Family Fun Weekend

What a fun weekend we had together!

It started off with dinner to Smashburger and feeding the ducks. These ducks are intense! As soon as we got off our bikes, they started surrounding us.

We tried to move closer to the water to draw them in, so Jackson could throw the bread in there. Jackson would get a little freaked if they got to close.





Saturday morning we headed out to Trader Joe's. A bunch of my friends love this place and I wanted to check it out. We ended up getting lots of fruit, trail mix, caramel corn, and black raspberry soda. I would like to go back and try some other things when we are heading back home right away.

After our stop at the snack store (as Jackson called it) we headed over to check out a little water park near by.

Jackson couldn't wait to get to playing. He spent some time going down the slide, getting Daddy wet, and letting the bucket dump on him. There was a bigger water slide, but you had to be 48 inches to go down it. Thankfully, he didn't really care. 

Jackson favorite part of the water park was the lazy river. He loved riding around on the tube, and then got comfortable swimming around the river. Every time we came around, he would say just 2 more times. I think we went around the lazy river at least 25 times!

Fun, fun fun day spent with our little guy.

His spirit was so sweet and his excitement high all day!

Love Sunday mornings at church, lunch at Firehouse afterwards, and my two twinkies!

We wrapped up this weekend with fun on the diving board at our local pool. (So thankful for our pool, I can only handle a short time at public pools.) Finally, Jackson jumped in and swam all the way to the side by himself.

 He jumped himself happy!

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

Vacation Bible School Week

Jackson attended his first ever VBS this week at my Aunt's church. (He starts preschool there is in about 3 weeks, yikes!) Our days this week looked liked we hit the repeat button. I would drop him off in the morning, then go do my thing, and pick him and Aaron up afterwards.

Monday:

 On the first day, Jackson was a little unsure about me leaving him. He did great though!

Love those brown eyes!

 I went up to school to set up for my training on Tuesday. I should get paid for the set up, that is tougher than teaching the class! I also started some homemade cinnamon rolls before I went to get the boys. These turned out to be sooooo yummy!

Jackson wanted to dye the frosting

I picked up the boys and took them for lunch at McDonald's (their choice).

Swimming together after lunch.

 Tuesday: A repeat of Monday except no swimming with Aaron.

I loved the morning time with Jackson before VBS. We always had some time to play trucks or tractors and ride bikes.

 Wednesday: A repeat of Monday except no McDonald's.

I got to have breakfast and go shopping with Cindy while our kids were at VBS. What a fun treat! I don't think I have done that all summer. I even found some of the books I was looking for.

Thursday: VBS, running errands, buying Christmas presents, building a tent

Friday: A repeat of Wednesday

After I dropped Jackson off, I headed to pamper myself. My toes and eyebrows were in desperate need of some TLC.



 At the end of the day today, they invited parents to come to the closing. I got there a little early and watched Jackson play Duck, Duck, Goose and find his way into the sanctuary.

 He has been singing the songs from VBS all week. He has to listen to them and dance before nap and bedtime.

I was excited to see him sing today, but he was not nearly as loud or animated as he has been singing them at home.

 Proud of my boy!

He did a great job listening this week and he said he had fun.

Thanks to VBS and Aaron for helping produce great naps in the afternoon and providing me with some "me" time this week!

"Hakuna Matata"

To celebrate our anniversary Brian and I went to see Broadway Across America's The Lion King. Brittany came over to watch Jackson for us. 

LOVE date nights with this man!

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go see The Lion King or not. The pictures I saw online just looked a little weird and the tickets were expensive.

 But, boy am I glad Brian talked me into it!

It really was amazing; the props, the costumes, the actors, the songs, all of it! Zazu was great and Timon and Pumbaa were just like the movie. 

Again, I am thankful for a fun night and 7 years (or 13 from when we started dating) with the man who still holds my heart!

"Can you feel the love tonight?"

7 Years- To God Be The Glory

Seven years ago I married my best friend, and he is still my best friend today!

Do you see the excitement in my face? I love my real smile!

It was the beginning of something great!

 Thinking back to our wedding day brings only awesome memories. Everything about the whole day couldn't have been better. I was on Cloud 9!

I can't say that about everyday the last 7 years, but I do know God picked the right man for me. Through ups and down I have learned that marriage only survives if you choose to fight for it, make God a priority, and are willing to forgive.

