Boat Faces

2nd Grade End-of-the-Year Party

 As a homeschool mom, there's always some difficulty sending your kids off to school.  Will they like it?  Will they make friends easily?  Will they be able to adjust well to the schedule?  Will homework be a hard adjustment?  Will they connect with their teacher?  Will they succeed academically?

This was Leah's first year in school after being homeschooled.  We had her repeat a grade because of her late birthday, her small size and just to help her get a head start for her first year academically.

I couldn't have asked for a better teacher.  She loved Leah and Leah loved her.  I think Mrs. D saw a lot of herself in Leah when she was a little girl.  She also grew up a country girl - lovin' to paint her nails and play with frogs.  Perfect!  Leah has a wonderful class full of great kids who get along so well.  She has had a super year and done a great job.  It proved to be a good decision to send her and we are so pleased.

We hosted the 2nd grade end-of-the-year party at our house.  We had a brunch with about 20+ kids and probably almost that many adults.  The kids played and then their sweet teacher shared something personal about each kid and a verse that she had chosen to go with it. 

 We are so grateful for a wonderful first year for Leah.  Her teacher is so great, we find ourselves considering allowing her sister to join the 2nd grade class next year.  :)

5th Grade End-of-the-Year Party

Sighting

And during the duck house construction project, there was a sighting out my kitchen window of Little Man with a cute little girl wearing a purple leotard, purple witch hat and a Beauty and the Beast princess dress.

Domestic Ducks

Our 3 mallards have grown wings and are ready to behave like ducks.  No more living the life of luxury in the barn.  It's time to move outside, eat the algae out of our pond (PLEASE!!), take dust baths, swim and dunk.  We assumed this transition would be an easy one.  Who wouldn't think that demanding a duck to behave like a duck would be so hard?

We took the ducks down to the pond.  They ran back up to their stall in the barn.  We close the barn door.  Round them back down to the pond.  They run back to the barn and hover by the door.  We make trails of food to the pond.  They don't fall for it. 

We HAD to figure out a way to MAKE them enjoy the normal life of a duck.  And this is where the brains of the My Man comes in.  He's so smart.  He and Caleb made a box , surrounded it with chicken wire that extends into the pond.  Basically if they are thirsty or hungry, they have to leave their box and go into the water.

The first day, they never came out. 

Now they are occasionally coming out to play and be a duck.

Who would have thought that acting like a duck would be so hard for a duck.  I hope they wise up soon before Mr. Foxy Woxy realizes they aren't so natural at being ducks.

Snow Cones, Water Slides & Concussions

 It was Field Day last Friday.  Can you see how happy the Fish Sticks are to have their first snow cone??

The day before, I was up at the school to tutor 2 boys in 2nd grade and I brought Leah home with me.  Her stomach was hurting bad.  Two houses away from our house, the flood gates opened and she threw up in the van.  She cried, "I'm so sorry!  Our new van!"  I told her not to worry - there was nothing that a bit of vinegar, Lysol and Febreeze couldn't clean up!  She was moaning all day on the couch from stomach cramps, but I think the tears flowed, not from the pain, but from the realization that she would probably miss her first Field Day.  Last year when we went to half of Field Day, she cried coming home and told me how badly she wanted to attend GCA.  I assured her that NEXT year she would be a full participant in field day.

Little did I know her little stomach would be working against that promise.  We prayed and I consoled and we waited.  Next a.m. she bounded downstairs in full uniform, informing me she was going to school.  I insisted that we wait to see if breakfast stayed down, all the while I'm thinking of 90 degree temps, high humidity, running outside all day.  At 10:00, we all headed to school for Field Day.  Upon arriving at school, we learned that a stomach bug was going around 2nd grade and half of her class was out sick.

Leah found her class quickly and here she is beaming as she waits to go down the inflatable water slide.

 I found AB's class and stuck with them for the day to help out.  Liddy quickly found her buddy, William, and they enjoyed a dip in the river at the back of the school.  They filled my hands with treasures of "sea shells" to hold for them.

 And all of 5th grade enjoyed cooling off in the river too.  

(AB is part of the center 4 girls.)

 The 5th grade class has been so wonderful with my little Fish Sticks this year.  Those girls are all so loving and motherly when I bring my homeschooled kids.  It just makes such a difference in the time we spend on field trips.

The last activity of the day for 5th grade rotation was the inflatable water slide.  It is the coveted activity of the school.  All day we heard 5th graders ask how much longer until their turn on the water slide.

AB grabbed Liddy and they took their first turn down the slide.  As they were getting off from the bottom, another girl slid down too early and came crashing on top of Liddy and AB.  The girl's knee nailed AB in the side of the head (temple area) and her heel hit AB in the thigh.  AB could hardly get off the slide.  We called the school nurse, who after examining AB quickly, suggested we take her to the ER.  Although it may be overkill, she wanted to be careful with head injuries and possible concussions.

Looking back I don't know how I rounded up 6 wet, sweaty kids into the van with all our junk in a matter of 5 minutes, but the teachers, moms and students rushed around serving our family and made it happen.  My Man met us at the hospital and the biggest shock was that we were in and out of the ER in 1 hour.  (In the past we have waited in the waiting room for over an hour.)  They confirmed she did have a concussion and for us to just monitor her.

Although I never welcome that kind of drama into the family, we are so thankful that it was not more serious.  We are thankful to all the help we received at school to get us to medical care quickly.  AB was fine over the weekend.  She was sore and had bouts of dizziness and headaches but they passed quickly.

