Craigslist find

I have been living in my current home for 1 1/2 years now and my dining room has remained empty that entire time.   I have been biding my time, waiting to find a great deal on a table that fits my selective criteria (black, simple, NO glass).  Finally, I enlisted the help of a friend who is notorious for finding amazing deals.  Within a week, she found me the perfect set for a steal of a deal.  Tom was not as thrilled.  He didn't want to spend his limited free time moving a solid wood table, 6 chairs, and a china cabinet.   Luckily for me, I have brothers. I asked the two Daniels and they managed to fit the entire haul in Daniel's van.  I am so happy to finally have furnitire in that space!  And the guy I bought it from even emailed me today to tell me what great guys my brothers are. I know.

Weekend recap

This was one of those crazy busy weekends. Saturday morning I woke up early so I could make sandwiches for 40 people. Then, I went up to the church to set up for a Mother/Daughter Spa Day activity that I was helping put on for the 8-11 year old girls.

After it was over and I had finished cleaning up, I rushed home so I could watch my sister's kids while she celebrated her birthday. The weather was awesome so we spent much of our time outdoors.

Sunday was the normal three hours of church and then the family all got together in the evening to celebrate Dianna's birthday some more. We'd already had a Pickleball Party with some of her friends on Wednesday night to celebrate. In my family, birthdays are a big deal. I think because when you are one of 7 kids, it is one of those very few times where you can be singled out and feel special. That's why, even as adults, we like to drag out our birthdays for as long as possible!

Happy birthday to the coolest girl I know!

V-day Festivities

I love Valentine's Day.  Seriously.  Love it.  I continued on my parents' tradition of  putting heart-shaped boxes of chocolates on my kids' breakfast plates.  I would have made heart-shaped pancakes, too, but ain't nobody got time for that so the kids enjoyed some red velvet Pop Tarts instead.

No chocolates or PopTarts for Sam

Every year I tell Tom that I do not want flowers and every year he insists on buying them. Flowers are pretty, but they are overpriced and die quickly! I don't know why he doesn't believe me when I tell him that all I want is for him to write me a love letter and maybe pick up the house?

I know, they ARE beautiful

 He bought Ellie a flower, too, and she was much more grateful than I was.

Highlight of Ellie's day

 In the evening, Tom and I went to Mark and Rosie's for their annual Valentine's Day party. In the past, they have always done the Newlywed Game, but this year they did a Murder Mystery dinner party. It was so much fun. Tom and I played farmers named Gunner and Honey Dew.

Meet Gunner and Honey Dew, farmers (or are they?)

During the game, I found out that I was really a serial killer who had killed 50 of my farmhands and 30 other people before that. But I wasn't the murderer. Tom's back story was that he was in witness protection program hiding from the mob. Oh, and he had a fondness for poetry. At the end of the game, I accurately guessed who the murderer was. I totally should have been a detective instead of a teacher.

Feeling crafty

Ok, y'all know that I am terrible at all things "crafty."  So, when I heard that Jack needed to make a Valentines box for his preschool, I wasn't exactly thrilled.  Luckily for me, Pinterest was invented and so I could steal ideas from others.  Jack really likes Ninjago (Ninja Legos!) and I found a few cute ideas that I hodpodged together into one of my own.

I am so proud of it!  I even posted it on Facebook and Instagram.  That's how proud I was.  In the interest of full disclosure, I did have one of my students wrap the box for me because I can't wrap to save my life.  Two other students cut out cardboard swords for me.  One of the perks of being a teacher is that you have your own workforce at your disposal.  But, I swear, I totally did the rest on my own!

Sunday Best: Deceptive Pictures edition

Don't my kids look like angels? 

 If only they ACTED like angels during church.