I Never Thought I'd See This

While I was driving the girls to piano lessons, I looked out my window and saw this...

Upon closer investigation, I noticed it was a poor, dead cat, whose lives all ran out.

EW!

Arrow of Light

Eli received his arrow of light award yesterday. He worked hard to do all of his work and it was a fun morning to celebrate it with him. He also got all twenty of his webelo pins.

We are also grateful for our scout leader who helped him achieve this award. Sue headed out to Provo, Utah, today to go to the MTC. She will be serving a mission in Nauvoo, IL, for 1 1/2 years. We are excited for her, and we will miss her.

Big Man on Campus

Caleb got a section time in his last race of the regular season. That means as an 8th grader he is a high school varsity letterman. He was hoping to letter this year in the 200 IM. He swam it yesterday, and he only had .1 second to drop. He didn't make it. He later had a race in the 100 yard backstroke. His coach put him in this one half way through the season so that he would have an additional chance to letter. He made it.

YAY CALEB!

For Shanel

...and anyone else who might be interested.

Here are the pictures I told you I would take to show all of the snow. We will keep most of this around until March/April

Our mailbox. Notice the mail man's tracks, they are crooked because the mail main drives up on the snowbank.

Here is the snow at the end of our driveway. This is where we shovel it, and there is more here than other places because the snow plow pushes a bunch of the snow from the street into our driveway.

Here it is

Eli took this picture for me...

I hope you didn't hold your breath.

Sneak Peek

Here is a shot from the back. Is it really me though?

I do not yet have a front shot, so this will have to do for now. More to come, soon!

Just a Teaser

While I was pregnant with Eli, I decided that I would grow out my hair and donate it to Locks of Love. I grew it out until just after Claire was born, and then I cut it off. I went to a friend's house and had her cut it for me. Eli was about three years old, and right after I got it cut he came into the room. I asked him how he liked my hair, and he looked at me and started crying. He told me that he didn't like it.

A few years ago, a friend of mine got cancer. Several of us got together and cut our hair really short to show our support for her. I decided at that time I would grow my hair out and donate it again.

I decided today to go and get it cut. I didn't tell anyone, and as I type this, Brett still has no idea that I got it cut.

Here is the before picture.

Here is what I have to donate.

I have not yet taken any after pictures. Hopefully I will get some soon!

Braces

Caleb went from this...

to this...

Or he went from this...

to this...Oh the years ahead of us.

Food

Education and Educators

Today I was able to finish my conferences with the children's teachers. There were no surprises about any of them. They are all doing very well with their studies and their behavior.

I am thankful there are people who have dedicated their time and energy to teach my children. I met with more than ten teachers who enjoy what they do. I could tell that they really like what they do. It is nice that my children can be taught by them, feel their enthusiasm for the subjects they are teaching, and feel the love that they share. Teachers do not get enough credit. They shape minds, bodies and souls. They help to build our future.