I'm adding links. I'm moving things around. I may even change colors and the template (but don't hold your breath!).
So, if things aren't working quite as nicely as you'd like, please be patient.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Theme for February: NEW!
This month seems to be the month for new things in our house.
We started the month by getting a NEW (to us) van. Matt won an eight passenger Toyota Sienna on eBay. He and Micah flew down to Florida to pick it up on Friday, February 1, during a really bad snowstorm. On the way back, they stayed with my Uncle Skip and Aunt Bonnie and their family in Georgia. Spending time with my cousins, some of whom are only a little older than him, was his favorite part of the trip. On the way back, they also visited a cave at Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, TN. That was the second favorite activity of the trip for my son who wants to be a geologist/paleontologist/creation scientist when he grows up. The flight down was "ok." Matt and Micah arrived home on Sunday, February 3 in time for us to spend some time watching the SuperBowl with friends. OK-- so I didn't watch the game, but we did spend time with friends.
While Matt and Micah were gone, Garrett finally got a much-needed NEW haircut. If you mention it to him, he will say, "I look like Micah." That is because a LOT of people mentioned that to him at church the Sunday after he got it cut-- and it really DOES make him look more like Micah.
As of February 13, we also have a NEWLY-turned eight year old. Micah is growing up SO fast! Here he is in front of his "hot-fudge upside down" cake from his birthday party the weekend before. Not the prettiest birthday cake ever, but it sure was yummy!
We also got a NEW loft-bed in February. My parents graciously replaced a bed that had been built by my grandfather which was in their house at the time of their fire. The new bed is a custom-designed bed that they purchased at the Oak Warehouse, where they purchased much of the furniture in their new house. The kids were very excited when it arrived on Friday, February 15. Garrett is still talking about "his men" or "the bed men" who brought the bed and put it together. Just yesterday he said to me, "Mommy, you and I should have ridden in the truck with my men back to Michigan." We were worried about his reaction, because he was adamant before the bed came that he wanted to continue to sleep in his "car bed" which my Dad had made for my cousin Klynt almost 30 years ago. He has now declared his bed (the one beneath the loft) a car bed because it has wheels on it. Thankfully, he likes the new bed.
Garrett checking out the new bed:
Micah and Garrett checking out the new bed:
Karissa, Micah and Garrett checking out the new bed (Do you see a theme here?):
Rachel likes the new bed too! Don't worry, we are going to make sure that this doesn't become a habit or it could ruin the drawers. However, the drawers slide out so nicely and Rachel finds them very intriguing and she just looks so cute sitting in there! So, Matt couldn't resist taking a picture before he pulled her out.
The pictures aren't the greatest, but there are shelves behind the drawers on the left. Under the shelves behind the ladder, there are two big drawers that face the wall. It's working out well. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Bradley!
We started the month by getting a NEW (to us) van. Matt won an eight passenger Toyota Sienna on eBay. He and Micah flew down to Florida to pick it up on Friday, February 1, during a really bad snowstorm. On the way back, they stayed with my Uncle Skip and Aunt Bonnie and their family in Georgia. Spending time with my cousins, some of whom are only a little older than him, was his favorite part of the trip. On the way back, they also visited a cave at Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, TN. That was the second favorite activity of the trip for my son who wants to be a geologist/paleontologist/creation scientist when he grows up. The flight down was "ok." Matt and Micah arrived home on Sunday, February 3 in time for us to spend some time watching the SuperBowl with friends. OK-- so I didn't watch the game, but we did spend time with friends.
While Matt and Micah were gone, Garrett finally got a much-needed NEW haircut. If you mention it to him, he will say, "I look like Micah." That is because a LOT of people mentioned that to him at church the Sunday after he got it cut-- and it really DOES make him look more like Micah.
As of February 13, we also have a NEWLY-turned eight year old. Micah is growing up SO fast! Here he is in front of his "hot-fudge upside down" cake from his birthday party the weekend before. Not the prettiest birthday cake ever, but it sure was yummy!
We also got a NEW loft-bed in February. My parents graciously replaced a bed that had been built by my grandfather which was in their house at the time of their fire. The new bed is a custom-designed bed that they purchased at the Oak Warehouse, where they purchased much of the furniture in their new house. The kids were very excited when it arrived on Friday, February 15. Garrett is still talking about "his men" or "the bed men" who brought the bed and put it together. Just yesterday he said to me, "Mommy, you and I should have ridden in the truck with my men back to Michigan." We were worried about his reaction, because he was adamant before the bed came that he wanted to continue to sleep in his "car bed" which my Dad had made for my cousin Klynt almost 30 years ago. He has now declared his bed (the one beneath the loft) a car bed because it has wheels on it. Thankfully, he likes the new bed.
Garrett checking out the new bed:
Micah and Garrett checking out the new bed:
Karissa, Micah and Garrett checking out the new bed (Do you see a theme here?):
Rachel likes the new bed too! Don't worry, we are going to make sure that this doesn't become a habit or it could ruin the drawers. However, the drawers slide out so nicely and Rachel finds them very intriguing and she just looks so cute sitting in there! So, Matt couldn't resist taking a picture before he pulled her out.
