Up the Creek

Last Saturday I drove John, Bryan and Luci to Iron City (pronounced Arn City around here) so Luci could have a FIRST.  She had her first canoe trip!

They had everything strapped in, and life vests on.  (Yes, Mom, I know I ended a sentence--and a phrase--with a preposition.)

Hey!  This looks like fun, says Luci.

Until later....

when they hit a rock and capsized.  Everyone went in the drink.  It was not very deep anywhere along their route, which helped me not worry so much. 

Luci told me some tales about their trip:

We didn't see any sharks or alligators!

When the canoe tipped over, I went to the shore and waited for Daddy and Bryan to fix the canoe. 

The camera got all wet!

I got to ski off the back of the canoe--I held on and Daddy and Bryan rowed.  Bryan called me "Anchor."

Tip on how to fix a camera that falls into Shoals Creek:  take out the batteries and the memory card.  Put the camera in a container a bit bigger than it is, and cover it with rice.  Wait about 4 days, then test out the camera.   Ta-Dah!  It worked again.

Guess Who?

John found a photo album yesterday, and we had fun looking through it.

Here's a photo of me with my Mom and siblings 'way back when we lived in Albuquerque.  You can tell I was thrilled to be a big sister, loving that I am no longer the one in Mom's lap.  Yeah.

Now I know where JT gets that face.  Here he is at about age 4, in an angel costume at church.  Martha Harrison, JT's Sunday school teacher that year, dressed all the kids up, took their photos and decorated the class with them.  You can tell JT's thrilled with the get-up.

Oh, JT, you are so cute!

Field Trip!

Thursday, John came home from work excited about taking us all on a field trip to Cathedral Caverns.  He was so animated, ready to go exploring with all of us.  He's really taken to heart his "Principal-ship" of our homeschool, leading more than ever.  I love that.

Except that on Thursday, right before John got home, all I could think of was how I wanted some time all by myself.  Even if that meant sitting in the van in the driveway, with the doors locked.  As John told us his plan for Saturday, my eyes began to glaze over.  So, seeing Mommy retreating into herself, he revised the plan--it would now be a "Dad takes the kids on a Really! Fun! Trip!" but we couldn't tell Luci about it before arriving there or she'd freeze up and be scared ("Are there monsters there?  What about BATS?!" which is precisely what she said once she found out about the CAVE, about 30 minutes before arriving there).

Turns out part of my reluctance was not just a difficult time this week with my high school kids, but that I was coming down with a sinus infection.  Oh Joy.  At least I didn't have to feel guilty about staying home and missing all the fun. 

There were too many shots that were my favorites, so here are a bunch! 

So glad that John-Daddy-Principal took this shot before going into Cathedral Caverns:  not just to commemorate the occasion but to use as a "my kid's in there lost, here's what he looks like" photo.  Notice I didn't say "she" because I know that Luci would be stuck on John like a limpet.  Which she was.  John said he carried her nearly the entire time.  Good thing she's light.

Enjoy!

Ice Skating

Today was a homeschool ice skate day at Point Mallard's skate rink. Here are some shots.
Love those red cheeks!

Bryan spent a lot of time actually running on the ice. I don't see how he manages that.

The best part of the day? That I got to stay home! John graciously gave me a break today.

Well, maybe he heard the desperation in my voice, since I was begging him to take over for me for a day. I love my children. I really do. I love homeschooling. I really do. But. (and you knew there was a but coming) But the boys wear me down so much! One of the things you get when you homeschool is a constant presence of whatever sibling clash is in your home. If the kids went to a school outside our home, they would be around other kids (and not around me), so there would not be the 14-hour-a-day ragging that they do to each other. The other 8 hours is nighttime, in separate rooms. Thank Goodness for separate rooms!

Busy Week

This has been one hectic week. Homeschooling? It's been more like "Traveling Zoo."

Last Saturday was busy. Then this week happened.

Church. Karate. Boys' class on early US History. Orthodontist. Karate again. Library--don't forget to bring something that begins with R, and what happened to that DVD we checked out last week?! McDonald's playdate for Luci with BFF* Kalyn. Bryan's trip to Gatlinburg for Winterfest Youth Convention. Penguin Party at the library to celebrate reading lots of books. Soccer evaluations for Upward Soccer (which Luci performed in her Princess ball gown). Dinner with Daddy at Cracker Barrel (need I mention that this is my favorite thing all week?). Trip to Huntsville for soccer shoes, Build-A-Bear Workshop field trip with new homeschooling group, then to Redstone Arsenal for groceries. JT's Black Belt Clinic in Russelville.

Too much. Especially when Mom's dealing with a sprained ankle (it's getting better, but all the walking is taking a toll...the sprain happened last week, otherwise it would've made it on the list above). Even things "in town" are at least 23 minutes away (yes, I timed it). We did manage to keep on track with schoolwork and get it all done! So that makes me happy. Next week's calendar has two EMPTY days! That makes me even happier!

