Mammaw's visited to see the Games!!!

She got to see Z in action on the basketball court on Friday night!

And see B do some cheers on Saturday morning!!!

Below is the assistant coach leading the girls in something they do at the end of practices and games  . . . hands all in the circle and they all chant "We're smart, we're beautiful, we're cheerleaders!" then the hands go up like in any teams end of a pow wow.   It makes me think of a scene in the book "The Help" (now a movie) but I haven't asked to confirm that.  (: 

In the afternoon Mammaw took all 3 kids to see a play while D and I went to eat chinese food with another couple (the Bakers) to celebrate Chinese New Year!!!

Before she left she played a game of Blockus and she read them a bedtime story next to the fire!!!    (she's often cold at our house - so D was nice and built her a fire this evening!  I think it was our first this season.)

Thanks for coming Mammaw!  We enjoyed your visit!

January Joy School/ MM/ 100th day/ Sewing Class

I taught Joy School last week!  We had 4 kids join our group (one was absent this day - so the "Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly" sat in her chair for this picture!)  So it's a little different with  more kids - but good!

 We talked about the "Joy of Order."   I borrowed some kits to put in order from the Early Education Learning Center nearby - sorting and patterns.   Then our craft was about setting the table in the correct order!   I usually love teaching that.  but the younger 3 year olds didn't grasp as well as the older kids - oh well , I tried!  :)

 For Music Makers this month - the theme is "Under the Sea"  I borrowed some COOL props from my sister who had done this theme last year.  It was nice to have the props done and ready to go.  A kit from Colorado!  Thanks Em!   Everyone loved the props especially this octopus costume and the sea lions where they got to hide under this table and pop out ("snuggle in the ocean"). 

 Movement time was fun with a variety of things - like blubbles and shaking sea creatures and crab walking relay.  Ak was good at that!!!

 Z celebrated his 100th day of school!  His shirt with a 100 spots of camo still fit!!!  Yea!   Looks good Z!

B has added sewing class to her schedule.  I had a inquiry about adding a class, so I did.  B is in that class.  So I am teaching 2 classes now.  She got to make a hat the first day.  Good job B!

Basketball Boy

 Z was excited to play basketball again this year!  He seems to be understand defense, as he often won't leave the opposing kid alone who has the matching color arm band (even when he's on offense!)    He loves practice and games!!!

 He did score a basket the first game and gave us a smile and thumbs up!  Go Z go!!!

There is a friend from chuch that is one his team, Jonah!  And his little sister, Kate, and Ak love to cheer from the stands!!!  Go Panthers!!!

 



Cheer Girl

B asked to do cheerleading this season with Upwards. 

She came home after the first practice knowing 2-3 cheers already and very excited for this season!  She has an enthusiastic head coach and a supportive assistant coach.  I've heard some stories of bad experiences where they didn't have a good coach - so I feel lucky! 

First game day!!!  Go B go!!!  She seems to enjoy it!!!

 

click here to see "Introduce Yourself"

click here to see "Hey Hey"

 Note the above ribbons attached to the ponytail holder on the bottom of the above picture . . . that's the ribbon that came with her uniform.  But the coach said it was too small for cheerleaders! 

So she made them BIGGER ones!  (:   It didn't cost me extra so I was okay with it - just makes me laugh!

Package! Snow!!

They were excited to get a package from Grandpa Paul & Grandma Debbie . . .

fleece sweatshirts and cool scarves!  Thanks for the package!!!

 

Yesterday we got a dusting of snow - got to go to school an hour late . . . the kids were happy to see it but they are so ready for some REAL snow to fall!!!    Here  that only means 2-3" - haha!!!  They talk about going sledding and drinking hot chocolate! 

  

Went to a nearby town the next day for a short trip and didn't expect change in weather - had we known we would have dressed to stay out in the SNOW!!!  This was the most snow we've seen this season - so the kids wanted to play out in it!  They did - but they didn't last as long as they wanted to due to lack of enough gloves/mittens!  Glad we went north because when we got home - not as much snow had fallen - so they were glad for their 1/2 hour out in falling snow!!!  (: 

We'll see what the rest of this season brings!  I don't even feel like winter has arrived - we keep having warm spells - it's even hit 60 degrees - in JANUARY?!?!?   I know lots of others like warmer weather - but I like winter . . . so I hope we don't skip it!!!

B in Winter Musical

At school the 2nd and 3rd graders put on a Winter Musical;  B got to be in the chorus!

                                               B and Madelyn (her friend from Kindergarten)

                                   B with Morgan B. and Lindy D. (both 3rd graders from church)

She did a great job and enjoyed practicing the singing in Music class!  It had to be rescheduled from the first original date due to SNOW threatening to come  . . .  it was kinda funny due to the name of this play.  (:

Sorrry some of these clips are shaky . . . I don't have the most steady hand and then D had Ak on his lap bounching her up and down and I didn't want to yell to stop while I was recording.   And sorry my scanning to other kids is kind of quick.   But at least I have these - I focus on that instead of the quality.  (:
click here for "Nothing But Flakes"     (1.21)

click here for "Snirt" (= snow + dirt)    (1.18)

click here for "Nothing Special"    (.40)

click here for "One in a Million"     (1.48 - scanned to Morgan & Lindy)

click here for the "Flakes" Reprise   (2.04 - scanned to whole group.  sorry for cutting off the last phrase of the song!  The camara stopped recording . .. . I was just glad it didn't do that earlier!!!) 

New Years Eve

Had an unplanned party with my brother and his family!   I got to do a German theme which I have been wanting to do for awhile!  We had potato pancakes - with applesauce, red cabbage out of a jar, german chocolate, chips with Marcie's dip and fresh cut pinapple!  Okay - so not all of it was Geman food - and what was wasn't the best stuff ever - but they were polite and tried it (I didn't fry the pancakes long enough! - I didn't realize it till they were all "under" cooked already - SORRY GUYS!  But thanks for being so polite.)  Next time I'll try to have the menu done in advance.  But I was REALLY thankful they came by and stayed!!!  Really glad!!!

Click here to see the kids Happy New Year Parade!

I can't believe the year is over - went by fast!  But they say don't look back!  I really like this clip . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrZij9MSTRI&sns=fb

Faith in Jesus Christ gives us strength to leave the past behind and look ahead to a brighter future.  Don't be like Lot's wife . . . realize what the Lord has in store for us is better than what we have in mind for ourselves.