Lots of updating

So-- below this are 9 new posts. It has been a long time coming!!!

Kadyn's Columbus Day Play

Kadyn's class did a Columbus Day play. Kadyn was the narrator..... they made their own costumes. Her class went to all the other 2nd grade classes to perform. Mrs. Allen asked if I would like for them to come to my class. I obviously wanted them to!! Kadyn did great! She read all of her lines so well. She didn't shy away like she does when I am around at times. THere are definite advantages to having her at the same school. I get to see and be involved in so much more than I would if she were at another school. I am thankful for teachers at my school that have allowed me the opportunity to be a part of their class as well.

Eric and Kristi

So most of the posts are about the kids... so here is one on Eric and I.
This is where you find Eric most of the time these days. Notice the ear piece. He is playing Madden on the XBOX 360...... talking with his brothers who are at their house. I think he looks like Yosemite Sam with his facial hair the way it is... what do you think?


Ok-- so this is not my face-- and I actually can't believe I am putting a picture of my feet on here( I have a foot issues) I went and had a pedicure about 2 weeks ago. I have not done that in AGES!!! I went with a friend of mine here-- also known as Barbie-- I would be Skipper ( according to the girls at Ann Taylor Loft). Anyway--- while getting my pedicure the lady asked if I wanted a flower. It was the big game day-- Bama vs. Georgia-- thus the crimson color-- but the fl0wer makes me think of my grandma. She always has her nails done-- always has fun art on them. So --I got flowers on my toes.....a first for me!

Cousins

Last weekend, Jonathan and Elizabeth came to play for a few hours-- giving their mama a much needed break. We had a great time. It is so fun to see our kids growing up-- wanting to play together.

Brownie Mix

I have passed my love onto my children.... well 2 loves actually....
Bama was playing Georgia--- while we were watching the game.... Brownie mix was made
What more is there in life than brownie mix and Bama football!!
ROLL TIDE!

Dylan and Cuck E Cheese

Dylan was invited to a friend's birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Kadyn was at a friend's house. Eric was with his brothers,. so I called mom and said come with us! He had a blast. He is not really into winning tickets-- he just wanted to ride everything that he could ride-- no little kid things-- all big boy things as he calls them. The party had a spiderman theme-- the last picture is my favorite. As we were leaving, he put his mask on and started shooting webs--

Lilli and Kadyn

Hurricane Ike passed through Houston as most people probably know. Cynthia and her family came up and stayed a night with us. I hate that I didn't get more pics-- ones of all the kids-- of Cynthia and me. I did get these pictures right before bed time. Kadyn was reading to Lilli. How fun that our 2 girls like each other!!!

Fun With Abby

Several weekends ago, we dog sat for a friend of mine. Abby came to be with us for 2 days. The kids LOVED it!! Abby is a sweet dog who loves to play. The kids played tug of war with her most of the weekend. Kadyn was also extremely happy because Abby slept in her room.

Fun WIth Grannylou

Over Labor Day Weekend, Kadyn called my mom to ask her to come help her with an art project. Mom and I both laughed because KAdyn called her on her own-- I had no idea---

Anyway --mom said she couldn't refuse! So on the Saturday of that weekend, mom came over and the project began. Here of some pictures of the fun they had.

1st Day of 2nd Grade

Here is Kadyn on the 1st day of school this year. It is so hard to believe she is in 2nd grade already! She is doing fabulous! Her teacher is a wonderful Christian lady. Kadyn loves going to school and is still reading way beyond her grade level. We got her first report card yesterday. This is the first report card she got that had real grades on it-- I will say that mom and dad were very proud of her!!

More Coming Soon

So-- school is back in..... I am tired by the time I get home, get dinner ready, do baths, get everything ready for the next school day. Needless to say, the blog has suffered. I do have a few pics to put on here-- I will update on the kids. For now...... I must go to bed. A long week awaits-- 3 meetings after school, 2 days of dance-- and a new plan to start going to the gym.

For now-- know we are all well.......

WOOHOO!!!

It is one of my favorite times of the year-- COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!! What a way to start it off--- The Crimson Tide just beat Clemson!!!!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!!

The End and The Beginning

Summer is officially coming to an end. Tomorrow, I head back to school. Dylan starts a new school tomorrow. Kadyn has one more week and then she will join me-- her classroom is just down the hall from mine.

This summer has been so very different. I have spent more time in trainings. I faced a fear ( my wisdom teeth) and survived. I always have a time of reflection, but this summer that feels to me like it was intensified. I feel as if I learned so much about myself-- some good-- some I wish I did not have to admit. We have started attending a new church and I am hopeful that this will become our church home. I have had new challenges with my children-- some I feel I have handled with ease-- others I know I have failed miserably.

This school year brings change--- I am making MAJOR changes in my classroom and I am taking on a new leadership role in school. I want this year to be a year where I truly let go and let God. This is hard for me to do in my classroom for some reason.... so that is something I am working on.

