Purim 2010

his year, Zion Kidz celebrated the story of Esther with a Purim Art Show.

Emily's work is on the left, Jacob's in the middle and Becca on the right.

Jacob with his Mordecai (YEAH!!!) sash, and kings crown and goblet.

Jacob's drawing of Haman. Boo!

The girls made annointing oils, like Esther would have used.

Jacob's royal decree to let the Jews fight back and his signet ring.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the other side of the parking lot, Ignited was getting ready for

Star Wars 4e : The Esther Saga

Which you can watch at:

www.gozignited.com/ignitedarchive.html

you will have to sign in.

Our very own thespian, Katybug, put in a wonderful performance as C-3PO.

Jacob made a cameo appearance in the alien band - playing guitar.

Daniel and alien Jacob

We all love John Dickson!

And Lee and Ben in the background,

trying to hurry up and put the sanctuary back togther.

First Birthday of the Season

It started out as any other birthday...

But a brief run-in with Daddy's car door - and Emily was off to a sad start.


At least she had the party to look forward to.

The big brother was setting a good example for us.


We did load everyone into the van and head to the park for 30 mintues...
"Mom, they've never ridden in our van before."

Then we returned home for the pinata.
I've never done a pinata at a party before and now I know why.


Maybe it was because I let them pick this one,
the authentic donkey pinata that requires a stick....

maybe it was because after I bought it and the stick,
I had to buy the candy to fill it up....

maybe it was trying to find somewhere to hang it ...

maybe it was because children don't listen so well
when unknown candy riches are close at hand...

maybe it was the mad rush for a few pieces of candy
and all the arguing that ensued...

maybe it was because I got tired of yelling,
"move back or you are going to get hit"...

or maybe it was because the pinatas neck broke on the second hitter
and the body fell to the ground releasing absolutely no candy.

Really - none! At least everyone got a turn to hit a 4 legged, headless pastel creature before Mom had to pick it up and pull the aft end off so the candy would come out...

Note to self: No more pinatas.


But I think everyone had a great time anyway!


Here's the leftover cake and cupcakes.
Emily and Becca made them the night before.
We had birthday dinner and heart shaped cake with Daddy and Katy.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now we have two new birthday traditions :

-Make your own cake the night before.
- New outfit for your birthday

to add to the others:
- Streamers in the morning
(which they are now required to help with the night before)
- Birthday party on your birthday
- Make your own cake/ cupcakes
- Wear a birthday button or pin on your shirt


If you want to see some pics and video of little Emily and little Becca
look back at my posts from January 2009 .

Fan Etiquette

Imagine you are at the gym doing aerobics or Jazzercise.

Person A positions herself right in front of the fan, because she likes the fan blowing on her while she works out and gets all sweaty.

Person B walks in late, wearing sweatpants and sweatshirt. Proceeds to positions herself in front of Person A.

Person B quickly moves the fan around so it is pointing directly at her.... and then turns the fan off!

What?

This is the warm up song and I'm not sweating yet, but I... I mean, Person A wanted the fan.

I give Person B the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she's just wants if off for the first song.

Wrong.

Person B takes off the sweatpants during the next song. Then the sweatshirt on the next... but never did she make any motion or inkling about turning the fan back on.

So I did. I turned on the fan that I am now only receiving 20% of. Down from my previous 62%.

Then she leaves early. We had 3...maybe 4 songs to go.

Did I miss something?

Did she ever mean to turn it on... and maybe she forgot?

Was I in her spot?

Anyone? Anyone?

I'm sure there is proper fan etiquette... I just don't think Person B knows what it is!

Glasses and her new haircut!

(Here are a few pictures of Katy's new haircut - in case you read her blog last week.)

As we headed to the glasses store for Katy,
I realized I had my camera in my purse.



I also noticed the stroller was not in the van...
so I am snapping away with a squirmy ClaireBelles in my arms.

You can see Jacob sitting on the ground reading.
Three little sisters are sitting on the floor beside him.
They were sooooo patient.


