Busy weekend

Between going to a play, shopping, church, golf, watching the Titanic and having a friend sleep over, Stephanie pooped out about 6:30 p.m.

New clubs

Stephanie is taking up golf. She is hoping to get on the middle school golf team although she has not had much experience at all. Her grandparents and parents outfitted her with new clubs, bag, cart, shoes and of course, the glove.

Kitty and the tchotkes

Paul came home from a conference in Florida with a few tchotkes (def: a Slavik word for toys, now meaning swag, in the sense of the logo pens, key fobs, and other promotional freebies dispensed at trade shows, conventions, and similar large events). He got in late and laid out the goodies for the girls, but Hunter wanted first dibs.

Love, Peace & Technology Olympics

Rachel won a medal for intermediate telescope use (small single lens for seeing distance) and for art and essay.
She and fellow Midway student SeKevia work with magnetic manipulatives.
Rachel and her fabulous Visual Impairment teacher, Maryanne Riggs.

Tools of the Trade

Officially, these are "weapons" for karate but I loved the bright colors and patterns.

In the Swing

Stephanie is taking up golf after school. She's never had lessons but is going to try out for the golf team. Her dad and grandpa will go "halfs" on a new set of junior clubs.

Valentine bears

Rachel and I went to Walmart to pick up a few things and we saw an entire aisle stuffed with Valentine bears.

Cream Puffs

Our church's annual meeting and potluck was today -- beef tenderloin was served and we all brought pot luck sides and desserts. I brought cream puffs.

Science Fair

Rachel's school has an art fair and a science fair, and Rachel decided to enter both. This weekend she's been working on an experiment designed to show how the dome shape of eggshells can withstand a lot of weight.

Rachel's Academic Patch

Rachel earned her Academic Achievement patch from karate today because she got a 90 average on her report card. Her grades and behavior showed great improvement this grading period!

Girl Scout Cookies

We bought four boxes of Girl Scout cookies today. I'm just grateful to be buying instead of selling them this year.

Sangria Wine

This bottle of wine has been sitting in our pantry for a couple of years. We finally decided to open it. As the song says:
When friends come for Saturday night
It's nice to make up some Sangria wine
It's organic and it comes from the vine
It's also legal and it gets you so high
Yeah I love that Sangria wine
Love to drink it with old friends of mine
Yeah I love to get drunk with old friends of mine
When we're drinkin' that old Sangria wine

CHORUS:
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine
Whoa oh oh Woah oh oh I love Sangria wine

Start with some wine
Get some apples and brandy and sugar just fine
Old friends always show up on time
That's why you add Sparkling Burgandy wine
I love old Sangria wine
When I drink it with old friends of mine
Yeah I love to drink with old friends of mine
When we get drunk on that Sangria wine

CHORUS

In Texas on a Saturday night
Everclear is added to the wine sometimes
Some nachos, burritos and tacos
Who knows how it usually goes, it goes

CHORUS

Yeah I love that Sangria wine
Just like I love old friends of mine
They tell the truth when they're mixed with the wine
That's why I blend in the lemons and limes
And I love that Sangria wine
Love to drink it with old friends of mine
Yeah I love to drink with friends of mine
When we get drunk on that Sangria wine

Winnie the Pooh

Rachel, adopted at 3 years old, missed out on bedtime stories. When she first arrived, she was too agitated at night, and somehow never really wanted to be read to. But in the last couple of weeks, she's been asking for a bedtime story. So now we're reading a chapter of Winnie the Pooh every night. I enjoy the books for the sly over-their-heads humor.

Sunset

A fiery winter's sunset across from our house.

Science Fair Project -- Done!

Stephanie and Jessica finalized their respective science fair projects this weekend. Stephanie's was a comparison of water in the Brazos and Bosque rivers that run through Waco.

Grocery shopping and how 'bout them Cowboys?

I can't help it -- I love HEB, our local grocery chain. They have everything, and lots of yummy samples too.
Rachel loves to grocery shop.
And they have everything for your playoff party.

Even Cowboys charcoal.

Chuy's

Chuy's -- the kitchy Austin Tex-Mex eatery -- finally came to Waco. We knew it would be a long wait but we girded ourselves with a couple of margaritas and three baskets of nachos. In the end, the Tex-Mex enchiladas were worth it.

Reading List

Rachel and I have been reading this book together. It's a Bluebonnet book, recommended for elementary school readers. Personally, I'm not crazy about it.

Earthquake in Haiti

The world is holding it's collective breath for relief to come to Haiti after the earthquake. Unbelievable devastation and misery there.

Fried Chicken & Okra

Stephanie and Jessica eating Bush's fried chicken with mashed potatoes and cream gravy.
I love the friend okra. Doesn't get more southern than that.
And Rachel tops it off with Mountain Dew.

Comfy study mode

Stephanie is studying for an end of the unit Texas history test. I tried to find the specific answer in the book and couldn't and I'm pretty good at Texas history. Good luck!

Peace, Love & Technology

Rachel receives services at school due to her vision impairment, and in this region, they have a "technology day" for VI students. She was asked to make an art piece with the theme "Peace, Love & Technology."

Christmas Comes Down

All the pretties in a heap, ready to be wrapped and packed away.
Mahogony perches on a wreath that's waiting to be put away.
My rather hap-hazzard Christmas tree ornament packing -- but none of these are breakable.
Paul takes the ornaments off the tree.

Max hunkers down

Our dog Max is pretty old, about 13 years old. He spends almost all of his time outside because he, well, can't exactly control himself, if you get my drift.... But with temperatures below freezing for several days straight, we let him in and he's hunkered down on an old blanket in the kitchen.

Baby, it's cold outside...

It's not as bad as some parts of the country, but this is very cold for us!

Epiphany

I went to the noon Feast of the Epiphany service today. Nothing like five verses of "We Three Kings of Orient Are" to put you in the mood.

Studying Hard

Rachel is working on alphabetizing her spelling list. She's been really good about coming home and getting to work.