2008-2009 Awards Day

The boys had Awards Day yesterday at school. I am always proud of them but yesterday especially so. They were well behaved and modest about their awards. I can't say enough good things about both of their teachers this year. Both boys have flourished under their guidance. Dennis and I both attended and then went back to work. It was a good day for all of us.

Deniska's awards:
Perfect Attendance (3 years)
Exceptional Academic Improvement
Service Award (given for community service)
Rocketmath
100 Book Challenge Achievement Award - 300 Steps of Reading
2nd Grade Excellence in Writing
Core Essential Award in Generosity
Governor's Reading Honor Roll
PE Award for Rope Climbing

Nikolai's awards:
Perfect Attendance (2 years)
Service Award (given for community service)
Rocketmath
100 Book Challenge Achievement Award - 300 Steps of Reading
2nd Grade Excellence in Math
Core Essential Award in Determination
Governor's Reading Honor Roll
PE Award for Rope Climbing

Memorial Day

Psalm 91

The Soldier’s Psalm

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust."
God will rescue you from the fowler's snare, from the destroying plague,
Will shelter you with pinions, spread wings that you may take refuge; God's faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon.
Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.
You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.
You have the LORD for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold.
No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent.
For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.
With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.
Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.
All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with them in distress; I will deliver them and give them honor.
With length of days I will satisfy them and show them my saving power.

New Haircuts

My babies are not babies anymore!

sweet pictures

These are pictures from our mini vacation to Myrtle Beach that we took in April. I finally downloaded them to my computer from the camera. I know, I'm a slacker!

This was from our balcony on the last day (the ONLY day that the sun was shining!) Isn't this pretty?

It was C-O-L-D at the beach. But, we felt obligated to take the boys for a stroll on the beach since we were there. They don't get to see the beach often. The beach also had lots of broken shells, many that we brought home with us.

Putt-Putt, my favorite activity, was fun. We all enjoyed it except for Nikolai. He appointed himself to be the wet blanket on this activity! Papa won - of course. At least that's what I told him!

Swimming fun...

Not a happy camper - he was mad because he wanted to swim in the other pool.

I don't know why this picture was so fuzzy. I realized this is the only fairly good picture I have of Deniska in the pool. He is in constant motion unless I just MAKE him pose.

We had such a good time. I can't wait to go back.

I am so Disappointed

Today, at school, someone stole my iPod off my desk. I am so disappointed and upset. I used this i-pod for my students. It had audiobooks downloaded to it and we listened to it everyday. I kept Attendance School this afternoon and I suspect one of those students took it. I am always disappointed when a student steals from me. It hurts my feelings and it steals from them too. It steals their integrity and a part of their soul. I know in the scheme of life, this is a small thing. It still hurts.

Missing my brother

This is a picture of my Daddy and one of my older brothers, Clyde. Today is/would have been Clyde's birthday. He would have been 59. Did I mention that he was a lot older than me?! I have lost both parents and 2 brothers. In many ways, losing a sibling is harder than a parent. I miss my parents daily. But, I think we are programmed to know that our parents will die before us. I was not prepared for Clyde's death. It was very sudden. I was fortunate to get to the hospital before he died but he remained unconscious. It did allow me a chance to tell him that I loved him and it was OK to die if that is what he needed to do. I miss him so much this time of year. He loved to garden and be outside. I wish my boys could have known their Uncle Clyde. He would have loved to spoil them. It's a hard day today for me. I could get very weepy if I allowed myself to do that.

My boys have a birthday party to attend this afternoon. I will take them and we will have good time because that is what parents are supposed to do? Right? NO feeling sorry for myself. I will save that for tonight when I go to bed.

Anna

Poor Anna. She had surgery yesterday so that no little kittens will be born at this house. Poor little thing has been in heat for the past few months. This was the first appointment that I could get once I got my receipt from the Animal Shelter. She is resting on Deniska's bed. I hope she feels better soon. While she was in heat, the boys would say that they wished she would hurry up and lay her kitten. I think they think that kittens are born like a chicken lays an egg. They also think that all mamas have to be cut open to get the babies out; except for those mamas that adopt babies. As you can see, we have some misconceptions to clear up. I'll let their daddy deal with that!!

