Welcome to Thankful Thursday. I am going to try to post one or a few things I am thankful for every Thursday. I am trying to live the mantra "More gratitude, less attitude" (If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery than I have a "blog friend" who hopefully feels flattered-- Thanks for the idea Mandi!)
I am thankful that I got roped into teaching fifth grade church camp--wasn't sure about a room full of 10 year olds but they are very bright and try hard to pay attention and it gives me a terrific new perspective on E's behavior. They are also enthusiastic which makes me more enthusiastic about being there.
I am thankful that the sale on the old house is done. Still miss friends on the west coast, but I think they are getting terrific new neighbors who are so excited about their new house. I have always wanted the houses I lived in to be loved and cared for like we did and this is the first time I think that will happen.
I am thankful for this blog. It is a great place to practice writing, to keep a family history, and keep family and friends who live far away updated with kid happenings and pics. I have also made a few "blog friends" along the way that I am thankful for.
love and hugs,B
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
G's 7th Birthday
We celebrated G's birthday last week. He is kind of a low key, low profile kid thus we had a low key, low profile celebration. We had a playgroup with some neighborhood friends with special snack on Friday.
On Saturday it was too hot to play outside or do an outside activity so G chose to go to Dave and Buster's and play arcade games. He enjoyed it and all the boys put their tickets together and let G pick the prize.
Saturday evening was a family celebration with pizza, ice cream cake, and grandpa and grandma.
My favorite part was when G read them his birthday book year by year.
Happy Birthday G! It is hard to believe 7 years have gone by so quickly.
love and hugs, B
On Saturday it was too hot to play outside or do an outside activity so G chose to go to Dave and Buster's and play arcade games. He enjoyed it and all the boys put their tickets together and let G pick the prize.
Saturday evening was a family celebration with pizza, ice cream cake, and grandpa and grandma.
My favorite part was when G read them his birthday book year by year.
Happy Birthday G! It is hard to believe 7 years have gone by so quickly.
love and hugs, BFriday, July 22, 2011
Peach Picking
Yes, I know I am supposed to be studying my religion book for teaching church camp next week. I will get to it as soon as 5 other things on my list are done. I figure the first day will be a lot of learning names, getting into routine, a quick lesson, and some bible themed 'hangman'-- though perhaps hangman is not the right feeling for a church game.
Last weekend we went peach picking-- a Virginia tradition for us. Fun for almost everyone. M wanted to pick everything in sight, ripe or not. D has difficulty with this activity because he can't tell which are ripe enough. They are always delicious and strolling through the orchard is half the fun.
Hope everyone has a terrific weekend! G turns 7 so I hope to have birthday pics and post up by Sunday...or Monday...or Tuesday...sometime.
love and hugs, B
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A Quick Update
Summer is busy. Summer is the time when the children talk all day (sometimes all at once and sometimes taking turns) in an attempt to push me over the edge. And they are always bored and the suggestions I make to alleviate their boredom are never good suggestions. Really. I could suggest an all out super soaker water gun fight inside the house and they still would roll their eyes and say "Not that. That's boring."
No good deed goes unpunished. I called church to volunteer as an assistant for the kids summer program. When I got the return call the lady was so thankful I had volunteered to TEACH fifth grade. She was so excited I didn't have the heart to tell her that she misunderstood the message I left. So I am now making plans to teach the fifth graders 3 and a half hours a day for the next 2 weeks.
The house in WA state is under contract. Hoping the sale goes through next week, but there are important steps still missing and it is already Thursday. Appraisal and septic inspection. When we bought the house there someone told us we would be saving so much money with no sewer fees on our water bill; I think what they missed was the fact that our water company tripled rates in the summer as a conservation method and all the fees, inspections, pumping, changing filters at the end of ownership, and county fees blow the comparison out of the water. Ridiculous is the only thing I will say about the amount of money we have spent getting a perfectly working septic system passed on to new owners. Fingers crossed that the last 2 steps go quickly and smoothly.
We went to pick peaches last weekend. I have pictures. They are on my camera. I will post them sometime. When I have mothing else to do. Which seems like it might be a while.
B
No good deed goes unpunished. I called church to volunteer as an assistant for the kids summer program. When I got the return call the lady was so thankful I had volunteered to TEACH fifth grade. She was so excited I didn't have the heart to tell her that she misunderstood the message I left. So I am now making plans to teach the fifth graders 3 and a half hours a day for the next 2 weeks.
The house in WA state is under contract. Hoping the sale goes through next week, but there are important steps still missing and it is already Thursday. Appraisal and septic inspection. When we bought the house there someone told us we would be saving so much money with no sewer fees on our water bill; I think what they missed was the fact that our water company tripled rates in the summer as a conservation method and all the fees, inspections, pumping, changing filters at the end of ownership, and county fees blow the comparison out of the water. Ridiculous is the only thing I will say about the amount of money we have spent getting a perfectly working septic system passed on to new owners. Fingers crossed that the last 2 steps go quickly and smoothly.
