St. Patty's Day Feast (a few days early)

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day a few days early since the holiday falls on a weekday.  Our friends, Lou, Brian and Michelle, Rob and Kristin and everyone's kids came over Sunday night for food and fellowship.  There were 14 of us altogether!

You can't celebrate St. Patty's Day without some corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots! We cooked everything in a gigantic pressure cooker.  It took less than 2 hours and was still so tender.

We didn't have enough seating, so the adults sat at one table, the kids at the coffee table.  From left going clockwise-Tom, Lou, Kristin, Rob, Brian, Michelle, Mandi.  Maddie didn't want to be in the picture, so she was the photographer.

The kids' table-Kelly, Evelyn, Emma, Andrew (being silly, as usual!), Annie and Jedidiah.

Awana

Kelly's been attending Awana for about a month now, and tonight she earned her second jewel! For those of you who aren't familiar with Awana, it's like Bible club or vacation bible school all year round. The kids have relays or games and Bible class.  Each week they recite Bible verse(s) that they've memorized, and after they've finished a section of their book, they earn a jewel. Kelly's whizzing through her book and is constantly reciting verses.  Right now she's working on the New Testament.  Boy, I sure wish I could remember as much as this kid!

Here she is showing off her new vest.

The set of wings was the first thing she earned. Then she earned the red jewel.  Tonight she received the green one.

On Friday Kelly's school had Dr. Seuss Day. The kids in Kelly's class made foot puppets, played Dr. Seuss bingo and decorated hats with chocolate icing, cheese spray, pretzels and goldfish.  I helped with the activities.

I read The Foot Book and then the kids traced their feet and decorated them.

Here's Kelly tracing her foot.

Here's her finished foot.

This was the chocolate icing, cheese spread activity.

Kelly's teacher, Mrs. Gelvin read Horton Hears a Who to the class before snack.

Fishing on the Pier

On Sunday night we went fishing with the Selings on the Oceanside Pier. There weren't a lot of bites, but the kiddos (and the dads) had a great time. Little Annie was the only one to hook a fish.

Kelly was very excited to be going fishing.

She even touched the anchovy bait.

Tom had to give her a hand.

She's waiting patiently and she's cold.  The evening was brisk and windy.

A nighttime shot of the pier.