Summer Suzuki Recital

Bailey's summer violin recital was last weekend. I love the summer recital because it is in the park. There is just something special about music out doors.

Bailey always gets so very nervous and I end up having to sit on the stage beside her while she plays. Her little hands get cold and clammy and her chin trembles. Then when it's over, she does her little happy skip off the stage.

I hope I'm not still sitting there for her senior recital when she's 18. Then again, I'm sure I will miss these days terribly when she doesn't need me close by anymore. I enjoy being her security blanket.

So now, we get a two week summer break and then it's back to work. The next recital is in September.

Bailey and Zack's Lemonade Business

Last Saturday, Bailey and Zack wanted to have a lemonade stand. We painted a sign, found their little aprons, set up a card table, and made a pitcher of lemonade. They only had to wait 5 minutes for their first customer. Our neighbor came over, gave them a whole dollar for one little cup of lemonade, and they were off and running. Two hours later, they had made almost 12 dollars - most of it in "tips". Maybe Kris should talk them into helping him sell real estate!

Homeschool

At the end of May, I was ready to hang up my "homeschool mama" hat and take a nice looooong summer break. No lesson plans, no class schedules, no frantic trips to the library to find "just that one book" . . . . . And I have to say, I am LOVING summer!

But . . . . .

yesterday I went to Mardel to buy all of our 1st grade curriculum and now I have a bad case of the "homeschool bug" again. I love all of our new goodies and I started making lesson plans last night.

So, maybe I'm not ready for summer to be over just, yet. (We are just having WAY too much fun!) But, at least I know that the first day of school won't be so bad after all.

(These photo's were taken last year, during kindergarten.)

My Etsy Shop

I started an Etsy Shop a few days ago. I love creating things and this is just a chance to share what I love to do. You can "click" on the images on the right to check out my shop. I think this is going to be fun!

Art Class

Art classes have been too much fun! I'm not really sure what Bailey and Zack have created. They want to keep it a secret until the big art show in the gallery on Thursday.

They have been inspired by their teacher. Every day, when they come home, they have been wanting to paint, draw, cut, glue . . . .

I have enjoyed having mornings to myself. I've been catching up on some reading and doing a little bit of knitting. I've finally had time to open an Etsy shop (more on that later).

When I registered Bailey and Zack for this class last spring, I thought this would be a great time to work on lesson plans for next school year. This is the last week of class and I haven't done a single school-related thing! Oh well . . . .

An Email From Our Adoption Agency

Oh my goodness. Our adoption agency sent us an email yesterday about a little boy in South Korea who needs a family. He is two years old, has mild special needs, and has been waiting for a family since birth.

We receive emails like this every few months and they never cease to break my heart. We simply do not have the finances to adopt again, but oh, how my heart aches for this baby boy.

Please pray that this baby finds his family soon.

A Few Favorite Quotes . . . . . . . . . . .

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain."

"Don't cry over spilled milk. Get a mop and do something about it."

"The grass isn't greener on the other side. The grass is greener where you water and fertilize it."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

Our 4th of July

It was a perfect day.

We went to the parade in Canyon, ate hot dogs, and went to the "Fair on the Square".

Bailey and Zack loved shopping at the fair. Bailey bought a coin purse and a tinkerbell necklace. Zacky bought a wooden snake and a toy race car. All I wanted was a strawberry lime-aide!

When we got home, we had a cook-out. Hamburgers, stuffed jalapenos, potato salad, watermelon . . . . yum!

We finished the day with fireworks at the park, then came home to dance around the front yard with sparklers.

What fun!

Why I Love Summer . . . . . . . .

Bailey and Zack helped plant a flower bed in our front yard in April. It is so exciting to see their flowers starting to bloom!

Something New

I saw an interview last night with a lady who is a checker at a super market. She wears her dance shoes to work so she is always reminded of who she really is. A dancer.

Today I thought about wearing my ballet shoes out to run errands. I didn't. Instead I submitted 4 sketches to a company that is looking for a new artist to join their design team.

Nothing may ever come of it, but I feel good knowing I did it. It reminds my of who I really am.

It's a happy day.