Curl problems

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When braids won’t behave.

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Soccer Smiles and Winning Miles

(Corny… I know.)

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Mrs. Marshall organized some indoor mixed soccer for the varsity kids to get them some winter/spring play time. 

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Meanwhile, Johanna and Tab had cars racing in the Pinewood Derby at church. 

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I can’t find the photos of their cars anywhere!!!

But I think Johanna was happy with her trophy…

Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Predator Problems

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“Please, Mom; please can I get some protein bars?  Surfers get caught in my teeth.”

Matthew 15:11
It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.

Busy Busy Busy

It’s the good kind of busy…
We had a very short turn around time between church and musical practices in two different places.  We also had an all but empty refrigerator.

So – we grabbed lunch at Wendy’s. 
And this is memorable, why?
Because the sun is out?
Because it was more food than we could finish?
Because I took a picture? 

the last one….

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Full armor of God

Take three.
It came up in Hanny’s curriculum. 
Go Dog, Go! has never looked spiffier.

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The boys did this in 2008 (sisters joined in). 
The girls did this in 2013 (boys joined in).

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Something(s) to celebrate…

These are Tabitha’s hands. 
She purposed to take better care of her nails a few months ago, and boy has that worked out well.  She’s grown some seriously long nails since Christmas. 
She has also purposed to work on some other things in her life.  That has also been working out very well. 
A manicure seemed in order to celebrate both the lovely hands and the other accomplishments.  She chose a decidedly Rapunzelesque lavender. 

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AND it just so happens that about a month ago I started Johanna on daily subtraction worksheets to help improve her subtraction-with-borrowing skills.  When she first saw what these daily sheets looked like she expressed dismay.  I get that.  Think about seeing a giant page of something you struggle at and being told you need to get all the right answers!  Mama has been around the block, though, and I offered this bit of encouragement: “When you get 100% on a sheet I will take you out for a treat.”  She nailed it last Thursday and today was our first change to get out.  Thankfully, Shamrock Shakes are out now, too.  Win-win.  We sat in the restaurant and she delighted me with half-an-hour of Hanny-isms, including thoughts on Moses, her birthday in May, and the upcoming musical. 

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Katriel is FIVE

Her fifth birthday fell on a Saturday.  How fun is that?

We decided to pack all the fun into one day. 
We woke her up at 7 A.M. (she was actually awake and waiting for our arrival) and sang happy birthday.
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Balloons and banners greeted her.
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as did a spiffy breakfast.
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The boys had to work parts of the day, so we did family meal and gifts early on.
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We cleaned up and turned our attention to getting ready for her 11:30 A.M. turtle-themed birthday party.
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We had a craft for the basement.
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Friends arrived and got their turtle backs.
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Lunch was pizza and fruit.
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Lots of lovely gifts and home made cards. 
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And cake. 
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Big sisters had some friends here, too.  (I love these girls.)
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And then the kid party was over at 1:30 P.M.

Somehow, we flipped the house again.  Mom lay down for an hour, then made dinner, and grandparents and aunt arrived for 4:30 P.M.
Pasta Alfredo was the birthday girl’s choice.
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And look… more gifts! 🙂
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We had a Princess Tiana cake for the evening.
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And we may have reached our party-food-limit.
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Don’t underestimate the Butler’s ability to party, friends.