Popcorn in Momma's Bed

Library, Picnic and Symphony

Our last couple of days have been filled with fun! On Friday we had a short school time, with our friends, and then went on our first field trip to the library. The girls loved it and we even got our first public library card and came home with some books to read. I can't believe I haven't taken the girls before, we all love to read just never put the effort into heading downtown and visiting the library. Sahara found a Mandie book, the Mandie books are a series I loved as a little girl. Bria got a book about Frances the cute little badger. Mark had several Frances books when he was young.
Then we headed to the park for a picnic... Picnics at the park are always fun but it was over 100 degrees so we didn't stay too long before we headed home for cool baths:)
Then tonight we headed out with Allie and the girls to the Starlight Symphony. I thought I was going just to hang out and let the girls play but I ended up really enjoying the music and it was perfect weather for relaxing outside. The girls danced and played while we listened to the music. The last piece was the 1812 Overture, complete with the cannons "Boom, Boom!" It was very loud and made quite an impression on all 6 girls!

Guerrillas

One day a week, as a part of school, we read Windows on the World. It is the kids version of Operation World which tells you how to pray for all the countries in the world. Both are great books, the kids version has wonderful pictures and stories of kids in the countries.
Anyway, we started last week and the first country was Afghanistan. It tells about how when the communist were in power many men became mujahidin guerrillas, and it defined a someone who fights for a special cause against the government (and the mujahidin part means that they fight for the cause of Islam). I saw the girls all smiling at each other when I said guerrillas but thought the definition was sufficient, they didn't say anything else at the time.
Then last night at dinner the girls were telling Mark about what they learned at school. Bria starts with a very animated description of how in Afghanistan there are gorillas, as in the animal kind, everywhere attacking peoples and homes everyday. We need to pray for the people to learn about Jesus, Bria said, before the gorillas get them!

Playing Dora

More of Tirza playing Dora- this time she is mostly playing with the Superbabies:)

Dora-dor

Tirza loves playing Dora. She sets up all the little characters and then someone is supose to help her act out a story with them. Adorable!

Backpacks

Off to school...
The girls had a great first day "away" at school.

Beginning

We have officially started homeschooling. We had planned to started yesterday, but the head teacher (I am thinking of myself as a student teacher for now) woke up not feeling good so we postponed the first day.

It worked out good because we had some running around to do and doctor check ups. Which, I had promised the big girls no shots because we had done them all a couple weeks ago, or so I thought. Sahara was just along for the ride and she even had to get another one. Again, they were very brave, no fussing- they just got it done. In fact, Sahara and Bria set such a good example that Tirza didn't even fuss when she got her shot.

Anyways, so today was our first day of school. We did journals, learned about Ancient Egypt, started charting our weather, very fun! Sahara and Bria did great, they were excited to be using all their new school stuff and learning new things. Tirza on the other hand seemed determined to crash our attempts at doing anything. We let her color, gave her a folder, let her read books- she is not ready for school! So we did most of the work during nap time and thankfully 3 days a week we will be with Allie and the girls. One momma can teach and one momma can occupy the little girls:)

So one day done 179 to go!

A New School Year

Hard to believe that tomarrow we are expecting the temperature to hit 102 degrees and we are starting a new school year. Sahara starts 2nd grade and Bria starts Kindergarten. Two girls in school...
We are ready to get started the school supplies bought, cloths set out and backpacks sitting by the front door. The girls are so excited, ready for the adventure of a new school year, ready to learn.

Happy Birthday Little Peyton

Today is our sweet little niece, Peyton, first birthday! Happy birthday sweet girl! Peyton is so incredible cute- maybe it's because she is our first niece, we have 4 nephew but she is the first girl that isn't mine and I can not get over how adorable she is...
Go to mfreshour.blogspot.com and gaze at the little princess devouring her birthday cake.

Goodnight?

Sahara and Bria are away tonight at their very first slumber party! Very exciting, they have been counting the days. All day today all I heard was can we pack our bags, is it time to go???
We all went swimming first, great idea- wear the girls out! Then we dropped them off, they were very prepared- sleeping bags, bags pack with jammies and cloths, and of course webkins...
Both girls were more than ready for mom to get out of the way, they promised to be good, quickly gave kisses and said goodbye. Tirza was a little mad that she didn't get to stay... but we promised her pop-pop and she reluctantly got in the van.
So we shall see in the morning how the night went. I am sure they will have stories to tell...

The rest of the day

The rest of the day was just as great! The girls and I relaxed a little until Mark got home. We headed out and grabbed some nachos from Moe's (one of my favorite eating out places) took them to Allie's house to eat with her yummy quesadillas! The girls played and played and we talked and relaxed, it doesn't get much better than that for me. Mark and I ran to the store and got a cheesecake, even though we were all stuff from dinner, it was great and by the time we loaded the girls up and got home it was bedtime.
It was just my kind of day- time with friends, good food and finished off with cheesecake!

29+1

That's right it's my birthday and it's a BIG one! 30! I have to admit I am a little sad to leave my 20s behind. It was a great decade for me. Graduating college, getting married, having 3 babies, living all over, getting my husband through college... the list could go on and on. But my first day as a 30 something has gone quite well so if it is any indication of the years to follow I think I will do alright.

The fun actually started with a mini birthday party at the Memphis airport- Mark's parents had some wonderful gifts for me that I opened just before they left. Then Heidi and Mark plotted and surprised me at small group on Sunday night with a cake and of course the singing of Happy Birthday so that everyone could ask how old I was turning! They enjoyed that immensely!

Heidi brought her gift over yesterday and hung out with me for her day off. Last night all my very wonderful and special girl friends got together and had a little Starbucks get together for me and Marcie, whose birthday was Saturday. Allie made us a delicious cake, they got me a sewing stuff organizer and we talked until they kicked us out. It was great! Thank you friends!!!!

This morning Lori brought her kids over to play and we got to spend the morning talking. As they were heading out- Angie showed up with Dumplins chicken and rice soup and fruit tea for lunch! So far it has been a great day!

And the day is not over yet...

Heat Advisory

This is the actually temperature in our backyard right now. Just over 100 degrees! The weather man has said it could reach 105 and there is a heat advisory. Now I know that for some of you in oh so hot places of the world this seem laughable... But for us here in West Tennessee, and without AC in our van, it is miserable. We even turned down swimming this afternoon because we didn't want to have to drive in our steamy van...

But this isn't a whinny post, really. I love summer and we are enjoying it tons. And two great things are happening at our house right now!

1. Mark is outside with our neighbor and a kit from auto zone fixing the AC in the van (well hopefully.)

2. The girl's best little friends are back from vacation and here playing for the afternoon!

A Visit from the Michigan Grandparents

Mark's parents came for a visit and we had LOTS of fun. The zoo, playing games, Farmer's Market, the bookstore, swimming, ice cream, a night out for Mom and Dad (which meant an evening for the girls to have Grandma and Grandpa alone), the movies and lots of talking and laughing!

The girls are experiencing a little bit of spoil shock today- they were spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa and now life has to get back to normal... much less fun for all of us!

Enjoy the pictures of our fun visit!