Synchronized swimming

Hannah had her "end of summer synchronized swimming show" today! It was really impressive to see all the girls had learned since the beginning of summer. Having never had any experience with this, I was surprized at how much Hannah had learned. If only my camera skills were equal to her swimming skills! I'm probably the only one who can pick out which head is Hannah's--she is the one who starts out at the top right corner!

Pictures are easier to follow!

4th of July parade!

Okay, so it's late, but better late than never right?

Hannah got to be in a 4th of July parade this year, and what fun it was!! Lots of work too. Poor girl spent about 6 hrs getting the horse washed, mane brushed and braided and even the hooves painted! They day of the parade, she had to leave home at 5am to get her horse loaded up, to the parade route and ready-what dedication. After the parade, she spent the rest of the afternoon loading the horses back up, taking them back to the ranch, grooming and settling them back in their corrals. Then she got to "hang out" with the teenagers until a BBQ that evening. There was even a manure throwing contest before the day was done!

you can see from the pictures just exactly how Hannah feels about horseriding :)

re-organizing!

As if there isn't enough to keep us busy, I've started in with some long overdue cleaning and re-organizing. I'm finding it's a HUGE help to post a "before" picture on facebook. Then I'm embarassed if I don't finish the project! What motivation! Here is the project from yesterday--my sewing space:

Amazing! I can now finish lots of mending and half done projects. It was also a great feeling to be able to give away things that I don't need anymore.

Today was the changing table in the bathroom . . . Before:

And After!

I will admit that I still have several BAGS of "stuff" hanging around, but hopefully I can get those out over the next few days. Either way there are two spots done!

Summer 2010

Yikes it's been a long time! I decided I need to do a better job keeping up to date!!

So what are we up to this summer? LOTS!!

June found us finishing up our homeschool studies for the year. The girls got a bit of a second wind when we started doing lapbooks, so we had school a bit longer than I originally intended. Oh well, now we are farther along!

Also in June, we went up to visit John's Dad and meet his Aunt Shirley. What a delightful day that was! We got to see pictures and learn a bit of family history, we enjoyed getting to know Aunt Shirley and Uncle Bob, and got to visit with Grammy and Papa too! The kids even did some weeding for Papa :)

July is bringing on the summer activities in full force. Hannah just finished up 2 weeks of "training" in her work to ride program at the ranch. She is enjoying it so much, and we are so appreciative for the blessing of her being able to be near and work with the horses. She has been working/riding there since Christmas, and this week got to ride on her own for the first time! Usually she is "ponied" or tied to another horse and more experienced rider. Thursday they cut the tie and let her ride on her own.

Hannah is also now on the synchronized swimming team at our local pool. There is a government grant that allows for subsidized aquatic programs, and this one is free! Three days a week she has practice, and the rest of us get to swim during that time :) Johnny is taking swimming lessons there too, 4 days a week, and I'm thinking we may sign up Jesse in the parent and me class next time around.

Another big hub of summertime activity for us, is the library. Emily is volunteering there two times per week, and the other kids are in the summer reading program. We were sad to see some of the library's hours cut due to the financial state of the government. The library is now only open 4 days per week. We are there 2-3 out of the 4 :)

Next are the church activities. Emily is in the high school department, Rebekah in the jr hi, Hannah and Johnny in the elementary, and Jesse in Early Childhood. Wouldn't you think they'd run the calendar by me before approving it now? Emily and Rebekah are enjoying weekly swim parties, and they've also had a drive in movie night, and mini golf trip. Still to come are beach trips, more pool parties and probably lots of things I don't want to hear about right now.

We've had more adventures in orthodontics this summer as well. Poor Rebekah had oral surgery this week to pull 2 more teeth. I was so thankful that she seemed to do much better this time around. Recovery has been quicker, and it seemed the anesthesia was easier for her to come out of too. Next week we have a post op at the oral surgeon's, week after is another orthodontist appt. and the week after is a routine dental cleaning. Praise God for insurance!!

Somehow we are squeezing in violin and a few other things, but I have a feeling we are all going to be glad to "slow down" when the school year starts again!

A tale of 2 bee stings. . .

Johnny got his first bee sting at the beginning of March. March 4th to be exact. I can't tell you the exact date of anyone else's first bee sting, but I'm betting I'll remember this date for a while. You see, the effects of this sting are still influencing us, even now.

