New School Year

First day of Jr. High 5th grade and Kindergarten

We have a weird tradition of taking a pic of us and the kids just before they get out of the car on the first day of school. So here we are:) 

Kindergarten, here she comes! ;)

Ready to get to work! 

Here she comes!
 

And today. Ready for her second day! She is having a blast and when I picked her up this afternoon she was actually upset she didn't not have homework. Me, on the other hand did pretty well yesterday. Jeff was home and we ran errands and enjoyed spending the day together... today, was MUCH harder. But I kept it together while walking her to class and fell apart in the car:/  What in the world has come over me? I've had kids at home with me for 13 years and now I don't know how to act? ! I think my tears were because it's hard when you want time to slow down (or stop) and it just won't. :) 

I read this on a friends blog this morning and will be be praying over it this week. It's a great prayer to be prayed over your daughters (and sons!) as they start a new school year.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the gift of motherhood and for entrusting us to raise these little girls in your name. As they begin a new school year, we pray that their lives would be grounded in you. May they live for you, reflect your love to others, and call on your name in times of joy and times of sadness. May they grow in wisdom and make memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. Jesus we pray patience for all teaching and joy in all friendships. Help us as mothers to walk along them in this journey, pointing out their strengths and helping them grow. In both good times and stressful moments, let our parenting words glorify You so that we may nurture their academic experience and enhance their faith.

Amen

This post makes me wish I blogged when the boys were little. It would have been neat to look back and read how theirs (and mine) first week of Kinder went.

May the Lord be praised! Day after day He bears our burdens...Psalm 68:19

Happy 10th Birthday

Yesterday was a big day for us. It was back to school and most importantly...

it was Caden's 10th Birthday!! I can't believe he is ten years old.

 

After school and after Jared's football practice we had a few minutes to celebrate together! I say a few minutes because Caden also has practice in the evenings. We told him he could skip practice since it was his birthday but he LOVES football and wanted to go. They were watching Saturdays game during practice, so this was really kinda neat for him.

 Oh..... and the Bobcats WON on Saturday!! This was Caden's first win and first score! Wooo hoo!!

“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!” Psalm 92:4

Water Park & Birthday

Today we took advantage of the beautiful weather and made one last trip to the splash water park before school starts on Monday.

Caden had been once before but this was Jared's first time to go. He is pretty easy going but I wasn't sure if he would feel like it was a little young. I told him if he wanted to he could sit with me and read if he didn't want to play. He loves to read so this wasn't a punishment. ;)

The boys' hung out under the Dr. Pepper can majority of the time. I'm glad he had fun.

I wasn't worried about this one. I knew she would have a good time. ;)

Grace never misses an opportunity to make a new friend. Sweet girl.

Yesterday we had lunch with Nana & Papaw and the kids gave Nana lots of hugs and birthday cards.

Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!!

 

I always remember your faithful love. I depend on your faithfulness. Psalm 26:3

Gearing Up

Well we are getting geared up for some football. Caden had a scrimmage tonight against Marshall and he will play his first game on Saturday. I am looking forward to watching that boy tackle someone! :)

Tonight was also the grand tour of the field house. I went to High School here but I had never been inside. (I had no reason to back then. lol) I will tell you, it looked much different than I had always envisioned all those years of school. I still can not believe Jared is going into Jr. High, much less playing football this year! Here's to a great season...

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Psalm 46:1-2

Whew....

Oh my goodness - Last week was one of those weeks that your thankful that it's over. With both boys in football this year and Jared also at band camp, I was riding the roads non stop. All the while trying to plan two party's on the same day, along with our A/C going out. Whew........

If I had to do it over again I would. I really wouldn't trade it for anything. But at the same time I am thankful that it's over....until school starts anyway.

After Grace's party on Friday we headed back to the hotel to celebrate Jared's 13th.  No it's not official for another 5 weeks but with the boys playing football and Jared also in band, along with Scouts, it made more sense to celebrate before the season even begins. And yes Caden's birthday is before Jared's but Caden chose for him and a friend to go see the Rangers play in September, closer to the playoffs.

