Valentine's Day Dance and Banquet...

 For the past several years, our church's youth group has put on a special Valentine's Day banquet.  The youth plan, decorate, serve, clean up, and even do the entertaining at this banquet.  The past two years, this event has raised money specifically for the Haiti mission trip.  In addition to the meal, there was also a silent auction. Individuals and businesses from the community donated items to be put up for bid.   

John Wesley has gone to Haiti with our church group for four years in a row, now.  I went with him one year, and this year, William will go for his first time.  This banquet is special to our family because it is for a very precious cause.

 

 Here is Cody, looking very handsome as he balanced several plates, serving our table.

 Jonas and Jared were preparing to enjoy their salads.

 William also looked quite dapper as he served Grandma and Grandpa's table.

 I thought the youth did a fabulous job decorating.  They always try to do these banquets on a shoestring budget because the more they can save on the actual banquet, the more they can put toward the Haiti mission trip, and that's the whole point of the banquet!  The kids spent hours planning and preparing for this event.  I am so proud of all of them!

 This year's theme was 1940's era New York City east coast swing.  Several of the youth put together a dance to perform and to my great surprise and delight, William and John Wesley both chose to participate!  They had so much fun!  There were several practice sessions, and they learned something new--broadened their horizons, so to speak. 

 John Wesley and his partner, Bre, did a fabulous job!

 William and Dani also did great!  I know that I would never have been able to remember all the steps they learned!

 Makayla (also part of the youth and also a four-time Haiti mission trip participant) actually choreographed and instructed the kids as they learned the dance steps.  She also sang several songs for us.  She has a beautiful voice!

 The dance floor was opened up to the rest of the folks in attendance, so MaKenzie got out there and did her thing.

 The youth took a minute to rest from their work of serving and dancing.

 Harold took Lena, Jared, and MaKenzie out on the floor for a spin.

 Jared has music in him!  He loves singing and dancing.  He stayed on the dance floor the whole time swaying and moving his chair to the music.

 What a great night we had!  I love that our church family not only worships together, but also "plays" together.  I also love that missions are a true priority and that our YOUTH are putting their time and talents to work to make a difference in their world.   But what I really love is that it gave me an excuse to have a nice dinner out with my very own Valentine! 

Valentine's Day 2012...

Ah, Valentine's Day!  It's one of my most very favorite holidays.  I think it's because it doesn't have the pressure surrounding it that Christmas does.  Christmas equals stress for me.  But Valentine's Day?  Valentine's Day is all about the fun.  And it doesn't have to be expensive fun, either.  Although, in years past, I have found myself shelling out BIG bucks for huge piles of candy and fancy-schmancy cards.  Not this year.

In fact, this year, a couple of my kids even said to me, "Mom, I hope you're not going to go out and bring home tons of junk food this year."  How can I argue with that?  One of the benefits of me eating healthier these past few months is that my kids have begun being more aware of their own food choices.  I love that!  So, for the kids who I knew still needed some sweets to make them agree to being my Valentine, I still bribed them with sweets.  For the ones who wouldn't consider being my Valentine if I sugar-coated it, I kept it all-natural.   This morning, they woke up to a corny (cheap, printed at home) Valentine greeting at their place at the table along with ONE treat, not tons of treats! 

As they ate breakfast, I declared Valentine's Day a fun day and told them we would put off schooling for the day as long as they promised to play games and watch movies all day.  It was a hard bargain, but they finally agreed.  I know I'm such a dictator!  Then, for lunch (always served on the heart plates on Valentine's Day), I put my new Pinterest obsession to work and made the ham and swiss sliders I had pinned a few days ago, along with Paula Deen's homemade mac-n-cheese.  Yum.  A Happy Valentine's Day all around.   

Christmas 2011

This Christmas, like all Christmases, was filled with lots of activity and lots of joy.

 Jonas and Lena sang Christmas carols at the nursing home with a group from church.

 (Don't all Christmas trees have a piglet hanging out underneath?)  This is John Wesley's potbelly (mini pig), Wilbur.  He's just about full grown and he's only about 7 pounds.

 The kids always draw names and buy gifts for each other. 

 This was the year of the Nerf wars.  All the boys conspired to buy each other Nerf weapons.  It's supposed to be a secret, but this year they coordinated things and I think everyone knew what they were getting.

 It seems like they all enjoy each other's presents as much as their own.  That's probably because they share everything anyway, so it's just as much fun to see what you got in someone else's box.

 Part of the fun is them getting to wrap the present for the person whose name they drew.  John Wesley wrapped this Nerf axe for Cody.  He used tons of bubble wrap to disguise it.

 Grandma & Grandpa came over and got in on the present opening too.  What a blessing it is to live so close and to have them as part of our everyday lives.  What a rich heritage for our children to know their grandparents so well and to have them involved in their everyday lives.

 Seriously...I can't even imagine life without all these precious children and all their unique personalities.  Look at the joy on those faces.  THESE are my gifts, on Christmas, and every day.  I am so blessed.



Another December Birthday!

 John Wesley turned 16 at the end of December.  The big sweet 16!  I can't believe I have a 16 year old!  And of all things, for his birthday, I had an EPIC MOM FAIL moment.  I FORGOT the candles!!!!  I couldn't believe it!  

 So...luckily I had 16 various candles of assorted shapes, sizes, and scents that I drug out of every room and cupboard in the house to use in place of the little cake candles that I couldn't remember to buy.  Oh well, just another funny memory, I suppose, in the overall scheme of things! 

Of course, turning 16, the main focus was on getting the long-awaited driving permit!  With his birthday so close to Christmas, he had to wait a few extra days for the test to be given, but he finally got his permit the next week.  Now comes the letting go part of parenting, right?  I am so proud of the young man John Wesley is becoming, and so blessed to be his momma.  I just wish there was a little more time between birthdays!  He's growing up waaaayyy too fast for me!

Cody Grows Up...

Cody's 15th birthday was in the middle of December.  He's at the age where he's excited about getting to drive.  It's almost within reach for him now.  Cody has decided he wants the Suburban to be his first vehicle.  So, we're good with that.  (I'm not sure how he's going to afford gas for it, but I guess he can work on that as the time comes.)  But anyway, for his birthday, he wanted the sideview mirror to be replaced.  (Harold hit a deer last year and it knocked the mirror off.)  So that was Cody's favorite part of his birthday this year.  Now, he's just looking forward to actually getting to drive the Suburban--I think it'll be a long year waiting for 16!!!  Happy Birthday Cody!  Your daddy and I are so blessed and privileged to watch you grow and mature.