A Much Needed Break

Spring Break rolled around for us and boy did we need the break!! If only to catch up on some sleep!! The kids started the week off by sleeping in their sleeping bags in the den - one of their favorite things to do! They love to stay up late and watch the Disney Channel while lying in their sleeping bags. Avery has graduated to the couch now - but she enjoys it just the same.

On Monday night, we all headed to the Bancorp South Center to see the Harlem Globetrotters! What a fun time! None of us - including Terry and me - had ever seen them before, so we were pumped up! It was a lot of fun watching the antics and tricks of the Globetrotters. They really put on a show. We liked the dunks, the twirling the ball on their fingers and and the cool ball handling tricks they could do. We even sugared up on cotton candy! I think Terry and I might have had more fun than the kids!!

Here they come - the Harlem Globetrotters!!

Some ball handling tricks! Pretty cool!

Taking off the sweats

We thought this thing was funny

An Encore!

Sometime during the first of our week off, we got out our ping pong table. The kids have been dying to get it out, so we set it up in the garage for the entire week. Just like the Globetrotters, I think Terry and I had more fun with it than the kids. We had some heated games and I refused to quit until I beat him at least once! Which I finally did! Avery, Anna and Tanner played with many of the neighborhood kids and got pretty good. It wasn't too bad not parking our cars in the garage for a week to get some ping pong action!

Our kids are all about playing! So other than the ping pong, the Globetrotters and a movie, the kids spent the week playing!! I love that they LOVE to play outside, so it was a great week for them to do that with their favorite neighbors, Brianna and Zachary.

We ended the week by going to Oxford to see an Ole Miss baseball game. It was our first visit to the stadium since they expanded it, and it is NIIIICE! The Rebels won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when a runner scored on a wild pitch! Exciting!

Gotta have those snacks! Actually, this was supper!

I had to put this in. For some reason, I love to watch them drag the field!

Rebels win! Rebels win!

On Sunday, after church, we finally had Anna's church basketball team's party. We ate lots of pizza and passed out pictures and trophies. Only 4 of the 7 players were able to be there, but we all had a good time. I was honored to be able to coach Anna's team and it was a true blessing. The girls were GREAT! They really listened - well, for the most part - and improved in every game. But most of all, I think they all had fun. It was a fun season - and a winning one! - even though we don't keep score (yeah, right!).

Some of Anna's teammates: Avery Claire Littleton, Savannah Hudgins, Anna and Allie Hall

No trips this Spring Break - but still a lot of fun! And yes, the sleeping late was one of the best parts - for me at least!

Under the Big Top

Tanner and the entire Kindergarten class at Parkway Elementary took on the Circus in their very first play! "Circus, Circus" came to town complete with lions, lion tamers, elephants, acrobats, jugglers, clowns, snack vendors, plate spinners, ringmasters, and even a marching band! It was a 3 ring circus - literally!

Tanner was a lion - the "king of the circus!" - and he did a great job!! He roared and sang (even yawned a little!) and did his "trick" when the lion tamer directed him to. It always amazes me how Bridget Hawkins, the music teacher, coordinates these plays, and this one was a FEAT! There were Kindergartners all over the place doing many different things - all at the same time! It was amazing!

Tanner turned into a lion!

Macie and Jaquavious

Singing and performing

Jamaul was an acrobat - Ta Da!!

I was so busy videoing the play, that I didn't get too many pictures. Tanner's class had some lead parts and they all did so great! Jaquavious and Macie were 2 of the 3 ringmasters, and Mary Conlee was the sad clown that became the ringmaster at the end. These 3 had little solos and they were incredible!

I look forward to these plays every year - and it was finally Tanner's turn! The kids worked so hard and it really paid off! AWESOME job!! Way to go Tanner!

Tanner and Jaquavious after the play

Tanner, Jaquavious and Jamaul - these 2 are some of Tanner's best buds

A Passover Feast

With Easter approaching, Anna's 3rd grade Sunday School class was able to experience a Passover Feast similar to the one in the Bible. It was a neat experience for them. One I'm sure they will remember for awhile.

Along with the 4th grade Sunday School, the kids "painted" the doorways with "blood" (or red paint) before entering their classroom. The 3rd graders wore robes like the people in Biblical times, and as they entered they were seated at long tables that were set with plates of food for the Feast.

