Any locals interested in studying Spanish?

Charla told me several months ago that the Hoffmans are teaching Spanish classes. They have been on staff at our church a couple of times over the years, they teach Spanish at CCS and were missionairies for several years in Mexico (I think that Lorraine is from Mexico).

I finally called Dave this morning to find out about the Fall class. He told me that so far he had one other person signed up at my level, and it's Keri :) He needs at least one more intermediate student, preferably 2. The session will last for 8 weeks, with an hour-long weekly class.

He has a conversational method, my training thus far has been all literature based. Reciting Spanish poetry did not come in handy in Mexico :) (I won first place in the county for reciting "Las Golondrinas" por Becquer in 12th grade).

If there are 3 in our class, the cost is $150 per person. If there are 4, the cost is $125. Classes start in Sept, let me know if you are interested.

More July pictures

Last Saturday, we went to Movies in the Park again, this time with Mr. Jay and Miss Terry. We planned to go again this Saturday with my good friend from Highschool and college, Stacy and her family, but the rain scared us away so we went to the $2.50 movies instead.

Also in July, Adam and I went out on a date. I don't have any pictures to prove it, but My Dad and Step-mother kept the kids overnight a week ago Friday. The kids, had fun too. Thanks, guys!

My new opportunity

So I have been planning ahead for the past year as to what I might do when Joseph goes to school in 2008 (it'll take at least 2 years to find the right job:) Well, I might have found it. Actually, it found me last year but I was not yet ready. The timing seems to be great, too!

I will be working at UNUM about 12 weeks a year. Not starting until 2008. I will be enrolling people into the disablity insurance plans, mainly over the phone with some local travel for one of one meetings and group presentations. Not much work if any over the summers. I would not work at Christmas vacation time. Basically 6 - 8 weeks within Sept, Oct, and November and 4-8 weeks spread out among Jan - May.

For now, I will take a 4 day licensing class in the fall, do about 40 hours of computer training at home after the kids are in bed, spread out through December, go to Portland, Maine for a week early in 2008 and work a couple of weeks spread out through the Spring. Take off for the summer and start the Fall season once all 3 children are in school.

It seems to be the best of both worlds, living as a corporate productive woman for about 12 weeks a year and as a home-maker the other 40.

What does this mean for my nursery coordinator job? I have no idea! I do know that I will not be working very much at UNUM until next Sept. so it should not conflict. I have been doing it for 6 years though. I do need to keep working for now, and I still feel called. but realize that the Lord could call someone else at any time. Lord, could you please wait until at least next fall :) ?

Given the separation anxiety that Joseph has experienced this summer 3 or 4 weeks of separation (a few days at a time) will be good practice for us in preparing him for Kindergarten.

Am I being responsible, or turning my boys into sissies?

I am especially sensitive to this after Joseph's stitches last week! When I give freedom, I feel guilty. When I don't I wonder if I am crippling them. Our neighbors have trampolines (with out nets) they scare me to death. I usually say "no", but I am the only mother on our street who does. So I grit my teeth, tense up and say "yes" every now and then. Knowing that one of them could be seriously hurt. This has been a big stressor to me in neighborhood living.

Well, we have some new neighbors with 4 kids, one of which is a 10 year old boy, whom Jack idolizes. This boy has broadened our horizons with daily Lacrosse games, bead gun wars and skateboard ramps. I am not comfortable with any of these things. Jack has already been bruised in the chest by a bb, before I realized that they were playing guns.

So far, I make him come home when they get the guns out and I will not let him go down the skateboard ramp, which is about 4 feet high.... but I don't see any of the other mothers saying "no". I want to protect them, but not make them the laughing-stock of the neighborhood.

and I thought that boys were easy!!!! Do I just need to lighten up?

We've had an interesting week. On Saturday, we went to Movies in the Park to watch Over the Hedge. Every Saturday in July at dark, First Things First shows a family movie. It really is a lot of fun to sit on a picnic blanket among hundreds of Chattanooga families to watch a movie. I do get a bit tense, because so many small children get separated from their families. This time, before the movie they were looking for one child, they called for 2 children during the movie and another after. I truly hope that all of the children were reunited with their families!

