2-28-13

As a Clark-Shaw Ambassador, Taylor is responsible for giving school tours to prospective students.  She had to perform that duty this evening during an Open House.  We went early to pick her up and I pretended to need a tour.  I met a couple of teachers that I had not previously met. All of them that I talked to spoke so highly of my girls.  They complimented my girls on how kind, hard-working, intelligent, and sweet they are.  I love having them as my daughters.  But it is especially nice to hear teachers say they love having my daughters in their classes.   

 

As part of my personalized "tour" Payton showed me all of her classes and her locker.

 

2-27-13

We had a Zumba night with the Young Women, Relief Society, and Activiy Day girls.  Therse people are serious about thier Zumba.  The girls thought it was very fun and after an hour were still wanting to do more. 

 

2-26-13

{Evening Shenanigans}

 

They are playing a game we made up.  "If you think 'heavy' then you are harder to pick up." 

Doesn't it sound like a fun?  These silly games are how we keep ourselves entertained.

2-25-13

 

After a long day of school and two hours of choir rehearsal, Taylor took time to work on a Language Arts project. 

2-24-13

Sunday evening dinners with Mimi and Opa are the highlight of our week; especially when Mimi makes her famous pizza.

 

 

 

While we were there, we were looking through old pictures and came across these. What a fun thing to find and show the girls. 

2-23-13

Just a random Saturday night dinner at Zaxbys. 

 

I'm not sure how we ended up at Marble Slab, but I'm sure we had a good reason.

2-22-13

 

 Today was the long-awaited NEHS field trip to New Orleans.  Bryan took the day off and went with Hayden.  They visited the aquarium and the insectarium.

 

 

Yes, they did eat some of the insects that were available to sample.  

As usual, Hayden got to go to Walmart the night before and pick out things for her field trip lunch.  Since Bryan was going on the field trip, he took her.  I had no idea what they got.  Fast forward to the evening after the field trip.  Bryan told me Hayden was acting crazy on the bus on the way home.  Then I look at the pictures and realize why.  Do you see it?  Yes, she had gotten a LITER of coke for her drink.  My little girl that rarely has caffeine was on overload.

2-21-13

All the homework was done, dinner was cleaned up, and uniforms and lunches were ready for the next day. So what do we do? Game Night!

2-19-13

This sick baby had to be picked up early from school today.  After some Tylenol and a nap she felt much better.

 

 

This is part of our Tuesday routine.  Hayden has rehearsal for Mobile's Singing Children.  She has been in this choir for 3 years and absolutely loves it.

 

2-18-13

Why yes, that is a PE uniform hanging out the window.  What happens when you don't put your PE uniform in the laundry when you get home from school? You have to wash it and dry it quickly before you leave for school in the morning.  And what happens when it doesn't dry in time?  You hang it out the window on the way to school.  Hopefully, she has learned her lesson!

 

2-17-13

{Impromptu concert from my budding flautist}

2-16-13

Flying kites in the park! 

 The kites were a Valentine's gift from daddy. This was before Bryan had to chase a kite across the street, through an apartment complex, and cut it out of a tree.

 

{Date Night}

2-15-13

Hayden is looking extra cute for school this morning because she got to be out of uniform for donating money to St. Jude's or turning in Box Tops or joining PTA or something.  I don't remember why but she was pretty excited.  She was most excited about finally being able to wear this jacket to school and keep it on when she got in the building.  Its the little things.

Same day --different kind of excitement.  Bryan chaperoned a field trip with Taylor's robotics class to the Technology Student Association competition at Faulkner State.  Her entire class made CO2 racers for the competition but hers was too narrow by a couple of mm so she competed in some kind of engineering challenge instead.

 

Taylor and a partner used the given supplies to construct an arm that could pick up a ping pong ball and put it in a bowl (or something like that.)  I wasn't there so I don't know all of the details.  I do know that using some straws, tape, rubber bands, string, and tubes, she was able to build a pretty complex contraption. 

 

Same day -- even more excitement.  We spent the evening celebrating Mimi and Opa's anniversary at Olive Garden.  The kids loved going out to dinner with the old folks.  This is a pretty rare occurence, so it was pretty exciting.  Even more exciting than that was....

...the candy free-for-all at Fresh Market afterwards.  It is days like today that make me so glad that Mimi and Opa moved back to Mobile.  I love having them so close!

2-14-13

Love Day!  I know some people hate Valentine's Day and think it is just a commercialized holiday.  However, I LOVE Valentine's Day!  It is another day that I can make my family feel super special and let them know how important they are to me.  We had our usual special breakfast of mini-quiche, cream puffs, fruit salad, and OJ. 

Sidenote: I was introduced to an amazing children's author (Nancy Tillman) last year, so I bought her books before Christmas and saved them for Valentine's Day.  I am not a great writer so the words of the books perfectly expressed my love for each of my children. The books are On the Night You Were Born, Wherever You are My Love Will Find You, and The Crown on Your Head.

 

 

We debated about whether or not middle schoolers are too old to bring Valentine treats to their friends.  We obviously decided that Taylor and Payton are not too old to bring treats for their friends.  So we spent the night before packaging up starburst and swedish friends for all of the girls to bring to school.

 



{My Valentine}



2-13-13

We had a short Mardi Gras break this year.  We have had Wednesday off in the past.  But, not this year.  So, back to school means back to homework.  Booooo!!!!

 

Tonight for YW was "Get to Know Payton" night.  That means she sets up a display that describes her, selects her favorite activity to share with the girls, and brings her favorite snack for dessert.  For her activity, she wanted to teach the YW to play chess, since that is one of her current obsessions.   Deciding on a favorite snack was difficult, but she settled on Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

 

2-12-13

 

Another glorious day of No School!

The fun day was made even better by spending it with these two cuties.  They may not be cousins for real but they are definately like family to us.

2-11-13

We are out of school today and tomorrow for Mardi Gras break.  You know it is going to be a good day when it starts with a platter of chicken minis. 

 

Every day off from school is made better by a visit from cousins/friends.

This is not the most delicious meal I have ever made.  But, it represents my effort to have dinner at the table and as a family every night.  It is a challenge when we are going a million different directions and I am tired from work.  No work today meant a little extra time to make garlic cheddar biscuits.  No work today also meant we invited the Andersons over for dinner.  Since I am such a great hostess, we used napkins.  Of course, the only ones we had were from Circle K.  We are fancy like that.

 

2-10-13

 

Best part of the whole week!  Dinner at Mimi and Opa's.  Opa is looking awesome in this picture because I  tried to take a picture about 20 times.  He was over it.  Plus, we were making him play a game with us.  For the record, Opa hates board games unless it can be his turn every time.  So, we compromise.  We let him be on everyone's team so it is technically his turn everytime.  And we bribe him with brownies. 

2-9-13

Big girls date to the Baton Rouge Temple.  Of course there was a pit stop at Cafe Du Monde.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Bryan and Hayden had a failed attempt at a giant pancake,



 

made the obilgatory Circle K run,

and hung out with this cute baby at the daytime Mardi Gras parades.

When we got home, we all headed back downtown for the night parades.  Mostly so these two could bond. :)