Mrs. Samantha Fikes, who teaches the 4th graders, led them through the meaning of each part of the feast. It was pretty incredible to go through each piece of food and truly understand what it meant that special night so long ago. I don't know if the kids will remember the meanings, but I feel sure they will remember some of the food that they tried - especially the horseradish! I think we were all thankful that we don't eat the same foods today. (Sidenote: Anna DID like the lamb meat and the grape juice!)

Griffin Moore painting the doorway

Zach Abernethy, Anna, Noah Collum, and Emily Ann Waters

The 3rd Graders waiting for the Feast to begin

Listening intently

Mrs. Lisa Hawkins, and Mrs. Samantha explaining part of the Passover

Samantha explaining the unleavened bread

Trying some of the food

Krissy Hall's reaction - Bleck!

The lamb meat was pretty tasty

Horseradish?? Aaaaggghhh! Not Anna's favorite!

She washed it down with some grape juice - much better!

Avery Advances

Avery was a winner in her science fair at Milam Elementary this year! She came in 3rd place in the category of Botany. She was happy that she placed, but honestly, was not too happy that she would have to go on to the District Science Fair at Northeast Community College. After trying to hunt down her board after the Milam competition - only to find out it had been accidentally thrown away (yes, thrown away!) - I, for one, was not too happy either that she was going on the the District Fair. Because that meant - yes!- doing her board all over again! The easy thing to do would have been to tell them she wouldn't be participating - most people suggested this over and over again. But we decided, amidst some minor protests, that she would redo her board and go on.

I'm so glad we did! God works things out, thankfully, and it was a great experience. Avery rode the bus with the other Milam science fair winners to Northeast CC and I met her there. We set up her table and her board, then went to the bleachers to wait. Later, Avery and the other participants went down to stand by their projects to wait for the judging to begin. For some reason, Avery had 6 judges she had to talk to about her board. Most others had only about 2. We still don't know why she had so many. After the judging, we went to eat lunch at McDonalds, then returned to take down her board and look at others. There were some really cool projects!

At 3:00, they began announcing the winners. Although Avery didn't place this time, several kids from Milam did and Milam ended up winning 2nd place in the School Division! It was a lot of fun for their school to do so well! It ended up being a interesting, fun, learning experience. I think in the end, Avery really wanted to win something - as long as it wasn't first place, which would require going to the State Fair (oh no!)- but dealt with her disappointment well.

Avery, your Daddy and I are always proud of you, but are especially proud of you for perservering and participating in this District Fair. You did a great job!

Avery by her newly redone science board

Lots of Science boards

Avery and Lauren Kate Carter

All the Milam winners that participated in the District Fair

Avery's certificate and ribbon

What Snow??

Just to go on record for years down the road when the kids may ask about the last time it snowed in Tupelo.........it did. On a Sunday morning - March the 1st, to be exact. That's 2009. Yes, you kids saw it and were excited about it, but unfortunately, you didn't get to play in it. No Eli Manning snowman like last year, no snow angels, not even a snowball. We had commitments at church that morning that your Dad and I could not miss, and by the time church was out, the snow had disappeared. Luckily ya'll weren't too disappointed! But look on the bright side - you saw more snow in a week in Colorado than some people see in a lifetime. At least one snowball fight would have been fun though! Maybe next time.........which all who live in Mississippi know, that could be another 8 years!

Playing a little Roundball

Avery and Anna started their church league basketball games back in December, playing 2 games before Christmas, and the rest during January and February. We finished up yesterday with both girls playing in nail biters. Avery played for Harrisburg Baptist Church in the 4th-6th grade league. Her coach this year was Cheryl Ware. Anna played for HBC in the 2nd-3rd grade league and I (her Mama!) was her coach. It was fun time. Both girls really improved over the season and played hard. I think they both learned more skills and had a lot of fun. It's always fun to play a great sport with your friends - and even against your friends! And when you learn a little more about God during the halftime devotions - what more could you ask?? Here's to a great season girls!! Way to go!

Avery - 11 1/2 years old

5th grade

Anna - 9 years old

3rd Grade

HBC 4th - 6th Grade Team

HBC 2nd - 3rd Grade Team

Avery driving to the goal

De-fense!!

Showing off their trophies

Anna with the ball

Who's open??

She shoots.....She scores!

A shot from the outside!

Coach Mom finishes up the devotion at halftime