A Funny Thing Happened At The Birthday Party

Demetria, Hannah's friend from school, celebrated her birthday party at Cici's Pizza today, along with her sister and brother who also celebrate birthdays this month.  Everyone was having a great time eating pizza and talking.  When the cakes were brought out, Shan, Demetria's mom, put candles on both cakes.  Little did she know, they were magic candles.  You know, the ones that light back up after being blown out.  She has some for Demetria and Miracle on one cake and more on RJ's cake.  As you well know, when the kids tried to blow them out, the candles wouldn't stay out.  The kids kept blowing and blowing to no avail.  Brian, Demetria's dad, was trying to put them out with condensation on his glass.  Some would go out but others would light up.  It was so funny!!  The room was getting smoky, the kids and adults were laughing and we tried everything we could think of to keep the candles out.  Finally, Brian took his cup and just sat it on top of the different candles, pushing them into the cake.  FINALLY they went out for good.  The manager had to open the door to let the smoke out.  When she walked by, she said the sprinklers had been ready to go off when she opened the door.  That bit of news set the parents to laughing again.  After it was all over, I remembered from parties past that you need to drop the candles in water for them to stay out.  Maybe next time we will remember.  It was a great, and very memorable, party for all!

Hannah's MAP scores

Tonight during Open House at Hannah's school, her teacher Mrs. Stiles gave me Hannah's scores and ranking on her recent MAP test.  In Language, she is testing at a Beginning 6th grade level.  In Math and Reading, she is testing in both at a Mid 5th grade level.  (She's currently in the 4th grade.)  YEA HANNAH!!  Way to go!!!

Awesome Kids!

I have to brag on Hannah and Will!!  Hannah was selected to be in the National Elementary Honor Society at her school!!!  Will was selected to be in Spotlight at his school!!!

Not long after school started, Hannah brought home a note saying that she was a candidate for the NEHS at her school because of her grades.  We had to complete a form that listed all of her accomplishments over the last year.  Some of the things they were looking for were if she did volunteer work around the house and for family members; if she participated in community projects; if she was a member of any teams, groups, or organizations; and if she had received any type of rewards.  They only wanted information for Third, Fourth and Fifth grades.  We included her helping around here with the chores and the boys and helping Mom out this summer by cleaning her house. For community projects, we listed the Operation Christmas Child box we made last year.  As for the teams, we listed her softball, basketball, and soccer teams and noted how long she had played on each (this is her sixth year to play soccer).  For awards, I noted how Hannah had the most AR points in her class and in the whole Second grade.  Even though the award for AR wasn't in the parameters they asked for, I felt it was important.  The counsel met and discussed all the candidates and Hannah was selected.  She is to be inducted on 30 September.  YEAH HANNAH!!

At the end of the school year last year, Will brought home a note that he was being tested for Spotlight and that he did exceptionally well.  He was suppose to be tested again over the summer but, due to a large number of students that also did well, his testing didn't occur until well after school started.  This afternoon I received a call from the Spotlight teacher saying Will had been selected and should start this Wednesday.  From what I understand about this group, they are students that are smart who also benefit from additional instruction.  I think it is like an Advanced Placement group.  Anyway, it is exciting!!  WAY TO GO WILL!!

Hannah asked me which was better: Spotlight or the Honor Society.  (She tested for Spotlight but never made it in even though her grades have been really good.)  I told her they both were high honors and were equally awesome!! 

Needless to say, Mike and I both are very proud of our children!!

Birthdays and Getting to the End of Ball Season

First and foremost, I want to wish Will a very Happy Birthday!!  His birthday was yesterday and he turned seven years old.  He opened his birthday presents at breakfast.  Will got a rubber-band airplane, Rocky Mountain Ranch Lincoln Logs, and a remote control truck.  He was soo excited!!  Do to both kids having games at 6 p.m., we were not able to do anything special with just the family.  I did make his favorite dinner (poppy seed chicken casserole) and take a special snack for his team so they could celebrate with him. Mommy and Daddy love you very much and are very proud of the wonderful young man you are becoming.

