Whew!!!!

I am tired I must say. This week has been crazy trying to get ready for vacation, but it is always like that so I really know no other way. However, a few unexpected punches were thrown at us this week, and it is truly by God's grace that we are packed and ready to head out early in the morning. On Thursday my hubby went to have a root canal and passed out during the procedure and they had to call the EMTs - talk about FREAKING me out!!! I couldn't wait for him to get home so I could put my arms around him. The odd thing is is that the children and I prayed for him that morning. Honestly, I normally do not pray before a dentist or doctor's appointment, but I know now it was the Holy Spirit that prompted me to pray for him and I am so thankful that the situation did not turn out as badly as it could have. He did go to the doctor and they are going to have to have run some tests. This is not your normal passing out (although I really hope it turns out anxiety related), as he does have a low resting heart rate, so they will try and determine what needs to be done about it. Please pray for him. The doctor gave us the okay to go on vacation, although I really felt we needed to postpone it. Hubby has been fine though, so I am trusting the Lord to keep him protected and in His Hands. On top of that I have gotten some sort of crud that has put me in the bed for 2 days. It has not been fun. I spent most of the day in bed today, but I am starting to feel like myself again. I am really just praying that the children or Jon will not get what I have had. Please pray for them also. I was able to get all of my work finished and we had a good, thorough week of homeschooling. I also was able to make 3 outfits a piece for my girls to wear to Disney. Whew, I need a vacation after all of this. Please pray for traveling mercies for my family, as we will be on the road tomorrow. Also please pray for us to have good weather and for those in the path of Hurricane Gustav.

Mickey Mouse pillow case dress
Minnie outfit

Pillow case dress for Disney's Spirit of Aloha Luau

Our bags anxiously awaiting to be loaded into "Noah's Ark"

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside My Window... It is dreary outside. It is daylight but the street lights are still on. The ground is wet from all of the rain that we have had (praise the Lord).
I am thinking...that I hope I can get everything accomplished this week before we leave for vacation.
I am thankful for...the weekend I had with my husband and that my kiddos are home safely, and for my mom and stepdad who kept them all weekend (I know sometimes it can be tiring if you are not used to it, especially when you are bound inside because of the weather).
From the kitchen...I am thawing out chicken for dinner tonight. I think I may make some homemade wheat bread today.
I am wearing...my workout clothes because I am going to workout soon.
I am creating...well, I want to create about 3 dresses apiece this week for my girls, but we will see how productive I can be.
I am going...to be getting ready to leave for vacation this week. We are going to Disney World. I think this will be our 8th trip. I have started to lose count. Can you tell we love Disney? However, I think this will be our last year for awhile.
I am reading...Little Pilgrim's Progress (which I LOVE IT), The Tale of Despereaux, and Jesus Freaks to my children. My Bible, of course. Nothing really for me personally right now, but I think I may start the Mitford Series - any suggestions out there?
I am hoping...we will have a good week homeschooling, and I can get everything accomplished that needs to be done before we leave for vacation. Today is also my long run day, so I hope that the rain will hold out for a few hours late this afternoon so I can get 9 miles in.
I am hearing... quiet, as everyone is still snoozing.
Around the house...it is pretty straight, however, I definitely want to get some deep cleaning done before we leave. I love to have my house spotless before I leave for a trip - crazy isn't it? because it is very rarely spotless when we are here. But I love returning home to a clean house.
One of my favorite things...I think it would be appropriate on this post to say Disney World. Our whole family loves it, and we get very excited about going there even though we have been lots of times. I can't really pinpoint one specific reason why we love it so much - we just do. Jon and I both are really just kids in grownup bodies. Most people probably think we go there for our children, but we really love it as much as, if not more, than they do. I can't wait to go!
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Goodness, where to I start? Homeschooling everyday- ballet today and run errands, tomorrow I have to go to out of town for real estate, soccer practice, and go to church to help decorate for Hot Crock Cafe (I'll explain about that later), Wed. church and hopefully get some sewing in, Thurs. soccer, Fri. finish packing, Sat - The start of college football (HUGE tradition here in our home - the next 3 months of our lives literally revolve around college football), Sun. morning leave for Disney - Whew! I am tired just after typing all of that.
Here is picture thought I am sharing... I share so many pictures on my blog I really do not have any to share right now.

