First Day of School 2013

Happy to see the wonderful people my children are becoming...but a bit sad they are off to school again and won't get to hang out with me during the day.

Today was the first day of school. A Friday. A half day. Don't even get me started on how ridiculous I think that is....

But my sweet girl became a junior in high school today...she is...

confident

smart

independent

athletic

beautiful

sassy

social

my first born, my daughter and my mini-me in many ways!

My son became an 8th grader...he is...

kind

funny

sensitive

intelligent

athletic

charming

handsome

my baby, my only son and he is still a hugger (which I am very thankful for)!

Here they are after their long day (I kid) opening their traditional First Day of School cones (read about the tradition here) that I fill with goodies for them. I put anything in it from earbuds to school supplies to underwear. They have been getting one on the first day of school every single year. I anticipate doing this for them in college too.  It is something they LOVE and look forward at the end of each first day of school.

Love you both very much and hope your school year is full of great learning, good friends, quality teachers and happy memories!
BIG FAT MAMA HUGS to you both!!

Proud Mama Moment

We interrupt regular blog posts to take a moment and brag on my son.  He doesn't like it and would rather me not, but I can't help it and feel it must be shared.

Ben was invited to take the ACT in the 7th grade because of his outstanding grades and academic excellence.  He did very well, scoring higher than 85% of other students in his testing period in three of the four areas. Keep in mind most of these are high school juniors and seniors with more math, science and english under their belt.

That was truly enough to make us happy.

Then, we arrived home from our vacation we found an invitation in the mail for him to be recognized for his achievement and receive a medal at Vanderbilt University in May. Sarah had received this same award and the whole family came out to cheer and support her academic excellence.

This year, however, they are only allowing ONE parent per student.  I am utterly appalled.  It's almost like they don't want anyone there.  If it were for sports, would it be different?  I simply don't understand it and therefore I am sharing via all the social media outlets possible to tell the world how proud I am for Ben!  I figure if we can't have a physical cheering section, we will have virtual one! :)

So if you can take a moment and would like to give him a virtual shout out in the comment section, I will let him read them.  Because I feel academic excellence is worth supporting all the time.

Thank you for listening to this Proud Mama Moment...now back to regular blog programming.

Friday Night Lights...sort of.

Tonight we went to the IHS basketball game to watch our daughter represent the sophomore class in the school's "Coming Home" court.  She got ready with her friend Grace and was escorted by her friend Shahil.  Five minutes of woot woot and picture taking by her mom in the front of the gym! :) love you sweet girl!

Grace & Sarah.

Sarah & Shahil.

Around Here...

around here I am deeply entrenched in my new found love of mixed media art. Love the online tutorials provided by Christy Tomlinson of Scarlet Lime and am discovering my inner artist!

around here we have been trying to eat more organic, less chemicals and are considering buying a local grass fed cow.

around here we are watching Amazing Race: Unfinished Business and rooting for the cowboys again or the father/daughter from Kentucky.

around here Sarah is beginning trigonometry and not feeling confident.

around here I am struggling with the roller coaster ride of raising a teenage girl whom I love dearly, but dislikes me on most days because I have to parent her and most things I have to say she doesn't want to hear.

around here we have had a slew of rainy, gray weekends and we are all getting a little bit of cabin fever -ready for spring.

around here my niece lost her top tooth and she looks so different! It just serves as a reminder of how fast they do grow up!

around here Vince is home working here in his office without plans to go out of town for business for the first time in six weeks.

around here Ben is getting his permission slip signed to be allowed to watch the puberty video at school.

around here I have been on my knees and finding scriptural promises to hold on to when I feel I am defeated in life.

around here we are looking forward to a break from the routine and some time in the mountains for spring break.