Big Band Benefit

Tonight Jack, Jake and I went to the BVWest Jazz Big Band Benefit.  It's a special event that showcases the Jazz Bands from the two feeder middle schools, as well as the two high school jazz bands.  It's a big fundraiser for the entire band and helps off set costs of marching band.  There was also a silent auction.  And feature performance by Monique Danielle, a local jazz performer.  She was amazing!  Her pitch was perfect!  It was a bit sad that most in attendance didn't stick around to listen to her.  Jake isn't in jazz band but he really enjoyed the event and made time to talk to Monique Danielle at the end.  A great time was had by all of us.

Annie stayed home and had a friend over.  Jack sent her a text at one point, just to check in.  No response.  I said, don't send her a text message to the home phone, it really freaks her out.  And what do you think he did?  (Ugh!)  Yes, he sent her a text to land line message... it rings the home phone and then a recording speaks the message.  His message?  I'm watching you.  (exactly what I asked him NOT to say).  (eye roll!)  His mission was accomplished and Annie called in no time.  The only saving grace was that I'm watching you - spoken by a machine just doesn't translate well.  Jack talked to Annie and was laughing saying "we" this and "we" that.  I took the phone and put all the blame where it belonged - on HIM!  When we got home and I told her that I had asked him not to, her response was "MOM, you never tell him not to do something!  He has the maturity level of a 5 year old!"  Ha! Ha!

Who's ready for the weekend?

ME!

xo

Oh well.

I decided I need to start cooking with more fresh basil.  When I made caprese appetizers Jack thought the whole house smelled amazing!  I made some mini apps that I had found on Pinterest.  

Super easy and delicious!

I made turkey club, caprese and cheese and pimiento olive.

Here's the link, if you're interested.

 http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/mini-apps/485ddaa8-e8ea-4577-be40-3ccc1fc7b5f4/?WT.dcsvid=NjU5OTQ4OTIyMwS2&rvrin=9E3E1EE4-15A5-4A80-8510-333070BA56AB&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_PB_PB_2011_12_20&nicreatID2=Newsletter_PB_PB_2011_12_20

I thought the girls were coming over at 7:30.  Most of them showed up at 7:00 - oh well.  I had just turned on the oven so several appetizers weren't even cooked yet and I was working on a delicious Snickers dip.  I did my best and everyone rolled with it.  I don't think everyone had been together since Fall, so there was lots to catch up on.  I laughed to myself because I really thought I was right on schedule.  (deep sigh)

Jack and Jake spent the evening at the library.  I didn't realize it until about an hour after they left that Annie was here - in the basement.  She scared the bejeebers out of me!  She came up and had some snacks and then came in a visited when she heard the ladies talking about what they're reading.  She always looking for a good book and had a few suggestions for the group.  She pushed John Green real hard.  "Some of his books are kinda sad, with a little bit of language, but SO good!"  :-)

That's it for tonight - my bed is calling my name!

xo

Back in the swing...

Spring Break is over.  We are all back into our routines - with the exception of the kids now need to be awakened in the morning.  ?  Not long ago they would get themselves up and around.  NOW, Jack or I have to lug ourselves out of bed (several times) in an effort to get them moving.  I don't like it!  It doesn't help that Jake has late arrival on Thursdays and usually goes out to breakfast with Jack.  Wednesday night ends with "don't forget - I don't want you to wake me up until after 7!"  (eye roll)  I can't tell you how many times I've asked them to set their alarms.  Ugh!  We've fallen into some bad habits!  I am open to any suggestions, if anyone has some advice they want to share!

Jack played his first round of golf of the season.  Unfortunately, it didn't pan out like he'd hoped.  He had some great drives but had a tough time with his short game.  :-(  Bummer.  I'm certain it will come around.  It just takes time.

I got an email from the band director about a band leadership meeting.  They are asking everyone to attend, then anyone interested writes an essay and try outs will be a few days later.  I was surprised and excited to hear that Jake wants to try out.  Leadership is made up of one person from each section to act as team leader during marching band.  Jake has said he wanted to be on the leadership team but I didn't expect him to want to do it until his Junior year.  No matter what, I think it will be a great learning experience.

