Silly game

My kids wanted to play "the chocolate chip game" last night so I relented. Tom doesn't like them to have chocolate after 6 p.m. but it's really just a few chocolate chips. . . .and I'm tellin' ya, it's the silliest game ever but I love that they still "get into it" even though they are 11, 9, 8, and 6. I think I made it up when Thomas was 4 or 5. . .I don't even really remember. . .it's just one of those traditions that I don't want to forget and play with grandchildren someday!!!

Be prepared. . .it's a silly, silly game but if you have young ones, they will LOVE it. Also note, we have lots of rules because that is how my kids function. Most "normal" families don't have to have so many stipulations but it appears that I'm raising a passel of lawyers around here. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. . .

Supplies: 1 die, 6 post-it notes, chocolate chips
Write one of each of the six numbers on a post-it note than each child chooses a number and sticks it on their shirt. And yes, we have an "order" in which they can pick -- no detail goes undetected.

Then, basically, you roll the die. If it lands on "2" whoever has the two picks up the die and returns it in exchange for a chocolate chip. If I have the 2, than whomever "wins" the next round gets double. With four kids, I always have two numbers so chances of rolling my numbers are greater but they like that because then they get double on the next roll (if their number is rolled).

O.K., here are the "extra" rules we have to have, well, because, my kids are Bells. 1) If the die touches any part of your body while it is bouncing around on the floor than you give up your number until the next person wins. (This alleviates anyone saying "she touched it" and so on.) 2) You can only trade numbers after someone wins -- my numbers are always up to be traded but if you want another person's number they have to be willing to trade or have lost their number b/c they touched the die. 3) I put a handful of chocolate chips in a bowl and when they are gone, the game is over. No "one more please" or anything like that. We'd go on ALL NIGHT LONG if I was just picking out of the bag. M&Ms work well too.

That's it! Have fun with it. . .you can't imagine how much time kids will spend playing for a few chocolate chips :) Some of the my kids like to get out little cups to collect their chips in and eat them all at the end. . .last night Margaret ended up with 18 chips (she won a lot on doubles) and Thomas only had 6. It's the way it works. . .a good early lesson in probability!I am linking to WFMW over at We are THAT family. Click over there to find some more ideas for your Easter weekend!

What we are up to right now. . .

Sunday night, March 21st.

Tom is playing Thomas's DS (because he's already in bed!)
Amanda is playing Frederick's Gameboy (because he's already in bed)
I am browsing blogs, amazed at some things that I'm seeing. . .and just really impressed with others!

Here are some examples:

Some of the bloggers that I regularly follow just returned from a Compassion International Trip. 822 children were sponsored because of this blogger trip. INCREDIBLE! Check out Ryan's post.
And Kristen has such a way with words. . .
These egg wreaths are awesome. . .but don't know that I have the time for something this fun?!?
Doesn't this CPK's BBQ chicken pizza look divine???
And back to mission trips (I told my husband I am amazed how drawn I've become to the idea of participating on something like this with our family. . .). I LOVE Vicki's "scrambled thoughts" at the end of this post.

Last night was Grandpa Foster's birthday. He came down for a weekend visit. . .and brought a family friend with him, Amanda. She's on spring break this week and decided (crazy girl) to spend it with us!!! Yea! Anyway, the kids HAD to get him some Under Armour -- he doesn't have any and this is a crime according to our children. Believe me, it's not like Blind Side around here where it's all we have (it's great stuff but way too expensive to have more than a few pieces) but it was a birthday gift and we try to give the kids free reign to buy what they really want for gifts. So. . .doesn't he look good? Is it the shirt or the grandkids that bring out that smile?
His birthday dinner was great and Amanda and the kids made him Easy Cappuccino Cake. Our photographer (Amanda) did a great job snapping this picture!
Anyway, did you notice anything in a couple of the above pictures?

THE LIVING ROOM IS PAINTED!!!Yea!!!

The color is darker than we expected (and doesn't have as much of an olive tone that we wanted) but we like it. Not everything is placed back on the walls yet (those are piles of framed pictures and my crosses in the basket next to the buffet) but furniture is back in place and I am ready for a new project! I'm noticing that it's time for spring. . .I think I'm going to do different (lighter) window coverings. . .
And we lost an outlet cover between last Sunday when we took them all off and placed them in a gallon zip-lock bag and yesterday when we put them all back on. . .????

