Crazy Busy!

Ok, it's "summer vacation" and I should have some free time, right? No way! It seems I've been busier than ever. Of course, everyone needs to have an evaluation. So, I have one scheduled for every free day. I've also been busy planning for the next school year. The good news is that I'm close to being done with that. I'll definitely be finished by the end of June. So, I'm really hoping that July will be a restful month before we start back to full-time school in August. I am dying to catch up on my scrapbooking and spend a little time around the pool. We've also been busy with dr's appointments and dentist's appointment, etc., etc.

Some awesome things have been going on in our lives, too. Greg got a new job working as a superintendent for Fabian Dinkins Construction in Ocala. He'll be supervising commercial projects. He's so excited to be working for this awesome Christian company. We also have contracts on our two rental houses and the lot next door to us. If all goes well, we will pay off our mortgage and be completely debt free! God sold all those properties in a 3-week period in an almost-dead real estate market in Citrus County after I told Greg we could go help launch a new church in the Phoenix, AZ area if we sold all the properties. I guess God really wants us to go to Phoenix! So, in September, all six Meahls will hop on a plane for Phoenix. Whoo hoo!

Now for pictures! Here is Carys in her new bike helmet so she can ride on the back of Mom's bike. Isn't she cute?




We just finished a special small group series at church. We attended a group at the house of some sweet people who have a farm and cows. The kids had a blast! Here is a picture of Chase at the farm!

Memorial Day

Well, this once-a-week posting is turning into once-every-two-weeks! I have a few minutes after a crazy week. Last week consisted of dentist/orthodontist/doctor appointments 3 days in a row, after which I left for the FPEA (homeschool) convention. This is the first year since my very first convention that I have gone with friends and stayed at the resort. It was wonderful! I went with two friends from church. What a blessing they both are to me! We left Saturday afternoon and drove straight to church since I was singing and playing the keyboards (for the first time!) that weekend. After practice, two services, and dinner, I finally arrived home at 10:00 p.m. to unpack. Then it was up the next morning, two more services, dinner and small group at the house of some more wonderful friends from church. Finally, we were home at 6:30pm. Today, Greg had to work in the morning. The kids and I spent the day getting ready to have more friends from church over for swimming and dinner. It was a great day, but on the heels of a busy week. I am ready for a break!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all those wonderful moms I know out there--those who have mothered me, those who have mothered my kids, those who have modeled Christlike mothering--I'm so thankful to God for all of you. Have a blessed Mother's Day!

Chase's Birthday

Chase was 9 yesterday, May 5th. It is hard to believe! She had a great day. Since her birthday was on a Saturday, she received lots of birthday wishes from her friends at church. Here she is before opening gifts in the morning.


This is a Knifty Knitter, her one most requested item. By Sunday afternoon, she'd already made a hat out of camo wool for Gerren.


Last year, the boys gave Chase a screen-printed "Sisters" shirt for her birthday. The first time I washed it, the design faded terribly. Although I expressed my dissatisfaction to the company, I received no reply from them. This year, a dear friend of ours from church who owns an embroidery business, made this shirt for Chase. Isn't it adorable? Chase was so surprised and thrilled!


Since Chase's birthday falls on Cinco de Mayo, every year we visit a Mexican restaurant. This year it was El Toreo in Ocala where we go to church. For a mere $10, Chase got a pie in the face and this sombrero. She loved it!

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Tired!

Well, it's been a few weeks since I've posted. I'm not even on the computer where my pictures are stored. I had a few new ones I wanted to post, but I've been SO busy! There's no relief in sight either until May is over anyway. School is slowing down a bit as we finish things up one by one. After two more weeks, the majority of our curriculum will be finished. Everyone will have a little math to finish up, and Gerren and Chase are going to continue Spell to Write and Read at a slower pace during the summer. But everything else will be done. Then it will be time to plan for next year and SCRAPBOOK! I have my pictures and ideas laid out on cardboard, but I'm several months behind at actually sticking things in my books. I MUST catch up this summer. Anyway, I hope to get some newer pics on this blog soon!

15 months old!

Carys is 15 months old today. It hardly seems possible.

It seems like yesterday when she was born.


She grew so quickly the first month.


By September, she was 9 months old and sitting up, laughing and playing!



Don't let this innocent face fool you! Now she is getting into everything and delighting us all with her newfound abilities.



She is definitely our glamour girl!

Easter

In order to provide an opportunity for everyone who wants to go to church on Easter weekend, our church has seven services: 2 Friday night, 2 Saturday night, and 3 Sunday. I sang and participated in a drama for all these services. Greg and the boys and Chase worked in the preschool or children's area for all except one when we actually attended service. Dress at our church is typically very casual so that people who have never stepped a foot in a church will feel comfortable there. However, many people dress up on Easter weekend. Carys received this gorgeous dress when she was born, and I've saved it for now. Thank goodness I had this little shrug. It was in the 30's in central FL on Easter morning!


Carys was in the nursery for all seven services and we are SO thankful for the wonderful workers who love on her!

After the last service on Sunday we headed to the Walker's Annual Easter Egg Hunt. They've been doing this for years, and the best thing for me is not having to cook dinner after this marathon weekend! We had a great time, as usual.

I caught Chase just turning around, and it looks like a glamour pose!


Landon told the true Easter story before the egg hunt started. Usually Greg does this, but Landon took over this year.



Landon also had the special privilege of playing the Easter Bunny this year! Carys seemed to like him very well when she was sitting on his lap, but...



...when Greg told Landon to talk to her to see if she would recognize his voice, she started screaming in fear. It tickled Greg so much, as you can see in this picture I just happened to catch!



We finally got home around 5:00 p.m., and my kids finally got to get into their baskets! Leaving home at 7:00a.m. didn't leave an opportunity for that Sunday morning, but they are so patient.

Gerren was the least patient, I think! They didn't get much candy this year because they just don't eat it. They did get Reese's Eggs, a favorite, and a chocolate cross. They each got a Veggie Tales DVD, too as we had fallen behind in purchasing those! It's funny how even Landon still loves those.



Landon wasn't interested enough in his basket to stop working on his blog, though!



Chase changed into a "casual" dress when we got home.



I look TIRED in this picture! Guess what? I was!


Okay, that's better! Carys didn't get any chocolate. She had gummy bunnies and bags of animal crackers, etc.