Friday, August 27, 2010

BuSy BUsY

Wow, what a couple of weeks it has been.  We got Tabitha moved into the dorms and started Elijah in home school.  I thought after that things my even out a bit. WRONG!  Now, it's not all bad.  We are anxiously awaiting the opening of our church's new performing arts center.  It is an amazingly beautiful (and that still doesn't describe it) building and grounds.  In order to get it ready for its opening, I have been helping out on the land scape crew during the week.  I am not able to go everyday, nor all day, but it has added a bit more to my schedule.  They got the fountains up and running yesterday!  This fountain was one thing I got to help with while volunteering for landscape crew.  I got to wash it out.  I forget how big it is, but it was an all day job.  Mind you, I did have one of the new freshman helping me, but it was still a BIG job.  That made it a little more exciting to see it up and running!  Here are a couple of beautiful pictures of the Swans In Flight.  These were taken by Aubrey Mercado.

Elijah has also joined the home school band.  he has chosen to play trumpet.  I'm happy with that choice.  It's not drums at least.  Trumpet is a good, manly sort of instrument I think.  He has really enjoyed playing it so far.  Enough that I have to make him stop practicing most days.  He's not too bad either, not that he's any sort of child prodigy, but for a seven year-old who has no musical experience, he does just fine.  It has made me want to find myself a flute and start playing again.

Practice makes perfect, or at least better!
All together now

The last thing keeping me busier than usual would be teaching 11 college sophomores how to make jelly.  The girls from Armstrong College came by today for home ec.  We had a lot of fun and made a big mess, but we got some really good jam out of it as well!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Brace for it, Tabitha has moved to the Dorms!

Yesterday was quite a day around here.  We woke up early, at least for us, to get Tabitha to the orthodontist.  She got her braces put on at 7:20 a.m.  I only mention the time because I'm not sure why we thought 7:20 in the morning was a good time.  Well, she's very happy to have tehm and they aren't giving her too much trouble.  In two years she'll have a even more beautiful smile to go with the beautiful face!


Thanks, Poppa and Nan!

While she was being overhauled, Elijah went to his second Day of Thunder Basketball Camp.  He is having a great time.  Rumble the Bison was there in the morning and Elijah got a t-shirt Rumble threw to the campers.  He was excited, but since it was an adult size t-shirt he decided to give it to Tab. (Today he got to meet the Thunder's two newest players.  He got their autographs and played some ball with them.  One of tehm stole Elijah's shoe and they played football with it.  He thought that was pretty cool.  at  least for a while.  Then he decided he really didn't like chasing the around the floor to get it back.  Oh well!)


Go Rumble!

The last big thing was moving Tab to the dorm.  She was glad to get the roommate she did.  She is a really sweet girl.  She is also a senior so, she'll be a great advisor on how things work.  She is also glad to have only one roommate.  They have the smallest room, but since only two are sharing storage space (precious storage space) the room is just right.  Many of the rooms have three girls and at least one has four. They also have their own bathroom.

This is finally out of my dining room!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

First Day of School and Rewards!

Yesterday we started back to school.  As a few have asked, "August 2, why so early?", 'cause we can!
Actually, that is only a reason and not the reason.  Each year, in the fall, we take a trip.  We are usually gone for two weeks.  Last year we were gone for three and they missed a week at school because of it.  This year we plan to stay gone for three weeks again. (Don't worry, no one reads this and we have a house sitter.)  That is another reason for the early start.  We also like being able to take off whenever we feel the need to.  Jeff is not tied to a schedule and we like to school year round with several mini breaks thrown in.  If we want to ski, we do, hit the lake for a couple of days, no problem, hang out in the Caribbean, heck yeah!  An early start to what is never really finished is just the thing.

Spelling
"Art"-chain counting sown the days until the feast!

One thing Elijah did this summer was read.  Not just a book or two.  He read over 50.  There was a summer reading program at the library and he received several freebies for his efforts.  One of those rewards was two tickets to a Red Hawks game.  They are the Texas Ranger's farm club.  We also had tickets from the July 4th rain out, so last night we went to the game.  It was fun, he got a foul ball.  He didn't catch it, the man who did gave it to him after a bunch of bigger boys almost ran Elijah over while he went for it as it was bouncing around.  That was really nice of him.  We also saw Ryne Sandberg.  He is a former Chicago Cub (and Oklahoma 89er) and hall-of-famer.  He now manages the Iowa Cubs, Chicago's farm team.  That is who played last night.  I had quite the crush on him when I was young.  I think Jeff might have been a little jealous.  I already have plenty of pictures of you, Sweetie!

Waiting
Chillaxin'
Ryne
Rowdy