MK - don't get too used to it!

Each year MK goes to New Orleans to visit the Big Man's family and to attend VBS at their church. This is actually her last year to go to VBS as a "kid" but hopes to be a helper in the next years, especially when T. Willy can go. This year we were debating how to get her there. It's a 3 1/2 hour drive, not a big deal, but everyone had things going on so we were trying to figure things out. It turns out that my in-laws have some friends who own a beach home in our area and were there and returning to the N.O. area on Sunday on a private plane. It worked out that they were able to take MK with them! I think I was more excited than she was. I was so excited that she was willing to try this adventure. It wasn't her first flight, but it was the first time she had flown without me. Fortunately, she knows the family and they have a son near her age. So here are a few pictures of her big adventure. I just hope that flying coach isn't going to be too hard for her after that! We appreciate the family and their willingness to let her join them. The Big Man has some days off at the end of the week so we'll all drive over to get her.





































Please don't forget the Gulf Coast in your prayers! Things are NOT normal and won't be for a long, long time. Take a look at my sidebar at the FBC site if you get a chance. It's my in-law's church and there are pictures of some of the work the teams have been doing.

Have a great day!!!

Look what MK found in our garage today!!!!

I am not afraid of spiders, but even this was ick! I took the picture first and then killed it!











We aren't quite sure what it is...it was in its web and its death was swift so I didn't check to see if the red marking was on its abdomen or back. But still...yuck.


MK had her first band practice today. She really enjoyed it which was a relief to all of us. I finally had a chance to go inside her new school. It is much bigger than her elementary but I think she is going to be just fine. It starts August 3 so this is a good chance for her to meet some people and get used to being there. T. Willy and I went to the library which is conveniently located across the street. Then we came home and she practiced for us all. It took her a long time to make a noise but once she figured it out, she did really well.

Old Friends, New Friends

Whew!!

Wow...what a busy month!!! It goes something like this: school for me, busy fun for my parents and the kids, work for the Big Man, drive from FL to NC to visit wonderful family we haven't seen in tooooo long, drive from NC to DE to visit wonderful family and friends we see more often but still not enough, crabs and a softball game, a trip to VA to visit our college alma mater - all I can say about that is wow!!!fireworks, swimming, ice skating - FINALLY meeting up with Melissa (wish I would take the time to learn to insert a link there, oh well, check out the sidebar)and her wonderful kids and sister(the last time I saw Thom I think she was a teenager!!!), a trip to "John Boy's" homeplace (and getting in the middle of a catfight between the proprietors of the museum and a gift shop), good bye to the Big Man who drove home while I rode back to DE with my brother, a fun 4th of July party with more friends, sending MK on a trip to NYC with my mom, brother and a new friend, K, one day of sinus trouble and rest, a sub, a trip to DE's famous Dairy Palace, and 2 unremarkable plane rides home. I'll try to sum up in photos. Whew!



MK and T. Willy on the front porch of the CB where the Big Man was working when MK was born. There were still some employees there that remembered him.







The Big Man and MK standing outside of my dorm...I lived in this dorm for 2 years, on the first and then the second floors...it's where I met Melissa and where I lived when the Big Man and I first became friends and then started dating.








MK and me at the new church on campus.

And what a month it's been

Actually, it hasn't been an action packed, mile a minute month. It has just been kind of boring and not much to write about. It's 2 in the a.m. and I'm up finishing some homework. I'm in the middle of a 10 day class which I am really enjoying but, between that and the other, there are many projects due in a short amount of time. I finish on Tuesday and then we leave for DE on Wednesday. My parents are here and helping with the kids while I'm in school. I am barely missed. They are having a great time and really filling in the gap. I just have to make it till Tuesday. I am sure I'm rambling and punchy due to the late hour. I just wanted to fill you in and let you know we're still alive!!

School Ends - School Begins

MK's last day of school is Thursday. They are having a ceremony for their last day of elementary and then dismissing them early. We are excited about the summer before us. We have a trip to DE planned, a trip for MK to visit the Big Man's parents and then an undetermined vacation. It's hard to believe how early they are out of school, but when they go back the first week of August, I remember why they are out in mid-May.

While MK's year is ending, a new semester begins for me tonight. I am looking forward to it. This class is T/Th through June. Then the class in late June when my parents are here and then July is free! T. Willy and I picked up my books yesterday so I'm ready to go.

Othewise I've just gotten some housework accomplished and some fun with the family. Last night we discovered that T. Willy is a big basketball fan. He has enjoyed shooting baskets for quite some time but last night we watched a basketball game and he squealed and clapped every time someone made a basket. It was hilarious to watch. We are not actually basketball fans as much as football and hockey fans, so we'll have to see how he reacts to those sports.

I planted some gardenia plants in the front yard and discovered my first bloom. I am including a picture of it, although it's out of focus. I was just so excited and they smell wonderful!!!







So, there's that. Have a great day!

Another birthday

MK turned 11 on Friday the 5th! Wow! We kind of threw together a last minute party with 7 girls swimming in the backyard. It was probably my favorite party ever. Just the 7 girls and my sister in law and me. It was great. They swam, ate cake and opened presents and swam some more. The girls were so well behaved and polite. What a nice day! The Big Man and I gave MK a new bike for her birthday, so I've included a picture of her on it. Happy Birthday, MK!

