Grace Hill Church - Psalm 121

On Sunday, August 29th, the K-5th grade classes recited Psalm 121 in church.  I took a video of them during practice and they were forgetting their lines and not speaking up.  But, when I was not videotaping during the service, they did an amazing job!!!!  The children have been learning Psalm 121 the past couple of months in Sunday School and were very excited about reciting it for the congregation.  Robyn and I also presented the children with their own bible on behalf of Grace Hill.  It was a very special morning!  I will post the practice video but it is hard to hear them in some parts, especially my girls.   

Here is a photo of the kids rehearsing their lines before church.

The video of the kids practicing before church

A video of Robyn and I presenting the children with their new bibles.

Occoneechee Orange Speedway Car Show...

On August 28, 2010 our family went to Occoneechee Orange Speedway for their annual car show.  They have done a lot of renovations to the historical track including clearing part of the infield, building a concession stand, a flag stand, ticket booth, and an outhouse.  Several of the classic cars paraded around the track for spectators to see.  They were revving their engines, would gun it on the front stretch and dust was flying everywhere.  They were not going too fast but it was still exciting.  If only they would turn this track into an operating dirt track again but the city will never let that happen.  We had a fun time and Joe, Abby, Lizzie and Josh also joined us. 

All the cars lined up waiting for the command.

Mommy, Regan, Reece, Joe and Josh sitting in the stands and Lizzie and Abby fleeing due to the sound.  Regan did not like the dirt flying, Lizzie did not like the noise, Reece did not like to be up close near the fence and Riley and Josh LOVED it.  Out of all our girls, Riley enjoys racing the most. 

This is one of the cars Ralph Earnhardt used to drive.  We think it is an original.

Riley hanging out with Daddy by the fence. 

Afterwards, everyone was able to go down on the track and see the cars up close.

First Week of School....

Regan and Riley had a great first week of school.  They are both going to Trinity School again this year.  Regan is in the fourth grade and has Mr. Morganti for her teacher.  She was excited to get into his class because he has a garden at school and they get to take care of the garden.  Riley is in first grade and she has Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Dodson for her teachers.  Mrs. Wright was Regan's first grade teacher too and she is wonderful!  Riley has a ton of her friends in her class.  Regan did not get in class with any of her close friends but she is already developing some new friendships and she is very happy.  Regan came home the first day of school with homework and a project.  She was not too happy about that but that is what happens in fourth grade.  Riley on the other hand was upset when she did not have any homework.  Her homework starts this week and she can't wait.  Regan has Latin this year and her Latin name is Regana.  Riley is in Spanish this year and her Spanish name is Rola.  Pretty soon they will be speaking in other languages and I won't understand a word they are saying.  Well, I should be able to hold my own with Spanish but Latin I will have no clue.  Funny story---Regan's classroom is on the second floor this year and they have a large flight of stairs to climb each day.  She was complaining about her legs being sore last week and was actually excited thinking they were growing pains because she really wants to be taller.  But, then she explained that anytime anyone talks in line their teacher will make the whole class start back from where they came from and try again.  This usually means they have to go up and down the stairs a lot.  Regan said several of the girls have been complaining of their legs hurting.  I then had to break the bad news that the pain in her legs is probably from doing stairs and not from growing.  Regan has been very frustrated that people are talking in line and can't understand why they just can't be quiet in the halls. :)  Riley has been spending most of her time at school in the school clinic.  We have always joked that she will be our ER child.  I guess we should not have joked about that.  Last week, a boy ran into Riley on accident on the playground and she hit her nose on his head.  She got a bloody nose and had to go to the clinic.  I noticed today she now has a bruise on the bridge of her nose which I guess is from that accident.  Then, today she ended up in the clinic again because she was running outside and took a horrible spill on the sidewalk.  She has a bad cut on her knee and on her hip.  Then, she said she got knocked over in PE today when a boy was running too fast and barreled into her and another girl.  I told Riley she was falling apart and she just laughed and agreed.  She prayed tonight that she would not fall apart anymore. :)  So, overall they have had a good start to the year and Reece is counting down the days until she starts preschool.         

Riley on "Meet the Teacher" Day

Riley with her good friend, Julianne.