Weekend Sans Kids

Rehydrating ourselves after the race
Visiting with racing friends

After getting our awards

Flag football at church

The "old guys" versus the "young guys"

He didn't know at this point how sore he would wake up the next day

This weekend my mom had the kids. With Jon being self employed we spend lots of time together. However, it is totally different when we have one another to ourselves and no one else to care for or give our attention to. This weekend was great. I truly felt like a young couple falling in love with one another all over again rather than a couple who has been together for almost 13 years. Don't get me wrong we have a wonderful marriage and we are truly one another's best friends, but we do have our times when we get on one another's nerves and we get in the rut of going through the daily grind. This weekend was exactly what we needed. Friday night we just went to dinner then came home and watched a movie. Nothing big or exciting, just normal, but we had such a good time. Saturday morning we woke up and ran in a race together. The race was to support breast cancer research. Jon had a time of 21:57 and my time was 23:29. I almost came in as the 1st female. I was holding this position for about 2-3/4 miles of the race, but this girl passed me the last 1/4 mile and I couldn't catch back up to her. I won my age group though and Jon placed 2nd in his. I must say the best part of the whole race was hearing Jon cheering me on as I was pushing hard at the finish line. We hung out for awhile after the race and visited with other runners. We came home and Jon went to play flag football with some guys at the church and I went and got me a movie to watch. I actually feel asleep on the couch while watching the movie. I woke up and we went to dinner at "The Olive Garden." We had one of the best waiters we have EVER had. He was funny and personable. He got an extra good tip. We came home and watched the Olympic Marathon. When you are a runner this is really a lot of fun to watch. Sunday morning we got up and went to church, then came home and watched a movie. Jon picked up the children while I picked up the house. Again, our weekend was very uneventful, but the time we had together was wonderful - a young couple who knows the ins and outs of one another, the good, the bad, and the ugly, yet falling in love with one another again and again and again. How I pray the Lord will protect our marriage and give us eyes for Him and one another only.

A Three Ring Circus - Did I mention this is our first week?

Monday we started our first day of our new homeschooling year. We are going into our 8th year of homeschooling - Praise the Lord! It is truly only by God's grace that we have made it this far, and I am ever so grateful He has not allowed me to quit when I have really, really wanted to. I was really excited about this year, as all three of the children would be involved. I am bound and determined to make it a good year and to put in 110%. Did I mention this is our first week?



After breakfast we did our devotional, then I handed the children their school boxes and I had clues inside their boxes for a scavenger hunt to find their school supplies (I wish I could take credit for this clever idea, but I got the idea from my friend Tiffani, who got the idea from her friend Lori, so thanks Lori and Tiffani for sharing:)). My kids loved it. We included Jon in on it and he read Hanna's clues to her. After the scavenger hunt the children had to glue their clues onto construction paper and then write about their favorite part of the scavenger hunt. Then they did a self portrait (Thanks to Tiff for this idea). My son got a little stressed out about this - being the perfectionist that he is, he was aggravated by all of the erasing he had to do. I had to explain to him that this was supposed to be fun. After this they had to fill out an "All About Me." I've been doing this since Alec was about 5, and I really love this to see how they change from year to year. It has all of their favorites (food, candy, books, etc.), who their best friends are, what they want to be when they grow up, etc. Did I mention this is our first week?



Enough with the fun stuff it was time for Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. In September they start a private Christian school not far from our house that allows homeschoolers to come in and take classes. There they will take History, Science, Art, and Music - so I don't worry about those subjects. Alec really loves Literature and hates Math. Ashley really loves Math and hates Reading. Hanna was a pure delight because she loves it all. In my flesh I would really love to make everyone believe that we are the perfect homeschooling family who has the perfect homeschooling days, and our days are filled with singing, "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing," but in reality and in all honesty it is truly like a 3-ring circus homescooling a preschooler, elementary schooler, and middle schooler. I had many Math meltdowns with my middle schooler. On Friday my elementary schooler was in such a bad mood I promise you she had to have had a major case of PMS. She whined lots and loudly about Reading. Even my preschooler had some funky fits this week. Did I mention this is our first week?



