First Day of school

Today Gavin started his first day at Cornerstone Christian School. It was a big decision on all our parts but a good one. He was very nervous today but as soon as we got there all the kids ran up to him and asked if he was the "new kid". It was so nice to see these kids so friendly and nice to him. I think it made him feel better and i know i did as well. Here is the picture of his first day of school. Check out the cool clothes he has to wear.....I love it.

Homecoming

Casey and Cassie went to Homecoming last weekend.....their theme was a Knight out.......They had a blast. The school also won the Homecoming game as well.....Cassie was on the float at Alice In Wonderland and Casey's truck pulled the float. Enjoy the pics.

Halloween....with teenagers

Wow.....i have really been behind on my blog....We celebrated Halloween last night, and decided to do a haunted maze in our yard....our kids, as you know, are old and are not into the trick or treat thing anymore. So we have to think outside the box and go for more age appropriate stuff. The Maze was a hit.....we had smoke coming out of our cars and Casey sat on the hood of his car scaring people....Cassie and her friends were dead dolls.....it was great...Gavin was leatherface and decided that after 30 minutes he was done and wanted to venture out into the neighborhood looking for friends and candy. Here are some pics of the kids and our maze. Enjoy

My Baby is 13

September 15, 1995 was a day that i will never forget...my baby was born and my life changed like you would never believe. Even though having him was not in my plans....it was definitly in someone elses, and for that i will never be ungreatfull. Having a boy has definitly made me thank my mother for not giving me a brother. Boys are way different then girls and learning all their different likes and dislikes is hard. It is also hard to have a son who all of a sudden just calls you Mom instead of Mama like he use to....who would rather talk to girls on the phone now then sit on the couch and watch TV with you, and of course who would rather go to Daddy with questions instead of you. Raising Boys is hard but at the same time fun. They dont have attitudes like girls at his age do and they don't go through to much of a Change like girls do, but they are entergetic and have to go go go all the time. Speaking of Go Go Go, Gavin for his 13 Birthday decided to have a Pole Position Party with his friend and family. It was alot of fun and a great Big Boy way to ring in the first Teen Year. Enjoy the pics.

Crazy two weeks

Well it has been awhile since i have been in my Blog...life can sure throw you some curves when you are not expecting it. On August 16th Kevin rushed me to the emergency room. I was having pain in my lower right side of my stomach. After hours of testing they determined my appendix was inflamed and i had to have surgery. So twenty minutes later i was under and ready to have it taken out. The surgery was a piece of cake...the recovery on the other hand is another story. My body didn't handle the medicine very well and caused dizziness and headaches that also have led to nausea. This sent me back to the hospital twice with me having chest pains and problems breathing. Not only could i not relax but the pain i was in was uncontrollable. It has been two weeks since my surgery and i am still not fully recovered but the dizziness is slowly going away and my sight is half way back. I can walk and stand up straight which is a blessing. The worst part is not being able to do anything. My kids are back in school and the house is a mess. I hate asking people for help...not one of my strong areas, even though between my friends and co workers they have all asked to help....i tell them no. I have decided i am stubborn. I guess we all go through these fazes in our life to help us figure out we are not all superwomen or men and we all just need to rest and let others help. So, besides resting my kids are back in school......Casey has started his Senior year off well. His last day of work is this Monday at the Storm Stadium...it is the last game of the season. Cassie started her Sophmore year off with tons of homework and Golf Practice every day . She is exhausted already. Gavin started his Seventh Grade year off great. He loves not being the low classman this year and thinks all the sixth graders are tiny. Of course with him being 5'7" all the kids would be small...he is following in my tall footsteps.

Cassie

Last night was Cassie's 15th Birthday Party. It was Disco theme....and boy was it fun. She has never had a party at the house where the kids just hang out. She is so use to a theme or going to a bowling alley or a pizza house....so we decided to go all out and do a backyard Disco theme....it turned out great...her friends all came and she was a Go Go Dancer. If you know our backyard it is in the middle of construction but we added some amazing lights...a disco ball and bought some chairs and bam......it was great. Twister was the hit of the night and Kevin and I both agree that the game was alot bigger when we were kids. Enjoy the pics.

