Flashback Friday- School Projects

How much work should a parent put into a school project? Back in the Fall Thomas was instructed to build an Apache dwelling. His parameters were loose- basically he had to be able to explain the construction and be able to carry the finished product to and from class by himself.

Now it just so happens that Jack was reading on book on the Apache at the time. There had been several lively discussions in our home about the Apache in the past few weeks, so really, you might think that this project was gimme.

But you would be wrong. You would be forgetting that Thomas and Jack would be building the diorama. And you be forgetting the easy distraction, the disorganized work habits and the visions of grandiosity common to the garden variety ADHDyslexic.

But, several days, arguments and attempts later this was submitted.

I’m extremely proud of them both!!

Flashback Friday- Payton

My Mama had all her little chicks home for Christmas last year. Me and Jack and our three kids, my sister and her husband and their three kids and my brother and his wife and their two kids. It was a production not without it’s ups and downs, but there was no doubt that the star of the show was Payton.

Payton is my brother’s boy and the youngest of the grandchildren. He lives in California with his family and Christmas was the first chance many of us had to meet him. At 15 months Payton had just started to walk with confidence and being Jon’s son, had confidence to spare. Emma appointed herself the official herder (when being a blonde 8-year-old didn’t get in the way) and she spent lots of time saying no and rescuing ornaments and pulling the child off stairs. It was fun, mainly because he wasn’t my child and it wasn’t my stuff. But also because Payton is the spitting image, both in looks and attitude, of his daddy.

My daddy has always said that you pay for your raisin’. Jon, you are soo gonna pay!!

Flashback Friday- RA Lock-In

Back in the early part of March, Jack took a group of boys to a RA (Royal Ambassador) lock-in in Shallowater. Apart from a broken tooth suffered by Thomas (and because it was Thomas, you know there was MUCH suffering) everyone had a great time. Jack and I have always been proud of how our group of kids is so willing to blend with other groups and make themselves at home.

MUCH suffering on Thomas' part

 

Two of these boys belong to us.

 

Two of these boys (Terry's a boy at heart) do not belong to us.

Flashback Friday- And An Apology

While sorting through photos for a Flashback Friday topic I ran across this picture of the girls taken back in February.

Here’s where the apology comes in. SIL Thea sent these cute outfits for the girls’ birthday and I never said ‘they arrived!’ or ‘they fit’ or ‘thank you!’ or nothing.

So, Thea: The gifts did arrive, they fit great and the girls loved them. Thank you so much for going to the trouble and I’m so sorry I didn’t say all this sooner. Please reply with the required groveling parameters and I’ll get right on it. I love you!

Flashback Friday- Liz’s 6th Birthday

Eight weeks ago my baby turn 6 years old.

As you can see her party had a Pinkalicious theme.

We had giant marshmallows dipped in pink sugar, pink cupcakes topped with cherry-flavored jellybeans, pink bubblegum, pink cookies, strawberries dipped in pink chocolate and green grapes (so we wouldn’t turn pink. You should read the book.). There was also a pink bicycle,  pink balloons, pink paper goods, pink outfits, and pink gifts.

Oh and smiles. Lots of smiles.

Flashback Friday- PIP

Remember years months ago when I told you Thomas and Emma were participating in PIP? (No? Well I did. Here. See?!) So anyway PIP is over for the year (back in March actually. Or maybe it was late February. To be honest I quit paying attention well before it ended.) so I thought I’d share some pictures of the kids. Enjoy!

 

{Who says I don’t like PIP? Oh. Don’t take my snarkiness to mean I didn’t like PIP. PIP was great. The kids enjoyed it and I think they learned some things too. If they had actually practiced at home AT ALL they could’ve learned a lot. No, any snarkiness will have arisen from my dead tired state of mind towards the end of PIP and my annoyance at those who take activities like PIP WAY TOO a little more seriously than I. A couple of incidents (one of which I can’t confirm because I heard it through the grapevine, but the other? I lived it!) toward the end of the PIP season left a bad taste in my mouth. I can’t say these incidents will keep me from signing up the kids for PIP next year, but we will be better … equipped to deal with personalities.}

Flashback Friday- OLUMC RA Week, Pinewood Derby & Spaghetti Supper

The Oklahoma Lane United Methodist Church culminated Royal Ambassador Week with a Pinewood Derby and Spaghetti Supper Sunday, November 7 in the church Fellowship Hall. Participating with the RAs were the local God’s Girls chapter and several parents and church members.

