Playing Catch Up... May 2013

The following 3 collages are from the last Keepers/Contenders meeting. We had an ice cream party at the park. I have no idea what the future olds for Keepers so this last hurrah was great. The last set clearly shows Rebecca in her competitive mode. She has to find something to challenge others- in this case, a simple running group pic turned into a race between her and AJ.

 

 

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Memorial Day Weekend was a busy one for this year. We drove up to Northern VA to celebrate Jay's grandmother's 90th birthday. We spent Friday at The Nation Museum of Marine Corps. It was an amazing experience and quite educational- even though we had finished school 2 days prior.  Here are some photos from our museum trip. Rebecca had her camera and took lots of great pictures, too, but these are all mine. One day I might get around to sharing her wonderful photos.

 

 

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This next set is from the birthday celebration with Jay's side of the family. It was so nice to get to spend a couple of days with them. It made me realize how caught up in our everyday life and neglect spending time with those that really matter. With so many of his out-of-state family moving in state, we are going to have to make it a priority to keep in touch. I'm thinking family trip to Busch Gardens!

*Sorry these pictures are so small.

 

 

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Last part of Memorial Day Weekend: A relaxing day with friends at the lake.

 

*** Next time... My pc battery is dying. I will finis these late***

 

Can you believe it's been 16 years?!?!

Field Day 2013

The girls along with a couple special friends participated in homeschool field day.

They had a great time in each event and won several ribbons.

Some of the events included balloon toss, wheel barrel race, 40 yd dash, hula hoop contest, jump rope contest, a beach dress up race, limbo, egg in a spoon race and a few others that slip my mind right now.

The weather was beautiful and the day made complete with picnic with pals.

Busch Gardens

We have had Busch Gardens passes for 8 going on 9 seasons.

Emily was such a baby when we first started going. I really wish I had some pictures from those early years but that was before I converted to digital. Sadly, a lot of precious times are lost in the world of film.

Anyways, I have been pushing the girls to get school done, day after day with hardly any days off since Christmas. Even when public school had days off for holidays, work days or snow days, we persevered. I promised the girls that this spring would be different. We would use our BG passes and go as much as possible before public school lets out for the summer. I picked today as the day for us to celebrate spring. Little did I know that it would be freezing!

Regardless, I woke everyone up at regular school time, bundled up, and headed to BG. Even though it was very cold (39* when we got there), it was a lot of fun. Jay took today off and we had a great spring day.

 We took Rebecca's camera that she got for Christmas, and went a little overboard with the photo taking.

But at least we have pictures to look back on.

I didn't realize it at the time, but I monopolized Rebecca's camera. I gave it back to her and she surprised me by taking lots of pictures. She enjoyed taking pictures of the animals and all of the flora and fauna.

She did a pretty good job and loved to be praised over her great photography skills.

Now to pick the next day to go and hope that the weather cooperates better!

Grandma Turns 90!

My beautiful grandma is my hero!

Words cannot describe how much I love, adore and admire her.

She has been a rock in my life from the very get go regardless of how I treated her as a bratty teenager.

My best childhood memories include the summers spent with my grandparents.

Our family had a small get together to celebrate this momentous day.

We had lunch at Ruby Tuesdays with my aunt, uncle, mom, sister and her 2 children, and my 2 cuties.

Madison was definitely the entertainment at lunch.

Some funny moments include when she got mad at Rebecca and me and decided to just walk away, and when she found a broom and decided it was her mission to clean up the mess that her little brother made.

After lunch, we went back to my aunts  house where all the great-grand kids did some more entertaining, whether it be after the cat, playing on the piano, or stomping on the hardwood stairs.

We had to rush home due to prior engagements and that was sad, but I am so glad for the few precious hours that we were able to spend with her on her 90th birthday.

Valentine's Day Party with Friends



2013 Missionary Dinner

One of the reasons we love our church so much is the fact that the pastor is passionate about missions. 

He has traveled around the world, helping other pastors in the mission field.

Each year, we have a Missions emphasis month. The last weekend of the month, we have several missionaries who are still on deputation, in need of support, come to our church. We have an International Finger Food Fellowship where each country is represented. The Sunday School classes take a country or region and decorate tables along with preparing food from that country. The missionaries also set up their tables with their info, prayer cards, etc and we have great fellowship as a church.

This year, Rebecca took her camera and  I'm proud to share her pictures with you.

The girls with some of their friends.

 Some of the many tables that were set up.These pictures do not do justice for what was presented tonight.

Maybe because she took these during the end of the prep stage, but some people really out did themselves.

Also, each year, the country changes and they are given just a couple short weeks to prepare. They do a great job decorating. Even though some of the food is questionable, most of it is actually very good.

Matt attempting to eat a balut.

Let me explain...

Several years ago, after a missions trip to the Philippines where the Pastor and some men had eaten balut, they challenged others in our church to try it.

A sweet little Filipino lady each year gets 20 balut and chocolate candy bars to chase the taste down although she says it is to enhance the flavor.

Rebecca just happened to be right across from Mr. Matt as he was attempting to eat one. He had the "soup" but after that, he had to stop. He put it on the table where the man across from him gobbled it up.

YUCK!

If you do not know what balut is and you have a strong stomach, you can look here.

If not, just don't worry about it.

Emily so wanted to try one but I had to put my foot down and say NO. Someone even offered me money to allow her.

Thankfully, that is one time I did not succumb to peer pressure- even after he upped the ante to $5.25! HA