July Goal Update~

1. Pay off Jolie's undergraduate loan by October 1.

If I said we had 100% of the loan left to 

pay when we made the goal, we are 

now down to  42% 35% of the loan left.  

Yeah!  It is almost in my sights.  Almost.

2. Establish a will

No progress.  I might just give up on this goal
for 2014.  Big Al is not showing any sign of 
deeming it important.

3. Read the Bible in 1 year

I'm caught up presently, but I worry
that I will fall behind again with school
and volleyball.  I need to just make this
a priority.  

4. Read 30 books by December 31, 2014
I have read  23 27 books so far in 2014. 
I have been on a memoir read this summer. 
I can't even publicly admit what I have been
reading other than the fact that they are 
memoirs.  I checked out a humorous 
murder mystery book yesterday at the library.
Perhaps this will get me back into a bit
more of a serious reading habit;-)

The goals are progressing along.  I think
they are all completely still on target minus
the will goal.  Hopefully, I can end the year 
strong.

Final 2014 Summer Update~

Just like that summer has come and gone.  I just don't know how it has happened.  We have had a blessed summer, and I feel so fortunate to get this time with my kids.  I realize, though, that my purpose on this Earth is far greater than serving my singular family unit, so I feel equally as blessed to return to work next week.  Our house is ready to get back into the groove, and both of my children are ready to see their friends on a daily basis.  

Here is the final update of our bucket list.  Almost all complete!

1. Fondue for Supper    We went swimming last Sunday at the north pool, and then we came home to cheese and chocolate fondue for supper.  Our kids love fondue.  We really need to have it more often;-)
2. Swimming Lessons for Rowan and Isla Done!  
3. Nature Camp for Rowan 
4. VBS for Rowan and Isla Done
5. Swimming at the North Pool  I think we made it 4 times this summer.  That isn't very many considering an average summer.  Hopefully, we can get there at least 1 more time this summer.
6. Bowling
7. Movie Theater 
8. Going Bonkers 
9. Picnic at the Park
10. Smores over the Firepit
11. Sprinkler Fun  x3
12. Travel to Grammy and Poppe's House We went last week just the kids and I.  I always appreciate the pace of life out on the farm.  It is just so incredibly different than city life.  We had a great time.
13. Summer Reading Program for Rowan and Isla Done!  
14. Paint Rocks
15. Zoo
16. Gage Park and Train
17. Fishing with Dad  
18. Make Ice Cream 
19. Sidewalk Chalk   
20. Make Cookies for Friends
21. Farmer's Market 
22. Discovery Center
23. Baseball for Rowan Done!
24. Fourth of July Fireworks 
25. Water Balloon Fight 

I'm headed to drop the kids off at the farm on Tuesday for the week.  Alex and I will drive back on Friday night to pick them up.  I will miss them terribly, but I know they will enjoy the farm with the tractors, four wheeler, and the cats.  That's it.  Back to work on Wednesday!

VBC

Weird Animal Habitat~

This week is the week of Vacation Bible Camp at our church.  Oh, how I love this week!  There is just something magical about gathering all of God's children together and "camping."

There are many people who have spent many many hours putting the camp together from decorations, to games, to crafts, to drama, to food (we feed 150 people supper each night)!  There are so many willing hearts to share the great message of the love Jesus has for each of his children!  This year we have over 90 children we are serving!  

Tonight is night 4, and the sighs and groans the children let out at the end of each night when Miss Shari asks if they are ready to go home, tells us that we are doing something right;-)  I'm getting tired (I try to corral 3 year olds for 2 and a half hours), but the fact that my own children want to put their VBC shirt on right when they get up, tells me we are creating an amazing experience for many children who do not attend church on a regular basis!  Love it!

Weird Animal Habitat Entrance~

The week will be over like that, but my hope is that we have at least shared the amazingness of our God and the love he has for each and everyone of his children every single day.  That alone is worth all of the work~

My own little camper singing~

A good portion of the crew~

Love him~

Summer Fun-Week 6~

Gosh, time is just getting away from me!  I can't believe it is already July 15. I always say that once July 4 gets here, the rest of summer is over in a flash:-)  We have had lots of fun, though, but both kids have asked when they get to go back to school.  We just might be on the end of the appreciating Mom and all she has to offer period:-)  Here's our update!

