Drink of choice...

 

not the usual cup of coffee, that's for sure!  I have gone from Sprite to Gatorade and back again.  I am still feeling not so good, but making myself get up and go...and today...I am paying for it.  I know my normal levels are all messed up still...cause nothing sounds good or tastes good...so my family suffers from "throw together whatever I can find that won't make me feel more queasy".  A nap sounds good...but school is soon to be out and it is time to roll again.

I lost a day...

plus a few other things at the beginning of Sunday.  I am amazed at how the flu can take so much out of you so quickly...ha.  I guess I needed the personal reminder of how nasty the flu makes you feel.  I am so thankful for Ted taking care of me and everyone else yesterday.  He had to drive to work on nasty roads while God blessed us with a snow/ice day today.  I am so thankful, I didn't know if I could drive this morning!  Taking a shower used up whatever energy I woke up with...the kiddos are taking care of themselves...sounds like they are having a ball.

This is how the boys are spending their Saturday!

This is great!  My heart is squeezed with thankfulness for all the boy stuff that Teddy has been able to do with family and new friends!  Uncle Brad, thanks for today's fun!  We love your enthusiasm over the face plant! "That which doesn't kill you...makes you stronger!"

Friday night courts

 Dad challenged his son to really go for it tonight on the rebounds.  "I'll give you a dollar for every rebound, but you have to have more than three!"  We counted thirteen both offensive and defensive...Dad just went broke! 

 Both boys enjoyed playing on the wood floor!  Their team has enough player for two teams, so their coach divides them and plays them evenly.  Teddy and Caden got to play together tonight and they helped one another.

 Here...Teddy passed to Caden and Caden made the point!  Yahoo, boys!

Lots of running back and forth...and another win.  Teddy says he is bringing an extra gallon of water for next week!  It was a fun, but snowy night...and we are thankful for safety on the roads.  We like Friday night games...cause we slept in this morning!

A little bit of sub time in the 5th and 6th grade.

 It was fun to be in the classroom for awhile Friday afternoon!  We reviewed History and worked on their writing assignment.  Every Friday afternoon needs a little down time with an educational...or not...dvd.

I found it!

The perfect...not healthy...late night snack after everyone is asleep.  Sweet and crunchy...but no loud and obnoxious crunching...poptarts!  There are some times that I can't talk myself out of being hungry in the late night hours (one is plenty!).  And if you hold the plate under your chin...no crumbs in bed or jammies!

The girls' latest project has been to write a story based on the idea of these books.

 We have brainstormed.  We have taken notes.  We have made a rough draft.  We found the pictures they want to use for their chosen animal.  Alisa is writing "If you give a penguin a popsicle..." and Ashlynn is writing "If you give a reindeer a rootbeer..."  I am looking forward to hearing what the other students come up with too!  Today, there is a clip floating around facebook just for Moms based on these books.  I have seen it before and it makes me giggle...because it is so true on many levels!  Enjoy this short story...then go out and buy these books...or go to your local library!

If you give a mom a muffin, she'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.  She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she will find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the  washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper. She will get out a pound of hamburger. She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With A Pound Of Hamburger.) The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the two-year-old. While she is changing the two-year-old the phone will ring. Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. She'll remember that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee. Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. She will pour herself some. And chances are, if she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
by Kathy Fictorie
base on the book "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

"Would you like to help...paint?"

 "...and laugh and talk and drink coffee and listen to music and talk and laugh and eat lunch and get paint all over yourself and..?"

 Sure!  I know where my paint clothes are AND I have brushes AND I like coffee AND I like to talk and laugh and sing!

 I didn't know my sis was gonna be on the work crew...but she knew I was...and she brought me a coffee.

 The teen room is getting a makeover.

And there are just a couple finishing touches as of Wednesday afternoon.

I am so thankful for the Word of God...

and the comfort it gives during times of uncertainty.  This morning, God brought to my heart and mind Psalm 91:4 "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

You know it is cold...

when the snow squeaks under your boots and the crystals look like diamonds in the morning sun!

Winter returned...

with a vengeance on Saturday night!  We waited for windows to blow out of the trailer!  Yesterday the cold returned.  Today the snow fell for awhile...beautiful!

Sometimes...

 I sit and instantly have company. 

I stand and make yummy things for my family...that sometimes aren't ready to bake till late at night.
Ready for Sunday morning breakfast!

The basketball team-mates

 Getting set...

 First quarter...well, third...Caden played and Teddy sat.  Then Teddy played and Caden sat.

 And then...they got to play together! 

 They are excited because this league keeps score!

 Harder to play on a carpeted floor...Teddy said he is glad they only play two of their games here at the Nazarene church gym.

Half time team challenge...and then I kind of stopped taking pictures for this game.  Maybe it was because I kept talking with the lady sitting next to me and laughing...or maybe it was because they had lots of points and it was overkill for a Mom to keep snapping blurry pictures of running boys...
Next week...a different gym, a different opponent, and a different time.

