Quilt Show and Snowballs!

First, let me say how wonderful it is to have my mom around to do things with instead of getting ready for school to start...instead she is helping me get ready for our home school to start!  She is available and ready to help and it is such a blessing! The kids are having fun having Nee Naw around more!  Today, after my mom got word that her cousin had a hand-made quilt in the annual quilt show at City Hall, she invited us to go with her.  We had a fabulous time!  I think I enjoy things like this now that we home school...I'm not sure why, I think it is just a different mindset...like anything and everything can be a learning experience!  So John Daniel was his normal detailed self and took the brochure and checked each one of with a pen when we looked at it.  Emily found the beautiful ones and the most ornate which matches her personality and well Molly just walked around...she did run to the huge pink one when she saw it and said, "PINK!"  After the Quilt Exhibit we had lunch at Chick-fil-a.  Then mom offered to buy the kids a few school clothes so we went to Old Navy and Justice where we found some cute and practical clothes for the kids to wear to "school" and "co-op".  After that we drove to get a much needed treat at the new Mardi Gras Snowballs store where the kids got huge authentic New Orleans Snowballs.  They were really sweet and not much my thing but the kids had a blast and with the heat index today....it was great!  We had a very nice day and I'm pooped!

Siblings...

This is how the kids wanted to sleep last night...sisters in the bed and protective brother on the floor....

Wakulla Springs State Park

I haven't been to Wakulla Springs State Park in several years and I guess the last time I went, it was crowded and such and it left a sour taste in my mouth.  We were planning a play date with friends we haven't seen all summer today and my friend asked if we wanted to go to Wakulla Springs.  I usually don't do things like that without John...I depend on him so much but I said yes.  She had said that there were some manatees that had been spending the summer there.  So we left today around 10 am and didn't return until almost 6 pm.  That's right folks...ALL DAY!  We had so much fun!  It was hot but the water was so nice...clear and beautiful in my opinion.  There were people but not too many...we got a spot right by the water front in some shade.  The kids all played fantastically together and I even got to relax...I was peaceful and had a lot of fun myself!  I don't know if I have told you before but Molly is SOOOOO much better when we are out and about.  John and I have both noticed.  At home she constantly gets in trouble, whines, and acts out.  Maybe not constantly but she presses every button I have....when we are out and doing things and spending time outdoors, she is an angel or I would not have stayed there for 6 hours!  She just played in the water about knee deep with her tube and sand toys, ate some snacks, floated, and had fun!  We all (minus Molly) went off the top platform...if you are from Tally or anywhere nearby, you know what I am talking about.  We asked the lifeguard how tall it was and he said 13 feet but I think that is just the platform by itself.  Emily got up there and walked back down so I asked her if she wanted me to go with her and she said yes.  I had not even been in the water yet but I decided what the heck....Standing on the platform looking down is so scary!  We counted to three and I jumped....she still didn't jump but I waited in the water awhile and she finally did it!  Then she went off of it like 15 more times and so did John Daniel.  We even took the little girls out to the platforms and saw one manatee coming up for air and some water snakes!  Afterwards, we all had ice cream...John called finally to ask where we were we had been gone so long!  It was just a nice refreshing day....not bad for $6 entrance fee and $10 worth of ice cream!  I was even thinking about going back for a back to school picnic/cook out and inviting a bunch of families to join us...it was that nice!

Face Time!

I have a list for everything...seriously, I do.  I even have a list of people I/we need/want to have face time with....let me explain myself.  In this day of technology, I could easily go weeks and maybe even months without speaking to any of my close friends, acquaintances or family...I do not like talking on the phone and I LIKE the impersonal...I have no idea why...I feel very comfortable emailing and texting and blogging and facebooking...I like that it doesn't interfere with another person's time and that interruptions aren't a problem...such a crying kids in the background BUT here is the problem...I don't really think that God created us to be impersonal...I believe he created us to invest in each other's lives, care about others, and bond with fellow believers while nurturing and ministering to unbelievers...I believe God created us to have/desire/need FACE time!  So in my effort to keep myself on track, I created a list of people/families that we should/need/want to keep up with, have for dinner, do a field trip with, go visit etc.  I have been very diligent this summer to "mark" people of this list...and if that sounds terrible then so be it but it is for the good, I promise...it helps me not forget to actually have personal, interactive, quality FACE time.  It has helped us get to know people better at church, invite others for dinner and minister to them by just serving them a meal, ask questions, make people feel important and needed.  It is a good thing and we have enjoyed our get togethers...we have been all over town, enjoyed good food and built better relationships with new and old friends!  Last night we had some "old" friends over...We sometimes go months without really talking except to check in so it was nice to spend 4 hours together...it was relaxed, everyone just stood around or sat around in the kitchen eating in courses, serving one another, talking and laughing! I have a new cookbook that I borrowed from a friend and I tried out some really yummy recipes...homemade ranch dressing for wedge salad, sweet potato fries, mac n cheese, and bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeno poppers.  John made a pork tenderloin and grilled corn.  It was all fantastic!  We had the best time!  These friends don't have kids so ours just sit around with us and get to be in the center of all the adults! My friend's grandmother is very very sick and it was good medicine for her to laugh :) Food pictures to follow!  P.S.  Don't feel bad if you are on the Face Time list...it means I love you or want to love you more :)  I promise!

Big Girl and Big Bed

Since Molly slept so well with the big kids while at our friend's house, John decided that it was time to move her to the big girl bed at our house and take down the crib...he did it while I was at work which was a smart move on his part, because I probably would have given him a hard time...it is hard to believe we are ready for this!  She has done great, it is night 3 and night time has been fine.  Naps are so so...we are working on that and I'm unwilling to give up the nap..she slept with me today :)  She is so darn cute in that big bed!

Time Alone

John and I just wanted some time alone and some peace.  We have worked this nice little exchange out with some of our closest friends where we swap kids for adult alone time...what a great swap!  The kids did great and they have so much fun playing with their friends.  We stayed nearby at our friends' parent's Lake House on Cherry Lake.  We never once got in the water this time.  We did go fishing at dusk which was fun.  We slept in, read books, cooked a little, visited a local Mexican restuarant, did our Quiet Times together, talked and talked and talked, drove to Valdosta and school supply shopped and went to the Mall, and watched movies!  It was great great great!  We really did have a nice time together!  And John let me take pictures of course :)  I also used the time to UNPLUG ...meaning I put down my phone, no emails, no computers, no laptop, no texts, no calls.  It was soooooo nice!  Although, I had 99 email when I got back!  I meditated on Psalm 24 while away and just used the time to clear my cluttered brain!  So nice!

Mary Brogan Museum Baroque Exhibit!