Annie is participating in a program called Girls on Track.  It's a school sponsored group that talks about health and wellness and they run for fun.  They meet twice a week.  Today, Annie ran a mile.  She and her friend, Arden, are the only 8th grade girls.  They joined at the request of the librarian, who one of the coaches and they both love dearly.  At the end of their session they will run a 5k.  I hope I can keep up with her at the Color Run in June.  :-)

In full disclosure - I am on the verge of an anxiety attack.  I am hosting Bunko tomorrow night.  And instead of cleaning or tidying or cooking, I am procrastinating by reading blogs and writing this...

Deep sigh!

Ok, enough said.  Sleep tight!

xo

Sleep

I went to the kitchen sink to wash my hands and found myself hesitant to turn on the water until I knew it was safe.  I couldn't remember it long enough to check yesterday and kept shooting myself with the booby trapped sprayer but I remember today when I'm in a rush?  How sad is that?  I sent a text message to Jack and Jake and I'm pretty sure they both laughed out loud.

I have a couple friends that are battling with fears and worry.  Their imagination gets the best of them and it can be hard to shake it.  Today, while listening to KLOVE I heard a great acronym for fear - False Evidence Appearing Real.  I'm going to share it with both.  Now if I could just find one for worry.

I'm trying out a new sleep schedule.  I'll give you the low down on it tomorrow.   I only have 17 minutes to get ready for bed and fall asleep, so I have to close.

xo

Not a typical Monday

My family LOVES chocolate covered strawberries!  

While doing a bit of shopping at Sam's Club on Saturday I saw them unloading a pallet of fresh strawberries and decided I must get some.  Not far down the aisle I found a sample station with strawberries and this product.     

Ok, I'm sold.  I'll try it.  

We made some yesterday.  And again tonight.  YUM!  Jack's comment was "BEST we've ever had!"  Seriously!  Super easy to make and SO good!

We all had a MUCH better Monday.  My class had a near perfect morning.  (Thank you, God!)  Jack had a good Monday, not great but good.  Jake had a test in Geometry and said it went really well and some the questions were the same as on the practice test.  Annie had a good day at school.  If you aren't aware, Annie hates April Fool's Day... hates it with a burning passion.  One of her friends pranked some boys with toothpaste filled oreos.  (They didn't even know and said they tasted like regular Oreos.)  She did get pranked after school by Jake - with my help.  He had put a rubber band around the kitchen sink sprayer and I asked her to get me a cup of water so I could take something for a headache.  She got soaked and was fuming mad.  FUMING!    

Jake wasn't done with his pranks.  He put tape across a couple doorways.   I told Annie if he got me on something I was going to scream in terror to try to scare him.  We left the sprayer set up - in an attempt to get Jack.  Unfortunately, the only person that got wet was me, TWICE!  Lol!  And yes, I screamed both times because I had forgotten.  Ugh!  (Annie told me I was not allowed to complain.)

My friend, Katie, loves April Fool's day!  She got pranked last year by a girl that set her up to receive fun facts for cat loves via text messages.  She decided to get her back this year and put up Free puppy signs with this girls telephone number.  I told her I'd make a call for her, so we did it as soon as the students left this morning.  I called the number and proceeded to talk as fast as I could about how I really needed a puppy as soon as possible, I would drive to where ever she was and rambled on and on with rapid fire questions - what color is it?  Black, white, brown?  Oh, I hope it's black, but it doesn't really matter, I just really need a puppy and I need to pick it up before my kids get home from school... it was hilarious!  I am a great accomplice. 

I don't usually get into the festivities of April Fool's.  Usually I'm the fool, not the prankster but I did get into it this year.  I sent this picture to Jack... 

My text said; 'UGH!  Not again!'

I don't want to jinx myself, but several months ago I had two lights lit on the dash.  I told Jack, if three warning lights are on I want a new car.  After I sent the text/picture I didn't hear from Jack for 40 minutes, so I sent another text - 'You didn't call, so we're walking home.'  He called 10 minutes later.  I was at Wal-Mart checking out so I had to call him back.  (Which threw a wrench in my plan.)  When I called him back he was mad and confused and full of questions.  I did my best to cover but when I heard the distress in his voice I couldn't continue the joke.  It was too close to reality.  And my laughter got the best of me.

I'm a little nervous about going upstairs to bed.  I won't be surprised if Jake set up another booby trap. I guess I'll just scream and wake everyone up if he did.  Ha.  On second thought, that would put Annie in a foul mood and Jake would probably sleep through it.  

I hope your Monday gave you at least on giggle.

xo

Christ the Lord has risen today!

Christ is risen!                  He has risen, indeed!                     Hallelujah!   

HAPPY EASTER!

I haven't been to an Easter sunrise service since I lived in Topeka.  Sarah and her family have a tradition of going to Red Rocks Amphitheatre.  She describes it as magical.  They arrive in the dark and take the journey from the parking lot to the theater in near silence.  (If you've ever been there, the walk is truly a journey with steep hills.)  I can't imagine watching the sunrise with around 10,000 others and seeing doves released.  It does sound magical... and beautiful.  Some day I will join her.  Someday!

This morning was quiet.  Yesterday, we decided we would go to COR at 5:00 p.m this evening.  I got up early and put together goodies for the kids.  I didn't hide eggs.  I didn't even get their baskets out of the attic this year.  I won't make that mistake again.  They didn't say anything -  no complaints or comments at all, bless their hearts.  Fear not kids, I won't do that again! 

The middle of the day was weird.  I was feeling a bit foggy.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it was because I was missing my parents.  I think today was the first time we didn't share Easter dinner together.  I had thought about going over, but I was there on Monday and they came over here on Wednesday, so I didn't think it would be a big deal.  Maybe my feelings were compounded by the fact that we are in church limbo and we didn't go to morning service.  I don't know.   

I'm sad to admit that I wasn't feeling particularly excited about going to church.  BUT I put on a dress and took a picture of the kids...  

they're growing up TOO FAST!

(Jake loves those green shorts!)

This could be a first, Annie and I both wearing floral dresses.

The service was perfect and overflowing with courage, joy, hope and peace.  It started with a 3 minute video of the Crucifixion and darkness and lead into light and beautiful music.  Pastor Adam spoke of what heaven might look like - a huge celebration with music and food, friends and family, dancing and laughter!  He likened it to a wedding celebration that lasts for a week.  Then he said something I had never heard before... when Jesus died for us, He reversed the curse put upon us in the Garden of Eden.  In the Garden of Eden, God was dressed like a gardener, giving instructions which Adam and Eve broke.  When Jesus came to Mary after His resurrection, she mistook him for a gardener.  Full circle, if you will.

He spoke of our fascination with near death stories - Heaven is for Real and Proof of Heaven being two.  He was going to take some excerpts but shared some stories that church members have shared over his 25 years as a pastor.  It was powerful stuff!  But he also added he doesn't want us to live like one older parishioner who told him, "I no longer buys green bananas."   Pastor Adam's response?  "God isn't done with you, yet!"  

The second part of the sermon was full of challenge to keep the spirit of Easter alive all year long.  What if the 10,000+ people that listened to this sermon this weekend woke up everyone morning and recognized that you have an opportunity?  An opportunity to be a blessing or a curse.  How could we change the world if we all made the choice daily to be a blessing?  Let's restore the garden together!  

Here I am Lord!                                 Send me!                                    Use me!                    

My spirit is filled.   

As we were walking to the car after church there was a family behind us talking to their little boy about the celebration Pastor Adam had spoken.  I never saw the little boy, I only heard his little voice.  Here's a snippet of their conversation:

Little Boy: "Do you think there will be cake?"  

Mom: "Oh, I think there will!"  

Little boy: "no, I don't think there'll be cake."  

Dad: "I'm sure there'll be cake!"  

Little boy: "well then, what about presents?"

Parents: "yes, cake AND presents, too."