Riley with her teacher, Mrs. Wright.

Regan with her friend, Cameron.

Regan sitting at her desk on "Meet the Teacher" day.

Regan's first day of fourth grade.

Riley's first day of first grade.

Lots of Swimming...

We joined a pool this summer about 2 miles from our house which was very nice.  The girls enjoyed being in an outdoor pool and swimming on a regular basis.  All three of the girls are swimming on their own and they have also improved on breathing during swimming, especially Reece.  We went to the pool the last day of summer before school started and I took some videos of the girls.  Regan did not want to be taped but I taped Reece and Riley swimming.

Regan giving Riley a piggy back ride in the pool.

A Summer of P90X....

Tony has been doing an intense exercise program since April called, P90x.  It is a 13 week exercise program that you do 6 days a week for about 1 - 1.5 hrs. each day.  Tony has been very disciplined about doing it and also watching his calories.  He has lost 20 lbs. and none of his clothes fit anymore.  He will not be happy I am posting this but I am very proud of him and glad he is taking his health seriously. It is also teaching our girls the importance of exercise.  The girls love to watch daddy do P90x and sometimes they even join him.  I have a video of Tony doing one of his Kenpo workouts and the girls were trying it to.  It is hilarious.  I do have to say Tony may not talk to me after posting this but it is too funny of a video not to.  So, Tony if you read this, we love you, are proud of you, go buy some new pants and please forgive me!!! :) 

Holden Beach 2010

The week of Aug. 14 - Aug. 21 we went on our annual beach vacation with our dear friends, the Stepp's.  We have been going to the beach with the Stepp's for the last 9 years.  We went to Holden Beach this year and stayed in a wonderful house.  It was a wonderful week full of boogie boarding, playing in the sand, catching clams and crabs, surf fishing, runs on the beach (including Regan), daddy/daughter dates during lunch, lots of reading, napping, water slides, learning about sea turtles, riding scooters in the carport, board games, Wii, and lots of eating and lots of ice cream.  The kids played so well together and entertained each other so nicely that the adults had a lot of free time to relax, read and sleep.  I was able to finish two books which is rare for me to do in one week.  Tony and I were able to go on a date night too (thanks Dave and Lori!)  We went to an Italian Restaurant and had some good wings, took a LONG stroll on the beach (I wanted to get to the end of the island but it was much farther then we thought), and then went and got some ice cream.  It was a GREAT week and it was sad to say goodbye.   

                                   

Riley jumping the waves...

Regan had a great time with her dear friend, Hannah. 

Our family

Riley having fun in the water.

Regan was being a great big sister helping Reece in the waves.

The girls being silly...

Riley doing gymnastics on the beach.

The kids had fun digging a pool in the sand that they could play in.

We spent one morning at Magic Mountain Water slides in Holden Beach.  Riley and Reece loved it but Regan was not a fan.  Regan was too tall (did I just say too tall??) to ride the smaller rides and the larger ones intimidated her.  So, the lifeguard let her try the smaller one first even though she was not supposed to.  Well, the smaller one is actually pretty fast and she only did it about 3 times before she was done.  We kept telling her the larger ones were actually slower (at least one of them was) but she did not want to try them.  She is very much like I was at her age.  Riley and Reece on the other hand loved it and wanted to go on the bigger ones but were not tall enough.  So, in order to make the smaller one more fun, Riley and Reece were trying all kinds of stunts - going down head first, going on your belly, flipping over halfway down and going without a mat.  Hopefully, next year Riley will be tall enough to do the big slides and Regan will hopefully try them next year. 

As you can see Reece was having a blast!

Tony captured some beautiful sunset pictures.

Riley taking a rest from boogie boarding.

Regan and Riley having fun boogie boarding together.

Riley riding in a wave

Tony tries out surf fishing

Regan and her friend, Hannah, playing in the waves together.

Riley and Daddy playing in the waves together.

The Stepp's

This was the family room in our beach house.

Tony brought his Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip books and the kids LOVED them.  All the kids were reading them all week long.  Regan's favorite comic was the one where Calvin locked the babysitter out of the house.  We better warn whoever keeps our kids from now on.   

Our view from the back porch.

The kitchen

Playing games in the extra room upstairs.