*BFF=Best Friends Forever

Here are some snapshots of today's trip to the mall in Huntsville:

A nice group! 13 kids and 5 moms.
Pretending to be a mannequin at the video game store.
Dreaming!

A few favorites from today

This photo was taken at the end of a very long day. We had just seen the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. As part of the show, they played I'll be home for Christmas which always makes me cry. The boys were so embarrassed. Then while the fireworks were still going on, John called from Afghanistan! See why I said I love cell phones? Leaving Epcot Tuesday evening. I'm proud of this shot.

I'm proud of this one, too. Cinderella's Castle, all lit up for Christmas.
Luci meeting Mulan. This was the one we had to see this year. Mulan was unhurried and visited quite a while with Luci. Which always makes the child happy, not to mention the mama.

Thirty Days of Thanks...

I am thankful that our kids get along.
Most of the time.
In public, anyway.

at a field trip--Indian Mound Museum, Florence.

making a movie
this is a pre-production meeting

being silly for mom

wearing Dad's army berets

before a soccer game

Heard and Seen Recently

A couple of days ago, at dinner, one of the boys (who shall remain nameless, but his intials are J.T.) was going on and on about what he "needs" us to get him. I said, "(nameless son), it's not all about you." Whereupon Luci pipes up, "Yeah! It's all about ME."

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Bryan has been wearing a bracelet--you know, those rubbery things that are so popular now--that says, "Army Strong." He's had it on since John's trip started up again at the end of June. He says it is in support of his Dad.

~~~~~~~~~

JT has been practicing his paint ball moves in the field out back. He's ready to take us all on when John gets home.

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John told me I could go look for a camera for my Christmas present, so I did. I now have a very nice Nikon D3000. John is so good at picking out gifts. Here's a photograph that I took today, after about 45 minutes of learning how to use the camera. Luci is trying to blow the fuzz off of a dandelion.

CrossPoint Fellowship

We had a big devotional/hamburger cook-out/sprinkler party Wednesday night with our church. Lots of fun! (Feingold families--Bryan grabbed that Vault drink and started guzzling before I could catch him. Everything else there seemed to be Feingold safe, except for the cookies that were served.)

Luci and very good friend Cole.

There were about 100 kids playing on this soccer field--TONS of fun! Luci and Cole in the foreground.

JT and Bryan with two young ladies....the boys have no idea that I "caught" them talking to females.

Luci...in her Army Kid hat. I tried to get another shot of her without that spot of light on her face, but every other photo came out blurry.

It was so fun! The breeze Wednesday night made it feel cold to this drippy princess.

Happy Birthday x 3

Here's a Kleenex moment for you...
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John will be gone for the kids' birthdays this year...two in July and one in October. He's missed the boys' birthdays (and mine and his, plus our anniversary) several times, but he's always been here for Luci's. To make up for this year of missing Daddy, we had a "little birthday" today for all three kids. We sang, "Happy Birthday to Y'all," and each child got to wear a silly birthday headband, blow out candles, and open a little gift. Luci was so funny--she put her hand to her chest and said, "For me?"


I love this picture the most. Captures their personalities, plus you can see JT's candle smoke curling up in front of his face and also by his Mickey Mouse ears.
Also taking place today:
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Filling up the bird feeder for the first time.

Catching Up--The Past Week in Review

Our friends Barry and Diane, and their kids Rachel and Bradley came over for a hamburger cookout. Here are Rachel and Luci, complete with headgear. We had two kids' tables! One just for the boys (our boys, plus Bradley and Josh, another friend from church--both boys spent the night) and one just for the girls.
JT all sideways.
Gran-Je with Luci, in Jemison on Tuesday
Gran-Je and Grandpa, John's folks. They have an incredible view from their house.
Our Upwards Soccer finished up with a big party. It was sort of like a fair, with FOUR of those jumpy-things for the kids, a clown (Luci kept her distance), free food, and fireworks at the end. There were probably 800 people there. The fireworks were incredible--we expected the backyard variety that some folks get around here, but this was 15 solid minutes of beautiful fireworks in the fields behind our church building. I tried to capture some. Luci wore her ear protection and loved it, too. It was wet enough from all the rain, plus the fire department was there in force "just in case."
Luci wanted some more of that Splatter drink that she learned to love in Idaho. Cracked me up! It's called Squirt!
John got to see the final game and a half of Luci's season. So nice! I thought he would miss all of the games, so this was a good thing. Here is (are?) most of the team (missing two boys) with their terrific Coach Crystal. The boy next to Luci (he's the third child from left, next to Luci) is the one who kisses her on the run during the games.
Bryan and Luci watching the stars at the Upwards Soccer party.
John brought home New Testaments for the kids. Luci especially loves hers, and immediately started "reading" Bible stories to us. (I can't find the pictures on my camera! boo hoo)
Luci helped John fix the dryer hose--he needed someone to help him, and Luci was the only one who could fit back there. He's got most of the Honey-Do list completed. :) Just fun stuff is left, like take the boys to the movies, and have a tea party with Luci.