Austin.. girls trip 2013

Back to Austin.. but this time JUST for fun!

We left on Tuesday and slowly meandered out way out 290!  We stopped to eat at Chuy's  YUMMMO, we stopped at Chappel Hill for pastries, and blueberry jalepeno jam (um, yes, please).

Next, we hit up the BLUE BELL FACTORY... because Vickie had never been!!

We were near Giddings and Kaitlin yelled out Trash to Treasure that is WHERE JUNK GYPSIES shop!!!  So we turned around headed for it... unfortunately they were closed, but we went to the shop next door and Kate found a few little treasures...

We got to the hotel and chilled, then we headed out to dinner at Threadgills.

It was SOO good.  Really it is all about the southern veggie dishes.  ALL 27 choices. 

garlic cheesy grits
Texas Caviar
macaroni and cheese
San Antonio squash casserole ( um, yes, please)
broccoli rice casserole
sweet potato fries
spinach casserole
stewed okra and tomatoes
butter beans

the list goes ON and ON... YUMMO!


Wednesday morning we woke up and had a great breakfast... I love omelet stations!

We headed to the Capitol because Vickie had never been in it before and of course it is a must!

next we headed to a few food trucks!  We tried Dosa this time, sort of like crepe filled with Indian good.  Good but spicy!

We headed to a few of the shops on South Congress...

This was the Big Top Candy/ Soda Shop... they had some cool stuff! 

Sunday Sum Up: Week 25-26 2013-2014

BTW... yes, I know it is NOT Sunday and I know I am late and I have not gone quite insane.. YET.  I just wanted it posted BEFORE next Sunday's was due!  :0)


{144-153}

Okay, so I was supposed to buckle down and hit the books with the kids... AND I did, well I attempted.  Does that count?  We got back from Austin and I had a VERY major migraine Monday- Wednesday  and I had a lot of trouble with the kids both weeks with getting their work done each day.  So we have had three different "DISCUSSION" or pow-wows and I think we MIGHT all be on the same page.

1. you actually HAVE to do your school work.
2. your school works actually needs to be done.
3. doing your school work is mandatory.

Did you get the message?

YEAH... does this look organized to you?  It is I PROMISE.  :0) 

Well lets hope the kids did!

It is a BAD week to test it out seeings how I will be gone Tuesday- Thursday, but at least they will still have assignments that ARE non negotiable and next week will be full steam ahead!

I have let them know that our finishing date is now the second week of JULY!!! 

hmmm. SOMEONE's Latin book left aside the pool.  At least the page was completed...  :0)

Dave and I had about four additional pow wows with Emily and it seems that SHE understands that her option is basically to do her school work.  Because the other option is truancy.  :0)  We talked about a few "problem areas" and came up with some solutions to try and implement.  I will let you know! 

Riley, slightly confused as to why the kids are banned from playing with her at the moment... You know because school must be done.  #dogsdontdoschool

Day wise.. we have until the 2nd week of June to hit our mandatory day count.  AT that point I am going to be VERY irritated for every day past that... because half of the reason is simply THEM NOT getting stuff done.. I will take all the days "LIFE" happened days, but the rest is on them!  Last summer we did a three day school week and had two COMPLETELY free days off, I LOVED it!  I had hoped to do that this year too, but it is looking less and less like that will happen.   REMIND ME to never again take 6 weeks off at Christmas!

I was cleaning off my camera SD card and found this...

 

 

I have no words.

May choir concert 2013

 

 

I somehow DELETED the picture I had of her doing her SOLO!!!  I do have it on video, but it is not mine to share unfortunately.  She did wonderfully (there was a little timing issue with the other soloist, but Kaitlin fixed it and went on and I am so proud of her for that!)

 

She is so beautiful.

 

Dragon Boats 2013

We were going to the Dragon Boat races last Saturday to support Kirsten, who was supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance, as Little Miss Wheelchair Texas.  However, on our way to the races, Amy called to say Kirsten was very sick and could just not make it... so we continued to the races so that we could explain to Eve the director that Kirsten would not be attending...  ENTER EVE... who was by the way, great, amazing!  She was so sad to hear Kirsten was sick and unavailable, but of course she needed someone to fill the spot.. SO Kaitlin did!  (Dave and I stood having convulsions whilst she sat on stage a few people down from Al Green.  (((uggg))).  Anyway.. she did great, minus holding the wrong hand over her heart! 


Don't they all look excited to be saying the pledge!?! 

In the bottom right hand picture they are brushing the dragon to awaken him to lead everyone in good spirits during the races (or something to that effect!)

