First Day of School

Well, here she is, Miss Emelia on her first day of school all ready to learn, learn, learn! Growing up way too fast!
Emelia was so excited to bring her new teacher an apple, and told mommy that "Everyone brings their teacher an apple on the first day of school!"
Emelia was also excited that she now has her very own desk to sit at. And mommy was very pleased to see that she was placed at the front of the class... way to go teacher! The theme for the year as you can see on the wall is - FROG - Fully Rely On God! We pray that Emelia will begin to learn what this means this year... and maybe the rest of us will learn a thing or two about that as well:)
Now that she has had 2 1/2 days of school she reports that her favorite part is reading. She also loves lunch, recess and talking with her teacher and friends! (Hmmm.... sounds like an extrovert to me!)

I Did It!

Well, here we go... I think I figured out how to add a picture! Here are the girls a couple weeks ago at the lake having fun! Hannah loved being on the boat and did not want to get off. Emelia loved floating in the lake and also did not want to get out. Daddy was the real star of the show skiing on a wake board and got up on his second try!

Finally!

After months of thinking of starting a blog site, I am finally getting around to taking action!  Since I am not a computer guru, my sister and brother in law have so graciously helped me to get started.  Now that I know just enough to be dangerous... watch out!  I am excited to be able to post pictures and updates of our family and what we are up to.   Currently our family consists of Ted - husband, daddy and leader of our clan, Angela - wife, mommy and all around helper, Emelia - daughter #1 and big sister, and Hannah - daughter #2 and little sister. 

There have been so many times that I take pictures of things like Emelia's first horse lesson or Hannah's first dance recital and I think, Oh I should email a picture of this to friends and family...  Hopefully this site will help us to be able to share these moments with you.  Summer is almost over as school starts in just a few short weeks.  Emelia is excited for school to start.  Hannah and I will miss her as this will be her first year of being gone every day all day...  Hannah is also supposed to be starting preschool, but as she refuses to potty train, so I think we will be doing home-preschool.  Which is fine with me because it will mean less running around...  

And that is something that has been on my mind a lot lately... too much running around.  I heard someone once say that Satan tries to distract us with busyness from the things that God wants us to be focusing on.  And I am beginning to believe that it is very true.  I made a list of priorities at the beginning of the summer of things that I think are important that I want to accomplish each day, like reading bible stories to the girls, spending time in the Word, spending time with Ted.  You would not believe all the other things that get in the way.  It amazes me how I can get to the end of a day and look at my list realizing, I did not do a single thing on my list of priorities, but yet ran around like a chicken with my head cut off all day long.  So, I am now in my 30's and still beginning to learn that I must say "No" and start doing it more often, otherwise these little angels are going to grow up and fly away to homes of their own, and I will sit here with many regrets.  So, sieze the day, I must.  

I can say that this summer has been much more enjoyable than the last... (We moved 4 times last year, 3 of which were between June and September.)  Emelia has thoroughly enjoyed her horse lessons riding on her new best friend Spirit and being in two horse shows.  She even has won 2 ribbons.  As none of us knew anything about horses, we have all been learning alot.  Ted someday dreams of being in the rodeo now (as well as Emelia), Hannah has developed a love for the horse she rides at lessons, Teddy and even Angela has taken two lessons.  Now that we have lived in the "city" for 11 months, we all wish to be back in the country with some land to ride on!  For now we will just have to dream of what the West Ranch will someday be...  

And now that it is late and it appears that I am rambling, (isn't that what these blog sites are for?) I must go to bed.   Two sweet angels will be waking up early and morning is coming fast!