#151/365--Mall on Memorial Day

We ventured out to the Mall today in search of a new bathing suit for Lauren.
Lauren and her friend...

Mikey's idea of shopping...

What I bought...

#150/365--Clouds

I just love clouds. They are simple and yet complex...miracles. I got to watch the complete water cycle today...The sun in the western sky, heating the moisture--evaporating it up into the air and then condensing into enormous clouds, which, in turn, rained down from the eastern sky. Who else but God could create such wonders??!! They are just magnificent and magestic.

#149/365--Relaxing Afternoon

Well, friends. I am disappointed in myself. I was going to take a picture of my classroom all packed up just so I would feel that weight lifted off my shoulders. And. You guessed it. I forgot. I was too wrapped up in getting stuff done and getting out the door to meet up with some girlies to have lunch on the patio at Rio Mambo and then an afternoon movie...

Summer. Has. Begun. Whew!

#148/365--Long Week Not Over Yet

That's how I feel, too, Sandy. I'm going to bed, also. Sorry to disappoint, Sandy, I won't be home again, tomorrow...gotta work. What's that you say, Sandy? Tomorrow's Saturday? Yes, Sandy, I know it's a Saturday. The second Saturday I've had to work this school year. But that's the way the doggie biscuit crumbles. Sweet doggie dreams, puppy-girl.

#147/365--Family, #3

Lauren, dressed in Super(wo)man cape, ready to help Nanna babysit the cousins while Uncle, Aunt, Mike, and I go to...

It was amazing. If you are interested or want more information on the Hebrew roots of our Faith, I'd be glad to direct you to some excellent readings and resources. It's like you've been living life, unaware that you have a vision problem. You go to the eye doctor and he puts some glasses on your eyes and you never realized what clarity was...

#146/365--Fun Family Time, Day 2

#145/365--Bike Ride

Today, my Arkansas Family came to visit for a few days! Erik, my brother, brought my kids new bikes and he also brought his kids' bikes, so we went for a bike ride at River Legacy Park in Arlington. It was a nice evening for a ride, although the adults walked (some faster than others). I haven't been on my own bike in about a year or maybe more...

And I got a little cuddle time in with my sweet, youngest, newest nephew, Caleb...

#144/365--Awards Day for Mikey

Mikey, or should I say, Michael, got to tell about the Perseverance Award. His class voted on who got the different character awards, and he was chosen as Most Respectful. Michael also got A/B honor roll, no tardies, and exceptional attendance (which means he missed no more than 2 days). :) Yeah, Michael!
(Why the switch to Michael, you ask? Well, obviously in my eyes and in my heart, my boy will always be Mikey...but, can you really call an almost 5th grader "Mikey"... he thinks not.)

#143/365--Ballpark Birthday

We spent the day at the Ballpark in Arlington--what Lauren chose as her "Birthday Party"--we grilled out burgers and dogs,

and then watched a really good game between the Chicago Cubs and our Texas Rangers. 

It was a beautiful afternoon, although at times it got a little on the warm side--there were enough beautiful clouds that kept moving in front of the sun, providing shade and a slight breeze, making the day comfortable. 

Then we had a special birthday dinner for "family"--a tradition for us.

((the candle was the only one we could find...))

#142/365--How Many Licks...

Yes, that seems to be the question in debate today. Lauren and I set out to refute the claim Mr. Owl makes, that it only takes, "1...2...3...CRUNCH! Thrrreeee," Because, you see, at the end of the commercial, we are left wondering, "How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a Tootsie Pop?"

But as we began our quest, we had a few questions pop up. First of all, does a Blo-Pop count the same as a Tootsie Pop? I say yes--it has a fun center with a hard candy shell...you have to lick through the candy shell to get to the fun part. She says no. It's not the same. But she agreed to let me get the Blo-Pop because, as Lauren says, "The world needs to know new things."

The second obstacle we ran into was, what constitutes a lick? We gave up guessing and came up with our own rules.

Next, what happens when the lollipop comes off the stick??!! We determined just to put it back on and lick more carefully.

Lastly, how can you tell when you've reached the center? Just a mild showing of the fun part, or does the hard, candy shell have to be completely dissolved?

No matter. We both lost count eventually and ended up in the same place Mr. Owl was...CRUNCH! Perhaps more research needs to be done in this area...but, we came to the conclusion that, truly, the world may never know.

#141/365--Mikey Time

The first day of Lauren's teenager-hood, she was asked to babysit. So Mikey and I had a few hours to ourselves Friday night after his baseball practice. He chose to go to McDonald's. How can I refuse that? Afterall, soon, he, too, will be a teenager, shunning the happy meal! I must treasure each fleeting moment! Again, I am blessed. May I never forget that.

#140/365--Birthdays and Such...

