Down and Derby Time:

Third times the charm
Three Strikes you're out
Hat Trick
Three is a magic number



Noah participated in his Cub Scout pack's Pinewood Derby on Friday night. His car was designed as a melting Creamsicle. Noah's car was consistently 3rd in each heat. After the third heat Michael asked Noah how he was doing and Noah responded, "I came in third all three times. HUGGIES?!"

After the 5th heat coming in last Noah said, "This is embarrassing!" After the 6th heat he told my mom, "I'd rather eat my own poop! HUGGIES!?!" Later awards were given out for different categories and Noah won, "The Best Non-Car" category.




















::::::::::::::::::::Here Is Another Vacation Layout:::::



"The kids thought it was fun to pretend to be in the gaol because they knew that they weren't going to be a resident there for more than a few miniutes. I was happy they didn't resort to trying to figure out how to create their own shanks. I didn't want to contemplate for too long what the smell of these places were like, or the presence of vermin."

"The story of Matilda, by Raold Dahl, is a family favorite. The Trunchbull is always throwing the kids in "the Chokey" for any reason she wants."

_{Credits: Sausan Designs: Needful Things Book, Christina Renee and Shabby Princess: French Countryside, Rachel Young: Stamped Alpha, Antonio Rafello: Vintage frames, Darcy Baldwin: DJB MICHAEL}


::::::::::::::::::Out And About:::::::

We went to a Wish Day celebration for our niece, Teresa, who is in remission from leukemia. We were scheduled to go to a petting zoo, but a torrential down pour side-lined us to a nearby church. We had fun with the family and the lovely ladies who arrainged the day.

On the way home Noah struck up the "Category Game" that we started last week. The categories today included: Dr. Who, Cyberman, Yellow, Astronomy, Road Kill, Transformer, and Girl Scout cookies. The funniest one was the last category, which Michael announced as we neared our home. He said, "Photosynthesis". To wit, Rachel responded enthusiastically, "We get to talk about cameras!" Laughing, Michael says, "The next categories are "Cameras" and "Blondes". Rachel, quickly, stated she knew what photosynthesis was then gave the definition.

Off to work on some Easter layouts:

Happy Easter!

What a fun weekend with family!

On Saturday, Grandpa Jim and I walked Eve over to the church across the street from their subdivision for an Easter egg hunt. She was in the 2-5 year old group. There were a lot of eggs and a lot of kids. She was able to gather 9 eggs in about 2 minutes. She seemed a little dazed by the swarm of kids and adults, but we told her not to be concerned because there was another hunt to come at Granny Alice and Paw Paw Dennis' house. She accepted that and we walked back to the house, all the while, enjoying the beautiful Spring weather.







:::::::::::::::::Noah's Talk::::::::

On Sunday, Noah gave a talk in Primary about the resurrection of the Savior. Here is Noah's talk as dictated to daddy:

"Today I am going to my Granny Alice's house. We are going to have an Easter egg hunt. Easter egg hunts are fun, but what Easter is really about is it is the day that Jesus Christ was resurrected. Thank to Jesus' atonement all of us can be resurrected. I think that Easter eggs represent coming to life again. I am thankful for Easter because Jesus gave us eternal life after we have lost our first life."

:::::::::::::::::::After A Quick Change and:::::

a potty break we hit the road South. When we got to Dad and Alice's house my Martha Stewart like sister, Katherine had made these yummy treats:


My sister, Tracy made homemade macaroni and cheese, my dad smoked some delicious pork tenderloins, we also had potato salad, hot dogs, and beans. Yummy stuff, I tell ya! Before we ate or hunted eggs my dad asked me, non-chalantly (this should have been a clue!) to go get the ice cream from the white freezor in the garage. I obeyed and upon opening the said freezor I was presented with a large, black garbage bag with curved claws extending from the opening. I didn't look past it for any ice cream (it wouldn't have fit, anyway) and went back in the house to find my dad laughing. I asked him what, dead thing, he had in his freezor. He said it was a beaver. I can't say that I was overly surprised. My dad has always been a hunter and fisherman. I'm used to the old deer heads he had on the wall. The beaver is a new one, though. HEE, HEE, dad! :)

:::::::::::::Tradition:::::
There were also some great confetti eggs:



Confetti eggs have become a tradition ever since Katherine walked up to me, 2 years ago, with a Cheshire Cat smile, gave me a big hug, then cracked me on the head with a confetti egg. I bought 4 boxes at the local grocery store to arm all of the children this year. Confetti was all over our hair, clothes and the yard.


