Getting Closer...

I now have 18 hours of "school" left: 2 hours of Tiger Club tonight, 7 hours of school and 2 hours of Tiger Club on Thursday, and 7 hours of school on Friday. In that 18 hours we will entirely clean the classroom, go bowling for the afternoon, watch a movie, have a game reward day, as well as plenty of recess, specials, and lunch. I'm thrilled that the end is in sight!!

Summer is Just Around the Corner...

I am very excited for summer to get here. This will be the first summer since I can't even remember that I am not working. Not even a single day until sometime on August. At first, I was a little worried because I get bored being at home after a couple of weeks, but now I'm thrilled. I have my weekly cleaning lists ready to go, Lydia's birthday party to prepare, several preschool workbooks to do with Lydia, a yard to keep mowed, hopefully a garden to take care of, and a list of ballgames to attend. Lydia and I are going to do what we want and when we want it. I can't wait for the next 6 and a half days (57 hours) to pass!!!

SMILE..

When you draw a smiley face, what do you draw first? I was putting some of papers today at school and realized that I always do it in the same order: eyes, smile, and circle. I tried to do it differently and I just couldn't do it. So I ask, how you do?

Cancer Does Not Stop at Nighttime...

I thought I would share with you the purpose of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I admit to being one of the people who wished the Relay would end at 10:00 so that I could head home and get some sleep in my bed, but after reading this I look at the Relay totally differently.

Relay for Life starts at dusk and ends the next morning. The light and darkness of the day parallel the experiences of the cancer patient undergoing treatment. The Relay begins at sunset, which symbolizes the time a person is diagnosed with cancer. As the evening progresses, it gets colder and darker - this represents the patients' struggle as they endure the emotions of being a cancer patient.

The time between 1 to 2 a.m. represents when the cancer patient starts treatment. They become exhausted, some sick, not wanting to go on, possibly wanting to give up. As a participant in the Relay, you have been walking and feel much the same way. Like the cancer patient, you cannot stop of give up.

The time around 4 to 5 a.m. symbolizes the completion of treatment for the cancer patient. Once again, they are tired, but they know they will make it.

The sun rising represents the end of the treatment for the cancer patient. They see the light that life will go on. The morning light brings on a new day, full of life and excitement for new beginnings. As a participant, you will feel the brightness of the morning and know that the end of the Relay is close at hand.

When you leave the Relay, think of the cancer patient leaving their last treatment. Just as you are exhausted and weak, so is that person, but there is hope in the new day! The money raised at Relay will support patient services, lifesaving research, education, and advocacy efforts... and that is why we Relay!

REMEMBER: There is no finish life until we find a cure!!

Wishes...

Do you ever wish that some people were dandelions that you could snap their head off? Yeah, me too.

Pick Your Battles...

Lydia is to the stage where she tries to be very independent in everything she does. She wants to brush her own teeth (I let her start and then I take over), put her shoes away, pick up her toys (sometimes), open and shut the door, and several other things. Many of these I'm very thrilled about. However, she also is starting to want to wear certain things. If I get out a dress she wants a skirt. I get out flip flops and she wants tennis shoes. Even her under ware has to be what she wants. Over the past couple of weeks I've fought her on things like this because of the crazy weather. Yesterday morning, I gave up. I had out capris, a t-shirt and flip flops. She wanted to wear her Aerial jammies with rain boots. It then occurred to me that who really cares what she wears. The only people that see her are the people at Casey's in the morning. So, she wore her jammies and we put her clothing in a purse. I did fight the rain boots because it was supposed to be warm and her feet would get all sweaty. She looked so funny walking out of the house. I wished I had taken a picture (I may have to stage it). So, I'm slowly learning to give up control of things that really don't matter and letting her be independent.

Easter Pictures

I have done several posts today of all pictures. I realized that I hadn't posted any since September. They go clear back to Christmas. I hope you enjoy them.

Lydia's Easter goodies from mommy and daddy.

Lydia waiting to see what the Easter Bunny brought her.

Checking out mom and dad's gift.

Easter Bunny candy.

More Easter Bunny.

The bunny even hid stuff on Papa while he was asleep.

The hunt is on.

The "Easter Bunny" resting. Mom helped me hide all of the candy.

Lydia with all of her candy. It didn't seem like that much when I bought it at the store.

All dresses up for church.

Hayden, Lydia, and Claudia had an Easter egg hunt after lunch. They had fun searching.

Look everywhere. They each had a different color egg to find. It was a lot of fun.

Hayden and Claudia

Lydia

Hayden

Claudia

I love this picture. All dressed up and riding on a tractor.

Watching the Chipmucks 2 with Grandma.

Mimme (Grandma Mary) bought the kids kites for Easter. Lydia got a Dora kite.

Daddy and Lydia flying her kite.

She was impressed with Dora that she could fly so high.

Watching

Giving Landon her "expert" advice.