It is time for the Madness

I love this time of year. We have a bracket and if any of you wish to join, you are more than welcome. Don't think you need to know anything about Basketball. You will beat Greg Regardless of your basketball knowledge.Here is the information:To accept this invitation and join the group, click the link below (or cut and paste the link into your browser's address bar).You'll be asked to enter the group's password before you can join. The group password is included below
.http://sherwoodbracekts.mayhem.sportsline.com/e

Our Group password is: ASUrules

Amazing Race, minus the cameras, Phil, and the million dollars

by Greg...
On Friday March 5th, Nicolle and I got to participate in an Amazing Race type event taking place in downtown Greensboro. We were excited to do "Around Downtown in 80 Minutes" because Greg has organized a number of these races for family, friends and coworkers, but has only raced in these events twice, and never with Nicolle as a partner.

This was a risky move on both Greg and Nicolle's part for many reasons:

1. They are both very competitive
2. Greg finished 2th & 5th respectively in the races he has been in
3. Unlike the previous races which had 40-60 people in then, this race had 95 teams of two (or 190 individuals)
4. Greg is fat and had not exercised in 3 or 4 weeks
5. Nicolle is always right
6. Greg is always right
7. Reason 5 + Reason 6 = Marriage counseling if Reason 5 does not = Reason 6

Anyway, we got arrived at the race with time to map out our route. On the 4th review of our
route Nicolle recommended a gutsy move, which -if performed with precision, accuracy, and speed -could vault us into the running for a top spot. Greg felt this tactic would demand too much needed time and result in absolute failure.

After much discussion, Greg finally gave in to the high risk, high reward strategy.

Then the gun sounded, grandmothers trampled crying babies, and we were off.

Over the next 57 Minutes and 12 seconds Nicolle and Greg dodged, jumped, answered questions and ran around downtown Greensboro.

The race went considerably faster than Nicolle and Greg had planned, and despite not knowing that the population in downtown Greensboro is not 1000 (rather 1500) people, we finished getting to all the stops.

As we sat and waited for the results (scoring was based on how many points and bonus points received-time finished was the tiebreaker, if needed) there were some raffles. This provided one of the humorous highlights of the evening. A guy who looked like my brother in law Bryant (see below) won a complete hair cut and style package from a local salon.

Calgon Take me away

In a stroke of good luck, Greg won a Triad Stage coffee cup and Nicolle won a Gift basket from a local boutique bakery.

Then the announcement of the 3rd place winner was announced (this was good for 4 tickets to Triad Stage) it was ........ some other team.

We were sad that we did not win those tickets, but we maintained hope that might have gotten 2nd place. But alas, the prize of a dinner for two at a fancy restaurant went to some lucky couple who think neon green and pink are still in style. (I wonder if they heard MC Hammer wasn't 2 legit to quit?)

Then came the Grand prize:
1 night stay at the Greensboro Biltmore Hotel
Dinner for 2 at 223 Elm Street (easy to find on GPS)
8 Tickets to any show at Triad Stage
and Bragging rights

IT WAS US. WE WON. Greg grabbed the microphone and started thanking his keen sense of direction, his agent, his cow "No Horns" who made him hate cows so much that he had no issue eating meat, which gave him the mental acuteness to figure out the fastest route. When the music started playing he asked Nicolle if she had anyone to thank, but then remembered to thank his old teammate Micheal Aagard, "We did it Micheal, We did it."

The tears were flowing, the pain and suffering were worth it. The years of training had paid off , for this moment, this one moment in time..
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel
I will feel eternity

Go TEAM USA

Clara's trip around the world.

Clara had a very fun month at preschool. If you want to see what she's been up to, check out Miss Shelley's blog.

6 Months

Sarah-Jane is 6 months old. I know I sound like a broken record, but I can't believe how fast the last 6 months has flown.

Stats:
26 7/8 long
18 lbs.
80th percentile for height and weight (we have big girls)!
She is getting more steady in a seated position and is close to crawling... I think my blissful days with a non-mobile baby are coming to a close! She has quite a grab, but -so far- is still very happy even when we need to take away things she can't have.

Vancouver Olympics 2010

I love the Olympics. I find it so inspiring to see people push themselves to the limit... to do their very best... to work unbelievably hard to accomplish their dreams. It inspires me to want to do my best, despite obstacles or setbacks. I mean, if Anja Paerson can win a bronze medal in alpine skiing one day after wiping out like this, then surely I can survive one more 3 year old meltdown, right? Especially when I know that when I peek in on her, later, after she has gone to bed I'll see this... a very cute, sleepy girl reading through her library books one more time before she falls asleep.
I recorded all of the Olympics, because I didn't want to miss anything. I still have about a week's worth of viewing before I get through them all, so don't tell me any results from the final week, ok?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG

You are cute. I love you!
Love, Nicolle
----------------------------

Clara's Funny Book

Some funny/cute things Clara has said, lately:

(Dressing Sarah Jane up like a princess)

(singing) Rudolph the red-nose Reindeer, had a really (very) shiny nose.