1. Fondue for Supper   
2. Swimming Lessons for Rowan and Isla Done!  
3. Nature Camp for Rowan 
4. VBS for Rowan and Isla This started on Sunday! I can't even begin to calculate how many hours I have spent prepping things for this, but it is so worth it.  It is just magical to watch these kiddos from all different families learn about God's love for them!  Be still my heart!!!
5. Swimming at the North Pool  We've gone twice!  Loved it both times!
6. Bowling
7. Movie Theater 
8. Going Bonkers 
9. Picnic at the Park
10. Smores over the Firepit
11. Sprinkler Fun  x3
12. Travel to Grammy and Poppe's House Going next week!
13. Summer Reading Program for Rowan and Isla Done!  Both kids have finished, and we picked up their books and certificates of completion.  Rowan has grown a great deal in his reading.  I'm not quite so scared to send him to 1st grade anymore.
14. Paint Rocks
15. Zoo
16. Gage Park and Train
17. Fishing with Dad  We went again last Sunday at Melvern Lake.  Alex had to travel that way for work on Sunday, so the kids and I tagged along.  We didn't catch anything, but fishing is just so peaceful.  
18. Make Ice Cream 
19. Sidewalk Chalk   
20. Make Cookies for Friends
21. Farmer's Market 
22. Discovery Center
23. Baseball for Rowan Almost done!  We have been rained out a couple of times, so we are nearing the end.  They haven't officially rescheduled 2 of the games, so we aren't really sure when the season ends.
24. Fourth of July Fireworks We had our annual neighborhood get together.  It was amazing food, great company, and the kids just have a ball.  We are blessed by our community we live in beyond words.
25. Water Balloon Fight One of our neighbors built a water balloon catapult for the 4th of July, and the kids went through more than a 1,000 water balloons that day.  There were a few of us moms who couldn't fill them fast enough for that crew of boys;-)

RowDog on 3rd base!

Focused~

The team minus 3 friends~

Go Carts!!  Alex's company picnic was in Wichita at an indoor fun center!
Rowan was in heaven~

Sibling Love~

Swimming!!

This kid is a fish~

And then there is Isla who prefers to snack and sit on the side~

Except when we find daycare friends at the pool-then we can play in the water~

4th of July!!!

Fishing (I'm not sure what this hand thing is,
but it is in a lot of my recent pictures.
If it's a gang sign, someone clue me in;-)

Proud Fisherman~

Trying to snag a big one on our Hello Kitty pole~

Discovery Center!  Love this place!

We have a mere 3 weeks before I have to report for the school year, and I have to go work 4 of those days at Central Office. I think my summer is just about over.  Pains my heart, but I am so blessed that we get to play for the time we do have.  

Summer Fun- Week 3 and 4~

I had jury duty for two days this week (you can read about the experience here), and then I had to work Wednesday and Thursday at school.  Can we say not summer vacation this week?  Consequently, I'm behind on a great deal of house things, and I am sad that we didn't do a lot of fun stuff this week.  It was mere survival.  Last week, though, we were able to cross some things off of the list.  Hopefully, July will be a calmer month than June;-)  Here's the update~

1. Fondue for Supper   
2. Swimming Lessons for Rowan and Isla Done!  I love that we have a relationship with the teacher and the home where we take lessons.  My children are loved, and I feel welcomed.  The kids did great, and both of them are much better swimmers than when we started.
3. Nature Camp for Rowan 
4. VBS for Rowan and Isla This starts on July 13.  I'm really starting to pound out some craft preparation.  I'm getting a bit stressed on this one.
5. Swimming at the North Pool  I had in mind that we would go today, but the weather is cloudy and yucky.  We will get there!!
6. Bowling
7. Movie Theater 
8. Going Bonkers We got rained out one day last week for swimming lessons.  We took advantage of the free morning, and we went.
9. Picnic at the Park
10. Smores over the Firepit
11. Sprinkler Fun  x3
12. Travel to Grammy and Poppe's House
13. Summer Reading Program for Rowan and Isla Went to the library again today.  Rowan is almost done, and Isla has a bit more than him.  This will easily be crossed off!
14. Paint Rocks
15. Zoo
16. Gage Park and Train
17. Fishing with Dad  Alex and his parents took the kids fishing at a local pond on Father's Day.  Alex caught a fish, but I believe that was the only success.  
18. Make Ice Cream 
19. Sidewalk Chalk   
20. Make Cookies for Friends
21. Farmer's Market We have baseball right now on Saturday mornings, so we haven't been able to go every Saturday, but we love the market here!  The kids get a treat, face painted, balloon, and we buy fresh produce.  It is fun for all!
22. Discovery Center
23. Baseball for Rowan Underway, and we are having fun!  
24. Fourth of July Fireworks
25. Water Balloon Fight

My little base runner!

He's got some good focus!

Rowan spends most of his swimming time underwater which makes for hard pictures;-)

Loving Miss Shelly!

Sonic Happy Hour!!

Two Thumbs up for Mom!

