Spring Break

This week has been a stay-cation for our family. We have enjoyed a week with nothing scheduled. The kids have hung out with friends. Mike has worked in the yard and on his Bronco. I studied for the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). The time has been nice and relaxing for me.

The MAT was the final step in my application process. I have applied for a spot in UALR's Gradate School of Social Work. This is a two year program that will result in a master's degree. God keeps pointing me in this direction and I am following to see where I end up. My time at ALC has helped to confirm this decision. Several of the teachers and counselors have provided me with references. Now I will wait to hear from UALR.

The MAT was a real challenge. You have 30 seconds per analogy. It tests knowledge in everything from math to music. The test is brilliant and measures analytic ability. I did well. The time limit is the killer part. I know I would have scored higher with extra time. There are 120 analogies to be completed in 60 minutes. I worked at a fast clip and still had to breeze through the last questions to complete the whole test. The test makers intentionally add misleading answers to throw you off. Those are hard to avoid in such a limited time.

The jar of dice belongs to Jamie. This is a random shot just for fun. I took this in his room which is a complete mess 24/7. I love the variety of colors and shapes.

Daffodil Heaven

Once again, my favorite flowers are abloom. Spring is here heralded by the first blossoms. Patches of lovely yellow flowers are everywhere. I took my new camera on a shooting spree. Mike replaced the broken 40D with a Canon 7D. I am completely in love with both of them (husband and camera). The 40D is in the repair shop and will hit e-bay as soon as it comes back. Mom and Dad found me a wonderful tripod to use also. These were shot all around town. Some are at the dentist's office in Bryant. Dr. Oulette has a very old office that is just a beautiful place to shoot. Charlotte's garden is beginning to bloom and smells heavenly. Our piano teacher has a backyard full of them. They are everywhere and very fleeting. What better way to preserve them than photography? Charlotte was more than generous and cut some for me to take home in a vase. She plants a variety of types. They have different colors and centers. Sarah asked me, why don't we have any in our yard? Hmmmmm. Your mom is way to lazy to plant and care for them? Yeah, that's why. It seems like we just had snow on the ground. I'll take a yard full of daffodils any day.

Jazz Scat

I have to post this. Jamie loves being a part of the Jazz band. It is the highlight of his day at school. The band sounds wonderful. If you just heard them without seeing them you would never guess it was a handful of 9th graders. They have performed at concerts, pep rallys and some games. This is from a recent basketball game. Jamie and his friend Johnson wore suits and sunglasses to the game. They did a scat together during one of the songs. It is sort of like a small solo by an instrument but it is with the voice. It is very entertaining. The kids love it. I was totally shocked Jamie wanted to step up and do this. He sounded good. It was very cool and I am proud.

Valentine's Day

All of the traditional gifts for the ones you love.

Flowers beautiful and fragrant.

Cards carefully chosen. We love Snoopy.


Warm chocolate treats.

Romantic music provided by Black Sabbath.


I think that's pretty funny. Not pictured is a sweet little heart necklace for Sarah. Jamie was quite pleased with his CD. My flowers still smell wonderful. We went to church and listened to a fabulous sermon preached by Mark Henry on love. I am sooooo thankful for my family. Love is all around this house and it makes it a very happy place to be.

Church update- Build it and they will come. Seriously. We are having to expand the parking lot because there are no empty spots left. I show visitors around each week. The second service attendance has almost doubled. Wow. We should have built that building long ago.

First Place 4 Health update- I have lost about one pound a week. Except for this week. Snow and chocolate did not help. The change is really all due to journaling every bite. Writing it down and knowing you have to get on that scale weekly makes you serious.

ALC Olympics

The Alternative Learning Center hosted a Special Olympics event in their gym. Competitors young and old played in a ping pong tournament. They traveled from all over central Arkansas The students were so excited to be hosting the event. They organized the groups and completely ran the event. It was fun to watch and to photograph. I dodged ping pong balls and looked for good shots. ALC students did not actually compete. They are very good and practice daily. They follow the rules and take the game seriously. They keep score like a hawk. They lose patience with me quickly when I try to play. The competitors were happy to be there and smiled happily for the camera. Winners proudly wore their ribbons. The whole event was declared a success and plans are already being made for next year.

Snow

Look out Jamie! Sarah is paying him back and then some.

Sarah is holding the hand of the snowman. Unfortunately we only get the back view. I'm not walking out in that stuff.

Jamie playing outside is always a camera worthy event.

Keeping his Coke cold. Priorities in life are necessary.

In some of the pictures you can see the detail of her retainer. Oh my.

Ice cream anyone?


The phone rang at 5:45 this morning. My first thought is someone must be sick. No, Benton Public Schools are closed. Closed? Apparently it snowed last night. I had no idea it was going to snow. I don't think the weather men did either. Maybe I was too caught up in the super bowl last night. We actually got snow, not sleet or freezing rain. Fluff,y flaky, beautiful drifting snow. It was snowing so hard at times I could barely see the kids playing. Kids and dogs frolicked. Mike stressed about his flight. He ended up staying home. I cleaned out kitchen cabinets and took lots of pictures. Divine providence led me to the grocery store yesterday. Thank you God!

Sarah and Cloe opened up an ice cream shop. They opened the back dormer window for full access to the snow. All of the dolls and animals were served fresh snow. I have no idea how much the girls consumed today. This activity provided hours of entertainment and fun. Just don't lean so far out of that window. As Hannah Montana would say it was the best of both worlds. Playing in the snow inside a warm house.

Father Daughter Banquet

Beautiful little girls.
Teens and younger.

Yummy snacks.

Waiting to dance and smiling for mommy.

The girls having a wonderful time.

Daddy helps daughter make a Valentine's day card.

Some girls enjoyed the dancing more than others. by the time we left the dance floor was full.

Daddy's at the craft table.


Card creations with lots of glue.

Father and daughter together.

So sweet.


Shall we dance?

Once again this year our church hosted a dance at a local school. It is sort of a community service. It is absolutely awesome. The dad's bring in the precious little girls all dressed for the ball. Each girl receives a tiara and is officially announced as they enter. The girls are just beaming. The music is young and fun. Food, crafts and prizes complete the event. I get to be the fly on the wall with a camera. I try very hard to take candid shots and not interfere too much. The dad's are so awesome. They dance with their babies and treat them like queens. We take pictures of the couples and send them home with a copy. This event is a lot of work and worth every minute.

Sarah's favorite part of the evening was dancing with her dad. She picked out her red dress. Mommy picked out the matching red tie. They made a lovely pair.