A little bit of winter

Yesterday, the after the snow fell, it was on top of a layer of ice on top of a layer of slush floating on water.  Caeden told me I was a really mean mom when I told him he couldn't play in it and wear his new snowpants.  Half of our south sideyard is a muddy mess.  But, as I talked to Jeremy about it last night, he pointed out that the kids could play in the back where there was more snow and no water and it would be fine.  (I thank God for giving me a husband whose first instinct is not just to say, "NO!" like mine is! He is good at talking sense into me.)

Jeremy took the day off today to pack the Benjey family's moving truck, so he was home late this afternoon when I decided to let the kids go out to play in the snow.  And, Daddy went out with them.  (I went out just long enough to take this picture.)  The kids love to play in the snow with their daddy.  I love that.

Visits and Farewells

Travis and Erin were here for just a short time, and we all left the house at the same time this morning--them for breakfast with friends, and we on our way to church.  But, we had some snuggle time and play time before...

Sylvia and Grayson

Annah and Bryce

Tessa found the inflatable guitar and wanted to play a duet with Caeden.  

The time was much too short, but we were so glad to have them here for a bit!

This morning at church we sent the Benjey Family off with love on their new adventure.  It's hard to see them go, because we love them and they are a huge part of our church family.  Pastor Brian has served as our Pastor of Servant Evangelism and Outreach, and Jana has been our nursery director.  The girls are not only my piano students, but dear, dear friends to our girls.  But, God has called them to Texas, and we know He has big things for them there!

These lovely girls were posing for photo after photo, and after a few minutes, Caeden asked if he could please be in a picture with his friends.  And Pastor Todd just photobombed them.  Ha.

I love these moments of "everyday" life. 

Cousin Day

We had a weekend packed full of busy blessings!  Last night we took Sylvia to Sierra's birthday party, and the rest of us went to watch the Mustangs win the Regional Championship. ( It was the first game we'd made it to all season!)  

This morning, we picked Sylvia up and went to Champaign.  We got to town right at lunchtime, and Jeremy remembered there is a Texas Roadhouse there and decided to treat us!  We used to go over to Champaign specifically to go to Roadhouse, but hadn't in years.  The kids looooved it.  

Eric and Marti and Wilson, Joey, Simon, Andrew and Lucy were staying in Champaign this week for a convention.  We met them at their hotel, and the kids got to swim together. 

I'm pretty sure they splashed at least 6 inches out of the pool!  They sure had fun!

Little miss Lucy did not swim, but hung out with Aunt Taryn instead. She will be 1 this week!

It was kind of funny, actually, that we hadn't seen either Jeremy's brother and his family or my brother and his family since Thanksgiving, but both were here in our neck of the woods on the same day!

Travis and Erin and their kiddos came this evening after attending a surprise party for a friend who happens to live down the road from us.  The twins are 9 months old now!  

We are so blessed to have so many precious nieces and nephews!

A tight fit

On Tuesday, Caeden was all excited about doing chores to earn money to spend at the Lego store when we go to Disney in July. Monday night, he and I had come up with a chart of duties and chores each worth a few cents, and we figured he could earn about $85 if he works pretty hard for the next 20 weeks.

 After I was done teaching Addie's piano lesson Tuesday evening, Caeden told me that when he was trying to put his clean sheets on his bed he was having a really hard time. He always has trouble with this, so I didn't think much of it. He said Reece asked him if he would like some help, and and that Reece and Sylvia helped him get his bed made. It was so kind of Reece to offer on his own and to help Caeden make his bed!! I admit I was a little annoyed that Caeden let his friend help him make his bed, but when he said Reece offered, I decided to be fine with it.

 The funny part came when I went to tuck Caeden in Tuesday night and saw what sheets they had put on...twin-size sheets that fit his sisters' beds. Caeden's bed is a double!

 Boy, those kids must have worked hard to get that fitted sheet on there! I just laughed and laughed! It's still on after 2 nights of sleep. I'm guessing it will be much easier for the girls to get it on either of their beds the next time they try! Haha!

Snuggling Up

It's a mighty cold week we're having here in central Illinois!  Last night, Jeremy and I were awakened at 1:15 a.m. and both sat up in bed and said, "What is that noise!?!?!"  It was so incredibly windy!  The wind was howling, and things were banging, whirring, whistling, and slamming all around our house!  It sounded like the house could either blow away or blow apart at any second!  

