Time Warp

Homecoming week continues at Flanagan High. Today was "Time Warp" day. The kids could choose any period of history and dress up. Anna decided to be a hippie from the '70's. Katie chose not to participate.

We also got a very regal picture of our kitty Jo-Jo taken by Anna.

The Best Twins at Flanagan High

It is Homecoming week at the girl's school. Today is twin day. I think Anna and Katie have an unfair advantage....hee hee!

Gators For Broncos

Last night we had an exciting football game. The Gators played Kentucky and won 48-14. A freshman named Trey Burton broke Tim Tebow's touchdown record. These are the kind of games I like, when they are too close I am not a good fan. I get too nervous.

Today we are watching the Denver Bronco's, they are every Florida Gator's new favorite football game since Tim Tebow was drafted. It hasn't been very exciting yet though because he has hardly played...we will keep watching.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! XOXOXO
FROM PARNHAM SOUTH!!!!!

SMARTY PANTS

You are looking at two of the newest members of the Flanagan High School Honor Society! There will be an induction ceremony in January, which means Anna has to wear a dress (lol) and maybe that will give her enough time to grow out the purple hair. As always, we are very proud of our girls!!!!!

JUST FOOLING AROUND

Just some pictures that I thought were cute....

A Little Bit of this A Little Bit of That...

Roxy's shoe collection

Jia made herself a little fort

Yes, grownups do live in this house

The Greatest Purse Ever!
xoxo

I realized I haven't checked in for a while so I have a few pictures that I thought were cute. I also want to thank my Mother-In-Law Elizabeth for one of the greatest gifts I have ever received! There is a picture here, it is a purse that is way too small for my kids to stuff all of their things in, but just big enough for my stuff (I love it!) it is also so cool and in style I can get either Anna or Katie to carry it for me. It is perfect!

God Bless America

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.
~Irving Berlin

Please say a prayer for those that lost their lives on 9-11-01, for the brave people on Flight 93, for the parents, spouses, children and friends who lost a loved one, for the brave firefighters, police, and other responders who lost their lives.

Also say a prayer for the VERY brave people from all nations who are overseas protecting democracy.

A numbingly sad day, but a day of reflection. Even if you never pray, no matter what your religion or faith, please say a prayer today.

Proud of Katie!

Wanted to give everyone an update on Katie at the beginning of her 11 grade year. Katie studies really hard! She is number 67 in a class of 800, and this upsets her because she thinks she should be higher. Students with higher averages are dual enrolled in the local community college, which was something Katie wanted to do and is eligible for, but we advised her against it as we wanted her to have the whole high school experience. Katie assists her AP English teacher everyday. Mrs. Shepard thinks the world of Katie, had her as an assistant last year, and asked for her back this year.

Katie is also our philanthropist she is part of several campus clubs that have public service as their main goal. Katie has been a member of Invisible Children for two years now. Invisible Children raises money for the victims of war in Uganda. They are helping to make schools and shelters in this country. This year Katie has joined the Asian American Club which raises money for Pakistan. She is also waiting to hear about her induction into the National Honor Society (as is Anna). This group tutors other students after schools and other volunteer activities.

Katie belongs to a community based organization that spends every Saturday morning working with Adopt a Street cleaning up garbage on the side of the road. On most weekends she also works out at the gym with her Dad.

Katie had been a vegetarian for three years. She has an interest in art, she loves to make beautiful collages and will be in Honors Art in the second part of the year.

I wanted to write about Katie as she is one of the most humble people I know. She is happy reading books, being with her pug Benny Foo and watching Law and Order and other crime shows on tv.

Katie is kind and patient with Jia who can sometimes be trying. She will be embarrassed that I wrote this blog entry. But that is okay, I think she is one of the most selfless and sweet people I know and I get to say she is my daughter!

WE HATE THE MIAMI DOLPHINS OR FINS FRENZY AT SILVER PALMS

GO BRONCOS!

Jia's school, Silver Palms Elementary had "Fins Frenzy" day on the 8th. They do this because the local school that has the most kids in Miami Dolphins shirts gets a grant. They do it by brainwashing the kids, so they come home saying they HAVE to have a dolphins jersey. So, okay we will play along as long as it doesn't cost a lot. (Have I mentioned, we don't like the Miami Dolphins? We watch college football-Florida Gators and we are now Denver Broncos fans since Tim Tebow went there) Anyway, Drew, Katie and Jia went off to Target, looking for a cheap shirt that she will never wear again. There was one shirt there, way too big and a sweatshirt, way too expensive. They called me up, I told them, buy a teal shirt and we will see what we can do. The picture above is the product of Katie's handiwork (she is our artist in residence) price of teal shirt at Target: $4.99, price of Katie's talent: priceless. (ps. Ji was counted in the Fins Frenzy participation.)

FLORDA CENTRAL ACADEMY CLASS REUNION

This weekend was the Florida Central Academy Reunion. FCA was the small co-ed boarding school that I went to from 9th-12th grades. The reunion was for everyone who ever attended the school, which existed from the first graduating class in 1961 through the last class in 1983. About 200 students attended each year.

This was an incredibly unique school experience. The building we lived in was an old hotel that was built in the 1920's. We lived two students to a room with our own bathrooms. The building was very grand both inside and out. Classes were very small and most teachers and administrators lived on campus.

A typical weekday at FCA consisted of breakfast, room check, 2 classes, mail break, another class, lunch and 3 more classes. After your last class you had a mandatory athletic period. If you were on a sports team (I was a cheerleader) you practiced longer than others. Next came dinner in the beautiful, high ceiling dining hall (which was a ballroom when the building was a hotel). After dinner and a short break the entire school went to study hall for 2 hours. Again, doors must be open, you had to be at your desk and no music. After that time there was a 45 minute free time period and then lights out.

Sounds very regimented, but as I always tell everyone, you knew all of your friends were doing the same thing, so you weren't missing anything.

After the class of 1983 the owners went bankrupt and the building fell into a state of extreme disrepair. Local historians tried to get the building declared a historical landmark so they could fix it up again. Before that could happen, 2 teenagers broke into the building in the middle of the night and burned the building to the ground. Giving a crushing blow to the students who went to Florida Central.

I did not go to the reunion, because of my disabilities, but have reconnected on facebook with a lot of my dear, dear friends. My personal story-I chose to go to boarding school myself, taking myself out of a very distressing family situation. The kids that I grew up with at FCA are like brothers and sisters to me the teachers and administrators, like parents. Everytime we meet it is like we never left each other-just like relatives. This week on facebook someone referred to us as "the throwaway kids" and that is what we were, but we triumphed because we became the family that most of us desperately needed.

JUST BECAUSE SHE IS SOOOO CUTE.....