As stated earlier, both Will and Hannah had games last night.  Because I was running between two ballfields, I didn't get to watch much of either game.  Hannah's team won 15-4.  Her teammate, Emily, got a grand slam and five girls (including Hannah) hit home runs.  At her second time at bat, Hannah got a triple.  The girls were pysched, as you can imagine!  They worked together and did their best.  Way to go CRASH!!

Will's team was up 6-4 when the game was delayed due to lightning.  Thirty minutes later, the umps restarted the game.  Unfortunately, Will's team lost 14-12.  They did much better fielding and hitting but were not able to get the win.  This was their last game.  I am still very proud of these boys.  They have worked hard and were able to get two or three wins this season.  Will hit two home runs this year.  Good Job REBELS!!!

Andrew's last game was last Tuesday, June 1st.  Being T-ball, the teams don't keep score or keep track of how many outs.  These boys were so much fun to watch.  The ones who started out chasing the ball after they hit it ended up running the bases like big boys.  We still had a few (like Andrew) who preferred playing in the dirt when they were in the field but, in all, they all did wonderfully.  Even though Andrew is through playing baseball this year, he keeps asking when he is going to practice and when he is going to play his game.  Mike and I will just have to continue to work with him.  His coach, Paula, said she was thinking about calling the parents when she took her son to the park to practice so the boys could practice if they wanted.  I think that is a great idea.  She also wants to keep the team together, if she can, over the next few years. I am very proud of how Andrew and his team did.  Way to go MARLINS!!

Back From Camp and Retirement

Hannah had lots of fun at camp, which is relieving for this mama to hear.  While there, she had the opportunity to do "expeditions" three times a day.  Her choices were: archery/games, art, cooking, decorations, fishing, canoeing/tubing, leather, nature, pottery, sand painting, serving other nations (doing projects to send to missionaries), swimming, weaving, and wood burning.  She spent most of her time doing pottery, but she did try cooking, canoeing/tubing, swimming and wood burning.  The campers studied Daniel and the choices he made to stand for God when is was not the popular decision, difficult and dangerous.  One of her favorite parts was the Trading Post.  Here, you could get something to eat (like pizza) along with popsicles and drinks.

The boys missed her.  Andrew would ask me every now and then where Hannah was.  When someone asked him where he thought she was, he answered, "College."  Will kept asking us to go to camp because he wanted to see what it looked like.  He can go in two years and can't wait.  He is counting down the time.

On a different note, Daddy retired on Friday.  He worked for the SCS for 22 years.  He actually started working there a year before I started working at UT.  Wow!  Dad is looking forward to camping, watching the kids play ball, and traveling.  Congratulations Daddy!!  We are very proud of you!!

My Big Girl

Well, Hannah is off on her very first youth camp trip.  Our church has a summer youth camp called Camp Tsungani every year for kids who have completed the third through sixth grades.  It is an Indian themed camp centered on Christ as our Head Chief.  Ever since I started going to this church over 20 years ago, I have heard how wonderful and exciting Camp Tsungani was.  When Mike and I started having kids, I got excited thinking they could go.  This is Hannah's first year to go.

At first, she was apprehensive about being gone for a week from Mom and Dad. [The longest she's ever been away from us by herself (without the boys) is three or four days.]  Mike and I really talked up camp, telling her how much fun she was going to have, what kind of activities she would be doing and all the friends from church that she would be able to play and spend time with.  Even Friday and Saturday Hannah was still a little nervous, but ready to go (her bags have been packed for about two weeks!).  Last night, she and I went through her bags to make sure she had everything she needed.  She was getting more and more excited.  This child (who does not like to go to bed early) kept telling me to hurry up so she could go to bed and get her rest.

