a "super" evening

even though our colts didn't pull it out in the end, we still enjoyed a "super" evening with friends. we had a small party with two other families from our flock group...and when i say small, i suppose that isn't technically true, since there were actually 10 kiddos running around (well...technically 8 running around and 2 who don't really do a lot of moving yet). good fun...great conversation...lots of fabulous play-time for the littles. it was good stuff.

to be honest...i didn't actually watch much of the game...just a few plays here and there...and i didn't even watch one commercial. i actually do enjoy sitting and watching the game, BUT what i enjoy even more than that is some quality adult conversation with my friends...friends who also happen to be moms. while the guys watched the game in the basement, the mommies chatted away. we mostly chatted about home-schooling, which did my heart so much good. and, actually, i placed my first "official" home-schooling curriculum type order this morning...and can barely contain my excitement as i wait to week or two it will take to be shipped! the timing could not have been more perfect for the "home-schooling" conversation...each day mike and i become more convinced that we will be choosing that route for our family...at least for the time being...and while i truly enjoy the time elizabeth and i spend doing "school" right now (which is very informal at this point...lots of games, LOTS of reading, painting, cutting, pasting, and workbook pages (because, seriously, she thinks they are SO much fun...she would do workbooks ALL day long, i think!)), i was also growing very overwhelmed with the reality of educating my children. i was so good to get some perspective, to be reminded to take things one day at a time, one skills at a time, and, most of all, to have fun! but...i digress...

honestly, my heart was just encouraged to spend time with other women who are real...who are striving to be the best followers of Jesus, wives, and mommies they can be...who fall short and have struggles (and admit to those struggles--oh how i wish we were all more real about how hard some days truly are!)...who are willing to share successes (and failures)...women i am blessed to call my friends.

here are some pics of our little cheerleaders...


my jilly-girl

sisters...or at least the two sisters who wanted to cooperate for a picture!

...and here is the other sister...apparently she already knew how the evening would end and was quite distressed over the loss...

...and finally...my favorite picture of the evening...five little girls...i love that they lined their chairs up to "watch" the game (although shortly after this the kiddos all ended up "playing" wii mariokart--and i use the term playing loosely since really elizabeth just drove her car backward and crashed into walls the whole time--but hey, she had a blast!). even better, you can't tell but the beautiful little sweetie in the "dorothy" dress is wearing a scary mask and sneaking up on them...priceless! :) that same little girl also happens to be elizabeth's most talked about and cherished friend, ellie...by this time the two boys had disappeared into the basement...probably to escape from the girls, who definitely outnumbered (and out-noised) them by quite a bit!