FALL TEXAS TRIP: Day 7

The Labor Day vacation was over today and the children returned to school. Christopher is in the first grade this year and the school he attends has TOO many first graders ... so today, Chris started with a new teacher in a new room ~ they have split the other first grades, selected some children, and made a new class. Chris seemed completely unphased by the whole deal.

Grandpa Jones and I slept in this morning, and then we went over to Walmart and did some grocery shopping. We decided to give Jes and Di a little break from their typical routine and do a bit of cooking for them over the next few days. We didn't actually get over to the house until mid-afternoon. We walked up to the school at 3:05 to collect Emma, Chris, and Matthew and were home by about 3:30. Homework was the first order of the day and after that was accomplished, we ate dinner together, cleaned it up, and then ... had about an hour of free time before bed to do whatever we wanted. So ... we painted some pretty pictures together.

We spent a very relaxing hour together. We talked all about the school day. We had a good time talking about the pictures we were painting. Christopher painted a picture of Thomas (who doubted) and Jesus together after the resurrection. Jesus is showing Thomas the nail print in His hand and THEN Thomas believed.

I also had a bunch of cute animal pictures to paint. Matthew is painting a picture of a little mouse. He said, "See Grandma? My mouse has tears coming out of his eyes. He is crying." So I asked Matthew why on earth his little mouse was crying! Matthew made up quite an elaborate story of how the mouse got his paw stuck in a trap and how badly it hurt. And then I was excited to tell the kids that one of the stories I was going to read to them tonight was about ... just that! A little mouse! It's a story out of a cute book I have about a mouse family that lives in a church ... hence, their last name is ~ Churchmouse. The main character in the storybook is Christopher Churchmouse (which pleases OUR Christopher very much). Tonight's story was about Christopher's cousin getting his foot caught in a mousetrap and how Christopher rescues him. Very nice story about caring and bravery, etc. The kids liked it a lot. We also read about David and Goliath (Christopher chose that one), and the lame man whose friends brought him to Jesus to be healed (Emma's choice). I love to read to my grandchildren. It's my favorite thing.

Since it is a school night, bedtime was at 8:00. So grandpa and I stayed around for the tucking in process. It's nice to be able to do that now and then. I love to hear their bedtime prayers and the quiet talks we can have together at that time.

This picture is totally out of order ... but it's when Jesse came home from "work" just before our dinnertime tonight. Tomorrow, Jesse and I are going out for lunch together ... at least that's the plan! I'm looking forward to it very much.