3rd grade program and a grandkid

Harper had her 3rd grade music program last night.  She does not always cooperate with my desire to photograph her childhood.  She also has a tendency to ask me to do things like curl her hair, and then when I get done she thinks it is too curly, or that the dress she is wearing is too 'crazy looking.'  

Personally, I thought she looked very nice.  We stopped on the way and got her some new sandals at Dollar General.  I know there are people in this world who don't like Dollar General, but that store seriously saves my rump a lot!  

I am not overly fond of the way they do music programs at the grade school level.  They put on some music over a loud speaker and then the kids just seem to yell over it.  But Harper said they worked really hard, and she liked a couple of the songs.  I sort of wish for the old ways of doing things a lot lately.  I must be getting old!  I would like to hear the kids sing rather than yell.  I would like to know that they are actually learning some stuff about music too.....reading notes and learning about pitch, harmony etc.  I don't think that is what is happening.

Harper and her friend Chloe.  They are inseparable, and I am so happy that Harper has a friend that she has so much in common with.  

Also, we go to RE with this boy.  Harper likes to pretend she doesn't like boys.  This one is a seriously nice kid though.  He has great manners, is super sweet, and is one of the very few I would agree to her dating (in the very, very distant future).

And if I needed proof of my old age, I just look at my grandkid!  :)  She seriously lights up our lives.  We are all so madly in love with her!  We may not have had much time to plan for her arrival, but God knew we needed her!   

I do admit that when Madison sent me this picture yesterday I cracked up.  The minute I saw it I knew exactly where it came from.  If the baby is wearing plaid it means GG has been shopping!  

Lots of pictures

It has been a few days since I posted pictures.  Those few days were insanely crazy and packed full of photographic opportunities.  Last Thursday, Preston and Quincy had a track meet at home.  I drove the kids over, watched for a while, and then had to drive my routes and then came back in time to watch some more.  Since I was early, I walked over and watched Preston and Quincy warm up for pole vaulting.  I was very touched by Preston helping all the kids.  He was giving great advice.  He was really intent on helping Quincy clear the bar.  He is by no means a professional pole vaulter, but he did seem to have good pointers and was truly trying to help them all at least hold the pole correctly.  He is a good kid.

These 2 are always together.  Always goofy.  Always making me crack up.  I love their friendship.  

I got to watch Quincy throw discus.  I missed her doing shot put.  She placed 4th in discus.  Her throws were pretty good.  She told me she has no idea what she is doing, but what I saw looked pretty good!  (Cause I am a professional track coach?) 

Despite Preston's coaching, Quincy didn't quite clear the bar.  She told me she knows some stuff to work on.  She at least doesn't have the fear that some of the other pole vaulting girls seem to have.  She just needs a little more practice I think!  You can see she got a little height.  If only the bar started at 5 foot instead of 6 foot 5 inches!  :)  

Preston placed first for 8th grade boys.  He cleared 7 foot, but didn't have to try any other heights.  He told me yesterday at practice he cleared 8 feet.  He is getting better!  He loves pole vaulting.  What did Cameron get started I keep wondering.

I missed Preston doing long jump and high jump, but he didn't place.  His 4X200 meter relay team placed 2nd.  I like this picture of Angry Preston!  He said he wasn't angry, it is his mean running face!

Friday there was no school, so I took  Preston back to the DMV.  He passed his driving test and now has his farm permit.  He even drove himself to work on Saturday!  He was so excited!  The DMV test man told us that earlier in the day, he had a kid hit a guard rail.  Preston said he must have been leery from that experience because he didn't make him do anything hard at all!  I am happy to have another driver in the house.  

Colin was up for a little while on Sunday.  He and Spencer attended her sorority spring party.  They dressed as Motley Crew.  I love this!  So much fun.  I did not get to see Colin for very long, as he and Andrew went fishing, and when they got back, I was gone already.

The little kids and I had quite a Sunday.  After church, we cleaned the fairgrounds, and helped set up for some upcoming spring events.  We set up the building for the garage sale, and got some donations picked up.   We cleaned out the chicken house at Grandma's house so we can house our broilers over there in a few days.  We got all the goat's feet trimmed and got them all worked over, and then we helped Jim repair fences.  When we were done, I could barely move!  Nothing a little Aleve can't fix!  Good thing too, as this week is just as wild!  

Even when things are crazy, I am thankful for this life.

what we do

Running - is what we do.  On the rare moments we have an evening at home, sometimes we get more comfortable than we should!  Saige has sort of laid a claim on Andrew's dog.  Andrew likes to give her a lot of grief about it, but he shares well!  :)  We are hearing from a lot of the people we sold dogs to that they are very smart, are training easily and are great dogs.  Dex….well he might not be the smartest one of the batch, but he sure is sweet!

