Special days are exhausting!

and I have the perfect cuddler!  Today was Muffins with Mom in K5...and all our Kinders had their Mom, Grandma, or Auntie join us.

Sunday afternoon dinner

 Sunday dinner with family is always a welcome invitation...especially when Dad is out of the country!  We added homemade bread to a wonderful meal.

 And to top it all off...a smores cheesecake made by my sis...with her blood, sweat, and tears!  Turns out that removing a lid off a can can be quite dangerous.  We are glad she didn't bleed in the cheesecake because that would have been a bummer.

MMMM...thank you, Uncle, Auntie, and cousins, for sharing laughter, yummy food, cheesecake, conversation, and coffee!

I like Saturdays!

This struck me as funny...as I watch Velle move from cuddle spot to cuddle spot today.  It is Saturday!!!  And today...I don't have to do much "adulting"!  Usually...I can do it in my own time frame...which then in turn makes it easier!
Groceries, general clean-up, some school work, driving the girls to their responsibilities, and laundry.  That's enough for one Saturday...but now the sun has set...so I will lay in my bed under the electric blanket!
I like Saturdays and the chance to be a wife and mom.  I like time to just "Be Still and Know that I am God"!  Taking time to just be thankful for the ministry that God has given me is important on the slow days...it helps you get through the busy days!
I watched the news of the events out East this morning.  First, I was appalled as I listened.  Then, I was downright angry.  Finally, I was moved to tears by the words and actions of people so lost and miserable.  So much anger and nastiness all in one place.  What is happening to people in America?
How much our world needs the love and mercy of a Savior!
How much peace and hope can bring contentment to hurting hearts!
How much forgiveness can change a heart!
When we go looking for things to satisfy...what only Jesus can do...people are driven to do unspeakable things.
The people who were marching today do not march for me.
Psalm 16:11 is still my favorite verse! 
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
I am thankful that I am the daughter of a King who has given me purpose and peace in life...here on earth and in Heaven to come!

When you are house-hunting...

you...sometimes...make new friends!  This kitty let me know she liked me.  She followed us through the house darting around as if our tour guide on our first walk through.  I think she recognized me on our second visit.  She flopped by my feet and I had to laugh, "She is bigger than Velle!  Wouldn't that be something to watch...a sassy dog and a friendly cat.  Something tells me the cat would win!
Yes, we like the floors of this place! Ha ha

No school on Tuesday...

why, thank you!  It was totally unexpected...therefore a bigger treat!  The text came through at 6am..."No school due to ice!"  I never did go back to sleep.  I stayed awake and drank coffee with Ted and waited to hear if he made it to the office safely.  Then Velle and I...cuddled in bed and watched movies...all day.  It was a day of rest for the sickie kids too.  Our living room sounded like a hospital waiting room full of coughers!

A boy and his trum...pet

It is really hard to practice your trumpet when your little dog keeps jumping up on your lap asking you to play!  These are the problems we have to deal with.  He is managing just fine...chasing and blowing the trumpet at Velle...makes practice time take even longer!

"Hey, guys, why are you just sitting here?"

"We are talking to Mrs, Tackeberry!" said Miss L.  "Yeah, we like just talking to her!" agreed Miss E.  Yep...my heart melted to a puddle on the gym floor.  We talked about favorite colors and how their rooms were decorated at home..important girl stuff.  "This is my favorite shirt because it is warm!" I stated I was cold sitting there watching them play, "Well, you should start running and you will warm up!"  Oops...forgot my tennis shoes!

Not going to lie...

Mom...these snow globes turned out so cute!  I have them on the other side of the door too.  We put "Grammy's" up too!

I get so tired after a morning of Kindergarten!  I start out great and make it through the day, go home with big plans to do some things, and then Velle whines or barks to sit on my lap...and I am done!  Ted teases me about taking naps in the afternoon, but I don't have time to get one.  When I look over all the pictures of Tuesday and today...I see why I am tired...it is a mental tired from always thinking and planning so as not to be overcome by 5 and 6 year olds.  

 Add to the normal daily stuff of learning...special day ideas and programs!  Oi...makes my head spin!

 Famous American Day in February...to help prep for K5 Graduation in May!  I thought I had a good idea.  Using Alphabits Cereal to make words...and then eat them...sounded good in my head...they had trouble making words today!????  Oi!  Simple....one vowel words...we've done it many times.

 The fun ideas seem to come easily as I am always looking for ways to use all our senses...I have 8 boys...7 of whom HATE coloring!

 And then there is trying to keep control/discipline...which goes right out the window when you hear yourself say things like, "Go ahead and eat your words!"  They...well, he...literally eats them off the table!  Thank the Lord for a huge supply of Clorox wipes!

 But...I keep searching for fun things, I keep giggling at the funnies, I keep cheering on their learning, and I keep praying for the strength to be what I need to be for my family each night!

 I was so concerned that January would be dull with not much color...so I keep choosing bright things to compliment the snowmen, snowflakes, and snowballs.

 Our little Kinder world is bright and cheery on another dull, gray, cold Michigan winter day!

Almost halfway through January...I hope we get it all done!  whew...I really want a nap!  I think, I think I am younger than I am.  My mind says one thing...my body tries to speak up and say another!

A treat from my sister...

sent me over the edge of self-control!  I ate the last one today...dark chocolate mint Lindt truffle balls.  Oh my word!  I can tell it is the middle of winter and Ted has been gone!  Thanks, sissy!

Wait...Already?!

 where's everybody going? Grampy and Grammy brought me a new toy!  We headed back to school on the 3rd.

 We were sort of ready...and sort of no ready for the schedule that came with it!

 Ball games...but we got to share the time with special people!

New Year Fun

Thankful thoughts

Double-dating

 Flemings Steakhouse...

 for dessert...chocolate lava cake

A trip downtown Detroit

 By Thursday, everyone was feeling ready for an outing!  We went shopping so the teens could spend their Christmas cash!  If you go by the number of items in the bag or time spent in the stores, the trip was successful!  Then Dad had one of his great ideas..."Let's go local for some good food!"  We drove downtown and took the people mover to Greektown for wonderful pizza.  Teddy enjoyed doing his Buddy the Elf impression on the escalators...sans the tights!

 We enjoyed being together....laughing and talking with our teens!

 How quickly they are growing up!  It is a good thing we aren't getting older...HA!

We totally didn't follow tradition this year!

 Can you believe that we didn't open stockings on Christmas morning???

 I think they finally remembered to open their stockings on Tuesday!  When sickness strikes during Christmas break...everyone is affected in different ways.

 It stretched out the fun!  "It doesn't matter...we knew the stockings weren't going anywhere!"

 Learning to play a new game...

 and Velle insisted on being part of it!

We lasted for a couple rounds...and then everyone went back to a comfy chair and blanket!  We are a bundle of Christmas fun and energy here....NOT!

Perking up for special visitors from Wisconsin!

 It is always fun to have friends stop and visit!  We enjoyed a visit from our WI friends!

Ted and Alisa perked up enough for lunch and conversation.  Shortly after our visit was over...the battle for the fevers raged again.  We are so hoping that the MI germs didn't hitch a ride to WI!