We're having a good summer

Yup--we're having a good summer.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE having my kids home and being able to go do things with them.  We've had a great June--thought I'd share the highlights..... (pardon the photo roll)

Went to the Dallas Arboretum with (very pregnant) Aunt Rachel and Grandma McKneely.  Aunt Rachel lives a block away and since she's about to have the baby we went ahead and got an annual pass--it's a great place to visit and walk around and picnic.  We didn't even know it--but there was this AWESOME Glass sculpture exhibit by Dale Chihuly going on--we took lots of pictures of the glass sculptures, not so many of us--it was hot!

Kaitlyn then left from the Arboretum to stay with Grandma McKneely for a WHOLE week where she was loved on and had lots of special project time with Grandma sewing and baking and of course swimming at least once a day in her pool.

 When we had to rendezvous to pick her up we did so at the Mayborne Children's Museum in Waco.  Aunt Laura and her girls came too so it was a WHOLE BUNCH of McKneely cousins hanging out....

Then later that same week, we had our annual summer night at a Frisco Roughriders Baseball Game--this year I let a few friends know about the deal of "Friends and Family" nights and we ended up with 6 families total going to enjoy the game--everyone had a friend:

A few days later--it was piano recital time....This was Sam's first piano recital (and Kaitlyn's 3rd) and they both did great!  We were so proud!

Then, on FATHERS DAY we got word that we were going to have a new niece!!  We were so lucky to live close enough to go see her on her BIRTH-day--she's so sweet and precious.  And what a fun thing that her dad became a dad on Fathers Day!  Welcome baby Clara!

So that almost brings us current for the first month of Summer.  Ben and Summer arrived from Japan to stay for a few weeks, and Mom and Dad took a well deserved VACATION to Boston, Mass to take in the sites and see Uncle Joey. (separate blog post)

We've enjoyed cooler than usual weather and lots of time at the pool of course--we have even more things in store!

CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING

We had an expensive weekend--it was exhausting......

• We discovered that Matthew's adventures with a permanent marker hadn't been exclusive to the tablecloth like we'd thought--they had soaked through to the dining room table, and he'd wandered into the study and marked the carpet and the ottoman. ($$)

• The new (to us) truck needed a couple new tires, especially since it's hauling boys and gear to scout camp in a couple weeks ($$)

• While at Sam's Club getting aforementioned tires, we decided to spring for the new bunk beds and mattress the boys needed since we had the truck with us at the store ($$)

• We then ran to the scout shop and bought a case of pinewood derby cars for the youth to use for their combined activity in July that Stephen is in charge of ($--not really our money because it will be reimbursed) 

• Later, Stephen dropped his 6 week old i-pad 3 and the screen shattered, it can't be fixed and he needed a new one ($$$$$) (I'm really glad it wasn't one of the kids)

• Before going to bed we discovered that Matthew had been experimenting with scissors and had cut some strings to our blinds in the family room ($$)

GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE--it's time to reign things in a big in the budget I guess!!

We went camping

I think we've started a new tradition...

My friend Natalie's family goes camping each year the weekend school gets out.  I thought it was a great idea and so we planned it too.  But then we found out that 4 of our close friends were all going together and we tagged along.

The McKneelys joined: the Hopewells, the Lofgrens, the Joyners, and the Haymans all went together to Eisenhower State Park off Lake Texoma about an hour north of us. Between the 5 families there were 21 kids between the ages of 10 and 1.

It was IDEAL weather, so nice and pleasant--truly a gift for us in Texas in June as it's normally quite hot already.

Stephen took the day off on Friday and we got there by noon and set up camp--thanks to Stephen's "investment" into his calling as Scoutmaster, we have quite the set up....

 

 We went on a mild hike...

Then Stephen took the older 3 to go ride our friend's 4 wheeler, Sam calls it a Monster Truck which I think is funny.  Other than that we just hung out.  We'd brought a football, frisbee and some baseball gloves and balls, Stephen played a lot with the kids.  We let the kids play and explore, it was pretty relaxing.

