First Time Taking the Bus to School.....

I needed to remember this story when Marissa gets older. Yes she is a sophomore in high school and has NEVER taken the bus. I have always driven her to and from school since she attended a Charter school for years there has never been an opportunity to take the bus. So after much anxiety of getting to the bus stop in time, who to sit by, not knowing anybody on the bus she made it out the door EARLY to the bus stop. She hurries along her walk when she realizes that by leaving early for the bus it will be awkward when she gets to the stop and she standing all alone. She proceeds to slow down and stare at the ground coming up with a solution. Still staring at the ground she decides to just wait in the park. Just then she runs into a ladder sticking out of the back of a truck, at the house across the street from the park. With her head hurting she looks in the truck side mirror to see, “My eyelashes all over my face and a huge red mark on my face!!” She wanted to just go home, but she knew she was told she had to take the bus. She tried to wipe the eyelashes and tears away as her makeup smears across her face. Just then the owner of the truck comes out to find her looking in his side mirror. Now mortified she ran away without telling him what happened and decides to just go the bus stop as there is no time to stand at the park now. Nobody was at the bus stop. Jus then she sees the bus come near her and then pass her without stopping. (We later find out is because nobody uses that stop) Finally a friend from many years ago sees her and helped her find a different stop. She was to embarrassed to tell him what happened and he got on the bus and found his friends, but she at least made it to school (and the nurses office for an ice pack). Although told to take the bus to and from school that day she found a ride home.

Spoiled Dog..

Just look how cute they are together. Gussy just thinks he is one of the kids. He enjoys being pushed in the doll stroller, and the shopping cart. He has to sleep snuggled up with the girls. He thinks he is neglected when he has to go outside for more than a few minutes. The girls are so good about taking care of him and they feed him, give him water, and clean up after his messes. I never thought we would be a dog family, but he sure fits right in.

Marissa Turns 15..

Yes hard to believe but my little girl is now 15. Not old enough to drive or date, but old enough to have an opinion about everything! She had a big party with her dad's family. At our house we had a low key celebration and she went shopping and for dessert with Grammy.
15 things that describe Marissa are:
1 She is beautiful on the inside and the out
2 She is a hard worker
3 She is loving and helpful with her siblings
4 She has a fun personality
5 She hasn’t missed Honor Roll ever.
5 She is a beautiful dancer
6 She is sensitive
7 She is thoughtful
8 She takes things to heart
9 She is DRAMA
10 She takes things to heart
11 She remembers everything you ever promised
12 She is ditzy
13 She is a perfectionist
14 She loves to shop.
15 She is looking forward to dating and driving. Ugh!!!
Happy birthday baby girl. We love you so much and are so glad you are such a part of our family.

Back to School..

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Yes the inevitable day arrived. Marissa is now a Sophmore. (Crazy I know!!) She was excited to get back to see her friends again. She was a little stressed over her schedule, she is taking many Honors classes. She is pretty sure she has the meanest teachers in school, becuase she already heard rumors.
Hannah is now in 3rd grade. The anxiety of school starting again is always so hard for her. We went from crying the entire first month of kindergarten, (No lie!) to first 2 weeks of 1st grade, to the first week of 2nd grade. This year she allowed me only to take a picture of her outside the door. She then went into the classroom and bravely sat down and whispered the words goodbye to me with only a glimmer of a tear in her eyes. It still breaks my heart. She did great after that and loves her teacher!

Ashlyn started 4 year old preschool. This year she is doing a double session as she stays with the preschool teacher all day on preschool days. Her teacher offered to watch her so we can keep her in preschool and she can play with her friend Izzy, the teacher’s daughter. Thanks Jonna. She loves packing her lunch like her sister’s do and loves having homework. I am pretty sure that may change later in life.

Escaping the Heat....

We also had the opportunity to visit a friend’s cabin this summer. We love to get up North and our kids always have so much fun. On our way up there we visited the Cardinal’s Training Camp. Tim loved it and the kids had a great time at the activities they had to climb on. We had some dear friends Tony and Amy come and visit us for the day while we were at the cabin. They have 2 beautiful girls and loved visiting with them. While there we took the kids fishing down the road. This wasn’t the fun, relaxing trip most have when going fishing. Ashlyn and Wesley wanted to walk along the narrow embankment, eat snacks and throw rocks into the water. Hannah was very upset at the rocks being thrown in and the noise level as she takes her fishing sport very serious. Aidan wanted to get in the water and also walk along the embankment. Needless to say at the end of the afternoon we didn’t have any fish, but did get a few bites. J Daddy and Hannah had their own special fishing trip the next morning while Aidan, Ashlyn and I had fun at the cabin. One evening we went into town and got to see a real Wild West Shootout. It was the highlight of the evening.
It was a wonderful weekend and were sad to leave. Thanks Cole family for offering up the cabin. We ALWAYS love going up there.