Peek-a-boo.....

It's been a while since I have blogged but believe me, if you knew how crazy the last four months have been you would understand. The kids are back, full swing involved with their activities. Monday is Boy Scouts, Tuesday is Leaders club and Girl Scouts, Wednesday is tutoring for Maddie and evening Mass, Thursday the kids have, so Friday is my only break which is usually spent with a house full of kids spending the night here. Victoria just celebrated her 14 birthday on Dec 7th. It's surreal that I have a teenage daughter. I remember very clearly being 14 years old, which makes it all the more scary! We have been having a great time celebrating Advent and preparing for Christmas. Here is a great site for Advent Karen Edmisten's No Panic" series for Advent.
We have been implementing most of these activities into our daily lives. This weekend we are doing an indoor camp-in with the Boy Scouts and then going on a three mile hike Sat. morning. I am kinda worried to see how truly out of shape I am. I hope someone is bringing an oxygen tank.

Bitter Sweet.......

I went in yesterday to review Maddie's IQ test. Her IQ is normal (SWEET)! But, that doesn't give me any answers to why she has a hard time learning (BITTER). So I guess we wait some more (the story of my life right now).

Update on Maddie

As my friends and family already know, we have been trying to get some answers as to why Maddie struggles so much in school. Unfortunately we hit another dead end. We took Maddie to her Pediatrician who suggested that we take her to a Psychologist. Today we took her to the Psychologist who now suggested that I go back to the school and demand testing. So basically, I have spent two months running in circles and wasting a lot of money just to be referred off. I contacted Maddie's principal moments ago and she is going to check into having her tested. I really want her to be able to have a fresh start for 2nd grade. I am praying we can get her tested before school starts. Hopefully I will have a positive update.

Also, speaking of "schools", Victoria is going back to the Charter School next year. Pulling her out and putting her in public school went awful. Public school is definitely not for us. Victoria was sad to hear she was leaving her new school, but she understood why and is okay with the situation.
Here's hoping for a better school year next year!

Well last week wasn't anywhere near as productive as I had hoped. But, if I first you don't succeed......

This is just a quick list of things I would like to accomplish, I will update as needed:

• clean up laundry room
• finish pantry
• make appt. for Jeep
• clean out refrigerator
• update blog at least twice this week
• Pick up B-day gift
• reconfigure budget
  

I need to start making myself more accountable for what needs to get done for the week and I am hoping if I put it out here I will feel more pressured to actually get it done. I will add more as needed.

Tuesday:

• two loads of laundry
• pick up cat food
• pick up rubbing alcohol
• sweep and mop kitchen
• prayers
• Start cleaning pantry

Wednesday:

• one load of laundry
• work on pantry
• prayers

Thursday:

• finish pantry (It is *really* unorganized)
• Library
• prayers
• Corn Roast
• one load of laundry

Friday:

• one load of laundry
• prayers
• dust

Saturday:

• one load of laundry
• prayers
• family day

Sunday :

• Church

Monday:

• Bedroom
• Bathroom
• prayers
• one load of laundry

FOR TODAY (July 5th 2009)...

Outside my window...is an overcast, drizzly day, I am so happy it held off yesterday.

I am thinking... about my plans for the upcoming week, I like to try to keep the children busy during the summer

I am thankful for...all my blessings, God is truly good
From the kitchen...a cluttered mess is waiting on me. I was so busy cooking yesterday I didn't stop to straighten up behind myself

I am wearing...my Pj's still...it is a lazy day for me

I am reading...Conversion Diary. A wonderful blog my dear friend turned me onto. It is a blog of a woman who was once an Atheist and now a devout Catholic.

I am hoping...my family is able to stop by and see us tomorrow before they head home to PA.

I am hearing...infomercials. Someone left the TV on.

Around the house...is pretty quiet Rodney took Maddie fishing and Victoria is at the lake

One of my favorite things...slow summer months.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I am still working on it, but I know we are going to the Science Center on Tuesday.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Maddie at South Park waiting to watch the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra

check out-http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

A closet cabinet meeting????

VBS Blast Off.....

