What we're reading this week...

Jason and I are still reading the same books. I'm not so sure what I think about my selection; it's pretty different. However, I'm so tired at night when I read that I'm only getting about 5 pages at a time and then have to re-read some the next night. So, I'm not giving up on it yet, although there have been some pretty bizarre happenings.

Happy Reading!

(Click on the image to link to Amazon's website for reviews and/or to order.)

Jason's reading...

(If you haven't read this book, get it now!)

My reading...

(a little strange)

Emily's reading...

Ben's reading...

(one of my kids' favorites...

in fact, anything by Iza Trapani is a winner...

awesome illustrations!)

Abby's reading...

(one of her favorites...very cute!)

First Day!

Today is Abby's first day of "school". She's going to school one day a week at a church close to our house. Abby's very excited; Mommy's a little sad...

This is my last first day of preschool...now, if we could just get the potty training done, I think I'll definitely be happy about the last diaper change!

He loves me ALWAYS!

Benjamin is a very perceptive and sensitive little boy. He and Jason had a conversation today that went something like this...

Ben:      Daddy, I love you.

Jason:   Ben, I love you, too.

Ben:     Daddy, I love you ALWAYS.

Jason:   Ben, I love you ALWAYS, too.

Ben:     That's the same thing God does. He loves us ALWAYS, too.

Jason:   (choke, choke) Yes, Ben, you're right, He does!

Melt my heart! Maybe, we're doing ok as parents if our 5-year-old knows this and will declare it without prompting...definitely a proud parent moment mixed in with some relief (maybe he's getting some of what we teach!) mixed in with a gush of love!! 

This is a conversation I do not want to forget!

You cling to this knowledge, little Ben! One day, when the weight of the world is on your shoulders, remember what you knew when you were 5...God loves you ALWAYS!

Website Wednesday!

Starting something new today with my blog...Website Wednesday. Each week, on Wednesday, I will share a website that I've found to benefit me and/or my family in some way, be it something silly and fun to something meaningful to something practical or just simply worth reading. I'm going to begin with a website that Jason and I use frequently when considering a movie for ourselves or our kids to see: Common Sense Media.

From the website's stated Mission: 

Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families.

We exist because media and entertainment profoundly impact the social, emotional, and physical development of our nation's children. As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, we provide trustworthy information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.

This website reviews movies, websites, books, music, tv, and games. If you are looking for a review and don't see it, simply email them and they will get to work on getting one posted. You do have the option of registering, but it is not necessary as you can always click "no".

Happy Wednesday!

So big!

Second grade is so much fun! I can't believe the difference between first grade and second grade in the area of independence. I must begin with the best purchase we've made...an alarm clock! I thought surely the newness would wear off after about a week and the alarm would be turned off, making it necessary for me to wake a very difficult-to-wake Em. However, she still bounces up when the alarm sounds, immediately dresses (thank God for uniforms!), comes downstairs and fixes her own breakfast (cereal)! 

Ask Emily what's great about second grade and she will tell you two things; checking out 3 books at the library (last year, it was 2) and learning how to write in cursive! Ask Mommy what's great about second grade and I'm sticking with the alarm clock!

What we're reading this week...

Last week was a busy week! Thanks to no cable, though, we still have time for reading. I'm really liking not having cable..what a waste of money it's been! If there's a tv show that Jason and I really want to see, like LOST or Heroes, we can watch the newest show on the internet the day after or download the episode from iTunes. That's still a huge monthly savings! We're still watching House, thanks to Netflix...love that show! House is so hornery!

So, here's what we're reading this week...

(Click on the images to link to Amazon's website for reviews and/or to purchase.)

Jason's reading...

(It's a MUST read!)

My reading...

(This is a new genre for me...this is from the author of Wicked...just started the book so not sure what to expect, although it seems to be a little dark...it's a twist on the story of "Snow White".)

Emily's reading...

Ben's reading...

(sticking with animals again...this is the book he checked out at the library...)

Abby's reading.

(Cute book!)

Happy Reading!

Weekend Recap...

This weekend was beautiful! We were productive and enjoyed the outdoors all at the same time. We spent most of Saturday working in the front yard, trimming hedges, pulling weeds and getting the beds ready to plant mums next weekend. We did plant some violas and they're so pretty! The kids enjoyed being outside. Emily did a nature project by spelling her name with things she found in the yard while Ben and Abby duked it out in the sandbox...I think Ben won! 

From there, we all made the trek to the "orange store" or "Home Decoe" as Abby calls it. Because the kids were so good in Home Decoe, we treated them to some yummy custard at East Coast Custard and finished the day with dinner on the grill! Sunday morning, we visited a church close to our home, but were very disappointed in the service. I'm even ashamed to say that we left before the service was over...we've NEVER done that! 

I love productive weekends!

Goodbye Summer!

Monday is the first official day of Fall, although we have seen glimpses of him as he's moving closer. The temps this week have been awesome...cool at night and in the morning and perfect in the late morning through the afternoon. My windows have been open every day this week! It's kind of funny this time though, knowing what comes after Fall leaves me a little regretful that summer is over. We loved the Winter last year, but didn't like that it lasted through April. However, Fall is my new favorite season and I'm so thankful to experience it again!

Yummy grilled corn on the cob 

was one of our favorite summer foods!

Mel through the years...yikes!

So it seems some of you feel sorry for Jason being the only one with the retro glamour shots (Yearbook Yourself), so to appease you, here you go...

1964

1968

1976

1984

1986

1994

1996

Website Wednesday!

Ok, so I know it's actually Thursday night, but I'm going to start something new on my blog. Beginning next week, I will post a website that I've found that I think will benefit you in some way. This may be anything from a silly site to a meaningful site, something for kids, big and small! So, check here on Wednesdays for Website Wednesday. Here's an example of what you might find...

Yearbook Yourself

This website is hilarious! Just upload a picture of yourself (or your husband, poor Jason!) and see what your yearbook picture would have looked like all the way back to 1950! This site will easily take the place of your afternoon chores if you let it. However, it will bring great laughter to you, your family and friends. 

So, here's what I did this afternoon instead of laundry...

1952

1960

1970

1976

1984

1988

1990

1994

2000

Isn't he hot?

He found us!

So, I guess Ike didn't want us to feel left out being that we moved out of hurricane territory a little over a year ago. He passed by yesterday, waving gloriously with winds up to 80 mph in some areas. Lots of trees down this morning as well as power lines caused our drive to school to be somewhat of an obstacle course. Please continue to pray for those in Texas who remain without power and water. Texas is not a place I would want to be right now without power. Praise God that Ike was not as powerful as he set out to be!