Spiders

I feel a great need to write down the events that transpired today.  Hopefully Future Seth will like that I am doing this instead of hating me for it...

It was 1:00 PM.  The phone rang and on the other end was a voice that no mother likes hearing:  The voice of the School Nurse. 

Our school nurse informed me that Seth was in her office because he claimed to have been bitten by a spider on the playground and his finger felt numb and hot to him.  Seth told her he was bitten by a Daddy Longlegs.  Her response?  "Well, that is good because they are not poisonous!"  His response?  "Yes they are.  They don't normally bite people but they are the most poisonous spiders alive."  Hence the call to me.

After I stopped laughing, I let the nurse know that she was indeed correct and they are not poisonous.  She told me there were no marks on his finger at all - that it was unlikely that he was bitten by anything, let alone a poisonous spider.  I asked her to give Seth an ice pack for his finger and send him back to class.  Before she did that she had Seth talk to me and I reassured him that I had just recently looked this information up (which I had) and that he was in no danger whatsoever.

Seriously, I chuckled about this for another hour until Seth got home from school - and then I was sad.  My poor son had worked himself into a small panic and was really afraid something was wrong - he was even nervous that he was going to die.  :-(  I pulled up several websites all showing the same information - Daddy Longlegs (or what we call Daddy Longlegs around here) are not venomous and don't even have the means to bite people.  Seth was skeptical until we saw that the cast from Mythbusters had tested the poison theory and they declared the myth busted - the spiders are not venomous.  It was at this point that Seth relaxed and ran outside to play.  He hasn't complained about his finger since.

A Kid's Paradise...

Katey was wandering around the living room this evening, brushing her hair and giving us a glimpse into her creative and dreaming mind.  I'm not sure how the exposition began, but she was describing what a Kid's Paradise would be like according to her.  I began typing the list as I realized what she was saying.

So, without further ado, A Kid's Paradise...according to Katey:

Bunk beds

You can visit any website, any time you want

Super fast wi-fi...I mean SUPER fast!

Any food you want to eat, any time

Every movie

Any phone you want – you can even have multiple phones, and an iPod touch

Technology galore!

All your belongings are there with you and you can stay in touch with your parents

A whole lot of instruments and you can have video chat lessons (so I can still learn piano)

Did I already mention vending machines that NEVER run out of food and they are all FREE!

Everyone has their own room and you can move it anywhere you want at any time - and there are 2 sets of bunk beds, at least, for every kid!

I love that Katey included that kids can stay in touch with their parents...and Mrs. Alison will be pleased to hear that piano can still be taught.  This girl has big dreams!!

Fun in Ohio

Just after summer started the kids and I headed to Ohio for a visit.  While we missed Mike terribly (and deserted him on Father's day, no less!), our trip with action-packed and filled with lots of fun.

Shannon and Jason have their pool all set-up and opened so we (read:the kids) spent a lot of time out in the chilly water having a blast! 

On Father's Day we went to church and were privileged to witness Gabriella's baptism!  As if that weren't wonderful enough, I was filled to the brim with joy to also be surrounded by Dad, Granny and Papaw.  Apart from weddings, I think this was the first time I had been at church with Papaw (who has just recently accepted Christ and been baptized himself!).  What a morning to celebrate! 

Jason baptizing Gabriella

Dad and his girls.  Aubrey insisted we wear the same dress!

Later that day Sara and the kids came to spend the night and following day with us.  It is always so good to be with our dear friends and our time together is too short.  But, the kids LOVED being together and I loved being able to catch up with Sara.

The rest of our trip was spent enjoying time with family.  Emily came over with Laken and Evvy (no pictures of that - bad me!) and it was so fun to see how much they have grown over the last 6 months.  We spent lots of time with Granny and Papaw, and headed up to see Grandma Brown one day as well. 

Whew!  There was a lot of action packed into a short trip.  As always, we were sad to leave, but happy to be returning home to see Mike.

The Last Day of School

It's tradition!

Last day of 6th Grade!

Last day of 3rd Grade!

Picture Perfect

Our Katey.  Our smart, sweet, loving, scattered and wonderful Katey.  Looking over this last school year, there is so much that has just screamed, "Katey!"

