My Daughter the Inventor

McKenzie had to create a brand-new invention this week for the annual Nora Davis 5th grade Invention Convention. Students create unique inventions and then showcase them at the convention. It's a really neat idea that involves a lot of imagination, creativity, and critical thinking.

McKenzie decided to invent an organizer for your laptop. It straps around the top of the laptop (while still giving screen visibility) and has pockets on the backside to keep pencils, paperclips, etc close at hand. She said she designed it with teachers in mind, because she knows how hard I work :). She designed and sewed the whole thing herself (minus a few little pieces she needed help with). I am really proud of her. She can sew just as good as I can. Maybe she'll keep inventing and make us millions - ha!

Invest...to do or not to do

So, we've been looking into buying a house lately, not that we are anywhere close to buying one, we've just been looking into it. We know we want to make the investment in a home, but it's such a big decision and we want to make sure we do it right. I don't ever want to have to move again once we buy a house. Of course along with house buying talk comes talk of saving, investing, etc.

Anyways, all of this talk got me to thinking while doing my daily bible reading this week. I can worry myself to death about which home, which neighborhood, which schools, etc will be the right investment for our family, but while I'm doing all of this worrying I could be investing in the now, in things that truly matter: family, friends, Jesus, and on and on and on the list can go. So, this week I have decided to "invest" in some things that need my attention now, things that affect my life - for eternity. I have decided to invest my time, money, and energy in Jesus, in Bo, in McKenzie and Kennedy, in family, in friends, in my church, in cleaning my house, in cooking supper EVERY night, and in doing something for a total stranger.

How will I make this investment? By reading my bible. By praying. By turning off the TV. By saying "Yes" to things. By saying "No" to things. By loving others more than myself.

So, this post was really more for me than anyone else. I know it's so cliche' to say "invest in others" and things like that, but that is the thought that has truly been resounding through my heart this week. So, if your looking for advice on how to invest money - ask a banker. My advice, invest in life!

:)

I haven't posted in a VERY long time so here's just a tidbit of something to get me back in the "blog" of things.

-I'm on spring break right now - YAY!!!

-I love my life.

-I got a new background for my blog - what do you think?

-I promise to have something interesting to post tomorrow

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

Even though we live in a MUCH smaller place this year, I was determined to have my Christmas tree and Praise the Lord - it fit!! It looks absolutely beautiful. I wish I could leave my Christmas tree up all year.

We didn't have a mantel to hang our stockings on so the TV stand became our mantel - it does sort of look like one.

This is my sweet little furryville manger scene.

What is that????

As Kennedy woke up and was walking towards her breakfast this morning, I noticed something in her hair. I thought it was a hair clip I have never seen before, but no, it was GUM!!!!!!!! I immediately freaked out thinking "Not her beautiful curls!!". It was right up front next to her right temple. I had to cut it out (as evidenced in the picture). Hopefully, no one else will notice - but I sure do!!

And The Winner is.....

Tonight the girls were in a beauty pageant. This was McKenzie's 6th pageant, while it was Kennedy's first experience with being on stage alone, in front of an audience, staring at very bright lights. We all predicted what would happen, but no one really knew.

I love pageants because it's great mother-daughter time, and this time I got to do it with both my girls so it was even more special. I don't care if they win, and I try to instill that same thought into them. I just want them to experience trying something whether you win at it or not. McKenzie did great, as always, and got top 3!!!

Now, what most of you are wondering about, how did Kennedy do?? When she first walked through the door in the parade of beauties she was wiping away tears. So, of course, I got a little nervous. As she walked across the stage, she smiled and looked at the audience - just liked we practiced. I could take a sigh of relief. A few minutes later she came out for her individual walk. She was supposed to walk to a middle X, then over to stage right , do a turn, walk to stage left, do a turn, and walk back to the middle. Then she was supposed to wait for her escort to escort her off the stage. Of course, if you know Kennedy at all, things never go like they are "suppose" to. So, here's what really happened. She walked to the middle and stood there and stood there. She had a very confused/I'm about to cry look on her face. For a moment, she smiled really pretty. You could see the look on her face like she was thinking "Oh, yeah, I'm suppose to be smiling." Then she went right back to the confused look again. Someone off stage motioned her to go towards stage right to do her turn. She went towards the right...and kept walking....right off stage. So, they shooed her back on stage where she walked back to the middle. Her escort walked up to meet her to escort her off stage, and she ran off leaving the poor lad by himself. Needless to say, she had the whole audience cracking up.

It was a really fun night and a great experience I got to have with my girls. McKenzie was proud she got top 3, and Kennedy got a crown for participation so she has no clue she did anything wrong (which is how I like it).

Peasant Dress

Tonight at sewing class I made this little peasant dress for Kennedy. It is purple with little owls all over it. It has a green bow on the front. I think this dress is adorable (the pictures do not do it justice). I can't wait for her to wear it Sunday.