Luau Fund Raiser

Since we have around 11 people traveling to Belize with our church, we decided to host a luau for fund raising. Many of us are families or parts of families traveling and the fund raising helps to minimize costs. While it rained, or should I say poured, a big part of the event we still managed to have a decent time. 

Happy times through hazy days!

Well it was a good day today.  I spent most of the morning doing the normal "teacher" duties and let me just say the children (well 2 of them) were really focused on completing and not giving me many difficulties.  The eldest, of all people, was in a funk.  The reason was two-fold.  1.  He was woken up early - by little brother making too much noise.  2.  He did not want to do his poetry lesson.  Once all that was figured out we were able to address each problem and continue on with work.  I think once he realized how fun writing a limerick is, he was able and eager to write one.  He had lots of good ideas started and once he wrote them down all went easy-peasy.  Here is his finished product: (going on memory)

There was a sad man from Spain.

Who had some pain.

On his back

There was a tack.

So he traveled to Maine.

Next week he gets to write a free-verse poem.  Oh joy!!   The other excitement for him was beginning his blog.  I will not bore you again as I previously posted about that.  And finally tonight he goes off to Youth Group!!!  While he is there we will be heading over to Home Fellowship.  We have been off for a month now due to all the different things that were happening during the month of April.   It will be good to see all and dig back into Romans.

Son Joshua was and usually is very eager to comply and do his work.  He just finished his second science book for the year.  He is already doing 2nd grade math along with finishing his 1st grade curriculum.  History is almost complete for him.  There are just a short few pages but it is more about places to visit than actual learning.  (Which is okay.)

Miss Abs was an eager beaver today and really did her work fast and good.  I was a little lax with her as I was helping Stephen get started with his blog and poem stuff but that is okay because by Friday she is usually fried.  

Build number two on a nice day.

What a gorgeous day this was.  The children did not get started until very late so I took the opportunity to use them and had them help me build the second book case we bought a few days, I mean weeks ago!    Finally!!!  It really helps the room look and feel bigger plus it gets things off the floor.  I am a stickler for things in their places.   So I am ecstatic that this is complete.  I spent the rest of the day going back and forth between the children working and organizing the new shelves!   I still have some paperwork to go through but all-in-all I am happy with my accomplishment!   I also was able to clean off the desk!!!  (I do this periodically but my hubby is a dumper and it get messy very very quickly.) 

This is Joshua separating the screws and such before we begin.

Now I get that the shelves don't look too tidy but it is a work in progress.   

I wish I took the before picture and then you would understand how

much better this really is.

Since the day was gorgeous I enacted the "you must walk and be outside" rule today!   Off they went and spent some time outdoors.  Joshua hurt his finger and then he was done.    Baby steps!  

Abigail explaining about a little brown dog that she

just got to pet by the name of Hershey!

Zipping on her scooter.

Josh giving it a spin.  (He had to stop due to NO helmet.)

Bill was able to arrive home earlier than usual so I said it was time for the family to walk, especially if they wanted any TV or xbox time.   (I am so sneaky.)  They complied and we all went for a walk.  We let the children go after our first section and we proceeded to walk through another section.   This accomplished two things, one - more walk time (I also walked earlier today 1.5 miles - Thanks to Dee Dee's encouragement! ;-) second - time alone with my hubby!  This was not as long because I was only wearing a sweatshirt and it gets cold when the sun starts to go down.  brrrrrrrrr!

Basketball, Awana, and great weather

Today marked the finale of basketball for Stephen, the AWANA grand prix for Abigail, and gorgeous weather for all.  Since both things occurred at the same time it meant that I did not get to see Abigail race her car.  Bill and Joshua went with her.  I was off with Stephen.  Stephen's team ended up tied for first place.  Let me just say it was a nail biter. Double overtime!!!!  I really was surprised they pulled out the win.  Truthfully there were some funky calls by the refs, but I do believe it benefitted both teams at various times.  Loads of shots were hitting the rim, even swirling around the rim but would not sink.  It was not a high scoring game, they never are, but it was a good defensive game.  It was nice for Stephen to have my parents in the stands routing him on.  Thanks Grandma and Pop-pop.  

  

Team getting ready. Stephen on defense.

 

Stephen with yellow stripe       Team photo after win!

on shorts.

Abigail did not receive any trophies this year but she did have fun and got a blue ribbon for participation.  Way to go Abigail.  Let me just say that she gets no help from us.  Part of that is because she doesn't want help!  She likes to do things by herself.  

Abigail's Zebra Awana Car

Only Wednesday

Well let me just say that this week is traveling by very very slowly here.  I cannot believe it to be only Wednesday.    I am looking forward to the weekend already.  Oh, Lord! help me.   I am currently staring at the cold icy snowy weather I have outside my window and wish so much that I could be some place warm and inviting.  But since that is not happening, I need to dream.  I do this by looking over pictures of prior vacations.  Now some may call that torture (and at times it is) however, I need something here.  I realized it has been 14 months since we had a family vacation.  Now some may call that being a spoiled little brat, of which I will wear that title proudly!!!!  And am looking forward to the day when I can start planning a trip away.  I love the warm weather.  I need the warm weather.  

On a separate note today my eldest wanted to move the xbox into his room.  He has been playing online with his friends from Ohio.  I think he wanted to because he thinks he will be allowed to play longer.  You see it used to be in Abigail's room and when she has to go to bed he needs to get off.  So with it inside his room....