Sunday, September 28, 2014

Our Week

Brother is such a tease!  He’ll come to the edge of the bathtub and act like he’s starting to get out – put his hands on the side and start to raise his leg.  I will say, “Brother, all done?”  And he will squeal and plop back down into the water.  Over and over again.  He thinks he’s so funny! :)

A sweet story about Joy I shared on Facebook:

I was putting Joy to bed and explaining tomorrow to her. Bella won't be going to school with her. Bella is going to the doctor and will join her at school after the appointment. "Della owie? Poor Della. (her word for Bella)" No, no owie, but she'll probably be scared. "Oh, poor Della." Joy said her prayers and I left the room. Next I brought Bella into the room and was putting her down and having prayers with her. From across the room I hear Joy offering her second prayer, "Heavenly Father. Della doctor. Della scared. Della OK. Amen!" Sometimes I swear that kid doesn't hear a word I say, but when she offers prayers in her little sister's behalf that she won't be scared at her doctor's appointment the next day...sweet Joy. How I love you!

And about that doctor’s appointment:

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Her doctor poked and pulled.  Bella had five x-rays.  Bell is always such a puzzle to doctors!  New doc is going to call old doc and figure out what old doc’s plan was so she can continue it.  We’ll go back in three months.  Meanwhile, her leg continues to straighten out.  In that left x-ray, there shouldn’t be an angle, the bones should be straight up and down.  So grateful for progress!

Sam is having fun in her Art class.  Teacher gave them two McDonald’s Happy Meal toys and told them to combine them into a picture.  Here’s Sammi’s.  And it’s her first exploration with water colors.  Fun!

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Nothing quite like a GI bug running through the house, everyone was out at least one day this week.  So grateful for my washer and dryer!

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ECI called and we discussed Brother’s transition to school.  We have two months till he turns three. So we have to go through all of the testing, which I really, really HATE!  But I have to keep in mind the end result – Brother at VIPS.  I shall sign my name and bite my tongue till I can taste blood.

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I’m asking for a good camera for my bday/Christmas so I can start capturing the beautiful Fall colors again.  It really is lovely here.  Reds, yellows, oranges even.

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Evidently a normal KY thing – keep those doors closed!

When Lizzy practices, the little ones, but especially Bella, want to practice too.  Bella signing Violin, music is just too cute for words!

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School work

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I might be using too many sticky notes of late!  Someone has started copying me!2014-09-25 sept 24 001

My favorite part of the day, when I see these three coming around the corner after being dropped off by the bus.

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The girls finally bought their Kammerer hoodies (OK by uniform code).  I didn’t want to spend the $50 until they had decided rather or not they were going to stick it out or come home to home school.  We are adjusting.

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We had to get Sammi’s a long black shirt for her Choir concert (choir dresses provided by KHS choir, but not here) so off to Old Navy we went.  Normally Joy poses with the mannequins, but she wasn’t with us, so Lizzy did our obligatory Old Navy Mannequin pose :)

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Loved it – looked out and these two were playing Animal Ball.  The cat says “meow” (or whatever animal/sound combo) as you toss back and forth.  Joy LOVES this kind of game!

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Sammi brought me home an Autumn leaf – lovely!  Bella practicing!

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Friday Brother and I went out for a short explore! With a wiggly, almost three year old on my hip, capris, tennis shoes, and my phone, I explored!  Loved it!  Three people stopped to ask if we were alright.  Kind Kentuckians who see this beauty every day!

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Ward dinner and dessert auction – my cake went for $60.  Pretty good, but I ended up buying two for $40 each.  All for a good cause!

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On Saturday we went to a VIPS Retreat for Parents.  There were classes about eye conditions, managing stress, and transitioning into school.  Jessi and Lizzy helped with child care.  I was proud of them for volunteering all day long!  Lizzy, of course, made friends instantly and helped out with decorating, serving, and playing with kids.  Jessi stayed in the Respite room, rather than the normal child care room, and held sweet little ones for hour after hour whose medical conditions are a lot more complicated than would be served on the child care side.  Jessi has a presence about her that these little ones respond to.  We call her the baby whisperer.  I look at her and wonder what she’ll decide to pursue for a career.  She is such a compassionate soul.  Meanwhile, Sammi stayed home with Joy.  Poor Joy!  She threw up twice at school on Friday! 

(a rosebud from Jason from our yard)

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Brother and Bella had a good time!

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Bella in the Sensory Room – she loved it!

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Sweet Jessi

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Crazy Lizzy

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During the day Lizzy had an All County Orchestra Workshop for the upcoming All County Auditions.  I have enjoyed getting to know the music educators here, such kind people!  But it’s SO different from Texas.  All County – that means the whole school district since schools are done by county here (crazy system if anyone wants my opinion) – there were five violas for the 7th grade workshop – five.  Lizzy is getting some great personalized instruction!  Makes me sad how many kids are missing out on music!. (sorry about the horrible picture!)

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Sunday Jason and I were sustained as Ward Missionaries, Ward Membership Clerk (Jason), and Compassionate Service Coordinator(me).

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Coming Home Sunday

On the way back from CCK, we took the scenic route, 31E.  I must say we have moved to a beautiful state!  Really, we don’t need to drive out to TN and NC to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. Everything they have, we have in KY (minus the big mountains, but still).  It is beautiful in Kentucky!

I told Jason to make sure and take some pictures – so silly man took a picture of me!

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We stopped at the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.  It is a National Park.  The kids loved the model house that the Lincolns would have lived in.  They loved the simplicity.  Joy just wanted to be in there so she could play!

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I loved this quote from Abraham Lincoln.  Love his humility.2014-09-21 2014-09-21 001 014

They have a walking trail to a monument around a log cabin where Abraham Lincoln was born with 56 steps.  I am grateful they also have a boardwalk so Bella can see it too! 2014-09-21 2014-09-21 001 0152014-09-21 2014-09-21 001 0162014-09-21 2014-09-21 001 017

This was so cool – there is an underground spring right by the house.  You walk down into the coolness.  The temperature change is dramatic.  The water tickling over the rocks, the cave to the left, the cave down below – I know where I would have played if I was a young child with this in my yard!

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Fall has arrived in Louisville.  Cool temperatures and the foliage is changing. I am struggling with two things about this.  1. the temp – I don’t have the clothes to live here folks!  I’ve already worn my warmest clothes.  I am in so much trouble! And shopping for me?  Right there along with getting a root canal!  2. (this one is silly) How can it be fall already?  In Houston I am so over the moon for the changing colors, the reds on trees.  I love it!  I photograph everything! But I think one of the reasons for the rejoicing is to celebrate the fact that we survived another summer!  I can get out of the house.  I am free!  But here the summer is so mild, we only had one or two days where we looked at each other and said, “It’s hot, but it’s not Houston hot.” And now this? Cooler temps and pretty leaves.  It’s silly to say, but I think my mind thinks we haven’t earned this – we haven’t survived another summer of baking and intense heat.  There is no justification for the joy.  Hmm…need to review my puritan thought patterns and just enjoy, because it’s fall.  We didn’t earn this fall, but it is still beautiful and I should still be just as grateful for it as in years past! Chalk it up to mercy and grace and call it good.

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Jason took me for a bike ride.  He found a little church he knew I would love.  Oh my goodness!  It’s actually a chapel in a cemetery.  I love it!  I want to be buried here!  I want my memorial service in this beautiful stone building!  Perhaps morbid, but I love it! I’ll have to go back and get some proper pictures when the sun isn’t setting and casting shadows on everything!

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