handsful

Our kids had an amazing experience today at church. It’s been Missions Weekend at our church, and the Jr. High decided that their project would be raising money to feed the people of Haiti. 

The kids spent the night at church last night, and packaged 1,000 meals with the help of Change This World (www.changethisworld.com) and Kids Against Hunger (www.kidsagainsthunger.org).  The meals consist of rice, dried vegetables, soy/protein powder, and vitamin powder.  Each individual meal costs approximately 25 cents to make.  The goal for the Jr. High kids was to raise enough money to feed 15,000 Haitians. 

All the kids were super motivated.  They were giving their allowances, birthday money, babysitting money, etc.  Our kids went door to door and raised money, too.  The fact that there was a boys vs. girls competition MIGHT have encouraged them a little.  Not sure who won, yet! 

They awoke this morning at 7am, and by 8am were back at their packaging stations.  Randy and I saw them at work, as we walked into church.  A whole group of teens standing around tables, wearing hair nets.  I hope to get a few of those pictures.  After about 3 hours, they were done.  15,080 meals packaged and ready to go to Haiti.  The organizations rep told them they would be on their way in a couple of weeks, but when they actually make it to Haiti depends on Customs. 

Today, they’re all pretty worn out.  But, with the satisfaction of knowing that each one of them was part of something really big.  What a blessing and honor to be the hands and feet of God.

Randy and I are finally making some changes to our blog…pics, colors, fonts, etc.  I’m giddy with excitement over what we’ve done so far :)  You’ll notice a few color differences, but we’ve been working for over 2 hrs. and we’re taking a break! 

Changes to a WordPress blog are NOT for the faint of heart.  Or, non-tech person.  Which I am, but my husband definitely is not!  He just figures it all out as we go, changing codes here, adding them there.  I marvel at it. 

More changes coming soon ;)

Sister…brother.  But, last night?  They were fierce opponents.  Facing each other in the…

Boys vs. Girls game!  Not an official thing for Upward.  Randy coaches both Abbey’s and Payton’s 6th-8th grade teams.  Practices are usually back to back, 7-8 and 8-9pm.  This was the last practice of the season, so Randy arranged a double practice so they could take on each other.  They’ve both been talking smack about if for weeks. 

He started it off with a relay lay-up race.  The boys won.  By a lot. 

Then, it was time for the game. When the game began, the boys and girls were both a little timid.  Especially the boys…how do you guard a GIRL?  They lost that really quick, and the game got very aggressive. 

Abbey’s backing him up…

break for devotion time. 

Not sure why I didn’t get a good shot of Payton with the ball, but I remember I shared one of him a while back. 

At the end of it all, the boys won.  They were quite a bit ahead, and then the girls came back to tie it.  So, the boys only BARELY won.  Can you tell who I was pulling for?  Well, honestly, I was pulling for both.  Mostly.  It was a lot of fun, watching the kids play against each other, and laughing at Randy as he tried to coach and referee at the same time. 

Last official Upward games are this weekend, with the end-of-year celebration on Thursday.  It’s been a fun season.

Yesterday (computer was down, couldn’t post!) was 2 years with Lainey!  We celebrated with dinner out at Al’s Pizza and she received a new book.  I started that tradition last year, giving her a special book for each Gotcha day anniversary. 

I took the above picture yesterday.  Here she is a year ago…what a difference!

See the changes?  She’s lost the “baby” look.  Sad, but I do love seeing her grow into a “big girl”. 

Here are more shots from yesterday! 

I told Lainey I wanted to take some pictures of her.  I think she misunderstood. 

belly laugh!  Abbey was tickling her…she’s a great assistant photographer. 

At the restaurant.  Obeying mom’s request for a smile…cheesy. 

Oooh, a present. 

She likes it.  I read it to her right after she opened it.  After finding out that the rabbits were both boys (she’s a stickler for needing to know gender), she listened intently.  What a sweet story. 

A squeeze from Lainey.  Slightly painful, but totally appreciated. 

Dada’s turn…

Big kids get goofy.  I’m sure the noise level wasn’t bothersome to those around us.  Nah…

We weren’t THAT loud.  Right?

After getting kicked out of …leaving the restaurant, we came home and took a shot of the special girl with her sibs.  Happy 2 years with us, Lainey!  We love you!

that have nothing to do with each other, just wanted to share. 

It’s Upward season around here.  Randy coaches both a boys team with Payton on it, and a girls team with Abbey.  Here’s a shot of Payton from last night.  I missed Abbey’s game because it was at 9pm, which would have gotten Lainey to bed around 10:30.  So, I’ll post a pic of her from the next game.  Randy loves coaching and he’s so good with the kids.  I remember when we were dating, he coached kids b-ball leagues and I loved going and watching.  Gave me some insight into what kind of dad he would eventually be :) 

The girl is creative.  An old cell phone clamped under a set of headphones.  Cracked me up.  She still has the steritape on her lip here, but it’s since been removed.  Still on a soft diet, she has her last post-op appointment a week from tomorrow.  We’re a little concerned about how her lip is healing, there seems to be a raised scar and it’s still red.  Looks worse than when we started.  Maybe it just needs a little more time, we’ll see.  The good news is she feels great, her happy mood is back, and her palate is still totally intact :) 

I plan on doing a longer post soon, when time allows (must stop laughing).  Life is busy, school in full swing (juggling 3 research papers at once is gonna be FUN), and I’m spending a lot of time thinking/planning for Abbey’s high school at home next fall (gulp).  Never a dull moment.

Yes, 14.  1 year away from a learner’s permit, 2 years away from driving…if I keep going, I’ll get lightheaded. 

After a family trip to the mall, where Abbey had a mini-shopping spree, we came home for cake.  Her request…chocolate cake, chocolate frosting.  She IS my daughter, you know. 

Laughing, as her dad serenades her with the birthday song.  Oh, if only you could have heard…

A couple of presents at home…a capo for her guitar and a new voice activated alarm clock. 

Happy Birthday, Abbey.  We love you to bits.

The norm for Lainey Q…drinking soup. 

How’s she doing? 

* sleeping restlessly, waking a handful of times a night crying. 

* waking up in…shall we say…a less than sunny disposition? 

* doing a wonderful impression of Jekyl.  Or Hyde.  Depends on the moment. 

* glad her nose stitches are out (ear and upper lip come out tomorrow). 

* tolerating her liquid/soft diet wonderfully…her favorite is “hot soup”.  Any kind. 

* wanting to be held.  A lot.  Mommy gets lots of snuggle time. 

* struggling with staying dry.  The nurse told us that lots of little ones regress after surgery.  It could also be because her diet is almost entirely liquid.  Either way, the washer is running…

* going through a lot these days.  But, like with anything she’s dealt with in her young life, she’ll come through it and be just fine.