Angel Voices sings again!

The children's choir, Angel Voices, sang again at Oak Lawn UMC, this time with new choir robes and stoles! Thank you Mark Knight!

Here is Madeleine with her friend Cadence

The entire choir

The video

New awesome park!

I have a new favorite park! And a big thanks to the Osbornes for telling me about it. It is near White Rock Lake (7142 Williamson Rd) and on my way home (sort of). Here are some great photos from our inaugural visit.

Book Review

I recently became a part of a wonderful book club and I loved this month's book selection. It was Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I had no idea about the amazing work that this guy has been doing and I learned so much about Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a great book and I highly recommend it! I couldn't put it down, I couldn't wait to read about the next school that was built, the next girl's life that was transformed. You can contribute to Greg Mortenson's effort at the Central Asia Institute so that more lives can be changed.

Valentine's Day!

We double dated on Valentine's Day, just the 8 of us, my sister and her husband and our 2 kids each... We had such a quiet and intimate evening, just kidding! It was lots of fun though! We went to Fuji Steak and Sushi House which was rated #1 kids restaurant by the Dallas Observer. We sat at the hibachi table and the kids were enthralled (and a little scared) by the fire and knife-wielding awesomeness! I highly recommend this restaurant for its entertainment value (and the food was yummy!)



My sister Kristin and her 5 year old Sydney!



The crew (from the left): Lee, Everett, brother-in-law Andy, niece Sydney, nephew Austin, sister Kristin, Madeleine, and me.



This is another Madeleine self-portrait, these crack me up! How does she manage to center herself so well?

The ever changing patio...

Our ever changing patio project...

Since we moved into our home in June 2006, we
1) took out the party hot tub that was a potential deathtrap for the kids and fit 16 people comfortably.
2) Removed a tree that hid the lovefest that occurred with the hot tub.
3) Removed the deck that was falling apart
4) Gave thanks for freecycle.org because people took the hot tub and the redwood planks from the deck!
5) Had the hole from the hot tub filled in and had a flagstone patio put in.
6) Moved 3 yuccas (thanks, Mom!)
7) Removed stumps (thanks, Lee!)
8) Lee threw out his back from removing the stumps...
9) Went to a rock quarry and picked up 1/4 ton of cut stone to border the patio. The rock quarry was so cool! We drove onto the scale, then loaded up our stone, and then drove onto the scale again.
10) Put in said rocks and was exhausted. Lee is hoping his back is okay... Lee still has one more stump to take out, and we have to move the rosemary, but that involves removing two more stumps!
11) still need to change out the sprinkler to be one of those pop-up kind...

Enjoy!


the before (the love tub...)


the before ... the deck...


taking the deck out... notice the 3 yuccas...


Before the stones were put in (this is June 2007). The huge pit from the love tub is filled up with water.




after the stones



those stones/bricks were heavy! Notice the rosemary (still needs to be moved) and can you see the sprinkler, need to put in one of those pop-up kind...


what it looks like now



complete with kid toys...

Writing

The wonderful Rev. Patsy Brundige led a great class this morning at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church. The class was titled, "Search Warrant," and was about writing. Here are our exercises...

Write for 4 minutes about your mom, grandmother, or aunt beginning, "I remember..."

Here is what I wrote:

I remember when I was growing up my mom would make her famous, yet easy taco salad. We were forbidden from watching TV while we ate our dinner. It seemed like we always had a family dinner where everyone sat at the table. Whenever I think about happy meals and eating around a table, I think of my mom. I loved our kitchen table. It was an old canning table that my grandmother used. It is dark brown and the knots on its legs and its wooden planks remind me of its age and of all of the families that have gathered round to pray together, to eat together, laugh and cry together.

Next, write about a color for 4 minutes but do not use the name of that color. Here is what I wrote:

I remember a dress that my mother sewed from the pattern. It was a vibrant color, a deep color, a color that screams to me of joy, of love, of life. It is a color of new beginnings, of vitality. It is a color that has a va va voom effect on a room. This color is the color of blood, of love, of wine, of Pentecost. Like flames of fire, like blood pulsing through our veins.

Next, write about a sound for 4 minutes. Here is what I wrote:

I love the sound of Everett's laugh. After his bath, when he is wrapped up in his towel, laying on the changing table, his eyes look up at me ready and waiting. Waiting for our game. It is a game we play every night. It is the game to make Everett laugh. Sometimes I tickle his feet, or nip at them lightly. Sometimes a sudden kiss to the tummy will be just the thing. Our new game is the most fun. I cover Everett's face and play peek a boo. But then I add a new twist. While his face is covered by the towel I kiss his cheeks or kiss his nose, he laughs and laughs from under the towel. Then I uncover his face and give him kisses all over... his nose, his cheeks, his eyes. I think this is the best noise I have ever heard. Then, big sister Madeleine comes in the room. Everett spots her and I know that he will laugh a richer, deeper laugh for her.

Pictures!

I finally downloaded pictures from my camera, so here are a lot! But before that I have to share a funny. This morning on the way to school Madeleine said, "mommy, I had a cavity." I had been trying so hard to use the language that the dentist used, getting her tooth brushed and painted, but she had heard that she had a cavity! It made me laugh, because as much as you try to protect kids they always figure it out anyway! And they listen to EVERYTHING that you say!

now, to the pictures!
Everett and Madeleine playing. They have so much fun together! (usually)


Austin, Sydney, and Madeleine at Sydney's 5th Birthday party. It was a swimming party at swimming class!


A family photo at Lee's 34th birthday celebration. Madeleine was playing...


Madeleine at ballet class. Sydney is behind her...


Madeleine stretching at ballet...


Before the pajama party today at school! Who knew wearing your pajamas to school was so fun?


the Valentines that Madeleine made for her class and for Everett's class.