Spring Concert

John had his school spring concert last night.  He had the opportunity to try out for some parts this year and got the longest speaking part of the program.  He was so excited that he had it memorized the first day he received it.  This was a bittersweet program as this was his last South School concert.  Our big guy is growing up....

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Last week Ashley turned 11.  She was recovering from some upper respiratory junk so she wasn't feeling her absolute best on her birthday, but she made the best of it and had a great day.  Some stats from her birthday:

Birthday cake: German Chocolate
Birthday supper:  steak, potatoes, broccoli (she LOVES steak!)
Birthday gifts:  Clothes, new boots, and gear for her guinea pig....she has a guinea pig named Angel
Her current loves:  books, her guinea pig, playing outside, shopping with mom

She was honored this past week by the local Optimist Club with an  "Unsung Youth Hero" award for participating in her school's "Buddy Program".  She is paired up with one of the students that struggles and spends time with that student at lunch, recess and other times to help make him/her to feel a little bit more normal.  Here are some pics from her awards night:

Ashley and her friend Chase who was also honored.  Chase is moving the end of this year and Ashley will really miss her.

Earning Rank

Both of the boys accomplished earning their rank in Cub Scouts for the past year of activities.  We had a great time celebrating it at the Blue and Gold Banquet.

John receiving his Bear rank from his dad who is his den leader

Nathan reenacting receiving the Tiger rank.  This is what happens when your mom is your den leader and also operates the camera. 

Winter

Winter finally decided to come to our house at the end of February and beginning of March.  In fact, as with most of you, winter is still here.  As Joe said, if spring has sprung, it needed to jump a little higher.  The snows we had have been perfect for the kids though...perfect sledding and perfect for building. Here's some pics from the past month on the sled slopes....

The Twelfth of February

The beautiful flutist below turned 12 this past February.  I love that my little girl still treasures little girl things as she approaches her teens.  Here's the highlights of Sara's birthday:

Cake:  Carrot Cake
Presents:  clothes, Polly Pockets ( :) ), Amazon cards, a warm, fuzzy blanket for her bed, a special ring from her daddy
Favorite foods:  pizza, mac & cheese (the girl LOVES mac & cheese like no other)

She recently participated in her first solo and ensemble contest which I think is incredible for a sixth grader who has been playing a flute for only 1 1/2 years

a long post of "post-its"

I have a stack of post it notes and lined notes sitting on my counter in my pile.  (You have those "piles" too, right?)  This particular stack is things I need to blog about.  The stack is getting higher and consuming my pile.  So while the potatoes are on the stove, I will try to hammer out my stack before I have to get them mashed.  They will join some swiss steak, rolls, corn and broccoli for supper in case you are wondering.  Here goes.....

• My girls have decided that it isn't cool to wear hats, gloves or carry an umbrella.  Ashley told me the other day that the only way it would be cool to carry an umbrella is if you were a mermaid and if you got wet everyone would know that you were a mermaid.  You could ask them if their opinion of umbrellas have changed since they walked from the bus stop to the house in a. complete. downpour.
• It has been so cold here on and off (How cold has it been, you ask?).  It has been so cold that when I go to the gym in the morning I have actually worn a hat.  I hate wearing hats.  You can ask my mom.  Okay, so maybe my girls are related to me.
• Nathan announced during breakfast the other morning that he was going to have 4 boys when he grows up and gets married.  He said he was going to have them chicken fight to decide who was going to ride in the truck with him.  When John questioned him about having no girls in the house because he would be married, Nathan responded "She won't be a girl; she will be a woman.  She will be my woman and I will be her man.  And we will be in love."  Ahh, love....
• The boys have decided that one their favorite games to play on the Wii is Boggle.  Yes, Boggle.  I don't even like to play Boggle.  Maybe Nathan's "woman" will play it with him when he grows up.
• The girls got signed up for summer camp.  I would say they are both super excited, but that would be lying.  One burst into tears when we got her signed up.  She is fearing homesickness.  She is doing a horse trainers camp though and that is easing the dread.  If you are looking for a good camp, check out Camp Timberlee (www.timber-lee.com).  Awesome camp in Wisconsin.
• Nathan is visiting the radio station right now with his Cub Scout Den.  I just heard them mention his pack.  Words cannot even describe how excited he was when he found out he was going to take a tour of the station and meet some of the people who talk on the radio.  Words also cannot describe his disappointment when I explained to him that Toby Mac would not be there and that they simply play his music...he doesn't actually live at the radio station.  Sometimes I hate bursting that bubble of innocence.
• Ticket to Ride is the current family favorite game.
• A friend and I are memorizing scripture this year.  We do two a month...one on the 1st and 15th.  We are currently working on 2 Timothy 1:7 "for God gave us a spirit not of fear nbut of power and love and self-control."  
• And on that note, my potatoes are ready to be mashed, table ready to be set and another son ready to get his uniform on for his scout meeting tonight.  Oh how I hope (and PRAY!) the Scouts make the right decision at their meetings the beginning of this week.  This may be the end of scouts for us if they don't and I will have some very sad little boys....

