Tag, I'm It!

My blog friend Amanda posted this on her website and encouraged others to play along. The only rule is that the questions have to be answered in one word. I'm not sure anyone will find his interesting, but here goes...

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse.
2. Where is your significant other? Recliner.
3. Your hair color? When?
4. Your mother? Farmer.
5. Your father? Heaven.
6. Your favorite thing? Chocolate.
7. Your dream last night? Dreamless.
8. Your dream/goal? Health.
9. The room you’re in? Living.
10. Your hobby? Photography.
11. Your fear? Illness.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Family.
13. Where were you last night? Home.
14. What you’re not? Efficient.
15. One of your wish-list items? Maid.
16. Where you grew up? Happy.
17. The last thing you did? Email.
18. What are you wearing? Sneakers.
19. Your TV? CSI.
20. Your pet? Freckles.
21. Your computer? Laptop.
22. Your mood? Tired.
23. Missing someone? Laura/Nonnie (sorry I know I'm breaking the rule of one word)
24. Your car? Messy.
25. Something you’re not wearing? Lipstick.
26. Favorite store? Target
27. Your summer? Kids.
28. Love someone? Absolutely.
29. Your favorite color? Lime.
30. When is the last time you laughed? Recently.
31. Last time you cried? September.

I don't know if anyone who reads this blog will participate, but... Tag, you're it!

Happy Birthday Jake! (just a little early!)

This week we are celebrating 4 years of Jake!

Look how much he has grown. Here is the picture from his first birthday party invitation.

It's hard to believe how time flies! I was just thinking about when he was born... I taught up until the day before he was born. That was a Friday, and I was planning to get my sub plans ready on Saturday morning. I woke up early Saturday morning having contractions and there was not time for sub plans. Thank goodness my sweet neighbor teacher got everything ready for my classroom. When I told Cody I was in labor, he asked if he had time to go to work for a little bit. We made it to the hospital at around 8:30 and Jake was born around 10:30. Good thing he didn't get tied up at work! After we brought Baby Jake home from the hospital, it was months later before Josie stopped asking things like, "Is he still going to be here at Christmas?"

S'more Fun

Last night, we joined our friends a couple of houses down for an impromptu S'more making party. They had a fire going in their chimenea and we roasted marshmallows in it. The kids had so much fun. Jake doesn't really eat them, but he is very into the roasting process (although his marshmallows usually had to be thrown to the squirrells since he managed to drag them all against the wood.)

This brought back fun memories for me and my cousin Brant. We both thought about all the S'mores we had made with Nonnie. S'mores are a 4th of July tradition, but we never limited ourselves to just once a year. We have made them by roasting the marshmallows on the burners of the stove more times than we can count. By the way, your don't have to have a gas stove to do this. They will roast very well over an electric burner, too. Also, you can make them in the microwave, but they are not as good.

This prompted us to make a list of possible reasons for carrying extra weight while eating at Nonnie's:

1.) S'Mores

2.) Assortment of candy in the refrigerator

3.) Biscuits

4.) Cheese on everything (Broccoli, cauliflower, squash, macaroni...)

5.) Fried Food (Chicken Fried Steak, Fried Chicken Strips, Fried Squash, Fried Okra, Fried tortillas for Chalupas, French Fries...)

6.) Individual Cheese Dips at El Camino (yes, that's 1 for each person--I didn't know until I went to college that most people only order one queso for the whole table)

I'm sure there are more additions to this list, but these are just a few. :)

Pumpkin Fun

Last night was Paint Pumpkins with PTO at our school. We had lots of fun picking and painting pumpkins, getting faces painted, eating PaPa John's Pizza and taking fall pictures.

