I'm am so excited. We actually get to go on a vacation this summer! We leave tomorrow evening after Jake gets off work and will come home sometime next weekend.
I know that a lot of families normally take a summer vacation - we haven't had a chance to. At Dillard's, Jake wasn't allowed to take time off during the summer months (they have certain days "blacked out" for vacation time). So now that he has a job with real benefits, we are leaving town.
We are going to Albuquerque and Farmington (his hometown). Yes, we'll be spending a lot of time with the in-laws, but at least it's not in A-town. Jake's poor mom, Cindy, has been in Alb. all summer long taking care of her dad. Cindy and her other two sisters stay with him 24-7-365. Cindy's turn is always in the summer since she's a teacher. So, anyway, her turn in up on Saturday, so she's going to go home and check on her home before we arrive on Sunday. We're planning on taking the girls to the zoo and maybe check out Old Town in Alb. before we go on to Farmington.
Once we're in Farmington, I think we'll take it easy. We are planning on going to Durango, but we really have no firm plans for this trip - not even a firm return date! We're just going and doing what we want to when we want to! It'll be great.
The sad part is, once we return, there's not much left of summer. I don't offiicially start back with twirling until the 11th. But there are still things that need to be done before then. So, summer is basically over - how sad.
Enjoy your remaining few days of summer - how bout this crazy July weather?!??!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
A GREAT 4th
Happy belated 4th to everyone! I hope yours was as good as ours was!
We started the day with our parade in town. Yes, A-town has a parade. Taelor rode a firetruck and Addi rode with Jake in his company's "gator". (I am aware of how redneck this parade is sounding...) Both looked so cute. Addi sat in dad's lap and sucked her finger the entire parade while waving at the crowd. Mom and I sat and watched and realized that parade's aren't as much fun to watch without being able to see it through a child's eye. Last year, Taelor was in the parade and Addi was with us. She was SOO EXCITED to see every float, every person, every siren. It was fun getting to see my own kids in the parade, but the rest of it didn't hold quite the same sparkle as it does when you are watching it with your kids.
Then we spent the rest of the day at mom and dad's. Our 4th has always been about spending time with family. This year, it was extra special. A) my grandparents (who are both in the 80's) felt well enough to come and B) my nephew made his first outing since being released from NICU!!!! Brock got to come visit. He is so sweet and such a trooper. It was pretty cool to watch my parents as they enjoyed having all three grandkids around for the first time. And I can't tell you how excited my dad is to have a grandson (though Addi really does have a lot of "boy" in her). It was just a very special day to have the family there and to now have the newest addition healthy enough to come visit.
The evening was concluded with a great fireworks show here in A-town. It's really a fabulous little show. And you don't have to mess with ANY traffic. We sat with several of our friends from here in town and just enjoyed each other's company as we watched the fireworks. Then, since we do live in a small town, we came home from the official fireworks show, only to watch about 12 more going on around us! Only about 4 of them were legal and being done outside the city limits. The rest were going on all around us. So, we didn't get to bed until somewhere around 1am this morning. But you know, it was all worth it. We even let Taelor stay up until midnight watching the fireworks. Back to that "watching things through the eyes of a child" thing. She really loves fireworks, and the fact that she had mom and dad to herself!
Happy 4th to everyone and I hope you all feel as blessed as I do to live where we do and have all the freedoms that we have. God bless America!!!!!!
We started the day with our parade in town. Yes, A-town has a parade. Taelor rode a firetruck and Addi rode with Jake in his company's "gator". (I am aware of how redneck this parade is sounding...) Both looked so cute. Addi sat in dad's lap and sucked her finger the entire parade while waving at the crowd. Mom and I sat and watched and realized that parade's aren't as much fun to watch without being able to see it through a child's eye. Last year, Taelor was in the parade and Addi was with us. She was SOO EXCITED to see every float, every person, every siren. It was fun getting to see my own kids in the parade, but the rest of it didn't hold quite the same sparkle as it does when you are watching it with your kids.
