Holy Cow...August already??

Where did July go? Where did summer go for that matter? Oh, yea...ball games took most of June. July was filled with VBS prep and fun, as well as fair time prep and judging for Abbigail's 4-H projects.
It seems like summer is just getting started, but it is really almost over. School shopping has happened (3 kids in school...EXPENSIVE!) and I am working daily in my classroom. We have open houses next week for my preschool and school starts on the 18th and 19th.
I am excited and sad about this school year. This is the only year that all 3 of my children will attend the same school. Bethany will be in Kindergarten, Andrew in 2nd grade, and Abbigail in 4th grade. Next year Abbigail will be in (BRACE YOURSELF!!) middle school. Yes, my baby is already checking out all the things she can have in her locker!! She also is under the impression that when you get to middle school you get to pick whatever classes you want! Wouldn't that be nice!??!

This month we had a new window put in our living room. It is wonderful! The old window was original to the house, so it was about as old as me! It didn't open, and the sun coming through the window in the afternoon/evening was HOT! We honestly couldn't use this room very much in the summer because it just got so hot. Since we had our new window installed, I have painted the living room and rearranged the furniture about a million times. We also went out and got a new TV and entertainment center this week since our old TV died. That made me rearrange yet again, and I'm still not happy. Maybe tomorrow I'll get it right! Maybe we'll get our curtains hung back up again, soon!! ;o)
I ran/walked my first 5K on July 4th. It was a fund raiser for the park we are trying to have built here in our town. A wonderful, beautiful park...a very expensive park! I finished the 5K (that was actually more like 7...long story!) While I was walking/jogging the 5K, my wedding ring scratched my other hand. I looked down to see what had happened and realized that the diamond from my wedding ring was GONE!!! I was SO sad. There is no telling when I lost it or where. The 5K was held at the state park close to our town...did I loose it somewhere on the trail? At home? In the grass? No idea. It was a small diamond, but it is the one Hubby gave to me when he asked me to be his wife. On my birthday, we took the ring to a jeweler to see about getting a new diamond put in the ring. The jeweler said that my ring was wearing thin and would need some major repair, and that a new diamond simply would not fit (remember, VERY small diamond originally). So, Hubby bought me a new ring for my birthday (and our anniversary, Mother's Day, Christmas, and anything else for about the next 5 years!!). Isn't it pretty?I feel like a looser since I've been neglecting my poor blog. I am going to try very hard to be more faithful about posting...I started this to keep my family updated on the kids, and also to "journal" about our lives since I don't take time to scrapbook often enough. While I love facebook for connecting with friends both new and old, it is not a journal. It is not a place to write down stories about what my children are doing and learning. It is not where I take time to list my challenges, my blessings, and my victories. This is that place, and I miss it. Blogging world...I'm back (and I hope not to get lost again!!!)

My kids are FISH!

We are spending a lot of time at the pool already this summer!! These pics were taken the same day as the park pictures. After the park, we all went home for lunch, and then I took my kids and my friend's two oldest to the pool.
They are anxiously awaiting "break time" to be over!When are they going to blow that whistle???
'P' and Bethany relaxing in the sun during break time.Bethany swimming UNDER water! She has always loved the water, just like her brother and sister! This year she has taught herself to put her face in the water and swim! She also taught herself to do the backstroke and float on her back! She hasn't even had swim lessons yet! She has gotten so good at swimming that she can now go down all 4 slides at the pool, by herself! She doesn't need me to catch her, just swims to the side (the water is way over her head, too!) I am super proud of all my little fish!

Neighborhood fun!

Another thing that has kept us busy this summer are our neighbors! We are very blessed with our neighbors. There are three families on our block with kids basically the same age. Abbie is the only 9 year old. Andrew has 2 friends who are 7-8, Bethany has two friends who are 5, and the other two families have smaller children. The kids usually split into three groups...the big kids (Abbie, Andrew, & the other two their ages), the little kids (Bethany and the other 2 5-yr olds) and then there are the "babies" (one of them is 2, and the twins will be 2 in August). We go for bike rides, we go to the parks, we play at each other's homes and yards, we carpool to ball games and library story time, we go to the pool together...and after we put the kids to bed, sometimes the mommas (and sometimes the dads join us) meet outside for some grown-up time! What did I ever do before I had such great friends?? Here are some pictures of a day a few weeks ago when I rode bikes with most of the older kids to the park, and one momma rode her bike with her bike trailer, and the other momma walked with her twins in her stroller. We had a great time at the park for a few hours. The kids swang, rode bikes, ran, got dizzy on the marry-go-round, pretended they were monkeys, and saved the town from fire (see the fire engine pics)! So much fun with good friends!Bethany running down the hill..."Baby R"...one of the twins, trying to get her to give me one of her million dollar smiles!Two of the "babies" going to save the town from fire!Getting DizzyThe "little kids" swinging (Bethany is on the left)Abbigail taking a breakMonkey boy E...you can see Abbigail's knees hanging from part of the fire-truck. She loves to do this! Getting ready to go home...one family had to leave early to go to a birthday party...and my friend left early with her twins...I had these 5 crazy kids to ride home with...and yes, I rode my bike, too! So much fun!

