From birthdays to graduations

It has been quite awhile since I last blogged. I know this because the girls have been reminding me periodically. They even started reading "what they are doing in school" out loud as if I need a reminder they have started a new school year. The stack of last year's school work and test papers under my desk waiting for new homes is reminder enough on a daily basis.

I'll start with my birthday. Yes, I had one. It was nice. John and the girls took me out to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. How I love their pancakes! The girls proved how well they know me by the presents they gave me.

 

We also got the truck back. It looks great and you can't even tell where it was hit. However, I have not taken a picture of it so you'll have to take my word for it.

June was Morgan's, our niece, graduation.

 Where we ran into our dear friend J.J!

 Saw Morgan receive her diploma!

Yes, she can be a little crazy like the rest of us.

  And saw a happy Grandma and Nana.

We took a trip to the zoo with some friends of ours. It turned out to be the first day the grizzles were back on exhibit. Chloe was so excited. I didn't know, but my friend Lauren told me once they arrived and we decided to keep it a secret from her. I loved the face she made when she realized it.

 

 

Before school began again, we took a day to go to the beach. You can't go wrong with awesome doughnuts and the ocean!

 

 

We are now back in session, much to the dismay of the girls. But so far things are going well, except for the usual...we are already dropping a day. John has added a day to his vacation; we'll be happy to have him home though.

 

I can't believe Jesse started high school this year! To think we started this homeschooling journey in kindergarten and now she is in high school. I'm trying to just enjoy each moment as they come, knowing four years will fly by and there is no telling where she will go afterward.

She is enjoying her animation class. She has already had her first computer assignment and did well. I enjoy watching her mind work and see what she comes up with for class.

My two favorite men at Father's Day.

 

Last Thursday, Chloe received her fourth degree black belt. We are so proud of her. Now, we are all the same rank again. We still enjoy being with each other there and pounding on each other at sparring. It really does bring a family closer together. lol I haven't downloaded the pictures yet, so I'll do that in a separate post. 

Oh my stars and stripes!

Today, we took John's truck in to be fixed. We still have not been paid by the government; however, they have approved the payment. Thank goodness!

We left the body shop and headed to breakfast. While we were eating we decided to visit the lake we found yesterday. Yesterday, when we found the lake, there were some half-naked guys sitting at one of the three picnic tables. It didn't feel right, so we didn't get out to walk the water line. We were some fifty feet away from the lake's parking entrance when a dog ran out underneath our car. His owner was right there too. I heard the man yelling, but our windows were up and the radio on. I asked John if I hit the dog (I saw the dog running in the rearview mirror). He said I did. I rolled down my window for the owner. I asked him too if I'd hit the dog. He told me yes, but the dog was fine and it wasn't my fault. I still felt awful. The man did walk his dog (now on a leash) to the lake a few minutes later so I could see the dog was okay. I hope they didn't find anything wrong with the dog after we left. I still feel just awful. And I wish the dog had been on a leash in the first place.

John tried to make me feel better by taking me to our favorite RV dealership. That too turned out not so great. As soon as we got there, the black cloud above us let the down pour begin. We were stuck under the shelter with one pop-up and a T@b. We did finally get to meet the owner of the dealership, but we didn't get to see the RV we had set out to see because the parking lot became a pond. There were three-to-six inches of water around the lot.

I'm looking forward to starting a new day tomorrow.

First week of summer is done!

Tuesday of last week (our first "real" day of summer break), I took the girls to a few places they had been asking to visit. The library was high on Chloe's list. She picked up her application for Battle of the Books this summer. I believe she has already started reading the books she borrowed that day. She has also talked two of her friends into joining her group this year.

Jesse wanted to go to the toy store to get some more Rainbow Loom bands and needed a new loom hook. Chloe also picked up a new LEGO mini figure. Afterward, we went to Michael's to see if they had additional colors of bands. They both wanted certain colors and the toy store's stock has drastically decreased along with their choice of colors. Michael's just happened to have them on sale, so they came home with a few thousand bands. Gotta love those little bands.

The rest of the week they spent reading and working on different projects. I realize it doesn't sound too exciting, but they love having time to do the things they want to do.