Yep, I hope and pray that I can get everyone into a good routine and our days will, for the most part, be whining and complaining free. We'll see. Did I mention this is our first week?



I will say that I got through the week yelling free. The Lord helped me to maintain my composure and speak kindly and calmly even in the midst of the whining and complaining. Did I mention this is our first week?



On a positive note, I will say overall the week was good. There were even days when Jon volunteered to assist the children after I instructed them on what to do so I could get a run in. It was so sweet of him, especially since I didn't ask and he volunteered. Because of his job he has always left the house and homeschooling to me, but I think this year he wants to take a more active role when time permits, which warms my heart. However, did I mention this is the first week?



Also this year I have decided to not only just focus on the spiritual and academic growth of my children, but also their responsibilities around the house. They each have their own homeschool box for which they are responsible for putting their books in after I have checked their work. They also have their own pencils, markers, color pencils, scissors, etc. They are responsible for putting them in their homeschool boxes. At the end of the homeschool day I tell them to pick up their things and put them in the right places. I will normally wait a good while for them to do this, then after a little bit I go around and pick up what is left behind - books, pencils, whatever. The next day when they go to get their homeschool books out and can't find them they have to buy these items back from me for a quarter. Alec and Ashley have had to do this already. I have collected lots of pencils; however, they have lots of pencils right now so this has not hit their pocketbooks yet. They also have a list of chores that must be completed before any TV or computer is allowed. They mainly do these things in the morning while I am still working. They have their own laundry baskets and have to fold and put up their assigned laundry without being told to do it. I must say this has gone pretty well this week and laundry has stayed kept up.



Homeschooling is truly a calling. I do not believe it is for everyone. I know for this season of my life it is what the Lord has called me to do. It is something we take on a year-to-year basis. I pray that I will not fail the Lord or disappoint Him and my heart will have the truest intentions; however, I know that if and when I do fail Him, His grace is sufficient. I am so grateful to homeschool and be apart of every aspect of my children's lives even though sometimes that does encompass whining and complaining even when I put forth 110%. I remind myself that I am serving my Lord and that keeps me from getting discouraged. When I am doing it for my children and they are not receiving my efforts and hard work in the way that I think they should I get very frustrated and discouraged. However, when I remind myself of my calling and serve the Lord wholeheartedly through this calling of homeschooling my children then I find much more joy on the days when I feel there has been more whining and complaining than laughter and appreciation. I have great kids and I am so blessed to be their mother. God has truly given me more than I could have ever thought or imagined. Praise His Name!!!!

Jon and Hanna reading their first clue

Alec looking under the dining room chair for a possible answer to his clue


Ashley finding some school supplies on the washing machine

Alec found his pencils

Scavenger Hunt Summary

Scavenger Hunt Clues

OH MY WORD!!!!!

Or, I guess I should say on my words!!! We had a girls' night out Friday night and went to eat Mexican. I can't really say too much because we vowed what was said at the table would stay at the table; however, we all laughed until it hurt. I was literally laughing so hard that I was sweating and could feel the lotion sweating off my legs. The night was SO MUCH FUN!!!! That is about all I can say:)

Me and "Crazy" Candis
Tiffani and Lori

Our Last Hurrah!!!

Since we are starting school tomorrow, on Friday, we had our last hurrah of the summer. Most of our summer days are spent at a swimming pool we join every year. We enjoy seeing our "pool friends," the friends that we only see during the summertime at the pool. It doesn't close until the end of September, so I am sure we will be back, but it just will not be a 3 to 4 time a week thing. Since public school has already started here, we were the only ones there. I always, always, always pack our lunch, but today I surprised the children with getting to eat in the clubhouse. The hot dogs were wonderful, and they were so excited that we got to do this.

Ashley
Hanna

Alec

Many times during the summer my prissy girl, Hanna, would join me and lay out with me. I SOOO love this!

