Friday, August 30, 2013

Tooth Fairy Scavenger Hunt "Sneak Peak"...

I am super excited to post about Tyson's "Tooth Fairy Scavenger Hunt", but there are soooo many details.  Here's ONE sneak peak. MONEY, sprayed with glittery hairspray, giving the money a "fairy dust" feel.  
I hope to have the post finished by tomorrow, but I am waiting on the "hubbs" to make an enjoyable/short video out of what I captured with our video camera.  

***Update*** - Here are the links to the Tooth Fairy Scavenger Hunt 

Post 1
Post 2

Be Still My Soul

T.G.I.F.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Summer Is O-V-E-R!!!

"Summer Fun To Do List"
Summer is, pretty much, officially over in our home.  Once Tyson goes back to school and football season starts, every bit of our free time is consistently consumed with that and church events (church, small group, church picnic, and possibly Sunday school ;)

The kids and I sat out on the porch the other day and made a bucket list of all the things we did this summer.  There truly were only, counted on one hand, a handful of things we had yet to accomplish.  We were able to knock a few more out... silly string fight, putt-putt golf, Scott & Ellie's Ice Cream etc., but we were unable to visit a ZOO, Thunder Valley, Pump It UP, and Water Balloon Fight! 
Originally, I wanted to make the above poster board in the beginning of the summer (sharing it with others/providing them with ideas too).  My thoughts were, just like any list, to scratch off each item as we went along; however, the summer started and we never sat still long enough to really produce this beauty!!  So... we will save this list until next summer and scratch off our events as the summer proceeds.

I am pretty impressed with all that we did.  I am sure there is even a tad more left to add to the list, but my brain is FRIED from having the kids home for 100+ days :)  Actually, I did just think of SIX more things, 1. The Inflatable Water Slide and 2. A Trip To The Virginia Tech Campus/Duck Pond, 3. Bug Catching, 4. Popsicles, 5. "Jump" for Joy and 6. Salem Red Sox Game.
Double click on the photos to see them up close and personal!
I LOVED this so much that I made myself a "Mom's FALL Cleaning BUCKET LIST!" As soon as I put the 30+ items on the poster, I started knocking them off immediately. I cannot STAND to have "homework" left undone.  I will be posting that list soon too.  

You should make some lists of your own!!!!  You feel so accomplished after you see the list dwindling down or even better, completed.

Since the photo is so hard to see, here is the list...


FIREWORKS
SIDE WALK CHALK
THUNDER VALLEY
PUTT-PUTT
BIKE RIDES
HOPSCOTCH
TRAILS
PLAYDATES
PLAY IN THE RAIN
MANICURE/PEDICURE
KICKBALL FUN
BAKE
SCAVENGER TOOTH HUNT
DUCK POND
SILLY STRING FIGHT
BUSCH GARDENS
CHUCK E. CHEESE
YMCA
SLEEPOVERS
SALEM FAIR
WATER COUNTRY USA
MYRTLE WAVES
MYRTLE BEACH
POOL
LIBRARY
BAHAMA SNOW SHACK
LONGWOOD PARK
SKATE CENTER
VISIT TO COUSIN WILL & MICHAEL’S HOME
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
PIRATE’S VOYAGE
SALEM ICE CREAM PARLOR
MOYER PARK
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
SPORTS CAMP
CHURCH
MOVIES
A VISIT FROM GRAM
PET STORE
LAKE/ARCADE
GREENRIDGE RECREATION CENTER
SLEEPOVER GRANDAD AND GRANDNEE
SCOTT & ELLIE’S ICE CREAM PARLOR
DUNKIN DONUTS
SMALL GROUP
NFLATABLE WATER SLIDE
TRIP TO VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS/DUCK POND
BUG CATCHING
WATER BALLOON FIGHT
POPSICLE FUN

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"Back-To-School" Pre-K Style!!!

