Back Handspring and Artwork at AISD

Allison can do a round off back handspring! She can also do one from standing. Just recently, she has added another back handspring.....doing two after her round-off. I haven't seen the double one yet. She is doing this in the neighbor's yard (nicer, softer, more level grassy area). Her gymnastics group gets to be the opening act for a Chinese acrobat show while we're in Branson this summer.

Tanner had his artwork displayed at the AISD administration building. Connor took the pic of Tanner and I. Connor got to come with us to the little reception they had for the "artists." Tanner's artwork represented the 4th grade at Corey. He is pictured with his art teacher, Ms. Black....his artwork is above his head (the teal green checkered ball looking artwork).

It's been too long

I guess maybe I'm not going to try to catch up ;) I can put whatever I would like to on my blog whenever I can. Hopefully, that will help me not to worry about keeping this blog in perfect order!

(and I'm reading a little here and there in a book that reminds me that I don't have to choose all or nothing...think it will help?)

Connor won the elementary school spelling bee, only to be knocked out in the first round of a district bee....can you spell "tandoori?"

Tanner chose to make a lightning bolt for his pinewood derby. Scott chose to still make it fast....he placed 2nd. He also got an award for the "Most Metallic!"

We've missed 5 days total lately of school and seminary due to the winter weather. It was such a nice break! It was great having Scott home and I loved the fun each day of hearing that school was indeed cancelled for the next day (okay, so it started to get a little old, but then it snowed, so it was good!)

We got to have Sophie stay with us while E&S had Elinor.

For Christmas Scott got the family tickets to Jim Brickman. Wow! He surprised me with it before Christmas. It was fun to look forward to after the holidays (the concert was in Dallas at the beginning of January). I get that sad-kinda-feeling (like Tanner does) about taking down the Christmas tree and the holidays ending. I really enjoyed taking the kids to experience something I like. Allison commented that it was making her tired (b/c we'd play Brickman at bedtime ;)

Coloring Eggs, and, well, laying eggs

It's strange how they only need me to buy the egg coloring stuff now, and boil the eggs for them.

They can do the rest themselves.

But, they do still need me to buy the stuff, did I mention that?

Connor, Tanner and Allison had some fun laying some eggs, too, in the cubbies in the family room......the things they think up sometimes ;)

Ruffles and Light Sabers

That's our girl.....

What a tender mercy that little girl is to me, and how much I LOVE getting to do the girly things. I like how tough and strong she is, along with all her ribbons and curls.

And I know you already know, but I'm rather crazy about our three sons, too!

Louisiana

Well, I guess I'm starting at the end of the trip....

The last thing we got to do with Edd and Anne and

family was to go to Church with them.

It's no fun to say good-bye to cousins!

(It snowed on the drive home, so that was a good distraction for the sadness.)

I made Edd take a pic of our family before we headed home.

Edd and Anne always serve the best food.

Edd had a crawfish boil for us.

So, the light hit Connor's ears just right---too funny!

This is where we ate some fantastic po' boys.

We also had beignets one evening. The trip also included a trip to Lake Pontchartrain and some blow-up mattress playing.

I will end this post where the trip began: an amazing swamp tour!

We enjoyed the boat ride and I couldn't believe some of the things we saw.

We still miss them...

We still miss our neighbors, Wade and Loren.

The kids have spent hours playing with them. They always left their socks at our place.

They moved away this past summer.

Tanner still talks about Wade.... I still miss my good friends who have moved away, too, Tanner.

MLK sports center

We spend LOTS of time at the Martin Luther King Park and Ballfields.

This past spring, Tanner played on the Phillies and Quinn played for the Astros.....while Allison and Connor played on the playground ;)