Legend of the Leprechauns

I just found this cute idea, that I am hoping to do for St. Patrick's Day for the kids. I thought it was so cute, and would be fun for the kids so I thought I would share. By sharing this cute idea I will have to implement it in my family for sure. I am planning on having them decorate a shoe box on the 16th and leave it by the window for the Leprechauns to find. In the morning it will be hidden with a few little treasures.

LEGEND OF THE LEPRECHAUNS (from Family Fun)

Full of magic and trickery, the leprechauns remain in their hidden world until the night before St. Patrick's Day. On that one night of the year they appear throughout the world to dance and sing and frolic.

Disguising themselves as leaves and grass, and sounding like the wind and the crickets, they come and go unnoticed.

However, it is said that if a decorated treasure box is left empty under the moon, the leprechauns must fill the box with gold or jewels or gifts. But then they will hide the filled box in the most unlikely of places.

If the box is found on St. Patrick's Day, the treasure remains in our world. If not, the leprechauns may retrieve what is rightfully theirs. And though the leprechauns are very clever, it is not impossible to find the treasure because, unknowingly, leprechauns often leave a trail of greenery behind them.

Quick Trip

Baby Austin
Baby Brighton




I just have to let everyone know how wonderful my husband is. He sent me away for a quick trip. It was very, very, last minute, he knew how I longed to be with my family at this time so he told me to fly away, and so I did just that, because I always do just what I am told. I got online found me a ticket, and then packed my bag because I was heading out the door just hours later.

My Grandpa has not been doing very good, we thought we were going to lose him, I am sure it probably was my last visit with him, but it was great. I am so grateful my husband sent me to visit with my Grandpa.

My favorite sister ever just happened to be there too, and as if that wouldn't have been enough to be out in Utah at that time my brother Brian and his wife Amber had their first babies. The twins were born a few days before I got there. The only bummer is my brother Troy tried to come out when I was there, but was not as lucky as I was in getting a ticket last minute, he will be there this weekend. It would have been great to visit with him too.

The trip was great I was able to hold and love baby Brighton, she is such a beautiful good little baby, they are lucky, but I guess if you are going to start with two you sure hope they are good babies. Baby Austin has been in the NICU, and so I didn't get to see him. I am so excited because I received a call that he will be coming home today! I am so happy for them I guess I need to plan my next trip so I can meet baby Austin too, I am so excited that he will be reunited with his sister, because he was rushed off to the NICU when he was born.

Eleven

Yep, that is the number of days the kids have missed of school as of today. I really hope for the sake of summer vacation that there are no more snow days here.

Count With Me!

One, two,three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Yes, now you all have counted how many days of school the kids have missed due to snow (three in January and seven in February). I am not counting weekends either. OH, NO there is snow in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday too. The funny thing is last night school was only suppose to be delayed for two hours so they slept in a little, and then I got them up and ready for school. The bus never came, because they cancelled school again. I really don't get it because the roads are not bad. I do enjoy having all the kids home from school, but at this rate I won't have them home for the summer, which I would much rather have a summer break than an unplanned winter break. A day here or there would be great, but ten!!!!

Over our winter break Caylor did his History Fair Project, and Brodie did his Science Fair Project. Caylor did his on D-day, and as always loved learning more about WWII. Brodie had fun learning more about how heat effects pressure. Both of the kids were disappointed because the fair was suppose to be today!

Guess Who?

Can you guess who Houston is trying to be like?
Here are a few hints:
Houston has been enjoying the Olympics at our house.
He has been running around the house in circles as fast as he can pretending to be ice skating. If you need another clue here is a picture of Houston, he thinks he is pretty funny.


Apollo Ohno

Nashville

This past weekend we went to Nashville, for the first time. Clay's mom and sister were there so it was like they came to visit us. We went to The Grand Ole Opry, the zoo, went for a boat ride on the Delta river in the Gaylord Opryland resort, shopped at the Opry Mills Mall, miniture golfed in the dark (glow in the dark golfing), ate lunch with sharks swimming past us, and had dinner with the gorilla and elephant at the Rain Forest Cafe. Eden also received flowers, while we were there, she is a princess after all. We also went to the Dukes of Hazard Museum, and the Titans (LP)stadium (big surprise I know). It was great weather too (62 degrees). We came back home, and the weather changed to cooler weather and even another snow day for the kids, which ment no school, they have only missed four days so far, it seems that they miss about a week in February each year, but we are hoping that doesn't happen this year, and we might get a decent start to our summer!

January Weather

So the weather hasn't been too bad out here (better knock on wood). The kids have only missed three days of school due to weather so far this year. We have even had some days in the 50's this month. This month the kids have been able to go sledding, and play at the park.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I am not a winter person at all, however at this time of year for only about a week I find myself dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know. So today when we woke up to less than an inch of snow it was kind of fun. Houston and Eden were so excited to play in the snow. I found myself thinking you can't play in that there is not enough snow, and then remembering my first winter here in Kentucky laughing as children sled down a hill of grass (thinking it was snow because you could see some white stuff and there was a little snow flurry coming down). Any how I realized my poor youngest children would not experience a real snow this year so I was not going to take away from there excitement, and even if I had wanted to try I couldn't. This is because Houston was out in the snow by 8:45 this morning about 10 minutes after he woke up. Eden was wanting to go outside, but like most days she prefers summer clothes and sandals, she claims she is never cold and doesn't need a coat or jacket, and so the struggle to get her dressed had began. I was trying to convince her to wear long pants, not a dress to play in the snow when I realized I had not heard a sound from Houston for a little bit. I looked for him in the house quickly, then opened the door to see his, "paw prints" as he puts it. I yelled for him and there he was throwing snowballs outside by himself. He had on a hoody, sweatpants that did not match, red gloves, and his crocks without socks. I insisted that he come in and put on socks, boots, warmer gloves and a coat. He then insisted that he was not cold at all not even his feet, but he did come in to put a few layers on. The three of us(because I don't feel safe letting my younger two play outside without supervision otherwise I would have stayed inside) then went out in the snow for about an hour, and yes it was Mom who had had, enough(really there was not enough snow to play in for even an hour). Houston managed to slide down the hill of grass and have a good time, each time he would get to the bottom of the hill he would run back up and have to slide down a new spot because the spot he slid down previously left a trail of grass.

December Programs

Brodie had two performances this week at school. On Tuesday night was the Fourth Grade performance, it was really cute and creative. The performance was on Kentucky (since they have been studying Kentucky),and even if you did not have any Kentucky pride you would have felt some after their performance.

Thursday night was the choir's "December Performance". It was nice, but they were not able to mention Christmas, Santa, or sing any traditional Christmas songs. They had a pajama party theme, and sang about winter, they did have one song, they song to the tune of a Christmas song, but of course the words had been changed. The kids all looked very cozy in their pajamas and slippers. They did a great job singing about winter. It just makes me sad to think that we live in a time where a limited few can push their non beliefs on the majority.

Southern Lights

We finally went to the Southern Light display at the Horse Park, here in Kentucky. We drove around and stayed nice and warm in the car for about 10-15 minutes. We then arrived at the museum parking lot, where they had a petting zoo, train rides, horse rides,and inside was a museum full of model trains. We all petted a nice soft red kangaroo, camels, and alpacas to name just a few. We also enjoyed a ride on a camel, and Houston was the only one that wanted to ride a horse. Santa was there as well, but Houston was the only one that wanted to sit on Santa's lap. We also saw a big display of model trains. It was very enjoyable, and will have to be a Kentucky Christmas tradition.