ice & flipflops

On Tuesday GFA was closed because of icy weather.  On Wednesday Dad went to work at noon; it was even more icy than before.  On Thursday we drank tea and hot cocoa to stay warm.  On Friday we wore coats to school, but slept without so many blankets.  On Saturday, we wore t-shirts and no socks as we cleaned the house.  

The weather changes so much.  It's strange.

Also on Wednesday, our dentist appointments were cancelled.  I was happy about that, because I don't like going to the dentist.  But that reminds me... my appointment was rescheduled for this week!  [Ellie is now dreading next Wednesday]

Last Thursday Melissa and I took senior photos for our friend Cally.

This is the one that will go in the yearbook.

Tomorrow, Sunday, Texas governor Rick Perry will be speaking at our church, First Baptist Church of Carrollton.  It's the "centennial year," because the church was founded in 1909.  

And it's also the Superbowl.  Who are you rooting for?

Next weekend Amy will visit!  For GFA's all-night prayer meeting, and to hang out with her family.  She and I might do something for my birthday (the 21st of February) since she probably won't be able to visit but once that month.

Mom, Melissa, Clara, and I went to the birthday party for our friends, twins Jenna and Asa.  They turned 3 on January 22.  It was fun to celebrate with them.

Tomorrow also marks (among many other things), the end of Girl Scout cookie selling season.  If you hurry up and try, you might be able to send an email to Clara ordering your favorites...

tea, glorious tea by melissa

I want to show you how to make my favorite drink, tea, the best way. 

you need: 1 french press

1 teapot with boiling water

several tablespoons of loose tea (the more the better). I am using earl grey this time; earl grey tea with roses from the New Mexico Tea Company. 

doesn't earl grey with roses sound like something the bennetts would have been drinking?

pour hot water into french press:

then steep for 3 to 5 minutes:

and steep...

and steep...

and stir...

and then french press it.

choose a favorite mug and add sugar:

pour hot tea into mug. 

and enjoy!

(and this is how it usually ends up: ellie and clara enjoying it as well)

Clara is playing doctor again...

No, not really.  She didn't decide to just wrap up her toe in blue stuff.  To make a long story short, and to spare you the ooey gooey details, she got an infection on her toe around the nail  and had to go to the doctor to get part of the toenail removed.  It got wrapped up and is now probably hurting.

The first picture was inspired by this one.

Now that her toe is famous, it would like to say a few words:

"Please pray for me!"

 

Just kidding, I made that up.

Actually, please do pray, because Clara is in some pain.

Christmas Pictures & the New Year

These are pictures of opening presents.  And Christmas morning doings. 

Dad reading the Christmas story.

Clara had no idea what this present was, and was really suprised when she opened it.  It's a huge origami kit.

We all got daily devotional books from Mom and Dad.

Dad wanted to be the elf.

Clara made Mom a pillow that matches our couches, and I made her slipper socks.  I didn't have enough yarn of one color, so that is why they are mismatched.

Melissa gave me a watercolor painting that she had done.

All the slipper socks.

Amy the elf.  This time, complete with long stripey socks and funny shoes.

We ate breakfast on Christmas morning with our friends, the Powells.  Here, we are on the way to their house.

There was lots of yummy food!

Last Christmas, we played a fun game called In a Pickle, and we wanted to play it again this year, so we did.  

We had our friend Kim come to our house for Christmas dinner.  Our uncle, my dad's brother, gave us some really delicious beef brisket that we cooked up.

Amy and some of her friends at the Honor Academy bought a fun and random game called Quelf.

This is an example of one of the Quelf cards:

No one likes to do the Chicken Dance.  But you do...   So, set the timer and do the Chicken Dance until the timer runs out.  If you don't know it, fake it.   Make all poultry proud.

So basically, you roll and move forward, then draw a card and you have to do what it says or pay the penalty, which is moving back several spaces.  You win the game by getting to the end of the spaces. 

We went over to the Chupp's house in the evening, and we played Quelf there as well.

On New Year's eve, we went to a watchnight service at GFA, and had a nice time fellowshipping and praising God.