Oh, Look What I Found!

Caleb and Matthew at 5
Miss Chloe's First steps
Trinity and Josie Dancing Beauties
Disneyland

Napoleon Dynamite Moment

My sweet son had a Napoleon Dynamite moment at school Friday. One of my dear girlfriends called me and said she saw him in the lunchroom putting his bacon in his pocket to save for late. I love that kiddo!!!!

"Randy: Napoleon, give me some of your tots.
Napoleon Dynamite: No, go find your own.
Randy: Come on, give me some of your tots.
Napoleon Dynamite: No, I’m freakin’ starving! I didn’t get to eat anything today.
(Randy kicks the tots which are in Napoleon’s pocket)
Napoleon Dynamite: Ugh! Gross! Freakin’ idiot!"

Happy Valentines Day!

Here is a small sampling of our Valentine masterpieces!

Valentines Day Prep Work

Not that I'm really in a place that Valentines day means anything to me. I still have three little sweeties that are super excited about any holiday that comes our way. We even did a special craft and celebrated Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhogs Day. I'm in charge of a craft in Trin's class this year. Because I'm SOOOO crafty. The mother in charge of the party took pity on me and gave the me the template and ideas for the craft, so I'm ok. I think. Had to run some errands today to get it all ready for Friday. Do you think I need to do an example? I don't want to frighten the children. I did some work on the project this afternnon at the school but I do have some more cutting to do and I'm responsible for a veggie tray with dip as well. I'm going to do a fun pink punch for Chloe's class. Paradise punch, raspberry sherbet and soda. YUMMY!

I love these fun vintage Valentines!

Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this
statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get
back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch
him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest
beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of
silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining
silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where
the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot
spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a
refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was
true that he had to sit there

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there
holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire
time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the
flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the
silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in
it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye
on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Sunday Evening Routines

Starting a new week for me is a pretty set routine. Getting the clothes ready for the week, making cookies for lunches, some yummy for breakfast grab and go (this week it's simple sweet scones), checking the schedule for the weeks events and getting everyone bathed and in bed on time. We have a few things on our list so far. Caleb gets to go see the play "Charlotte's Web" at LBCC. The kiddos all have Valentine parties on Friday, which means this momma has punch duty in one class, veggies and dip in another, a bookmark craft to get together and a yet to be known job in another class. We had a great service at church today. I was not really in a frame of mind to be too receptive to it(morning drama), but it was really good. We just had a week long fast as a church and it was very powerful. Came home and rested and prayed a bit. We got Valentines filled out for two classes and scones made. I'm off to clean up that mess and get to the cookies. Not sure what to make this week, I'm uninspired. We had applesauce cookies last week. Anyhow. I better get back to it.

Thanks for the loving words. All that and more right back to you!



Just a little hint to a Valentine! I LOVE these Moonstruck chocolates. The Chile Verde Bar is also pretty intoxicating! I really am more of a gummy/chewy kind of girl but I LOVE me some good chocolate too.

LOVE Fridays

I love fridays! It is the finish line to a week of hard work and the oasis in my week to get some rest. This friday has been particularly special. I was trying to find a way to erase the horrible work day I had on Tuesday, trying to find a way to get up to Salem for my much needed and anticipated movie/dinner/girls night. When I showed up to work at 730 this morning, I walked in and was greeted by a big smile from one of my dear friends from high school! I was working with her today (and every Friday). Erasing had begun. It was a great day at the school today. Spent the day gabbing with two of my dearest girlfriends, and got paid to do so!!! Doesn't get much better than that. Still wasn't sure how the night was going to work out. I checked my mailbox at the school only to find that I didn't need to figure it out. God had already taken care of it. In my box I found a gift certificate that I can use for the movie tonight. Doesn't get much better than that! What a timely blessing! I'm off to get my kiddos fed and ready for a night without mom. Doesn't happen very often so it traumatizes them a little. Good for both of us I think. I get to see that I'm cherished even though I'm the one fighting the daily battles and I get to get away to be with my kindred spirit for the night! What a terrific day!

Long Time No Post!

What a whirlwind my month has been. Getting back into the swing of things with schedules has taken me longer to get used to than I thought it would. It could have something to do with the fact that I have so many variables mixed in with the regular daily grind that I have a constantly evolving schedule. We have had so many things this month..... Birthday parties galore (Caleb's included, I will expound on that in a minute), swimming lessons times three, many many work days at the school, play dates, a very belated Christmas Program, end of quarter, make up snow days and work.....I have to admit that the month has gone by super quickly and I have found myself away from home more than in it. It has become a drop zone of sorts that gets an overhaul about every ten days or so. I have been utilizing my crock pot so much that the lid literally split in half. I have been really blessed with some unexpected quality times though and I think we have settled in a little bit.

The kiddos just started a new quarter at school so there is no frenzy of work to get done right now. We have some major projects looming in the near future(skeleton book report and the first research report on a selection of body parts or organs for their choosing), we have Valentine parties in all three classes and lots more fun. I have two full work days at the school now, Tuesday and Friday. Those are long, busy days but truly a blessing. That is a considerable increase in tuition money. I pray I get those same opportunities next year and maybe more. We weathered the storm of family crisis with our broken family and know that it is only in Gods great design that we go through these things. That in the great plan He has it all has a purpose and NOTHING is by mistake. We have had ear infections, uti's with ultrasounds, dr's visits and lots of sniffles and coughs too. We are going to start the year with all our maintenance check-ups, eyes, teeth..... gotta get better about staying on top of those things, so we are starting the year with them.

Caleb's birthday party was the highlight of the month. There was so much time and anticipation built up that I was worried it would not meet up to the expectations, but it far exceeded! It was so much fun and such a blessed time. Gun wars in the yard, gator rides through the property, we bbq'd burgers and hot dogs, the boys got to make their own pizza's, smores, more gun fights and stand offs (we went through all the caps we had and we had cleaned out the stores), cowboys breakfast with bacon, eggs and biscuits, mom had the house and table decorated so great with all her cowboy gatherings (see mom it does pay off to hold on to everything!) One funny thing. She had these mason jar handled glasses that the boys called the "cool" cup and that's all they would drink out of. Movie watching was supposed to calm them down but they had a VERY late night anyway. It was such a wonderful time. All the boys got to take home a hat, bandanna, and cap gun. We got some great pics too! Caleb will always remember this, his first sleepover. (I did have several people ask me if i was sane or if I was feeling ok to have seven nine years olds for the night!)

Love you and can't wait for Friday!!!!!!