More Swimming!

Going Bonkers!

Playing Together!

Kenwood Cove in Salina!  It was great, but there were thousands of people there!!

Rolling Hills Zoo!  

Sibling Love

The Cheeser!!

Oh, how we love snakes!

Uncle Seth teaching Rowan the art of the rubix cube!

Summer Fun-Week 2~

Summer is going great.  It is amazing-really!  No stress, the house is clean, I search for recipes and cook them nightly, I have time to read and exercise.  I'm thinking about letting Alex know that my summer isn't going to end this year.  It will just be summer all year long.  I'm pretty sure I know what he will say to that, but hey, a girl can dream;-)  

 It has been cold and rainy here.  Not my idea of summer, but it has contributed to the clean house.  This week I tackled the mini-blinds.  Gross, gross, gross is all I can say, and I am glad that domestic chore is done!  We made some progress on the list below and some of my honey-do-list.  Yeah for progress!

1. Fondue for Supper   
2. Swimming Lessons for Rowan and Isla In progress as we speak.  We will go for 10 lessons.  So far it has been very COLD, but they have been troopers!
3. Nature Camp for Rowan 
4. VBS for Rowan and Isla This starts on July 13.  We are in planning mode at church now.
5. Swimming at the North Pool
6. Bowling
7. Movie Theater I took the kids to The Lego Movie on Saturday so Alex could paint Isla's bedroom unassisted.  Isla struggles with movies, but she did okay.  Rowan loved it, of course.
8. Going Bonkers
9. Picnic at the Park
10. Smores over the Firepit
11. Sprinkler Fun  x3
12. Travel to Grammy and Poppe's House
13. Summer Reading Program for Rowan and Isla Went to the library again on Monday.  The kids are rocking it.
14. Paint Rocks
15. Zoo
16. Gage Park and Train
17. Fishing with Dad
18. Make Ice Cream Oh, this could be dangerous.  So easy to do in my new maker I got for my birthday.
19. Sidewalk Chalk   We did this on Saturday again so Alex could paint.  Rowan was drawing aliens with bombs.  Isla drew the sun.  Their choices seem telling of their brains at the moment.
20. Make Cookies for Friends
21. Farmer's Market
22. Discovery Center
23. Baseball for Rowan We started baseball 2 weeks ago.  So far, it has been rained out twice.  Hopefully, we will have our first game on Saturday.
24. Fourth of July Fireworks
25. Water Balloon Fight

Isla has spent many hours doing this!

Rowan holding the snake Diego at Nature Camp.  EWWWW!!!

Movies!

Look at that adorable grin!

Smile!

The legos have kept us entertained for hours as well.

What did we ever do before tablets???

That boy on the ground is a garden statue.
They kept throwing
him over, and then they would
go rescue him.  It was hysterical to watch.

Working hard at swimming!

The monkey crawl~

Isla spends a great deal of time here during swimming lessons;-)

Kicking and blowing bubbles~

Summer Fun-Week 1~

We are into the joys of summer, and I love it!  It is peaceful, stress free, and I'm really just trying to give myself some time to enjoy life.  We didn't have any camps this week, so we were free to make up our own schedule.  It rocked, and I'm a little sad to start the camp thing tomorrow.  I'm sure that pace will have it's joys too.  

We made some headway on our list.  I'm thinking I maybe should have stretched myself a little bit more on the summer fun list.  We did quite a lot this week.

1. Fondue for Supper   
2. Swimming Lessons for Rowan and Isla
3. Nature Camp for Rowan This is this week. I'll be hauling Rowan up north for nature camp!
4. VBS for Rowan and Isla
5. Swimming at the North Pool
6. Bowling
7. Movie Theater
8. Going Bonkers
9. Picnic at the Park
10. Smores over the Firepit
11. Sprinkler Fun  x3
12. Travel to Grammy and Poppe's House
13. Summer Reading Program for Rowan and Isla We are working on this for both kiddos. We went to the library on Friday and got stocked up for the week!
14. Paint Rocks
15. Zoo
16. Gage Park and Train
17. Fishing with Dad
18. Make Ice Cream Oh, this could be dangerous.  So easy to do in my new maker I got for my birthday.
19. Sidewalk Chalk
20. Make Cookies for Friends
21. Farmer's Market
22. Discovery Center
23. Baseball for Rowan
24. Fourth of July Fireworks
25. Water Balloon Fight

Sprinkler slide fun~

Rowan's got moves~

They could do this for hours~

I love both hands above her head!

Cheese~

Rowan paint, paint, painted~

The finished product~

Discovery Center ropes course!

Balancing Beam~

Pretty Girl~

Roasting Marshmallows~