Thrilled that Mom Stayed Home for the 1st Day of School.............Not so much!!!!!

The first day of school - just waiting on the school bus. They were excited about going today all in all. Of course, Isaac felt the need to be goofy...imagine that! They survived the day, but I can sure tell that Isaac is tired. He has already gotten his shower and quite content to lay on the sofa and wait for dinner.

1st Day of School

Good Morning....

As I write this post, my children are getting ready for school. We have about 10 minutes before we have to leave for the bus, then they will be off and start the new school year. Darryl is officially a sophomore, Rachel is now a 7th grader and Isaac (my baby-who will remind you that he is not a baby) is a 2nd grader! I so can't believe how big and grown-up they are getting to be.

I will be back later and post pictures (even though my husband thinks I'm goofy). I first have to go to the dentist and then we are going to look at cabinetry for the kid's bathroom and our bathroom. The time has come for the major projects to begin!

Have a great day!
Tina

Great News..........

Just a quick post before I leave to go run errands! I have received an offer at Humana for another position. I will be working in the underwriting department beginning September 1st as a Consultant. I will be working on various processes and taking broken processed and helping to either re-build them or fixing them. I am very excited about this opportunity. I still owe you'll a vacation post and plan on doing that tonight some time (hopefully). Have a million things to get done for Rachel's 13th Family Birthday Party tomorrow.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!
Tina

We are back and no fell over the side of the mountain.....

Hello -

Just a quick update and then I'll post more on Friday, as I am off work.

We had a great vacation - more to come on that later. But most importantly and long over due I would like to ask for my fellow blogger's prayers for Russell's family. Over a week and half ago, his sister Pat's son died suddenly and left behind a wife (who was in Iraq serving our country), a 15 year old son and a 3 year old son. Last Friday they had a remembrance gathering. Our hearts go out to them, as this has been extremely hard on them all. His wife is back at Ft. Campbell with their 3 year old son. We love you all and wish we could take away the pain.

Tina

We're Almost Gone..............

Good Evening -

Just a quick update, we are almost all ready to leave on vacation. All children are packed and their luggage is in the car! They are all in bed and excited about getting up early (well, maybe not excited) and getting on the road. Of course, what am I doing - laundry! Why do I leave it to the last minute???

I also discovered that when I was washing my favorite pair of shorts and capris that there was sewing to be done!! I so cannot sew, much my Aunt's dismay! My Aunt Sharon is a wonderful seamstress! Tonight I called her about something else, and then brought up my needing to sew on a button and how do I get the stitch witchery to stick to my pants? I can never get a button to stay on, but now I know the secret. You start sewing on the button, but you use sew over a toothpick. When you are done, you pull it out and bring the needle back up, but not through the button and wrap it around the thread under the button, but it back down through the fabric and knot it off! THANKS AUNT SHARON - now if only the dryer would get done, I could be almost packed! I've decided to go without the capris - I'm not up to the challenge of getting the hem to stick again! I already fixed it this morning for work - it will just have to wait until I get back home from vacation!

Well - I'm off to get laundry from the dryer and finish my packing! Russell is on his own for packing except for my making sure that he has his wallet this time!

I'll check back in when we return!

Tina

An Update..........

Well, the last week and a half has been another crazy one............

We made it to Iowa (after a 2 hour delay - thanks to the Mississippi River and havoc that the flooding caused). Russell and I enjoyed our "night out" on Friday in Champaign, IL. We visited the book store and indulged ourselves in a couple of good books and then a tasty dinner out. We were going to go for a swim at the hotel, but we laid down to watch a bit of TV and were out like a light for the night. The auction took place on Saturday and for the most part the weather cooperated. There was a good turnout according the records and all items that needed to sell, sold. It was a bit sad saying goodbye for one last time, only to know that the next time I returned to Packwood, IA 200 N. Church Street would no longer be the home that both my Mom and Daddy treasured. Thanks for all the prayers, my family and friends - without all of you I would not have been able to be as strong as I was.

It is good to have everyone back home and be back to our summer routine. Last week Brooke visited us for a few days and everyone had a good time. Rachel & I took her shopping to get her "stocked" up with back to school clothes and had a blast. The girls even ended up wanting matching p.j.'s and shirts. Please continue to keep Brooke in your prayers - she needs us to keep on loving her and supporting her, even if from afar. She was with us for only 2 years, but left a lasting impression on all our hearts and will forever be a part of our family!

The week came and went, and the weekend was relaxing and enjoyable. Isaac had a birthday party to attend for one of his friends (we didn't even realized he lived so close). He had a great time and even stayed after the party to play. He hasn't ever really had a friend, especially one that lived so close - a draw back to living in the country. The boy's parents are really nice people and loved having Isaac. Next is our turn to reciprocate and have him over for a play date - but that will have to wait until we get back from vacation.

Yes - we are going on a vacation!!!! I so cannot wait. We have not gone away as a family for several days for a few years now. We are leaving Friday bright and early for Gatlinburg, TN! One of my most favorite places (plus it holds a dear place in my heart, as it was on a trip to Gatlinburg with the love of my life that we decided we didn't want to live without the other one)! We are going to be spending time with my brother-in-law Brad, Sister-in-Law, Glenda. nephew Brian and Brian's cousin. Originally the boys were suppose to camp while the girls got to stay in the hotel. But like all good plans, they sometimes get altered just as ours has. Now everyone is going to stay in the hotel - we are looking forward to the time away and time to spend with family! We won't be home until Monday evening. While there I get to do a fair amount of shopping - even looking for accessories to go with my new Vera Bradley purse that I received for my birthday - I can hardly wait!

I am hoping to have lots of pictures to post - as I am not only taking my camera, but Rachel's too! Her camera with the memory card can hold over 150 photos. Plus if needed we will have the laptop with us, so I can always download and keep on clicking!

We still don't have a band director - we are praying that we have one by the beginning of school! School is just a few weeks away for our children - 2 of the 3 aren't ready to go back. For those of you that really know our children, I'm sure you can figure out who is ready, and has been ready to go back.

I'm signing off for now, as I have to work on getting my clothes ironed for work tomorrow and my work laundry in the washer (the only thing I'm responsible for washing). I want to be close to being completely packed so that when I come home on Thursday, all we have to do is the finishing touches. I want to be up and out of the house by 6:30 AM - my family thinks I'm nuts, but I am too excited to wait much longer. We have had a few bumps and hills to climb so far this year and this is a much deserved trip for our entire family!

I'll post when we get home from vacation - unless I find a minute to give you all a quick update from beautiful Gatlinburg!