Before the SchoolBoard...

We were proud of Joe for being asked to do a 

presentation for the school board.

He and his classmates went before the school board 

and showed the members and superintendent

how they are coding and using STEM in the classroom.

There were many in attendance and they presented their robot

and coded them to complete a challenge.

It was very neat to watch them talk in front of the crowd and get to work!

Pax and Joe's bot didn't act they way they wanted and they were not giving up!

They were back at it trying to recode it. Surrounded here by teachers, parents and their principal!

The same evening the elementary had a fun open house.

It had a beach theme, Joe and I enjoyed it.

Sam was at practice!

We had several snow days this winter and our school did it's first ever

E-learn day on Saturday. 
The boys were looking forward to their assignments being active.

I can see this having great use into the future.

I also liked peeking at their chromebooks, their backgrounds, passwords, etc!

Next year Sam will work on his chromebook more.

My Valentines.

Love these guys!

And I'm thankful for guys who loved my simple valentine effort.

I've come to realize that we aren't a fussy Pinterest family.  

We are definitely on the go! 

We fit this in after work and before practice, and it was not actually Valentine's Day.  

But, they told me it was the best roast ever and raved about the baked potatoes that were actually baked in the oven, ha!

I wanted everyone to drink pink, but Joe and DH weren't interested...

but DH did use the special straw I stole from Blake's house!

 Grandma sent each boy a special valentine.

And I got each boy a small valentine surprise.

Joe was pumped for VR goggles (on his Christmas list)

and I was able to stay in the "small" gift range because I found these for $4!

We laughed a lot!

And the very next night, between 7-8pm, I had dinner with my valentine.

I met him after work at 7 at The Lodge and we enjoyed a valentine meal out

and picked up the boys at church at 8!

We took our dessert to go and even had leftovers for the next day's lunch!

Thankful for a quick recharge with my guy.

It was just what we needed mid week!

I also received a very special (and true...) card from Joe

and Sam swept out my van for me!

Elemental Valentine Box!

My science loving boy asked for another Valentine box.

He searched Pinterest and found his sample and away he went!

It was fun reviewing the Periodic table with him.  He has a great interest in that now -

 this science loving mom is ready to help him learn more about the elements now!

 This mama also knows this is our last Valentine exchange at school (insert sad tear).

We enjoyed putting together our tic tac toe valentines from Jane (mama's app, LOL).

And to the assembly of the box...

A simple box wrapped in red with a slot cut in the top.

We researched some funny Valentine ideas that fit our theme.

 I love the conversations that result when working one on one.

And the jokes that DH inserts, like telling Joe that he might 'get a wedgie' for his science box.

Ahem, keeping it real, we did laugh out loud and DH agreed that being smart is cool.

Just keeping it real around here, ha!

Joe made up his own element for J

 Tons of fun with my boy for Valentine's Day!

Scott's Racing Team!

Uncle Scott has started a new venture as a mechanic

for a trucking company and a race car team.

He will travel with the race car team in season, kinda like a dream job!

He was in Florida last week!

We are supporting his venture and hope to see him race when he is a bit closer to home.

We went over to see his race shop, boys were in awe.

It was neat seeing the car and parts for the car and how they all come together.  

Sam has shown interest in engineering and car design - he took it all in.

Joe asked all the questions.

We were equally impressed with the car hauler and RV set up.

It was impressive.

The grill/cooler set up.

I haven't seen anything with the likes of this.

And Scott does the driving.  I could do that.  

Sure, if we only went in a straight line, maybe. Wow.

February Birthdays!

We had some fun family birthdays in February!

SIL Chiristine turned 50 this month.

We celebrated with a surprise party at Los Bravos.

She had over 30 people to celebrate with her!

She was very surprised as she knew she was coming out to dinner

(and she expected a few people until she turned the corner!)

Oh and DH was surprised too, he didn't know it was a surprise until this moment,

LOL, no communication issues here. 

We had fun celebrating Christine, so thankful for her in our family! 

 And nephew Drew turned 12, we celebrated him with a oreo ice cream cake, his favorite!

Jaelyn decided that Joe's hair was out of control and needed a headband.

It provided a lot of laughs

and a few social media posts, the digital age we live in, LOL.

Graham was just along for the ride. 

Old Fashioned Taffy Pull!

Our superbowl party entertainment was an

Old Fashioned Taffy Pull.

Grandma invited to family over and while the superbowl

was playing in the background 

we worked hard for our dessert!

Dan's Grandma Ida was a huge fan of homemade taffy and had 

the recipe for the candy down to a science.  I remember pulling taffy at their house

with the church youth group that Dan and I hung with when were were teens

 and then later with the family one holiday.

We had also pulled taffy at Pastor Ed and Judy's house with the Berea youth group

we sponosed when the boys were little.  It's a fun interactive evening!

Our boys didn't remember taffy pulling so it was a new activity for them.

It's like the taffy you see being pulled in a candy shop, but the people are the "pullers".

 It starts small, caramel in color and pulls very hard.

But, the longer you pull the color lightens and it pulls easier and stretches long!

The kids all reappeared when the first batch was pulled and ready to be cut!

Yum! Homemade taffy!