I woke her up at 5:30 so she could get ready.  By 6, Hannah was chomping at the bit to leave.  When we got to the church, she was out of the van and getting her bags out before anyone else could move.  Hannah found her friend Emily and forgot all about us.  Mike and I were able to get a few pictures with her before they loaded the buses.  She didn't even look back when they started boarding the buses.  Hannah did wave a few times before and while they were leaving.  At least I know she is not crying and missing us.

I am so excited for her.  I remember going to youth camp when I was younger and all the fun we had.  Our camp was north of town; Hannah's is 160 miles away.  I'm not worried about her.  She will be WELL looked after.  Hannah's counselor is a good friend of mine, along with the Director of the camp.  I also know quite a few of the counselors, staff and expedition (activities) leaders.  I told her that she would be the most looked after child there at camp.  We will miss having her at home but I know she will have a great time.

Exciting News

In the busyness of the weekend, I forgot to mention something very important - Will can ride a bike WITHOUT training wheels!!!  He is sooo excited!!  Mike took off the training wheels on Friday and worked with him for a few minutes.  Will has had a little trouble starting off but is getting better.  He wants to turn the wheel when he starts then looses his balance.  I am so proud of him.

Also, both Hannah and Will made all A's on their report cards.  They are doing great in school.  Keep up the good work.

My friend Julia is. This will be #3 for her and her husband David. The baby is due December 4. Both David and Julia's birthdays are in December as are their boys. Isn't that interesting and fun?  Congratulations!!

Pictures

Here are some pictures we've taken over the last few weeks. 

If you look closely, you can see the Canada geese walking on the frozen lake.  This picture was taken on January 30, the day after we got sleet and ice.  The lake froze over and the geese and ducks were able to walk across.

Baron and the leftover sleet we received

On February 5, while Hannah was at school, Mike and I put up Hannah's new bed and rearranged her room.  Click here to read the details about the changes that were made.

Hannah and Andrew enjoying Hannah's new bed

Hannah and Andrew playing

Mama, Hannah, Andrew and Will

The rest of the pictures are of today's surprise snowfall. 

The first few pictures were taken of our backyard through our dining room windows.

The next two pictures are of our front yard and the small courtyard garden.  Look at the snow on our fountain.  It looks like a wedding cake.

After much talking in too (I was surprised), the kids finally went outside to play.

Andrew, Baron, Hannah and Will having a snowball fight.

Andrew and Hannah with Crystal, our snowwoman.

Another picture of Andrew, Crystal and Hannah

Crystal

Our Dearly Departed Saturn and Hannah's New Room

Well, our Saturn finally bit the dust Thursday. Mike went out to check the oil when he noticed the dipstick was completely dry. Further investigation found oil in the coolant reserve and oil and coolant underneath the car. It has been a good little car. I bought it brand new in 1996 and drove it everywhere. When I was eight months pregnant with Hannah and as big as a house, I drove this car back and forth to Midtown. While I was off work during Christmas break, Mike started driving it to work in Collierville because it got better gas mileage than our new-to-us Blazer. Mike kept driving the car up until Thursday. It would have been 14 years in June that I bought my baby. It was a good little car.

One of my favorite memories was a trip home from Florida. Our Singles class took a trip to Panama City every year. One year my friend Richard, who is at least 6'2", rode back with me and a friend (I can't remember if it was Lisa or Debbie). Poor Richard volunteered to ride in the back most of the trip. (If you aren't familiar with my Saturn, it was an SC-1, a small sports-type car with a tiny backseat.) A couple of times during the trip we switched seats so Richard could try to stretch out his long legs.

Another favorite memory was a trip Mike and I took to Johnson City for the Marine Corp Ball. After Mike was able to leave his unit, we started to head home. Since we were so close to the Virginia state line and since I had never been to Virginia, I asked Mike if we could cross over then turn around. We did and it was so much fun. We were both being silly. After crossing the state line (and taking a quick picture of the "Welcome to Virginia" sign), we got off the interstate at the first exit, turned around and got back on heading west. It was a great trip.

