Oh The Adventures of Jack and Thatcher....

I don't know why we ever spend money on toys for them. It is SO true that they'd rather have the boxes they come in.....this box did not have a toy for them in it, but when we turned around to drag it to the trash we quickly discovered that it was being turned into a house in the basement! I LOVE that they haven't "outgrown" their imaginations in this world of game systems and computers! I hope they never do! These boys are no couch potatoes! They are active and creative! They were so proud of their work that they told me to go and get the camera so I could take pictures! ;0)

Winter????

Temperatures here are in the 60's, so it's not here....yet.....thank goodness! However, we ran to Target today and they had JUST put all of their snow suits and winter clothing out! When they put that stuff out, you have to jump on it! I try to buy slightly bigger for outerwear so they can wear it longer, but sadly this was the year they had outgrown EVERYTHING! YIKES! So, we racked up and we are physically ready for our first snow....not mentally though.....
Although, they did have the CUTEST hat and mittens for Margaret! That made it all worth it! ;0)
They still go outside for recess up here unless the temperatures are 0*! I would hate to be the teacher on duty in the freezing cold! So, if there is snow...I say "if"...more like WHEN there is snow, they have to put on snow pants, hats, gloves, snow boots, and coats before they can go out...that takes up like half of their recess time just getting ready. BUT they have contests and such to get them to speed up putting it all on because they have to be able to do it without help!It's funny because when I taught in Louisiana, we did NOT go outside if it was 40* or below!!! I remember how much of a pain it was just getting on jackets to go out! Funny how things change!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Margaret's First Fall 2008

Falls From The Past....

A Chunky Jack with chunky pumpkins (2001)

I was just looking at this picture again and had to chuckle.

You can totally tell he was our first born since he has a little blanket under him

so he won't get dirty sitting on the concrete! Just the other day I was holding Margaret

so she could stand up in the grass with her little bare feet...an infant of all things! ;0)

She loved the feeling of that grass! Poor Jack....but don't feel too sorry for him....he has by far made up for the few months of cleanliness with 6 years of dirt and sweat!

Fuzzy Thatcher on his fuzzy blanket (2003)

St. Luke's Pumpkin Patch Shreveport,La (2005)

Westview Orchards and Cider Mill Romeo,Mi (2007)

NO SOLICITORS....

At least once a week the doorbell would ring by way of a finger belonging to some poor soul selling something....I say "poor soul" because they were ensured an unsuccessful sale at the Ray home. I could smell them a mile away...their entire demeanor reeked of "salesperson" odor!

The straw that caused the new sign on my door was Alexander.....in major rhinestones of bling, his name was proudly displayed across the length of his shirt, although, it was difficult to see him through the thick cloud of CVS cologne encircling his body. It's 4:30 p.m. in the summertime. All 4 of us are at the door....me, Margaret, Jack, & Thatcher....He begins with "My....what a beautiful baby..." I respond with "Are you selling something?" He looks slightly offended seeing as he didn't have time to flash his entire set of teeth with a solicitor's grin....he says "No,.....I'm PROMOTING something." I quickly say "Well, I'm not interested." Poor Alexander. There shouldn't have to be other defeated salesmen at my doorstep. I was determined to save the pain and dignity of other salespersons.....so, I taped a "No Solicitors" sign to my frontdoor.
It's actually been educational. It was the vocabulary word of the week around here! I explained it multiple times to the boys including their little annoying friend down the street who showed up when the marker wasn't even dry yet wondering about it.....


My greatest joy came one evening when I was coming down the stairs and saw a girl walk up to the front door, stumble across my lovely sign, throw her hands up, and WALK AWAY before ringing the bell!
Yahoo! It was worth it all for that one moment! I danced a jig right there in the foyer...


I don't know what the deal is with salespeople....I know they have to make a living....but....I avoid them at all costs...I run from the girl scouts....I dash into Wal-Mart when the Salvation Army's bell ringer is looking the other way....but there is a saying somewhere about becoming what you dread the most....


With that said.......ANYBODY WANT TO BUY SOME POPCORN TO SUPPORT THE CUB SCOUTS??????? Email me if you are interested....I can email you a run down of the products. Send me a check and we'll mail you your order at our expense to make sure Jack gets the credit.
Hey, and.....we appreciate your business...we couldn't exsist without supportive customers like yourself......thank-you in advance for supporting the cub scouts.......
;0)

Margaret....getting bigger....