She started Middle School.  Mom was a nervous wreck - I remember Middle School and all the insecurities that came with it.  But, Katey was not me.  She headed in, full force, and loved it!  There was much talk of lockers being butterflied (pad locks turned around to make it tough to open them), kids who didn't do what they were supposed to (and Katey making sure teachers were aware of such transgressions), annoying classmates, great friends made, and the Battle of the Books team adventure. 

But there was one thing that happened in particular that made Mike and I just shake our heads, smile, and proclaim that this event was a perfect way to sum up Katey.

School was winding down, and Katey came home on June 1st fit to be tied.  In her best 'outraged' voice she hit the door exclaiming that she had won an award at school that day but NO ONE had told her she was receiving it and NO ONE made sure she was at the awards ceremony to receive it.  Her award was the Best Overall Language Arts Student in her team of teachers (about 150 students).  The awards ceremony was a big deal - parents were invited and the kids who were getting awards were able to leave class to be a part of the ceremony.  Mike and I had no idea, as we were not notified.

I began trying to calm Katey down and started questioning her.  "Did you get an envelope in the last week or two to bring home to us?"  No.  "Did any of your teachers mention to you that you should be at the ceremony?"  No.  "Are you sure?"  YES!  At first I was pretty ticked off at her teachers...and then I asked to see her school folders.

It took several minutes to wade through past homework and school work, progress reports and miscellaneous stuff, but then I found it.

A letter dated May 23, notifying us that Katey was receiving an award and asking for an RSVP to the ceremony.  Oops.  Katey was mystified.  She had no recollection of being given that letter or it being in her folder. 

So there it is.  A picture-perfect illustration of our Katey.  The best overall language arts student who didn't pass along an invitation and didn't even realize she was getting the award.  What a fitting way to end 6th grade...and because she has such a good temperament, we all laughed about it once the mystery was solved.  :-)

Our bright scholar with her award!

 

All Things Seth

Seth in pictures

Mustache Day at school!

Seth received an award for being on the Honor Roll all year!

Tie-Dye t-shirts for his class to wear on Field Day

Watching TV and snuggling with Daddy

Super Hero Day at school - Seth went as Thor

Candy Bars

My (school) year has been consumed with trying to sell all of the chocolate bars left from our annual PTA fundraiser.  We began selling in mid-September and the final box left my possession this week!!  As I have spent the year fretting over getting rid of them, dreaming about getting rid of them, and working on getting rid of them, I cannot express the utter relief I feel in knowing that we have gotten rid of ALL of the chocolate bars!

 If I ever see another one of these it will be TOO SOON!!!

Baseball

Now that the season has ended I figured it would be a great time to write about Seth's first baseball experience.  I, of course, would not have wanted to write about this earlier as it would have only been a partial story and cliffhangers are a little on the mean side.  Yeah, that's why I waited.

So Seth asked to try his hand with baseball this Spring and we were excited to let him do it! Having never played before, this was a completely new, somewhat difficult experience for him.  One thing we have noticed about Seth is that he likes to be the best at everything.  And, like his Momma, he wants to figure things out on his own, not be told how to do something.

Enter baseball.

Most of the kids on Seth's team had played t-ball or coach pitch in previous years.  They were familiar with the rules and with being at the plate to bat.  We were pleasantly surprised that Seth was very good about taking instruction - not only from his coaches, but also from his peers.  He worked hard and tried his very best.  He practiced at home and asked questions if there was something he didn't understand (because baseball, unlike soccer, has A LOT of rules!).

Seth got to play right field, left field, 3rd base and 2nd base throughout the season.  He did a wonderful job backing up players and being quick on his feet to run down hard-hit balls.  Over the course of the season he learned to be patient at the plate and watch for good balls to swing at.  While he was never able to get a hit in a game, he did get several walks, and we were all proud of him for that.

When asked, Seth told us that he would definitely like to play baseball again, and he is very excited that, even though the season is finished, his coaches are planning to get the kids together once a month or so to continue refining their skills.  We can't wait for next season!

Seth's first-ever at bat

Pictures

While Shannon and the girls were here we decided to have some pictures taken of the kids.  Our friend from church, Taryn (terra firma photography), met us at a park and she got some great shots!

