We finally got the photos from Nutcracker, so here they are. Paige is in the pink dress.

The next picture was taken today. The boys have been fishing/studying for French. Clay has a French vocabulary quiz tomorrow, and for the first time all year I think he is really prepared for it! (Thanks, Simon!)
Last night was also a lot of fun. Clay had a few friends over, and we made "bubba burgers" and had potato salad, baked beans, and chips. After that nutritious all American meal, the kids sat by the fire pit and made s'mores. Simon apparently does this in France also. I asked him what they call them, and he looked at me like I was crazy and said, "marshmallows". Ha Ha. :)

I haven't written in a few days because we have had a virus running rampant around our house. First Paige, then Clay, and finally me. Naturally, I had it the worst. Thankfully, so far Tim has managed to avoid it (mostly by avoiding me!!).

Simon arrived last night, and we are so glad he is here! Clay especially. The boys are great friends, and laugh and snicker like only teenage boys can! These pictures were taken out on the dock earlier today. The boys went out to fish and study French. We have assigned to Simon the task of making sure Clay studies...
and Simon is a TOUGH taskmaster! Thhe photo below is him quizzing Clay on his French vocabulary, and then making him write each one he missed ten times each!! Does it make me a bad mother that I think this is hilarious?? Simon is taking this all very seriously, because we have told both boys that unless Clay's French grade improves dramatically, he will not be going back to France this year!
Tonight Clay is having a couple of friends over for hamburgers and to meet Simon. After the All-American dinner, they will hang out by the fire pit and make s'mores. After tonight, I will start introducing vegetables into our menu once again....

Paige's Words:

My toes are cold. I scrubbed out my bathtub and my feet got wet and now they are cold. Really cold. My back hurts. It is because of the brace. It makes me bend the other way - and it hurts! It is a really pretty color though. I have been wearing it most of the night which is pretty good. Usually for at least 8 or 9 hours.

I think I got a 100 on my reading quiz. Our homeroom teacher has been sick all week, and we had a scary substitute. She is mean! We are learning about China in History and about arachnids in Science. A boy in my Science class picked up one of the rabbits (class pet) and it pooped all over him!! HA HA HA! :)

That's all my news. TTFN

Clay's Comments:

I hate homework. I can't wait until 6:30 - taekwondo (even though I am really sore from Saturday)!! I have sooo much homework tonight. Every subject. Homework.

I am looking forward to my friend Simon coming on Friday. He will be here for two weeks. He will come to school with me some of the time. It will be nice for him to meet my friends.

Must go do homework. Blah.

Those ten things about me.....

I have been thinking a lot about those ten things about me...I couldn't really think of anything, so had Paige do it. Well, it really bothered me that I couldn't come up with 10 things about myself...so I have thought and pondered and THIS is what I came up with....10 totally random and useless bits of information about me (by ME!)

1. I am a native Floridian...actually a 6th generation Floridian. My family has been in Florida since before the Civil War.

2. I hate being late. It drives me crazy and really stresses me out. I obsess over being on time, hence I am almost always early.

3. I am a Leo.

4. I love to travel. The entire family does. I am hoping that Tim and I can go to Rome sometime soon. One of my favorite cities is London. No matter how many times I have been there, I never feel like I have sen everything. I have also always wanted to go to Egypt. I am fascinated by ancient Egypt and love reading about it.

5. Tim and I talk at least once a day - no matter where he is. We have done this since we were dating. I think I can count on one hand the number of days we have gone without talking to each other.

6. Since Tim began bringing home good French wine, I have become something of a wine snob.

7. I love the smell of pine-sol. I'm not really sure why...maybe it just smells like "clean" to me...unfortunately, my family has figured out that if they swish a little pine-sol around I will think they have been cleaning....

8. I am the oldest child in my famly and therefore am a "rule follower"...big time!! I drive Tim crazy with my adherence to the rules, no matter what....

9. I am not adventurous at all. I am really a big scaredy-cat....I don't like roller coasters, freak out at the beach if I go past my knees (worrying about sharks...which is what happens when you see Jaws at age ten), in the lake worry about alligators.....

10. One of my pet peeves is people who do not use the English language correctly...in particular, people who say "noo-cyu-lur" in stead of "noo-clee-ar" (nuclear).....aarrrggghhhh!!!!

So...there you go, it wasn't easy for me - but I managed to come up with 10 things!