Fun & Family

This weekend, Larry and Shirley invited us to come to their church's 4th of July festivities. There were bounce-arounds for the kids, several rock-climbing walls (which Noah tried and made a good effort :), a firetruck for the kids to look around in and of course, blow the horn...homemade icecream and a fantastic fireworks display to top it all off at the end of the night! The kids were in awe of the fireworks this year. Even Eli sat still throught the entire thing!
I love the look of "wonderment" in the picture of Noah and Eli below!
Thanks for inviting us...we had a great time!

Summer School

To avoid summer "brain drain," I've been trying to do some activities with the kiddos to keep their minds stimulated and refreshed over the long summer break. So I decided to enlist Noah's help guiding Eli in some simple concepts. He's a natural! A future teacher, perhaps? :)

Jog-O-Meter Update

I can't believe it! I actually met and exceeded my summer running goal today!
My original goal was to jog .60 of a mile without stopping to walk (the distance down and back up our driveway) at least once out of my total walking/running mileage. Well, tonight, I actually ran a total of 1.8 miles! Rocky is my witness...he was right there with me, pushing...I mean, cheering me on! (Really, he is my biggest and most encouraging supporter! We really enjoy getting outside and running together when we can...though we don't normally talk much, at least we can spend time together.) Not only that, I actually upped my total mileage from 2.4 to 3.0 miles.
Although my legs may be so sore that I may not be able to walk tomorrow...it was worth it! I really NEVER thought I would be able to run that far EVER, but especially two weeks into summer vacation. But I've been pushing myself harder and harder each time...in hopes that one day I can keep up with Rocky! :)

Our Little Branson Getaway

So, we just got back from our family "vacation" to Branson, Missouri. We weren't sure if we were going to get to go because of Noah's foot. He has had quite a bad infection, but thankfully, it was healed up enough for us to go. Every day leading up to our trip, he would say, "Does it look better? Will we get to go to Branson?"

We were only gone a couple of days, but we had a great time. We stayed at the hotel with the indoor/outdoor waterpark, played putt-putt, went to the Landing, and just relaxed and enjoyed our kiddos. Eli's favorite part of the trip..."when Daddy played 'pirates' with us" (at the outdoor waterpark play area - what a good dad!). Noah's favorite part of the trip..."the waterpark and staying at the hotel." I think they probably would have been just as happy to stay in a hotel in Fort Smith and swim in the pool...but it's about the experience, right?

I am so bummed because as we headed out, I decided to take a picture of the kids in the backseat "Branson bound," and of course, what should I see on my camera...a blinking battery sign! I hate it when that happens! But I did manage to get a couple of pictures...in the car and of the kids being silly in the hotel room.

Every time we go to Branson, Rocky always reminisces about his childhood trips there and how he always wanted to stay in this one hotel that looks like a big boat. I can only imagine what our kids will remember about our family trips!

We were also talking about how our "little" trips with our families were such a big deal to us...we wondered if it was the same for our kids. Of course, back then, simple things had a lot of meaning because they didn't happen too often (boy, I'm sounding old now)!

I can only hope that my kids will find meaning in the "simple" things and times we've shared and will share with them over the years. We work so hard to instill a sense of appreciation and thankfulness in our kids who live in a world where most of their peers are given everything without much "earning" required.

Anyway...I am so glad we were able to get away for a couple of days reconnect as a family. I caught myself several times during the trip telling myself...remember this moment...

Our time together is so precious and slips away so quickly...

Phase 10 "Champ" Taken Down

Thanks to my recent blog, "Phase 10 Challenge," I've received multiple offers to help bring down the self-proclaimed "Phase 10 Champ," aka, Rocky. This weekend, Shawn and Kim were the first to accept the "challenge" and came over to put up a fight against the "champ." So, I want to dedicate this blog to Kim, who even with her "disability," was able to single-handedly take Rocky down! (Although Rocky did label her "the slowest draw in the west!") So, thank you Kim, good game!
Our next game "challenge"...."Aggravation!" Come bring the 2-time "Aggravation" winner, aka, Shawn, down! And yes, it was very aggravating...for those of you who have ever played against and lost to Shawn before!

See you next game night!

