It Was A Sad Day When...

I saw in the news that our town had finally succumbed. We would be getting our 1st Chuck E. Cheese. Now all you 'cool' moms are thinking that I'm crazy...I mean, what an awesome addition to the neighborhood, right? Ha! Not for me honey, the last time I was in a Chuck E. Cheese was about 10 years ago, before I even had kids (I was dragged in there by another couple who had a little boy and they evidently thought it was just the coolest place on the planet), and I would have really been happy to avoid a return visit.
We have become desperate for a reason not to go...Greg actually looked at me one day and said, "I really think it would be a sin for us to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Look at the place...it looks like a casino for kids! Doesn't the Bible say something about "avoiding the appearance of evil?" Ok...so we were really desperate!
My kids have been great about it though, and if I'm not mistaken, the place has been open about a year, and we have not yet patronized it. I told the kids right up front that a Chuck E. Cheese visit would not be like our McDonald's drive thru stops (like every five minutes, already!), but would be for something special like a good grade card or something similar to that.
Last week, I had an idea straight from Heaven. Trick or Treat was to happen this week, and it also happens that we are in revival. There's nothing more frustrating than to try to dress everybody up, fly around town begging for candy, and then quit 30 minutes early, quickly change clothes, and take 4 completely sugared up kids to sit through an hour and a half service. So not worthwhile! Since trick or treating is something that the kids enjoy, I decided to make them a deal...would they be willing to trade Trick or Treat for Chuck E. Cheese? It was a unanimous and enthusiastic "yes" vote, and I'm happy to report that I finally found a decent use for the place.
Tomorrow is the big day, so by the evening my mental state may be completely altered, and my mind forever fried, but the kids will be happy and hopefully poorer in calories and cavities. So...I'm signing off for the time being...it may take me until Monday to fully recuperate. So long for now!
p.s. I'm also happy to report that Chuck E. Cheese also gives tokens to kids who bring in a good report card! Since our kids just got theirs yesterday (and they were swell students this quarter), we may make off better than we thought! Just don't tell my kids about this...they'll try to drag me back in January...

Happy Birthday to...

WILLIAM ERIC NICHOLS!!!

Another Week~How Time Flies!

It's hard to believe that we are approaching the last week of October 2009. Summer went quickly for me, but since school has started and every day is packed from start to finish, it seems like time is somehow in fast-forward! This past week was especially busy. On Tuesday night, our students presented their annual fall program entitled "Go Light Your World". Mrs. Pouzar and I have the primary responsibility for the school programs, and we often find it difficult to come up with material that "fits". We like drama and music, but we also like a strong Biblical theme, humor, and emotion. The program also has to encompass grades PreK-12. No small feat.
This year we decided to do a missions theme, and knowing we would be pressed for time, started brainstorming our own program. With the Lord's help and a group of 26 enthusiastic and talented kids, we were able to pull off a 45-50 minute program that encompassed all of our objectives. The crowd was AWESOME (thanks to all who came), the kids did an outstanding job, and we probably spent less than $20 on the whole thing. Mission accomplished.
Today we had planned to take a field trip to Sauder Village in Archbold, and we were pretty excited to see the new things they had going on up there. The weather, however, had other plans for us, so we headed south to the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton. I could probably go there every six months because I never really get to see everything, and today was no exception. I was with the preschool and kindergarten (along with a couple of other moms), and they loved every minute of it. We really had to keep them moving! Everyone was able to view an IMAX film there at the museum, so that took about an hour of our time. The kids loved it...one fell asleep, poor guy, he was so tired!

I crack up every time I look at this pic. We took it the day after the program because one of the little girl's candles kept flopping down during the program. I don't have much creativity, so this was the best I could do. Kudos to the little ones who practically had their heads cut off because the poster board was rubbing under their necks...they were so patient! If you can't tell, they were supposed to be little candles...they sang "This Little Light of Mine" (the 'cool' version) :)

Love these little ones...I get to spend three days a week with them...

Birthday Girl...4 years old!

Playing memory...

My sweet little sidekick...she's so good and flexible with mommy's day to day routines that never seem to be the same! She's totally along for the ride...all the time!

Now it's Friday night. The kids are exhausted and already sound asleep...before 11 p.m. Yay! Tomorrow I will make a couple of different kinds of soup, and begin preparation for next week. The Halloween Fest in our town is Monday evening, and we have revival beginning Tuesday through the rest of the week. I have found that being prepared for revival takes concentrated planning when you are gone all day every day! It's one thing to drop into your seat at church completely exhausted and frustrated (because you are truly exhausted), but quite another to be exhausted yet mentally and emotionally prepared to allow God to work in your heart in spite of your physical state.

Now I'm rambling, so I'm going to wrap it up for tonight. Hope all of you enjoy your weekend!

