Friday, August 28, 2009

Maddie's 1st High School Pep Rally...










WOW! This really brought back so many memories for me; feels like last week, it was I who was down there, cheering at my pep rally!!! Maddie looks like a mini-me!!! The cheer squad is freshman through seniors. Maddie did the freshman, and senior signs on the walls. I did all the painting back in the day too! She is on the end, on the right side of the dance, doing the high kick and the jump; and then on the left, on top of the pyramid stunt. I am a proud Mommy- Mamu & Mark also came to the pep rally today- first home-game is tonight, and we wouldn't miss it for anything! More pics to come...

1st day of school pics...





Tuesday, August 25, 2009

PawPaw's Pool Party!

Sunday we went to PawPaw's new pool... he made us chili dogs, then fed us watermelon... then coke-floats... we were stuffed like ticks! But we swam it all off- like FIVE hours of non-stop swimming! Sofie taught all of us how to swim like mermaids- that's what we girls are doing in the underwater photos... we had a blast- and I am SO PROUD of my Mom- I have never seen her swim, (in my entire life)- she put goggles on and was diving for quarters in the deep part with the little girls, and it made me feel like I was seeing my own little girl swim for the first time... she is getting braver in her old age ~wink~wink~ I am also thrilled we get to go visit PawPaw- we all miss him, and love him... and he is one of the sweetest people I have ever known- one of those people that never has a negative thing to say about anyone- plus he loves my babies like they were his own, and who wouldn't love someone like that? AND, we got to see his Dad- Big PawPaw for a little while when we first got there, and he's a cool cat... it was a very nice to way to end our last day of summer, before school started- THANK YOU PAWPAW!!!














My husband, the college student...



Mark got home early afternoon yesterday, and got on-line to do his orientation for his first class. When I got home at 5:45, he was still working on it. My friend brought her little girl over for a haircut, and I did that... Mark still on-line... working. They left... Mark STILL working! I can't believe just the orientation is taking so long. Neither can Mark. There were several 'tests' during the orientation, to show you what the real 'tests' will be like. Mark was getting tired, and I was just piddling around the house, trying to keep quiet... around 8:30 he says "It's time for my final exam!!". We were so excited, he had finally reached the end- so after about twenty minutes he says, "I'm ready to submit my exam", and he clicked on 'submit' and the words popped on the screen 'CONGRATULATIONS Mark Rigsby, you have passed your exam'... you would've thought we had just won the lottery- we yelled and high-fived, and giggled and laughed, and we both had tears in our eyes... it gets me teary now, thinking about it- it's like it hit us both at the same time... Mark is a college student!!! And we are going to be very stressed, and busy, and sleep-deprived, and strapped for cash for the next couple of years... but we are so very excited, and proud- our future is so bright- I am just so proud of my husband!!! It's very brave to go back to college at almost 38-years-old! I love you Markie-Mark!!! You are my hero! ILTSOY!

Monday, August 24, 2009

First Day of School!!!


I had to go to THREE different schools this morning... Mad's in the new high school- Sofie's Intermediate School is in the old high school, and V is still in her Elementary school!! Whew! Already tired this morning!!! They were all so excited, sweet, and happy this morning!!!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Touching moment with my daughter...

Maddie wanted to go walking last night- so we took off and walked for about 30 or 45 minutes... we talked and laughed, and she told me how happy she is that we get along, and that she feels she can tell me almost anything... she says that most of her friends HATE their parents... and she is just so thankful that we have the relationship we do... it really touched me, made me feel so thankful & blessed; I told her it is because I pray about her, and us, everyday... to stay close, and for me to know her heart, so I can pray specific things for her... my cousin, Andrea, told me a mother's prayers, over her daughter, are very powerful... I shared that with Mad, and she smiled... and before bedtime, I asked her what she wants me to pray for, and she tells me... the older our kids get, the more they need us... not what most people think- that the older they get, the less they need us- this is the MOST important time for us to stay connected... she still needs guidance and most of all, understanding from her parents... and she has really started sharing her feelings with Mark as well- and he is such a great listener, and communicator- he has really taught me so much about communication, about keeping your heart open and free of anger, and resentment... it really does make the intimacy of marriage, what is is supposed to be... he says the good, the bad, and the ugly must be shared, and it works!!!
We all went to the elementary and intermediate schools last night for 'Meet the Teachers' ; Sofie and V were both very excited, and we are all very happy with the teachers we have this year. Sofie's homeroom teacher was Mad's kindergarten teacher! V's teacher is young, and pretty, and very outgoing... and she has a 5-yr-old and a 3-yr-old, so she will know how to handle her class-full of 7-yr-olds just fine! Mamu and Gigee came to meet them as well... school starts MONDAY!!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Open Mic Night!!!

The pictures are very dark- but this is our Tuesday night EXCITEMENT!!! Ron & Grandma Brenda came- Ron even sang a couple of songs- my friend Misty & her boyfriend Scott- Mamu & Paw Paw Chris- neighbors John & Deniece (John played the harmonica!)







Thursday, August 13, 2009

Family day off...

We took the day off last Friday, and took all the girls to NRH2O water park. I was kind of dreading it, but I must say, we had so much fun! We got there right after they opened, and we PLAYED for 7.5 hours!!! We put on sunscreen at least 5 times, but we still got a little crispy. I won 2 tickets on the Bowie radio station, and we got $6 buck off each ticket with Dr. Pepper cans; so we ended up spending only $54!!! I was stoked about that!!! It is so much fun having big kids, they can run around on their own a bit, and we don't have to watch them like hawks... I dare you to look at these pictures and not laugh out loud! We made some great memories...