School Begins... again.

2012 - 2013 School year begins... 

I like them lined up against this part of the house because you can seen their growth differences.  It won't be long before the youngest has caught up with the other two. 

 The silly shot... 

 Ruth starts 3rd grade. She is now at the Intermediate School (3-5 this year) and has Mrs. Carney. That's the same teacher the other two had.  She should do well. She's back in the same class as many of her friends and we look forward to a good year.  She's excited!  She is in chorus with Maggie and we will enjoy going to more concerts and trips for that. Just no Disney this year.

 Lydia's 2nd grade year is with Mrs. Hill - the same as the other girls. We love Mrs. Hill! She will be a great challenge for Lydia, who needs to work really hard to catch up to 2nd grade standards. Lydia also has several really good friends in her classroom and will have a good year! With Lydia in 2nd grade... it brings our years at Jack P Nix to an end. This is the last year we'll have at this wonderful school with the best staff ever. It really is the best place for a hesitant parent to send their kids because they let you get involved and be there. I will miss JPN.  

Bennett starts Middle School... he is growing up into a young man. So, at the Middle school they kind of kick parents out and start the weaning process. I don't know any of his teachers. All the parent meetings were with "the Father!". He is taking core classes, band, and PE. In band, he will be learning percussion. I'm looking forward to that. Drums and bells in the house again.

Maggie is finishing up at the Intermediate school this year with Mrs. Orr and Mrs. Pickett (the same that Bennett had).  Maggie has developed into a very smart and involved young girl. She's making all A's most of the time and wants to do all the extra activities that are offered - morning announcements, yearbook, safety patrol, chorus, 4H... whatever they mention, she wants to do it.

 I liked this silly pose better. Bennett's yawn is real. Maggie was facing the camera.  You can see Lydia's face. Ruth is just always silly. :)

After school I met the bus to find very tired (and hot) girls. They really did have a great 1st day. Let's keep it up!

I couldn't get this one to rotate right - so just turn the book. Cute faces!!

waiting on Bennett's bus... it comes about 20-30 minutes after the girls'. Most days, he will not ride the bus. It is fully of nasty high schoolers. But, for the 1st day - it is much easier to not deal with the traffic and just let our drivers bring him home. 

We didn't want to embarrass him in front of the whole bus, but Ruth wanted to take some pictures of him getting off the bus.  It was not a good 1st ride - but it will get better. The girls who are mean the first day soon turn their words to say nice things about him.

all grown up... well, half way.

We are thankful for good teachers and a good school system we can trust with our 4 children.  As much as I would rather keep them home and teach them in the safety of our house, I know it's not going to happen.  I will be content with what we have and the good Christian people (teachers and friends) who are placed in their paths each day.  I am thankful.

Six Flags - the Annual Event

The kids all got their annual 6-Flags tickets for doing their reading during the winter months. We take them to the park each summer - once.  It's worth it for one day. We make a lot of fun memories. Bennett always wants to take along another male species to ride with and hang with. We try to take cousins. We try to take other families. This year it seems that none of that could work out, so we opted for a friend.  On our way south down the highway, we noticed we were behind another family we knew. I started texting the Mom, they were on their way to the hospital with the youngest for a minor procedure. Several texts later, we pulled over and took their son out of his misery (of sitting in the hospital all day). They just happened to have a 6-Flags ticket in their car. Crazy folks!  So... off we go.The Crew... Ethan Pickett, Maggie, Ruth, Lydia, Brendan Hill, & Bennett.

 The girls... and the boys.  It was a good group.  We did some things together - and then Curtis would take the boys to the "tall" rides and I would take the girls to the "short" rides... translated EASY!  

Starting off with our favorite... Wyle E Coyote Canyon Blaster. I'm not sure how many more years the boys will ride this one... but it's still perfect for the girls.

Hot lines! Sweaty faces.  But smiles... lots of smiles.

Lydia's ride on the Mind Bender.  She always seems so little when on a ride like this.... scares a Momma!

Maggie and Ruth sat in front of us... ready for the big hill.

A bit apprehensive.

The girls and I were in line to ride and another Dad was in line with his 2 girls.  One wanted to ride. One didn't. So, he just asked if his could ride with mine and wallah! a boat full.  It made a perfect fit.

The boys all riding together... Brendan, Ethan, Bennett.

All wet... a little.

Lunch time out in the parking lot. We packed a picnic and refreshed our bodies - (gave them a rest) and the kids changed into suits for getting wet.

Maggie and Lydia in their matching suits at Skull Island.

Ruth at Skull Island.

Monster Plantation... or really not Plantation anymore... now it's Monster Mansion. I keep forgetting. 

Cool air on a hot afternoon sure makes this ride especially nice.

Our sad goodbye, farewell moment.  The park closed early this night because it was the week before school started back.  Actually, we never got a good reason why it closed early - but it did.  It did allow us to get home at a decent hour, but the best time at the park is as the sun sets, the air cools, and the crowd thins.  The lines get quicker and the rides are more fun. Maybe next year!

nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, Goodbye.

Finally got a family shot courtesy of one of the boys.

On the way home, we stopped at Red Robin for dinner - real food, cold drinks, and fun.

the boys took the girls' side upside down.  I didn't rotate them.

Back at the park, the very first photo waiting on the tram.  I couldn't get the picture to move where I wanted it to go. So just imagine you saw this one first.

At the very top of the Mind Bender - more for the view since they really couldn't turn around well. We were really high. I can't imagine being on the other, higher, bigger, faster rides.  Whew!

Another successful trip to 6-Flags!