Crazy for Scooby!

I've had a little bit of a blogging hiatus. Out of town, sick, tired, trying to get back into our routine...the excuses are endless. So here are a couple of recent updates.

Where are we?

Okay, I moved from the midwest to get away from this crummy weather! :) The last few days have been very unlike Colorado--overcast, bitterly cold, even foggy! We need the sunshine back!
However, there has been a lot of time for cuddling and enjoying some indoor activities...

Admittedly, we Ballers have never had an aversion to staying in our pajamas all day!

Praise Award

Every month in Katie's class, they honor a few students for exhibiting a quality, this month's praise awards went to students who exhibit resourcefulness. This is what her teacher, Mrs. Freeman, wrote to Katie:

"Dear Katie, It is my pleasure to honor you for showing the character quality of resourcefulness. Katie, when you were King's Kid, I noticed how so many of your classmates praised you for your creativity. We are all amazed at the projects and creations that you make from simple scraps of paper and other odds and ends. In other words, you are very resourceful! God has certainly blessed you with the gift of creativity. He has a special plan for how you can use your gifts for His glory. In Colossians 3:23, it says that we are to work at things as though we are working for the Lord. We are to do this in every aspect of our life, whether we are creatively making something new or whether we are working hard at making new friends and being a good friend to others. Always remember how much Jesus loves you! Thank you for sharing your resourcefulness and creativity with our class. Congratulations! Love, Mrs. Freeman
Way to go, Doodlebug! We love you and you are such a blessing to our family and so many other people!

"Jingle Bells," by Will

My Favorite (Christmas) Things (as sung to "Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music."

Gingerbread houses and stockings on mantels,

Red Starbucks cups and Christmas Eve candles.

Facebook and postal and email greetings...

These are a few of my favorite things.

Girls in pink dresses and
holiday parties.

Crafting and wrapping and baking some cookies.

Eating then watching some Christmas movies...
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the bills come!
When the flight's late!
When I'm feeling fat...

I simply remember my favorite things
and then I don't feel so bad!

Miscellaneous Festiveness--or Festive Miscellaneousness?!

Some of my favorite Hillside gals at last night's fellowship evening. Good food, good fun, and good fellowship.

Feel free to copy this idea as long as your kids are not in my kids' classes! I think I have done this about every year, except for last year. 6-packs of IBC rootbeer also work well! If you want to decorate the back reindeer also (sometimes I do, sometimes I don't,) just be sure to use brown "noses." Always a hit, I also like to include a couple packs of flavored microwave popcorn, (my favorites are cheddar and caramel!)

Katie & Madison

Katie has the sweetest little girlfriend, Madison. They met last year in Kindergarten, when many of the girls were losing interest in Princesses, they formed a fast friendship. They love singing, dancing, dressing up, and all things girly. Yesterday their class made little gingerbread houses, and of course, they worked side by side.

The two of them together on the playground is something else. They are tireless. They run, swing, run, slide, run, jump rope, and run some more.

Thank you, Lord, for special friends. Tomorrow we will celebrate Madison's birthday and we are grateful for her sweet spirit and loving heart. She is a wonderful playmate for our Katie!