We are so blessed with our neighborhood and friends!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!!!

Can you sing a little hard rock with me?? Oh, yea! School is OUT! I'm just a bit happy about this! Yes, I love teaching, but I also love spending time with my kids. I like being able to be a "little" less hurried. I like being able to sleep in a few days a week. I like spending time with my kids at the pool. I like spending time at the lake with my family, watching them fish and avoiding anything that could POSSIBLY be poison ivy (aka, anything green!). I like watching my kids play baseball, t-ball, softball...I love bringing children and adults together during VBS to connect more hearts to Jesus. I LOVE SUMMER! (Don't much like sweltering HOT days, but nothing is perfect!)
I have been enjoying my first few days of summer break. I've been trying to get my house back into some sort of order. This working full-time (or nearly full-time) thing has kicked my tail, especially the last few weeks! I've even had time to be a little crafty! I discovered that my sewing machine still works! I made a dress for Bethany and a shirt for Abbigail. Both girls wore their outfit on their last day of school. This afternoon I made 4 shirts (same style, but patriotic colors) for my girls and their little cousins, Ella & Ava. I made a cool "sculpture" out of pots for flowers in my front walk-way. (I will try to get a picture and post it soon).
I even got to go out on a date with my husband! Our 13th anniversary is Tuesday, May 26. Since that is in the middle of the week, we went out last night. We went to dinner at a YUMMY Italian restaurant. We did a little shopping and even took in the new Star Tr*k movie. (It was pretty good by the way).
Abbie & Andrew's school has an awards assembly on the last day of school. Abbigail made the All-A honor roll!!! She read more words this year than almost all the third-graders (got the 3rd place award)! Andrew didn't receive any awards, but that's because they only did one award for 1st graders...but he did wonderful in school this year, too. Andrew has had the same 1st grade teacher this year that Abbigail had when she was in 1st. I asked Mrs. G if she wanted to have Miss Bethany in 2 years and she said "YES!" That she would love to have all the Prochnow kids! :o)
From busy school year to almost as busy summer...but it is great for a change of pace!!

Blastball, T-Ball, and Softball

All three of my kiddos are playing ball this summer.
Bethany is in blastball (teaches basics of hitting and running to the base, and fielding). Andrew is in T-Ball (the next step up). Abbigail is in her second year of softball (hitting from a pitching machine). The fun thing about Abbie's league is that they get to try all the positions...this last game she got to play catcher. She is so tiny and the quipment was so HUGE. It was absolutly HILARIOUS! She loved it, though! She like catching the ball, and even when it hit the protective gear, it didn't hurt! (Dad, I thought you would be especially proud of her for this!!) Sorry the picture's of Abbigail are so dark. Her game didn't start until after 9:00 in the evening!

Fun Foto Friday (FFF)

Don't you just LOVE the first corn on the cob of the summer!

During summer, we have "quiet time." The little one can nap, and the older ones can read books, or nap...or play with stickers apparently!

After our supper, we went to the park. The kids had fun running down the hill. Abbigail is a monkey. Don't you just LOVE their smiles?? :-) I know I do!

I have decided on one "routine" to make the summer easier. I don't know about all kids, but mine would be perfectly happy if I let them play on the computer, Wii, and watch TV all day. I printed out "TV tickets" and "Computer/Wii" tickets on the computer this morning. Each ticket is worth 30 minutes. Each child gets one ticket of each per day. That means they can each choose one 30 minute program or video. If they want to watch a full-length movie, they must combine their tickets to equal the movie length. I am also planning on finding some home-schooling curriculum to use this summer for all of the children, especially Abbigail. I don't want her to backslide during the summer. Andrew knows his letters, numbers, and colors...it would be wonderful if he entered K being able to read small words! My goal for Bethany is to know her colors and shapes(she already knows most), able to write her name, numbers, and some of her letters. This is going to be so fun! These are just some ideas to keep ourselves busy, so we don't get bored! Then there is always softball, T-Ball, swimming lessons....oh, I think we'll keep busy!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Remember what it's all about...those who gave all. This has special meaning for me this year. My brother-in-law is in the army. He has been stationed in Hawaii for about 18 months (sounds rough, I know!), but we think he will be sent to Iraq soon. We pray for his safety daily! Thank you all who have served our country, in the past or present...to keep us safe and give us the freedoms we so enjoy and sometimes take for granted. THANK YOU!