Playing Hooky

I am not advocating playing hooky from school, I am a school teacher you know. Here are some pics from a "family vacation" to Portland that just happened to be on a school day.

We took the girls to Powell's book store, they each had $10 to spend. Here is the book that Maddie choose.

Then the girls are just posing in front of the "big buildings" in downtown Portland.

We then took the girls to Grant Park where there are some statues dedicated to the author Beverly Cleary (Maddie loves her books). They are posing with Ramona Quimby.

We ended our afternoon by eating at this cute little restaurant called PB and Ellie's. Ellie loved seeing her name all over the menu. Like I said I don't advocate playing hooky, but we sure did have a good day!!

I am still learning about adding photos, sorry about the unorganization of this post :)

Saturday Fun

Usually on Saturdays i can look forward to at least a little bit of sleeping in...not anymore because indoor soccer has begun. Maddie's last two games (including this a.m.) have been at 8am. So at 6:48 I rolled out of bed to get ready. It was a good game, I enjoy watching them improve with each week. Then it was off to my church's monthly Clothes Closet. We open up our gym, filled with tables and tables of donated clothes, household goods etc. to the neighborhood so they can go shopping. It is like Goodwill but FREE!!! I enjoy being an organizer of this event. If anyone has anything to donate let me know and I can come and pick it up. Then we (the girls and I) rounded out the evening by going and watching one of my friend's daughter's high school gymnastics meet. Maddie and Ellie had fun and now they want to do gymnastics :) How did you spend your Saturday?

My Girls

Here is a picture of my beauties. Maddie is now 7 (and 1/2, very important). Actually she will be 8 in less than 2 weeks. Ellie is 5. This is a picture of them a couple of weeks before Christmas at their play for church. Aren't they adorable? As I look at them I am in total amazement that God has entrusted them to me. I do not feel worthy. I like to look at these pics when they look so sweet and loving towards each other during the times when they are not being so nice to each other and remember that "this too shall pass". Thank you God for giving me these great girls. Help me to be the mother that they need. They bring me such joy.

Tornado Central....

..is how I answered the phone at our house yesterday afternoon. Unless you live in a cave I am sure you heard the news of our Winter Tornado 2008 that occurred yesterday. This is a picture that Ty took of a building that is about 3 blocks from our house. My school (and the whole district for that matter) was in a weather lockdown Thursday afternoon for about an hour. My students thought all the hail was "cool but very loud". Ty said the whole experience was very surreal. It truly shows the power of God and how He has the whole world in His Hands. Thanks you Lord for keeping my family safe through the whole experience.

PS. I actually put a photo on my blog. This is also a first for me!!

Oh so cute!!!

Well Christmas break is almost over. Our family had a great break but I think my kids are ready to see their friends again. As I look back here are a few of the highlights:
1) Ellie learned how to take a shower "all by myself".
2) Maddie can now jump on her Pogo stick 14 times in a row. A big improvement from the one jump she could do on Christmas Day.
3) We went to the Zoo.
4) Mommy and Daddy went out to dinner to a nice restaurant (The Indian Oven on Hawthorne-I recommend it, if you like spicy food).
5) We tried a few new recipes from our newest Rachael Ray cookbook.

Hope you all have a great rest of the weekend!

Also, Ellie said a funny thing while at the Zoo.
Ellie: "Mommy, do you know what my mouth is?"
Mommy: "What?"
Ellie: "It is a little house for my tongue!"
Out of the mouths of babes!!

Back to School

It is January 2nd and my youngest daughter, Ellie, kindergarten, is returning to school tomorrow. I asked her what she was most looking forward to about going back to school she said, "Doing work and doing playtime. I am excited to see David, MaeMae (Megan) and Miss B." She also said, "I will miss you Mom, Maddie and Daddy."

Maddie, 7, second grade who is returning on Monday said this about returning to school, "I would like to see Miss Shelton, and then listed a bunch of friends' names. I want to do free time, reading time and going on computers."

I have enjoyed the Christmas Break, the Winter Storms of 2007 and the sleeping in. I will say that I am okay with going back to work. Those that know me would be surprised by the last statement. I enjoy the routine etc. I am trying in this New Year to look at the positives in each situation rather than the negatives, much healthier attitude don't you think? Take care and have a great New Year one and all.

Another Top Ten

My Top Ten Favorite TV Shows ( I know this info. might be boring but it is getting me started)
1) Survivor
2) Amazing Race
3) THE OFFICE
4) American Idol
5) Everybody Loves Raymond
6) King of Queens
7) Wheel of Fortune
8) The Price is Right (it's just not the same without Bob)
9) Anything on the Food Network, especially Rachael Ray
10) Law and Order (all varieties)
11) Prison Break (can't forget about this one!!)

Okay Trish, here you go

My friend Trish begged me to start this so here goes. Just a warning that it will be slow going at first as my learning curve is quite big on this blogging stuff. I thought I would start with something quick and easy. Also don't expect any pictures any time soon. I am technologically challenged shall we say.

My Top Ten Movies Of All Time (this means I would watch them over and over)
*in no particular order
1) Nacho Libre
2) Rain Man
3) Napoleon Dynamite
4) Nanny McPhee
5) Finding Forrester
6) Hoosiers
7) The Sound Of Music
8) Dodge Ball
9) Zoolander
10)It's A Wonderful Life

Okay i have a few more, maybe that will be my next post :)