Soccer Camp Champ

Now that summer break is here, we've signed the kids up for different activities. Noah wasn't exactly thrilled at first about all the different things we mentioned to him, but has come around and I am proud to say he has had an excellent attitude and seemed to really enjoy himself. He did basketball camp last week, which he was excited about...but soccer camp, not so much...which was this week, but I think he ended up having more fun with soccer than basketball!

Noah has surprised me in many ways in his eight years of life, but I am constantly amazed at how he confronts new experiences and places with such confidence (he may kick and scream about doing it all the way up to that point...but...). The first day of basketball camp, he just walked right in like a champ and started mingling and playing with the other kids. I don't really know where he gets this quality...certainly not from me...I would have been intimidated and scared senseless of that type of situation as a kid! He must get it from his Nana! :)

Anyway...next up swim lessons for both the kiddos! This will be Eli's first year.

Oh...and Eli insisted that I take his picture on the "plastic grass" field too!

Entertainment from Eli

The other day, Eli came in the room and very nonchalantly ask me..."After these days, do we go live with Jesus?" I, of course, responded my saying, "Yes, after our days on earth are over, we will go live with Jesus." To that he replied, "Ahhh, I don't want to go live at Jesus' house!" I said, a bit surprised, "Why?"

"Because I won't get to take my 'critters'!"

From their the conversation went on and on (you all know how Eli can drag out a conversation!) about what he can take to Jesus' house and who will be there. He also wanted to make sure that Mee-Maw would be there with all the 'critters' from her house!

Oh...our little Entomologist!

To the Dads in Our Lives

Happy Father's Day!

"I Love My Daddy Because..."

I love him because he plays with me and he takes care of me!

He let me go get a toy and he comes to school to eat lunch with me.

He is the best dad in the world!

By: Noah, 2nd grade

You can tell a lot about about a man by watching him with his children. There have been so many moments when I've seen Rocky with the kids and thought to myself, man, I am so blessed to have a husband who is a present figure in my boys lives. A man whose family is the most important thing to him. When the boys are older, I know without a doubt, that they will have fond memories of all the time their dad spent with them. I can't imagine my life without him! Thank you for being such an awesome dad to our boys!

We are thankful to have our dads in our lives for so many reasons. They each bring their own unique qualities to our family. Thank you for being a part of our lives. We appreciate everything you do for us!

Love,

Rocky, Kary, Noah & Eli

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Vicki Anderson, Me, Maria Sullivan

Most of you know that I'm going through some changes with my job and will be starting a new job next school year.

Over the past few weeks, we have worked on bringing our program to a close...finishing reports, packing up our office, and saying our 'good-bye's' to the parents and children who have become such a part of our lives. Vicki has even been working on a DVD keepsake for all of us. It gets me choked up everytime I see it (it's awesome...come by and see it sometime)!

But I think the hardest part of saying goodbye to the past seven years of my work is saying goodbye to the two women that I have worked alongside for all these years. They are and have been more than co-workers to me. They are truly two of my closest friends. We've laughed together in good times, cried together in hard times, and prayed together...many times!

I know without a doubt that God blessed me with my job. In so many ways, I have seen God's hand upon me. As hard as it is to change and begin something new, I know that He is in control and wherever I end up, it is according to His purpose and plan for my life.

It seems like when people part and go their separate ways, they lose touch. People get busy with their new endeavors, family, and, well...life! I hope that we all can conquer the odds and stay close. Though I know we probably won't see each other as much or talk to each other as much (it will be so weird not to come in every morning and see you guys everyday...what will I do without our "Monday Morning Chat Sessions?"), but I want both of you to know that I will always treasure our friendship. You'll never know how much it has meant to me. I wish you both the very best that life has to offer! Vicki, I can't wait to see you at your graduation...I'm marking my calendar for four years from now!

Thank you both...for everything!

