CHICAGO!!!

Chicago Band/Vocal trip April 2011

Day 1 we got to Chicago about 9:30 and went to the Chicago Field Museum. Then we ate at Gino's East and had authentic deep dish pizza. YUM!!! After that, we walked the Magnificient Mile and did some shopping. After that we met at the Hancock Observatory and got a view of the city.  Then we went to a Rock n Roll Mcdonalds and then to a theatre where we watched the Million Dollar Quartet Show.  That show was great!  It was a reenactment of one night when 4 entertainers got together with their agent for 1 last time before going separate ways.  The entertainers were Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.  Stephen and I had front row seats and Stephen was singled out by Jerry Lee Lewis to sing!  So Stephen has now performed LIVE at the Apollo theater in Chicago!

Friday morning we got up and toured Wrigley Stadium. It was a really good tour including the pressbox and outfield and getting to stand on the field between the dugouts!  The weather was cold, but it was a great experience.

After lunch at Ed Debevic's we went to Mellennium Park where we took a ton of pictures of the "Bean". Then we went to see Blue Man Group which the kids loved. 

Saturday consisted of our performances and touring the Navy Pier.

Saturday concluded with dinner at Medieval Times where we watched the show and had to eat with our fingers!!! No silverware.  After the show they announced the winners of the Heritage Festival.  Our team got 1st Gold in everything we participated in and we also won Sweepstakes for having the highest cumulative score overall.  We won the biggie!!! Yay!!! So proud of each one of the participants.  The kids were all great and it was a great trip.  I am blessed to have been a part of it!

OU was great!

The Freshmen class went to OU recently and I was fortunate enough to go along. We split the class into 2 groups, and while 1/2 of the class had lectures, the other 1/2 went on a tour of the campus. The adults along on the trip were responsible for chaperoning the kids while they toured the campus. We had a couple spots we had to go to, then we could pick another spot to tour after that. Of course both of my tours wanted to tour the football stadium. While it was fun, it was just an empty football field, until the 2nd tour was almost over. We were standing by the exit the players use to get onto the field for a game. After we took a picture, the kids wanted to go further back into the locker room, but I just couldn't let them go. As they were coming back up the ramp, we heard people coming toward us. We were getting ready to leave when Wade whispered excitedly "That's Bob Stoops!". So, we all just stopped and watched him come on the field when he turned around and saw us gawking at him! lol! He was very cordial and said "hi"! Then he asked us if we would like a picture. I about screamed YES!!! So he just opened his arms and the kids just ran down the ramp to get in the picture. THAT was the highlight of the whole trip for us. We were bouncing off the walls after that! Thank you Coach for taking the time to make the kids day! It was a small gesture and took such a small amount of time, but it will have a lifetime of memories for these kids, and I! What an example he showed to all of us, and it was wonderful to see it.

Happy Birthday to me!

Every year for I don't even know how many years, I have gotten rice krispy treats handmade by my wonderful husband. And every year he hand picks me a card.

My husband is not a romantic, and he does not do things at the spur of the moment(unless I force him to!). My husband is predictable and practical. He knows I love his treats, and he knows I love that he takes the time to pick out a card for me. So that is what he does.



 My husband doesn't always realize that I take my romance where I can get it and I have more than one way to spell romance.

My husband has done our laundry for the past 24 years. My husband has balanced our checkbook to the penny for the past 24 years. My husband has tolerated my baby blues, my family dramas, my extra love handles. My husband comes home to me every night and never misses telling me he loves me before he leaves for work. My husband never complains if he has to eat cereal for supper.

 My husband is the most romantic man I know, it's all in the way you look at it! Thanks for a great birthday!

She's driving...well sort of!

How can I even use words to describe this picture? How can this picture even exist? The answer...our little baby is growing up! This was actually her 2nd attempt behind the wheel, however dad was not prepared to take any picture while she was having her first lesson, and I can appreciate that! This time around, I was along for the ride, designated to the back seat by Samantha. That is an experience I will not be having again, due to the fact that I will exit the car if I am along for any more rides around the parking lot! That and motion sickness go hand in hand! So, this may be the only pic we have for now. Wish us luck and send up a few arrow prayers! (she is really doing good for her first experiences! So proud)

Zoo!!!

Last minute change of plans took us to the Tulsa Zoo today! Wow! It was crowded! Spring break in Oklahoma on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon is not the perfect zoo day! We however, did the best with what we had and came out with memories and time together as a family. We went with cousins, nephews, nieces, sisters! We had a crowd of 10! Supper at Olive Garden topped the evening with a highpoint! Fun, fellowship, food....a good day!

I'm too busy!

It's time! Time for parent teacher conferences, time for spring break, time for the band trip finalization's, time for AWANA, time for working more because we are gonna be shorthanded.  I don't have enough time.  And I am sitting here rebelling about not having enough time by blogging about the time I don't have.  I do not know how I got involved in so much stuff.  I can be just as involved without being the one responsible to make sure everyone else is doing the stuff they don't have time for either!  I need to just calm down and take it one minute at at time.  Deep breaths, calming thoughts...thanks for listening!

Bored Games?!?

Samantha is not much of a gamer. We do not regularly sit around the table with a game between us. Would I like to sit around a table often with a game around us? Hmmm, well to be honest, I am not much of a gamer either. I do however like games you have to think about. Not strategy per se, (like how to annihilate on Monopoly!) but like Scrabble, Guess Who? and Blockus!

Lately Samantha has randomly said, "Let's play a game!". My first thought is that I will get to spend a few minutes of quality time with my daughter. So I doubt my response will ever be No, or Not now...I hope response will never be no or not now! Tonight before we left to go separate ways on a Sunday night, we played Blockus. It's a fun easy game when you have only 2 colors, but add 2 more and it is nearly impossible to use up all your blocks. I hate to say it, but Samantha beat me! My pride is hurt, but I will strive to continue on!!! Thanks for the games Samantha!