Upward and Onward

The kiddos (upper 4) just

finished their first season playing Basketball and Cheerleading with Upward. What an awesome program! It's a Christian program with a focus on Scripture memory, and they use basketball and cheerleading as the vehicle to do it. The boys were excited to play a sport, and did very well (especially when you know that they are not "natural" basketball players - I think if they stood on each others shoulders -they might be of an "average" height!) Selah was most certainly one of the cutest cheerleaders I've ever seen.

If you have anUpward program nearby - do it.

Now... on to soccer season!

Just a plain update

I've been getting requests for an "update".... For all of you who are "wondering" - I am not pregnant... to my knowledge anyway. Given our past history, and Esther's current age (9 months) - you're entitled to "wonder". I'll let you know.

So, here's our update - We are still unpacking. I actually have taken a break from my goal of "a box a day". Truthfully, I am just sick of cardboard! I'm considering having a garage sale and selling everything still in a box "as is" - a surprise for everyone! One problem, there are dozens of objects that I remember having in a past life, but haven't found yet...

The kiddos are starting to settle in here. We are now just as busy as we were in MN. Piano, Violin, Ballet, Basketball, AWANA, Couples Group, Art/Music/Writing Classes, CHEF Homeschool group activies... No wonder I'm tired. But, God is so good - and a new family with 12 and 10 year old sons just moved in next door!

We are recovering from "The Great Bentz Plague of 2009" - Part II (see my after Christmas post...)

Being the curriculum junkie that I am, I am trying out for an unpaid job .(Matt is so happy for me to be "working" - I haven't told him the salary = $0.00) - I am reviewing curriculum for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. The kiddos are right now "testing" out a study about Australia - look for my "review"coming soon. Actually, we're having fun learning new words - our favorite - "Essie has a nasty nappy - who wants it?" Essie says da-da-da - so we know she wants his help!

I have also volunteered to Coordinate the Local Bible Bee contest. This is a very exciting nationwide event. Childern compete at a local level in Scripture memorization and Bible knowledge, then the top 100 competitors in each age group advance to a National Bee in Washington DC. Last year (the first year it was held) Conway had 2 children qualify for the National contest! Best of all, everyone wins - the "worst" you can do is put alot of God's Word into your heart and mind! But, the winners can win some serious cash! (can we say -Scholarship fund!!!)

That's about it for an update... I'd love to hear from all of you!

Snow Day in ARKANSAS!

It does snow in Arkansas! We woke up feeling like we were "home"! After an extensive search - I was able to find coats, boots, mittens, hats, scarves all times 7 (thankfully Esther didn't want to go out!)

It gave me a moment of relief that I don't have to do this every day!

The kiddos had a great time out in the snow, and the best part for me - the snow will be gone by Monday!!

Just a couple more...

Sorry to Joshua for including him in the "after" picture, but since he was in the throws of potty-training while I was attempting to get a few pictures, he made the blog! Hey, anyone who's been through the potty training thing - knows that he spent more time here than anywhere else!

Anyway - back to the house...

The before had lovely wallpaper (several layers thick and peeling in places) and lovely pink painted drawers... this was not something the boys were excited about!

The after is our very own tribute to the Vikings! Please no comments about the end of the season and the toilet... we are still recovering from the disappointment and yes - Josh's "pants on the ground"!

Here's another One

Here's another one of the dramatic redos... The master bathroom. The before featured two interesting wallpaper choices - one on top of the other... actually papered in opposite directions? Did someone either run out of paper, or inspiration to continue?

Our after is a textured wall with "Svelte Sage" paint - I'm hoping the paint name helps me look "svelte" - what do you think?

Before and After

I promised some before and after pictures of the house....

This is a before picture of the girls bathroom. Yes, that is several layer of different wallpaper - with sheet music individually pasted on. And - as a final touch, there are lovely (if you like that type of thing) Fish stamped randomly around the room... including on light switches. The vanity drawer faces were painted in a white-wash, antiqued lavendar. Not quite the effect we would have gone for.

And - the after picture! Isn't it cute!! We painted it a light green that matches the ceilings in the girls rooms (it's a Jack and Jill bathroom that connect them), added a striped shower curtain and rugs, a couple of cute Dollar store cups and Wall decals that match their bedspreads (from Target) All in all - not too bad for someone like me that is "decorating challenged".

The Great Bentz Plague of 2009

Merry Christmas!

We survived the Great Bentz Plague of 2009!

Our family picture was taken only a few hours before the dreaded words every mom hates to wake up to at 1:30 am on Christmas morning, "Mommmmm - Josh is throwing up everywhere!"

So, out of bed, wash the boy, wash the floor, throw away the stuffed animals (2 down - 14 to go!), wash the sheets, wash the Christmas jammies, crawl back in bed...

Wake up at 4:30 - Visiting Aunt and cousin are also throwing up.

Get up - begin the child torment of making them wait on the steps until Dad is ready to go down and see the stockings! (my favorite part of the day!)

After stockings - clean up the mess of a toddler (who is still quite sick), and put on the delicious Bentz Fruit Soup (loving made the night before...) Hear calls to "come quick" - Josh needs your help, Aunt needs help, Cousin needs help. Okay - done - back to the soup... Served to all able to keep food down. Noah remarks - "this tastes like BBQ" - wait - I know it's not everyone's favorite (we're Bentzs - we eat it anyway!) but BBQ? SO, I taste it - burnt to the crisp Fruit Soup does taste like it came off Matt's grill. YUCK! Throw the whole pot in garbage.

Now, on to presents - but, it takes along time while we wait for people to rush to the bathroom, or wake them up after being sick... again.

Ahhh, finally done with Christmas Day - Misha (our dog) only ate the head off two new toys and two ornaments today - she must be a little off as well... she ususally polishes off a couple more per day...

Now off to bed - tomorrow has to be better,right? Well in the next 4 days - all 15 people get this terrible reminder of the Great Bentz Plague 2009! I fell prey to it the day that all guests were well enough to travel home...

I do think my newest invention will be the "Lysol Fogger" - just empty the house - and it fogs every nook and cranny to remove all germs.

With that over, it's time to climb Mt. Laundry!

I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring...