Cabin Fever

"Lemme 'splain": It rained for 4 days in a row here in town. Very welcome, considering the drought, but it's hard to stay in for 4 days with 2 kids...especially when I am one of those weird homeschool moms. I am with my kids ALL DAY LONG.  We all had the "fever", and Daddy time at the end of the day was so fun because Ryan would be silly with the girls and help them get some energy out and I just got to sit and stare at the wall Goldie Hawn-style in Overboard "bah bah bah bah....". This is the game that Ryan and Kate made up one day and played again recently. It looks cruel, but she actually thinks it's as hilarious as we do. I swear.

In preparation for the Game. 

GO TIGERS!

First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Kate's first day of kindergarten! She was so excited to get started, genuinely excited, which made my job much easier. It took all of an hour, and that was doing extra stuff because she wanted to keep working. I am not sure if we'll ever know why God called us to make this choice for Kate and our family and I plan on taking it day by day. But homeschooling, especially for someone who adamantly and passionately knew I was never ever the homeschool type of mom, is not as scary as I always thought it sounded.  But I think you can see in her face a little bit of "mmm, yeah, mom. choosing to obey with a happy heart here, okay?" 

First Day of School. No, Daddy, we did not learn black and white. We learned that God made the light and darkness.

"ooo, piity" in Kate's dance recital costume.

And one more thing God uses to humble me: I was so proud of myself today sticking to the timeframes of homeschool and spending time with both girls. I even ran on the treadmill, got a shower, folded a load of clothes and made supper (and I mean made it, not just heated it up).  But while I was cooking, I put the water on to boil and thought "man, there must be something in the eye on the stove that is burning." It burned my nostrils. Smelled foul, then putrid, then noxious fumes began to permeate the air in the kitchen, quickly overpowering the yummy smell of "made" food.  I realized I turned on the wrong eye of the stove. So instead of the water boiling, the dense plastic funnel for my stand mixer was baking onto the stove and dripping down into the eye.  I had to open all windows, send Kate outside to play (so as not to inhale the noxious-ness) and close all doors to bedrooms. Just a reminder that I'll never really have it all together....nor do I need to.

You better believe I'm still going to use it! Just check any loaves of bread I bring you for stringy pieces of plastic...

Happy Burns Day!

August 11 is our anniversary and also Kate's birthday. My friend Mary lovingly dubbed it Burns Day a few years ago, and that is definitely what it has become. What's really sweet is Kate is old enough to know it's not just her day and voluntarily wishes us happy anniversary. We've been married 7 years now, and Kate was born on our 2nd anniversary. One funny story: I was in labor at 12 midnight at our apartment and we decide to exchange gifts before heading to the hospital. I had gotten Ryan a snazzy walking/hiking pole for all the excursions he was planning after the birth of our child, and I received a 20 degree mummy sleeping bag. Nothing said love like denying what phase of life we were entering and ignoring the fact that I weighed over 200 pounds. He (and I) have both come a long way...

Kate had 8 little friends over for a luau, which was a glorified playdate outside in the baby pools with cupcakes. Last year was so hot, so we thought pools would be perfect...it was too chilly for them and we ended up watching a movie given by the Fuller girls and playing dress up. With leis, of course. Then family came over after dinner for brownies and ice cream. It was a fun day! 

 

Our first anniversary, and Belle. 

Kate's Birth Day. I am amazed at what we've been a part of in her little life.

Pumped about her party!

Little people shoes - thanks for the idea, Greta!

Enjoying cupcakes and snacks.

Clara Mozingo gave a matching dress to Kate - and they were twins all day!

Happy Birthday Kate!

Lake with the Bolings

We went to the lake with the Bolings this past weekend, and had an absolute blast! BJ is an old friend of ours, and if I weren't prone to believe that God is sovereign, I would give him credit for my marriage to Ryan.  He and Katie have been married for 3 years, and sometimes I get freaked out by how similarly she and I shop for groceries and think of...well, lots of things! She is so fun to hang out with!

On Sunday we ended up going to Clemson for a bit, and eating lunch at the Pot Belly Deli. Even though it was really hot (hot as in why are we-dragging-our-young-children-around-outside-BJ-crying-for-someone-to-carry-him kind of hot) we had fun reminiscing and dreaming of, at the very least, bringing our girls to games.

Ever since we were 16, BJ has been an old man. He asked this weekend, "What makes me old?" Because, BJ, you say things like "nuttier than squirrel poop" and bring fuzzy slippers to an overnight at the lake.  But both BJ and Katie had a way with the girls, and within a few hours Kate was helping BJ steer the boat and calling him "Uncle Beej".  At dinner, BJ told Kate about an ancient Indian map that supposedly led to buried treasure...and that night after bed, he proceeded to distress a sheet of parchment with tea, fire, and crumpling and drew a map for the treasure hunt. And Kate did find the treasure: An old jelly jar rim. Bravo, Old Man.

BJ taught Kate 2 new tricks. Magic hats for treasure hunting.

 Thanks for the cookies, Katie!

Chunky Legs and Fanny Cheeks...

Camping with the Osborns

Our friends, Philly and Elizabeth Osborn, are in Greenville for the summer. They have been studying for 2 years at New Tribes Mission in Roach, Missouri. God has given them a heart to teach unreached people groups, and they have been pursuing this road since we met 4 years ago. They are anticipating serving in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. We LOVE having them come to Greenville on breaks, and always look forward to chances to hang out.

So, Ryan got this crazy idea (and I did confirm, it was Ryan's and not Philly's) to take our families camping to spend some time together. I had to overcome my trepidation about the heat and sleeping conditions for the girls, and once I did I was excited to try and be adventurous. We camped at Paris Mountain, figuring that was the most likely place to set ourselves up for success, and if anything were to go wrong (ie. inconsolable child) then home was no further than a 30 minute drive. It did take Nancy over 3 hours to go to sleep, even with Benedryl. Belle was asleep in 30 minutes, with minimal amount of crying. Bravo.

Our neighbors were all in giant campers with names like "Intruder", and most of them had tiny dogs and tvs inside. We, on the other hand, roughed it with tents large enough for pack and plays, hangers for roasting marshmallows, a water filter, and French press. I was expecting Elizabeth to bake bread from scratch over the open flames, which is what I was under the impression they were learning to do at school. She told me I was mistaken. 

Like most men, Philly and Ryan love fire, so we ate an exorbitant amount of breakfast just to give Philly the chance to play with the fire longer. Then we went for a hike with the kids, where Kate fell at least 3 times. She was so tired of it herself, the last time she fell she yelled "OH NO!!! Not again!!! I am so tired of falling down!!" 

The Burns family, ready for naptime.

Belle, creating her own naptime.

Philly showing Kate how to filter water.

Dinner's on the table.

"That's right. Asleep at 11pm, up at dawn. Who's really in control?"

Summer 2008 Playgroup

This summer was our first time in a playgroup, and I don't know who enjoyed it more - Kate or myself! Five moms and 13 kids....it is surprisingly calm most of the time, and no blood (yet, we still have a few more before school gears up).

These are some pictures from a few weeks ago when we rode George the Train at the Pavilion. Missing are the Keevers (at the beach) and the Taylors (under the weather). 

 Thanks for the tickets, Ashley!

Hannah

Elijah

Joanna Espinosa and Sender

The group

guess....

Ashley Mozingo and Evan

Clara Mozingo

Carson Mozingo (twins!)