Memory Lane

Everyone always comments on what a big family I have. Yes, I do. I'm very lucky to have so many. A big family brings many family events such as birthdays and weddings but it also brings more funerals than average.We were just realizing last night that there have been five or more in the last 18 months. Some have been expected, while others are a surprise.
I find it interesting all of the funny memories you think of when you sit with family and remember a loved one during a grieving period. It's not like a holiday, when everyone is in rush mode getting things done. It is more of a relaxed time when families share memories of loved ones.
This weekend, we lay my uncle Todd to rest. He was only 52 (12 years older than me). When I was young, I stayed so much with my grandparents, I thought he and his siblings were my brothers and sister. He struggled with cancer for several years, but lost his life in a car accident. I saw old photographs and heard many new stories about Todd that brought a smile to my face. May he rest in peace, and always be remembered.
This photo was his last, taken last Monday with his daughter Ashley.

Tennis

Although she lost her match yesterday, she looked beautiful and graceful while she played. I'm a very proud mom!
Go War Eagles!

That kind of afternoon...

I like routine, but wow!
Rogers, school pick up (child 2&3)
Snacks
(picture this car ride with a 10 year old practicing guitar in the back seat)
Tennis- other high school
Little flock- change clothes
Bentonville to dance (child 2)
Return to Rogers for tennis pick up
Take a friend home (out by the lake)
Little Flock drop off (child1)
Bentonville pick up
Over 100 miles since 3PM
Home. Bed.

Spa Day?

Preparation- these girls are washed and blow dried! Then greased up... It's a regular spa treatment before they go on the block for sale! I did not participate in these activities, but I watched and laughed. These photos are from the prep and the auction. Way to go Parker!!

My Middle

She is beautiful, sassy, hilarious and she is all her own personality! I have watched her change into a beautiful teenage girl (who does not look 13!) and for this I am truly blessed. We butt heads like moms and daughters do...her father says its because we are just alike. I don't know about that, but I can't wait to see where she goes in this life! Her middle child "do it my way" attitude is going to make her very successful in whatever SHE CHOOSES to do!
Photos of first day of 8th grade and from dance two years ago.

Middle School

It seems like just yesterday he was starting kindergarten. We bought crayons, glue sticks and a nap mat.
Boy time flies....

This year, we needed a protractor and a combination lock.

My Sweet Emalyn

My sister Becky and her husband John have one daughter. She is beautiful, precious, loving, demanding and chatty! She is her momma's child!
Today, is her first day of Kindergarten at Valley View. She is nervous and excited. I talked to her on the phone last night and I could here it in her voice. I pray that she has an incredible day and she let's the teacher be in charge a little bit. She reminded her momma this morning that she was supposed to send pictures to me...my sweet girl!

Then and Now

Kennedy started tenth grade today. I'm very proud of the young lady she has become! This is freshman first day and Sophomore first day.

Mom v. Teacher...Finding a Happy Medium

This summer I have got to spend all of my time being mom. This is the first time in three years that I have been back to "full time" mom. It's been fun and quite an adjustment. Tomorrow, my last one starts back to school. I have a huge list of things that I need to do, another list of things I want to do, and another of things others need/want me to do. I love that I'm fortunate enough to have the choice to work, and thankful for the option.
On the other hand, I spent the last three years preparing to teach. I was not sure right off the bat that teaching was for me...then I went in the classroom! I LOVED it!! I miss my students, I miss seeing the impact I make, and I miss the little things that made my day (see photo).
So, currently I am looking for my happy medium. I don't know where I will find it, but I know there is a bigger plan. I just have to wait and see where my skills are needed!

Kennedy going to be Sweet 16!

Conversation today....
For her 16th birthday she wants:
Car
Chocolate pie
Monster cable
Chalk....so she can make her own parking spaces

That last one really makes me want to buy a her car (sarcasm).

22 years

I think about how fast that goes by and I am amazed. Three children, 15+ moves, college, law school, birth and death, very high, very low, feast and famine, love and hate, and so much more. We had our 22nd wedding anniversary this year. This is an accomplishment these days!

War Eagle

Kennedy is still at Heritage playing tennis. New uniforms...

Flew the Coop

This chicken arrangement...still not my thing. Dogs attacked Parker's show hens this week. Hen house broken, chicken bodies...it's all more than this girl was ready for. He has twelve left, one he has nicknamed "scar." At first, we only found three alive and then they started showing up over the last few days. So, those that flew the coop found a way to make it in the wild...or they are just good at hiding.