He was stung on a Thursday, and had quite a fit about it. I wasn't exactly sure I got the stinger out, with all the hollering and squirming. He did quiet down after a while, and the area looked okay. I heard no more about it, until after the t-ball game that Saturday. On the way home, he complained that his foot hurt and was itchy. Looking at his foot, the area where he was stung was swollen and purple/red. Uh-oh. We called the doctor who told us to put cortisone cream on it, and if it wasn't better in 20 minutes, bring him in, it is infected. If it did get better, then it is an allergy and keep putting the cream on for a few days. It was better in 20 minutes :) We put the cream on for a few days, and no more complaints.

Several weeks later, Johnny woke up with small bites all over him. Looked like a flea or mosquito got in his pj's and got mad at him. He itched and squirmed all day, and I bought calamine. He could hardly sleep that night for the itching, but did fall asleep. At 11, I heard him crying, and he was complaining he was so itchy he couldn't sleep. Out with the calamine again. Didn't help. In a state of sleepy desparation, I got out the toothpasted, and asked which bite was the worst, and started applying it that way. After 2 or 3 bites, he told me "the one on my foot is the worst". Uh-oh. Then the light went on (in my brain, and the bathroom!).

Foot is swollen and red AGAIN! ugh. After a midnight trip to the drug store for some Benadryl, Johnny finally fell asleep. We decided urgent care in the morning would be in order. (why does this stuff always happen on the weekends?).

The good man at urgent care told us Johnny's foot was infected, and gave him some antibiotics. THREE times a day, is not exciting with antibiotics. After several doses we finally got down a system and the medicine got down. I felt like a troll giving it to him on his birthday and Easter. . . . . .

Of course we had the obligatory "follow up" visit with the doctor after urgent care. The doctor we got was not our own, and was a doozie. She picked on me for letting him wear flip flops (foot is swollen hello?) and told me she couldn't really see the infection because his foot was dirty but she was sure it was fine. ummm-hmmmm. At that point I had slipped into "smile and nod" mode.

When the antibiotics were gone, we all heaved a sigh of relief. It was short lived. The morning after the antibiotics, Johnny's cheeks got red and swollen, and he developed a rash all over. ARGH! After ANOTHER visit to the doc, (this time, our own doc) it was determined that Johnny is allergic to the antibiotic he was taking. More meds for another week---sigh.

Last week we were med free and singing a happy tune. Playing outside, carefree, and then, a bee landed on Johnny's hand. Yep, it stung him. This morning, the area is swollen and red but thankfully we are not on our way to the doctor. I'm mighty glad for the Benadryl in my cabinet and we are praying the swelling doesn't go any farther.

Johnny's comment: why do bees hate me?

T Ball

Well it has begun. My induction into "organized sports". We signed Johnny up for T ball and I had no idea. Thankfully, now that his first game has been played, I think it will be okay.

Practice is twice a week, and of course, right when I SHOULD be making dinner. Praise God for the crock pot and a responsible teen. So far we have done okay with that, even the days we have violin lessons and practice back to back. Sadly the wet weather this year has managed to cancel a number of practices as well as the big "opening day". At least we had our first game!

The game was fun--at least for me. We still have no idea who won, but no one seemed to care, and I think that's great. The kids all got to hit the ball, then changed sides--sounds good for 5 yr olds doesn't it? What's better is that the kids all got FIVE pitches, then if they still couldn't hit it, they got to use the T and hit from there. I overheard one mom talking to another one "my kid got out, but I think it went well--he didn't notice he was out." How funny.

Another thing I really liked were all the little ones at the game. Since it is a team of 5-6 yr olds, most have younger siblings. I wasn't the only one keeping a preschooler or toddler from running onto the field! Very nice family friendly organization. Let's hope all the games are like that!

Favorite things

Most people that know me well, know that one of my favorite words is "free". Another favorite is "food". Put those two together and you can pretty much expect me to be around! When Denny's ran it's free Grand Slam Breakfast promotion (advertised during the superbowl I might add), we were there : ) Six (count them) yummy breakfasts were enjoyed! I was thrilled that the staff were friendly, and there was no wait.

This last week a friend brought to my attention, that our local Chick-fil-a restaurant was having it's 6th anniversary. God Bless them. Free lunch items every day. We did miss out on Monday, but that was the spicy chicken sandwich and I'm not sure the kids would have enjoyed it. Tuesday we were there for chicken strips, Wednesday we enjoyed chicken sandwiches and Thursday we dined on 8 piece chicken nuggets. Today, we were privy to some special "code words" that got us 12 pc chicken nuggets! Johnny and his friend really enjoyed the fact that they knew the code words, and could order for us : )

We may have overdone it though. This morning as we were getting ready for our Friday classes, I asked Jesse if he knew where we were going.

"chick fil yay" was the answer : )

I hear I-HOP is running a promotion next week. . . . . .