Then we spent the rest of the day at mom and dad's. Our 4th has always been about spending time with family. This year, it was extra special. A) my grandparents (who are both in the 80's) felt well enough to come and B) my nephew made his first outing since being released from NICU!!!! Brock got to come visit. He is so sweet and such a trooper. It was pretty cool to watch my parents as they enjoyed having all three grandkids around for the first time. And I can't tell you how excited my dad is to have a grandson (though Addi really does have a lot of "boy" in her). It was just a very special day to have the family there and to now have the newest addition healthy enough to come visit.
The evening was concluded with a great fireworks show here in A-town. It's really a fabulous little show. And you don't have to mess with ANY traffic. We sat with several of our friends from here in town and just enjoyed each other's company as we watched the fireworks. Then, since we do live in a small town, we came home from the official fireworks show, only to watch about 12 more going on around us! Only about 4 of them were legal and being done outside the city limits. The rest were going on all around us. So, we didn't get to bed until somewhere around 1am this morning. But you know, it was all worth it. We even let Taelor stay up until midnight watching the fireworks. Back to that "watching things through the eyes of a child" thing. She really loves fireworks, and the fact that she had mom and dad to herself!
Happy 4th to everyone and I hope you all feel as blessed as I do to live where we do and have all the freedoms that we have. God bless America!!!!!!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
God's Big Backyard is over (and was a huge success!!!!)
Wow! What a blessing this past week was. We held our first VBS in 15 years, and it was wonderful. God was (and continues to be) so good!
Just to give you an idea, we have 15 kids in our church that are VBS age. Well, we had 123 kids that came to VBS! It was awesome. Yes, many of them have a church here in town that they go to, but many do not. We had an opportunity to show them God's love. It was just an amazing week.
Then this mornings sermon was so relevant, too. Our teenagers were our crew leaders. They guided the kids around to each "site" or class. At the beginning of the week, they tried to lead by being "bossy" to the kids. Our teens are great, but they just didn't really know how to handle kids. Then by the middle of the week, they began to sit with the kids and by the kids and it was amazing how the kids began acting. It's the same way with Christianity. We sometimes are guilty of "telling" others how to be a Christian (whether they are a Christian or not). But what we really need to do is get into the "muck" with them and become involved in their lives. Many times, the people we so desperately need to reach are the ones who don't "look" or "act" right. It does them absolutely NO good to have someone tell them how to do it. They need it modeled to them. Steve pointed out in his lesson this morning that Jesus wasn't usually in front of the crowd of people. He was IN the crowd. He didn't keep His distance.
So, VBS was incredible. Now this week is band camp, and then my summer will officially begin. What a great way to begin summer though, by having a chance to serve others!!!
Just to give you an idea, we have 15 kids in our church that are VBS age. Well, we had 123 kids that came to VBS! It was awesome. Yes, many of them have a church here in town that they go to, but many do not. We had an opportunity to show them God's love. It was just an amazing week.
Then this mornings sermon was so relevant, too. Our teenagers were our crew leaders. They guided the kids around to each "site" or class. At the beginning of the week, they tried to lead by being "bossy" to the kids. Our teens are great, but they just didn't really know how to handle kids. Then by the middle of the week, they began to sit with the kids and by the kids and it was amazing how the kids began acting. It's the same way with Christianity. We sometimes are guilty of "telling" others how to be a Christian (whether they are a Christian or not). But what we really need to do is get into the "muck" with them and become involved in their lives. Many times, the people we so desperately need to reach are the ones who don't "look" or "act" right. It does them absolutely NO good to have someone tell them how to do it. They need it modeled to them. Steve pointed out in his lesson this morning that Jesus wasn't usually in front of the crowd of people. He was IN the crowd. He didn't keep His distance.
So, VBS was incredible. Now this week is band camp, and then my summer will officially begin. What a great way to begin summer though, by having a chance to serve others!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
More Chaos
I think I can safely say that I have not been this busy in a very, very long time! I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I've sat down to blog. And believe me, it's been nearly that long since I've sat down, period!
Ryan and Ashley's baby, Brock, is doing better, but is still in NICU. They began trying to feed him this week and he's having trouble digesting it. So continue keeping Brock and his parents in your prayers.
