The Sun... by Parker Rivers

The other day Parker came home talking about this science project... and of coarse he forgot the instructions in his desk... until Monday. Basically, he needed to make a 3-D model of the Sun and layer all the parts. Sounds easy enough, right?

Well, let me just say that when you live in a small town and the fifth grade assigns a science project and you all have the same idea about using a styrofoam ball, Hobby Lobby will sell out.

So, plan B.

Use a smaller ball and clay to make the model. We even added some shape & bake polymer clay to make the solar flares. Fun stuff!

So after about 2 hours (yes, 2) this was the final result

Ta da! Parker was very pleased and I was, too. Using clay ended up making his a little different than the others. And of course, I have to point out the straight pins... that is how Science projects get labeled when your momma sews. (ha!)

Blood, Sweat & Tears

Ok, so we all know that Rain is our sweet and sensitive one. She wears her heart on her sleeve, and sometimes what seems like the smallest thing can be very BIG to her. Well, she's been wanting a bike for awhile, and Memaw and Pepaw brought two home. (one for her and one for Maya) Rain has always been a "scooter girl" and I think because the other kids spent so much time on them, the whole bike thing never really interested her... until now.

The girls could not wait to get on them and strut their stuff. Maya hopped right on and never looked back.

But for some reason, Rain had a really tough time getting the hang of it. Partly (I think) because the bike is just a tad too big for her and also because this is just the typical way that she addresses challenges, poor thing.

Well, Daddy wasn't havin' it. She was gonna learn to ride and she was gonna do it right. I know it seems really awful and funny at the same time, but here is the video of Kevin "coaching" her down the street. (Memaw, turn the volume down)

She can really ride pretty good, and I'm not even sure why she's screaming the whole time. What a mess! It sort of reminds me of the time he taught her how to spell her name...

R-A-I-N. Four little letters, yet so much drama (ha!)

Where were you?

"We have seen the state of our union in the endurance of rescuers working past exhaustion.

We've seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own.

My fellow citizens, for the last nine days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of union, and it is strong.

Tonight, we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done."

President Bush's State of the Union, Sept. 20, 2001

(Click here for the entire transcript)

We will NEVER forget.

I heart Gruene Market Days... especially in September

And why do you ask?


Because guess who is THE featured artist of the month?

Click here to find out...
With all of the awesome, talented artists I feel honored to be a part of such a cool show! (If you were here right now you would see me patting myself on the back)


Come see us on September 12th & 13th in Gruene!

Become a friend of Gruene Market Days on Facebook!

I'm not crying...

Yep, that's what you think it is.

Maya started Kids Kare today, and no I'm not crying- but I want to! Actually, she made it pretty easy because she was SUPER excited about going to school.

I knew we made the right choice to start her in Mother's Day Out when she began asking me at 9:30 last Monday morning if we could go get the kids (Parker and Rain) from school. It's time for her to have some kiddos her own age to play with but...

I sure do miss her! This house is so quiet it's almost scary! My seamstresses are coming to work today, so hopefully I will be busy soon!

Happy First Day of Pre-School baby girl!