Can you believe that this little girl is going to be in the FOURTH GRADE??? The kiddos school had a blessing and sending ceremony before the school. The ceremony is mostly for the sixth graders who are graduating from upper elementary and moving into junior high, but after each of the sixth graders have a few minutes to share their reflections, they give a small bouquet of wild flowers to one of the third graders, since they will be graduating from lower elementary and entering upper el in the fall. Miss Madeline was so proud.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Can you believe that this little girl is going to be in the FOURTH GRADE??? The kiddos school had a blessing and sending ceremony before the school. The ceremony is mostly for the sixth graders who are graduating from upper elementary and moving into junior high, but after each of the sixth graders have a few minutes to share their reflections, they give a small bouquet of wild flowers to one of the third graders, since they will be graduating from lower elementary and entering upper el in the fall. Miss Madeline was so proud.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I will start by saying that vacation pictures are way cuter when there are kids involved. So, unfortunately for the blog, Mike and I went on a "grown up vacation" while the kids were still in school. Grandma was so wonderful to come stay at our place and take Madeline and Timothy to school (she even got to go to farm!) while we were away. I missed the kids so terribly, but it helped a lot knowing they were with Mom Renfrow while we were gone.
This first shot was taken the night we flew into Orlando. We went with some friends of ours from Nebraska who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this summer! So, we took them out for some delicious seafood to treat them for their anniversary. We got them another gift too, but that's a very long story.
Here are Rick and Linda on the ship the next day. They were total newbies. They put their life vests on the very first time the cruise director made the announcement that there was going to be a safety drill. ;)
SO HAPPY to be in a taxi on the way back to the other side of the island.Ah, May. The sun is shining, the flowers are peeking out, and we take the time to celebrate mothers. Incidentally, it is also the month that my husband leans over during Hallmark commercials to remind me that I am not his mother. This awesome shot of both my kiddos is the one that graced our Mother's Day cards this year. I used to think that as the kids got older that it would be easier to get a picture of them simultaneously looking at the camera and smiling. not so much the case. We managed to get this one though...so no complaining.
Because I was done with classes, I was finally able to drive/chaperon for the kids' trip to farm. Every week, the kids take an afternoon field trip to a farm. They have science lessons, learn about the workings of the farm, and get some hands on experience too.
I went on a Tuesday with Timothy's class. Check this picture out...that is in fact a MOUSE crawling on the arms of my little guy...and that is a SMILE on his face!
My camera held pictures from the month of April too...lucky you! Of course I had to go visit that precious newborn baby girl and her super sweet big sister this month. Here's a picture of me with my BFF and her two sweetie pies.
Then, as if that wasn't awesome enough, another one of my dearest friends had a sweet baby boy! So, of course I had to go bother them too =)
March...
March was awesome, because LOOK! My bestest friend had a gorgeous baby girl! =) Here's my grown up little lady holding her and one of my little man holding her too.
I know I haven't blogged since January. I thought it would be so nice of me to tell you what you've missed...or at least what you've missed that I took pictures of...
So, starting with February, this is what we've been doing the past few months. This first picture is of Madeline and some of her friends from school at Barnes and Noble. They had a fund raiser and the kids all came dressed as one of their favorite characters from a book they've read. Madeline is dressed as Kirsten, the pioneer girl from the American Girls series.
Timothy found a book and settled in to read with his daddy-o. Yes, he's wearing a skeleton costume....he promised me that his absolute favorite book is The Human Body. (Cutest story...he found that book on his shelf a couple years ago and came out to me and said, "Mom! Please read me The Human Body! I LOVE The Human Body!" Except he pronounced it "The Hummin' Boe-dee" Still makes me smile to think about it.)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I know I haven't blogged forever, but I will soon! Mike and I are leaving for a cruise tomorrow, so when I get back I'll have plenty to write about. In the mean time, we wanted to share a couple pictures to remind you how precious my kiddos are and to show you Timothy's surprise!
Take care! shannon
P.S. They we coincidentally wearing the same clothes today (when we picked up Timothy's glasses) as they were when we took the first picture (right before Mother's Day)...how about that?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
So, I am inserting a non-Christmas update blog in the mix here because we had such a big weekend! Madeline's quiz team from church had their annual quiz fest, which made for a very rewarding/exhausting weekend!
Here's our Madeline Rose with her two sweet teammates, ready for the first match of the day on Saturday.
Here's a clip that I took of the girls during a match. You'll have to turn the volume up pretty high to hear it, but I actually caught a streak where they all jumped and answered questions correctly!
The girls won second place in their tournament that afternoon!
One other achievement worth noting I won't tell you, but show you...the kids and I have been working on this for the past two weeks during the drive to school. =)
Oh, and just because it was so precious, I have to share Timothy's prayer from dinner tonight. He said, " Dear God, thank you for my family and for our food, and thank you for everyone on this globe, even the USA, and even Alaska, and even Mrs. Garland's brother that lives in Hawaii. AMEN!" He's been learning about maps in school, and his prayers have since had more and more geography in them. I love our little turtle!
OK, that's all for now. Thanks for reading, and as always, thanks for your prayers for our family!
-shannon
Saturday, January 10, 2009
So, we obviously have had a ton of stuff going on, and I have a lot of pictures to add, which is why this lengthy update will come in installments. I am making no guarantee on how many there will be or how soon they will be up, but for now, here is installment number one!
Madeline's December quiz meet went well. She had a lot of fun with her team; they did a great job too!
She had three quiz outs that day. Here she is with one of her buddies after the last match of the day.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
I thought I'd update the blog this weekend, since I had some time (relative to previous weekends, anyway....) In case anyone still stops by here, this is what we've been up to!
Madeline is on the quiz team at our church. They are studying the book of Exodus this year, and she has been working very hard. Yesterday was her second quiz meet, and the first I have been able to attend.
Time out with the coach.... The look on her face here is one of realization that she just had her first perfect quiz out and earned her gold medal!
picking up that gold medal.....
Thursday, November 06, 2008
So....I have a ton of excuses, and if you're interested in hearing them, go ahead and ask next time you see me. One of the reasons I haven't blogged in forever though is actually logistical. I can't find the adapter to my memory stick to get the pictures off my camera! So...even if I did have the time....well, you know.
I took a few pictures with my phone though, and was able to transfer them, so I thought I'd share them. Not the best quality photography, since they were from my phone...but the the subjects, as always, are of the highest quality!
Madeline came with me to cast my vote. Since Indiana had early voting, we took advantage of that, but still had to wait in line for close to two hours! She was surprisingly patient....for the most part.
Yes....my vote....but I wanted her to feel like she was part of the process =)
On election night, we went to the park....it was such a beautiful day, and since I'd already taken care of my civic responsibility.....we had a bit of fun before the kiddos went to bed and I hit the books.

Speaking of books....I need to get back to them. Thanks for remembering me and my family in your prayers; we are so grateful for every prayer that goes up on our behalf. The Lord is faithful!