Pool Time!

We got to jump into the big pool for the first time of the season this week!  It was so much fun.  We are so blessed to have wonderful friends that invite us to come over and play any time =)  It was perfect weather for the pool, even though the water was quite cold at first.  I can see that this will be a regular visit for us this summer.  It was great!

Mother's Day 2012

Life has been so stressful lately that, to tell you the truth, I did not expect a single thing for Mother's Day.  I was pleasantly surprised when my husband and girls presented me with 3 cards (1 from each of them) and 3 roses.  Awwwwww =) 

It is HOT out here!!

The splash pads have opened just in time!!  It is in the 90's now, but it feels like 100 degrees!  I took the kids to the splash pad to cool off.  The walk there was hot, so we will drive next time.  Once we got there, it was perfect!  Thank God for water!

Business Partner

My sweet children, what can I say... They are the best!!!  They always want to help me with whatever I am doing... So, when they saw me putting together flyers for our Scentsy business, they jumped right in!  We have printed off , put together, and handed out 250 flyers.  We will do more flyers once I see the fruit of our labor.  I don't want to print off more unless I know that this type of advertising will work.  We have to get our name out there.

Next up, the girls will be helping to put together our first-ever Scentsy party!!  It's coming up on Tuesday May 29th.  If you want to come, let me know, and I will send you an invite.  It should be a lot of fun.  There will be snacks and drinks provided. 

If you would like to order Scentsy, visit our web-site at: www.mclaughlin.scentsy.us

Jaden's New Bike

Jaden decided that her 16" bike was too small for her, so she needed a bigger one.  We looked on our online garage sale via Facebook, and found a 26" bike for $20.  This fancy bike that Jaden is riding was bought for only $15 (yes, we got the price down to $15)!!  Jaden bought it with her own money, so she is quite proud of her accomplishment.  It only took a few tries, and now she is riding her adult sized bike like a pro!!

Play Doh Cafe

Every time we visit the Wards, the girls break out the play doh.  They have come up with some pretty inventive creations.  This time they made salad, cookies, and other finger foods for their restaurant. 

New Blog

As you know, this blog is for those that want to keep up with our personal family happenings.  It is a journal of sorts that we will be able to look back on 10, 20, 30 years from now.  For this reason, I have kept up with it.

Now, I have started another blog that is for the public.  The blog I speak of is a service blog to help people and families living in or planning to travel to north Texas.  It is (or will be) a compilation of different activities, events, and public places in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  The mission of this new blog is to provide outlets for families to spend time together and make memories that will last a lifetime.  Since the blog is just starting, there are only 2 posts there now, but check back regularly for new and exciting ideas!  Here is the link:

Ideas for Fun in North Texas

Field Day- Hula Hoop

My girls practiced the hula hoop during field day.  One of their friends later showed them some tricks to keeping the hula hoop going.  Jaden was disappointed that she couldn't go for longer, but practice makes perfect!

Field Day- Sack Race

Love watching Jaden participate in games!  Regardless of who wins, it is still fun to watch!

Field Day- 3 Legged Race

This coming Fall, we hope to start back with our home school co-op.  To get back in the swing of things, we attended a school activity day.  It was field day =)

At first, Morgan didn't feel like participating, so she spent the first hour on the sidelines.  While Morgan sat to the side, Jaden got started on the three legged race.  Jaden chose Jefferson (a five year old that was in my Seedlings class 2 years ago) for her partner.  They started out great... but a few yards into the race, Jefferson lost his shoe!  Then, the handkerchief came off, and next thing you know, they are not connected at all!  Good thing nothing was taken seriously.  They were allowed to finish the race as is...  I liked watching their teamwork. 

Lifetime Firsts: Jaden Wins a Prize!

More photos from my cell phone, so sorry for the quality! 

My friend Tami took us and her grand kids to Gatti Town for a treat.  It was a lot of fun.  I didn't really get to eat much, even though there was a buffet... because we were wrestling 6 children (I suppose that is better for me anyway.  LOL)  The children had a blast though!!

In addition to eating salads, pastas, pizza, desserts, and fruit, the kids got to play games, too.  Jaden was especially excited to play a competitive game.  Unfortunately, she was matched up with teenagers and other skilled children.  Her first game, she lost to a 13 year old.  The 2nd game, the 13 year old bowed out of the competition for her.  Jaden was still up against some tough players... BUT, she won!!!  I was so excited for her!  She got to pick a stuffed animal off of the shelf.  Very proud moment!