They were actually all playing nicely together for once

On our way to the car Ashley saw this really cool spider. I really have to work hard at being a "stop and smell the roses kind of person." I am pretty high strung and most of the times ready to get to the next activity. We actually stopped for about 10 minutes and admired this spider. She really was pretty and she had just caught a grasshopper and spun her web around him. I loved sitting there talking with the children about this spider and what God created her to do. Normally I would be like, "Oh, that's neat. Let's go." God is really working on my heart about just moving at a slower pace. Oh it is so hard for me!!!!

The children thought we were on the way home but I decided to take a detour and swing by a local peach orchard and dig into some homemade peach ice cream - Yum-oooo!!! To me some of the best things in life are the unexpected ones, so I wanted to throw something unexpected at them. All 3 children were very gracious and told me thank you more than once. We sat down and enjoyed our ice cream until it was melting so rapidly from this heat that we decided to head home.

I am so excited about starting school tomorrow, which more times than not, homeschooling is a labor of love for me; certainly something I am certain God has called me to do, but sometimes my selfish monster rears its ugly head and I get discouraged very easily. However, I am anticipating great things this year. I am looking forward to what the LORD will teach me as a mother, wife, woman, friend, mom, daughter. I am looking forward at seeing my children grow spiritually and physically and what the LORD will teach each one of them. And, of course, I am excited about what the LORD will teach us as a family.

"I Danced with Cinderella"

Getting my Ballerina Ready for Ballet

Hubby and his mini-me, Hanna

Two prissy girls.

Hanna and her BFF, Ju-Ju

Oops. Sorry Ms. Ballet Teacher

This is one of my family's VERY FAVORITE songs. Like everyone else we have been saddened by what happened to the Chapman family. My girls love to twirl around to this in our living room and even listen to it at night while they drift off to sleep.

On the note of dancing and princesses (Cinderella), my little dancing princess started her first day of ballet today. My oldest daughter took ballet for 2 years, then started playing soccer and fell in love with soccer. We have a rule where the kids can only do 1 activity per season (thanks Kevin Lehman), so she chose soccer. When Hanna (the youngest) was old enough she wanted to play soccer like her older sister. However, she played very differently than Ashley. Ashley is AWESOME at soccer. She is the kid the coaches want on their team. She is super fast and was actually nicknamed when she was 4 by a good friend of ours as "Super Star." We are HUGE soccer fans now because of Ashley. Well, last soccer season when Hanna played and the ball would come her way, I kid you not, she would run AWAY FROM THE BALL. No aggression whatsoever in this child. This summer comes and it is time to get ready to sign up for fall soccer. Hanna, for whatever reason I don't know, wants to sign up. I thought she would be more suited for a "prissy sport," so I suggested ballet. Nope, she would not have it. I tried and tried to convince her, but she was pretty set on wanting to play soccer. I guess maybe she didn't realize the object was to run to the ball and not away from it:) I told her we were going to try ballet until Christmas. If she didn't like it we could quit ballet and sign up for spring soccer. To be honest she really was not very excited about ballet until last week when I had been out shopping with my sister and I came home with her very own ballerina bag (being the youngest of 3 most of what she has is a hand-me-down). It was hers and all hers!!! This definitely put a pep in her step and she was been excited ever since.

Today was the big day. We decided which leotard and skirt she would wear. I pulled her sweet curls back into a bun, and off we went. She was precious in the ballet studio. I told my BFF, Tiff, that when my oldest was almost 5 I felt that he was so old and almost grown. But now that my baby is almost 5, I feel like she is still a baby. I feel like I can just rock her in my arms back and forth (in fact, I do). I still carry her to bed at night, rather than just walking along beside her. She looked so grown up today. I was so proud.

Just as much as my oldest daughter is me made over (aggression, personality, loves attention and people, the whole nine yards), Hanna is just as much my husband (reserved, shy, does not like attention called to himself at all, etc., etc). Thankfully my oldest son is a really good mixture of us. Jon (hubby) says that I have one that looks and acts like me (Ashley) and one who wants to be me (Hanna). Anyway, Jon and I were watching her dance and he waved at her. Her little eyes got big as if they were saying, "Please don't wave at me. Just go. Please stop." If that were Ashley, she would have been waving wildly and saying, "Hey Mom and Dad!!! Hey Ms. (ballet teacher) that is my mom and my dad, and they are this and that." The ballet teacher would have known everything about us by the end of class.

