Last days and First Days...

Goose and I have talked about home schooling our kids, since before we had kids. We both liked the idea of home schooling, but was it a real possibility??? Could we afford it??? Was is the best choice for us and our kids??? 

You might think it was a little last minute, but in July we finally decided that all the answers to our questions were YES! 

So with that Aug 19th was my last day at Western Texas College.

It was a little bitter sweet. I can say without a doubt that working at WTC has been the best job I've had. I loved working with the students and the people I worked with. I will miss them terribly. 

I have a peace about staying home and teaching Tenley...I look forward to everyday.

We started school on Aug 22nd...she was so excited. She told everyone that she was home schooling, it was really cute.

School has been going great. I get why teachers love teaching. It is so amazing when Ten finally "gets" what we have been working on.  I teared up the first time she sounded out a word all by herself...It was a huge blessing that I would have missed had we sent her to public school.

I will say this...Home schooling is not for every family. It has been a great choice for ours.

Sydney's Shiner

I guess after Syd saw how cool Mac's shiner looked she decided she wanted one of her own. She ran full speed ahead at the couch. When she "landed" the plastic toy purse she was holding, "bit" her. She was very tough...only a few sniffles and she was back to playing and running around with Miles and Ten.

Panties, Panties, Panties!!

 You might have guessed it by now...we are potty training in our house again. I always look forward to this and I don't all at the same time...does that make sense? I look forward to it, because I'm ready to be done with diapers and I don't because I know it's not an over night kind of training...there will be accidents!

 This big girl is ready for the challange...

She loves running around in her new panties.

When we potty train we go completely to panties, only using diapers for naps and bedtime. So if you stop by our house you will most likely catch Syd in her cute little panties, just running all over the house.
Training is going pretty well. Although we aren't completely there yet, she is doing great. She has even told us a couple of times that she needs to go. Most of the time we just ask her.

Let's Hula...

Last weekend when we went to Midland to celebrate Wade's and Kate's birthdays. While all the kids were playing and running around, Tenley was introduced to the Hula Hoop...from first spin she was hooked(so to speak). She practiced and practiced and practiced all day.

Here is one of the many videos we shot of her practicing...she actually got pretty good by the end of the day.

When we went grocery shopping this past Saturday, we passed the hula hoops, Tenley instantly wanted one. We couldn't refuse her...she wanted it so badly. We got her a big and a little hoop. She said she NEEDED both! 

She couldn't resist trying both at the same time...I think she hulas two hoops at the same time very well.

I wouldn't say she's a pro just yet, but she does have a lot of fun hula hooping...and that's all the matters!

Piglets...

'Ol sweet Jessica had a farm. E I E I O!

And on that farm she had some pigs E I E I O!

Jessica is the Ag teacher at WTC and one of my friends. She also runs the show team for the college, so she breeds and raises pigs. When they had their first litter at the farm she invited the kids and me out to see them. These piglets are a day old.

We got there right at "feeding" time, so after we waited a few minutes the pigs were ready to be played with.

Deciding which one to play with...

Tenley wanted to take some pictures...

Tenley's second picture...

Then the camera died...crap!

The kids had a great time. Syd was fearless, she wanted to hold the piglets by herself, she was the first to pet the momma. Tenley was my little diva...she didn't want to touch the Momma or anything dirty for that matter. Miles had a blast. His favorite part ware the Daddy's...they were huge! I asked Jessica how much the mommas weigh...she said not much, just a little over 400 lbs...NOT MUCH??? But after I saw the daddys and she told me they weigh over 700 lbs, I saw her point...400 isn't that much campared to 700!

They have a couple more litters coming...the kids and I can't wait. We want to see how big the first set got and see the little bitty babies again.

Puzzles...

Miles got to have Grandpa and Grandnanna all to himself. Miles LOVES his Grandpa! Mainly because well, he's Grandpa, but also because he does a lot of the things Miles loves. Grandpa works (drilling water wells), he has a truck and trailer, he has boots, and Grandpa will sit for hours and watch bull riding with him. All and all he's a pretty terrific Grandpa.

