My children are happy. The holiday seasons bring things that they like. One is eggnog. Lane especially loves the stuff. Every once in a while through the year he asks when we can buy it again. I keep telling him at Halloween, but I was wrong. We had to wait until this week. There were some brands out, but they don't taste as good.

The second item we just discovered last year: flavored coffee creamers. Peppermint Mocha made by Coffee-mate. It tastes wonderful in hot chocolate. The kids love this. In January they put it on sale. I stocked up on a few. This morning they were enjoying the hot chocolate and were wanting a second cup, not that they don't enjoy it all year long. It is just extra special now.

Rita

Lane Broke His Pinky Finger

On Saturday, we had an year end party for Lane's football team. Steve threw a fast one and Lane hurt his finger. It is swollen and black and blue and doesn't look right. Our family Doctor took an x-ray this morning. His pinky finger on his right hand is broke and the bones do not line up. So tomorrow we are off to an orthopedic Doctor. He waited until the season ended to get hurt. He did have a finger jammed early in the season, but it didn't stop him from playing. So he joins the "Broken Bone Club" with Tobias.

Click on the picture to make it bigger and you will see the brake for yourself.

Rita

Flag Football Season is Over

We have spent the last 8 weeks running to practices and games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturday Mornings. Heather and Seth played Soccer and their season ended two weeks ago. Lane and Tobias played flag football. They practiced very little and then played a game all on Tuesday nights. Heather practiced on the same night, so I didn't get to watch football until these past two Tuesday nights.

Tobias's team won every game. They had to come from behind to win the last game. Lane's team, which Steve coached, tied the first two games and then lost the next three games. On last Tuesday night they managed to win by one point. Lane was the quarterback, so we were pretty excited. We did discover that Lane would be better at tackle football. Trying to catch a flag is annoying. He took a few boys out the first few games. On the last game instead of getting the flag he took the whole belt off of a boy.

Medical Approval Still Pending

Travel Health American sent an email back wanting more information. My Doctor I think over explained everything that needed done in the next 5 years. I wanted a basic letter saying I can go. So they want to know if I can have my TSH level checked where I will be going and if a CT can be done on my neck. So we need to find this out. Plus, my platelets are low and so now I have to talk to the Doctor about that. My platelets have been low off and on for years. The thing is they knew this from my medical records from Richmond. I gave a copy of all the tests results done in Richmond to my family Doctor here in South Carolina and she commented they were low in March. The next blood test said they were fine, so nothing to worry about. My Doctor's words. So now we have to talk to the Doctor about that too. Sometimes, I wonder if it is ever going to end. Please pray that we would have patience. We know that it is all on God's hands and his timing is best.

Rita

Unoffical Medical Approval

My Doctor has given me medical approval. I said unofficial in the title because every thing still needs to be sent to Travel Health America and they give the final approval. That is our news of the day!!! I will update when it is official.

Rita

Summer Reading Programs part 2

These are pictures from the library program. For the three youngest ones, once they have read 20 books they get a certificate, medal, and get to pick a free book from a box. At the end of the summer they have a party and get more prizes by having their names drawn out of a box. Since the theme was bugs, they had bug prizes. Lane won a bug container with a magnifying glass on top. Quit a few spiders have lived in it for a day or to. Seth got to pick the drawing from some local artist, because he already had the prize that they were handing out.

The teenagers had a different program. After 10 books were read you got a beach ball. For 20 books you got a bag that Tobias is holding. For each 10 books after that your name was put in for a summer end drawing that was for the whole county, not just each library. Tobias won 2nd place in the whole county of Spartanburg. He got a $100 gift card to Barnes & Nobles. He can't wait to spend it. Mommy hasn't taken him yet, but he is thinking on Christmas presents for his family.

I, mommy, won too. They have a summer reading program for adults. There was weekly drawings and summer end drawing. I won a weekly drawing the first week I entered. I got a bag, book, CD, coffee, coffee mug, and a $5.00 gift card to an ice cream place.

Happy Reading

Rita

Summer Reading Programs

We usually spend every summer reading using our local libraries reading program. Here in South Carolina, a store called Christian Supply also has a reading program. I like Christian Supply's program better, because after reading 60 books the children get a free T-Shirt. I can add to their wardrobe for free. :) This years theme was the Pirates who Don't Do Anything but Read. For every five books they read they get a junk toy out of a box. I could do without that one and they eventually do end up in the trash. For every fifteen books they read they get a bigger prize, the biggest prize being the T-Shirt. Pirate theme means pirate prizes. Seth is sporting two of his prizes. They are sporting their T-shirts and certificates in the above pictures. For every five books they get to put their name in a pot for a year end drawing. They must have done the drawing this week, for Heather won. She got a $50 gift card to Monkey Joe's which is an indoor play ground.