First day of school fun

The Kinney crew ready to walk out the door...the boys SO graciously allowed me to photograph them! A new Jr. Higher and a new Highschooler! We cannot believe it!

Three cute girls (the PINK ladies) getting ready to go to class...Emma to fourth grade and Madeleine and Grace off to a full day of first grade!

Emma has Mrs. Zaage this year and she is a real gem! She is creative and loving and enjoys her class so much.

Madeleine loves Mrs. Graham...she is energetic and full of fun ...Madeleine does say that seven hours at school is too long...we think so too!!

May you always have work
for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always
a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright
on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain
to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend
always be near you.
And may God fill your heart
with gladness to cheer you.

~Irish Blessing

Twas the night before school...

Okay...they are ALL in bed...asleep?? I don't think so...the excitement is OOZING out their bedroom doors...they all looked a little like our friend above!

Here is a little ditty from Natasha Wing:

Twas the night before school
and as they prepared,
kids were excited
and a little bit scared.

They tossed and they turned
about in their beds,
while visions of school supplies
danced in their heads.

Erasers and crayons
and pencils galore
were stuffed in their backbacks
and set by the door.

Out fits were hung
in the closets with care
knowing that school
soon would be there.

In the morning it came-
school starts today!
Would the teacher be nice?
Would they still get to play?

Faces were washed,
and teeth were brushed white;
kids posed for pictures
with eyes sparkling bright.

Parents packed snacks,
and kids hopped in cars
as if they were boarding
a spaceship to Mars.

The teacher then greeted
each one with a smile,
and invited the students
to stay for awhile.

When what to her wondering eyes
should appear
but sad moms and dads
who were holding back tears!

Their noses - so sniffly!
Their eyes - red and wet!
This was the saddest good bye
Ms. Teacher had seen yet!

The children all waved
from the door of the school.
"Don't cry, Mom and Dad;
School is just too cool!!"

Annabelle's Wish

Check out this accomplished and beautiful young lady! I have "known" her mother through an internet family group for years and they do the most amazing work ministering to an orphanage in China. Haley has a heart for the Chinese children that are left behind...hear from her below.






Hey everyone! My new single "Annabelle's Wish" is a song I wrote for my mom's organization called Annabelle's Wish. It tells the story of a little girl named Annabelle. She was a special needs little girl in a tiny orphanage called Shizhong. She passed away a couple of years ago and we wanted to do something for her, but we didn't know what. So we named our organization after her. Now, a couple years later I wrote a song for her. It tells everyone how much she wanted a family, and how happy she would be if she only had a bowl, or clean water. The organization Annabelle's Wish is dedicated to helping children in orphanages like her, and even if we can't give them all homes we can at least make their days a little brighter.



All proceeds of the single go to Annabelle's Wish. We use the money we receive for food, clothes, medical needs, surgery, and education.

If you would like to buy a copy of the CD, please email annabelleswish95@aol.com and we will get the information to you soon as possible.

http://www.annabelleswish.blogspot.com/

Y'all come back now, hear??

We headed down to good old Tennessee for vacation and really had the GREATEST time. Excellent time AWAY and spent together as a family. All the kids had their idea of WHAT would be fun for vacation and this one had something for everyone!

Good fun, good food, quality time together = SUPERIOR VACATION!
We are grateful for the memories we made and the opportunity to do it!


Nate loves SCARY stuff and he got to go on a Haunted Adventure...I went with him...I hate scary movies but have always loved haunted houses and rides...Nate screamed and screamed through the whole thing and then when we walked out wanted to do it again!


You can't be South without playing some HILLBILLY GOLF! This is an awesome course as you are taken up the mountain on a trolley and then golf down the mountain...pretty cool stuff. We did it late at night which added to the fun!!


ALL the kids (except Sam, he is too short) loved riding the go carts...they would do it over and over if we let them...Our Daddy has a "NEED FOR SPEED" too so he is always up for some racing!


We went to the Aquarium and Sam was just mesmerized by the sharks...we bought him some plastic sharks and he SO ENJOYED having them at the pool. Sam is always happy when he is near the water!

Mitchell challenged Bob to some pool playing each morning after breakfast and they had a good competition going on!

Emma is quite the mermaid and we were in and out of the pool 2-3 times daily. Our hotel had three different pools so, of course, we had to try them all. After watching Olympic swimming Emma was trying to improve her freestyle time. :)

Alert!!! School NEWS!

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT make light of gathering school supplies or RUNNING at top speed to the school window to discover FIRST...WHO your new teacher will be and SECOND ...WHO will be your classmates for the next nine months of your life!! Aunt Tami alerted us to the news that the classes had been posted and the house went on HIGH ALERT! The girls have friends over and there were long discussions and hot debate about how Jimmy should NOT be in the same class as Jenny as they FIGHT and how Amber should not be in the same class as Susan as they talk WAY too much and that Joseph is gross "'cause he wiped boogers on his desk!!!!" (That grosses me out too...I need a look at this kid and will send in EXTRA antibacterial wipes!)

I say to them all....WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!! We still have EIGHT more days until school starts...we still have some swimming and ice cream eating to do!!!!

Summer FASHION show...Madeleine style!

This motley crew is dressed up and ready to celebrate Madeleine's big day!


Madeleine celebrated her birthday with a Fashion Show party and had the best day. She invited friends over in dress up clothes and they did some runway walking, some judging and a lot of giggling and running around! (Patty, thanks for making the cute invitations!)


Madeleine and Meghan being cute!


After a Daddy's Day Out and a party the birthday girl is FAST asleep! I love it that she fell asleep with her birthday crown and earrings on AND her favorite gift...her new Webkinz snake...ZIGGY...look close in her left hand!!! She loves that snake!

Fruity Frenzy!!!!!

In the last six months I have really concentrated on "cleaning up" my grocery shopping. I have been reading books on chemicals, additives, artificial sweeteners etc. trying to make healthier choices for my family. My family has been MOSTLY willing participants to my "changing up" their snack/food fare for healthier choices. Don't get too worried, we still eat are goodies but just trying to make them from healthier ingredients. My kids get their fair share of sweets!

Well, we were in Walmart the other day and Mitchell came up to me with this box of Fruity Pebbles...we got home and it got put in the pantry shelf and promptly was forgotten...THIS MORNING...Nate pulled out the box and all the kids saw it at the same time and suddenly that box was attacked and consumed in a matter of SIX MINUTES FLAT!!I tell you it was like a swarm of locusts had descended down into my kitchen!!!!!
If I had had my video camera handy I feel certain I would win a cash prize that would pay for ALL my children's college educations!!!!

Best wishes to dear friends...

What a beautiful and enjoyable day! Our friends, Kari and Dave, were married today and we were able to make the trip to witness it first hand! The weather was perfect for a wedding and the church was beautiful. Truly a lovely wedding and for two very special people!