Get a Move on

Today is a s-l-o-w day of homework...I keep saying, "Luke, get busy."  He is practicing drums and talking to me and taking pictures of the cat and playing more drums. So, I decided to blog a bit.  I can look up and remind him to get a move on!

Speaking of moves, Dave's parents are moving to Bella Vista.  Today the movers are actually coming but yesterday we went over and Dave helped move the T.V. and get them all set up.  He's awesome like that.  Plus we got to see their new house.  I have to admit, it was a little sad to see them all packed up.  I loved their house in Harber Meadows.

Boxes everywhere...

We tried to help...but Luke wouldn't fit.  ha!

We carried some heavy things...you know like the pillows.

Here is their new house...cute!  Rock yards are all the rage in Bella Vista.  It's a place where there are lots of retired folks and tons of golf.  I think golf is why they moved up to BV.  Low maintenance and high R&R.

Living space...

Sweetest D hooking his parents up with the T.V. in their sun room.  That rooms is awesome...windows overlooking a beautiful view.



Laiken is showing you their very amazing deck...or at least some of it.  :)  This pic was just too cute to leave out.

The sun room....and my wonderful hubby!!

There...more of the deck.

Their beautiful view.  Perfect for folks who have time to watch squirrels and birds all day.  That would not be us....not yet.  ha!

OK, there's a lot to get done around here so I better get a move on!!

Girls Having Fun

Laiken is now playing....volleyball!!  She had two games last night and I got to snap some pics of her.  I love my sweet little athletic girlie!! 

Here is Laiken and her friend (and neighbor).  They are on the same team.  They are sweet, sweet girls!!

She's getting ready to serve...you can do it Laiken!

She's got her eye on the ball...she's going to give it an awesome bump!

It's was so SWEET to hear her cheering for her team mates before they served.  She is usually so quiet. 

Oh yeah, and I got another pair of shoes for around the house.  I might be slightly out of control.  Dave informed me that I should be good on shoes...lol!  He also told me that my "comfy" shoes are more granola than grandma. 

OK...here's a preview of Christy's handy work!!  She took my family's pics for us (along with our other friend) and I can't wait to get my package full of pics.  I don't think she meant for me to post this but it's the only one she emailed to me (the rest are on her website and have much better people in it...my family!!).  I made it larger and I made it blur when I did that.  That's why she's the professional!  Ha!  She has to work hard when it comes to photo shopping this girl.  That's just another reason why I love her!

Just for kicks...here is one she took last May while we were in Branson.  Only she could make me sit like this.  ha!  She really is amazing...I love her as a person and think she is so talented as a photographer!!  :)  She always makes me look way better than I really do!  ha!

There you go...girl shenanigans at it's finest.  :)
Oh, and give her a shout if you want pictures too...Christy Schmid Photography!!

The Catching Up Post: Comforts of Home and Feet

SO...it's been a very long time since I've blogged.  I have been busy with a wonderful kind of busy but not necessarily a bloggable kind of busy.  Lots of working on school for my firsties and with Luke.  I LOVE having both of these jobs this year. 

 

OK, so to catch up a little on a few things outside of that here we go...

I've had to wear this off and on since the summer...it's a boot for planter's faciitis.   It's funny because since Dave started running again, he's borrowed it from time to time too.  My reason for wearing it is totally not from running...it's from wearing CUTE shoes with little or no support. 

After the first couple of weeks of teaching and being on my feet all day, I decided it's time to invest in the more supportive kind of shoe.  I was staring at the motorized Wal Mart buggy for quite too long as I walked in.  I bought sandals and boots at Dillards (so, so cute) and fell in love with the comfort of a certain kind of brand....Dansko.  I call them my grandma shoes, but they really are cute...at least the ones I bought were.  ha!  I ordered three more pair!!



See, these are the boots with the fur...cute, right?  Hardly grandma at all!  

I also went to Wanda Scoggins' store in Prairie Grove....do you know her?  If you don't then you are missing out!!  She has the CUTEST decor and has such a talent.   She's down the street from the flea markets in downtown Prairie Grove.  Jenny and I went back and took Christy with us.  I found this bird cage...love.... and burlap shutters that I put on my mantel.



So here is my mantel now with the burlap shutters.  They are so much cuter in person, promise.  I am deciding on whether or not to paint them...any suggestions?  Right now they are cream with brown burlap on my white mantel.  I'm also thinking something tall for the outside of the mantel on the sides too.  I LOVE changing things up and decorating!!

I also bought these painted frames from Wanda Scoggins...I'll post them again later when they are hung on my wall.  :)  I am going to group the green ones together on my orange wall with my black "W" and the turquoise one will find another wall.   

And then there's this...I won 10 items from a very popular teaching blog.  Yay!!  It has now been over a month and I haven't seen anything of my winnings...boo!  I'm thinking that I am not the only one who has been super busy either!!  :)

 

I'll leave you with my favorite moment from being home with Luke so far...Luke had to give a speech on a favorite part of a story or poem.  When I asked him what he wanted to do, he told me he wanted to give the speech on the scripture that tells when the curtain was torn in two from top to bottom as soon as Jesus died.  It made me smile...inside and out.  I am so touched that amazing detail in God's Word was so meaningful to him.  Y'all, the curtain was torn and we are now able to come to our Father freely and boldly...no matter how busy we are, we should never lose sight of that or cease to be grateful for that!!

