April, So Far

Wow! I haven't posted in over a month? What a bad blogger I've been...I guess I'll just try to let you know what we've been doing so far this month. The girls have still been dancing and soccer has started back up for Peyton. Mackenzie decided not to play softball this year.

On April 1st, there was a fundraiser at Peyton's school - the Gator Gallery...each class creates an art project for an auction and students perform in a talent show. Peyton, Molly and Ashley danced.
We had a quiet Easter, there was a wonderful service at church then we came home and gave the girls baskets - mainly movies (The Blind Side and New Moon for Mackenzie and The Princess and the Frog for Peyton, Toy Story 1 and 2 on DVDs to replace our VHS tapes divided between both of them). And yes, that is rice and soy sauce you see in Mackenzie's basket...she gave it up for Lent and wanted it every day. It is her favorite.

Friday was Jason's birthday - he didn't want a cake, but requested Coconut Cream Pie (which I make using a super easy recipe).

Saturday morning we went to the Autism walk. Our wonderful friends - Todd, Tammy and Drake, have forever been very supportive of Mackenzie and the fundraisers we have for the CFF, so we were very excited to have an opportunity to be supportive of them.

Mackenzie's friends, Emily and Abby were there on the "Chandler's Champions" Team for Abby's brother. We have many friends affected by Autism and these families are so amazing!

There was a 5k as part of the event and Peyton wanted to run it, her nice Daddy agreed to run it with her. So...this is the first time they've run since the last 5k, I'm pretty sure they would have benefited from a little running between November and April but they did great! They want to run another in May so maybe they'll start working on getting ready for it.

After the event, Peyton had a soccer game then camping for Girl Scouts and Mackenzie had dance and a sleepover so Jason and I had a date night. There was a CFF fundraiser I wanted to go to but it was more something I'd go to with girlfriends (fashion show) and since it was Jason's birthday weekend we spent some time together instead.

Mackenzie had an appointment last Wednesday with Dr. Warren due to an increased cough - this is always a bad time of year for her (both hospital stays have come right after the Spring - end of June/July is when it all catches up with her). I should talk to him tomorrow to see what her culture shows but she really doesn't have any other symptoms and her cough has gotten better!

Kansas City

We spent the weekend at a dance competition and convention in:


We headed up on Friday, and Saturday was early morning rise, make-up & costumes then competition.

This was the girl's first competition and they did a great job! Here is Mackenzie's group doing a dance to "Closer" (merit award):
Peyton's group doing "Twist" (2nd Place), love this shot of the dresses twirling:

Peyton loves the facials!

Mackenzie's Hip Hop dance (2nd place):

Lunch break - we headed a few blocks over to find a somewhere to eat. Stopped at a fantastic market but I was feeling a little overwhelmed by their unbelievable selection so we headed over to a place with just a few things on the menu, burgers, burgers, and burgers (Mackenzie and Emily went with Rob next door eat Mexican).

After lunch we headed back to the music hall to watch more performances and for the awards ceremony. To place you have to be within a certain point range, so we were very proud of the girls.

After awards we went back to the hotel to scrape the make-up and glitter off then that evening we took the girls down to the Plaza - shopping, dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, carriage ride, and pictures with statues - ha! Peyton LOVES those penguins (notice the shirt, too).

Our horse, Mack, did a great job of taking us all around the Plaza.

Sunday the girls spent all day dancing at the convention. They had a GREAT time!

While the girls were dancing all day on Sunday, Jason and I went to an auto show that was going on in KC. I checked out a few vehicles that I'd been thinking I wanted next (not anytime soon) and I was so disappointed because I don't think they are going to work for me. Ford has this robot named Hank, he was very entertaining! I wish I had a video camera. I also checked out a smart car and the complete opposite - a Jon-and-Kate-Plus-Eight-Type-Mobile.

We had a great time and came home to catch a little of the Academy Awards. The girls will have another competition next weekend here in town.

