Pinewood Derby Results

On Tuesday evening, our boys participated in their Cub Scout Pack's annual Pinewood Derby. This was K's first year doing the derby. He opted for a racer style car which he calls the "Black Widow 3".

From Pinewood Derby 2010

This was N's 3rd and final official Pinewood Derby as he is a Webelos Scout and won't be eligible next year. He went for creativity this year with his "Gondola" car.

From Pinewood Derby 2010

We simply cut the wood block in half, then sanded and painted the bottom. We then put the actual ingredients from a Avanti's gondola on top of the bottom wood block. We used super glue to hold the food in place. Unfortunately, the car weighed twice the limit at the initial weigh in, so by the time of the race, the gondola was cut down to half the original size.

Both boys had lots of fun. They actually ended up racing each other in all 4 of their preliminary heats. This year's pairings were done at random by computer. K's "Black Widow 3" won all 4 of his heats. N's "Gondola" came in 3rd in one their heats. Although K did well, advancement to the finals was based on the average time of your 4 races in the preliminary. His car was #13 and the "Black Widow 3" came in 13th overall. N came in 20th. There were 24 racers total. Here's a slideshow of the evening.


We had lots of fun designing, building, sanding, painting, tatooing, and assembling their cars. I personally enjoy this time with my boys building cars and memories.

Belated Christmas Post

Here I was so excited to post some fabulous Christmas pictures. Would you believe it? I forgot that what really happened is that the camera ran out of battery power during the festivities. Ugh. Oh well. I am now remembering that there was at least a few pics. I found some pics online of the favorite presents this year. (Note: not to do a brag post. I just want to note for my kids later that they have NOT been deprived. No really so that they can remember this years from now since my blogging skills are way better than my scrapbooking ones at the moment.) There are several more favorites. But like I said these are the ones that have been played with ALOT!

This was actually a present from a very sweet friend. She gave us this. I can not begin to tell you the HOURS and HOURS and HOURS of wonderful imaginitive play this has provided BOTH of the girls (and boys...yes they have been caught "helping" the girls play).

Here is the My Generation Doll that came from Santa. Again, if this was the ONLY thing she got.... HAPPY CAMPER!! Now she is talking about how she can't wait to ride the train to the AG store. Ummm, better be saving pennies Santa cuz AG dolls need accessories too don't you know!

Here are the boys with their present from Grandma and Grandpa N! If this was the only thing they got they still would have been happy campers! Bionicle Nerds for sure! :-)

Here is Christmas Eve after coming home doing THIS at my sister's. We built a fire and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by the light of the fire. We made sure they know that it would be cooled down for sure before Santa arrived. Before they went up for the night, we let the kids open their Christmas jammies too. They LOVE these. Especially the boys. I have heard about these pj's over and over again. Whodathunk that pj's were so special to them! :-)

I HEART this picture! It is one of my FAV's right now!

Well, I would be remiss in not saying how much I LOVE Christmas and the spirit it brings. I always wish it would last just alittle while longer. I am grateful for the REASON for the SEASON! Merry Belated Christmas to you all!

In case I forget to tell you and in case you happen to care....

I started up my Words of Wisdom blog again yesterday. I don't have as high expectations of it. I probably won't have the time to post every day but when I do I will follow the scheduled post subject for that day. I think it is just a good place to put stuff that motivates me and helps me. Look on the side of my blog and you can find the schedule and the link. Enjoy!

It is the most wonderful time of the year!!

My sister said it best here. We have had SOOOOOOOOO much fun acting out the nativity for as long as I can remember. I just hope my kids continue this great tradition in their own families. It was great having my parents here and doing it with the Simple Family aka my sister and her family.

As soon as I find my camera that is buried underneath piles of toys, clothes, bows, wrapping paper, dirty dishes etc, I will post some fun Christmas pictures.

We have NEVER been big on getting alot for Christmas. We have always felt that we should give more to the kids on THEIR birthdays. Now, having said that we still give presents but we have never wanted to break the bank for Christmas either. We hope that the message that we send to the children is that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. This is a time to celebrate HIS birth.

