Recappin' {August 26-Sept 10}

The day of B Boy's surgery, friends from school brought cards, coloring book and chocolate shake by that evening. It was so kind and thoughtful!

 We just hung at the house and took care of the boy the rest of the week.

 He started to go downhill on Sunday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty tough.

Wednesday, I took him to school to have his yearbook picture made but then brought him back home.

C Girl picked out her school picture outfit. She is very independent and opinionated lately, more so than usual!

 I sent B Boy back to school on Thursday. C had an ortho appointment. They removed her bottom expander and then added a few more brackets.

B Boy did great and made it through the entire school day!

He had to miss recess until this week and that was a little hard on him.

 The kids were out of school on Friday and Monday for the holiday. They were thrilled that I wanted to clean out the playroom. Ha ha.

 Saturday morning, the kids were up bright and early and excited about the Razorbacks season opener game!

The Hogs crushed UTEP and we are No. 18 in the country!

I drove to Ft. Smith to meet Jessica so that we could have a friend day! We haven't had one of these in a very long time and it was much needed! We got pedicures, had lunch and then did some shopping! So fun!!!

 We laugh so much!

 Sunday morning, the whole family was back at church! B Boy is now in the same children's church group as C Girl.

 Monday was Labor Day and we had a nice day at home. 

We grilled yummy burgers for dinner. 

B Boy finally started getting his appetite back!

 I pulled out the DSLR this week.

Tuesday was the start of fall Bible study at church.

I'm doing Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg.

I was glad to get to hear from her recently and I'm reading the book that goes with this. 

I know that I could definitely use some more joy in my life.

I will be looking for #joybombs!

My joybomb for Tuesday was getting to know a new lady that came to our Sunday school class. 

We chatted after Bible study and she is so sweet!

Margaret Feinberg commented on my blog! What!!!

 I'm so very happy to see this sweet boy back to his normal self again!

He is doing a Mad Scientist unit at Trec this semester and he is very excited about that!

Wednesday morning, I met with my mentor, Susan. We have the best time talking and discussing the book we are going through. It almost feels like a counseling session every two weeks. I love her so much!

After meeting with her, I headed to school for a PTO meeting. I'm going to be more involved at school this year, hopefully!

 Wednesday night, Awana started up again at church. Again, B Boy is now in the same group as C Girl. They are both such big kids now. [tear]

Thursday morning, I had a BPTO meeting and then I rushed over to be with C Girl on her field trip to the Peel Mansion. I missed a few stations but I really enjoyed the time I did get to spend with her there! I also got to know another mom in her class. I'm trying really hard to be involved more this year and to get to know other moms better. The past couple of years I haven't done this as well. My health took such a toll on everything :-(

Learning about pioneer life.

 Racing with potatoes on spoons!

 Bobbing for apples!

 The Peel Mansion is so beautiful and has so much history!!!

a weekly recap {art, razorbacks, babies & a brunch}

Last Wednesday night, Tim and I visited Crystal Bridges to see the State of the Art exhibit while the kiddos were in church.

 This set of photos was titled "Recession." It was homes, land and businesses in the after effects of the recession. I felt so connected to this, I guess because we lived through it.

 This was made from pages in the Bible. Below, you can see in more detail what it said.

 We hope to go back with the kids soon to see the things that we were not able to fit in that night!

On Thursday evening, we had a baby shower for my friend, Mary Avery. Sadly, I don't think anyone took any photos :-( This is their 4th child and they do not find out what they are having prior to the birth. They have 3 boys already. She went in Sunday night and was induced Monday morning. I'm happy to report that they had a sweet baby GIRL!!!! They are so thrilled! I cannot wait to meet her!

I have two more friends from Sunday school who are having babies next spring!

 Friday evening was the 2nd annual bowling party for the faculty at Tim's school. I hadn't felt the greatest on Friday, so I didn't bowl, but everyone had a wonderful time eating, visiting and bowling!

I don't get very many opportunities to interact with his staff, so it's always nice to get to know them a little better.

Saturday afternoon, we went to see Big Hero 6. I cannot say enough good things about that movie. 

It was so great!

 Saturday evening, our Razorbacks took on No. 17, LSU. 

We have had 17 straight SEC losses. 

It has been a HARD few years for our program. 

We shut.them.out! 

No, we did not beat the #1 team in the nation, but that WIN was something that we needed like air. 

We probably shouldn't have rushed the field, but it was beautiful. 

And to anyone on Twitter who was annoyed at my celebrating- I'm NOT sorry! 

You have your #Twitterparties, I have my #Razorbackparties. 

I don't know where that came from except that some non-fans seemed a little annoyed. 

But do you hear me snarking about your #sponsoredAD? Nope.

I fell in love with the Hogs when I fell in love with Tim. My family did not watch sports when I was growing up, so this love is a chosen love.

I've been to many games and lived through many losses.

This team has never given up this year despite everything that has not gone right.

You just have to be a fan to understand how we feel.

We feel lots of excitement right now. GO HOGS!

p.s. none of these stadium pics are mine, they are all from Twitter.

We were SUPPOSED to get snow on Sunday afternoon. And while we did get some, we pretty much just got dusted. That was okay though. It was pretty to watch it falling, we had a nice relaxing afternoon/evening, and the kids to not have to miss school the next day!

They did play some Monopoly, which was great until it wasn't. 

B Boy had not been dealing with "loss" very well lately!

I had a district PTO meeting on Monday morning to go over changes to our bylaws. 

I've learned so much over the last 3 years being involved in PTO, some good and some bad.

I've also firmly learned my limits in how much stuff I can add to my daily routines/duties that I have to family and church.

It has been so interesting learning how things work in a school district that is as large as ours and continues to grow. 

I've learned to work with a variety of people, most of whom, are not from our state.

It's also been interesting being the wife of a principal with managing my words and actions very carefully- I always want to be respectful of him! 

 Tuesday morning, was our annual fall brunch for our women's ministry. 

It was so great! I heard that there about 80 women there! 

It was an amazing turnout, wonderful food and we heard the testimony from one of our ladies. 

She shared about her life so candidly and I am so thankful for women who will do that. 

I hope to be that way as well. 

Her words touched me so much.

I will never be able to express what this church, women's ministry, and Sunday school class have meant to me. I love these women so much!

Our women's ministry director announced that she was retiring from her position to help with a new family business. 

She has been a wonderful leader and we will miss her so very much!

the weekly recap

We had church on Sunday and went to Dixie Cafe for lunch. C Girl started back to choir and GA's and B Boy decided to go to RA's this year! Tim and I went to night service and we always enjoy that.

This was the state of the kiddos' rooms on Monday. I was SO not cleaning those messes!

I had Bible study Tuesday morning and Tuesday folders for B Boy's class in the afternoon.

The kiddos had Awana on Wednesday evening. Tim and I had a mini-date to Crystal Bridges museum. There was an art exhibit on early American art that was ending soon. The painting below is one that is on loan from the Louvre in Paris, France. I still find things that we get to experience like that so amazing!

Yesterday, I had a district PTO meeting and I wore boots for the first time this fall because our weather as cooled down a ton for the time being!

 Tim asking me to make pumpkin cream cheese muffins that I made years ago. I couldn't find my recipe, but found another one online. These were amazing!

The kiddos came home with these ribbons that they made. I love it. I'm so glad they are learning about this every year.

 Yesterday was also piano lessons and soccer practice.

I got a call this morning a couple of hours in to school that poor C Girl had gotten sick. She has been so sick and pitiful today. I'm praying that this passes soon!

It has been a rainy, cool day and we are eating pizza and laying low tonight.