"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!
Hawkins Family
Friday, June 22, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
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!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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. :)
* 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. :)
Friday, June 1, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
9
Nine. I have a kiddo who is nine. Wow. We had a fun day celebrating our oldest yesterday. Started the morning off with a "donut cake." (BTW--he's not so photogenic, as you will soon, no doubt witness....but he's quite handsome in real time!) ;) We're having a party next Saturday with his friends. We asked our considerate boy to have mercy on us and allow this weekend to be complicated enough with Ronnie's master's thesis due tonight at 9 pm. He conceded. We love him for it.
The little brother had his last soccer game of the season today, so we all loaded up and headed out to cheer T on. They had a little end of season party afterward. Read donuts followed by Rice Krispy treats and cupcakes. Egad! Spent some time at the playground afterward to run it all off. Headed home to open presents.
His favorite gift--Madden 2012. I've made my peace with electronics (for now) and didn't have any reservation about getting this for him. I liked how he thought it was all his dad's idea though.
Dinner at Olive Garden per special request.
The three "big" kids. (Another captivating photo of Clay!)
Clay, you truly are a great kid. We're proud of you. Most of the time, you make this growing up thing, pretty easy on us. Thanks for being an incredible son and a most amazing big bro. We all think you are pretty special.
Sidebar for those inquiring minds--the master's was finished at 6:30 this morning after a second all-nighter in three days. Glad it's not me. :) Glad we all made it.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Dining Out
Saturday evening, Ronnie's squadron celebrated their 95th anniversary with a formal dinner. We got all gussied up. Too bad you can't really see my handsome hubby. That first kid of ours is TALL! The best part of my ensemble, you ask.....oh yes, I wore the same earrings I wore to PROM with Ronnie!! Just happened to have saved those black sparkly suckers for another special occasion. Ah....prom....just like five years ago....ha!
Great evening. Ronnie was the "Vice" (read MC), so I had to sit without him most of the evening, but it was still enjoyable. He's so good at MCing type gigs. He's pretty much "it" any time there's an event. The dining out was held at the Club with all the usual military traditions of a flying squadron. Yes, grog bowl and all. Yuck!
We took a photo with all the kiddos before we left.
There was a gal there taking professional photos of all the couples. I hope those turn out well. Ronnie's parents were also there with us. The squadron needed a big wig for a guest speaker, so since we just happen to know (and love!) a certain lieutenant general, he was invited to speak. I don't have any pictures with them. We got some taken there of all of us. Looking forward to seeing those too. Anyway, Ronnie's dad was amazing. His speech was truly inspiring and spoke to all of us, not just the military folk. The room was silent while he spoke. I don't think I've ever witnessed Ronnie's squadron do anything silently. Rowdy bunch! And a very diverse crowd with super young enlisted guys, all the way up to vets that were part of the squadron during the Korean War. Pretty hard to engage all of them, but he sure did. It was cool. Very proud to be his daughter-in-law.
I'll try to post some of the other photos when we get them. You know how that goes with me though! May or may not happen. ;) In the meantime, this is my fav.....at Clayton's request!
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