I've been playing again (our trip to Cherokee, NC)

We took a trip to Cherokee, NC this past weekend and even though I would love to be doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, sweeping and mopping and a host of other chores, I took the time to create a mini scrapbook of our trip, using my new favorite thing - Smilebox. Hope you enjoy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Just wanted to share a video from 2 of the smartest kids I know.

I've been tagged!

Wow, I feel special! I've never been tagged before, and I'm about giddy. My friend Amy tagged me to tell 5 things I love right now.

My first is my family. Donnie is the love of my life. He is a godly leader, a loving husband, a caring father and a man of integrity. My children are precious to me. I wish I could stop time, but I enjoy each age and stage they go through as well. Hannah is full of life, able to enjoy every moment, a bit dramatic, and passionate about whatever she is doing. Corey is my little man, takes time to enjoy life, is so serious and yet so funny at the same time and never fails to surprise us! Allie is dynamite in a small package, my most cuddly and affectionate and has been since she was born. She is a delight, even if she is a little bossy. And last Jon Tyler - we eagerly await his arrival and the chance to know him.

Secondly, I love to be loved by God. Even when I don't get it right and don't spend the time I should with Him, I am loved. I have been given grace and freedom and forgiveness.

I love my sister. She moved here a year ago and is in a rebuilding process, but I love that God has also rebuilt our relationship. It is far better than anything we experienced growing up. I love that she had the courage to do what she did to protect herself and her son.

I love my house. I am not a materialistic person, so perhaps I should share why I love my house. Nearly 4 years ago we bought it as a foreclosure and it was ROUGH! We spent 3 years renovating (or more appropriately, rebuilding) it. My husband and his father did most of the work - tearing out, plumbing, wiring, moving walls, fixing floors, painting, installing floors, hanging sheetrock - I could go on forever! Before there were 5 of us in 2 bedrooms. I realize most people in the world don't have that much, but now I feel that I have a house that incorporates my desires with my needs. GOd has blessed so much and I look back now and realize there are many lessons we learned along the way and will pass on to future generations!

I love my friends and the techonology that allows me to keep in touch with them. I have been blessed by those I can call at the drop of a hat for prayer, those I can go without seeing for several weeks and pick up where we left off and those I haven't seen in so long but have been able to reconnect with through the internet.

It is hard to figure out just 5 things I love, but what a neat thing to be able to share with others! Now I tag:
Chrissy - because she blogs more than anybody I know
Bess - because it will give her a topic to blog about :)
Michelle - because she is new to the blogging thing and doesn't have enough to do with school - lol!

Lookee what I learned!!

I've been away at a 2 day workshop about education and technology to keep my teacher certification and let me tell ya, I am now officially tech-savvy! I am cool, super fly, over the top, and plugged in. (well, OK, it would take more than 2 days to do that, but I'm pumped about technology, can ya tell?)

One of the instructors introduced me to smilebox and not a moment too soon. I am sure little man will be making his earlies appearances to family and friends via this cooly website so I made my first slide show today. It is from this past June's vacation at Myrtle Beach. Check back regularly, because I plan to do much more of this. It's so stinkin' cool!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hannah's Reading Award

It's official! I have one of the smartest kids in this county, maybe even the state. OK, so maybe I'm a little biased, but she is pretty stinkin' smart. Hopefully valedictorian smart, but we'll see. For now I just want to brag on her reading accomplishment for the summer. She is the only kid at our branch of the library to win an award for reading 8 books from 8 different categories. She had to choose from things like biographies, technology, and history to modern fiction and historical fiction. She, of course, devoured an American Girl book, a book about Benjamin Franklin, one about the clothing worn during Civil War times and the Stinky Cheese Man, among others. She is so proud of herself. Since school is already back in, Ms. Beth, the best children's librarian in the whole world stopped off by her class so she could give her the medal. Here she is pictured with it -



Just thought you'd enjoy seeing one of the smartest kids in America from one proud momma!

Corey's 6th Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Corey's 6th birthday with a nice (that means small) family party. We are officially birthday party scrooges and enjoy small family parties as opposed to renting the pony and jumping thing. Of course, by the time we invite family, there are at least 6 kids, usually 8, so who has room for other kids? At any rate, here are some pics.



The Birthday boy himself proudly wearing the crown his big sis made him!


Corey & his cake


Makin' a wish!


Hannah insisted on reading all the cards to him!


2 games he got from Aunt Kelly, Quay & Rayden


A New webkinz from Aunt Jamie & Uncle Michael, AJ & Jacob

Believe it or not, the rest of us actually got him presents, but I didn't get good pics of all that. We got him a Gameboy of his very own (hallelujah - no more fighting over the one Hannah got for Christmas), MaMaw & PaPaw got him a nice pair of jeans and new shirt, and Grandmommy got him a Veggie Tales Gameboy game. We had a nice time celebrating with him! It seems so hard to believe that he is already 6!

Potty training is overrated until you hear a conversation like this!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I keep thinking with each child I potty train that it is really unnecessary, or at the very least not worth the aggravation. The benefits simply don't outweigh the effort. Today for instance when in Rock Hill, Allie had to go at least once in every store, yet at home, she still prefers to pee in the floor. I am just going to pick a different public place each day and stay until the kid can pee every time in the potty. (Library people, be warned. You have the only small kid potty in all of Chester. We're hitting you first.) Fast forward to when we got home. Note the conversation that follows. Please do not read if you are easily grossed out.

Allie: Mommy I dot (got) a stinky. Tome (Come) See it!

Mommy: Yay! Allie, good job! (it was actually in the toilet!)

Allie: (giggles with excitement)

Rayden, my nephew, age 3.5, enters the room at this time.

Allie: Rayden, wanna see my stinky?

Rayden: I see it Allie.

Allie: See, a big one.

Rayden: I'm gonna take it home with me.

Allie: No, you tan't(can't). You will get it wet.

Mommy: (flushes quickly)

Maybe we are making progress. After all just yesterday, she pooped in the pants. At least we've stepped up from there. Sigh.
Posted by **TRACY** at 1:43 PM