Valentine's Day

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Steven and I spent the day together. We had a romantic picnic together. Funny... We have had a basket since we got married and have never used it. I am happy to say that he surprised me with a picnic lunch by a lake. I of course remembered to take a picture of the lake as we were driving away. Steven got me beautiful roses and we watched my new Nicholas Sparks movie while I snuggled with the man I love.

Later that night we fondued with the whole family.

I loved spending time with my boys on Valentine's Day!

Odyssey Competition

I really have a ton of pictures from today but many of them have other kids in them, and I can't post them. So here are just a few...

Today was an awesome ending to all our hard work these past few months in Odyssey. We headed up to a Middle school to compete in the annual Odyssey competition. Nick's groups did a skit about superstitions and my team did a skit on Heracles. The practiced for months writing the script, making the scenery, and making their own props and costumes. There were many problems they had to solve and restrictions that went along with the problems. My team did a great job even after a few problems throughout the day, lets just say we were hot gluing some scenery back together at the very last minute. My team placed third in our division, out of ten teams, of course in our group they only ended up taking the first two groups to states and we were the third. The kids ended up walking away with a bronze medal. Nick's groups had a few more problems then we did and unfortunately went over the time allowed for the script. They ended up getting huge point penalties for the time and did not place. The did however end up winning for their cool script title. All in all, we had a lot of fun. Nick loves that I coach Odyssey because it is something we can do together. Of course I run myself ragged and I stress way more than I should but secretly I love the time I can spend with these creative kids.

Let's hope next year we have less problems and the kids can make it to states.

Winterfest

Sorry for the cloudy picture but it was taken on Steve's phone while Nick was in motion.

Tonight after the Odyssey competition Nicholas went with his dad to Winterfest, a carnival, at our church, St. Stephen's. Of course I was exhausted from my weekend already. The night before, Mrs. Lynn and I spent a long and cold time selling tickets and harassing teenagers at Winterfest. This poor boy Dave will never be same because of us. While at Winterfest Nicholas went on a few rides including this huge bungee that flings you up into the air . I was very surprised that he wanted to do something so dangerous, since Nick is not that kind of kid. Steven knew I would never believe it so he had to capture it and the phone was all he had. Lucky me I didn't get to see them fling my first born child through the air and... I ended up with a funnel cake in spite of not going.

Field Trips - Yeah!!!

My Awesome Team

We had so much fun together !

We went to some fun shows.

I really do have the best job! In what job do you get all summer off, work only 180 days and call it a year, and get to spend a whole day at Sea World with your friends and call it work.

Today my team took about a 127 second graders to a theme park. We had a great time, I don't know how the chaperones felt about it. I guess they don't realize that we spend 8 hours a day with these children, five days a week. Some parents get easily rattled by more than one child The morning started out a little cool but as the day went on it really really warmed up. The park wasn't crowded, which made the lines short.

As much I worry before the trip about losing someone or something going terribly wrong, it always ends up being such a great trip, and this year was just as fun.

Thanks Friscia for doing a great job of planning it!

What's the Buzz?

Bumble the Bee

After many long months, today was our last Odyssey meeting. Nick's Odyssey costume is now complete and he did a pretty good job, considering that he had to do it all on his own. This upcoming weekend our team will be going to competition. So I hope that they remember their lines, move the scenery smoothly, try not to kill one another... but most of all I hope they have fun. They have worked so hard and deserve a day to enjoy themselves.

Super Bowl Sunday

Go Steelers!!!

This was a very exciting game. My family and I cheered on the Steelers to what is now their sixth Super Bowl win. No matter how long I live in Florida, Pennslyvania will always be home to me. So it was awesome that the Steelers could come to Tampa, FL and bring home another Vince Lombardi Trophy to the Steeler Nation.