Another Summer Goes Bye -Bye

Wow! Can you believe that another summer has flown by!! The Lewis household has been busy with what else BASEBALL! Chase made all stars again this year. His team placed 2nd in state. Proud of him and the other boys. But really glad it's over and a new chapter begins. He will be moving up to 11/12 year old team.
We have also had fun swimming in the pool that our wonderful hubby/daddy put up in the back yard. It has sure came in handy with the HOT HOT HOT days of summer. I can't believe how high the temp has been.
We also had fun bowling this summer. I absolutely love the kids bowl free program. All I have to do is pay for shoes. So for $3.00 the boys get to bowl 2 games everyday!
I also had to set up a new classroom. I will be teaching 4th grade next year. So I had a lot of unpacking to do. I also had to set up a new room and redecorate. Now I have to learn some new things. Or should I say retrain myself on 4th grade math. There is a BIG difference when you teach 1st grade math. The exciting part is I will get the pleasure of teaching some of my formal 1st grade students. I got a sneak peak at my class list. I am excited to see some familiar names on there
With the end of summer comes the hustle and bustle  of buying new school clothes, shoes, and supplies. But also the hard part of getting everyone back on schedule. We have stayed up way to late and slept in way to much.
Zachary will be in the 7th grade. He loved TMS last year and is excited about a new school year. Chase will be leaving me at Wake Village and heading to 6th grade a TMS. I think he is excited not to have momma on the same campus as him. But what he doesn't realizes is a I still have teacher friends that will be keeping an eye on him. LOL. Our baby Garett will be in first grade with my former teammates. I know he will be in good hands. It is just hard on this momma to see her baby growing up.
So the time has came to say good bye to anther summer break and hello to a new year of learning, having fun, and making new friends. I am not always the best with change so say a little pray for me.
Until Next Time,
The Lewis Clan

Teaching Heart Give Aways!

Check out this great site and the back to school give aways. I have purchased items from here before. Great products and helpful resources for the classroom!

www.teachingheartmom.blogspot.com is the blog for great ideas and

www.teachingheart.net is the great website to purchase packets, CD's, or just get great ideas.

Winter Land~

We LOVED the snow last week. We had a blast playing, sledding, building snowmen, making snow ice cream, and just being together. I can't remember the last time we had so much snow. Most of the time it melts with in 24 hours. The boys loved it. I think we all loved the extra time off from school and work. We just wish Chuck could have been on break with us too.

Now it's back to reality. The boys have started basketball. School is in full swing. I can't believe the holidays are behind us. They go by way to fast. We had a GREAT Christmas. Even when the flu decided to camp out at our house. We made the best of it. The boys got most of all the things they asked for. The big hits were the xbox, bb gun, and ipod touches. That bb gun is still making me a nervous wreak. I feel like the mom on the Christmas story. BE CAREFUL YOU WILL SHOT YOUR EYE OUT! I can't believe the words were coming out of my mouth.

Garett is loving kindergarten. I am so impressed how far he has come over the past few months. He is getting way to big. BUT he still likes to remind me he is JUST a LITTLE boy. Of course he only pulls that card when he doesn't want to do something or he needs something. He is such a mess. But the cutest mess I have every seen!

Zachary is loving the middle school. He is the one that is transforming right before our eyes. He has changed so much in the past year. I can't believe before I know it I will have a teenager. Wow! Time flies! He amazes me how at times he seems so grown up. He is in that in between stage. Where he THINKS he knows it all and then other times he seems like a little boy again. I am not ready for the attitude to stay.

Chase is ready for 5th grade to be over. I don't think he realizes how different middle school is going to be. He is ready for baseball to start again. I miss it at times but not all the time it takes to do it. He is the one that has changed the least this year. But I know from Zachary in the spring time Chase will start transforming right before our eyes like his big brother did. I love that he still enjoys to snuggle with me. I am not ready to give that up yet!

I am headed to TCEA in Austin for a week in February. Be praying for Chuck! He will be home with the 3 boys all by himself. I know he will do just fine. I on the other hand have NEVER left the boys or Chuck for that long. I might be the one that needs the prayers.

Well I am off to see what the next adventure will be. The life of a mom of 3 boys is never dull! They keep me on my toes and keep me laughing. I would not want it any other way!

Boys, School, and Sports!

Been awhile since I have been able to take time to write a blog. The boys have been keeping us busy. Zachary is playing soccer, Chase is playing baseball, and Garett is being dragged to all the practices and games. Life could not be better. I just wish it would slow down a little bit.

The school year started off with a bang. Zachary is in 6th grade at the middle school. It was really hard on me to not have him on the same campus, but he loves TMS. He is getting to play golf and soccer at school. He is in all pre-ap classes. On his first report card he had straight A's! I could not be prouder. His homework in math is making me have to reteach myself a few things but he is doing really well.

