at Chick-fil-A cheaper!

Watermelon....lots of watermelon!!!!!!!!

Sunshine!  Love the feel of it on my skin - but not when it is 100+ degrees!

Not having a schedule ~ deciding to do things on a whim ~ spending lots of time with my kiddos ~ that's what those "104 days" are ALL about! :)

Another Year Over

Yeeeee haaaaaaa!  Let summer vacation begin!  No more lunches...no more folders...no more lunches...no more permission slips...no more lunches...no more backpacks...no more LUNCHES!  I know it is trivial, but I hate packing lunches.  It's not that it is hard, I just hate doing it!

So anyway, this time of year always make me sad ~ especially this year.  Zachary goes to 7th grade.  A new building, a new schedule for him.  He's excited tho.  I love my guy.  He received the award for "Most Christ-Like Boy" this year.  I am so proud of him!   

Josh had to say good-bye to his friends (for next year anyway).  He (along with Sarah) is going to the neighborhood school next year.  That makes me sad too.  He really wanted to go last year but (for whatever reason), we didn't let him go.  I think now the reality is setting in that he won't be with his old friends next year.  He's having second thoughts.  We told him to give it a year.  If he doesn't like it he can go back to his old school next year.  I think he will be fine.  He makes friends easily.  He is such a positive, upbeat kid with a generous heart.

Sarah....sweet Sarah will be changing schools too.  She is excited.  Her graduation was one of the most heart-wrenching emotional things I have gone thru in a long time ~ lol~! No really...I have been thru K-4 graduation twice already, but this time was especially hard.  There was not a dry eye in the house!  The poor teachers were crying as they called out their names.  I made the mistake of reading the inside of the program right after I got there.  It was a letter from the teachers to the parents.  I am going to copy it and make it a prayer for all my kids teachers in the years to come.  I pray they all will feel this for their students.   Here's what it said:

We give back your children, the same children you confidently entrusted to our care last fall.  We give them back pounds heavier, inches taller, more responsible, and more mature than they were then.

Although they would have obtained their growth in spite of us, it has been our pleasure and privilege to watch their personality unfold day by day and marvel at the splendid miracle of development.

We give them back reluctantly, for having spent ten months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.

Ten years from now if we meet on the street, your child and I, a light will shine to our eyes, a smile to our lips, and we shall feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today.

We have lived, laughed, played, studied and enriched our lives together this year.

We wish it could go on indefinitely, but give them back we must.

Take care of them, for they are precious.

Remember that we shall always be interested in your child and their destiny, wherever they go, whatever they do, whoever they become.

Their joys and sorrows we'll be happy to share.

We will always be their friends.

With much love,
JR K Teachers
Can you see why I was a puddle through the whole thing?  This class is so special.  No really...they are a great group of kids.  The all got along, and were just really an amazingly sweet bunch.  Everyone - parents included - just "clicked" this year.  They are so special.  I'm going to miss being with them.  Ava will be in that class next year, so I get to do it again.  I just hope next year is even more amazing!  Is that possible tho?  :-)

My kids were blessed with amazing teachers this year.  They love their students and have their best interests at heart.  I love them all and am eternally grateful for them and the impact they have made on my kids lives this year.  Love you ladies ~ so very much!  Hope you have a happy, restful summer!

Toddlers and Tiaras

Yes -- now THIS is the real deal.  Forget that show on TLC (or whatever channel it is on).  Watching that show is like watching the aftermath of a bad accident.  You watch in awe and think it is so bad but you can't not watch!


No, this is about the most beautiful little (and big!) girls dancing to "Aurora's Wedding".  (QUIZ: Do you know which princess is named "Aurora"?  You are not allowed to answer if you have a little girl under the age of 9!  If you don't know, I'll tell you ~ at the end of the post!)  Maybe it was because one of them was my own.  Nevertheless, even though it literally was "a dark and stormy night" outside, the performance inside all but made up for it. 

Mrs. Carrie Jean is an amazing woman.  She choreographs the entire ballet - which incorporates the tiniest little jumping beans up to the most graceful ballerina.  Being able to do that and do it well is a feat in itself.  :-)  She truly loves these girls (and boys!)  She invests time ~ lots of time ~ and with little compensation.  She teaches them scripture and prays with them.  She brings it down to their level.  In December, she had a "Mommy and Me" class (which btw kicked my butt was not as easy as it sounds).  At the end she told the kids the Christmas story using miniature candy bars (like, the 3 wise men [aka "Three Muskateers"] found the babe ["Baby Ruth"]).  I love how she calls them (the three and four year-olds) "little ballerinas".  Even at the recital, she is out there on stage with them and when it was time for them to run off you could hear her calling, "Run to me ballerinas!"  Precious I tell you...or maybe I am just sappy.

Before the performance, she went to every room (each age group had their own "dressing" room) and quoted their Bible verse and prayed with them.  That just warms my heart! 

