First Day of School

Emma

Emma started 2nd grade today. She has Mr. Simms, who taught 5th grade last year at Rice. She came home today talking about how funny he is and how he likes to play games and make jokes. She had a fabulous, but rather serious, teacher last year so this will be a change. I'm thankful for varying opportunities and the chance to interact with lots of personalities. She knows a few of her classmates but is also going to have lots of new friends in the coming weeks. She has been asked to read at least 20 minutes each night as well as study her spelling, vocabulary and math. She will have a test each Friday. Emma desires perfection in herself and strives to be the best. She has a kind heart and loves to help others. She will bless many people...

Silas

Silas started Kindergarten today at Rice. He is in Ms. Jordan's class (the same K teacher Emma had). She is a wonderful woman who has spent 30+ years helping 5 year olds learn how to start and succeed at school. She is kind and loving; with a very structured classroom. I know from past experience that she is going to bless Silas this year. He will also have a little time outside the classroom at speech therapy. We expect he will start twice a week then reduce to once per week. He has made amazing progress in his speech and should be completely dismissed from the special education program by Christmas. Silas is eager to learn and has a complex, intelligent mind. I can't wait to see what he becomes...

Abby

Abby is going to school at Little People's School again this year. She is in the purple room which is specifically for boys and girls who are almost three or just three. Most of her class is learning to use the potty; her teachers are very patient women. She will learn her numbers, colors and be introduced to the letters in the alphabet. She is also going to have a special (and new) class this year called "world wise" that will be 30 minutes every day. A wonderful Christian woman who spent lots of years in Africa as a missionary is teaching the kids about different cultures around the world using music, dance, food and art. How many 3 year olds get that type of exposure? Abby is a calm and gentle soul. She is almost always happy and is delighted to go along with whatever is happening. Even though she is still hard to understand, she can sing songs without missing even one note. She has music in her heart...

Grapevine Botanical Gardens

I had no idea that there were gardens in Grapevine, Texas. What a find! Thanks to my sister-in-law, we used this fab spot to take some photos. I did a "shoot" with my kids, with her kids and then some will all the cousins. It was hot...and the kids got tired...but we got a few usable pictures.

Silas swims

Silas swims the backstroke

Silas has been on the Apple Gators swim team this summer. Their season is almost over and he is really going to miss it. He has been going to "swim team" every weekday morning from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. He has also competed in two swim meets. He never wins...but he loves the water and has been a great member of the team.

Thad's Birthday Party

We had such a good time at Thad's birthday party.

He was surrounded by Godly families who were willing to take time out of their week to celebrate his birthday - most of whom had never met him. Forty moms, dads, cousins, grandmothers, sister and brothers swam, ate pizza, swam, ate cake and ice cream, swam, watched Thad open presents and then swam some more.

By 8:00 p.m., we were all exhausted...but so encouraged by the love that was shown to our family. I'm thankful for our life in the Spirit and others who choose to live their lives in the Spirit as well. God has blessed us greatly and now Thad has been blessed. Please pray for our family and his future.

Another one "bites" the dust

Silas at 9:30 p.m.

Silas pulled another loose tooth this evening after our swim. We noticed that both front bottom teeth were loose this morning but one was much more loose than the other so we assumed there would be several days (or weeks) between the teeth coming out. No way, not for Silas.

He's been messing with that thing all day and finally told me, "e-mail the tooth fairy and tell her I've got another one". How can you argue with that?

Silas lost his first tooth

Silas this morning at breakfast...

Silas just after lunch...

The first lost tooth is just as exciting for the second child as it is for the first. Without any warning, Silas woke up with a loose tooth and it was out by 2:00 p.m. He worked on it all morning with his fingers and tongue and then asked me to pull it out. I worked it loose and then he pulled it out himself.

Homesick

Have you ever been homesick? Well, I have and it stinks. Especially as a child, homesickness is more than just a feeling - it takes on physical forms like stomach ache and tears.

Emma is in Nachogdoches for the week (going to day camp with her cousin, Thad) and she had a bout of homesickness yesterday. When we spoke on the phone, she was in tears - ready to come come. In fact, she had already packed her bag! As it was early afternoon, I told her that Abby was asleep and I could not go anywhere until she woke up. I assured her that I would make a plan with Jeff's mom and call back when Abby was awake.

Thankfully, Bonnie was a 2nd grade teacher for many years and understands the emotions and outbursts of 8 year olds. As it turns out, a bit of distraction and fun solved the problem and Emma stayed without having to call again.

Thank you, God for loving grandmothers!

Meanwhile, back here in Tyler, I had two smaller children who were anxious to get in a running sprinkler (after nearly 2 hours in the pool)...