(singing) I love to see the Temple, I'm going there someday
To feel the Holy Spirit, to listen and to play (pray).

"Wow, look what we do'd" (did).

She loves to announce herself whenever she arrives at a playgroup...
"Hey everybody, I'M HERE!"

Clara loves to climb on my lap when I am holding Sarah-Jane and say "look at all of these girls!"

Clara started to say "NO" to me one day. I looked at her like... "excuse me?!? You aren't supposed to talk to me like that" and she quickly recovered "(NO)-VEMBER'S ALL DONE. IT'S CHRISTMASTIME." She is quick on her feet, that girl.

Clara loves being in Sunbeams at church. She wants to participate in everything and for every turn to be her turn. Since I play the piano in Primary, I get to overhear lots of cute comments. Last week, the teacher was encouraging them take turns saying a little testimony. They would find a piece of paper that said "I know" and then were supposed to finish it with something like, "Jesus lives." When it was Clara's turn, she stood up confidently and said, "I know... my Mommy."

Clara is really into princesses and pretty dresses. I got dressed for a choir concert at Christmastime and when Clara first saw me she gasped (a huge gasp) and said, "Wow, Mommy you wearing a pretty dress?!?" She was very curious about my pantyhose (since I never wear them, otherwise, she didn't know what they were). The next night, I told her I was going to get dressed for my concert and she said, "Oh, you gonna wear your panty's? (she meant pantyhose)."

She has been trying to squirm out of her carseat, sometimes, lately. The other day I had to pull over to put her back in and I told her I was going to tighten the straps really tight so she couldn't squirm out. The rest of the way home she screamed and cried, "Mommy don't tie me up(tighten me up)!!!" Not so funny at the time, but looking back it is funny.

Her grandma gave her some birthday money. We went to Target and she picked out a toy and gave the money to the cashier. The cashier gave her some change and she said, "Oh, you give me some new monies?!?"

Mom: Clara, please go potty before we leave the house
Clara: But, Mom, I went potty two years ago
Mom: We go potty several times a day
Clara: But I already went potty seven times!

Mom: Do you like your teacher?
Clara: Yes, she is so nice to meet you! (So nice to me)

Love is in the Air

and on our car...

(Greg left this surprise on my car this morning)

and in our treats...

and at Clara's preschool party...



Clara got to sit in the "warm fuzzy chair" while her friends told her why they love her...
Addie likes her Curly hair
Shaelyn likes her special hugs
and Caroline likes her silly songs.

Here is Clara's preschool class with their beloved "Miss Shelley"

Snow in NC

Greg (from Rochester, NY) and I (from Nashville, TN) have very different backgrounds when it comes to winter weather. I really learned a lot about snow on our recent trip to NY- like, for instance, what a snow plow is. Really- I saw a snow blower and said, "Wow, that person owns their own snowplow?" It was one of many times Greg had a good laugh at my expense.

Now it is my turn... it snowed 7 inches at our home this week! Here is a sample of what happens when a Yankee marries someone from the South:

Greg: I think I'll go out and shovel the driveway.
Nicolle: What? How?- We don't own a snow shovel.
Greg: I'll just use the garden shovel.
Nicolle: Why do you want to shovel the driveway?
Greg: So it will be easy to get the car out when I go to work.
Nicolle: Are you going to shovel the whole way to work, because they only (maybe)plow the main roads...
Greg: Oh, good point
Nicolle: We don't shovel snow in the South... we just wait a couple of days for it to melt

Here is what we have been up to while we've been trapped at home.

Finally taking down our Christmas Card photos (sad).

Teething

BFF's playing together

And, of course, lots of sledding, building snowmen, and playing in the snow

And finally baking a successful batch of cinnamon rolls. (I have been trying for years, but could never get them to come out right). Thanks, Jennie, for the dough recipe, and thanks to Greg's Mom for teaching me the thread trick.

Party

An Ariel party:
Disguised (by her princess-wary mother) as an "Under the Sea" party.

Here is a run-down of the events at the party:
Clara and her friends painted an ocean mural with sponges shaped like ocean animals. Then Greg helped them make their own individual pizzas... (He even let them try tossing the dough in the air). While the pizza baked, we played some music games to a play-list of ocean songs (including Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl). Then the kids (and adults) ate pizza, blue jello with gummy fish inside, and cupcakes.

Last, but not least, Clara invited her friends up to her "ocean room." They "swam" in the blue balloons and got a little crazy and had a blast.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Clara

Dear Clara,
Please slow down- you are growing up too fast! The last 3 years have been the happiest of our lives, because of you. We love you!
-Mom and Dad

Jan. 15th, 2007

Jan. 15th, 2008

January 15th, 2009

January 15th, 2010

Perspective

I quit my job to stay home with the girls.

Greg's company (like most) isn't doing well, so they have suspended raises and tuition reimbursement indefinitely.

Which means we have a smaller budget to work with, and we have to find the money to pay his MBA tuition.

Which means I have been a little worried about money... not wanting to watch our savings dwindle away.

