Ok...I've been horrible on posts...lol

            Ok...I often sit down and read others blog posts and then go to my page...and find that I don't post. I've also realized I've not posted since....October lol SOoooo with that being said I'm a firm believer in all things are fixable sooo I'll just do a brief summary of events ;)

Nov: We always celebrate Turkey day on Saturday due to our work schedules. I have heard rumors that the overnight working on Thanksgiving might stop next year...fingers crossed. K is a huge helper with meal time and loves to make the green bean (slimy bean lol) casserole even though she does not eat it lol
Dec: S's check up went well and we continue to roll with the punches. Christmas break was excellent for K and the winter so far on the whole isn't horrible. Thankful and blessed to have Eth and Em here for Cmas eve dinner as well as my mother in law etc. The kids always set the tone for the meal (soup, sandwiches) and pick the desserts (this year they wanted pbutter lasagna and black forest cake).
Jan: Back to school for Kaya and another year older for me. Seems like time sure does fly but I'm blessed to see another year in age come..many don't have that blessing.
Feb: Helped with K's Valentines Day party...did ice cream with toppings and it was a hit. This year she's actually had some parents pitch in and for that..I am VERY thankful.
March: Usual fish fry didn't happen due to rain, rain and oh yes rain lol S turned another year older. No wild plans for spring break but glad to have K off for a week. 
April: K and pneumonia...absolutely scariest thing I've faced yet. She never complained, missed only a few days school but..it scared me because it seemed it took forever to get that lung cleared up and that sac to fill with air as it was deflated due to asthma and pneumonia. S was a huge help and I'm thankful to have him be such a hands on daddy. LOVE the new dr we are going to and I think it helps that the dr has the same style of asthma as K so they relate to each other well. She gave us some awesome tips, K is now taking a liquid allergy medicine in the morning and a different pill at night and it helps tremendously. She never lets it stop her that's for sure!
May: School is out :) We now have a third grader, she got several awards and won the Kindness Award which is a HUGE deal at her school. Only one kid out of each grade gets it. She was excited. Hard to believe she'll now go to the intermediate building!! She's growing too fast.
 June: K turned...9!! Man alive where has time went. Rented the pool for a big party next month and she can't wait. Fun month of no schedules for school and just my schooling
July: Shocked K to the core...her Uncle J and Aunt A came home from Cali for a week visit :) She was on cloud nine...as all of us were! First time he's been home in close to five years due to work, school, military time etc and A's first time to IN. We had such a fun packed seven days and so many memories made. I can say I really love my sister in law and I'm so happy to see my baby brother...happy, in love and content. 9 year checkup shows a healthy girl, asthma well managed and she's 4ft 7 and a half. Dr said everything looked well and to keep on track. K's a tall girl for sure! K was not so excited over the Dr saying things are going to start happening like the beginning of puberty and all that jazz...K just doesn't have time for that ;) LOL
And now...for August lol: School starts back soon. She's nervous a lil, we are nervous a lil and hoping for a great year. Some big changes occuring. Garden is going well but I can say I wish we had done a bigger one here with veggies instead of doing it all at Dad's lol Here we did just gourds and pumpkins, down there we did a bit of everything. S has had some issues with his shot...and he's toying with changing meds. Hate having to deal with insurance and hate he has to feel like crap from some of the side effects. But...he's positive and keeps going.
  SOoo summer was excellent. Lots of things were done...smore's were ate, bonfires had, fishing done, lots of laughter, the 4h fair, fun events and just....being in the now and together. Couldn't ask for more!! 

