Psalm 23

Hello! Hopefully my catching up on some blog posts isn't overwhelming your inbox (those of you who are subscribed via electronic mail). But...this mama had some catching up to do. This is the second of today's two posts....so really not that much.

Anywho...

So, River's class had been working hard on memorizing  Psalm 23 and recited it for chapel last Friday morning. It was a privilege to see little people up there speaking such a wonderful promise.

Unfortunately, you really can't see my son's face (other than the top of his strawberry blond head), but he was there....:-)

And I promise I will get better about videoing the entire performance. Hehe. Will work on that. :-)

Here it is....please ignore the fuzzy footage. Focusing is key. I'll remember that. :)



Psalm 23 from kelly c. on Vimeo.

Have a great evening! :-D

Oh, and I encourage you, if you do not already have Psalm 23 put to memory, to go read it now..amazing promises!!

-Kelly

'O Come All Ye Faithful'

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas with those you love! We did! It's always a blessing to be able to spend extra time with loved ones and friends! And the food wasn't bad either.

So...

River, his class, and the other first grade class sing 'O Come All Ye Faithful' during his school's annual Christmas program. :-)

I have been coming to watch this program for years...way before I even had my own children. It seems that I have always known someone participating in the program (more than likely my sister's kids, but I am even thinking I went and saw my sister's sis-in-law, Lisa participate in the program, too?) Either way...it was pretty neat to see one of my own kids be a part of the program.  The two first grade classes did an excellent job at the song. Adorable. 

It was a very nice program. It  did end with a bit of excitement when the electricity popped off for maybe 5 or so minutes. Thankfully this was at the end when everyone was simply chatting after the program had ended. It sure did add a bit of adventure to the evening.  Not going to lie...my heart raced when I realized I could not see my kids and we were standing in a very large crowded church. It all worked out. God makes sure of that.

Now, I will say...I was a bit disappointed that cookies were not offered afterwards as that was, from what I could remember, something that happened after the program every year. Oh well...I suppose there was a cookie shortage? :-(

Here is a little video of the song River's class sang. Please ignore the excessive movement and sporadic shaking. I really am ok, but probably will not have a future at being a surgeon, that is for sure..and that is ok by me.

Oh...and yes, I actually hit the 'play' button a bit into the song (not right at the beginning)...needless to say I need to brush up on my video recording skills. :-)

Without further ado...

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Spalding Christmas Program 2012 from kelly c. on Vimeo.

hard drive tragedy

So, I am trying not to cry as I type this mini post (oh, please. who am I kidding...each one of my posts are mini). I have suffered the loss of a hard drive. A hard drive with photos that are so incredibly special to me. Poof. Gone. A lesson in proper back up was made and driven home to me, no less.

Now, I refuse to give up on this expensive to retrieve hard drive. It was a mechanical issue which could easily mean $1000 for hard drive recovery. :-( So, it will happen, just not right now.

So...needless to say I will be contacting my lovely family members to inquire about collecting contributions in the form of photos from River and Kathryn's birthday party (just to name one special event from the hard drive).  So, Debi and Tina...could you pass onto me some photos when you get a chance please? Let me just say that I was so pleased with the photos I took from River's party that I feel a tear forming in my eye. :-(

But...alas. Life goes on.

I will be posting again soon...we are about to start Christmas vacation and unlike River (who loves school so very much) I am beyond excited to have him home with us for about two weeks! Yay! He's excited, too it's just he really thinks school is a wonderful place and he will be missing his friends.

Sorry, no photo this time. I will really make a much better effort to keep this little blog up-to-date. Just watch out. It'll happen. :-)

-Kelly

River's First Day of First Grade...

August 15, 2012 was a big day (yes, yes...I know, this post is late going up)!

River started first grade. River is going to the same school is daddy did (Rocky started school at first grade, too) and he is even in the same classroom (different teacher, of course) his daddy was in.

So here are a few snapshots from the first day.

What you won't see photos of are all the many tears this mama cried on that day. I made it through the drop off, but goodness gracious...the flood gates opened up once Aspen and I reached home. Aspen didn't know what to do except hug me. I couldn't have asked for more. I love that girl that her caring, sensitive heart.

River in deep thought. He is trying to take everything in. :-)

River was apparently ready for his sister to leave. :-(

His embarrassed face. Yes, he is followed by his own personal paparazzi. :-)

The theme of the classroom is camping. Cute, eh?

Aspen and I decided we'd go surprise River and have lunch with him at his school (you know...as Aspen and I missed our boy). :-) This really helped break up the very long day...Aspen was so excited to eat with River and the other big kids. She was also pretty excited about having her lunch bag packed.

Well...we survived the first day of school and... as you can tell from how long ago it was that school actually started.. we have survived the first couple of months.

Aspen and I are getting into the swing of things with us it being just us..she's learning how to read and really catching on quickly. We are enjoying our one on one time together. On many occasions during our nightly worships, when asked what is one thing she is thankful for today, she has said, "being with mommy while River is at school." Needless to say..my heart was warmed.

I have noticed that she is a bit more attached to me these days, but I am sure that is quite normal as having her big brother gone for most of the hours of the day is a big adjustment for a little lady, indeed.

Oh, yes...and River absolutely LOVES school, in case you were curious. His teacher, Mrs. Smith, is great. I also think River is meshing with his classmates nicely.

I am happy that he is happy and is learning so much. Since school has begun he has developed a love for writing and I am quite thankful about this.

