Our Graduate

Our family rejoiced in another milestone this evening. B had his Kindergarten Celebration. Seven other children participated. This event is coordinated through our home school support group, Lighthouse Christian Home School Association.

B at the display of just a few Kindergarten projects he did this year.

The Class of 2009
Think they have much promise? :)

The presentation of the diploma

Off they march into a bright future in first grade.

Our family celebrating with B. (I missed the memo to wear blue!)

Strawberry Pickin'

We decided to go strawberry pickin' one morning last week. It was a little cooler than previous strawberry pickin' days but the kids had fun. The wind was blowing and the sun was shining. We missed the peak of the season but they were still yummy.

This little boy followed B all around the playground. B finally decided to just "milk" the cow from the back.

Our family zoo...from left to right are E, B, H and C.

We ate our fair share of strawberries!

C and B sampling some strawberried while pickin'.

E and H eatin' and pickin'.

Colonial Field Games Day

Today was our final day of co-op for this year. We ended with a Colonial Field Games Day for our Unit Celebration for units 3 and 4 of Tapestry of Grace Year 2. The kids had fun playing the games. H and her friend, Alexa, were the only two who dressed up except the twins wore aprons. After a couple hours of games, we went inside for lunch together one last time.

B rolling a hoola-hoop with a ruler.

B, E and C were on a team with Ian. I don't remember the name of this game.

E playing the Corn Toss game. (Notice the Harl*y logo on the board. :)

H trying out some bowling.

H and her friend Sarah giving the hoola-hoops a try.

E playing a little croquet (or crochet as B calls it).

What is a Colonial Fields Games Day without horse shoes?

H doing the Washer Toss. See it flying through the air?

C giving the bowling a try.

Lunch time!
(Note: There are three sets of twins at this front table. Two sets are siblings by adoption.)

Mrs. Gupton made a yummy cake for our celebration.

H and Alexa being silling colonial girls. (H put her outfit together all by herself from things in her closet. I thought she did a good job!)

Now we have a 3rd grader, 1st grader and two pre-K'ers at our house!

Yea for summertime!!!!!!!!

My Little Brother is 29

29 years ago this morning, I found out I had a third brother...who was suppose to have been a sister.

I remember telling the lady my other two brothers and I were staying with that I did not want to go to the hospital to meet him. I'd rather go to school. She put Daddy on the phone. He told me he'd like to see me so I reluctantly agreed.

Standing at the nursery window looking at all the babies and knowing that my new brother was one of them, I was not a happy girl. Then it happened...Daddy looked at me and said, "Well, baby, I guess you're Daddy's girl. You're the only one I have."

Ah...a new brother...the idea didn't seem so bad after all.

After that I was like a second mom to him.

Tony started Kindergarten the year I started college. When I would go home to visit, I'd pick him up at school even though we lived 2 blocks away. He would walk across the sidewalk swinging his backpack, yelling back at his friends, "That's my sister in the car! She's in college!" All his friends had to walk home that day. But not Tony.

Then there was the summer I took him on a month long vacation visiting friends all over the East Coast and attending two music schools. That was fun. I think he was about 12 or 13 that summer. We went tubing down the river in Helen, GA. I even drove him to the NC and SC state lines just so he could say he had been to those states. And we climbed Stone Mountain and went to Six**Flags.

There were lots of fun memories having my "little brother". And today he's 29. He's not so "little" anymore. I have to "look up" to him. But he's still my little brother!

Happy birthday, Tony!

We love you!!

I deleted all my photos off my hard drive so I don't have any to post right now.

Ride 'em Cowboy and Cowgirls!

We had a field trip this morning to Steppin' Heaven Farms. The kids learned how to care for a horse then they got to ride a horse. They actually each rode 3 times. It was fun, fun for them!

We don't have cowgirl boots but we do have rain boots!

Riding all by myself!

Yeee-haaa!

Like the way I co-ordinate with my horse's blanket and bridle?

We're counting down the last days of this school year. We have two math lessons left and one more week of co-op. It's getting close! :)

Nicaragua Update / Baby Ava Update

Directly from Heather's blog...

Got a phone call from Shawn last night. He sounded tired but good.It is much hotter in Nicaragua than it has been in the past. Shawn said he has to drink a bottle of water every thirty minutes just to stay hydrated. The work is going well, and thanks to Tyler (who is a culinary genius apparently) they had a nice meal last night. The pastors of the churches are also fishermen to make money for their families. The guys bought all of their red snapper (yum..one of my faves) yesterday. Tyler cooked it up complete with a mango salsa and Shawn said it was AMAZING. Way to go, Tyler!! All the other meals are beans and rice, so I'm sure some fish was nice diversion. Shawn, Derek and Guillermo (the Chosen Children rep.) had the opportunity to meet with 12 pastors in the area and teach them about leadership in the church. Shawn said that was a really cool experience.Prayer requests for the rest of the week: That the guys stay hydrated. Finishing up the work on the Mission House on the Bible Institute Classroom and parking area.They are going into a new area today to see if CCM can expand their ministry there. Pray for open hearts and for CCM to find favor with the people of that area.

Personal: I have an ultrasound tomorrow to check the baby's growth and fluid levels. Dr. E does not like how my blood pressure is acting and is preparing me for an early delivery. Please pray that Baby Ava can stay in utero for a couple of more weeks at least and most of all not a delivery before Saturday at 4:30!!! (when Shawn gets home:))

Prayer Request - Mission Nicaragua

My brother, Shawn, flew to Nicaragua today with a team of men from his church. Pray for them as they do construction work all next week building a classroom onto the mission house they built last year. You can keep up with his adventures on his blog (when he has internet service).

While he's away...his wife, Heather, is 34 1/2 weeks pregnant and on modified bedrest. Pray for her and baby Ava to stay healthy. Pray for Mia, Ethan and Ella Kate to obey their mommy and Gram who is staying with them while Daddy is away.

Thanks so much!

Soccer Days

Today were the last games for spring soccer.

B blocked some goals and had a good time today. He likes playing offense and defense.

Coaches and Falcons with their trophies

H scored a goal today. (not in this photo)

Sounders all together after the game.
H has had the same coaches for four years. This was their last game together.

H and B have another trophy for their shelves.