School, Going to school!

As I type the words "going to school", I can feel my heart sink and my eyes start to tear. However, the kids starting school is a decision covered in prayer, and a decision that our family is confident with. I just need to tell my heart that :) Johnathan and Joseph will start K 4, and Jayne Elizabeth will be starting the K 3 class. All three kids will only be going two days a week, unless they ask me to go more! They are all three so excited!! We have taken them to their school several times over the summer to visit, and also were very involved with school activites and fundraisers last year, attempting for all of us to be more acquainted with the process!! So, now it is time for our trio to go to school this week.  So far Joseph is the only one expressing a concern, he said "mommy, I will just come home and take my nap, I dont think I want to sleep there." However after trying out his mat and pillow, I think he is ready to give it a try. I have met both teachers, and truly feel like this will be a great year! Please join us in prayer for the students and teachers.

Johnathan and Joseph school supply shopping, wow, that was an experience!

We even wore our Crossville Christian School shirts, we are soaring eagles!

 This picture is hysterical, sometimes they can not keep their hands off each other, but it is so cute....

 Our house is looking very different, book bag hooks and organization systems!

 Baskets ready for school work.......

 A back to school craft for our teachers.....

 School supplies are so fun and exciting, until a sweet little 2 year old helps herself to the glue early one morning! Jayne Elizabeth is a mess, and probably the most excited about school!! Johnathan said "mommy, if I hear her cry, I will go to her class and get her." That boy melts my heart! More pictures of our first day on Thursday!

Rodeo memories.

The rodeo came to town, and we decided the kids were mature enough to understand and appreciate the livestock and athletes. Well, the local rodeo is NOTHING like the large, annual rodeos back home. Bullriding was the only event scheduled, and the arena was not what we expected. The kids did not know any different, so they enjoyed the night. Jayne Elizabeth did question where the cowgirls were hiding. The reason the night was so special to me was that our closest childhood family friends son, Jacob was in Tennessee for a visit. Jacob is a cowboy, and our kids enjoyed talking horses, hunting, and hay with Mr. Jacob. Jacob now has a gorgeous family back home in Okeechobee and enjoys living on their family farm. I did get a little sad that our kids will not have the big rodeo,ranch lifestyle, large family hunts, and fellowship that Jacob and I enjoyed growing up.  But, we love our new life, new friends and farm in Tennessee. Maybe one day I can show the kids my cowgirl tiara, and my rodeo picture days.

Mr. Johnathan

 Doesnt every cowgirl have a pink pair of Justin boots??!!! I think she is a rodeo princess in the making~

 Papa and Mr Jacob teaching the boys the language......

 When I looked down during the national anthem and prayer this is what I saw.....

 Priceless memories are made with family and dear friends...........

It's a pedicure!

It is perfectly fitting that our little cowgirl had a first toenail polish at the Lowe family farm! Jayne Elizabeth is potty trained and her incentive this summer was to paint her toenails! On the way to have a play date at Brody and Briggs' house, Jayne Elizabeth repeatedly states that "Mrs. Dana paint my toenails." However Jayne Elizabeth has named several people over the last few weeks that she wanted to share in this activity. But after we arrived Jayne Elizabeth asked Dana to paint her toenails, and Dana being a boy mommy, was very pleased to have the honor! I must say that I have great girlfriends, when Jayne Elizabeth requested "orange" (****gasp*** not pink!?!? really baby??!! ) Mrs. Dana was ready with only the best, OPI, in a beautiful coral color. Mommy and Jayne Elizabeth were happy!

Brody and Briggs enjoy watching the little girl festivities, her brothers went to play, ha!

 I love Jayne Elizabeth's expression, good job Dana!

 A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

Jayne Elizabeth glowed with excitement as each of the boys; Brody, Briggs, Johnathan, and Joseph, told her how pretty she was with her painted toenails! Truly, her toes are soooo cute!

Grandmother & Grandaddy Warlick

Grandmother and Grandaddy came for a visit, and stayed the night with us! It was a surprise and short visit, but it was a precious time to see the "great-grandkids" interact with Grandmother and Grandaddy. I am pretty certain that our guests were entertained by our little ones! The kids were chatter boxes, and loved having a new audience. Jayne Elizabeth enjoyed Grandmother's story time, she kept going back to her for another book, and loved sitting in her lap. All the "boys" stuck together outside and inside. Grandaddy seemed pretty proud of their baseball skills, and enjoyed holding the "foster" dog that stayed with us briefly.

I am so thankful for their visit, this couple exemplifies dedication and commitment in marriage. Join us in prayer, Grandmother is ill and is in the hospital for treatment. Wish that we could take the kids by for some laughter, as it is the best medicine.....We are praying for you now Grandmother!

It's a farmer's life

Brothers, checking the garden.

 Picking blackberries, and eating a few too.

 Running to meet the man behind the farm family, Papa.

 Bailing, and wrapping hay.

 Our little girl, who wants to be a cowgirl too.

 Watching Uncle Clay and Papa load the hay on the trailer.

 Johnathan said to Papa: "Papa, Uncle Clay take one us, and you take the other??!"

July 4th

Anthony took all the kids to the lake for a long weekend! I have been working more than my normal schedule at work to help with staffing, and also worked Saturday and Sunday. So, on July 4 I headed to the lake house with plans to enjoy the day! It started with a special breakfast that I prepared for the family! I was very proud of the "United States of America flag" waffles. However a few of my crew decided that they did not want all their food mixed up....ha!!! So I made a special plate for each one to enjoy, custom the way they ordered! That is what makes holidays, something special with friends and family.

It was a lake weekend, a great way to celebrate July 4th......simple things.

Granna helping our trio feed the ducks........

 The baby ducks would follow us on land and in water, we fed them LOTS of bread....

 Skinny dipping baby girl......

 Fishing with Daddy......

 A walk at the marina............

 Brothers....

 Playing in diapers and water toys........

 A little pout from a spunky little girl.........

 Making home made ice cream with Granna and Papa.....