Is that me??

I walked into the library today and did a double-take when I saw this book, that was apparently written about me! Can you see it? The resemblance is striking! It's Wanda and the Wild Hair, by Barbara Azore. I love it.

Parties, parties, parties!

We've had another busy week of parties! It started with our church Valentine's Banquet/dessert auction on Wednesday night. The Children's choir sang, with great big smiles on their faces. It was great. The next day was our home school co-op Valentine party at the library. We had lunch and treats, decorated boxes, and passed out Valentine cards. They all had a lot of fun. That afternoon Mike took Jessica and Mikayla to the BCM to "hang out" while I secretly took Mikayla's birthday cake, decorations, and treat bags to Pizza Hut for her surprise party! (She had opened our presents the night before, and that morning she said, "I kind of wish I hadn't opened my presents, so it would feel more like my birthday." Tee-hee!) Her friends all got there, and I called Mike to tell him to come. Here are the girls watching out the window for them:Mike said to the girls, "Hey, let's drive by Pizza Hut and take some home to surprise Mama." Then they came around the corner and we all yelled, "SURPRISE!" and Mikayla jumped about a foot in the air, came down grinning, and ran straight to hug me and bury her face in me. I think it overwhelmed her a little! (I wish I had a better picture of her--we were all pretty excited, and Jessica kind of got in front.) We ate pizza and had cake and ice cream and presents, they played a few rounds of "Doggy, doggy, where's your bone?" and we went home. It was perfect. My friend Angel helped a TON by video taping for me, and some crowd control--she was wonderful. :) The next day was Rebecca's preschool Valentine party, and she had a wonderful time. Came home with more loot than Halloween, and maybe even Christmas! That night Mike fixed a special dinner for all his girls. He grilled steak, and made soup and salad and special mashed potatoes and green beans, and served the cake he bought at the dessert auction. He used a tablecloth and china, and put a rose and personally-made Valentine card at each of our seats. We dressed up fancy, and felt very spoiled and pampered. While he and I cleaned the kitchen, the girls were listening to the love song station on our TV, and dancing around the living room. When Lionel Richie started singing "Truly," I grabbed Mike and got him to slow dance with me. I wouldn't even let Rebecca cut in until the song was over. Saturday morning I fixed heart-shaped pancakes for everyone, and gave my cards & little gifts. That night we went to Calvary Baptist in Hope, where Mike was the speaker at their Valentine banquet. It's a small church, but they decorated it up real nice, the food was delicious, the people were nice, and the speaker was entertaining. :) And now we have 6 weeks until the next birthday-phew. I have to say, as much fun as it was, I'm glad this week is over!

The Greatest Valentine

For God so loVed the world,

That He gAve

his onLy

BegottEn

SoN

That whosoever

Believeth In Him

Should Not perish,

But have Everlasting life.'



John 3:16

Happy Birthday, Mikayla!

Mikayla turns nine years old today! She just left with her Daddy to hang out at the BCM, which was our way of removing her so I could get ready for her surprise party! I can't believe we haven't let the cat out of the bag yet. She's such a fun little thing...here are pictures of her from birth to last night.

Look!

Spring Beauties!


And our Japanese Magnolia is in bloom!

I think Punxsutawney Phil didn't have southern Arkansas in mind when he predicted 6 more weeks of winter.

Weekend visit!

My Mom and my niece Kennedi came to see us this weekend! My brother Mark brought them to Prescott (an hour away) and I drove up there, picked them up and brought them back. (Side note...on the way there, Rebecca said, "I want to be a horse-rider when I grow up. And not a mom." When I acted shocked and asked why not a mom, she said, "Well, maybe later. Or maybe I'll just be a teenager.") Kennedi is a year older than Jessica, and all 4 girls played hard together all weekend, jumping on the trampoline and riding bikes and lots of girl stuff. After supper Friday night they played Life while I beat Mom and Mike at Phase 10. :) At bedtime they slept all over the living/family room, and I was going around giving hugs and kisses. When I got to Rebecca, she whispered, "Do Kennedi next...and tickle her as well!" So of course I did. She's so funny.
Saturday morning Mom and I went shopping in the town square, and that afternoon the girls decorated Valentine cookies. Rebecca put a pink blob in the middle of one, and I asked her, in my best kindergarten teacher way, to "tell me about this." She said, "Well, that's in case someone sins. Now I'm putting bad sprinkles on it." I have no idea what that means!!





Later that afternoon, Rebecca and I rode our bikes around the block, by her rules.
1. I was not to get in front of her.
2. She had to be able to see me.
3. It's a race.
Hmm.
That night we watched "Sarah, Plain and Tall" on TV. The girls just finished reading the book in school, and kept critiquing the movie for how it fell short. We kept telling them the book is ALWAYS better than the movie.
This morning we went to church, except Mom, because her eye isn't completely healed yet and she feels insecure. We lazed around this afternoon, and then Mom's friend Suzanne took them home. I'm so glad we live close enough to have weekends together!

Jessica's slumber party

A week ago we had 7 girls sleep over to celebrate Jessica's 11th birthday. Here are some pictures of the madness!

We had a 1950's theme, and they all looked so cute we took a group picture.

We danced to some '50's music, ate pizza, then had cake and ice cream...

and then we played a game that had them put bright red lipstick on each other, blindfolded.
See what a good job they did!
For our next game I put a bubble gum ball on each girl's plate, then covered it with whipped cream. They had to find the bubble gum with no hands, and the first one to chew it up "wins". (They didn't really win anything; I didn't even officially pick a winner.) They were so funny!










Jesscica had a great time opening presents, of course. :)



They were wild, and silly, and stayed up too late, and we were all exhausted the next day, but it was a lot of fun.