The night before school....

     I would really love to write some cheesy poem about it being the night before school starting and all through the house, but I am too tired to do that... So tonight... I am going to make my memory with bullet points... I find that quite ironic since I have wanted to use a few bullets for various reasons the past few days!

• This is her very FIRST day of school... Oh how I wish she would have that big bow tomorrow and a smocked dress on... I know Bobby Carol is watching over us tonight and in the morning he will make sure she is safe!  ... He stayed to take her two days to school instead of just one... he was the best!

The next year Papa wasn't with us anymore, but Mark took her in the truck to remember him by.... She was so excited to go to school...

By 2nd grade, we had moved back to Lincolnton and she went to school the first day in Papa's truck again!  She graduated to wearing a skirt to school instead of a dress!

Third grade... my favorite of all these pictures... I could eat her up... I love that smile and eagerness to get to school... I hope it stays that way forever!

The next year was a big one!  Both of them at the same school... KB in 4th grade and Ben in Pre-K... they look so young!  sniff sniff

No longer babes...no longer at the same school... KB's first year at middle school and Ben is going to K-5!

And last year... oh my how they have grown since then... KB going to 6th grade and Ben to 1st!

I'm sure tomorrow will be filled with pictures to make more memories... I'm excited....

• My baby girl, going to 7th grade, who is 12, will be entering LCMS for the third year... she isn't dumb...just that out of place class that is going to middle school for four years instead of three.  She has grown so much this summer.  God plans things just right... he knew I needed someone to learn how to wash clothes, iron, vacuum, and show a little tlc around the house!  He knew that would make me feel better about being away from home so much!  She has been even more of a helper this summer because she babysat that precious little brother of hers!  We didn't have any killings either...so that is a plus.  I am so proud she is my daughter... she is nothing like me though...I love her organization... her perfection of everything she does... and how much she generally cares at this age...and I didn't!  It makes my heart swell with pride to receive text messages about former teachers missing her and even one volunteered for her to come and live with them!  May she always have this love for learning...or least make her teachers think that!  I pray for a smooth year in middle school.  I love middle school children... I know some think they are corny and are afraid of them... but I think that they are pretty neat!  I'm hoping she learns to keep her sucking teeth, moaning and groaning, and rolling eyes to the home environment... or else she might be spending some time in trouble!  Good luck in 7th grade Sis! 
• My baby boy is going to 2nd grade.  I'm afraid this is the year he might realize that even though he can tell all these boys what to do... they are finally going to realize that he is much smaller than them and not listen to him anymore... what a shock this will be!  He is so excited about school... he told me the other day he couldn't wait to get back... This little one... just like me... would rather socialize at school... do his work as fast as he can so he can check out what everyone else is doing... and doesn't mind being really honest about things that aren't important to him... This scares me... I want him to be a tough little boy, but I don't want him to be mean and disrespectful... My cell is on speed dial from the school...I am sure!  Good luck tomorrow Boo... may your first day of 2nd grade be memorable and fun and more exciting than the summer of your mama going back to college and leaving you at home with a "girl" was! 
• I'm saying a special prayer tonight for those mamas taking their babies to school in the morning... that is one thing that I have never gotten to do... it makes me sad that I can't be there to take my babies and kiss them good-bye...and see their classrooms on that first day... I just don't think open house is the same... If I ever become a principal... I will personally cover the classes so mamas can go and see their elementary babies on the first day... I am jealous... I know that KB would rather eat dirt than have me walk inside with her, but I sure would like to hold Ben's hand while he walked down the hall.
• We are headed to bed early tonight... you know it will take us three hours to get to sleep... the butterflies are there... the nerves are there... and of course the worries are there... God watch over this school year, wrap Your arms around their little hearts and make them feel loved, and be with the parents who are experiencing the separation for the first time!  It gets better...I promise! 

Sis and Boo... I hope you always love school... as much as you do now... and may you shine to someone else just have as much as you make my heart shine!  I love you both!

