When I Grow Up

Today Daphne told me that she is going to be a singer when she grows up and that she will likely be famous because she already knows how to act like a rock star.

Pinewood Derby

The annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby was yesterday. It's one of the premier scout events of the year with lots of awards on the line for speed and for design.

Tyler with his Mess Kit Fork car

Cars, including Tyler's, at the starting line. Each scout raced
in 4 heats within their rank (which correlate to grade). They
raced in each of the 4 lanes on the track. The top 3 fastest in
each rank received a medal and the top 3 fastest overall
received a trophy.

Tyler and the third graders anxiously watch their cars and
resulting times. The track is pretty high tech and shows the
final times at the finish line and up on the big screen.

Most of Den 7: Jackson, Tyler, Matthias, Victor, Carter, Ryan;
Not pictured: Roman (left early for basketball), Jude (out sick)

Tyler came in 3rd place for fastest car in the Bear rank.

Ryan and Tyler with their awards

Just Singing in the Car

Tyler can't stand that I constantly sing along with the radio. Tyler will complain constantly and beg repeatedly for me to stop singing. Meanwhile Daphne will say something like, "Sing louder Mommy. I love your singing!" The other day Tyler was completely flabbergasted that I knew the words to "Abracadabra" and "Material Girl" because they are songs he has never heard before. I told him I have years worth of songs stored in my head.

DQ Jingle

As the kids and I were walking into the grocery store recently as Tyler's class was preparing to take a practice round of standardized tests Tyler sang, "STAAR test, that's what I hate about Texas" to the tune of the Dairy Queen jingle ("DQ, that's what I love about Texas.") Daphne countered with "Grocery shopping with Mommy, that's what I love about Texas".

Ice Day

After having Monday off for MLK day, the kids were very excited that school was cancelled on Tuesday for the icy conditions and then they had a 2-hour delay on Wednesday. On Tuesday morning they immediately flocked to their electronic devices. I must admit that none of us got out of our pajamas on Tuesday since we knew we weren't going anywhere.

Daphne snuggled in bed with her tablet

Tyler loves the Xbox

Playground

Daphne and Hazel had fun at the park on MLK day. The kids and I met up with friends at Windmill Run Park, which apparently doesn't have potties. Hazel now knows how to potty in the woods!!!!

Daphne's Birthday Party

Last weekend we had an art party at Michael's to celebrate Daphne's birthday. The kids could make a dinosaur out of beads following the template or a creation of their choosing. Then the art is ironed to fuse the beads together. A face painter was also on hand. Daphne loves doing art with her friends!

Megan, Hazel, and Penny

Abby and Lucy

Victoria, Nicole, and Gabby

Our Butterfly

Jocelyn

Daphne hid under the table while we sang to her (little stinker!)
and then we coaxed her out to blow out her candles.

Evelyn and Daphne

Holden and Eric

Daphne, Hazel, and Jake

Cousins

Eating out with all the cousins is always a 3-ring circus!

Hair Party

Daphne is 6!

Right after Christmas we spent a few days in Houston visiting my family. Daphne turned 6 while we were there and we celebrated with ice skating, pizza, and cupcakes. It was fairly cold for ice skating, which was exacerbated by a light rain. But we had fun nonetheless. Most of the cousins skated for only a little bit and then headed into the nearby cafe with Megan for hot chocolate and warmth. Daphne actually did a few laps very slowly and cautiously and Tyler did pretty well

Penny, only age 2, was the only cousin
who didn't skate

Hazel

Noah

Hazel and Brad

Damon

Micah

Bryce

Brad

Daphne and Renee

Tyler

Decorating cupcakes was a hit

Tyler, Noah, Damon, Daphne, Hazel, Micah, and Penny