Primary Puzzlement...

I am sitting at my computer on this fairly lonely and dateless Friday night, trying to plan my primary lesson for Sunday. Shawn and I teach the Valiant 9 and Valiant 10 classes. There are usually 18 children in our class. Lots of boys, and really cute little girls. While I am really enjoying it, and I love team-teaching with Shawn (any excuse to spend a little extra time together is wonderful), I have a hard time really getting to know the kids because there are so many of them. When I taught 7 year-olds back on SC, there were only 4 or 5 of them and it seemed like I was really able to connect with them on an individual basis. We try to do activities and games every week after the lesson to help refresh their memories and get them excited enough to pay attention, but as you can imagine, it works for the same kids every week. I am not really asking for suggestions, but surely wouldn't mind hearing any fun things that 9 year olds like to do. I feel a little out of the 9 year old loop these days....

I'm 24!!!

Yesterday was my birthday. I am not posting this in hopes of getting any birthday greetings or anything. I think I am more excited about this birthday than any birthday yet. The reason? I wish I knew. Probably nothing more than the fact that I don't have to lie about my age when people in the grocery store comment about how young I look and how I sure have my hands full. (I am sure they are just jealous because I am an amazing mulit-tasker....ha) Hmmm, well, I am not sure what else I would do if my hands weren't full.

They let me take a nap. What a gift!!

Happy Valentine's Day

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Look out world...She's 2!

Here is a beautiful Cinderella with her Pony from all Nora's Aunts and Uncles and Grandma and Grandpa Struthers. She loves to make the doll ride on the pony!
I think Grant was more excited about presents than Nora was.

The Pig Cake....don't worry, I won't give up my day job and sell cake on the street.

Shawn and Nora enjoying the movie Ratatouille together.

Hurray, it's time for presents!

Her response to the beaded socks from Great-Grandma S. was "Oh, pretty, Mommy!" She has tried to put them on and take them off several times since!

A very happy Daddy, just taking it all in!

Well, the pictures are out of order, but you get the idea. She had a great birthday. Shawn decorated with crape paper and balloons.....I held the baby. Life if good.

Well, I had created the cutest Valentine's Day card to mail to our far away family members. I forgot to order it. So, here are a couple of the pictures that you would've seen on the card that should've already been in the mail.

Winter Favorites

Okay, I realize it just isn't fair that it is 70 degrees here, and below freezing where the rest of my family lives, so in hopes of inspiring a little snowy cheer, here are my winter favorites:

• Hot chocolate
• Snuggling up with a comfy blanket and book and watching the snow fall
• Waking up in the morning to a fresh coat of snow, unmarred by those city guys who have the nerve to plow and salt so we can go to school
• Building snowmen
• Warming up in Mom's kitchen after the snowmen
• Cute sweaters
• Fishtailing
• Being stuck inside with my siblings to play great indoor games
• Pappy's popcorn and silly songs
• Pumpkin Pie
• The smell of freshly fallen snow

I guess I like Winter more than I remembered. I haven't had a good Winter in a few years, except for Karen's wedding, I haven't even seen great snow in over 3 years. So, what do you like?

My Favorite Things

It is so warm here this week. I have started leaving windows open to keep the place cool. It had me reflecting on a few favorite things:

• The smell of Spring on my furniture
• The sound of chirping birds outside my window at 5 am
• Mmmmm...Pumpkin Pie (ok, that's a fall favorite)
• Drinking cold lemonade
• Hoagies...my favorite warm day food
• Watching my kids run around OUTSIDE!

What are your favorite things?