AR Superstar!!

I have been a horrible blogger lately. It seems that we have been so busy between the end of school bustle and Aunt Mimi's wedding and baking the wedding cake, I have hardly had time to blog, and when I have time, I can't think of anything blogworthy.

Anyway, today was a special day. Heyward's school had the walk of fame for the students that earned more than 100 points in the Accelerated Reader program. Well, she not only earned more than 100 points, she earned the most points in the whole school (356) and got to lead the AR Star parade with the principal. She told Ms. Nan (the Principal) that walking in the parade was like doing her moms workout video!

These boots are made for walkin'

Even though the sky is blue and not a cloud is in sight, Micajah decided to wear his rain boots today. Can you blame him? They look great!

Good Citizens All Around!

Today being the end of the 9 week grading period, we find out who won the Good Citizen Award. It is sponsored by Georgia Power and is given to one student in each class during each grading period who exemplifies what a good citizen should be. Well, Miss Lindsey Kate won it for her class this time. She follows sister Heyward, who won it for her class last grading period. The parents are given a bumper sticker that says "My child is a Good Citizenship Award Winner". Now their dad and I each have one proudly displayed on our bumpers! It's nice to know your kids behave at school.

We're SICK of being sick!

We are now entering the third (yes, THIRD) week of someone in our household being sick. Two weeks ago Lindsey Kate woke up throwing up and stayed home from school. The next day, I get a phone call on my answering machine that says "Mama, come pick me up from school, my tummy hurts". I immediately call the school back and tell them to have Lindsey Kate ready, I will be there in a minute. I get to school and check her out. As we head out to the car I said "I am so sorry you don't feel well" She replied "What?!? I feel fine". HEYWARD was the one that called. So after checking Lindsey Kate back into school and checking Heyward out of school, we head home.

Last week, Micajah was sick. After 2 days of running a fever that got up to 102.9° I took him to the Doctor. He had a touch of bronchitis and an ear infection. They started him on a round of antibiotics for the ear infection. We got up to 103.4° (I think that was a household record) that night, but he is MUCH better this week and has gone back to school.

I have been stuffy and coughing the last two days, but mama's aren't allowed to take the day off from "school", huh?. Anyway, last night, Heyward started throwing up. I got up, changed the sheets, cleaned the bathroom floor where she "missed" and laid out an assortment of towels on her bed and floor to possibly aid in clean up later. Now, two sets of sheets, 2 bath mats and 5 towels later, I'm SICK of everyone being sick! Thankfully, spring arrived yesterday, so maybe that will help. No, that just means MORE pollen!!!

YIKES!!

I better run, I've got Lysol to spray!!!

Kite Day

Our local Womans Club sponsors an annual Kite Day in our community. We shut down the airport (only in a small town, huh!?) and just go fly a kite. This was started about 2 years ago in honor of our friends Macy and Brance that were killed in a car accident along with Macy's daddy. The funds that are raised by the Womans Club are used to benefit others in our community.

Saturday proved to be a BEAUTIFUL day with clear, breezy skies and temps in the 80's. Here is a picture of Lindsey Kate enjoying her kite. What a wonderful to usher in the Spring!

Makes me want to sing a little diddy from Mary Poppins....

"Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring....."

200 Points!

Our local school has an Accelerated Reader (AR) program. The kids, beginning in 1st grade, read books, take tests and are awarded points for scores on the tests. You are awarded prizes (like homework passes, lunch with the principal, etc) as you reach higher point levels. The "goal" is to get 100 points in a year. Most books in the 2nd grade level are 1/2 to 1 point each. The kids that get 100 or more points are in a parade through the school at the end of the year. Yesterday Heyward passed the 200 point mark! WAY TO GO! Thank goodness for Nancy Drew books. They are 5 points each!

We don't need no stinking wedding clothes

Saturday morning, Bami and I loaded up the kids and went with ML and Pablo's Sister Carmina to shop for wedding clothes for our children and the 4 other flower girls. About half way there, Micajah pipes up and says "Why are we going to by me clothes for Aunt Mimi's wedding, I already have my Tigger costume to wear". Well, needless to say, we got him something a little more appropriate.

After a CRAZY lunch at Pizza Hut/TacoBell/KFC we spent 2 hours shopping for the clothes. We ended up getting adorable dresses, but I was so frazzled by that time, I forgot to get pictures of the girls.

