Back in to the groove

Did I mention snow day, part 2 was spent very much like snow day, part 1?  Good times. 

 Dash the dog is on my bad list.  Yes, that is a hole in my coverlet.  Yes, Dash ate it.  All of it.  Ate all.the.way.through.it.  Where is the part he ate?  I have no idea.  Also, on the list of "things he's eaten or ruined"...a computer cord, two (yes two...not counting the above mentioned coverlet) comforters, my black heels, shoelaces from two pairs of shoes for the boys, my tan heels, and the insert of Fred's shoe.  Oh, and countless pairs of underwear of the boys.  Saturday night I almost opened the door to let him run free.  If you see a black and white dog running around the streets of Bartlett that answers to the name of Dash...I know nothing about it. 

After the whole Dash debacle I put on my rain boots to wear and I noticed someone (a boy to remain nameless) broke them that morning when they put them on to take out the dog.  Shoot.  I may or may not have sent Fred a text that said, "Is everyone in this house trying to ruin everything that I have?!?"  Goodness.

 My sweet childhood friend is getting married.  Her invitation came in this week.  It made my heart so happy.  I finally found my dress for the big day.  Bring it...I'm ready.  #ShawnandBecca

 I ate lunch with this sweet boy this week when I volunteered at his school.  He ate his lunch and then part of mine.  A good time was had by all.

 

While I was at his school I passed this bulletin board.  The character word for the month is citizenship.  Each class votes for the person in their class that exhibits this characteristic the most.

 Take a close look at the third grade picture.  Hey, I know that fella! 

 

The next day I went to Clayton's school to work on this monster bulletin board.  It was huge.  I actually worked on it two days.  The second day I took Andrew.  He was a big helper.  The bulletin board is not finished, but it's close. 

 While I was in the hall, guess whose picture I saw as Student of the Month?!?  Yep, that would be Clayton..the 6th grade student of the month.  I have declared this "The Month of the Shackelfords".

 After all of our hard work at Clayton's school Andrew and I met a friend at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.  Yummers.  Worth all the hard work. 

 Remember "The month of the Shackelfords"?  When I got home this was in the mail.  Clayton wrote a paper and it was selected as the winner.  Fred and I had a moment of celebration that we survived C's toddler years.  I sent texts to grandparents, called my good friend in Paris and sent a few texts to some friends here. 

I waited to tell Clayton when he got home.  I thought it would be awesome to capture it on video.  Look at this classic Shackelford moment...



Well...whoops.  My bad. We did find out later that he wasn't the only person to enter.  One or two grandparents said, "At least he took the initiative to enter." Yeah...so about that...it was extra credit for him because he was very close to a B and just wanted to ensure he made an A...so there's that. 

I have to stop a minute to just discuss how faithful God has been.  It flooded over me this week.  About 15 months ago we moved our crew from the only home they've known.  It broke my heart.  I wondered if they would get lost in the shuffle of a bigger city.  God heard my concern and confirmed to me this week that he is faithful.  Always. 
We celebrated the "Month of the Shackelfords" by going to Overton Park to Belly Acres and then to Sweet Noshings for a sweet treat.  It was a good time. 

 Friday Jack had career day at his school.  He wanted Fred to come speak about what he does for his career.  Jack also was supposed to dress like what he wants to be when he grows up, which is a preacher.  Doesn't he look like a preacher?

You know, I hear people all the time talking about God being taken out of schools.  No, He's not.  We are His hands and feet and everywhere we go we take His name.  We may not be able to read scripture or pray publically.  We have to live it.  Live it!  So, as long as Christ followers are in the school God is there.  My family will be Jesus.  Every chance we get, everywhere we go...without apology. 
Jack had a big day.  Not only was Fred there in the morning, but Renee came to eat lunch and then be the mystery reader.  She even brought Sonic.  Good day indeed!

 

The boys are heading to Jackson for a second shot at their weekend with Mimi and Tee.  I do not know what Fred and I will do while they are gone.  Just kidding!!! We are going to have a blast!

Here's a shout out to a new friend, that reads my blog, Lindsay.  Praying for you and your family as you transition to Costa Rica.  May God continue to bless you and your family!

Snow Days, Sickness, and More Snow Days

We had big plans for a weekend for the boys to spend some time with Mimi and Tee.  We packed and headed out on Friday afternoon.  These plans were moved from one weekend to the next because of snow so everyone was really ready!  Jack's best friend B and his brother, C, met us in Jackson for his birthday.  Five kids, my parents and me and Fred went to Sparky's Pizza and then to Sky Zone in Jackson.  Everyone had a blast!