Parent teacher conference and report cards

     Thankful K's Mammaw W went with her to gymnastics as her class was nearly the same time as our parent teacher conference.
    The conference was excellent. We both really like K's teacher this year and after chatting with her...we totally understand why K loves her so much! She's funny, outgoing, down to earth and into all animals and bugs. You know K loves that ;)
    K scored above standard on almost all her tests and the teacher said at one point she had to start K midway through the test vs the beginning as most kids because she was getting the answers too fast!! Very thankful for K's good marks, good conference and an involved teacher!
  We've been lucky that we have liked all of K's teachers (minus one teacher assistant) but this years teacher just seems to be on point. The class is well mixed instead of how her last two years (same kids) and I think honestly K likes the mix better! All the kids get along well, few behavior issues and the teacher keeps all the kids on the same page and involved.
  K's faves so far of second grade:
 Lunch: Chicken and noodle day
Breakfast at school: ooohh the breakfast pizza or fundle
Subject: hmmm all of them but I really like math and science
Area to improve: I've got to start being neater and take my time writing
Fave classroom thing: The Fox Theater (she LOVES puppets) and the two class pets....hissing
            cockroaches!!
Goals for Second grade: to do my very best, write neater, and really show my teacher what I can do!
   Hard to believe we are in full swing of a second grader!!!!!

October party

beside our porch

my desert table centerpiece 

chocolate rats 

One of the food tables. Deep fried turkey, Cajun loin, chicken tenders,
catfish, little smokies, fried corn, baked beans, cheesy potato casserole,
cheese ball, crackers, apple bake, pecan pie, black forest cake.  Nobody
went home hungry lol and we sent plates with everyone (we did the meal
pitch in style for sides) as well as some family that couldn't make it and
our neighbors :) 

menu board ;) 

Drinks (pop, water, cider, sweet tea and Octoberfest). The hot chocolate was the biggest hit complete with
cool whip for the top ;) 

Fun day at the Pumpkin Patch

The girls finding just the right pumpkin 

train ride through the corn fields

hay bale mazes

Emily spent the weekend so we decided on Sunday to take both girls to the local pumpkin patch. K thought she was super cool to have her big cousin hang out with her and E had a great time too! E won the pumpkin contest we have between ourselves every year and toted home an almost 33 lb pumpkin. She was just happy to beat S! lol K's favorite ride hands down was the King Swings. She loved flying through the air and going up and down. Said she felt "free" lol She did the trampoline jump, bouncy house, train ride, hayride, bungee jump thing, climbed everything imaginable, did the Orbitron (she didn't like it), met the Corn Cob guy and just had a great time. She was one tired girl on the ride home!! E spent the whole day with us till time for her to head home for Sunday dinner with her side of the family. Very thankful to have her and that K has her in her life. 

Finally October!!

     And what a fitting, beautiful picture for the first day of October. Woke up to a super foggy morning and snapped this picture while running errands in town!
    We are total fall nuts and Halloween is our favorite time of year. Ghosts and pumpkin cut out sandwiches begin to appear in lunch boxes ;) and we just have a good time with this time of year. It means growing our own pumpkins but still visiting the local pumpkin patch, hot chocolate and smores by the firepit, apple cider, comfort food, leaves changing, that magic feeling in the air and just...Fall in general!! Our pumpkins came out a beautiful almost dream cycle color this year! And our patch is booming with them!! K is a total pumpkin nut and we have them everywhere!!! You have to have pumpkins, spooky things, mums and lots of fun!!
   

Accomplishments!!!

   K's a natural on the trampoline, can do her balance beam, can do a backbend super easy but was having issues with a cartwheel. Well she's doing great now on her cartwheel and she has got to ring the bell twice the last few weeks (ringing the bell means you've made an improvement, you get to show the whole class and everyone claps). I'm VERY proud of her accomplishments but I'm most proud of her working so hard, staying positive and all the girls encouraging each other! 

One excited girl!

    K's teacher gives green tickets for each day a child does well and attends school, for good behavior, for a good deed or paper etc. The kids once a month can cash in what they have and purchase from the goody box using all or some of their tickets. They can roll over any tickets they have for the next month.
  As soon as K spotted "Julie" in the box she had to have her. My child LOVES puppets. The teacher makes them and K just thought she was gorgeous. Even better was the teacher told her to practice and then she can bring Julie back to school for a show!!!

Traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial

   We were thankful to be able to catch the Traveling Vietnam Wall Memorial on the last day of the festival. The small town over from us was picked to have the exhibit and with K being older, we wanted her to see it. S has never seen the real wall and was just as excited to see it. I've seen the real one in D.C and I can say.....both are humbling and thought provoking.
   K asked what all the names were for and we explained it. She knew immediately what the rifle in the boot was for from seeing pics from her Uncle. I can say I was very proud when she said "Everyone should see this and realize that these men died".
  We took a rubbing off the wall of our family friend. Very sad to see so many names on those walls and how today many people have no idea what and why they died for. It was nice too that many families who have a loved one on the wall, but can't afford to go to D.C. or just can't make the trip.
  I hope that all the people that came to the festival took some time out of riding rides, talking, eating and such and paid their respect. 

Two things that say fall around here...

   It's persimmons and pumpkins lol There is NOTHING, and I mean nothing like the smell of persimmons as you process them! It's a seasonal flavor and favorite. Persimmon pudding with a big dollop of Cool Whip is a family favorite. I'm thankful to have my "new to me" pulper even if it is a hand crank. Much better than how I've always done them (pushed through a colander) and how many still do it. Thankful for S's cousin letting me have all the persimmons I want off his property because I'm nice and send him over plates every couple weekends....and I supply him with a pudding ;) 

First full month of school

   We have our first full month of Second grade in. It's been a bit of a change as far as teacher expectations. More writing, complete answers with explanations but all around a great month! K is doing excellent and not only loves her classmates but thinks the world of her teacher.
  I like that this year they mixed up the class more with only maybe 2 from K's last years class. For 2 years it had been almost the same core group, which was good for friendships, but issues tended to run over from one year to the next.
  I like Mrs. F's style, her attitude and her expectations. So here's to a school year off and running!!!!

Family reunion

  We had a wonderful time at the family reunion. Loved seeing everyone, K had a blast and there was far too much wonderful food. I won a new crock pot for "Best Dessert" for my Heath cake :) and S made some awesome Cajun pork loin. Everyone made some great dishes.
   Was odd not having Grandma Lucille smiling from her chair but I think she'd say we are one crazy bunch lol 

Great ending to a great day

A visit with K's great Uncle

   My Uncle has had a very hard time since my Aunt passed unexpectedly this summer. They have been together for many, many years and since my Uncle had retired it was the two of them doing most things together. It's been hard on us all seeing him have his hard days and I'm very thankful for my cousin and how strong she has been for her Dad.
  I was lucky enough to grow up with this Aunt and Uncle. Alot lol Their daughter and I are exactly a month apart and we split every holiday (half at her house, half at mine) and we split the summer the same way. So technically both sets of parents had twins lol I've always loved my Uncle very much and I'm thankful that K gets to be in his life as well.
  So it was a fun day of laughing, walking the dogs, and having fun! 

End of summer party

    One thing I love about my family is that we not only enjoy eating lol but we enjoy getting together for big meals.
   In August we do a fish fry for the end of summer and summer birthdays. My uncle and aunt provide the catfish, chicken and shrimp and my Uncle does the frying. Then we all pitch in sides and desserts.
  The weather was very hot but I'm thankful that K gets family time and lots of cousin time. I'm also thankful that my husband loves the get-togethers just as much as I do!
   This year it was a bit different. A cousin and her family moved and didn't attend but we all still had a good time. The best thing was my Uncle getting his bday gift a few months early! When he was younger my grandpa on my Dad's side sold my grandpa on my Mom's side a horse and saddle. My Uncle loved that horse and he stayed on the farm until he passed. The saddle had been put up, along with all those memories for many years. My cousins got together and had the saddle restored to how it originally was. You rarely ever see my Uncle cry but the tears were flowing today! My aunts and my Mom cried too. 

Gymnastics is underway

    To say K loves gymnastics is an understatement! She's always been a little monkey and very brave doing anything, can work a trampoline like nobody's business and loves to be active. When a friend at work said her friend was opening up a place on the square, decent priced, good staffing and flexible class times (I wanted something after work but not so late she would be dragging to bed) we asked K if she'd like to do it. Of course it was YESSSSS!!! We told her she has to keep her school grades up, any homework has to be done before she goes to her class and she has to remember it's the first time she's ever been.
   The class has all ages and sizes and I am very impressed with the staffs hands on approach, fairness and ability to work with the girls.
  We go for two months then you can sign back up for another two months (same time slot or another if preferred) with preference given to the girls who are in the class first.
   My only thought was parking would be nutty at the time of our class on the square but so far so good. 

