Chores!

I've been giving my little ones more responsibilities and chores lately.  I think they are more than capable to do a little a more around the house to help out.  We're almost all caught up on laundry and I've let them put it all away.  They've also been helping unload the dishwasher as much as they can.  And today they raked the yard and picked up sticks.  They've finally mastered cleaning their rooms but I can't get them to do it quick enough.  Darcy loves to dust and make beds.  She likes keeping things picked up.  The boys aren't as excited about doing things. 

I made a schedule for the kids to go by during the summer.  Its also a way to help me be more productive during the day.  We have a small amount of chores and the rest is things like table time, reading time, outside play, movie/rest.  This week I think I'm going to break out the slip n slide.  We also have a few play dates scheduled with some friends.  Trying to make the most of our summer!!!

I survived!!!

The last few days have been full of emotions.  Jessica graduated on Friday night.  She was salutatorian and I couldn't have been more prouder of her speech.  She cried and others cried with her.  It was a heartfelt speech. She left this morning with her classmates and one chaperone for Disney World. 

I am so proud of her.  She's a good kid.  I worry about her safety being in the real world but I have to trust God.  I've raised her well and she knows right from wrong but its not those things that I worry about. I worry about all the crazies out there that do harm to others.  I can get myself really worked up thinking about all the things out there that could happen and I know I should even entertain those things.

On Saturday morning I ran my first ever 5K... it was more than a race.... it was an obstacle course.  Its actually called The Almighty Mud Run.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever done physically and mentally.  But I did it.  I didn't quit.  I wanted to quit.  It was hard.   I cried but I pushed through it.  I swam through mud pits, submerged myself entirely at times to go under logs.  I swam a freezing cold lake.  I crossed over three sets of narrow balance beams over the cold lake and didn't fall of.  I climbed walls.  I went through barbed wire.  I faced my fear of heights on more than one obstacle.  I pushed myself like never before.  I had support from my husband and friends... they cheered me on and prayed me through.  It was TOUGH! But I'm sooooo glad I did it.  I'm glad I didn't quit when it got too hard.  I finished it.

Lions, Tigers and Bears!!! OH MY!!

Matthew and I are actually taking the kids camping at a real park - not our back yard!!!  I'm a little apprehensive b/c my bladder needs to be emptied several times throughout the night and I'm not too excited about walking to a bathhouse.  We're going at the end of this month and we will also be participating in a primitive archery competition while there.  I've been browsing pinterest for ideas and tips for camping. I have also spent most of my morning on the Camping World website looking at all sorts of fun things that will make this experience better. 

10 days until...

10 days until my daughter, Jessica, graduates from high school.  I can't even begin to explain all the emotions that I'm going through.  I'm excited for her but at the same time I'm extremely anxious about her being away from me.  She's been with me for half my life!  To think that she might not every "live" here again makes me sick.  Oh the emotions!!!!