Everything Happens for a Reason

     This last week I had the "honor" of taking some girls to camp.  I didn't realize that I had signed up for an FCA camp until about two weeks before hand.  I asked the girls if they were okay with it, and none of them had an issue.  I should have known they wouldn't... it was just what I needed!
     I have never been involved in FCA... shame on me for that!  When we arrived at camp we got FCA Bibles and I noticed Bible verses around the dorm.  I immediately looked at the schedule and noticed that there were several quiet times, "huddle" times, and even chapel every night.  Being Negative Nelly I thought to myself that I had made a huge mistake and these girls were going to hate me for bringing them to a camp about church instead of cheerleading. 
     My mind quickly changed once I walked into the make-do chapel (basement) of the dorm.  The praise and worship music, skits, and speaker were absolutely wonderful.  I thought to myself that I needed that more than the girls and even if they were disappointed that I could learn from this experience.  The first night when we came back to the dorm I heard a few girls say they enjoyed the speaker and the music was good.  I was glad that I had not completely struck out! 
     During quiet time, the girls were told to read their Bibles and it was simply amazing to see these girls spread out across the gym floors reading the Bible!  Not one of them looked up, checked to see the time, or fell asleep.  Again, I felt a little better about the situation.  The second night of chapel was very eye-opening.  The message was on forgiveness and while some people may say they forgive...it truly is something that has to be given to God.  I could tell that many of my girls had the wheels turning in the brains and so did I.  I completely removed my doubts that night as I had several girls want to talk privately about forgiveness, life issues, and the hard choices that teens have to make.  As I sat there with these girls, I silently prayed that God would put someone in Katie Britt's life that she could talk to about the things that some girls just don't feel comfortable talking about with their mamas.  I was very honest, discussed things that really mattered, and hopefully eased their minds on some of the issues they were dealing with in their lives.  It brought me back about 25 years and made me remember the things I used to worry about and how unimportant they are now...but they were huge when I was that age. 
     The rest of the camp was pretty amazing.  I did not have the opportunity to sit with the girls in their huddles and hear everything they had to say, but I did receive a little card that told me three of my girls had rededicated their lives!  Yes... I know I was meant to take these girls to this camp.  The last night of the camp the speaker said she hoped we would take the way we felt home with us and keep our spirit alive we were feeling that night.  My final affirmation that this was right for the girls was when I was standing in a store and a mother came and told me how her daughter had gotten the Bible and shared with her some verses, told every aspect of the camp, and gave detail by detail descriptions of the testimonies presented.  Thank you God for giving us the opportunity to bond together not only over cheerleading, but over Your word.  It was a great week... and I actually wish we could do it again!  :)

Sawgrass Part 2

 For as long as I can remember... I have hated feet.... I don't like them to touch me... I hate mine... they are short, fat, and nothing about them is appealing.... I guess my foot fear was started at a young age.... This toe that you can see... was photographed by the person it belongs to....I would never take this picture... and just because HE took the picture...I am posting it... I do hope everyone who see this will go to his facebook page and give their thoughts on it.... I think the only hope is amputation, but he continues to dig and pick....on a daily basis.... He usually gives us an update at Mama's on Sundays after lunch.... G R O S S....this isn't Mark's toe... Daddy doesn't know how to run a camera.... and Jim and Cole had already gone home when this was taken... I would never reveal who it belongs to because it may jeopardize his business....who would want to deal with this???? Anyway...this is real!

 My two precious babies at the beach for the first time in several years!

 Two peas in a pod....they could both be cats...you know... have someone bring them food... sleep all day... and watch tv!

 James and Thomas didn't have their mama with them this week.... Christie had surgery so I made sure I got their pictures for her to remember the trip by!

 He is winking.... precious...if only he was as sweet as he looks!

 Almost as tall as her mama!

 Mark wasn't coming due to work, but look who surprised us!  I think he just wanted to avoid the ride down with the other 12 of us!

 Mama was supposed to be on lifeguard duty....

