No School!

Monday was a day off of school for my boys, and it didn't take long for the lack of schedule to lead to rough-housing and fighting.  To combat it, I set up a science lab for them in the kitchen.  They requested food coloring, water, baking soda, and vinegar.  The experiments that followed allowed for 30 minutes of peace in the house. 

Secondly, I gave them a geography assignment.  They were to pick a state off of the map and research it on the computer!  Woohoo!  They had to report on the state capitol, a famous invention/person/or event from that state, and then share "If we could go on vacation in this state, here is where I'd like to go..."  This intrigued them for the rest of the day, and they couldn't wait to show their daddy when he got home.  Well, some were a little less enthused than others, but all in all it was a good use of time.

Our funny for the day was when Isaac was giving his presentation on Kansas. "Oh, Isaac.  You forgot to tell what is the capitol of Kansas," to which he quickly replied, "It's K".  Hahahahaha!  We got a kick out of kindergarten geography!

Hope you have a great week!

Blessings,

Leslie

Valentine's Day

I am trying to figure out how to make Sunday Valentine-y when I have two suffering from the stomach flu.  Nothin' says "I love you" like a cup of Gatorade and a handful of Saltine crackers.  I am really hoping that Jeff and Isaac manage to get over this quickly, and that no one else catches it. 

I've turned off the heat Saturday, and thoroughly aired out the house until I was certain I would freeze.  I have done mountains of laundry, although you can't tell it by my hampers.  I have become a short order cook, and a pharmacist, and a consumer of anything chocolate that is laying around.  This cannot be good for a person. 

Through it all, though, I am still thinking, "Thank God I am here to be involved in this at all!"  I wonder if that thought will ever leave my mind.  I'm glad I'm here to rock my baby boy, glad I'm here do go on a Gatorade run, glad I'm here to exclaim, "This house is a WRECK!!!".  (Not so sure anyone else is glad of that hollerin' part right now, but I'm tryin' my best to be organized!)

Hoping to get a full night's sleep, and start with a fresh attitude tomorrow.  Ahhhhhh....that'd be nice!

Blessings to you all,

Leslie

Update on Prayer Request

Phyllis is home in Kansas finally.  They have arranged for Hospice to come in.  Please remember Sherry and her whole family during this time. 

Prayer Request

When you think of it, please pray for my friend Sherry and her mother Phyllis.  Phyllis is an amazing, strong, and beautiful lady who is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed one year to the day after I was with breast cancer.  My doctor in Houston saw her right away, and his treatment was very successful.  We celebrated her diagnosis of being cancer free this past fall. 

Now, though, she is struggling with pancreatic cancer, and it is not a pleasant thing for anyone involved. Her treatments for this new tumor have not been as successful as they had hoped.  Please pray for comfort for Phyllis and for clarity of thought for the family as take care of her. They are just such a sweet family, and I hate to see anyone hurting!

This picture is of Phyllis and Sherry, taken during Christmas break. Sherry and her siblings got a beach house in Galveston, and joined Phyllis and Bill (Sherry's dad) who were already in Houston . They look like they enjoyed themselves, don't they!?


Thank you for your prayers.  I know they will appreciate it.

Blessings,

Leslie

Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whisper, "Peace, be still!"

He can settle any sea,

But it doesn't mean He will.

Sometimes He holds us close,

And lets the wind and waves go wild.

Sometimes He calms the storm,

And other times He calms His child.

Busy Weekend

I took absolutely no pictures this weekend!  We were busy for sure, but I have no documentation of that. 

Levi had a basketball game at 8:00am Saturday morning.  Then we ran errands and visited some shops on Main Street.  Next we loaded up and headed out to Cal and Cassie's 2nd birthday party at the OC.  Everyone had a great time, and were very disappointed to leave.  When we got home, the boys got in their jammies and snuggled down for an evening of popcorn and Santa Buddies.  Just as Jeff and I were about to join them, our friends called and said they were on their way over for a visit. 

They showed up with TV in the back of their truck...just an extra for them, but a blessing for us!  (Ours hasn't worked since before Christmas.)   The tv they brought us is enormous, though, and we'll have to find a stout piece of furniture on which to perch it!  Two pans of brownie bites and a pot of coffee later, we said good bye to Anthony and Stephanie, and carried our already asleep kiddos back to their rooms.  12:07---off to rest up for Sunday! 

We made it to church EARLY (enjoy reading that...it may never happen again!). We enjoyed seeing my sister Anita and her little people as well as our friend Melissa and her  "little" boy Dalton...now nearly 16!  Haven't seen him forever.  After some quick visiting, it was back home to take Levi in for practice, while Isaac and I stayed home and made Superbowl snacks. 

When Jeff, Owen, and Levi came home, we all loaded up again and headed in to our good friends Johnny and Krisi's house for an evening of fun, food, and watching the Superbowl.  We are paying for our weekend this morning, though!  The boys were very, very sluggish getting ready for school   They were so hoping for a snow day, but it was not to be.

Anyway...there you go!  Are you as tired as I am?

Hope you enjoy a wonderful week. 


Blessings,

Leslie

Frozen Fog

Visibility was less than 1/4 mile this morning.  This is what remained of the fog!  How beautiful!

Bedtime Storytime

A Sleddin' we will Go!

Jeff and I took the boys to a nearby school to sled yesterday after church.  One should note, it is not nearly as fun to watch the sledding from a mother's vantage point as it was to be the kid sledding.  More than once I found myself uttering under my breath or even aloud to my husband, "Bail!  Bail!  He should bail NOW!" 

Now, granted, this is one of the best hills around.  However, at the bottom of the hill is a stand of trees.  The solid type!  Not my idea of the perfect, child-friendly sledding hill.  "They'll figure it out," assured my husband.  See...if not for my husband, my little ones would probably not be allowed out of the backyard.  I'm joking...sort of.

Every van that I don't recoginze in the neighborhood is most certainly being driven by the pedophile they highlighted in last night's newscast.  Every stray dog is certainly rabid and viscious.  Every stray baseball is sure to hit someone's eye socket!  It's enough to wear a person out!  That's why God gave us husbands, ladies.  The perfect balance to our God-given gut feelings that somehow run wild at times!  But...I digress...

Sledding....back to sledding.  They did figure it out...some after a stern warning from their Dad, some without.  They had a blast, and we did too.  And although I really do know a child who suffered a head injury from sledding, I guess it's alright if mine sled without their bicycle helmets.  For now...

Hope you were able to enjoy the snow with your kiddos, or with your friends...you crazy grown ups!

Have a wonderful week!

Blessings,


Leslie