The pictures aren't the greatest, but there are shelves behind the drawers on the left. Under the shelves behind the ladder, there are two big drawers that face the wall. It's working out well. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Bradley!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Kids are funny!
The other night, as Garrett was getting ready for bed, he wanted to leave his shirt on his head as he often does. Matt was fine with it-- as long as it's not dangerous or evil, Matt's usually fine with it (and the "not dangerous" part is up for debate). So, there Garrett was wearing his pajamas and his shirt on his head. Then he says, "I'm a dark partner." Matt and I looked at each other, smirked and then laughed. We tried to figure out why he said that. The real answer: He's two. I have no idea what he thinks partner means, but it reminded me of The Princess Bride: "I don't think that word means what you think it means." (And I'm sure that someone can correct my quote, because I don't think it's exactly right.) Eventually Garrett changed his title to "the blue partner," but we have no idea why. Kids are FUNNY!
I'd post the pictures that we took of our little "dark partner," but my flash drive seems to be misplaced and that's the easiest way for me to get pictures on here. So, perhaps later.
I'd post the pictures that we took of our little "dark partner," but my flash drive seems to be misplaced and that's the easiest way for me to get pictures on here. So, perhaps later.
Gymnastics
Karissa has had two gymnastics meets so far. They are longer events than our family originally anticipated. With check in, warm up, march in, competition and awards, we can be at a meet for over 4 1/2 hours! Granted, if we wanted to drive separately, part of us could skip the check in and warm up parts, but for these first two meets at least, they've been over half an hour away. With the price of gas, it's just not practical. Plus, we really like to do things together as a family, if possible.
Her first meet was on January 20 at IGI in Westmont, IL. They had Levels 3, 6 and optionals (Level 7) competing at the same time. Karissa is in Level 3. For her level, every gymnast does the exact same routine on each event. So, on the floor exercise you hear the same music playing over and over. (Thankfully the Level 6 and 7 gymnasts were there as well to add variety.) It was interesting and exciting for Karissa. It was also fun to see her compete well under pressure. The awards are given by level and age. Age is determined by the age they will be at State (which is at the end of May and beginning of June). So, Karissa was Level 3, age 10. Out of eight gymnast in that level and age, she received first place. Good job Karissa. Your hard work was well-rewarded! Many of the other girls on her team also did well. There are 11 girls on her team ranging in age from 6-11.
Her second meet was on January 27 at Tri-Star Gymnastics in Forest Park, IL. They had Levels 3 and 4 competing at the same time. Level 4 has the same type of thing as Level 3 where each girl does the same routine. So, we heard two different songs over and over throughout the afternoon, depending on which team was competing on floor. There were far fewer gyms represented at this meet, but some of the gyms had a lot of gymnasts! Matt's parents were able to come down for the meet and Karissa really enjoyed having Grandpa and Grandma there to watch her. She made it to podium again. Although this time, she was the only age 10, Level 3 gymnast. So, she wasn't that impressed with it. However, based on her scores compared to those of the other gymnasts that day, she still would have done well. It was also a learning experience for her team. The judges at this particular meet scored MUCH tougher than at the meet the previous week. The same girls were getting 1-2 (or more) points lower for each event and I am not referring to tenths, but whole points. As I said, it was a learning experience, but the girls all seemed to handle it well.
Her first meet was on January 20 at IGI in Westmont, IL. They had Levels 3, 6 and optionals (Level 7) competing at the same time. Karissa is in Level 3. For her level, every gymnast does the exact same routine on each event. So, on the floor exercise you hear the same music playing over and over. (Thankfully the Level 6 and 7 gymnasts were there as well to add variety.) It was interesting and exciting for Karissa. It was also fun to see her compete well under pressure. The awards are given by level and age. Age is determined by the age they will be at State (which is at the end of May and beginning of June). So, Karissa was Level 3, age 10. Out of eight gymnast in that level and age, she received first place. Good job Karissa. Your hard work was well-rewarded! Many of the other girls on her team also did well. There are 11 girls on her team ranging in age from 6-11.
Her second meet was on January 27 at Tri-Star Gymnastics in Forest Park, IL. They had Levels 3 and 4 competing at the same time. Level 4 has the same type of thing as Level 3 where each girl does the same routine. So, we heard two different songs over and over throughout the afternoon, depending on which team was competing on floor. There were far fewer gyms represented at this meet, but some of the gyms had a lot of gymnasts! Matt's parents were able to come down for the meet and Karissa really enjoyed having Grandpa and Grandma there to watch her. She made it to podium again. Although this time, she was the only age 10, Level 3 gymnast. So, she wasn't that impressed with it. However, based on her scores compared to those of the other gymnasts that day, she still would have done well. It was also a learning experience for her team. The judges at this particular meet scored MUCH tougher than at the meet the previous week. The same girls were getting 1-2 (or more) points lower for each event and I am not referring to tenths, but whole points. As I said, it was a learning experience, but the girls all seemed to handle it well.
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