Emma Lee aka Rambo

This was the last swim of the year. Emma loves the water and enjoys the water park. Hearing news that the water park is in debt for 4 million, she said well at least the neighbors have a pool.

Jill's 40th Party

Guy leads us in singing Happy Birthday. (Alaina took this fuzzy picture.)

Me, Jill and Mom

Todd, Abby, Alaina and Jill

Todd and Jill

Mike McDonald and Barbara Dillard

Amy and Jessica enjoy some great fish.

Jessica and Maddox: Now that he is moving it is hard to get a picture.

Jill comes into the Surprise Party!

Jill's is working the room.

School begins again!

The Before School Photo

The After School Photo

Today was the first day of school for all of us. Cleveland began a new year at Rider High School. I began a new year at West Foundation Elementary and Emma started second grade. Today was great overall. I love my class and excited to get to know them better. They are sweeties! I was worried about Emma since she did not go to sleep until after 10:00 pm. We put her to bed at 8:30 and she could not go to sleep. Every time I checked on her, she was up. Cleveland's alarm went off at 4:30 this morning and of course, Emma woke up. She wanted to watch cartoons. We talked her into staying in bed, but she did not really sleep. I worried that she would not have a good day because she was so tired, but she had a great day. God is good. She was nuts after school, but that was okay. A new year begins and things look good.

Busy Week

I painted a pair of shoes for Emma last week. Kelli thought they needed jewels, so this week I added crystals to the toes of the shoes. I am happy with them. Emma likes her shoes and hopefully she will get good use of them.

We went skating at Skate Whirl on Thursday night. Emma had a blast. Thanks to my friends Kelli and Brandy for helping her. I was not about to skate. When Kelli asked, I told her I am forty two, clumsy, fat and starting back to school on Monday. I never was that good at it anyway.

On Friday night, we went to The Ranch Roundup. We always enjoy it. Emma and Kline played and watched the action. I love the wild cow milking. It is one of my favorite events. Always funny to watch men try this one.

On Saturday night, Emma and I went swimming at the Cason's pool. She swam, slid down the slide and we played with water guns. It got cold so we can back home to Daddy and Quincy. They don't like to swim.

Puppy Prince Quincy

We have a new puppy. His name is Quincy. He is a black little fur ball. He is very social. He wants to be with us all the time. He is playful and curious. I am tired! It is like having a new baby. I have not gotten up this early since Emma was an infant. Quincy has decided that I am his new mommy. He sits and lays at my feet if not eating or playing with Emma.

I am out of practice.....

I am out of practice with the tiny ones. Or maybe just the ones with wienies. I have Maddox today. He got here about 10:30 this morning. He looked like an over blown balloon. First, we burped and spit up. I can not describe the "manly" sounds which come from my nephew. After, we had finished dirtying up the burp cloth. We sat and talked for a little while. I talked while he looked around. Unfortunately, the big burp turned into hiccups. Bless his heart, they shook his whole body. The smell was bad... It finally dawned on me that it might not be the burps. Yuck!!! It was not the burps, it was a wet, green, runny present for Aunt Lori in his pants. Problem number 1 was I have not changed a diaper with a wienie in it for a while. Problem number 2 was the new wet wipes which had not been opened and could not be opened with one hand (or with the help of a seven year old). Before we were clean and changed, I had a mess on him and me including wet clothes. Now, several hours later and after a bottle, Maddox looks so cute. He is sitting there looking at me and smiling. The sound of his outfit and my blouse in the dryer must make him happy. He looks a little like Baby Buddha sitting in his seat wrapped in a blanket.

May Madness

May is always crazy for us. Cleveland and I are trying to finish out the school year. Emma's birthday is May 16th. There are always lots of end of the year activities such as field day, final exams, etc. This year was even crazier. I had several painting to complete as baby gifts, and graduation gifts. My niece Alaina was in the playoffs with the Petrolia Pirates softball team. She is a freshman and the only pitcher on the team. She did a wonderful job and they went all the way to area! Way to go, Alaina! If you are interested, you can read about Alaina in the Clay County Leader online and the Times Record News online. Emma's birthday went well. It was a little cold, but the rain stayed away until the party was over. Emma was very excited the she had a stacked cake. It was pretty cute. The playground was flooded, but the kids enjoyed the pinata, cake, presents, and live ladybugs. After Emma's birthday, we ate lunch with the family. Then we were off to Sophi's birthday party. It was a girly party with hair styling, makeup, nail painting, etc. Emma thought it was the best day ever.

