Basketball

The kids played Upwards Basketball this winter.  Upwards is a Christian based sports program.  They have a devotional after every practice and during games and show the kids sportsmanship as they develop into athletes.  They also try and match kids up based on skill level.  Nana and Papa got to see their first games in January.

I helped coach Christian's team and even though we had a perfect season in the losing way the boys were so fun.  It was great to watch their skill and confidence grow.  Christian scored several baskets during the games and loves to play basketball all the time in our alley.  I think it will be a sport he enjoys.

Me, Christian, Jonathan, Conner, Andrew, Joel, Coach Scott

Jackson, Jack, Harrison

Piper was on a team that had an amazing coach and some very sweet girls.  She had a lot of fun and learned some skills and improved so much during the season, but the competitive edge just didn't come out till the end.  She had fun!

Tryin to steal the ball 

Coach Peter, Sandy, Jillian, McKenzie, Katie, Coach

Kendall, Savannah, Madison

Piper, Grace

I have a dream play-Piper 2013

Mr. Moore puts on a play every year called "I have a dream" and so in honor of black History month of February they put it on for many of the classes and parents.  Piper played a store keeper that sold stuff to Mrs. King and her boys played with Martin as a child.  Her class did an awesome job!

We just have video of the play and can't seem to upload it

 

Christian's Skylander's Cake

I had thought of a creative way to make Christian a skylander cake that would not get the characters messy if we put them on the cake-fondant.  However, I hate the taste of fondant and so I searched the internet to find a cheaper and easier way to make fondant.  I found marshmallow fondant.  It is just melted marshmallow and powered sugar and you can add food coloring.  It was good-still not my favorite, but way better than traditional fondant and way cheaper to make.

Here is the recipe:

• 8 ounces miniature marshmallows (4 cups not packed, or half of a 16-ounce bag)
• 1 pound powdered sugar (4 cups), plus extra for dusting
• 2 tbsp water
• Food coloring or flavored extracts, optional

Preparation:

1. Dust your counter or a large cutting board with powdered sugar. Place the marshmallows and the water in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1 minute, until the marshmallows are puffy and expanded.
2. Stir the marshmallows with a rubber spatula until they are melted and smooth. If some unmelted marshmallow pieces remain, return to the microwave for 30-45 seconds, until the marshmallow mixture is entirely smooth and free of lumps. If you want colored or flavored fondant, you can add several drops of food coloring or extracts at this point and stir until incorporated. If you want to create multiple colors or flavors from one batch of fondant, do not add the colors or flavors now. Instead, refer to step 6 below for instructions.
3. Add the powdered sugar and begin to stir with the spatula. Stir until the sugar begins to incorporate and it becomes impossible to stir anymore.
4. Scrape the marshmallow-sugar mixture out onto the prepared work surface. It will be sticky and lumpy, with lots of sugar that has not been incorporated yet--this is normal. Dust your hands with powdered sugar, and begin to knead the fondant mixture like bread dough, working the sugar into the marshmallow with your hands.
5. Continue to knead the fondant until it smoothes out and loses its stickiness. Add more sugar if necessary, but stop adding sugar once it is smooth--too much sugar will make it stiff and difficult to work with. Once the fondant is a smooth ball, it is ready to be used. You can now roll it out, shape it, or wrap it in cling wrap to use later. Well-wrapped fondant can be stored in a cool room or in the refrigerator, and needs to be kneaded until supple before later use.
6. If you want to add coloring or flavoring to your fondant, flatten it into a round disc. You might want to wear gloves to avoid getting food coloring on your hands during this step. Add your desired amount of coloring or flavoring to the center of the disc, and fold the disc over on itself so that the color or flavor is enclosed in the center of the fondant ball.
7. Begin to knead the ball of fondant just like you did before. As you work it, you will begin to see streaks of color coming through from the center. Continue to knead until the streaks are gone and the fondant is a uniform color. Your fondant is now ready to be used or stored as outlined above.

Here is the final cake.  The cake is a cookie cake and the portal is three giant cookies on top of each other covered in the fondant.  I thought it turned out pretty well.

First Mani and Pedi

Piper got straight As and she wanted to get her nails done so we decided to get her first Mani/Pedi and my first Pedi in a very long time-like years.  It was fun and my feet look so much better.  I can see it being a fun thing to do before flip-flop weather every year.  I didn't get any pictures during, but here is the picture after.

Spring Break Fun

We have finally gotten to use all the airline miles Brian built up several years ago since we are in a United hub.  So we bought tickets to go to Texas and Oklahoma for the week of Spring Break.  We got to Texas on March 23rd late at night and stayed in a hotel.  We woke up the next morning to get off to church and see our friends before we headed off to Oklahoma for a few days.  It was Christian's birthday so we had a lunch with our friends the Harwoods and Tanner Paul came too to celebrate with Christian.  You can see more about that here-http://mckeanfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/2013/04/christians-8th-birthday-that-seemed-to.html

After lunch we were off to see Brian's family in Oklahoma.  We decided to meet anyone who could at Mazzios for Christian's birthday.  So Grandma Fran, Nana and Papa, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Christie, Wyatt, Lyla, Uncle Chase, Brandy, Big Wyatt, Zane and Riley met us for dinner.  Grandma made a tower of brownies!  We also got to meet Lyla Enochs for the first time since her birth in September.  Piper had a fun time holding her.

