Funny Girls

This morning at breakfast Jocie was telling me about a show that she was watching at her Grammy’s house the night before.

Jocie: Have you ever seen the show Reba?

Me: Uh, I think I’ve seen part of an episode before. What about it?

Jocie: Well, her daughter on the show has a husband that smokes pot so the daughter says, “I’m married to a pothead!”

(the girls giggle)

Randy and I glance at each other and smile.

Me: So, what is a pothead?

Jocie: Um, I don’t know.

Melody: I know! It’s someone who drinks a lot of coffee. Ahhhhh you two are potheads!!!

(the girls giggle wildly)

Jocie & Melody: Potheads. Potheads. Potheads.

"The Perfect One"

Melody's teacher from last year, Mrs. Black has a daughter Kara that's a senior this year. She has some sewing experience, but she's still learning. Mrs. Black told me that Kara wanted to make dresses for my girls so she could practice. I thought that was so neat. When I told the girls they were so excited. On Saturday we met Mrs. Black and Kara at Wal-Mart to look at patterns. They let the girls look through all the books to find "the perfect one." They were so sweet to Jocie and Melody. Jocie ended up picking a pattern with flowing princess sleeves (of course.) Melody picked a cute summer dress (of course.)

After that we went to Hancock Fabrics where we spent the next few HOURS looking at fabric! I'm totally not kidding. We looked and looked and looked at almost every bolt in that place to find "the perfect one" for each girl. When Jocie found her "perfect one" there was no doubt about it. She found it, held onto it and that was the end of it. She picked this very elegant fabric. It's turquoise with a rich brown pattern of flowers. It's going to be stunning!

Melody however had in her head what she wanted and although there were about 2,000 fabrics to choose from...she couldn't find "the perfect one." She loves purple. She loves polka dots. She wanted a WHITE background with PURPLE polka dots. It had to be the right purple and it could NOT be a purple background with white polka dots. Well, they didn't have that. We had decided that we would have to go to another store and look there. The girls were wilting by this time. We went to look for the ribbon for Jocie's dress before we left and that helped motivate Miss Mella. She loved looking at the ribbon and wanted a dress material to match ribbon to.

Mrs. Black had to go to the bathroom and on her way back she found some material that Melody decided she loved. It was bright pink and orange and had vibrant fruits all over it. Melody quickly matched some rainbow rick-rack to the dress and then found some buttons for accessories.

Mrs. Black and Kara paid for everything. They totally could have bought new dresses at Dillard's for the price they paid for the material. Jocie's alone was $9 a yard! I'm so very excited to see how they come out...did I mention that Melody also wanted a matching hat to go with her dress? That girl is so funny. She knows what she wants.

I have no idea how long it will take for Kara to finish the dresses. I'm sure she will also be busy with school. I look forward to seeing them...pictures will follow I'm sure.

After a long afternoon of shopping Cold Stone was in order. Mmmmm....Coffee Lovers is The Best!

I just felt so blessed that they would want to do that. The dresses are going to be very special!

1st week

A quick update on Homeschool while Spencer's working on his Penmanship...

Already it's been such a sweet time. I know that's a strange way to describe school work, but it's the word that seems to fit perfectly. Yes, it takes a lot of my time and attention, but it's been so fun at the same time. We start out the day with Bible, which I felt like I got a great idea from the Lord on what to do during this time. Later I'll probably fill you in on what we're up to. Anyway, we have Bible, Math, Language, Penmanship, Reading, Spelling/Poetry/, History and then Science.

I'm so impressed with how smart he is. I'm sure this helps dramatically.

Our home has been filled with peace. I just have a feeling of "rightness." I feel like we're doing exactly what we're supposed to be doing in this season. In the morning I drop the girls off to Cornerstone which is a private school, Joey off to a public middle school, homeschool Spencer and have decided to keep Miles home another year as well.

There are several things that I could do to make this school year easier and cheaper, but I'm thankful that God provides your needs when you're doing what He wants you to do.



Spencer working on Penmanship.


Miles working on...a nap.

Camp Picture...WAY Too many of them!

This summer we got to go to CAMP EXPERIENCE as a family. It's a camp through the Division for Blind Services. They allow families with special needs children to go to the camp so everyone can "experience" camp. We've been invited each year, but this was the first time Miles was well enough/I was brave enough to go. I really didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be so much fun. Honestly, I wasn't even ready to come home after a week of being there. We had our own 13 bed cabin. : ) There was a ton to do at the camp. We were free to do all of it or none of it. We ended up doing almost everything available. They had a Zip Line, Rock Climbing Wall, Crafts, Swimming every afternoon, Slime Olympics, Horse Back Riding, Petting Zoo...and several other things. We had a ton to do, but it was also relaxing. The whole camp was totally free for us which was a total blessing. I should also mention that Randy was in a "Womanless Beauty Pageant" on the last day of camp. I'm disappointed that I didn't get a "before" shot when he had all his gear on A.K.A his boobs. Also, he has on shorts in this picture. He was showing quite a bit of leg in the "before." I didn't get a good shot of him while he was in the Pageant because I was laughing so hard I was crying!
Anyway, we had an amazing time. The camp goes on every year. I'm already looking forward to next year! (Tons of photos to look at.)

Day of Firsts

Today was a day of “Firsts.”

Joey had his first day of 7th grade.

Jocie had her first day of 3rd grade. It also was her first day of being in a combined class.

Melody had her first day of 2nd grade. Also, it was her first day to go to school without her “Bubba” being there.

It was Spencer’s first day of Home School. It was also my first day to teach Home School. We had a great day together. I think the 5th grade is going to be a lot of fun for us both.

