From Geography to Arithmetic

We've moved on from geography lessons in the game RISK to math lessons in Monopoly.

I tried my hardest to talk them out of this...but after about 16 games of Bananagrams they were ready for a change.

So Jordan pulled out this 'child friendly' game.

So far they seem to be having fun but I have to keep a close watch.

I've refused to play this game with Jordan for years.

He is mean. He refuses to trade or deal.

He charges ridiculous amounts for the trades he does agree to...its not fun!

So Tess and I did this instead.

She's been a little under the weather this weekend and enjoying quite a bit of cuddle time.

(As a side note: I need to take a spelling lesson -

I actually had to look up how to spell arithmetic!)

Sleepy Night

I've got a lot of things I had hoped to accomplish tonight after the kids were in bed...

but I am so sleepy and unmotivated and just cant seem to get myself out of this spot.

And so...good night.

Party Crashers

While the girls were at my mom's Jordan, Nick and Sully had a 'Nintendo Night' at our house.

But Jordan snuck over at one point to steal desserts!

And he brought Sully with him because we had to have some more pictures of him with Jordyn who is just a few weeks younger than him.

Remember these pics?

Well we recreated them...they will HATE us someday.

Girls Night Only!

One of the things that kept me sane in my house of 6 brothers growing up was that I have 4 female cousins on my dad's side. My dad had one brother, Roger, and he had 4 girls.

I find it funny that my dad had 6 boys and his brother 4 girls.

My mom has started a 'Earle Girl - Girls Night Only' tradition each Spring.

All the cousins, sister-in-laws, grand-daughters and female 2nd cousins are invited.

We all gather at her house with all our female children and eat, watch movies, play dress up and laugh! This year's get together was last night.

Aunt Jean and my mom.

They are such good friends and its still really hard to think about

how their foursome is down to three now that my dad is gone.

These two ladies have put up with a lot from their Earle men!

Tess had a blast - taking any lap she could find!

Even if she was the same size as the lap!

My cousin Joy and Tess

Joy was 10 when I was born and she latched onto me from day one.

Of course I don't remember but I hear we were inseparable!

Today she has 4 girls of her own! All right about my girls' ages.

Some of the gang. I never got a good picture of everyone together.

Thanks again mom! It was tons of fun!

Pest Control

One of Sully's favorite roles is 'Mommy's Protector'.

Lately he's been keeping it up by taking care of all the half dead flies in our house.

(Seriously where were they all winter?!?)

I yell, 'Hey, Sully! We've got another one!"

And he comes running saying, 'Don't worry Mommy, I'll get it!'

I find it quite hysterical that the big protector will not dispose of the bug without a kleenex!

Here is he ready to save his mommy from the poor defenseless dying flies!

Love you buddy!

Can you smell it!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Spring is in the air and it smells so fresh outside!

And I feel a new bounce in my step and in my outlook!

I hope you feel it too.

Isaiah 25:1

"Oh Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name,

for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things,

things planned long ago."

How can I keep from singing?!

A New Day!

Well if I wasn't just a ball of encouragement and fun yesterday than I don't know who was!

So I'm starting today with a new attitude...and this verse didn't hurt!

Psalm 188:24 "Today s the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

And they're out of money...

And I did not get my rebate.

However, since I was kicked off the site in the middle of my application - SIX times.

AND hung up on by a representative - TWO times.

I figure the government owes me my $500 fridge rebate 8 times. So, good government I will expect my $4,000 check in the mail by next week.

Thank you.

The End.

Update

Almost 7 hours.

That's how long I've been trying...with a 30 min. break at lunch.

My kids think I'm insane and they are pretty much right. After all this and no rebate. I'm insane.

2.5 hours.

That is how long I have been hitting 'end call' - 'redial' - 'end call' - 'redial'...over and over and over.

Lets just say I better get my refrigerator rebate at this point...argh! Nice system!

This message was recently posted on their site...the one that is working. And is being reported by KCCI in DSM. Read this and then tell me...Government run health care - good idea????

"A message on the Iowa Office of Energy Independence Web site stated " Due to Iowans overwhelming and proactive response to the Iowa Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program web site and toll free number, the system is temporarily down. We are working with our professional contractor to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. We are sorry consumers are experiencing problems and we apologize for this extreme inconvenience. Our contractor works with several states and Fortune 500 companies and will restore services as soon as humanly possible. We are advising all Iowa homeowners to keep trying the web site and toll phone number later today. Thank you for your patience with this matter. "

Fantastic Weekend

We had a fantastic weekend.

Jordan and I made a trip up to IKEA to get a few things to finally

finish off our toy/craft/den area.

It makes me so excited to be getting all our house projects

done before our vacation and SPRING!

Jordan and I got to have some time together and the kids had Rosanna.

They were so excited to see her. And of course she did a great job with the kids and we came home to this decorating our fridge...she is the best!

We also came home to a 'grown-up' Avery. She has her first loose tooth!

I'm ridiculously emotional about it!

She is thrilled!

This is Tess saying good-bye to another weekend.

