An April Fool

This morning while Macklin was getting ready for school she said

"Mom, Mrs. Moore said that if we did well on our science test that we could go on a school bus on a field trip to hear Dave Ramsey."

Dave Ramsey????

I know that times are tough and the economy is lagging some but why would you take 2nd graders to hear a seminar about getting out of debt? Most second graders do not have debt!

So I said "Dave Ramsey?" "Are you sure?" To which she replied "Mom, APRIL FOOLS!!!!

I honestly fell for it. So I guess that makes me an April fool!

She is such a funny girl. She has to write sentences each week for her spelling words. Her sentences this week cracked me up! Her sentences for the words short, force and for were:

To make a long story short, she hit me and I hit her.

The Stars Wars people use force.

I cannot think of a sentence for this word.

I wonder if her teacher thinks she is as clever as I do?

Good night from an April Fool!

(photo taken on the occassion of her sassy new hair cut she got during spring break)

Top o' the evenin' to ya!

May the friendships you make,Be those which endure,

And all of your grey clouds Be small ones for sure.

And trusting in Him To Whom we all pray,

May a song fill your heart, Every step of the way.

An Irish Blessing

I am blessed to have a group of friends that have endured thru life's ups and downs. We all have a pack of youngin's and husbands that keep us busy but we are blessed to get together once a month for a girl's night. This month Amanda was in town to eat with us. I count my time with this group of ladies ( and the ones that were missing this month) among my favorites things to do. We laugh (till we cry sometimes), cry together when we need to and then usually laugh again. It is nice to have a group of friends that are with you when it is good and they are with you when it is bad. Friends you can depend on no matter what! Love you girls!

He's 11!

My baby is 11! Oh my, oh my! That seems so old!

I love this guy more than he can ever understand and I am so proud of him!

He is an excellent student, thoughtful brother (when he is not torturing them) and an all around great kid!

It is a bittersweet experience to watch him grow into a young man but I am so blessed to call him my son.

I look forward to see what God is going to do in his life.

Happy Birthday E!

It's a good thing she is cute......

because this is what Sophie did to the desk in her room.

I'll admit that I was a little impressed that she wrote her name AND her sister's name.

Pretty good for a 3 year old!

She didn't get into too much trouble! It washed off!

Eight is Great!

Macklin turned 8 on February 8th and the celebration is still not over! We had a nice Saturday before her birthday eating at Elliston Place Soda Shop, Krispy Kreme and going to McKay's bookstore (her request) to get some new books. We went to church the morning of her birthday and then we were treated to lunch at the Olive Garden by Dann's Aunt Sharon and Uncle Dave who are in Tennessee visiting their daughter. That afternoon we had gifts and at small group that night we had cake and ice cream! But wait there's more.......We spent the weekend in Knoxville with Amanda, Jeremy and Will. Papa Ben and Grannie Annie came on Sunday and we celebrated Macklin and Elijah's birthday with them. There is still a friend party to come!

Macklin is our child that keeps you on your toes and certainly makes you "think outside of the box". She is very creative, always writing a song or a story or creating some sort of drama :0)! I love every inch of who she is and would not change one thing about her! I am excited to see what God has planned for her life. It has got to be something great! Happy (month long) Birthday Mackie! I love you.

A Very Merry

Boy, am I behind! If you are like me you are WAY OVER CHRISTMAS, but in the interest of preserving memories for my family, here is a quick recap of our Christmas. We celebrated with Dann's family in Indiana over Thanksgiving and got the only real snow we have seen this season. We continued the tradition of drawing names and making the gifts. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of this tradition. It is always fun to see what everyone comes up with.

Sophie was an angel in the Thursday CLC Christmas program and sang in the choir in the Wednesday program.

We went to East TN for Christmas and had a great time despite over 20 of us getting a stomach virus! Fun times :0(. Papa and Grannie were very generous (as usual) and we are very much enjoying our Wii and Wii Fit! The kids had fun playing with Will, Jadyn, Logan and Asha and loved being spoiled by their aunts and uncles!

Groovy Gobbler

or Turkey Dressing part deux.

You may remember from last year that Macklin had to disguise

a turkey so that he would not get eaten for Thanksgiving.

We disguised him as Santa Claus last year.

This year she was given the same assignment and we had to out do last year (of course).

This is what we came up with.....

She is hoping to win a prize! (but she is not sure there is a contest :0) )

I have never baked a turkey in my life but if your turkey needs a beaded wig this holiday season, I'm your girl!

