Ten for Tuesday

Here's the news from Tennessee.

1. We got snowed in! Well, it wouldn't be a big deal for most of you, but 6 inches of the white stuff fell at our house on Friday and Saturday. It was enough to cancel basketball games and church over the weekend. We all enjoyed some sledding. And Big Z got the opportunity to earn some money on a chore he'd never done before: shoveling snow.



2. Big Z is getting another big opportunity on Feb. 27. He'll be going to the Southern Appalachian Regional Spelling Bee for the second year in a row. The winner of this bee will go to Washington D.C. for the National Spelling Bee. Big Z is hoping to be the one this year.



3. At the last pack meeting, Schmoo received his Wolf badge. He really enjoys going to the pack activities on Wednesdays. And we are already at count down proximity to his Valentine's Day birthday. Almost nine years old?! How did that happen?



4. A package arrived in the mail yesterday. It generated a lot of excitement. For a long time the big brothers have been planning and saving to buy a Nintendo DS. They had done their homework on the retail price, so when they found a new one online for less, they were glad to save some money--the more to buy games with, you know.



5. MJ recently began a class in baton twirling, and is learning very quickly. She has spent an impressive amount of time practicing, twirling and dancing all over the house. When she is not twirling, you might find MJ giving someone a "style" with hair gel or makeup. Usually I am her guinea pig, but Daddy had his turn in the stylist chair the other day, too.



6. Toby has been working really hard both at work and at the gym. He just had his best sales month ever at EDJ. And he has lost 17 lbs. by working out every day--sometimes twice a day. Way to go, Hon!



7. Basketball season is coming to a close. Probably this Saturday, unless they decide to play make-up games for the snowday cancellations. Three children have enjoyed playing on their teams, but that is a lot for one dad to coach. Toby, for one, will be glad to spend a little less time at the Y on Saturdays.



8. I took the advice of some of my siblings and started watching Lost. I am glad I don't have to wait a whole week between episodes, but being able to watch them in close succession may have its downside. I'm afraid I am addicted. I am about half way through season three at this point. And I've set my DVR for tonight's season premiere.



9. Little Mr. T is now mobile. He has spent the last couple of weeks rocking back and forth on his hands and knees, lifting up on to his toes in the cutest little downward facing dog, and then scooting forward to his belly. Last night he began using a more traditional crawling style, and he's picking up speed too. So look out world, here he comes!







We may also have heard Mr.s T's first word: "Piggy". When Daddy holds up a pig puppet, Mr. T says, "ge-ge" (with a hard g sound.) Of course gaga-gege syllables are pretty common ones for him. So I'm not entirely sure we can count it as his first word. But it is still really fun to hear. We all enjoy seeing him learn and grow.