Our Small Town

I love small towns like ours!  There is so much history to discover!  This is an old store front in our downtown area.  We will be getting a lot of photos... because, we will be leaving this small town soon.  We are moving in a month, so seeing these things before we go is imperative.  We will have memories to carry with us as we move on to the next phase of our journey.  I am excited about the future, but I am sad to say good-bye to what has passed.  I don't know how other people are able to travel so far from home.  I am getting sad just about moving a few miles away!!

Inline Skates

I have had these inline skates for years (probably at least 15 years).  I can't fit them any more because my feet have grown.  Plus, I would probably break something if I got on them now. 

I was ready to relinguish the skates, but Jaden begged me not to.  She said she wanted them.  I told her they were way too big for her- I guess she showed me how wrong I was!!  Never under estimate determination!

Dentist

Jaden's first dental work visit did NOT go smoothly.  The worst part was the waiting.  She really scared herself by thinking about how bad it would be.  It was a long first hour as they waited for her to calm down enough to give her the gas.  They let her choose between 3 flavors- Did you know kids can pick what scent they want in their gas mask?!  There was strawberry, orange and bubble gum.  She chose orange, but once she saw these pictures, she said she should have chosen one of the pink ones.  LOL

I stayed in the room while the dentist worked on her.  She waved at me every few minutes to let me know she was ok. 

While they were working on her, she watched a tv that was mounted to the ceiling playing High School Musical. 

In the end, it all worked out, she got all of her dental work done at once... And she is good to go!! 

Mud Pies

This takes me back to my younger days, too.  Jaden and Morgan have been making mud pies, salads, and cupcakes.  They put together a whole buffet in the back yard =)

What Happened to Pac Man?

Jaden had to go to the dentist to get her dental work done.  While we were there, I noticed that there were 2 video gaming systems set up for the kids to play.  It reminded me of when my brothers and I went to the dentist.  We had been so excited because our dentist had a Pac-Man machine!  Now, look what the kids get!!  Jaden even got to watch a video of her choosing while she got her teeth worked on.  She chose High School Musical 2.  I feel like I must be from the Stone Age!!

AWANA Store Night

Strawberry Shortcake doll and accessories set above, and kite and chapstick value pack below

Scrapbook kit above and purse and accessories below

Littlest Pet Shop set below

At the end of AWANA, they had another store night.  Jaden had earned over 850 bucks (she got over 1200 bucks for the year).  She was the HIGHEST earner in all of the Sparks classes.  Because of this, they allowed Jaden and one other child (he had over 700 bucks) to get to the store first.  All of the items in the store were priced extra high for them.  In fact, the prices were cut in half on all of the items once those two kids were done shopping.  Jaden was so excited until she saw that the other children were able to purchase more items than she was because they only had 500 and some bucks.  I was disappointed for her as well because she worked so hard.

Of course, the most valuable things she got out of AWANA are things that can not be bought- knowledge of God and the Word.  That is priceless!

AWANA Awards Night

Jaden with her Sparky buddy Eliana above and Morgan standing next to her Cubbie buddy Joey below

Morgan holding up her Cubbie bear award and attendance patches above, and Jaden holding up her awards- the 1st year ribbon, 2nd year ribbon and the Sparky plaque in the box behind it below.

Jaden below holding up her Sparky plaque

I am so proud of both of my girls!  They both did their best and acheived their awards from AWANA.  They worked hard memorizing verses and learning about God and people in the Bible.  We all had a lot of fun and made several new friends. 

Jaden met Eliana there, and they became instant friends.  Jaden cried the last day of AWANA because she thought she wouldn't see her for a whole year... But, actually Eliana is a part of our old Friday School coop (her family started the year we left to take a break, so we never met there).  We will definitely see her again.

Morgan met Joey, and they became inseperable.  Every Cubbie day, Joey would save Morgan a seat next to her.  Morgan is sad that Joey will be in Cubbies this fall because Morgan with be in Sparks.  They will still see each other, but not like before.  Morgan has other good friends that are moving on to Sparks with her, so at least she will have them in her class.