Celebrating Anna

Today's blog is devoted entirely to Amazing Anna.
Today she turns 17 and it is hard to believe she has
become the beautiful young lady she is  in so
short a time.   I love this picture because it is just 
pure sweetness. 

This is Anna with Hope when Hope was a baby.
But Anna as a baby---well---she was tiny--all
4lb 15oz of her.

The same day Anna joined our family so did Cat-Cat.  Lance
bought him for Anna that day and he has been a
constant companion to Anna ever since.
A well-traveled feline, he has been to Texas
several times, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona,
and Florida.  He has traveled in backpacks on
planes and carseats in SUVs.  He was also
featured in just about every picture Anna had
made for a few years.

Another favorite was Rocky.  He became Anna's
dog when she was four months old and even though
he's been gone for 7 years he remains in the family
hall of fame.  He was devoted to Anna and even
killed a snake that was in her path when she was little.

Anna at 2.  She's on the playset at White Buffalo
which is our favorite get-away spot.  We've been
there 25 times in Anna's lifetime.

At White Buffalo again.

Becoming a beautiful lady.  This was last year the
day before her Sweet Sixteen.

This year just after the Lady Knights won their
National Championship game.  Anna is blessed
with the sweetest teammates and most Godly coaches.
Knights' Basketball has been such a blessing
in her life.  She is anxious for practice to begin
in August.

Happy Birthday, Anna.  You are a blessing
to our family and we wouldn't have been complete
without you.  You bring a huge sense of humor and
wit to our times together.  You are our star athlete.
Your love for the Lord and your desire to please
Him inspires us as we live for Him.  We're
so thankful the Lord sent you to us.  Thank you
for being the person you are.  We love you.

And The Forecast is......

On Thursday afternoon we had a huge thunderstorm that produced
marble to golf ball sized hail.  We had our first indication it was coming
when chunks of ice began falling from the sky.  No rain, no thunder--
nothing but hail.  We could hear a roar that sounded like the classic
freight train that people talk about in tornadoes.  No tornado but  it
was the sound of the coming hail.  We escaped the broken windshields
that some people experienced; however Bryan's truck has dings.

As of today the area has had 10 inches of rain since Saturday.
We have probably had another 2-3 inches today with more forecast
for tonight.  This shows the ditch that runs under the bridge
leading to the golf course.  The water is just under it.

Tomorrow should just be cloudy but more bad
weather is expected tomorrow night and Wednesday.
Bad weather for golfing :). 
Photo credits go to Anna and Hope who made the trek
down to the bridge under umbrellas.

The Perils of Procrastination--or--I should have taught the Science lesson

When will I ever learn?  While I was cleaning the kitchen after lunch today, the girls wanted to go
out for a few minutes before heading back for school.  "Run along, little lovelies and catch some fresh
air while I finish cleaning,"  I  thought.    My parallel thoughts were, "Go ahead and I'll vacuum the kitchen after I get the dishes done."  I. am. so. stupid.  In my domesticity (and my cabbage rose apron) I got
the kitchen cleaned and started the vacuum.  Around the table by my window, the vacuum caught 
the cord of the tart burner where a lovely honeysuckle tart lay melting.  Guess what?? It scooted the
burner just enough to totally send hot wax all over the table.  Too bad I put off that unimportant,
non-essential science lesson and attempted something so vital as vacuuming the floor which
could have been done AFTER school.  And the worst part??  I probably won't learn my
lesson about putting off the important. And then the afternoon went downhill.  I'll post that later........

Masters Time

This is our weekend.
The one we live for each year in April.
My guys will be easy to keep up with.
I just have to walk into the living room to find them.
(Cute, cute cookie furnished by Lucy--what a great idea!!)

Oh yes, the necessary beverage.

I thought I just did that...

I thought I turned my calendar to March just a few days
ago, but here it is already April 4.  When I was younger
I always laughed when my parents or grandparents said,
"The older I get, the faster time passes."  I don't laugh at
that anymore :).

This is on the front door.  I think it's pretty.

Today had been busy.  Hope woke up sick but feels much better this afternoon after a burger and
fries.  Anna still had to do a little school but survived and spent about 90 minutes outside on
this gorgeous day working on basketball skills.  We've cleaned and mopped two bathrooms,
changed sheets, cleaned the grill and cooked lunch, cleaned and vacuumed the Surburban, and
made this spring-time wreath. Hope introduced Lynn to "Tangled" and now he's a fan. "Old
Yeller" is on the movie schedule for tonight.  A good day.

Award Time

Hope as a Cubbie in 2005

Terrible lighting but Hope in 2011

Getting her award

This month we will be celebrating accomplishments with awards.  Anna's Lady Knights banquet will be coming soon and I'll post her awards.  Last night was Awana Award night at Fellowship. Hope received the Excellence Award for finishing book #2.  Next fall she'll finish book 3 quickly and be on to book 4.  Then in the spring she'll receive the Timothy trophy--she can hardly wait.

Date Night and Prettiness

Date Night!!!!!
Thanks to the generosity of Ashley watching and making
a fun night for Anna and Hope and thanks to Anna and Hope
for making a fun night for Ashley.
Thanks to Lance and Lucy for the Malco gift card.
And thanks to Bryan for the Yankee gift card.
And another thanks to Ashley for the Olive Garden gift card---
Lynn and I are having a DATE NIGHT!!

And totally not related to date night but because
it's spring and I think this is so pretty--
Ta-da!!  Birdie prettiness :)