We then were off to see Grandma Fran's new house and meet her new dog.  I think one of the highlights of the trip to Oklahoma for the kids was getting to play with Max, Grandma's new dog.  Christian would go outside and play chase with the dog and loved to throw things for him to fetch.  She also had her help her decorate a spring cake and she made a Thanksgiving feast and Charlie and Christie came over with the kids.  Christie says Wyatt since we have left has asked if he can go to Grandma's house and play with Piper and Christian.  We had a fun time and soon it was time to head to Nana and Papa's new house.

 Piper feeding baby Lyla!

We arrived at Nana and Papa's new house and got the tour.  It was cold, but pretty nice outside and Piper was dying to take the paddle boat onto the pond.  I could have just sat on the roof deck all day with a book.  We had a nice time that evening getting to meet Uncle Justin's girlfriend and kids and hanging out with Kayla and Keira too.  All the big kids, which included Piper, went out on the boat by themselves that night.  Christian just didn't want to by himself-I think he may have been afraid his sister would push him in the water.  The next day was a little chilly so we didn't go out on the pond, but we did play the card game golf with Nana and Papa.  The kids also found an old 80s game of Frogger and a few others and loved taking turns playing the old fashion game(Brian had a little fun with it too).  Christian also really liked playing ping pong and was pretty good too.  We had a great time and hopefully make it back in the summer to enjoy the pool.  We were off to Texas!

 It will actually have railing next time

 

We arrived in Texas on Wednesday.  We spent the night at Ali and Nino's and thankfully Elizabeth gave up her room for several nights for us.  I decided to work at preschool the next day and it was a blast.  Piper helped our friends, Denise and Mona, with their pre-K class and Christian helped us hid eggs since it was the Easter parties.  I had the best time hanging out with my old friends and most could not believe I was actually working.  Alyssa O'Rear and Jennifer Bleodow made me laugh and smile most of day.  It was so fun hanging out with all of these precious girls.  Brian worked a little and went to see a movie.  The kids got to surprise their friends by picking them up from school so Christian went with the Harwoods and Piper went to Baylee Byrd's house.  I went over to my friend, Denise Paul, to see her new house.  At night we were kidless and Brian had band practice with the guys so I went out with some of the girls, Valerie, Renee, Emily, Michelle Harwood, and Ali.  I didn't take any pictures, but loved catching up with these girls!  I think the funniest time was when my friend Ali and Michelle started to compare medical problems and supplements they were on-you would of thought we were pushing 70 not pushing 40 and some over 40.

 

I was nice on Friday because everyone was off school.  Ali and I got to go for a walk and just talk, which was one of the highlights of my trip.  Piper got to go to her good friend, Tessa Young, birthday party that morning.  Christian got to hang out with the Harwood boys.  We went and met my parents, who were visiting my aunt and uncle in Texas, for lunch.  We had a really great lunch.  We then got to hang out at Ali and Nino's house and got to have a little band party there.  We don't have many pictures just because I think we were loving catching up with everyone.  The Edward and Conways came over and hung out and it was great to hang out with everyone!  We also learned that Nino had a new talent we never knew about-Balloon animals and figures. 

 

 

Saturday

We got to meet cousin Connor for the first time and got a surprise of meeting Kyle and Cate along with Tyler and Amy for lunch.  It was a nice surprise to see Uncle Kyle and Cate at lunch along with Uncle Tyler and Aunt Amy.  We had a good time hanging out with them at their house.  Christian made a friend with the dogs and Piper loved to hold baby Connor.  On this trip we got to see all of Brian's family except Clint!

 

Saturday night we got together with a bunch of our friends at the Harwood house.  We got to have Planet Burrito!  We are so thankful for the Goodens, Harwoods, Youngs, O'rears, Byrds, Pauls, O'Quinns, and Bleodows.  I think that is everyone!  Again, not that many pictures, but a fun time!  It was also a fun time to say goodbye to the Harwood house as they are moving to Connecticut.

 

 



Easter Sunday

Brian got to play on Easter Sunday with the band at church and had a lot of fun.  The kids had a fun time seeing all of their friends in powerkids.  I loved worshipping with my Southlake family, they will always have a place in my heart forever.  Christian and I hung out with Nic and Jennifer during third service and the boys built with legos and had fun destroying them too.  The kids came home and Andrew and Elizabeth had hid eggs all over the house.  The Elliotts had fixed a feast of us and their family and Gala at their house.  We were all stuffed and most took afternoon naps as Gala and I talked.  We took the Elliott family to Twisted Root for dinner as a thank you for letting us stay at their house.  The next morning we were off early to get back to Virginia

 

 

A stool that looks like lady legs-too funny!

 

 

 

This trip was just special to me to realize the friendships we are blessed with in Texas and with family.  I know these are people that will always be in our lives if we live thousands of miles away or if we live next door.  We were so blessed by everyone and look forward to people coming and visiting us and us visiting them again!