~WILLIAM ERIC NICHOLS~10 days~
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Survived!
I wanted to do a follow up, since there was so much interest in our Chuck E. Cheese visit...lol...anyway, we survived! I must take this opportunity to say once again that my husband was sent to me straight from Heaven. He is such a good dad, and at the same time, really takes care of his woman! Let me tell you what happened.
It was only about 4 pm. when we arrived at CEC. There was just a handful of cars in the parking lot, and only a few patrons in the bldg. We purchased our grub (not sure if it even deserves the honor of being called "grub"), divided up tokens, and I quickly realized that I was going to be bored. I mentioned to Greg that I wished I had brought a book (usually carry one in my purse), and he said, "Why don't you just go to the mall for awhile by yourself? You deserve it." Now that was an offer I couldn't refuse! After feeling guilty for about 5 seconds, I hit the mall for about 2 hours!
By the time they were finished eating and playing games, CEC had become a complete madhouse, and my family was ready to leave. Greg said that at one point Alli covered both ears for about 10 seconds...she is definitely not used to that kind of chaos!
I did figure out one thing...Chuck E. Cheese attracts quite a class of people. Most of them evidently can't afford a decent set of wheels, or enough clothes to cover the massive rolls of fat that hang from their unkempt bodies...yet somehow they can haul loads of kids, cakes, presents, and who knows what else, in there for birthday parties! Go figure!
BTW, Ryan did wake up puking at 5 the next morning. He did not have the flu, and it was an isolated incident. He totally blames Chuck E. Cheese, and won't be begging to go back there for a good long time!
It was only about 4 pm. when we arrived at CEC. There was just a handful of cars in the parking lot, and only a few patrons in the bldg. We purchased our grub (not sure if it even deserves the honor of being called "grub"), divided up tokens, and I quickly realized that I was going to be bored. I mentioned to Greg that I wished I had brought a book (usually carry one in my purse), and he said, "Why don't you just go to the mall for awhile by yourself? You deserve it." Now that was an offer I couldn't refuse! After feeling guilty for about 5 seconds, I hit the mall for about 2 hours!
By the time they were finished eating and playing games, CEC had become a complete madhouse, and my family was ready to leave. Greg said that at one point Alli covered both ears for about 10 seconds...she is definitely not used to that kind of chaos!
I did figure out one thing...Chuck E. Cheese attracts quite a class of people. Most of them evidently can't afford a decent set of wheels, or enough clothes to cover the massive rolls of fat that hang from their unkempt bodies...yet somehow they can haul loads of kids, cakes, presents, and who knows what else, in there for birthday parties! Go figure!
BTW, Ryan did wake up puking at 5 the next morning. He did not have the flu, and it was an isolated incident. He totally blames Chuck E. Cheese, and won't be begging to go back there for a good long time!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
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.
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!
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