Dinner was pretty great--Pasta Bake, "cooler" corn on the cob and broccoli and french bread--yummy!  Then as it got darker and our friends had fires going we roasted marshmallows and made smores.  Lindsey and Matthew were the first in bed but it was still late for them (8:30), Sam was in bed a bit later than that, Kaitlyn seemed to be the energizer bunny and we finally put her in bed by 9:30.

It had turned a bit chillier than we expected, and I was glad we'd brought sweatshirts, I made sure the kids were tucked into their sleeping bags.  Dad and  Sam slept in one tent, I slept with the other 3 in a larger tent.  And for the most part we all slept really well.  We knew the kids would be up early with the sun.  Matthew woke up sometime in the 5:00 hour but I coaxed him easily into my sleeping bag with me where we slept until just after 6 when a crow in a tree above our tent decided to announce the arrival of morning!

For breakfast we dined on breakfast burritos and scout donuts--totally yummy!  And then we readied things to head to the lake for a day of swimming in Lake Texoma the sun came out and things warmed up enough to enjoy it....

The sand proved to be the favorite diversion, but they did go in the water some.  We were grateful for the water shoes we bought so our feet didn't hurt on the rocks (my spoiled kids and their first experience with sandy beaches was in the Bahamas)  Do you like Sam's mohawk?  He did.

We ate lunch on the beach then headed back to break up camp and head home.  Matthew fell asleep in moments and we all wanted to join him I think.  Camping was such fun!!  Sam ("mohawk man") declared it the "BEST TWO DAYS OF HIS LIFE!"; we've all got chigger bites (Stephen the worst on his ankles--over 30 on each one), but all in all, as I said at first, I think we've created a new family tradition:  the McKneelys might be campers!

Choosing the Right

***(THIS POST WAS WRITTEN almost 6 weeks ago but because of all the drama and stress, I've waited to post so things could blow over.  But it's part of our family's history, so I felt it important to include)*** 

This kid chose the right, even when it was hard....

Sam was being taught an inappropriate song at school to perform for the K-2 grades at school this past Friday.

While they were not teaching them the questionable lines from the song, they had twisted the chorus of the song to have a whole different meaning than what the artist had and had changed some of the words.  What they were being taught was not offensive or objectionable, but what concerned me was that they'd taught 30- 5 and 6 year old children to get excited about and like a song that is rampant with drug and alcohol abuse.

I voiced my concerns with first the teacher, then the principal.  I was viewed as a religious fanatic who hated all secular music and they thought I was over-reacting. 

When we saw that they were not willing to change the song we sat Sam down and explained to him our concerns with the song.  We had JUST had a lesson in FHE on choosing good media, it was time to put those principles to the test.  We gave him the choice to participate or sit it out.  He solemnly asked if he could think about it, he prayed about it over dinner and at bedtime he told us he'd decided to sit it out.  We were thrilled with his CHOOSING THE RIGHT.

He was allowed to have an alternative activity while his class practiced.  We reminded him of President Monson's recent talk of "Dare to Stand Alone."

So Sam would sit out of the performance, Kaitlyn and he would have an excused tardy the morning of the assembly.  But I continued to be concerned about this and thought my experience could benefit future situations, I'd already suggested to the principal that they look into drafting a school music policy...

REASON A: if you have a drug free school and a profanity free school, shouldn't the songs the students are exposed to follow the same standards?

REASON B: Total inconsistencies--the school talent show rules state that inappropriate songs that have had their lyrics changed are not allowed.  how is that any different than what went on with this Rise and Shine song? 

So I went a bit further, and inquired of a friend on the school board as to a district wide music policy.  He asked for some details and I was told he'd look into it.

On Monday morning, I was told that the district director of Fine Arts had visited with the principal and that the song would not be sung, AND that from this experience a district music policy would be drafted!

HOORAY! Parents can make a difference!