When I told her how sorry I was that she only got to go down the slide once after waiting all day, she said, "Waiting all DAY???  You mean waiting all YEAR!!!"  So sad - There's always next year though.

More Face Painting

 The day after the talent show, Dan asked if he could come and paint the Fish Sticks to practice on some designs that he could do in 5 minutes or less for fairs and such.  Is that even a question??  Of course they'd LOVE to "help!"

 This butterfly is one of my favorite.  It's amazing what Dan can paint in 5 minutes or less.

 This was one of my favorites...the bunny with the carrot out of her mouth.

Funky Jesus Music

AB did a fantastic job on her dance with her friends at the talent show.  She's in the center of this video.  My Man and I can't agree on if she got her dancing genes from him or me.  :)

Face Painting Prep

AB was in the talent show dancing again with the Hip Hop Movers.  I mentioned to our artist friend, Dan, about maybe doing the girls' faces for the talent show.  He jumped on it and came over to try out something the day before the performance.

I don't think he can ever leave the Fish House and just do one face.  They all lined up and he so graciously let each have a turn.  He does a great job, doesn't he?

Happy 92nd!

My Papa turned 92 the day after Mother's Day.  He's still at the health center waiting for his broken leg to heal, so we met him there to wish him a happy birthday.  He's such a sweet man.  I have nothing but wonderful memories of visiting him and my Mimi on their farm in Georgia.  Honestly, I think it's those weeks in the summer and every Thanksgiving that made me have such a love for country living.  Picking garden vegetables, swinging under the apple tree, making forts with the folding lawn chairs in the yard, tractor rides in my night gown, cracking walnuts in the basement, feeding a baby calf with a bottle, collecting eggs, peeling peaches and picking huckleberries on the 1 mile walk to the mailbox.  I didn't even mention drinking coffee (as an 8 year old) and getting in the car through the car window (like the Duke boys) when my Mama wasn't around.  Mimi always left so much cake batter on the beaters when she let us lick them too!

I miss my Mimi like the dickins and there isn't a week that goes by that I don't think about her, but I am so thankful that my Papa lives here so that my kids can see him and know him and be enriched by their Christian heritage in him.

92 years is a long time and I know that he did not want to spend his birthday in the health center, but out on his riding mower with his hot coffee in his hand (and always in a styrofoam cup) instead, but we are just so glad he's here to celebrate with him.  Happy 92nd birthday Papa.  We love you dearly!

Mother's Day

I intentionally waited to post about my Mother's Day because we totally forgot our traditional Mother's Day photos of me with all the Fish Sticks.  We were going to take them today (one week later) and you all would never have known they weren't taken on Mother's Day, but you guessed it....we forgot.

So without further delay, here's my Mother's Day.

We were at the lake house and my Fish Sticks brought me a tray in bed covered with breakfast for a feast with this note on it of my menu.

AB made me a bookmark with a photo of herself and a coupon book:

*  Because you work hard...you have a free breakfast in bed (I was informed that this one was not for the breakfast I was receiving....Yippee!)

*  Because you do all the dishes...I will do them once for free.

*  Because you drive me around....You have one free car wash.

*  Because you're a Mom....I will babysit once for free.

*  Because you have fixed tons of meals...You have a free meal of your choice.

*  Because you are such a servant...this is for one free load of laundry.

Leah made me Warm Vanilla Sugar Hand Scrub and a coupon book:

*  Good for yard work - watering or raking leaves

*  Good for folding clothes

*  Good for setting the table

*  Good for helping with dinner

*  Good for pulling weeds

*  Good for being cheerful all day

A huge thanks to the 2nd and 5th grade teachers for heading up those great gifts.  I WILL use those coupons....I guarantee it.

My Man told me I could buy a new swim suit and then we shopped together and he encouraged me to buy a few sundresses too.  What a great guy!!

Little Guy asked me the other day, "Mommy, Daddy goes to work and builds.  What do you do?"  

Hmm - good question, Little Guy.  My resume is pretty long these days but the short of it....

I get to be a Mommy to the 6 greatest Fish Sticks in the world!

Thanks you kiddos for making me feel loved and special.

(And I DO plan on making you do a photo shoot with me if I can ever remember on Sunday!)

Never Going Back

 Green acres is the place to be

 Farm livin' is the life for me

 Land spreadin' out so far and wide

 Keep Manhattan

 Just give me that countryside

Somewhere over the rainbow

(I know it doesn't flow, but I had to include the full rainbow I caught on film in the front  yard!)

Little Fishes Back on the Water

I started to question myself as we pulled up to the launching dock on Saturday and everyone pulling out was wearing jackets.  The Fish Sticks didn't seem to mind the breeze at all.  They started chanting "Go Fast, Daddy!" as soon as we hit the water.  Excitement was high.  First time back on the water.  The marks of the beginning of a much-anticipated summer on the lake.  They were all smiles.

Except the ONE who is still trying to keep his promise of not smiling a braces-showing smile.  It sure looks hard to do.  He's one determined middle schooler!

They were troopers.  On the skis.  On the knee board.  On the tube.  Jumping off the boat to swim.  All 6 of them.  That is until the boat started going again.  Wet swimsuits.  Cold wind.  Overcast skies.  Purple lips.  Chattering teeth.  Wet, cold towels.

O.k.  So maybe a few jackets would have been a good idea if it had ever crossed this Mama's mind.

Good thing the heater works well in our new van and Mama knows how to make a mean cup of hot tea!