40th Anniversary

Chandler's preschool is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year. Isn't that cool? So many children have passed through the preschool doors. Today, they had a celebration church service. She goes to a Christian preschool & I am thankful she has wonderful Christian women who teach her everyday.

Chandler, Brooke, & Kassaundra were lined up waiting to sing.

Singing in church--she was one of many bow heads today!! They sang several songs, but her favorite is "The B-I-B-L-E." They did an excellent job. I was so proud of her.

After the service, we went to a bar-b-que lunch. The original preschool teacher was there!! Isn't it neat to be able to share the day with her. Some of her students have had their own children go through the program. What a legacy!! I am glad that Cheney & Chandler have had that opportunity. It makes going to work so much easier when I know they are well loved!!

Teaching Lance

We have been working with Lance to get him to wait in his kennel while we get his food. Lance seems to have some food issues & gets really excited when we start to feed him. Maybe he was denied food in his abusive home. Anyway, he has made so much progress.....

The coolest thing.....we have NEVER had a dog that listened to me. Lance is the first one!!

Headlines!!

Cheney made the front page of our local newspaper!!

We are so proud of him. Check it out here!!

Sty in my eye

Cheney has had a difficult past month. He was really sick one week & missed 3 days of school, then he got a retainer on the top & the bottom teeth. The retainer on the top has to be expanded with a key every few days. It has made it difficult for him to eat & talk but he handled it well. Then, he got a sty. It looked like a typical sty except it didn't go away. One Sunday morning, he woke up to this....

Doesn't that look painful? We took him to the minor emergency clinic & they told us to keep warm, wet compresses on it & it would get better. It finally did....after about 24 hours.

This friends thought he had gotten in a fight! He thought that was pretty cool!

Girlfriends

The BEST thing about living in a small town? Every where you go, you see someone you know. This is Caroline, Chandler, and Bailey. They go to preschool together. Their big brothers all go to different schools but they were competing together at the DI competition so they got to hang out! Aren't they adorable?

Rising Stars - Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination is a problem solving competition that is HUGE in our district. The serious competition starts in 3rd grade, but to prepare the kids there is a local competition called Rising Stars. This is for 1st & 2nd grade only. Cheney has been invited to be part of a team for the past two years. It is a pretty big commitment....next year is bigger though. The kids can have no adult help....not even to carry their props!! Cheney loves every minute of it!! His GT teacher, Ms. Krippner, said that he isn't acting....he is just being himself!!

The 2nd grade Jefferson Avenue Elementary team carried the banner for the parade of champions.

Getting a gold medal from his principal, Ms. Schlichting.

The 2nd grade DI team....5 girls and 2 boys. They are pretty hyper kids!!

I have a video of the performance....I will try to load it into YouTube soon.

Who Says?

Who says that you have to spend a lot of money to have fun? Not Cheney & Chandler! You can have a blast with a bathroom hand dryer....has anyone used the new, really forceful ones?? They are crazy!!

Note: We paid a lot of money to get this picture....it was taken in the family bathroom inside Incredible Pizza!!

Incredible Valentine's Day Fun!

Daddy & Mommy went out for their Valentine's dinner on Saturday night. On Valentine's night, the family went out for some fun. We went to Incredible Pizza....it was so much fun even though it was a little crowded. Incredible Pizza has go-carts, bumper cars, mini golf, mini bowling, and TONS of other arcade games. Plus, a great salad bar, pizza & pasta, baked potatoes, & yummy cinnamon rolls. We played, ate, played, ate, & played some more....everyone had a great time & plan to go back soon!

Cheney was disappointed he couldn't drive by himself....but he still had fun on the go-carts.

Mommy & Chandler started out ahead of Daddy & Bubba but we were quickly passed up....oh well, Chandler had fun. It was the 1st time she had ridden go-carts.

Playing mini golf--her form wasn't so great & check out her Valentine gift! New boots!!

Bubba wasn't too happy that nobody really followed the rules. He is so much like his Mama in that way!!

Chandler had fun riding the carousel.....she is all smiles!!

Heading home....showing off her cool boots!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine weekend....we certainly did!!

AKA Mad Woman?

Every evening, I go through Cheney's backpack to see what is sent home, if he had homework, what color he got, etc. The other day this picture was included. It is a picture of our house & family. Everyone was labeled. And I am proud to say that we have graduated from people with big, round stomachs to people with really long legs!! That is positive. But I was a little perplexed when I saw next to Chandler's name: AKA Mad Woman!!??

I asked Cheney about it.....he said she is crazy so he named her mad woman!! I am definitely saving this one for the scrapbook!!

Just had to share!

We love our MeMe sooooo much!! Isn't she looking cute?

Birthday Dinner

On Wednesday, we took Chandler out for her birthday dinner. She got her birthday crown at school & wore it the whole day!! She just makes me laugh.

Papa Jim & Granny Nette joined us. They gave her this Belle dress! She was very excited to add it to her princess collection.

Granny Nette with Cheney & Chandler

After this birthday, I think many people have decided it is really fun to shop for a little girl. I know her Daddy went overboard buying her adorable clothes. Granny Nette enjoyed picking out Princess stuff. Even her friend, Holt's mommy, told me that she enjoyed shopping for a girl!! It is fun to spoil a gorgeous girl!!

My Mummies?

Cheney & Chandler took a bath at MeMe & Pop's house the other night....they had so much fun!!

These pictures show Chandler's crazy personality....she sure is silly!!

Happy Birthday Chandler Grace

I really can't believe how quickly you have gone from this....

To this....

....in such a short time.

I wish I could keep you like this forever!! We love you so much. Your sweet smile & your stubborness....I wouldn't trade it for anything!!

Gattiland

The other day, while Mommy & Daddy were at the Debutante Ball, C & C went to Gattiland....they had a great time!!

MeMe said that Cheney's face lit up when he saw all the video games!!

Chandler & Pop rode the airplanes.

Birthday Smiles!!

Chandler had her birthday party on Saturday. It was a "cheerleader" party. Her Sunday School teacher lives down the road from MeMe & Pop & she told us that she could hear the squealing at her house!! It was so fun to see the girls have such a good time!!

Chandler & Brynlee getting in the moonbounce. We didn't tell Chandler that we rented it for her birthday. She was super excited!

The bounce had a cool slide!!

Posing with her cake

Caroline, Allie, & Chandler....she loves her friends!!

For Uncle Jeff & Aunt Kerry

Uncle Jeff & Aunt Kerry always send great gifts! Mommy loves the gifts because always include a book. Chandler loves the books!!

More party pics are coming soon!!

Another One?

If you have been reading my blog for sometime, you know that MeMe always makes C & C some AWESOME birthday cakes!! She always made them for Mommy & Uncle Jeff too. Chandler's birthday party is tomorrow....what do you think?

I love it!! Chandler saw it & said "It is beautiful!" She is soooo excited!! Stay tuned for more pictures tomorrow!!

Chandler Sings

Chandler & The Little Angel choir sang at 5th Sunday Sing the other night. She sang "The Lord's Army." It was very cute!! I am so proud of her....she has come a long way from the little girl who would hardly talk!!