Pleasant Grove Promenade!

Beginning this year on July 2nd, Pleasant Grove started their own hometown Farmer's Market. It is just outside the community center lawn at 200 South Main in Pleasant Grove and goes from 4-8 p.m each Thursday evening.

I have had a booth there each week, and it has been so fun! They are still looking for more vendors, especially food and garden items, so if your interested, here is their website:

http://www.pgpromenade.com/

It is fun to come walk around a bit, and socialize with the locals. They also have a kids corner for the little ones, plus there is a playground right there as well. They also have live entertainment each week, with various performers.

Check it out!

Cade turned 2!! (Way behind!)

I am so far behind, but I just realized I never made a Birthday post on Cade a few months ago! My little Wesley Cade McConahay was born on May 25, 2007. He weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz. and was 21 inches long. Such a perfect little baby, and my easiest birth of all!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures over the last 2 years. I tried to keep it simple, so it was hard to choose, but these are cute!

Fresh out of the "oven". LOL

Big yawn!

My little genius!

About 1 yr. old!

Starting to walk!

Walking in daddy's boots!

Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you so much!

Just a little about Cade:
Cade has been a wonderful addition to our family. I can't imagine our lives without him. He is so sweet, loving, helpful, spunky, and smart all rolled into one. He still doesn't talk a lot, but it is amazing out much he knows! He loves playing ball (with any ball), he loves books, he loves trucks and tractors, and loves to lead & direct music. So funny!

Life in Qatar!

Eric has been gone for almost 2 months now, so we are almost 1/2 way done! It is harder at times than others, but we are surviving! Here are just a couple basic pictures he sent me a while back. This is just various shots of the base.

Can you believe all the pretty colors? NOT! I would so miss the mountains, trees, and flowers. Everything is so white. Blah!

This is like an outdoor lounge area. Everyone can hang out. Let me remind you it hardly ever goes below 100 degrees there. And if it does, it is like 2:00 in the morning. It is usually around 110 to 115 degrees every day, and has gotten as hot as 140 degrees. They also do not have rain there at all. Since it is the desert, they have mostly sandstorms.

Here is Eric with one of the guys he works with! What is funny about this is when Eric joined the military over 20 years ago, he was stationed at Beale AFB in California with this same guy! Small world!

Keep up the good work honey! We love you!

My Awesome "Working" Vacation!!

I just returned from the most amazing convention I've ever attended! Each July is the Usborne Books & More National Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While I was "working" and receiving great training, I haven't had more fun!

Maybe it was the limo ride from the airport!

Maybe it was spending time with friends!

Maybe it was being fed 3 meals a day, and not having to do the dishes!

Maybe it was the amazing speaker Jim Trelease, who was truly inspiring! If you haven't read his book, "The Read-Aloud Handbook" I strongly recommend it!

I even got my picture with him, and had him sign my copy!

Maybe it was becoming more motivated to build my business!

Maybe it was taking my picture with the CEO, and be given extra incentives to grow!

Maybe it was playing games with a bunch of new friends every night until 1 or 2 a.m.

All in all, it was a spectacular event! I love the company, I love my job, and I know I can make a difference in many children's lives starting with my own! What more could I want?

If I Get Close Enough......

I think Cade misses Eric the most, simply because he doesn't understand what is going on, or why he just never came home from work one day.

I got Eric a webcam and sent it in the mail. He got it today, so when we talked on MSN we were able to use video. We could see and hear him, but he can't see us. (My webcam isn't here yet.)

Anyway, Cade loved it! He tried to climb right up into the computer. I think he thought the closer he got to him, maybe he could really touch him. Very cute and sad all at the same time.

We are hanging in there though! Only 15 more weeks. LOL

Little Houses

Well, here we are! We are finally settled although the garage is still full. We didn't have time to unpack a ton before Eric had to go, so we just have the basics. The last couple weeks have made me realize how much "stuff" we don't really need.

I was worried at first, being in this cozy little house, but can I just tell you how much I love it? It can get a little noisy at times, but that's just when the fenced yard comes in handy! :-)

I have discovered that this is my time to truly simplify. There is so much out there to really clutter our lives, and when it comes right down to it, none of it really matters. When I think of little houses, I think of this song. It makes me happy!

Little Houses by Doug Stone

A little white house, in the heart of town,

On a little sad street, just a little run down,

Became a home, for Bill and Sue,

Two newlyweds, who did the best that they could do.

And when they brush each other, passin' in the hall,

Sue would smile and say: "This place is pretty small.

But you know, love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate,

Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.

Love grows best, in houses just like this.

Before too long, Sue and Bill,

Were makin' plans, for Jack and Jill.

Oh, happy day, when the news came in

But what to do, when they found out Sue was having twins.

When they could not pass each other in the hall,

Well, Sue would smile and say: "This place is really, really small.

But you know, love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate,

Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.

Love grows best, in houses just like this.

That little white frame house still keeps them warm,

Though it's been thirty-two years, since the kids were born,

And when they look back now, they hold each other tight,

And whisper in each other's ears: "You know you were right.

Because love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate,

Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.

Love grows best, in houses just like this.

Yeah, love grows best, in houses just like this.

Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills

Since I am constantly researching this topic, and I have a strong passion about reading, and books (especially kids books), I thought I would share! These are amazing tips to help anyone encourage reading in their home!

Top 10 Ways to Improve Reading Skills
by Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S.

Nothing is more important to academic achievement than being a good reader. Parents know their children best and can provide the one-on-one time and attention that will lead them to success in reading. Here is a list of ways to help your children become more effective readers.

1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day. Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently.

2. Surround your children with reading material. Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.

3. Have a family reading time. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient to increase their reading fluency.

4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities. Make reading an integral part of your children's lives. Have them read menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time when they could be waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

5. Develop the library habit. Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials. The library also offers reading programs for children of all ages that may appeal to your children and further increase their interest in reading.

6. Be knowledgeable about your children's progress. Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. The school's curriculum will give you this information. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests.

7. Look for reading problems. Teachers do not always detect children's reading problems until they've become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words, know sight words, use context to identify unknown words, and clearly understand what they read.

8. Get help promptly for reading problems. Reading problems do not magically disappear with time. The earlier children receive help, the more likely they will become good readers. Make sure your children receive necessary help from teachers, tutors, or learning centers as soon as you discover a problem.

9. Use a variety of aids to help your children. To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they work on their skills.

10. Show enthusiasm for your children's reading. Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts.

Need more variety in your home library? Usborne offers books for all ages! Check out my website above.

Summer Stylin'

Cade needed a haircut really bad, and the girls (and me) were wanting to get a cute summer cut! I finally took them in yesterday to all get their new "do". They immediately went out to play when we got home so they could go show all their friends, so this is later in the afternoon. Still very cute, and MUCH easier to take care of!

Here is a couple of Jaida. She wanted it flipped up today.

And Alyssa.

She kept laughing and being silly, so I was having a hard time getting a true smile.

A little more serious.

Now we're ready for summer! :-)