Community Helper - Mail Carrier

This month in Elianna's preschool class they have been studying Community Helpers.  I joke with Chris asking if as a Starbuck's employee is he considered a Community Helper.  Some people need their coffee and without Starbucks employees, the community would be a lot worse off.  

So far the first week they learned about a dentist, the second week about a mail carrier and the third week about a nurse.  On the mail carrier week, one of the dads from a kid in Elianna's class brought in his mail carrier uniform (I guess that's their politically correct name).  Here's Elianna looking like a super cute Mail Woman.

School Picture

I'm not sure I ever shared Elianna's school picture.  It's a pretty cute picture if I do say so myself.  Her little smile is just so sweet.  Can't believe she'll be in Kindergarten next year!

PS:  Contrary to lack of postings, we are busy busy around here preparing for company coming the end of this week, our closing date on the 25th, Lisa going out of town the 26th-28th, and moving on the 30th.  I will try to update as I can, but you may occasionally see random pictures like today.  

Friends, Breakfast & Energy

Yesterday morning was free Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit day at Chick-fil-a.  Hello?!? We were so there!  Unfortunately, we missed the first week of free breakfast last week.  How did that happen?  And, to make matters worse, it was Chicken Minis.  So sad!  But we are back on track to meet each and every Wednesday morning for the rest of April.

We meet 3 other families Wednesday morning which included 9 kids and 7 adults (one daddy had to work leaving us severely outnumbered).  We squished ourselves back into a corner because they were the only available tables where we could all sit together.  Nothing like a little claustrophobia bright and early in the morning.  

The bonus of it all is after eating (most) of their breakfast, the kiddos headed into the play area where they ran off some of their energy for the day.  What more could we ask for?  Friends, free breakfast and energy ran off?  Score!  We'll see you next Wednesday Friends!

If you are looking for the missing 4 kids from this picture, 1 was in the bathroom, you can see the tippy top of 1 head in the bottom left, and 2 are babies in their carriers stashed out of the way of 7 crazy kiddos.

Yellow Belt - 3 Stripes

Last week Elianna got the 3rd stripe on her yellow belt!  In order to get this stripe, she had to show her Sensei that she knew all of her blocks, punches with counter blocks and Pinion 1.  Pinion 1 what is called a Kata.  Kata is a "detailed choreographed pattern of movements" per the all knowing Wickipedia.  Like it's definition, Pinion 1 is very detailed and takes a long time to learn, let alone a 4 year old still trying to figure out how not to trip and fall when walking (oh wait ... that may be me).  

On Monday of last week, she performed Pinion 1 three times in a row without needing help!  The next step in the belt process is for her to turn and face the door and perform Pinion 1.  This proves to be very difficult when you take into consideration that Pinion 1 basically completes a circle and when you turn a different way to start .... confusion!

As soon as Elianna can do this, BAM! she will receive her testing card for her orange belt!  This is exciting!  One of her goals for 2014 is to not only get her orange belt but also her purple belt.  How exciting!

I'll have to see if I can take a video of her performing Pinion 1 so that it all makes more sense.  

Oh.My.Goodness!

Well... a lot has happened lately that I thought I would share. 

1) A few weeks ago at a meeting for Berean (the fellowship of churches we are associated with), one of the leadership guys mentioned the president of Berean was thinking of hiring a virtual assistant. Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me! Through emails and other means of communication, it was decided that he would pick a different virtual assistant ... BUT ... another Berean leadership guy has asked me to be, without an official title but essentially, his virtual assistant! Yay! I've been doing it for a little over a week and am really enjoying it!

I kinda got thrown right into the fire though since this past weekend we had a large fundraising banquet that needed things done for it. It's all good because the banquet went exceptionally well!

All this to say, I have been extremely busy not only with the work, but also with trying to figure out the fact that I'm now working and still have house stuff to do along with taking Elianna to and from school. Then throw in the next fact...

2) We are under contract on a house! Right now we are set to close April 25 but we may be able to close before then. We are still trying to decide on that since ....

3) Chris' brother and sister are going to drive out here the middle of April to come visit us. We are super excited about spending time with them! To add to that....

4) Berean is having another banquet at the end of April in Lincoln NE that I will have lots of work to get ready for and probably go attend. Plus ...

5) We are scheduled to go visit a church the same weekend to share our work in Glendale.

So just in case the timeline is getting a little blurry:

April 19 - Mark & Rhonda come
April 18 - *New closing date, if we so choose
April 22 - *New move in date, if we so choose
April 24 - Mark & Rhonda leave
April 25 - Closing date
April 27 - Banquet in Lincoln NE & sharing at Plum Creek
April 29 - Move in date

All that in about 10 days. We are excited about this busy season in our life! Pray with us that we make wise choices!

Spring Break

Elianna had Spring Break last week and I had grand grand plans of getting so many things done.  The moment of truth:  yeah, no.  The grand grand plans did not really get done.  Many many reasons but the main one is one I want to share with you another day.  Let's just say it required much computer work, late night hours, and some travel to Nebraska. 

Tuesday we did meet Chris' cousin, Tiffany, and her two kids, Kylie and Cameron, at Boondocks (Elianna thinks it's the funniest name to say ... over and over and over and ... you get the point) to go bowling.  We forgot one small thing.  Everyone else also had Spring Break and Tuesday is the deal day at Boondocks.  Not a good day to pick.  However, we had lots of fun bowling with them!  It didn't make for time to really talk though so I'm thinking we'll have to plan a girls night soon!

Please don't judge our scores - we are terrible!

The ramp is her favorite place to hang out while watching other people bowl

Wednesday we headed up to Chris' aunt's house (also known as Tiffany's mom) to visit Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Royce.  Nothing special planned.  Just talking and ordering pizza.  It was nice to sit and talk and not rush off to anywhere.

Friday morning we headed to friends house.  Jed invited Elianna over to play in his new sandbox while his mom, Betsy, and I talked.  Jed is only 2 but he and Elianna love each other!  He calls her "Nanna" and she broke out with "Jeddie-O" Friday morning which was the best!

Now it's a new week and new things going on!  Including those grand grand plans left over from next week.