Basketball 2013...the fans for our boys!

"This is fun!  Our first game watching our boys play together...and it was an afternoon game...we're awake!"

Buddies...

hanging out playing Legos, watching guy stuff, eating ice cream, staying up late, playing games, and getting ready for basketball!

I was bitten by the creative bug this week...

Alisa got bit by the flu bug!  All her resolve to "not get sick" came up last night...just when bedtime came around.  She fought the battle all night long and lost every time!  She is resting now and holding her 7UP.  As for me...I lost whatever ambition I had reserved about 4:30am.

Being reminded today of this question...

Is Anything Too Hard For God?

Marcia Henry

It's out of your hands, you've done all you can do.  You've given God the problem, it's no longer up to you.  You've prayed the prayer of faith, now you're standing on God's truth.  While you're waiting on the answer He has a question for you.

 

Is anything too hard for God?  Who's got a problem beyond His power to solve?

Are there situations He's not the Master of?

Is anything too hard for God?

 

Only believe trust His Word, you'll see.  His plans are now unfolding, performing perfectly.  It's clear how much He loves, look at all He's done.  For all your questions, there's really only one.

Is anything too hard for God?  Who's got a problem beyond His power to solve?

Are there situations He's not the Master of?

Is anything too hard for God?

 

Alisa and I are planning to sing this at our church's singspiration on Sunday night.  She wanted to sing with me and I asked her what we should sing...and this is the song she chose...her testimony.  I know God directed her heart toward this for a reason!  To remind our family...that He is sovereign and He loves us.  This week has been full of some pretty important prayer requests and needs.  God has brought some specific people to mind to pray for and then let them know...and I have been brought to my knees with the needs.  No matter what the situation...I am resting in the peace that only He gives.  We are going to sing this from our hearts...for we know it is true!  

God never fails to care for His children!

 

On the way to school this morning...

Miss Alisa was not appreciating the fact that we hit every single red light due to a putzy driver in front of us.  It was aggravating, but we had plenty of time.  "They are probably playing with their phone." she mumbled.  The left turn arrow turned green and the cars didn't start moving right away, usually something that I may or may not speak to, "Come on!  It is not a race to be the slowest!"  she muttered.  I chuckled. Teddy got all hung up on the fact that you can't race to be slow.  I laughed...because her comment made perfect sense to me!  Teddy really was ready to drag it out, "Girls...you don't know anything..."  "Oh, look, we don't have to stand outside!  They opened the doors!" Ashlynn pointed out.  Thanks for the subject change, sister!  Sitting those extra seconds at the light probably made all the difference!
Another uplifting ride to school...brought to you by our three back-seat-know-it-all-drivers-who-sound-a-lot-like-their-mother-at-times!

Inspiration from...

 the Valentine aisle at Target!  Perfect for the February stamping night!

 Mari and I had decided a turquoise frame would be attention grabbing!

 Add some felt hearts to make a garland...

 and we are ready to advertise for the night-o-fun!

Share Your Heart...because that is what you are doing when you take time to send a card of encouragement!  No pictures...but I had two stamping days in a row this week...one with my sis!  Yeah for me!

Watching and warming up for their first basketball game on Saturday!

 There was a guys basketball game at school last night and the kiddos wanted to go. 

 Half-time had some fun competition...

 but Teddy got out shot by his cousin.  We are looking forward to the short season the boys will have.  Practices have been on Monday evening and games are on Saturdays.

Mmmmm...cinnamon roll cake!

Thank you to pinterest...again.  Teddy was a happy boy.

Wave #2 hit about 6:30pm

 Poor Ash fell victim to the ravages of flu last night.  "Mom?  When will it stop?"  Break my heart...I don't know!  Every half hour was a little overwhelming...for all of us!  She did stop short of her brother's record...for which we are all thankful!!!  This trailer seems very small when someone is ill when everyone is awake and there is only one gathering place.  I am thankful...no lost sleep and she wasn't in her bed...on the top bunk!

Teddy and I had a short date to Target today...he spent his Christmas money and I re-stocked needed flu-season items.  He is much easier to shop with and for!!!  He found a sweatshirt he needed, and a Lego set he wanted.  With the spring like temps, we are airing out our home and enjoying a relaxing Saturday...waiting to see when Alisa will get clobbered!

Project Pine Derby Cars...is underway!

 Group session to look at and draw out the patterns...don't get too close...or we may have to hurt you!

 Precision work demanded he break out the glasses!  Teddy, always the faithful side-kick...

tonight...keeping the wood dust cleaned up.  Three cars cut and ready to be sanded and "decorated"...the eye roll was perfect when that word was spoken!  Girls!  They saved the "serious, guy cars" to do Saturday, when they were all rested and clear-minded.  There will be no "decorating"!