First Day of School

First are the happy first day of school pictures. Noah and Maggie were all smiles, Noah, excited to return to his school for adventures in 3rd grade, and Maggie, a little nervous, but also excited, for Kindergarten. The next photo of Noah is after the first day of 3rd grade, he walked in the door and was starving, or so you would have thought by the way he started shoveling in this popcorn. All reports state that 3rd grade is "okay". When we picked Maggie up her teacher stated, "Be ready for a fight, she will not want to come back tomorrow." The report was that she was whiny, said her head hurt, and she wanted her Mommy-all day. Now, in all fairness, Maggie is going to a Christian school where she attends all day Kindergarten, a big change. As soon as we walked in the door she went straight to her room and crashed, hence the second photo of her. After an hour nap, it was time to go to Owen's birthday party. (Happy Birthday Owie.) She slept in the van all the way there. When we arrived, she was burning up. So now a little more sympathy for the whiny, Kindergartner, who just wanted her Mommy because her head hurt all day. She didn't move and barely said a word the whole party. Needless to say, she probably won't be going back tomorrow. P.S. Chloe' loved all the attention she received with Mommy and Daddy today without her brother and sister around.

The Boots

Maggie absolutely loves these purple snow boots. Never mind that the temperature is approaching 100 degrees outside. If she can get by with it this is what she's gonna wear. What a fashion icon she is, look out Paris runways!

Just My Eric and Me

So this week Eric's parents asked if they could take the kids AGAIN. I wasn't really thrilled with the idea. They had just been away from home for 3 days 2 weeks ago. They wanted to get them Tuesday and bring them back Saturday. I let them go but I was hesitant. I like taking my kids to see fireworks. I love watching their eyes light up. If they went that would mean that they wouldn't be with us for the 4th. Needless to say my 4th was a little boring. As far as fireworks go.
However, I had a wonderful time with My Eric while they were gone. I say My Eric because I'm not big on the gushy nick names, hubby is not usually in my vocabulary. I always address cards and gifts to him as My Eric. Anyway...He usually works so much we don't get a chance to go on dates. Since it was the 4th he was off on Wed. and Thurs. So we stayed on one big date. Wednesday morning we went to an early movie. He wanted to see Transformers. I was not thrilled with the idea. I guess he was a big Transformers kid. I gave in and that's what we saw, I wanted to see Evan Almighty. I was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed Transformers. The action was really cool, the story line was not boring, it is definitely not a movie about a "toy". However, caution to anyone with kiddos. It was so good, I would love to take Noah to see it, BUT I won't. The sexual stuff in it is too much. There are a few curse words but I didn't freak out about it, maybe 3 words in the whole film, not that that makes it okay, but it wasn't so over the top. The sex stuff though. There wasn't actually any "sex" in the movie, but the way they played up the teenage girls sexuality and sensuality is too much, the camera zooms in on all the right spots and she is pretty scantilly dressed through alot of the film, it's very suggestive. Also a conversation between the teenage boy and his parents about what he does in his room is ridiculous. They could have still showed everything that transpired in the teenagers relationship, without all the "stuff". They could take out about 3 minutes of "stuff" and it would be a GREAT movie. Unfortunately my son will have to wait about 10 years before he'll be allowed to watch it with my approval. Anyway back to my date. Then we went "window" shopping. Had lunch at Steak & Shake (we had coupons). Then we went to my mom's and hung out in the pool and hot tub, the only fireworks were the ones we could see in the distance from the hot tub. Thursday morning we went to see my grandparents, then went to work at the clinic for a few hours, went grocery shopping, then we decided to splurge and go to a movie - again. We went to the drive-inn and watched Evan Almighty. I thought it was tastefully done, and funny. Some have said that it is blasphemy. I'm sure they have their reasons for saying it, but the overall story still had a good lesson and like I said it was tastefully done. I think God has a since of humor and it was funny. If His story can be retold and changed just a little to be new and reach a new audience isn't that okay. Anyway, maybe it is, maybe it's not. So after that we stayed for the second movie Fantastic 4, I fell asleep, Eric said it was okay. Eric didn't have to go to work until 4 p.m. Friday so we continued our date with a fishing trip Friday morning. It was fun. I didn't catch a thing and he did, oh well, it was relaxing just to float around in the boat. When we went home he went to bed to have a nap before having to go to work for 12 hours and I went to town where events listed below occurred. I had a great couple of days with My Eric, I wish we could do it more often. I love you! Saturday morning I went to work at the pre-school to get some stuff done. My kids got home around 3:30. We were both so happy to see them, I keep so busy while they're gone that I don't realize how much I miss them till they're home. After winding down and telling us everything they did while they were gone, we all loaded up and went to mom's to go swimming. Thank you mamaw and Richard for the new swimming pool!

"We will listen and obey" Deuteronomy 5:27

On Friday I was in town and while stopped at a red light I noticed a homeless man holding a sign in the median of one of the streets of the same four way stop I was at. However, I was on the other side and so didn't think any more about it. Until a few seconds later, I glanced over again and there was Donnie, a friend from church, in his car, I looked just in time to see him hand the man something. Well then my light turned green and I was off. Or was I, I then, ALMOST audibly heard God say "Not so fast, it's your turn." What? I was up for the argument. That would be totally out of my way, I'd have to turn and go all the way back and then I would be in the wrong lane to be able to turn to get to where I want to go, and then after giving the man something, I'd have to go about 1/4 of a mile down the road before I'd be able to turn around again to get back on track to where I wanted to be. How many times does all that involve the word I? So before I get to the next turn around spot I'm convicted and I do indeed turn around. Then I start another argument. You're not supposed to give "these" people money. What if he has a drug or alcohol addiction? What if he goes and buys cigarettes with it? HIS response, again I could ALMOST hear His voice, "You just do what I said and I'll take care of the rest." So I did and I said "God Bless You" to the man as I handed the money to him, and I truly meant it. He smiled genuinely and said, " And you too." So I then turned in the wrong direction, went the whole 1/4 of a mile down the road to do my u-turn and was back on my way. Why had I argued at all? That moment made my day. It took a whole 6 minutes and $6.00 (which was all the cash I had on me), to do something nice for someone else, and to listen to, and obey my Father who always knows best. I hope you take time to listen today, and if He asks something of you, to obey.