Preston and Quincy had their first track meet on Tuesday.  Because it was an early meet, I didn't think I could make it in time for their events.  This would have been incorrect....as the meet lasted forever.  Live and learn I guess.  Preston placed 2nd in the pole vault, did not place in high or long jump, and his 4X200 team took 2nd place.  Quincy placed 4th in both shot put an discus.  She scratched on her first attempt at pole vault.  She is excited to try again!  They said that they got cold, but had fun!  Hopefully the next meet will be warmer!  I always say I am happy to see winter sports end, and then I go sit at track and think why was I happy about sitting outside?  Why?  ;) 

Chaotic Tuesday

Saige had her first grade field trip today.  They went to the Sea Life Exhibit, and to Kaleidoscope in Kansas City.  She has been excited about this for days and days.  I did not attend, but a friend did send some pictures.  She looks like she is having a great time!

Preston and Quincy had their state FBLA conference, and their first track meet today.  Instead of getting ready last night, Preston was demonstrating how to grab your ankle and jump over your own leg.  He was successful at it, but was not successful at finding dress clothes last night, which caused a few moments of panic this morning.

My bus boss had a crisis level lack of drivers today, so Evie and I had to run the kids to their state FBLA conference, and out for pizza.  This little girl is a great bus rider!  She is a really good baby.  I am thankful that she is here with us, even if we make her run errands and go on bus trips!

Preston and Quincy cleaned up pretty well, although it almost killed Quincy to wear a dress!  She was pretty insistent that different types of businesses wear different types of attire, and that she would never be wearing a dress when she is in the corporate world.  She lost the battle.  She will probably win the war on dresses though!  :) 

Thank goodness Mallory enjoys dressing up and helped her out!  I think she will enjoy the track meet (and being in sweats) a lot more!  

weekenders

We had a weekend of company.  The puppies went home to live with their new families.  The girls took the lack of puppies pretty hard.  Especially Saige, who loved this dog she called Fello.  Fello is now living with Cousin Janet, who came down on Saturday and picked him up.  Cousin Janet and Aunt Marian said he rode in the car and is settling in just fine.  It was fun to get to see them for a little while.  Saige was sad, but knows that this is a good placement, as she gets visitation and pictures!  Janet is pretty excited about it too!  

Since Fello is now gone, Saige has set her sites on training Andrew and Madison's puppy, Dexter.  Dex is learning to fold laundry.  If she accomplishes this, Dex will NOT be moving out when Madison and Andrew buy a house!  :)  

Sunday, Evie got to meet her great grandparents.  Jim's parents were down for a little visit.  She also got to meet Auntie Grace and Uncle James, although we didn't get any pictures because I always get carried away talking and forget what I should do!  

Honestly, the whole weekend went by in a blink and I could use a do-over.  At least the house smells better now!  Sorry/not sorry puppies!

Babies

I think it is safe to say we are all smitten with a certain little cutie pie.  She has settled right in, and we are all getting back into the swing of having a baby around!  I cannot get over how perfect she is!  I love this new grammy role!  It is a great thing when you add members to your family!

Unfortunately for some little girls, the time has come to also subtract some members from the family.  The puppies have officially been weaned, and are starting to trickle out to their forever homes.  There have definitely been some sad moments at our house.  I would say that I am sorry for breaking the girl's hearts, but there have been some pretty neat moments from this experience.  Loving something that you are selling is always hard, but we have some amazing stories to tell.  The puppy above the girls named Runt.  Mallory especially was very attached, and to the point of tears over her leaving. BUT this particular dog went back to the people that we bought Blitz from.  Blitz's mother was stolen last summer, and Blitz's father died of old age around Christmas time.  This family was so excited to have their dog's grandpup!  It was very touching to see them getting choked up because they were so happy to be getting back a piece of some of the dogs they had loved.  Our hearts are happy knowing that this dog will be loved and cherished.

Quincy was fond of this little girl who she called Licky.  Licky went home yesterday to a lady who is moving out of her parent's home for the first time and is happy to have her as company in her new journey.  She was so happy, and excited, it was hard to be sad about letting go!  A few tears were shed, but they have promised the girls updates!  Knowing we will be getting pictures occasionally definitely makes it easier to say goodbye!

We hadn't been back from delivering Licky for more than an hour when the people we sold her to had their next door neighbor call us and buy the red female that the girls named Chocolate Chunk.  Chunk is Harper's favorite, but again, we lucked out and the people have agreed to send updates.  I am feeling good about this.  Harper said she knew that they should not have picked favorites! 

We only had this pup left.  Fello.  Saige's favorite, and the one that Jim has also gotten very attached to.  Saige cried enough tears that we knew we must take a bold step for his new home.  Which is why we have decided that he will go live with my cousin Janet.  Saige will get visitation and pictures.  Saige is still convinced the dog should stay with us, but did consent to cousin Janet taking over his care. Janet is thrilled, Saige is happy.  Hope is happy because, frankly the basement is starting to smell like a vet clinic and I am ready for less work down there!  Do I think we will do this again?  Yes, I do.  Will it be the next time the dog cycles?  I don't think so!  I will need more time to recover!   I would say that I am thankful for how easily these sold, and that I have been touched by some of what has happened because of them.  I also think it has been a good experience for the kids, and we made enough money to send them to camp this summer!  Good experience overall!