Big Snow

I mentioned the other day about or pre-spring snow. We ended up with about 10 inches. That is the best snow I've seen in South Carolina since I was in college and we all got snowed in at Patterson Hall!!

Here are some snow pictures before the kids came out Monday morning. All the tracks are from Sunday night - once the snow had fallen enough to cover the rain puddles we all headed out to playing it - we stayed out until way after midnight.

Looking down my street

Our house

Backyard

Then it was time to work on the snowman. Artie, Troy and I worked Sunday night while the little children were playing on a giant snowman. It wore us out. We had to wait and Artie and Troy finished it Monday morning. I think we were one of the few families with a 7 foot tall snowman (except the Roses). Lots of people came by and took pictures of it.




Almost finished



Ta Da!!





Time for some posing...

Even Elmo came out to play a little

Can anyone say snowball fight?

Watch out!! Here is comes...

Terry's using the snowman as a shield, Stephen is throwing AT the snowman

Snow Angels

WORN OUT!!

Hot chocolate time!!

Spring Cleaning - Week 1

I did start on my Spring Cleaning, but I definitely didn't get finished what I wanted to. There is always so much to do...

I guess a little is better than none; and I'm not finished, still working, just behind where I wanted to be.

I started the first day with my planning and then moved to my bedroom. I decided that it needed the most attention and would be most appreciated by Artie (who also got in the act a little).

So, here's my list so far and what's left...

Saturday

• yard sale at a friend's
• wash little boys' clothes
• hang Troy's sheets and comforter (Troy washed earlier in the day)
• wash a load of dishes in the dishwasher
• begin in bedroom - take all dirty clothes to laundry room and sort
• empty trash can and replace with new bag
• put up all shoes
• fold up 3 baskets of clean clothes and put away
• open bedroom's outside door and air out bedroom
• wash our sheets and comforter
• dry little boys' clothes
• wash another load of dishes in dishwasher
• plan dinner - eggs, bacon, grits and biscuits
• run to grocery store - bacon, grits, biscuits
• wash all little boys sheets
• dry our sheets and comforter
• fold up little boys' clothes and put up
• pick up floor and sweep
• move bed and clean underneath
• sweep and mop under bed
• while bed is moved, take down curtains and wash window and sill
• take off dust ruffle to wash
• pack one box of Artie's winter clothes
• remake bed with clean covers
• wash little boys' new clothes from yard sale
• dry little boys' sheets
• move Artie's dresser - clean, sweep and mop behind - how does so much junk end up BEHIND and UNDER furniture?
• move bedroom frig - clean, sweep and mop behind
• wash frig - inside and out
• dinner time - Brenda cooked - paid job - working for cell phone money
• have little boys make up their beds
• fold up little boys' new clothes and put up
• move night stand - clean, sweep and mop behind
• move hope chest - clean, sweep and mop behind - Brenda
• fold more clothes from the laundry room and put up
• mop bedroom - Brenda
• clean out all dresser drawers
• clean off dresser - Brenda

Monday

• load dishwasher
• wash bedroom curtains
• fold Troy's clothes
• pack one box of snow clothes
• pack one box of winter consignment clothes
• unpack one summer box
• clean out nightstand drawers
• wash outside door windows
• rehang curtains
• plan grocery list for dinner
• wash dust ruffle

Artie cleaned out all his dresser drawers on Monday for me while he was off. He also steadied a new bookshelf for the little boys and hung my new bulletin board for me by the computer desk.


So, not near as much done on Monday - I have regular life I still have to be working with....

Still to do in bedroom:

• wash outside of windows
• clean out hope chest
• flip mattress and replace dust ruffle
• dust light fixture
• wash mantle
• wash walls
• one more good straightening of all dressers tops and polishing furniture
• one more good sweeping
• empty trash again

Since Monday I haven't done any of my Spring Cleaning. It's just so hard to do with all the regular things that need to be done. My goal from here on out - on school days - is to do at least 15 minutes of extra work a day. Still not the way I would like it - but better than nothing!!

Terry's Word of the Week

Mysterious, it's very mysterious mama!!

Spring Cleaning

Although it is still almost a week until Spring officially begins, Spring fever has hit in the Quinn home. Last week was beautiful - temps in the 80's some days - this after the week before having 10 inches of snow!! Today it's in the high 30's and raining with rain forecast for the rest of the weekend.

Today I am mostly planning my strategy. I started great last year, but ran out of time to do all I wanted before Easter. Hopefully starting earlier, I will have a better run.

I am starting with the same principles I did last year -

washer and dryer always running (using clothesline when weather clears)

folding and putting up clothes as they come through...

continually running dishwasher

unpacking one spring box and packing one winter box a day (not so sure about packing winter clothes when we just had our big snow two weekend ago?)

Now to plan my attack a little more thoroughly...

