Cub Scouts

Thomas was the first in his Cub Scout pack this year to earn his Webelos badge. His assistant den leader told him at the beginning of the year that he was behind the other boys. (Ok, if you don't know about Cub Scouts you can't be behind because earning badges, etc. is individual.) He was very excited to be receiving his badge first. I’ll post a picture as soon as I get it.

TV Stars

Last Wednesday all of my kids had the opportunity to be in a commercial for Sweet & Sassy where Angelique works. We were there for over three hours! Thomas got his hair cut for them to show that they have services for boys. Rebecca pretended to get her ears pierced. She didn’t really want them pierced. Laura got an “up-do.” And both Laura and Rebecca got the dress-up and pretend to be at a party where Rebecca got to be the birthday girl.

They made a Valentine’s Day commercial and they are working on a regular commercial. You can see Angelique’s back in the Valentine’s Day commercial she is dancing with the group.

Enjoy the commercial!

Wedding Weekend

The weekend started on Thursday evening when Frank’s brother Bill and his family (Sam his wife, Kylee, Gwen and Drake) arrived to stay with us.

We took all of the girls to Sweet & Sassy to get either their hair or nails done. The boys stood outside and then went to The Hobby Shop (Nick’s parents store). When the girls were finished we headed to the mall for lunch and then Aunt Sam’s turn to get her nails done. The girls play together on the playground and rode the carousel together. We got home just in time to change clothes and head to the wedding rehearsal.

All of our kids were asked to be in the wedding; Angelique - bridesmaid, Thomas – junior groomsman, Rebecca – ring bearer, and Laura – flower girl. I was a little concerned at the rehearsal that Thomas and Brie (Frank’s new daughter) would run up the aisle rather than walk during the ceremony! Frank asked me if I would help his friend Greg with the sound system. Greg was in a closet running the sound system and couldn’t see when he needed to start each song on the CD. So, I was going to be his eyes and ears. After the wedding rehearsal we headed to The Butcher Shop for dinner courtesy of Frank’s parents. Thomas and Conor (Frank’s sister’s son) enjoyed cooking Texas toast on the grill and sharing a 16 oz. T-bone steak. Richard and I offered to take Bill and Sam’s kids home so they could spend the rest of the evening with Frank on Beale Street. Richard left first with the boys. As I was getting the girls ready to head out the door for home Frank came and asked “PLEASE” will you take Brie with you tonight. Michelle wanted to join them on Beale Street and didn’t have anyone to watch take her. So, I had an extra girl going home with us. Michelle came to get her about 3 a.m.

The Wedding Day – I took Angelique to meet Michelle and the rest of the Bridesmaid’s to get their hair and make-up done for the wedding. Gwen, Rebecca and I headed for Target to get prizes and plates for Gwen’s birthday party on Sunday. Two and a half hours later we were home. Everyone one was ready to go but Thomas couldn’t find his new shoes for the wedding. We had to stop for new shoes on the way to the wedding. The kids were so cute walking up the aisle and they all walked. I was so proud of my girls because I didn’t hear any whispering. (They were sitting up front with Richard while I was at the back helping Greg who was in the closet running the sound system.) Then, I was concerned when I didn’t see them come back down the aisle with the rest of the wedding party. They had fallen asleep during the ceremony. No wonder they were so well behaved.

It was a lovely ceremony. Frank looked very much in love and not too bad in his kilt. Yes, he wore a kilt. It was the Irish National tartan. The priest said he liked to use an acronym in his homily. He used KILT, hmm wonder why; K – kindness, I – intimacy, L – love, T – trust.
The reception was in the church fellowship hall. There was food, drinks, dancing and good company. We had a great time and some of us had a little bit too much fun.
We wrapped the weekend up by hosting all of the family (Grandpa, Grandma, Great-Aunt Kathy, Aunt Ellen, Uncle Pat, Conor, and Maggie – Frank and Michelle were a little busy and couldn’t make it) at our home for Gwen’s birthday party. We had pizza, pork barbeque, beef barbeque, slaw, potato salad, beans, and veggies with a chocolate ice cream cake. Gwen was very excited to have all of her cousins with her for the party. Her birthday is two weeks away but we decided to celebrate early. The kids built a bonfire out back and after dark lit sparklers. Maggie stayed to spend the night with the girls while Thomas went to the hotel with Conor for a boys’ night.

