Almost time for the weekend! Big plans anyone? None here...hopefully just a nice, long relaxing couple of days. The only thing planned for us is that Rob is taking his Oliver tractor that he's been re-doing on a big tractor ride with lots of other people. I'll post some pictures after the weekend. Jacob & Matthew will get to take turns riding with him...they're excited about that.

Not much else going on...spent the evening last night with friends scrappin'. That's always fun...got two more layouts done for that gift I'm working on...just a couple left to go! I think it's turned out really nice...I hope the recipient really likes it!

We're headed out to our farm tonight to just hang out. Rob has another hay-buyer coming for 500 bales. And we thought we might not be able to sell our hay! Rob's had people calling left and right for hay...it's good for us since we have it to sell!

Have a safe & happy Labor Day!

Weekend.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend! Jacob & I spent Friday afternoon hanging out at my friend, Shelly's, new pool. Such a relaxing day...we just kept saying, "this is the life". Rob picked up Matthew from school and I had warned Rob that Matthew didn't know we were swimming without him and I just knew he would be upset. Well, when Rob picked him up he was so excited (since it's usually me that picks him up because Rob is at work) to see him. Rob took him back to work with him and let him run some big equipment...I think a crane and maybe a highlift...anyway, Matthew wasn't too upset!!

Saturday I took the boys to the big garage sale at the Osage Center while Rob went out and worked on his old Oliver tractor that he is rebuilding and painting (it's looking really good!) Matthew & Jacob loved looking at all the old junk and I even let them pick out a couple of things! We then headed to the soccer fields for Matthew's first game and Rob met us there. We could definitely see favoritism going on with coaches and their sons...not too hip on that but I guess it's reality.

Sunday we went to church where we had a ministry fair and then we taught the 3-year old's during worship...just love that age. We then headed to my mom & dad's for lunch. My mom is an incredible cook and LOVES to cook...I can even remember always having home-cooked meals when she had 6 little ones to look after (I'm the youngest and the oldest is 10 years older than me). Incredible...she had it together! Needless to say we had an awesome meal and good fellowship. We then headed home and Rob & the boys went to the farm to sell some more hay...I opted to stay home and work on a scrapbooking gift that I need to get done soon! :) I got lots done by the way!

I'm now headed to bed!

Oh, my sister-in-law's birthday is today...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kristi!

Take care,
Becky

2nd day of Pre-School...Not Like the First!!!

Jacob had a few issues this morning going to pre-school! Everything was going great...he got up and he put a new t-shirt on that I had found at Kohls for $3 (plus another 15% off!!!) and he was excited...it had a huge dump truck on it. Once we hit the classroom, it went downhill from there. He clung to me like he did a year and a half ago where you just literally have to pry his fingers loose. Then he started to cry. A poor, pitiful cry and he just kept saying, "But I want you Mommy". Just breaks my heart but he is ready for 6 hours of pre-school a week! After I got him loose of me, his teacher came and took him...by this time 5 other children were having issues!! I just left then and prayed that he would be okay. I know the aide in the room very well...she informed me later that he was a bit pouty for about an hour and then he was fine. He's a very smart little guy!

1st grade for Matthew is going just great. He's had math homework every night (I really don't remember any homework in 1st grade!!!), writing most nights, and Bible memory work. He's used to the memory work from AWANA at our church so we had no problems this week with that at all. This week he had to recite John 3:16 and Genesis 1:31 - he did great! Have to share one little issue this week: They use the card system once again in first grade. He had gotten green every day except yesterday when it was blue. (Last year Matthew's card only got turned once...for talking in Art!). I asked him what happened and he said that it was for drawing his initials with a marker on his hand. Rob and I talked to him and said okay, Matthew, that's not so bad, just try and not do it again. Well, he proceeded to tell us that two other kids at his table got cards turned for the same thing but that the teacher didn't notice that he was doing it also. He went to his teacher and told her that he had done the same thing. (I was like, YES, we've taught him well! Rob was like...You told on yourself??? - he didn't say this to Matthew, of course!!) So, he did get a talking to about marking on his hands, but we praised him for being honest! I got a message from his teacher today and she told me the same thing...she said it just broke her heart to have to give Matthew a blue card, but that she had too! And, she thanked him for his honesty! We were so proud...maybe some of the things that we are trying to teach him are sinking in!!!

Jacob's 1st Day of Pre-School!

