Bedtime, Books, and Giggles

Keegan Quote

Listening to a song with a guy holding a note for a long time,"Boy, he really knows how to sing from his diaphragm!"

Self explanatory Polly Pocket clothes

Wordless Wednesday - The Lost Tooth, part 2

Keegan and Kelsey Quote

Kelsey, holding up a Polly Pocket shirt and skirt, " Do these match? I don't really think so."

Keegan, "Not unless you want her to be a mitch-match." (AKA, "mix and match" :-)

Kelsey, "No, I'm not really a mitch-match kind of person."

Caitlyn's Puzzle Party

It is unbelievable, but Caitlyn turned 12 today. This was a major trauma for me (does anyone else experience this on every one of your children's birthdays?), but fun for her.
We had a puzzle party yesterday. Twelve candles make quite a big blaze!













Here is part of the relay race. each girl had to do about 6 puzzles/brain teasers before tagging a teammate. we included everything from toddler toys (Emma, in the blue, is trying to get all of the marbles to the bottom level - harder than you think!), jigsaw puzzles, cube puzzles, "make this design" challenges, to the hardest, a game where you try to move a metal ball through several different obstacles by pushing different buttons.

The girls

First, everyone worked on a puzzle. Later on, Keegan, Kelsey, and a couple of moms finished it (smile.) I forgot :-( to get most of the girls to sign it before they left, so we need to take it to dance to finish up. The we have some puzzle glue to save it so Caitlyn can put it up in her room.

Party favors were Rubik's cubes. The original plan was to teach everyone how to work it. I USED to know how to do that, but this time cheated by printing directions off the internet. Unfortunately, we ran out of time, so most people had to leave. Hannah, Caitlyn, and Rayonna were able to finish the entire cube - yay!

We had a great time and hope everyone else did, too!

P.S. Keegan and I have worked the Rubik's cube three times since then. I think she may be addicted ;-).

Keegan Quote

Keegan was showing me a row of houses she had built out of Lincoln Logs and, pointing to different one, said, "This one is wheelchair accessible. That's why it is wider."

Wordless Wednesday, part 2

Wordless Wednesday - The Lost Tooth

Prayer Request Praise

After 2 malaria treatments, my friend Desma is starting to improve. Here is some info from her husband.

A quick update on Desma. God really worked out the details for us as we were able to get tests done and results all on Monday. Everything looked good . . . as in we ruled out the scary things. She tested negative for malaria, bacterial infections, viral possibilities, and the CT scan was normal ruling out things like masses on the brain, serious sinus things, etc. There was only one elevated count on her SED rate. It wasn't high enough to spark concern but is an indication of inflammation.

So, we are thinking of going home tomorrow (Wednesday) and 'recovering'. It will take some time as she has been 'knocked down' a few notches with all of this, but we have some peace of mind.

Thanks for the prayers.

Prayer Request

Still requesting prayers for my friend Desma. She and her husband have gone to Cameroon's capital city for her to have some tests and hopefully learn what should be done for her.

Kelsey Quote

Wicked witch threatening Dorothy, "I'll get around to you soon enough, Miss Mouth."
Kelsey's response, "If I were Dorothy, I would just not worry because I would know my name was not 'Miss Mouth'."

Final Oz photos

Some of our wonderful friends from church came to the show. The very sweet and generous Miss Libby brought the girls this gift bag. It is so cute, with ruby slippers and the yellow brick road on the bag, and tissue paper the pattern of Dorothy's dress. Inside were Wizard of Oz stickers and paper dolls, which they are cutting out at this very moment. We are so blessed by the special people we know.

The Cowardly Lion stole the show, in my opinion. He did such a good job.

Silly cast photo - Caitlyn is on your left in the striped dress, Keegan is in front of Dorothy, on the right in the group of the three poppies, Kelsey is 2 to Keegan's right, looking to your right.
Cast photo - 96 actors, plus crew

FFF

More Pumpkin Pictures

Since Caitlyn and I had such a good time at the pumpkin party. And since we learned how to make really cool pictures. And since I have to overdo anything fun. And since we found the best, giant pumpkins for $1 along the side of the road,

we bought more pumpkins and carved some more at home.First, we need to spread out a towel and wash off all this dirt...

and make a pattern (pointe shoes for Caitlyn and Kook for Keegan.)

Now we get to clean out all the gook...

There seems to be something on my arm.

Gee, how did that get there?

Now for the poking and sawing.

And, finally...

Keegan's completed Kook pumpkin!

Kelsey's finished product

Prayer Request

My friend, Desma, who is a missionary in Cameroon is sick. They aren't exactly sure what is wrong with her or why she isn't getting better. Any prayers would be appreciated.

Wordless Wednesday - Fun on a bale of hay

Caitlyn at Caspian

Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Lucy

Caitlyn and her good friend, Hannah

Learning the victory dance

Doesn't David look thrilled that I am taking still more pictures of him and Caitlyn?

Ta-da!

Unhappy Kelsey Quote

Before I logged off, I heard an unhappy Kelsey through the window say to Keegan, "A pokey plant just poked me. I am not having the best day!"
This must be imagined in her cute little Kelsey voice, very ticked at that plant. She just cracks me up.
BTW, I am naturally sorry she got poked. She just sounded so cute.

Caspian Ad

This is my own little effort at enlightenment for people that think ballet is always girly. Prince Caspian is a guy-friendly ballet.

See? These guys are tough! :-)

(I am trying to catch up on my posting, if you can't tell, but am stopping for now.)

Homeschool Bible memorization

The girls have been memorizing Psalm 23. I told them the story about people naming their dogs Surely, Goodness, and Mercy since they always followed them. Caitlyn, Keegan, and Kelsey really liked that story, so here is how they look whenever someone gets close to that part. (These are panting dog faces, in case you can't tell.)

I must admit, I join in, too. And I feel sure that they will ALWAYS remember that verse :-)

FFF - Family Photo

With all the pictures I take, I am not good at family portraits. I am always taking the pictures, not being in them. Besides, my eyes squinch up whenever I smile. But, here are a couple of other members of my family :-).

One more from swimming this summer.

This is Bill's mom, sister, brother-in-law, and niece in 2007.

Wordless Wednesday - Ready for Oz