First day of school.

And Mom had to work :(   However, Daddy was on watch and he was able to get some great photos of the gang!!    The bus picks the girls up right at the end of our driveway.   Can't beat that!!    Two other girls get on the bus here in our little neighborhood.   Katie is a freshman this year and Paige is in 8th grade.  

Someone asked...here is the answer.   We live in the Santa Fe Trail School District.   When we first moved here the kids all were going to Carbondale Attendance Center to school.   The very next year the school district decided to divide up the classes.   Our school district consists of four schools.   Overbrook Attendance Center, Scranton Attendance Center, Carbondale Attendance Center and the Santa Fe Trail High School.    We are all the same school district and the first year
we were here all the attendance centers had grades Kindergarten through 8th grade.     They then decided it would be wiser to use the school buildings a little differently.    So Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades go to Overbrook Attendance Center in Overbrook.    Even with that there are four classes for each grade.   Each class has about 18 to 20 kids.   Then Scranton Attendance Center in Scranton has 3rd and 4th grades.   Again there are 4 classes of each grade.   Finally Carbondale Attendance Center is for 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades.   5th and 6th grades have home room teachers and it is more like being in the younger classes.   Once you are in 7th and 8th grades you don't have a home room teacher.   The day starts with a school rally and then you head to your first class of the day.

We were not very happy to find out that the school was going to divide up like this.   In fact, we seriously talked about taking our kids to another school which is about 15 miles away from our house.   But after the first year we have totally changed our minds.   It is so nice for the kids to be with the kids that are all the same grade levels.   The library at each school is geared to the class levels...it just makes sense!!   The sad part is that once we have Linzi in Kindergarten and as she works her way to 3rd grade...that will mean we will be done with Overbrook Attendance Center.   It will mean our girls are growing up!!!

Our girls are really doing good in school and we really like the teachers that they have.   So we are very happy with our schools!!   And Pugston always has to meet the bus!!  He is so happy to have his girls home from school!!

~~LOA~~

Our agency emailed us today that our LOA has arrived.   I spent several hours getting all the paperwork filled out.    One major step closer!!     Now we hurry up and wait some more.   The nicest thing to hear is that our agency expects us to travel by mid November!!   It will be ZoraLin and I traveling together again.

This is a very special day to hear more good news on.    Two years ago today a very small, scared little girl joined our family.   She wasn't the most excited to meet us.   She warmed up to her sisters fairly quickly.   She really didn't have anything to do with Mom until we arrived back in Kansas.   Then she decided that maybe Mom and Dad weren't so bad.  

She chose Coyote Canyon for her celebration meal.   Tessa (Lou) JiXing we love you so much!!   Can't wait to watch you grow and learn through the years!   XOXO!!!

First day of school.

Okay, I had to cheat a little to pull off this post.   I work Friday, August 24th, which is the girls first day of school.    I am leaving Dad in charge of taking a few photos that am, but I wanted to get some of them at each school.    Thankfully, the school was cooperative and let us in to take photos.   Okay...it wasn't quite like that.   We were actually invited to the schools today to visit with the teachers, take in supplies so our kids weren't loaded down under all the items that were on their lists and get their class schedules.

We traveled to Scranton first to see where Tessa and Jordis were going to be spending their school year.    Tessa has Mrs. Huizenga for 3rd grade and Jordis has Mrs. Colvin for 4th.

Then a quick trip back to Carbondale to meet with Mrs. Smith, ZoraLin's teacher and visit with her about her class rules.    We also were able to visit with Mr. Colvin about RaeAnne's having him for math...yeah!  

Then a quick trip to Overbrook to see Mrs. Hefner and get Kendalan settled into 2nd grade.  

I sure hope that the teachers can work with this group.   They needs LOTS of help!  :)

Keeping busy

Summer break is coming to an end soon.    The girls are really excited to start school so they can see their friends.   Mom and Dad are ready for school to start so we can get back into a more structured schedule...and a few hours of quiet during the day will be a BIG added bonus!!

The girls recently moved from a orange decided belt to yellow belts!   They amaze us with how fast they learn the moves.    Dad and I have noticed a new level of maturity throughout the house too!!  

Spur of the moment plans are fun and many times turn out to be a blast.   We had one of those days a while back.   We hopped over to KC to meet up with our friends.   In only a few hours we watched clowns, magic, juggling, had lunch, shopped and made crafts!   A great time!!

And we went bowling!   This was the first time for three of the girls.   You can't tell from the expression on their faces, but they really had a good time!

Stay tuned for our Fundraiser!!!

The last two weeks of September we will be doing a special fundraiser!    Mark your calendars for September 16th to the 30th.     We will raising funds to get our darling Linzi Rose MingShan home by
selling Scentsy and 31 Products!!    We can't WAIT!  Wonderful products for those of you who want
it and help for us to get our girl home!!    Both of these will be on-line so it doesn't matter where you live...you can buy with ease!!

I am also going to be selling some of the most B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. necklaces and bracelets on line.   This is jewelry that is handmade by women in Uganda from scraps of paper and magazines!!   It is
amazing and gorgeous all at the same time!   I can't wait to get our shipment of this.

Think Christmas in September!!   Think of getting your shopping started in September!!   Think of the
wonderful things you can buy in September!!   Think of the delightful smell of Scentsy Products in your
house this winter!

Think of fabulous 31 Products to carry your things in!!  Store you things in!!   Reorganize your home in!!

  And the FANtastic necklaces and bracelets that will be getting compliments EVERYWHERE you go!!
This is just a sneak peek of one of the necklaces...they come in all sizes, colors and earrings too!!

YES!!   These beautiful "beads" are made from scraps of paper, magazines and are hard glazed.   You will be A.M.A.Z.E.D. when you find out that a necklace is only $25 to $30 dollars!!

And the fiesta de la resistance...or what ever the fancy term is.   We are having Mr. Richard Petty driver of the #43 race car sign our 1/18th scale car...a replica of the real car that he used to race.   His autograph will be on the car!!    We hope to auction this on Ebay!!   What a great Christmas gift for a Richard Petty fan!!

As soon as the weather cools down we will having a large garage sale.    Too many items to list at this time, but kids clothes, furniture, something for everyone.    That will be at our house!!

Hang on Linzi Rose MingShan...your family is working hard to get you home where you belong!!!

Let me know if you would be interested in any of the fundraisers.   Just leave me a comment...it is easy and free!!   Plus it makes me H.A.P.P.Y.!!!