Moms and Mondays

I went to a bible study tonight for moms. We are meeting to pray for our children. I am excited to begin this process. I have not been to a group bible study since college. That sounds awful! It seems like college was about me and only me. After college, I moved home and went back to college, lived with Daddy and helped with my little brother Mickey. After that I got married and began to teach school. I miss the conversation about God and his power. Things seem to always fall to surviving everyday life, but this study should help get me back in the right lane. I have felt God leading me to pray for Emma. Not that I don't pray for her own, but to pray more with a purpose. Sometimes I feel like I am not the mother that God wants me to be or the mother that Emma needs me to be. I am looking forward to the power of a praying parent and the changes it will bring to our lives.

Maddox William Mayo

I have a new nephew. He was born at 10:41 am on April 23. He is so beautiful. He weighed 7 lbs. and 15 oz. He was 21 inches long. He and his mama are doing well. Jessica was awesome. I was right beside her and her mom for the whole birth. It was such a blessing to watch that little boy join the world. I will never forget it. God bless him and his mama.

Long Time Between Posts

I have not posted for a long time. Things have been crazy. Mountains of paperwork at school: ungraded papers, 8-10 pages documents for each child in tutoring or getting help of any kind outside the classroom, lesson plans, etc. Since my last post, Emma has been diagnosed as dyslexic. I was not upset. Relieved really, since I knew something was wrong. It helps to know what the concern actually is. She is doing great. She is now making really good grades in reading and language arts. She struggles with symbols such as the alphabet, plus and minus, etc. It is amazing how far she has come this year. She has learned so much. The dyslexic teacher at West is wonderful. I am also excited to hear my baby beginning to read. She is reading simple text books and sounding out all kinds of words. Tonight she even sounded out the word suddenly! So now in addition to all the books I am currently reading on ADD. I have added a couple of dyslexia books. So much for the Other Boleyn Girl that I was reading. As for the ADD, Emma is doing great there too. She is talking to teachers, going into the school cafeteria to eat breakfast by herself, petting dogs, etc. God is good and he is taking care of her when I can not. Thank you, Lord.

Icy Roads and No School

Well, we have been trapped in the house for two days. Cleveland and Emma are about to go stir crazy. Our family of three have spent over 50 hours in close quarters. We have enjoyed the fireplace, the tv, and the Wii. Emma is now fixing my hair. I hope I still have some left for tomorrow. We need to go finish getting ready for bed. She has worked on spelling and reading today, so we should be on track for the week. The first graders have their PTA program tomorrow night. Emma is very concerned about it. She says that people did not know their parts on Monday, so how can they do it since they have been out of school! Well, we will see tomorrow. First graders are always cute, especially mine.

Emma's Day in Dallas

We went to Dallas for Emma's appointment at Scottish Rite last Monday. Emma, Nanny and I drove down on Sunday afternoon, checked into a Hotel Room, and went shopping at the Galleria. Emma was overwhelmed by the size of everything. The Christmas decorations were still up and she loved it. The huge tree on the skating rink was beautiful. She ran to look at it on each level. We went shopping. She got a reward of a new purse and billfold for the next day. We had an agreement that if she would talk to the testing lady that she could have a surprise. I know she got the reward early, but . . . She did such a good job. She spoke right away and seemed to do well. Now for the hard part, waiting for the results. I am very anxious and so scared to death. Part of me feels like the results will allow us to see Emma's future. I know God controls the future, but someone handing you a piece of paper with your child's potential written on it is powerful. I feel so helpless. I pray that this testing will give us the power to help Emma reach her full potential. Pray for quick results and God's will.