Snow Day...

Well, sort of.  We actually didn't have a snow day like the surrounding public schools, but we did call it quits a little early so we could enjoy the snow.

It was surprisingly nice outside, even though we have tons of beautiful snow, so it made for a really good mix... and hey... it's finally packing snow!

The kids have wanted to make a snowman "family" for years, and they finally got to do it today!  If your family is smaller than ours, you could probably accomplish this with less of a blizzard!

Happy Snow Day:

Miah loved her snowman so much

she just had to give it a hug:

Caleb:

Grace:

 Ian:

Seth:

 We had so much fun today:

L.

March Forth (Or Fourth)...

... Depending on how you look at it.

Today was as good a day as any to resume healthy eating habits, and so I did.  Actually, this is what I made for lunch, and I'm not sure I've ever eaten anything this healthy in my entire life:

Roasted Carrots, Zucchini, and Rutabaga:

My short term goal is to keep it up through Miah's b-day...  After that, I'll re-evaluate...

1 day down, 24 more to go...

L.

That's A Wrap...

The kids' first district quiz season is in the books!  Like most of life, it sure went by fast.

Good news is that both Seth and Grace will be advancing to the regional quiz at Celebrate Life in May!  Grace finished in 2nd place and Seth finished in 6th, and I could not be more proud of them if I tried!  The amount of work they put in this season was nothing short of incredible for a couple of rookie quizzers!  I may have mentioned this before, but Phil and I really went into this season with no expectations.  We just wanted them to get their feet wet and to discover a love for Bible quizzing.  I can remember when we first had Seth and people would ask us if we were going to "make" him quiz when he was older.  Our response was that we hoped he would "want" to quiz.  And he sure does.  Over a decade ago, I was quizmastering and simultaneously nursing Grace.  Talk about awkward, but you do what you have to do...  I think it must have just been built into her make-up to quiz.     

From day 1, the kids shattered the no expectation concept and put expectations on themselves.  We have done everything we can, as parents, to work within the structure of their personalities, abilities, and maturity level to help them reach their goals, and we've done well, but the accolades are not ours.

Grace's prayers before rounds yesterday really touched me.  "Lord help us to do this for you.  Help us to do this so that we will grow closer to you.  Help us to do this so that we will be in your word more.  Help us not to care about the points."

Please don't misunderstand.  There is a part of us that "cares about the points".  We are competitive people by nature.  We like to win.  Everybody knows that.  But I love that Grace and Seth have made that secondary to their spiritual formation.  Again... they do quiz to win.  But they also quiz, more importantly, to become the people God has created them to be.  That's a win-win any way you look at it!

How about some pics...

 Getting Ready to Leave for the Day:

Just finished my last round...

Where I misread three questions...

In the midst of a sneezing attack!

I finally found the source of my problem...

New carpet...

I am severely allergic to carpet glue...

And yes... that's coffee...

This might be in my top 10 favorite pictures... ever:

 L.

The Final Product...

Our upstairs bathroom... previously referred to as "The Duck Bathroom" has needed to be renovated for a long time (probably since we bought the house).  I have put it off, because it is located in the most obscure place and no one ever uses it except our older kids.  Honestly, in the 5 1/2 years we've lived here, I think I have taken a shower twice in that bathroom.

However, it occurred to me sometime last week that I had invited guests to come for the weekend of the Indianapolis quiz and that they might actually want decent bathroom facilities.  I also figured that it was probably unrealistic to expect 3 adults, 5 quizzers, 2 basketball players, and a baby to all get ready in one bathroom next weekend.

And so... the rennovation began...

Although I would not suggest roll on popcorn paint for an entire room again... ever...  It did serve its purpose, and the ceiling looks great!  I, also, was covered in popcorn paint.  This was rather disturbing to Miah who kept asking if I was OK even after I got cleaned up...

The Ceiling:

I think the room turned out fabulous!  Presenting...  "The Mickey Bathroom"

L.    