There were dragon dancers, Tae Kwon Do Doers, Vietnamese dancers.... it was great!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the races started.. Eve came running up to Kaitlin and said we have space on a boat and need another pumper (paddler) do you wanna do it?  Kaitlin looked at me and I nodded "YES" and she broke out into a huge smile!  We ran after Eve (who was RUNNING!!!) and signed release (yes, because the currents are so strong that the dragon boats actually crash into each other sometimes-- I heard this AS she is starting her race). We got her into a life jacket and onto the boat!  There were a few instructions... and she was off!

The did not win the race.. but she had a GREAT time!

We stayed to watch a friend, fellow home schooling mama.. who was on another team's meet.. Her team was AMAZING and won all three heats!  They were so fast!  The Hybrid Dragon Team!

Throwback Thursday... Christmas 2012 ONE FELL SWOOP...

Okay.. here is it Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Christmas Day Eve, and pre Christmas Eve too! 

Wordless Wednesday-- well almost since I really need to explain!

 

 

 

 

and this is why I don't take pictures!  No, really.. I saw this laer and LAUGHED LOUD!!!  He was not looking at my b**b... he had noticed that I had spilled stuff on my shirt and I just could not stop laughing after I saw this!!

Science Fair 2013

I want to say that we did out science fair projects in basically 24 hours.  I am not bragging.. in fact I am NOT happy about it at all.. but that is the hand we were dealt this year and we did it.  One thing that that made it easier is the topics we picked.. Emily simply did clouds, because that is what we had been working on the past couple of weeks, Kate did Teen Pact, because, well it has been a big part of her year... .and Matt just exploded DIET COKE!  Easy Peasy!

 

 

 

 

 

I was planning to participate for months.. and then we got back and I had the monster migraine of the century and I decided there is no way this is happening and called to cancel.  But, we pulled it together at the LAST minute!  Literally.  I mean up till 11:30 the night before and working on it up till a few minutes before we left!  But, alas, we are done for another year!  (((sigh)))

 

I always PLAN to do so well with science fair projects... such good intentions!  I PLAN to start weeks in advance and really find a COOL experiment and learn something... but no it always ends up being last minute... not as last minute as THIS, but last minute.

Easter Seals 5k Walk 2013

 

 

 

We all joined in the Easter Seals 5k Walk  last Saturday.  Easter Seals is the only charity that works with all disabilities and all ages.  This was their second year having a walk and they had 1500 walkers!!!  I will tell you that it DID not feel like that... It did not feel that crowded! 

 

 

I love this picture of Dave.. supporting TEAM KIRSTEN!

 

Seriously ONE of my favorite pictures!!!  It is going up on my wall!

Here is the reigning princess meeting the participants.. :0)

Sweet girls!

 



Reagan and Emily were a little bit tired!  The race started early and we have just gotten back the night before from Austin... T.I.R.E.D.

 

 



Most of the kids.. CRAZY Jimmy included!!

 



Also going up on my wall!!!!!

 



Wordless Wednesday

 

 

 

Its always a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day....

 

When you start a diet.

Dave and I are on a diet.  NOT, a change our eating habits for health.  NOT, an attempt to not eat one type of "x".  JUST a good ole' fashioned, don't eat as much, buy low fat- sugar free convience- items- so-I- DON'T- go- insane, completely limit myself and hate every second... KIND OF DIET!

I don't care if sugar free is unhealthy.  I don't care if carbs vs. calories works.  I don't care if low fat vs. less sugar works... I JUST CARE ABOUT eating less and dropping the pounds, people!

I have no BIG PLAN.  I didn't buy a new FAD book.  I am not jumping on the bandwagon and doing the latest and greatest diet.  We are just eating less!  LESS, LESS, LESS and different. 

I will let you know how that goes.  (((smile)))

Teen Pact.... 1 DAY 2013

Matt and Emily participated in the one day Teen Pact class.  I made Kaitlin dress up again (no, really she wasn't supposed to come having participated in "NOT acceptable clothing")  but I DID want pictures of ALL of them dressed up!!!  YOU KNOW I DID!!  I wasn't going to pass up this opportunity!

Okay.. here is the barrage of photographs.. I just want to insert here that I TOOK over 600 pictures.. so I TRULY did narrow it down for your viewing pleasure!!!



They started the morning off with praise and worship.. which I love!!!

Kaitlin loved the library!!

 

this was during the prayer walk.. it was amazing.. at one point a soldier recognized them praying and came over and joined in and on the floor of the house a senator came down and prayed with them too..

 

 

 

The kids presenting their bills!!!

 

In committees to see which bill will "make it to floor".

graduation time... yeah!!

and all together now!!!

 

 

 

 

and with that it was all over.. till next year!