Wordless Wednesday

This is from Rory dressing her up and telling her to pose.  After this last picture, she turned around and stuck her bum out laughing.  That's my Marley!

Weekend Retreat

I went on a Thirty-One retreat this weekend in Gatlinburg, TN.  We stayed in a cabin in the Smokey Mountains.  WOW.  It was an amazing place.

There were about 20 ladies in our cabin and another cabin across the way full of ladies.  The lady I signed up under was there.  She's my director, Christie.  Then there was the top lady we were all under, Carrie.

This is Christie.  We were fast friends when I signed up under her.  I had never met her.  She lives in Kentucky.  We met two years ago at conference, and the rest is history.

This is Carrie.  She's our Thirty-One great, great grandma.  She leads everyone in our cabin.  She so friendly and personable.  You kind of expect them not to be, but not so with Thirty-One.  We have an amazing sisterhood.

I was in a room with six other ladies.  This was my bed.  I slept on the side where the folder is lying flat.  My bedmate was Ashlie.  Funny enough, when I was at conference last year and getting ready to walk across the stage and get my picture with Cindy, there was a girl in front of me.  We were talking about how nervous we were.  It was Ashlie!  Isn't that cool?  It's like we came full circle.  

On Saturday night we went to the Dixie Stampede.  We had a good time.  I have a picture of us inside, but I would have to scan it, and that's too much right now.  Here's one of me and Christie outside.

Christie forgot her jacket in the car.  I was freezing!  I was going to dress up, but I would've just kept my jacket on anyway, so I didn't.  People had plaid shirts and boots.  I refused to buy anything that I would NEVER wear again.  It was a good time.  I could've done without the eight hour drive there and back, but other than that, it was a very informative, light my fire weekend.  Thanks, Ladies, for a great time!
 

Funny Story

 

This is our Lenten wreath.  It represents Jesus' crown of thorns.  All of us put the toothpicks in.  There are about 300 of them.  The goal is to take a toothpick out every time we make a sacrifice or do a good deed.  I normally have to tell the kids when to take a toothpick, and that they have to sneak it because we are not to boast about our sacrifices and deeds.  

Well, the night of our Bunco, we moved Jesus' crown to the counter since the food was going on the table.  My mother-in-law went to get a plate of food and came back with fruit and a toothpick.  Here's how our convo went:

ME: Oh, that's cute!  You got a toothpick to eat your fruit with.  Wait a minute.  Where did you get that toothpick?!  Did you get it out of Jesus' crown?!

NANA: Jesus' crown?  

ME: Yes!  The crown with all the toothpicks in it!  Did you take a toothpick from the crown for your fruit?

NANA: No.

ME: Oh, good.  

NANA:  I took one from the container in the middle.

ME: WHAT?!  So you took someone's sacrifice?!

(I was just messing with her, but I can be dramatic sometimes when it suits me.)

NANA: Well, I didn't know what it was!  I thought it was an elaborate toothpick display.

DAN (my friend's husband): You mean we can't eat that?!

The whole thing was hilarious.  I was laughing so hard.  It's a good story.  I love that Nana thought that I would make an elaborate display for a party at my house.  That's funny right thare.  I hope you all got a kick out of it too!     

Sorry About That

I apologize for not having a new post up this morning.  It was a pretty busy weekend, and I didn't get to it last night.  We had Dave on Friday night as always.  We actually got everyone a Zero candy bar to reflect the zero based budget that everyone has to work on this week.  People seemed to get a kick out of it.  

Saturday was my Thirty-One meeting, Rory's basketball pictures and game all that morning.  Then we had friends over for dinner and Bunco night!  I have never played Bunco.  I didn't even know what it was, but my Thirty-One sisters rant and rave about it, so I decided to try it.  It was such a good time!  People were saying they want to try and have a regular Bunco night now.  Besides my kids not getting to bed until 10p that night, I think I would try to do something like it.  Maybe with some alcoholic beverages when it's not Lent.  ;)

Sunday was church and my SIL's birthday.  She REALLY liked some cookies I had at the party, so I made her some more for her birthday.  And some other tasty treats that were really good too!  We had dinner and cake.  Yes, Kevin and I had cake because we may be eating well, but we're still alive.  Plus, it was Sunday, which means you can have what you've given up for Lent.  Unfortunately, her present didn't make it in time, and it didn't come today either.  :(  I'm not sure what that's about.

