one more day

Only one more day of classes, and then exams! How exciting! My students are weaving some beautiful baskets- I think their parents will be very pleased to get these as gifts.

Why did no one tell me how difficult it is to take a photo with two children, and expect them to smile at the same time? I really do not know how many I have taken, but I do not think I have the card-worthy one just yet.

Ladybug has been really good with the tree- she does play with a few of her ornaments, but she has not broken any of them yet. Monkey was like that, too. I guess we have been lucky.

Basketball season has started- Monkey is really enjoying it, and Ladybug is learning cheers to yell for him.

Now we have gifts to make, cookies to bake, and lots of fun activities to attend. I hopeyou all are having as wonderful a Chirstmas as we are. I cannot remember how many, but lots of people have been telling me that this would be a great Christmas, since it is Ladybug's first one. I have to say, I think they were all right.

thankful

What a great weekend -
I had my scrapbooking group at church friday night, and we all had a great visit. Oh, and we did manage to make a few pages, too. Monkey spent the night with a friend, and went to see Ole Miss play. Ladybug was at church with us, entertaining every one with her dancing.
Saturday was a long day- we napped, cleaned, and folded laundry. I even managed to unpack my scrapping supplies, and clean my craft room. Well, as much as I can clean it with a Ladybug running in and grabbing things.
Today was church day- Monkey went home with a friend to play, and we all had naps, a walk, and delivered afghans to the girl's home. Doesn't that sound like a great way to spend a pretty Sunday? Now it is time for lesson plans, ironing tomorrow's clothes, and bathing children. These might not sound like fun , but they are reminders of things that I am thankful for- for jobs, a home, and a precious family.
We are really looking forward to next week's vacation- just staying at home sounds pretty good to us all. Maybe we can squeeze in some crafts and baking, just for fun.
I hope you all have a great week - and be thankful!

November already? What happened to October?

So, I really meant to post in October, seeing as so much happened around here. Obviously, there was just SO much happening, that I never managed to put any news on. So sorry.

We have had several adventures- all pretty close by.

Monkey and Ladybug both loved wearing their Halloween costumes -both at the 'trunk or treat' at church, and 'trick or treating'this past weekend. Monkey was pretty worried that people would "think he liked the Bakugan show" if he wore his costume. I don't think it bugged him too much, because he has already slept in it a few times.

We are still playing flag-football, and it is going to be a little cool out there tonight. I may just take my new snuggie that Ladybug's future husband gave me for my birthday! Toasty!

Hope you all are staying warm and dry- I hate to mention the rain, but we have not had any for three days now. This might be a record.

September- will it ever quit raining?

Honest to goodness, I think it has rained every day for the last two weeks, at least. We have had not been able to play flag football lately, and the monkey has been pretty down about it. After all, he has a perfectly new pair of cleats to wear out, plus a jersey.

Ladybug is just happy to be here. It does not seem to take much to make her happy. Right now, her favorite toys are the sock monkey jack-in-the-box, some gel food coloring tubes, and some cookie cutters [ they are her new bracelets]

We are all still loving school, having a great year, and wish you would come for a visit!

August

This is what a fourth grader looks like, in case you were wondering.

How happy is he about going to school on the first day? Ladybug, not so much.....

Nothing like two happy children.

Sometimes at daycare, they play "beauty shop"......

lovely weather we're having!

Oh my word- the weather this weekend has been great! The only down side has been that Stella is too ill to go out and play- that tooth is not finished coming through, her sinus ick is still hanging around, and that is enough to make any one sad. Sam spent the weekend with his pal, Bob, so he has probably had many adventures.
School is great, we are all fine [except for sweet Stella, but she is on the mend] and life is good. Hope your week is just as nice!

ballgames, haircuts, and winking

Brother in law Greg gave us some tickets to see the Redbirds play. Not just tickets, but a meal, as well as four chances to win 50 "redbird bucks" [for the gift shop or any food vendor in the park] Sam loved the game, Stella loved walking around the park and playing on the playground, and we loved being there with them. At the end of the eighth inning, they announced the winner of the bucks- Sam! How exciting! It took FOREVER to figure out what all to buy- and he ended up with a great deal of stuff. Thank you, Greg, for the great evening!

Stella's first haircut was this week- she sat so still ! It helped that her father was getting his cut at the same time- the stylist turned Stella's chair so she could watch him . Only a little off the back, and her bangs were evened out, but it really makes a difference. So cute!

Her Grandmother taught her to wink this week, and she is quite proud of herself- she has not perfected it yet, but just give her a little time!

Hope you all have a great week, and are as ready for school to start next week as we are!

Ball games, Big hair, and Bible School

Last week, we took baby Stella to Meme's to spend the night, and the three of us went to Memphis for a Redbird game. Sam had a great time, even though he did not catch a pop fly. We had a wonderful meal at Blue Fin, stayed in a swanky hotel room at the Westin, and felt , as Sam put it, "very posh"

Later that week, the four of us went to Grandmother Clark's house to spent a night . We each took turns driving the mule, which gave Stella a great big head of curls- how many Chinese girls have naturally curly hair, any way?! We looked at deer tracks, the soy bean fields, and some huge old trees- big fun, I can tell you. We are looking forward to going back out there.

This week was VBS at Saint Luke. The theme was "Crocodile Dock" - a bayou setting, complete with fireflies, possums, and turtles. We had fun in the craft room- when ever the time ran long, Meredith would entertain the children with a song-dance-drawing lesson that she made up on the spot. Talent obviously runs in my family, I say.

We only have a few weeks left before school gets back into swing, and I cannot believe it. This summer went by faster than most- but it could just be me.

I hope you are using the rest of your summer making some wonderful memories with your family. I know we are!

Happy Fourth of July!

Stella is wearing her patriotic shirt, and is ready for a parade. The sad part is that we do not have a parade anywhere near us. Guess we will just have to make our own!
Hope you all have great plans for this weekend- be safe, and God Bless America!

watermelon, anyone?

Sam bought Stella this outfit while we were in Guangzhou. How sweet is that? It was totally his idea, and I think it put a little tear in Meme and KK's eyes when it happened. God bless his sweet little heart!

We had Stella's christening Sunday, and had a nice brunch at the house after. Tony and Dana sang Steven Curtis Chapman's "Fingerprints Of God" for Stella, and it was beautiful.

The house was full of family and friends, and we all enjoyed the food Clark had cooked. Oh, have I mentioned that he is an amazing cook?

Now the house is quiet once more, with Sam and Stella getting in to a summer-time groove. We walk in the mornings, Stella takes a nap, I do a little scrapbooking, feed lunch to the children, and then Clark comes home from Summer School. Our afternoons are fun, with lots of family time. That is the one think I hate about the summer- you get so used to spending so much time together that it is hard to go back to school.

Sam's birthday lunch and Stella's christening