The Boys are Back!

It is so darn hot here you cannot hardly do anything outside-but the boys are back in town! I am talking Texas High School Football! Great game last night- Westwood Vs. Cedar Park Timberwolves.  Boy did Cedar Park timber.  Westwood won 21-13. The band looked great in their new uniforms and Connor is having such a good time on drum line this year.  Mainly because he gets to drive to and from school and band practice. Oh and speaking of that he is now driving Kirk's Rodeo because finally Kirk bought a car this week.  He bought a Mazda 6- cute, cute car.  He really wanted a BMW, but with one more kid to put through college, we decided this was not a good move right now.  The Mazda 6 is a little sporty, so he is happy.  We have a friend who is the operations manager for a Mazda dealership and he set us up pretty good,  so it was hard to turn down.  I love my Mazda and he now loves his.  All is in balance again with three drivers and three cars.  So it is almost September and the boys are back- now we just need some cool weather! Just for your information, we heard it was 106 degrees on the football field last night.  Come on cold fronts!

Good Looking Car!

My Little Drummer Boy!

The Rainbow Connection

Rainbow Connection

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbow's are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
Believe it
But i know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me.....

This is the first verse from one of my favorite songs and Kermit the Frog sings it!  I am sure many of you know the song- but what does it really mean?  To me it is talking about connections we make in the world.  How many of the connections are just illusions and not real.  It is a song about hope and peace and anyway- rainbows make me happy. Well this week our school welcomes back 1000 students.  I am the 8th grade principal this year, so I have had my darlings for two years now and have some very strong connections to them.  I look forward to seeing them on Tuesday and how much they have matured and are ready for their 8th grade year.   Tomorrow we welcome over 300 6th graders at Ranger Round Up.  I look forward to the new connections I will make with these students and parents.  So in honor of "Rainbow Connections"  I have been wanting to bake a rainbow cake.  There are two types of rainbow cakes recipes going around the Internet.  There is the one with 6 layers- way too complicated for me and my simple butter cooking. I chose to make the two layer one with 4 colors.  So much fun and Kirk and Connor loved it!  To all my teacher friends out there- I hope you make that Rainbow Connection this year to that student that needs it the most.  After all - isn't that why we went into education! 

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Empty Nest and Adjusting

Well the empty nest for Kirk and I has begun.  Connor is still home but driving, so I do not have to be at his beckon call.  We had the whole weekend to ourselves and looked at each other this weekend and said what do we do? On top of it we were both exhausted from our work week.  So what did we do????  We slept, read, worked out, watched movies, saw a movie, household chores, laundry, worked a little bit and went to the grocery store.  Nothing very special other than peace and quiet and enjoying each others company.  I can't say I actually loved the peace and quiet because I love the chaos and noise of a big family.  I really miss the kids and grand kids.  Abbey is even on vacation in Rhode Island.  So the house is eerily quiet.  Kirk and I are adjusting and I am sure I will find new ways to bring " noise " in the house.  They will all be back for Labor Day Weekend and the first Westwood and Longhorn game.   So enjoy the noise when it is there and take the time to sit still and enjoy the peace and quiet.  I do believe those are the times God is speaking to us and I need to make myself be quiet and listen.  I might miss something important He is trying to tell  me.

Count your Blessings, Lynn

Autumn are you here yet?

It is hot, hot, hot here.  I cannot wait for the boys of football and cool nights.  We are all back in the swing of things at the Smith house.  I am back at work and Connor is back at band camp.  The great thing about this year is he gets to drive himself!  Yea!!!  Problem is we only have two cars here at home, so we we are constantly doing the car shuffle- more like I am doing the car shuffle and did not have a car at school this week.  Kirk plans on buying a new car- but doesn't know what he wants and hates the car note- so it will be a process and awhile before we have three cars again.  But, life is easy breezy with my last child at home.   We are enjoying the last few quiet weekends.  In a couple of weeks we will have Westwood, Texas, and Cowboy games and cooler weather ( well in a couple of months).  I can't wait!  Stay cool my Texas friends,  Autumn will be here before we know it!

I spent my last Friday off at the lake - working - in prep for our Content area retreat.  Language Arts is going over to a fellow teacher's lake house next week- she is living my dream! I went with two ELA teacher- I call them the Bobbsey twins because they are so funny and make me happy just to be around them (just like the Bobbsey Twin books did when I was a child).  Thanks Amy and Krista for "working" on your day off.  Thanks Sandra for hosting us!



                                                                                                                                                                                                        



Hanging out at the Hammock!





This is the area I want to move to- zero edge pool at the club house overlooking the lake!

Took a ride in a 1987 Donzi boat- too cool!