Robby's Porch Makeover

BEFORE

The project was originally supposed to be limited to the floor (which obviously was in desperate need), but it turned into much more.





After

KY State Fair

The kids always ask me to go on their field trips. I usually enjoy them, but I know I will be really busy this semester so most field trips are probably out for me. Since I haven't started classes yet Garrett convinced me to chaperon his first field trip of the year to the Kentucky State Fair. The school tours are pretty limited, but there was still plenty to see and lots of room for the 8 boys I was responsible for to keep me on my toes.

What little boy doesn't dream of being a policeman?

Garrett enjoyed the "drunk goggles" at the Louisville Metro Police booth. He THINKS he is walking ON the line during this mock sobriety test. . . .

We waited about 45 minutes for a 2 minute experience in the NASCAR racing simulator. Sounds ridiculous, but the boys were more than willing to wait and I was glad to have them sitting still and all in one place! They competed against each other (two at a time) and the spectators watched the race on a TV screen outside the simulator. It was neat to see the kids cheer each other on and even the "losers" came out with a huge smile on their face.


At the end of the day everyone was tired and ready to head home (ESPECIALLY ME). Once again I was reminded that it takes a special person to be a teacher and I am grateful for those who give of themselves to educate my children.

I DO NOT like spiders !

I absolutely, positively DO NOT like spiders. None of them. I don't care if they eat insects and help maintain the balance of nature. They are creepy, crawly, disgusting little things that give me the willies. I would be perfectly happy if the only spiders I ever saw were in a glass case at the zoo (and even that isn't enjoyable), so you can imagine my reaction when I picked up a bag filled with decaying yard waste and found THIS:

Yes. That is a black widow. And Yes. I screamed like a 12 year-old on a roller coaster. I even did that thing where your feet are running but you aren't going anywhere (my kids love that). And No. The spider did not survive the day. It found it's final resting place in an empty Pringles canister thanks to Ryan (You know I wasn't killing the thing!)

O U C H

I need to learn how to talk without using my hands so much. On Saturday evening while I was having a conversation with a friend Lindsay walked by. We were outside. It was dark. And I didn't see Lindsay coming up next to me. I swung my hands out from my sides and my thumbnail went right in Lindsay's eye. There's no doubt-it HURT.

First Day Of School :]

Hooray for the first day of school!

Getting back into our routine is no fun, but once we get past the tired and grouchy adjustment phase it will be good for them to have something to do besides fight with each other, eat everything in sight and leave a trail of trash and dirty clothes wherever they go!

Cynthia is the first to catch the bus just a few minutes after 6. The sun doesn't even wake up that early! She is glad to have her freshman year behind her, but prays every night that these next 3 go by quickly. (Of course, my prayer is totally the opposite!) I already ask myself everyday where time has gone. . .

Kimberly isn't that far behind leaving at twenty-till 7. She is already talking about what she will do to embarrass her sister next year in high school. She knows everything about everything so school is just an outlet for her to network with friends. =]

Lindsay is the only one who was truly excited to go back to school. She is already familiar with her teacher (she taught Garrett a couple of years ago) and she doesn't have many friends her own age in our neighborhood. And she couldn't wait to show off her new backpack (thanks Grandma Lulu!)

Garrett was a little less excited. He isn't looking forward to waking up early or homework and thinks he already knows more than his sisters-"so why waste my time in school?"

This is his tough-guy pose.

And this is the last year of grade school for Garrett so Lindsay will be on her own next year. She probably wouldn't admit it, but she enjoys having her big brother look out for her. They are quite a pair!


I love my children dearly and I always enjoy our time together (Okay. Almost always!), but I have to agree with a certain American Novelist who said "If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers". ~Edgar W. Howe

S U M M E R T I M E

My last post was over a month ago -- just after we returned from our trip to Pitt. Since then I have been lacking in both the time and the motivation to update the few of you who find your way to my blog in those desperate times when the boredom is excruciating. =]

This past month has not been lacking in excitement and the kids return to school in 4 days (woowhooo!!!) so I wanted to take this opportunity to share some pics and a few thoughts.

As you know, we left Garrett in Pitt for his "Summer With Grandma". Thankfully, he had no medical issues that neosporin, band aids and a little ice couldn't handle and he had a wonderful time doing "boy stuff" with no sisters around.

