A dad and a son

There has been a lot of work going on in preparation for the Grand Prix!  Our dining room table becomes the work station!  Ted will be out of the country for the actual date...not his choice nor Teddy's...but the cars will be done and ready to roll!

They found a place to Test and Tune!!!  They are pleased with the results.  Thank you to a great Dad for going above and beyond to make sure his son can participate!  Racing...it is in their blood...doesn't matter the car size!!!

Our hands are busy in the "down time" we get at home!

 Ted and I had a date to the fabric store for a birthday present.  I focused on basketball prints...Uncle Ted focused on team prints...and he won for being the most accurate in what a 12 year old boy wants!

 I am usually a person of creativity and craftiness.  After tying all the knots...my ingenuity won out!  Hey...I added a red ribbon tie!  Bahahahaha.  The kiddos didn't care about the presentation...they liked what was inside!

 Teddy didn't even get to participate in the birthday celebration...he couldn't push past the sickness.  I attempted to make it a little more bearable with his requested "homemade" donuts.  We starved the fever and fed the man-child.

 On my "to do" list...a new valance of bright colors for the kitchen window.  I found a package of clearanced napkins on an endcap at Target $2.38 thank.you.very.much.  With the new month moving in, I am ready for a happy spring look.

 We've been keeping busy during naptime getting ready for the new month (yeah, Dr. Seuss fun!) and Open House on Monday night.  Every thing is bright and cheery.  "We are embracing this literacy opportunity to enrich the lives of our little three year old friends.  We are going to embody the spirit of Dr. Seuss to the fullest!" she said...and then she asked us to dye our hair blue for Thing 1 and Thing 2.

We shall see who ends up in the looney bin first!  Her or me!

Our choir song for this week has ministered to my heart during all hours of the day and night!

Only God

Only God can move a mountain, Only God can calm the sea.
Only God can heal a wounded spirit, Only God, Only God.
Only God can hear my heart's cry, Only God my sin atone.
Only God can give us calm assurance, Only God, Only God.
God Almighty most holy wise God.

You are the Power and the Glory, O, God, our God.
Only God can be our Refuge. Only God can be our Strength.
Only God will stand as our Defender.
Only God, Only God.
Only God is the Power. Only God in Majesty.
Only God will reign as King forever. Only God, Only God.
God Almighty, Most Holy, Wise God

As we sang this morning, the tears threatened and the lump hit my throat, I had to fight and focus on the music rather than the words...because I would have been a sobbing mess! 
Now...I can sit and cry and sing...we know these words to be true in our life!  He has moved mountains for us.  He had calmed those rough seas.  He has healed our wounded spirits.  He has forgiven my sin.  He is my calm assurance for the unknowns ahead.  And I am so very thankful!!!  I am thankful to be able to sing these words with confidence!

I found a choir singing the song.  It gives me goosebumps.  Listen and be encouraged!
http://youtu.be/SSty3rRYLFE

Guys Night Out is our Girls Night In!

 A basketball game...at the Palace...to watch the Bulls!  This guy was pretty excited!!!

It it a little un-nerving to watch a movie with girls that are watching my facial expressions and reactions to a movie they had seen and wanted me to see.  "You know...I could have written the script for this movie...really!"  I laughed...and then I did have tears rolling down my face too.  I lived those years with three toddlers in my pj pants and ponytail feeling overwhelmed many times.  I know how important those years were for our children and family...and I am thankful for the opportunity that God gave me to be exactly where He wanted me to be!  "Wait, pause it, I know...I need to swap the laundry...give me a second.  It's a mom thing!  Gotta use the time wisely...I don't want to have to do all the laundry tomorrow!"  Plus I had to burn off all the Doritos I ate.

A Short Week...A Cold Week!

 We enjoyed one less school day this week with President's Day on Monday. 

 

 A treat of fresh flowers to brighten up our table!

 Our silly little girlfriends!  They have been "full of it" the last couple days!

I threw the balls away once they were discarded...smooshed and broken with their added touch of germs.  Giggling while biting plastic balls produces more spit!  True fact!

 Sharing fun activities with co-workers at our monthly meeting.

One of many paper plate crafts that we do during the year.

 This is how we play with snow and icicles when the temperatures are in the negative realm!

 Painting fun...

Puzzle fun in the sunlight!

A very chilly President's Day!

We didn't have school in observance of President's Day.  I saw this satellite picture online today...BRRR!   It was so cold outside...we stayed home all day and took care of school projects, movie watching, music practice, and a couple chores while wearing our pa-jammas!

When the boy is away...

 at Snow Camp for the juniors up at CoBeAc for Friday and Saturday...

 Dad takes his three girls out on a date to Bagger Daves!  They are a Michigan place that is known for making their own beer and soda. 

 We tried the sampler of drinks in order for the girls to decide what they wanted.

 Root beer is the best flavor...and orange cream comes in a close second!

 Yummy burgers and fries...and lots of laughter!

Our Valentine's Date

 We, Mr. and Mrs. Black, were invited to the wedding vow renewal of BillyBob and MaryAnn.  It was a lovely, frigid evening, but our hearts were warm with laughter...or embarrassment...as we embraced our parts!

The reception was to be held in the The Eatin' Room...with so many clever details!

 The guests gathered in the lobby of the church and even got to visit the bride cause she wore her weddin' sheet!  We signed the guestbook and made our way to the bride's side....cause that is what our invitation said.

 It was decorated with simple and DIY style.

 Oh...look...Mr. and Mrs. Pumpkin, Mr. and Mrs. Carnation, and Mr. and Mrs. Winters.

 Cash Card and Dolla made their way down the aisle just as the groom's father and mother appeared...Jan Sue and something Boo.

 Mr. and Mrs. Season, Aunt Dottie, and Mr. and Mrs. Blue sat behind us.

 We shared the row with Mr. and Mrs. White...no grey areas here!

 Then Lucky Chew and MillieMae arrived...parents of the bride. 

 Mr. and Mrs. Summer arrived...a little under dressed...he wore shorts!  Brrrr!  You can see Uncle Moe there in the sound room helping to make the ceremony memorable.

 We waited patiently for all the guests to arrive.

 MaryAnn had to compose herself at one point...maybe while her true love rambled on and on through his vows.

 Mr. Carnation sang a lovely rendition of "Things You Don't Say To Your Wife" as the happy couple re-lit their unity candle and blinking, red heart rings.

 Then...the lights went out and there was some confusion!

 When the preacher figured out what was wrong with the lights...Uncle Moe...was no more.  We filed into the Eatin' room to go through the events of the evening and give our statements as Sheriff Duff tried to figure out what happened exactly.

We ate salad and rolls...then had to re-visit the crime scene.  Poor Mrs. Carnation got a little woozy and swooned in her love's arms.  Sheriff Duff's questioning went on forever...because he always had a chicken leg in his mouth.

 We ate chicken from the Colonel and his lovely wife Sweetie.  Mrs. Rose and Miss Scarlett made sure the mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetable were just right.

 We visited two other crime scenes trying our best to find the link to Uncle Moe's demise.

 A yummy wedding vow renewal cake...was cut and shared.

 So much talk...so  much debate...so much denial...

 sooo much L A U G H T E R!!!

 We finally got to the bottom of this Who Dun It? murder mystery!  Lucky Chew did it...with the wrench...for the insurance money!

Even amidst all the darkness of the evening....love triumphed and the marriage license was signed...again!
***A huge thank you to our church family for a fun-filled evening!  So much work went in to writing the script and planning all the little details!***