Hotter Than Hell

This Saturday Ray completed something that had been on his wish/to-do list for quite awhile. He rode in the 100 mile bike race in Wichita Falls called the Hotter Than Hell. It was given this name because it takes place each August in the worst of the summer heat. This year, he really lucked out on the weather since at the high point it was about 94 degrees, and it was much cooler than that when they started at 7:00 am. Ray had ridden 100 miles a couple of times before in charity races for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, so he knew he could do it! He didn't sign up to get an official time, but he noted the time when he actually crossed the start line and then when he crossed the finish line, and he came in at about 5 hours and 11 minutes. That's a great time, and we are so proud of him. The picture, which has terrible quality, was taken of his odometer when he crossed the finish line - 101.9 miles. I'm even more amazed that seeing him today you would never know he is sore. He is walking great and feels like he could go do it again. Okay, maybe he will hold off on that for awhile! I'm sure there is another race in his future!

Off and running...

Today was the first day of school for my 1st and 3rd graders. They both were so excited this morning and seemed to have a great day. When they got off the bus, they were both talking at the same time, and I couldn't understand either one of them. We had to take turns talking, and it was very hard to wait. Allison was most interested in telling me about changing seats so that her friend Grace did not have to sit in a grouping with all boys, and Caroline was so excited that she gets to earn tickets for good behavior. She can use these tickets to do really cool things like eat lunch with her sit by her teacher all day. She was also proud that she had some homework tonight! We celebrated with our annual cookie cake showing Happy 1st and 3rd Grade.

I do know they are getting older because Allison was embarrassed that I was taking so many pictures inside the classroom. She leaned in and whispered, "That's enough Mom." I was shocked, but I did consider her feelings and stop! Then after school Caroline asked that I not come to the bus stop anymore, but that I let her walk about 10 houses down by herself and ring the doorbell. Um, I don't think so.....

I was proud of them today and thrilled that they were so excited about the new school year.

First Day of School Prayer

I saw this prayer and wanted to pass it along. It's perfect for the first day school tomorrow!

Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full. And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask.
Will You walk with them? Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it?
Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away?
Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn?
Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?
Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience? Will You bless them for their efforts?
Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full, the ones who feel alone? Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them?
Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?
Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care. Amen.
-Shannon, Rocks In My Dryer

New Beginnings

I have always loved back to school and all that goes along with it, and my kids appear to love it, too. Everything about it is exciting from picking out new lunch boxes and back packs to school supplies and especially finding out your teacher and classmates. At our school each student is mailed a postcard with their teacher assignment on there. Our postcards came on the day we were in McKinney with our friends, and there was a lot of apprehension on getting back home to get those postcards. Around lunchtime we started receiving texts and phone calls wanting to know who the girls got for teachers. When we finally got to our mailbox, the girls were thrilled with the names they saw - Allison has Miss Barrett, and Caroline has Mrs. Blake. Allison also got her two good friends Aubrey and Jenna in her class, and Caroline got Lauren and Ashton in her class. The next morning was meet the teacher, and it was so much fun. There is always so much excitement in the air, and it is fun to see all our old friends and teachers. Both of the girls' teachers were warm and welcoming and so much fun to talk to! They got their school supplies put away, forms were filled out, and their desk is ready to go on Monday. In first grade they move from sitting together at tables to having their own desk, so that is something new and fun for Caroline!

As much as I love all of this, I still feel a little sad for what we are leaving behind. Walking into old classrooms, seeing things being moved around, and watching new kids come into "our" rooms are all a little hard. It's just a reminder that time keeps marching on, our kids are one year older, and that time is just over. But what a blessing it is to have teachers and to be part of a school that makes us feel that way. I think we are all going to have an incredible year!

McKinney Friends

On Thursday the kids and I headed out to McKinney to see our friends, the Fowlers. Lisa and I have been friends for years and met at church when we were both single. She and I, along with two other girls, did a small group Bible Study for several years. We all became very close, and I was sad when Lisa moved to California. Three years ago her family moved back to the Dallas area. Lisa and I see each other a few times a year when we get together with the other two girls in our small group to celebrate each other's birthdays, and we always try to get our kids together each summer. They invited us to go to a neighborhood water park. We had a great time, and the kids loved playing in the sand around the water and Will especially enjoyed shooting and spraying water on the playing deck. We got McDonald's and took it back to Lisa's house and stayed there for awhile. Lisa has two boys going into Kindergarten and 2nd grade, and a beautiful 2 year old girl that they adopted from Russia last spring. I'm so thankful we are able to get together as often as we do!

Dallas World Aquarium

During our last week of summer we decided to make a trip to the Dallas World Aquarium. We went last summer, and the kids liked it so much that we went back again. We had lunch at Spaghetti Warehouse and then spent about 2 hours in the aquarium. The kids loved seeing all the animals, and I think their favorite was the shark tank with the big cheetah being a close second. It was a great activity on a hot summer day!

Happy 5th Birthday, Will - 1 More Time!

Today was Will's 5th Birthday party at Stampede Sports Arena. They had 1 hour on the field playing games - soccer and dodgeball and then came back into the party room for pizza, ice cream, and cake. It was fun to have our family and cousins there, as well as friends from church and school. Will was excited about his cake and his presents. Tonight when I tucked him into bed he asked me if his birthday was really over now. I told him, "Yes!", it's REALLY over!

Photo Collage

Whenever we go somewhere on a trip, I like to do a little photoshoot with the kids. It's always a pain to pack up extra clothes, get them ready, and find the spot to take the pictures, but it always seems worth it in the end. Since there were so many pictures, I decided to try and create a collage from our time in Colorado. I think I will be creating more of these in the future! My favorite pictures are the ones with Allison and Caroline together. I just love that they are sisters and will have that bond forever. I don't have many of just of the two of them, so I was thrilled to get these!