Playdoh and Meatloaf

So I have a couple of recipes to share...playdoh and meatloaf.  Having four kids of my own and now running a daycare with toddlers and preschoolers, I have tried many homemade playdoh recipes.  I hated all of them and finally decided that Playdoh was just going to have to be one of those things that I paid the money to buy the real deal.  A year or so ago my sister passed on a recipe for it that I hadn't tried.  It took me awhile to even make it.  And I. love. it.  A couple of the kids I watch helped me make up a fresh batch of colors.  The last batch lasted all fall and they play with it almost everyday.  I store it in large ziplock bags but you could also store it in tupperware bowls.  Here is the recipe:
1 Cup flour
1/2 Cup salt
1 T vegetable oil
1 pkg kool-aid mix (to add the color)
1 Cup boiling water
Stir together until thoroughly mixed then kneed until color is throughout.  Let cool and play with it or seal it up for later.

My next recipe is for meatloaf.  I always thought I made a decent meatloaf.  I didn't really follow a recipe.  I did it by texture and feel.  I would occasionally "shake things up" a bit and add different seasonings or flavorings.  I didn't make it very often because my kids did not enjoy it at.all.   I figured, well, it's meatloaf.  Kids don't like meatloaf, right?  Well, then one night I got all crazy and decided to try the Pioneer Woman's recipe for meatloaf.  They LOVED it!  I do make some adjustments now that I make it on a consistent basis.  I don't wrap it in bacon.  I am toying with the idea of frying up some bacon and sprinkling the crispy bits on top.  I also do not make near the amount of sauce that she calls for.  I half the recipe and still don't use quite all of it.  Part of the reason for that is because I only put the sauce on about 2/3 of the loaf as 1/3 of the people in our house don't like the sauce.  All my kids like meatloaf now.  Nathan even suggested that we make Mondays "Meatloaf Mondays" and they all agreed.  Here is the link:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/09/my-favorite-meatloaf/

John turns 9!

John turned 9 yesterday.  I feel like I missed out because I sent the day laying on the couch moaning.  The stomach flu hit me full force.  So thankful for my husband who took care of me and made sure John had a great day celebrating.  I don't have any pictures, but here is John in summary this year:

Favorite meal:  supreme pizza...he probably would have had them put extra olives on it if it had been an option
Birthday cake:  German chocolate
Toys:  It was a K'nex birthday for John and he was in K'nex heaven.  His favorite was the Mario Kart Wii K'nex...what is better than racing Mario Kart?  Building Mario Kart
Hobbies:  building K'nex and Legos and reading.  He is currently working his way through the Ranger's Apprentice series. He takes a break from that series whenever a new Rick Riordan book comes out.
What he is currently saving for:  a Kindle Fire (he's a Bad Piggies fan)

It's all in your perspective....

After a two week break from routine, we settled back into life here on Monday.  With the new year comes some new perspective in my life.  My days can get very "ho hum" if I let them.  I get up in the morning, take a run, get the kids out the door to school, entertain babies, toddlers & preschoolers, laundry, household chores, dinner plans, welcome kids home, evening errands, go to bed, get up the next day and start it all over again.  It can completely zapped any joy in my life if I let it.  And so this week I began keeping my perspectives in check...

Instead of sighing and wishing for a treadmill in my basement each morning and complaining about the cold weather outside on the way to the gym, I am thankful for the blessing of a gym membership so I don't have to run outside as I get ready for the Indianapolis Mini.

Instead of being frustrated by my kids sinful behavior (because, I, of course never struggle with sin ;) ), I am thankful that the Lord has shown me areas in my kids' lives that need sharpening and in the process finding areas that I need to sharpen.

I have a great job in which I get to watch some awesome kids while keeping things up at home.

And one day I. will. miss. the laundry and the toys of my kids.  I won't get to sit and read books and hear the giggles as they relive the moments of their day.  My cheeks won't be wet from sloppy kisses forever and they won't always be in beds in the same house as me.  Thanking God so much for new perspectives each and every day....

Pinewood Derby 2013

Yesterday was the Pinewood Derby for 2013.  This year we had two scouts that participated...John is a Bear and Nathan is in his first year of scouts as a Tiger.  We are blessed to have a great Pack to be a part of where we live.  But part of having a great Pack means that there are a lot of boys who run cars for the Derby each year.  I don't know how many there were yesterday, but I'm guessing around at least 70.  Joe has learned over the last couple of years (because let's be honest about who is really in charge of building the car....sure the boys help, but the dad's play a significant role) some tips of the trade (so to speak).  It paid off this year with Nathan's car.  John picked out a different design so he didn't get quite as much speed out of his.  Nathan placed 2nd among the Tigers (there were around 15 that raced I think).  He missed 1st place by 1/1000 of a second.  He placed 4th in the Pack. 

Yep, the girls were really enjoying themselves.  They did cheer their brothers' cars on...

John and his best buddy Aden

My Boys!