Happy Birthday

to the best husband and daddy in the world. I think T may be having a little bit of a crisis since he is creeping toward 40...........but I think he has nothing to worry about. After today, we will be done with birthdays in our little family for six months. I think it's funny that all of us have birthdays within the first six months of a year. We shall since what this year has to old for one of the best men in the world.

The kids and I are about to head out and check out a free movie at the Statesville theatre. They have a program through the summer where they show movies every Tuesday and Wednesday for free. We are off to see the unanimated version of Charlotte's Web.

Harry Potter

You know me........I am behind on the times most of the time and I just began reading the Harry Potter series. I am into the second book, interesting reading so far. But I have quite the stack to get through. Thankfully one of my students let me borrow her set this summer. I'll let you know what I think when I am done.

For Real This Time

Yeah for the end of summer school!!!!!!! Why did I agree to do that in the first place? Oh, right....I thought that would be nice vacation money but since we don't get paid for it until the end of July........it will pay the car taxes and gym fees amongst other things since both Tug and Nor want to do gymnastics in the fall. Should be interesting.

I am so glad summer vacation can now begin. We have a busy time planned. Tomorrow is the Troutman parade and fireworks. They always do it a week earlier, now sure why. I think we'll check out the Statesville pool on Monday, chill on Tuesday and get packed up and things in order, Wednesday is doctor day for Tug. His last few shots before kindergarten. Should be fun. Then we will leave for PA after T gets out of court on Thursday. Yes.....he was subpoenaed (sp) for a fight that occured back in the school year. I have looked at weather.com for weather reports up there. in the 70's, but again 60% chance of rain on the 4th. Hoping we can still make it for the big fireworks show at Bradner's without the rain spoiling it.

Little side note about travel, the kids have discovered the little handheld Leapsters. (There was one left at T's school.) They love it...........thought I would check it out since along with the DVD player it would be a nice diversion on this looooooooong car ride. Well......they are nearly $70 a piece!!!!! And the games are almost $20. What in the world?? And I thought Tug's little gift card (aka credit card, that's what he calls it) from his birthday for Target might pay for half of one. Boy was I wrong. Maybe a Christmas present???

Ready to get some summer fun started.

Horseback Ridin'

Nor and Tug went to a friend's birthday party last weekend. It was a horseback riding party!!! They had so much fun. I think Tug rode the horses the most and I thought he would be the one who was scared. They also decorated their own horseshoes. They had such a good time. Something we will definately have to look into for Nor's next birthday.

Dedicated to the one I Love

Eight years ago today I married the love of my life. I hope the eighth year of marriage isn't quite as trying as the seventh. Let me explain........we have had quite the year: thyroid quest. gall bladder surgery, new job, yearbook, doctorate quest, day-care issues (which turned out great) and a plethora of other things. While we realize that through all of this we love each other more and more each day, I am ready for some coasting. :) What a blessing to have found this man I can and want to share the rest of my life with. I so admire his willingness to embark on getting a Ph.d to make our lives and family better. Too bad we can't celebrate with an awesome dinner at Mickey and Mooch.......summer school is calling, but it will be worth the wait.

Summer Daze and other Stuff

Happy Birthday shout out to Kailyn H. She turns one in a few days and is so cute. We just got back from her birthday party. They had a very nice set up in the back yard for the kids including swimming. And the biggest surprise of all is that her daddy was home from Iraq for a few days. So sweet.

Summer vacation has kind of started. I am not going to consider myself in vacation mode until after summer school. Summer school starts on Monday. We run two sessions a day for two weeks. It will be rough but the extra money will be nice.

We are headed to a get together in a little bit. Been looking forward to this for awhile. The last time we got together with this group I laughed so much that my stomach and face hurt. Tomorrow we have church and then another birthday party. I'll have to post pictures of this one since it's horse back riding, something Tug and Nor have never done. Should be interesting.

Very Proud of Nor-Nor

I am so proud of Nor-Nor. This is her friend Jo-Jo aka Jordan and she spent several hours at Jo-Jo's house on Saturday. Let me explain. I got up way to early on Saturday morning to give the SAT (but that extra money is nice so I'm not complaining). When I got home I wasn't sure what we were going to do with the rest of the day. We contemplated taking the kids to see Up, but then Jo-Jo's dad called. Jo-Jo's sisters were at their friends houses and Jo-Jo wanted a friend to come over. We decided to take Nor to Jo-Jo's while we headed towards Charlotte to Olive Garden and to check out IKEA. I thought for sure that Nor would have a fit when we left. She is such a big girl, we talked about it for an hour before we went and she was fine. The only mishap of the day was that Jo-Jo's dog ate Nor's shoes. But it's all good. On another note: IKEA is CRAZY. It's huge. I said to T, "if you were settin' up housekeepin' this would be the place to come." They have EVERYTHING.

Growing Up Way too Fast

Tug and his sweet teacher, Miss Katie.
Finally a picture with me and my babies.

Pretty much what our child did the entire time. Oh well. I guess he's just not a performer.

Do you remember way last fall? When I was only just this tall?

Now look at me. I'm up to here! And my, I've learned alot this year!

In fact, you think I'm really great. That's why I get to GRADUATE!

It's amazing how fast time goes by. It really does feel like yesterday sometimes that we brought Tug home from the hospital. He's not supposed to be five already. I am scared. I am scared that he's five and about to go to public school. I am scared of what he will encounter there. But can only have faith and pray everyday a hedge of protection over both of our children. Tug is so tender-hearted. It's incredible to see his capacity for learning. He is just soaking it all up like a sponge. I love to have conversations with him about his day at the dinner table. (I had a 17 year old student ask me what a 4 year old could possibly have to say???) I was devastated by that comment. Not for myself or my home because I plan to keep on doing what I have always done. I was devastated for that student. It breaks my heart everyday to see the breakdown of the American family. Parents who don't care about their children and children who don't care about themselves. I truly believe that is 90% of the problems we encounter in the world and public schools. I never intended this post to get off in a tangent about school which is so much a part of our lives. However, we want to be the parents our children need and want us to be. We will sit down for dinner together every night we can, we will not overcommit ourselves. If we have to say no, well that will just have to be okay. We want to invest in these children so they know that no matter what happens in that big, bad, cruel world that they have God, us and they have this home as a haven. I can't wait to see what God has in store for Tug.

Strawberry Pickin'

Look at the size of the strawberry Daddy found.
Nor-Nor had to take a break and eat a few strawberries.

This past weekend was fairly busy. I had to get up Saturday morning and make the monthly big Walmart trip. It wasn't too bad this time. Then we went with Nana to pick some strawberries at Patterson Farm. We got in on the end of what was left to pick, but got some really great ones. Nana made some jam.......I can't wait to get into that. I know it will be yummy. Patterson Farm is pretty cool. They have a barn area, a playground, and a ton of picnic tables to have a picnic which we will have to do next time. Sunday we went to church, I hosted scrapbooking, and then we went to Tug's Pre-K graduation.