The Puddles

A cool package arrived in the mail on Friday. Ainsley discovered it. Soon it was opened and the contents gone through. A big thank you to Aunt Michelle, Uncle Will, et al. They gave Ainsley some cool new scent markers that she opened within 10 seconds and went immediately to drawing, so I don’t have a picture of them.

Ben and Madie will have a cool surprise when they get home.

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While Ben and Madie are away at camp this weekend, Ainsley is an only child. So her Dad and I planned a special weekend for her. Originally we had planned a camping trip per Ainsley’s request but Chris ended up having a confirmation retreat the same weekend. So we had to change plans.

Our new plans included dinner at a Japanese steak house (Ainsley loved the flaming volcano), a movie (Oz-her pick), and a campout in the living room with mom.

She loved every moment of being an only child!

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Chris was invited to pray before a recent city council meeting. He took Ben because it was on the way to scouts that night.

So the council invited Ben to lead them in the pledge and then gave him a special pin for the night.

He was absolutely thrilled with his time with the mayor. That is a great way to start a weekend.

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I love Easter Sunday.  This year the worship seemed even more joyous.  Awesome worship.  Good sermon.  Fabulous baptism (we are finally godparents!  And as Ainsley said, “Now she is my real sister!”). Great breakfast and egg hunt.  And the best part was spending time with all of our friends and family.  It was a good day!

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It is a peaceful day. Ainsley is outside riding her bike. Ben is doing his homework. It is gorgeous outside.  I watch out the window for Madie’s bus to arrive.  When her bus rolls up, there is a sheriff car right behind it.  I didn’t think anything of it until Madie gets to the house.  I was outside to greet her and she announces that there is an escaped prisoner in the neighborhood and they are escorted all of the kids into the house.  What??  I didn’t know anything about it.  I went online to look into it and sure enough . . . not only was he seen in the neighborhood but only a block from the house an hour before Madie got off the bus.  So I get Ainsley back inside. Locked the house. And called Chris.

It certainly explains the increased helicopter traffic over the neighborhood.  Chris asked that I go outside and get photos for him to post on facebook.  Crazy man.  There is an escaped convict arrested for armed bank robbery who just walked into a house down the street and he wants pictures.  Again . . . crazy man.  But I oblige. Crazy woman.

Several hours later the helicopters go away. They can’t find the convict so they call the search off.  Chris comes home that night, double checks the doors, and then loads the gun for the night.

That was a first.

Ainsley took a different approach. She secured herself by surrounding herself with her stuffed animals.  She slept well that night!

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This saw was painted by prisoners and all of the pictures are from the viewpoint of inside the prison.

The Prison Museum that is.  I had planned on visiting Sam Houston’s home, but it was closed for the day.  Instead we visited Daddy’s choice.  It ended up being really fun and interesting.  I learned the state prison system was self supporting until only recently. In fact, they contributed back to the state budget each year.  Interesting. The kids really enjoyed it.  We are actually planning a second trip back to Huntsville to visit other museum.  There is so much to see.    We visited the prison cemetery. The kids wanted to eat lunch there, but I drew the line there!  So we went to Sam Houston’s home and had a picnic there.  It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed the time together.

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This certainly has been a different year for Madie’s education.  Middle school is a whole other beast when it comes to schooling and educating.  Sometimes it is a hard adjustment.  Sometimes it is a good adjustment.  But either way it is an adjustment.

Madie still had a good time completing her project.  She learned a lot about what it takes to become a librarian. In the end, that is a good thing.

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She earned a lot of patches.  She’s a great girl and loves scouts!

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Madie has been practicing every week for months for this competition.  I didn’t know anything about it at all.  I’ve never heard of it.  But it involved acting and Madie was so excited about it that we supported the many, many before and after school practices. Finally it came down to this day.  I was actually looking forward to the competition because I would finally find out what it is that she was practicing for!

It was a type of improv.  It was so cool to see the girls get all excited about creating a skit with their fabulous imaginations.  They were having so much fun.  Even more exciting was that there were only five teams, and the top two were able to go to state.  They were thrilled with the idea.

While the girls were waiting for the announcement of the results, I took them back to the house where they played and ate and got dressed up and played some more.  One of the teachers told us that the kids dressed up crazy during the announcements, so the girls colored their hair and put crazy socks and clothes on.  It was wild.  The girls looked great. Then we went back to the competition and our girls were the craziest there. They didn’t care.  There were having fun.  Unfortunately, the girls tied for last place.  It was their first year and the other groups were better trained (Madie’s coach didn’t say hardly anything to the girls the whole day.  I would ask her questions and she didn’t have any answers.  It was very frustrating.  I was very disappointed.)

Madie was so sad, but Ainsley did her best to try to cheer her up.  She was a great cheerleader!  In the end, we learned a lot and are excited to do it again next year.  Although next year, we moms have vowed to help more!

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It was a little busy this year for Valentine’s Day.  I think I say that every year.  I made homemade Valentine’s treats/cards for everyone’s classes.  At least I made all of the same ones and not three different ones this year.  I got to help in Ainsley’s class this year and I stopped by for Ben’s too.  When you get to fifth grade there aren’t any parties any more.  Madie was certainly sad about that one.    So pictures of her, but Ben loved showing off his double ring pops.  Way to ham it up, Ben.

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