Jeremy got up and walked around the house until he found that a basement window latch had been blown open, and the window was blowing open and shut and making one of the banging noises.  That was causing the pressure inside the house to be crazy, and lots of other windows and things were making noise because of that!  Once he shut the window, it was quieter inside the house, but the wind was still blowing and howling all around.  It was a very cold day today.

Tonight, the girls were so cold in their room that Sylvia decided to snuggle up with Annah in her bed to get warm and fall asleep.  It took me a second to find her when I walked in their room to tuck them in...

I will choose to focus on this love, rather than the "Get your feet off my bed! Quit touching me!" love that I may hear from them in the morning.  Sisters.

Boot Camp Sunday

Today was a PoC Boot Camp Sunday.  Last night the girls went to Setup with Jeremy while I stayed home and worked (and Caeden played.)  The girls helped Pastor Todd set up the Prayer Room for Boot Camp today, and it looked great!

Our sermon series right now is called Against the Rising Tide: A Call to Surefootedness, and it is based on the Apostles Creed.  Today we learned about "I believe in God the Father, almighty maker of heaven and earth."  The kids made a beautiful craft in PoC Kidz church to help them remember what they learned.

Annah went to Boot Camp with me, and Sylvia and Caeden had lots of fun hanging out with Lydia and Nathanael and Madilyn during the tear-down time today.

We have so much fun at church!

Little Valentines

Had a little bit o' Valentine celebrating with the kiddos this morning.  Just want them to know they are so loved...

pink heart-shaped pancakes 

Saw this online and loved it, so I printed it out for each of the kids for their valentines from Mommy and Daddy.

They liked.

Love.

Charter Membership Day

What a day God gave us today!!  Here are just the highlights...

God is raising up new leaders in our church!  Today, Celia was announced as PoC's Children's Pastor!

Baby MacKenzie's was dedicated to the Lord today, and the congregation stood along with her parents to say we will do all we can to help direct her footsteps to Jesus!

ONE HUNDRED SEVEN (107) Charter Members were received into Point of Change Church of the Nazarene!  

Pastor Todd and Kim welcomed each member...

Staci was able to Skype in via iPad all the way from Papua New Guinea for the service.  She was also able to talk face-to-face with her grandma and cousin Jake. 

What blessings!  Thank you, Jesus, for being with us, for loving us, and for constantly blessing us!

Valentine Supper Club

Yep, we sure had a fun time tonight at the Valentine Supper Club at church!

The Month of Sleepover Weekends

I think the kids are either hosting or going to a sleepover every weekend this month!  Last night I drove to Mahomet to pick up Eliza and Owen to come stay with Sylvia and Caeden.  The kids had a fun time together, as always.

The girls were busy using Eliza's totally awesome Crayola window markers and drawing adorable silly comics they call, "Epic Pickle."

They boys were busy playing a little bit of Legos, Spinjitsu, and a lot of Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 on Wii.  

This morning, Annah asked me to try making the cinnamon roll pancake recipe I'd mentioned to her.  It looked like a lot of work, but I decided to try them.  Um, it was worth the work.

It was a fairly big mess, with 3 things to mix up, and a brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon mixture that caramelized on the griddle.

But, oh my goodness, there is a cream cheese drizzle that totally makes them.  They were AMAZING. All 7 of us agreed.

Here is the recipe I used: Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Duct Tape Love

Annah received a pretty roll of argyle Duck Tape duct tape for Christmas, and has been searching the internet for something awesome to make with it.  Most of the projects she's found either use solid color tape or multiple tapes.  Today, she decided to just make a cute little bow for her hair.  I thought it was adorable.

New Schedule

We have a new schedule on Thursdays for a while.  The girls' violin teacher had identical twin boys yesterday! So, needless to say, she is taking a maternity leave.  We are happy for her!  The girls are taking lesson through String Project for the semester, and that is happening at ISU at 6-7pm on Thursdays, instead of at the same time and place as Caeden's guitar class.  So, for the next few months, we have to divide and conquer on Thursday nights.  

Tonight, Jeremy took the girls for their first lesson with their new teacher.  She is a grad student from Brazil. The girls said they both sat in on each other's lesson, and noted that the practice room where they have their lessons is even smaller than the studio at the Music Shoppe.  But, they both enjoyed their lesson.

Caeden and I stopped at Carlos O'Kelly's for supper after his guitar lesson.

He impressed the waiter by actually eating his Mexican food.  It was yummy.  I loved having a little date with my little guy.