The Kids Speech Festival...

This is coming late tonight, but we wanted to get this in before we took of for our Washington State excursion this week. Last Friday, the kids had a Speech Festival for their school. On that day, all of the kids in all grades and classes had to stand in front of assigned groups with judges to present either a poem or writing either composed or written by someone else.

Well, Angie and Christopher both chose poems written by someone else and while standing in the front of a group of about twenty kids and the adults of some of those kids, they recited the poems. Below, you will see each kid delivering them.

As it turned out Angie was assigned on a competitive level and she ended up getting 3rd place out of her entire grade class. Christopher was not in any competition, but did a far superior job than what would have thought that he would have done.

Good job kids! Your parents are very, very proud of you. Keep up the good work!

(Here is Angie performing her poem - Planting)



(Here is Christopher performing his poem - The Robin)

Blog Site Update

This is Ken, Shani's husband. After twisting of the arm and some investigation, I have added some new items to the site using some of the built in tools. Yes, blogs are still tools of Satan, but they are fun to play with anyway...ha! ha! ha!

Seriously, let us know what you think and what we could to do to better improve the site. As I get more acquainted with the other available tools, I will add more things on. So, keep an eye on this blog for future use and development!

My New Year's Resolution

I wanted to wait to post my new Year's resolution until I knew I could keep it. I have decided to be more clean. To those of you that know me and have seen my house, you know how much of a slob I was or am. (When I say slob I mean stuff on the floor, dishes in the sink, floor not vacuumed, and the table stinky from last night's dinner.)

After hearing that my daughter will clean because I don't clean, that idea hit a strong cord of discontent in me. I thought to myself I want my daughter to clean because I am clean not because I am messy. So about three weeks ago I started to clean. I did little things like wiping off the table washing the dishes, folding the clothes before more were dry, that sort of thing. By that first Friday the entire house was clean. Yes even the bathroom. I have even kept it clean for the past 23 days. A first for even me.

I have noticed some side benefits to this cleaning thing. For one it brings with it a more grateful husband. Ken isn't as stressed when he comes home from work. I feel more comfortable with visitors just dropping in unannounced. Why even my kids have kept there room clean. I should have cleaned like this long ago. Better late then never. So the next time you come to visit me you will be reminded that yes even I can clean.