Mmmmm, cake batter!

I think this is self-explanatory.

Two cool things happened today

On the way to church today, we saw two bald eagles eating on something out in the cornfield along Dee-Mack Road. Other people have seen them out here, but this is the first time I've ever seen them. So cool. If I wasn't scheduled to sing in church today, I totally would have gone home to get my long lens SLR camera. But I didn't, and unfortunately, they were gone by the time we got back.

The other fun thing was in church. It was just Alaina and I who went, and since I sing in the choir, Alaina just sits in the front row during Mass by herself. She does great, and she's only about 3 feet away from my chair anyways. Near the end of Mass today, my choir director asked Alaina if she would like to direct the last song, and she actually agreed! I was shocked because she's pretty shy around large groups, especially adults. But she did it....my director hoisted her up on the steps behind the music stand and showed her how to wave her arms and everything. It was so cute. I remember how shy and reserved I was as a kid, and I often see that in Alaina too, so I was really proud of her. Of course, if she had actually turned around to see the probably 400 people behind her, she may have run away crying, but she didn't :)

Dad's basketball games

Matt coaching one of his JV games at Peoria Heights.



Shaking hands after a good win.



Coach's kids enjoying some Skittles during halftime.

Run Priscilla!!!!!

This is pretty much how Ryan approaches everything in life.....with such completely unbridled enthusiasm!! I love that about him. Why the dumb bird doesn't just fly away is beyond me. Note: The bird does eventually make it back to her cage safely after Mom intervenes.

Trying out the new bike

Dad and Alaina trying out the new bike.



Because our streets are hilly, coming back is kind of hard. On the 1 or 2 semi-warm days we've had this month, we've tried practicing in either the garage or the tennis courts down the road. That's about our only two choices for flat ground out here!!

This morning at breakfast, Alaina dropped something on the floor and blurted out "damn!" To which I calmly suggested we use a better word, like "oh darn." To which she replied "No, I like to say damn." To which I (a little more sternly) again asked that she use a better word. To which she replied "But it's okay, Mom. Damn is the Spanish word for "Oh, man!"

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Alaina's 4th Birthday!

Alaina got to celebrate her birthday at preschool on Thursday the 8th. That night we met Dad at Monicals for dinner to celebrate MY birthday, and then we took her to pick out her new bike!! She was soooo excited. She wore this little crown she got at preschool into the store, and we let her ride it through the checkouts and out to the car. People were stopping her and wishing her happy birthday and congratulating her on her new bike. I can't believe my baby is 4 already......sniff, sniff!



I must say, my cakes are improving with every birthday. Alaina did the gumdrops herself - and I'm proud of MYSELF for letting her......because I really, really wanted to rearrange the colors - especially those 3 red ones on the left!



Alaina on her new big girl bike! Too bad I know what it's like to get a bike for your birthday in January. Oh well.