Friday while Hannah was in school, Mike and I changed out Hannah's bed and rearranged her room. Melanie gave Hannah her old daybed. It is a lot girlier than her old one. Hannah had mentioned a few times that she wanted to move her bed around too. So, while we were assembling the bed, we took advantage of the extra room (since everything had been moved out) and moved most of her furniture around. It seems to make the room look a lot bigger. When you walk in her door, her toy box is to the right where her bed used to be. Her shelving unit moved from the wall beside her window to underneath her chalkboard. Her bed is now on the wall that had her toy box and shelving unit. Her desk was moved over closer to the window just a little. I like it a lot and so does Hannah. I guess Hannah's approval is all that matters. Mike took a couple of pictures and I'll try to post them later. I'm too tired right now to do it.

Busy and Interesting Weekend

The weather man predicted our area would get between 1-4 inches of snow along with some ice on Friday and Saturday.  Instead, we got sleet and freezing rain on Friday.  After the freezing rain, it started raining really hard and continued until late Friday night.  Thank goodness, Mike stayed home and worked from home using his laptop.  The water and sleet froze and everything was covered in ice. It was soo pretty.  Quite a few people in Tennessee and North Mississippi lost power but we were blessed not to.  Saturday we stayed home.  The kids played the Wii most of the day while I nursed a sinus headache and pressure. 

Sunday, we went to church and enjoyed the beautiful scenery as we drove.  The trees, bushes, grass and power lines were covered in ice.  The sun made everything shine, like they were covered in diamonds.  It was stunning!!  Ernie's message was wonderful as was Marty's Sunday school lesson on the first part of Revelation 7.  After church, we went to lunch at Back Yard Burger.  Towards the end of our meal, the power went out.  It looked like maybe a transformer went down because we could see nearby traffic lights were also out.  As we were leaving, the traffic lights started working again.

Once we got home, Hannah and I got to work going through some boxes we had in the attic.  Most of them were toys that had been relegated to the attic about three or four years ago.  (Hannah loss the use of her toys when she got into trouble; now, I don't remember the exact reason why.)  Mike found a box of books for Hannah to read that I had as a child.  They include Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, The Dana Girls, and Bobbsey Twins.  There were even some of my Little House books!!  I can't wait to read them again.  While Hannah and I were busy, Mike reswept the kitchen and mopped it. Busy, busy, busy!!

We Love Books!!

This year, Hannah received quite a few books for her birthday.  Dick and Daphne bought her "Liberty Letters - The Personal Correspondence of Elizabeth Walton and Abigail Matthews   The Story of Pocahontas, 1613" and "The Lost Nancy Drew Case Files."  Melanie bought her four books in the Little House series - "The Little House in the Big Woods," "Farmer Boy," "The Little House on the Prairie," and "By the Shores of Silver Lake."  Hannah had also gotten "Violet's Perplexing Puzzles -  A Life of Faith" book from Mike and me and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (I can't remember who got her that one) just before Christmas.  I read two of Hannah's Little House books and remembered how much I loved them.  As a young girl, I read everything I could get my hands on regarding the adventures of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I loved all her stories and even found some she wrote of her move to Missouri and her visit to San Francisco.  Hannah is enjoying them too.  I am thankful all my kids have a love of reading.  The boys love to read too, especially at night when they are suppose to be in bed.  Andrew will climb into Will's bed and they try to read by the light of Will's night light.

I've also been busy reading.  Tommy Tenney and Mark Andrew Olsen have a book called "The Road Home - A Modern Retelling of Ruth's Ancient Story."  It is awesome!!  I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to see stories of the bible come to life.  The authors also wrote "Hadassah," of which the movie "One Night With The King" was based.  It is another great book.  I've also read "Unto Us   Son of God Series - Book 1" by Sharon Lindsay, "Mom's Trapped in the Minivan" by Cynthia Sumner, and "Shadow Warriors  - Inside the Special Forces" by Tom Clancy with General Carl Stiner (Ret.) and Tony Koltz.  I'm still working on the last two, trading off reading them in the car rider line and crocheting.  I also have three books coming to do blog tours on that should be here soon.  Can't wait!

Party at Build-A-Bear Caps Off A Busy Day (plus a few thoughts thrown in)

We are home after a long, exhausting, and busy day.  On the way to church this morning (we were running late as usual), we saw a familiar van in front of us.  It was the Berryman ladies on their way to their church.  Even though they live about 1.5 miles from us, they also attend church in Collierville (their church is not too far from ours!).  Bettie (Mama Berryman) is the Nursery Director at their church.  Her girls, Breanne, Brandyce, and Brittney, were with her.  Carey (Papa Berryman) was at the fire station, I'm guessing, because he was not with his girls.  Brittney is one of Hannah's best friends.  They have known each other since their first day of 4 year old preschool and became the best of buds. 

After hearing a very interesting discussion on the latter part of chapter 6 and the first part of chapter 7 in the book of Revelation in Sunday school, Mike and I went to the second service.  Ernie did a great job preaching and teaching us about having passion in our lives.  Not physical or emotional, but discovering what you are passionate about and serving God and others in that area.  It was really good.  One of my passions is studying God's word, looking at the original Greek and Hebrew meanings and words to get a better understanding of what God says to us through His servants, the writers of the Old and New Testament.  I am not a scholar by any stretch of the imagination but I find it exciting to see what is actually conveyed through the original languages.

The family went to Carrabba's for lunch.  As usual, everything was delicious.  Our waiter, Jared, was great.  When Hannah told him her birthday was Friday and that Andrew's was this coming Saturday, he brought both of them a free birthday sundae with a candle on top.  Jared even brought an extra bowl for Will to share their dessert.  In the bag of extra bread he packed for us, he included a small packet of olive oil and the seasonings they mix with the olive oil.  In all the times we have eaten there, I've never had the oil and seasoning included in my take-home bag.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  I LOVE their bread and oil to dip it in!!  Now, I get to have some at home.

The party was a great success.  Hannah had a good turnout: Brittney, Gracie, Layne, Jonas, Samantha, Will G., Kara, Seth, Will J. and Andrew.  Instead of making an animal, we had a Make-Over Party where each child picked out an outfit and/or some accessories for their animals.  The only one who didn't already have a bear or other animal was Jonas, so his mom Donna bought him one to have.  Afterwards, we went to The Great American Cookie and had cookies.  Hannah had loads of fun and so did the others. 

Mike and I are exhausted after trying to keep up with everyone.  But, all in all, it was a good day.

Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Today is Hannah's 9th birthday!!  It's hard to believe she is already nine!!  Happy Birthday to my sweetie!!  Daddy and I love you so much!!

Report Cards and Speech Accomplishments

The kids got their second nine weeks report card this week.  Both Hannah and Will made all A's!!!  I am so proud of them.  Way to go Hannah and Will!!!

Will has also made fantastic progress in his Speech Therapy class.  At the end of the school year last year, I meet with Will's Speech Therapist to discuss his progress through Kindergarten and the plan for the next year (1st grade).  Ms. Rockett said he would work on his L words, practicing the letter L at the beginning, in the middle and the end of a word and using it in a blend (like in the word blend).  She thought it would take him all year to complete his objectives.  We also discussed how long he would need therapy.  Ms. Rockett thought that Will would be through either by the time he was in Third grade or by the end of that year.

This year, Will's Speech Therapist, Mrs. Huffman, worked with Will on his L words twice a week.  At the beginning of January, she phoned me about Will's progress.  He has done so well on his L words, she wanted to show this objective as being complete.  She also wanted to start working on the letter R.  Mrs. Huffman was very pleased with Will's speech progress.  I am tickled pink!!  I can tell a difference when I listen to Will talk.  He has come a long way.  There are still some things he will need help with, like his TH blends, but I am more than happy with his attempts so far!

Hannah's room and Happy New Years!!