When we dropped off Miles, the first thing he wanted to do was play with Grandnanna's puzzles. Another one of Miles' favorite things to do...He talked Grandpa and Syd into working with him. Syd wasn't much help :)

Tenley was a little sad that it wasn't her turn to stay(hence the frown), but she knew this meant her turn was next. She did get to play a little while with Grandnanna's I-spy game before we left, so that helped ease the pain.

I love to help/watch Miles work the puzzles. It never cease to amaze me how good he is at them. He can look at the puzzle and then grab a piece and know right where it goes...now he may have to turn it a time or two, but he knows that is where it goes...he really is good at them. I know I'm his Mom, but seriously...it's not just any puzzle he's putting together, if you look at it, you can tell it's not the Mickey Mouse, Toystory, or Cars puzzle that most kids his age would be putting together. This is the second time he was putting it together, after him and Grandpa were done, he wanted to do it again.

Ok, Ok...I'm done bragging on my sweet boy! I wish I had taken a picture after he was done with it.

Oh, and he had a great time with Grandpa and Grandnanna. They took him (at his request, in Grandpa's truck) to eat at Subway, feed the ducks, to see the white buffalo (the one out on Hays ranch), watched bull riding 2x before bed and once the next morning (before school), and they got donuts! Sounds pretty exciting for a 3yr old if you ask me.

Riggs Reunion...Part II

At first glace you will probably think this is a repost, but you would be wrong. After I posted the last time, I realized that I didn't use any of the pics from Mom's camera and she got some good ones that I didn't. So sit back and enjoy part II of the Riggs Reunion.

Pop seemed to enjoy his "fishing" time as much as Miles and Tenley.

Don't they look like pros? Even Uncle Josiah helped them tune their fishing skills.

Hiking really takes it out of you.

Although I didn't try it, there was a great trail just off the driveway to the house we were staying in. O'ma, Pop, Aunt Ang, and Uncle Josiah took the kids on it. Of course they didn't take them on the whole trail...that would have been too much for the kids. But they did go far enough that the kids enjoyed themselves.

Miles took his fishing very seriously.

The house may not look like much...

...but it was perfect for the14 of us and our weekend.

Little Miss Syd Syd, looking so cute with her jammies and ponytail.

Little messy, but still pretty cute for her first ponytail.

There was PLENTY of wide open spaces for Miles to run and expel some of his endless energy!

Sisters...Where's Nic???

Brothers...

Sisters...Where am I?? Ok, I don't know about these girls, but I took make up, I guess I just didn't wear it all weekend...makes for some scary pics( I'm sure they will both love me for this one :-).

Ra...you'll never change...always ready for a picture!

When you're pooped...you're pooped!

The fans...

The players...

Lounging, waiting for our time to be the players.

I think Uncle D has the form down...

Too cool for their own good...

It was really nice to be able to sit outside during the middle of the day...something we certainly haven't been able to do in Texas this summer.

Miles' "after dark" cap...

He thought it was pretty cool...

SO of course, Tenley had to try it out too!

Daddy and Miles spent I don't even know how long setting up dominoes and knocking them over...They were having a blast, so I just left them to their fun.

Why do grandkids pictures never work out?

O'ma, got crafts for the kids, to work on, but I dare say, I did most of the work with the necklaces.

Once again....When you're pooped...you're pooped! Not even lunch can keep you from a nap!

Aunt Ang getting some Syd Syd snuggles!

The whole bunch...all 15 of us!! We are missing Ethan, hopefully he will be with us next year.

Stansell gang...

Nic and her boyfriend Jeremy...

Uncle D...

Pam & Ra

 Trowbridge gang...

 Dad & Mom (35 years strong!)

 Ok...sorry the pics are kind of all jumbled, but you still get the idea...

Promise...no more posts about our reunion. But I still can't wait for next year!