Twin Deeres

Today MK is taking a field trip to visit her middle school. She is getting excited about it. I cannot believe she is almost finished with elementary school! It is a nice middle school, but it's still MIDDLE SCHOOL.

My semester ended on Thursday. I am taking 2 classes over the summer but I'll have the entire month of July free. It isn't like my schedule is that taxing but it will be nice to just have a month to not think about school. I am taking one class that meets for 10 days in a row for four hours, then the other class is on Tuesday and Thursday nights for 4 hours. The overlapping T/TH will be tough but my parents are coming here to help out. Thanks so much, Mom and Dad. That will make it much easier on the kids when I'm gone all day. Then when the classes are over we are driving home with my folks and will fly back here a week later. If you have been a reader for awhile you may remember my last flight did not go that well but we only have to fly one way and I'm not going to lug the carseat all around the airport. Let's hope it goes better!

Here are a couple of pictures. The first is my redneck boy and the next is his new birthday present next to the Big Man's tractor.

MK before school today

MK Behind the Camera

Here are some shots that MK took yesterday.

Happy Birthday, T. Willy

Yes, he is wearing Christmas pajamas. Our a/c is on and his room is cold.

T. Willy is 2!!!

Happy Easter!

I'm just including some pictures of our weekend. We colored eggs on Saturday. Due to a commitment to the nursery at our other church, we went to 2 churches yesterday. The Big Man hid Easter eggs so after church we had our egg hunt and a traditional Easter ham dinner. Then T. Willy took a nap and when he woke up we celebrated his birthday. It's actually today (he's 2!!!) but the Big Man is working tonight so he opened his presents yesterday. We are going to have dinner with the Big Man at his work but I didn't want to drag presents in there.

T. Willy at the Strawberry Farm

Pickin' and Grinnin' (An ode to Buck Owens - RIP)

Okay, this has nothing to do with Buck Owens or music. After dropping MK off this morning at school, T. Willy and I went strawberry picking. He didn't actually get to pick because I wanted to be allowed back there again, but he sat in his stroller and played while I picked. I picked about 7 pounds and then we came home and enjoyed a few while I cleaned the rest of them. We have been in desperate need of rain and finally got some on Saturday so I thought today would be a good day.

Saturday was the 90th anniversary of our little city. They had planned a big celebration and wouldn't it figure that it rained for the first time in months? They still held it between downpours. We went toward the end and it was pretty much wrapped up. But we had fun looking at different booths and saw one of my former students. He is trying to get on the police force and was there helping out. He is a great kid (man really- gulp) and it's so nice to see him pursuing his dreams.

Today is my nephew's 16th birthday. Time goes so fast! One of our friends is being induced today so I will easily be able to remember Mallorie's birthday. So Happy Birthday to Benjamin and (if it goes quickly) Mallorie!!! That also means that T. Willy turns 2 one week from today! I really need to get out of the habit of thinking of him as a baby...he is growing up!

Pictures from Field Day & Swimming in April!

An actual post

MK had Spring Break last week and it was so nice. She was back to school today and it was Field Day. It was a great time. Last year her class was not terribly competitive but this year the blue ribbons were flying. MK won in the Hula Hoop. Of course, so did 5 or 6 other girls but it was a victory nonetheless. She has won the Hula Hoop every year since 2nd grade (her first year at the school) but it was a nailbiter for me anyway. She does not have a competitive bone in her body but was happy with the results.

We tried a new church yesterday. I don't think that I've given my blog address to anyone local but I'm still hesitant to comment about it. We've been at our church for 4+ years and just recently have felt like it's time to move on. This is difficult for me because I don't think of myself as a "church hopper" but we just feel led to find something new. One of the reasons is that the children's department has not been a good fit for MK. She likes "Sunday School" where you are taught a lesson in a quiet setting. Currently she is thrust into a room with children from K - 6th grade combined. This church had a class of 5th and 6th grade girls and she really liked it. The style of this pastor is more teaching and I really like that, but I can't make a decision based on one week and the Big Man didn't even get to come. So we'll see what the future holds. T. Willy did fine. I have one specialty and that is the ability to take him to the nursery and leave. I don't linger and let his crying get out of control. I do, however, stand out of sight and make sure he doesn't cry long and he doesn't. As soon as I am out of sight he stops crying and when I picked him up, he was standing at the table with other kids and coloring a paper happy as can be.

And would you believe...we were swimming today!!!! So I'll post some pictures of that too. It was quite cold but, after standing in the sun at Field Day, we were happy to cool off. T. Willy even got in a little bit but will like it more when it isn't as cold. He loved watching MK perform her flips and handstands.

That's it for us. Hope your day went well too!

Hope the Grandparents Aren't Reading Today

We've caught T. Willy doing this twice in the last few days. I don't think he actually got anything to eat, but he really was trying.

A picture is worth more...

We've been busy this week so I thought I'd post a few pictures. Monday was a nice day and MK had a day off of school so we headed to the beach. It was too cold for the rest of us, but MK couldn't stay out of the water. T. Willy didn't like the way the sand felt on his feet, so he sat on a towel and filled a bucket with sand. It was unusual because he never stays in one place. But we didn't have to worry about where he was. We tried once to get him to put his feet in the water and as soon as his feet got wet, he stiffened up and fell down. So that was the last of that. But we had a great time.

MK and the Man