We all headed to my parent's house for a sleep over.  The boys had a ball!  Early Saturday morning I got a text from my mom saying, "Houston, we have a problem.  Your dad has been up all night sick."  We ate a quick breakfast, adjusted plans and all headed out.  My boys were supposed to stay the rest of the weekend with my parents, but a stomach virus will halt those plans quickly.  The plan was to take B and C back to Paris with us.  We were headed to Paris because Fred preached a funeral of a sweet, precious lady.  With a quick change of plans we ended up taking our entire crew with us to Paris.  What was supposed to be a quick up and back trip turned in to a little bit longer as we received and gave hugs at several places all over Paris.  I told a friend that someday I will go back to Paris and not cry.  This particular day was not that day.  I left a part of my heart in Paris and I guess it will always be there. 
By Sunday morning it was very clear that Clayton had contracted some kind of stomach virus of his own.  Yuck.  He is now old enough to stay for brief times by himself so I headed to church and checked on him between Sunday School and Church.  It was a new era for our family and I must admit it made me a little sad.  It was the first time I didn't get to stay at home and snuggle with my sick kiddo...nor did he need me.  Sniff, sniff.
Clayton was at home with me for several days and then it was business as usual.  Wednesday morning I went to help a (93 year old) friend who lives in assisted living.  Andrew went with me.  She is always offering me her walker, because she does not like to use it.  Apparently, she offered it to Andrew.  He came in to the bathroom where I was working and whispered, "Mom, Ms. Sally told me I could have her walker.  Do you think we should give it to Mun?"  It was really sweet.  I assured him Mun had a walker and Ms. Sally really didn't want to give hers away.  Speaking of my grandmother...we were talking about her the other day.  She would like to live to be 100.  When Jack heard that he said, "I hope she lives to be 200."  Me too, buddy.  Me too. 
At the beginning of the week we kept hearing about bad weather coming in to our area.  It was scheduled to arrive around church time Wednesday night.  Because of this we ended up canceling services.  The weather did not disappoint.  We woke up Thursday morning to about 5 inches of powdery snow.  It was beautiful. 

 

In true Shackelford form my crew was out as the sun came up.  Here's their sweet dad headed out to play with them...

We hit a hill in our neighborhood...

 

 Seriously, it was so bright I could barely open my eyes.  I really do have eyes. 

 After hanging in our hood for a while we ventured out...after getting stuck in our driveway...to a huge hill in Bartlett.  We've heard about this hill since we moved here and boy did it not disappoint.  We met up with several friends and had a ball.

The hill was really steep.  It took Andrew forever to get up it, because he had to stop and talk the entire trip up.  Several of the sweet teenagers we were with would take turns helping him up the hill, at times pulling him up this steep hill in a sled.  How sweet is that?

 

Andrew went down with me one time.  I'm pretty sure I screamed the entire way.  I was screaming because the hill was steep and I was with the baby.  He was not scared.  I was.  I carried him for nine months and, with the help of anesthesia, I brought him in to this world.  Yes, I have a lot at stake. 

The second time I helped Andrew up the hill with his sled, with him talking the entire way, I asked if I could go with him.  He said, "No, I'm going down by myself like a man ."  I had to walk back down the very steep hill by myself.  I will use this "like a man" line to my advantage in the future.  You know. brush your teeth...like a man.  Zip your own pants...like a man.  Put your plate up...like a man.  Good line, don't you think?!?

Once we got home we warmed up with hot chocolate, snow cream, (Warm?  Maybe not.) and chili, not necessarily together.   

 You know you live a good life when this is what your stove looks like.  Is there anything better than chili and hot chocolate on a cold day?

 The boys even made a snowman.  He's cute, right. 

 

I love a snow day because it gives me a little time to organize little areas of my house.  Here's my pantry before...

And after...Ahhh...

My fridge before...

And my fridge after...

I even send pictures of it to my running partner back in Paris.  She does the same for me.  We're cool like that!!

Oh, if I lived some place where it snowed a lot I would be the most organized person ever.  And I would be about 100 lbs. heavier.  When the gym is closed and all you want to do is eat, what's a girl to do?!?  By Thursday night the boys were exhausted.  Andrew was so tired he could barely make a sentence.  They all slept hard.  We are out of school again today (Friday).  The boys have gone back to the big hill where it is muddy and icy.  I think they are headed for frozen yogurt.  I stayed back.  It's cold and I needed a minute. 

 

My sweet friend called the other day and asked if I could keep her one month old baby while she had an appointment.  YES!  The answer is always YES!  Is that not the sweetest thing you have ever seen?!?  We sat on the couch for a good two hours just like that.  I could have just eaten him up.  Sweetest thing ever.

 

We have loved these wintery snow days.  We have loved our time together as a family.  Having said that some buttercups and sunshine will be loved as well.  Come on spring!

Snow Days

Sunday night we were supposed to get some winter weather.  It did not disappoint!  My boys could not have been more thrilled!  They played outside, came in and ate, played upstairs, drank hot chocolate, and then did it all again.  The first day by 10:30 am I was making my second round of hot chocolate.  Snow days really are the BEST!
This was taken at 6:45 am on Monday morning.  My boys did not get the memo about "sleeping in" on snow days. Our neighbors LOVE us...ha!

 I just sat on the couch with a warm fire and a cup of coffee.  I think that is the grown up version of a snow day...well not all of it.  More on that later.

 Snow days are rough on Dash the Dog.  He had to take a nap in front of the fire.  It's a hard knock life for Dash.

