Little House in the Big Woods

Do you remember this book? Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma and Pa? I loved this story as a kid, and I really loved the TV show based on the series. (Albert was so cute...) My history professor last semester reminded us of how historically correct this book depicted frontier life and suggested we all read the chapter on Christmas this year. So, we did..and Alex wanted me to keep reading after we finished that chapter. How simple this time of year was back then. Laura was so excited about her rag doll and piece of peppermint candy for Christmas. The chapter on Sunday was especially funny. I'm not going to give it away, you'll just have to read it again yourself...and I'm going to find some Little House re-runs.

Christmas Cuties

Yes, these are Christmas Cuties. Of course, they are always cute, whether it's Christmas or not. We were able to get together with friends before Christmas this year and visit, and their adorable boy met my newest niece...as you can see in this pic. He was so sweet, and she loved the attention. It was a great visit...

Snow (?) Day

I love snow days. Or...ice days? It seems like here in good ole' MO that we just don't get much snow anymore. Snowman building has been a rare occurance the last few years. In fact, instead of "snow" boots, I think we need "ice" boots. Did anyone see that poor lady fall on a sidewalk on the St. Louis news yesterday. It was sad. Studded "ice" boots are the answer. Or, just stay inside. I believe that is my answer.

What to do today inside:

* Finish Christmas cards
* Wrap Christmas gifts
* Fix a yummy roast for dinner
* laundry, laundry, laundry

Who needs snowboots? (I mean iceboots)

Wow, I'm a slacker...

Okay, I'm not really a slacker-I've just been hard at work with my first semester at school, and haven't had time for much blogging-or any blogging. Nevertheless, I love school (I know, I'm a geek, and a slacker), and now that this semester is almost over I will be blogging more often-for a while, anyway. Christmas is coming, and we went to chop down the tree today. I love this day. It always puts me in the Christmas mood. That and Elivs singing Christmas songs. I know- Lame, geek, slacker. Oh well.

I Am A Non-Traditional Student

What is that exactly?
I guess they could have said "old" student instead of non-traditional.
Okay, I like non-traditional better.
I'll be a non-traditional student if that means that I now appreciate the time, money and effort that it takes to get my education and use it in the future.
I'll be a non-traditional student if it means I can use my life experiences in my approach to assignments and classes.
I'll be a non-traditional student if it means I can be an example to my kids that you are never to old to learn new tricks.
But I would like to be a non-traditional student that has graduated college before her daughter graduates college.
Hee.
I would have posted a nice picture of me with my bookbag on the first day of school, but that's traditional student stuff.

Bates '08

Just returned from Bates Creek Camp in Potosi on Friday. What a week! This was Youth Week and Johnny, Lauren and I all went down. (Alex isn't old enough for youth week yet.) 300 kids from 13 through 18 years.

Talk about hormones :)

It really was amazing. I don't know where to start.

I've always been a cabin leader for girls week so I was new to this. We took 14 kids: 10 girls and 4 boys. They were truly a great group of kids and we had a blast. (As you can tell by the first pic!)

The crazy looking pic of us standing on a plank of wood was team building exercises.

And Johnny is sliding down a 200 foot piece of plastic soaped down and named the ultimate slip 'n slide! You will not see a pic of me on that.

The best part of camp was definitely worship.

Our speaker was John Stamper and in addition to being an awesome youth pastor, he has started an outdoors ministry: soelive.com. His ministry partners with Bass Pro Shops to present the gospel with outdoor shows focusing on students.

I don't have definite numbers, but I would say at least 20 kids were saved this week. Not including re-dedications made by students to live for Christ in a bold way.

Johnny and I aren't sure who came away more refreshed; the youth or us!

...you belong in the zoo...

We got in a trip to the zoo while Aunt Lisa, Mikayla and Rachel were in town. So fun. There was a new baby giraffe, too. He was hiding behind a tree but we got a pic.

It's so funny to watch the kid's reaction to the animals like the goats. They loved them. Ricky and Rachel brushed them and hugged um.

We had a ball on a virtual roller coaster ride (yeah, at the zoo). It was a 3-D movie you watched in a very unstable, moving seat. We even got Grandma and Shawnee on it. We failed to point out the loop-de-loop on the picture of the ride. They survived. The kids loved it so much we had to ride again after we took a trip on the train. It really just made me want a real roller coaster.

I think I need a Six Flags trip now.

Rockstar Alex

Yippee! Alex's room is done. Okay, after painting 9, (yes NINE) pieces of furniture, drywalling a wall (the blue one) and going through tons of ten year-old stuff we are DONE with Alex's room! Mission accomplished...both of the girl's rooms redecorated this summer! Props to Johnny for his first dry wall job (that I've seen anyway). It was done just in time (bearly) for Alex's 11 year-old sleep over. Four 11 and 12 year-old girls. Very loud....the room and the sleep over. But she loves it. And I may get to read a book or two now this summer!

Howdy Pardner!

This is VBS week. It's been fun but tiring. Our attendance was pretty low this year, but I think that was primarily because our town's little league games are running late into the summer due to the earlier rain outs. And summer school's still going on. Nevertheless, there are advantages to smaller classes: more of an opportunity to share the gospel on a personal level and you know all the kids names by the end of the week! The theme was "Saddle Up and tell the Good News!"

One of our men in the church made an amazing covered wagon for decorations. (No pic yet) It rolls and everything!
Big thanks to everyone that helped out!

Mystery Solved

Yep, this is the infamous dog, Chubsey. He's a Rat Terrier and he's way spoiled. In fact I'm quite certain he thinks he is the baby of the house.

I've been home more since school let out and have noticed that I have to pick up my throw pillows a lot more than usual. Hmmm, why is that pillow on the floor again? Did the girls put it there? No. This innocent little canine was caught red handed yesterday pulling the pillow onto the floor by his teeth to make a more comfortable laying surface.

He knew he was caught. He stops and looks at me as if to say "Sorry. The floor's really hard, and I'm getting old you know". Okay, I'm a softy. Lay on the pillow. Scratch the head.

New Room for New Teenager

My new teenager (Lauren) has outgrown her ladybug room. Sniff, Sniff. So, we searched Pottery Barn Teen and some magazine inspirations and came up with a combo "French style/retro seamstress" type room. The bed was a gift from a wonderful Aunt. The desk was a gift from her "Mamoo", sanded and painted black. The dresser was a used furniture find also painted black. (And the phrase "painted black" sounds very easy. It wasn't.) Glass handles curtesy Ebay. The bedspread and rugs are Target. Love Target. The striped walls were a Better Homes and Garden's inspiration. They were fun, done with measuring tape, a level and painter's tape. We still have to hang the black 5 light chandelier above her desk and finish her seat. Maybe I'll post the absolute finished product later. Anyway, she loves it and I have recouped. Recap: painting furniture, not fun. Painting walls, fun. Next, project...11 year-olds "Rock and Roll" room.

Summer's here!

Ok, so I'm out of school and this should create lots of open creative time, right? Not so much. But I did create something this June: a banner for my 13 year old's birthday party. Nothing too extravagant, Target paper and chipboard and some treasured pics. She didn't want a big "13 year-old" party but she got one anyway. They grow up way too quickly to pass up a milestone birthday like this. I plan on putting the 14 pages of the banner into a small scrapbook for her.