Thursday, May 20, 2010, was Lauren's 13th birthday. Whew--Already??!! It's gone by way too fast. I remember, Lauren, when you used to giggle at me during bath time. I remember having tea parties with you; you would lay out a blanket and put "the boys," beanie Elmo and Grover, and the rest of your stuffed animals around the blanket and then serve us "tea." You have always had such an uplifting personality--always happy, always smiling. (When I say always--I use that term in the broadest sense, I mean, you are FEMALE, for heaven's sake!)Those milestones that pass--potty training, losing your first tooth, kindergarten, programs you were a part of, junior high, and now...becoming a teenager. All that time that felt as though it was flying by, now seems like a simple blink of the eye--faster than I had even imagined. As a young adult, you have proven yourself kind-hearted, joyful, full of friendship and knowledge. I am so proud of the accomplishments you have made thus far in your life. My heart is full with love knowing that God entrusted your care to me. Me?? How very humbling that is. Many times, I have failed you. Many times, I will fail you. I learn from you each day, and each day, as I pray for your growth and protection, I also pray for the wisdom to guide you in the Way you should go, so that you will not part from it. May God bless you and keep you always. May He direct your path. And most importantly, may God give you a heart that loves HIM. Seek Him out, sweet girl. Only He can see the way clearly. I love you, Daughter. I am blessed.

#139/365--Shadows

#138/365--There's No Place Like...

...it's also where the heart is.

#137/365--No Picture

I don't have a picture of the day for today. I'm feeling bombarded by life right now and the one thing I can do to get me thru it is to, simply, pray. Oddly enough, I think I've been having minor panic attacks lately--today I had a pretty strong one (I do intend on making a doctor visit). Along with feeling depressed and unable to lose weight, these panic attacks make me wonder if something deeper is going on. Tonight, we had a little bit of extra time, so we did a "Family Devotional," something we used to do every night but have sort of gotten away from lately, with busy schedules, etc. The devotion was on Peace. And the verse is one of my favorites. It comes from Philippians 4:6-7 and it says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Needless to say, I'm feeling a little more peaceful after having read that. Thanks for reading my blog. More pictures soon to come...

#136/365--Purging

#135.5/365--CJH Choir Concert

Lauren is in 7th grade treble choir and tonight they held their end of the school year Choir Concert. It was cute. My videos are not that great...for some reason my camera was not agreeing with me tonight...even the pictures didn't turn out very well...but I have to chronicle this--it's my girl!

#135/365--Breakfast

A really wonderful group of ladies had breakfast with me this morning at Corner Bakery.

#134/365--Cookies

Mike makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world! He made some for us last night...and they were YUM!

#133/365--Horse Lessons

...I got to see Makenzie's horse lesson today with Mike...

#132/365--Squirrelly

Mikey and I were spying on this little guy today. He was pretty cute...and brave.

#131/365--Say, "Cheese!"

Our snack from small group tonight. Yep. I always eat too much cheese and I always pay for it later...but I LOVE IT!! :)

#130/365--Honor

Tonight, Lauren was inducted into National Junior Honor Society.

#129/365--Signs

This is a sign at Baja, a mexican restaurant in Grapevine. I just want to add one last line to this sign...it will say..."Unless you are Janelle, in which case, you can be as grumpy as you want to be any day of the week any time of the year, especially if it's mother's day." Just kidding, of course...I just like this sign and wish I could have it on display and also hold it as the law.

#128/365--Our Day

...was just a great day. It started out early and chilly at Mikey's baseball game which happened to be at 9 a.m.

After lunch, we went dress shopping for Lauren. Mikey, of course, was bored out of his mind. I offered to buy him some new clothes but he just wasn't into it...anyway--here is one of the dresses we got...

While we were shopping, we saw this mean car...

Next, we went off to West End in Dallas to see:

This was very cool and touching and odd and unsettling all at the same time. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that all of the exhibits were real. Real bodies...real people...once.
After all this fun excitement, we got frozen custard from Freddy's. (no pictures from there...I was too busy eating!) YUM!
And later, at sunset, we saw this beautiful cloud display--to us it looked like praying hands...

and all I can say about that is, "Thank you, God, for such a wonderful day with my kids. I treasure those moments. That was a perfect Mother's Day gift to me."

#127/365--Flowers

My sweetie sent me my favorite flowers today for Mother's Day!

#126/365--Windy Day

Lauren had a soccer game...

...and I thought the grass looked neat in the wind...

#125/365--Bop 'em

New game....

#124/365--Substitute

It takes a lot to get ready for a sub when you teach Kindergarten. I can't speak for other grade levels, but...in Kindergarten...usually it's easier to just teach, than get a sub...however,on testing days, I have no choice. The good thing is, I'll be there if my Sub has any questions. The bad thing is, I'll be there, in and out of the room, which creates mini chaos. So here is my picture of the day, today. My "Wednesday" box--with all the activities I have planned for tomorrow, Cinco de Mayo and my Substitute.

#123/365---Rainbows

I just caught the tail end of this one after storms blew through...

#122/365--Crummy

I have felt pretty crummy all day. Maybe it's just the blues, maybe I'm tired...maybe it's allergies...who really knows? I've mostly just laid around all day. Here's one of the most exciting things I did today: