Hello. I'm Here.

Well we got home from Virginia last Sunday night and I jumped right into working, and all those other things that happen during the week that suck up time like a dry sponge. 

What HAVE I been doing the past week?  I don't even know... 

This trip really exhausted me, so I've been falling into bed and sleeping hard every night... dragging myself out of bed in the morning, literally not being able to keep my eyes open long enough to get the coffee started.  Isn't that interesting?  No?  Well, that's my excuse for not posting.  :)

The tournament was amazing.  I spent a lot of my time in the library atrium of Regent University watching Luke and Sarah play and freezing, freezing, freezing!  I think the A/C in that place was set to like 30 degrees or something.  When I got a break from babysitting I watched speeches.  And blinked in awe.  For a girl like me who can't speak in front of a crowd to save her life and has always been of... let's say "average" intelligence :) the things I saw these kids do was astounding.  Talent by the bucket loads, and I'm not even exaggerating. 

Just for a little taste...  This is the Duo Interpretation that won first place.


I was actually in the room watching this exact performance and when they were done Mom and I turned to each other with huge eyes and said "WOW."  These kids are AMAZING.  It's a little intimidating to be surrounded by so much talent, let me tell you. 

I wish I could explain more about what NCFCA is...  but I know I wouldn't do it justice.  If you are interested you can poke around the website and see more of what it's all about.  There are so many different speech categories that I don't really know all of them, not to mention debate.  I got an opportunity to watch some "Persuasive" speeches, and that may have been my favorite part of the event.  I saw 8 students give speeches that they had researched, written and performed themselves on whatever subject they felt strongly enough to speak on.  The whole point is to be able to persuade the judges of your point of view.  I saw speeches on everything from Sarcasm to Homosexuality in the Church, Autism, Being a "Doer", Gun Control, Terrorism...  I was in awe.  They all persuaded me. :) 

We also got to do fun things like go to the beach, visit Monticello, Richmond, swim in the pool (or, in my case, watch Luke and Sarah B, swim in the pool) :)  It was a good trip.  Long, but good. 

But, as always, the best part?  Coming Home.  :)

Luke Comes to Visit

    
He kept us very well entertained.  :)

Luke Swims

   

The Luke-man's final swimming lesson was on Saturday.  He invited/begged the "WHOLE FAMILY" to come and watch. 

This is him doing the butterfly stroke, I think.  It's really hard to tell, the camera on my phone isn't spectacular and it has a delayed reaction.  I snapped the shutter when his head was in the air and he had the cutest little concentrating look on his face. But, obviously, by the time the picture was actually taken he was back in the water.


SO cute.  :) 

It's quite impressive really.  I suppose maybe a lot of kids grow up learning how to swim but I never learned.  I do a version of doggy-paddle and can do a backstroke (I think) but I can't tread water, float, or do a cannonball off a diving board into the deep section of the pool.  And I certainly can't dive for rings.  (How do you go DOWN into the water anyway?  I could never do it.) 

Luke did all of those things on Saturday.  And he was even relaxed enough to stop and wave at his adoring fans every 2 minutes.

Luke and Sarah B. Must Have Found the Wardrobe....

   Because it sure looks like they're in Narnia!

Photo credit/photo-shopping goes to SUSIE and there are more pictures on HER BLOG so check it out!!! 






 

Wedding Clothes

We went to a wedding last weekend.

Susie and Joe and I were all matchy-matchy.

Which may or may not have been planned...

I DID buy all of our clothes....

We are so, like totally related.

IDDiots United!

If you follow my Other Blog at all you know that I am an IDDiot.

I.D.D. stands for  "I Don't Date."

NOT  

"I Don't Diet"

OR

"I Dig Ditches"

OR 

"I Don't Dance"

OR 

"Is Dover Deep?"

It is pronounced like IDIOT.  BUT,

In this case the word IDDiot means= A person belonging to the I Don't Date forum.  Or, as we affectionately refer to it: "IDD"  That's I. D. D. NOT "id".  Got it?

It does not mean= A person of inferior intelligence.

OK.

So, I'm an IDDiot. 
So are all of these lovely ladies.  Some of whom I met for the first time while we were in Florida.  (Some of them are my sisters and I met them for the first time shortly after they were born.)  :)

 

Back Row (left to right) Sarah B. (obviously she is an honorary IDDiot as she is not yet old enough to join a discussion forum.  Not for lack of discussion skills, of course.  She just can't type well enough yet.) Katie ,Sarah Dee, Abigail

Front Row (left to right) Christine (honorary IDDiot), Stephanie, Lydia (honorary IDDiot), Susie, Debbie, Me

We giggled a lot.  And learned things about each other.  And learned that we already knew a lot about each other.  

I love my IDDiots.  :)

Attention, ATTENTION!!!

We interrupt this blog to announce that my little brother (not really little anymore) now has his own blog!

so, check him out!

Joe's Blog

We're in the Army now...

We're not behind the plow...
We few, we happy fortunate few

Windows

More than 70 years ago a man walked down the Main Street of a small town in Ky. He was a big city business man. Wandering up and down this little town something caught his eye. He crossed the street to admire a shoe store window display. The more he looked... the more he liked what he saw. He entered the shop.

"Excuse me, may I please speak with whichever of your employees it is that designed that window display?"

The clerk replied: "That would be Bill. Sure, I'll tell him you're here."

Before long Bill appeared. He was a tall, lanky young man. Quiet, calm, cautious.

"Hello, Bill. I represent the Sears and Roebuck, CO. I understand you're responsible for that window display?"
"Yes... I designed the window." Bill replied.
"Well, I think you did a fine job, Bill. Fine job. I like it a lot. Tell me, you did it all on your own, did you?"
"Well, yes, that was my job."
"That's fine, Bill. Bill, I'd like to offer you a new job. How would you like to move to Wisconsin? I've got an opening in one of our shoe departments there. Lots of room to move up. And I think you will, Bill. You've got the talent. What do you say?"

Bill had to think about it, but in the end he decided to take the job. He moved north, married and raised two sons. And he managed the shoe department at the Sears and Roebuck, CO. until he retired. By then, he had grandchildren. And great-grandchildren.

Fast forward 75 years. One of Bill's great granddaughters works at a Main Street florist in a small town in WI. Her boss asks her to design a window display for Christmas. Several days later, a group of women walk into the shop.
"Is your boss here?"
"No," the great granddaughter answers, "is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes. Who designed your window?"
"Well, I did," The girl replies, a little embarrassed.
"Well, congratulations!! You just won first prize in the Holiday Window Decorating Contest!!!!"



I apologize that I don't actually have any pictures of the first prize window. These pictures are the window I designed this year. It won 3rd place.

All American Family

My family was gracious and patient enough to indulge my whim to take this picture.... even though they all REALLY wanted to dig into the turkey!!!

Thanksgiving

Gravy

Flowers

Apple Picking

We like to go to orchard about 50 miles north of us... and "pick" apples. Should we get Jonamacs? Or Honeycrisp? Or both????

Our dear, darling baby....

The other day I called home in the middle of the day to talk to mom.
Mom answered the phone: "Hi Honey."
Sarah yells: "Hi Becca!"
I was astonished. "Mom, how does she know it's me?"
Mom said: "I have no idea."

So, then last night we were talking about it and Katie had this brilliant idea.
"Maybe Mom only calls you 'honey' so that's why Sarah knew it was you. Stephanie, what does Mom call you?"
Stephanie: "Sweetheart."
Katie: "See? She only calls Rebecca 'honey'. I know how to prove it. Sarah, where is 'honey'?"
Sarah immediately pointed to herself and said: "Me."
We thought this was hilarious and so Katie continued to ask her: "Where is 'sweetheart'?"
Again, Sarah points to herself: "Me"
Katie tried one more: "Where is 'dear'?"
Sarah pointed to herself a third time, then changed her mind and pointed behind her at the man on the couch: "Daddy"

My Peeps...

You wouldn't believe how heavy this boy isSee what happened when Luke let go???

We call it "The Slide"

Our boys think they are super heroes

I think this is the "Buzz Lightyear" pose... but it might be "Superman"...

Today....

Is my little brother's 6th birthday.
Yippee!!!!!!

French Toast for breakfast.... more excitement to follow....

Cranfest

Big plans for the weekend!!! You can click on the link below to see where I'm going this weekend!!

I hope it will be relaxing... I know I need a break from all the painting/organizing/ packing/moving, etc... but, I really want to get it done!!!! Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Cranfest WEBSITE

Just Because

I love Sarah Beth!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!??!

The band welcomes the home team

Friends

Little fans

Sorry...

Our internet has been AGGRAVATINGLY slow all weekend. I do have lots of pictures to show but I just don't have the 3 hours it would take to post them all!

Our local festival was this weekend. Complete with vendors, amusement park rides, and, of course, a parade.

Being the "business-owning-community-supporting" people that we are, we were in the parade. And at the fairgrounds. And we (Dad) sponsored a "Dilly-Bar Eating Contest" and a "Hot Dog Eating Contest."

I have pictures of all that but I'll have to share them later. When the internet decides to work a little faster...