Casey, the Senior

Well today was Senior picture day.....it is amazing what happens to you when your kids get there pictures done. I can always remember taking them to get pictures done when they were little, either by themselves or as a group and thinking to my self, "Oh how cute they are, or gee they really are getting big". But today i actually cried for the first time when taking one of my kids to get their pictures done. For today i realized that the time is here.....Casey it is a Senior. When he put on that Cap and Gown it brought back so many memories. It also scared me half to death, knowing that he would be experiencing half the stuff i did after graduation. So, we checked off one of the many things on the Senior to do List yesterday.....enjoy the pic....i put one of him when he was in Kinder and then his most recent one today.

Earthquakes and Painting don't mix

One of the many joys of living in California is the weather and the beach....the other joys, are the earthquakes.....I hate these things....not only do you not know they are coming or how big they are going to be, but you always seem to be doing something out of the ordinary when they happen. Today my son Gavin and I are redoing his bedroom....so pretty much all of his bedroom is in the hallway....making it hard to move. I really don't need to tell you the rest...sure you can figure it out...but here it goes....start jumping over a bed and almost fall on my butt to get to the stairs to yell at my son to run to a doorway....as the house is shaking and my pictures are falling off my table downstairs....like I said I hate these things......and to make it worse....it was centered in the area where my husband is taking the Bar. He finally called me to let me know he was ok...but all the 6,000 students taking the bar had to duck to avoid getting hit by the ceiling panels that were falling to the ground.....all I can say is, it is great living in California.

My Husband is the greatest

Today is not only hot, crazy, and busy, but today is the day my Husband leaves to take the Bar Exam. For all who don't know, this is Kevin's third time taking the bar. The first time he took it we all had big heads and were all very positive that he would pass....but unfortunately he did not. Then the second time we crossed our fingers and prayed like we had never prayed before....still no luck....now this time i noticed that not only was i stressed and worried every time he went in the room and closed the door to study, but he was mentally exhausted....and of course worried beyond belief. I dont think i have ever seen him almost have a mental breakdown. Luckily we attend an amazing church and with alot of prayer our Pastor seems to always do a sermon that has to go with what we need in our life. He has done sermons on Patience and on prioritize your life according to how God wants you to. My favorite was how sometimes we dont listen to what God wants for us in our life. We always seem to know what we need and want in our life but never ask God what he wants us to do. We stress to get that one thing we need and work so hard to get it without going to God for help. This was the message we both needed. Even though we both go to church all the time, there are times we tend to forget the simple things that can help. So we are giving it to God this time and letting him take all the pressure off my Husband and let him lead the way. We both agreed that if God wants him to pass, it will be. There are always reasons for everything and we all have to practice patience. I am reading a book right now called You are late again Lord....a book on patience.....This one verse means so much to me right now with everything that is going on. Again, please if you could include my Wonderful Husband in your prayers this week i would appreciate it so much. He is an amazing and determined man. I love him everyday for that.


But I trust in you, O Lord
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hands.

Psalms 31:14-15

Three Weeks Left

Today i realized that in three weeks i will be going back to work.....and my kids will be going back to school.....i also realized that i am getting old. My oldest stepson who has been in my life since he was eight is going to be a Senior in High School. This is not possible since i was just a Senior myself yesterday.....time flies so fast and it makes me realize how much the next ten months will be a challenge for us. Not only is he 17 and driving and has a girlfriend, but the changes will be hard as well. Not only do Kevin and i have to start letting him go but the independence is killing me.....yes if you know me i am a control freak and i don't adapt to change well.....i still want him to be the eight year old that use to just stand in my bathroom and ask why i am putting on makeup all the time....he would then be the one to tell me i was beautiful without it...i miss the days of innocence and going to the movies and the mall and holding hands and just talking to him about cartoons. Now it is about cars, girls and when he is going to move out. I guess i should just be blessed that he still talks to me and i am grateful that even when i dont think he is going to tell me everything he does. I am going to need all the prayer i can get these next ten months. For June 3rd will be here before Kevin and I know it and the little boy that has graced our hearts for years will be the man that will go out into the world and amaze us all.