Normally we have one birthday celebration since the kids birth days are so close together. This year with all three of them having "big" milestone 13-10-5 we let them have a party all to them self this year.

chips-candy-cookies and sodas oh my.

huh...the hot tub...

Jared and Ethan talking about something important I'm sure, before heading to the pool. Lol 

I couldn't get a decent photo of them to save my life.

Don't ask. I have no idea what in the world Jared is doing. Crazy kid.

My big girl is 5 years old:(

Getting his fair share before him and Grace and I head home at 10pm :)

Jeff took this pic about midnight- this is still early, according to them;)

Still going strong at 3am

At this point Jeff covered his head and said, "Start winding it down boys. Stay quiet, I'm going to sleep." Lol

I think they finally shut it down about 5am

Sleeping like babies at 8:30am- Just before Jeff woke them up.

...the LORD our GOD is righteous in all He has done. Daniel 9:14

Grace's Day

This was the first year I have made "Birthday pancakes." I've always wanted to do this for the kids but would always forget or just forget to buy pancake mix. Well not this year. The year our A/C is broken and it's 88 degrees in the house at 8:00 in the morning. So needless to say, we fixed and ate breakfast in a record breaking time. The past few days I have done very little cooking and only two loads of laundry (I was unaware of how much HEAT the dryer brings INTO the house) after the house had gotten up to 91 degrees. We have been camped out in our Computer room and bed room the past few days. We are very thankful for our camper and small window unit and Eric's portable A/C!

This was taken before her party at the hotel. It was perfect timing, and a blessing that we were already reserving a room for the night. So as soon as we could check in we were there!

This year I let her pick out her cake, plates and napkins. She was just a little excited:)

Enjoying every minute.

This picture cracks me up. Grace is so excited about her new ballet leotard and Jack seems to be saying....Girls!.... sheesh

The hugs began with Alyssa. Grace walked around the room giving hugs to just about everyone, thanking them for coming. Sweet girl:)

Her Uncle Scott

Her Nana

Back at the hotel eating a cup full of Skittles. Wow, it was a fun yet busy weekend:)

Be very careful never to forget what you have seen God doing for you. May his miracles have a deep and permanent effect upon your lives! Tell your children and  grandchildren about the glorious miracles he did.
Deuteronomy 4:9

Birthday Girl

Grace, I can't believe that you're 5 years old today!

Life goes by so very fast, it feels like just yesterday you were born.

You are a blessing to our family and we love you more than you'll ever know.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23

Splash Water Park

Monday and Tuesday were spent at the new splash water park! Grace went on Monday with our sweet neighbor:) This was such a blessing and a nice surprise, since I spent most of our Monday driving back and forth to Hallsville do to football, band and orientation.

It's been awhile (over 10 years) so it is nice to have something new and family friendly to our little town. We were excited!..and Caden had a blast!

Sweet K playing and sitting on the water shooting up out of the ground:)

She actually stopped for a pic:) Cheese Mommy!

Saying goodbye is never easy... but there is hope in knowing this is not our home because we belong with Jesus. Love you, Uncle Jim!

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

Sky Jump

This weekend was pretty low-key. Which was so wonderful! Life is about to get a little crazy around here again, so it was nice just to be at home and spend time together.

Last night our sweet neighbor had her Birthday party.

Three sweet girls!

No fear, what so ever. She is getting ready to go!

Lets get jumpin:)

Who is that little girl walking on the roof beam? ;)

We had a fun evening and yes, the boys LOVED it too!!

This wasn't Caden's first rodeo. This was one of his favorite events at Pine Cove. You go boy!

My overly cautious child wasn't too impressed by jumping up to the ceiling and flipping up side down:) He said it was fun but that he probably will not do it again. And yay for Caden and Grace. Ha! If you can't tell he doesn't get influenced easy.... At least by his siblings. ;)

Happy early birth day Alyssa! Love you sweet girl!

We received wonderful news, Mom was in Houston Thursday and Friday for her quarterly medical evaluation and her Lou Gehrig's Disease has not progressed much in the last three months! Praise Jesus!!

God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and...we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance!Romans 8:15-17