1...0...School's OUT!!!

I haven't fallen off the planet, just off the blog! Our week was so busy last week, that it left me wanting to see very little of the internet. I think I left off with Tuesday's awards program. Wednesday was our wrap-up in the classroom, and midweek prayer service, Thursday was a trip to the Columbus Zoo, followed by a couple of hours at Apollo doing some paper work, then on to Friday which was all about graduation practice, a pizza party at the park, evening graduation, and Nathan's open house afterward! I had vowed that I would sleep in Saturday (hadn't done that for months - literally), and aside from a few minor a.m. disruptions, I was able to accomplish that goal! Upon waking and tidying the house, we ran down to the church to clean up from graduation, then spent the rest of the day in a relaxed mode. Alli woke not feeling well on Sunday, so she and I stayed in for the day and hosted lunch and the p.m. snack for my parents. Monday was spent...you guessed it...relaxing! Today we began the wrap-up week for paperwork, grades, ordering, etc. I had a few eager kids back in the classroom (seems like some of them aren't sure if they really want to quit for the summer!), and was able to finish grade cards. Things should be finished up by Friday, then all that will be left is a mtg. with a school uniform rep. (Yea, girls!!!)on Monday. For now I'm enjoying my kids and waiting for Greg to get home from his 1st softball night of the season. I didn't realize he was going to play until today...minor communication error...so he will either be kept young another year or end up tearing, breaking, or bruising something! Any guesses on which it will be??? By the way, 'Burley's Bungalow' is almost finished (that's the building in the tree in our backyard) and the "boys" including their dad, slept there Sunday night!
I'll try to post pics of all the rest of last week's events soon. Don't hold your breath, I'm still recovering...

more school days!!!!

Busy Times...

Monday night was our annual Women of Worth Mother Daughter Banquet. We had a wonderful evening with lots of humor and great food. Stephanie Philips was our guest speaker, and it was great to see she and her sisters, Amanda and Melissa. GBS days are slowly becoming a blur, so it is always great to see "people from the past". :) Stephanie did a fantastic job facilitating communication among the banquet attendees. The activites were lots of fun!




My mom is our local WOW chapter president. She does a fantastic job, and although my attendance was scarce this past year, I always hear great reports. I'm looking forward to a new theme this fall!

Sarah provided violin music for us...

Mrs. Alley, mom, and Mrs. Spencer make up our local WOW committee...

This was so cute...one of our little girls, Karys, being helped with bubbles by Stephanie...looks like Karys sent one straight to Stephanie's eye...

Couldn't get a good pic of Kaitlynn, so this is the best I could do...

Alli and I looking like we both need a Slim Fast...

***TUESDAY
On the countdown! Three more days of school...

Happy 16th birthday, Jennifer!!! When I was a teenager I wasn't exactly one of the girls who normally had a baby in her arms. Some girls just have that knack...their mothering instincts kick in when they are like 10 or something. Anyway, when Jennifer was born, I had the privilege of babysitting she and her two siblings from the time she was newborn. I remember, at 16 years of age, loading up the kids and actually going places with them - very brave parents! I loved that little baby so much! Now she is 16 - hard to believe - and all grown up...

Kaitlynn had her first violin lesson today. Sarah teaching Kaitlynn how to hold her violin (mommy knows NOTHING about this!)...



All ready for the 2008 Awards Program...our high school girls did a lot of the decorating...I'm proud of them!






Believe it or not, Steve used to hold me when I was not too much older than Allison!

Loves to pretend...

They make me proud...



Ryan with some of his buds, Zach and Caleb...

Happy Six Months, Allison!!!

I can't believe my baby is already six months old! She is so precious, and I can't imagine our lives without her. She is very cuddly, and loves to bury her head in my shoulder and give me "hugs". Her "kisses" are still pretty "messy", but I love them!

Michelle (Maria's sis) with Alli at GBS graduation. She enjoys holding Alli...

Maria and Michelle at Germantowne following a great lunch...

Weekend Wrap-Up

Congrats Maria!!! Maria is a former student of mine, as well as a best friend to my little sis. She graduated from GBS this past Saturday with a double major - elementary ed and intercultural studies. She carried a high gpa (I believe she graduated magna cum laude), and received a missions award (pictured below). Maria has already been accepted by a holiness missions organization to teach at a Christian day school in Guatamala. She begins language school in August. Maria attended our Christian day school (PCS) from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and has attended our church since infancy. We have enjoyed watching her grow up and mature into a Godly young lady.
After graduation we headed down to Craig's place, Germantowne Pizza, for lunch with Maria and her family. The food was delicious...thanks, Craig!

Maria w/missions award...

Trying to get a pic of Kaitlynn and Emily (Maria's niece and Kaitlynn's friend at church)...

Emily trying to get her little bro, Austin, to cooperate...

Kaitlynn carrying on GBS tradition - playing in the fountain...

Ryan, Evan, and Zachary (Maria's little brother)...

Dad and Mom w/Maria...

Maria and I...

Alli stayin' clear of the Mt. Auburn winds...

Anybody remember selling bricks for the new fountain path? This is one that I sold...in memory of my Grandpa Yount...

"Bishop Smith" and Dad...

Sis. Smith has been a great friend for many years...


On Friday night my mom had the privilege of speaking at a Mother Daughter Dinner in Jackson, OH. Kaitlynn, Allison and I joined her on the journey (about 3 hours) and had fun visiting with some new aquaintances as well as old friends. Constance Dewhurst is the pastor's wife for the host church. I would have taken a pic of mom speaking, but ended up in the back keeping Alli quiet...
After the dinner we left for Cincinnati. The guys beat us there by a couple of hours, since they came from Lima and had no definite plans (besides a dinner stop at Skyline) for the evening. We dropped into bed at a very late hour to catch a few winks before Saturday's graduation at GBS.
Constance and I - we go wwwwaaayyyy back! :)

Madeline and Kaitlynn - great friends (most of the time!)

Constance and her momma

I have added lots of pics to previous posts, so be sure to scroll down through some you may have already seen. :)

Congratulations Nathan!!!

Nathan finished his last PACE today - Physics 144! He has been a 4.0 student at PCS as well as Rhodes State College, where he has pursued post-secondary classes for the last three years. He is a PCS "thoroughbred" and we are very proud of him. Way to go Nathan! God bless you as you continue your education at GBS this fall!