A Day in the Life

ETA: OH! I forgot that today is Company Girl Coffee at Home Sanctuary. It's been a couple weeks since I've last participated due to my schedule so I'm happy to be able to join in this week! I can't wait to find something to do for someone today -- the Small Thing Rachel Anne has posted for this day. Head on over to visit with other Company Girls and comment (you don't have to be a blogger to participate) or add a link to your page so we can visit you too!
Look at what these ladies did yesterday. . .35 kids, 4 moms. . .a live blogging adventure. I was tired after reading about their days!!!! I'm going to re-construct yesterday the best I can. . .it's fun to go back and see what "life" was like. . .you forget the "little" things that make your life at certain points. . .for instance, all the kids are in my room right now (7:39 a.m.) -- three are on the floor, fully dressed in new clothes we bought yesterday, playing spoons and Margaret is in bed with me, reading over my shoulder. I've had to referee the game twice now. . .and I've already had two text messages too :) O.K., on to yesterday:

5:30 a.m. - Tom's alarm (the radio) goes off. He has Men's Bible Study on Thursday mornings. The station is doing a 2-day St. Jude's radiothon fundraiser so the lead disc jockey, at 6 a.m., said a prayer rather than the usual moment of silence "to thank the Good Lord for another day". It made me realize, again, how blessed I am to live here -- that a local, secular radio station prays out loud over the airwaves for the Lord's blessing on this fundraising effort. I eventually fall back asleep (very unusual for me but it was spring break and we had no where to go!) and Marie climbs into bed with me sometime after 7. Margaret heads downstairs too and I snap a picture with my phone of them cuddling together in our bed. Once Frederick shows up, about 7:38, I allow them to turn on the television even though it's not 8 a.m. (no t.v. before 8 on no school days). As soon as Thomas is up and the 7:30 PBS show is over, they run upstairs to finish the movie they started the night before -- The Fox and the Hound. It doesn't take much to please them around here :)

8 a.m. I get out of bed, wash and brush up, make some hot chocolate and toast for myself, and spend an hour or so blogging and checking e-mail and facebook. I was texting Amanda during that time too. . .it was her last day of exams. . .yea!

9:15 a.m. I text our sports coordinator at the Y to see if he's in so we can do some final touches on the spring soccer season. . .he is there so I get the kids moving. . .brush, wash up, dressed. We were out the door by 9:40. . .not bad.

10 a.m. Put the kids in YPlay -- they discover they are the only ones in the 6+ group because the county the Y is in is not on Spring Break this week. I promise not to leave them for too long.

11:15 a.m. Pick the kids up and meet Tom for lunch at Chick-fil-A. Definitely a treat -- we haven't been there in FOREVER. The kids sit at one table and Tom & I have our own table. . .it's a mini-date!! They even go out to the van and get a deck of cards and play at their table together when they are done eating to give us a little more conversation time -- yea! Afterward we head to Old Navy to do some spring/summer shopping. The boys went off to find a few outfits while I shopped with the girls. Marie needs several things but Margaret has a lot of things from Marie last year. They both get Easter dresses with matching sweaters, an outfit each, and a few extras for Marie. The boys did well choosing some shorts outfits -- one of which they can wear for Easter -- and then Thomas also got a new swimsuit and rashguard shirt for the upcoming summer. I had a 30% off friends and family coupon and saved a great deal! I love/hate shopping. . .I love getting the kids new things (that's so much fun!) but it is EXPENSIVE too. They really appreciate their new clothes and that makes it even more fun. It is *impossible* to bargain hunt with 4 in tow so I generally just give them guidelines like "two nice shorts, at least one church shirt", etc. Sometimes they'll come to me with something additional and are very price-conscious and tell me how much it is and we discuss if it's a good buy (something they will wear a lot and well-made) or not. I like that they are older and can have these kinds of debates/discussions with me.