The second weekend in May is always a big one for me. I have a chance to be a judge at a Band Festival that Abernathy hosts every year. I really enjoy getting to help with that.
The rest of May has been filled with two things - 1) getting HS students ready for State Solo & Ensemble Contest, 2) getting ready for VBS (that starts Monday!!!) and I guess there's a third, too, 3)end of school activities for Taelor.
The State Solo & Ensemble trip was fun. The day of contest is just hard. It's hot, humid and you're in dress clothes all day long. But the trip isn't really about the contest, it's about all the fun surrounding the contest!!! We had all-you-can-eat barbque at County Line on the Riverwalk the first evening we were there. Then we ate at the Republic of Texas on the Riverwalk the second night. And then the final day was spent at Schlitterbaun. Addi stayed home with my parents, so we really had a good time at the waterpark with Taelor. She loves water. Jake and I both came home red, but had a blast!
Then came Joyland. Taelor earned the trip to Joyland for reaching her Accelerated Reading goal at school. They always ask a bunch of Kindergarten mom's to go, so I did. I had NO IDEA that meant that I would have to ride some of the rides over, and over, and over, and over. Six year olds still aren't quite tall enough to ride all the rides without an adult. So that meant that I got to ride the mousetrap multiple times!!!!!!!!
This week has finished up with twirling tryouts and getting ready for VBS. VBS is going to be awesome! I am so excited. The auditorium has been transformed into a backyard and the rooms are starting to look good, too. We even turned our baptistry into a backyard swimming pool!!!!! We put a little slide on the side of it and pool toys in it. Just hope the kids don't get any bright ideas! We may send a few people into convulsions, but it's all for the kids. I'll take pics and post them once it's completely set up.
Well, this isn't anything too exciting, and if you've read it all - then bravo to you! After the next two weeks are over, summer will really begin and I'll get back to posting. Hopefully posting pics of the girls in the pool!!!!
Ryan and Ashley's baby, Brock, is doing better, but is still in NICU. They began trying to feed him this week and he's having trouble digesting it. So continue keeping Brock and his parents in your prayers.
The second weekend in May is always a big one for me. I have a chance to be a judge at a Band Festival that Abernathy hosts every year. I really enjoy getting to help with that.
The rest of May has been filled with two things - 1) getting HS students ready for State Solo & Ensemble Contest, 2) getting ready for VBS (that starts Monday!!!) and I guess there's a third, too, 3)end of school activities for Taelor.
The State Solo & Ensemble trip was fun. The day of contest is just hard. It's hot, humid and you're in dress clothes all day long. But the trip isn't really about the contest, it's about all the fun surrounding the contest!!! We had all-you-can-eat barbque at County Line on the Riverwalk the first evening we were there. Then we ate at the Republic of Texas on the Riverwalk the second night. And then the final day was spent at Schlitterbaun. Addi stayed home with my parents, so we really had a good time at the waterpark with Taelor. She loves water. Jake and I both came home red, but had a blast!
Then came Joyland. Taelor earned the trip to Joyland for reaching her Accelerated Reading goal at school. They always ask a bunch of Kindergarten mom's to go, so I did. I had NO IDEA that meant that I would have to ride some of the rides over, and over, and over, and over. Six year olds still aren't quite tall enough to ride all the rides without an adult. So that meant that I got to ride the mousetrap multiple times!!!!!!!!
This week has finished up with twirling tryouts and getting ready for VBS. VBS is going to be awesome! I am so excited. The auditorium has been transformed into a backyard and the rooms are starting to look good, too. We even turned our baptistry into a backyard swimming pool!!!!! We put a little slide on the side of it and pool toys in it. Just hope the kids don't get any bright ideas! We may send a few people into convulsions, but it's all for the kids. I'll take pics and post them once it's completely set up.
Well, this isn't anything too exciting, and if you've read it all - then bravo to you! After the next two weeks are over, summer will really begin and I'll get back to posting. Hopefully posting pics of the girls in the pool!!!!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
New Bufe Baby
Ryan and Ashley had their baby boy May 6th at 12:35 pm. He was 5 lbs. 2 oz. and 17.75 inches. He was born with a few complications, so he will spend about the next month in NICU. Please pray for Ryan and Ashley and Brock as they go through the next few months.