The other photo is of our kids and Carmina's kids after shopping. We got new kites because we have Kite Day here on Saturday and last year's kites "Were too heavy and blew away" as Micajah told me. Anyway, it was LOTS of fun and we loved meeting Carmina, her girls and boy.

A VERY Special Weekend

Friday Morning, 22 women and I boarded a bus headed for Birmingham Alamaba. We were headed to the Beth Moore Living Proof conference. What a special time for us all. As we stopped for lunch in Perry, GA we were stopped by a woman in a parking lot who said "You ladies must be headed for the Beth Moore conference in Alabama". In Alabama we joined 18,000 women for a powerful teaching about God. Even now, I am stirred with laughter and tears thinking about how AWESOME God is. He lit a fire in me and the other women in our church that we brought back home with us. How humbled and honored I am to be able to serve such a powerful God.

After a 10 hour trip home (2 of which were spent at the Cracker Barrel) I returned to a fully cleaned, laundered home. What a wonderful man I have!

On Sunday morning, Lindsey Kate was baptized. What a precious ending to an overwhelming weekend.

GOD is SO good!

Bunco Night

My girlfriends and I get together once a month to play Bunco. It is a dice game. The hostess chooses the theme and does refreshments and prizes for the game. Last night was Bunco Night. It was at Misty's house and the theme was Pretty in Pink. The Bunco gals (from left) are Me, Kalynn, Amanda, Tiffany, Ansley, Denise, Erika, Liane and (front) Misty and Lori. I baked a bunco cake because we had two birthdays to celebrate. It was SO much fun!

Little Miss Sweetheart

On Monday night, Heyward and Lindsey Kate were in a pageant sponsored by our local High School. I am by NO means a pageant mom and they are not typical pageant girls. Actually, this was a first for all of us.

Anyway, they both looked like little angels. Lindsey Kate was crowned Little Miss Sweetheart. And although Heyward did not place, she looked just beautiful and we were able to have a nice lesson on being a graceful loser. All in all, it was fun for all of us. They said they want to do local pageants in the future....... we'll see.

A birthday cake

In preparation for baking my sister Marilois' wedding cake in May, I have been looking for extra practice baking cakes. A friend called and asked me to bake her daughter Cara's birthday cake. I woke up early Saturday morning to finish this cake for the birthday party later that morning. I thought it turned out pretty cute.

Dancin' the night Away

Friday night was our local Father-Daughter Valentines dance. Jody and the girls went and had a WONDERFUL time! Here is a picture of them before leaving. The girls will be wearing these dresses in the Sweetheart pageant tonight put on by our high school. It will be the first pageant for both of them. Should be interesting.

An Afternoon at the Office

Our Normal babysitter (Jody's mom) had an appointment this afternoon. So, the kids came to the office with Mom and Dad. Here is a picture of Heyward reading Nancy Drew and Micajah and Lindsey Kate in their "fort" they made under the conference room table.

A little legal humor

a TRUE story:

A friend of Jody's was in court earlier this week. The judge was sentencing a man and gave him one year. The man replies:
"One year, heck I can do that standing on my head" The judge thinks about it a minute and says:
"OK, then I'll give you 5 more years, to give you a chance to get back on your feet"

YIKES! I guess he'll have 6 years to think about talking back to the Judge!

Through the eyes of a three year old

Micajah came in a few minutes ago with this lovely picture he drew of Aunt Katharine. Look how tall you are and what a lovely smile you have!

I guess it helps to post the picture

A very special Azalea.

Yes, this is an actual Azalea that is blooming in late January/early February in our yard. They usually don't bloom until a week or two before Easter. It is the only Azalea bush blooming in our yard. What is extra special about this Azalea is that is is blooming right next to where Jody buried our beloved kitty Hobbes who died at the age of 17 the week before Christmas.

Very special, indeed.

Wouldn't you know

Yesterday afternoon, I took the digital camera home to take a picture that I wanted to post. Well (of course) the batteries were dead. So, I am charging them now and hope to take the photo at lunch.

Anyway, I decided to post the Christmas card picture of our little crew. For those of you that haven't seen them in a while they are (from left) Lindsey Kate, age 6, Laci age 20, Micajah age 3 and Heyward age 8.

First Post

Well, Katharine and Mike have certainly started a trend in the Maier and Owens families. I guess it is time for the Steedleys to have our own blog too.

Not too exciting of a day in the Steedley household. Jody went diving before dawn and Micajah and I are headed to Valdosta this afternoon for my eye appointment and for Micajah and Bami to eat lunch at "Old McDongalds".