Neighborhood Friends

Finally, the air conditioner is off (at least for a couple of days) and the windows are open for some fresh air! Tonight was another beautiful evening! There have been very few evenings since school has started that we have not gotten home and McKenna has darted straight out the door to play with the neighbor boy, Kieran. He and McKenna play so well together. He is so darn cute...he is always coming over ringing the doorbell wanting to play. Although they are a couple of years apart, McKenna still enjoys playing outdoors with someone. She is the mother hen of Kieran and his two year old sister McKenzie. Tonight there were a couple of other neighbors playing. We provided the neighborhood with popsicles (which they all loved) and they provided the swingset. I got a few pictures of them all being silly! I certainly hope that this weather continues for a few more weeks! I love it!!!

Kieran, Katarina, McKenna, & Joey eating popsicles

Picture # 2
Playing upside down on the love seat giggling hysterically

Second Grade & Bounce Mania

What a crazy, busy week! McKenna and I survived our first week of school, while Doug started his teacher work days on Thursday and Friday. He will start with students on Monday. McKenna loves her teacher and is looking forward to going everyday. In fact, a breakthrough happened this week...McKenna popped right out of bed each morning with no crying or fighting. I am so proud of her for this milestone. I think that this truly means she is growing up. This is making our mornings much more smooth. Allison started her senior year at DeKalb on Tuesday and has been having a good golf season; although, they just had their first dual match loss in 63 ROUNDS! This is her first dual loss of her high school career. Meanwhile, Dane will be starting his sophmore year at IPFW on Monday.
To unwind from the busy week, Doug and I decided to take McKenna to the Canlan Ice Sports Arena to check out the bounce mania that they have in one of the rinks. I heard about it through a couple of different people, but we just haven't had the opportunity to go there. It wasn't too terribly expensive ($7.00 for McKenna and we got an adult pass for free) and McKenna had a blast. In fact, adults can get on the inflatable courses, as well. I attempted this, but didn't last real long. However, prior to arriving I assumed that it would be in a separate section of the arena from the ice rinks. Boy, was I incorrect! It was in the rink and it was FREEZING!!! I strongly recommend that you wear sweats and a sweatshirt if attending this fun place. We will definitely be going back again. Below are some pictures from the first day of school and bounce mania.

McKenna's first day of Second Grade (all smiles)

So proud of that book bag
First trip down the slide

Posing at the top of the slide for a quick picture

Making the climb...

at the bottom...going head first.

Peeking through the turnstyles...

That obstacle course took the wind out of me!!! (I am too old to keep up!!)

Race to the top...

I lost!!!

God is GOOD!!!

This weekend we have been praising our good Lord above that Doug got a job! He was hired at South Side High School on Friday afternoon to teach Math. We also are pretty confident that he will be coaching the Northrop girl's basketball team as well; however, that will be determined after he has the opportunity to talk with the administration at South Side to confirm they are okay with him teaching at South and coaching at Northrop. We thank all of the wonderful family and friends that have prayed for something good to happen this summer. He will begin his new position starting Monday with professional development.
Meanwhile, we already had plans to have a back to school party with family and friends at Randy and Marilyn Dunbar's home. It ended up being a great evening to celebrate. We had a fun time with everyone and the food was delicious! Thanks for being great hosts, Randy and Marilyn! (I have included a few pictures of the little kids from the evening.)

Garrett (McKenna's future boyfriend! Ha Ha! Boy, he is cute though!)

Brielle sitting on Memaw's lap doing sparklers
Shannon and Camden loving on one another...chocolate and all!

Today, McKenna returned home from her dad's! I am so happy to have her back as this past week was her last week being there for the summer. I had a day of back to school clothes shopping planned for her so we spent all afternoon together trying to find a few things. I didn't go too hog wild because she really needs more winter clothing than anything, so as those clothes become more readily available we will go again. We were on a mission to get two more school suppy items that we hadn't gotten prior...a lunchbox and a (cheap) pair of gym shoes. We were successful with both. We actually got a Vera Bradley lunchbox and then ended up buying a matching tote to go with it. I am a sucker! However, we did find Nike shoes for $19.99. (Now that is my kind of shopping.) Everything else was extremely cheap too. Jeans at Old Navy for $10.00, etc. Below are some pictures of her posing with her new items. I think she is officially ready to go to school. In fact, she has all of her clothes picked out for the week! She is growing up so quickly right before my eyes.

