Starting the catch-up game...

Remember Easter? Yeah, it seems like weeks ago already, doesn't it? What? It was weeks ago?

Sigh. Late again.

Imagine that.



Recently Several weeks ago I promised our friend Molly that I would post a picture of the girls in their Easter dresses. Since this is just one post of several that I've planned on doing, I thought I'd better get it posted before Easter came around again. Enjoy, Molly.

Oh, and a bonus...you can check out Julianne's new 'do, too.

Regionals...and a little tale about Victoria

Saturday found us in Indianapolis for a regional Bible quiz. Some friends from our church moved to Indiana a few years ago and invite the whole team to stay with them every year so we were able to enjoy a nice visit with them Friday night.

As for the quizzing...



Julianne's team was in the Sr. Teen Vet B division and brought home a first place trophy!

Allison's team ended up in the Young Teen Vet A division. They earned a third place trophy.

We mostly quizzed against out of state teams so we didn't really see much of the kids we usually see each month, including Stephen (above), who is a coworker of my niece, Vicky, at her university dining commons.

Last month, Stephen mentioned to Julianne that Vicky had shut him in the cooler at work one day. Vicky was pretty indignant that he had told us about that and quickly explained the circumstances. We continued to tease her about it anyway.

Imagine my surprise to hear my name called out from a team bus as we were preparing to leave the quiz. It was Stephen, letting me know that once again, Vicky had shut him in the cooler! I offered to post about it on my blog...we'll see if Victoria decides to tell her side of the story in the comments.

I'm way behind on blogging-I've got some pics and activities I've been planning to post about but haven't found the time to do so. I'm hoping to play catch up soon and be a bit more active here and in leaving comments for others, too. See you soon!

Allison's flowers

Spring is arriving here. It's just coming slowly. Our first daffodil bloomed on Easter, followed by several more as the week wore on.

Since we don't yet have lots of colorful blooms outside, I'm sharing some flowers Allison made (she also gets the photo credit).



I checked out a Kanzashi book from the library several months ago when Allison and I were in an origami class at co-op. She enjoyed the origami so much, I just knew she'd be interested in Kanzashi. I was right.

I kept thinking I'd look at the book and try some things out but somehow, I never got around to it. Allison took it and ran with it. She is constantly crafting new flowers out of scraps-or new fat quarters.

So, until spring is fully sprung in these here parts, we'll have to brighten our days with Allison's blooms.

April Quiz

This past Saturday was the final all-Michigan quiz, on John 1-21.

Allison's team came in third and Julianne's team didn't place! (I think the kids all got a little over-confident and didn't study as hard.)


However, since it was the end of the "regular" season, some special awards were handed out.



Allison's team tied for "Team of the Year" in the young teen division.

Julianne's team was named "Team of the Year" in the senior teen division.

("Team of the year" is based on the overall win/loss record for the year.)

Then awards were handed out to individual quizzers based on a formula using their personal scores during team play from the whole season. The top five in each division are named as All-Stars. Allison was 4th place in the young teen division.

Julianne took 1st place on the Senior Teen All-Stars!

Congratulations, girls! We are very proud of you!

May will bring a regional quiz in Indiana, followed by nationals in June, so the studying isn't over yet!

Goodies from friends

The mail lady came roaring up our driveway today and beeped her horn to let us know she was here. I was surprised, because the long awaited package of school supplies I ordered had finally arrived Monday and I wasn't expecting any other packages.

Inside the package we found some delightful things from our friends at Hospitality Lane...



Click on the picture-I was cracking up when I read it.

They sent us several lovely candles that Becky made. (Did you know she has a new etsy shop now?)

Then there were cookies, too. Mocha Truffle Cookies, to be exact. Chelsea was kind enough to include the recipe, which we really appreciated because these are some wonderful cookies!

Thanks so much dear friends-you brightened our day with your surprise!

March Bible Quiz

Yesterday was a regional quiz including teams from Michigan, Ohio, New York, Indiana, and Illinois. One coach I talked to said it took them seven hours to get there-thankfully, we only had a couple hours' drive.




Allison's team got second place after losing-for the first time this year-to a team from New York. They lost by one question, which always makes an exciting round to watch.

Julianne's team also took second place in their division, losing to a team from Indiana. They also lost by only one question.

Neither of my girls made it past the prelims in individual competition. I spent the day working in the stats room, and I think there was only one Michigan kid who made it to the final round. Those out of state quizzers are a force to be reckoned with!


One more regular quiz next month, followed by another regional, and then nationals. These regional quizzes give the kids a chance to see what the competition will be like at nationals and hopefully, they are encouraged to study harder. Plus, it's just fun to pile a bunch of excited kids into cars, play crazy games as you drive for hours, and meet new people you don't quiz against routinely, right?

The chickening resumes

You may not remember, but Allison and Julianne (mostly Allison) have a lot of fun "chickening" their friends at camp each summer. And at church sometimes. Or at a quiz once in a while.

At last month's quiz, Allison got a little...gift...from her friends. A chicken finger puppet. She thought it was cute and fun.



Our friends left the quiz for vacation at lunchtime but the...gifts...weren't over yet.

The next week at quiz practice, the kids' aunt came in just to deliver something that they had forgotten to take to the quiz. Allison's friend, Josh, asked her the other day what she thought of the second gift.

She responded by telling him that she'd read the instructions and found them interesting. "First", she said, "You wring its neck. Then you put the eggs in. Then you stick the head back on, then the eggs come out its rear end."

Josh had been warning Allison that he would "have his revenge at the quiz". She didn't think the puppet was too bad. But the chicken that...um...dispenses...gum? Ick. So icky, in fact, that she wants to make sure she takes it to quiz practice so she can offer him some gum.

I'm pretty sure she's already plotting her next chickening adventure.