Soccer for Devon

Devon will be playing soccer for the first time this season. He watched Ella play last spring and although I didn't think he was paying much attention, he was. He is pumped to play soccer! Tuesday we took him to buy new soccer shoes, shorts, and his own ball to prepare for his 1st practice on Thursday. The boy never takes a nap, but on Thursday after I told him he would run faster and have more energy at practice, he crawled up in his bed after lunch and went to sleep. He was more than ready! Practice went well and he keeps asking when he gets to play in a real game! What an exciting new adventure for a 4 year old boy!

Cafeteria Food

My mom made me eat in the school cafeteria when I was a kid. It didn't kill me.

Now that Ella is in elementary school, she's going to eat in the cafeteria too. Let's just say, it's a family tradition! :)

She was quite excited the first couple days to pick up a tray of hot food and a carton of cold chocolate milk. That was, until she saw her friends bringing their lunches and peer pressure set in. Where did the notion of, "it's cooler to bring your lunch than eat in the cafeteria" come from anyway? It makes no logical sense. I say, "BOO" to you parents who pack your kids lunch everyday! What are you thinking? School lunches are only $1/plate. Now, that's a bargain! Of course that's not the only reason I make her eat in the cafeteria, it's convenient for me, it helps the environment (less trash), I'm providing jobs for our community, it's convenient for me...

Bring on the nachos and pineapple ring! Bring on the spaghetti and pears! Eat it up and remember, there are some kids starving in Africa!!! Be thankful for your hot plate of school lunch!

THAT SAID...
Here is what the other side of this parenting duo thinks:

Do not subject your child to eating "Turkey ala King" or as David calls it, "Turkey ala Poop"




Instead, bring a Happy Meal to school that day and eat with your baby girl!

Eat Time!

If you know Leah, you know she loves to eat! Her most voiced phase of the day is "I Hung-eee!"
She doesn't even care if she has chips to go with the salsa. When she's "hung-eee" she's gonna eat whatever is in sight!

End of Summer Craft

I just love my Family Fun magazine. It always has fun crafts and ideas for the kids. Here are some "flip-flop" cookies we made after dinner! (Milano cookies with colored icing and gummy worms for the straps)

More 1st day of School

Devon and Leah started preschool on Monday. Devon is at Southside Christian Learning Center and Leah at 1st Baptist Wee School.






















































Here is Ella at her desk on "Meet your Teacher Night" last Wednesday.

Ella's 1st day of Kindergarten

At 8:25 this morning, I dropped Ella off at the front door of Lincoln Elementary...... I pressed my nose up against the glass and watched as she turned the corner and was out of sight..... THEN, I came to my senses! I don't care what the school says, I'm going in there and making sure my baby is safe! As you can see I wasn't the only protective parent.
At 3:30 I picked up a happy Ella exclaiming that tomorrow is "corndogs!" I'm so glad she enjoyed her 1st day of Kindergarten!

Vegas! "Livin' it up - Livin' it up"

We had a fabulous time in Las Vegas. The suite at the Venetian Palazzo was amazing! I think it was about the size of my house - seriously! We enjoyed great meals, a relaxing day at the pool, shopping, and shows. Much needed R&R. Thanks you Mom, Sandie, and David for making my Vegas getaway possible!

Summer Trip to Branson

We always enjoy taking the kids to Branson, Missouri. We spent 4 days and 3 nights in a rented 26 ft travel trailer. It was an adventure!














The kids slept on bunk beds in the back of the trailer and we slept on a full bed in the front. We "tried" to shower in the trailer, but it was a wee bit too small! So we ventured down to the wash house in the evenings. Surprisingly, the showers were clean - thank goodness!














It was tight in the trailer and we quickly learned that being outside is much more fun than just sitting inside. Devon and Leah played in the gravel and Ella rode her bicycle while we made dinner each night.
David made some mean lighter-fluid flavored hot dogs! Devon enjoyed a menu of 2 corndogs for lunch and 2 hotdogs for dinner on our second day in Branson. Our second NITE in Branson, David and I enjoyed cleaning up hotdog puke all over the travel trailer. Fun times, Fun times.....

We visited Silver Dollar City twice, spent one day at White Water, and enjoyed Branson Landing one evening.














At Silver Dollar City we watched 2 fun shows, rode numerous rides, and ate, of course, lots of hot dogs! During the Magic Show, Ella got chosen to go up on stage. She was so cute! The magician "magically" made her float in thin air! It was an eventful trip with lots of fun memories (minus the puking part)! See you next year Branson!