1:15 p.m. Leave Old Navy and head to Food Lion to pick something up for Tom to grill for dinner. . .I have school. Also, although I get a phone call to play tennis I decline because I have a lot of school work that is not yet completed and not only do I have a class tonight, I have a paper due Friday and a discussion due Sunday. It was a BEAUTIFUL day (65 degrees?) so extremely hard to turn down that invitation.

1:45 p.m. Arrive home and bring purchases in. Make the kids ice cream cones then send them outside for one hour. I told them I need to get school work done. . .I check e-mail and reply to my MIL. . .by 2:26 (yes, I remember this!) I had been interrupted 7 times. Ugh!!!! I set the timer to go off at 3 so I remember to stop and start getting ready for swim team practice at 4.

2:55 p.m. Frederick comes inside complaining about something. . .I ask where Thomas is. Turns out he sneaked inside to turn on the television. . .so. . .text Tom to make sure he knows that Thomas has NO MORE television privileges today. UGH.

3:30 p.m. Remember that I forgot to drop off a folder this morning at a neighbor's house so on our way out the door I grab it to drop off on the way to the Y. Luckily the neighbors are outside playing so I don't have to send someone to the door but we start chatting. . .you know how that it. Finally pull away.

3:56 p.m. I'm in the YMCA parking lot. . .Margaret, Thomas, and Frederick have 4 minutes before needing to be ready and on the pool deck.

4:00 p.m. Marie brought a DVD player with her so she plugs into that while I get out my school books again and attempt to catch up for class that starts in 2 hours.

5:25 p.m. Text Tom. . .where are you? Did you remember I have class tonight??? He walks in the door 10 minutes later, just as I called him to ask if I should take the kids to campus and meet him there. We trade vehicles and I leave while he goes to get Thomas out of the shower (always a challenge at the Y after swimming).

5:55 p.m. Meet a classmate while walking to class. We both note that we are generally not this late. I also notice how different the campus looks in the daylight -- until now it had always been dusk or darker when I've arrived for my 6 p.m. Thursday night class. Yea to Daylight Saving's Time (but boo to how tired the kids were at school last Monday)!

8:58 p.m. Class runs over 8 minutes tonight. It's statistics. Yuck. But I really like our teacher. He tries hard to give us education graduates reasons for needing to know this stuff.

9:00 p.m. I call Tom to let him know class let out late (as the bell chimes in the background) and I'll be home soon. I wanted to know how the kids were. . .he said fine. . .all in bed now. How was dinner? He had to nuke the burgers again after taking them off the grill. . .he has a new burner, just needs some good weather so he can install it. Will you be able to do it for Saturday? I really want to make BBQ Pork Tenderloin. . .yes, he thinks so. I then call my mom for our weekly chat -- many times the only time each week I'm alone in the car :) She's doing well and going to send John's painting light down with my dad this weekend as I mentioned that I'd like to do some more painting around here and John (my stepfather) had an awesome light. My brother had already made arrangements with him so he could get it for me. . .I hadn't been able to get hold of my father earlier in the day. My brother is currently living with my mother as he and his wife sold their house and would like to eventually move to FL but Mom was widowed almost two years ago and really needs to get her house is order to sell so they are there to help move this process along. . .

9:20 p.m. Arrive home to a quiet house. . .everyone, even Tom is in bed. Tom "lets" me talk to him for awhile (at him?) and when it's decided that he's too tired to watch a video, I wash up, change, and get my laptop and school books out and work on homework until midnight. I close everything down and turn out the light. It's 12:03 a.m. I feel good though. . .I have accomplished quite a bit in these two hours!!!

March 19th, 5:50 a.m. The radio turns on to signal the start to another day :)

Spring Break!!!

Well, after giving up the first three days of Spring Break due to Snow Days, we finally began Spring Break at 3 p.m. yesterday!!! We missed our trip to see the family because I have school on Thursday nights so needed to go at the beginning of the week. . .so. . .I think we're just going to hang out. That is such an unusual thing for us!!! No one this morning got up before 7:30 (except Tom to go to Bible Study and work). . .that was wonderful!!! Then I allowed the kids to get some movies at the library on Monday so they have a stack of those to watch this morning. This is what is on my "list":

* School work for me -- have class tonight, a paper due tomorrow, and something for adolescent psychology due Sunday.
* I have a little work at the Y to do. . .will take the kids for two hours so they can hang out in YPlay and I can do what I love. . .plan a couple soccer events for this season!
* Finish painting the livingroom.
* Easter clothes shopping.
* Frederick (1st grade) has a science project to work on.
* Clean the house for guests coming Saturday -- yea!
* Make a spring wreath for our front door.

