Summer is Winding Down!

We're on our last week of summer! Last night, Madison had her open house, so we got to go meet her teacher and all that good stuff. She is moving over to the Intermediate School for 5th grade this year, so she's really excited! We got to her class and her very best friend's desk was right beside hers! They were thrilled! Most all of the kids were in her class last year or the year before, so I know she's going to have a great year. One thing I really loved is that her principal said that these kids are still considered to be in elementary school and therefore no girls would be allowed to wear makeup.....they are not trying to let our kids grow up before their time. I love that!

I took some pics of the girls before we left. Kaylee will get to meet her teacher tomorrow.
Madison is really growing up. Her whole face and everything has changed just since I started this blog! :( I sure do love her though! She told me the other day that she really loved hanging out with me. I hope she will always feel that way. I never went through a phase where I didn't want to be around my mom, so I think that whole idea that teens and moms can't be friends is just not true. My Mom and I always had a mutual respect. She respected my independence as long as I respected that she was my Mom and I was to always obey her, always ask permission before going somewhere, always had to let her know where I was going and who I was with, and be home when told.
I plan to raise my girls the same way. As long as they are respecting what I ask them to do, they will have independence. I pray that I raise them to follow Jesus, and that will take care of any issues they might face when I'm not there.
I am taking any and all advice from you Moms out there who have already raised your teens!
Today, we made our annual summer visit to Aunt Barbara's house to visit with the girls!
For those of you who prayed and helped me raise money with my "Notecards for Zach", well here is a special picture to see just who that money helped. Zach is a year old now and doing great! What a precious miracle!
He is such a happy baby. He is still gaining strength and is still on his special formula to help him grow as much as possible, but he is on his way!
Zach is kind of outnumbered by girls in this family. :D
We have Kaylee, Madison, Emarie, Zach, Thia, Anistyn, and Lily.
Emarie and Thia are Aunt Barbara's nieces, Anistyn is her granddaughter, and Zach is her grandson. When I'm over there, I love that they call me "Aunt Kristin" even though I'm not really their Aunt. =)
We had a fun day together! The fact that I live near Aunt Barbara, who is my birth mom's sister, is so special to me. My Mom never tried to keep me from my biological family and when my Dad's job moved us here to Baytown, it turned out my Aunt Barbara lived nearby and we began to really get to know one another, which has been a gift from God after losing my Mom and my Dad moving away. God has plans for us, and He never leaves out those tiny details. I have no doubt that is exactly why He moved us here. God is SO good!