Final Game of the Season

This is a picture of the scoreboard with four minutes and thirty-one seconds left in the game. Yes, that's right! Only 2 points scored at this point and they were the other team's points. I do not have a picture of the scoreboard following this because things got pretty exciting and we "came back from behind" and won the ballgame 4 to 3. Thanks, Coach Milford, for a fabulous season!

Confession

Confession: The older I get, the more I dislike heights. Why is that? This past summer, at Cousins Camp, we took all the kids to Alabama Adventures just outside of Birmingham. First ride... the Ferris Wheel. We were the first crew on so they whisked us up to the top and then we had to sit there in our wiggly open-air car and wait for the rest of the bunch to board the ride. I thought I was going to die. Quite frankly, I looked over at my husband and I think he thought he was going to die too. I promised God, right then and there, that if He would get me off that thing I would NEVER get on a Ferris wheel again.

Tonight we ate dinner in the tree house. It still has no sides or railing and we have to climbed up on a ladder that is not permanently attached. Andy gave me the "look"... you know the "look" that says, "Don't let the girls know that you are afraid." At one point Caroline scooted back and I thought I was going to have heart failure. Children just add a whole new dynamic to our fear. I wouldn't have missed dinner on a Friday Night in our tree house for anything.... even a little fear. I know that "He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in Him." (Is. 26:3) Perfect peace comes from a Perfect Protector.

Capturing the Mundane

I'm always taking pictures of my kids at "events". I never really capture too much of the mundane everyday stuff. Now that I'm a "blogger", I LOVE to read other "blogger's" blogs. They're always posting these random shots of "life" in their world. I decided I'm gonna be more deliberate about capturing "life" in our world.... starting with my kitchen counter-top. It is ever changing. Currently, it holds a fresh bouquet of daisies. Actually, they are not so fresh. I've had them about three weeks now. Daisies last FOREVER! My lime green candle smells fresh and makes me happy burning in the evening while I'm cooking dinner. Everyone should have fresh flowers and candles in their kitchen. They bring a little "happy" to life!

Go Makos!

We have a new pastime in our family....watching Rebecca swim. This weekend we made the trip to the fabulous Rock Hill Aquatics Center for the state meet. There is such "community" on this team. It is fun to share the experience with all the other families who have become new friends in our world this year. Rebecca improved her times in all of her events and all of the other mommas around me were screaming as loud as I was.... for my kid. It's sweet to be a part of this family of fun!

Tree house... who knew?

Daddy is building a tree house....with a trap door. After 15 years of marriage he still surprises me with all his hidden talents. I've learned over the years that he can fix most anything in this house, run a whole new water line underneath, grow our vegetables, shoot our meat, catch our fish, build a picket fence, put on a pair of speed skates or ice skates and pick up right where he left off after 25 years (I can't!!!), play most any sport (except badminton!), etc, etc, etc. He created and built the girls swing-set from scratch, and now he is building a tree house. Do our girls know how blessed they are? Not because of the tree house, but because of the countless hours he spends reading to them, talking to them, singing to them (yes), praying with them, loving their mommy, telling them stories of how he grew up... the adventures he had and mistakes he made, and how God is working in his heart. The sweetest gift God has ever given me is a man who loves Him. I am looking forward to our first "tree house date"...after all, tree houses aren't just for kids.

Three's Company

Rebecca is spending the night out so Caroline invited her two "Besties" for an overnight play date. These three chicks have been friends since carseats and before. I have pictures like the above at every stage. They have big plans tonight... outside soccer game, nails, games, AG dolls, macaroni and cheese, movie, popcorn, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and lots and lots of laughter.
How sweet to hear the sound of it!

Look at those daffodils popping up between Caroline's bare legs...
signs of spring on its way!

Happy Valentine's Day, Mrs. Lamb

This is what happens on Valentine's Day when you are a third grade teacher. I LOVE being a third grade teacher....especially to this bunch:
It is "sweet" to spend each day with them...especially Valentine's Day!

Two Points

Last Tuesday, when I was dropping her off for basketball practice, I wished her a happy practice and she said, "Thanks Mom! Pray for my lay-ups!"

