still at it

Jared, will you....help Claire with her homework? Fix Claire some waffles? Read to Claire? Give Claire a spelling test? Tuck Claire in? Stop playing kick ball at recess to take care of Claire when she falls down, and then carry her to the office to get a band-aid?

Of course he will.

overlapping sports

I don't like when sport seasons overlap. A busy schedule becomes crazy. I am posting this schedule for posterity. And so I have proof when my kids ask me if I ever let them do anything as a child, if they were ever involved with anything, or if I loved them.
Monday: Carter's soccer practice, 5-6:30
Tuesday: Carter and Jared's soccer practice, 4:30-6, Carter and Jared's basketball game, 6 or 7
Wednesday: Scouts for the boys and Activity Days for Claire, 7-8
Thursday: Claire's dance class, 3:30-4:30, Carter's soccer practice,5-6:30, Jared's bball practice, 6:45-7:45, Carter's bball practice 8:45-9:45
Friday: Carter's bball game
Saturday: Jared's bball game
Sunday: a day of rest, thank goodness!

It is just for a few weeks. I love my kids.

horses

Over Christmas break we went horse back riding. Allen has been waiting for this day for a long time. Like ever since I met him. He has fond memories of a horseback riding camp he went to as a kid, and has been itching to get back in the saddle ever since. We tried to go twice before we had kids but something always happened, like rain, so that we had to cancel. We talked about it many times as the kids came along, but it always seemed too hot, or the kids too young. We have even looked into going on a cattle drive as a family. Well, this wasn't a cattle drive. It was just a hour trip in the mountains. We all enjoyed it, but decided against booking the cattle drive just yet. Carter was the most skittish and I was a close second.

I kept sitting forward to help my back, which caused me to bruise my "butt-bones". I guess I talked about it a little too much because this ended up on the quote board.

biz town

Have you heard of Biz Town? According to Jared, it is the coolest place in the world. You can check it out http://jaeasttennessee.org/biz-town/. He went last week with his 5th grade class and other 5th grade classes from around town. Every one is assigned a job and you do that job for the day. You get a pay check and get to spend it around town-allowing others to do their jobs. Each business had to take a loan out at the beginning of the day and had to figure out ways to make money and pay it back by days end. Jared was the CFO of the radio station. He and his fellow CEO and CFO officers decided to play the part and wear suits.

As you know, Jared doesn't get overly excited about many things. He is a pretty even keel kind of guy. Few things send him into non-stop talking. Some past things that did this to him were...Dungeons and Dragons, superheroes, and chocolate lava cake. We can now add Biz Town to the list. It was right up Jared's alley-hard work, responsibility, and helping others. He talked about how busy he was, especially when the CEO went on break and he had to cover for him. "I would be doing like 6 things at once" he said with a smile. He even had to step in and do a TV commercial. At the end of the day he said his desk was covered in papers, but they were able to pay off their debt early enough that he went over to the Pilot gas station and helped them out.

I know that what ever Jared does with his life, it will be a success.

yin yang cake

Jared is at it once again. He says this is his favorite cake so far. He made it for Grand dad's birthday.

busy little bee

Claire has been a busy little bee lately. She set up a bowling alley in her room with books she inherited from her brothers that she doesn't like to read.

She made some items to sell in her shop. When I asked her why she didn't have any necklaces, bracelets, or tiaras she said she didn't know why. The influence of brothers I guess.

And she made this at school. I thought her answers were cute and wanted to remember them. Her dream for the world: for the world not to smoke. For my country: to be nice. For my community: to not litter.

favorite ornament

This ornament was given to us several years ago by my very talented artist sister in law, Susan. She made this little book that you write about each Christmas on its pages. It is our favorite ornament to pull out each year. We love to read over the past Christmases and be reminded of the gifts given, events that happened, and memories made. Thanks Susan!