Back to School

Today Olivia and Parker started back to school. We have homeschooled for the last year, so this change is huge for all of us. These pictures are first day of 5th and 8th grade @ BCSA.

Let's Bake!

Warm, fresh, right out of the oven. I'm not completely back in the swing of things, but this is a good start!

What I learned from Disney

Disney...a few facts
1) unless it is in a mouse shape or a princess, they do not sell candy in the onboard shopping area (no m&m's, snickers, etc) and that candy is $$
2) room service is all included, except for a few snack items

I tell you these facts to support my story. While on a family vacation (5 day Disney cruise), we discovered these random facts. M&M'S are on the room service menu-not included. I wanted some, I realized I was going to pay $$ for a bag of candy, but it was vacation! I also knew I would end up with 2-3 if I had to share with all the kids. my decision to get several bags was supported by this thinking. I ordered five bags of M&M'S. That should be plenty....I ask if they were peanut or plain, and the woman with the foreign accent told me they were chocolate. Okay, that should have been a clue.
Sure, cookies would be great too. Great idea!
I take a nap, and wake up to find five-1 pounds bags of candy and two plates of cookies. My kids think its hilarious! I am thinking, we have to eat five pounds of candy before the end of the week! That's five pounds of luggage I need for other stuff!! Memories made....

Sisters

I love my girls. They are two and a half years apart, but the younger one, Olivia is taller than both Kennedy and myself. They fight like sisters do, but in the end are best friends. I am so thankful for that. Honestly, two people could not be more different. These photos portray their personalities well...and show that even as teenagers that act up sometimes (they are my children, after all!)

The Curse Continues

Just a little background.... My best friend since seventh grade and I have traveled various places together and we tend to either leave a mark on the place --or it leaves a mark on us! I tell you this so that you will understand our story. I won't drag you through every trip, but will hit the high points to make my point.
High school- she thinks she may want to go to Ole Miss, so we go check it out. Just the two of us (what were our parents thinking?!) head to Mississippi. This is her trip, I am along for the ride. Drive is fine, but when we get there, all of the information she was sent about housing, game tickets for the weekend and a school tour--no one knows anything about. Ok, we can deal with this, let's just get a room somewhere, get tickets from a scalper and move on. EXCEPT it's small town Mississippi, on a game weekend. No rooms, no tickets, no nothin'!! So, we drive as far as Memphis (this is pre-cell phone). I have a friend with a hotel there, we check in, plan to stay and shop, and call our folks. I call to find out mine are checked into the same hotel--2 rooms away. Really?
Fast forward 10+ years, we decide to go to Branson for the weekend. We were unaware of the BIG Vetetan's day celebration Brandon hosts. BIG parade through the middle of town, that we accidentally got to be a part of. One room available in the middle of nowhere. Four total rooms in this place, totally out of the movie Deliverance...listening for the banjos. We decided it would be safer to just sleep in the car. Fortunately, a room in Kimberling City was available so we drove and stayed safely there.
This hotel has since blown away in a tornado, completely taking the room we stayed in. Left our mark there....
Fast forward to 2012. Hot Springs, we debated about her joining me at a conference there. We jokingly discussed our travel issues. We met anyway and had a great time. Both of us cautiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. We invited another friend to meet us and told her our story, and she was not scared off! Lol everything went perfectly. This is where I come back to the "leaving our mark" curse. Yesterday, I received this photo. It's an Italian place we found on the lake to eat. Great food! Burned down. Really.
So Leslee, you didn't break our streak, I think your probably a part of it now! Sheree thanks for being such a sport in our adventures!
Who wants to sign up to travel with us now? It's always an adventure!

Pintrest Addiction

My name is Sherry and I am addicted to Pintrest.
I know some folks don't get this, but for me it is a dream come true! I want to make that, I want to try that, that's perfect--now show me where to find instructions to do it! My daughter is equally as bad. "Mom, we need to go to hobby lobby. Look at this cool thing I found on Pintrest!"
Additionally, it's like window shopping from my sofa. You can see great outfits put together, figure out a new hairstyle, and picture your future outdoor living space. Right now, I'm checking to see if I have everything I need to make a chocolate Swiss roll! Got to love pintrest for getting me excited about baking before I even roll out of bed!!

Let's Get Crafty!

Three hour project...not exactly. This is Emalyn's nap mat cover, blanket and pillow. I'm really proud of it! I read some guidelines on the Internet and here is my finished project! I did require some help (thanks Steph!), and thanks to the blog sewlikemymom.com

Good Morning!

Momma and her two babies are regular visitors in the mornings. They seem to be getting less bothered by our presence --and they are freaking me out a little less.