Thursday, June 25, 2009

We'll miss you Michael...



Our home was saddened today by the passing of MJ. We are glad he'll be able to rest peacefully in Heaven. My girls danced to BAD this year in their Hip Hop Show and Jett danced THRILLER in front of his whole school during their last assembly in May. My favorite two MJ memories are the "Making of Thriller" video we had growing up and I think all 4 of us siblings watched it 10,000 times and memorized the whole thing. My second favorite memory is dancing to PYT in the 3rd grade with my best friend over and over and thrusting on the "Ugh" part over and over again...I even had an off the shoulder unfinished looking PYT shirt I would wear. YEEEESSS!!!

What are your favorite MJ memories?

Sarah and I celebrated his GRADUATION today by having a MJ music dance party on our porch and front yard. Sailor practiced her moonwalk and wanted to know if Michael did "this" when he danced (in the middle of her cartwheel and back walk-over.) We said maybe he did but mostly he moonwalked and then we showed her a few other favorite moves...which of course included the crotch grab and an "Oww" to boot.

I'm wearing my sparkling glove all day to VBS tomorrow and Sarah is playing MJ music through the system in the hotel and coffee bar all day tomorrow. :) :) MJ LOVE!

Vacation Bible School Swamp Style...

I LOVE VBS WEEK!!! I spend at least 20 hours at church this week helping in the craft room...I think it's been like 10 years running now I've volunteered. I was pregnant with at least 2 of my kids and remember several Baby Bjorn years. Anyway...here's the latest year's pics. Chase joined the big kid rotation this year, no more preschoolers for me, WIERD! Sailor hung with all her bestest buds and Jett graduated from being a kid at VBS to a Jr. Counselor. He's a preschool magnet with all the 2-4 year olds. Jett's always been an "energetic" child but I'm so proud of him because he's getting tons of kudos from the adults at what a loving, engaging and energetic (this time in a positive way) leader to the wee-kids he has been. The highlight of the week is that Chase asked Jesus to live in her heart. I can't even explain my heart about this except that I am truly grateful and blessed to have 3 amazing kids that have all decided to love Jesus...AWESOME!!!





Chase getting funky during closing Sing and Play!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

happy Birthday...in true 80s fashion...

Today is Auntie Sarah's birthday. Since she was born in 1983, she decided to throw herself an 80s birthday. The only present she asked for was that we all come dressed up in TOTALLY RAD costumes. Surprisingly...everybody did!
The party guests included: Madonna, Olivia Newton-John and friends, Blondie, Bruce Springstein, a "revengeful" Nerd and his hooker gal pal, Richard Simmons, Sonny Crocket, Gem from the Holograms, butt-rocker and a super cute Billy Idol.
We played games such as a food relay, blind balloon hunting and an intense Connect 4 Tournament. The championship game was the birthday girl and Chase and no joke, completely legit, Chase won the whole 15 person tourney.
We ate a family recipe of Chicken Roll-ups, which Sarah said she hasn't had since the 80s so I had to teach her how to make them. Dessert was ladybug brownies sitting on pads of green ice-cream grass.

I've just got to say, "I LOVE MY FAMILY". My kids each said it throughout the evening how much they love our family because we're SILLY! To boot, we even had the cops at our door because our backyard neighbors were tired of hearing the 80s music playing outside for 4 hours. If you ask me, that's a successful party when the cops come...and laugh it off when a girl answers the door in a bright green wig and says, "I'm sorry officer, it's my birthday!"

Last day of school gymnastics...



On this special day, the girls finished their final day in Hot Shots class. They are super excited to move up to Level 4 so they can compete in meets starting this fall.



Friday, June 5, 2009

My Baby Has Graduated...With Honors...

Last night Chase graduated from Kindergarten. She looked beautiful and had lots of family from out of town to celebrate her special night with her. To our surprise (not so much if you've seen her ripped bod), she was awarded the NATIONAL Presidential Fitness Award because she exceeded the standard requirements for every fitness category for her age group. Wahoo...we were so proud of her. The best part, her class has 9 boys and 2 girls and the 2 girls won this award...GO GIRLS!!!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Encouragement...Straight from the dirt to the heart...

Tonight I saw Jesus' love in Ashland. Jett's team just pulled off an amazing super tight semi-final win to take him to the championship game on Saturday. During Jett's first at-bat he took a pitch in the kisser. He swiftly stormed out of the box, took a deep painful breath and involuntary yelled out, "Oooooh poop" because of the pain. His tooth cut a long slice into his top and bottom lip and it swelled purple and blue and blood immediately. He finished his at-bat and continued the entire game as catcher like a champ. We got home and Jett was just about asleep when the phone rang. It was the coach of other team calling to tell Jett he was a warrior and how proud he was of him sticking it out and playing hard for his team the rest of the game.

I've said many times what an amazing town Ashland is, not just for its wonderful versatility, culture and beauty but for the incredible sense of family there is. One place I feel so much of this love is at the Ashland baseball fields. Parents cheer for the pitcher and the batter by name, coaches encourage players from both teams when they make good plays, kids from the opposing team will encourage players who aren't having a great game. The boys smile on the mound when their buddies come up to bat and high fives from the fielders to the base runners after a great hit.

Tonight Jett's community, in the form of an opposing coach who's coached him in the past, made an effort to let Jett know he's supported and appreciated. I LOVE THIS TOWN!!! I love the small yet huge gifts God gives to my children in the form of community...other adults besides their parents giving encouragement, praise and love just because they want to make a difference in a child's life.

I'll sleep well tonight knowing there's love from all around being shared with my sweet little people!