I am so very greatful for Carrie Jean.  She invests so much into the lives of these kids and she does it selflessly and with lots of love.  Thank you for being Christ's servant!

Better Me Than You

I really can't add more to this......please click HERE to read the blog post from another blogger. As a parent, I can totally relate.  As a child, I am so thankful!  Thank you Jesus for loving me!

Do You Ever Feel Like It Is Only "Two Steps Back"?

Haha!  I do lately!  I don't feel like I am making any steps forward!  My last fb status said I'm sure all of my kids teachers think I am a moron!  Let's see - over 2 weeks..Josh AND Zachary have out-of-town field trips...maybe...but parents like me who forget to turn in forms and money make it impossible to make it happen!  Aaaagh!  Okay - in my defense - it was all a matter of things falling into place.  Like, if this happens then we will do this but I can't do this until I know when this is going to happen and what if......?  See what I mean?  THEN the boys have rehearsals this weekend for Palm Sunday, Sarah has a birthday party and field trip (another form and $).  I CANNOT KEEP UP THIS WEEK!  Aaaaand.....my mom is having an out-patient procedure which meant I had to change my work schedule which has thrown me for a loop because I now have trouble remembering what day it is!  Aaaaaand Ava has 2 ballet recitals coming up and I have to make sure I have the right leotard and tights for the right performance.  Add all of this on top of the usual chaos that is our lives and there you have it!  I want to pull the covers up over my head for a couple of weeks until all the action passes!  :-)

So that fills you in on what I have been up to...no baby birdies yet, but the time is getting close!  Mamma bird sits on the nest all the time now (except for when we get too close or if too many of us come out). We also have another addition coming.  It looks like pigeons have nested on top of a ceiling fan on our patio.  I'm guessing since mamma bird NEVER leaves, she must have eggs in there too.  Don't these creatures see there are 4 kids and a dog all over that backyard?  It's ironic how they pick the wildest atmosphere to have their babies, but I'm so glad they did!  We have all learned from it.  Can't wait for their arrival and I will post pics as soon as I see little beaks popping up!

Quick Trip, Cute Babies and Crazy Weather!

Yep - it has been a whirlwind...and I don't mean the weather today!  Josh and I made a quick overnight trip to Nashville Friday.  He had a JBQ tournament - and all the kids did well.  I'm so proud of them!  Short synopsis..check in...eat dinner..go to swim...pool closed...kids (and parents) upset...went to Wally World and bought fixins for ice cream sundaes...popped pop corn...played games...crashed in room...up early..tourny all day...nice dinner...home at 10 p.m.  Yeah - we were both pooped!

So Sunday afternoon, we were looking at the nest this robin has built in a tree right outside our kitchen window.  Momma has been sitting on the nest so Charles took a look-see and (in case you didn't see it on my FB page) here is what is inside:

Is that just so cool?  I am amazed by it!  The girls tried to tell me several days ago that they thought the momma bird was sitting in the nest looking like she was "pooping" - I guess they were right!  But really - just look at that nest.  Look at how it is built!  I mean, I know we have all seen a bird nest, but I am in awe of this one.  This tiny creature with two wings, a beak, and tiny feet built this!  God is awesome like that.  Momma bird sat on these babies today during the storm and all is well.  I have tried to get a pic of her on the nest but have not been super-successful.  She was sitting on the fence giving me all kinds of heck when I took this picture.  The nest is actually low enough that all I have to do is hold my camera (or phone) up and point down and I can take a picture.  I can't wait to see these little babies!  The kids are all excited too.  We check on them - from a distance - several times a day.  I will keep you posted on the progress!

So all this and then the crazy storm this morning.  Ava and I were at her ballet class (which is in the basement of a church thank goodness!)  I had actually run to Kroger to get some milk but the sirens went off just as I pulled into the parking lot. Sooooo....I turned around and went back.  When I got there, they were all lined up against the wall in the hallway, sitting down, practicing their positions (arms only!)  At that point the power went out (which is REALLY dark in a basement hallway), so they took requests from the kids.  They sang "Jesus Loves Me", "Frosty the Snowman", "ABC's", "Mary Had  A Little Lamb"....just to name a few.  The storm passed and they still had about 10 minutes left to practice (BIG recital coming up May 2nd at GPAC!!!) ****SIDEBAR**** I just love Carrie Jean McDonald (her teacher)...she is such a blessing to so many families!  I'm sad that Ava will not be able to take again next year since she will be in school :-( **** Lights were still out and Ava informs me she has to go potty.  Seriously?  You went RIGHT before class started!  She must have a bladder the size of a squirrel's...so she did...while I used the flashlight app on my phone to create some sort of illumination so she could see what she was doing.

So that's been our craziness the past few days.  Zoo trip tomorrow with the K4 class (because it is "Z" week you know!)  Thank goodness it was rescheduled from today!  It will chilly in the morning, but as long as there is no rain, we are GOOD!!!