As you can see from the photos, Jacob had a GREAT 1st day at pre-school! The 1st photo is of him outside of school, the second is outside his classroom, the third photo is of Jacob hanging up his backpack & putting his snacks in his "snack cubby", and the last is of him finding his name on a bear and putting it on the board. Each morning (Tuesday's & Thursday's) Jacob is responsible for those things (hanging up his backpack and putting his snack away, giving a quarter to his teacher for milk for snacktime, and putting his name bear on the board. Today they had Jesus time, playdoh time, snacktime...they made a puppet and did some drawings. Hopefully Jacob will want to return on Thursday!!!

Scrapbook Layouts

Wanted to share a couple of layouts with you (well, mainly for my scrapbookin' friends!) that I completed this weekend. Hope you all have a great week!

Jacob Gets Stitches!

Last night started out to be a typical evening. Jacob had chosen 3 shirts which he layed out on his table...he would get to choose one to wear for his first day of pre-school (Thursday). He was excited! We sat down for supper (Rob was raking hay/baling hay for a friend so he wasn't home yet). After supper Matthew wanted to go out and play for a little while and I said okay, but only for 5 minutes. He and Jacob headed outside. Literally, no more than 2 minutes had gone by and Matthew came running up the back steps on to our deck, banging on the door (it had been locked). I, of course, came running...but not thinking anything unusual. Matthew was hystical and yelling that Jacob was hurt really, really bad. About that time, Jacob comes walking up out of the creek, completely covered in mud & blood...I've never seen so much blood. Matthew felt terrible and yelling and screaming that it was all his fault. We got poor Jacob inside the door and I stood him on a towel...he was crying and dripping in blood from his mouth. Never knew how I would do at the sight of so much blood but I was actually calm. I looked at his mouth and found that a big chunk of his lip was hanging there. I couldn't look inside to see his teeth because he was holding a washcloth there at his mouth. I finally got Matthew calmed down after letting him know that I needed his help. I washed Jacob up while Matthew got him some new clothes and shoes. We headed to the ER...making a pit stop at my brother and sister-in-laws house (Mark & Cheryl-THANK YOU.) to let Matthew stay there. At the ER, found out that we had to go to the regular ER. We arrived at 7:30, Jacob was calm by then and just wanting me to hold him. At that point Rob had come in and gotten Matthew and took him home. We were seen be a very nice female doctor at 10:30...3 hours is a long time to wait but while we were there four ambulances had come in. Jacob was a trooper...I couldn't have asked for a better situation in a time of crisis. He ended up having to have stitches on his lip...he received a shot in his lip, as opposed to being sedated. When they gave him the shot, three male nurses (not sure if they were RN's or not...but they were great with Jacob) held him down. He really did great. He cried a very painful cry while he got the shot that it about broke my heart. But then he calmed down and let the doc do her thing. He was such a brave little boy. We finally got home around 12:30 and that's when I took the photo of him laying in his bed. The other photo is one I took today. He didn't get to start pre-school today which made me kind of sad because he had been looking forward to it. But, we'll just have a FIRST day next Tuesday!

Just realized that I never really mentioned what happened! The boys were both in their red wagon. It started going down the hill on the side of our house and evidently started picking up speed. Matthew jumped out and tried to stop the wagon but couldn't. Jacob went right on down, tipped the wagon and landed down by the creek. He said that he hit a rock. Not really sure but very likely. And, as the doctor in the ER said when I told her the story..."That's their story and they're sticking to it!"

I'm thankful it was just his lip. God was watching over him because it could have been much, much worse.

Wednesday-1st Day of School for Matthew

Matthew started 1st grade today! He was really excited about going. He sits at a table with 3 other kids, 2 boys and 2 girls. He has a binder that he brings home every day that he has to write his homework in...he thought that was really cool. Today he wrote, "No work"! He's also excited about this "pouch" that rests over the back of his chair that holds his pencils and erasers and other papers. I asked him what his favorite things were today (or what his favorite parts of the day were) and he said "going home" and started laughing! When I questioned him a bit further, he said these four things: 1) seeing his best friend, Jed, at recess (Jed is in the other 1st grade class this year), 2) he liked his teacher, 3) having P.E. 4) his binder and his desk. We are hoping and praying for a great year! Here's a couple of photos from today!

Matthew had his first soccer practice tonight and boy was it hot! About 100 degrees to be exact! We drank plenty of water and the team had a great practice. This is the first year that it is boys only...Matthew kind of liked that!