We went to pick peaches last weekend. I have pictures. They are on my camera. I will post them sometime. When I have mothing else to do. Which seems like it might be a while.
B
Friday, July 8, 2011
Portraits at the Beach
We are trying to stop the insanity with going to have pictures taken at studios and make our own protraits. I knew the beach would be aperfect place to make some photos of the 3 beasties. These pictures were taken at the big fancy hotel on Kiawah as well as in the shopping area and on the beach.
love and hugs, B
Vacation Part 3
It takes only two words to tell you about one of the highlight of G's vacation: Turtle Patrol!
We went out a few mornings and stalked---I mean, followed turtle patrol to find, mark and protect nests of loggerhead turtle eggs. The first time we went out with M-- mistake. We found a turnaround track with no nest and then M was too tired to follow to another nest. The second morning we wised up and left M at home and took our bikes so we could stalk-- I mean follow them farther down the beach. We found the patrol truck at a nest finishing up and followed them to another track. The people working turtle patrol were so nice to not only let us watch but G could go up and look in the nest and when they removed an egg for the DNA testing/tracking they do he was allowed to touch it and they talked to us all the way through the process from figuring out where the nest was dug through covering the tracks so no one would bother the nest. We followed the turtle patrol several mornings and nests 196 and 197 are nests where we found the track and watched them work. When G is of an age to stay up late we will sit on the beach together and watch for hatchlings.
Favorite soda shop for lunch.
Angel Oak. She is the largest living live oak tree. She is unbelievably giant and graceful. She will definitely make an appearance when I print note cards or note pads again.
We went out a few mornings and stalked---I mean, followed turtle patrol to find, mark and protect nests of loggerhead turtle eggs. The first time we went out with M-- mistake. We found a turnaround track with no nest and then M was too tired to follow to another nest. The second morning we wised up and left M at home and took our bikes so we could stalk-- I mean follow them farther down the beach. We found the patrol truck at a nest finishing up and followed them to another track. The people working turtle patrol were so nice to not only let us watch but G could go up and look in the nest and when they removed an egg for the DNA testing/tracking they do he was allowed to touch it and they talked to us all the way through the process from figuring out where the nest was dug through covering the tracks so no one would bother the nest. We followed the turtle patrol several mornings and nests 196 and 197 are nests where we found the track and watched them work. When G is of an age to stay up late we will sit on the beach together and watch for hatchlings.
Favorite soda shop for lunch.
Angel Oak. She is the largest living live oak tree. She is unbelievably giant and graceful. She will definitely make an appearance when I print note cards or note pads again.
love and hugs, B
Vacation Part 2
Vacation in pictures part 2. When you have pictures like this who needs words. The sunrise here is spectacular----OK when it rises, today is rainy which is why I am catching up with pictures and blogging from vacation.
Next pic-- see the bike off in the distance, it's mine. Sometimes I love a pic because there is a secret in it and my bike is the secret in this pic. The sunrise is beautiful too.
We headed out to make one of E's dreams come true. He is a history buff and one of his requests was visiting Fort Sumter where the Civil War began. Fantastic day for a ride through Charleston Harbor and a good visit to the fort.
Next pic-- see the bike off in the distance, it's mine. Sometimes I love a pic because there is a secret in it and my bike is the secret in this pic. The sunrise is beautiful too.
We headed out to make one of E's dreams come true. He is a history buff and one of his requests was visiting Fort Sumter where the Civil War began. Fantastic day for a ride through Charleston Harbor and a good visit to the fort.
That's all for this post! Check again for more pics! B
Monday, July 4, 2011
Independence Day at the Beach
At the beach for our first American Independence Day in America in a few years. While we were in WA we spent July 4th in Canada (as a getaway, but also because E is deathly afraid of loud noises and people in WA are fireworks crazy). This post will be all chronologically out of whack, but I am on vacation (sort of-- my job seems to follow me everywhere).
Three little guys ready to celebrate!
I walked on the beach this morning and came across this loggerhead turtle track.
Kept walking and looked for beach patrol to alert them. The nest will be marked and protected until the eggs hatch. Turtle patrol was nice about showing an egg and answering questions. My pics convinced the kids that walking on the beach before others are awake might be fun. We will see who gets up tomorrow.
Three little guys ready to celebrate!
I walked on the beach this morning and came across this loggerhead turtle track.
Kept walking and looked for beach patrol to alert them. The nest will be marked and protected until the eggs hatch. Turtle patrol was nice about showing an egg and answering questions. My pics convinced the kids that walking on the beach before others are awake might be fun. We will see who gets up tomorrow.
Here are some other reasons that walking on the beach first thing in the morning is fun:
The first night we arrived. D's parents and nephew joined us for the week.
The first time mine have been in the Atlantic in a while. M was surprised how warm it was. All 3 love the waves.
The first time mine have been in the Atlantic in a while. M was surprised how warm it was. All 3 love the waves.
We always leave early for the drive down to South Carolina. Here are some pics from Charleston.
Lunch at our favorite restaurant in Charleston.
Lunch at our favorite restaurant in Charleston.
love and hugs, B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)