Nine!

Some how, in the blink of an eye...we have now celebrated nine birthdays. I can hardly believe it, but it is true! She is nine years old and I love every little piece of this girl!!! She is a jewel and treasure...I am so blessed to be her mama! 

Jannah was ready bright and early to open her presents...her birthday wish was granted: we gave her an I Pod Touch...and boy was she happy :0)

Her breakfast choice: waffles, grits, eggs and
*soft* bacon

After breakfast and a visit to the pool, we ventured out to the Veterans Memorial here in O'Fallon; I want the kids to know the meaning of Memorial Day. I want them to have patriotism to our country and I want them to appreciate all of those who have served and are serving our country. 

We had a big celebration with our friends, the Robinsons and Carrolls. It was sort of a birthday, Memorial Day, send-off party! These two families are so special to us, and we are going to miss them too much!

The night ended with camping out...tent style at the Robinsons! They lasted until 2:15, the rolls of thunder sent them inside :)

School? We are DONE!!

It's official. We did it. We are done. We completed a year of home-school!!!! I now have a fourth grader, second grader and one in Pre-K!!!!! I still can't believe we did this and I can't believe how well the year went :) I am happy to be on break and have less responsibilities for the summer!!!

Because we worked so hard and finished the year...we celebrated with a trip to the zoo (after eating breakfast at Krispy Kreme)!! 

Everyone picked out a little end of the year treat. Jannah chose a Build A Bear monkey, with head to toe clothes and accessories! Jordan picked out a sharks toothe necklace, a dolphin necklace and a small Build A Bear! Jamison chose a baseball with zoo animals on it, small pocket animals and a small Build A Bear penguin :) I am so proud of them! 

As for the question of school next year...we are not going to homeshool. It was a good experience and I would do it again, I just don't think it will be next year. I will take it one year at a time and do what is best for the J's and me as the year comes!

I will say that this was something I just felt led to do. I know in my heart that this was the path God wanted me to take. I also know that HE gave me strength for each day and pushed me forward when I didn't want to keep going.

Truly, his mercies were new...every. single. day.
Lamentations 3:22-23

Butterflies and a BIG girl

So, we have open fields and lots of weeds/growth behind our house...lucky for us, lots of butterflies live back there! All of the kiddos like to catch them, but Jamison spends hours out there catching them; I would say he is out back a couple hours a day! He is a good catcher, probably catches 5-10 a day. He puts them in the little bug keeper for a while, then plays with them, sometimes he lets them go.  It's been fun to research and find out the different types he's catching. His favorite is the Buckeye, they are a medium size butterfly and they are colorful. He will let others pass by him, while waiting for a Buckeye :) He is a pro!!

Jordan caught this a couple weeks ago! We believe this is a Viceroy. It was perfect and just gorgeous!!! We only kept him for a day, we talked Jordan into letting him go. To date, this one is the biggest they have caught.

Gotta teach them young...isn't this so stinkin' cute?!?! He wanted to help, so Greg let him cut some of the weeds behind the house, we like to play out there and catch butterflies!

Jannah is striking her own pose...she is such a little fashionista and shopper...I am in T-R-O-U-B-L-E!!!

Balls, Balls, Balls

So, a few weeks ago, we had a big ol storm. It was so big, that we had golf-ball sized hail! That was fun and all...but, when the insurance adjuster told us that we need a new roof...that part was not so much fun!

The kids picked it all up (even though their hands were freezing) it was just like an Ester egg hunt! 

Baseball season is in full swing...hehe!! #2 is my favorite and I love watching him play; he is serious about it...

Jamo (pronounced Jay-Moe) playing soccer, gotta love those action shots :)

The kiddos with Daddy as they went to work with him on "Take our Sons and Daughters to Work Day"...they had a blast. I did too, it was like a day off for me! 

Jordan told me just today that he didn't want to be a boy. I, of course, responded with something like, well, God made you a boy and you are a fantastic little dude. He followed with this, "that means that when I grow up, I am gonna have to work." I love his little mind!

That's all for now. We have about 5 weeks left until we move to AL...things are super busy and as much as I want to blog and have lots to say...the time is my problem!! I promise to get better, just like I promise myself that I will go to bed earlier every night...does that ever happen??? No, not exactly :)