Other than that, we had a light school day today, but we're getting back into the grind tomorrow.  The schools have out tomorrow too which means the gym during the day with the kids.  It's a treat.  This weekend is going to be another whopper.  Stay tuned!

   

Lesson NOT Learned

We had an issue with Rory today.  She said something REALLY not nice to Logan.  Not cursing but incredibly mean.  When I was teaching Youth Ministry they taught a lesson about watching what you say with toothpaste.  They had the kids squirt the toothpaste out of the tube.  Once it was out, they told them to put it back in the tube.  Obviously, you can't do that and it taught the kids that once you say something, you can't take it back.

So I made Rory go get toothpaste and squirt it into a bowl.  Once she was done, I told her to put it back in.  She asked for a spoon in an extremely cocky way.  I gave it to her.  She proceeded to PUT THE TOOTHPASTE BACK INTO THE TUBE!  I guess when they did it in Youth Ministry, they used an actual tube and not a kid's toothpaste tube which is apparently different.  I still told her the lesson and in true sassy form she said, "So what does it mean that I put the toothpaste back in the tube?"  I told her to leave the room while she still could.  *sigh* Parenting.  

 

Wordless Wednesday

Boy Scouts Blue and Gold Ceremony

Logan had his first Boy Scout Blue and Gold Ceremony this weekend.  We weren't really sure what it was, but apparently it's the birthday of the Boy Scouts.  We sang and everything.  The whole family went to support Logan.  We had a great time except for Logan not getting picked for a volunteer even though he was well behaved, they dismissed tables to get food and people were going back for seconds before our table was even called for firsts, and we were the last table they got to with the cake and we had to flag them down.  Other than that, great time!

Logan got awards, and we were out of there.  Next stop my parents house.  We haven't seen them in a good while, so we headed down for dinner.  We had a good visit and had to turn right around and leave.  Marley was amazingly good for having not napped.  She started to meltdown at dinner, but we got home and got her to bed.  

I had Carmel today, and then dinner at the in-laws.  Another busy day, so I'm looking forward to some school in our jammies days.  Here's some pics.

  Congratulations, Logan!  We're so proud of you!

Marley's First Haircut

We did it!  I said I wouldn't because I love her curls, but her curls turned into knots.  When my hair did this same thing when I was little, my mom chopped it off.  If I had my baby book I would show you what she did.  She's probably reading this smirking.  There was no rhyme or reason to how she cut my hair.  I'll get the picture and post it.  It redefines the word "pixie".  

Anyway, back to Marley.  I had some money left on a giftcard my mom got me.  It was just the right amount for a kid's haircut.  Marley was excited and scared.  We had her hair washed and everything.  She DID NOT like it.  Not one bit of it and is asking that I never take her to get her hair cut again.  Let's stroll through the pics, and I'll show you.

Her hair was too long, and she didn't fit in the chair, so she had to stand.  Then she asked for her hair to be dried.  The lady had a pink hairdryer.  Marley was tickled.

I love Logan photo bombing this.  It's funny!

Sorry!  The finished product picture is blurry.  Boo!

While we were checking out the hair dresser ran over and asked if I wanted some of her hair for her baby book.  I ALMOST FORGOT!  They gave us this nifty certificate, and you can't see it but the bottom right corner has a plastic bag of her hair in it.  All went well, and she still has tangles, but they are not knots anymore. 
 

February Daybook

Outside my window...
It's dark, cold, and has been snowing on and off all day.

I am thankful for...
Results.  It's taken long enough!