 Oh how I wish this picture didn't show my fat legs.... I have always said if I could cut one of my legs off.... and split the other in half.... I would be a happy person.... thank goodness KB doesn't have my shape right now!

 Letting the water run through their feet!

 Precious Jamesy..... never complaining...except when he is hot!

 Mark decided to throw chips on the beach when we were leaving.... in seconds 20 or more birds were attacking us... .he thought it was so funny!

 They didn't want their picture taken...but James has been around Christie enough to know to smile!  Love it!

 I love this picture with Daddy and the babies....

 Guille and I felt the children needed some education on this trip!  We took them to the big fort in St. Augustine... They were miserable, but they really did learn a little something!  You can tell by all their faces that they would have rather been playing Nintendos!

 Ben thought the worker needed a little help changing the light bulb... He and James supervised him!

 On the way home I stopped in the middle of the road to take this.... Booma is always with us....even on vacation!

 Guille and I took the children to a restaurant on the beach on the way home from St. Augustine!

 Yes....a shark on the beach!

 The children enjoyed the pirate party on the last night of the convention much more than Mama and Daddy did....They stayed out until 11 dancing and running around....They brought this hat back to Daddy in the room who was already in the bed... We made him wear it for pictures!  I am sure he was ready for us to get out so he could go back to sleep!

I have a few more pictures from my phone that I will post later~  We headed back toward home yesterday and the family dropped me off in Savannah to go to a conference with Mark!  Great trip...memories of  a lifetime.... and smiling children!  Perfect week!

Huddle House Convention 2012 Sawgrass

 For some reason this first picture should be the last, but.... my life is a little like that now...all twisted... one thing here....one thing there.... dear school.... let's start so I can't get these wheels off my butt!  :)

 Each year Mama and Daddy attend the Huddle House Convention.  They go as a vendor for Franklin Insurance.  This year's event was at Sawgrass~ Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.... near St. Augustine.  We left on Sunday and headed down for the pool, the beach, and some alligators!  All the Mattison grands.... I wouldn't let them in the water until they smiled!

 

Sis thinks she is too grown to do a lot of things these days... but that middle school guard came down when she saw the waves and jumped right into the water.  My children haven't been to the beach to play in the ocean since they were old enough to do it without life jackets.... we travel during the summer, but not to the beach... Call us bad parents... I feel guilty!

 Ben thought the ocean was wonderful... He would have stayed 24/7 if we let him! 

 These two had a blast playing!

 Many, many moons ago.... when I was in college, we were headed home from Daytona Beach and Daddy pulled into the Alligator Farm.  He said he wanted to show me where a monkey got after him when he was a little boy.  We visited and saw all the gators~  With Swamp People the favorite show of the little boys, we knew we had to go to the Alligator Farm for another visit!  Ben got to hold a gator and a snake... yuck... they all had a turn!

 Inside the Alligator Farm...didn't realize that Ben was shooting one until I uploaded this picture... he watches too much tv!

 Back to the beach...???? The lifeguard!

 Snake and alligator....yuck!

 Holding a gator....

 Can't believe Sis did this... I would never!

 Thomas didn't mind!

 And James.... how precious is that smile... he loved it!

 Julianne isn't afraid of the devil....so why would she be afraid of a gator!!!

 She was brave enough to hold both!

 For those of you who know Dabo, our boxer, this picture is in honor of him... notice the teeth!

 What started as a family, friendly game of Spades ended up with a cut-throat, card slapping game of revenge with Mama and Daddy being the ring leaders!  You can tell Cole is losing at this point by the look on his face!  He and Guille were partners....I just have to say....I believe that Cole takes after Guille... their eye signals give away all the cheating tactics!

 Mama, Daddy, and all their favorites!

 We ate at Santa Maria Restaurant after the Alligator Farm... Yelp said it wasn't that good of a restaurant, but we went for the atmosphere...child friendly.... the children LOVED IT!  (The adults did too... the food was delicious.... don't always believe yelp)