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Summer Wrap-Up.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Annie+ Family Fun+ Katie

A few major events happened in our lives within the past few months. And many not-so-major ones. Here are a few items that haven’t made it to the blog yet…

First grade ended in a whirlwind. Ugh, this rips my heart right out to realize that Second Grade is starting next week and I never posted about First Grade!
I hope, at some point in the future, when KB looks at my blog for the first time and realizes that I have 172,456 posts about Annie and 12 about her, that its NOT BECAUSE I LOVE HER MORE! Its just been the Summer of the Brain Tumor and very little else….what can I say? I’m sorry KB. 🙁 One of these days SOON I’ll do a whole week of posts about NOTHING BUT KB. She’s an awesome kid and I can’t wait to catch you all up on what’s been going on with her.

Anyway, First Grade? Piece of cake. KB mastered the First Grade. And took home the Best Reader award at the Awards Ceremony. Way to go, my sweet girl! 😉 All this and brains too…. It was a great year with a great teacher.

Another major event? At age 3, Annie had her first ‘real’ haircut. My poor blonde children have slow-growing hair. Contrast that with cousin Baby Micah, who has had three or four haircuts already.

We went with a very chic bob for a very trend-setting girl. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, eat your heart out.

We visited Discovery Science Place. With all there is to do there, these are the pictures I got:

We had a few play dates with friends. Please excuse the dark grainy picture; I snapped this with my cell phone mere moments after I had run shrieking through the Thedford’s house looking for some certain three-and-four-year-olds who were not answering me when I called their names. For a moment, we thought they had escaped out the back door, down the driveway, and were headed for Mexico when I finally spotted them behind the ficus tree. Hiding from bears. Hence, the not answering when we called. It makes perfect sense when you think about it.

Hubs and I went to the Cattle Barons Gala for the first time ever with our friends Shanequa and DTJR. Shanequa and I got new tank tops to commemorate the occasion.
Of course, we didn’t really ride the bull.

Or did we?

Guess you had to be there to know for sure…

Day Camp at our church. Best week ever. And KB made things right with the Lord for all eternity. This picture makes my heart melt.

Then Day Camp at Green Acres Baptist. Fun, but not as fun as Friendly’s.

Spent a lot of time at Lake Fork. But somehow not ever enough time. One of those things we wonder why we don’t take advantage of more often. Almost as good as Hawaii without the price tag. Don’t laugh til you’ve sat on that pier with the breeze in your hair….

Camped at Tyler State Park. Ate watermelon. Got filthy. Fun, fun times. Another of those things we wonder WHY we don’t take advantage of more often? I’m still working on stained clothes from that weekend. Stained clothes: Always the indicator of a really good time.

More play dates. This one, at Jumpin’ Jacks where I paid $6 so that Annie could sulk under the bounce house instead of jumping in it because I made her drink water instead of Capri Sun. Age three is a magical time.

Mastered the “I Love You” sign. Sign language is nothing new to Annie; I taught her as a wee infant to tell me she was ‘thirsty’ or wanted ‘down,’ among others. It makes for whine-less kids when they can communicate, but still, “I love you” is a hard one to do when your little fingers don’t want to bend that way.

Made some ladybug friends. Who died tragic deaths in the bottom of a Dixie cup. We never even got to know them….

Made lots and lots of tents in the living room. I folded many-a-quilt this summer. And put the pillows back on the couch 172,456 times.
*Pay no attention to the dirt on the couch. In 15 years I’ll replace it with a clean, new couch. Thank you.

Spent lots and lots of time with Mia. We have American Girl fever here, in spite of my best efforts to not be swept up in American Girl’s quest to separate American Moms from their money. I can’t help it, I love Mia as much as KB does. She has freckles. And freckles are always a good thing.

And speaking of freckles, we sprouted a few fabulous freckles this summer:

Too rich, too thin, too many freckles….there’s no such thing.

This summer, I did a few things I never in a zillion years thought I would or could do, and I learned I’m stronger than I thought I was. Or crazier. This summer, I…

*have dealt with a brain tumor in one of my children.

*Dug a grave, myself, and buried a family pet in the back yard.

*Went to a homeschooling seminar.

*Then withdrew KB from public school.

There, I said it.

And on that note, I think I’m going to have to stop there and finish this up when I can weed through approximately half a million more pictures, most of which are on my cell phone.

I just can’t believe summer is over so soon.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

But at our house, the fun is just beginning…

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Comments

  1. Mandy says

    August 18, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Girl, you have had one crazy summer. I am so thankful for your wonderfully fun days and am still praying for precious Annie! So, it sounds like you're going to home school! I can't wait to hear how it all came about and what finalized your decision. You've got an incredible journey ahead of you… enjoy every moment of it and have fun!!!!

    Reply
  2. ModernJune31 says

    August 18, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    SO awesome about you homeschooling! I was just wondering recently what you had decided to do. I'm looking forward to hearing what you have planned for the school year.

    Reply
  3. Lianne says

    August 18, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    &quot;Stained clothes: Always the indicator of a really good time.&quot;—Truer words have never been spoken. : )<br /><br />These are great pictures. I was just lamenting over my, ahem, soiled sofa this morning. I think we will also wait until they go to college to replace it.<br /><br />I love the freckles.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    i was wondering the same thing. does that mean you are homeschooling or are going the private school route?<br /><br />crazy summer. glad there were many fun times as well as he hard stuff. praying for you guys.<br /><br />michawn<br />www.michawn.blogspot.com

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    August 19, 2009 at 12:00 am

    Awesome TG! Way to go!<br />LKS

    Reply
  6. Karen says

    August 19, 2009 at 12:29 am

    Sounds like a busy, wonderful summer. Just the right kind-well, without the tumor, anyhow.<br /><br />Wishing you countless blessings as you start your homeschool journey. I know you&#39;ll enjoy every moment with your beautiful freckle-faced girls.

    Reply
  7. Shanequa says

    August 20, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    Congrats on your decision to homeschool. I know that&#39;s a big step for you. The pics are soo cute!

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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