A Little Advice Please...

I am currently shopping for a rice cooker and don't know much about them or what features I really want. If you have one, could you please give me some advice on features, brands, etc... Thanks!

Fishing

We spent the day fishing... or should I say feeding the fish. LOL! It was a very peaceful and beautiful day and we will try again.

Year End Ceremony

I wish I could figure out a way to post the video of our ceremony without showing the kids full face because it was hilarious!

A background story: a few years ago when I completed my Masters program, I received the DVD of the ceremony and played it often 'cause I was so excited to be done. The keynote speaker gave probably one of the korniest speeches I had ever heard with 3-4 very funny lines that we would crack up about every time we heard them. Two years ago when we started doing award ceremonies, I started into a korny speech and quoted the same lines. My kids roared and it became a part of out ceremony.

Today, when I started the Pomp & Circumstance music, the 2 older kids burst out laughing in anticipation of the speech.

And now... the promoted class of 2008/2009 MHS Rotties!

James was on the A Honor Roll all year and received a Super Speller Award for having a 98% grade average in spelling for the entire year. Jordan was also on the B+ Honor Roll for the year and Jeffrey received an award of appreciation for the set-up and break-down of the class room.

School's Out Camping Trip

Just a few pics from camping.

It's funny... my back yard has always been "the kool-aid" yard, since I was a child and it still continues today, even when we are not in our own back yard. My kids always seem to draw a crowd of kids and this weekend was no exception. I had my 4 and the baby along with 2 little ones that I was doing respite for. On Saturday, my daughter ask if she and her new friend could have a Popsicle and I ended up handing out 12 Popsicles! LOL! Good thing the $ Store sells 'em 300 at a time per box.

In motion....

The fire builder and his apprentice hopefuls.

WE MADE IT!!!!!

We finished!!! We are done with the school year. There was cheering and headstands and high fives all around.

We will take about 4 weeks off for summer break before we start summer session. As always, summer session will be a short day (very short, maybe about 1 -2 hours per day) and the focus will be on areas of struggle; reading, math or writing.

We are off for our first camping trip of the season.

Peace!

Great Meats and Amazing Feats

We have had a great day. My 10th grader has always loved cooking and in the last week we have taught him to use the grill and let me just say... that boy is a grill master! He grilled chicken, fish, steak and country style ribs and every thing was so tasty. He was so serious too with all of his tongs, BBQ forks and vinegar and water shaker bottle. My mom added her slama-jamma potato salad, spinach, cabbage, mixed beans and cornbread and finished it off with a blackberry cobbler. Yum-yum!

The kids had a swinging contest to see who could go the highest. I determined that it was a 3-way tie and all were winners.

Last summer, preschool could not even pump his legs to swing himself. Now he is competing with the big kids.

Just hanging around.

Little Rottie Update

Our little foster baby is still with us and he is a sweety. I am praying that a pre-adopt home is found for him in the event that he is unable to go back to his birth parents and so that he can begin bonding to whomever might end up being his parent(s).