Lilah and Jaxon had their "back-to-school" night last night at Bethel Baptist Pre-school.  This will be their last year at preschool.  Next year, they will be kindergarteners.  It's so crazy!!!!  Before we left the house, I took a few pictures of them - - they were fairly cooperative.
 TWO ARE
 BETTER THAN
ONE!
I have been waiting 5 full years for this day because I knew it would be the best experience, to date, at Bethel.  Ms. Donna is going to be their school teacher.  First off, I have known Donna since before Tyson was born.  We were next door neighbors for well over 7 years.  Her son, Josh, and Tyson have been best friends since they could speak. The twins are so excited to be in her "fun frogs" classroom. Ms. Donna puts an INSANE amount of planning time into her lesson plans and she LOVES her students like they are her very own. The other exciting news is that Julia will be in their class this year. I am praying that they still remain well behaved, even with knowing a classmate very personally.  Ms. Cheryl will be Ms. Donna's assistant.  
 Ms. Donna made her students goody bags.  I thought that was so sweet.
 She also enclosed a special note, welcoming them into her class.
Lilah got right into that goody bag when we got home and began "working" on practicing writing her name.
Although Lilah and Jax will be greatly missed throughout the day, I will NOT DENY that I have a TON OF AWESOME AND NEEDED projects that I will be working on, during their absence. Some of the projects are just daily responsibilities and others are projects that I have been dying to do, but I just can't correctly do them with these little rugrats running around. I know Darren, my parenting, and our home will benefit greatly from this short, 4-hour "break" and the twins are going to learn a TON and grow immensely as well.  I will never have a spare day to just sit around.  Every single minute of every single day will be methodically planned out and filled with TASKS "to do".  My future goal is to get certified as an aerobics instructor and get paid to workout, come next year.  Be sure to ask me about it so I can be sure to follow through with it :)

The twins start school NEXT Wednesday, September 3rd.

Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious!!!!!!

What more can we say about our Savior?????

An "Apple" For The Teacher's First Day Of School

I like to start the year off the "write" way... by BROWN nosing.  LOL!  Just teasing.  I am always looking for an excuse to get creative and to give someone a gift.  Each year, I shower my children's teachers with special little gifts, allowing them to know how important I think their job is. After all, I WOULD NEVER desire to have their job... for my kids or  anyone else's.  Hehe.  
Supplies:
Notebook
Target Gift Card
Pencils
Card Stock
Printable
Ribbon
The finished look.
I gave one to my BFF, Ashely, because she started homeschooling Monday.  She is an incredibly patient and willing mommy, to teach her children, and I wanted to bless her with a little something.  Although I am not a homeschooling "fan", FOR ME, I am so excited for HER because this is right up her alley.  She is going to be an amazing teacher to her children.
I had some left over printables, from last year, for the pink and purple bottles.  I didn't like the way the "teacher emergency kit" labels looked on the above bottles.  It's all about the presentation. :)
The pink and purple notebooks are for Lilah and Jaxon's teachers for next Wednesday, so "shhhhhh", don't tell them!!!!
Inside the bottle:
Chocolate
Gum
Chrystal Light Packet
"Smart Cookie" Hand Sanitizer
Enclosed is a printable that I have asked each teacher to fill out, so I can learn about "a few of their favorite things".  This way I can be sure to bless them with things they love.

Do You See What I See?!?!?

Darren gave up his 29 year old pillow over the weekend!  He hasn't slept a wink since!!! He was so miserable Monday night, he said, "Do you think it would be gross to take the pillow out of the trash?" Desperate times call for desperate measures, but he chose not to be that desperate.  We are one step closer to sending this man to Uganda now.  :)

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

#THIRDGRADE

It seems like just yesterday, I was putting my little man on the bus for his FIRST day of public school, but NOW, he's in 3rd grade! I had to pinch myself this morning to believe that 1. The Summer Is O-V-E-R and 2. That My First Born Child Is A 3rd Grader.
As I do every year, I left Tyson a few "back-to-school" goodies!!!
He had a smile from ear to ear when he saw this waiting for him!
Before we took any serious photos, we had to make light of our "saying goodbyes"!!!
"Is it just me or does it seem like mom is a little too excited about the first day of school?"
 Ty holds on to the door for dear life.
"Please..... don't make me go back to school!"
This photo was ACTUALLY a serious photo.  NOT posed. Tyson was over the picture taking and was pouting about more photos, but it's another comical photo.  He said, "Mom, you are a picture queen!"
And here's my sweet 3rd grader.  He got up at 3:30 am this morning.  First, his hamster was "running too fast" and he had to move his cage to the bathroom.  At 4:30 am, his "tummy hurt".  At 5:00 am it was "I can't fall back asleep."  So I prayed with him and over him and he was able to fall back asleep until 6:15 am.  Here was was his a.m. schedule for people like Ashely, who care...

