L-man's 1st Day of Preschool (This Year Anyway)

*****Update: After Travis read this he said "Did you really try to cry?" To which I replied "NO! I was trying to be funny. I just didn't have any inclination to cry and that isn't like me." Then he read Denny's comment and said "Do you really think Leighton looks like me?" and proceeded to enlarge the first picture and say "Yeah he does look like me. Especially in this one where his hair looks dark." Just thought I would clear up some confusion at our house. :)

Finally, L-man's first day of preschool this year. They moved to a new building so it took awhile to get all of the state requirements met. We had to get a picture of the backpack too. Sorry I forgot to rotate it before I uploaded it. Now I can't figure out how to rotate once it is up here. :(

This is Leighton's friend Sarah and her friend Cade. They are all in the same class. Hope the boys don't fight over Sarah! All lined up and ready to go inside. Some of the Moms were crying, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't squeeze out any tears. I guess I am getting to old. Even when I thought about the fact that this would be the last time I would take one of my babies to their first day of preschool. I guess the hormones are swinging the other way. Go figure.

Done with the first day. He is such a big boy. I can't believe this is my last year as a preschooler Mom. Boo Hoo. Just kidding. More like Yee Haw!!!!

Quips From the Back of the Van

Yesterday, my kids said some funny things. Usually I forget them and don't write them down, but today I thought I would share them with all of you.

Brenna "At least it is a nice day for a protest."

Zia "It sure is hard to keep track of 5 wiggly teeth."

Just thought I would share :)

Would You Walk Around Naked?

Did I get your attention with that title? God did this morning while I was reading in Isaiah. I read again the story of when God told Isaiah "take off all your clothes, including your sandals." Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot. Then the Lord said, "my servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign -- a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia." Isaiah 20:2-3 Can you believe it? God actually ask him to take off all of his clothes. Not for the day, the week, or even a month, but THREE YEARS! I can't even imagine. How humiliating. Yet God ask him and he obeyed. How many times has God asked me to do something? I start, then get tired of it, and put my clothes back on. Can I be that faithful? Trust Him? Let myself eat some humble pie my friend Paula wrote about? Fix my eyes on Him and remember it's not about me and my comfort but His glory.

Later, in Hebrews I read... "For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are. Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God whom we must explain all that we have done." Hebrews 4:12-13. There was that word again. NAKED. God has called me to be naked. Not only before him, but with others as well. Exposed for what I really am. A sinner. Someone with bruises, bumps, fat, flaws... Open, honest, real... Seeking him, sometimes failing sometimes succeeding. Real.

Dear Father God, I praise you for your Word. Thank you that it can cut deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. Change my desires and thoughts to you and what you want. Help me be real and naked before you and others. May you be glorified in everything I do and say. In Jesus name. Amen

The Beltz Bean Dinner

Over Labor Day weekend we got the chance to head back home and go to the Beltz Bean dinner. I am not sure how long they have been having it, but Trav and I have been dating for 18 1/2 years and I think it was going on then. Trav's Great Uncle and Aunt, Dudley and Doris, started it at their house years ago and now it has moved to their daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Larry's, house. It is a big family reunion for the Beltz family. The first picture is of the big bean pot they use to cook the beans in out over and open fire. Larry is serving up a bowl to Dudley. We also have hot dogs roasted over the fire. Larry and Mike are cooking them in the next picture. Everyone brings something to share and we have a great meal.

Connie and Larry live out in the country in a beautiful home with a pretty little pond right behind it. Of course we couldn't keep the kids away from it. They all loved looking for frogs and messing around by the water.

Larry always goes out of his way to make the little guys welcome. This year he made a table just their size. They really liked that. They also had fun making a long train with the Styrofoam blocks. I didn't get any pictures of the big pyramids they were making and knocking down. I think we are getting close to the little kids out numbering the adults.

You never know what will be planned or just happen at the Bean dinner. This year the kids gave each other wagon rides. Many years they have had hayrides. Some that have even taking the crew through the Mc Donald's drive thru. One year jeep rides around the pond to look for bears was on the agenda. Another time an ice and water fight broke out. But every year stories are shared and memories are made. Brenna LOVES the Bean dinner (even though she wouldn't eat any of the beans). This year she said "This is the best Bean dinner ever". Thanks Connie and Larry for another great Beltz Bean Dinner.

1st Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school for Brenna and Zia. Leighton had to get in the picture too. He can't wait for preschool to start next week. He would really like to ride the bus too, but will have to wait until next year. The girls like their new teachers and know a couple kids each in their classes. Brenna is excited because she gets to be a safety. I think it is kind of like a hall monitor when the kids are coming in and going out to the buses. She gets to stand in the hall and keep kids from running and stuff like that. The picture with the sign is a tradition I started when Brenna went to preschool years ago. I make a sign that says "1st day of school" and has the date on it. A couple of years ago I had to add what city and state we were living in so I would remember when I finally get around to scrap booking them in say 15-20 years. I am not sure how much longer Brenna will tolerate me taking the getting on the bus shot. But, at least she didn't say anything this year.

I always love this time of year. First, because of new school supplies. If you know me very well you know that I LOVE school/office supplies. I think that is one of the reasons I became a teacher, I could keep on buying school supplies every year! Now I get to buy them for my kids but, they want to pick out their own stuff and don't always want to get what I want to get:( A trip to Office Max or Staples is really fun for me, even if I don't buy anything. Which is really weird because I really like to buy stuff. Anyway the other reason is that we get back into a routine. Now if you have read any of my other posts you will know that I LOVE SUMMER, but I also like having a routine. So now we have to get up and get ready for school and I will have to take Leighton to preschool. Soccer practice, piano lessons and dance classes are all on the calendar and we have a routine. No more sleeping in and staying up late... no more staying in our pajamas all day (until we have a snow day)... no more going to the pool or the lake... no more sunsets at 9:30 p.m.... no more pack up and leaving for home without planning around all the kids activities... Wait a minute, sorry about that, back to the start of school... I like the routine of it. The kids going off and coming home full of what their day was like, homework, practice all that stuff. At least for a few weeks :)