We've been around....

Yeah... our dogs have finally l0st weight! They are fit!!!

Waiting... Waiting... Waiting... Is this audition ever going to start???

Our last game of the season. The Big J had a great run as a 9th grader on Varsity. We will see what the travel ball season brings.

M was barely awake hear trying to finish her book!

A total girls weekend in Orlando last weekend! We had a great time in the Hyatt attached to the Orlando International Airport! Great dance convention, great rooms, and great places to eat.

Our view from the waiting area of the convention area!

This was their "showcase" piece on Sunday. I am waiting for the pictures I bought, and I will post some great shots of M & B.

The winning dance!! All the girls were so excited! That is B on one of my former 3rd grade student's shoulders! Funny how small the world is!

This is how M spent her day off from school last Monday! I think she read from the time she got up, until she went to bed!! The weekend in Orlando must have exhausted her!!! She stayed in her PJ's all day.

B right before her audition class. She was so excited that the hotel had a Starbucks next to it!! (And that is hot chocolate for the record!)

After a long night of competition (11:30) even McDonalds can still make them smile!!

Getting ready to go!!

This was B at the Big J's last game... It was a nail biter, and we did not win in the end!! So close though. Our life can be described by one word- BUSY!! We have finally finished high school sports for the year. I can't convince the Big J to run track, but there are worse things I am sure. WHS did a great job in their district playoffs with a young team but they are now done! But don't worry travel ball started the next week so I am sure Derek and the Big J will find lots of basketball adventures over the next six months!

The girls and I had a great trip to Orlando last weekend for a big dance competition there. It was quite fun actually! It is amazing what it feels like to be able to sit and read a few books over two days! Both girls did great and won lots gold (high awards for their dances). In about four weeks we will head to Disney for a weekend of more dancing- this time we will take the little J with us. Derek and the Big J will be away at a basketball tournament.

The little J is doing amazing. It is hard to believe he will be three in May. He is really "using" his words and knows a lot of random things. He has a great little personality too! I told him today that he needed to start sleeping in his big boy bed and he replies "Nooo, I am not!" It just amazes us each day how he runs around with an abundance of energy. He has enough for all of us. He loves to be outside, playing with sticks, rocks, or any other object he can find. Boys are just so full of wonder of how things work, or objects that move. I think he could stare at "big trucks, tractors, or other work related vehicles" for hours! He even loved watching the skiers and snowboarders at the Olympics! Anything with fast action! Of course, he still plays with his trains and puzzles too!

School is zooming by this year. We counted Friday and we only have about 14 weeks left! It seems unreal that this year has flown by. What is more unreal to me is that we have started the season of Lent, and Easter is right around the corner! Holidays have been so fun with a little one in the house again. It just seems that everything is moving so fast, and in fact when we look at the calendar IT IS!!!

I am doing a bible study on contentment that I really like. It is easy to get lost- but even easier to stay grounded when you realize how much you have been given already. It just puts a peace around you that makes it all seem worth it. Sometimes with kids all over the place it is easy to get lost for a few, but staying grounded in faith allows us to know what really is important.

And He said to them, "Take care and be on your guard against all covetousness,

for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."

Luke 12:15

He did it!!!

So, we played Bolles the other night.. did not think it would be a close game at all.. Boy, did I miss the beat on that one!!! We were up most of the game, and then in the 4th quarter we were down, down by 6, down by 10, down by 3- then we are tied with less than a minute on the clock, and the Big J goes up for a basket- but gets a foul... and it was nerve wracking!! but, he makes it!!! HE MAKES IT... and then for his second shot he shoots an air ball trying to run out the clock??? what ????? but we won! And of course we were all smiles later!!!

The Big J and the Little J... oh what a week... February already... travel basketball begins, dance competitions, and the summer countdown begins! The 100th day is tomorrow, which means only 90 days left on Monday.

Random Post - Beware!

The M loves the IPhone camera!!!

It's dance time around here. M & B are getting ready to compete, so we are busy getting bags ready, make-up assembled, tights and shoes organized, and costumes set. It is CRAZY!!! They both have so much stuff!! I will post some pictures from their full dress rehearsal on Sunday.

The little J loves Krispy Kreme! He just had to have his doughnut!

The Big J started in the Gateway Conference! Made it to the final four- but that is as far as it went! The team that beat them, went all the way to the top - Yeah for Ribault!

The little J loves these Home Depot Safety Goggles. He wears them all the time, even though it looks like he can't breathe with them on. Tonight he had them on while he was eating ribs sitting ON the table!

It is hard to believe that High School Basketball is almost over. We have two games left this week, and then tournament play next week. Seems like this season went by way too fast! Travel Ball will start back up in about 2 weeks, and then our first big tournament will be in March. Before you know it, it will be June and The little J will have been with us for a year! It just doesn't seem possible.
The weather around here has been crazy. Eight days in the 20's, a week in the 60's, and now another cold snap with rain! My poor yard. That is going to be a whole other post. It is going to take hours of work to restore some order out there! My African Iris are blooming, and there are buds on some of my azaleas! The yard has just gone mad... not to mention on the green that has been sucked out of the grass! I actually think I am going to change some beds this year anyway, so I guess it is as good as time of ever to "clean yard!"

Starting a Bible Study on Psalm and I can't wait! The book of Psalm is one of my favorites, and I am excited to have a study on it.

Stay tuned... more exciting news coming :-)