Dylan's first day of school

Dylan started VPK - a free preschool program Florida offers. You can pick your school and kids go for 15 hours a week preparing for Kindergarten. Dylan is at Precious Promises Preschool. (Eli went there for his preschool program too). It's a Christian church that participates in the state program, so they can do Bible stories and learn the alphabet. He goes MWF 9-2:15.

So what did Dylan think about school?

"I like the delicious drink you gave me in my lunch. And I like the playground. The sand box is fun."

Good Luck Dylan! I hope you learn to love learning.

Goodbye Grandma Karen

Neal's step mother passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 30th from a brain aneurysm. (A side not: I hate the word "step mom" because it sounds so Cinderella and her evil stepmom-ish. )Karen was a blessing to Neal and then later mine and our children's lives. They married when Neal was 10 and she became a great influence in his life. She was a wonderful mother-in-law. She had such wonderful talent - woodworking, painting, cooking, organizing, decorating. And she constantly served. I enjoyed attending many church meeting with her including most recently one where Sis. Beck visited us here and Florida. We had such a good time being together and learning from a wonderful leader. I am thankful for the things she left behind -her wood art will always be a treasure, her recipes which she willing gave me before she left Florida, and her tamales (we were the lucky recipients of all the tamales they had in her freezer before they left Florida in May -yummy!) I knew she had a testimony of the gospel and tried her best to serve others. As a final opportunity to serve she donated her organs which helped 60-70 people.

The funeral was very healing and I am thankful I was able to attend. I was able to participate in making the casket (sanding it and cleaning the work area) as well as dressing her for burial.

One of the last photos we have of us attending the Monster Jam Festival together (it's not the best photo of her, but my computer crashed and I can't find very many of any of my photos from the past - Darn technology. Thankfully I have a cute one of her with Doug & Eli hanging on our hall wall already - a sweet reminder of Karen in our lives!)


Until we meet again!

Eli's First Day of 2nd Grade

Monday Eli started 2nd grade at Bartram Springs Elementary.

This year we started at a brand new school. They had a ribbon cutting the week before school started, which we attended. Big ribbon, long speakers, and hot weather. The best part was the cake afterwards. But this will be our school for the next 13 years so I thought I should take the kids and let them be part of the history.



Eli in front of his classroom. Only a few of the students from his old school were transfered to this school. He only knows one little girl in his class, but he's seen several on the playground.


Eli at his desk. It won't be good for his talking! First day highlights: the playground has a telescope, I sat at a red table which was right next to a green table (his favorite color) for lunch, your note made people laugh at me (really in 2nd grade they already laugh if mom puts a note in his lunch box :-(, how come you won't let me walk home (from the bus stop - it isn't a far walk at all - but I have 2 concerns 1. it drops him off at a main road where people drive 60 miles and hour 2. Eli would come home by way of every house, swing set, free food, interesting animal...well you get the point.)

Best Wishes Eli!

Three Things...

I asked Eli what he'd like to do before school starts. Go to the beach, go to work with dad, and go bowling.

We went to the beach. They had a great time. Morgan has NO fear of the water so after 2 hours of trying to keep her from drowning, Eli wanting to go deeper and deeper, and Dylan hanging onto me, we wrapped up our beach trip.

The boys got to go spend half a day with Neal at work. They really like going, although this time he couldn't spend as much time with them due to his recent job change.

Finally, bowling. We meet up with lots of family members to enjoy our finally must do thing before summer ends. The boys tied at 80 and I beat them by one whole point.

Eli will start 2nd grade and Dylan will be in the VPK preschool program 3 days a week.

Vivid Vinyl

I started a company....Vivid Vinyl.

Vinyl is the newest home decorating craze.

Visit my website for ideas and pricing. They make great presents and cute home decorations.
I can also make signs, banners, car decals, etc. You name it - vinyl probably does it.

Pass the word on to your friends and family and church members (especially for Super Craft Saturday!)

Thanks for supporting my new adventure!

http://www.vividvinyl.blogspot.com/

Here are some of my creations:

Established Name Frame

Frame with Moments to Remember phrase

Turtle, Turtle, Turtle

I LOVE turtles. I don't know why, but I do. Mind you I have never had a pet turtle, but decorative turtles over floweth in my home.

So Neal found a turtle in the garage this week. He opened it up, then came back inside for a minute, then went back out and there he was...

Our nice neighbor helped Neal get him out of the garage. He got stuck underneath Neal's muffler pipe. (Oh and by help I mean he pretty much got it out...Neal was dressed for work and didn't really want to get him out, so thankfully Brian was on vacation and could help.)

He took the turtle to the pond in our neighborhood. I guess he was attracted to our green house, but no pets allowed here!

Happy Birthday Eli & Morgan!

Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays! From my birthday on July 17th until my dad's and aunt's birthday on August 4th there are 10 birthdays. It's Christmas in July/August y'all!

We went to Ollie Koala's for Eli's birthday. He turned 7 - yikes I can't believe how fast time flies!

He opened his presents in the morning.

At Ollie Koala's. Pizza, games, and jungle gyms for everyone!

Eli enjoyed yummy shaved ice for his birthday celebration!







We had dinner and cake for Morgan's birthday. She turned 2 - yikes the terrible two's (which started the day before her birthday).
Opening presents. She loves babies and kitty's right now.

"Happy Birthday to you!"

She blew each candle out separately.