My Favorite Football Player

 Ike asked me on the way to the game today who was my favorite football player?  You, buddy, you.  Forget Matt Forte -- it's you. 

Ike plays center, and he's not too shabby.  His brain and body seem to be working together this year.  Last year he was a little smaller and still learning.  He was captain today -- BIG stuff.  Very proud.  Trying not to swoon into that super braggy mom, but captain is huge.

We are Warriors!

 BEFORE the Warrior Dash

After the Warrior Dash

Ike and Ava model our trophy horns.  Warrior Dash is one of those crazy fun races where you climb mud hills, belly crawl through trenches, scramble over walls, etc.  We went with a group of friends and got down and dirty together.  We even came home to homemade cookies -- thanks best kids ever!

Luck Lady

Claire has a talent none of us can learn.  She can find four-leaf clovers anywhere anytime.  This little bouquet came from the football field while watching Ike practice.  She found 9 in a matter of five minutes!   This happens all the time.  Crazy

What the poo?

This is what I live with.  My kids discovered that wetting the cardboard tube from the t.p. looks similar to poo.  Why they were testing this, I have no idea.  This has become a new favorite prank for company and friends.  Beware if you come by sometime.

2013 First Day

What an odd start for school.  My kids waited for the bus in hoodies, because the temperature only rose to around 70.  Not the usual sweaty start.  Ike and Ava are loving 4th grade, and I am loving their teachers.  Fourth grade starts the subject tracting, so they move around for science, math, and reading.  Surprise, surprise -- Ike and Ava have all three of these together.  I have warned the teachers not to set them by one another.  It's like a match and gas -- it's not if, but when will they burst. 

School this year is so different from last.  Fourth grade and seventh grade must be a rest year.  Everyone is loving school.  I am poised waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far, so good.

Neighbors

We were so surprised that Paige and Claire are locker neighbors for 7th grade.  I think this was a relief since they are so comfortable around each other.  They enjoy catching up between classes.  They even have two classes together this year.  Seventh grade is whole new (and better) year for our girls.  Classes are more laid back, teachers are kinder, and friends are far less drama (so far).

Double

 Claire saved her payday money all summer to have her ears double pierced.  It went really fast, and she claims painless.  I had to sign permission, but she took care of the rest.

OBX 2013

 

We traveled to the Outer Banks for vacation.  The grueling 14-hour drive was worth it once we arrived.  We could hear the waves crashing from our back deck.  We mainly beached it up every day.  It was a quick walk from our front door to the shore, so it beckoned most of the day.

 A few days, a storm out at sea caused ferocious waves.  One day the beach was covered with jellyfish.   Ava was fascinated by them.  I was grossed out by the fact that she kept picking up dead fish, but alas, it's Ava.

 We visited some lighthouses, the Wright Brothers flight spot, and the Lost Colony.  All very interesting, but paled in comparison to the beach for us.  Nothing beats salt water and sand!

We weren't all that excited to leave.  I think a few tears fell as we crossed the bridge.  I don't think we're done visiting this stretch of America.

Colossal Coaster World

VBS is over -- phew!  It was a long week. . . really long.  It was full of fun and successes though.  I was the director, so every failure felt personal.  Numbers were low, but the kids that were there had a ball.  We only had one discipline issue -- yeah!  Paige and Claire helped Brant lead music and did a fantastic job. 

The greatest success for me was our missionary this year.  Hannah lives in Costa Rica, but she emailed a series of videos, and then we were able to Skype her in live.  It was so fun for the kids to have Hanna "live" in the sanctuary to answer their questions.

All in all it was a success (and I'm glad it's over until next year).

Family pics (again)

We decided to try the family pics again.  I really need to fill some frames with our family.  Then at least visitors we think we at least like each other.  This session went a lot better than the ones in the winter.  I did have to preface the whole shoot with a 10 minute monologue about having patience with the photographer. Everyone was a real sport and at least 10 of the 50 pics I took turned out pretty good.

