The Girls!

Here are some fun pictures of the girls! The first picture of Melanie is on our trip to KS a couple of weekends ago. She loves to entertain and be the center of attention!! She first was playing peek-a-boo with Anne using her "burpie." Then it evolved into Mel just putting the "burpie" on her head to make us all laugh. I couldn't resist the pictures.

The second picture is at the girls' gymnastics class. Melanie enjoyed standing at the cubbies and cruising along side them. She has recently taken a couple of steps, but nothing more than that, yet.


















The third picture is of Anne at gymnastics. She did a bridge-kickover for the first time at her last lesson. She can do it unassisted on the "cheese" mat. (It's shaped like a wedge of cheese.) It got the owner's attention. So, the owner (pictured with Anne above) took her to the bar to try a tummy roll, but Anne had some difficulty with that. There are a few things the kids have to master before moving onto the next level. Anne only has a couple more to do!!

Naomi just started gymnastics in August. We had wanted to put her in dance originally, but since that's in another town, and we are in Centerton for school, it was just going to be more driving and busy-ness than I cared to manage this year. She is enjoying it, though, and her form is improving.

Ready for Fall!

I'm SO READY for fall!!! Today the rain has passed, the sun is shining, and the weather is cool!! When it starts cooling down I get excited about the fall season. It's one of my favorite times of the year. So, I've changed my background once again. If I find a cuter fall background I might change it again! :) Variety is the spice of life! :)

I'm ready for football games, apple cider, hay rides, pumpkin patches, OUR HOUSE TO BE DONE! ;) I couldn't resist the last one. :)

Next, I'm going to look at a website for one of our local corn mazes. I took the girls there last year when I was 8-9 months pregnant with Melanie. It will be fun to enjoy it without a big belly!

Happy Fall Ya'll!!

Worth Repeating! :)

This was forwarded to me again this year through the email system. I thought it was worth reposting. It's a little bit better version than the one I posted last year. ENJOY!!!

What A Difference a Year Makes!

I know I haven't blogged in a long time so I thought I'd just find some random, cheerful pictures to post. :) Since it's been raining SO MUCH we have not been able to start construction on the house. We are praying that God will close the heavens for a little while after this weekend so that construction can begin. Our house is even more gutted than the pictures I previously posted. I'll have to take a picture of the fifth wheel we're living in now, too. :)

I blogged about my foot challenges a while back...physical therapy helped tremendously, and now I have my orthotics. I have to spend the next few days getting used to them, but I'm excited to have them!!

Please pray for Naomi. She is struggling with allergies. Her poor eyes look like we've been beating her or she's been crying ALL DAY!! We're not sure if it's just seasonal, or if there's mold in the fifth wheel we are living in, or if it's the ragweed (at an all time high!). I was using OTC, but they weren't helping. A parent of one of my student's turned me on to Ozark Herb and Spice. They recommended a natural nasal spray that I can put in her eyes as well. That was working great! While we were gone to KS this past weekend I could tell she was getting better. Since we've been back home it's all flared up again. I guess the next step is to take her to the doctor.

The girls (Anne and Naomi) love school. The second picture I've posted was their first day of home school last year. The third picture is their first day of school this year! What a difference a year makes! They look so young in last year's picture!! Time flies...

The first picture is of Jaron and Melanie at Courtney and Garret's birthday party this past August.

I guess I should also add that I'm enjoying school, too. It's really awesome to be teaching in a Christian environment, and knowing that my girls are learning in the same environment. Gives me peace about their education. A first year in a new subject is always tough. I can get caught up on lesson plans, but then grading falls behind or vice versa. Because the parents are literally investing in their students education the standards/expectations are really high--unlike most parents I'm used to dealing with in a public school. Honestly, I miss teaching math. Social studies is a stretch for me, but I'm learning so much!! I'm also growing and learning so much more in my relationship with God also. He continues to amaze me every week, if not every day!

Now You See It, Now You Don't!

Here are more pictures of the destruction we've been doing. The first picture is what's left of the living room--NOT MUCH!!! I'm standing in the sun porch to take the picture. We have made a lot of progress this weekend!! Sometimes we can even get a glimpse of what the new addition might look like as we dismantle the old.


Now you see the wall...













Now you don't! You'll probably notice that in this picture the sheet rock is off the ceiling as well. This is when I started to be able to envision how open our new floor plan will be.

We still have so much to do, but we are getting closer all the time. Andy is going to call the guys for the footing this week to see when they can begin. The the framers will come when we've finished tearing apart this part of the house and the new footing is done. :) Fun times!

Our First Day of School!

Today is our first day of school!!! The girls were so excited!! They have been counting down the days till they could go to "real school." The map we are standing in front of is on the wall of the entrance to the school. The verse is part of the Great Commission. The First Baptist Church established Life Way Christian to help fullfill the Great Commission. As a social studies teacher I would love to have that map in my room! :) Right now I don't have any--something I will have to purchase SOON!

Anyway, Andy took time to bring them to school this morning so he could help take them to their classes. Otherwise, they will just ride with me to school. Naomi was chomping at the bit to get to her classroom. Anne became nervous, but did just fine. I think she was a little overwhelmed by the new faces and all the parents that were there this morning. I'm sure tomorrow won't seem so overwhelming to her. Thankfully, I was not a basket case. After all, I'm still in the same building with them for crying out loud! :)




















These girls were so ready for school. They took no time getting dressed and eating breakfast this morning! You will not see them in "fad" clothing much because Life Way has a pretty strict dress code. I could give details, but they are too numerous. We had to do some serious school clothes shopping before school started. I was even at Gymboree after in-service yesterday purchasing belts for the girls. If they are wearing pants, capris, shorts, and they have belt loops a belt must be worn.














Here is Naomi with her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Spencer.














Anne at her desk this morning.

It will be a great year full of new experiences for all of us. I'm so excited that they will be receiving a Christ-centered education, something we feel that God has pressed upon our hearts to do. I can't wait to hear about their day on the way home!

Sorry, No Pictures!

I'm sorry that I haven't had any pictures lately, but here's an update on the house. Andy is still bustin' up stuff! Tearing up the concrete is a slow but sure process. This past Thursday night we received a fifth wheel to live in courtesy of our youth pastor. Friday a window company came and took all of our windows, but two (the bedroom ones). They are going to store them for us, and then put them back in for us when it is time. We all slept in the fifth wheel last night because the house was terribly hot with all the windows gone! Today Andy and our worship leader, Terrill, put plywood up where the windows used to be. Since the inside isn't gutted out, yet, we are going to stay in the house. With the plywood up we are able to run the air-conditioner and stay where there is more room for the girls to play and Melanie to crawl around. I still plan to continue to pack things away. Tomorrow afternoon I'm hoping to complete the kitchen so that everything is out of the cabinets.

Another update...I found out Friday morning that I have adult acquired flatfoot deformity! A few weeks ago I saw our doctor complaining of ankle pain. Through the process found out that I had high cholesterol and that I would have to see a orthopedic surgeon about my ankle. Thankfully this can be corrected. Tuesday morning I go to get fitted for orthotics--inserts for my shoes. I also get to go to physical therapy 3 times/week for a couple of months. The Dr. is positive that this should reverse the deformity, but if the symptoms don't go away in a couple of months then surgery could be required. Right now it's primarily affecting my left ankle, but the doctor said it's just a matter of time for the right ankle. In talking with my dad today he figures my grandmother, his mom, suffered from this as well. Unfortunately she never had anything done about it. I'm just glad that it can be taken care of.

BTW, I got up Friday morning and walked, too!! :) Yeah me!