On Sunday, December 27th, Mike and Hannah started cleaning Hannah's room about 2:30 p.m.  They finally finished about 8 p.m. with a few short breaks mixed in.  They filled both a 55 gallon trash bag and 33 gallon garbage bag with trash.  Mike also filled one box with toys for Andrew's class at school.  They cleaned out the plastic bins under her bed; cleaned up all the junk, toys, clothes and dolls in her floor and in the corners of her room; cleaned up her closet and bookshelf; and cleaned up the storage unit and boxes in her room.  Everything looks wonderful!!!  Now that we are back from our trip to Chattanooga, I plan to get Melanie's old daybed and change out Hannah's bed.  The daybed Hannah has now is a heavy wood frame that is more suitable for a boy.  I bought it for my guest room when I was single.  I don't know what we will do with it, probably sell it.

Happy New Years!!  I know it is now the third of January but I did not have access to the computer while we were gone.  We left for Chattnooga on December 30 to celebrate Christmas and New Years with Mike's dad and step-mom and returned today.  While there, we got to see Mike's brother Rich and his family; spent a couple of evenings with Brent, Jennifer and their boys, Ethan and Blaine; celebrated Cody's 18th birthday (Brent's nephew); celebrated Christmas with the family; and went to the Creative Discovery Museum with the kids. 

The Creative Discovery Museum is very similar to the Childrens' Museum of Memphis.  It has a ton of hands-on exhibits, things to do and play with and interesting things for parents.  We were there about two hours.  My favorite was the water exhibit when you first entered the museum.  You could play with the dam trying to redirect the water, open and close locks and dams, and generally have loads of fun.  The kids had a blast!  I don't know what their favorite things were but I'll make some educated guesses.  Mike seemed to like the area where you could make a toy car that would run using an electrical charge on a special track.  He made two cars: one for Hannah and one for Will.  Andrew seemed to like the musical area where he could play the drums.  Will's favorite seemed to be a machine that would help you get a basketball into the goal using a bike, skate, kiddie pool, double-ended kayak paddle, two shovels, a tube of fabric and a clothes basket.  Sounds weird, I know but you had to see it.  It was neat.  I'm not sure about Hannah.  She was everywhere and participated in just about everything. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful God-filled year. May Adonai bless you as you seek to know and love Him more each day.

Operation Christmas Child

Today while at Chick-fil-a, Hannah picked up an Operation Christmas Child box.  We decided to fill one then decided to do two.  If you have never heard of Operation Christmas Child, you can go to Samaritan's Purse and get details.  The programs was started by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham.  This organization collects shoe boxes filled with items and gifts for a needy child.  They offer some suggestions and have a small list of items not allowed but leave it up to the giver as to what to put in their box. 

Hannah filled her box with items for a girl between the ages of 5-9, and Will did the same for a boy of the same age group.  They had a blast picking out items at Dollar Tree.  Hannah purchased a doll, an outfit for the doll, socks, hair clips, comb and mirror set, lip balm, toothpaste, toothbrushes, tissues, coloring book, paints, socks, a pink pig puppet and some candy.  Will has a sun catcher for the child to paint, coloring book, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, tissues, paints, a brown bear puppet, playdough, and some candy.  I plan to get a small box of crayons for each box either tomorrow or Monday.  The boxes have to be turned in this week so Operation Christmas Child can get them to the children by Christmas.  Hannah and Will both want to include letters and their addresses so the recipient can write to them. 

This is the first year we've done it and it has been fun.  We may have to make this an annual event. I took some pictures of the kids and their boxes but will have to post them later.

Controlled Chaos

Because of all the rain we have been having, we have missed three or four games and a bunch of practices.  So, to help make up some of the games, Hannah's team had a game Tuesday night instead of practice.  There is one other 1-3 grade girls team, the Soccer Angels, so the Huskies, Hannah's team, has the same opponent each week.  Jessica, the Soccer Angels' coach, wasn't able to make the game so she asked Mike to help out.  So, Mike coached BOTH teams AND was the referee.  He commented that he would be happy no matter which team won.  Plus, he couldn't argue about the call the referee made.  Coaching both teams was challenging, to say the least, and they were playing against the clock.  We only had one hour to get whole game in before it went completely dark.  Like my title says, it was controlled chaos.

