Labor Day Weekend

This past weekend, we really tried to fit a lot in. Saturday, Matt had a study day, so the kids and I went to the Y, and then to the dressage show at the fairgrounds. We made it just in time to see Dawn, my trainer, and her horse do their second level test. As usual, we only lasted about 25 minutes at the show, but the kids were very well behaved, speaking quietly and not running around the horses, so I call that success.While the kids were napping, I was able to ride Phoenix, and give him a bath. Then, we went to my parents for dinner. It was supposed to be a date night for Matt and I, but our plans to watch a DVD kind of fell through and we went to bed at 9:45.

Sunday, I taught kindergarten Sunday School and Matt did his usual combo of youth and college classes. The kids and I went with my parents to Uncle John's house to celebrate Nana's 90th birthday, which was on the 1st. Nana is just so amazing. She is a lovely, servant-hearted woman and I can't believe all that she does and all the people she cares for. She is definitely one of my heroes!
I mean, how many ninety year olds are doing high-kicks on a pool float???
We also called Nana's sister, Auntie Cornelia, because she turned 94 that day. She would have been right in the middle of the kick line if she wasn't in California!John - taking a break from his MC/DJ responsibilities to do some grilling.

The kids had a great time in John and Linda's pool, and looking at the tractors and dump trucks. It was so good to see everyone and have a chance to spend time as a family before Nana's big extravaganza party at the History Museum next weekend.Hudson asking,"Where is George?" The cat...that Uncle John bowled into the pool...and who spent most of the afternoon hiding under the sweet potatoes.
Hudson closed himself up in the wine cellar and was pretending to be in jail.

The kids finally fell asleep in the car after we were more than halfway home. We stopped to let my parents off at their house, and both of them woke up screaming, and continued to scream all the way home, through their bath time, and into their beds. Phew.

The next day, Matt spent with us after having two days in a row to catch up on school work. We went to the pool and had a picnic since it was the last day of the season. We read some during naps and had dinner again at Bebe and Pop pop's. It is cute that Hudson is starting to call my mom "Gaga" sometimes. Now we can refer to her as "Bebe Gaga".

First Day of School!

Alden and Hudson had their first days of school today. Alden's new class is called the Superstars, and her teacher's are Mrs. Neri and Mrs. Turner. They had a short day today, but from what she told me, they "went to music, ate snack...ring cookies and I don't like ring cookies, only chocolate chip, had circle time and calendar time, read The Kissing Hand, and did a craft." Whew. She ran out of class and asked when she could come back, so I guess things went ok. However, as we were leaving, she got kind of sad, and I asked her what was wrong. "I didn't want to share," she said. (SHOCKER) I asked her what her teacher said or if she had a time-out, but all she said was that her teacher told her to share. MAYBE by the time the child goes to kindergarten she will have caught on to the sharing thing. But, in a way, I can't blame her too much. I don't like to share either.Here is Alden on her last day of 3's in May.And from her first day of 3's a year ago. She has grown so much!
Hudson is in the Rainbow Kid class with Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Gregory. Alden was also in their class, so they seem like old friends. Hudson and I had to kill about 30 minutes before and after his class since Alden started at at different time. We walked around and looked at books, and he was actually jumping down the hallway when it was his turn to go to class. Mrs. Leonard took him in and she said he just got right into playing with the toys and acted like he had been doing this all his life. When I went to get him, he was so excited to show me the bristle blocks and alphabet blocks. He had such a great time.

"BLOCKS!!!" "BIG BLOCKS!"
New Friend


And since I did it with Alden, here is a shot from Hudson last year...even though he wasn't in school.I used my first hour of free time to get a hair cut. I am hoping that once they are on the full schedule, that I will have a couple hours to get to the barn or to the Y. Yay! I feel like I have been waiting for this year for a long time!

We met Matt for lunch at CFA, and the kids had an early nap since Armen and Lucy were coming over. They got into Alden's dress-ups and at one point, they were all running around the house in princess dresses. Where was my camera?!?!?

** As usual there are more pictures of Hudson because he will still smile at the camera and not run away.

Lots of Change

This summer, we lost all the videos on our F: Drive when the computer crashed. Since the beginning of August when we went to Ohio, our computer has been in the shop and we haven't had one at the house. Well, I haven't. Amber graciously has loaned Matt her laptop, but he is on it ALL the time. There has not been much opportunity for blogging around here.

Not to say that there hasn't been anything going on. Actually, things are quite different. On Monday, August 16th, Matt was supposed to go to orientation at Southeastern. We still weren't sure if he was going to be able to go for sure, but that morning, the Youth Director called and wanted to meet. He officially offered Matt a part-time internship that enabled him to quit his other part-time job, and to really pursue school. So, he went that afternoon to orientation and I went up for the spouse meeting that night. The next day, he registered for classes and he started on Thursday. What a whirlwind that week was!

God has taken us on quite a journey these past four years. It is hard to believe that it has been a year and a half since Matt lost his job here. There has been so much uncertainty, and although we have tried to be positive and trust in the Lord, the black cloud of unemployment was always there, hanging over our heads. God has continually provided for us, and has blessed Matt with the grants and scholarships to cover his school and books. Our living expenses were what we were up in the air about, but with his internship, and if I continue to work, we can make it happen. I have to admit that I am not thrilled about the prospect of continuing in my job for three more years, but it is paying our insurance, and who knows, maybe another opportunity will present itself. In the big picture, it really doesn't matter, because it is just so good to be on a path to something, and to know that we are here for 3 more years, and just to feel like things are a little more concrete after years of uncertainty.