"I have found the one whom my soul loves." Song of Songs 3:4

My prayer is that God makes us stronger than ever and use us to mighty things. I pray that he is glorified in all we do and that we never stop clinging to Him as our strength, running to Him for guidance, and turning to Him for our source of love.

Brian, I love you forever!

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

The Best Dollar I Ever Spent

One lunch break last week, I went shopping at Target. I found a 90% off rack full of summer items. I picked up a few things for Jackson and my classroom.

This sprinkler snake was 50 cents. We let Jackson try it out in the front yard.

It quickly made its way poolside and hasn't left since. 

It is a good tunnel to swim under or a lot of fun to jump over.

LOVE his excitement!

I spent another 40 cents on a paddle ball set, which Jackson has played "tennis" or whack the ball at mommy nonstop.

And the last 10 cents went to glow -in-the-dark bugs. These light up his room at night time and keep him company as he sleeps. He even uses his flashlight to charge them up.

Now, that was a dollar well spent!!

Teacher College Reading Institute

I spent the week attending the Teacher College Reading Institute. I have been wanting to go to New York and attend one since I started teaching 6 years ago. However, I didn't get to go to New York. My school district hosted the Institute for 1 teacher from each campus to attend.

If I would have attended the training 6 years ago, I would have gained a lot of new to me information. I felt like they reaffirmed a lot of what I am already doing plus gave me ways to fine tune and make some things even better. I got to know some acquaintances even better and had a great time learning and talking about teaching reading!

Now, I am ready to attend their advanced Reading Institute in New York!

I Love Taking Pictures

Shutterfly is hosting Long Live Summer Photo Contest now through August 12.

Each week you can enter a new picture and caption based on the theme for the week.

Week 1(7/9): Americana

Week 2 (7/16): Great Outdoors

 Week 3 (7/23): Water Fun

Week 4 (7/30): Sports & Activities

Week 5 (8/6): Parties & Celebrations

Small town beauty

And, of course there is the chance to win some great prizes!

-Instant win prizes just for submitting a photo!

-Weekly prizes (contestants can enter one time/week)

-Weekly featured photos: up to 5 weekly entries will be selected from the gallery and featured on the Facebook fan page and awarded a $500 gift card on Shutterfly and a copy of the new Lonely Planet travel photography book.

Grand prize: trip for 4 to Bahamas, 4 nights, family photo shoot

So, what are you waiting for?

Click here to enter and good luck!

(Shutterfly contacted me to share information about Long Live Summer Photo Contest. In return, I was offered a 20 page photo book. All other ideas are my own.)

Scripture Canvas

A while back I found this idea to create a Bible verse canvas. I knew I wanted to have Jackson help create one with one of the verses he has learned.

Step 1: Head to Hobby Lobby to purchase all of your supplies.

Step 2: Have your husband measure everything out and place stickers in correct places.

Step 3: Let Jackson paint the stripes different colors and keep telling him it is ok to get his hands dirty.

Step 4: Paint each other.

 Step 5: Let the paint dry, then peel up stickers.

Step 6: Admire your work.

Step 7: Repeat steps 1-6 with another verse and canvas.

Step 8: Hang in Jackson's room where he wants them.

I love how they turned out, and Jackson is pretty proud of his work too!

Lights, Camera, Action

Saturday night we took Jackson to see Ice Age: Continental Drift. We watched the first 3 Ice Ages, for my sake, earlier this month and were ready for the 4th!

 Brian has been waiting for this for a long time. Ice Age has been one of his favorite animated movie series, and I would never go with him. He finally had a son to take (and now I tag along:).

We all really liked the movie. They used the word stupid quite a few times. Jackson would laugh with everyone else, then look at me and shake his head and say "I can't say that" or "That is a bad word." It was pretty funny!

After the movie, we needed to get gas. Jackson loves to clean make my windows dirtier while the gas is pumping. Crazy kid!

STORMS

S: Sloshing in the rain

Loves wearing his rain boots!

T: Time Inside

Library fun

Arts and Crafts

Helping make Puppy Chow

O: Out and about in the rain

A flooded street didn't keep us inside

Lunch with friends in the rain

Catching a break from the rain

R: Rainbows

God's promises

M: Meal as cows

Free Chicken? Yes, please!

S: Spic and Span

He said he was making them "clean as a whistle"

Our week was full of rain and thunderstorms, but we still tried to make the most of our time together and at least we are not experiencing a drought like last year!