Not Much

Haven't really been in the blogging mood lately. So sorry to anyone whose been seeing the same thing anytime you look in the past month. We've just been having a hangin' out kind of summer. Eric working alot and not much else. We went over Father's Day to Tennessee to visit his parents and had a nice weekend. The kids stayed for what was supposed to be the week, but a series of unfortunate events occurred and they ended up home on Wednesday. When they arrived home Noah and Chloe' were throwing up and had been since early that morning. Maggie had the Big "D" a day or so before. Noah was better by that evening but Chloe' took until the next day. Then Eric's dad didn't feel so well they stayed until Saturday and he was sick Thurs. and Friday. On Saturday morning I woke up with it. I thought I was going to die! I don't think I've ever felt that bad. So anyway whatever this bug is, I hope it's out of our house for good. I know lots of others that have had it recently.
Tuesday night Eli stayed all night with Noah. He is the middle son of Pastor Aaron and Stacey. He was so well behaved and Noah and him had great time. So did the girls they want to be in the middle of everything, much to the boys displeasure. Wednesday morning we got up and went to a park to meet Maggie's "friend" from preschool, Buck. They all played for an hour or so then we went to McDonalds for lunch. Buck's mom had to go to work and we were going to go to the splash park at a different park so Buck got to go with us and we took him to her afterward, they had so much fun!
Fourth of July is one day, but the festivities begin this weekend. Nearly a week long celebration for a one day holiday. Saturday we will be traveling to a town about an hour from us to visit some of Eric's family on his dad's side. The kids have been invited to a birthday party for one of the cousins and there will be big fireworks. This family has this get-together every year and they spend lots on fireworks. They always go a couple of days after the holiday every year and buy for the next year so they get big discounts. It's always a good time, I'm looking forward to it.
Well that's all I've got for now, I know, not very exciting!

We Walk by Faith NOT by Sight!

I just want to praise my God right now. I'm on a little bit of a high. We just got home from Wednesday night Bible Study at church and it was just awesome. Pastor Aaron finished his teaching of the book of Hebrews, the lessons have been based on Faith. He has been on this subject since January and wow. I truly have felt myself grow in Faith over the last few months it was just an awesome lesson. You know when your sitting in church and you have to try and stay awake? Not that this happens to me a lot, it doesn't, but you know what I mean. There is no way I could have slept. The holy spirit has definitely been present in these studies. Aaron has just been speaking with such passion on the subject. I have so looked forward to the lessons on Faith that I'm sad that it is over, not that we don't learn lessons on Faith all the time, but again, you know what I mean. Mine and Eric's relationship has changed so much just recently, because of this very study. Thank you Aaron for being obedient to The Father and for delivering His word with such conviction! Every Wednesday that I had to teach or be anywhere other than in the study for the past six months has aggravated me because I so looked forward to and anticipated the personal growth I have received with every Wednesday night session. I know the Holy Spirit is with me always and if I just stop for 5 minutes a day and pay attention I can get that renewal anytime I want it! Anyway I just wanted to share with you my sheer excitement just from going to church tonight. I love my God!

Tagged by Tina

1. What is your first & middle name? Catherine Ann

2. How did you get your name? Catherine & Ann are both old family names on my Mom's side. My Mom's name is Linda Catherine, my aunt's name is Cheryl Ann, & it just keeps going back.

3. What are your kids' names? How did you decide on them?
-- Eric Noah, Eric is obviously my husband's name, and I really liked Noah because of a character on All My Children (I don't watch soaps anymore), not to mention it's a really "RIGHTEOUS" name from the Bible. His name was going to be Noah Eric, when I was pregnant a friend from church asked what the baby's name would be and when I said Noah Eric, he responded "Yeah, I Know A Eric" ha,ha, could see that coming many more times so we rearranged his name.
-- Maggie Catherine, I always wanted to name a little girl after my Grandma who's name is Imelda, so I wanted Imelda Catherine, I would have called her Emma, Eric refused he said that with OUR last name that was just ridiculous. So my Grandma's grandma who raised her was named Maggie, I never got to meet her but I feel like I know her because of all the Grandma Maggie stories we hear. This was the next best way to honor my Grandma. As for Catherine see above.
-- Chloe' Ellen, I just really like the name Chloe' and Ellen is Eric's Mom's middle name as well as her Mom's. We used my family names with Mags and wanted to honor Eric's family as well.

4. Do you like your name? It's a name. I always wished my name were more romantic. I said if I had girls I would give them romantic names, like Juliett, Julia, or Sophia. Guess I forgot that when it was time to name them, Chloe' is kind of romantic though. Oh well they don't need romantic names, they're beautiful!

5. What was the most popular name (according to Social Security) the year you were born? I have dial-up and am not taking the time to look it up! Sorry. However, I think I've seen it before and I think it was Jennifer and Jason.

I choose - Melissa - you're tagged!