 Claire, age 12

 Paige, age 12

 Ike, age 9

Ava, age 9

Living History Museum -- Part Deux

Well, Ava choose a hero, and Isaak choose someone that I bet you've never heard of -- Bob Chandler.  Bob himself is not so famous, but his invention, the Bigfoot monster truck, is very famous.  I'm not sure where my son came up with this idea -- we're not really the monster truck rally kind of folk.  I guess he's full boy.  His teacher informed me that he was the only Bob Chandler she's ever had in all her years of teaching.  Should I be proud of this comment?

Ava Living History Museum

The third grade tradition at our elementary school is the "Living History Museum".  Each 3rd grader chooses someone who changed history and studies them.  They have to write a report, and then pretend to be that person in wax museum form. 

 

Ava choose to be Alex Scott, because she was a hero her age.  Not very famous, but definitely someone to admire.  Alex Scott was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two days before her first birthday.  When she was four, she held a lemonade stand (with her big brothers help) to raise money for cancer research.  That stand raised over $2000.  The stands became an annual tradition.  Sadly, Alex died at 8, but to date the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation have raised over $60 million for pediatric cancer research.  Pretty amazing for someone who was only her for 8 years.

6th Grade Finale

Saying good-bye to 6th grade!  Paige and Claire had a choir concert.  There was an "Over the Rainbow" theme flowing through all the songs.  It was hard not to sing along.  Paige wore a super orangey scarf, and Claire choose fluorescent pink.  (What are the odds, right?)

Spring Fling

Claire, Mack, Paige, and Tally

 Paige and Claire attended their first dress-up dance.  It was so fun to see the sixth grade girls not in hoodies and jeans (classic 6th grade girl uniform).  They even had a tad bit of makeup on.  I made a dinner, and Brant played waiter to all the lovely ladies.   Then a super fancy chauffeur ride in the minivan to the junior high to dance the night away.

Ava's First Slumber Party

 Ava had a slumber party to celebrate her birthday, a bit late.  Having a birthday the day after Christmas prohibits having a "friends party".  This year we had a slumber party.  The girls made pillowcases, pencil holders, and learned to finger knit.  Crafts and nine-year-old girls are a match made in heaven.

Easter 2013

Happy Easter!  We have beautiful weather, which always helps refresh that new beginnings feeling Easter brings for me and mine.  Easter makes me reminiscent -- Just last night my sister had me cross-legged giggling over the Aunt Sue skunk year.  Easter is full of family memories.

Our pastor had such a strong message about how Christianity isn't about what Jesus taught.  Christianity isn't just about sermons, even though Christ had some great ones.  Christianity is about Jesus rising from the dead.  Anyone who prophecies their own death and resurrection, and then follows through with it, is someone to faithfully follow.

Indy Excursions

 We love Indianapolis.  It's only an hour's drive to one of the coolest cities in the United States.  Chicago is only an hour and half away, but hands-down, we pick Indy.  Everything is so easy to get to and much cheaper.  The art museum is free, and what a great photo op (or proposal spot for anyone without a ring on their finger * ).

Indy is also home to a huge variety of diners.  We try to hit a Guy DDD when we are down there.  This time it was Three Sisters' Café.  Everything is over the top homemade and in the crappiest old house.  I mean bear-face pancakes -- what's not to love?  Also super-heart the blueberry goatcheese pie, Claire give the chocolate bacon pie a thumbs up.

Paige and Claire's Spring Concert

So, they are super cute, right?  I don't mean to be biased, but my girls are cute.  They don't look a thing like me, which may be why I think they are so darn cute.  I love when they get gussied up for events.  Claire goes full-on hair and make-up (6th grade style -- Bonnie Bell lipsmackers and some blush).  Paige is a minimalist.  I quote, "make-up feels so gross".  We will see how long that lasts.

Sweet 16!

 I have been married 16 years, and I am now 36.  One number seems more of an accomplishment, whereas the other gets less and less fun to publicize.  The kids made me deluxe brownies for my birthday.  Each set made their own creation.  Brownies covered in frosting, sprinkles, M&M's, pb cups, etc.  Nothing better.