This Week's Menu

I am working on my menu plan for this week (our grocery week runs Thursday through Wednesday). I found a great deal on eggs at Food Lion so I am trying to incorporate them ever other day or so.

Thursday - fried chicken, corn on the cob, french bread, roasted potatoes and strawberry shortcake for dessert

Friday - pan fried pork chops, mama's deviled eggs, chicken rice and biscuits

Saturday - scrambled eggs, bacon, grits

Sunday - roast with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, biscuits

Monday - pancakes

Tuesday - spaghetti and french bread

Wednesday - fried egg or egg salad sandwiches, chips

Emily's 9th Birthday at school

Here are a couple of catch up pictures from Emily's birthday. She wanted to take cupcakes for her class' lunch. They were a mixed batch from Barbie and High School Musical to Nascar for the boys. Artie and I were planning on going and then it worked out where Brian was able to go as well. All the little girls were saying "he's so cute!!"

Mimi and Granddaddy

It seems so hard for me to get to blog lately. I spent the morning visiting with Mimi and Granddaddy. I so wish I made more time to go and see them. I enjoy going and always seem to come away with more wisdom!!

Today I called Artie when I was trying to make up my mind. I knew he would tell me to go. It's just hard to leave the house when there is so much to do. I said to him "I want to visit M&G but there is so much work I need to do here". Artie is always so gracious to me. He said, if you stay home and clean the house, it will just need it again tomorrow. Go and visit M&G while you have them here with you!! So we had a lovely afternoon.

They had just returned home from a funeral from a Sunday School member. Mimi says their Sunday School classes are dwindling down quickly - it's sad for them to watch their friends die. They are blessed to have had each other so long!! I pray that Artie and I have the great marriage they have.

We talked about the current economic situation. Grandy is very wise and happy that they have no debt and are settled in their humble home. He talked of people living above their means and always trying to one up the other person. Makes me happy for the choices we have made financially to try our best to live debt free.

Valentine's Day

It was the most beautiful Valentine's Day I can remember in a long time today.

Troy started the day with an Upward basketball game. He has been a volunteer coach for a third grade basketball team at church with his friend, Kellen. He has so enjoyed it. He loves children (wonder where he developed that love?)

Then tonight he went to his first formal with a good friend. I so love friendships.

Brenda was recently hurt by a friend and another friend stepped up and made her Valentine's day special. I think he probably touched my heart more by befriending her than he did hers. It's so hard to see your children hurt, but then so joyous to see them happy.

Artie and I went to dinner as Brenda babysat the littles for us; just basking in the joy of knowing our children were happy tonight. We have had many evenings out where sometimes it seemed like the worries of the day would have sunk us under if we had allowed them. But tonight was so different - very light and breezy and full of joy. We got to reminisce on our own prom nights (we had three of them) and growing up days. Its is such a blessing to be married to my best friend and to have grown up together as well. I loved him when he was just a boy and his daddy was driving us to the mall!!! Ohhh, love....

Military Ball 2009

Troy went to his first formal dance tonight with a friend from church - Elizabeth. I had never met her before but knew her mom from Sunday School. Here's Troy nervously going up to pick her up. (we went over to take some pictures before they all left)

Elizabeth is a beautiful girl. Here they are with their flowers. She was so sweet to get a boutonniere for Troy.

Here's the whole gang.

I hope they had a wonderful evening, I sure have great memories of my proms with Artie. :-)

Happy Valentine's Day Artie

Christmas at Papa & Karen's

Everyone had such a fun day. We drove up after church and cooked out hamburgers and hot dogs. Then it was time for presents.

The favorite ~ the Wii!!! They loved it. Artie and I had played at our friends' Jack and Nikki's but the kids had never played before.

Terry and Papa

Brenda's video is too long, but her moves are so funny to me.

Troy trying to beat Stephen boxing.

Yeah!! All Christmas pictures are posted!!!!! I made it before January was over!!!

Christmas with Granny

We celebrated Christmas with Artie's family at Rainbow Lake Pavilion again this year. I love it there. It's so big and roomy for all the children. I don't have to feel like they are about to break anything and they have a fun time.



Here is Bobbie with most of her grandchildren. Here they are with the older girls - Amber and Brooke's husbands. Yes, out children do make up over half the picture!! Hey, when you're good at something - don't you think you should stick with it? :-) Matt (back row left) is the best to see here. He lives in Florida and we don't' get to see him that much. He's grown so since I've seen him last. He kept the kids mesmerized with money and card tricks.


Emily got baby furniture from her grandmother. A crib, stroller and high chair - just what she was needing!!

The little boys all got big trucks full of matchbox cars - what could be better. They play for hours on their car rug in their bedroom lining up all their cars and picking houses.

The big kids played their swap game.

and then the adults got their turn. I got a lamp for my living room and Artie got a gift certificate for Canyon River restaurant - which we enjoyed very much... It was a lovely evening.