 Some neighborhood friends came over and we abided by the schedule mentioned above.

 And...we're silly now.

 Second round of hot chocolate. You know it's a good snow day when you're on round 2 before lunch.

 They were all so sweet when they came in.  They would take off their wet layers in the garage and then come in.  The problem was their clothes never dried.  So, after a couple of times of this I decided to hang everything in the kitchen and living rom to dry.  There were clothes hanging everywhere!

 Everywhere!

 Yes, that is a rice krispie treat dunked in hot chocolate.  We enjoyed EVERY aspect of our snow days.

 This is my quintessential snow day...a movie, a puzzle and a fire.  This was day 1.  That's Pride and Prejudice on the TV. Does it get any better??

 Day 2, I kicked it old school with a little Price is Right.  Good times! 

After three days of this we had to head back to school.  Honestly, I was a little disappointed.  Winter weather is headed back in tomorrow.  We may get one more day, but I doubt it.  We'll see!! 

This week

The science fair project was finally completed and turned in.  Clayton told me he couldn't even smile when I took this picture.  We were all done at this point.  Ha.

Andrew made this for me at school.  I thought it was really sweet and he was very proud of it.

 This is our house every morning.  Jack is outside before the sun comes up playing some kind of ball, riding a bike, running around.  All before school.  He loves being outside.  Sweet boy.

 On Friday we spent the day together as a family.  We went to Taqueria La Guadalupana for some delicious/authentic Mexican food.  When we walked in Jack whispered, "Mom, there are only Hispanic people here."  You know the food is going to be good when this happens.

 After lunch and a quick stop to the Peanut Shop we headed to church for a date night/children's valentine party.  Here's my friend Stephanie setting up the photo booth.  I call it dedication if you get on the floor to work on something, right?

 The kids had a blast!  Once the families arrived they took a picture in the photo booth and then the adults were given a road trip sheet and they left.  The kiddos all stayed for dinner and then we had them divided in to groups where they played bingo, minute to win it games, the left/right game...basically anything I found on Pinterest that looked like fun.  We then played in the gym.  I told the parents if they were late picking up their children I would give the child an espresso.  No one was late.  Grin.

 Here's our family photo booth session.  Too funny!

The morning of Valentine's Mimi sent the boys a package with Reese's hearts, Sweethearts and an invitation to come to her house next weekend.  They were elated.  I told them later the Reese's hearts were for me, not them.  I don't think they believed me.  What?!?  I know that's what Mimi meant to say!

 After ballgames that morning Fred and I headed to Overton Park for a little lunch at a new restaurant called Local On the Square.  It was divine.  In fact, it was so delish we did not even get a picture of ourselves...only the food. You are looking at Crispy Brussels with cream fresh and Lobster Mac and Cheese.  We then split a burger.  It was some of the best food I've had in a while.  If you find yourself in Memphis I would highly recommend the Overton Park area.  It is just a fun place to walk around, find good restaurants and do Hot Yoga.  Just kidding on the Hot Yoga part.  Well, I mean, it's down there, but I did not participate.  Maybe another day.

 The other part of our date was going to Costco, Sam's and Mattress Firm to find a new mattress.  We finally selected one at Costco and I found bedding that I liked/purchased.  The bedding was actually on clearance and I've had my eye on it for several weeks.  So...double bonus.  Back to the mattress...we were going to order it online, but realized it would take 2-4 weeks to get it in and it was going to be $100 more.  SO, we were going to ask a friend, but Fred thought since it was Valentine's day we shouldn't ask anyone.  So that's what we did.  I put the new bedding on the old mattress.  Then, my friend called and said they really didn't mind going to get it for us.  SO, Fred headed to Costco.  In the meantime I stripped the old mattress of all the new bedding, moved the mattress and box springs to the guest room and vacuumed under the bed.  While the vacuum was on (I'm not kidding) I heard my phone.  It was Fred.  Costco closed at 6 pm...it was 6:30 pm.  Guess who slept in the guest room last night?!? 

 I am happy to report that we finally go the new mattress today AND put the new bedding on it.  Yahoo!  I am counting down the hours until bedtime. 

Middle schoolers are so fun!  This week Clayton got up and told me he had had a nightmare.  I asked him what happened in his dream.  He told me someone called me (his mom) an ugly word and he beat that person up.  Fast forward to driving to school.  I had these Valentine glasses in the car and I told Clayton I would give him $5 if he would wear them to school.  He is very literal and did not get that I was messing with him.  He looked at me very seriously and said, "Mom, we can't wear glasses that are not prescription to school."  He still did not get it.  I said several other things to him like they'll never know (please know these were heart shaped glasses with rhinestones and pink lenses.), just tell them you have to wear them, etc.  All this time he is protesting he never gets that I'm kidding.  Finally I just give up and it's time for him to get out of the car.  As he's leaving I say out the door, "Thanks for defending my honor last night in your dream!"  He turns with a mortified look on his face, one that I will never forget, and just said an exasperated, "Mom."  I will always remember that look.  It was classic middle school.  Man, I love these guys!