State Wrestling Finals!!!

A couple of days ago, we moved the computer from our bedroom (in hopes of keeping the children out more) and into the dining/school room. In the process, I've lost the chord to download my pictures - as soon as it turns up, I'll upload the matching pictures.



Great, the pictures are here now. This is the Indian Wrestling Team!!

Brothers!!

Last Saturday, Stephen, Bobby and I woke and left the house at 5:00AM!!! We were headed to our first State Wrestling Finals!!! They were so excited.

It was hosted at Eastside High School in Greenville (about an hour away from our home). The place was packed when we got there and continued to fill through out the morning!!

Tuesday night at practice, Bobby had weighed in at 60 pounds and Stephen at 59. Both were signed up to wrestle in the 60 pound weight class. That meant that if they weighed in Saturday at 61 - they wouldn't be able to participate!! So, breakfast was held until after weigh-ins - they made it - both weighing in at 58 1/2.

They had a fun breakfast of honey buns, bananas and orange juice.

Stephen wrestled first and Bobby had a bye. Stephen lost his first match but put up a good show.
Here is Stephen's first match. Again - this is the boy that ended up winning the whole thing for their weight class.

Stephen wrestled his second match before Bobby had wrestled at all. The moment we've been waiting all year for ----- Stephen won his first match!!!!! Yeah!!! I had prayed for him (not that he would be the best or win them all, but just that he would get the enjoyment of winning one match this season - that's okay for a mother to pray right?) :-) It was a true pin - 1-2-3 - Stephen's hand was raided in victory!!! I was so happy for him. He's worked and practiced all year for this.

Here is Stephen's first pin!!!!!

Next it was Bobby's time to wrestle finally. Because Bobby didn't wrestle all year - he started halfway through - this was his first tournament. He had a good first match, but the other wrestler won. Because of Bobby's bye the first round, he still had one more match....
Here is Bobby's first match. Look how low that boys was, I knew it didn't look good before it even began!!! :-)

Every sport's mother's nightmare. . . .

Stephen and Bobby were wrestling each other for fourth place and a medal!!!


I told them I was gonna be yelling for who ever was on the bottom. It lasted forever. Stephen started out in a furry and got most of his points, then Bobby came bursting back. Next thing you know it was tied 6 to 6 and they were going into overtime!!! Next one to score a point wins - Bobby took Stephen down and won the point and medal.

(That's Bobby on the far left)


What a hard place to be in!! We ended up enjoying the fact that both boys won their first wrestling match on the same day in the State Finals!! What a blessing to have a brother so close to you!!!

Such a busy week!!

It has seemed like such a busy week. I haven't blogged at all!!! I've got lots of good pictures to get up!! Let's see what I can get done today...

Mitten Strings for God - Chapter 1

So, Dawn's beginning her book study today at By Sun and Candlelight.


Chapter 1 from Mitten Strings for God is Dailiness.


The author, Kathrina Kenison, discusses the most dear times of our lives aren't the ones where the cameras are flashing (birthday, Christmas) but the daily moments that pass by often unnoticed.

Some of my favorite dailiness activities -

going to sleep beside my best friend every night

hanging clothes on the clothesline on pretty days

getting a good bye kiss from Terry - one on each cheek, one on the lips, a hug, he tells me I'm pretty and then tells me to honk the horn when I get in the car

cereal

helping Brenda and Emily with their cooking

having devotion time with Troy and hearing all his many thoughts

folding clothes on my bed - packing away things that are too little, throwing away things that are stained, placing everything where it belongs, knowing everyone has the things they need for tomorrow

sitting down to dinner together as a family

watching Stephen and Bobby practice their wrestling

reading a good Beverly Lewis book

getting caught up in a good movie

listening to the little children as they read

Here is my favorite quote from the end of the first chapter...

"The daily rhythms of life, the humble household rituals, the nourishment I provide - these are my offerings to my children, given with love and gratefully received."








"

Mitten Strins for God Book Study

Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight is having a book study on Mitten Strings for God. I had previously not heard of this book before Dawn mentioned it. It looked so good, I got a copy from Amazon.

Here are the chapters from the book...