The best things about Christmas this year were: 1) We are all together and well. 2) My parents were able to come celebrate with us. 3) We were blessed by a very giving family and were able to get a few more fun things for the kids along with some things they really needed. 4) It was fun to see the kids get SUPER excited about making things for eachother, going to the dollar store or Mission Mart (a local thrift store) 4) That no matter what this year has dealt us, we are still blessed!

I was really touched by all of my kids this year. I really think that although they still LOVE Santa and his gifts. At one time or another each of them talked about the real reason we celebrate Christmas. We celebrate Jesus's miraculous birth and his love. Because he loved us so much we show our love by giving to those we love.

We hope that ALL of you had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!

Random cuteness caught on my camera and thought I would share!

Earlier this day, I caught F snugglin' the bunny! She was holding this toy for AWHILE! She kept squeezin' it and giving him (or her) mmmwaahs. So cute! (Or at least I think so! ;-) She is SUPER affectionate that is until you cross her! :-)

This is some YUMMY hot chocolate that we made for FHE last week. In this picture it has melted but still it was SUPER delish! It is just plain Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate, a Peppermint Hershey's Hug thown in, topped with whipped cream and crushed peppermint sticks on top! Mmmmmmm! After a night out with one of my dear friends, I found a LOVE for peppermint in my hot chocolate. Unfortunately, this only adds to the calories! That is why I have only had this 3 times . I might have it a few more before the winter is over but at least I will be warm! ;-)


This is at prayer time for FHE. Another adorable shot of these best buds! Here is sweet F following everyone else and folding her arms. Too cute. The funniest part is that before the prayer is through (usually a few seconds in), she tosses up her arms and signs ALL DONE!! Bwaahaaa!!


This is J after getting her hair cut last week. Having takin' a bath this night, she is stylin' her CRAZY hair! It's amazing how really long it is when it is wet. The curl just makes it seem shorter. I can't wait until it is really long! I personally think it will be simply GORGEOUS!!


The "Brothers'" caught being civil to one another. Even K is the one that is reading to his brother. It is usually the other way around ALOT no matter what it is!

Random cuteness over for now!

Holiday Fun

I DON'T enjoy the freezing cold, bundling up only to have the kids say they are freezing after 60 seconds, slipping on ice and not wanting to go out somewhere because it was raining out in December and it froze on the streets. That I don't love. I DO love just about everything else though. I love decorating the house for Christmas, singing Christmas songs all day long, baking goodies, starting a fire, roasting marshmallows, sipping hot cocoa (my new fav is with whipped cream topped with crushed peppermint), christmas caroling, present making, sewing, knitting,scripture reading, Christmas party going, family gathering etc. Those things I LOVE and more! We have put up the decorations, the station is set to Magic 100.7, the baking has started, the bundling up has started, the cookies have started baking etc. Speaking of the weather of this season though, I do love the first snowfall and how the snow glistens on the trees and how it looks so picture perfect! What is the best thing about Winter? Spring comes next! Until then I enjoy what I can! :-)

The first thing we did this season we went with N and K's 4H group and helped the elderly make door signs for their rooms, broght them cookies and caroled down the halls. It was sweet and sad at the same time. I know that many of these people don't have regular if any visitors, some of them are very cooped up in there, some of them are very ill or struggling physically. It is sad to see what happens alot as we age. I hope that if I need to go into a nursing home that some sweet little kids come to carol to me when it is Christmas time to bring me some holiday cheer! I think this is a great experience for the children! I was touched and it helped me ring in the holidays! Sadly I didn't bring my camera. Oops!

On Wednesday and Thursday, we got out all the Christmas decorations and "decked" the house out. We have trimmed down alot. I used to have alot of hand me down items and just an overload of "stuff" It wasn't as hard putting everything out this year. The bummer came when some of the stockings came up missing again! (This happened last year too!) These are special because my mom made them and had all our names put on them. I was thinking all the next day wondering where they were! Feeling so sad about it, then a phone call came. My mom's first words were, " I came across these stockings of yours and couldn't remember exactly why I took them home with me last year?" I started to chuckle with joy and then recounted the story to my mother as well. All is well and we will have ALL our stockings out in just a few days. I wanted to get another tree and have for several years now. We HAVE to keep the one we have. I call it our Lil Charlie Brown tree. We got it after our first Thanksgiving together for $14.99 at Walgreens. LOL It was OUR first Christmas tree. I can't part with that EVER! I always want the kids to be able to decorate that one in the future.