:-)

I didn't get to call my folks until after church - around 6:30 p.m.  The phone rang and my Mom's groggy voice answered.  I said, "Christ has risen!"  And she replied, "WHAT!?"  That was not the response I expected but I had woken her up.  She had spent part of the afternoon pulling weeds.  She couldn't tell me the last time that had been done.  I've been thinking about doing some gardening, too, even before tonight's service.  I have LOTS of weeds to pull (figuratively and metaphorically speaking.   

Jack and I are finishing the day watching the third episode of The Bible.  Wow!  Talk about powerful.  It's a bit graphic for me but very well done.  We just finished the Philip Yancey book, The Jesus I Never Knew, in Sunday School and it has been interesting to see how Jesus was portrayed in film over the years.  

I have again been heavy on my rambling.  Please, forgive me.  As I told Annie's friend, Grace, yesterday at the mall after I embarrassed Annie.  "I'm just trying to make a memory."  

xo

On the road again... homeward bound

It was an early morning and a LOONNGG day!

We set the alarm for 5:45 a.m. and were in the Windjammer when it opened at 6:30 for breakfast.  For the first time all week none of us had much of an appetite.  ;-)   We went back to the room to get our bags.  At one point the ship pitched sharply to the starboard side.  Jack was convinced we'd been pushed by a tug boat.  Brian and Lisa had been walking down the Promenade and a cart full of donuts had gotten away from it's pusher.  The thought of a run away cart gave me the giggles.  We never did hear what had happened but all was well.

We made our way down the hall with all our bags and were lucky to find an empty elevator.  Down to the 4th floor we snaked around and into the casino where a line had already formed.  There was a delay due to fog and strong winds.  We had hoped to be off the ship and on the road by 7:30... that wasn't going to happen.  There were only about 100 people in front of us.

I was thankful to find somewhere to sit.

A tired girl...

and a tired boy

rested their heads on a poker table.

After about 45 minutes the line started to move.  Ever so slowly we meandered through a mass of people waiting in gridlock.  It was a bit claustrophobic.  Now there were hundreds of people behind us.   We could all breath easier when we got into the dining room.  We went into the back area and...

Jake had to lay down.

The sign above says DIRTY NAPKINS.

Eww!

Then outside we went for the final - d'oink of our SeaPass card.  It was over... except for customs. 

It's hard to see but there is a long line of people under the lifeboats and off to the right.

We had never self tendered before.  We are usually relaxing and waiting until the last possible minute to get off the ship.  So, I don't know if this is usual or not but it seemed like there were hundreds of people anxious to get off the ship.

And the post cruise sadness set in.

We were on the road by 8:45 a.m.  The temperature was 59 degrees.  We got through Houston in no time - less than 40 minutes to our turn off!  We made good time.  It was amazing how much the Texas landscape had changed in a week.  So many beautiful blooms - trees and flowers - including lilac, lily and iris.  At one point the median was covered in yellow, orange and purple flowers. 

I don't care if they're weeds -

it was gorgeous!

As we headed North the temperature started to fall.  We knew it had snowed at home... 6-8 inches.  Where exactly we'd run into it, we weren't sure.  We did not stop for seconds at what Annie appropriately nicknamed Beetlejuice BBQ. 

We played a game of chicken with the gas tank.

In the middle it didn't give us miles to empty - it only said LOW.

And the needle on the right was below E.

We saw the first bits of snow near Miami, Oklahoma and it was 20 degrees colder outside.

Called ahead and made a quick stop at Chicken Annie's in Pittsburg.  Two orders to go, please - one meal for my folks and one for us.  We didn't have time to stop and eat and eating in car wasn't a possibility, so we got food for Monday night.  We grabbed burgers and ate on the road.

It didn't get slick until Louisburg, Kansas, but slow and steady got us home safely.  Jack and Jake made quick work of shoveling the driveway while I went and got Suzy from my dear friend, Mary.  

After cleaning out the rental car in 25 degree weather, Jack and I headed to Sprint to get his truck and on to return the car.   I was so glad we decided to return it that evening, rather than fight the traffic in the morning!  It made for a late night but all was well!

What a fun trip!

xo