Credit cards and computer screens

These came in the mail today and this is what I did to them. We live strictly on cash and owe nothing (except for our house) and do not need, nor want, credit cards. I think we have one that Dennis' uses to reserve hotel rooms or airline tickets. Other than that, we use cash for everything. I know that many people use credit cards and pay them off each month. My brother does this. He uses his Discover card for everything and then pays it off each month. It works for him - not for me. Matter of fact, last summer, Discover card called me and told me that they were deactivating my account due to not being used for several years. That was fine with me. What we have discovered is that since we no longer use credit cards, we do not get any credit card offers in the mail any more.

My computer screen died yesterday. It's been sick for awhile and finally passed away yesterday while we were at work. Poor thing, it was all by itself when it died. So, I am on my laptop. I guess I will order a new computer screen this summer. I don't even want to think about ordering one right now.

I have mapped out the calendar for this summer. I think we have 2 free days in June and a few more in July. These are mostly free activities. I have enrolled the boys in swimming class - that's very important. This new swimming teacher has a waiting list and I hope we are able to get in with her. The other days are all art activities, library days, VBS, and fun! I am already tired!

Grilled to death!

A wellness letter from Dr. Ann had the following article: "Cancer of the pancreas remains one of the most deadly of all malignancies and a new study provides the most powerful evidence yet, linking grilled or charred red meat with this ominous disease. After closely following the deaths of 62,000 healthy adults over a nine year period, investigators reported that those with the highest intakes of well-done red meat had a 70% higher risk for pancreatic cancer versus those with the lowest consumption (Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, Denver - Apr 09). Cooking red meat at high temperatures creates two classes of known cancer-causing agents, heterocyclic amines (HCA's) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's). Limit your consumption of red meat, especially grilled and fried."

Well, no more grilled steak at my house. Which is just as well, for I always burn it anyway or get it too done for my husband! We are not big red meat eaters so this will not be a tragic loss. Dennis can have his steak fix at Applebee's or a steak house.

Deniska's picture

This is Deniska's picture that he made for me for Mother's Day. He had it in his book bag the whole week-end!

Happy Mother's Day

I want to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day. I have had a really nice day today with my boys. Dennis went to see the new Star Trek movie and the boys and I just hung out in the house watching Sponge Bob and napping. You couldn't ask for a better day! I was really spoiled this year.

They boys made me a planter at the Lowe's workshop yesterday. It has "fancy grass" in it. I love anything that they make!

They got me a new flashdrive and a thing for my cell phone (so I can talk without hands). And, 2 gift cards to Lowe's. It's my favorite store next to Staples! The card is probably my favorite gift. It has their recorded voices say that they love me. So, so sweet!!!

Nikolai made me a picture of himself at school. Deniska didn't bring his home.

I couldn't help but think of my own mother this day. She was a wonderful example for being a good, Godly wife. I also have thought of my mother-in-law, Joyce, who raised my husband to be a wonderful, caring husband and father. I am truly blessed.

What flower is this?

God very generously gave me this plant in my butterfly garden. He didn't leave any instructions or tell me anything about the plant. I was so surprised today to see that it has beautiful pink flowers. Does anyone know what kind of plant/bush this is? Please don't tell me it's weed. It far too pretty to be a weed. It has leaves kinda like a peony bush. But, I know it's not a peony bush.

P.S. ~

My friend Tammy solved this mystery. This is a single peony. (I had never heard of such!) After some searching, I found that this was a Paeonia 'Spiffy' Japanese Peony ZONE 2-8, HT 28", SUN A Japanese blossom type with fuchsia-red and soft pink-cream petaloids surrounded by matching fuchsia-red petals. This mid-season blooming peony is fragrant. Thank you Tammy!

First Communion - May 3, 2009