ryane's preschool "graduation"

mawmaw and pawpaw had prime seating!

the sang a few songs in the beginning of the program...most were squishing things and having fun...
next was a "Pooh" graduation story

followed by the diplomas and a party

it's summer again

we are so excited!

we've got ball players

grace from dance :)

she hates the glove on the left hand....6

for nicole

views of the house from the road

top back deck

arbor on the side of the house

lower bottom level (below deck)with entrance ways
views of yard and house from the back yard

Daddy's surprise yesterday

Just a quick note to let you know that Rae has done exceptionally well on her PALS test. She knew all the pre-primer words, most of the primer words and many of the first grade words!!! I told her that someone has been reading alot of books to her and with her. She said "That would be my Daddy." Keep up the good work. It shows. :o))) Mrs. B.

yard sale

i've never been so proud of my first born as i was yesterday. life in itself is a struggle, and she has no concept of time or money. i become irrate when she asks me for materialistic nonsense that she thinks she has to have just b/c it is on a box or on the tv. i've tried to explain to her that we cannot have everything that we ask for. i avoid using the word "money" with her b/c i do not want her to know what "expensive" means. she has no idea that all of her clothes have come from florida from the thrift store. she thinks that mawmaw has just bought them all for her. it's kind of cool, really, b/c we have really nice things and she has no concept of materialism in fashion. i took the girls into the mission where maw maw worked during one of the most recent trips that we went down there. it was a little over their head. they get a little overwhelmed anyway in stores with racks. they certainly aren't big enough to understand why we were there anyway. but, the point of this blog is that i did not have to show my little sweet baby the value of the yard sale for the first time. her little best friend did. she spent the night with rhea (pronounced ree) on friday night and they had a yard sale on saturday morning. the neighbors had a yard sale up the street as well. rhea and rae went up there and crystal (rhea's mom) gave them both money to spend on whatever they wanted to buy. i'm not sure what rhea ended up getting, but we got a lunch sac, a play dough gadget, two necklaces and a present for mommy. it was the most beautiful heart rae had ever seen. it was lace, with little roses, and wire. like a little basket. it was just perfect for me and she was so incredibly proud that she found it for me at this sale. it is the tackiest thing i have seen in a long time, but it is so completely precious to my inner soul that she thought of me and that her little friend has taught her something so important in life. maybe one day she will go to yard sales like me and maw maw have done.

i would have taken a picture to show you, but ryane broke my camera.