Happy Valentine's Day!

Roads were icy this morning - so the kids got an hour delay!!!   Perfect for a holiday . . . gave us time to eat heart biscuits and look at their gifts!  We gave the kids each a photo book of a family trip (the girls each got the beach trip in 2011 and Z got our big summer trip in 2010).  They each loved the books and actually had time to look at them!  I like how they have a reminder of our family time!

 Ak and I went to D's work and took him a big card with a heart on it made out of conversation hearts from the kids and a cupcake from Music Makers.   D came home with this lobster pizza for me from Red Lobster!!!!

Dinner was on the run since the girls had dance classes and then Z had basketball practice and B had cheerleading practice.  Her coach's planned a little party and so they stayed longer (the coach's 2 older girls are in D's class and offered to watch Ak and Z after his practice, so we went on a date and got ice cream at Baskin Robbins and talked!)  B was so excited to get this ballon from her coaches!

Z made us this card with a drawing of me, D, and himself! 

And B wrote D a nice note.  (:    Lots of cards were exchanged with friends and received in the mail from family!  Good love sharing day!

Today is Feb. 14th - hope you feel loved today!!!  Chances are if you are reading this - we love you!!!!  Thanks for being a part of our lives!!!!

Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but who's complaining?  

~Robert Brault

ba bum ba smash

Z got a drum set for Christmas from Mammaw.   He anxiously awaited the day where he got to open up the box!     D helped him put it together last month.  I showed him a few YouTube videos of some drum lessons and went through the pamphlet that came with the drum set.  He seemed to quickly understand the walking and running beats and he practiced more than I expected. 

Today while my brother was visiting - Z told Uncle Rod a joke - then he left the room and hit his drums . . . . ba bum ba smash!  (or however one types such a noise)  :)   Just like you see/hear when some master of ceremonies cracks a joke.  It made us laugh since it was so unexpected!  I don't where he learned that.   He did it about 3 more times after he told a joke.  Good job Z!!!  I hope you keep trying to master the skill!!!  It's fun to watch/hear progress!

"knock knock."  Who's there?  "A B."   A B who?  "A bee stung me!"

Grateful!

I'm grateful that when I gave this to Ak for lunch the other day she ate all of it!  I know mac-n-cheese isn't the healthiest, but paired with the other stuff . . . . makes me feel better about it.   The thing I try to teach my kids when they are eating is balance!

 I'm also grateful that our home is safe!  A week ago after a family walk, D smelled gas as we came back to the edge of our yard.  He asked me to call the gas company the next day . . . that day was BUSY and I didn't do it.   Then a couple days passed and he had been in the driveway and didn't mention it again, so when I remembered it, I thought it must all be fine.    Then he came home one day and from the driveway he could smell gas - so HE called the gas company!  It was after 5 PM and their message said to call the police if an emergancy.  D called them to ask if our situation was an "emergancy".  They said to call the fire department and they could check.  The fire department came with sirens and lighs on . . . kind of exciting for the kids. 

They checked it out - they called the gas company and they sent a man out who determined yes you have a leak but should be fine till the morning.   The next morning a crew came out and dug up a little and found the leak on their side (good news for us = no bill)!   A few days later our neighbor saw me and asked about it - he said he had seen on the news in a nearby state how quite a few homes were blowing up due to undetected gas leaks!?!?  I am very grateful nothing like that happened to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Very grateful!!!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.  

~Melody Beattie

Science Musuem

Some friends who used to live here were back visiting and they took Ak and I along to the Science Center during the day.  It was our first time to this one.   The place was practically empty - so it was perfect!  It was great seeing them again, chatting, and hanging out!

Ak was in a little disbelief at this bubble - she kept trying to pop it with her foot or finger. 

She got to "drive" and abulance, bus, and plane!  And work with a pully!  So many hands on activites to try!

After the Kids Zone - we went upstairs briefly where some older kid exhibits are.  Ak seemed interested in each one . . . I had to encourage her to move on at each station!    Most were a reading or listening station - she seemed to enjoy it all!

 Thanks for letting us come along - it was a lot of fun!!!  We miss you guys already!!!

Ak is a natural hugger . . . she kept hugging Ethan.   Luckily he didn't seem to mind.

Good friends!  We can't wait to see you again!

Joy School Fieldtrip - to a Fire Station!

We got a tour of a nearby fire station!  We had a very nice Chief who show us around, including the jaws of life, a video, and let us climb on a truck.

Sariah B, Lincoln S, Vicente G, Bethany W, Ak, Koen W

Hailey B, Ivy M, Miguel G, Paul W

Fun times with our Joy School friends - thanks everyone!