Seriously, she is the cutest!!!

Realizations

1. Amy is mean. She brought me a bag full of chocolate chip cookies for watching Ellie today. I cannot stop eating them. Avery said, Wow, these are better than your's mom. I'd be hurt but they are seriously wonderful.

2. Little girls who are not used to boys' Sullivan's age are terrified of boys' Sullivan's age.

And little boys' Sullivan's age find it fun to torment little girls who are terrified of them!

3. When we have other kids at our house I am much more productive. I've gotten a ton done today. I think its because I dont want them to go home and tell their mom's that I sat around the whole time they were here!

All Dressed Up

We are watching Ellie today and Avery loves having a dress up partner!

And it seems Tess is pretty excited about it too!

I love how she is looking up at the older girls in this picture.

Um, cute.

And on two other random notes:

I'm on the tail end of a rotten head cold that has been holding me captive for about 5 days. Awful. And I'm so thankful for the energy I have this morning after days with none.

And I'm giving up pop today. Cold turkey.

Done.

A Quote

It is not the wife's role to make the husband 'good', rather it is to make him 'happy'.

It is not the parents' job to make the children 'happy', rather it is to make them 'good'.

And the husband has the daunting task of making the wife - both 'good' AND 'happy'.

- I'm not sure who gets the credit for this quote I heard last night...possibly Ruth Graham although I cannot find any evidence of that on the good old world wide web.

Anyway, I like it and its so true.

If we focus on making our husbands HAPPY, our children GOOD and not getting those mixed up...then we would ourselves be better off.

Calling the ordinary...

What comes to mind when you think of David?

As in, King David.

I don't know about you, but I think of a mighty king and warrior...a man after God's own heart. (I Sam. 13:14)

And I think, sure, God can use him...he's DAVID.

But I started reading a commentary on David and I realized...he didn't start out great. He didn't start out mighty.

He was ordinary.

Just like me, just like you.

A shepherd. A lowly shepherd.

The author, Charles Swindoll, pointed to this verse:

I Corinthians 1:16-29 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. BUT God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that NO ONE may boast before him.

That made me stop and realize...God is looking for people just like me. Just like you.

To do might things that point to Him...not to us.

And that makes me FEEL mighty today!

I REALLY want to know...

What is the secret to a good chocolate chip cookie?

Mine are always flat.

Why?

I follow the directions...I do exactly what they say.

Its not rocket science.

I REALLY want to know, so please share this secret with me.

For now I'm just happy that I make them mostly for the dough anyway!

Pretty exciting!

We made a countdown chain for our vacation next month.

These four were extremely excited about it!

(Yes, Sully's just in his underwear...dont ask)

And really, what is more exciting than the Olympics.

We LOVE it.

We spent weeks looking forward to it and we've loved watching all this week.

(We've had fun reminiscing that during the Winter Games in 2004 we were busy holding a new born Sully all through the games...He's a bit more interested in them this time around!)

We've also loved the distraction of something to do since our house is still not all back to normal and probably wont be for a few more days.

Jordan brought in a nice back drop for my picture tonight...all the kids curled up in our bed for the ski cross racing.

And since there is a 2 hour late start tomorrow, Lauren and Avery are REALLY excited to stay up and watch the Ice Dancing competition.

Another little girl to be thankful for!

There was NO way to pick a favorite out of these pictures of Contessa.

She is so precious, naughty, adorable, naughty, sweet, talkative, naughty,

curious, naughty and FUN right now.

I seriously love 18 month olds. There is nothing cuter in life.

Thank Heaven For Little Girls

Having little girls is just plan F.U.N.!!!

I'm pretty sure they would have preferred we left the furniture out of this room, added a wall of mirrors and opened a dance studio!

Lauren participated in a dance clinic with the HS Dance Team on Friday and then on Saturday she got to perform at their show.

She spent most of Saturday morning practicing and teaching Avery the moves.

We had fun doing hair and make-up for the show.

Of course Avery had to get in on this part of the fun!

Lauren sat with her friends during the show. I just watched from a few rows back with Avery.

Lauren just seems so old. She has so much fun with the girls in her class.

She is sweet and kind and I love that. But she is fun and funny and loves to laugh and giggle.

And here she looks 12. And she can stop.

I got choked up watching her dance and smile out there.

She really is a natural performer.

The girls in 1st and 2nd grade danced to Miley's 'Hoedown Throwdown'

and they all did great, especially for only having one practice.

(I took video instead of still pictures during the actual performance.)

Striking a pose!

And its Friday...

Today we are doing many exciting things...

I decided that the floors were complete enough for us to be on them

and do things like clean all the wood work and windows,

put window treatments back up, pantry doors back on,

things on the wall back up, ect.

And truly it is awesome. We are close to the end of this process.

And this is little Tess, last week I took this picture because I was so excited that

her hair was finally long enough for a little pony on top that does more

than stand straight up in the air.

And well, she's just cute. And her talking has taken off this week.

She's putting words together and making more sense. And it is SO fun!