Wow, has it really been 4 months since I posted? Either my life has been extremely un-noteworthy or extremely busy! I also need to change my layout. But that will have to wait for another day!

Well, the quiz year is going great. I posted an update on that on my sidebar.

The kids are doing well in school, all of them making straight A's. Denae is still enjoying preschool two days a week and as the teacher of her class, so am I. We have 6 kids in the class and it is lots of fun.

Dallas started softball in our church boys club this year. He is the youngest player and Kevin coaches his team. They have been enjoying that. The teams are made up of 7 to 11 year olds and there are 3 teams that play each other.

We enjoyed a visit from my mom and dad last month. They were able to come in for a few days and saw Dallas' team win a softball game and saw the kids quiz in a tournament at our church. And of course they spoiled us all while they were here. We can't wait to see them, and hopefully the rest of my family sometime this summer. Still keeping my fingers crossed that I get to go back for a couple of weeks with the kids.

Yesterday the kids were in a parade on our church's childrens ministry float. It turned out so cute and was lots of fun. I took pics, so when I get them on my computer I will post them. What? Is that laughing I hear? I sense that some of you don't believe me. I sure don't know why. I am such a faithful blogger! lol

We are also starting our practices for another kids play on Father's day. These are so much fun and all my kids are participating this year. I really enjoy helping and even got Kevin involved this year!

Well that is about it for now. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the near future as I share some great news! And no, Jessica, it's not about a baby!

It's Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas everyone!! It is just a few minutes past midnight here. Kids and Kevin are still up playing with new toys received from Kevin's family at our gift exchange tonight. We had such a good time tonight with friends and family, eating and playing. And now it is Christmas Day. The day we celebrate the birth of our Savior. A day focused on spending time with those we love, friends and family alike. We have a whole day of fun and fellowship to look forward to. But for now I will wish you a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Spelling Bee Slide Show

Spelling Bee Champion!

On November 17, 2009, Delaney was able to participate in her school spelling bee for grades 3-6. They had a list of 275 words, which she had about 9 days to study. After 17 rounds, Delaney became the first 3rd grader to win the school championship! She did such an awesome job, so poised and confident. And she was so surprised and excited to win!
Here are some of the words she had to spell: Celebration, commentary, miraculous, burdensome, theory, lobbyist, pandemic, elevator, unsentimental, curfew, eclipse, candelabra, musquitoey, pilgramage, scalpel, and oncologist. I think I missed a couple of words, but that gives you a general idea.

She is now eligible for the Sac Bee Spelling Bee, which is the stepping stone for the National Spelling Bee. So now we are studying over 1100 words, the defintions, the roots and origions, and all kinds of rules to get ready for that. It is pretty interesting.

And, on this past Tuesday, Dec 1, Delaney celebrated her 9th birtday! She just finished her first set of piano books, which she started in Mid September. She is doing a great job learning to play. And she has really stepped up with studying her quizzing, doing quite a bit of it on her own. Her grades at school are great: straight A's! We always receive glowing reports from her teachers about how helpful she is and what a great learner she is. Now if we could only get her to keep her room clean and to stop fighting with her siblings! lol Really,we are so proud of our princess, and so glad God blessed us with such an amazing oldest daughter. And I'll brag on my other kids for their b-day, but this post is just hers! lol Darilyn's post will be coming up on just a few weeks as her b-day is at the end of Dec!

'Tis the season to be jolly . . .

Fa la la la la la la la la! Christmas music is playing in the background. Christmas lights are twinkling from the tree, and garland, and snow village. Christmas smells fill the air. Yes, it is that season! I love Christams and all that it brings. I love finding presents for friends and family. I love wrapping them. I love decorating the house and making those scrumptious Christmas treats. I love the parties, the colors, the hustle and bustle. It is just a fun, joyful, exciting time of year. And it is all in celebration of the Our Lord and Savior. When I keep Him, the real 'reason for the season' in focus, all the hustle and bustle brings me feelings of love and joy and yes, even peace.

So enjoy this wonderful time of year. Get together with family and friends, drink hot chocolate and eggnog, go look at Christmas lights, turn on the Christmas Carols and decorate the house, make goodies for eating and giving, shop for presents for loved ones, Say 'Merry Christmas' to those you pass in the stores, and above all, keep Jesus close in your heart. This will be the best Christmas Ever!!

Update in a Slideshow

Enjoying the Good Life

I am currently sitting in my living room thinking about the past few months and what I should post for an update. If I could sum it all up in one short sentence, which I probably should because the long version would get incrediably loooong and boring, I would just say, "God is in heaven and all is right in the world." We have been blessed over and over again. Our jobs are going great, our health is good, our kids are perfect . . . okay, not really, but one can always hope, right? Seriously, everything has been great.