Royal Ambassadors and God’s Girls are discipleship clubs for kids in 1^st through 6^th grades. OLUMC sponsors 14 kids in both clubs.

In the morning RA Week Celebration, the boys acted as candle lighters and ushers as well as reciting the RA Pledge and Mottos during the service.

That evening the kids hosted a spaghetti supper complete with spaghetti, salad, bread and desserts to over 80 guests before the Derby began.

The Derby final was extremely close as Landry Henderson and Emma Smallwood’s cars were so evenly matched. Landry Henderson’s championship was finally determined by a fierce game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Pyper Belcher won the Car Show competition with her zebra-striped car.

The RAs and God’s Girls would like to thank Wayne Pierson for acting as Starting Judge, Pastor Ken Peterson and Kenny White for acting as Finish Line Judges and FBC Farwell for loan of a track.

Flashback Friday- Make A Difference Tour 2010

Speaking of good music, I totally forgot to post about Thomas, Jack and me going to the Make A Difference Tour 2010 last month. World Vision sponsored this amazing night in Lubbock where we heard TobyMac and Third Day. Michael W. Smith, Jason Gray and Max Lucado were also on the program but TobyMac and Third Day were the big draw for us and well worth the money and the trip.

TobyMac is Thomas’ favorite artist. I linked to my favorite of his songs a couple days ago. Here is Thomas’ favorite.

I’ve been dreaming of going to a Third Day concert for years because Mac Powell’s voice touches me in a way that has little to do with my belief system and a lot to do with power and gut. It’s very fortunate that he decided to use his God-given talents for good, not evil. Here’s a link to something new from Third Day

I will add that once you’ve heard Mac Powell in person, the radio is tame in comparison.

UPDATE: Sorry! My links are not working. I’ll keep working on it.

UPDATE II: Links are UP! Try them out.

Flashback Friday- Joe and Jackie’s 50th Wedding Anniversary

I have the sweetest in-laws in the world. They’re good people who love their family and would (and have) done anything for any one of us. Jackie often shows up to fold laundry or wash dishes and Joe is very good about reminding me to color my hair and eat plenty of ice cream. Best of all, they provide sanctuary for our kids when the going gets tough at home.

Joe and Jackie have been married 52 years! Jackie was a child bride, married at 16. Together Joe and Jackie have raised three children, a myriad of neices and nephews and a succession of cats all named Gilbert Ray Hodge. They have nine grandchildren. Here are a few pictures of the 50th celebration two years ago:

The Happy Couple. The cake was a replica of their actual wedding cake. SIL Sheran made it (the replica, not the wedding cake. Duh!)

The Happy Couple and their Offspring.

The Grandchildren

The Whole Kit and Kaboodle

Flashback Friday- Happy Birthday Emma!

A year ago this weekend, we had a very special party. We celebrated Emma’s 7^th birthday with a swimming party complete with pool, waterslide and dozens of friends. Later the rest of the family and the friend’s parents joined us for the main event: Beer Butt Chicken (minus the beer) and Emma’s baptism.

Emma had asked Jesus to reign in her life as Lord and Savior earlier last year and then asked to be baptized right here in our own backyard. Jack was honored to perform the ceremony in the swimming pool and both Emma’s grandmothers voiced prayers for her. It was beautiful.

So is she

I don’t have a photo of the baptism. Jack accidentally started without me and then I was just too verklempt to worry about photography.

Tonight we’re having another birthday bash for Emma. We’ll cook out for friends and family and then throw all the males out because it’s girl-time at the Smallwood Spa and Resort. There’ll be hot times in the old town tonight!

Well, for eight year olds anyway.