Finally!!!!

I received my laptop back from Toshiba. After numerous phone calls (& having to get rather snooty with them), it was finally delivered. (That's a whole 'nother story in itself.) Anyway, I am hoping to get back in the swing of blogging. So many things to catch up on.

Back in April, my dad & step-mom brought my niece Gracie for a Sunday visit. She & Zoe had a blast jumping on the trampoline & playing on Zoe's play set.



We've had more cousins visit so I will blog about that tomorrow. (Yes, you read that right - TOMORROW!!!)

M.I.A.

Things were so crazy the month of March (as you can read from my last post) & it really hasn't seemed to slow down. On top of everything, my T*shiba laptop caught on fire as it was sitting on my desk in use in my classroom. Thankfully, no students were hurt & T*bisha is working on figuring out what the deal is. I'm hoping to hear something from them in a couple of weeks whether my computer is fixable or whether they'll be sending me a new computer. (I'm kind of hoping for a new one!!!)

With the end of school nearing, we find ourselves coming & going. Last night Zoe had her Spring Concert. She did a wonderful job & looked so cute - if I might say so myself!

Posing with her two top teeth STILL missing!

We are headed to my nephew's baseball game this evening. Taking my camera so expect some pictures. I keep telling myself that I've gotta get better at posting on this blog. (Kind of crazy to think my husband now has a blog & posts more often than I do!)

I do have a post in the works. Just waiting for the right time to share.....

Emotionally Exhausted

This past week has been a very trying week. As most of you know, my husband is the funeral director in our small town of about 1,400 people.

This past week two boys, both seniors in high school, were electrocuted on a farm that they both worked at. They were trying to free a raccoon from an aluminum pipe when it accidently came in contact with electrical wires.

Their deaths rocked our community. Both young men were very involved in the school as well as the community. Nick was the senior class president, a member of the golf team, clay trap shooting team, FFA, Principal's Advisory Committee, etc. Nick was a member of the clay trap shooting team, a member of the fishing team, FFA, etc.

Would you please pray for both Nick & Justin's families, their classmates, their friends, & just our community as a whole?

Sunny days!!!

The weather the last two days have been so nice. Zoe couldn't wait to get outside on her trampoline to practice her back handspring.

And then of course, she had to show me her jumps!

And then, a final pose!

Let me just tell ya, this girl cannot wait for warmer weather. Spring cannot get here fast enough!

Since I Last Posted....

Paul celebrated his 48th birthday February 16th. We celebrated at home with a game that Zoe made - Pin the Nose on the Pig. She was very proud of the pig & nose that she drew. She made her dad go first.

Don't you love the blind fold she came up with - her sleeping mask!

Zoe having Daddy pause before his first try.

Wrong way, Paul. The pig is hanging on the fridge!

Next up - Zoe. She couldn't keep from laughing!

She's much closer than Dad.

We all enjoyed playing Pin the Nose on the Pig. After about 3 rounds, we all finally got the hang of it. It put a fun twist to dad's birthday. Which by the way, he was very happy with because Zoe & I got him tickets to go see these guys in a few weeks:

Let me just tell ya, Paul is SUPER excited! He's thinking about pulling out a flannel shirt & some camouflage to wear to the show. (I told him that's fine. He'll just fit right in!)

Then, just a few days ago Zoe, Avery (her friend), & I welcomed home this little guy at the airport:

You talk about a cutie! We arrived at the airport about 20 minutes before their flight was supposed to arrive, only to find out the flight was delayed about 2 hours. So, we just hung out.

Zoe patiently waiting.

Avery, Zoe, & Big Sister Ashlyn showing off a sign that someone had made.

Zoe's sign. (A little too much glare...)

As they walk towards the gate. (Big Sister & Brother ran to Mom, Dad, & Eli)

Zoe acting silly with Eli's cousin Nick.

Everyone who showed up at the airport to welcome Eli home.

What a blessing his is!

Look at the New Little Valentine!

Not sure if you remember the post I did about our friends adopting a little boy from China they were going to name Eli?! (If you don't, you can check it out here.) Anyway, I am so excited to let you know that our friends, Jered & Nicole, met their little guy yesterday. They are so in love.
Isn't he such a cutie?!

What a blessing that little Valentine is! (Feel free to follow Eli's journey home here.)

State Champions!!!

Oh where has the time gone?! Since I last posted, Zoe & I both had four more snow (or should I say ice) days. That brings our total to 9 snow days thus far this school year. My school is looking at getting out around May 24th or so. I haven't heard about Zoe's school yet.

Speaking of my school, our junior high girls' basketball team won the state championship for the medium sized schools. Very cool, huh?! Four of the starters on the team are only in 7th grade - three of them in my homeroom - so it should be exciting again next year.

I volunteered to chaperone the student fan bus all three nights to the state tournament. I must say the students were very well behaved. They cheered & rooted our girls to victory. So, so, proud of their behavior. The night of the championship game Zoe actually road the fan bus with me because her friend Morgan (I teach with her mom.) was going as well. The two of them had a great time.

Olivia (one of my students), Zoe (with her 4 front teeth missing!), & Morgan.

State Champions!