Looks like the temps might cooperate for our little vacation from school. . .would love to get a little hint of spring in the air. . .:)

Can't post without a picture. . .
Looks like I have some yardwork to add to my list. . .the tulips are our promise of spring, eh?
Dad, if you're reading this I'll wait for you!!!!

Got Green?

This is what I've got to show you in honor of St. Patrick's Day. . .
I got up early to make a treat for the class I'm subbing for today.
4th grade.

I found the idea for the green from Bakerella but didn't use her recipe (just a white mix and 1/2 bottle of food coloring -- I added that to my measuring cup before the water so I didn't have too much liquid).

The ice cream cone idea came from I-don't-know-where. . .sometimes I just start clicking links on blogs. . .it stuck in my head b/c I hadn't done it in awhile.
They looked better than they tasted, I fear. I couldn't get them done!!! I baked them for the usual "cupcake" time (20 minutes) and then an additional 5 and then I think 5 more. . .until the the cake tester came out clean. Anyhow, I do think they looked really neat and the kids didn't complain at all!!!

And. . .I got the first coat of paint on the walls!!!! Here is the cross wall. . .And this is 24 hours after my shot yesterday. . .The room needs a second coat. . .and the color dries much darker than I thought but it will work. Tom and I think it works nicely with the white woodwork.

Thursday and Friday is Spring Break -- yea! Not a plan at all on the books. . .:)

Painting. . .

I took a picture of this wall Sunday afternoon. . .
Because now it looks like this:And hopefully by the end of the week I'll have to know how to arrange my crosses back on the wall.

That's right, I'm PAINTING :)I spent all Sunday afternoon taping. . .this room took up an ENTIRE roll of painter's tape. Yes, I have to use tape. . .I am *terrible* at cutting in. Sigh.

I was supposed to start yesterday but then someone called to sub. . .and it was 5th grade (my favorite). . .at my kid's school. . .so the job went on hold.

I got up at 5:30 this morning and got to work!
Days like today I really miss my kids' Papa John. He was my stepfather, the closest person I have ever met who embodies Christ's servant spirit.
His ministry was painting. You couldn't even mention painting without him showing up the next day in his paintclothes, with all of his gear, ready to work. One time he painted a bedroom for a friend's wife who was dying. I think she maybe had three weeks left to live. He spent two days doing it and then his friend came to him and John asked if his wife liked her room. The friend thanked him profusely for doing it but, alas, she didn't like the color. THE NEXT DAY John was over, pouring over other choices with the woman, to find something she would like. And yes, it was done by the end of the week. That is just who he was. . .always pleasing, always serving. He helped me paint several times. . .sometimes he'd come over and get started on his own, sometimes we'd do it together -- those were just special, special times. We'd talk and just spend the time together. He never stopped until the job was done, and done to his satisfaction. "Don't work yourself to death" we'd say. . ."take a break, take a day off" and his reply always was. . ."not until the job is done." So. . .it's not fair to say that I don't miss the help (who wouldn't?) but I miss the companionship, the talking, the wisdom he would utter. And yes, then everytime you'd walk into the room, you'd see a "John job" and think of him. Of his servant's heart. Of his work ethic. Of his love.

So. . .with that eulogy, (and an 8 a.m. meeting at school finished) my break is over -- back to trimming!!!