Miscellaneous News and Stuff

This afternoon I dropped Hannah off at Dad's work. She is spending the week and weekend by herself with Dad and Joan. I told her she's going to come back spoiled rotten. Joan is excited to have a "girl's weekend" with Hannah. They are going to go swimming, shopping, spending time with my niece Jessie and her son Riley, and whatever else they want to do. I'm jealous. I want to be there, too. Joan said she wants Hannah until Monday or Tuesday. That means a WHOLE WEEK without her. I don't know what we are going to do without her.

It's time to post about another blond moment I had today. For Valentine's Day, Mike bought me a beautiful watch which has been a little big, but not too bad. Today, I was putting it on when I noticed something for the first time. I knew it had what looked like an extra link to be removed by a jeweler. What I didn't know was that it had a hinge on it that could be opened and the piece taken off. So, instead of taking it to a jeweler, I could remove it myself. The funny thing is I've been wearing the watch for five months now and have just noticed this hinge. I removed the link and now it fits perfectly!!! As Will would say, "SILLY MOMMY!!!"

Oh, here is a follow up on a previous post. The other night I mentioned that the boys wanted to sleep together in Will's bed. Well, I am happy to say that they went right to sleep and didn't wake up until about 8 the next morning!! They did great!! Mike and I are talking about getting Andrew a toddler bed sometime soon. When he is a little older (and I can handle it a little better), Mike wants to get the boys bunk beds. Their room is crowded now with Will's twin bed and Andrew's crib, and another twin bed would make it even more so. I don't want the bunk beds now because I know my boys. Andrew and Will would climb to the top and jump off. I think I can handle broken arms and legs but not broken necks.

Hannah's Team Party

Hannah had her team party tonight at the local bowling alley. It was lots of fun. Hannah did pretty good. She was either the first or second highest score for both games. (This was playing against her team mates.) Mike, Andrew, Will and I played on the next lane. Because it was so crowded, we played with three other people. Andrew would bowl during my turn. Will did pretty good. Mike did okay but he wasn't that pleased with his score. Andrew and I did pretty good, with me getting a spare in the tenth frame and 9 in the extra frame. One of the players, a little girl named Macy, decided she didn't want to play anymore, so we let Andrew have her turn. After a little bit, he and Will found the pool table behind us more interesting. Mike took over Will's turn and I took over Macy/Andrew's turn.

The team paid for two games but the girls had to stop during the 8th frame. Pizza and drinks were waiting for them in the party room so Mike and Andrew finished their game. Andrew had a blast. He would roll the ball then cheer it on. Mike said one frame Andrew actually got a spare. He knocked down five pins the first time and the rest on the second bowl. Will sat with me while I waited for our pizza to come. We all were (are) tired!! We had to be there at 6 p.m. and didn't get home until 9. We didn't even eat until 8:30 due to a mix up on my part. Hannah and Will are both fighting a cold and went straight to bed when we got home. I think Mike and I are headed that way soon!!

The Sparks Did It!!!

We won!! We won!!! We beat the Red Hot Chili Peppers and we won!!! The Sparks are second in the league!! YEAH!!!! It was a close game. The final score was 21-20. The Chili Peppers started the game with five runs. We got three runs our first time at bat. I don't remember the rest of the stats from the game. We did get a couple of innings were we got the five run limit. Another time at bat (I think it was during the second inning), all three of our batters got out at first base. We did hit a few into the outfield, too.

Hannah hit the ball straight down the first base line her first time at bat and got out (she was one of the three I mentioned earlier). She got a single off her next time then eventually made it home for a run. During Hannah's third time at bat, she knocked it into center field and made a triple.

I am sooo proud of our girls. We ended the season 10-3. Go Sparks Go!!! YEAH!!!!