It was also Character Dress Up Day. Everyone (staff and students) dressed as a character from a favorite book. Josie was Junie B. Jones from Junie B. Jones Has a Peep In Her Pocket. This is a perfect character from her since she is so much like Junie B. In this book, Junie B. is afraid of going on a field trip to a farm because she thinks the rooster will peck her head into a nub. We found the cutest stuffed rooster at Dollar General that plays the Chicken Dance song. Josie carried the rooster during the parade. I dressed as Farmer Zuckerman from Charlotte's Web. The office staff dressed as the characters from Holes, which included orange jumpsuits. Here are a few pictures.

The rest of the weekend includes lots of laundry, school work, grant writing, and Halloween costume making. Thankfully, the class I am taking right now only has one more week to go.

Wedding Bells

While we were driving to school this morning, Josie and I had a conversation that went something like this:

Josie: "Mom, when teenagers...well not really teenagers...when grownups...well not really grownups..." Lots of long pauses involved.

This went on for quite some time with me trying to remain patient even though we were late to school (again!). It had been one of those mornings when everything had taken twice as long as it should have. Needless to say I had already missed my weekly Bible Study.

Josie: "When people get married..."

Me: "Yes, Josie." Thinking to myself, "is there a point to this story? Spit it out! Get to the point! Or better yet, just ride quietly in the car while I drive and contemplate another day."

Josie: "When people get married, do they stand up and thank their Mama and Daddy for raising them?"

YES--they should anyway! I have no idea why this topic was on her mind, but most conversations are like this with Josie. I did have a flash of a future day when she would be all grown up and getting married (and of course thanking Cody and me for raising her). I'm sure she will wear a tiarra and a very FANCY dress.

We discussed her wedding. She said, "I want you to be there with me. Will you still look the same as you do right now?"

Me: "Probably not; I'll probably be old and fat."

Josie: "Not if you start walking on the treadmill. You should go walk right now."

I'm not sure about how I'll look, but Josie, the Lord willing, I will be there with you.

Random Blog

This vine is growing over our fence from our neighbor's yard. Angie definitely has a green thumb. I don't know what kind of vine it is, but it is really pretty. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

Dear Santa..

Josie has been spending hours riding the neighbor's ripstik. I'm amazed at how well she rides it. She is planning to ask Santa for one of her own. Check it out!

RipStik® "G", RipStik DLX, RipStik G, RipStick Caster Board

Wonderful Weather

We were blessed with beautiful weather all weekend. Cody didn't have to work too much, and it was a treat to have him home. The kids played outside from morning until night. Here are a few pictures of our weekend...notice Jake's bike-riding adventures. He tried riding with no training wheels today (thanks to Amy's help!). I don't think he is sold on the idea; he wheeled the bike back up the driveway and picked up the tools to reattach the training wheels.

Reasons to be Rich

When Josie asked today me if I wanted to know what she really wants, I figured ice cream, or maybe to eat out. Actually, she says what she really wants is to be rich. Here are her reasons:

• Hot tub in the living room
• A bigger house-- probably in New York (she says that the best place we could move since they have Niagra Falls)
• A closet like London Tipton has (Suite Life of Zach and Cody)
• Parties every night for the whole neighborhood and anyone else we know

I have to say being rich does sound nice (except for the New York thing). Can't see that happening! Not sure why the hot tub is going to be in he living room either!

Freckles Update

Freckles is settling in and getting used to life at the Spivey house. She is still calm and quiet, although I did finally hear her bark. She comes in and hangs out for awhile, mostly just laying down watching us. She's still a little unsure of Cody even though he has been trying really hard to make friends with her. She won't come up to him unless one of the kids or I am close by. He's been trying to bribe her with food and that seems to be helping. So far, it seems she is house trained and she doesn't try to get on the furniture either. Josie and Jake have been very excited about having her here. It is a good thing she is patient, since they keep taking her collar on and off and trying to lead her around the house and backyard on the leash.

Bible Memory Verse

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 3:26-27

This week's lessons in the Bible study I am working on teach about how we are all "sons of God". The term "sons of God" does not designate the male gender, even though some people feel that it does. The lesson says that if we think the gender symbolism in the Bible has something to do with which gender is better than the other, then we are totally missing the point. The symbolism is all about God and his relationship as Father and has little to do with us. I really don't have a hard time with this idea. Maybe I am just secure in my gender, but it never occurred to me that God might love me less because I am a woman.