I think this one is one of my favorites:

Why?  Because we asked that a re-creation be done of this picture from 3 years ago:

Love it!!

But, really, we have some cute kids.  :-) See:

A Weekend Project

For awhile now we have been toying with the idea of a new TV stand.  (And by 'awhile' I mean like 2 years.  Can't be too careful in the decision making process!)  Mike was thumbing through a Handyman magazine awhile back and a plan caught his eye.  We both liked the design and the article mentioned that it only took a weekend for the creator of the pattern to finish this project.  Perfect!

So, Mike set out to put his tools to good use and started on our new piece of furniture. 

And after a weekend, this is what was finished:

So, Mike kept working diligently and after a week and a half this is what it looked like: 

 Another week or so and he had the drawers in and ready to go (something he had to learn as he had not done drawers before!).  I should mention here that we did have to wait a few days for drawer hardware to arrive as the size we needed isn't carried at Home Depot or Lowes. 

 Next came all the staining and polyurethane-ing.  I didn't get any pictures of that process.  And, once you apply the final coat it is recommended that you wait a week before moving it inside.  So we did.

We are pretty sure this 'weekend project' took about a month, but last night we got it into the house and all set up.  Mike did an awesome job on this - what a beautiful piece of furniture we now have!!

A Reflection

Some days it is easy, this parenting thing.  The kids do exactly what they are told and don't grumble.  They even help without being asked.  They don't fight with each other; and they even do kind things for one another.  Ahhh.

Some days it is tough, this parenting thing.  The kids do exactly the opposite of what they are told and grumble and complain.  They don't help, even when asked.  They fight with each other endlessly and there is not even a kind thought towards the other sibling.  Ugh.

What a reflection my children are in my relationship with God.  Some days (hours, minutes, seconds...) I do exactly what I know God wants, I help others, I am kind and loving and I don't fight God's will.  Other days (hours, minutes, seconds...) I run in the opposite direction.  I fight Him at every turn and there are no kind thoughts in my head.

Just today, during lunch, we had quite the confrontation with one of the kids.  The problem stemmed from having to eat something that was not wanted (at a restaurant).  The bad attitude started as lunch was being ordered.  There was going to be no happiness about the food, no matter what.  It was asked that this child try something with an open mind - not assuming it would be yucky.  No such luck.  There were tears, there was anger and there was a trip out to the van for discussion, prayer and time for attitude adjustment. 

There were lots of difficult parenting moments in this time.  Wondering (praying) what words I could use to help convey the message that we are to be grateful in all circumstances.  Wondering if a lecture on how some kids, even kids in this child's school, don't have enough food to eat and don't get to go to a restaurant.  Wondering if I should mention that this child's stubbornness stems from a Mom with the same character flaw (sin nature). 

It is in these times of struggle with my children that I see most clearly how I tend to fight God.  They are a reflection of me.  Am I modeling gratefulness in all circumstances?  Am I letting go of my selfishness and stubbornness and allowing God to direct me towards new things and circumstances?  Am I doing it all without grumbling and crying and getting angry?  Ouch.

The end of today's story?  Said child made it back into the restaurant and ate the meal.  At first it was with quite the sullen attitude.  Then there was a discovery that if 2 foods were combined they were delicious.  We are pretty sure it just needed to be done "my way" in order to be accepted (and save-face).  This is not exactly the heart-changing attitude we were hoping for, but it did make for a peaceful rest of the meal - and a clean plate. 

The good news is that we aren't finished molding and shaping our child(ren) and working to teach them to have a grateful heart.  The even better news is that neither is God.  For both of these things, I am truly grateful.

Spring Break in Pictures (and a couple of words)

The kids weren't too excited to learn that their dessert on April 1st was Brown E's!

We wore this poor little cutie out while she was here!

Aubrey made a new friend while the big kids were shopping.  She loved this mannequin!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Dying eggs with shaving cream and food coloring

Uncle Mike enjoys a lazy morning with Aubrey, Belle and "Sheety"

We LOVED spending time with Aunt Shannon, Gabriella and Aubrey over break (and Grammy, too)!  So much fun stuffed into so little time!