Currently, his favorite subjects are P.E., recess, and writing. :-)

As far as the homefront goes...we are slowly, but surely, getting used to the school schedule. We are learning how to squeeze in homework time (granted, this is a small amount being that it is first grade, of course), playtime/sports, dinner, bath/shower times, worship, then early bed time..It's happening. We are adjusting.

Thanks for reading my first day back to school ramblings.. :-)

Better go get ready for another school day tomorrow. The day starts bright and early.

With much love,
Kelly

This boy....

This boy is about to start school...school in an actual school setting, that is.

And I just happen to love this photo of him. We had a little before-school-starts-photo-session. :-)

I must get this printed and put up on my wall...yes, printing photos...what a novel idea..an idea I really am going to get around to doing. Really. :-)

He is growing up way too fast. Where is that pause button again?? Oh, yes...I wouldn't actually use the pause button, that's right. But...wouldn't it be nice to have as an option?

Anywho...expect this first day to be well documented. :-)

Man, I will miss having him around with Aspen and I for most of the day, but I know he will be learning so much, not just academically (though, of course he has been while beening homeschooled with me) but also various social skills..He will have a blast. I know it! Plus, Aspen will be home with me and this will be nice to be able to spend some alone time with Aspen...just the two of us (like River and I had before she was born). I say this while a tear is about to rush down my face...I really will miss having it be the three of us during the day..I am having mixed emotions about this and I realize this is normal. Kids grow up. I just may not be ready....but ready or not I have a little boy, a very precious little boy, who will be a first grader in three short days. Oy!

Mommy loves you so much , River!!

Aspen's 5th Birthday!

We celebrated Aspen's 5th birthday the day after her birthday.....remember, she has a pretty cool birthday. lots of sevens...7-7-07, born on the 7th day. Nifty, eh?

Can't believe how fast she is growing up. She is a lovely little lady and I am blessed to have her in my life. Wow, I get to be her mommy! Really...this thrills me more than words can say!!

Here are some scenes from the birthday bash...Hello Kitty style, but of course! :-)

Aspen twig, we love you!!!

the parent rap song... :-)

way too funny not to share. :-)

*remember to stop the auto music player before starting the video. :-)

one thing i like about the video is how each parent acknowledges some of the wonderful qualities about the another parent/spouse....i think that is very important in a marriage. don't we all need a little encouraging from time to time? maybe some more than others......

enjoy!

ninja kitty the 2nd...

we have a kitty who is loved....she is loved on constantly by two precious kidlets (and us parents, too...it's just the kids get to her before we do most of the time)..

here are some photos from the good ol' cell phone to show some of the things ms. ninja kitty has been up to as of late...

so...as you can see ninja girl loves to sleep, get cuddled, sleep, practice playing the keyboard, and sleep some more while getting kisses. :-)

that's all for now..

so thankful i have a place to put cell phone photos (from time to time) even if the quality is kind of blah. still very thankful...i take tons of cell phone photos. ;-)

till next time..

-kelly

restless...

a beautiful song that i just had to share (in case you missed the fb post). remember to stop the automatic music player on the blog before starting this one. otherwise it sounds pretty strange. :-)

also...i wanted to let you know that more posts are coming to this little blog soon (eek, i think i may have said that before, eh?) well...we have been busy living life with VBS, tball, baseball, now some more VBS, oh and lots of photoshoots, and sessions..whew! i am having to remind myself that i must make the time to sort and edit our family photos and put them on here. i love all those folks i photograph during the photo sessions i am blessed to have, but family comes first. so, i will be making a point to get caught up or at least start where we are now. :-) i really need to get out of bed earlier in the mornings...yeah, working on that.

here are a few photos i have recently taken of the littles that i love love love.

more to come soon. really. :-)

tootles.

-kelly

Easter Weekend 2012

Slowly but surely getting these photos up...

Easter weekend we went camping with Rocky's parents, and his sister and her family....Rocky's grandma drove up and spent some time with us on Sabbath.

We had lots of fun...kids did Easter egg hunts. Glow in the dark Easter eggs, and all...

Here are some photos from the weekend.

let the words escape

a beautiful song i thought i would share....

*to play it, be sure to stop the music player at the bottom of this blog first....otherwise, it will sound very funny! :-)


have a very happy Sabbath!

-kelly

ball season begins...

Tball and softball season has officially begun for the kids. Getting in the flow with the schedules of the kid's schedules will obviously take time. Yep, what I was afraid to do most I ended up doing...River missed his first game because I goofed on the timing. That will not happen again. Mommy is so sorry about that, River!!
Turns out that when I thought Aspen would be having her game at 6 and then River's at 7:15, that I was sadly mistaken. They were going on at the same time at two different fields. The rainy weather we had earlier that week had changed up the schedule, and mommy did not remember to adjust. Oops!

But, River did get to practice when he finally did get to the field where he was supposed to have played earlier. He is doing better and better. Mommy and daddy are so proud of him...obviously not just because he is turning into the cutest little ball player, but because he is our kid and growing up so nicely. He is a great kid, and we love him!

Here a few glimpses at the evenings events (I prefer to let photos to the talking for me anyway).

I will be sure to add more shots of the kids actually playing ball as the season goes on... ;-)

Oh, and happy birthday (it was actually the 19th..the day these photos were taken at the game) to our lovely niece, Ashley! She turned 11 and I just can not believe how fast she is growing up!!