Scenes from the weekend...

It was a lot of fun to spend a few days in Cincinnati this past week. Greg and I were able to take off Friday, so we left after Ryan's practice Thursday evening, and arrived at Grandma's in time to enjoy some pizza before crashing for the night. On Friday, after a huge breakfast at grandma's, Greg played in GBS's golf tournament with Adam, Mark, and another guy (can't quite remember who), and Valerie and I(along with 5 children)attempted to do some shopping. The kids enjoyed the two-story carousel at Florence Mall. I don't have any pics of that little adventure, cause my battery died. Allison totally loved the ride, and cried when she had to leave her horse.

Homecoming '09 was a good time. We enjoyed this year's format. Saturday's picnic was a great substitute for Homefest. The kids loved the facepainting booth (ok, so I did too)...

Lil' Livvy...

The boys enjoying a little cousin time with Kaden...

Loyal alumni :)

My s-i-l, Megan, looking great at about 36 weeks...

Evan and Khara...

Ryan hoping she can paint an "M"...

Not bad!

Can't see Evan's very well, but she did an awesome job!

Uncle Adam picked a chilly day to be in the dunk tank!

Evan enjoying a good laugh with Uncle Mark...

Livvy, Evan, Khara, and Kaden...

Livvy ~n~ me...

Uncle Mark found a turtle on the golf course...

On Saturday we left Cincinnati in time for the boy's final football games this season. This pic is terrible, but Ryan's coach (purple shirt) had told the team that if they won a certain game, he would shave his head and let them paint it before the final game. They won, and he made good on his promise. Ryan loved painting a big "M" on his head!

The sun went down just after the games began, and it was freezing!

Since I had Educator's convention on Monday, we arranged to meet Adam and Valerie in Dayton on Sunday night after church so they could watch the kids for me. We attended the boy's awards service on our way out of town, and especially enjoyed listening to the testimony of a young man who now plays football for Defiance College. He came from a large family, and was homeschooled up until 7th grade. At the age of 10, he lost his mom to breast cancer. His world was turned upside down, of course, and he was forced to enter a realm that was completely foreign to him as a very young man. Philippians 4:13 became an important verse to him during those days. He went on to play high school football, and now he is in his senior year of college, and captain of the team. He very capably conveyed the message of Christ being our sole source of strength and help, and showed how God used bad circumstances in his life to bring forth good results.

The kids had lots of fun staying with Uncle Adam and Aunt Valerie overnight on Sunday, and then for the day Monday. Dad and I made the trip to Indy for CEC, and after a long, full day, met up with the gang again in Dayton to get the kids before heading on home.

Aubrey was probably ready for some peace and quiet!

Lots of miles, lots of smiles...it was a great weekend!

The Birth of a Blog

Happy Wednesday! Hopefully all of you are having a great week. There has been a little too much excitement for my liking over the last couple of days, but at least I can say without a doubt, "I'm not bored!"
I wanted to let you know about a new blog that I have just begun. It will be a little more personal and contemplative, and a little less newsy. I didn't feel that a journal-style post would be fitting on our family blog, so I've created a new place. Feel free to check it out at http://www.stephanieburley.blogspot.com/, and give feedback on topics that interest you.
Thanks!
Stephanie

2009 Lima PHC Retreat!

It's Monday, and although we are exhausted, the 2009 retreat was well worth the effort! For the last 7 years, the Alley's have hosted our church at the Beulah Grove Bible Methodist grounds.
We always start off with a meal on Friday night (this year it was a Mexican themed meal), then gather for skits or other planned activities, and finish the evening with a warm fire outdoors. Saturday morning Greg took the boys back home for their games (only a 20 min. drive, so that makes it convenient!), and those of us at camp enjoyed a variety of breakfast casseroles and fruit. For lunch we grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats, with mac-n-cheese, salads and desserts. There were some interesting softball and volleyball games which produced lots of laughs, and hopefully a few good Kodak moments. Around 3 in the afternoon, Greg and Jason started grilling chicken halves. One of the guys on Greg's route owns the grill and has a "secret" marinade he makes, which he allowed us to use. We were anxious to see how they would turn out, and around 5 o'clock we were able to enjoy the product! Awesome! I wish I had taken a pic of the dessert bar...loaded to capacity every meal! We have some of the finest chefs in the country, and we all benefited this weekend!
After a fun-filled day, Eric and Bro. Alley led in music and a devotional. A few stayed up a little longer to enjoy the fire, play chess, or begin preparing food for Sunday.
After a wonderful service back home on Sunday a.m., we gathered again at Beulah Grove for a delicious ham dinner and cleanup. My heart ended up doing its wacky thing again, leaving me in bed from about 3-5 in the afternoon, so we rushed back home once things were normal, and arrived just in time for the evening service. I didn't take too many pics, but here are a few...