Friends and Flea Markets

Cheerio (said in my best British accent...at least it's my interpretation of a British accent)!! I've got some iPhone pics for you...

My sweet girlies on my birthday night dinner celebration a little over a week ago....Melly, Jen, and Christy. I heart these ladies...big heart!



Jen and Ken



We hope to stay friends forever...how fun to be "old ladies" with these gals.



She's more than my friend, this is my sweet cousin with me.  She's my cousin by blood, but my close friend by choice.  I big time love her.



So, another sweet friend and I went to Prairie Grove to some awesome flea markets.  I saw this hot pink sofa and want a funky girl room so bad.  It had two matching ottomans.  How CUTE and super FUN!!  It would take a brave girl...but I would totally do it!



Typical cute flea market finds...chunky framed chalk board on top of a painted rustic trunk, with a red thing on top, and maybe that's a blue egg?  I can't remember...



My beautiful friend Jenny in an apron made from a button up shirt.  I had so much fun with her!!  Jenny, I think  you are adorable in this pic.  You even made me like this apron when before I said NO WAY.  I heart this friend (big heart too).

  "A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17

The Providence Way

 The first day for Luke to go to Providence finally came.  Providence Academy is a university model prep school (university in that he only attends 2-3 days a week, prep because it prepares him for college).  We were both excited!!

Luke and Laiken (her second day of school).  He looks so cute in his uniform!!

So, Dave took Luke to school since I had to be at my school early (my first day too).  Dave went in with Luke and got this sweet picture of Luke in front of his "locker."  He also took a picture of him in his homeroom class (sorry Mrs. Weber...we are just so excited...ha!)

So, after school yesterday I was doing car duty and helping my firsties get to their mommas.  All of a sudden I turn around and see Luke standing there with me...in his uniform...smiling after his first day.  I am such a sap...I started tearing up...so emotional.  My sweet baby all grown up and now at Providence.  He let me hug him over and over...ha!

 

This is our first "home" day!  We started early this morning on his math homework.  I know...Laiken IS supposed to be at school today, but she threw up this morning...in the sink.  Poor baby!  Poor Luke too because he kept wanting to see what Laiken was watching on TV. I didn't really predict that kind of distraction on our first day.  Anyhoo...we got our work done!!  Yay!

I guess it's fitting that our whole family be so involved in our day today.  Even kitty wanted to hang out in the school cabinet!  ha!

One day down...back to Providence tomorrow!!  We are so blessed.

Laiken's First Day (and some days before)

Today Laiken started her first day in 4th grade.  How is this possible?!  It was so weird taking her to school...this will be her first year at the school without her brother.  That tugs on my heart a little...they used to find each other in line and tell each other they loved the other.  I know...pass me Kleenex.

The annual "in front of the door" shot.  This is the first one without Luke.  He doesn't start until tomorrow.



The famous walk in together (she's still not too cool for mom and dad to go in with her and take pics....yay!)



Ok, now back up to last Wednesday...this was not only my birthday, but also the day Laiken got to meet her teacher.  Laiken got Mrs. Netzel..she had her in 2nd grade too, but now Mrs. Netzel has moved up to 4th.  Laiken has some of her sweet buddies with her again this year too.  That always comforts a mom's heart.



My Rick's Bakery birthday cake....mmmm.  Dave even had them put on hydrangeas because they are my favorite flower.  They were delish!



Look at that big number Dave made with our candles...that just can't be possible.  Quick, let me blow them out so they can get OFF my cake!



Little pretty package



My sweet hubby bought me a Coach watch...it's so very pretty.  I think I will probably take it back though..don't judge me.  It's just too much money for something I don't really want or need.  He's so thoughtful and I love him!!  I'll probably make him go with me and help me pick out something less extravagant.  :)

OK, so there...I think I've caught up a bit.  Today Luke and I are enjoying our last "official" day of summer.  That makes me laugh because I've been working forever already.  I think school will actually slow things down a bit.  Ha!

Wah Wah's

I intentionally don't blog when I am under stress...I don't want to be a debbie downer.  It's been a BUSY couple of weeks, you just have absolutely NO idea.  I am both mommy and teacher now at Providence and it requires hours and hours of meetings and prep.  However, I am sure you are tired of seeing the apple tree picture.  ha!

I refuse the wah wah's today because it's my birthday today!!  My husband has been the sweetest...I have pics to share later.  Today I want to forget that I had to cancel celebrating my birthday with my family last weekend.  I want to forget that I have to figure out how to get to my school 15 minutes earlier this year all the while I now have two schools to take my kids too.  I want to forget that I had to speedy deliver the science workbook that I forgot to order for Luke...ah, so much to forget about today.  Instead, I want to remember all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for...my sweetest husband and precious kiddos!!

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about  such things."  Philippians 4:8

But just for laughs... there IS this too.