Homecoming - Round #5

In January of 2003, we had our first experience with one of our kids being in Homecoming at our wonderful school. Each winter, they pick a Kindergarten boy and girl as the elementary attendants for basketball's homecoming. Son (#1) was homeschooled in Kindergarten, so when Daughter (#2) was in Kindergarten, she was our first to be asked. I called a sweet friend who had older girls, borrowed a dress from them, curled her hair, and off we went.

It was fun!

Two years later, Son (#3) was asked.
Two years after that, Son (#4).
Then Daughter (#5).
And this year, our sixth little one, Daughter (#6) was asked.

However, we have a Jr. High student this year, Son (#1), and he was nominated by his class and teachers to be the 7th grade attendant.

So for the first time, we had TWO in Homecoming!

And again - FUN!

We have been so blessed with family and friends who help out a LOT! My sweet sister-in-law loaned us the dress for Daughter (#6) and the coat, shirt and pants for Son (#1).

It was a great evening. My sweet little girl surprised us all. She's been more of a momma's girl than any of our kids. Often timid - most often stubborn! I never would have imagined in a million years that she would do what she did tonight. Amazing. Without a flinch. We've seen SUCH growth in her this year. After the first ROUGH weeks of Kindergarten, she's really matured. I'm so proud of her.

Here is the evening in pictures!

First the hair:

I thought I'd try to replicate this hair do.

It was ambitious of me - not being a hair dresser and all.

And yet - it turned out lovely!

Here she is, ready to go!

Waiting. . . waiting. With her fellow Kindergartner and her handsome big brother.

It was DARK in the gym - the pictures aren't great. But they both did wonderfully! And more pictures after.

The homecoming court (or most of it).

Daughter and her friend.

Son and his fellow 7th grade attendant.

With their cousin who was the 8th grade girl.

Brother and sister.

And before bedtime - my sweet girl and I. So much fun!

Snow Days

Although you wouldn't know it by the warm temps and dripping, almost melted ice on our walkway, we had TWO days out of school this week due to an ice storm! And what FUN we had! The kids played outside constantly. The Coach bought a big cast iron fire pit (yeah gift cards!) for the patio and they built big fires to warm up by (and cook hot dogs on). Even Little Man braved the sub-freezing temps to play in the white stuff (I'm not sure that it was snow?).

Meanwhile, the Coach and I peeled the kitchen wallpaper (pictures to come). The Coach did most of the work, of course. I was busy tying and untying shoes, putting on hats, gloves and scarves and washing all of the laundry. In between fixing hot chocolate and snacks!

On Wednesday I was walking on the treadmill, watching all of the kids in the backyard play in the ice and slide down the hill and throw slush balls at each other - our kids plus three cousins - thinking what truly wonderful days these are. These busy, hectic, precious days. I'm in no hurry for them to pass!

Happy Friday!

Tagged for a Picture Post

My sweet friend over here, tagged me for this picture post. Here is how it works:

1. Go to your pictures (on your computer, of course - for those of us who are sleepy and might try the actual picture ALBUM on the bookshelf - ha!)

2. Go to the sixth folder

3. Find the sixth picture

4. Blog about it

5. Tag six people to do the same

6. Smile!

Here's mine:

This is little man when he was learning to walk - back in June of 2008. He was 15 months or so, and I LOVE the JOY on his face!

When he was born it was such a scary time. Followed by more scary times with his tininess, eating issues, jaundice, and my health problems.

But looking at this picture makes me want to PRAISE the Lord for the wonderful, normal and healthy babyhood that he's had. A miracle.

And the cheering going on in the background (that's Daughter - #5)! One of my favorite things about babies is watching the older kids with them.

I miss that.

They still adore Little Man. Adore.

But he's not nearly as tolerant of their adoration, any more. Makes me sad. He much prefers being on his own these days.

And now he's RUNNING around the house all of the time. No more walking for him!

I'm not big on the "tagging" thing - as you all know! So if you read this and want to play along, leave me a comment and I'll come see YOUR picture post!

Status Update

Facebook is way fun.

It's almost like when you drive around at night in the Winter time and you an see in the windows of the houses. I love that.

Little glimpses into the lives of friends and family.

But I'm afraid it's been easier to keep up with Facebook, lately, than to actually WRITE something CREATIVE on the ole blog. Which I miss. Really, I do.

So for today, I'm pretending that this IS Facebook. Here would be some status updates:

Mrs. Troop. . .

. . . is grateful for clean bathrooms

. . . is happy that the laundry is done and folded and almost put away. Almost.

. . . is relieved that the Jr. High basketball games for tonight are canceled due to the falling sleet.

. . . is hoping I can still have my Premier Jewelry party tomorrow night, but it's not looking likely.

. . . only had 5 people coming to the party, so it will be easy to let them know if I cancel it!

. . . is going to really enjoy a surprise "free" evening at home with the kids in the warm house with the fireplace and hot cocoa.

. . . can't seem to finish one thing before I get sidetracked. Where did I put the shower curtain when I got it out of the dryer?

. . . hopes my sweet mom and dad can get out of here and on their way to Mexico soon. . . they are sitting in the airport. Waiting.

. . . wouldn't mind a snow day (or "ice" day, I guess) tomorrow. As long as we can keep our electricity.

. . . can't believe how sweet the Coach has been, helping me clean out files and organize all of our paper in the this house. Yeah!

. . . is excited to get the wallpaper in the kitchen and play room stripped this week - the painter is coming to texture on Monday! Woo hoo! (I'm telling you, I have one amazing husband)

. . . figures that if I can't have my jewelry party tomorrow night, we could start peeling wall paper, instead. Not a bad prospect!

. . . knows the kids will really enjoy eating the jewelry party food if there is no party.

. . . better get off the computer!

What would YOUR status update be today?

Tuesday Morning Snapshot

Good morning from the Troops!

Daughter (#7). Sleepily waiting for Grandmother to come take her to BSF.

Little Man's animals. Every day he gets them all out of the basket. And puts them back. At some point, anyway.

The vacuum. Waiting to be used in the sunroom. Which is frighteningly dirty.

And little man himself. Looking like he always does. Stick up hair. In his socks. Carrying some cereal. All he's missing is his sippy.

It's pretty quiet here at the troops.

What is going on at your house this morning?

They aren't like me.

I wasn't a very brave kid.

OK.  So I was a big weenie.

And if we are going to be honest here, as I always try to be at Mrs. Troop. . . 

I'm still not so tough.

I know, I know.  Eight babies.  Nine pregnancies.  And maybe I did have five of them without any drugs.  But I hated it.  Whined, complained (and sometimes screamed) through all of it. The epidural?  It's a gift from God.  I believe that. 

Before the kids came along, I traveled all over the world.  To Greece, Italy, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Taiwan, Singapore.  Shared my testimony with crowds (one time in front of 17,000!).  Played the piano in recitals and for judges.  Danced ballet and tap.  

All of which would terrify the living daylights out of me today.  And I guess it did back then, too.

So sometimes I watch my kids in amazement.  

They do the most impressive things!

From winning class president, to climbing rock walls and repelling (I did that.  Once.  Cried the whole way down).  To babysitting six younger siblings.  Organizing drawers and closets.  Cooking entire meals.  Having surgery, playing team sports (something I was terrified of), acting in programs and giving speeches.  And that's the short list.

I'm so proud of them.  All of them.  

And today, when I got SIX report cards from school, I cried with gratefulness.  All excellent grades.  Between six kids, only 4 B's.  That's a LOT of A's!  They are doing so well.

Truthfully, I don't think I would have made it at their school.  With the difficult academics, the high expectations, the leadership that's required, the projects, reports.  Not to mention the peer pressure, time away from mom and "cool" kids.  

I wasn't a cool kid.

Let's just say, if the Coach had known ME in high school, we wouldn't have hit it off.  

But my kids?  They must have more of his math-degree, super-smart, good-looking, cool-guy genes than they do of my scaredy-cat, geeky genes.

(they seem to have his THIN genes, too, thank heavens!)

And I'm glad.

Because they are six very awesome, wonderful, SMART and talented kids.

I'm honored to be their mom.  Thankful for all of their hard word and perseverance.

And grateful for their amazing teachers who do an incredible job!

For me?

My sweet friend over at Zimm's Zoo sent this my way. So very kind. The way I understand it, this award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing.

And all I have to say to that is. . . wow.

Because you certainly know by now that the ramblings here at Mrs. Troop are, should we say, random? And more often, ummmm, shallow?

But I'm truly honored.

And if, in some way, the chronicle of the chaos that goes on here at the Troops is of the slightest bit of encouragement to you as you plod through life, seeking to enjoy God's good gifts and give Him the glory, well, then I've done my job.

Know that I'm grateful for each of you who stop by (lately to find me without a new post!) and read and comment and give me so much joy!

Now, the second part of this award requires passing it on. Which I'm happy to do! I'm going to pick five. Because Daughter (#2) is home with a fever and Little Man is climbing on my lap and the insulation people are coming any minute. So. . .

Crazy Daisy - you know I love ya. You are my blogging sister and dear friend. Your posts are always creative and thoughtful. And pretty.

Jo's Kitchen Table - how fun it's been to re-connect with you. Your blog makes me laugh, think, and reach for my Bible more often. And laugh.

One Thing - I don't know you personally and yet I read faithfully. There is nothing like life with 12 kids (so I hear) and Jen's perspective is fun and refreshing. And she's survived! Gotta love that.

a long way from the Theta house - also don't know Melissa "for real" but love this blog. If you haven't discovered her, yet, go there NOW!

Oh Boy. It's harder than I thought to "just" pick five. Hmmmm. If there were more time, I'd read lots and lots of blogs every day. That rarely happens. Usually I just stick to a few favorites. One of which is:

Johnson's Journal - So glad to be keeping up with your life - thank you for being such a sweet example to me!

So that's it for now. . . life calls.

Happy Tuesday!