Glimpses of Home

I was blog-hopping tonight and found this blog. People are supposed to post a picture of something that says home to them. Funny enough, this is a picture I took to include in my post earlier this week but I never added it. I love this chair. It was the first piece of furniture I ever bought where I did not get anyone's input. I am so insecure about decorating (and sometimes spending money) that I have to get 10 opinions before I make a move. One day about a year ago I was at Sam's Club to pick something up -- a quick-in-quick-out trip -- and this chair had just been returned and was sitting in the scratch-and-dent area of the store. I saw the imperfection but it didn't seem too bad to me. The discount was 15% or something. . .not significant. . .but there was *something* about the chair. A store attendant said to me "you know, it reclines too". . .no, I didn't know that!!!! I hemmed. . .hawed. . .called my husband. . .and just gave into the pressure when the salesperson said "someone will buy this soon". . .and I bought it. "No returns" the cashier said. That is how confident I was about the chair. I kinda-sorta had the money. . .and you know what?!? EVERYONE loves this chair. If there is someone in the livingroom, this is the first-choice seating. And it fits. It is comfortable. So this is something that says "home" to me. . .something I decided on and bought all on my own. Something I love. Something that says "me".

Randomness

I have lots to say (don't I always) but none of my thoughts are organized. My husband said "what are you going to do today?" and I didn't have an answer. I don't like aimless days like these. Someone called me to sub today but I had a 8:20 IEP meeting for Frederick so couldn't do it. The principals at my kids' school suggested that I go up to the central office and meet our director of schools so he knows who I am (I would like to have a job someday. . .) but I've called twice today and he is out. I was supposed to meet a good friend for lunch but the battery on her phone died so we couldn't communicate about a meeting place. Sigh. I have two hours left before I have to pick up the kids and I am working at the Y tonight so I have that to look forward to. . .and I am subbing tomorrow and Friday so I might not have any time after these two hours! Feast or famine. . .

Here are some random pictures:Ugh. This is my kitchen counter. I HATE it. I know everything that is there and no, I haven't found a better place for it. . .yet.
Here is my other counter though, and it makes me happy :)
And this is a table. . .we call it a coffee table. . .and it ALWAYS looks like this. I need some storage!!! Yes, we are a reading family and most of this is picked up at some point during the week. . .

Oh, we have bookshelves. . .and then we stack "extras" next to them. . .

(this was a recently purged bookcase. . .)
And this piece of furniture (my favorite in the house) is stuffed full of not beautiful antique dishes and linens. . .but more games!
And then there is this question. . .why?!? Are the Bells the only kids who can't hang up a towel???Or put away a videos and games???

Look what Tom put on our mirror that I noticed last night -- I kinda feel like a teenager with a picture of my boyfriend stuck in the mirror :)
I like that he thought to do that instead of hiding it in a drawer. . .the picture was taken at a Valentine's dinner that our church had a couple weeks ago.

Random thoughts too. . .

"One lick from the lollipop of mediocrity and you'll suck forever" -- LOVE it -- it was a FB friend's posting a week or so ago and I can't let it go. . .just so true.

"The method is wrong, the message is right" -- while the Lord was working on me yesterday (think wide-open, letting me "have it", no holds' barred), someone said this to me. I fall into this category. . .the truth is soooooooo powerful and I'm thankful to know it.

"My motivations have changed and I need to re-adjust them" -- this is me, talking to myself, after a day of reflection. Somehow, I have changed my motivation style and am thinking more inwardly instead of outwardly. It's been a slow change that I haven't seen happening but again, yesterday, the Lord pointed this out to me. Today I am a new person. . .I'm back on track (I hope!!!)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16 Yea!

A Weekend in Review

I have homework due in three hours so naturally I'm procrastinating by typing a blog post. Mainly because I have really missed blogging these past couple CRAZY weeks. And also because I really don't want to think about homework tonight. So. . .the deal with myself is I'm going to warm up with my cup of hot cocoa and write a random post, then I'm going to go and do my homework before I log on to Facebook or anything else that I might find to do on the computer that is unproductive.

My friend Jill sent me a blog that she follows. . .I LOVE it!!! I have spent the better part of the last two hours browsing. . .my IRL friends always thinks I'm "weird" when I say I feel like I know these ladies that I follow. . .but I really DO feel like I know them!!! At least enough to look to them for advice, or relate a story they tell, or whatever. Is that weird? Since you're reading my blog you must have some opinion. . .at least you understand blogging (maybe?). So, I encourage you to check out this blog titled Whatever. . .I love, love, love the verse she's attached to it. (Phil. 4:8 if you're wondering and don't want to click over. . .)
Guess I'm going backwards with my weekend with this post. . .oh well.
For dinner tonight we tried something new. . .The kids weren't wild about them. I couldn't let them know I felt the same way so I said "wow, these are flavorful". I wasn't lying. I'm a plain ol' Hillshire Farm girl if we are going to do smoked sausage. . .but it's always worth it to try something new.