Garrett wants to start lifting weights so he can be "buff like Andrew"

Golf wasn't his favorite, but he is definitely interested in trying it again "after baseball season is over"

One of Garrett's favorite things was his "job" as bat-boy for Cousin Andrew's baseball team.





And the highlight of the week was experiencing the Pittsburgh Pirates in action (and they actually won!). He also enjoyed public transportation, very cheesy cheese-fries, and peeing in someone's hedges on the way home (Thanks Mom!)


The visit wasn't all fun and games though. Grandma Suzie put Garrett to work helping her move into her new apartment.





I missed Garrett tremendously (and couldn't help but worry about him while he was gone). No one else does Cuddle time with Mom like him. (and I dread the day he decides he's too grown up for it!)

My Mom brought Garrett home and stayed for a short visit. It's nice to have Grandma around, even though she likes to break all of my rules and spoil the kids any chance she gets! While she and Bud were here we spent an afternoon at

The Louisville Science Center

Lindsay "drove" the jeep for the jungle safari and we learned all about dinosaurs.

We also had an opportunity to swim in my sister-in-law's family pool and eat my brother's wonderful cooking. I never would have guessed that the big brother who used to feed me frozen fish sticks and french fries (and I mean we ate them WHILE they were STILL FROZEN) as an after school snack would turn out to be such an excellent chef!

Sophie loves to swim!

We also enjoyed watching Sophie have her first taste of watermelon. I think she liked the way it felt on her sore little gums.

Sophie is really getting around now. Those first steps are just around the corner!!!

Kimberly went to Youth Camp at Jonathan Creek for a week. She had a great time reconnecting with people from our old church and building on her quiet time with God. She came home full of interesting thoughts and questions and has continued to work on many of the things she started at camp. Of course, there was plenty of fun and mischief involved too!

Garrett has the most beautiful curls when his hair gets long, but when it's 100 degrees outside who wants to have a big mop of sweaty hair stuck to your face and neck?? He decided we should cut it and wanted to see what a Mohawk would look like. It didn't even last long enough to get a picture! He didn't like it, but he does like the way his bur feels!

We also spent many afternoons at Six Flags mostly trying to stay cool in the water park. Season passes have been an excellent investment for us. We have enjoyed the park, except for the day I burned the bottoms of my feet on the hot concrete! My feet touched nothing but my soft,cushioned house-shoes and neosporin for 2 days after that so the blistering skin could heal! OUCH!

We also made a trip across the river to Atlantis Water Park . With the $2.00 off coupon on their website we got in for $5.00 a piece and we picked a great day with a small crowd. The kids had a ton of fun and I was able to sit and catch up with an old friend from my Winn-Dixie days.

Lindsay has really been on this earring kick lately. I guess most of her friends have their ears pierced now and she wants to get hers done too. I personally don't have a problem with it (my other 2 girls had theirs done before they started school) but Grandma Helen has some objections. . . . Lindsay found some dress-up earrings and came to show me how cute she would be with her ears pierced. . .

Instant attitude! I am so not ready for that!

Probably the hardest thing for me this summer was letting Cynthia go to Florida with Ryan's family. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. She is 15 already. The talk of driving and going away to college make me nauseous. Seriously! I think I might have to be medicated soon!

She had a great time though. (and she called her poor mother almost every night!) She took hundreds of pictures (a lot of them are on her my-space if your interested) and she scouted out some things for our family vacation next summer. I think her favorite thing was swimming with the dolphins (other than spending time with her boyfriend!)

Of course school didn't stop for me for the summer. I had Pathophysiology, which is basically how disease affects the body, 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. Although I found it to be extremely interesting, I often left class filled with emotion. I just don't understand how anyone could actually believe that we are some random-chance-freak-of-nature. There are so many things that work together in our bodies constantly from development to disease and even death that I can't see how such complex systems could have been designed by anything other than a masterful Creator. At any rate, I am glad to be finished with that class and moving on. I have two weeks off before I start my new semester with two 6 hour days of class and two 8 hour days of clinicals. It should be an interesting few months in our house!



Although Robby is continuing to work two jobs, he managed to find time to start some household projects. Our front porch is getting a total make-over and our flower beds actually have some flowers in them. The porch isn't finished yet, so I'll save that for another blog (I know you are trembling with anticipation!).

Summer has been fun, but I'm glad it's almost over and cooler weather will soon be on it's way. Mostly because Lindsay's favorite sandals can finally find a new home on some feet that haven't outgrown them!