Chase is apart of the student council this year. He likes getting to work the candy store and take down the flag. It was really good for him to get to be apart of that. He is doing well in school. He hates studying but he is being more responsible for keeping up with things. Which is good since next year he will join his older brother at the middle school.

Garett is loving kindergarten. I cried when I walked him to class for the first time. It was really hard to watch him grow up right before my eyes. I walked him to class for the first few weeks, but now he goes all by himself. He loves school. I hope that continues.

I have a sweet group of 2o first graders. Don't have any complaints this year at all. No major problems and they are smart. I am having to learn a few new things this year since my school district is following cscope. So we are having to try and change the way we teach or at least the order in which we teach things. Part of being a teacher is learning. It's been a stressful year so far but I have a wonderful group of ladies I work with. So that makes things a little easier.

Chuck had state visit this past week. Once again he had a GREAT state survey. He is getting ready to head out again next week to New Braunfels, TX for his TASA leadership classes. I dislike him being gone but it's only for a few days. Last month he went to Amarillo. I wish I could go with him but I have to hold down the fort while he is gone.

Well that's all for now. Duty calls! Ready for sports to be finished for a little while so we can just be home and relax. The boys on the other hand never want to stop playing. Thank goodness I love sports!

Pictures From Camping

Camping At Dierks Lake!

The boys and I had a blast camping at Dierks Lake. I was really not sure how it would work out since it has been so hot. I guess being out on by the water really kept it very comfortable. There was a nice breeze and of course air condition in the camper. The lake was clean and not busy at all.

The boys had a blast. Garett was very brave and had fun playing with Rylee. They built sand castles and floated on their noodles out in the water. Zachary and Chase made friends with a group of boys and girls. They played in the water and hiked around at night with flash lights.

I enjoyed reading the book "The Shack". I had started it last year but never finished it. It caught my eye packing so I decided to take it and give it another try. I really enjoyed being out in the swing at the lake or in the water watching the boys and reading. It was VERY relaxing. The book was so different then the 1st time I remember reading it. It makes you look at God in a different way. There was something about waking up at 7:00 and see the beautiful scenery that God created. The splashing of the the waves, birds chirping, and ducks quacking. It really was relaxing. There is nothing like see God's creations with out the hussell of life getting in the way.

Each morning Lori and I got up and made the kids breakfast outside on the griddle. Pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Then headed out to the playground or lake. Both were just a few feet from our camper. We would spend a few hours soaking up sunshine and the kids laughter. Then head back for lunch, resting, and a movie in the camper. Then back out to the beach for more fun in the sun before dinner. It was WONDERFUL. The boys did not fight, Garett did not whine, and I really enjoyed the peace and relaxation.

The only part that was not fun were the bees. They were everywhere. Chase, Rylee, and Lori each were stung. I have never seen so many. The juice and coke kept them around. There was honey bees, wasp, and yellow jackets that were bothering everyone that was camping. They would swarm then disappear. Glad no one was really hurt though Lori was stung twice and that wasn't fun for her.

I defiantly want to go camping again. Next time maybe Chuck and go. It was nice to spend time with my friend and I was pretty proud of 2 mommas taking the kids camping. Of course her husband did come and set the camper up for us and take it down. I am glad the boys had a good time. They didn't miss the computer, TV, or video games. They wanted to be outside as much as possible and were up early each morning to head out exploring. Defiantly adding a camper of my own to the wish list. I would recommend Dierks Lake to anyone that likes to camp.

So now its back to reality with laundry, dishes, and setting my classroom up. Glad I had these few days just to enjoy time with the boys.

Summer is coming to an end!

I have to say this has been the best summer I have had with the boys. Even though we have not gone anywhere exciting or spent a lot of money. We have just spent time together. It has been GREAT! I am sad that the summer is coming to an end. The boys have not fought. They have not whined. They have helped around the house and yard. This is the first summer in a few years that I have not been in college working on my masters. I think since I was not stressed out things went smoother.

We started the summer with a broken foot and All star baseball. The cast did not slow Garett down. He still loved to bowl and play. But we were so glad to get it off so he could swim. Baseball ended for Chase. I am very proud of my 3rd baseman and the other Texarkana South All star team. They made to the final 4 of the state playoffs and played hard.

We spent time at the bowling alley, in the pool, riding the dirt bike at my dad's, playing cards, and watching movies. I am sad to see it ending. I really enjoyed focusing more on time together and not on going places. The boys and I are heading out tomorrow to the lake in Dierks. We are camping for a few nights and going to enjoy the lake with friends. I hope the heat isn't to bad. I am bring cards and computer for movies just in case. Its just 2 moms and the kids so this should be interesting. But I am up to the challenge.

I am putting off thinking about school for at least another week. I want to make new memories with the boys in the little time we have left before the rush of the school year starts. Enjoy a few pictures and I will update on how the camping trip goes. Wish us luck!