We're Busy!!!

I can definitely tell that school is back in full swing because all the activities have started too. In addition to work and school each day and church Wednesday night, Anna Kate had fast pitch softball practice Monday and Tuesday nights and has it again tonight (Thursday), she also had her first cheerleading practice for the year Wednesday afternoon, and Emma has her first dance lesson this afternoon. It has been a lot to keep up with. You can just imagine how much stuff I have had to pack and get ready each night for the next day. Despite how busy it is (including squeezing in homework and other essential stuff), the girls are having a blast. I am too. Anna Kate, of course, loved cheerleader practice yesterday. She came home rattling off cheer after cheer. This week has been her first experience at fast pitch softball, but she seems to really like it and is catching on to the differences between it and slow pitch softball. Emma is so excited about dance. This is her first time to have an extracurricular activity other than church stuff. She was so excited last night that she just had to try on her practice outfit. And, of course, I just had to take a picture. Anna Kate tried on her cheerleader uniform too. Here's the picture. Hope you all are having a great week!

Remember that dress?

Yesterday Emma wore the dress Anna Kate wore in her Uncle D and Aunt Heather's wedding five years ago. Anna Kate and her cousin Abby look so precious in these dresses back then when they served as flower girls, and it was so fun to see Emma in it. Brought back memories. I actually was pregnant with Emma at the time of the wedding. The years pass so quickly. Kinda sad to see them grow up so fast. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to take a picture of Emma in her big sissy's dress. Then Anna Kate decided she wanted her picture taken too, which was fine by me! Then they decided they wanted some together. It was fun. Too bad we didn't have more time since they were in the mood to have their picture taken. It was time to leave for church. Here are the pictures.

First Communion

Our precious little Anna Kate participated in the Lord's Supper for the first time last night. She was saved and joined our church at the conclusion of VBS this summer, and she was baptized last month. She was so excited last night. Here's a cute story. I told her Wednesday night that our church would be doing the Lord's Supper Sunday night. She very excitedly asked me if she could hold my cup for me. I have let her do this the last few times we have had the Lord's Supper. I answered her no. She looked at me real funny like she couldn't believe I wouldn't let her do this. I quickly added that she couldn't hold my cup because she would be holding her own cup. I could just see the light bulb go off. She realized that she would be participating and was so so excited. It was another precious moment. So very happy for our girl.

6 unimportant things

My SIL Samantha (http://www.brandonandsamantha.blogspot.com/) tagged me. Now I have to list 6 unimportant things about myself. Her SIL Melanie (http://www.smithfamilyof5.blogspot.com/) was tagged and listed 6 things on her blog a couple of days ago and then tagged Samantha. I knew when I read that Melanie had tagged Samantha that Samantha would tag her three O'Bryant SILs. I was right. Can't wait to read Amanda's (http://www.obryanttimes.blogspot.com/) and Heather's (http://www.heatherobryant.blogspot.com/). Here it goes:


1. I am a neat freak. My desk at work is neat. My van is neat. My house is neat. Every shoe, every toy, every item in our house is perfectly in place before we go to bed at night. That's how I function. I can't stand things out of order. I drive Tim nuts, and my girls would probably think I am crazy, but they don't know it any other way.


2. I am highly organized. I love lists. I am constantly making lists of things I need to do, buy, whatever. Sometimes I do something and it wasn't on my list, but I write it on the list real quick so I can mark it off. Every closet, cabinet and drawer at work and home are organized, usually by color. People at work have labeled me as anal (excessively or obsessively orderly).


3. I am cheap. I am always looking for amazing deals on everything, especially on clothes. I mainly shop consignment. I don't think there is anything wrong with buying some rich person's $150 top name brand suit that still looks brand new that they don't want anymore for under $10. Everybody at work hates me because I am always coming to work with these great deals on.


4. I have a collection of over 60 "fashion rings" and wear one every day on my right hand to match my outfit. Didn't spend hardly any money on them. Ebay. Remember I am cheap.


5. I hate to cook. And I am not real good at it. I have had disaster after disaster in the kitchen. I have literally burned up two fry daddies. I even made Tim chicken cordon bleu for one of our first meals after we got married, and, instead of using corn flakes as the recipe called for, I used frosted flakes. It was horrible. I mainly stick to frozen items and a few other meals I have had plenty of practice doing.


6. Now that I have beaten myself down in the first five on my list, maybe I should use this last one to give myself a little pat on the back. I weigh 95 pounds lighter today than I did when I began my weight loss journey in 2003. There have been plenty of ups and downs. I'm defintely not perfect, but I haven't given up either. I can't take all the credit: I am a firm supporter of the Weight Watchers program, I am so grateful for all the encouraging comments I have received along the way from family and friends, and God has taught me that what I was doing to my body was sinful and an abuse of God's temple since I believe Jesus lives in my heart as a Christian. God really spoke to me through this verse: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. 6:19-20 NKJV). Another verse that is especially meaningful to me: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13 NKJV)

Okay, now I need to tag someone. My friends Amy, Mary Heather, and Jennifer, you have been tagged!

Back to school

Can't believe it's the first day of school. Anna Kate was so excited. She is in the fourth grade this year, and has Ms. Dyson for her teacher. She is excited about playing fast pitch softball in New Hope's intramural league and and doing pee wee cheerleading again this fall. Emma is off to daycare with Ms. Kim and all her friends. She will start kindergarten next year.

Back to school swim bash

I know this is a lot of pictures, but I just couldn't resist sharing these fun pictures of Anna Kate with some of her friends and her sister. Anna Kate had a back to school swim bash at her grandparents' pool this past weekend. They had a blast coming up with all kinds of "stunts" or "tricks" to do in the water. Very creative I might add. Anyway, I can't believe school starts tomorrow. Where did the summer go?

Let's Swim

Sometimes I think my kids could have been fish. They just love the water. It amazes me how well both of them can swim. No fear. Here are a few pictures of them getting ready to swim.

Love watermelon!

My kids just love watermelon. I thought it would be cute to end the summer with some cute watermelon pictures. They could hardly smile for wanting to eat up the watermelon. What better treat on a hot summer day than watermelon? Hold on -- maybe ice cream. Okay, that's another post.

Father's Day

Okay, I know these pictures are a little late. We finally found the time to get some Father's Day pictures made this weekend. These girls just love their daddy and love doing things with him like riding the tractor and 4-wheeler and feeding the cows. I just had to share these sweet pictures of my three favorite people!