Meet the Newest Member of the Family

Meet Freckles!

We adopted her today from the Abandoned Animal Rescue Shelter.

She is a calm, sweet girl who loves to get attention. We brought her home and she has been exploring the yard and resting by the back door. Freckles is probably about 3-5 years old. She has been great with Jake and Josie. On the way home, Freckles sat between them. She tends to drool (a lot) and this was quite traumatic for both kids. Josie remarked, "I could probably make a pool for ants with all this slobber!

More pictures soon!

TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday! Too bad my house seems to have exploded during the week. The laundry is out of control. I have an assignment due this weekend, and a list of people to call to invite to next week's PTO meeting. Oh, and I've lost my voice. Did I mention my house could be declared a disaster area? Here's hoping everyone has a great weekend and that all the chores that need doing at the Spivey house get done! Prayers are welcome and encouraged!

Supper Conversation

Tonight while we were eating supper, I was trying, without much success, to engage my family (all of them) in conversation. I asked Jake what the best part of his day was. Here was our conversation.

Me: What was the best part of your day, Jake?

Jake: Well, not the nap part.

Me: So which part was the best?

Jake: The staying up part.

Bible Memory Verse

I have started a Bible study called, "In My Father's House: Women Relating to God as Father." I have promised myself I would be committed to learning each week's Bible memory verse. For some reason, I'm having a difficult time memorizing the verse (Could it be the two kids, the house, the laundry, the full-time job, the master's classes...?). Even with all of these distractions, I really want to make it a priority. My solution to learning each week's verse is to post it on my blog as a visual reminder and an encouragement to myself. Feel free to join in!

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."

-Romans 8:15-16

Seven Year Portraits

Josie and I did a short portrait session today to commemorate her seventh year. We had fun playing in the woods beind our house.

School Story

Today while working with a student in reading, she said to me, "If I fail this year, I have to go to Christian school. I don't want to go to Christian school, because I don't want to my hand to hurt from getting slapped with a ruler all the time."

Not sure what school she's talking about, but I don't think my kids will be going there.

Mom of the Year?

I just read my sister's blog, and she was talking about letting my nephew eat cookies for breakfast. Well Laura, I don't think anyone will take your "Mommy Button" away for that. I have so many "Mother of the Year" moments, it's hard to remember them all.

Today, Cody took Jake to school and called me not long after.

"Did you know that today is picture day?" he said. I did know, but I had forgotten. Then I remember what Jake had been wearing when he left for school....ratty knit shorts, a sweatshirt that didn't necessarily go with the shorts, and brown church-looking shoes. And you should see his hair! The Wal Mart haircut we got a few weeks ago has not been so good. We can't even get his hair to lay down when it is wet. I did take him some nicer looking clothes to change into, and his sweet teachers at his school said they would find some gel to try to get his hair to stop sticking up (at least long enough for the picture).

Can't wait to see the pictures!

Future Teacher?

Today, I went to tell Josie something after school. When I got to her classroom door, I saw her sitting in her teacher's chair in front of the carpet reading a book aloud to some other 2nd graders. She looked just like a "real" teacher, showing the pictures from each page as she read. Her teacher told me that Josie asked permission to read the other kids a story. Mrs. Campbell gave her permission. Not much later, Josie said, "But Mrs. Campbell they're not listening." Before her teacher could respond, Josie said, "Oh, now I know why it's so hard to be a teacher!"

So here is a thank you to all those teachers who touch the lives of kids every day. Thank you Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. Jorge, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Gonzalez, Ms. Melanie, Ms. Samantha, and Ms. Curry especially for taking care of my babies. The care and love you give or have given them means more than you'll ever know.

Mama and Josie on the first day of school this year.