It is spring break!!!

My peoples are home all day for the next few days...only I don't understand it.  I just know they are still in pajamas and drinking coffee and eating fresh-baked scones.

Our Giggler

Alisa is our giggler girl!  She finds the funny in many things...even a chocolate wrapper.  She also remembers many things!  I looked down at my desk calendar today and noticed she had written "6 years since Alisa's surgery!"  I remember too.  There wasn't much giggling going on that day...but there was peace and joy in the midst of our storm.  When we reflect on those days in 2010, we remember the grace that God gave our family and we are thankful.  We learned to lean on Him in ways we had not.  We saw His provision in our life.  We trusted His faithfulness.  We are so thankful for our giggly girl...and for her joy in what God has done for her!

A little fuzzy mess maker!

                                   Velle likes to tear up newspaper and ads! And...we let her.

Happy Pi Day!

 One made a cookie.  One made brownies.  One made a cinnamon roll.

 All had to find the area of their circle...circumference, radius, and diameter.

A very yummy 3.14.16 day in the math classes at WCS and a very disappointed Dad..."We bought milk this afternoon and the house smells like a bakery...yet I can taste nothing!"  I made an apple pie for dessert!  "And yet again...I have to have fruit for dessert!"  Our three chair-fillers brought home the leftovers for their Dad this afternoon...and he got a taste of each one!  Poor Dad! Hope it was worth the wait!

Grand Prix 2016

 The guys and their trophies!  Saturday, March 5th, was the Grand Prix.  These guys did it again for speed!

 Personally...I loved their idea this year!  Duck tape, Gorilla tape, and masking tape theme cars!

 Their competitor...an engineer!  There was a lot of smack talk and good fun.

 It is fun for them to do this together!  Ted is teaching Teddy a lot of things as they work on the cars.  I get to listen to them and smile at their interaction.  I am so thankful for a Dad who spends time with his children...it is a priority to him. Way to go, guys!

Our week in pictures...while Dad was out of the country.

Ted flew to Mexico early Sunday morning for the week.  We are awaiting his return right now!  It was a busy week and we are thankful for God's provision and protection when Dad is gone!

Teen Meet and Eat after Sunday morning service..."Awww, Mom, you will be by yourself!"  I was ok with that...really!

 Geometry, anyone?  No, really, Ashlynn would rather anyone else do this than her.  We are trying to understand all the ins and outs of Geometry...but it is hard.  I sat with her as we listened/watched some videos.  Pray for her...this is just not something that comes easy.

 Teddy stepped in and entertained Velle in the mornings!  She is so sad and needy when I am getting ready for school.  She just wants to cuddle!

 Spring weather is making its way to Michigan!  A week ago we had snow and a snow day...this week...the snow is gone, the birds are singing, and the sun was shining!  Sure makes getting up and going a little easier...temp of 50s, 60s, and 70s!  Hooray for another season!

Well...I voted.  I followed an excited first-time-ever voter with patriotic blue hair!  It is always interesting to watch and listen to people at the polls...and it totally explains why certain people are elected these days.  I'm thankful to be able to vote.

Getting ready for Grandparent's Day!

 I am so proud of my Kinders!  They have worked hard to prepare for Friday, March 11th.  Today as we practiced...my eyes filled with tears as they sang with their might, "I am so glad that Jesus loves me!"  What a blessing to be a small part in their education!

They enjoyed painting scores of coffee filters to be made into flowers to decorate our tables.  My new love...bright colors and easy cleanup...especially when they clean the drips off the tables!  It hit me today...K5 Graduation is going to be emotional for me.  I love these little ones!

A few snapshots of life

 This is why I teach...the opportunity to touch little lives!

 This is my study partner on Saturday mornings...however...it is very hard to maneuver the coffee cup!

This is why I love living in Michigan...our kiddos get to spend time with their cousins!  Send the girls to celebrate a birthday...we get the boy!  Ted had a plan to go to a yummy BBQ place for supper...and they let Mom tag along!

When the teenagers in your house choose the floor...

                                          so the puppy will cuddle with them after playing!

A chance to return the favor!

 I am so thankful that God brings people into our lives that touch us and minister to us throughout the years!  Years can go by so quickly, yet, the bond that we share is still strong.  I'm so thankful for such a friend...and family!  God allowed us to be a small part of a hard week as their Amma went through a very serious surgery to remove a brain aneurysm at U of M in Ann Arbor...a short 25-30 minutes away!  God gave traveling mercies on a snowy Michigan afternoon and I picked up these girlies and brought them home to our girlies.

 Ted spoiled us rotten with a trip to the store for supper and lots of snacks.  I'm so thankful for a husband and father who knows what is needed to make these times special!  He made sure Miss N understood his two rules...1.  Have Fun  2. Don't wake me up when you stay up all night
5 girls and lots of giggling...and then this big girl giggled when school was called off due to snowy conditions!

 Games....games...and more games!  Snacks...and more snacks...movies...giggling...

 and fighting with Velle to take back anything she found on the floor...games, socks, brushes, feet, girls...she was in puppy heaven!

 The snow day...was really...a lovely day to be out by 1:00pm!  We hit Culvers, bowling, and Five Below!

 We enjoyed getting out and about after getting the good news that Amma came through surgery and was doing great in recovery!  God is so good to answer the prayers of His children.  Relief flooded these sweet girls.

 Teddy was kind to give up his room and spend quality guy time with Caden!  I'm so thankful for a sis that helped us.

 What could be a better gift for visiting Truth Trackers....than a can of Flarp for each of them?!?  Oh...they had fun with it on the ride home!  Their parents would be proud!  Even Ted was speechless in laughter.  It was the perfect tension breaker following a few stressful days of unknowns!

 New snow...tubes...hill...

 Wipe out!

 Not really enough snow...but shoveling from the driveway and all over the yard got them a nice three tiered fort!

Come in and warm up and wait for the snow clothes to dry...and play some more Wii!
So exciting to be out in the snow again...as it snowed...when their sweet Momma pulled in the driveway!  What a sweet time of fellowship and praising over Amma!  We found out...we don't see each other or talk enough!!!  Everyone else went to bed and Alicia and I stayed up...waaaaay past our bedtime.  I had K5 to teach and she had 7-8 hours of driving...2:45am we headed to bed...and I was awake for awhile still.  It hurt the next day about 5pm..."but I needed that!  I can always catch up on sleep over the weekend.  I didn't want to sleep away my time when my dear friend was here!"

You can always get a bigger cup of coffee to make it through!  Alicia...thank you for the refreshing time in the bleak mid-winter night!