Mixed Emotions

As I sent my kiddos to school today I was feeling a little melancholy. Why is it that I have been so ready for them to go and when they finally leave I'm not sure I'm ready? Could it be that I feel like I am sending them into a wolves den to fend for themselves? I worry about the things they will be exposed to this year from their peers. Not so much J, but A & S. S had such rotten boys (I'm not being mean or exaggerating... they were awful) in her class last year and was exposed to so much trash. Intermediate school and older kids just seem to mean more filth. I pray that I have taught them well enough. I hope that when they are faced with decisions to cuss or have crude discussions that they will be strong enough to choose the right and walk away. I also pray that they really know and feel that they can come home and talk to me about anything. I hope that our home truly is a haven for them, that it is their little piece of heaven on earth. Though, I have to say that when they came home today my little piece of heaven was shaken up a bit. My hat is off to my remarkable kids. May this be their best school year ever, that their triumphs will outweigh their trials, and that there may be much more laughter than tears.

Shopping and Mermaids

I took three of my kiddos to Old Navy at 7:30 this morning to take advantage of their $7 kids/$12 adult jeans deal. I'm glad I got there when I did as there was a huge line at the door and the jeans flew off the shelves. I'm just a little bit excited about my purchase...I got 10, yes 10!, pairs of jeans for $80. I'm thoroughly amazed and loving it.

The real reason for my post is the conversation that was held between A and S on the way to the store.
S: Can we get the new Ariel movie?
Me: No, I don't like the Little Mermaid.
S: But Ariel is cool because the can hold her breath under water for so long
A: I saw this thing about this guy that can hold his breath for 10 minutes under
water.
S: Yeah, but a mermaid can hold her breath for like a million years without ever
coming up for air.
Is there no fascination for the real live man that can hold is breath for 10 minutes? That's amazing! No, it comes back to comparing him with a cartoon that can hold her breath for a million years. We then discussed how long each of us could hold our breath under water. I think our max was about 30 seconds. Pretty impressive compared to a mermaid.

School....Take Me Away!

Dear School,
I have given you a 3 month reprieve from your duties. The kids and I have had fun and made some fantastic memories. I have given you sufficient time to rejuvinate yourself for a new year of teaching. Now I beg of you....Take me away from summer boredom and bickering. Lead me to a land of peace an serenity, at least for a few hours. Lead me to the place where my house stays clean for more than one minute at a time. Take me to a shopping trip where children aren't hiding in clothing racks and asking for everything they see. If you could relieve me for just 9 months, I will gladly return the favor for you again next summer.
School, I love you. I know that with you an entire new realm of challenges will begin; waking up early, homework, projects, reading, bed times and schedules, but I'm ready to conquer them. I love how you mold my children's minds and inspire them with new ideas and confidence. I love the social opportunities that you afford to my little ones. I love that they eat with you once a day and that I don't have to wipe up the crumbs. Please take care of them, I trust you will do your best to teach and to prepare them intellectually for what lies ahead. I'm here to support you every step of the way and I will do my best to pull my part of the deal at home.
Please do not taint my kiddos with too much potty talk, pressure for state tests or ornery teachers. I want them to come away with fond feelings for you. I want them to be happy while they are in your care. They are eager to return to you and I would like for it to remain that way.
I very much look forward to seeing you again on Monday, though it still seems so far away.
Sincerely, Rebecca

My Boy is Back!!!

A spent a wonderful week at Scout camp in Oklahoma this last week. I missed him terribly. This was the first time he'd been away from home for that long. There's something different about being home and having a child gone than leaving the kids at home and going on a vacation with just my hubby.

When you're around someone all the time it's difficult to see all the small changes that they make every day. As I spent the afternoon staring at my remarkable boy, it hit me how much he has grown up. He is not a little boy anymore. He is maturing and turning out to be a fine young man.

I was content to listen to him jabber about all the experiences he had during the week. I needed to soak up as much as I could to make up for the lost time. While he was away and I missed him, I felt 100% confident that he was safe and having fun. It's so nice to have such wonderful friends that I know will keep my kiddos safe.

While he is growing up so quickly, he wasn't to old to dance around and be goofy with his eager siblings upon his return. S, J and L had prepared a talent show to present to A for his return. After the first part of their dance routine they deemed it family dance time. It was fun to watch them laugh and play with each other, even more fun to be included in the fun.

For now I will continue to cherish my time with him, especially the next year or so while he still thinks I'm okay to be around. Only 7 more years until he will be out on a mission. If the future passes as a quickly as the past, it will seem as if he is leaving tomorrow.

US Currency Facility

Today Laurie and I took our kiddos to the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth. It was a fascinating tour, with literally millions of dollars right in front of our very eyes. The security was pretty tight. Before entering the facility you have to walk through metal detectors, like at the airport, except these look like time machines and actually close you in for a few seconds. After the detectors you ride a bus to the actual site. No cell phones, cameras, backpacks, etc., etc. were allowed. What's with these tours that don't allow cameras? Don't they know we are avid bloggers and scrappers?!! (Last week Mrs. Baird's didn't allow cameras either and we were dressed in hair nets and hard hats. Laurie and her boys even got to wear pretty white jumpers. No cameras.) Anyhoo, if you are a local this is a great tour. If you ever visit Fort Worth or DC I would highly recommend the tour.

Our Monday field trips are quickly coming to a close as there are just a few more weeks until school starts. We've had a fun and eventful summer. So far we have visited Lake Ray Roberts, The Log Cabin village...sort of..., Mrs. Baird's bread factory, the Fort Worth water gardens and the currency facility. Up next is Burger Lake, the International Exotic Animal Sactuary and then the Japanese Gardens. The kiddos also attended two weeks of VBS. We have gone swimming most every day and have hit the free movies weekly. Summer may be coming to a close but we will end it with a bang!

What have you been doing to keep your kiddos busy this summer?

Mile Calculator

For all you runners out there, USA Track and Field has a great mile tracking tool. Check it out to track your next run.

High School Sweet Hearts

Greg's senior ball 1992

We may be a bit sappy at times but I think we've earned it. Greg and I have known each other more than we haven't know each other. I remember meeting Greg for the first time at one of his high school swim meets when I was 13. I told one of my friends that he looked hot in his speedo. That night I witnessed Greg's first kiss, not to me of course, but to his girlfriend Christie. It would be a few more years before Greg and I would hit if off. We reconnected at a stake dance where Greg fell for my best friend. A few months later it was me and Greg, Greg and I, us. We dated on and off all through high school. We were off a few times but mostly on. He left for college and a mission while I finished high school and got in a year of college. Upon his arrival home and our departure to BYU we quickly got engaged and the rest has been history. What a treat it is to look back on all the silly high school years and have my memories be of him. I can't imagine life any other way. Somewhere in a box I have all of our love notes, he kept all of mine and I kept all of his. We have the letters we exchanged while he was on his mission as well. Hopefully one day these will be a treat for our children to discover. Perhaps I should pull them out soon and rediscover them myself.