As I sit here knowing I should be going to bed, I am thankful for this summer.... I am thankful for the start of a new school year. I am thankful that God is still working on me and allowing me the opportunity to grow.....

Airhogs

Sunday night, we went to a Grand Prairie Airhogs baseball game with the SS class from the church we are attending . They are a semi-pro team. This was Dylan's first baseball game. He was super excited to be going. Kadyn has been to a game before, but was just as excited to be going. Prior to game time, you could go out on the field and throw the ball. Dylan was so excited, but the heat got to him and he wanted water. Eric and Kadyn stayed out there for a bit throwing the ball.


We found our seats-- right above the Airhogs bullpen. Dylan was SUPER excited to see a baseball player. I wish I could have captured the expression on his face as he watched the pitcher and catcher warm up.

One of the players came over and signed the kids gloves. He was super nice-- talked them to a bit as well. Again--extreme delight from both kids!

I love this picture!

Once the game started, Dylan had trouble staying interested. He had trouble finding where the ball was-- since it wasn't right in the bull pen anymore. He wanted them to come back right by him! However, both kids were determined to meet the Airhog. Their dream for the night came true.

Eric and I had a good time as well. It was fun getting to meet couples and get to know them better!

Can Squirrels Swim??

I never have thought about it... but can squirrels swim? I looked out the back door a few days ago and saw a squirrel sitting on the edge of the pool. We have lots of squirrels since we have many trees in the backyard. However, they have not been near the pool-- as far as we know. He walked up and down the side a bit-- and then....

He attempted to walk out on the middle..... I wish I had the video on. I have never seen a squirrel move so quickly. He started back peddling.....

And somehow managed not to end up in the pool...... which leads me to wonder.... Can squirrels swim??

Welcome To The Jungle

For those of you who don't know..... I am not the most artistic person. I can have these marvelous ideas..... but they never come out like I imagine them. So, years ago I pretty much gave up on any type of decorating. I honestly asked my mother to help me "see" things when we would move and need to set up house again. Well, I got the bug. We moved in the house in April. This time it is ours--- I CAN PAINT!!! Then I remember my fear-- what if it doesn't turn out right-- I mean sure I could repaint it-- but who is to say that it would be any better? Well, I hate the white walls in the house. I feel like I am in a sterile environment. When I say white-- I mean the whitest white you can imagine. On top of that, there is texture. Now, I like texture, but this goes beyond what is normal. Seriously, I have cut my hands on the walls if they bump up against them. It is extremely thick and extremely pointy!! Anyway, I want to do something- but I know I need to start small. The smallest room in the house is the kids bathroom. I began looking at different shower curtains. I knew I was going to get a new one anyway. We have had the ducks below since Kadyn was 1. It is time for a change!! I found a cute jungle pattern. Still for kids, but not babyish in my opinion. So, I do call my mom. I tell her I have found what I like but I have NO CLUE what to do now. I want to learn.. I don't want to be afraid anymore haha!

She agrees to come help me learn. So--- goodbye to the ducks. Now, Kadyn cried for quite awhile. We had to cut a few ducks out of the shower curtain to put in her photo album. ( yes, I know we are in trouble if she is having this much trouble over ducks... but that would be an entire post of its own). So here is the last time the ducks hung in the bathroom.....



In order to paint, mom said we would have to sand the walls down. This goes back to the ginormous texture on the walls. It is not a big room, so we decided to do it by hand. Here we are with our masks on.... Dylan had to wear one like us.

This is a picture of the bathroom counter-- it is COVERED in paint particles......

After taping the walls, that was all we did on day one. About 2 hours- maybe 3. We would have started painting then, but I had a reading camp I was doing the next day. So, off to bed we went. When I got home the next day, the painting began. Let me tell you-- I LOVED IT!! Mom did a great job of teaching me. I rolled and cut. I did not get a single drop of paint on the ceiling! I was quite proud of myself. We were doing 2 colors -- a dark brown on top, a border in the middle, and then a light brown on bottom. We promised Kadyn she could help roll a bit. This helped her let go of the ducks and embrace the jungle--haha.

The painting was done in about 2 hours. We had plenty of time to get the border up then. However, we had to let the paint dry for 72 hours before putting up the border.
This was on Monday. Thursday evening, mom returned and helped me learn how to do the border. Not as easy as painting... more tedious. But, I loved seeing how it tied the room together. The border is up.... the curtain is hung.... and adventures in the jungle have now begun!!!


So, as we put the finishing touches on, I looked at mom and said-- this matches the image I had in my head. (ok didn't mean for that to rhyme!) I now have the bug. Eric said I did a great job and I can do more in the house!!! YEAH!! However, the other rooms are too big to sand by hand. So, first I will be buying an electric sander.