But it wasn't over.  I would have to stand my ground.  You see, in the principals eyes, I'd gone above her head to get this change, and the teacher was put in her place so to speak, this didn't make them look good.  And I was an easy target for blame.  

I know in my heart I was fine with letting Sam sit it out, I honestly didn't think I alone had the power to make this kind of change.  I was happy with the change but I think I was the only one.

My name became mud at the school, there was an email chain of really nasty emails of angry parents who felt I'd overstepped my rights and pushed my beliefs on others, that I was a "hater" and had nothing better to do with my time than ruin things, that the children were so disappointed and some of them even in tears over this song being cancelled.

NO SONG was done in it's place even though it would have been easy to do a different one instead, I think it was a way of keeping the situation as controversial as possible since the teachers were upset.

I felt very alone, I had a knot in my stomach that didn't go away for a couple days.  Every time I'd read a new email or a post on facebook, the knot would get tighter and tighter.  I knew people were angry with me, so I stopped reading, kept busy and reached out to friends who I knew understood my heart.  They really helped me!

By the day of the assembly, I started hearing some people in defense of pulling the song.  I still don't think the drama and anger has blown over, and it probably won't by the end of the school year (which is great because I'm the room mom and that makes things real easy!!)

But I still know that what I did was right, I feel like I was lead by the spirit to do what I did, I think of all the children who will be effected by a new district music policy.  I pray that my children are not made targets at school by administrators and teachers, I hope that teachers learn to be more careful with the songs they allow children to listen to and to be taught.  It was a refiners fire for me and I hope I passed.  I hope the Lord knows I'll stand for Him even when I have to stand alone in it.

Last week of School

This school year really has flown by.  And honestly I think I was just as excited as the kids for Summer to arrive.  I LOVE having my children home, scheduling our days with flexibility, doing fun worthwhile activities with them and just enjoying the lazy days of summer.

I thought it almost cruel that we had to go back for 3 days after the Memorial Day Holiday but fun things were planned for them so they wanted to go to school.  

(As a parent I have to say I've been a bit disappointed by how early it seems they've tapered off the learning.  Kaitlyn's class took down their desks with 3 more days of school left!  And Sam's dinner conversation was about the 3 movies he'd watched that day in school.  I really feel for the teachers as they have all their resources taken from them before school is officially over, but state mandated number of days in school makes them improvise with toy & board game days, movie watching, etc until the school year is over.  I'd yank them out but then they miss all the fun--like the following......)

TUESDAY--was Sam's class party.  I'm one of 3 room mom's so this has been in the works for a few weeks.  Things are still a bit strained with all the drama a month ago, I was personally really nervous how things would go but everyone was cordial and I'm glad that time can heal some of this over the summer.  Here is Sam with some of his buds from Kindergarten....

WEDNESDAY--was Kaitlyn's class party AND Kite Day!  

Kite day was rained out earlier in the year and had been rescheduled, wouldn't you know that it rained this day too?  Sam and Kaitlyn were disappointed, we'd even taken them out this past Saturday to Celebration Park for them to try out their kites--that went really well, so they were excited.  When it rained, we were glad we'd spent the time on Saturday though enjoying their kites even thought it wasn't with friends.  We'll try again next year!

 Kaitlyn's class party was great!  I have ADORED her teacher this year:

 Mrs. Lee is patient, loving, sweet, and encouraging.  I'm amazed at her love and vision for each child, they are individuals to her and she was PERFECT for my Kaitlyn this year!  She presented each child with this shirt--here is Kaitlyn's class all wearing the shirts! 

Next year will be a lot harder for Kaitlyn, 3rd grade is the first year of standardized testing and in Texas that is a big deal with a lot of pressure for the kids to perform well.  Kaitlyn has been so blessed with good teachers every year, it's a matter of prayer for me and will be again!

We were treated with some Popsicles on the walk home from school the last day--it was a nice surprise for this cute family to fill a cooler with popcicles and hand them out to us walking folk--fun and random gestures of kindness sometimes are really great!

BRING ON THE SUMMER!!