McKenna with her new Vera Bradley tote and lunchbox

Posing with her new clothes

Her new $13.00 Jessica Simpson flats from Von Maur

Up close picture of her items

More pictures to follow later this week from her first day of school! Have an enjoyable week!

Random Pictures/Updates

Well, it has been a couple weeks since I have posted something! I apologize...McKenna has been with her dad and there really hasn't been anything that we have done that required taking pictures, so I decided to post some random pictures from the summer just so you have something to look at.
School is back in full swing for me even though we haven't officially started. I have been working really hard to get everything done prior to school starting. My job is still the same as last year; however, my responsibilities have increased drastically due to our district money crunch and trying to cut costs where possible. While I understand it, I am going to use my Hallmarks Training to make sure there is separation with job and family time. I believe that McKenna is ready (although she will tell you differently) to go back. She is excited to know that she has Mrs. Weaver at Lakewood Park, whom she had in Kindergarten. I am hoping for another great year like the previous two. As for Doug...where do I begin. The rollercoaster ride that we have journeyed this summer has taken its toll on us! We go from thinking that Doug might be hired to having nothing. Honestly, the last two weeks has been nothing less than emotionally draining. As of last Friday evening, FWCS called Doug and said that they didn't have a postion for him. ( I think I cried for two days straight as I feel so badly for him. He has taught for 24 years and never been in this postion and is fearful if he doesn't get hired this year he will never be hired again.) Needless to say, we were pretty devastated as nothing else up to that point had panned out. They (FWCS) said that things could possibly change over the next two weeks, but we definitely aren't/weren't holding our breath with anything that they have said. So...back to the drawing board! While we continue to wait, we have decided that Doug has to apply for jobs in the Lafayette area and the Valpo area where his sister and parents live in order to find something. He will just have to move and McKenna and I will stay here. Last evening we caught wind of a high school job that had just opened at Valparaiso High School, so Doug applied and we will wait to see if something happens there. Meanwhile, the principal from South Side called and they now want an interview with Doug tomorrow at 1:30. I pray that something good happens out of this. He didn't even apply for this position (except for two months ago when he was allowed), so the surprise that comes with this phone call leaves us with a little hope. He interviewed with Central Noble today, and they offered him the coaching position but they don't have a teaching position, so they told him if he would be willing to be a TIA for one year (with crappy pay) then they will have a position for him next year. We just have to decide if we can financially do this for one year. So...more to come soon. Prayers are very much welcome at this time!!! The roller coaster needs to come to a screeching halt!

Dane teaching Brittany how to golf!

Riding ponies at the zoo
McKenna and her friend Olivia

On the train...all smiles

Maddie and McKenna posing

Dierks Bentley

Last evening, Doug and I attended the Dierks Bentley concert at the Firekeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was a really nice outdoor stage, and it was great weather. A friend of mine invited us to attend, and we had a fantastic time! We have really tried to be a little cautious about activities that we partake in lately since we are still uncertain about Doug's job status, but we decided since we have been fairly frugal over the summer that we could splurge a tad and go to this concert. We are both huge country music fans and Mel had great seats. We were in row 8, right in the center of the stage. It reminded us of going to Nashville for the CMA Music Fest where we were in row 5. Dierks came out playing his guitar and threw the pick out into the crowd. Apparently nobody saw this black pick except for me! It landed on the chair in front of the people standing next to us and I grabbed it. I got some crazy stares, but I got over that really quickly. Prior to walking out to the concert, we decided to play the penny slots for a little while. Doug didn't have much luck, but I put $5.00 in and ended up cashing out at $50.00. I was ahead $45.00! Pretty good for never playing before. However, after the concert we decided to test our luck again. Not a good idea! We lost $20.00 and decided to stop while we were still ahead. It was great fun and a really clean place. I definitely recommend this place if you want something to do. It isn't that far from Fort Wayne and was something a little different to do. The only downfall was that you could smoke in the building. Overall, it was a fun night! Thanks, Mel for the invitation! We are looking forward to getting McKenna back tonight.