Having someone take your picture with the new glasses on and then looking at the picture with your old glasses (so you can see what you really look like) was really helpful if you can't see without your glasses on like Katy....


or Darren.

Now what Darren and I want to know is how they can sell us 2 pairs for $99...


but one pair would have cost us over $300.


The mark-up in there somewhere is so high,
that we come out feeling like we got a good deal?


But someone is making money on these glasses...somewhere.



So while Darren and I were pondering the money making aspects of mass production/ supply and demand, Katy was kind enough to have a turn running after the ClaireBelles.




"That big sister is really nice. She even let me put on some of these cutie things.
No one lets me touch their glasses at home!"

costumes

I know it's December, but humor me here... I showed ya'll photos of Career Day (which was conveniently placed around Halloween) but I never showed you the real costumes.




Spam is the official food product of Ignited.
So she decided to be a Spam dealer...
"Hey, You want some Spam?"



Claire is sitting on one of those over the door shoe holders (that we cut up a bit for Katy to wear like a vest) stacking up all the many varied flavors of Spam....
turkey spam, bacon spam, cheese spam, hickory spam...
amazingly, they all taste like Spam!




Jacob was the Masked Knight.
He loves to wear that cape... thanks Aunt Ceep.

Emily and Becca didn't care what they went as, they just wanted make-up and curly hair. So we chose princesses... because they get to wear all kinds of clothes in public, you know.



Amanda and Mrs. Cathy with her beautiful face painting.



ClaireBelles got to eat bag after bag after bag of popcorn that night.
Better than candy, I think.



Here's our good friends Heidi
(can't remember who she was...her and her sorry costume)



and Captain Will.




Daddy had a gig that night with an AC/DC cover band.
He played Bari Sax on It's a long way to the top.

A good night was had by all.

Darren and Jenn minus 6

As we left Denton on the way to our 12 and a half anniversary trip - it was good to just be together. Just the two of us. But it wasn't much different than a regular date.

As the miles added up, the daily noises faded away. By nightfall, we were snug in our little 2 bedroom time share in New Braunfels.

No TV. No questions. No laughing. No arguing. No "I need to tell you something." No click-clicks down the hall. No crying. No comments. No interuptions. No questions.

All that quiet had an unexpected effect on my ears ...

Not a ringing. Not a thumping. But more of a fuzziness?

And when the fuzziness finally went away... silence.

Well, listen to that ... nothing. For 5 whole days.

Jenn and Darren at Winery on the Gruene.

Gruene is properly pronounced grewn, but all the locals say 'Green'. Apparently the school systems around there have been failing for decades, since even the old folks can't pronounce the name of their own town correctly.

Looking down from the loft. Notice the internet wire draped across the living room and tied around the banister so we could get internet in the cozy little loft.

BIGGEST PORK CHOP EVER !!! At Cooper's Pit BBQ (Thanks for the tip, Poopa)

Nothing but Starbuck's is open on Thanksgiving Day - Darren's phone app shows us for sure... How dare all those people take off a day to eat turkey while I am on vacation!

Darren made sure the front door wasn't open and some kids followed him thinking he was going in :)

The grumpy Darren and Jenn after a Thanksgiving day that was out of their control...
sometimes everything doesn't go like you planned it.
But He is faithfully working on Darren and I.


We recovered, because He is a big God, not scared of our complaining.
And He puts us back on the right path.
We had a wonderful get away!

Thank you again, Bill and Delight ... both for the gift of where we went and the gift to be able to go alone. We love you.


What a wonderful Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas, Hannukah, Valentine's, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, April Fool's Day and New Year's Day present all rolled into one.

Maybe Darren and I can get away again in another 12.5 years!

sadness, puking and accidents

The parental units had finished their conversation and moved to the kitchen to prepare the evenings meal. Emily was on food prep duty with a knife and red pepper.

Emily: (tears in her eyes) I don't want you to go.
Darren: Why?
Emily: I don't know.
Jenn: Are you worried we won't come back?
Emily: no
Darren: You'll have grandma Lite and Poppa Bill...
Jenn: and no mean mommy or daddy to tell them no.
Darren: You'll have lots of fun with them.
Emily: (crying)But why do you have to go?
Darren: Because we want to. But we'll call you every day. And then you'll say you don't have time to talk to us, because you are too busy having fun.
Emily: But what if you don't come back.
Darren: We will. We will miss you. We will come back. We are just going away for a few days.

