Chef Lettie

A few weeks ago, Lettie took a cooking class at Young Chef Academy. She had a great time and learned to cook some pretty neat things. Last night Lettie cooked dinner for us and it was DELICIOUS! We had southwest chicken egg rolls with avocado ranch dipping sauce...YUMMY! She did a great job. She even let Ella help! It was so good and there were no leftovers.

Ella Turns Five!

It is hard to believe that my baby has turned 5! She had a very exciting birthday that was celebrated over several days.

Granny, Emmie and Ellerie came to Georgia so that they could be at Ella's pool party. Ella has always wanted a pool party. Now that we have a pool in our neighborhood...she finally got her wish. Granny made a wonderful Minnie Mouse cake. Not only was it so cute...but it tasted delicious too! It was so sweet of them to make the trip. It was a little chilly but the kids (and Jason and Vanessa) swam anyway. I think everyone had a great time. When the swimming was done we offered Minni Mouse face painting!

On her actual birthday we all went to the American Girl Doll Store. She asked for the big Just like Me doll for her birthday. She was so proud.

It is hard to believe it has been five years but I am so glad God gave us this wonderful bundle of energy and excitement. Ella definitely keeps things interesting in this house!

School

We started back to school last week and it is going really good. Timothy Ministry started last Tuesday too. I think all of the kids like their classes. Lettie and Owen are taking more classes this year than last. Lettie is taking 2 hours of dance and also a Science class and Art class. Owen is taking Spanish, Science, Ancient History, and Cursive. Ella is taking some classes this year and she is SOOO excited about it. She is taking dance like she did last year but she is also taking a Letters class and an Art class. After we got home the first day, Owen told me that he was embarrassed when I made them stand out front and take this picture. Ooops! Guess that is my job! Ella doesn't look embarrassed!

Last week I stayed the whole morning and hung out in the lobby to make sure the kids found their rooms and didn't have any problems. Today, I went to Target ALL BY MYSELF...and then I had lunch at Zaxby's. It was nice but kind of weird too!

Ella is about to go into her first class on her first day of school!

Fun Family Pics From the Summer!

She does look a little bit like me...Ya think?

Ella loves to have her Daddy all to herself.

Eating dessert at Goosa Granny's Birthday Party....I think he gets his "sweet tooth" from his mother!

Mmmmmm Good! That really says it all!

Love this picture! Those are some tired girls!

Tell Me it Isn't So!

Is summer really almost over? It can't be! I am not ready! Where has the time gone? I asked Lettie yesterday while we were waiting in the grocery line "when she wanted to start school?" She responded very seriously "Never!" I laughed and then told her that wasn't really one of her options. I also reminded her that the later we start the later we will get done. She then agreed that maybe we should start in the near future.
Ella is very excited because she is going to be taking some classes at Timothy this year. She feels so big when she gets to do things that her big sister and brother are doing. She is taking a letters class, an art class, and dance class.
Owen has started back full force into soccer now too. He plays in a 5v5 tournament this weekend. He had a great time at MSU soccer camp last week. He even got an MVP award!

There were lots of fun trips this summer to grandparents houses and friends houses and six flags and water parks. What a busy fun summer!

Stones

Well there has been a longer than usual delay in my postings and for that I apologize. Monday afternoon I was out of nowhere overcome with a horrible pain in my side. I lay curled in my bed for more than an hour determined I would not go to the emergency room only to be embarrassed and told it was "only gas pains." However, after over an hour and many pleadings from family to "go to the ER," I could not take the pain any longer. It hurt so bad I was willing to risk the embarrassment of the possible "its a gas pain."
Instead, I heard "not only do you have a kidney stone but you have another kidney stone on the other side." I was ok with this news because I had been given some amazing medicine that made me feel amazing-the pain was gone. They even sent some of this amazing medicine home with me! It caused me to sleep ALOT! But, it helped me through the next day and a half until I passed the stone that was giving me so much pain. I have yet to feel the kidney stone that is supposedly on my right side!
I will spare you all the picture. But WOW! I know why they call it a stone! It is really a rock! And as you can image.... a rock passing through your insides---HURTS! Best way I can describe it is like having birth pains on half of your stomach.
My sweet husband took great care of me and kept the house cleaner than I do! My children were very patient with being house bound. I had some great friends help me with the kids during my ER stay and even bring a meal. Thank you all SOOOO much!

Owen's Birthday!

Owen turned eight yesterday! When we asked Owen what he wanted to do for his birthday, he told us that he wanted to play soccer (imagine that!). So that is what we did. He had some boys over to the church fields to play soccer and have a small party.

When he woke up on his birthday he had his favorite breakfast of bisuits and eggs. Then he opened his presents from his sisters and from me and Jason. Lettie got him Mancala and Ella picked out flag football flags. Jason and I gave him a Kodak video camera that also takes still shots....kida like a FLIP but the Kodak version. It can even go under water! After many birthday calls, Owen and Jason headed out to shoot guns at the shooting range. They had a great time!

We waited and had his party in the evening so that all the boys would not die of a heat stroke. Everyone played soccer on the soccer fields at our church and then we had pizza. Owen chose to have brownies with whipped topping instead of traditional birthday cake. He got some great gifts and gift cards! After eating it was back outside so that they could play flag football.