Here is a photo of our Lil Charlie Brown tree:

I do however as vain as it sounds want another one. I want a bigger tree and with some new ornaments. I love all the homemade ornaments made by my mother, me, my kids and others.Those will always hold a special memory. I want to set one up like this too.


But the decorations are up!!! We still have the outdoor lights to put up and hope we get them up before it snows.

Friday night we went to Barnes and Noble for Polar Express Storytelling PJ party. It was fun but next year I want to check out this. Still though. I LOVE Polar Express and we have watched it EVERY year since it came out!

J won the prize so we now have a cd of the story as well! :-)

Saturday we woke up. During all the Christmas decorating we had not picked up the messes, done the dishes, done the laundry etc. I wanted to get all that done. Actually I really want a maid so that I don't have to do it! LOL There were so many fun things to do around town. We decided on one of them. We went to the Once Upon A Holiday Even at the McLean County History Museum and enjoyed LOTS of crafts, singing, storytelling, treats and St. Nicholas! It was very fun and I am sure we will do this again next year! That night we went to our church's christmas party. There we enjoyed hot cocoa with different flavored creamers, candy and cookies, a play, singing and Santa. It was alot of fun but at the end of the day. I was ready for a long winter's nap! LOL :-)

St. Nicholas and wife:


All the kiddos with St. Nick and wife:

The only picture of crafts. Um, it was fun but remind me to take T with us next year! Taking pictures, doing crafts and trying to keep track of a busy toddler made it not as easy to take photos but I tried! :-)

This is now a famous family picture. We will be sure to take one here every year just for fun!

This one ROCKS!!

Kids singing at the church Christmas party:

Sitting on Santa's lap:

At the end of the night after baths this is what happened to J! Congrats on your 1st! :-)

Sunday..... well admittedly when arising just slightly later than usual we decided to take advantage of that long winter's nap. Not a usual Sunday occurance for us. At least 2 out of the 4 Sunday's I go to church by myself which has gotten easier and easier. T then is off to do his church assignment in other areas. He takes each of the kids at times which is easier on me and fun for them. T also has meetings and visits to make on those Sunday's and others as well. Might I just say that alot of times Sunday is NOT a day of rest around here. Not complaining about that at all. Just today when we were starting out late, tired and no real obligations to take care of ... we decided to spend Sunday as a day of rest and time together as a family. We are doing "church" tonight and have enjoyed this moment. Maybe for some, they wouldn't do this. For us today, it was great! We told the children that this wouldn't be a regular occurance and how important GOING to church is. We didn't say that this will never happen again either but mostly the reason why we would miss is due to illness or emergency. Now I can head into my week with some added physical energy as well! P.SAt work (working for my sister) we are adding another infant starting this week. I don't think it will be hard but will definantly change our rythmn so to speak for a time till we adjust. The added energy boost will help me start this off right. :-)

Looking forward to posting about lots of the other Holiday activities that we will do this season! I HEART Christmas time. One of my goals this next year though is think of ways to CONTINUALLY keep the spirit of Christmas with us ALL year round. Just because it isn't Christmas doesn't mean that we couldn't go sing at the Nursing home, just because it isn't the holidays doesn't mean that we can't donate food to the poor etc.

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL week! :-)

I HEART my kids!

I have been blessed! I have 4 earthy blessings and 2 angel babies. I am so grateful for the honor to be their mother. I hope that when I have passed and gone to the other side my children will know that no matter what, their mother loved them with all her heart. I make mommy mistakes all the time but in my heart I want the best for them, I want them to be happy and I want them to love themselves etc. I have SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many wishes for them! I love you all!!

XOXOX

Always and 4Ever,

Mom


Here is one of the MANY songs that speak to my heart:




Here is a song for my "beautiful boys":




Here is a song for my beautiful girls:




And this is for ALL of them!!: