First day of school

Yes, I realize that the first day of school was over two weeks ago.  But I might remind some of you that I was still on bedrest at that point recovering from surgery.  Even so, I did get some precious pictures of my kiddos, if I do say so myself.  Even Maggie started school.  And she loves it.  Not a tear.  Instead, when she sees me bring out her backpack, she insists on putting it on and heads straight to the door.  A true Holt girl, indeed.

Ann Park - 1st grade

Ward - 2nd grade

Sam - 4K

my boys

the three musketeers

Neighborhood kids (and this is not nearly all of them!)

walking to school together

Ward and Mrs. Norville

Ann Park and Miss Anderson

Sam walking into school

hugging on old, favorite teacher!

Sam and Mrs. Nanos

Maggie on her first day (the day after everyone else's first day)

Maggie - young 2 year olds

4th of July

So this is a little bit out of order chronologically, but I just realized that I didn't post anything from our week at the lake over July 4th.  After we got Ward back from his month at Camp Alpine we spent a week at the lake.  Unfortunately, it was a pretty rainy week but the kids made the best of it, as always. It wasn't a complete washout and the older kids got to go to a camp at Willow Point and they loved it.  They had so much fun playing all the games and especially doing the crafts.  Ward made plenty of traps for animals (and got lots of chiggers and poison sumac in the process) and we just made the best of it.  We went to Auburn and saw a movie and just had fun being together.  The cabin was a little close for comfort and we ended up leaving a day early just to give mom and dad a break from all the chaos, but I think that they missed us once we left!!

Maggie loves putting on my shoes (and anyone else's shoes for that matter!)

On the way to Camp at Willow Point

My precious girl

learning how to work the camera like a true Holt

This might be my favorite picture from the week.  Ward and Maggie have a special bond and I think that this picture captured a little bit of magic between these two!

Proud to be an American!!!

We did lots of crafts on the porch

See my art??

How precious is this little girl?  Ann Park took this picture of Maggie sitting with me like a big girl at the table.  She was so pleased with herself!

Ward had a great time jumping on the Lily Pad, which is essentially a huge piece of styrofoam that floats and the kids can jump on it kinda like a trampoline on the water

See what  I mean about the posing?

Always rockin'

 

Mid-jump

Having fun, as always

Ann Park really got into tubing and didn't let a little rain slow her down!

He loves tacky Walmart shirts  . . . whats a mom to do?

Daddy and daughter. . . so sweet

This is pretty special.  I love this girl.

Loving on their sister

In Papa's underwear!!

Random July pictures

Here are some random pictures from July.  I love plugging my phone into the computer and seeing what I find.  Ann Park and Sam are hysterical and Maggie keeps me smiling all the time.  Ward seems to avoid the camera more than the other three but we have some good ones from our family vacation in Cashiers, NC that I will post later!

Ann Park had a great swimming season.  Here she is with one of her favorite babysitters who took her to a swim meet.

Susan and Madison Morris sent her a bunch of Camp DeSoto t-shirts and she LOVES them.  

Even Sam got into the act of wearing the DeSoto t-shirts!

Ann Park and her best friend, Julia, who spent the night after Ann Park's birthday party.

The Morris family sent Ann Park this precious Lily Pulizer dress for her birthday and she put it on immediately and wore it as her birthday dress!

Stylin in my sunglasses

first set of pigtails!  pleased as punch

view from the side

I think that they are so cute . . . now if I can just keep her from pulling them out!

Ann Park's birthday

I know that it has been over a month since I have posted anything.  Summer can do that to a girl.  But as I find myself on bed rest (more on that later) I seem to have some time on my hands.  And I am trying to catch up on things that I can do from my reclined position.  So I will play catch up.

Ann Park turned 7 on July 20 and she had a great birthday.  The last few years she has had pool parties and we were always worrying about rain.  So this year I told her that she needed to have an INDOOR party.  After convincing her that she really didn't want to have a roller skating party, she decided on a pottery painting party.  She invited only girls but a couple of brothers tagged along to keep Ward company.  We were also lucky enough that Kit and her girls stayed an extra day to come to the party.  Ann Park LOVED having them here to share her fun day!

the invitation (all chosen by Ann Park)

So happy to see daddy!!

Ann Park and a precious friend

Ward and Louise - happy cousins

precious Hope McCaffrey!!

having fun painting pottery

Louise and Cher Cher

Cake time!!

Batman Sam definitely had fun!!

The Fence

I read this tonight and needed it.  Thought that one of you who have stopped by might too . . .

(I promise for some real, Holt updates soon.  Life has my by the ears right now!)


The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.” You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

- Author Unknown

Miss Noto

This is a video put together by our beloved kindergarten teacher, Miss Noto.  She has been in Aouth African since June and will be there through January (at least) on a mission trip, teaching 7th grade.  BUt as her blog shows, she is doing so much more than nust teaching these kids.  Her journey is truly amazing and it moves me every time I read it. 

I am in the process of collecting old clothes and shoes to send to her in South Africa.  I feel like it is the least that I can do.  I do not understand why we live in a world where so few of us (myself included) have so very much and so many have so very little.  I know that there is really nothing that I can do to change that or change the reality that is their lives, but if these clothes help a few children stay warm or not have to go barefoot, that is a very small step in the right direction.