Some food for thought...

I read this on another blog and just had to pass it on -

We tend to focus on the bad things that have happened to us or worry about the negative possibilities ahead. But just as suddenly and quickly as a bad thing can happen, something wonderful can happen. We can be blessed at the most unexpected moments, but we're never waiting, focusing or hoping for that. Instead we're either waiting for or trying to avoid the bad. I will begin to expect something wonderful to happen at any moment. After all, I have already been blessed a thousand times over, why would I not expect for it to happen again and again and again?

--People's character can be judged by how they handle their money, how they handle their drink and how they handle their anger. I like this last part. It accepts that we all at times feel anger or other less than lovely emotions, but that we have choices in how we handle those feelings.

and no blog post would be complete without pictures so here are a couple of Abby making some new friends while at a zoo in Canada.

More Visitors

I know this is not a great picture but wanted to show you our latest visitors. We have been putting corn out in the yard for the last couple of weeks and it did not take long for our forest friends to find it.

Back To School

A few years ago those 3 words (back to school) caused me to go into a deep depression (maybe that is a slight exaggeration.) BUT NOW those words have a much different meaning at our house. :) To the person who invented preschool I say THANK YOU! To the teachers who are willing to teach preschool I say THANK YOU! Abby started back last week. She is going Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:30 to 1:30 and she loves it. I love it also if you have not picked up on that already. :)Here is Abby with her teachers Ms. Nancy and Ms. Lorie.

A few other things we have been up to:

M&M sorting and counting. You can find this worksheet here.

Beginning sounds with stickers and clothes pins.

and here is one for all of you that wanted more pictures of Adam - with Abby at a baseball game.

Meeting Caroline the Dragon (Homer's girlfriend). Mascot for the Knights.

The Five Senses of Our Trip To Canada

Sights:

Grass (who knew??)

The CN Tower

Postage stamps stuck all over Grandma Gail's guestroom night table - compliments of Abby.

So many animals from two different zoos.

A 4 year old girl with a constant smile on her face.

Sounds:

The crack of the bat as Derek Jeter hits a home run. (Sorry Adam)

Abby asking many, many times "Are we in the air yet?" while sitting on the runway.

Blue jays chirping out on the patio.

Emily and Grandma Sharon playing the piano together.

Lots of people saying "Eh".

Taste:

Harvey's Burgers

Sushi

Fish and Chips

Double Chocolate Moose Tracks Ice Cream

More Sushi :)

Touch:

The heavy bags full of all our Ikea goodies.

Massages from the spa at the hotel in Toronto.

Cool mornings and warm days - absolutely perfect weather.

A nibble on Abby's finger from a hungry horse. She is still mad about that.

Happy hugs hello and sad hugs goodbye.

Smells:

Home cooked burgers. YUM!

Popcorn, peanuts and pretzels at the stadium.

Rain

Peanut butter cookies baking in the oven.

Hot dogs and sausages from street vendors outside our hotel.

We had a wonderful time. It was a very fast 10 days. So good to spend time with the Clarks. So nice for Adam and I to get away alone for a few days - so nice. A perfect way to end the summer.

Knit One, Purl Two

Well, no purling involved on this pattern. I was hoping to make a bunch of these great dishcloths to give as Christmas presents but I am so slow that I better pare down the list of lucky people who will receive them. It is a very easy pattern and lots of fun to make. If you want to give it try you can find the pattern here.

Abby has had swimming lessons the past two weeks at the Y. She had a great time.

The majority of the class time was spent sitting on the side of the pool. Don't think we will be doing lessons at the Y again.

She enjoyed chatting with new friends.

She also had music camp at Pineville United Methodist Church this week. On Friday night they had a hot dog dinner for the families and we got to watch the kids preform the songs that they had learned. Here she is with her good friends Jacob and Ellie.

We are headed to Canada in just a few days. Adam is excited about going to see the Blue Jays play twice (Yankees and Boston) and I am excited about going to IKEA and the Sandy Lion Sticker Warehouse. We are all looking forward to visiting with the northern Clark Clan.

Hope you have a wonderful week.

Holy Heatwave Batman!

First of all, thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement. Things are a little better. We are just doing our best to stay consistent and positive. Although I do like Melina's idea of time out in a dog crate - ( just kidding people).

Second of all, the votes are in and it was a landslide. You want more pictures of Adam. Now if I could only get Adam to cooperate. :)

Here is an activity we did recently to beat the heat. I froze some small toys in a big block of ice, gave Abby some tools (salt, tooth brush, medicine dropper, plastic knife, warm water) and let her work at getting them out.

Parenting is not for wimps and I am feeling very wimpish.

The past week or so has been tough around here. Seems like Abby wants to do the opposite of everything we say. If I say it is time to go, she digs in her heels and wants to stay. If I say pink, she says light pink. If I say someone is a boy she says they are a girl (seriously). You get the idea. I thought all this behavior was supposed to stop the day she turned four. I have found myself being grumpy, ill and sad. I want our home to be a happy place and that has not been the case the last few days. Pray for me, send me good vibes, or let me know what you have done to survive a hard headed, spirited child.