The Rays

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Everyday Ramblings.....

Our lives are no doubt busy! School is in full swing. Both boys are playing soccer. Jack is starting Cub Scouts. AWANA has begun again at church. Chris and I are both in Bible Studies. Margaret is just going with the flow!!



Life is good....hard,but good!.....and I can honestly say....I'm starting to like it up here....I know....several reading this including my husband just gasped out loud......it's NOT the south. My heart will ALWAYS be rooted in Louisiana!! I miss my family TERRIBLY....I could do without the cold and snow up here, but I could do without the intense heat and humidity down there!! We've found such a great group of friends in our Sunday School Class.....that's answered prayer right there!! We really didn't have that so much down there...There is good and bad about EVERY place....do you choose to find the bad or the good? Do you dwell on the negative? Are you the world's best pity-party thrower? I wasn't brought up that way!! I have my down days and struggles, but I'm NOT a whiner and have little to do with those who do!! My Mom is the MOST positive woman I know!! She finds the good and funny in everything and I love that about her!!! That's the way we strive to be with our 3 as well!! There is no perfect life....or situation....or marriage....or children.....but you just press on, suck it up, & let God deal with it!!



Fall is in the air and I LOVE fall!! I love how God subtly begins the changing hues of the leaves at the tree tops....Have you ever noticed that? It causes us to look up! That's no accident!! If the leaves haven't yet begun to change where you are....keep looking up!! Watch for it! God gives us that gift no matter where we live!!

Well, clock is ticking and we've got places to be, but I'm so thankful I'm right where God wants me! There's no other place I'd rather be!

Dear Mom,

I'm so sorry for all of those times that I repeatedly said "Mom....mom.....mom....mom while you were on the phone. For not understanding that your hand wave was not a "hello", but more of a shooing gesture.....For whining and begging for things hoping that you would give in, so I'd go away!! I'm also sorry for following you into the bathroom....only to lie down on the floor to finish my conversation.....for not realizing that you were sitting for a reason, and not because you wanted to hear me sing and talk!!

Today, I was reminded of all of those times.....more like a De Ja Vu' except I was the mom and the child was a little blond haired boy! Yes, while I was on the phone today my name was said numerous times in a row along with "can I have a snack pleeeaaasssseeeeeee?" Yes, when I went to the bathroom today the door knob was twisting in time to a song being hummed! A matchbox car was rolled underneath the door frame.....then I was asked to pass it back.....

Today, it was payback...and I knew it....and I can only hope that one day this sweet little blond haired boy will have a de ja vu' and be paid back too!

Love,

Amy

First Day of PreK+.....

First thing this morning Thatcher said "I'm happy because I can't wait to go to school!" What soothing words to a mama who just wants them to be happy!! He really was excited! He had a great day and told me all about it! He got the usual first day treatment of lunch at Burger King and chocolate chip cookies! Of course, he gets out at 11:15 and was ready to go pick up Jack who doesn't get out until 3:56!! So, my shadow and I got a bit of a break from each other this morning, but after noon we were sewn back to the hips!! ;0) I love him though!!

"Of All The Things You Wear....

your expression is the most important!" ~ Janet Lane

The Rays Go To The Zoo....

is this the monkey exhibit?

1st Day of 1st Grade....

Jack started school today!

Little Boy Lost....

So, the lost boy and I made "Back 2 School Cookies"

When Thatcher woke up today, he remembered......he remembered that it was Jack's first day of school today, and he was sad. It was time for me to take Jack to school and we couldn't find Thatcher to tell him good-bye. He soon appeared, teeth brushed, fully dressed, racing to put on shoes, so he could go too!

On the way to school, Jack gave Thatcher many ideas of things that he could do at home while Jack was in school. Then Jack told him about all of the things that they could do together when he got home.....Thatcher listened intently...it was so sweet....I could barely see to drive.

After Thatcher and I left Jack in his class, he reached for my hand. Then he talked about Jack's first day of Kindergarten and how he remembered it.....it was so sweet....I could barely see to walk.....

This morning, I had a shadow....a little blond shadow who was completely lost without his brother....Today was a half day only, so at 10:30 AM Thatcher began the count down.

Jack is now at home and I no longer have a little blond shadow....but Jack does.....

FYI...Thatcher begins PreK 5 next week. He'll go M-TH in the mornings only....it's gonna be a long year for me......and my shadow!!