Miss Heart of the Ozarks Outstanding Teen

Last night Mackenzie went to support her friend Ashton, on Ashton's 13th birthday, as she competed for Miss Heart of the Ozarks Outstanding Teen. Ashton won! Mackenzie was so excited for her friend.
Frances, Maddie, Ashton, Jenna, Mackenzie, Lydia & Kendall.

This photo was taken by Eric Molle who takes photos at different events around the area and posts them on his website where they can be purchased. I love that he does this!

More Snow Fort

The girls made a few updates to the Snow Fort today:

More Snow

It's been a snowy winter here in Arkansas and we are enjoying it. It came down all day on Friday and was so beautiful. The girls have been sledding the last couple of days but today we decided to build a snowman. Snow wasn't great for making a snowman so we decided to build a snow fort:
Jason, the girls and Eddie on the snow couch in the snow fort:

The side of the fort:

Picture through the back window:

This was from sledding yesterday. We went over to an empty neighborhood and pulled the sled behind the Jeep. I was driving and did a pretty good job of covering the family in snow.

This & That Thursday - January 14

Is there such a thing? If not, let's start it...Here is my This & That Thursday List:

• Have you donated to help relief efforts in Haiti yet? I texted HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross and it was so easy to do. If you haven't done it yet, please do if you have it to give!
• Mackenzie has gained over 10 pounds in the past month and a half - HOORAY! So, I realize she is almost a teenager and it's probably not cool for me to be talking about her weight but she knows how important it is to get to 50% BMI and she's working really hard (that magic little appetite enhancer pill has really helped), so she's excited too.
• CYSTIC LIFE! It's a great new site for CF patients and their family, friends and caregivers. I still need to work on my profile. It is going to be a great place to share information!
• We've got mail again. Last week with the poor road conditions our mailbox got in a fight with a car and lost. Jason put the new one in tonight. I love, love getting the mail and it has not been fun going to the post office to pick up. Why is it, that when there is a line out the door and only two postal workers working the counter, after a few minutes one (of the two) puts up the "next window please" sign and walks away?
• Peyton is selling Girl Scout cookies. Mackenzie was a Girl Scout for a while and Peyton would beg to sell cookies for her so she is loving it! If you live in NWA and would like some, she would be more than happy to put your name and order on her little form.

Pampered Chef Fundraiser for CFF

If you need anything from The Pampered Chef, there is a fundraiser going on now for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. ALL of the free products earned will be used as Wine Opener silent auction items AND, the consultant - Carla Laing - will be donating ALL of her commission to the CFF!

If you'd like to order something, Carla's website is www.pamperedchef.biz/carlalaing. Click "Shop Online" then enter "Cystic" and "Fibrosis", then start your shopping for a great cause! If you live out of town, they have a direct ship option. If you'd rather just let me know what you want, I can add it to my order. They are closing the show on January 19.

If you live locally and would like to attend the show at the home of Karen Klane on Wednesday, January 13, let me know and I'll send you the evite.

Of course, if you have anything for the silent auction we would be so appreciative!

SNOW

I woke up around five this morning hoping to see the ground covered with the snow that had been predicted and hooray - it was there!
We were supposed to get quite a bit of snow Christmas Eve night into Christmas Day and although we did have a White Christmas, it wasn't nearly what they had predicted. Jason and the girls played in it some but there wasn't enough to do much. Mackenzie was REALLY disappointed. I think we played enough today to make up for it.

We all went to an empty hilly neighborhood near us and tried doing some sledding but the hills weren't steep enough to go very fast.

Towards the end the girls just wanted Jason to pull him around behind the Jeep.

We stopped at home, warmed up by the fire with soup and hot chocolate then headed over to try out the big hills at our friend's house.

We went to another empty neighborhood (with less hills) and I drove the Jeep with the big kid (Jason) and Peyton in the sled. Then we picked up pizza and came home - I thought to stay in for the evening but then Jason and Peyton went out to play and built this cute little snowman (snowgirl?).

Now they are all out there AGAIN! I'm sure tomorrow will bring more of the same. I'm excited the girls have a snow day, I wasn't ready for them to go back to school.

Farewell 2009, Hello 2010

Cheers - with our sparkling white grape juice - from the Jobes!
We ended up staying in and celebrating together as a family. We played a couple of games of Die Siedler Von Catan (Settlers of Catan - I saw the English version at a couple of places before Christmas, you should pick it up, great game!). We toasted and celebrated with the East Coast just in case someone falls asleep (mainly Jason or Peyton) before we hit midnight.

A few highlights - In this past decade, we added a baby (Peyton in October of 2000) and a dog (Eddie in December 2003), Mackenzie went through Elementary and Middle Schools and started Junior High. In 2009 we built and moved into our new home, Peyton made a smooth transition to a new school and Mackenzie's good health for the past couple of months of 2009 makes us very happy . Every day is a gift and we share them with so many wonderful friends. We can't wait to see what great things 2010 brings.

Happy New Year!

December 2 (+27 Days)

Jason proposed during the Lights of the Ozarks on the Fayetteville Square 13 years ago on December 2. Tradition normally finds us there every December 2 but this year, something came up and we didn't make it - namely, THE Science Fair Project. So, Jason surprised us and took us tonight...it was beautiful with a little snow still on the ground from Christmas.
First, pizza at Tiny Tim's.

Then lights and pictures.

I was going to skip the Razorback picture this year but Mackenzie pointed out that we "always" take one.

Here is an article about my friend Mitzi and her proposal on the Square.

Merry Christmas 2009

My Dream for CF

Video posted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I have the privilege of working with Charlotte (featured on the video) to raise funds for Trey, Mackenzie and all the other patients, bravely fighting cystic fibrosis everyday.

ACH Performance

The girls and their dance teams got to perform at Arkansas Children's Hospital yesterday. Both girls were excited but Mackenzie was practically beaming all day knowing that she was going to get to perform at a place that has been so good to her.
I braved the big Dilly Dally's 50% off sale so I could get some things to take down to their toy drive (thanks Sara H. for sending toys with us too!).

You all know from this past summer how much I love these words that you walk under upon entering ACH. Normally when we have Mackenzie there we are rushing in and out and I've never snapped her picture with them.

All of the girls did a great job performing. There weren't many patients in the lobby but they were filming them dance and broadcasting it to the clinics and the patient rooms.

These were the girls I had for most of the trip down and back. They were a delight - they all have older sisters and I enjoyed the conversations I overheard ("real men don't sparkle" was one thing I overheard during a discussion about Twilight. I'm pretty certain none of these girls have seen or read it). They were troopers on the way home when what should have taken 20 minutes - to go from ACH to Conway for dinner - turned into a 2 hour and 45 minute trip. Our ETA home that should have been 10pm turned into 1am, but it was still fun!

I'm in Love...

...with these girls and these photos! The girls had a photo session with a friend of ours and I think they turned out amazing. Here are a couple and you can see more of Jenny's favorites on her blog! Seriously, I love these girls so much - babies, toddlers, tweens - I've loved every minute of being a Mommy to these two. I wish it wasn't going by so fast!

It's Beginning to Look (and Feel) a lot like Christmas...

I usually like to get the tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving (and take it down the Saturday after New Year's Day). I did put it up that day but didn't get it decorated for a few days. I really wanted to buy a new taller, slim, pre-lit tree but decided to wait until after Christmas and try to get one on sale.

The girls and I, along with some friends, went on the Winter Dreams Tour of Homes yesterday. This always gets me in the Christmas spirit and I got a lot of inspiration...now if only I could win the lottery...

Winter Wonderland

The girls participated in Bentonville's Winter Wonderland parade with their dance team. It was a cold morning but they had a great time.
Afterwards, KDA had their Christmas Party and they got to perform. Next week we'll be traveling to Arkansas Children's Hospital to perform - Mackenzie is so excited for this, I think because that hospital is so good to her!