13th Anniversary

Yesterday was our anniversary.
Iron Man 2 and Sweet Basil.

(And I really, really, really enjoyed the movie. I laughed out loud more than once. Even though the theater smelled like a cat had sprayed the entire thing... how does a cat get into a theater... I thought there were rules about only working dogs... They did come spray something and the guy said he can't smell it, but people complain about it often. My theory is if he can't smell it, it's probably him.... or he's lying! But I digress....)

Let's reminisce about that day 13 years ago. I had just graduated from TWU, Darren was flying in from Boston. A lovely outside wedding in Texas. At the end of May. SUNNY. HOT. MEMORABLE.

The sprinklers had made our first choice a nice muddy bog. The second choice put my LOVELY bridesmaids (one pregnant, one ready to kill me) in the sun while the groomsmen took it like a man, in the shade. So many of you remember it well, I'm sure.

The stolen car and the handcuffs, the missing petticoat in front of a glass window, the broken a/c at the reception ... ahhhh , how the memories go on and on.

Of course there were the parts that went right as well: the bride and groom both showed up on time, the friends and family were all present (mostly), I even have a prophetic picture of Darren and I on the little stage at Joshua House with 5 little girls around us (Hannah and Haley Pierce, Leigh Ann Couch , Lydia Taylor and Noelle - I think).

And then we left. I left them all behind and headed off to Portland with the man of my dreams.

Not much different than this year. I mean, no police or missing petticoats yet, but friends and family present to send Darren, Jenn and 5 little girls (and a boy) off to Portland.

I'm excited to go on a new adventure with the man of my reality (he's much better than the one I dreamed of as a girl . I actually love him more now - better with age and all that.)

I'll let you know how the next 13 go.

P.S. Let me say thank you again to all of those who made that wedding possible :) I think I'm going to have Katy interview the family and take notes about what was really the most important part of their weddings and what part ended up not mattering at all.... we will have a "few" weddings in our future.

Katy in Wonderland

My firstborn turned 12 this week.


She is such a wonderful blessing to our family.

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To mark this momentous occasion,
I took a bunch of 6th grade girls to see Alice in Wonderland.


Here they were watching all the 3-D previews...
I'd never take a flash picture during the movies!


Wait a second, how did this boy sneak in?


We had a little pizza and ice cream cake.
I think Claire really enjoyed hers.


Thankfully all the girls brought their cameras,
I mean cell phones so we could get pictures up on Facebook, ASAP!



Then on Wednesday night we went to Phantom of the Opera with some kids from her drama class...


Ivy and Katy


Did I mention she got an ipod nano...
she was so surprised and excited!



Til next year - Happy Birthday Katybug!

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In other news :
This picture is the wallpaper on the laptop.
Whenever ClaireBelles walks by and sees it...
she stops and makes the face again.

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.

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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.

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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.