This weekend has been adventurous. Saturday morning started with the commissary. Today, we started at Target for Chloe a pair of shorts. We didn't set out to find Morgan's graduation gift but we did. (I am not going to say what because she reads the blog.) We also went for a drive. We rode into Camden and found a new place to fish. We saw a nice size, close to a foot, trout. Then we went to find the "Science Park". It is a park with a runway for model planes, a launching pad for model rockets. We'll go back and it explore it more later.

School is out! Or is it?

We finished our school year Friday. I still need to finish grading a few tests and send in report cards. But we are done with last year; however, I still need to do some prep work for next year.

Today, Jesse had her orientation for animation class. It was our first experience with an on-line class. I found it fascinating. We could see Mr. Stewart, a list of all the participants, a chat box and other information we'll need in the future. Mr. Stewart could even make it to where we could see his computer screen. Totally interesting! We have her syllabus and she is already thinking about what she is going to do. Now, we just have to download the animation programs so she can start tinkering.

"Goodbye" and "Hello"

I received the call from my Dad Friday at 3:30 regarding Wilburn's funeral. By 7pm, we were all (the four humans, two dogs, and the fish) on our way to Jacksonville, Florida. John said "we had to go". So we did.

Saying farewell to Wilburn is sad for me. I knew him and I didn't know him. There was always something about Wilburn. He was described, during the service, as gentle. I think of him more as a gentle giant. He was a tall man, kind and easy to talk to.

I have not seen this side of the family since John and I were married. Some longer than that. Others I have never met! Sunday, I met my cousin John (or Jon) and his wife, and my cousin Steven (or Stephen). It was nice to sit with everyone to get caught up a bit.

Steven (Stephen?) and Sandy

John and Margie

John and his bride.

We did get a chance to relax a bit Saturday, since the service was Sunday. John told the girls we'd take them to the Jacksonville Zoo. I have to admit I had mixed emotions about "having fun" while down for a funeral. But the family seemed okay with it.

The zoo there is beautiful. We saw so many animals we don't have at Riverbanks. They even have a water park for the kids, a goat farm where you can brush the goats, and a playground that looks like trees including a giant bird's nest for kids to crawl in.

 

Compliments and changes

When I was leaving Book Club last night, I was speaking with the library manager another librarian. The other librarian was the previous volunteer coordinator. Last week, I told the new coordinator this week would be the girls "last week". Well, they were all "freaking out" (her words) because they thought the girls were not going to go back to volunteering. They sent me an email earlier this week and I confirmed they would be back in the fall. But she had to tell me last night, while laughing to almost tears, what they were thinking. The manager then told me they can't quit because "they are institutions of the library". I thought that was very sweet. He even told three of the ladies from Book Club the girls are "their best volunteers". I think the girls are awesome; but, I'm their Mom. I love to hear other people agree with me.

Life is full of changes. Our little, extended family had one of those this week. In fact, it was yesterday. Yesterday afternoon my Dad's cousin, Wilburn, passed away. He had a massive stroke last year. He had improved greatly over the year, but in recent weeks had some complications. His passing is so very sad for John and myself. Other than our parents and John's siblings, Wilburn and his family were the only ones attending our wedding. We didn't send invitations out. We told everyone where and when we were getting married, but no invitations. Wilburn had told my Dad they "wouldn't miss it for the world" and they didn't. They came down a snow covered mountain in NC to go up another one in TN to get to our wedding. I am waiting to hear from Dad regarding arrangements. My Dad can't ride to Florida, but I will hopefully be at the service.

On and on

The debate continues between John and myself regarding fixing the truck. Do we go ahead and have it fixed? Or do we wait for the check from the government? We have yet to decide. Oma saw it this weekend. John had not told her about it and, by her reaction, I don't think anyone else had either. She was shocked. And angry. I appreciated the concern.

It will get fixed. The only question remaining...sooner or later?

Next Friday will be our last day of school. We have so many things to finish. I have so many papers to grade, final grades to input and preparing for our new school year. Our first year of high school for Jesse! Oh, my.

I think I have my feet firmly planted, but we won't know for sure until we start in mid-June. I just hope it all goes smoothly. Chloe's books are all waiting for her. I am still working on writing up tests, but I hope while they are on break I can get a good bit of work done in advance.