The oldest 3 took part in a kids musical production at church for Father's Day. It was about Noah and the Ark. Very cute production. The kids all had solos and each did fantastic if I do say so myself. It was Dallas's first time in a play and he had a small solo. He sang his part like a pro. And the girls sang very pretty as well. In fact, I think all the kids in the play did phenomenal under Sis. Tishauna's dedicated tutelage. It was lots of fun.

Bible Quizzing Regional Finals took place towards the end of June, which was the last tournament for our beginner quizzers. All of the kids did such a good job. Just finishing out the year at this age, and learning 184 verses, is such an accomplishment for anyone, really, but especially for our young quizzers. Our church program had a really good showing in the Beginner Division. Darilyn and her teamate and friend, Kayla, took 3rd, another 2 friends, Oriana and Raney took 2nd, and Delaney and her teamates and friends, Cali and Breighlyn, took first. Our friends from the Rialto church took 4th. Then the all tournament team was, from 5th to 1st, Kayla, Logan (Rialto), Darilyn, Oriana, and Delaney. Delaney then won a very high honor of being voted Quizzer of the Year for the Beginner Division. She was suprised and very honored to get that award as the other quizzzers and coaches all vote for who to give that award too. I must say, I was very proud of our kids this year. And by then very ready for a break!! lol

We took a trip to Tulsa in July for the National Quiz Tournament, which went great, and were able to spend some time with my mom and dad as well as see my niece Mallory, my nephew Logan, and my niece Jacy.

The kids then started school. They are in 3rd, 2nd, and kindergarten. School has been going really well for all 3. Delaney will be taking the test for the gifted and talented program on Saturday. Darilyn is doing great in all her subjects. Dallas is recognizing sight words and learning to sound out words, too. He is doing really well in the math related subjects as well. He did have some adjustments to make with paying attention and not talking, but those issues have been worked out to the teacher's satisfaction.

Denae and I began preschool together, her as a student and me as the teacher. There are 6 other children and we have class 2 days a week. We are having fun and learning a lot, although at this point I think I have had the most to learn! lol

Delaney and Darlyn began piano lessons in the middle of September. They are really enjoying the lessons and it is fun to hear them practicing. With my limited knowledge I am able to help them some, but I am enjoying the chance to 're-learn' many of the things I had forgotten. The girls also love their teacher, Janell Coskun. She is really great with them, always encouraging them with what they do and giving them the opportunity to push themselves.

Bible quizzing has resumed, at least partially. Tournaments won't begin until January. I updated our Quizzing Sidebar so check out that for the lastest news.

Well, that about sums up our last few months. Oh, except, I rejoined choir after about a nine year "break." I will post pics of the kids in a little while. Till then, God is great!!!

Happy Memorial Day

Today is a beautiful day, full of sunshine and picnics, water fights and hot dogs, friends, family, and fun. But before it all gets started, I want to say Thank you.

Thank you to those who have served our country, protecting our safety and our freedom. You have made it possible for the fun of today to even occur. Thank you and God bless you for risking your life so that my life and the life of my children could be enjoyed with liberty. And for those families whose loved ones have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms of this country, Thank you and God bless you for your sacrifice. We have not and will not forget.

Happy Birthday, Denae

My baby turns 3 today. She is getting so big and acts like it too! She told me a couple of days ago that she was already 3 (she got her b-day present from her aunt early). I told her not till Saturday and she said yes she was. I told her we didn't have to have her birthday on Saturday then if she was already 3. She thought for just a second and said, "I just kiddin'. I not 3 yet." She's not gonna miss out on getting to have a birthday!

Mommy and Daddy love you, Little Angel! You bring such joy to our lives. You love to be the center of attention and make us laugh. Most of the time! You are such a big helper when I need something. You love to cuddle and wrestle and play with babies and cars. A princess in pig tails, wearing fluffy dresses and church shoes one minute, and a country girl, running around outside barefooted with dirt on your nose the next. Can't wait to see what the next year holds, especially since Dallas goes to school, leaving you with nobody to play with but me! At least we will be doing preschool together in the fall for 2 hrs, 2 days a week at Miss Dawn's, you as a student and me as the teacher. Should be lots of fun!! Happy Birthday, Denae Alysse. So glad you are ours!

Note: I typed this on the laptop, so no pics. See two previous posts for the two different sides of Denae, the princess and the country girl.

Denae

Okay, I couldn't resist posting some more recent pics of my baby. Kids are so fun to photograph at this age. It's like they can't take a bad picture. And Denae loooves to have her picture taken. She really hams it up! Grandma and Poppa, these pics are for you! Hope you like them!

Denae showing off her pretty new dress.

Being Silly after church

Now that's a pretty smile!

And another pretty smile!

Caught her in action

So sweet!