A Peaceful Day 5/30/08

Ana had a "poetry cafe" today in class. This is her poem that she wrote and read in front of the class.

PEACE by Ana

Peace makes me happy
When ever I'm mad I take a big breath and whisper peace.
When I'm at peace I'm calm and nice.
I think of saving the world.
I also like to think of me and my best friends.

Artsy Ana

Every once in awhile my kids bring home a piece of artwork from school that I love. Thought I would share this one, think I'll keep it. Sort of an abstract looking giraffe?

by Ana, age 7

Sweet N Sassy

Latest creation by Lulu.......cute, cute!

Memorial Day Weekend

SeaWorld with Chandler, Cameron, & Big Daddy

It was a FUN weekend! 5/24/08

Gray watching karaoke at the pool
Ana painting her treasure box
Chandler, Gray, & Ana at SeaWorld
Ana at the fountain pool



Memorial Day Weekend in Orlando ~ we had late nights, swimming, and SeaWorld. The resort was fabulous. Gray went on his first "theme park ride". And we watched fireworks from our balcony at night. The LONG weekend was great! Grayson's favorite part? "Going on the boat ride with Daddy" (Journey to Atlantis water roller coaster), he was just tall enough to make it on. Ana's favorite? "Shamu, Shamu!" She is more of a 'watching the shows' type, and it looks like Gray will be a 'riding the rides' type.................as long as I don't have to ride those coasters with him!

The side yard report

Look Deric ~ In addition to the recent compliments you have received regarding your ongoing work of the side yard, I saw a couple of ducks that took a liking to it as well!

Blue Eyes & Guitar Man

ALMOST SUMMER! Only 2 weeks of school left :)

Gladys Knight and the new pips

I LOVE IT! On American Idol Finale 5/21/08

The Philosophy of Grace

grace: ana's middle name. #13 on list of top 100 girl names of 2008. my favorite bath & shower gel by Philosophy (a gift from my friend Lucy). What I read everyday in the shower ~ philosophy: life is a classroom. we are both student and teacher. each day is a test. and each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: grace. grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. it's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can't help. being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with grace and gratitude.

Because it's all about the trophy! 5/17/08

Our first soccer season has come to an end. They both gave it a try and one thing we know for sure: Ana wants to go back to dance class this fall. We got excited and cheered when she would touch the ball! Her favorite position? On the sideline with her Daddy (see picture). Grayson started the season with a goal during his first game! Well, technically the game was over, but we didn't tell him that. He proudly said "I got a goal because the other team wasn't paying attention". We didn't have the heart to tell him that the other team was busy running off the field because they knew time had been called. He was a powerhouse on the field by the last game and scored 4 goals! His Dad will claim 5, though one of them didn't count. The best part: getting a trophy at the end!

Oh Happy Day 5/5/08

How "Oh Happy Day" came about: It's really a simple, everyday sort of thing ~ Ana lost that darn front tooth! The tooth that was hanging there crooked for no less than 5 months, I think it was almost 6. But anyway, it is gone and we can all celebrate! She is famous for letting the adult tooth actually grow in behind the baby ones until they are pushed out. Other kids stare in amazement and say, "why don't you just pull it?" Not Ana. So as we stood in the bathroom tonight I couldn't believe my ears when she gave in and said "Ok, get it out" It was barely hanging on from someone accidently bumping it at school. Daddy grabbed it before she changed her mind, there was a lot of blood and then came the tears. Deric says there was a 5 second delay of looking at it in the mirror before the tears. I waited a LONG time for a picture with two front teeth missing ~ and this is what I got.................. as my Mom said, "it looks like something out of a sci fi movie". Clearly not the picture I had envisioned!