Ahem..excuse me, but I think that trophy belongs to me???

Pinewood derby for us is usually victorious. We went into it thinking we would win first again. We have either placed 1st or 2nd every year for the past 4 years. This year though? It wasn't pretty. Connor's didn't place at all. Boo. Christian was thrilled though because he at least placed 3rd. We have been trying to figure out what went wrong this year. We have asked ourselves some questions. "What did we do different?" "How can we do better next year?" Why the heck couldn't we have won?" "That trophy should be MINE!!!" Okay, maybe we weren't that bad. And then we answer ourselves by saying "Stop being ridiculous. It's just a race for kids, for crying out loud." I think I was more sad than the boys. Oy. I learned from my sweet boys that it's just for fun. They were great sportsman's to kids who won. I was impressed. Big time.

You are lovely Grace...

Grace is getting bigger. She is reading words that are more than 3 letters. She is actually sounding things out. She makes jokes that we all laugh at. She has a clever sense of humor. What happened to my baby with the curly top? She is growing up and no amount of pounding my fists against the floor will stop it. The tide is in motion...

No more nursery...

My Scarlett is no longer in Nursery. Sunday was her 1st day going to the older class, Sunbeams, for all the adorable 3 year olds. I know the fact that I'm in the background gives the appearance that I'm stalking her. I actually was asked to teach Grace's class for a day. I have to admit it was nice keeping an eye one how she was doing. She sat there so still. She was nervous, and I thought she might cry when I first sat her down, but she was brave and strong. Chris and I realized this is probably the 1st time we have had no children in nursery for nearly 15 years. Ahhh....new chapters.

Pen pals...

When I went to Time out for women recently I randomly ran into one of my very best childhood friends that I hadn't seen in years. Isn't she lovely? We have been friends since birth and when she moved to Oregon when we were both young children we wrote letters for years, until her dad offered my dad a job and we ended up in Oregon too. If I hadn't had her when I moved to a town that was a stranger to me, life would have been so much harder at the age of 16. I will always be grateful to her for welcoming me into her circle of friends. It's funny how time can pass by and those you care about still have a special place in your heart.

A mean game of Memory...

I love my time with Scarlett when the kids are at school. We play Uno (which she is awesome at) she actually even has some strategy going on. And today we played Memory. This game is a wake up call to me that I must be getting old or something. Or maybe I have lost a few brain cells along the way? I just don't have the kind of memory I used to have. Scarlett and Grace both kick my tail at this game. One thing is certain...Scarlett is a fun buddy to hang out with.

Love...

Is it possible to fall in deeper love with your husband of almost 16 years? I am here to say that it is. I have always been in love with Chris, but the last several months something has been different. I feel closer to him than I have ever felt. A deeper kind of love that I never knew could exist...and as much as I loved him before, I never could have expected to love him more. He is my very best friend. He brings me true joy. He makes me laugh and more than anything else...he gets me. I feel blessed to call him mine.

The year I broke the birthday rules...

I couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old the year my sister Gina got a cabbage patch doll named Lanette. I will never forget how incredibly jealous I was. I was a huge doll person and the smell and adorableness of the doll was almost more than I could stand. I asked my mom if she would be willing to buy me my birthday present 2 months early so I too could have a cabbage patch doll. She went along with my ridiculous idea and that's when Felise (my doll) became mine. It may sound silly but I still am thankful she let me do that, that year. I also remember when my parents took us to the Babyland General Hospital where all the cabbage patches live and are waiting to be adopted. That was amazing. So, I just had to get the girls a cabbage patch this year, and they too are in love with theirs. It' been so fun re living good childhood times through them.

Sledding...

Austin has a great Scout group, plain and simple. His leaders help me so much by all they do...I will admit that if I didn't have these good leaders Austin wouldn't get much done. They headed up to Mt. Hood a few days after Christmas. They went sledding and spent the night in a lodge up there. He had a great time. I'm thankful for good people that can bless my children's lives.