During the class I decided to sneak in a picture. Click, the flash goes off, and I hear Ms. ballet teacher say, "We are dancing." Oops!!! See what I mean, my hubby would have never done that!!!

After the class was over and the ballet teacher brought out her little ballerinas I ran and hugged Hanna Boo so tight. She whispered in my ear, "I think I want to take for a year." She LOVED it!!!! I told her we were going to put her in soccer. Nope, she is not having it. She rated the day a 10!! She had so much fun. To top the whole day off she is in there with her best bud, Ju-Ju. They had no idea they were going to be together and the surprise on their little faces when they saw one another was just precious!!! Three cheers for mom - Hip, Hip, Hooray! Hip, Hip, Hooray! Hip, Hip, Hooray!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside My Window...it is dark, as the sun has not come up yet because it is 6:00 a.m. I just saw my new neighbor, who I need to make some brownies and go and introduce myself to, pull in his driveway
I am thinking...about all the things that need to be done this week before we start school next week. Also I am thinking that when the sun starts to rise I am heading out for a long run.
I am thankful for...my family. God has blessed me so very much, truly more than I could ever think or imagine!!
From the kitchen...nothing is happening in there right now. The only thing on is my wonderful coffee pot. Two cups down, Two more to go:)
I am wearing...workout pants and a running T-shirt from a race I ran it. Sad that I didn't sleep in pajamas, but they are just as comfy.
I am creating...hopefully an organized homeschool closet; chicken salad sandwiches, fruit with dip, and chips and dip for an open house that I am hosting tomorrow.
I am going...to be pretty busy this week.
I am hoping...and praying through situations involving my extended family that really saddens my heart. I am hoping we will have a blessed week. I am also hoping that the house I am giving an open house for will sell. It is my former pastor's home and they really need for it to sell.
I am hearing...just the typing of my fingers on the keyboard. It is very, very quiet. Everyone is sleeping. I am ALWAYS the first one up in the mornings.
Around the house... it SOOO needs cleaning. We do try and rest on Sundays, so no chores for the kids or I, but boy on Monday morning can you tell it!!! As soon as everyone is up and at 'em we will be busy with cleaning up.
One of my favorite things...snuggling with my children. Since the Olympics have been on we have all been sitting down together to watch them, so we have had lots of snuggle time.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: The madness of go, go, go starts this week, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't love it - because I SO DO!!! Soccer practice Tues and Thurs., Ballet on Thurs., possibly signing Alec up for swim team, giving an open house on Tues., water slide field trip with our homeschool group on Friday, maybe take Alec to Fern Bank.

Visit with Melissa

Well, my visit with my sister, Melissa, was great!!! It was drama-free, which made it even better. Sometimes we have visits together when I tell her I am glad she lives in Texas, and other times our visits are wonderful and I tell her I wish she was my next door neighbor. This visit was definitely one that I wished she was my next door neighbor. She has flown the coop and is headed back to Texas. Actually she left on Thursday morning, but I have been so exhausted from all the fun we had that I haven't taken the time to blog about it until now. Here is a recap.

They arrived on Monday and shortly after we gave our "hello hugs" and laughed a little while, the boys headed out to play golf. Melissa and I decided to take the kids to the park in my neighborhood. We had lots of fun. We then walked back to the house and had a "Make Your Own Pizza Night." It was so much fun. The kids really liked it. We gave Noelle the special plate, and so we all had to say something nice about her. After we went around the table telling her how special she was she raised her little hand and said, "I love all of you." So sweet. The boys got back and we hung out until bedtime.

The girls picked me a bouquet of flowers on our walk to the park. The flowers that are hand picked are always the most special ones to me.

Joseph-Scott played freeze on the way to the park. Melissa hollers freeze and then he freezes and does this move.

Why did these little chickens cross the road - to get to the park.