Phase 10 Challenge

So Rocky and I have been bonding over a new game lately...Phase 10, it's sort of like Rummy. Shawn and Kim introduced us to this game recently and we've enjoyed reliving the old days of game nights that we used to have when we were a few teeny-boppers just dating. The problem is, I'm in a bit of a Phase 10 slump. The first time I played, I stomped everyone! But since then, it's just gotten worse and worse. Rocky has become the self-proclaimed "Phase 10 Champ" and knows how to "needle" me the right way to bring out a very, ugly competitve side that I didn't know exsisted until now! So now I'm thinking that it must be because we're playing 2 player, so the cards just aren't getting distributed as well, therefore leaving me with hands that just do nothing for me each time.
This brings me to my "Phase 10 Challenge"...
I'm looking for people to help me bring down the "Phase 10 Champ." If I can't do it myself, I'll settle for second best! So if anyone wants to join us in a riveting card game sometime, give us a call. I'll even feed you dinner (dessert will follow if you can help bring Rocky down)!
I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Jog-O-Meter

Okay...so I've never been what you call, athletic...I mean, sure, I had my debut in Little League Basketball in fifth grade and I was okay at it, but it was never really "my thing." I've exercised here and there throughout my teen years and early 20's but have never been really committed to it. It wasn't until I was pregnant with Eli that I swore I would not repeat my mistake of gaining 7o pounds during that pregnancy (as I had with Noah) that I really started exercising regularly. Since then I would say I've done a pretty decent job of keeping in shape, but a couple years ago I decided that I really wanted to start increasing my endurance. So, I started running...now I use that term loosely because compared to what Rocky does, I guess it's more like jogging. Now, if you're one of those really athletic people who are in awesome shape, try not to laugh too hard at this next sentence (or this blog, for that matter). When I first started, I was only able to jog for 30 second stretches! Over time, I gradually started adding more and more time to my jogging stretches until finally (about a year later!) I was able to jog for a 4-5 minute stretch. I split my time doing my walking/jogging sessions outside and on the treadmill (where I should mention that Rocky has posted the "Ten Commandments to Persevere", by Marshall Ulrich:

1. Expect a journey and a battle

2. Focus on the present and set intermediate goals

3. Don't dwell on the negative

4. Transcend the physical

5. Accept your fate

6. Have confidence that you will succeed

7. Know that there will be an end (my favorite)

8. Suffering is okay (sure it is)

9. Be kind to yourself

10. Quitting is not an option

I guess he finds this motivitating while he's running, and I have to admit, in the heat of the moment, when I feel like stopping, reading those "commandments" helps to take my mind off the pain.)

Anyway...

I love to take my endeavor outside when the weather is nice. Our driveway is .30 of a mile one way with a huge hill coming up to our house at about the halfway point. My routine has been to make 8 trips up and down the driveway, about 2.4 miles in 30 minutes. That hill though, has been "my Everest." It has been my dream to be able to run up it one day without passing out! So now, almost two years later, I am "savoring the moment" of finally being able to add "the hill" to my jogging reportoire.

My new goal for the summer is to be able to jog/run all the way down our driveway and all the way back up...about .60 of a mile at least once. I'll start with my first lap and gradually add on the last 7 as I build up my endurance for a total of 2.4 miles.

I'm pretty close, but still have a small walking stretch (where I take a break to walk and catch my breath before "Everest"). So you might ask...why the heck are you posting all this to a blog? Well, so all of you can help keep me accountable to my goal! I look forward to the time when I can "savor the moment" of a goal two years in the making with all of you.

And as for exercising, I wish I had done a better job keeping in shape at a younger age. It's hard to catch up at 30 (as you can see from above), but, hey, I'm trying.

And in the words of Tony Horton (P90X)..."I hate it...but I love it!"

Goals

When I was young, I was one of those girls who kept a journal and logged all the important events, moments, thoughts and feelings in a cute little bound notebook of sorts. I still have them and it's so funny to go back and read them now. As an adult, I have always wanted to have some type of written documentation of my life, my family, my friends, my work...but who has the time!
I went to a conference once presented by Dr. Wallace Goddard, a.k.a. Wally, (who is awesome, by the way!) who spoke about "savoring the moments" and how finding your purpose, passion and happiness in life is directly related to the things in life that move you. So simple, yet true. Dr. Wally spoke of how he decided he would start writing down and savoring all these "moments" in his life and it has become years and years of these savored moments collected in numerous dayplanners.
I've received several links to blogspots from friends who are blogging and have always enjoyed reading about the important moments in their lives. I recently got a link to a blog from my friend, Amy in Florida and decided there's no time like the present to start fufilling my goal, and the best part of it is that I can share my "savored moments" with all of you!