1st and 3rd Grade - Here we Come!

As usual, I shed a few tears. I just can't believe how fast they are growing up! They were all a little aprehensive this year - new school and all. I know they were really missing all the familiar faces at Liberty (and so was I!). Liberty's size (and the people, too) really made it feel like a family. But we will have a great time getting to know new friends, and soon, I'm sure Hidden Lakes Elem. will feel like home. Grant was struggling a little this morning. He's really missing his friends. I don't blame hime - the older you are, the harder it is to move. But as Scott says, it will be a good experience for him to get out of his comfort zone a little bit. I'm praying for them all day - that the Lord will be right by their sides, bring along a special friend or two for each of them, and give them peace and confidence. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Now I'm in this quiet house trying to decide where to start. So much many projects to finish around here!

A farewell to summer

At the beginning of the summer, the kids and I made a list of all the things they wanted to do. We got out the list yesterday, and we were excited to see that we had checked them all off!
Here's our list of summer fun (with commentary):
- go to the movies (lots of them)
- swim at Keller Pointe
- Six Flags (that was so much fun!)
- playdates with friends
- Cousin Camp (at my parents)
- family game nights (we played lots of Monopoly - Grant is quite the pro!)
- Grant and Garrett to Camp Thurman (they LOVED this)
- Halle Grace to Art Camp (with Macie Pope)
- have an indoor camp out (it was a pretty wimpy version, just sleeping in sleeping bags in the playroon, but they said it counts! :)
- go to the park
- go visit Grandma Prince in California (Halle Grace got to meet a bunch of extended family)
- go visit the Prestons in Charlotte (great trip!)
- Grant wanted to go to Chicago (Scott took him for his birthday)
- Wacky Week (VBS at church)
- go visit Aunt Kathy and Uncle Kenny

What a fun summer we had! But come August, we are all ready for school, sports activities, and cooler weather.

Julie and Julia

How can one not be compelled to blog after watching that movie? It's a story about a woman whose blog adventure changes her life and helps her to discover her passion. And it's about food. Food that looks so good, you want to climb up inside the screen and take a bite. Food that makes you want to pack your bags and move to Paris. And I don't even like French food. I've been to Paris, and I was not impressed. After reading Julie Child's book, and now seeing the movie, I am convinced that I have to be wrong about French food. How could food that inspires such greatness be bad? I'm such a spoiled, closed-minded American sometimes!

By the way, if you haven't read the book My Life in France by Julie Child, it is a must read...as good as a vacation to Paris (well, almost).

Grant was asking me what kind of food grilled-cheese sandwiches are. I had just finished Julie's memoirs and thought of the Croque Madame, which is similar to a grilled cheese. I answered that the grilled cheese would sorta be French. We also discussed French fries and omelets and croisants. He then declared that French food is now his favorite type of food (next to Mexican, of cours, he added).

So, with the support of my children, I will be working French food into my rotation of Mexican, Italian, and American cuisine. Surely there is a love of French food somewhere inside me. I plan to find it. And Scott's too, for that matter. :)

In other news, we spent 5 glorious days in Charlotte with our dear friends, the Prestons, and some time with the Johnstons, too, last week. Renee is truly the most gifted hostess I have ever known and she spoiled us rotton. The kids had a blast and are already asking when we can go back. Thank you, Prestons, for a lovely, blessed time with your sweet family. Shannon came with her kids for part of the time, which was so much fun! We loved the time we got to spend with all of you and feel so blessed to have such amazing friends. Love ya'll! (I know you're reading...you two may be my only readers left! :)

Also while in Charlotte, we were able to meet up with some adoption blog friends. We had dinner with Krista and her 4 Ukrainian-American cuties! They live just down the road from the Prestons, so we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet. Those kiddos are precious - even more beautiful in person. And so well-behaved and sweet, too. What a precious family God made!

School starts in a week and a half. I have been running around all over town, determined to save money and buy school supplies on sale. I opted not to buy the packaged sets from PTA because I thought I could save money by shopping the sales. Today, after ordering the "1/2" Hytone Blue Baseline Story Tablet" and a couple of other obscure items online (because no store around her carries these items, or even know what they are for that matter), I have declared that the savings is MINIMAL, and not worth it. I had to try it once, just to be sure I asn't being ripped off when buying those PTA packages. Now I can say, been there, done that, and NOT worth it!
Just a little FYI... :)

In house news...it's been a busy and productive week. It's like a back-to-school nesting thing of some kind.
I have...
- built an organization wall in the garage boards with hooks and cork board in bwtween them, shoe baskets, etc
- painted Grant's room (just one wall, don't be too impressed)
- painted the breakfast nook (just below the chair rain)
- hung hooks for backpacks and things in the laundry room
- hung a couple more pictures
- hung a pantry organizer basket shelf thing on the back of pantry door
- made cupcakes - Raspberry Cream Cupcakes from Giada (YUMMM)
- taken all three kids for haircuts
- started staining the wood stair rail (I just can't stand the honey oak any longer!)

Tomorrow? Maybe it's time for a day at the pool with the kids and a book. I'm reading this sweet little book called Bella at Midnight. It's a Newberry young adult fiction book that is just the cutest story ever! You MUST check it out...after you read Julia's My Life in France, of course.

Pictures coming of all my home-improvement projects...