Thanksgiving in Arkansas

Wow! We had a great time visiting family in Arkansas! We left Tuesday and arrived in Searcy around 11:30 pm at Tim and Brittney's home(Tracy's brother and his wife) . We had so much fun visiting with them and playing with cousins (Maribeth-7 and Mallory -4) We also got the pleasure to play with 9 mo Haiden Tim and B's faster baby! He is so precious!!! Nicholas got the honor of helping Daddy and Uncle Tim put electrical wires into the ground and doing odds and ends to work on Tim's new shop. We all left Thursday to go to Two Moons ( a beautiful lodge) where all the family met for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner that everyone contributes. This Thanksgiving traditional weekend was started by Grandmom (Tracy's mom's mom) She always got her 4 kids together every year in Arkansas(mid point) now it has grown into 27 people and a blast. All the cousins have so much fun together. Friday night we had our annual talent show and wow was that entertaining! We have some extremely talented family members! :0) Saturday we celebrate Christmas -adults draw names and the kids get wonderful gifts from all. That afternoon we went on a hayride and fed some beautiful horses one weighed 1,800 pounds!! We ended the night by watching a great firework show put on by the cousins. Sunday was time to hit the road back home after eating some amazing food!!!!! Did I mention there was a snack table that was open all the time with over 10 pies, 5 or so different cookies, popcorn, trailmix, candy, baklava and much more UGH!!! Back to the YMCA for me! Well all said and done I had a blessed weekend with amazing people that all praise our wonderful Lord for all HE does for us! One of the aunts made such an amazing point - we are sooooo blessed to be able to be part of such a close nit Christian family that love each other and the Lord so much!

The hay ride was so much fun

Nicholas loved the Black Stallion!

All of the horses were so beautiful!!

Oma and Opa with the grandkids!

The boys loved all the dogs, especially Rae!

Aunt Johnna

The Games boys play!

I am writing this down where I don't forget. .. I love the games kids make up.:

The kids have made there own economy out of pine cones, pine needles, leaves and grass in our back yard. Each neighbor has their own pile of "money that they can use to buy snacks and toys.

Today they found an old bottle in the lake and made a treasure map for all the neighbors to find. They are taking it very serious!! They even got an old baseball and signed it so there would be a great prize at the end.

These are just a couple along with football, fishing, baseball, 4-corners, lemon aide stand, car wash, basketball (several different games with basketball), scooter races just to name a few.

I love the creativity that comes along with playing outside! We have had such beautiful weather and we are blessed that the boys have so much fun with our neighbors.

Grandma's Birthday- Aunt Cindy's visit

Happy Birthday Grandma - We sure love you!

Me and my Daddy!!!

My dad with his little sister Cindy!


Aunt Cindy, Nicholas and Matthew

What a fun night. We celebrated Grandma's birthday and got to visit with my Aunt Cindy from MO. Aunt Cindy brought the boys toy planes from the airport. The boys loved them. Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Cindy added their hand (thankful feather) onto our Turkey. I wish our visit was not so short!!

Sound of Music

The boys and I got to see our friends perform in the play Sound of Music put on by class act production! It was wonderful!! We had so much fun. It was sure a joy to see Emily and Mrs. Debra in the play singing so beautifully!!! Mr. Rae was the music director, what a talented family!! Pictures to come...

School day...

Today has been a good day so far!! The boys and I are doing some Thanksgiving themed school today. I think we are going to just study the story of Thanksgiving, pilgrims and such until December. We have enjoyed learning about the development of the firs presidency and how the government was formed. The timing was perfect with the election taking place and all, but it is nice to take a break from a set curriculum! We have found some great Thanksgiving stories! I wish I would not stress as much and make time for more themed based lessons! We have has fun with our thankful turkey this year instead of us just putting what we are thankful for on the feathers we have had some neighbors and friends put theirs thoughts on it as well. So if you get a chance come by and add to our turkey.
Nicholas has mastered making omelets for breakfast; well for lunch and dinner as well. He asked if we could open a bakery - he is quite the chef !
I am so blessed to be home with these boys!!!

The boys have loved putting puzzles together on their breaks.

KINDERMUSIK

Matthew loves Mrs. Swick and loves learning how to read music. This program is amazing! He has a sweet class with 7 children. He has enjoyed making percussion instruments, learning new songs, playing games and learning beat and rhythm. This is a two year program that he will learn to read music and learn to play the glockenspiel, recorder and the dulcimer.

The Way P.E.

Nicholas and Matthew have had a blast this semester participating in the Homeschool P.E. program at the YMCA. Nicholas has participated in challenge courses and swimming. Matthew has played several different ball sports. Today was our last class for the semester. They had field day today and received running awards for the Running Club. The boys truly enjoyed it even though it was forced to be inside due to the rain.

The Way P.E.

Love For Christ

I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful ministry. Nicholas and I have been going to the Salvation Army now for approximately 2 years with The Love for Christ ministry at Klein UMC. We go on the second Sunday of every month and feed the hungry. Nicholas is usually in charge of the drinks as his mom loves to sit in the crowd and visit with the guests. We have made some dear friends. Nicholas and I have also had the opportunity to go downtown to Lord of the Streets and serve at Christmas time as well. I treasure the car ride home discussions Nicholas and I have.

This is Diane. She is a regular guest at the Salvation
Army. She always has a story about her cats.

Foundry Women's breakfast

What a wonderful morning. My mom invited me to a breakfast at her church. I had no idea what to expect. My mom, Aunt Carol (my mom's sister from Iowa) and myself walk into a beautiful room with each table decorated by individual women with tremendous talent. We were served an elegant breakfast. Then we were truly blessed by the amazing praise and worship music performed by Lisa Pierre. Lisa is Beth Moore's worship leader. She is truly using the gift God gave her. Her music is so powerful. The morning ended with the Foundry drama team putting on an inspirational skit about being a virtues women. It was surly phenomenal morning that I was honored to share with my Mom and Aunt.

Creekside Park

Jamie called me and said they were going on a nature hike and wondered if we could go along. We could not pass this opportunity up. It was a beautiful day. The kids had a blast looking for bugs, tadpoles, critters, and whatever else my cross their path.

Nathan's 5th Birthday Party

We had so much fun celebrating my nephew's 5th Birthday at the Bowling Alley! Nathan was so proud of turning 5!

This is my brother and his beautiful family: Maris, baby Sammy, Nathan and Eric.

My dad, mom, and Aunt Carol!

Me and my boys! My Dad and my precious niece!

Comunity Bible Study

The boys and I are truly blessed to be able part of CBS (Community Bible Study) at the Woodlands United Methodist Church. There are over 200 women in this study. We are studding the gospel of Luke. Each of us have our own study on the exact same verses. I am trying to get in the habit of making a set time that we read God's word daily. There are weeks that I do struggle with the time factor of the study itself. I know Satin is the one in charge of that. The boys have such wonderful leaders in the homeschool class. I'm in a group of aprox. 12 women that are amazing and so strong in so many different ways. I have met some great new friends. I am so thankful that the Lord has placed me in such a caring and loving environment. A bunch of us went to the park on Wednesday after class for a picnic - so much fun!!