Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Under Construction

After saying and saying we're going to do it, we did it. We bit the bullet and hired a landscaper to redo the front yard and decided to put in a new sidewalk. We had seen the plans a week ago, but asked for some changes. I know what I like, and I wasn't feelin' it completely. With a handshake and, "I'll be seein ya," he was off to make some changes.

Yesterday around noon, Calen and I were getting ready to do our "couch lessons" which are reading, history, and science. We had just sat down, and Calen was daggling his arm behind the couch when I heard a couple thuds. I assumed it Calen hitting the toybox behind us. After another bang, I asked if it was him making that noise, and he said yes. I asked him to stop, so we could get started. I heard a couple more thuds, and asked once again if he did that. "No, wasn't me." Then it hit me, they are tearing out the sidewalk.


The boys were so excited to see a bobcat trying to lift up the sidewalk. They sat down to watch for about 10 minutes, until the brick on the porch started popping loose. At first, I was like no big deal, nothing a little concret can't fix. Then the end of the porch started to rise a little more and the end post of the porch started to crack. Couldn't handle it, had to go. I hurried the boys in using the excuse that they might get hit in the head with a brick. Really, it was I who couldn't bear the sounds coming from the porch. I told them they could watch all the work from the windows. That kept them entertained for quite a while, until lunch and nap/quiet time. After five hours, the yard was a wreak, and I'm sure it will look great in the end.

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Here lies the remains of my headache since moving in- the weed garden. Whoo-hoo!

Monday, May 10, 2010

A Quick Update

Wow, it has been so long since we've updated anything that I'm not even sure where to start. Life has thrown us some curveballs since this past December, and for a while we were turned upside down and inside out. Then there have just been spans of time of there wasn't really anything to share, only prolonging the distance between our blogs.

First up, we are doing well. Danny and I have been teaching our Sunday School class since Easter. For those that really know me, you know that this is NOT something I thought I would ever do. I knew I would be teaching SS, but had assumed I would be in my old stomping grounds, in my comfort zone- in preschool or elementary. God had other plans, however. So here we are. I think we're going pretty good, considering my lack of talent, knowledge, and experience in this area. I just take comfort in the knowledge that if God wills it, He will bless it.

Other things on my plate as of late is our local homeschool group collapsed, or maybe, the term imploded would be more accurate. From these ashes, God has blessed the Christian homeschoolers of Greeneville. We have a new co-op that is joined with a large homeschool group in Johnson City. This fall, I will be teaching a class during our weekly co-op session. We are blessed that it will be at our home church, and that we already have a huge response to it. I have also begun to dabble in making cakes to sale. I will have three to make in the next three weeks. I'll post some pictures of the final results.

Danny's practice is getting bigger, in spite of the fact he's now on his 3rd nurse (2nd out on maternity leave) and has went through 3 orthopedists since his arrival. As the practice grows, so do the responsibilities- he's now Vice Chief of Staff, as well as the local EMR "guy." He's also in the throes of Sports Medicine physical time, but he did find a chance to go to Guatemala with VIMM for a week as well as take a turn as Calen's substitute soccer coach (and he tells me he's retired with a career record of 2-1-- won more than he lost!)


Calen turned 7 in Febuary, and his stats are 47 1/2" and 70 lbs. For Christmas he got a trumpet, but we've yet to actually begin lessons. In a few short weeks he will be finishing 1st grade. Can you believe it? He finished his math curriculum early so we went ahead and started 2nd grade math. He is so excited. For some reason he is obsessed with doing 3rd grade math. He still loves science and hates writing. Oh, well, some things never change.



Jax, too, has grown so much in such a short amount of time. He will be turning 3 in three short months. He is still a tank, weighing in at 38 lbs and standing 36 inches tall. He is all boy all the time. He loves trains, especially Thomas. He also loves animals, cars, motorcycles and all things sweet. He is still a daredevil, and he can almost "take" Calen now. It is funny to watch him pick on and tease his big brother.

Riley is all girl and has a feisty yet lovable personality. She is 18 months and probably the quickest toddler I've ever seen, especially since she has only been walking for three months. She is the poster child for saying "big things come in small packages." Mom says, "it is no wonder she's so small, she never stops for more than a second." It's true, that girl doesn't stop for a any length of time before she is off to do something else.