Spring Break 2011

We went to Colorado for Spring Break. My brother just moved there with his family and Scott had a businees trip that coincided with it, so it all came together perfectly. I flew out with the kids and Kirk picked us up and then Scott met up with us at Kirk's house a few hours after we arrived. It was so fun to hang out with Kirk, Courtney and their cute boys. On Monday we visited Garden of the Gods. It was a perfect place to let the kids run around and explore.

On Tuesday we left for Keystone for a couple days of skiing!

Sock Hop x 5

For the past 5 years I have been in charge of our elementary school's sock hop. The first year it was a TON of work because I had no clue what I was doing, had no committee and had no idea what to expect. Over the years I have been blessed to have awesome friends and neighbors that have agreed to be on the committee and now I feel like the Sock Hop runs itself (not really, but compared to the first year, it's breeze).  I do a little prep work starting in January (reserve DJ, apply for food permit, order pizza, reserve the police officers, do a little advertising and have a couple committee meetings). I have different friends take charge of: coordinating the volunteers, decorating/signage, novelty/candy sales, food sales, and admission/tickets sales.  This year we added an opportunity for kids to donate socks to an organization called Operation Warm Feet (they donate socks to homeless shelters in the area). We collected 303 pairs of socks! 

Here is one of the posters I made to hang up all over the school. I had Caroline

 help me add some color to it.

The real work happens the day of the event. This is my van after Kim and I went to Sam's Club. It is full all the way to the driver's seats. Mixed in with all the junk food are some apples and carrots, I swear.

The janitors are always so nice to help us unload everything.

I have never taken one single picture at any of the past Sock Hops. It's just always so busy and stressful that I never remember my camera. This year I threw the camera in my purse and as soon as Scott arrived with Millie I handed it to him and told him to document that I actually do this thing.

 Ella was super excited this year because now that she's in Jr. High she got to help sell candy as a volunteer. Super cool! BTW, Ella got braces the day before this pic. She was a trooper that night because her teeth were super sore. 

 Scott snapped a shot of me and Mills as I was running between the cafeteria and gym. I'm noticing a lot more wrinkles these days - booo :(

Millie with Elvis. 

 Caroline and Mills dancing - they had so much fun! I made those poodle skirts (with the help of my mom) 5 years ago for Ella and Caroline. I'm so glad they have been well used.

 Caroline with one of her BFFs, Sophie C.

Cal's first snowboarding lesson

At the REI clearance sale we found a snowboard for Cal and it came with a free 'learn to ride' lesson. Lucky for us Three Rivers Park District participates in the Burton Learn to Ride program so we were able to go over to Elm Creek (just a few minutes away) to get his free lesson. He was so excited!

Book Club - My Turn

I'm so mad that I didn't take any pics of all the great girls that attend our book group. I feel so blessed to be a part of a group with such amazing women. It was my turn to choose the book and host. I chose The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I had read the book about 12 years ago when Scott was taking a C.S. Lewis lit class his senior year and suggested that I read it. I remember how much of an impact it had on me and I remember thinking then that I would love to have the chance to discuss it more deeply with friends. So, when it was my turn that's the book I chose.

I decided to serve an English style tea with homemade cream scones (recipe courtesy of Camie) served with clotted cream, lemon curd and apricot jam. I got out my grandma's silver tea set and my mom's china for the occasion. I also found some napkins that my grandma Ella cross stitched on and a lace table cloth that she might have made. I love finding reasons to bring out the china.

It was such a fun evening and we had great discussions. Scott even came in at the end as our "guest lecturer" to share some background on C.S. Lewis. 

 Here are just a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no hell.

We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork you must make a decision.

 Jacey  and Camie with their pinkies up :)

Just for memories sake...so far the books we have read in our book group are:

Reading Lolita in Tehran 

Crossing to Safety

The Help

Still Alice

The Great Divorce

The Book Thief (reading now)