I made some potatoes to go with it. . .I drizzled EVOO (extra virgin olive oil for you non-Rachel Ray people) on the baking sheet, cut up some cleaned red potatoes, then sprinkled with this Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt. I baked them on the top rack of a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes or so. They were delish!
These two things along with some buttered green beans. . .an easy Sunday night meal. And it's great to have the weather in which to comfortably grill again :)

We played tennis with our good friends this afternoon. My husband and I were CREAMED. . .then when it was girls against boys we were down 5-6 when one of the 8 children we responsible for banged his head and was done for the day. Considering he's only 18 months, he was doing well to let us play that long!!

My family ran errands with me today after church -- I love it when they help me out like that! We hit Sam's Club first and dropped our weekly $111 there. . .whew! Since it was right after church, we also ordered a pizza and a couple of pretzels in the deli and ate that to keep everyone happy. "Lunch" for 6 for less than $14 -- can't beat that! I had a Wal-Mart list to tackle too so that was our next stop. . .and another $106. Ugh! And neither of those totals included any meat for the week. . .so I'll be out again once I plan some meals. . .but the W-M total did include a gift for a birthday party Thomas is attending on Friday -- so I'm ahead of the game there!

Last night Thomas and I were privileged to serve at an event called The Hero's Ball (I hope to get some pics and post about that later this week) with Rising Above Ministries. It is an annual event to honor those in our city's special needs' community and their families. What a blessing it was to be part of this 4th annual event! I believe they were expecting more than 300 guests. . .they had the "red carpet" treatment, a delicious meal, and plenty of dancing too.

Yesterday morning/afternoon I also got some tennis in with a good tennis buddy. It was a bit chilly but after all these freezing temperatures and unexpected snow of the season, the sunshine and clear courts were WELCOME. I didn't have a lot of energy the first set and almost quit after that but the sun started to shine and feel warm and gave me a much-needed boost the second set and I was so glad I had stuck it out. The rest of my family met me after my game and we all went to IHOP -- that is a real treat!! They all ordered breakfast but it was after 11 by that time so I had a burger. . .hey, it was a meal I didn't have to plan, cook, or clean up after. The $50+ is hard to take but we don't do it often. . .

Friday night Tom and I watched 17 Again. It was a surprisingly good movie! We are thinking about letting the kids watch it. . .it is PG-13 (understandably) but since they didn't mire it up with tons of foul language I think I can take it. The sexual message, although not pure, was still better than most movies and they have to be exposed sometime. . .right? Might as well be home with us where we can discuss it if they have questions. And like I told Tom, it could all go over their heads too. . .sometimes I think we're more sensitive to it than the kids are. . .generally my kids pick out the strangest things to focus on anyway. And Ned was a great character!

Friday afternoon I subbed in my kids school (love doing that!) but before I went in I had to go talk to Margaret's teacher about some of the missing work that was on her report card. Margaret insisted that she couldn't find it anywhere. When I actually went into her classroom to "help" her look for it she started crying real tears when I asked to look in her desk. Tears I tell ya! (She's in 2nd grade.) Anyway, she eventually moved away from her desk and it took me at least 15 minutes to clean it out. . .this is what I found:You want to know how big that pile is? Here is a side view:
I found all this plus two folders. . .and her teacher walked by and had NO IDEA she had this much *c#@p* in there. I believe it. You should see her room (actually I tried to find a picture but am not coming across it right now. . .I used it in their ABC album this year for "M - messy"). She has such a hard time keeping everything together and put away. I really believe she has severe ADD and organization is just painful to her. I try to be patient. . .but. . .c'mon. . .there were things in there from December. Oh well. . .something to work on. . .

Anyway, we did find all but one of the papers that was "missing" (and only one was completely done) so as far as she was able to tell me she completed what I left for her at school and turned it in. Believe it or not, her grades are fine. . .she catches on pretty quickly. . .when she's paying attention. . .