Lookin' good!

Allison trying to climb up the side of the trampoline...

Lil' Aubrey had a blast!

Livvy loved it too!

Austin and Timmy hangin' out...

Sweetheart Suzanna Kate...

Dad entertaining...hillbilly style!


Allison, Joshua, and Aubrey had so much fun on the cart...Keagan decided to help push...

Timmy "cheesin"...

So tuckered out that she slept just like this in spite of all of the noise in the cafeteria!

Looking forward to Retreat 2010!!!

Night Out!

If you are a Dave Ramsey fan, you probably already know that he announced some pretty incredible ticket deals for his Total Money Makeover live events this fall. Last Tuesday, when I finally checked my email, I realized that he had discounted the last 1,000 tickets to the October 1st Indy event from $40 to $15 each. We only had a little over 24 hours to get the plans in place, but Greg was able to take the day off, and I was able to leave work an hour and a half early. Mom and Dad did the grandparent thing for the evening and night, and we were off! There was nothing glamorous about our Flying J supper of corn dogs and Gatorade (we were in a huge hurry), but we made it to the Pepsi Coliseum just in time, and enjoyed 3 hours of Dave's sarcasm, humor, and common sense! Even though the width of the coliseum seats weren't to our exact specification (serious need for a diet here!), we had lots of fun. After a rainy 3 hour trip home, we dropped in bed around 2 a.m. to catch some zzzz's before the start of Friday's work day!

Labor Day Weekend '09

For the last 11 years, our family has spent Labor Day weekend at various locations in Michigan with Greg's parents, brothers, and their families. This year, everyone was doing their own thing, and we weren't sure what to do. Having just started school, I didn't know if I'd have enough energy left to pack our luggage, much less take a trip! We decided to rent a cottage at Bear Creek Farms in Berne, IN. I hadn't been there since high school...the last time we went, Jerry and Becky Glick and their kids all stayed in the camper with us, so I ended up sleeping in the van...what a memory...haha!
We had a great time eating at the Homestead restaurant, sitting around the campfire, riding bikes (hadn't done that in way too long!), and simply relaxing. There was nothing sophisticated about the weekend, let me tell ya...hillbilly all the way! On Sunday morning, we attended the little, old United Methodist church there on the farm. That night we attended a "fundamental, Bible-believing, old-fashioned"-their words, not mine- Baptist church in Berne...I'll count that as my most awkward church visit ever, but I'll save that for another post!

Lil' Miss Housekeeper...she loved being in the camper...

Dad and Greg repairing and redecorating Daniel Douglas's cross...

Enjoying riding in the back of daddy's truck...



We were able to watch barrel races for awhile...only one man bit the dust...fortunately his horse wasn't hurt. It was amazing to see how young some of the riders were!



Holding the gate while the tractor smoothed the corral...



Eric brought his two puppies...





We were surprised to look at the neighboring campsite and see my elementary piano teacher and her husband! Mrs. Stokes began giving me lessons when I was five, and I think I was with her until I was fourteen or fifteen. I was so young when I figured out that if she played my songs for me I could play them right back to her, and for a short time used that to get out of sightreading! It didn't take her too long to realize what I was up to! I'm so thankful for her guidance and instruction through those years...piano is a fav of mine!



We visited the farm of an Amish family (the man led the crew who built my grandma's apartment on mom and dad's house), and the guys enjoyed laughing and having a good time with the men who were gathered to work that day. Mom and I kind of sat waiting in the truck, not sure what to do. The lady came out and invited us into the house, but since we dropped by unexpectedly, we decided to wait in the truck. She talked with us for awhile while we waited on the guys. Evan was traipsing around the barns getting you-know-what all over his shoes, and Kaitlynn immediately wanted to get out of the truck and into a buggy full of boys and girls her age and maybe a little younger. I honestly don't know what she expected...she has always had a fascination with the Amish, and always wanted to be one. This Amish settlement is a much poorer one than the ones around the Eastern Ohio area, and we were amazed by the "ghetto" look that graced most of the farms. There were very few well-kept homes, which was kind of disappointing. Evidently, she hadn't thought too much of it up to that point. When she got up into the other buggy, the kiddos moved quickly away from her and stared like she was an alien! She was talking to them, and they wouldn't say a word. Their clothing was torn and they were filthy, and I think she had a hard time figuring out where to go with it. After awhile, she got back into the truck. She said, "I don't want to be Amish." She also said, "I asked those kids if they like havin' horse poop all over their yard, and they didn't answer me!" I'm still wondering what those poor kids thought and what they told their parents! I so wanted a pic of her and those kids in the buggy, but respecting Amish tradition, I refrained...