"And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace"

We exchanged our Easter bonnets for face masks...

Our pews for bean bag chairs... 

Our flowy dresses for comfy pjs....

Our sandals for slippers...

Our jelly beans for Wet Wipes...

and a beautiful choir performance for Jon's special solo.  (It was very...quiet.  Perhaps even imagined.)

Happy Easter 2020- one that we'll remember for sure!  Beyond thankful that we serve an unchanging, risen Savior!

Good Old Days- Part 2 (Bragging Edition)

Natalie competed in the school spelling bee again this year.  Blurry pictures= shaky mom hands.  Natalie did great though!:)

 

I should also post about Scott's recent writing award.  He wrote an essay about one of his favorite subjects- SCOUT!- and won 3rd prize in the county.  The honor came with a $15 check, and Scott was thrilled!

And while I'm bragging, I should also point out that Kate was chosen to skip the rest of primary school, graduate, and head to college in the fall.

Okay- two truths and a lie.  Kate will continue in first grade.  However, she sure makes a cute graduate!

Saxophone, keyboard, and guitar- each day we hear some music coming from his room!

The Good Old Days...

Disclaimer:  All of these pictures and events happened prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.  (This disclaimer is for my mom.  Don't worry- we haven't been out licking playgrounds or visiting gyms!:) 

What better time to update my blog than now?  (Actually, LAST WEEK would have been a better time.  Today was our first day of "Distance Learning" for school, and it's going to be an adjustment.)

One morning, I was standing by the door handing kids their coats, lunch boxes, and fixing hair as all three filed out to load the truck with Jon.  "Bye Scout!" said the first.  "Bye Scout!" said the second.  "Bye Scout!" said the third.  I balked, "No bye Mom??"  So in unison, they all amused me with a "Bye, Mom!"  Doesn't count if I have to ask for it though!  At least the dog gets a proper good-bye!

Scott and his buddy competed in the school science fair.  They won third place!  (Second tallest kid in the class + second shortest kid in the class= best buds!) 

As Kate was taking some medicine one day...

Kate:  Does it taste bad to swallow a pill with an alcoholic drink?

Me:  Alcoholic drink??  Where have you heard that?

Kate:  My music teacher was doing that the other day.

Me:  It was an alcoholic drink?

Kate:  I think so.  It was brown and fizzy.

Me:  It was probably a Coke.  Did you think that Coke was called an alcoholic drink?

Kate:  Well...I don't know!

After watching the high school girls at school win Regionals, the girls have been inspired to play basketball.  It's been fun watching them work on their skills at home. 

"Reading ruins my life!  So does school and brushing my teeth!" protested the straight-A student who has never had a cavity.   I think she should try out for drama in the coming years.

I said to Scott, "We should run, and then I'll cut your hair."

Scott said, "What are we trying to do...have the worst day ever??!" (And I guess after last month's haircut debacle, who can blame him for being apprehensive?!)

The girls have been (or perhaps I should say had been) loving gymnastics lessons. 

Scott also started some guitar lessons with a teacher at school.  He's going to be a one man band before we know it!

Caught in the act!

The Good Old Days Part 2 coming tomorrow...

"This is getting a little ridiculous!" said Jon.

In February, Scout turned TWO! 

Scout couldn't decide what hat to wear for her big day.  She decided on the circus themed party. 

She grew a bit impatient waiting for the kids to get home from school so that she could open her birthday gift. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!" she sang.

 Worth the wait!

After reading this post, you may conclude:

A- Lindsey has way too much time on her hands.
B- Scout now gets more pictures taken of her than the kids do.
C- This family really loves their dog.
D- All of the above. 

January Post- (Just in Time!)

Popcorn Party!  Even the dolls have a bowl of buttery goodness!

Scout got sprayed by a skunk, and we did our best in the cold and dark to de-skunk her.  It was...memorable.  (Especially when she broke free of her collar, slipped through the door, and ran her wet, stinky self around our living room while some screamed, some laughed, and some cried.)  The next week, we dropped our high energy lab off at the groomer's for a bath.  The nice lady told me that it would take about 3 hours, and they would call us when she was ready for pick-up.  Lo and behold, we received a call within the hour saying we could come get our dog.  "See you soon!" said the not so subtle dog groomer.  Oh Scout- how we love her.   

Scott's keyboard skills are continuing to blow me away.  We heard the choir sing a cool song the other week in church, and I told Scott that I liked it.  He then listened to it again when we got home and had me print out the words.  He then played it, and it sounds so good!  He now is even playing this song on his saxophone too.  I love it!

The girls had fun participating in a cheer camp in early January.  Natalie was encouraging me to join in some of their moves and said, "You still have a little bit of cheerleading juice left in you."  I guess I'll take that as a compliment?!:)

Both girls were feeling a bit under the weather this day, but their half-time performance went well. 

Two thumbs up for Superpower Dogs 3D!  They would highly recommend and only watched the preview 20-something times. 

That's a Wrap

This is my final post of the year.  The kids and pets are not allowed to look cute, say anything cute, do anything cute, etc. until 2020.  The blog book for 2019 is being ordered in the morning. 

 

Since the promotion, Jon has had to work a ton.  He worked a long stretch of days in a row and on his only two days off, he did the most logical thing- cut trees and chop wood. Thankfully, he had some happy helpers to assist! 

The girls are lobbying for gymnastics lessons in the coming year.  Jon keeps warning, "Don't break your neck" as they flip and flop about in the basement. 

Scott's class spent a morning volunteering at the Salvation Army. 

 

 

Ironically, in looking back on past years, I've written exactly 29 blog posts in 2017 and 2018, and this is my 29th post for 2019.  I know I will appreciate the blog books eventually, but I may need to cut out more content in the coming years.  The kids are less appreciative of the cute/embarrassing stories that I am putting on here even though I assure them that I only have about 3 readers.  So, I may need to rethink how I capture these memories in the future.  Regardless, 2019 has been a great year, and we are thankful for the Lord's provision and blessing.  Happy New Year!