Mural, Mural on the Wall

Abby's class worked hard this winter, painting a mural with the sixth graders that is now proudly on display in downtown Fairborn.  This afternoon we went down to check it out in person....

Great job, kids!

Kudos to Miss Duling & Mr. Ferguson for their hard work and dedication to this project.  You helped teach your students to take pride in their community.  They made their community proud!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I wasn't fond of high gas prices before, but then I filled up The Beast.  Gulp!

2. Yesterday Lauren & I stopped by Abby's school to take in the few remaining minutes of their Field Day.  In typical Miss Duling fashion, she invited Lauren to join in the fun....

{Just One of the Kindergartners}

{Abby Tosses the Frisbee}

{Lauren Tosses the Frisbee}

3. I'm not joking when I say these might be the most clever cupcakes I've ever stumbled upon....

{http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Btxc4/www.everydaycelebrating.com/2009/06/cookie-monster-cupcakes.html}

4. I love kid humor. Yesterday I told Lauren Mr. Sun kissed her face.  She giggled about that one for a good two minutes.

5. Confession Alert: The only time I'm truly at peace is when the girls are sleeping.  I could watch them for hours.

6. Whomever chooses the music on FOX and Friends to accompany the teaser as it leads into a commercial break.... Thanks for the laugh.  Your clever picks are always rousing.

7. Abby's grown an inch this school year. That inch holds a lot of knowledge & new experiences!

{Off to School for the Last Time as a Kindergartner}

{Next Stop: First Grade!}

8. I knew vinegar had great uses outside of the kitchen, but I didn't know that it can extend the life of your manicure by swiping it on your fingernails before painting them. For 44 other clever uses visit: http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/organizing-cleaning/36-uses-for-vinegar-00400000051753/.

9. I truly hate caulking.

10. A day and a half and it's "Adios, Ohio!" for the summer.  Surprisingly, it's hard to get too excited when there's still plenty of work to be done between now and then.  Now, off to work....

Sun Day Slip 'n Slide

Sunday we celebrated Father's Day.  Since the four of us will not be together on the calendar's offical date, we opted to hand-pick our own.  His girls gathered around the family room, Geoff opened up a few priceless goodies.... UMD championship memorabilia!  Then with Geoff off breakfast duty, we took our morning appetites to the Waffle House.

After that it was fun in the sun.  Geoff set up the Slip 'n Slide and the girls spent all day splashing in the yard.

[Remember to pause the play list in the right column to hear video.]

{The Hi-Tootsie Line Up.... My Girls!}

{Slip Slidin' Sisters}

{Knee Board}

{Belly Fly}

Start Your Summer On the Right Foot

In my quest for the perfect end of the year teacher thank you gift, I decided starting them off on the right foot for summer was the way to go.

Abby's teacher accessorises with eye-catching flip flops, so we fancied up a simple pair, and the natural match was a pretty beach towel!  I personalized each set.... Abby's teacher getting her favorite Swedish Fish & a crafty basket, Lauren's playful & fun-loving teacher getting a squirt gun.

I'm sure they're both ready for summer regardless of the token of thanks, but this will be their extra incentive for playful fun!

{+a Clipboard for Abby's Awesome Principal=a Table of Fun}

Happy Summer Teachers....

See you on the flip side!

Flashback Friday

Today's the day.... Lauren's last day of preschool.  Yikes!  Where did this school year go?

It's hard to believe just a few short years ago my well-behaved school girl spent more time decorating her face than she did any other medium.

November 11, 2007

Thank You Thursday

1. I'm so thankful for my kid with the big heart. Yesterday Lauren overheard a conversation I was having with her teacher about how she decided to work this summer to help replenish the savings they had to dip into when her husband lost his job last fall.  Later that afternoon she brought me a dime and said, "I am going to give this to Miss Lisa. It's for Tim."  This mama's heart swelled with pride.

2. I'm thankful for the kind and caring people I've surrounded myself with here in Ohio.  I pick on these nutty Buckeye lovers, but the truth is, they're great people to the core.

3. Thank you, Abby, for giving me a report of Daddy's behavior last night while I was at book club.  Give the little lady a job in your absence and she's happy as a clam to see you go.  Totally forgot that I'd given it to her until she brought the report to me first thing in the morning; bless her heart.

4. I'm thankful for the beautiful day we have today. Sunshine, not too hot.... great day for a school picnic!

5. I'm thankful for the humor that oozes out of our toddlers.  I'm pretty sure 99.9% of it is not intended to generate a laugh, but boy do they know how to make two grown women giggle.  Thanks little buddies, I'm going to miss you over the summer!

{Between the Pages: "Heaven is for Real"}

Heaven is for Real is the real life story of a little boy who came closer to death than even his family realized.  What was offered as a casual question on a family road trip turned into the initial unfolding of Colton Burpo's encounter with Heaven.

In this real life tale, Todd Burpo tells the story of his family and the events that brought them to a faith-questioning brink, their journey back, and the experiences of their young child's glorious visit with Jesus, God, the angels, and some special loved ones in the afterlife.

I was intrigued about the premise of this story when I first heard about it a few months back.  Growing up a Christian, I believe in Jesus and Heaven because it was indoctrinated into my religious education; it was what I was taught to believe.  As I have grown older and wiser, life experiences have helped shape & strengthen this belief.  For me the most powerful part of this book was hearing the story relayed through human eyes.  It isn't a story that preaches religion.  It isn't a story tries to sway belief.  It is simply the story of this family's heartbreak and heroism, and somewhere in it all a little boy gives an incredible gift of hope and peace through his brush with death.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story of hope, a story about what Heaven is really like, and/or a story of the power of love and prayer.  It is a quick and easy read that will give you faith in all the good the world has to offer.

I didn't need the book to convince me, but I'm certainly a believer that Heaven is for real!