As exciting as all those things are, there’s been one thing that has made my heart heavy today. Today would have been Miles’ first day of Kindergarten. I still can’t believe he’s not healed yet. Obviously every day isn’t devastating, but days like today make my heart feel tender and my eyes easy to tear up. Of course it doesn’t help much that Miles has been sick for quite a while now and that the last two mornings he’s woken up with a blood-covered face. He’s been having bad nosebleeds so it’s been very sad in the mornings.

Today when I went to pick up the kids from school I saw Ginny picking up Austin. Ginny and I were pregnant at the same time. There were actually five us that were pregnant at the same time: Francesca, Ginny, Me, Becky & Kristy. All of those “babies” are now in Kindergarten or Pre-K. Well, except Miles.

I haven’t cried about it yet. I’ve felt like it all day, but I’ve been busy with everyone else’s “Firsts.”

Lord, please…

An Oldie But a Goodie

I was talking to Jennifer today and I remembered this story that I wrote a long time ago. I thought I would repost it today.



Stinky Easy Mac!
Today my Mother In Law came over to let me rest this morning since we didn't get in from Six Flags until 2:00 this morning. She had the great idea to make the kids pancakes. (Us and our great ideas!) Well, she gets in the house with a mission to make pancakes, but the kids have other plans for Grandma! They wanted to tell her about every detail of their trip. Joey was going down the list of rides the he rode and the list of rides that he will ride next time. Melody got down a blown glass hummingbird that Spencer got on his trip yesterday, broke it, and Spencer went in hysterics! He was crying so hard. At the same time everyone of them wanted to help make pancakes with Grandma. When I walked into the kitchen Joey had the hot glue gun fixing Spencer's hummingbird, and Spencer was insisting that he knew how to crack eggs. It is true that Spencer knows how to crack eggs. He smacks them on the counter real hard and they crack all over the place! So, that's what he did and he got grossed out at the egg all over his hand so he ran to the bathroom to throw up. Did I mention that the two little girls had the spice drawer opened and their fingers in the powdered sugar? They did.
So, with all that going on I decided it was time to go back to bed. :) I was in bed all snuggled up just about asleep when Shirley comes to my room panicked because she thought she couldn't get my stove turned off so it was smoking up the place. I got up out of bed and walked into the kitchen that was full of smoke. It was terrible! Everyone was coughing and choking. Melody had taken her orange juice and ran for cover and spilled it all over the floor.
Come to find out Grandma Shirley makes different pancakes then Mommy does. She makes whole wheat pancakes so they are brown. My kids didn't think brown pancakes were going to work out for them so they wouldn't eat them. The girls decided they wanted waffles, Spencer wanted Toaster Studel, and Joey wanted a box of Easy Mac that I got free at the store the other day. He insisted that he knew how to make the Easy Mac. Unfortunately, his Easy Mac skills are as great as Spencer's egg cracking skills!
Shirley had turned off my stove correctly. Joey had cooked a package of Easy Mac for three and a half minutes without using any water! Oh my goodness that macaroni was completely black! It was horrible. Smoke was every where! We had to open all the doors and some of the windows. Jocie kept saying, "It's in my throat!" I can still taste it. When Randy came home for lunch he had a strange face and asked, "What's cooking?" I think he was relieved that it wasn't his lunch in the making.
So, my house smells like crispy pancakes! So does everything that you cook in the microwave! Joey can't stop talking about it. He was glad that Miles was still asleep because he didn't think that Miles could have handled the smell.
My Mother-in-Law said that I probably wasn't going to let her come over any more after that episode. YEAH RIGHT! If she thinks that smoking up my kitchen one time is going to prevent me from letting her take care of my five children while I take a nap she's wrong! She's going to have to come up with something better than that! :)
The ending...Joey and Spencer came to my room and said that they were going to make a banner that read, "Easy Mac Stinks!" and sit in front of Wal-Mart with it. Comments like that make it all worth it!

One More Week!

WOW!

This day next week Spencer and I will begin our big adventure of Home Schooling!

I've got things ready.

I've got the supplies ready to go.

I'm excited and nervous. I really think this year of schooling has been set up by the Lord. I'm excited to see the "fruit" of Spencer and I getting to spend a year together while the other kids are at school.

I will be happy when I get used to the curriculum. Right now I feel like I'm trying to learn a whole new language. Still, I want to try and enjoy the fumbling while we get settled into a new routine.

The song I keep hearing in my head is "I have Confidence" from the Sound of Music. Most of it applies except for the 7 children thing...

What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children (Home Schooling someone who doesn't like getting up)
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems (MATH)
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!



Okay, so I know that was Cheesy, but I'm Cheesy sometimes. : )

My Favorite Present Ever.

Today Spencer asked me what my favorite gift that Randy ever bought me was.

When I turned 30 he gave me my FAVORITE gift ever!

He took me to our bedroom and told me to open up one of my dresser drawers. When I opened it up there was a $30 gift card to ROSS (my favorite place to buy clothes.) I was happy with that. THEN he told me to open another drawer. When I did there was a $30 gift card to HOBBY LOBBY. I was really happy with that. THEN he told me to open another drawer...by this time I had the biggest smile on my face! With each drawer there was a $30 gift card to one of my favorite places. Every time I opened another drawer I was sure that it would be the last one, but he would tell me again to open another drawer! it ended up being $300 worth of gift cards to places all over town.

I was shaking by the end of it. I couldn't contain my excitement. I was so thrilled.

I love gift cards because it just feels like free money. : ) I had gift cards for a long time because I spread out the spending.

Anyway, I just thought I would share that since I remembered it today.