PRINCESSES DO NOT DO CHORES

Well, yesterday was the first "official" day of summer break and we survived! We started the day by going to the school and picking up Elijah and Macklin's report cards. I could not be more proud! Elijah made honor roll every six weeks and made straight E's in every subject except one S+ in reading one six weeks. A parent couldn't really ask for more. Macklin mastered all of her Kindergarten skills except tying her shoes (she is a lefty, so that is a challenge and she flat refuses to wear socks of any kind so she rarely wears tennis shoes!). Her teacher also indicated that she could use some work on her "excessive" talking :) and waiting her turn but declared her more than ready for first grade! She is already reading past a first grade level! We could not have been blessed with better teachers than what the kids had this year! Elijah's teacher is looping to the fourth grade with the entire class so we are very excited about that!

After going to school we came home and the requests began! "Can we go swimming?"....etc. I had to say no on the swimming because unfortunately Macklin is also beginning summer break with an ear infection so we need to wait until it is better. I did tell them that we would try to find something "fun" to do after we did some "work" around the house. I have decided to expand every one's abilities this summer by teaching them more jobs than just picking up their things and putting their clothes in the hamper. It was all going pretty well until Macklin got a little restless.....it was at that point she informed me that "I am a princess and princesses do not do chores!" Well, as the Queen, I informed her that if she intended to survive the summer that she should learn quickly how to do chores! She complied (to the best of her ability, she is Macklin after all!) and the rest of our day was spent in virtual harmony (as much as you can have with 3 kids). Our fun activity was meeting Jana, Colin and Eric at Chick-a-fil-flay (Sophie's version) for lunch and play place time!

So, here is to summer break, swimming, harmony and princesses who do chores! Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Happy birthday, Mommy! I am so happy to be home! Since my typing skills are a little rusty I enlisted Sophie (and her Mommy's) help to tell you Happy Birthday. Since we didn't know your passwords to post on your blog we had to use Ashley's. I hope this is your best birthday ever and I love you!

Jadyn

Welcome HOME!

We are so happy that Jadyn Grace Hood has finally come home! Most of you reading this are familiar with the process and patience that it has taken to get her here. It was such a joy to see her last night (and her family :))!

The thing that struck me last night is how someone you have never met before is not a stranger to you. She has not even been here 24 hours and it just seems like she has always been a part of our lives. (okay she has for two years but not physically). We went back to Pat and Amy's house from the airport and it just seemed so natural to look over and see her sitting in Pat's lap or reaching for her Mommy. I love the way her eyes light up when she sees her "Bubbas"! She is a very blessed little girl who came from very unfortunate circumstances but I believe our families will be receiving more blessings from her! I am looking forward to see what God is going to do in her life!

Welcome Home Sweet Baby! We love you!

(Thank you Amanda and Jeremy for sharing your photos with me! www.norris-family.org)

Happy Mother's Day!

I sent my Mom a card this year that told her how much I appreciated her. Now, I am not a mushy card person.....at all, but something about this card just appealed to me. It's not that I don't appreciate her but the card was about how I didn't realize all she did when I was growing up. Well, how true is that! I don't remember a time that my Mom did anything without first thinking of her girls. This is the work of a Mother. I almost lost my Mom several years ago (and my Dad three years ago). I am so thankful that the Lord saw fit to spare them so that my children could have them as grandparents! I often get to the end of my day after making sure everyone got where they needed to be, ate three semi nutritious meals, had showers and baths and got into bed on time, (not to mention everything else we do) and wonder "Do my kids even LIKE me? Well, of course they do.....they just don't always show it! They may even get to the end of their day and wonder "Does my Mom even LIKE me? But as families go, we know that we love each other without condition and without fail! So, maybe by the time my kids are 35 with kids of their own they too will realize that there is nothing about my day that doesn't first begin with thoughts of my children. Even if they don't.....it will still have been worth it. Have a GREAT day!

I AM IT!

My friend(?) Becca (2ND family from the right)tagged me and then said she wasn't sure that the people she tagged would follow thru! Well, I kinda feel like I am a cheap pawn in a chain letter but I refuse to let a good challenge go by so here is my response to the game. Here are the rules. Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven people to tag and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Since she took half my blog list I may not tag seven so if I tag you I expect you to go :)

Seven Facts about Ashley

1. My Aunt Peggy's stepson (so my step cousin?), don't know only met him once, played Flash Gordon in the movie in the '80's. This fact greatly increased my social status in the fifth grade.

2. Also, in fifth grade (it must have been a good year for me), I hit a boy (Eric M.) across the side of the face with my very large purse and knocked him down. (He was really bothering me) Horrified at my actions I immediately went and told on myself. The teacher replied "That's okay honey, somebody should have done it along time ago!" He was a real pest!

3. In college I went to a John Cougar Mellencamp concert and was pictured on the MTV News. (If you want the whole story you will have to see me!)

4. My favorite sandwich is peanut butter on white bread (no jelly).

5. My life's ambition when I was a little girl was to be a waitress at the Pizza Hut.

6. I had many, many Barbies growing up (they were my favorite toy) but learned the hard way

that you cannot use a blow dryer on their hair.

7. And last but not least, I would love to own my own business someday: little cafe, frou frou gift shop, you know someplace that makes people happy. I'd only be open for lunch so that I could still take care of my family......so if you know any investors or venture capitalist.......:0) Really, my life's ambition hasn't changed much since the Pizza Hut dream.

So that's me....I can't tag Amy because she's in China so I tag Alison, Amanda and Laura.

Well, good morning! After much procrastination I have finally posted something! I am sure you will all be thrilled! As some know, I have had a blog established for quite some time but have never actually posted anything. In fact, until this morning I was unaware that there is a new version of Blogger and the old version has officially been sent to the internet graveyard. So, after jumping thru several hoops to get a "Google account" (whatever that is) I am now writing my first official post. In reading about this new and improved Blogger, I learned that I can now post in Hindi. Boy, am I glad I waited! That should come in VERY handy! It could be that since I was in the old school blogger that is why I was having difficulty posting comments! (Sorry, Rodney, my comment was really funny. I'll try again.) Anyway, I digress, (those of you who know me know that is not uncommon. I consider it part of my charm :) ). I don't know if I will have anything intersting to say but would consider it an honor if you would like to check from time to time.......Being a married mother of three that teaches preschool AND works at a mental institution something worth posting is bound to happen! Have a GREAT day!
AZ