A Roundhouse February Kick to the Face

It is impossible to keep up this blog during the month of February.  There is rarely a minute to spare to sit down and work on individual posts.  Therefore, I am condensing all February activities into ONE single post so get ready...

This winter, simply put, has been a BEAR!  I can't remember it ever being this bitter cold.  Our poor heat pump simply couldn't keep up with the continual ice and snow and eventually turned into a gigantic snowball.  Thankfully, we have some great heating and cooling people (Reliable Heating and Cooling) who came out and solved our problem quickly.  It was nothing major, just frozen lines.  Whew!

Having "proper" snow apparel and equipment doesn't stop my kids from playing in the wintery white wonderland.  Pajamas and a garden cart work just fine!

We went to Seth's house for a super bowl party.  For me, that translates into watching funny commercials and eating lots of food.  I could really care LESS about the football game.  But, I loved Bruno at the halftime!  He can certainly entertain.  However, he doesn't hold a candle to my girl Katy Perry.  I managed to snag tickets for her Prism tour (and spent WAY more than I had planned) for Shannon, Elizabeth, Karson and I.  I was fortunate enough to have a pre-sale code because the day it went on-sale to the public, it sold out in minutes.  I talked with a ticket master representative who told me that last patron he spoke with offered $1000 for any ticket available.  I think I have a "hot" item in my possession.  I plan on surprising Karson in her Easter basket.

Cat in sunglasses alert!!!

Bart Simpson has shown up at our house.  The kids have had more fun with this medium-sized plastic Bart bank than about any other toy.  Isaac has been fiercely working on a new movie called "Evil Bart".  Maybe you need to check it out on his youtube channel?!?

Our mom is the best, her version of a home-cooked meal is KIDS NIGHTS at fast food restaurants.

Cooking is OUT the window this month.  We have been running kids to basketball practices, games, quick recall matches (wow, North Warren is haul), robotics practices, bowling, etc., etc.  I hardly have time to even go to the grocery or cook a meal.  I have managed to locate all the Kids Night menus in our area including Zaxby's 99¢ meals on Mondays and Fazoli's 99 ¢ meals on Tuesdays.  The other nights of the week, it's cereal and sandwiches (maybe pizza).

Boys playing Monopoly in their underoos alert!!!

Valentine's Day consisted of Matt attending the state bowling competition in Lexington with his boys team.  Two of his bowlers competed in the individual competition (Bryce and Kaleb). Matt bought me the traditional box of chocolates, and I went all out and bought him a pair of socks.  We're romantic like that.

 

When Matt got back home from Lexington Friday afternoon, we went to our favorite restaurant, Chuy's.  Matt and I go there at least once a week, sometimes twice.  I have NO idea how we survived this long without Chuy's.  I even have a Chuy's shirt.  The nacho car the coolest thing ever invented. We nosh on chips, salsa, cheese dip, creamy jalapeño dip, order the appetizer plate and end with a Tres Leches cake.  I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.  We're addicted!

TMI: we had a tornado warning this month, rumor had it, there were large funnel clouds hovering above the Plano area.  The "safest" place in our home is our kids bathroom.  Now, since I don't cook much during the month of February, I also don't have time to clean.  Our boys don't do real well with hygiene, aim or anything with regards to toilet training. I loathed sitting on the bathroom floor covered in nastiness.  I almost wanted to take my chances hiding under the couch.  Ick!

Of course the busiest month of our lives usually consists of school projects (which I secretly love).  Isaac had to complete a culture project which required a written piece, collage and oral presentation.  He has also been selected to be an octopus is Plano's 3rd grade spring musical "Go Fish!"

Let the tentacle stuffing begin.  I found these polka dotted tights at Wal-Mart for $2, doesn't get much cheaper than that.  Isaac is going to be one stylish dude!

Karson entered the Doodle 4 Google competition.  The theme this year was if you could invent one thing that would make the world a better place.

Karson's nostrils make the world a better place!

has invaded SKyPAC this week.  Our social media director asked staff members to submit 80's pictures for the occasion.  I found some lovely ones which made their way to SKyPAC's Facebook page.

We are wrapping up one of our galleries, the Scholastic Arts Awards at SKyPAC which will close on March 1. The exhibition is currently in our children's gallery in the Renshaw Education Center.  Scholastic Arts and Writing is in it's 91st year and is the longest running program of its kind.  We had students in grades 7-12 (from 23 counties) submit pieces to be viewed digitally by a panel of judges consisting of art educators and professors.  We had a group of students come for a tour this morning, and I immediately noticed the merchandise table for Rock of Ages.  Let's just say it consisted of items that would not be appropriate for young people to view.  I had to start rearranging and hiding things before the kids arrived.

The (award-winning) talented group of teens from Muhlenberg County High School(s) West & East.  

Karson may not be a future artist, but she will certainly excel in the fields of math and science.  She and Plano Robo-Panthers participated in the robotics competition at Drakes Creek Middle School last weekend.  There were two different tracks with which the robot was scored--one was a speed track and the other was a points track. Our group placed 7th, lots of good competition at DCMS.  Hopefully, they learned enough this year to improve their scores next year.  

