How time flies…the last day of school.

This is what the first day of school looked like last September. 

After many years of homeschooling and a year in a small Christian school, they went to public school last fall.

Anna was a mere 11 years old and headed for the daunting halls of the local middle school where she would start sixth grade.

John on the other hand was 9 and headed for one of the larger elementary schools in the area.

They don’t look too worried here do they?  They weren’t, not really.  They both knew that public school was where God wanted them.

My, My, My how time flies…

This is what the last day of school looked like in June.

 

My, how time flies!  Anna finished 6th grade with better than flying colors!  She ended the year with a 4.3 GPA!!!  Don’t ask me how that happens!!!  And her state exams were all in the highest percentile!!!  She did awesome academically and in every other way.  She met some wonderful friends, and was able to minister the love of God in many ways, to kids and teachers alike.  She had issues with bullies, and she debated evolution with the Science teacher, who late nominated her for a “Beacon of Light” award!

Physically there were some changes as well….she grew about 3.5 inches (all in the legs!!!) in the last year!!!  She chose to get a “real” haircut (though you can’t tell in the perpetual ponytail) complete with tapered bangs and everything.  The biggest difference is probably the glasses…boy do they change her look!!!  She’s growing up fast!!!!

This is also what the last day of school looked like…

John had a pretty good year as well, despite the icky math curriculum and a teacher who was less than ideal.  He managed to prove himself as a “top of the class” kid in many ways.  His report card was full of + (they don’t do grade at this age I guess…).  He too had to deal with bullies and cheaters, but he did a great job at keeping his cool and dealing with it by letting the Lord be His defender!

There were some physical changes here as well.  It seems that this was Anna’s big year to grow, because John didn’t – only 1 inch in a year!!!  But his is getting ready to “go up” any day now, I’m sure of it!!!  And that will be the day you see me heading off to Target to get him a whole new wardrobe!!!

I don’t have the foggiest idea why it took me so long to post this, maybe it’s because it’s a little tough to see it right in front of you – the growth and changes.  They are growing soooooo fast!!!  I am trying with all my might to slow down enough to enjoy each and every minute I can, because each one is so precious!!!

I’ve said it more than once lately…this is the best season I’ve had as a mom.  I am watching them grow and develop into wonderful, caring little people who love the Lord and who care a great deal for others in their spheres of influence.

I am blessed….and definitely Enjoying This Process!!!!

 

 

KidBiz…a yearly tradition

This year marks the fourth year we have participated in a program called KidBiz.  It’s a wonderful program sponsored by one of the local colleges in our city.  They invite children in grades 3-6 to a training, to teach them the basics (very basics) of running a business.  They do everything from developing a concept (idea of what to sell), decide how to produce the item (including funding it, usually a “loan” from parents bank), and how to price, market and sell the item on KidBiz Day.  There are three of these KidBiz days – one in each month of June, July, and August and it is held as a part of the local farmer’s market here in the city, near the college.

It’s a wonderful program that my kiddos have learned a ton from.  Anna was the one who started a few years ago.  She and her dad decided to make BBQ sauce and see if it would sell.  It did.  People come back year after year looking for her.  Don’t know what they will do next year when she outgrows the program…I guess the plan is to pass the concept on to her brother.

John started a year or so later, selling dip.  Yep, you read right, dip.  The child has always seen carrots, celery and chips merely as dip holders, so it was an obvious choice for him.  He purchases all sorts of spices and creates little packets of dry dip that people can mix up later with sour cream and mayo.  Think Hidden Valley.

He sells his dips for $1 each, and sells a bunch of them.   I think he had around 120 packets (20 each of Ranch, Bacon Ranch, Cajun Seasoning, Taco Seasoning, Mexican Fiesta and Dill) when he started the day.

 

Here is John trying to help one of the moms in the program decide between flavors…they are all so good!!

 

Anna on the other hand has a higher price point, $3 a bottle.   But it is worth every cent.  She got creative her second year and started reusing juice bottles to package the sauce, so they look really cute.  And man is that stuff good!!! 

Anna also had to move into the realm of having an employee this year.  KidBiz runs from 9am to 1pm and she already had dance from 9-11am.  SO, she talked to her brother and asked him if he’d handle her table for the first two hours, and she would pay him 10% of whatever he sold.  Not much really.  Especially considering bbq sauce isn’t much of a sale until around lunch time.

 

Here is John selling a bottle of bbq sauce  to one of the moms in the program who stocks up every year…

 

This year was a tough one.  It rained like crazy on KidBiz day both in June and July.  Not many sales were made, but I think both kids at least broke even.  They still have sales to make to family and maybe on garage sale day, so maybe a few dollars can still be made….Lord knows we have enough dip and bbq sauce!!!   And they need some spending money for our trip next month!!

 

Here’s John, manning both products in the rain…oh what a day!

 

 

 

Here’s what the signs looked like at the end of the day today.

 

My Husband Rocks -laughter…

When most people see my husband, they don’t immediately think of laughter. He has a unique sense of humor, but that is absolutely one of the best things I love about him.

You see, I. Love. To. Laugh. And I do it big. Chris often says that if we are separated in a crowd he just listens for my laugh to know where I am. Whatever…..

Anyway, he’s been cracking me up lately, just by the little things he says and does…usually things that no one else sees or hears. And my response is “why am I the only one that sees this side of you?” Even typing, I’m giggling.