Happy Veteran's Day

Thanks to all who have served and defended our country so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have.
Let us not ever take them for granted.

Remember

Do your part!

Go Vote!

Happpy Halloweeeen!

We joined the Gibson's for the 3rd annual Trick or Treat fest. The daddies took the kids out and Jana and I stayed at their house to pass out candy. Jeff and Dann were much more ambitious and took them to tons more houses than Jana and I ever have. The kids literally had all the candy they could carry. Dann reports that Sophie want to crawl the last half of the block! Even with all the sugar, everyone slept very well last night :0). Enjoy the photos of the skateboarder, Egyptian, cheerleader and transformers!

Well, at least it is not broken

This afternoon Macklin had an unfortunate tree house-wasp-shirt getting stuck on the ladder-falling and the ladder falling on her-hitting her head and injuring her arm incident.

She came thru the Bynums yard screaming and could not be consoled for awhile.

Now, Macklin has a tendency to lay a bit on the dramatic side of life but when it comes to injuries she is usually one tough cookie.

I really cannot recall a time that she cried that hard over being hurt. This includes the time her teeth bit thru her lip. So, needless to say, I was sure she had broken her arm.

We met Dann at the Tennessee Urgent Care (it was 6pm)to have it x-rayed. By the time she was seen she had decided that she would choose a pink cast and that Elijah could be the first person to sign it.

Well, the good news is that it is not broken, but the doctor said the muscle is bruised. She has to wear a sling for five days and then go back for an evaluation. After telling the doctor that she wanted to see the pictures of her arm (he immediately apologized and went and got them) she was a little disappointed to find that the slings only come in a drab blue. I assured her that we could dress it up some how.....this is what we came up with!

She went to bed with a sore arm but a smile on her face!

She is sure that she will have the cutest sling in school tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Grannie Annie!

Grannie Annie's Birthday from Ashley Zehr on Vimeo.

Famous

At least in my world!

Dann is involved in a local theater production of The Music Man that opens tonight.

The above photo was on the cover of the Rutherford Weekend today.

You can read the article here: http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/WEEKEND01/809240314/1082/WEEKEND.

The show runs tonight thru Sunday and Oct. 2-5th. Tickets are available at www.lamplighterstheater.net.

Our "Zooper" Day

Ha, ha, ha.....sorry, I couldn't resist the pun! The kids had a 1/2 day off from school yesterday so we took advantage of the beautiful day to go to the zoo! A good time was had by all!

Trouble?

I just wrote a note to Macklin's teacher apologizing for her behavior at school today.

She got a smiley face instead of a star.

Her trouble?

She was dancing in the hallway!

Now obedience is expected at all times (though never accomplished 100% of the time) especially at school, but I'll admit that today's offense made me a little sad.

Wouldn't the world be a little better place if the rules were that we could all

take the time to dance when we were in the mood?

In the meantime we can just let Macklin do the dancing for us! (just not at school :0) )

A Really Good Photo

I received the following photo via email yesterday. My Uncle Vern took the photo the last time they were here. I don't know which is more precious.......the photo of her grubby hands fearlessly holding the frog or the words he wrote about her:

"Looking at this picture, One would assume that they are looking at the hands of some adolesent boy doing what boys do. But in reality they are the hands of my favorite tom-boy, Macklin Zehr my great-niece, and she is indeed a GREAT NIECE !"

I am very grateful for a family who are crazy about my kids and love them each just the way they are!

It's Baseball Time in Tennesseeeeeeee!!!!

At least for our family. EBZ moved up yet another league (11 and 12 year olds). They can play in the league that their age will fit come spring. Balls are pitched a little faster and everything is a little harder. His team is doing well (2 -1) and the team of boys that have played together for a while are back together after being split onto two teams last season. It is so awesome to watch them work as a true team....making double plays, picking off runners trying to steal bases and stealing plenty of bases themselves! E has had some great hits and has played right field, left field, shortstop and second base so far. It is shaping up to be a great season! As you tell by the photos, the girls make their own fun!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Grannie Annie, Papa Ben, Gramma and Granpa

We love you!

Huh?

The other day I came home and checked my caller id and this is what I found........

He did not leave a message!

Maybe he has heard about the stellar job that I do playing the evil stepmother when the girls play princesses!

I guess if Peter Pan and Tinker Bell start calling I will really get concerned!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

From your two greatest accomplishments!

We love you!