Last first day of school

Today was the last "first" day of school for my baby girl!!  I have been having a tough time all summer knowing that Courtney was going to be a senior this year.  It just doesn't seem possible.  Seems like just yesterday I was taking her to her first day of kindergarten.

I still see her as this adorable little 5 year old...

 

 But the reality is she is this beautiful 17 year old SENIOR in high school

First day of school 2012

A couple of weeks ago, she got a letter from the school asking her to come in to have her senior portraits made for the year book.  I cried when I read the letter.  We just got the proofs back over the weekend.

 

I still can't believe that my BABY is a SENIOR!!! And not only is she a senior, but three of the five classes  that she is taking this semester are dual credit courses (she will be dismissed from school at 12:30).  So by the time she graduates in June, she should have 34 hours...which means she will be classified as a sophomore in college!!   

I love you Courtney Elizabeth and I am so VERY proud of you!! 

Michael goes back to school

A week ago today, Michael made his journey back to Tennessee to go back to college; but not before some of the ones who love him the most came to see him off.  I let him choose the menu for Sunday's lunch, and he chose spaghetti and mashed potatoes.  I don't believe I have ever fixed mashed potatoes with spaghetti, but that is what he wanted so that is what he got.  And I think my brother Rodney was just as excited about the menu as Michael.

 After a full belly, Michael passed out before I could take a picture of him with his sister and cousins.

 But they finally aggravated him enough to get him up.

Michael requested LaFamilia for supper for Sunday night after church.  There were 25 that went to eat and see him off.  This just shows how much he is loved because there were some die hard Tamolly's fans in that group of 25.  I went to snap a picture of everyone, but that is when a pitcher of tea came flying off the ledge and spilled all over me and the floor.  And I was too chicken to try for another picture after the mess I made was cleaned up.

Then we went home and the reality set in as he was packing up his things.  He and a couple of his friends rented a storage building to store all of their big things in over the summer.  So it was nice that all he had was his clothes, laptop and small stuff.  

It has been a week, and I am still not use to him being gone :(  But the good news is he will be home in a couple of weeks!!  And last I heard, he is bringing four friends with him.  CAN'T WAIT!

Youth Devo at the Richardsons

We signed up to host the youth devo for August so we made sure to have it before Michael went back to school.  Since our youth group is so spread out in ages (Courtney and Hailey have been the only high school students for the past couple of years) it is tough to find something for both young and old to enjoy at the same time.

We started with a meal.  Evan and Avery spending a little time together before we ate.

 After we ate, we sang some songs and Rod had a little devo

After the devo, we broke up into two teams for an around town scavenger hunt:  Big kids vs. Little kids .  There were a list of about 12 different things the kids had to find/do:  Picture by a statue, picture in front of a public clock, picture hanging upside down from monkey bars, picture jumping out of swing, picture by a convertible, picture in front of a pet store, picture on bleachers, picture of team in a human pyramid in front of eiffel tower,  picture getting a drink of water out of a water fountain while someone is riding piggy back.  And they had to bring back a business card, a napkin from a fast food restaraunt, and a receipt for $1.30 worth of gas.

+

 

+

 

It was funny that neither team ran into each other at any of the places, although we did pass them a couple of times on route.  And no surprise the bigger kids one - but not by much!  Thanks to everyone who came and made it a fun night!

Courtney's Bedroom make-over

Courtney has been wanting to re-do her room for a while now.  She had the hot pink and zebra theme for about 4 years, so she was ready for a change.  A few weeks ago she sold most of her hot pink and zebra bedding on Swap Shop, and started getting new things for her room.  We then painted her walls gray and her furniture black.  I think it turned out super cute and looks so much better.  Amazing what a little paint will do.

Before

The chevron stripes were fairly easy to paint, but very time consuming to measure and tape off

 Courtney making a few finishing touches

 And wallah, a room transformed from a little girl room to a big girl room

She still has a few things to finish up, but for the most part she is done.

Youth Devo at the Phillips

Several weeks ago the Phillips family had the youth group over to their house for some good food, fellowship and fun!  Here are a few pictures from the festivities.

No trip to the Phillips is complete without a serious game of kick ball!

 After the kick ball game, we went inside and sang 

 Ben and Tiffany tried to give (10) puppies as parting gifts, but we already have more dogs than we know what to do with.

Thank you Ben and Tiffany for a SUPER fun night!!

Belize Mission 2012

Last week while Courtney and I were goofing off and playing, Rod and Michael along with several others from our church were doing some serious mission work.  Since I was not there to be the official photographer this year, Michael used his iphone to document their work.

The concrete church sign was built in 2009 and still looks good

The church building 

Sunday morning worship

Most of the work was focused on sister Lupina's home which has five generations living under one roof.  Lupina is a widow and probably the most needy of all the members in the Belmopan congregation.

The lean-to on the side of Lupina's home was torn down.  This is where Lupina cooks her meals over an open fire

 A concrete slab was poured 

 rain does not stop these guys

  

 The next day, wood was purchased to frame Lupina's new kitchen/cook area

 Lupina also needed a new bathroom, so some of the men that live in the house dug a new hole

 Metal pieces were put in place to finish out the job 

 Lupina in her new addition 

Brother Morro killed this snake - yikes!

 Leann taught ladies Bible class each night

I missed going to to Belize this year, and seeing all the sweet little kiddo's that I have grown so fond of, but I know that the group that went this year did an awesome job!  It is such a great work that we do there!  

and just for fun....

FLASHBACK 2009:

 

and just for fun again...

FLASHBACK 2010: