Prayer Journal

I'm trying to equip the children with life skills.  I am emphasizing prayer journals right now.  They are mandatory.  One can do the Bible app on the iPad while the other child writes in his journal.  Then they switch who does which job.  

Princess can come up with her own ideas now.  Today hers says, "I am cranky.  Help me."  She likes me to tell her how to spell the words.  Some letters she asks me to write for her since she doesn't know how they go.

April

Love this pretty girl!

One of the TNT coaches really pushed me on the run from the Art Museum.  I had never run miles in under 9 minutes before.  I went out for coffee afterwards with a cowoker.  Later that day I participated in a Feed the Hungry event at church.  Afterwards, I went to visit an injured coworker at the hospital.

A rare treat from mom...celebrating passing IREAD with frozen yogurt!

Thankfully, the weather is starting to get a little warmer.

Princess loves to play volleyball at the gym.  She also loves to play ping pong, which pretty much just means I'm continuously bending over to pick up the ball off the floor.  Champ is pretty good now about being able to volley a ping pong ball back and forth for awhile now.  In the ping pong picture, Princess is having a great time checking out her reflection on a TV.

I'm very proud of this 10.2 TNT run.  Will that be enough training to get me to 13.1 miles though?

Princess took off the letters on her keyboard when she noticed they weren't in ABC order.  She reorganized them.

We tried a new, closer dentist this week.  They let the kids borrow sunglasses to wear to help with the bright light.  Each chair also had a TV over it.  Both kids got to take something from the treasure chest too.  With those elements, I didn't think the kids would ever leave the dentist's office.

Princess does so well at dance class.

Very windy night to play volleyball outside for cub scouts.

Princess and I opted to sit in the car instead of freezing.

After a rough patch, my coworkers wanted to "fill my bucket."  They decorated a bucket and filled it with strips of paper.  Each paper is to encourage me or make me laugh.  I'm to draw 1 strip of paper a day.

Yesterday was my last run before the Mini Marathon.   I chose to run close-by, rather than go with the TNT group.  The place they were running was flat. I wanted to practice running on a few more hills.  I also hoped to avoid the pouring rain, but I didn't miss it altogether.

Who Made God?

That is my favorite question that Princess asked today.

Princess did a great job at her dance class.  It was good to see her back on track again.

Champ had cub scouts tonight.  Most of the class was spent learning safety for pocket knives.  

Then we went outside so the boys could use practice knives on soap.

Then he used an actual pocket knife to wittle the soap.

Showing Off

Just another day when everyone wants to get a picture and take a picture.

Easter Sunday

Easter baskets included a Lego set, a sun catcher to paint, and eggs filled with candy, money, and snacks.  Champ noticed that one of his eggs was empty.  I told him that I had given him fair warning that the Easter bunny was tired.

Next, we prepared our resurrection rolls for breakfast.  Princess refused to participate at first.  I mentioned that they had marshmallows in them, and she couldn't eat them if she didn't help make them.  She decided to participate.  However, she was really disappointed when the marshmallows disappeared during their time in the oven.

Can you tell that Champ was less than thrilled about the Easter morning picture?

Both kids are like their mom...they can't keep their eyes open for a picture.

The kids put together their Lego sets.

The kids made their suncatchers.  Princess knocked hers out super quickly, while Champ was slow in meticulous in completing his.

I absolutely love these pictures of Princess in her yellow dress and hairbows, next to the yellow flowers.  Such a pretty girl!

My mom had found the super cute fruit bunny for me to create from Pinterest.  Princess was eager to help me.  My nephew, Caleb, said it didn't look like a bunny, but it did look like a cyclops.  Oh, well.  Princess was proud of her work.

The cousins ate together.

The cousins before the egg hunt.

The hunt

Inspecting their loot

Playing soccer!

Karate Party

Things always look cuter on Pinterest.  I made a cake with 4 Ninja Turtles.  Plus, each kid got a Ninja turle cake pop.  I also made two desserts for the kids to take home:  candy sushi and Ninjago cookies.  I was super ambitious and busy this weekend as I prepared for the party.

The instructor and his daughter led the party.  There were 9 boys present.  

Champ got to wear a special belt.

The children were supposed to boy to the grown ups as a sign of respect.

The party began with a karate lesson.

Then the kids were divided into two groups.  The boys went one at a time to jump over the obstacle and then punch the bag.  They had to do jumping jacks while they were waiting in line.  They got a second turn.  On the next turn, they jumped the obstacle and kicked the bag.  They had to hop on one foot while waiting in line.

A couple was making Princess have belly laughs.  So precious.

Champ was the first to complete the obstacle course, which is a rough spot to be in.

Kicking the bag in the obstacle course.

Monkey jumps in the obstacle course.

Hopping on one foot from dot to dot for the obstacle course

walking plank for the obstacle course

steam roller for the obstacle course

tackle for the obstacle course

Singing happy birthday to Champ

Blowing out the candle on his cake

Preparing to cut the cake with a samurai sword

Enjoying the goodies

Opening presents

Practicing to cut a board in half

I couldn't believe it...he cut it in 1/2 with his hand.

Breaking apart other items

The next hardest board was too tough!

Guess who finally got brave enough to try it???  She even broke the easy board!

Excellent party!  I would highly recommend it.