Well, time to tackle that discussion group question for my online psychology class that is due in 2 hours now. . .and the question is killing me: explain why punishment doesn't work. UGH! Are you KIDDING me?!? I think I found some good wording in my textbook though, to get around this. And I'll see what the others are saying too. . .:)

Posts like this are for ME. . .I hope to come back in a year. . .five years. . .and see this little slice of my life. And what was important and laugh. . .really, my biggest problems were the 50+ papers that were shoved in a 2nd grader's desk?!? And I don't know how to spin a discussion question in my online class? Yep, I am blessed beyond measure.

ETA: My uncle sent some more pics from our FL trip. . .thought I'd share a couple more. . .this time last weekend we were soaking in their hot tub under the Florida nighttime sky :)

Girls Weekend 2010

I wrote this post on the airplane Monday night. . .but am just now getting around to posting it. . .life has been BUSY this week!!! Jill was the only one who brought her camera this year so I have some pictures to post thanks to her. Although we did have sunshine on Sunday we didn't get that captured on film :( Here are a few for the memory bank though.

Me, Missy, Amy
Every year for the past six years a couple of my best girlfriends and I have been guests at my Aunt & Uncle’s beautiful home on Anna Maria Island in Florida. We look forward to this long weekend every year. . .the first year we all flew down together because we all lived in the same city. . .since then we have flown or driven in from different states. . .all to have these precious days together.

This year Amy and Missy came from Ohio, I came from my home in Tennessee, and Jill (Missy’s sister) drove four hours from her home in Florida. (Aren't these two the cutest sisters ever????? Missy is on the left, Jill on the right)

Honestly, we don’t do ANTYHING while we are there except eat really, really well (my aunt is a FABULOUS cook), sleep in, sun, and talk. This is a picture of my gorgeous (on the inside and out) aunt and a not-so-glamorous one of me. . .she was dressed to go out. . .I wasn't :)

My Dayton friends were delayed on Friday due to snow but we all eventually arrived at the airport and got to Anna Maria Island safely about 1:30 a.m. It had been a long day for all of us (we went to our respective airports straight from work) so we slept in on Saturday.

The weather wasn’t the best, (do you see the winter jackets with the Gulf in the background?!?) but the company more than made up for it.

Jill arrived around noon that day and except for a short walk around the neighborhood, we didn’t leave the house until 5:30 that evening. We had a wonderful meal on the island and then saw the movie Valentine’s Day.

Sunday we didn’t leave the house AT ALL. Not once! The sun was out and we sat on the patio all day long soaking in some much-needed vitamin D. Jill had to leave in the early afternoon to get back to her family and that evening my Aunt and Uncle had some friends over that we have now become close to too. After dinner we soaked in the hot tub, then watched a movie and stayed up late into the night talking.

(Yes, Jill was gone with the camera -- I pulled this pic of us from last year -- ha!)

When I spoke to my husband earlier Sunday he asked if I was out of words yet. As if. . .!

Monday dawned bright and sun-shine-y too. We stayed out on the patio (which is right on the canal so the scenery is exceptional) soaking up more sun until it was time to head out and buy a few souvenirs for our kids and husbands. . .we left a total of 11 children and three husbands behind for our weekend away!! My aunt took us to a favorite seafood restaurant for a late lunch

(another picture pulled from last year -- this time me with my uncle) and then it was off to the airport. As she dropped us off we all felt as if we had spent a week. . .we felt so “filled up” and refreshed being together and away from the hustle of our everyday lives.

I am so thankful for this opportunity afforded us each year. Our husbands and extended families are so accommodating to make this happen (remember, we left many children and responsibilities behind). Money and schedules sometimes seem like a hurdle set too high but somehow we always jump it. My aunt and uncle welcome my friends like they are part of our family too. . .they both have an incredible gift of hospitality. This year they left a car at the airport so when we did land we had a vehicle all ready to go. . .no rental lines or cab lines for us, thanks to them! So, for one weekend each year I have a chance to not be Mom, not be a cook, student, laundress, employee, or housekeeper. . .I get to just be “Jenni” and it is refreshing. And as I write these words in the air on the way home, I can’t wait to get back to those roles. . .my life would be empty otherwise.

These memories, these girls, my family, our Lord. . .they all sustain me.