Ashley being "little mama" and pushing Noelle in the swings.

Sweet Joesph Scott swinging

Help, Melissa's stuck. She was climbing on the play set and the kids INSISTED she go through the tunnel. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to wet my pants.

Hanna and Noelle posing as they walk down the slide

After getting home and being in the cool air conditioning we all became little pizza chefs.

Making their own pizzas. They slopped SO MUCH pizza sauce on their pizzas!!!

Ready to put them in the oven

The next day we got up and hung out awhile. Jon had a meeting at this coffee shop here in town that he couldn't cancel. After he got home we headed down to the park again to take the pictures I posted. After getting home we started making our tie-dyed shirts. So much fun!! I think Melissa had just as much fun making Joseph-Scott's as the other children did making theirs.

Hanna tie-dying her shirt - her creative juices are flowing.

I actually had to run out for a bit and pick up some towels I was having embroidered. I left at the perfect time -clean up time. Melissa got everything picked up and we all decided we needed to take a siesta. We headed down to our family room and put on cartoons. All of the adults, except Jon, napped, and all of the kids except Alec and Ash napped too. After waking up we headed out for Mexican. I have to say since moving to Texas, Melissa and Scott have become Mexican food snobs - like the great state of Texas is the only place for great Mexican. They really liked where we went though.

Melissa, Me, and Hanna right before making myself miserable on Chicken Fajita Nachos.

We got home and played a game of Dutch Blitz. This was actually a game I ordered for homeschooling, and when Melissa was going through my homeschooling stuff she saw it and went berserk. She said she LOVED this game, so she taught us how to play it ----- S0!MUCH!FUN!

Wednesday we decided to tag team babysitting with the guys. They headed out and had lunch together while we got ready. After they got back Melissa and I tackled shopping. I took her to one of my most favorite accessory stores. She was not really impressed, but I got 2 pair of earrings and a bracelet, and a ballet bag for Hanna. We went to a couple of other stores. She really loves the Shabby Chic look so we went to a thrift store - not my cup of tea, but we had a good time. That night Jon and Scott were going to see The Dark Knight, so Melissa and I took the children to church. All of the kids (except Alec) were so excited about wearing their tied-dyed shirts. Alec was not having any of it. He informed me he was too old to match other people and that is a little kid thing.

I loved having Melissa and her kids at church with me that night. After church she was craving a peanut buster parfait, so we headed to DQ. No lie - we waited in line for 40 minutes. Their ice cream machine was broken, and bless their hearts they were working so hard and were so stressed out. They had this rude customer give them the "what for." I felt really bad for them. I would actually turn off my car while in the drive-thru because it is an SUV and literally sucks down a gallon of gas just idling. So I would turn it on and off since we had to wait so long. To tell you the truth the ice cream really was not good. All of that waiting for nothing - oh well!

Tie-dyed kids. Joseph-Scott wouldn't get in the picture.

Thursday morning came and we said our goodbyes. I miss them already and can't wait until we get to see them again. They actually headed to Scott's dad's house. Melissa informed me that Joseph-Scott was going around going Scott's dad's saying, "Chel, Chel, Chel." We had such a fun visit!!!

Melissa Thrasher Photography

My sister is a photographer and was so sweet to give us a free photo session while she was here. I was stoked (the rest of the family was not as happy as I was ESPECIALLY Alec)!!! She took 190+ pictures, but below are my very favorites! I think they turned out so well. She does an awesome job. They were all taken in the park in our subdivision which makes them all the more special. Check out her web site at www.melissathrasherphotography.com

I love how in these pictures Jon and I look like a newly-engaged couple rather than a couple who has been married for more than a decade.

Red Rover, Red Rover send Aunt Melissa Right Over

Wouldn't this picture make a great blue jean advertisement?

Nope, I don't have my high heels on. Melissa wanted us bare foot

Melissa was standing on a picnic table right above our heads. We were very scared because from this angle it literally looked like she was going to fall right on top of us.

I love this one because this is our family in our most natural element - playful and not posed. We were actually trying to get set up for a posed picture, but I liked this one much better than the posed one with the tire swing.