Schooooools Out- for- SUMMER!

We are officially done with school, aside from Jared finishing up his last book.  Didn't plan it.  It just sort of happened.  I feel like a bad mommy/teacher that we didn't plan any cool end of the year celebratory activities- but I don't think they mind. 

Here's what summer is looking like for us so far:

Well, Jared's calling me to come sit on the porch while he writes his book.  He says the birds sound like an orchestra this morning!

Later dudes!

She's 12!

In two days my baby girl is turning 12 years old!  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by. 

We have been through so much together. I remember clearly the day I found out I was pregnant with you, the day I found out you would be a girl, the day I went into pre-term labor and was put on bedrest for 7 weeks, wondering if it would ever end, and the very minute you were born (May 21, 1999 at 12:14pm).  I'll never forget you screaming your head off just after you were born and the way you came to complete silence in recognition of your daddy's voice.  He talked to you and read to you while you were in my belly and I'm sure you knew just who he was. 

What a journey it has been over the past 12 years! I thank God for you every day.  I love who you are~ a follower of God, strong, independent, fun, a leader, beautiful, inquisitive, daring, playful, humorous, out-going, smart, sensitive and caring.  I have watched you grow and change and mature into the godly young lady you are today.

Happy Birthday Jenna!





Vocabulary...with Garfield???

I have always told my kids that when they're reading and they come across a word they don't know to jot it down and look it up.  I told them it will build their vocabulary and help them to understand the story better.  I figured it was just one of those things that goes in one ear and out the other.  I seriously didn't think either of them (as much as I hoped they would) would take the time and effort to do that.

But...today I noticed Jared getting out the dictionary, which isn't a usual thing for him to do.  I was in the middle of something so I didn't give it much thought.  Later in the day I saw it sitting on the table next to the books he was reading along with some other stuff.  I thought it probably was being used as a good Tech Deck ramp or something but decided to ask him why it was out.

"Oh, because I saw this when I was reading."  He begins flipping through his all time favorite comic, Garfield, searching for the exact page.

"I saw a word...this one", he says, pointing to the word 'cynic'. "I didn't know what it meant."

So I asked him what he found out it meant.  He still wasn't sure because he couldn't understand the definition.  (I hate it when you look up a word and can't understand the definition either! Ha.)

We looked up the word together and I explained what it meant. "OHHHH...I get it," he said. 

It was a proud mama moment that I just had to share.  It always feels good when your kid puts into action the things you've taught them!