The rest of life is also crazy and stressful, too. This week is the Band Festival. Next week are concerts, the following week we will finish preparing for State Solo & Ensemble Contest followed by actually attending the State Solo & Ensemble Contest, then we come back for the last week of school. All while trying to finish getting ready for Vacation Bible School! Tonight at church we were able to get a lot of "work" done for VBS, but there is so much to do along with all the other fun end of school activities!!! I LOVE staying busy, but I will be very ready for the middle of June to get here, too.
Wish I had more energy to write, but right now, I'm longing for my bed. Two nights ago I didn't sleep well because we knew the baby was on the way, then last night, I slept on Ryan & Ashley's couch. Newlywed couches are nearly always hand me downs and flat as can be!!!!! But at least it wasn't the floor!
Off to bed!
The rest of life is also crazy and stressful, too. This week is the Band Festival. Next week are concerts, the following week we will finish preparing for State Solo & Ensemble Contest followed by actually attending the State Solo & Ensemble Contest, then we come back for the last week of school. All while trying to finish getting ready for Vacation Bible School! Tonight at church we were able to get a lot of "work" done for VBS, but there is so much to do along with all the other fun end of school activities!!! I LOVE staying busy, but I will be very ready for the middle of June to get here, too.
Wish I had more energy to write, but right now, I'm longing for my bed. Two nights ago I didn't sleep well because we knew the baby was on the way, then last night, I slept on Ryan & Ashley's couch. Newlywed couches are nearly always hand me downs and flat as can be!!!!! But at least it wasn't the floor!
Off to bed!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Opening Ceremonies
This is our first time playing. She could have played the last two years, but I wasn't ready for anyone to tell me when I had to be where and for how long!! So she's just now doing t-ball. Next year she'll be in softball - quite a leap. I am glad we waited, though. She actually knows how the game is supposed to be played and what to do!!!
I guess this is year one of (hopefully) 13 busy years. That's why I love small schools. Kids can do anything and everything they want to. It sure makes you learn how to manage your time!
I'll update with more action shots as the season progresses...
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Birthday Fun
First, I subbed three days last week. I've subbed before, but never in High School. I loved it. I have to brag on my town for a moment. Yes it's small and some don't like "knowing" everyone, but it was really neat to get to spend time with these kids. Abernathy has great kids. And yes, we've had our "winners", but overall we have really good kids here who really do try to do the right things. I get to spend time with the band kids fairly often, but this allowed me to meet some kids that I knew who they were, but hadn't really talked to before. I really did enjoy it.
But, needless to say, after doing that for three days plus teaching private lessons in the evenings, I was exhausted!!! I am so blessed to be able to stay home with my daughter and do work that I LOVE in the evening. There is no way I could work all day and teach private lessons as well.
Saturday was our friend, John's, 3rd birthday. They had a bounce house set up and the girls had a great time. Poor boy, he was the only boy at his party. All the friends were girls. But at this age, they don't care. All the kids loved it. Taelor wants one for her birthday, but you can't have a outdoor bounce house in December!!!
This week has been a little back to the norm. Just catching up on lack of sleep last week. I guess what was hard about last week was getting up early enough to take Addi to my grandparents house (20 minutes one way) and get back in time to get Taelor to school and get myself to class ontime. But I'm very thankful for the free child care! Other than catching up on rest, and laundry, things are pretty much normal. Except that I am having to CLEAN my house. Not just pick it up, either. Actually clean it. We are hosting our Bunco group on Saturday, so we've been cleaning every spare minute.
One more thought and I'll close. Yesterday, "Tuesday Folder's" were sent home from school. Each week Tae's teacher sends home a newsletter of what's going on. Well, the last thing on the newsletter said, "Only 6 1/2 more weeks of Kindergarten!!!!!" I cried. It was hard enough letting Taelor go to school; now her first YEAR is nearly over. It has flown by. And the sad part is, I know each year will fly by faster. I'm so thankful that she is growing up to be a wonderful young lady, but she's growing up :(
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