In comes Becca, crying (having been on the potty in the back of the house)...
Jenn: What's wrong?
Becca: I was calling for you and no one was answering me.
Jenn: Are you ok?
Becca: Yes, but I was calling for you and no on came.
Jenn: Darren, Claire just threw up.
Jenn: Oh no, she did it again. I need another towel. I'm sure we're going for the rule of three here.
Jenn: yep, here we go....

* it might get a little yucky here*
Claire threw up all over herself and her tray. I removed tray and placed it gently on the table...so the throw up wouldn't spill. I tried to undress her without touching her. Or breathing in her direction.

Emily starts the bath for Claire. Darren holds Becca. I am ever so careful to take Claire to the bath. She plays happily while Becca and Emily tell me their stomach woes.

Darren enters bathroom: Jammies and bed for everyone.
Emily and Becca : WITHOUT DINNER???!!!!???
Jenn: I thought your stomach hurt?
Becca: Well, I want something to eat.
Jenn: (I know she wants applesauce). What do you want?
Becca: Something not crunchy.
Jenn: Like what?
Becca: Something cold that I don't have to chew.
Jenn: Like?
Becca: Applesauce
Jenn: (that's what I thought. I've been hearing about an upset stomach for 2 days. But no signs of stomach ache when she's in the backyard playing dress-up with Emily tonight. No stomach ache during snack time. But now, it hurts. Maybe it does... but not enough to stay home from school tomorrow.)

Darren feeds kids, I dress Claire, girls are on their bed - waiting for a book.

Finally, I begin reading Emily's nite-nite book ... "Emily's 100 Days of School"... LONGEST picture book ever. Cute book... but not a quick read.

Day 20 - In comes Darren and Amanda...with no panties.
Accident?
Yes.
Where?
Cozy room.
:(

Daddy cleans Amanda up and sends her my way.
Now we are all on the bed - Emily, Becca, Amanda, Claire and mom.
Day 85 - Claire coughs.
Yep. More throw-up.
Luckily it was on Becca's jammie pants that she was not wearing and not all over the bed.
I get Claire off the bed and she continues to puke on the floor.

*Messes happen. Kids get sick or have accidents - you just have to keep your wits about you and aim those messes to facilitate fast clean up. And the floor is easier to spray and wipe than removing all contaminated bedding and finding clean alternatives while you start washing the messy bedding. The non-carpeted floor is just easier. I might change my mind in the new house.

Resume reading at day 85. Almost there. Almost time for all the kids to be in their containers for the night. Only 15 more days.
ooops. Mistakenly think that Emily's book was sufficient for Becca and Amanda.
Nope.
Read 12 Dancing Princesses easy reader (Becca's book choice)

Katy, will you find us two puke buckets. Emily and Becca both want one.
Thanks big sister.

Read Lilly's Big Day (Amanda's book choice)
Lights off and music on.
Goodnight.

"Aren't you going to hold us?"
No, not tonight. (You see, although you two claim an upset stomach...Claire is the only one who has thrown up.... so I need to hold her and put her to bed.)

As I make my way to the cozy room, turn off all the lights and just hold my sweet little Claire...
I see 3 short figures make their way into the kitchen, looking for their mom.
I say nothing.
They find me anyway.

Becca: My tongue hurts. I told Daddy and he said to come ask you if I could put an ice pack on it.
Jenn: (WHAT? GO TO BED!) No sweetie, I don't think that's a good idea. Have a drink of water. All of you. Then get in bed.

They are all in bed now... but even as I began writing this, I could hear Emily coughing.

Jenn: Emily, come to the kitchen. You need a drink of water and some cough medicine.
Emily: What? Are you talking to me?
Jenn: Yes. Amanda - get back in bed.

(And unless anyone has a fever in the morning... you are all going to school.)