Then I see images like this and I am reminded of how very much I have. I am so grateful to be able to have food, water, and safe shelter for my children. My heart aches for those suffering in Haiti, right now.

Palmyra, NY trip

Holiday card, take 2...

Happy New Year!

This would have made a great Christmas card, except for the fact that we are missing Sarah-Jane. (This was taken in front of the Sacred Grove and Joseph Smith log cabin).

We had a fantastic trip to visit Greg's parents in Palmyra, NY. Greg got to see all of his old hang-outs and old friends. The landscape was beautiful, and we had tons of outdoor fun in the snow.

Building snowmen...
Sledding...
and warming up with hot chocolate.

The girls got to spend lots of great one-on-one time with Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood (not an easy task when there are 38 grandchildren).

Sledding with Grandma...

Napping with Grandpa...
Sarah-Jane learned to roll over on the trip... here she is after her first successful attempt. Her arms may be stuck, but she is pretty proud of herself!

Christmas 2009

Someone said to me... "Merry Christmas- there is nothing better than a new baby at Christmas."

I completely agree. Unless you add an adorable almost-3-year-old and a fun husband. These are some of our Christmas highlights.

Christmas Eve:

Leaving cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph (and Clarice, Clara added). Here is Clara posing as a snowman with a carrot nose. Our stockings are all ready for Santa.

We had a yummy Christmas Eve dinner with our little family. Ham, green beans, and mashed potatoes, with razzelberry pie for dessert. This was my second attempt at a homade pie crust. Clara approved.

This has been one of the best Christmases I can remember. I loved teaching Clara about the baby Jesus and seeing her excitement and love for Him. I loved holding my sweet new baby and thinking about the humble beginnings of our Savior. The love that I feel for this little one, I know He feels for me.

I loved what my friend, Heather, wrote in her Christmas letter. "Things are difficult, right now, for many people, but there is still so much to be joyful about. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"

2010 FHE plans

Just came across this a wanted to share!

A year's worth of Family Home Evening lessons based on the 2010 Primary themes. The idea is enhance what is being taught on Sundays in church by holding FHE on similar topics each week. If anyone is interested in downloading this project, you can get it here for free:

http://fheplanner.blogspot.com/2009/12/one-year-of-2010-primary-themed-fhe.html

the Nutcracker

A Mommy/Clara date...
We braved the snow a couple of Saturdays ago and went to a performance of The Nutcracker.

We were invited by Clara's friend, Hannah, and her Mom. Before the ballet, we got to meet all of the characters. This is Clara meeting "the other Clara." All during the ballet she kept telling me, "The other Clara is twirling, the other Clara is sad, the other Clara is sleeping, the other Clara..."

The performers signed little autograph cards for the kids. Clara had no idea what this meant, but she saw everyone else doing it and joined right in. When the curtain came up at the start of the show, she was VERY excited to tell me that all of those princesses had signed her card! So excited, in fact, that she was shouting. Her little friend told her to "BE QUIET, CLARA."
Then they watched with mouths wide open for the entire performance. Except for the moments when they couldn't contain themselves and stood in front of their chairs to dance like ballerinas. Very fun.

Shameless Self Promotion

Here is information about Nicolle's upcoming choral Christmas concert. You can see it for FREE this Monday night, 7:30pm at First Presbyterian Church in High Point.

We are also performing on the following dates/times. (There is a fee for these concerts).

Out of the Orient Crystal Skies Where & When Christ United Methodist Church 410 N Holden Rd, Greensboro Friday, December 11, 8:00 PM Saturday, December 12, 8:00 PM Monday, December 14, 7:30 PM

Tickets Tickets are available online at www.belcantocompany.com, by telephone at 336-333-2220 or at the door 1 hour prior to each performance. Single Tickets: Adults: $20, Seniors (65+): $18, Students: $5 Group rates available. Call 336-333-2220 for more information.

Hope to see you there!

Excuses

How long can I claim the following?
"I have a new baby, that is why..."
-my house is messy
-my jeans are too tight
-I am always late
-etc., etc.

Sarah-Jane is 4 months old. Am I outside the window?

The poor, sweet child is oblivious to all of the things being blamed on her! (Although she does look a little annoyed in this photo. Maybe she is on to me!?!)

Thanksgiving

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving... a holiday about cooking, eating, and getting together with family.

On Tuesday night, we went to VA to visit with Greg's parents and two of his siblings and their families... 2 siblings doesn't sound like much, right? But when you add their families of 5 + 4 kids it makes for quite a party. We didn't get many photos, but here is one of Sarah-Jane meeting her Grandpa Sherwood.

On Thursday we celebrated with my (Nicolle's) family.

After dinner we had our "traditional" Thanksgiving talent show.
Luke danced like Michael Jackson, Joel played the spoons, Evan the piano, Greg showed off some Yoga poses, Clara danced to her favorite Halloween song and then "helped" Anna and Chloe with a puppet show.

Last but not least, my Mom did a cheer, and my dad showed off his consistent after- Thanksgiving- dinner- nap habit... despite all of the noise around him. Impressive!