I am thinking about...
Lent.  I stole this answer because it's true.  I always want it to mean more than it seems to.  This year is no different.

In the schoolroom...
I bought workboxes a while ago.  I just brought them in from the car today.  Seriously, it was a while ago.  We're getting into a groove, and I think I can make workboxes work.  ;)  I was going to fill them tonight, but I'm making sure you guys get some love too.

From the kitchen...
We're still meal planning.  Most nights we make the kids try what we've made, and then they ask for something else.  It's normally cereal or a sandwich.  My kids literally LIVE on cereal.  We've got some new recipes we like.  While I would like to say that I meal plan by the week, that's a loose statement.  I have something in mind, but it's not concrete until the night before, and concrete is loosely used too.  

I am creating...
a routine.  I'm trying to get chores regularly happening rather than when I remember them.  I was using a great system, but it stopped working for me.  I didn't like starting school that late in the morning.  I have a loose (that must be my word tonight) system of focusing on a room or spot and going back to it when I have time during the day.  That works sometimes.  I need something better.  Suggestions?

I am working on...
Thank you cards.  There are a lot of them.  I'm hoping to get them out by the end of the week.      

I am reading...
I can't remember because I haven't picked it up lately.  I have reading for my Carmel classes that I'm trying to do, and that doesn't leave much time for leisurely reading.

I am praying for...
The Lillard Family.  They're a local family whose house burned down and took their 3yo and 6yo daughter with it.  It's so sad.  There are fundraisers all over the place for them.  

I am hearing...
Kaelyn talking on the phone.  She actually sounds like she's screaming.  It's bothering me.  I've already told her to quiet down once.

Around the house...
Well, we already talked about chores.  I'm waiting for a relatively nice and free weekend to get started on the kitchen.  I got cabinet refinishing stuff for Christmas, and I haven't been able to use it yet.  I'm reconsidering my original plan.  You guys will have front row seats.

One of my favorite things...
Hot chocolate.  It's a nice treat at the end of the day or when I'm craving a sweet.  It fills my belly.  I guess it's the warmth.  I'm looking forward to some tomorrow for breakfast with a piece of banana bread that I made today.  Yum!

A few plans for the rest of the week...
We have a busy weekend.  :(  Other than that, grocery shopping, a birthday party, and the weekend of running.

A picture thought...

I have a picture just like this but of Kevin.  :)  This girl cracks me up!  You might notice her outfit.  She picks one of these out and then a long sleeve shirt and pants for going out.  Start praying for me now!

      
 

Weekend Ramblings

Because I'm not busy enough, I signed Kevin and I up to facilitate the Dave Ramsey class at our Church.  Good times!  It actually went really well.  I get so nervous having to talk in front of people!

Saturday the girls had a tea party birthday at a friend's house.  There were A LOT of princesses there, and it was loud.  I felt so bad for my friend.  She was running all over the place.  I'm sure her little one will NEVER forget that birthday.  Marley was allowed to skip her nap and get all sugared up.  Have you seen "Over the Hedge?"  She was Hammy.  It.Was.Great.

Sunday was split parenting.  Rory's choir was singing as Mass this morning, and Logan had a CubScout Mass in the afternoon.  Kevin went to the gym when we got home, and I worked out with the girls.  It was funny.  Before bed, Marley ran to the mat and kicked out some more mountain climbers.  I HATE those things!  She does them better than me.

We headed to the in-laws for dinner.  Kevin cooked chili for everyone.  His mom made some of hers too.  It could've been a chili cook off if his brother had made some.  Then some little birdie told me the Superbowl was on tonight.  HAHAHA!  Get it??!!!  A little birdie?!?!  Ohhhhaaahhhhahh!  That's funny right thare!  I literally laughed out loud!  

In other news, I will leave you with the latest happenings here tonight.

 The light was a bit bright, but Logan lost his other bottom front tooth tonight.  We're still ok as these are NOT the teeth that cost us so much money.  ;)