Bethelehm Revisited

Our friends told us about this reenactment of a night in Bethlehem. Think Renaissance Fair in the holy land. They have a permanent village set up and they have the craftsmen and artisans set up and they explain to all the kids how to do things. These ladies were knee ding bread and baking it in a wood powered brick oven. They gave away samples and handed them out with sage honey.
They had garment stores that they let all the people try on head scarves, the girls loved it.

They got to pet the camels, chickens, goats and see the donkey.

Then at the back side of the village they had a manger. Every 30 minutes Mary and Joseph would come through the town and try and find space at the inn.

This lady sold fabric and they had them making the fabric and rugs on site so they kids saw the looms. They also were spinning the yarn made from flax, sheep wool, camel hair, rabbit. The kids got to see all the different types of thread made.

They had the pottery makers, carvers, net menders and makers. It was much more historical and educational that i realized it would be. I thought it was cool and the kids had a great time.

They had markets and we tried to explain to the kids they didn't used to have Wal mart's. They think Wal-mart is easier. HA.

It was a great experience, on the way home we talked about how different it would have been to live then. I was hoping to create some gratitude for the things we do have in life.

JUINOR HIGH CHOIR

It is Holiday Choir Concert time again... She is getting so grown up! She is an Alto and sad about it, soprano is so much more fun! I understand, i used to be a soprana, now i am more an alto but i only know the soprano parts, so i guess that makes me an Tenor now. HA HA

The FREEEEZING performance at 6 flags we fun. I got to be a chaperone. I made it out alive with all of my charges intack. YEAH!!!

LOWE'S Build and Grow

Lowe's has a great program to help kids learn how to do woodworking. We go a couple of times a month and build something. They have pre done kits with pre drilled holes to make it nice and easy. The kids LOVE IT! They get these cute aprons and goggles. Every time they build a new project they get a patch much like a boyscout patch. The patch goes on the apron. They have a great time.

The first time we went, Tyrell made a special point to thank me for taking them. That seems to be my guage for how much they actually liked something.

They have sticker packets so they can decorate it when they are done. It works out GREAT!

Ponder Panthers Sugar Shack!

It has been a busy school year! We just finished the PTA Float for the Town Parade. Out of 50 amazing floats we got The Most Holiday Spirit award. We were very proud. The kids walked in the parade, funny how kids can walk miles and miles to go to the park, but yet the 1/2 mile parade was taking SOOOOO LOOOONG!!! HA HA

It was fun but I am glad that it is all over!

BACK TO SCHOOL

2009

Oh the twins were so proud to pick out their own back packs. The boys have customized Rangers back packs. The artwork is on the straps so they can see them. SOmetime i am glad i am so artsy. HA HA

Here they are lined up before they go inside for their first official day. Tyrell was too cool to let e go to class with him. The twins were excited but a little bit nervous. They did great after a bit.
Here was the walk to school. A lot of them ran, Nikki held my hand for a while because she was so nervous. She went as far as to share that her stomach hurt.

We mad eit through the week all right. They had a good week and the twins think they should be able to walk to school all by themselves. They get mad when we wont let them. Ohhhhh they want to get old too fast.

JULY FAMILY FUN

We have found a FABULOUS lake spot!!!

Same lake just a different part and it is SO much cleaner and has actual sand and not just mushy silt.

You can see the Marina so it makes it feel more like an exotic destination and not a weird swamp.

We rafted and Bill triedtoconvince them there was an alligator near a buoy. They were too smart to beleive it. Even when the alligator allegedly drug meunder the water, they laughed.

The kids collected shells.

I did not get sunburned, all was well.

JUNE SUMMER FUN

THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A FUN SUMMER!

We went to Dinosaur Valley in Glen Rose TX and swam with the footprint fossils from real Dinosaurs. We went with the Holt's and The Green Family. The kids had a great time and of course Bill and I got sun burned and our kids just got more beautifully bronze.

Chicken fighting is good for the soul!

Bill is quite the cheater,he chose to try and chicken fight from below too. Joke is on him, he dislocated his shoulder trying to sweep my legs from under me.

"The Summer Fun Kid Crew"
Top left- Lani, Jessica,Tyrell, Anthony, Josh
Bottom left-Connor, Kaiyla, Sam, Nikki

Tyrell and Josh sizing up how big they think that Dinosaur would have been. We had a great time swimming and hiking to some other footprints after our picnic.