It's always a good day for a peach pie

    S loves peach anything with peach pie or cobbler being his favorite. So being the sweet wife I am ;) I tried out a new recipe. It was a hit!
    1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4-1/2 cups sliced peeled peaches (you can use canned)
Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches) 
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
Mix your sugars together in a bowl add sliced peaches (If you use can, drain any liquid into another bowl then add peaches to sugars). Let sit hour if you use fresh peaches, half hour if you use canned. Drain fluid off of peaches into bowl (in with the previous liquid if using canned). Sit peaches to the side. In a sauce pan put cornstarch, nutmeg and cinnamon, stir together. Add reserved juice, mix (I used a whisk). Bring to a boil then let boil for 2 minutes. It will get thick and almost like a thick sauce. Remove from heat, add lemon juice and butter, mix well. Pour over peaches in bowl, gently mix together. Pour peaches into pie shell, add top pie shell and bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 mins. Let cool. 

The Good Life

   Our garden and our chickens love us :) Fresh green beans, tomatoes, purple bell peppers, cucumbers, chocolate mint, and brown eggs. Add in we have a massive amount of Thai chilies coming on and lots of jalapenos in the fridge!! Our garden didn't do as well this year as last year but the heat/rain has been rough. Our sweet little hens slacked off a bit last month with the heat etc but seem to be bouncing back. Thankful our girl knows where her food comes from....and the elbow grease it takes to get it. I feel that makes her appreciate what is on her plate a bit more :) 

Love this picture

Nearly every Sunday on the way back from my Dad's we stop at the river or the slough in hopes of seeing creatures or just something neat. This time we managed to catch a crane and a turtle in the same picture! 

First day of school

  Open house last night went well. One nervous girl who wasn't so sure about her teacher instantly smiled and relaxed seeing the picture of a spider on the teacher's desk. Why? Because the teacher has the same interests as her and immediately sparked a conversation. Pencils, crayons, glue, scissors, kleenex and all the fun needed supplies dropped off...and one lil girl much more at ease!
    I did excellent on the first day....something just got in my eye on the way back down the staircase after leaving her ;) Of course my sweet husband had to tease me a bit. But..it's not easy. But to say I'm proud and excited for her is an understatement.
   She excitedly informed us of all her class fun, how things would work, that she likes the kids sitting by her and that she thinks her teacher is going to be awesome. Apparently the PE teacher grew a beard and that not only makes him approachable but also makes him more fun...yeah lol  She loves that art will be an hour this year. I am almost certain her mouth did not shut all evening!! :) :) 

Well...it's August...

     Seems the summer has flew by. Here we sit, last weekend before school officially starts late next week. It's been insanely hot, humidity has been out the top. When it's not so hot you feel you'll melt away then it's raining. Very interesting summer.
     In a mere 5 days you will be a ..second grader. Gulp. Yes. A second grader. You are the "senior class" of your elementary school and your classroom is upstairs. I'm trying hard to see the new year through your eyes. Excitement, fun, new things, new friends, old friends, class trips and the feeling of being big. I'm proud of your independence and our wings grow with yours. But..I can admit through a Mamma's and Daddy's eyes...it's a bit harder.
     I can say we've had a fun, wild summer! We've managed to do something every single weekend of the summer. You've watched two movies in the local theater that you loved. You've had a wonderful belated birthday pool party with all your cousins splashing along with you (really...that permanent smile you wore all day made our day!!). You've had ice cream on the front porch. Played in the creek, played in your pool. We've hit farmer's markets and quirky little places along the way. You've had cousins stay all nights many nights this summer. You've went to cousins houses and played. We've watched the stars. We've hiked trails, had long walks...and even better long talks.
  We've had smores and read stories. We've snuggled in bed and watched movies. We've talked to your Uncle and his gfriend (your buddy) who seems so far away when we look on a map...but oh so close in your heart and ours :) We've went to the fair and to festivals. We've played in the rain, splatted in the mud. We've danced to the radio and we've done yoga. We've done one of the most important things...we've been together <3
  We've enjoyed every single day of summer. And..we'll enjoy every single day of the school year.