We got to new kittens to stay around the shop to catch mice this winter. Right now they are really small so we are keeping them in an extra large doggie crate in the shop. The kids have actually done quite well cleaning out the litter box and feeding them. Their names are Orea and Tootsie Roll!

The end of summer...

We had quite the busy weekend. Friday night was Brighton vs. Cordova, we lost by 2 points but it was a great game. The kids love Friday nights as we sit in the endzone with faculty and everyone's kids have plenty of room to run around and we can keep a close eye on them. All the teachers kids love to run and play with one another.

Saturday, Brent spent the day with Papa and Granny and Bailey had Balfour down all day. That night some a couple of sets of friends came down and we grilled out and hung out while the 10 kids between us, 11 with my niece Jessica! They had a blast!!!

Sunday after church, everyone got ready to head to William Lea's place to ride four wheelers. It was so much fun! It was a late night and the kids slept great and late Monday morning. Bailey woke up not feeling well so I took him to the Take Care Clinic in Bartlett since no one else was open and we waited from 1145 and walked out at 515!! After signing in and finding out it would be a long wait, we got something to eat and sat in the car until 130. Then we sat until we were called back a little before 4. Granted they took lunch from 2-3. We got seen quickly, had to have the flu and strep test ran, then he has tonsillitis. Very large tonsils too, and he has a sore throat frequently so we are going to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor Monday. After getting med's filled there at Walgreens it was 515 when we got in the car!

Now today, both boys are sick and running fever so they are both on antibiotics now. Hopefully they will have a speedy recovery and we are just glad it is not the flu!

But.... now as I read this later... we went back to the DR. a few days later as they both were still very sick and the peditrician informed us they both have swine.... lovely....

Day at the lake for Grandmother's birthday

Growing up the Kinney family along with many other families from the Holly Grove area spent at least a week if not more at Pickwick Lake together. Of course as time as went out and families have gotten busier, those times have been long gone. Last year the Kinney's started a new tradition for my grandmother's birthday. We all go up the weekend of her birthday to Pin Oak and spend the weekend skiing and watching the kids play.

Unfortunately with me having the flu this week I knew I couldn't handle all weekend so we just got to go up on Saturday and I sat in the chair most of the day. I did ride in the boat a couple of times so I could take picture. Having the flu drained me and I have no energy at all. I was exhausted on the way home and had no trouble falling asleep!

The kids had a great time, the boys even stayed Saturday night with my parents so they could do it all over again. It was also Bailey's birthday so he had a birthday to remember!

Brie & Maisy

Brie is excited to show that she has learned to do a proper back bend from Mrs. Leslie at gymnastics!
always aggravating..

Brie's first week of Pre-school

waiting on the bus....
don't know where she got this?
Aunt Joyce is her bus driver!!

Since I came down with the flu, yes the real flu.. tested positive for Type A, on Sunday morning and preschool started Monday, I wasn't able to take any pictures of Brie on her first day of going back to the 4 year old class at TCPS. So... we had to make do with taking pictures today, her 3rd day when I was finally able to get out of bed!

Brieanna loves preschool and her teacher Mrs. Amanda Wade!

School has started!

I can't believe the first week of school has flown by! It was a long one for me, but the boys had a great time their first week! Getting back in a routine is tough! Up early, getting 3 kids ready, and getting somewhere on time is tiring! Brieanna hasn't started yet, and hopefully they will start soon because she has asked every morning is the preschool bus coming to get her yet!
School brings back busy times. Brie decided this year that she wanted to just do flips and cartwheels... so we are taking time off from Showstars dance and doing gymnastics with Mrs. Leslie at the sportsplex! She LOVES it! Brent & Bailey are back to baseball practice, though Brent is having a tough time swinging a bat since he just got his cast off last Monday, August 10th, the first day of school! Brent is also taking Hunter's safety course every Tuesday & Thursday for the next couple of weeks.

End of Summer Break

Swam with broken arms....

Loved time with mommy...
learned to dive....

and actually acted like they loved each other!

End of summer break is a little bitter sweet. Oh how I have loved my first summer off with the kids. We have had lots of time together. I loved teaching swimming lessons, and we had a great vacation and a couple of quick trips here and there. I've repainted my living room, foyer, hall, and master bathroom, and gave the kids bathroom a redo too.

We've experienced a broken arm and a dog bite, both still healing. We've dealt with the death our our dog Diesel who the kids absolutely loved. We've had a rough summer, but overall it was great. I wouldn't trade anything for the time that I have had this summer to spend time with my children.

Today Bailey got stung by a wasp on his cheek, which he is allergic to and normally has to have an epipen injection if it is close to his throat but we are watching it. He normally still has to have a shot just because the swelling never seems to go down. He is out on the coach right now from the benedryl. Our fun never ends.

Back to school means back to routines. Back to getting up early, dropping Brie off at the sitter, (which is now a new sitter except on Fridays due to preschool bus not picking up at the old one anymore) and getting to BHS for me to teach, and kids to catch the bus over to BES. I am looking forward to seeing what another year of teaching brings. I am excited about the new classes I will be teaching and the new kids that will walk through my door.

I watched an episode of Oparah the other day that I had tivo'd while I was in California. It was the episode where the assistant pricipal who was a mother of two, forgot her 2 year old in her car while she went back to school for the first day back after summer break. It was a sad and touching story. Just like she said, we all think "what mother could do that!" but just like she said, we as mothers are so busy that we fall into our routines and sometimes when the routine gets changed we get off track. Her routine for the morning had been changed, the child was asleep when she put her in, and she just forgot her. I sure pray that even though I am a super busy mom, that I take the time to think and never let anything like this happen to my children. It was a touching story to remind us moms to slow down..... enjoy life..... don't make your life so busy.

That is my goal

Currently we are looking for a new church home. I have attended Smyrna for the 30 years of mylife. We are now looking for a church with more children my kids age and a great childrens department. We visited Holly Grove last week, Covington Assembly of God today, and will visit Central Baptist next week. Changing churches is not easy. I know that people are glad to have you there, but it's sort of like walking into a new job. Some people have been there for so long and you are not the normal person who is always there. I hate being that "new" person. But.. I know God will lead my family to the right church home. Change is never easy.

Something funny that happened just moments ago. This is to file in the kids say the cutest things:

(I'm cooking Spaggetti for supper)

Brie: "Mommy! I want some of that smell good, I'm hungry!"

gotta love 'em!