Basketball wrapped up last week.  The girls had their first tournament game last Tuesday at Phil Moore.  We knew it was going to be a tough match against the Tar Heels.  The Tar Heels were the only team we never beat in our division.  The game was a nail-biter, and we ended up losing by one point in the last few seconds.  Fortunately, our season didn't end that night and we had a chance to play for 3rd place on Saturday.  To build morale, we took all the girls to the mall on Friday night and let them shop for a $5 gift for their teammate and write them an encouraging note.

The girls had a victory on Saturday and placed 3rd in their division.  We sure are going to miss watching this exciting group.  Many of the girls will go on the play in middle school most likely.  I have a feeling Karson's team next year is going to be pretty tough to beat.

 SKyPAC Youth Theater presents The Secret Garden this weekend.  I have to get up bright and early and welcome 140+ students for our school day performance tomorrow.  This production has been really popular.  Both of our SDP performances sold out almost immediately.  Our Saturday and Sunday evening/matinee performances are also almost completely full.  

I spent most of the day pinning together pieces created by students at 212 Academy for their light sculpture which will be featured at IdeaFest which is on Friday.  

Got our Spring Break cabin paid off this week -- looking forward to relaxing in the Smokies for a couple of days.
A Wolf's Den - Mountain Chalets

Karson has Governor's Cup at Alvaton this weekend, and then we can close out our wild and crazy month!  NOW all we need is a big dose of spring weather!

Kathryn "Mamaw" Deaton

Mamaw and I developed such a strong connection in our 18 years of knowing each other.  We both have a passion for good juicy gossip and chocolate.  I sure am going to miss her!

Sweet Words - Written by my husband Matt who did her eulogy

(don't read them unless you want to start sobbing uncontrollably) 

Mamaw thank you, thank you thank you.  I don’t know if you want the other grandkids to know this or not, but thanks for all those $20 bills you gave me over the years when I was growing up, for no reason, when it wasn’t my birthday or Christmas or anything.  I always knew that I was your favorite.  And you had a way of making us all feel like your favorite.  We were so loved by you.  You were always giving us everything you had.  And we know you’re really going to love heaven, a place where there’s nothing but love. You’re going to fit right in, because there was nothing but love in you.  Thanks for that.  Thanks for showing us how to laugh, especially how to laugh at ourselves.  You were great at that.  When Mackenzie fixed your hair in the hospital a couple weeks ago when we thought you were dying, and you just laughed, because your silver hair looked so pretty even though it was messy, that was a beautiful moment.  And when you told the teenage girl grandkids, “I was almost gone forever, girls.  But I’m not.”  And you laughed.  That was a beautiful moment.  And you’re still not gone forever.  Thanks.  And thanks for always wanting us to stay longer no matter how long we had stayed.  Thanks for putting in a pool for us, even though you hated to swim, because that’s how bad you wanted your kids and grandkids to be at your house, in your back yard.  And thanks for always wanting us to come over.  And always telling us to come back soon.  And always having to kiss us before we leave, you and Karen.  And always telling us how much you love us.  And always wanting us to be safe out on that dangerous road.  And caring so much about us.  And worrying so much over us.  Thanks.  We wish we could have kept you here with us longer.  Our family won’t be the same without you.  But we’re happy for you.  We’re happy that you’re in heaven now.  We’re happy that you taught us to believe in heaven, to believe that death is only a temporary good bye.  That we get to go to heaven when we die.  Thanks for believing that and helping us believe that.  Thanks for reminding us over and over and over again that you were ready to die when it was your time, and that when your time came on Wednesday, you were ready to go and went quickly.  That you died in the arms of people you love so much, your beloved Karen Lou and Ben Douglas.  And that you left behind so much love and so much joy.  That you taught us that God and people matter most, that God and people are all that really matter.  Thank you, Mamaw.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We love you so much.  And we loved being loved by you so much.  And we can’t wait to see you again one day on that beautiful, peaceful shore of heaven, when we cross over that river, when we get to go home to where you are now, with God and Jesus and the angels and your family in heaven.  You will live on in heaven and you will live on in us, in our memories and our stories about you and the way we love each other and in the way we laugh.  Thanks for laughing so much.  Even on the hard days.  Even when you didn’t feel good.  Even when your head had been hurting for two years.  Thanks for laughing until the end.  We can’t imagine someone living a better life than you lived.  Thanks.  We love you.  And we will miss you.  Some people who were really close to God like you talked about there being thin places in the world.  Places in the world where the line between heaven and earth gets really thin.  Places where you can feel God.  Mamaw, you were one of those thin places.  We could feel God in you. Words can’t express how much we love you and will miss you.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.  We will count the days until we see you again.

Kathryn Smith Deaton, 85, of Bowling Green, passed away Feb. 5, 2014, at her home. 

She was born Sept. 3, 1928, in Wayne County, a daughter of the late Menifee and Maude Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Deaton. 

She is survived by her children, Jacqueline Gibson, Colvin Deaton, Larry Deaton, Karen Deaton, Royce Deaton and Dawn Coleman; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Kathryn worked at Holley Carburetors for 17 years. She was a member of Community Church of Christ and was loved by all.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Community Church of Christ in Bowling Green. There will be a celebration of life following visitation.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to The Community Church of Christ.