The kids had fun hunting in the leaves and trees for the various treats. The metallic eggs had dollar bills. There were 8 of them. The kids shared the money evenly at the end.

Here is Rachel:


Here is Aaron:


My niece, Haley:


My nephew, Tyler:


Silly Evey:


Noah:



:::::::::::::Piano::::::::::::::::

While we were just hanging out and talking. Eve played on the piano. She plays on it every time we visit. We asked if she would like to take lessons and she responded in the affirmative, so after ballet/tap is over she will begin piano lessons.

:::::::::::::The Ride Home::::::::

was pretty silly. We created a Michaelite version of Jeopardy. One person would come up with 2 or 3 categories, then we would shout out which category we wanted to answer the question. Since the person asking the question was in charge they would pick the category they wanted to ask the question from in the first place. Our categories were from various subjects: math, science, U.S. History, Pagan Holidays, Shrubberies, Dr. Who, Transformers, Music, Toilet Paper in Colonial Times, Toothbrushes, "Back To The Future", Scott Toilet Paper (this is a different category, and Rachel was in charge of asking these questions), Chickens (chicken questions are all for Noah's benefit...he has a hang up on all things chicken), the t.v. shows, "My Hero" and "The Vicar of Dibley", and "Red Dwarf". We also had the category, Freezors...as in what will you find in the freezor in my dad's garage? Answer: A dead beaver.


Noah asked the question, "What does "TARDIS" stand for?" Rachel and Aaron were tripping over their tongues to shout out, "Time And Relative Dimension In Space". The funny thing is I didn't already know that. It was at this moment that my children attained superior geek status. I'm so proud! Hey, kids! Let your geek flag fly!

:::::::::::::::::::Now::::::::

...family reading is done, prayers are said, kids are asleep...and husband, so off to bed!

Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite! :)

Slow and Unsteady:

On Michael's blog he has a great idea for a "non"-trivial pursuit game. Check it out. I think he really has something.

:::::::::::::::::Slow and Steady?::::::::::::

If slow and steady wins the race, what does slow and unsteady get you? It is taking forever to get the house finished. Each week has had about 2 days of rain and it is also deer season, so my dad likes to go hunting. Michael has to work to pay off the loan and work with 1 hour of remaining light when he gets home. I'm a glorified lumber totter (I caulk, too). This keeps any substantial progress from happening. The day was gorgeous yesterday, but that was the day my dad had his appointment for his crown. The new locks I bought are a pain to put in (from the obvious grouching of Michael trying for the umpteenth time to line up the mechanisms). I don't think all of the slow downs on this project have anything to do with the numerous times I've walked under the large ladder, but it does give me something nebulous to blame.


::::::::::::Teacher Conferences::::::::::::::

I had Noah's teacher conference on Monday and today I have Rachel's. Noah's went really well. The teacher said that Noah has a lot of things to say and that, to her happiness, it is about the current topic. If she is talking about Thanksgiving he isn't off on some tangent about Halloween. She said he is a little fact machine. She said he is just like a sponge for information. The teacher was happily surprised I could make comments on the papers and projects that Noah brings home. Some he points out to me and others I ask him about because I want to congratulate him or know if he enjoyed doing the project. His Reading Recovery teacher came in to the conference and showed me the progress Noah has been making on learning to hear letter sounds and then write them down. He has gone from zero to level 5 in 9 weeks. She is really proud of him, too. I continued to talk with her after the regular conference was over (she also lives in our neighborhood and is a completely wonderful lady). She showed me more about her dealings with Noah and told me some stories.

Rachel was thrilled to come home with a 100 on her math test (her first 100 on a math test this year). She received a homework pass for her success, but with her struggles with math I would prefer she recieve another perk. I think it is important she recieve as much concept reinforcement as she can.

::::::::::::::::::::::

Guess what?


My dad just showed up! There is a severe thunderstorm likely today. I opened the door and said, "You know the weather was really nice yesterday!" He told me to be quiet and open the garage door. You just never know!