This week

I received an e-mail last week from one of Blake's friend's mother telling me that Blake's science teacher is not very good and her son had many problems with him last year. Apparently, he is not very hands-on and does not really teach the kids. Blake came home and we discussed his problem and I called the school. After numerous phone calls and playing phone tag, Blake's class was changed. So, he is very happy about that. He was also chosen as a BMS (Burk Middle School) Ambassador. This is a program where he meets students that are new to the school. He shows them the ropes, eats lunch with them and helps them get comfortable with their new surroundings. Blake is such a great young man and we are proud of his accomplishments.

Abby is doing well. Her eczema is still acting up but we are taking her to an allergist soon. Blake, Steve and I have been working on her alphabet with her and she is doing very well. Last night Blake taught her the two sounds of "A". She is getting to be such a big girl.

Jacob is great. He's such a clown and cracks us up everyday. He has been working on potty training and hopefully he will be out of diapers before too long.

Steve and I both started fall classes yesterday. We are going to be so busy, but we are up to the challenge!!!

Blake is Home!

Blake came home last Monday. Abby and Jacob were SOOOO excited. Blake went with Steve to pick them up from school and Jacob was surprised and Abby screamed "Blakey!" When I got home from work Blake was playing Dora Candyland with Abby. They still have not gotten over having him home and Jacob wonders everyday when we pick him up "where is Blake?" Abby misses Dylan and every now and then will say "Dylan will be home at Christmas."

Steve and I took a few days off to hang out with Blake. The three of us went to see "Click" and Blake and I went to see "World Trade Center." Blake liked "WTC" and we were able to talk about 9/11 and I think he learned a lot. Blake also started his golf lessons last week. The instructor said he did a really good job. Steve has taken him to the driving range a few times so he can practice. His next lesson is this Saturday. He'll now be able to go golfing when Granddaddy Jim and Granola come to visit. Steve is really looking forward to having a new golf partner!

Blake started school Monday. He is in a Peer Leadership program which is a mentoring program that he had to apply for and he mentors younger students in his school and the elementary school. He really wanted to do this and we know he will enjoy it. Today is the second day of school and Blake is exhausted. It will take him a while to get used to school again. It is hard to believe he is in the 8th grade. He has been doing some babysitting for us and making a little money (he got his first pre-pay debit card in the mail yesterday). The other night Steve and I had a work function to go to and Blake stayed home with the kiddos. He did a really good job and even ordered pizza. We are signing him up for babysitting classes this fall. He really doesn't need the class, but I want to get him certified in child CPR. He has had CPR classes, but I want him to be 100% confident!

Other than that, not too much is going on. Steve just finished up his summer semester classes and we both begin fall classes next week. Abby and Jacob are doing well. Abby's eczema has really been acting up. We are going to take her to the doctor and see if there are any other options we have not explored. Jacob is talking up a storm and he is such a hoot! We enjoy the kids so much. Dylan is doing well at his new school in S.C. He has been busy building a model home. We miss him very much.

Sorry this is so long... I will try to be better about updating this!

Fly Through the Sky

Abby and I took a trip to New Hampshire last week. She was very excited to get on an airplane and "Fly Through the Sky" like the Wiggles song. At the security checkpoint she took off her shoes and put everything in the bins to go through the x-ray machine. She was such a big girl. Once it was time to get on the plane everything changes. She started to scream "I don't want to get on the plane." She was crying and would not get in her seat. The flight attendant tried unsuccessfully to calm her down. After a few minutes, the flight attendant came back and said to me "If you don't get her buckled in her seat you are going to have to get off of the aircraft. We are waiting for you so we can shut the door." So, the pressure was on and I forced her in her seat despite her screams! Five minutes later after singing and book reading, she was calm. She did very well with the take-off as long as I was singing a song to her. Luckily, she did even better on our connecting flight with NO crying.

We had a great time visiting in New Hampshire. We went to an amusement park called Story Land where all of the rides were Abby size. She rode everything from the roller coaster to all of the dizzy rides that I didn't dare ride. She also had an opportunity during the trip to go to the lake and ride on a ski boat... she loved it. We went up there to celebrate Grammie and Grampie Earl's 65th wedding anniversary and for some reason, Abby was very shy around them. Besides her shyness, we had a wonderful time.

Meanwhile, Steve and Jacob were left back in Texas. They had lots of fun being guys. They re-finished my dining room chairs (Dad did the chairs while Jacob rode his scooter and played on his slide) and went out for lunch and dinner since Mom wasn't here.

Abby did great on our return trip. She got to meet the pilots (she calls them "pirates") on each flight. Everytime we had turbulence, she would say "I want more bumps" and would yell "Go faster pirate!" We were very excited to come home and see Dad and Jacob.

Blake comes home tomorrow and Abby is so excited. She still gets a bit confused when we tell her Dylan is not coming home. He starts school in SC next week. We will miss him here!