First cold of the season

Poor Mollie, she has been suffering with a cold for a week!  I felt terrible on Monday when I took her to the doctor with severe double ear infections and a cough to beat the band! Betsy and the cousins seemed to be getting better, so we did take her to urgent care on Sunday. I am so thankful they started her on a round of antibiotics Sunday, I hate to think what her little ear drums would have looked like on Monday had they not.  Yikes! We went back to the doctor today for a follow-up, this cough is persistent and the ear drums still have some fluid behind them.  Hopefully this 10-day antibiotic will nip this in the bud, and we can get back to life as normal. The doctor cautioned me about re-entering our schedule too soon to avoid a set back at Christmas.  So, we will be at home, recuperating, watching Christmas movies, drinking cocoa, and getting healthy.  Blessings.

Pioneer Woman

Lexington has hosted a food show for the past few years. Andy took me 3 years ago to see Bobby Flay, who was wonderful. But this year the "star" chef was Ree Drummond, the pioneer woman. I am a fan of her show, blog, book, and recipes. Needless to say, moths ago, when The food show announced that she would be there, I called Andy right away to see if we could get tickets.  He said yes! (I just love him to pieces.) He also found out the girls would be free, so we went as a family. What a great outing.  Lots of samples, good food, and friends. The girls, Andy and I enjoyed watching Ree cook live and listening to her stories. I think it's great that a home cook from the middle of Oklahoma has made such an impact in the cooking industry.  She is an inspiration to all us "regular  folk." Blessings

Music lesson

Mollie had her first violin lesson today, and I cried.  I have known her teacher since before she was born, and watched her grow up playing the violin.  I was just overcome with emotion.  Probably similar to starting your child kindergarten.  It was precious and heart warming but overwhelming in a way.
Now, we have violin music playing in the background and in a few weeks the music will be in the foreground.  Exciting times, I tell ya.  Blessings.

The 8's

Whoa Nellie!! Mollie had a minor melt down last week because she could not write an 8 in the way the book demonstrated. She generally writes 2 circles stacked on top of each other but was having difficulty writing it otherwise. Instead of making it a huge issue any second longer, I allowed her to trace the 8's I wrote. I'm sure she'll get the hang of it with a little more practice. What I want to guard against is her hating school and not giving her best effort.  She continues to like school and makes a good effort to do her work generally. Of course, we all need pep talks now and then.  Blessings.

Clean sheets

I washed,y sheets today as well as the girls. It's always so nice to get in a freshly made bed. One of the niceties of life. Simple pleasures are sometimes best. Blessings.

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Today, I started teaching the girls from the Sonlight curriculum. We used it last year when Mollie was in preschool and loved it, so we opted to use it for her K year as well.  The girls were so excited to finally be able to write in their workbooks. They've been looking through them off and on all summer. We got off to a great start and look forward to completing our tasks together. I just love homeschooling. I know it's not the right choice for everyone, but for us, it couldn't be better.  Blessings.

Decluttering

Just when I think I'm done with decluttering, I check some computer files.  This is a treasure the girls saved from a while back.  My work is not yet done, but I'm getting there! Blessings. 

Camp 2014

The girls will be attending our church's co-op this year. (You begin the program when your oldest child is a kindergartner.) Anyhow, the families involved have a camp out prior to the start up.  My two are beyond excited about camp, about school, and being with their friends.  It's been fun listening to them chatter about it.  Now, off to pack. Blessings.

OBX

Last week, Andy and I spent time in the outer banks of North Carolina. Without the girls. It was very different being without them for so long, my folks kept them so we could take our anniversary trip.  One thing that we got to do was take a tour in Corolla to see he wild horses on the beach.  It's been something I've wanted to do since reading Misty of Chincoteague when I was a girl.  Overall, it was an awesome trip, in spite of Bertha causing it to rain for the first few days. God has blessed me so much and I am thankful--for my husband and 8 yrs of marriage, for sweet girls, for my folks and siblings, for rainbows at the beach, for the sounds of the ocean and for memories made on this trip.  Blessings.

Play date

Our swim lessons were cancelled, so we are filling up the days with various play dates. The girls are having a good time playing with their friends (and neighbors), and I'm enjoying time with my mom friends.  Win - win. While we don't have a play date every day, we are taking advantage of everyone's more relaxed summer schedule. It's been a nice change of pace.  Blessings.

Lightning bugs

A firefly landed on the van window next to Betsy this evening.  She was very excited especially when it "glowed up." She is such a joy. Blessings.

Ballet

Last week the girls were in a worship ballet called Enter the Gates.  It was a great way for them to worship and also share Jesus' love with some residents at an area nursing home. They had a great time.  We are so blessed to be a part of Gloria Deo School of the Arts. The older dancers are going to be performing a ballet adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for free this coming Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. At the Singletary Center For The Arts at the University of Kentucky. If you are free,please consider attending. It's going to be spectacular.  Hope to see you there. Blessings.

Betsy 4 interview

Sorry this is long over due since Betsy's birthday is in February!!!
Happy derby day!
Betsy - 4

1. How old are you? 4
2. Who is your best friend? Jane Ashley 
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Go to gattitown
4. What is your favorite color? Purple
5. What is your favorite food and drink? Milk and ice cream
6. What do you like to do with your family? Go to ballet
7. What is your favorite toy? The ponies 
8. What do you want to do when you grow up? A nurse
9. What makes you happy? Giving hugs and kisses
10. What makes you sad? Getting hurt
11. What is your favorite show to watch? Lion, witch and the wardrobe 
12. What is your favorite book? Monster's Inc.
13. What do you love to learn about? My ABC's
14. What was the best part of your birthday? Hunting the presents
15. Where do you like to go? Gattitown
16. What are you really good at? Tackling
17. What is your favorite treat? Playing games
18. What do you think about before going to sleep? Chocolate (stuffed giraffe)
19. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe
20. What is your favorite song? It's raining, it's pouring the old man is snoring. 

Gracie yellow

Last week mollie was pretending to be Gracie gold, Betsy was Gracie silver, I was Gracie bronze.  Andy wanted to know who he might be, Mollie suggested Gracie yellow.  Blessings.

The Olympics

Mollie likes to watch the winter Olympics.  I asked her what she likes to watch the best, her reply, " I like to watch the figure skating because of the sparkly costumes."  Why am I not surprised. Blessings.

Mollie interview- 5

1. How old are you? 5
2. Who is your best friend? Evelyn H.
3. What is your favorite thing to do? Play dolls and dress up
4. What is your favorite color? Yellow and pink
5. What is your favorite food and drink? Purple pop and pizza
6. What do you like to do with your family? Go on the train with Nathan
7. What is your favorite toy? Robin (bird from Sophia the First)
8. What do you want to do when you grow up? Be a dentist
9. What makes you happy? Exploring and adventuring and finding new things
10. What makes you sad? Tickling
11. What is your favorite show to watch? Frozen
12. What is your favorite book? Fairies
13. What do you love to learn about? living cultures
14. What was the best part of your birthday? Eating cake and getting presents
15. Where do you like to go? Gatlinburg
16. What are you really good at? Throwing snowballs
17. What is your favorite treat? Cotton Candy
18. What do you think about before going to sleep? Jesus
19. What is your favorite animal? Birds
20. What is your favorite song? Color Farm