This photo is a prime example of my life with my comedian husband….This is me laughing really hard after I read the Mother’s Day card he gave me. It was a simple little note card with a handwritten message which was beautiful. Then as a side note he wrote: “sorry for raiding the card file…I seem to have misplaced the card I bought you…don’t know how that could have happened.” Silly? I know!! And as you can see….it cracked me up…and him…and the kids…we had a really good laugh. Actually I think they might have been laughing at me!

My point is this. He does this stuff all the time, usually unknowingly! And that is what I love! He doesn’t even have to try to make me laugh! Guess that comes with being together for so long…. :)

I love you honey! Just keep on making me laugh….it’s one of the things you do best!!!!

This is posted as a part of My Husband Rocks over at The Great Adventure!

Fitness Friday – 7/10

“I’m not where I want to be, but thank God I’m not where I was.”

That’s the mentality I am holding onto this week. After four weeks on the EA Active – 30 day challenge, I am right where I started, weight-wise. I’ve gone up and down like a yo-yo with those 2 blasted pounds.

BUT, as I sit here and type (with my lovely little ankle on ice), I am wearing a pair of shorts from last summer, that I barely fit into last summer! – they fit now!!! That is pretty cool!!!

Last Sunday I wore a dress to church that I bought last year as well, and I wore it a few times, but it was nothing special. Last week when I had it on, I felt different. That darn dress looked good! Yippee!!!

As I said last week, things are changing!!!

On the downer side, my ankles are still causing me trouble, especially the right one. But after much prayer and consideration, I think maybe I tried to change too many things at the same time. Here’s what I mean.

At the same time I started the 30 day challenge, I also did the following….
1. started wearing new sneakers
2. started a comprehensive (herbal) program to work on ridding my body of candida
3. wore new shoes to break them in before our trip in August

That’s where I think I messed myself up…too many things at once. Kind of like when you first give an infant solid food…too much variety at once and you can’t determine what is causing negative reactions.

All that being said, I went back to wearing old shoes. But I kept the new sneakers because I need the support. I backed way off on the candida program. And I am taking this weekend to really try and stay off my feet and rest these feet of mine. I did work out this morning…I did a preset Active workout for my upper body and a Pilates tape for toning on the bottom half. I think I’ll stick with that for a few more days, maybe even through next week. But I really miss the cardio – I never thought I’d say that!!!

I have got to get this under control since we have this trip to Disney coming up in a few weeks. And yes, if things don’t seem better by Monday, I’m going to call the doc and see what I should do.

How did you all do this week?

Week 1 … –1.5
Week 2 … +2.0
Week 3 … –2.0
Week 4 … +1.5

This post is linked to Wii Mommies - Fitness Friday and Momspective

Thursday Thirteen – Garden

The inspiration for today’s Thursday Thirteen came as I was sitting on my deck swing a little while ago. It’s such a beautiful day, and I looked around and what to my wandering eye did I see?

1. Hastas – they are still growing!!!
2. More Hastas!
3. Herbs outgrowing their pot.
4. Hot peppers growing nicely in their pot.
5. A few green cherry Tomatoes.
6. Lots of Day Lillies across the back fence.

7. Squash and Cucumber plants with lots of flowers.
8. A huge pot of Tomatoes, full of flowers…
9. BEANS!!! Yay!!!
10. Chives and Scallions, a first for us!
11. Garlic. Remember the “defensive maneuver?” It’s producing!
12. A few pretty pink Hydrangea flowers.
13. My personal favorite~~~ RASPBERRIES!!!!! Now, keeping in mind I know about zilch about gardening, and Hubs has been super busy, I think things are going growing pretty well in our garden.

How does your garden grow?

30 Days and Counting…..

It’s hard to believe, but in just a few days…30 to be exact, we’ll be in the craziest, hottest,happiest place on earth.
Yep, you guessed it.

We’re going to Disney!!!

Calendar compliments of Bayou Mickey’s DISigns.

After our last trip, a mere nine months ago, we pretty much knew we would be going back. I just had no idea it would be this soon. But, with the deals we got, 30 days from now, we’ll be at The World.

Last time, our trip was messed up, cut short due to Miss Tween getting vile-y ill (and I don’t exaggerate – it was v.i.l.e!!) and ending up in the local ER, hooked up to an IV for about 6 hours. Needless to say when we talk about that trip, “Puke-fest” (her name for it) always comes up. THAT my friends is the biggest reason we are going back. We are having a “do-over”.

Last time, we were “commando” Disney-doers…we had to do as much as we possibly could in the time allotted, no matter how we were feeling, weather conditions, or anything else for that matter. THIS time though…is vacation, one hot, 7 day vacation at a beautiful resort, with the option to go to the Disney parks (including the water-parks) whenever we want…

We will be staying at the Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate hotel. Which in and of itself is a change for us as we’ve mostly stayed at the Values, which are okay, but the POR is going to be awesome!!!! Those grounds look exquisite! I just can’t wait!

Last time, we were on the dining plan and we I obsessed worked for hours to get the right reservations on the right days at the right times, etc. Not this time. We chose a new “quick/counter service” dining plan…two counter service meals and two snacks each day. No reservations!!!

Can you tell we are excited? So much to do in such a small amount of time….packing, gathering information, packing, a host of other things, and did I mention packing?

Oh Lord, please help me Enjoy This Process…….

MckLinky - Favorite Photo

Okay, I'm trying something new today. I'm going to do this Bloghop thing with MckLinky. It looks like it could be really cool. This week the theme is my favorite photo. How hard is that - choose just one? It's like eating just one potato chip?!?!

This is a photo of my favorite boy! Don't know why, but I just love it! You can see there is always something going on behind those eyes!!!

Have you tried MckLinky??