Not bad for a Monday!

I had a doctor's appointment in Augusta today and took the day off of work. It just so happened that I scheduled the appointment on the day that the girls had early release. I was able to pick them up at 12:30 and get some grocery shopping done. I also came home and cleaned frantically. My OCD is kicking in big time. I mopped the entire downstairs and folded a ridiculous amount of laundry.  I didn't mind cleaning at all since I could open the screened porch doors and listen to the girls giggling outside.

The girls have standardized testing this week. They take the Stanford 10 at EBA. Most kids would be bummed about testing, but Ali is elated since testing week means no homework!

Megamind arrived in the mail today and since we had no homework to fret over, the girls showered early, got on PJ's and popped popcorn for an impromptu movie night.  Not bad for a Monday!

Glad to be home!

Y'all know I don't stray far from home. Not that I don't love seeing family, but I love my house and I love my house even more when we're all here.  We had a great time seeing all the Old Town cousins in Jesup, but it surely is good to be home.  We stopped in Statesboro on the way home today and I found the girls some really cute summer duds at Belk. It's so hard to find girls clothes that aren't ridiculously skanky these days. I buy a lot of Addie's clothes from Etsy but Ali is a little too old for the monogrammed applique' look...at least SHE thinks she is!  We picked up enough to get us through the rest of the school year. Addie is so rough and tumble but she LOVES clothes, especially dresses and skirts. She loves a big matching hairbow too. I think she got that from her friend Mary Will! Ali Grace is such a girly girl, wanting hot pink nails and scented everything- but she doesn't care a thing about wearing girly clothes. She's quite happy in a tee shirt and jeans. My two are unique for sure.

I cleaned like a mad woman today. We went across the road after the smell of steak grilling wafted across the dirt road!   :)

It was a good day on the Ponderosa and a great weekend overall. 

The Sweatshop

 We got to Jesup LATE last night and even though most of the kids were asleep, they ALL hopped up to play and run wild. It was well past midnight before the house settled and the kids were sleeping. This morning we came over to Gran's from Aunt Jess and Uncle David's house. The men went to the hunting camp and the women scrapbooked, sewed, blogged, and enjoyed each other so much. I kidded Mandy, Rachel, April, Ali and Jess about turning the living room into a sweatshop.

 

Addie couldn't wait to show Gran and everyone else her new bicycle skills. She rode around most of the morning and on and off throughout the day.

 Ali rode Emma and Carson around on her scooter. It looked like so much fun that Aunt Jess had to give it a try!

I bet Carson is thinking "I'll be glad when I can go to the hunting camp with the boys! Too many girls around here! 

 

 

Sweet Sarah Rose

Carson liked swinging on the horse swings and yelling yee haw!

 We had a great day today. We only had one minor "incident". As April put it, "the tradition of cousins running over cousins continues". Addie still can't stop her  bike very easily and mowed Carson down. All was well though. Just a few scrapes. It'll help prepare both of them for many other adventures as  Lyles cousins!

Ali holds Annabelle for the first time!

Gran and Ali Grace

Carson shows us all how to love on Annabelle.

We JUST got to Jesup and the adults are exhausted. The kids are wired for sound. First cousins, second cousins, and third oh my!!   More tomorrow....  I am completely DONE for today!

I can see the weekend from here!

Short blog tonight... SO much going on! We are going to Jesup this weekend to visit Gran and Papa and we haven't packed a thing! Also, I just found out Annabelle and Carson will be there!! WOO HOO!! Not only will the girls get to see their FIRST cousins, they'll get to see their second and third cousins as well!  Seriously, it will make you gag thinking how much the Lyles side of the family loves each other! :) If you fight one of them, you fight ALL of them. I pick at all of them but I am proud to be part of such a remarkable family.

Addie was so excited when she came home today. She could not wait to tell me that she got the part of Tinkerbell in the K5 graduation play. She was so excited. Tinkerbell is a good part for a kid who sleeps in princess costumes.

Ali Grace told me all about the EBA spring concert. The theme is "The Greatest Gospel Songs of America".  You should have heard her singing "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"! Such a sweet little voice. I asked her if she got a part and she said she didn't try out for one! I really wanted to choke her. She said she was still too shy this year but maybe next year. :) 

Ride Bennett Girls Ride!

Imagine driving in your driveway and meeting this:

As I drove in the driveway, I saw Ali Grace riding Peaches. Nanny picked her up from school, brought her home, got her saddled up and they went for a ride down some field roads. Ali was in HEAVEN. We haven't let her do much solo riding outside the arena, but after seeing her today, I can see she's clearly ready to ride "unplugged". I am looking forward to riding with her this summer. Nanny also went with the girls to Muffins with Mom at EBA this morning.  

Addie was riding her bike when I got home. She is doing so well without training wheels! She sort of bungles the stop and start parts though. She told me last night "Mama, I need a little help with my parking". She cracks me up. We are going to visit Gran and Papa in Jesup this weekend and she wants to take her bike to show off her skills! 

I had the opportunity to join a bunko group last night. I almost didn't go. Pete had to work late, the house walked a fine line between that "lived in" look and needing a HAZMAT crew, and I was just tired! I had a hundred reasons not to go, but I'm so glad I did! I had a great time with some awesome ladies and I can't wait for the next game. It was so nice to get away from home for a little while and cut up with friends. We all need that every now and then. It really helped me to step back from the everyday demands of life and just have a couple hours of fun.  I especially like that we're meeting on Mondays from now on. There aren't many good things about Mondays, so maybe Bunko night will make at least one monday a month a little more tolerable!

Chicken Chasing

Today started off wonderfully with a note from my sub from yesterday saying how wonderful my students were yesterday. I immediately inspected the handwriting to make sure this was no forgery! Fortunately, the kids truly were well behaved! yay! I rewarded them by shortening the assignment for the day and playing a math review game with candy prizes!

So my good day continued on and this afternoon I got so much done! I got Addie a new bike, I got Ali a manicure (yes she's reached the high maintenance age) , I ran by and paid the insurance, and on the way home I was thinking about how awesome I am and how incredibly efficient I'd been today. Then... I drive in the driveway.... and see chickens... in my front yard... milling about in my tulips...  After a few choice words and chasing them around the house and under the deck, I had to chuckle and think that God has such a funny sense of humor and He is quite adept at making us remember we're not nearly as cool as we think. We're not nearly as put together as we might want to believe. Chasing chickens can be a humbling experience. A creature with a brain the size of a black eyed pea outsmarts you and you immediately realize just how "cool" you are. Not very.

I called my Daddy and thankfully, he came over and helped me herd the chickens back into the coop. Then he lowered the seat on Addie's bike and then helped her ride. She has no training wheels on the new bike so she's learning the Bennett way.  We all had a great laugh when she successfully dodged the pile of rocks and drove straight into the mud puddle then turned over and got soaked. She gave us a two thumbs up so we knew she was okay. Again, don't go thinking you've got it all under control. God will surely remind you that you do not!