Five on Friday

1. Fred tries to keep his weight within a particular range, and recently he’s been edging closer to the high end of that range. Sunday, he decided to start keeping track of his workouts and what he eats using Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG app for his phone (If you’re interested in doing the same thing, go to www.livestrong.com to set it up). Already he’s lost about 4 pounds.  I'm trying not to be mad about the fact that he loses weight so easily. 

 2.  I've been in a baking mood lately.  It started with cinnamon sugar scones the other day.  Then I picked up a flat of strawberries.  After looking at them for a few days I decided to get busy so I made strawberry jam, strawberry cake with homemade icing (for the neighbors), strawberry ice cream (for me and fred!), strawberry bread (pretty healthy), plus I froze a few strawberries.  After all I that I still hadn't had enough.  So, I whipped a batch of these babies for breakfast.  They were delicious and relatively easy...not healthy...but oh so, ooey, gooey.  You should make them!  Go here for the recipe.

3.  We were up late due to the storms Wednesday night.  Once we got home I told Clayton he could not get up before 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning.  He responded with, "What?!?  It's summer vacation!  I'm going to get up extra early!"  I think we may need to discuss our priorities over this summer break. 
4.  While in the car the other day with Jack and Andrew I heard Jack saying this to Andrew over and over..."Andrew, you're not stupid, no you're not.  You're not stupid."  I stopped Jack and told him we don't need to use the word stupid.  He said, "But mom, I was just telling him he was NOT stupid.  That's good, right?!?" 
5.  We call Andrew, Captain Underfoot.  He is always in the way right with us.  While I was making the cinnamon rolls this morning he was glued to my side and boxing me out.  He had gotten his own rolling pin.  He was pushing me and saying, "Move, peas ma ma.  Move, peas ma ma."  I moved out of the way and he commenced to "roll" our cinnamon rolls.  He is a mess. 

Clayton's last day of 2nd grade

Was this not just yesterday?!?

 

Today I dropped this baby off at school for his last day at Rhea...his last day of second grade!

 Celebratory donuts at NeNe's for the last day!  Too funny, the family in the back was at NeNe's last year with us on the last day of school.  Apparently it is their end of the year tradition as well. 

 Last day...

5K@Rhea

Today was the 5K@Rhea.  We had an awesome turn out for our first race!  All in all we had around 250 participants.  Below is the start of the 5K...

 Clayton was off and running. 

 Here is Fred finishing.  Unfortunately I do not have a photo of Clayton crossing the finish.  I get so excited when I see him approaching the finish that I can't get any pictures.  You know, sometimes you just have to be in the moment.  Clayton took 2nd place in his age division with a sub 30 minute 5K time.  (For non-runners, that is less than a ten minute per mile pace.  Pretty fast for 7 year old legs!!)

 Fred and Jack competed in the 1 mile fun run.  You can see Fred.  He is in the gray shirt.  Jack is right next to him.

 Jack is off and running here.  The little girl in the picture is our friend from church.  Her dad is a super serious runner.  BAM skipped during the first part of the race.  It made me smile.

 Here is Jack finishing the 1 mile.  He took 3rd place in his age division. 

It has been a great weekend finishing off the final PTO event of the 2010-2011 school year!

Five on Friday

1.  Fred made homemade whole wheat hamburger buns the other day.  Seriously, if his current career doesn't work I think he could have a future as a baker.  I feel certain I would be his first (and favorite) customer.   
2.  Tomorrow is the 5K@Rhea.  I am really excited for the event to be here.  I'm also nervous to see how it will turn out. I was hoping to have 100 participate.  To date we have 215 registered.
3.  The boys got up one day this week and were beginning to argue.  This is what I heard Clayton tell Jack..."Remember that we agreed that we would get along today.  Let's try harder. Okay?"  After that moment they did not argue the rest of the day.  Ahhh...Nice!  
4.  Friday there was a yard sale on our street.  Fred told Jack he could ride his bike down and see if there was anything we might need.  Jack came back and reported to Fred that there were some things that he thought Fred would want.  They had some real swords and Jack felt certain Fred would want those. 
5.  I changed Andrew's diaper this week.  After I changed it he took he diaper and ran off saying, "Tee, tee, poo, poo, woosh".  I wondered what he was doing so I followed him.  Yes, he threw his diaper in the commode.

Clayton's Awards Day

Clayton had award's day at school today.  He was really excited.  In fact he told me that he thought it might be the best day of his life.  His school has the day down to an art.  Below he's standing and waiting with his class...trying not to smile. 

 His teacher (who he loves!!) came from her maternity leave to the day.  This made it all even more exciting! 

 

Then when we got back to the classroom we discovered another award.  Clayton won the top AR award in his school with a grand total of 225 points.  We were so excited for him!

 We checked Clayton out of school early (shhh!) and headed for a special treat to celebrate.  Guess where he picked?!?  McDonald's!  He didn't want the usual dollar menu fare, oh no, he had to have a Big Mac.  Yes, he did.  He thought he was big stuff.  He didn't eat all of it, but never fear, little brother Jack ate his own  nuggets and finished up the rest of the Clayton's hamburger. 

 What a great way to end a great year!

