How's this for a first impression?

Well, today was the long awaited open house at Briley's school. She is going to a new school this year and we were very excited to meet her teacher, see her classroom, and see her new classmates. Doug came home early from work and we all went together. Just a few short minutes after being in the classroom, Briley rushed over to tell me something neat she had just seen, and in a flash she tripped and fell face first into the corner of a desk. I immediately saw and heard and knew it was going to be painful. I did not, however, expect to see blood pouring from her lips! She started screaming, the teacher ran over, I yelled at Doug to get something for the blood. He ran me over some tissues, then ran out to get some wet paper towels while the teacher ran to the nurse to get some ice. It was lovely. We quickly exited the room after we got under control (other students looking on in horror and parents in pity) and went to the nurse. Yes, we were already at the nurse before school even started! She looked at it and said we needed to head to the ER. Lovely. So, Briley got to have two stitches put in her bottom lip today, all because she went to open house. Well, there's one way to make sure the teacher remembers you. I guess that's a first for open house. Next year, they will have warnings on their flyers. . . "Caution. Risk of injury high at open house. Please walk slowly and watch out for desks."
I guess we'll figure out all the other stuff next week, seeing as we didn't get much done today!

Last Hoorah at the Lake

We went to the lake this past weekend with the Sosebees and had a great time. We did lots of tubing and boat-riding! Here are some photos.

Briley is growing up!

Well, this weekend, we had success on the bike! Although Doug has tried a few times in the last year, getting Briley to bike without training wheels just never took. She wasn't that interested. So yesterday, we gave it another shot and she did it like she had been doing it for months! Of course Braden wanted to try too, but he is going to need a little more practice. She never really liked riding her bike, and we tried to convince her she would like it better once she could really ride it. The training wheels made her go too slow and they actually made her feel off-balanced. Of course, she did it in HER time, as with most things, and afterwards, her remarks were,"I love it! It is so easy and I didn't like the way those training wheels made all those clicking noises. That's why I didn't like to do it". Ah, my sweet, dramatic little girl!

Our Summer Happenings

This summer is going so fast. After Briley's kindergarten graduation, we had a week home before heading to the lakehouse for a week with just our family. It was very relaxing. We took boat rides each evening and did a lot of swimming and reading. Then after that we came home for a week or so and left again for 12 days to Searcy, Arkansas for a college teacher's 50th anniversary celebration. Dr. Bill and Neva White were instrumental in our college years both in our music study and our spiritual growth and it was so neat to share with them in their anniversary. After that, the kids and I went to Nashville, TN to my parents for a few days. Renee and her kids met us there and we all headed to North Carolina to see my other sister, Robin and her family in their beautiful new home. We had a great trip all in all and at the conclusion, Briley got her ears pierced by her Uncle Jeff. Great job Jeff!
Blake went and got a hat from Doug's suitcase after he had gone to bed and put it on. He fell asleep and this is how we found him!Doug and I tried to help Robin out the last day we were there by cleaning up. Doug did the kitchen clean-up. In case you want to know, this is what happens when you fill the dishwasher with dawn instead of cascade. I have no idea what he was thinking- it was a mess of bubbles requiring a shop vac and several rinse cycles!!!



Briley got her ears pierced by Dr. (Uncle) Jeff! He did a great job and she was so brave, she just smiled from "ear to ear"! She loves her new "bling"