13

By the way....

we're 13 today.

Ronnie, I love you.  I treasure you.  I'm so very thankful for you.  It's been hard, but it sure has been way fun too.

Can't wait to surprise you on Friday with our special celebration!

A Fav

This photo's actually a bit old.  It's from November of last year.  I was there when it was taken, but as it was day 5 of a migraine, I wasn't too with it.  Ronnie was scrolling through the photos on his phone last night and it popped up.

So stinkin' cute!

Maybe a little diva-esk too!

Beauty-full

She's so beautiful to me.

Pieces vs. Whollness

     "My mind wanders to my home, where Todd and I are currently parenting nine children.  How can I be more like God, instead of trying to break myself up in equal size pieces for everyone, which never feels good or works out right anyway?  What if, instead, I could be all myself, wholly offered to Him, so that He can spill out enough onto my family?"  

From Reckless Faith: Let Go and Be Led by Beth Guckenberger

Wow.  Yes.  PLEASE.  Sign me up!

Last Day of School and First Days of Summer

Sigh....back again at last.  Only a few (thousand) things to catch up on here.  Here's the short version.  Less words, more pictures.  Both the boys finished school on June 7.  Here's Clayton before heading out for the last day.  He looks like an almost 4th grader, right?  (Or maybe....6th grader!)

First day of school--August 2011

Thomas's school had a graduation ceremony this past Friday for the Kindergartners.  Here he is afterward with his teacher.

Posing with the fancy certificate.

Mom and Dad and our 1st grader!

The fab four!

T just had to take a photo of us.

Last Monday, Clay did a three-day long football camp at UNLV.  I think it was one of the best experiences of his long nine years.  He learned a ton, got to work with real college football coaches, meet some of the players, tour the locker room (he reported it smelled like feet!  Ha!)  The staff did a really great job of giving the kids the full picture of being a student athlete.  Pretty cool, except that he's ready to go to college now.

There's been lots of reading so far this summer.

Some playing too.

LOTS of backyard swimming.

Some bathing suit modeling. ;)

Did I mention the reading?  (Love her foot on him.  Read--I own you!)

Some kisses with Daddy....in public!

And we've fit in some cooking too.

It's been a busy first couple weeks of summer.  Tons of camps right at the get-go and then....nothing.  The boys are both doing camp/VBS at our church every evening this week and Clay's doing a model car camp today through Thursday as well (right before VBS).  Sprinkle in a couple doctor appointments too, and feeling a little chauffer-ish these days.  Anywho....that's what we've been up to.  Catch up with you soon!

Stream of Consciousness

A zillion thoughts running through my head....

*  Tomorrow is the last day of school.  Can't believe it.  Where did the time go?!  A 4th grader and a 1st grader.  Wow.

*  Thomas and I just finished Language Arts.  We will do History after quiet time and then we'll be done with all his subjects.  Hallelujah.  We have to log some attendance time tomorrow, so I'll let him pick his two favorite subjects.  Haven't loved homeschooling.  Not a great fit for me in this season of life.  Can't say that I feel it's been the environment for T to thrive in either.  Praying for that right fit for him come fall (which is difficult with a pending move.)

*  Still haven't mapped out our summer.  Thought about it lots, but need to get some of it on paper.  Must be intentional this summer or the heat and limitations (like I can't hold on to two girls in the pool) will drive us all crazy.  My goal this summer--to be intentional with our days--even if intentionally doing nothing.  And to schedule some time for myself.  Never done that before.

*  Really want to make it to Ronnie's cousin's wedding on the beach in August.  Where can you find money growing on trees?

*  Need to revamp the boys' chores for the summer.

*  We thought we were going to have to put Boomer down yesterday.  He was in a bad way for a solid 24 hours.  Very sad.  After a trip to the vet yesterday and some lab work, looks like he may have a low-functioning thyroid.  Ronnie and I got Boomer in November of 1999.  That was a long time ago.  Recalling yesterday how long he's really been with us.

*  Can't wait to explore Lake Tahoe this summer.

*  Gaby has been taking forever to fall asleep the last three days at nap time.  Waited longer today.  Hear her partying now.  Killing me.  Stream of consciousness interrupted.

*  Can't wait to go to Body Pump today.  Think it's my favorite workout ever.  Awesome!

*  So hope the Spurs win tonight!!!

*  What will it be like to move?  It's been so long.  Can't believe it's really going to happen this fall.  If we get orders for October, will I move ahead with the kids so they can start the school year off in their new school?  I hated the one move I remember in third grade.  Will the boys hate moving as much as I did?  Hope NOT.  Still can't imagine leaving our church or friends.  Will LOVE moving to a different climate!  Any different climate will do!

*  Can't wait to get my highlights done on Friday. :)   Just makes me happy.

*  Our babysitter is moving in 29 days.  Whatever will we do?  She has sat for us for 5 years!!  That's huge when you don't live near family.  Huge.  Had really hoped we'd leave before she did.  Don't even have any leads on other sitters.

*  Gonna grab a snack and savor some of this sacred quiet time.

*  One more....I have so many old photos that I've missed posting.  Stink.  Want to be better.  This really is a great way to keep "it" all together.  Disneyland?  Yep, we did go there back in March.

End of random thoughts. :)

Solitude

He loves to read.

And will find a quiet place to do it just about anywhere.