1. Dailiness

2. Morning

3. Peace

4. Quiet

5. Simplicity

6. TV

7. Play

8. Secret Paces

9. Wants and Needs

10. Stories

11. One-on-One Time

12. Surrender

13. Breathing

14. Healing

15. Listening

16. Nature

17. Enchantment

18. Grace

19. Rhythm

20. Truth

21. Helping

22. Discipline

23. Stretching

24. Nurturing

25. Sabbath

26. Spirit

27. Balance

28. Choices

29. Wingbeats

This is the quote that Dawn's mentions from the introduction -

"No doubt some of the notions in these pages will seem simple. But I find it is most often the simple gesture or the small goal well met that reaps the greatest reward. And, in our busy lives, it is often the simple gesture that is overlooked, the simple need that is never satisfied ...

We all know this to be true. But sometimes we forget."

What to Wear?

My Favorite Picture of the Week....

I found this on AllPosters - created Solomon.

Shelfari

I updated my bookshelf on the bottom of the blog page with our new and current books we are reading. I added in 3 that Troy's working on too - now that's he's home with us.

For Today

I thought I might use Peggy's list for what she is doing for today...


FOR TODAY

I am THANKFUL...for my family - my heart

I am SEEING...Brenda eating breakfast with her hair still wet from her morning shower

I am HEARING...the morning news in the background - seems like Hillary just won't go away but I think McCain is up for the fight

I am WEARING...Artie's shirt, blue jeans, tennie shoes and a ponytail - seems like I need a little work on this outfit today!

I am READING...the Bipolar Child

I am HOPING...spring is here!!

I am GOING...to Terry's speech class this morning

On my DESK...folders full of coupons, my Bible, some school books, a pile of papers to file - my desk needs as much attention as my outfit for today

I am THINKING...too much to do today to work on this desk!! :-)

I am WORKING...on laundry, dinner plans, school assignments

In the GARDEN...tiny little lettuce leaves are beginning to pop up

I am FEELING...ready for the day, a little cold, maybe my new outfit for the day will include a sweater for the morning

From the KITCHEN...Emily's night to cook - more Rachael Ray - Shrimp Creole

Out the WINDOW...Artie called on his way to work this morning and showed the boys and I Venus!!

MY SIMPLICITY FOR TODAY...seeing Terry asleep in our bed (he wakes to tell Artie and the little boys bye before work and school and then curls up in our bed to go back to sleep). He's such a doll.

Wordless Wednesday

Today is Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom...

Peter Pan

Peter and Wendy

Since Emily finished her free reading book - Charlotte's Web - today we started a new one - Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.

Here's a paragraph I loved in our reading...

"Mrs. Darling first heard of Peter when she was tidying up her children's minds. It is the nightly custom of every good mother after her children are asleep to rummage in their minds and put things straight for next morning, repacking into their proper places the many articles that have wandered during the day. If you could keep awake (but of course you can't) you would see your own mother doing this, and you would find it very interesting to watch her. It is quite like tidying up drawers. You would see her on her knees, I expect, lingering humorously over some of your contents, wondering where on earth you had picked this thing up, making discoveries sweet and not so sweet, pressing this to her cheek as if it were as nice as a kitten, and hurriedly stowing that out of sight. When you wake in the morning, the naughtiness and evil passions with which you went to bed have been folded up small and placed at the bottom of your mind; and on the top, beautifully aired, are spread out your prettier thoughts, ready for you to put on."

Makes me miss my mama.... :-) Things were always put just so for me when she was alive... she was definitely one of those mama's who made everything right and good.

Tackle It Tuesday

Today is Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom. I have to tackle my e-bay account!!! I have feedback that needs to be left. I have books that have sold that need to be mailed. That will involve finding or buying packaging, postage, and the post office.

Anything you need to tackle today?

WWJD

Today Emily started her first devotional book. We are reading What Would Jesus Do by Helen Haidle. It is based on the classic book In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon. The actual book she is reading is older than she is. Artie and I gave it to Brian and Troy in 1997 for Christmas; back when we lived in a trailer in Spartanburg - our first real home of our own.

I hope Emily enjoys it and learns how look at life's situations and respond as Jesus would.

Menu Plan Monday

What, Menu Plan Monday on Tuesday??? Okay, I'm a little behind this week. The plan's been in effect, just not posted yet!! :-)

Friday - Friday night was girl's night out to Alice in Wonderland - we had Brenda's Fettuccine Alfredo left over from last week - it was very yummy

Saturday - Saturday was our second night out with The Taming of the Shrew - we left all the boys with a fun boys' meal - chicken wings and French fries

Sunday - Artie had made a request last week for burritos. We use to fix this a good bit when we were dating and first married. We hadn't fixed it in years.