The kids went to the end of VBS blast off tonight and had a wonderful time. The church really went all out in putting this on with tons of inflatables, a petting zoo, a bucking bull, and more. We spent most of the time at the petting zoo. While they were there they made balloon animals, got their face painted, and more. Maddie painted her's like a beautiful lady bug........

CAN YOU SPOT THE Lady Bug???...

We had a visitor tonight.......

I was walking out to my car a few minutes ago and startled a raccoon who wondered up to munch on our cat's food. Peanut Butter (the cat) is not one to share so he ran him off. Luckily I was able to get some really great shots before he left......

Summertime!!

The kids are out of school now and we are enjoying lazy summer days. We have spent more time in the pool than we have the house!

What a week!

Between Soccer, Boy Scouts, Softball, and Gymnastics I have not had a lot of free time to blog. So I am playing catch up now.
We had a scare at the beginning of the week when I got a phone call late at night from my sister-in-law. She started the sentence with "don't freak out" (translation- without a doubt, you are about to freak out). There was an accident while my father was cleaning his gun and he shot himself in the thigh! He was very lucky it went straight through (they didn't have to go in and remove the bullet), also it didn't hit anything but muscle. They patched him up in the ER and sent him home the same night. He is doing great with it, he even returned to work the next day...he was to stubborn to miss.

We went to the zoo with friends. Victoria had went with my father to WV to visit family and Rodney had to work, so, it was just Maddie, Chandler, and I. Besides the fact that Maddie got a blister and I had to carry her half way through we had a great time. Of course I am going to post tons of photos for you :).

Victoria made the A/B honor roll. She is so smart. :)

Maddie has been struggling at school for quite some time not, we had her tested for learning disabilities through her school and they didn't find anything, so, Monday she has an appt with her doctor to have her tested privately. Keep her in your prayers.

Poor Chandler had to carry my backpack since I had to carry Maddie. It wouldn't be so bad, but the book bag is a girls bag.

Chandler is such a big helper, he followed my friend's daughter Elise around the whole time maker sure she didn't get hurt.

Easter Weekend........

We had a busy, busy Easter weekend. Friday started with my nephews birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Saturday, Victoria and Chandler were at a sleep over and we took that opportunity to take Maddie out for the day. It's so hard with three kids to give them the one on one time they deserve. We took her to the see the Easter bunny and then shopping at the mall. Of course Saturday night was filled with cooking and preparing for Easter. Easter, after church my family came over to enjoy dinner with us, and then we had an Easter egg hunt. I had gone to Target and bought a kit that had over 45 candy filled eggs with it. After about twenty minutes of looking we finally started giving the kids hints of where the eggs could be. Maddie was excited to find the golden egg especially since my dad had slipped five bucks into it. Sunday was a day were I felt extremely blessed to be surrounded by lots of family who I love so deeply.. I also felt sad that I couldn't share my joy with the family and friends who were far away. Please know that I was missing you on Sunday and that you were in my thoughts.

I was up until three in the morning making basket and hiding eggs in the yard!!

A few photo's of my children and my wonderful nieces and nephew, are they so cute!

I make a new Easter cake every year. This one is a coconut key lime cake.

I have more uploaded photos on my flickr account.

Coloring Easter Eggs.......

Here are the rest of the photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karnesfamily/?saved=1

Spring Break.....

Thursday was the last day of school before spring break. The school put on a "Fun Day" which I went and volunteered at. There were five inflatable bouncers, a snow cone machine, a DJ, and more.

They had a blast on this inflatable

Smile Maddie

Chandler's teacher's

Maddie and her best friend Rachel

Chandler at the bottom


Maddie coming down

Leaving comments.....

A friend made me aware of the fact that she couldn't leave a comment without an account. I went on this morning and changed the settings so anyone could leave a comment if they wanted. Sorry bout that.

Chandler is a daddy...of 13!!!

Chandler's class has been incubating quail eggs for a couple of weeks now and last Thursday they hatched!!! When he got in the car he exclaimed "I'm a Daddy"!!! It was really neat to watch their progress. After the Easter holiday we are going to take a field trip out to his teachers farm and release them. Here is the link from his class website of the progression of these cute quails....
http://lincolncharter.teamcfa.org/teachers/helen_rutledge/gallery/quail_egg_progress