The big Chili Cook-down

I have been busy planning a Mom's retreat with my friend, Jen. So fun, huh? I told Tate about it and he was trying to figure out what moms do at "retreats". He said, "so, is it like...a big chili Cook-down or something?" I think he meant a "Cook-off"- either way- it was soooo funny! The thought of a bunch of moms getting together whose idea of fun is to have a "Cook-down".

Hope

This is what I love about my daughter.

I have had a LONG day. I have just finished teaching, doing dishes, straightening the house, putting away all the laundry and ironing. She brings me a water balloon to tie. Do you know what her next request of me is? "Mom, will you put on a bathing suit and come outside so I can throw this water balloon at you?"

Mr. Studious

An interesting way to get out of chores

The other funny thing Garett did the other day-

He was unloading the dishwasher for me. When I walked by and noticed that one of the glasses he pulled out wasn't entirely clean, I told him he didn't have to put that one away. A few minutes later, I noticed all our dishes just setting out on the counter and asked Garett why he hadn't put them away. He said, "They weren't clean enough. You're gonna have to rewash them"

3 Dagnabits

Garett came to me with a very cool invention he had made out of pvc pipe. He had worked hard on it and said that it was only a "3 Dagnabit" job.

Marissa's Makeover

We give each other coupons for Valentine's Day. Marissa got a makeover from Mommy. This is how it turned out! She took it very "seriously".

Valentine's Day

Red Dinner with our neighbors. I totally forgot to put Marissa in her red outfit! Yikes! You can't really tell that all our food was red. I made this great Pasta and dyed it red. We had red butter and bread. I made a Briami with lots of tomatoes and we had a Tomato and Spinach Soup. For dessert, we ate a Layered Trifle with Strawberries and Red Whipped Cream.

I love this girl!!!

Valentine's Day

This picture cracks me up!

This picture cracks me up!

Garett training for the Army at the Auto Show.

Marissa at the Auto Show.

Tate at the Auto Show.

Trying to skip Pennies

McCormick Place, downtown Chicago.

I'm just not growing tired of taking the same old pictures. They make me happy!

Rice and Gatorade

Garett and Marissa have nicknamed each other "Gatorade" and "Rice". After Marissa and I came home from our trip to see my Dad in Kentucky, Garett called out to Marissa to come give him a hug. He said, "Come here. I've been hungry for my rice!" She replied, "I'm coming because I've been thirsty for my Gatorade!"

Early retirement

Tate told me while he was doing his chores that he was retiring from being a kid.

Stole the camera...again.

Tate decided to stick this note on my forehead!

Marissa was trying to restring her decorations in the closet when she fell (she was trying to climb on a basket). At any rate, the boys tried to cheer her up by secretly stringing the decorations for her and leaving her an "I love you" note.

Self timer

Tate REALLY wanted to put the camera on a timer to take a picture of all of us today. I can't believe he got it to work! I can't even figure out how to get that feature to work! Yea!!! A picture to mark where we were on February 3, 2010!!!

Vent Love

Nearly every morning, Marissa comes down and crawls under the kitchen chair. The vent is her best friend. This morning, she sleepily took her breakfast down to the floor with her.

Density

Garett was so excited about an experiment that he did at HEART. He was learning about density and showed me what happened when you added water, oil, food coloring and syrup. In that order. It was very cool!

Marissa's homemade lantern!

Garett will hate me for this one day!

Garett and Marissa decided to play opposite world this afternoon. They swapped out clothes and had fun playing each other's part.

Tutoring

Tate was designed to be the "big" brother. This is a picture of him tutoring Garett on how to properly use a calculator.

Reading Cake

Marissa finished her reading lesson book. She very gently reminded me that I had made Garett a cake to celebrate his completion of the reading lesson book. So- here it is! Didn't she do a lovely job decorating it?

Silly Girl

Northwestern vs. Illinois

Dad set us up with great seats at the Northwestern vs. Illinois basketball game for his birthday. The Cats won!

Pondering

I'm so glad to have Marissa home with me this year. She came down while I was on the treadmill early in the morning today. She was rolling herself around the room on a big bouncy ball and I wasn't paying a ton of attention to her because I was watching the news on t.v. while I walked. All of a sudden, she walked up to me with this really profound question. I answered it to the best of my ability. She was satisfied and started rolling around on the ball again.

It might not seem like a big deal, but to me it is everything. To be a good mother and influence my children to have Godly values and to foster a relationship with each one of them where they can learn and grow and reach their full potential. I am so grateful to be home with them to catch those questions and encourage their pondering of important principles.

I prefer fuzzy pictures of me taken by my kids.