Yesterday, while I was at a tea party and her daddy was shooting these:


she went to her basketball game without us. We've never missed a basketball game. She's never made a basket.... until yesterday, when she made two.

I scolded her when we all got home and said that she should not have been making her FIRST basket(s) on the day her daddy and I were not there. She said, "Momma, it's just as well. You know you would've cried and that would've embarrassed me."

Just a few minutes ago while I was making these in the kitchen:

I asked her to give me the "play by play" of how it happened. She proceeded to share her shots and how it all played out on the court...

"And then, momma, I heard Coach scream for me to set it up. I knew he might be mad, but I thought I would take my chances. I looked at the basket and I was about this far away. I threw it up, praying, and SWOOSH it went through the hoop."

Standing in my kitchen, my eyes filled up with tears. I guess maybe it was a good thing I wasn't there. I surely would have embarrassed her.

A Valentine Tea Party

Today, Caroline and I were invited to a Valentine Tea Party.... a Dance Family tradition for all the girls. We were the guests of my dear friend, Bebe, and her daughter, Erin.

There was a table full of scrumptious food, beautiful words, and the sweetest of fellowship.
Mrs. Sarah Dance ("Noni") hosts this happy event each year for all of her granddaughters and their friends... along with her sweet daughter-in-law, Robin, who is an avid "blogger" and encourages me with her words each day. Check her out at www.PENSIEVE.me
...a blessing!
What a treat that Caroline and I were able to be a part of this joyful occasion today.

Lunch Date

It isn't often that Andy and I are in the same place at the same time on a Friday at lunchtime. Today was the exception...so we got to have an unexpected lunch date. We went to SummaJoes....yummy-licious! Their tomato bisque and blue cheese wedge is fabulous.

Lucky I'm in love with my best friend....my sweetheart with his annual addition of facial hair. Hoping he will surprise me with a clean shaven face for Valentine's Day!

Sick Day...Again.

It's Caroline's turn... 101+ temperature puts her on the couch and me out of the classroom...again. There are so many things "right" about this picture:

1. Lifesavers in every flavor... make everything better.

2. Furry white puppy pillow... she never sleeps without it.

3. Auburn shirt... appropriate relaxing attire.

4. Remote.... her pick of what's on the tube.

5. A smile... a sign that the motrin has kicked in:)

Why? Why do they do this? How hard is it, really, to take that little "thingy" off and load a new toilet paper roll? Huh? And please, while you're at it, can you make sure it rolls out from the top and not the bottom.

Valentine Buckets

I made these cute little valentine buckets.... an idea from a craft blog that I like to read. I "introduced" them to my family on February 1st at dinner. The instructions were as follows:

From now until Valentines day you have the "sweet" opportunity to fill each others buckets with notes of love. I've even supplied some cute little valentine notecards and pens for you!

After dinner I scooted out the door to the YMCA for a quick workout. When I returned home the girls were both sitting in the living room watching the tube. They were suppose to be in bed. I said, "Get up, get your teeth brushed, and get in the bed!!!" Caroline promptly huffed and stomped out of the room. I did not respond very well to that. The "wrath of mommy" came flying out. It was one of the parental moments that you wish you could rewind and play again...differently. I went to kiss her goodnight... she turned her head. So I simply said, "Goodnight" and left the room. When I left her room I noticed something sticking out of my valentine bucket....

Dear Mommy,
Thank you for always making days fun!
I Love You! Caroline

I promptly walked back into Caroline's room, crawled into bed with her, and held her in my arms. There is such sweetness in asking your children to forgive you.

Sick Day

Today I am a "stay at home mom"... Rebecca is sick. Secretly, I love these kind of sick days. You know the days when they are not throwing up, but they just want to hang out on the couch and watch T.V. all day. I get so much done!!! I have cleaned out all my kitchen cabinets, organized my pantry, washed and folded all the clothes, washed sheets, cooked a bazillion scrumptious dishes, and caught up on my mail and e-mails. Well, really I've only done a little of that. Most of the time I've been curled up on the couch with her... watching "tween" T.V.