Poetry Recital

Meg's class held their poetry recital today. It was so great. Together they sang a few songs and recited the portion of the school verse of the year that they have learned so far: Psalm 19:1-6. Then each child presented the poem he or she had memorized. Meg did a really good job. (see video below.)

The volume is a little low. Here is the transcript: My name is Meg Veerman and I will be saying "I Heard a Bird Sing" by Oliver Herford.

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

"We are nearer to spring
Than we were in September,"
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Birthday Boy

Well, despite our daily pleas to Caleb that he not turn one and grow up, he has done just that. He had an ear infection on his birthday, and so was not his usual happy-go-lucky self. But he was still just the cutest thing ever! Yes, he had more than cheerios for his birthday meal (he ate his dinner before the family sat down.)

Totally unimpressed by his cake.

Eating, but still unimpressed.
(The video shows him nonchalantly dropping several handfuls onto the floor.)

You can count on Kate to inject some life into the party!

Thank you Grampy and Grammy.

Caleb serenely pulled off patches of wrapping paper placing each one on the table.
Besides Caleb being sick, I was preparing for a Saturday night dinner party all day Friday. Peeling 15 lbs of potatoes, dredging 10 lbs of stew meat in flour, cleaning and halving 5 lbs of Brussels sprouts on top of making a family dinner, setting a birthday table and tending to 4 children does a number on the kitchen! I am pleased to say Caleb's antibiotic has kicked in, the kids had fun celebrating, the going away party for our friend Matt was great, and the kitchen is now clean.

Whew!

Hot Chocolate Stand

Our little entrepreneur has been begging to have a Hot Chocolate Stand ever since her Lemonade Stand debut on a freezing day last November. A few weeks ago I promised we could do it on Valentine's Day providing the weather cooperated. On Friday we made flyers and took a walk around the neighborhood to tape one on each mailbox. On Saturday we made slice and bake cookies, which Meg cut into heart shapes, and then she set up all her supplies and hung her sign. It was a smashing success! She had 14 patrons, including several neighbors, the mail woman, Daddy, and 3 church friends who live nearby (yes, I emailed them.) Thanks to some doting elderly neighbors, who paid more than the asking price, she raked in $9!

On the Move

Caleb isn't walking on his own yet, but he's having a ball pushing this toy around the house.

He also seems quite interested in getting his hands on the doorknob...

A New Friend

Our good friends Mike and Mandy attended a seminar in Atlanta last week and their daughter Olivia stayed with us for the week. She is just about 6 months older than Kate. We asked Kate (who has never had a freind of her own come over to play) if she was having fun with Olivia. "Yes, she is my best friend!" Everyone had a fine time together. We miss you, O. Come back this summer and we'll break out the pool.

Snow Mountain

This year Stone Mountain Park created a new winter attraction: Snow Mountain. We had tickets for Feb 6 and were all looking forward to tubing and other snowy fun. Poor Nate broke his arm the day before and obviously didn't get to go with us (thankfully he had gone a few weeks before for a friend's birthday party) but Erik and I still took the girls who had lots of fun.

Nate's arm

Two weeks ago Nate was riding his scooter and wiped out at the end of our driveway. His arm had to be set by inserting 2 pins, which required anesthesia. Since he had eaten just a few hours before, and they couldn't do the "surgery" until the next morning. So he stayed overnight and was discharged late the next afternoon. He says it was sort of fun being in the hospital due to the comfy bed and covers. His nurses sent a follow-up card a few days later which he carries with him most of the time.

Resting in that comfy bed.

Proud.

Loving the Swing Set