Monday - Gwyn's Chicken Casserole - from my friend Gwyn (who is busy learning to cook food like the people from the Dominican Republic!!)

Tuesday - (wrestling night) - Brenda's new Beef Stroganoff

Wednesday -(church night) - Kids - Spaghettios, Artie and I - out alone!!

Thursday - (wrestling night) Emily's Rachael Ray - Quick Creole Shrimp -

The Taming of the Shrew

It must be theater weekend at the Quinn home. Tonight Brenda, Emily and I went to the University of SC - Spartanburg - USCS - and watched the Taming of the Shrew. It was a wonderful performance.


Brenda has been reading through Shakespeare's comedies as part of her literature studies - Emily has joined us this year too. This was the first play by Shakespeare that either of the girls had seen. The language was beautiful and I was very happy that Emily was able to follow along without any problem. There were some jokes that sorta went over her head - which was a good thing after hearing them. Brenda gave me a couple of looks - like did Emily hear that? :-) She's such a good big sister. So, we're all a bit wiser after our first of his famous plays, and I think we are all looking forward to finding more locally to attend.

Alice in Wonderland

Thursday night Terry went to his very first play!! Brenda, Emily, Terry and I went to see Alice in Wonderland at the Gaffney Little Theater. It was a musical based on the Disney Version of the story. Emily enjoyed seeing a couple of friends from church in the play and Brenda saw a friend from school last year. Terry said he loved it. I think Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb were the best in the show. The white rabbit was cute too.

Wordless Wednesday

Today is Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom.

It's definitely not pink and purple anymore!!!

I've finished painting for now. All that is left is the ceiling and that is Artie's job. Everything is laid out for him when he gets in from work tonight. Hopefully he won't have to work late!!!

The door on the left goes to the hall and the door on the right goes to the bathroom.

This door goes to a big closet.

Then, there are two small closets on each side of the built in toy box. Artie is gonna have to replace the lids. They were killed a while ago!!!

There is still a good bit to do before the boys are ready to move back in (from the living room). When Artie is finished painting the ceiling, I will work on the floors. It's amazing how much gunk boys can get on a floor. It's Troy's job to mop upstairs on Saturday, but I am gonna have to go around with a scraper and get the stuck on stuff off. After the floors are scraped up well, it will be good to mop before all the furniture is moved back in.

Then furniture, then all the new Diego covers, then the wall stickies (the most fun parts of all!!). I can't wait until the boys see it all finished!!!

Boys in a Boy Room!!!

It's Tackle It Tuesday at 5 Minutes For Mom - so I'm definitely in the right place. I need to get this TACKLED!!!

The girls and little boys switched rooms about a year ago. Brenda and Emily new room got painted all white with bright - almost glow in the dark - pink accents. It looked very cute. The little boys - Stephen, Bobby and Terry - got the girls old light pink and purple room.

Those poor little boys have been living in the girlie room for over a year now. For Christmas, they got new Diego stuff - covers, table and chair, wall stickies, and paint. Their SLOW mama is finally getting the room painted for them. Troy and Brenda helped move out the furniture.

The boys are so excited. This will be the first time they've really had a room fixed up for just them, since they were in the Sesame Street nursery!!


Here you can see what color the room is gonna be. The walls are a light blue and all the trim is gonna be a dark blue. I worked on it the whole weekend Artie was out of town, but didn't get to work on it all last week or this weekend either. I finally decided yesterday that everything else was gonna have to wait for me to finish up there. I'll post more when I get finished.

Menu Plan Monday

Yeah, we made it through the week last week without going back to the grocery store. Now for a new fresh week. (our meal week starts on Friday)



Friday - Artie surprised me with a nice dinner out. The children had corn dogs and baked potatoes. We went to Cracker Barrel.



Saturday - Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry- cooked by Brenda (an easy meal in a bag from Aldi's) - Saturday's our shopping day, so not much time for cooking

Sunday - Hamburgers (made by Troy) (grilled by Artie) and french fries

Monday - Emily's new Rachael Ray recipe - all have been great so far - so we are looking forward to this one as well - Beef Burgundy

Tuesday - Pizza Quesadillas

Wednesday - Salad - prepared by Troy - this is his only day off (aside from Sunday) and he wanted to cook a meal this week too. (I can't wait until summer and we can be eating salads from our own garden!!)

Thursday - Fettuccini Alfredo - Brenda's new recipe this week