Snaggle Tooth Abby

Abby lost her first tooth today!! Actually, I pulled it. She's so excited.

Halloween Fun

We took the kids to Trunk or Treat at church last night. Notice, if you read an earlier post, that I didn't get Abby's robot costume together. Grammy saved the day and found this gold sequined dress so she could be a pop star. You can't really see her hair and her knee high black boots, but it was pretty cute. (She's pictured with her A #1 pal, Taylor.) Cooper had to go to "school" as his favorite storybook character. We chose a train engineer from "Thomas" or "The Little Engine that Could."

It's hard to believe that it's already November. Of course, deer season opened today, so Tim was gone well before daylight. I was thinking October had been especially busy, but November's looking about as bad. Abby's got three more softball games left in this fall season before we take a break for the holidays. Cooper's annual Early Childhood Intervention evaluation is scheduled for the Thursday before Thanksgiving, so his various therapists are trying to squeeze in as many visits as possible.

I'm going to be observed by representatives from 15 schools around our region on the 17th and am already having to spend quite a bit of time getting my activities ready for that day. It's actually a program set up by the Promethean company (I think). Our school has been chosen as a model school to showcase the use of Promethean boards, Activotes, and ActiveSlates in classrooms. Three classrooms were chosen and I'm the one demonstrating the use of the board and it's tools as I actually use it to teach my class.

Pray for the election this week and GO VOTE if you haven't already.

Fall Frenzy

I still can't believe it's the end of October. Cooper's birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are quickly approaching. We've really enjoyed the cooler weather we experienced this week and the gorgeous weather today. With Cooper's allergies, though, it's difficulty for us to spend much time outside. It doesn't seem to matter how much medicine we give him; it's just not enough.

I'm posting a picture of our family pumpkin that Abby had to make for school. The assignment was to decorate a pumpkin with your family and then write a three paragraph paper about it that tells what you chose to make, why, how you made, it and how you felt about it. We're almost through with the final copy. In case you can't tell -- it's a softball player.

We start over with another busy week tomorrow - church, softball practice and game, a YMCA party, Trunk or Treat, HHS football..... This Friday is a parent conference day, so Abby's out of school. Of course, this means I have to sit all day long and meet with about 40 parents. I am going to duck out for a short time to go to a conference with Abby's teacher. Tim is scheduled to go to.

Keep checking this week - Abby's about to lose her two bottom front teeth. Both are very loose. She may not have a gap for long because the two permanent teeth are already in behind the baby ones. Tim and I tried to pull one today, but couldn't quite get it out.

You can check out Cooper's school pictures at http://www.barefootgiggles.com/. Go to Children's Baby House and then click on 007 as the photo group.

Ask First, Then Act

It's finally Thursday. This is the first night the kids and I have been home this week. Tim has a board meeting, so it's total craziness around here. Abby's running circles around through the kitchen and living room and Cooper is hot on her heels. This is great fun until one of them slips and falls on the tile.

Notice I changed the background and the colors. Not my favorite, but I'm still playing around with it all. Will probably change it again this weekend when I have more time. I also plan to add a list of the blogs I like to read. (May have to email a friend or two to give me directions on some of these things.)

We're looking forward to Friday and Saturday of just the four of us hanging out. Tim says he has a little shopping to do -- hunting items, but other than that I think we'll just hang out.

One thing I've learned this week, both in practice and from my Bible study, is to "ask first, then act." So often we act and then ask (or like my friend Joanne said, "we act, then we tell.") I'm learning so much from my study of Mark and need to get off this computer and to tonight's homework.

First Fall Softball Game

Abby had her first game with her new team -- notice they are the Pink Team. This fall league is focused on fundamentals and not competitive at all. It's a nice break from the spring league and all stars. She played second and got two hits. Her team won big. We quit counting at 15 or so. The game didn't start until 7:30 so it was 9:00 before we got home. I'm only uploading two pictures. Will try to post some of Cooper tomorrow. He's having his school pictures made, so I'd like to take a few before we leave in the morning. Who knows, though, how the morning will go. Tim's men's Bible study group is going to do something with the Kids for Christ group tomorrow night, so Abby's excited that her dad might be in her group?? He'll probably just be with boys knowing her luck. We're just praying this week that God keeps us strong, well, and "up" for the busyness this week holds. Maybe we'll get a break to just "be" on Friday and Saturday.

New Pictures

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures. Abby never wants to be serious or smile "right." We are at a very "silly" stage, but these two aren't too bad. Trying to get Cooper to do anything on command is absolutely ridiculous these days. Anything I ask is met with "No" - although it sounds more like "nawh." Anybody who thought Abby talked country ought to hear my second one.


This week is going to be crazy. Between softball practice, our first fall game, school meetings, and 8th grade football, we'll going to be going in 50 different directions. On top of that our church is celebrating its 75th anniversary next Sunday and I've got "practice" for a program that I'm involved in. We're going to include a set of cardboard testimonies -- watch a sample on godtube.com if you've never seen it.


I know that God will sustain us -- we've really been studying God's will for our lives as part of a larger community. I understand that His "place" or "callings" for us will change, but for now we are content to serve Him where we are. Even if I do question my ability to raise a rambunctious, independent, almost terrible two-year old little boy and a smart and smart-mouthed six year old drama queen. I know He will equip me.

In the Swing of This

Oct 8 - After reading The Shaw Family Happenings blog, I decided I could do this and attempt to keep it half way current. We shall see. Abby is back in the swing of softball. Tonight's her third night of practice in a row - play our first game next Tuesday!! Cooper does NOT have to have his tonsils out at this time. That is a huge praise because I just couldn't seem to figure out when we might work that in. BUT, perhaps the biggest praise is that his eye doctor didn't see any signs of the nystagmus (eye jerking) at his visit last week. We've seen it decrease, though not altogether totally gone. I'm hoping at his next visit in January we might get a little more information as to how well he might be going to be able to see. I keep telling myself and others that our God is good and his perfect plan is whatever it is. Will try to post pictures over the weekend. I only have 350+ still on my camera.