PS  Do other people name the rooms in their houses?  Just wondering...

PPS  Thanks to Brad, Sheri, Abby, and Noah, whose Christmas gift card to us was used to buy all of the Mickey Mouse stuff!

Anybody Out There...

want to take a wild guess at what project I'm working on today:

Here's a hint...  We're going to be saying good-bye to this sad guy:

More pictures to come, hopefully tomorrow or Friday...

L.

This Is Going To Be...

A Force to Be Reckoned With...

And, yes, as a matter of fact we are having quiz practice... in our kitchen... at 10:00 at night...  It's the week before district finals, what did you expect?

L.

PS  Caleb answered his first correct bonus question tonight, and he makes a pretty good place holder, too... even better than Peter...  ahem...  Peter is a rock...  literally...  And with this I must concede that I must be tired, because people who get enough sleep do not name (or post pictures of... or photoshop) rocks...

Peter:

I May Have...

... gone just a touch overboard with the no sew dresses and shirts:

 Well...  summer's coming...

L.

Better Late Than Never...

Between Upward games we finally celebrated Phil's birthday today (8 days late, but who's counting... well... other than everybody who lives at this house...)

Oh yum!  Peanuts!  

Guess where we are?

This shot was just too fun to leave out:

When we got home we also enjoyed our DQ ice cream cake.  Remember?  The one I bought on half price Tuesday?  It was so good (and we still have half of it left in the freezer)!

That was a lot of candles:

We are still lacking in the birthday gft department.  Apparently this is just the birthday that keeps on giving...

Happy Birthday, Phil!  I Love You!

L.

PS  Funniest part of the day was when I went to pick up one of the boxes for leftovers and Phil said, "That one's empty".  It was really heavy, so I knew that couldn't possibly be true.  Turns out Miah had put her plate in it...hahahahaha...  Glad I checked before I walked out with it!

Oh... and Caleb wants one of those enormous bins full of peanuts for the house...  Somehow, I don't think so...

I Am No Seamstress...

However...

Even though I can't sew (yet), I have always been pretty crafty.  So...  I was delighted when I came across directions for a no sew pillowcase dress!  This did require an iron... and I don't really "do" irons, but I decided that if I could think of it as an art tool as opposed to... well... an iron, I could probably do this...

Here is the first of Miah's new dresses for the summer!  It's even cuter with her in it, but by the time I pulled the camera out, she was asleep.  In addition to this one, I have material for four more and for two matching tops for Grace.  Grace is, of course, not as thrilled as I am about this...  (she hates "pillowcase" anything, but I think she can get over it long enough to take some great pictures with her baby sister)!

Tell me what you think!

 L. 

I Am Deeply Disturbed…

… that this breakfast might not be a healthy choice based on things I just read:

I’m honestly not sure what to think anymore about the organic, natural, raw food health craze.  Last year I gave up things like “pink slime” and put an enormous effort into buying organic produce and meat, cutting way back on processed foods, and generally cultivating a healthier lifestyle (at least in the form of what this family eats). 

 

I weighed in more than 20 pounds more at the beginning of this year than last.

And that’s the least of my concerns (well, OK, maybe not really the least, but work with me here)…

Did you know that processed juice is often stored for over a year before it hits the grocery shelves after being mixed with “flavor packs” containing only who really knows what?  I’m talking about “natural”, “fresh squeezed” juice here…

And that even organic fruits and vegetables are being grown in soil that naturally contains a certain amount of arsenic?

I give up!

The honest truth is I don’t have the time or desire to fresh squeeze my own fruit and vegetable juices and to live off of them.  I just can’t do it.

In addition, it’s probably a really bad plan to take the only alternative to eating anything, which is consuming filtered water, alone.  This kind of “healthy” only lasts for 3-6 weeks, at which point you starve to death…

I’m at a loss here…

L.