Here are the pictures from the weekend. Enjoy, we did!

Rebecca's Room

We finally painted Rebecca's bedroom. It's pink (what a shock)! It is painted Royal Love (dark pink) and April Love (light pink). She cleaned up and reorganized everything. We moved some furniture out. She is using a blanket that matches her window curtain as a rug. She also has a pink curtain for a door. She is very excited to have her room finished.

Here are the pictures...

Pizza Night

We made it through the week. We ate everything from Sunday night dinner. It lasted until dinner last night when we finished a chicken pot pie we made from the last of the food. So, I bought Little Caesars Pizza tonight for dinner. I was asked what was for dinner this Sunday. I guess we will give this routine a try for a while.

Tuesday

We spent the day working on school and waiting to see if the wind would blow the swing set over. We had tornado warnings all day. The kids started on their new states for their lapbooks.

Angelique had her hair colored (as soon as I can get a picture I'll upload it). She has blonde, red, black, and brown streaks on the top of her hair. Her boss told her, "You get what you pay for!" It was FREE. She likes it. At least it isn't green.

I compiled a rotation study for the children's Wednesday night activities at church, the "Childhood of Jesus". We will be doing a three-week study. I think the kids will have fun! There are sections on art, carpentry, games, movies, music, and drama. Rotation is a format where the kids learn about the same scripture for several weeks in a row. If you want to know more about rotation study and where I got all of the information from here is the website: www.rotation.org.

Lapbooking

Today we are finishing up lapbooks about Wisconsin, Mississippi and Georgia. Every week each one of the kids picks a state name from a jar. We are going to create lapbooks for each of the states. Everyone will work at their own ability.

Here is a slideshow of Laura's lapbook Wisconsin.

Rebecca has many interactive features to her lapbook. A fan, cards, quarter with description, and a fold out flower.

Thomas is working very hard on his lapbook.

Sunday Dinner and Friday Night Pizza

Today was our first Sunday to try my new idea. The idea is to make enough food to serve on Sunday and leftovers for the week. So, what do we make? Meat purchased on "manager's special" and at least one thing that even the picky eaters will eat. We should have soup, salad, meat/main course, bread, side dishes, and of course dessert!

I have decided that on Sunday you may take your plate anywhere in the house to eat however, you must bring it back to the kitchen when you are done and rinse it and load it in the dishwasher. If it is the week of your birthday you may help select the menu and dessert. Dinner will be ready about 12:30 pm to give time to eat and get back to church, work, youth service, etc.

If we eat all of the leftovers from Sunday dinner all week then we will have Pizza Friday night. But, if we go out to lunch/dinner or get take out then leftovers on Friday night.

Today for dinner I made: 2 - 7 lb. baked chickens, dozen deviled eggs, 5 lbs. mashed potatoes, green beans, bread sticks, Mac and cheese (for the picky eater), gravy, broccoli cheddar soup, tortilla chips and salsa (from Casa), and vanilla pudding. All of the pudding is gone but there is plenty left to eat the rest of the week. And everyone seemed to enjoy dinner. Angelique's friend even stopped by in the afternoon during her break at work for dinner.

Letterboxing

My kids have enjoyed letterboxing. We are going to place a letterbox in Munford. And then put it on the letterboxing website to be found (http://www.letterboxing.org/). Our letterboxing name is Princess and Piggies (ask us about the name sometime.) Here are pictures of my kids when we went letterboxing last month.