School's In!

As I was checking and re-checking each kiddo's backpack late Sunday night, I couldn't stop smiling at this...

The original art smock, first used by Kenzie, who is now 15! My memory escapes me as to why I don't have Kolton's, but I'm thinking it could have been the subject of a random experiment :)

First day of school.

Mr. I-have-to-leave-earlier-than-everyone-else-for-football-workouts. Kolton Tee, complete with coffee cup, cowboy kicks and wheels~

The bus riding gang, with Daddy as the driver.
Kenzie, who will soon have her driver's permit (no way!!!); Kayden, Kinley, Kaeleb and Kambry~

And the homeboy hanging out with Mom for daily lessons.

Kooper~

That's the school crew.

I promise, vacation pix next. But I just want to go through them and soak in the memories!

Summer School

My summer school grade is posted ~
I loved my Practice with Individuals class!
I was challenged like never before.
I learned interview skills...and then put them into practice.
And then I took the final and got a 100 and wrote my second APA formatted paper, and got a 97 on it.
Yes, I loved it!
And this makes the next logical decision more difficult...

97.5%!!!!!!

I just finished the mid-term I was most anxious about...and got a 97.5%. I'll take it!!!
This morning I asked the Lord to help me recall things I didn't even know I knew :)
Thank You, JESUS!!!
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement!
And now I have two more tests to prepare for...and a term paper to write...

Mid Terms!?!

This week is mid term exams. Ack!
Not gonna lie...I'm anxious.
It's been 20 some A LOT OF years since I sat for mid terms.

I'm trying to look at the week in hour by hour day by day increments. It's a little easier to swallow.

I do feel good about a few things, like adding exercise back into my mornings, Weight Watchers and reading ahead in B90X.

And if I need a dose of super-human strength (and I will), I know exactly where to find it :)

Getting My Groove On

S.l.o.w.l.y. but surely I'm getting my groove in school.

I've come to realize that every spare minute that I'm not preparing a meal, doing laundry, going to work, changing diapers, watching a ball game or checking kids' homework needs to be spent reading, completing assignments, taking quizzes, assembling power points and writing papers.

So far, so good!

I actually love school, and although I never knew what it was called until now, I've finally found what I want to do the rest of my working life! How I wish I only had 45 hours to complete, instead of 70...

School ...and a Recipe!

Yes, she's sleeping...standing up!

Three weeks of all-day Pre-K for a gal who does NOT take advantage of her Kinder Mat (oh, give me that mat!), has taken its toll. After emptying the trash can to find some good reading material she's had it!

That's kinda the way I feel after 2 hours of science and geography homework with my precious teen who doesn't understand a lick of what we're doing. I'm learning more than I even knew I forgot!

And now for the recipe. This is not mine ~ I got it from my friend Brandon, and it's so easy and yummy I have to share it!

Chicken & Rice

1 lb cooked, cubed chicken

1 cup rice, uncooked

1 package Lipton Onion Soup mix

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup water

Mix all ingredients and place in a greased 9x13 pan. Cover and bake at 350 for 1.5 hours or until rice is done, removing foil the last few minutes for browning.

*I doubled this, and it needed a little more water. But we ate it all - gulp! It was delicious!!! Thanks, Brandon!

Joy, Joy, Joy!

Can you see why we just had to name our precious one Joy (Kasidi Joy)?!? Yes, we are completely in love with her and would hop the next flight to Ch*na if it weren't for all the paperwork and fundraising.

We are plowing through the paperwork as fast as humanly possible and wracking our brains for creative fundraising ideas. Of course, we are currently holding the Netbook drawing ~ thanks to those who have given! We are still really short of our goal, but we've handed this over to the Lord. After all, when He breaks our hearts for the things that break His and leads us down His path, He paves the way!

And speaking of Joy, candle supplies have been ordered and are on their way! Hopefully within a week I'll be making the fragrant treasures! We've got some other cool ideas too so stay tuned!

I really need to do a 'catch-up' post on everything that's been going on the last week of school ~ softball, homework, livestock shows, homework, football, homework...