Fun stuff

Just a few things Andrew's said over the past couple of days...

The boys and I went to meet some friends at McDonald's the other day.  Upon pulling into the parking lot Andrew said from the back seat, "I wannna bu-ger.  I wanna bu-ger." 

Andrew has some sweet ladies that keep him at church in the nursery each Sunday.  One of them in particular he is very fond of.  Sunday she had someone else sitting in her lap.  He went up to the child in her lap, pushed on her lightly and said, "Move!" 

Andrew has a really good friend named Barrett.  He calls him Be-Bitt.  Whenever he sees him he gets really excited and starts shouting his name over and over. 

My mom spent the night with us Monday night.  When Andrew woke up Wednesday he walked around the house saying, "Where Mimi go?  Where Mimi go?" 

Andrew was in my arms the other day and I asked him where Jack was.  He didn't respond.  Then I said, "I guess we better call him."  He immediately yelled, "JACK!", and Jack came running!  

Small Fry Parade

The Saturday of Fish Fry week in Paris there is a Small Fry Parade around the court square.  Jack's preschool participated and we were there to support him as he marched.  Mawmaw, Pawpaw, Grandma Beulah and even Poco got to join us for the festivities.  What a great town!

Adam is 5!

We headed to Murfreesboro to catch up with my brother and his family.  Adam had a birthday party at Bounce U and we were there!  We even got to stay the night in Franklin with my grandmother.  What a great weekend!

 

Andrew is seen here enjoying some cake.  Ahhhh, I love cake!  

Two of my favorite/sweaty bouncers!!  They had the best time!

Thanks to Jeff and Paige for a GREAT party and weekend!

Joyland Finale!

Jack graduated from Joyland on Tuesday night.  It was really quite sweet.  Below he is pictured at the door to his school on his last day.  

 

Later that evening we went back to the church where his school meets and had an "official" ceremony.  They did several songs during the first part of the program and then they took a brief intermission to put on caps and gowns.  

Jack was the daddy duck in the song Five Little Ducks.  He has come a long way.  This is the kiddo that barely sings during any circle time.  Ms. Donna and all our story hour pals would have been floored at his performance!  He had to say, "Quack, quack, quack!" at the end and he did it quite loudly.  I was impressed. 

We had a great year at Joyland and would like to thank all the teachers!  We are excited about what the future holds for our sweet Jack!  I would like to close with one thought...how did we get here?!?  Wasn't he just born yesterday?!? 

Jack's done with training wheels!

Five on Friday

1.  Some exciting things are happening at our church.  You'll have to stay tuned for more details. 
2. My friend and I are having a children's clothing sale this week.  It is going really well.   
3.  Clayton will be leaving our beloved Rhea School this year.  He will go to Paris Elementary in the fall.  He got to go this week, tour the school and get a taste of Wacky Workout.  I think he is going to like his new school. 
4.  Lately Jack has been in a stage where he compares everything to the size of God.  This week he told Fred, "People and God are DEFINITELY bigger than mice, right dad?!?"  Deep thinker, huh?!? 
5.  Andrew has been staying in Jackson with Aunt Janice, Mun and Mimi.  I went by to see him yesterday on my way to teach at 8:15 a.m.  He had Oreo crumbs on his mouth.  To quote Aunt Janice, "He ate a good breakfast so I gave him a cookie."  Ha!!  He will be in for a rude awakening once he gets home.

Ode to a Tree

To the tree that fell on our house,
You have always been a good tree. I've enjoyed your shade from my living room windows.  You fell so gracefully, just missing our fence...actually straddling our fence.  For that I'd like to offer thanks.  I'd also like to offer thanks to you for not coming through our roof and into my youngest child's bedroom, while we all slept so soundly.  Nice job.  However, I do have a few bones to pick with you...
#1--Our roof?!?  It is only seven years old and now our insurance company will only replace the back half.  Will it match?!?  Well, according to the adjuster we just don't know.  In his words, "It'll be close."  Close?!?  I just bought that roof and it matched perfectly.  It was fine and lovely before you fell on it.  Thanks a lot.
#2--My living room?!?  I'm going to have to repaint it.  I actually like the color of my living room.  Could you not have fallen on the kitchen or master bedroom?  I've really been wanting to paint those rooms.  I'm tired of the green. Really, one of those rooms would have been better.  Which leads me to my next topic for discussion...
Suggestions to the next tree that falls on my house:
-Land on my circa 2001 desk top computer.  I'd like a new one.  And while you're at it take the printer as well.
-Don't just drip water through the ceiling, let it pour...on my living room carpet.  The carpet needs to go.
-Bust a window or two or twelve.  They are from the 1970's and gross. 
-Hit my circa 1998 television.  I think it is the only one left of its generation.  It would like to go to tv heaven with all its other family.  Put it out of its misery.
-Take out the sliding glass door in my living room.  There is no word other than "yuck" for it.
Again, thanks so much for protecting the family you so lovingly provided shade to for the past seven years.  You were one of my favorite trees.  Every time I look at the sad little stump I'll think of you.  You will be missed on Nance Circle.  Please pass on my suggestions to the next tree.
Love and many thanks,
Jennifer