Last summer, we were one of those families. It was a case of everyone thought that the other was watching Joseph. Joseph loves to wander and do whatever he wants. He could have been gone for 2 or 3 minutes before anyone realized. We looked frantically for him. We involved the police. It was about to get dark. We were beside the river, there are lots of parking areas all around. During those ten minutes, I was imagining what life was going to be like with out him. Wondering how long it would be so horrible... probably much like the parents who lost their children this week.

On Wednesday, we were at church... as a person responsible for enforcing church policies regarding children, I made a STUPID mistake! I left my children unattended in a room to eat lunch while I was down the hall in a meeting. My children can not handle that much responsiblity and I know it. They had strict rules to stay in the room. No horse-playing, running, fighting. Just eat their lunch, throw it away, and play a game. Well, we ended up at the doctor, with Joseph getting 3 stitches in his head. A boy came by and was spitting on Hannah, she took off running out of the room and knocked Joseph into the doorframe, busting his head open. I know that it is my fault, but I'm so frustrated that I can not take my eyes off of them.

Thursday got better, we went to Dalton again. There was a medical missions team there for the week from Mercer University. We played with the kids and did a craft.

The van ride back reminded me of the beginning of the Veggie Tales movie:Jonah.

Kids at Church this summer

Our beloved tree, we should give it a name!

This was Jack's first opportunity to hold his new cousin. This was at the Pioneer Club awards banquet in May.



This is Joseph trying to stay awake at church:



This is a video of the children singing "Thy Word"



This one is from the preschool party, they sing their "Good Morning" song, and then my favorite part is to listen to these 4-year-olds recite John 3:16, for that part, you can fast-forward about 2/3 of the way.



These pictures are of course from Music Camp. Joseph sang a few songs with the other 70-something preschoolers. Hannah was a Rumor Weed and Jack was Robo-Scarecrow.

Erica, this is for you!

I was looking though some old photos, We were given some really bad haircuts!

Couldn't find any of the "Dorothy Hammel" :) !

There is a current photo of Erica on May 15 :), her hair looks great :) !

Rewind one month

.... to Hannah's 9 year-old birthday. Hannah had a sleep-over with 11 of her closest friends. For some unknown reason, Adam hid in our bedroom most of the night. The kids entertained themselves by singing karaoke and acting out Highschool Musical (the highlight to Jack's night :) - he played Troy)

This is why we need to watch Hannah's sugar intake:

Summer Serve in Dalton

Our church is sending a team of children down to Dalton every Thursday. The Government has a free lunch program, Monday - Friday during the summer for underprivileged children. Grace Presbyterian of Dalton sends members to the park daily to interact with the families, we are helping them on Thursdays. Watch a photoshow of the kids yesterday. I was surprised that every single child we saw was Hispanic. They are actually the majority in that area. The children speak English, but many of their parents only speak Spanish. It was a great experience and a teeny tiny eency weency glimpse of what going to Mexico is like.

Thrifty Advice?

With vacation less than 4 weeks away, and a bill to fix my brother-in-laws new car (When Adam took the kids to his parents' house while I was away, as soon as Jack got out of the car, he incurred a $500 bill- he opened our door right onto the door of Adam's brother's new car!), etc, etc... it is time to revert to my old thrifty ways. Goal #1: use less than 1/2 a tank a week in the van, Goal#2: Slash the grocery bill.
Here are some of our cheap stand-bys:
1. A family size can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup, with cheese toast
2. Taco salad: a head of iceberg, lb. of GB with cumin and chili powder, 1 can of beans, cheese and little salsa
3. Spaghetti
4. Scrambled eggs
5. I buy a bunch of chicken breasts on sale, grill them, cut them up - freeze, use in casseroles, on salad, in quesadillas, etc.

Anyone else have some cheap meal ideas?

Are you smarter than an Eighth Grader?

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Happy Fourth!!!!

We didn't have to leave our house to see fireworks. The neighborhood behind ours put on quite a show!

Look Mom, only 2 wheels!

Little Joseph learned how to ride a bike without training wheels last week!

Summertime at Stimart Station

Just got back from Adam's parents'. The kids spent their days: fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, eating, sleeping, playing. Good times!