Our Tiny Dancer

Avery took jazz this year and the song she danced to was "Lollipop Lollipop". Her costume was my favorite of the last 3 years. She danced beautifully, never missing a step and smiled for the audience. We had a QUICK change from the Lollipop costume to the grand finale costume where she danced in the aisle to "I Want Candy". It was a lot of fun to watch her.

Daddy - Daughter Dance

Yes, that's Tab dressed as a dwarf and our little pixie starring in the Daddy-Daughter Dance in Mamie's School of Dance recital. This year's theme was precious and hysterical all at the same time. There's a lot to be said for a daddy who will go to dance rehearsals and dress up as one of Snow White's dwarves. It's a lesson in love and humility. Actually, Tab's group had the easy costumes this year. The daddies of the highschool age girls had to dress up as princes and yes, that included tights!

Our Beach Vacation

Ahhhhh....there is NOTHING I love more than our annual beach trip to Indian Rocks Beach. I can't tell you how relaxed I am right now and I've been back at work for 2 days. That says a lot for the affect that sand, sun and no stress for 8 days has on me and my family. We stayed at Oceanside condos this year and it was so nice! In comparison to previous years' accomodations, I felt as though I was staying in a 5 star resort.



We celebrated Father's Day again at the beach this year. And Avery had some fun on her boogie board. Plenty of sun, sand, sea shells and relaxation was enjoyed by all. Can't wait till next year!

Nonnie Gets a Tattoo!?

Mom went to a Henna/Mehndi party for her former art teacher who is Asian Indian. This intricate design is done by hand and though it looks like it should have taken hours, it took about 20 minutes and the tattoo could last up to 21 days. Mom said that right after it was done it was three dimensional and much darker. The lady who did it said that the darker it gets the more your husband loves you. How cool to experience traditions from another culture.

Our Easter Pictures

Easter is a special day for us all. Thank you Lord for the ultimate sacrifice. Help us to remember that we are part of the Heavenly Family because You died for our sins. Thank you for your mercy and grace and abiding love.

I'll Never Be Betty Crocker

If you tried my Resurrection cookie recipe, hopefully yours turned out better than mine. See, patience and baking and me don't really mix. They are supposed to be hollow...mine had a teeny tiny little spot in the middle and the rest was sticky-and gooey. Avery bit into hers and made the worst faces as you can see. She said "Mom, we aren't taking these to church are we?". So Betty, you'll have no competition from me :)

Resurrection Story Cookies

Here's something you can do with your kids tomorrow night. I found this by searching on Resurrection Cookies. The recipe and accompanying scripture is listed below.

Ingredients:
You need to preheat the oven to 300 degrees (this is important--don't wait until you are half done with the recipe!)

3 egg whites
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
A pinch salt
1 cup sugar
A zipper baggie
A wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Resurrection morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Resurrection, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.Read Matt. 28:1-9

Happy Easter to you all! May Christ's ultimate love and sacrifice be a blessing to you and yours.

Leprechauns and Jelly Beans

We made leprechaun traps in March and now for April we've made jelly bean bracelets. We have big plans for bunny rabbit cupcakes and easter egg cakes too. Stay tuned...

My Baby is SEVEN!!!

Okay, can someone PLEASE explain to me how the first year of your baby's life seems to take FOREVER and then suddenly they are seven and back-talking you, bathing themselves, reading, learning more math in the 1st grade than you learned your entire academic career, and blossoming right before your eyes into a elementary schooler? HOLY COW! Avery amazes me every day. Her birthday theme this year was Camp Rock and all her buddies from school came dressed as rock stars. We added some accessories from the goodie bags and wha-la, we have an all girl rock star band. The girls met at Picasso's Cup and painted pottery at lightening speed and then after cake and presents I had to figure out what to do with them all for another 45 minutes before their parents came to get them. We had a LOT of fun, but I still can't believe she's SEVEN!

Saying Goodbye to GG

March 17th didn't begin with looking in our leprechaun trap, it began with an early morning phone call that my grandmother had passed away in her sleep a couple of hours earlier. She lived a long 94 years...almost a century. A million memories came flooding back of my strong, loving, hard working grandmother. She taught my sister and I so many things. She had the heart of a teacher and if she had been able, she would have gone to college and become an amazing teacher. She shared her gift with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She taught me to fish, tried to teach me to sew and cook (neither of those lessons took). She taught us etiquette and was appreciative of a well laid table. My favorite memories include sitting at her coffee table with a miniature tea set she brought from her trip to Holland, filled with hot cocoa, teaching us to properly hold a cup with our pinky fingers delicately extended. If she was worried about us breaking the cups, she never showed it. She used to sing hymns to us when we stayed with her to drown out the sound of the frogs at the lake that freaked us "city girls" out. I can still hear her voice singing the Old Rugged Cross and Holy, Holy, Holy. I sing them to Avery now. She could make a cobbler out of anything and it was always delicious. She tried every craft and art ever invented...toll painting, plastic canvas (I still have an album she made), decoupage (spelling?), and oil painting and I'm sure I'm not getting them all. She LOVED flowers and grew amazing roses. She taught us service, kindness and faith. I love her and will miss her terribly.

3 Generations: Me (3), Grandmom (60s), my sister (18 mnths), Great Granny Savage

Feeling Sorry for Myself

Does anyone visit my blog? Am I putting stuff out here for no reason?

The One in the Middle

Have you been to the new park off of Edgewood yet? It is AMAZING! It's also a little like Disney World right now. Everyone in the whole city of Lakeland seems to throng the place. It can also be a little unnerving if you go by yourself with multiple children. I recommend that you take an adult per child and then act like a child, because this park really brings out the kid in you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you had a sweet day with those you hold dear. Here's our little virtual Valentine for those we love. As you can see Avery's front tooth is coming in nicely and dwarfing the baby teeth next door. The other front one is loose, but is taking its time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The promise of a new year...what things await us, what will we accomplish, who can we help, who needs more love, and how can we make our relationships stronger and meaningful? I'm usually the one to focus on what I can do differently from last year, but this year I want to focus forward instead of backward. I want the start of this year to be about priorities and plans to live deliberately according to my priorities. God, my family, and my community.

I just spent a wonderful 2 weeks at home with my daughter and my family celebrating the holidays. I tried to make sure I took time to be with the ones I love instead of focused on tasks like cleaning and organizing (which is why my house is still a disaster :) Avery and I had a great time snuggling every morning until about 9am. We did some shopping and spent time at the movies with friends and Nonnie. We had a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends. This last week has FLOWN by and I can't believe we go back to school and work on Monday.

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. May you meet the challenges that come with faith and celebrate the accomplishments and every day good times with those you love.

The Shack

I just finished The Shack and I'm dying to talk to others that have read it. It is probably the most thought provoking work of fiction I have read in a VERY long time. I'm interested in what my friends think. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. If you've read it, will you share your thoughts with me?