Cipher In The Snow

Growing up I became familiar with a movie that we were shown in school called "The Cipher In The Snow." The basic story line is that this little boy who is neglected and ignored and so quiet that he won't ask for help from anybody steps off the bus and dies in the snow.  Yeah, not the most uplifting show you will ever see.  Apparently the boy had no friends and was so quiet and lonely that he dies.  Upon reflection they find his poems that go along the lines of "I like Frogs, they jump on logs."   Ted and I still joke about that poem - grossly inappropriate to make jokes about the poem in such a sad show, but I'd be lying if I said we didn't.  Just sayin'......

Anyhow, fast forward a gazillion years and my own daughter enters the world known as public school.  Although she excels academically all of her teachers ask me the same question:  ""Does Emma talk at home?"  "Does she have friends that she talks to?"  Apparently at school Emma would do anything and everything to avoid drawing attention to herself.  We became concerned and tried to encourage her to venture into new activities, and there was growth, but you could see it was painful for her.  Even as she entered Jr. High her parent teacher conferences always had the same tone.  Although they never used these words, all I could hear them saying was, "You are raising the next cipher in the snow."  

Fast forward what seems like 10 minutes to the time she enters high school.  She tells us about a choir group she has joined and a concert she is going to attend.  It wasn't until we were driving out TO the concert that she mentioned that she had a solo within the song.  

When she began belting out a song Ted and I about started crying.  When she saw their performance of course she heard the notes that weren't exactly right and noticed everything that was wrong.  When we watched her perform all we could see was our little "cipher" shining beautifully in the spotlight.  

Here is the link if you want to see their performance.  

A Step Above Acapella Concert

It was a great night, and it brought tears to my eyes as I realized all the growth that has taken place in my sweet daughter.  We were bursting we were so proud, and as an added bonus her group won the competition presumably for their entertainment factor in the song.  It was a great night.  

Goodbye cipher.  Hello Diva.  :)

Sammy Turns 10!

Sweet Sammy turned 10.  Mom was feeling tired and wanted to go out to dinner, but he only wanted spaghetti from home for dinner.  Add to that one magnifying glass birthday cake, and soccer gifts galore and he was pleased as punch.

He is all about soccer lately and only wanted a new ball, new shin guards, and a rebounder net to practice with.  If it has to do with soccer he loves it.  He writes letter to pro soccer players all the time, earns money to buy jerseys, and prays for the snow to melt so he can go outside and play soccer.  

We love you, Sam.  You are a sweet and amazing kid and we are so grateful for the joy that you are in our family!!!  Happy Birthday!

Ted turns 41!!!

With lots of hoopla and fan fare we celebrated Ted's birthday - back in November!  Actually, there was very little hoopla and I'm not sure if there was much fan fare, but it wasn't for lack of Tessa trying.  She loves birthdays like nobody's business.  She was more excited than anybody for Ted's big day.  

She helped with the homemade Boston Cream Pie.  

She wrapped the presents. 

And she sang louder than anybody when we sang Happy Birthday.  No doubt she loves her daddy - we all do.  He may not look like he changes much over the years, but man oh man - I'm here to tell you he just gets better and better.  

Love you, Babe!  Happy 41!

Valentine's Day 2013

 Nobody can argue that Sam and Tessa love Valentine's Day.  They love the hugs, the special surprises, the hearts at dinner, the Valentine's Day box, but mostly love the candy....

They are totally kids after my own heart!

Merry Christmas 2012!

Well, you can see it wasn't a white Christmas until the very end of Christmas Day.  This is Tessa leaving food for the reindeer so they are sure to see our house on Christmas Eve.  

Christmas Eve was our traditional prime rib dinner with the Millingtons - (dang!!  Why haven't we been taking pictures all these years of our families! - but here is a picture from this year!) We had a great time together, and then we continued with our traditions and opened up ornaments and pajamas....

followed by reading Luke 2 and then doing our tradition of our personal year's"best and worst".  

The next morning the kids waited until seven to wake us up and then "patiently" waited at the top of the stairs to go down and see what goodies Santa had brought!  (I'm thinking Santa needs to remember some headbands for Tessa.....hmmmm)

Lincoln's big gift this year was a new mountain bike.

 Sam receiving his sibling gift from Tessa....some new slippers.  

 Sam asked for FIFA 13 and some solar panel stuff this year.  

Lincoln gave Emma several books she had been asking for as his sibling gift.  

 Ted with his LOTOJA medal and picture with his brother framed for his office.....maybe he won't want to do it again with this as a constant reminder!  :)  Just kidding !

 Tessa's big gift this year was the one thing she has been asking for for months and months....Butterscotch the pony.  She LOVES this pony.  It sleeps by her, she dresses it in her clothes, and she takes it anywhere we will let her!

 Emma made Tessa a piggy bank in the shape of an elephant - super cute! 

Emma's big gift this year was Beats headphones.  She LOVES them, and uses them all the time for listening, but also when she is arranging music.  I guess she thinks our house is really noisy and hard to concentrate in!  

Merry Christmas!

Lincoln's 13th Birthday!

Lincoln turned 13 this year.  Where did the last year go??  He is one sweet and amazing kid, and was really understanding about the fact that we had multiple committments on his actual birthday so we had to celebrate another day.  

 Okay, not my greatest, but it is a foosball table for those of you who are wondering.  :)

Thirteen things that I love about Lincoln:

1.  He is an avid reader

2.  He checks his grades so consistently that I never have to worry about nagging him about his grades!

3.  He has a very sharp and witty sense of humor.

4.  He has a great singing voice.

5.  He has some pretty serious dance moves!

6.  He is very quick to say "thank you, mom" which I love!

7.  The only fruit he will eat is bananas - when Ted & I asked him to eat three grapes over the Christmas holiday and he did it without complaint we about wanted to cry!

8.  He is amazing at math.

9.  He LOVES his guinea pig, Lily.

10.  He is always urging us to get to church early because he doesn't want to have to be the deacon to sit on the stand!

11.  He is one of the kindest kids you will ever meet and will do almost anything to ensure that somebody else doesn't feel badly or left out.

12.  He loves mountain biking with his dad.

13.  He loves the trampoline and is the only one in the family that can (still) do back flips.  

Love you, Lincoln!  Happy 13th!

Island Park 2012

We are so lucky that each year we have been invited and able to go up to the Checketts' cabin in Island Park.  Who wouldn't love waking up to this view each morning??

 

Add a little fishing, napping in the hammock, hanging out with all your cousins, going on the jet-skis, seeing Grandma and Grandpa and you have a fantastic week!  Thanks, Checketts!!!