Sweet, Sweet Summer Time

I'm not mentioning any names, but I have been told by someone ahem, Debbie that it was time to update my blog again! Was it not enough that I updated the youth group's blog every day while we were gone to SOAR the first week in July.....oh wait, it's already the first week in August. I guess it IS time for me to write SOMETHING again!

Summer time....summer time....Sweet Summer Time!!

It's been a busy summer, just as expected. After my last blog update, we headed to church camp at Budd Creek and had a wonderful time. The services were awesome, the class times were awesome, we had one saved from our group -- which was AWESOME, game times were awesome, our kids were awesome, the weather was awesomly HOT, and although it was funny at the time, Jeff & Michael throwing me off the back of the golf cart was NOT awesome (just ask my tail bone - I'm pretty sure it's broken!)!! We made lots of memories and had a great time!!

Some of that same group, plus a few others, went to SOAR in Dallas the next week. I think this was one of the best SOAR conferences I've been to. The missions work, conference sessions, music, villages, free time....everything was great! You can read all about it at http://www.landmarkengland.com/

Once again, our kids were awesome and we had such a great time...even if Raeann and I a couple of people were caught being like monkeys jumping on the bed!!

Surely, WE would never do such a thing!!!!

But anyway....Yes, I said "our" kids. We have lots. And we love 'em all! Throughout the summer, we've had a house full. And I love it! They just stop by throughout the day ~ all throughout the week. Sometimes they stop just to visit a while, eat supper, watch tv, play basketball,

or play games on the Wii or x-box.....or maybe just goof off!

Sometimes they sneak over to the house without us knowing (or sometimes with us knowing), and do a little decorating.......on our cars!

One night, Raeann, Big Face & MeMe came over at 1a.m. just because they were out and about on the 4th of July. That was after Michael had sprayed them down with the water hose because they were passing by in the back of a truck popping bottle rockets toward the house! Anyway, Raeann & I had been texting (as usual), so they came in and got a drink and some popsicles, and visited a while since they knew I was awake. Then Mjim scared us all to death with a BB gun, because he heard voices in the kitchen and thought someone had broken into the house! haha!

No matter what our kids come for, they always have POPSICLES & we always have fun!!

If I've heard, "hey, get me a popsicle!" and then, "what color do you want?" once in the last few months, then I've heard it a million times!!

Oh, these are the sweet, sweet days of summer!! :)

One day recently, while Kaylee was in Hot Springs with Reilly & Margaret,

her room got a makeover.

While Michael & I were putting a coat of paint on the walls, within about 30 or 45 minutes, Brayden, Raeann, Jordan and Derek decided to see how many popsicles they could eat. They ate 38, and spelled YUM! with the wrappers. They only stopped at 38 because their hands were too cold to hold anymore!

So our summer has been filled with some busy days, but we've had lots of good times and made many memories with 'all our kids.' I'm actually sad that it's all quickly coming to an end. Before long, everyone will be back into the routine of school. Speaking of school.....remember back in May when we had Senior Sunday & graduations?

It's almost time for these kids to start their first year of college. Before now, most all of 'our' kids have been able to live at home and go to a college nearby. This year, we've got kids actually moving off to college -- and I can't stand it one bit!!! So what if they'll be close by, that doesn't mean I have to like it! Right? (That also doesn't mean we won't be driving to see them!!) I've pretended like 'move-in' day was far, far away ever since graduation in May, but now it's sneaking up on us pretty fast.

Not to mention, Brayden is starting the 8th grade and Kaylee will be in the 5th grade!! Where has the time gone??!!! What happened to my babies?!!

Besides, people with 13 and 10 year old kids are OLD!!! I guess I'm finally going to have to face reality! My older kids are moving off to college, and my own kids are growing up wwwaaaayyy too fast!! This makes for a REM (really emotional mom) just like I was in May -- so yes, once again, I'll be crying soon. Who am I kidding? I already have my 'moments!!'

Brayden has been working out all summer at the school, and started football practice today. We are ready for some football!!!

Kaylee has started back to dance already too. She's excited because Sydney will be teaching her solo dance this year!

All too soon all my kids will be back in school, and the house will be quiet & lonely throughout the day, and we'll be back in the groove of homework, ball practices & dance rehearsals. Our trips to Wild River Country, the River Market, or late night trips to Lonoke or Little Rock "just because" will become fewer. Summer 2010 will be a memory, but oh, what memories we have!

Yep! It's all happening too quickly, but for now, I'm just gonna sit back with my "happy heart,"

relax, have a pink or blue popsicle, and enjoy the rest of these sweet days of summer with Michael, Brayden, Kaylee and "all our other kids!"

Whew!! We've sure been busy, but Life is good!!!