After that we came home to a supper of corn dogs! Not too healthy but really yummy! Rob had gone out to his brothers around 5:00 to help him lay some tile so it was just the boys and me. One of our cats, Calli, started to act really peculiar...she kept swatting at her mouth with both paws. I was really beginning to wonder and worry about what was wrong with her. I ended up calling the vet and when he eventually called me back the first thing he asked me was how old she was and I told him. Well, his first thoughts were that she was losing some of her baby teeth and that was bothering her. I felt pretty good with that answer so I left it at that and the vet told me to just watch her. As a matter of fact, when he called, Calli had for the most part quit acting so goofy. Well, Matthew was still up when Rob got home...I was downstairs on the computer. Before I even had a chance to tell Rob...(I had called Rob when this was all happening and he said he would come home as soon as he could...this is "His" baby girl kitty)...he looked inside her mouth and sure enough...there were, not one, but two, little empty spots where Calli had lost 2 teeth! Rob had remembered when Chipper & Oliver had lost their teeth (I didn't!) and he thought it might be the same thing. She's acting pretty normal now. I told the vet that I felt pretty funny about calling...he said not to worry...he get's even more goofier calls than mine! I'm just glad she's okay...she's such a sweetie!

Week-Long Absence!

Sorry for this...if there's anyone out there reading my blog! Not much going on this past week. We spent 2 evenings and one afternoon at school for parent orientation meetings and a pre-school open house. Matthew is starting 1st grade on Wednesday...he's so excited! Jacob is starting pre-school on Thursday...he'll be going on Tuesday & Thursday mornings...I think he's excited but also a little apprehensive.

We went swimming on Friday with friends...my head got a little sunburned but nothing else!

Today we started cleaning out the garage. We quit because I need to purchase a few organizing products - that's always exciting! We decided to get cleaned up and go to the movies. We seen Ratatouille (sp?)...it was great!

Photos from Meramec Caverns & Meramec River

Meramec Caverns

This morning after Sunday School we decided to head northwest and take a trip to Meramec Caverns. We got there around 2:00 (after stopping in Eureka for lunch) and bought our tickets and took the tour...the boys did great. After the cave tour we headed outside where we got to "pan for gold" and go on a "dino dig". Matthew & Jacob had the best time...well, Rob did too! Three kids were digging for dinosaur bones & fossils! After all of that we took a walk down to the river (Meramec River) and let the boys play around in the water. They had so much fun. Jacob fell asleep immediately after we started to head for home. It was a great day and it was so nice and cool in the caverns! Great day trip for anyone looking for a little something different to do! I'll post some pictures tomorrow...I'm headed to bed now!

Just got home from a crop at our local scrapbook store and now I'm ready to stay up and do a bit more scrappin'! It's always fun to get together with great friends and do something we all love...we missed you Shelly!

I came home to fresh blackberries, tomatoes, hot peppers & cucumbers! Rob & the boys went to Grandpa & Grandma Moore's and picked out of their garden. Yummy! I think there might be enough to make a blackberry pie...that might be on the agenda for tomorrow. Here's the simple recipe that I use (got it from one of my sister's):

BLACKBERRY PIE:

4 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
Pillsbury pie crusts (2)

Mix the sugar and flour together. Add the blackberries and mix. Place pie crust in pie plate. Fill with blackberry mixture. Cover with second pie crust and pinch edges together. Cut slits in top crust, sprinkle with sugar if desired. Cover edges with alum. foil. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 20-25 minutes more or till top is golden and fruit is tender. Serves 8.

NOTE: If using frozen blackberries, toss with the sugar-flour mixture, then let mixture stand for 15-30 minutes or until partially thawed but still icy. Then transfer to the pie plate, cover edge with foil, and bake in a 375 degree oven for 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 20-30 minutes longer or until the top is golden.

Big plans for the weekend anyone? Not much going on here...we MIGHT be brave and head out for the rest of our school supplies since it's the tax-free weekend. We're teaching Sunday School on Sunday in the 1st grade room...need to do a little prep for that. That's about it!

Just a Quick Post to Say...

Happy Birthday to me! I turned 36 today...it just doesn't seem possible that I have actually been alive for 36 years...that's 13,140 days...hope my math is correct because it's getting late! I am thankful to God for these 36 years...He has blessed me in so many ways. ~ Becky