6:15 am -   Shower
6:30 am -   Breakfast/Devotional
6:50 am -   Photos
7:10 am -   Off to the Bus Stop
11:30 am - Lunch  
2:40 pm -   Home
5:30 pm -   Football
7:45 pm -   Dinner
8:15 pm -   Shower
8:45 pm-    Prayers and Lights Out

REPEAT!!!!!!
Here is his spiffy book bag and water bottle.  I allowed him to choose what HE wanted.  That's also why he is NOT dressed up in a collared shirt and "fancy" shorts.  It's all about the "comfy" clothes.  And for Tyson, it's ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL about Lebron James.  He was dressed from head to toe with Lebron attire.  He even has a Lebron James lunch box, but it didn't arrive on time :(
The bus arrived at 7:14 a.m..  I was happy to see the driver was still Ms. Robin.
 Tyson's snack today! 
I used edible markers to leave a special note on his banana.
Lunch: PBJ, Strawberry/Blueberry Blend, BBQ Chips, Powdered Donuts, Water, and a few notes of encouragement.  
"Be Respectful to Everyone!"

"Praying for you!  Asking God to make you strong!!"

I'm anxious to see and hear all about his first day of school!  I hope it's positive. AND I hope you he has NO HOMEWORK!  I'm in denial about how demanding this grade is going to be. We miss him a ton.  The house is very quiet and everyone is getting along so well :)

Sunday, August 25, 2013

2Good + 2Be = 4Gotten

We have so many friends/family members starting kindergarten in the next few days/weeks.  It's so hard to believe that Ansley, Cohen, Salene, Vivian, and Will are entering the "big girl/boy" school system.  They are so sweet and we wanted to make sure to express our excitement for them, so we put together a few little school supply items for them to take with them. We delivered a few of the packages today and we will mail out the rest tomorrow.  
 First up, our dear friend Cohen!
Cohen is 4 1/2 and will be starting kindergarten tomorrow.
His mommy is home schooling him.
She has chosen the "Classical Conversation" route.
We are praying for their first day to go smoothly tomorrow.
From what I understand, his requested lunch is packed and ready.
Chicken tender/honey mustard sandwich... crazy kid.
 Salene, my sister and sweet "cousin" to my children.
It seems like just yesterday she was born
How in the world did this happen so fast?
Salene starts school on September 1st.
She's such a smarty and can definitely hold her own.
I have no doubt this will be a great thing for her.
 Aeila, my cuttie pattootie niece.
If you spotted her in person, you'd never think she was old enough for school.
She is such a little shortie, but she's bright as a whistle.  
She lives in PA, so my guess is that school starts after Labor Day!
Mommy will have a quieter house without her around.
 My nephew William will also be starting kindergarten next week.
Right now, he's spending his last week of freedom at the beach.
He's blessed, in that, his mommy works at his school.
I have no doubt he's going to love big boy school.
 Vivian should be entering 1st or 2nd grade with her reading level.
She has been reading since she's been three.  
We will be praying for her mommy to make some good decisions for her.
Her bus picks her up at 645 am, so this will be a huge transition for her. 
She is lucky though to be in Ansley's class and KNOWS the teacher personally.
 Ansley will also appear to be a 1st or 2nd grader, due to her height.
She is probably going to be the tallest kid in her class.
Ansley lives so close to the school that she could probably roll out of bed,
10 minutes before class starts, and be there just in the nick of time.
 The back of their folders relate to our faith.
 Ministering doesn't stop at church or home.
 So, I made sure they bring it into the school system too.

We love each and every one of you and will be praying for an easy transition to take place.  The hardest part is just being gone from home, all day, without any rest.  Otherwise, I think you all will LOVE being at school, learning and playing with your friends. WE, on the other hand, will miss our playdate fun :(  All good things must come to an end, I guess.

Backyard Nature

This morning, I stepped onto my deck and my eyes landed directly onto these beauties.  I CANNOT believe ANYONE would dare shoot these creatures.
 Momma!
 Triplets.
 Together.
They ran off as soon as they spotted me :(

Dinner Table Fun & Games!

I don't NORMALLY promote dinner table GAMES goofing off, but I purchased this gift for Tyson a few years back and it really has created a ton of family laughter and calmness at the dinner table.  If we don't have a focus, (ie. devotional or a game) then dinner time is a nightmare.
The box is filled with over 51 easy dinner table games.
The "benefits" of this game.
How to play...
This game/card, "Time For Tunes" was the most popular with our kids.  We all laughed hysterical at the humming. Ty's face even turned red when he hummed.  I guess he felt like he was on stage.

I purchased this game at Amazon.com.  The dinner cards are sold for two different age ranges, so make sure you buy the set that works for your family.  I chose age ranges 6-12, so a few of the games are over Lilah and Jaxon's head, but it is still a ton of fun and this box will be used for years to come.