Wrestling

Ike joined a wrestling clinic over the winter.  The coach was very relaxed, yet intense about the sport.  Isaak loved it.  He has rated wrestling as his second favorite, only under football.  I find it amazing that the boys can wrestle so aggressively on the mat and then, win or lose, remain friends.  Boys can pull this off.  Girls can't stand each other if they accidently wear the same hoodie on the same day.

Orange Belt

Ava is now on her second belt -- the orange belt.  I like the orange.  It matches her hair.  Each belt is becoming a bit harder and harder to earn, but she loves it.  Sparring, which she used to hate, is fastly moving up to her favorite part.  Especially if she is paired against a certain nemesis boy in her class.  They are equals on every skill level -- which makes competition between them so exciting.  Boy vs. girl and neither wants to lose.

It's a Cake Walk

 Claire and Paige offered to help out with the elementary school cake walk for the fccla (formerly FHA) group.  Well, when your bff neighbor is the head teacher in charge of fccla and the cake supply is short . . .

Your kitchen becomes a crazy cake factory.  Our kitchen and van smelled like vanilla from storing and transporting all the goodies to the cake walk.  It was a hit though -- not a single treat left at the end of the night.

Hobbit Hole

Ike and Ava spent most of December reading The Hobbit.  Pretty wordy stuff for third grade.  This is what Hillsboro does in front of their theater for major premieres.  They decorate full force.  The Hobbit hole actually opened and everything. 

Good Clean Fun

This is what happens when you put Ivory soap in the microwave.  There is a sciencey reason to do with air bubbles trapped in the creamy bar of soap, heat, blah, blah, blah.  All I know is it is a completely awesome sauce way to spend a quarter and two minutes in front of the microwave.  Much more impressive than watching the popcorn bag expand.

Paige and Ava's Feast

 Feast season again.  We missed the Christmas break mark, so feasts were postponed until January.  Paige and Ava choose to do a "Pitch Perfect" theme.  I'm not proud to say that this movie has been played over 20 times in our house.  Paige and Claire heart this movie.  They can quote every line.  It takes me back to my days of "Sixteen Candles". 

There was music and plenty of quotes from the movie.  Everything was in a purple and yellow color scheme.  We feasted on burritoes (the Fat Amy drive-by food of choice) and French fries (because don't French fries go perfectly with burritoes?).

Family Picture Attempt

 I had a dream of these awesome, snowy family pictures for my front room.  I had planned this for over a year, but no snow last year left me crazed for a phot shoot this year.  I don't want to name names, but some goober kept ruining the shots.  Hint - she's the dork in the middle with her neck craned in this impossibly weird position.

 Claire and Paige looking way too old.  Don't they almost look like women, almost.  I can see what they may look like in a few more years and it breaks my heart. 

 Ava and Ike.  Forever my little guys.  Ike tried to be so cool during the photo shoot.  too pose-y, but ever so handsome.  Ava, the skinny bones of the family, was having a hard time smiling through the cold. 

I just think it was a bad hair day for me.  I wish it would snow again, so we could have another shot at this.

Happy Birthday, Ike and Ava!

 Ava and Ike turned 9!  Ava choose to make her own flavor of homemade ice cream -- "Peppermint Hot Cocoa".  Creamy vanilla with hot cocoa mix and peppermint mini marshmallows.  Super yummy.  Ike choose to make chocolate chip cookies with Mom.  Melt my heart, little man.  I started to make the cookies, and he quickly came in and said, "I wanted to make chocolate chip cookies for my birthday."  I explained that I was.  Then he shook his head and said, "No. I want to make chocolate chip cookies with you for my birthday."  Gosh, I love that kid.

Lego Helms Deep showed up for Ike.  He thought there had been a misunderstanding with Santa.  Ava received a crazy cool scooter and rode it all afternoon.  Nine is too close to double digits.  Yikes.