Daddy Daughter Date

Our family does something we call "Daddy Daughter Dates."  It originally started when Madi was a baby, Chris took Emma out for a special time together.  Now that it involves us all, we really should change the name.  We alter girls, so one time Chris and Madi will do something together while Emma and I are spending time together, then next time we will switch.  Friday Chris didn't work downstairs because a minor injury, so we took advantage of the time.  Emma and I used a gift card, we got in fall, for ice cream and went to Barnes and Nobles to look at books.
For Madi and Chris' time together they made a memory stone that Madi and I were given last year.

Friday Chris and Madi mixed the cement together.  It's hard to see, but the first picture is an empty mold and the second picture is the finished product.



Saturday, the stone was dry and Madi got to decorate it.  Here is her artwork...

AWANA T&T Bible Quiz

Since last year our AWANA club had so many teams participate in the Regionals T&T Bible Quiz we did our own Quiz to select the top teams to go to Regionals.  Since there were not as many teams as we had last year, all the teams get to go to Regionals on February 6th.  In the Bible Quiz each participant must complete a 10 question written test and 10 question multiple choice questions in front of an audience, as shown below.  She did well.

Emma and Pierce sporting their 2nd place ribbons.

We also found out, tonight, that she placed 3rd individually and will be in a team for regionals with the first place team.

New Found Love

The girls have never been sledding before, except for a cookie sheet down our driveway in Oregon years ago, if that counts.  Anyways, the girls have been wanting to go and finally it was warm enough (for me) to go sledding on Friday.  When we first got to the park, we went away from everyone on the "big hill" and started on a small one...

Emma was not too sure, but after contemplation, she did it and loved it!  You should have seen how long she contemplated the big hill.

Madi, on the other hand, went right down several times and was ready for the big hill.  I have to note Madi's open mouth.  Too cute.  I tired to get that child to go strait down the hill.  It was nerve racking at times as there were others on the big hill.

Now for the big hill...

The girls would occasionally wipe out, especially Madi, since she is more daring and doesn't take caution like her sister,  until I got smart and thought maybe they shouldn't hold onto the rope, but instead, the sides of the sled.  After they tried that, no more wipe outs; maybe one or two?

Madi's wipe out....

Notice the snow flying in all three pictures.  And the sled sliding away from Madi.  Good wipe out Madi.

Emma's wipe out...

I was afraid this would end Emma's sledding career, but she got right up and continued on.  Proud of you Emma.

Time Flew.  The girls had a blast.  Madi won a race with boys.  No one got hurt.  I joined in the last few times.  Ready to go again.

Shelving

Chris is working in the basement almost everyday.  A few weeks ago he finished putting up the shelving....

Playroom Closet

Hall Closet 

I know he took more pictures, but I can't find them.  I will add them if they are found.

Ms. Grace

Yesterday I got a phone call from a church family friend I have known since I was Emma's age.  She was coming to the area for a conference and wanted to see us.  She was able to spend the night last night as her conference didn't start until this afternoon.  I'm sure the girls would have had a hard time remembering her from the many people at the church we used to go to in Oregon since it's been almost 5 years since we have regularly attended there, but we saw her at the Scandinavian Festival last August when we were visiting Oregon.  She gave us samples of Italian shaved ice.  Yesterday, when I picked the girls up from school I told them we were off to pick-up Ms. Grace, the lady from the Scandinavian Festival, from the airport.  They knew right away who she was.  We had a fun evening.  She even helped the girls study for their spelling tests.  This afternoon when I picked up the girls, right away Madi asked where Ms. Grace was, even though she knew she was already at the conference.  I am thinking she was hopeful she was still with us.  
And yes Heidi, she gave the girls big hugs from you (smile).

20 Day Journey

I was listening to K-Love this morning and it talked about being on day three... so I went to Eric and Lisa's (DJ's in the morning) blog and checked it out.  The posts are titled: "What do you crave?"  I really liked what the author from the book Made to Crave had to say, so I thought I would share:
http://www.klove.com/blog/

Let me know what you think.