BIG: Celebrations

Today EK was honored at the annual Arbor Day celebration.  Students from Hometown's schools are asked to create a drawing showing the importance of saving trees.  Out of over one thousand entries citywide, EK's was selected as a winning entry from his school!

Some of the winning entries

EK's entry

Shaking the hand of Hometown's mayor

Congratulations, EK.  What a BIG honor to be recognized at Hometown's Arbor Day celebration.

This makes thirty posts centered around the theme BIG.  I think I might take a blogging break for a few days now. I kind of need a rest.  Not a BIG rest, but a rest nonetheless.

BIG: Disappointment

EK's BIG hit:
Today at baseball practice EK hit what would have been a home run.  The ball went far past those that were playing in outfield.  However, when running past third base EK's foot never made contact with the base.  Although he didn't make it, it is fun to see his progress and abilities continue to improve with each practice and game. 

Mavs' BIG loss:
The mil10s' favorite NBA team is officially out of the playoffs.  The Mavs' run is now over for the year.  Despite the cheering from our living room in Hometown, Texas the Mavs could not pull it off.  All we can do now is hope for next year.

BIG: Relief

"How do you spell relief?"

Today the answer is not "R-O-L-A-I-D-S."

Today the answer is taking off your shoes and socks and, while you let your aching feet rest, knowing that you have put in a very full and productive day.  Relief is finally being able to take a moment, or two, to sit down because you probably have not had a chance to actually sit down for more than three whole minutes.  If you were lucky, you were somehow fortunate enough to find five whole minutes to take a break from standing  (leaning on a table or a wall in attempt to stop standing does not count).  Relief is knowing that all in all, the day went very smoothly and according to plan.  If it didn't fully run according to plan, it was easy to find a solution because of the good, responsible people that are around you.  Relief is knowing that no matter how horrible a task may seem, it is actually just a little better because you know that you work with people that will find a way to see something positive and fun in any situation.  Laughing.  Relief always involves laughing.  Usually the more the better.  Relief is knowing that it's ok that no one outside of your workplace really could understand what "a day in the life" really entails.  Relief is coming home and putting everything aside for a the rest of the evening.  Relief is knowing that we are one year away from the next TAKS test. 

It was a BIG day that was a BIG success.  Hopefully in a few weeks we will see BIG results!  That, too, would bring some BIG relief.

BIG: Tasty Sweets

Many years ago mr. and mrs. mil10, then just newlyweds, were treated to "Family Dinner Night" by mrs. mil10s parents.  Over the years the makeup of the dinner guests may have changed.  On a few rare occasions we had to eat out due to busy schedules.  The menu changes weekly, but always consists of a home cooked meal.  However, one thing remains certain -- the good food. 

Tonight was no exception.  The "one dish dinner" was great, but mr. and mrs. milton were surprised by the two dessert options.  Iced brownies or coconut pie.  Yes, I had some of each!  Mmmm.  Modie said she stayed up past midnight the night before finishing the two treats.  She shouldn't have, but they were too good.

Thanks for your hard work, Modie!  The brownies and pie were a BIG surprise and were a great finish to a good meal and a BIG day!

BIG: Biggest Week of the Year

It feels like this is the BIGgest week of the year.  In Texas we have a little test that students have to take in various subjects at various grade levels.  mr. and mrs. mil10 have worked very hard to make sure that their students will be successful. 

Each school and school district in Texas receives an accountability rating based upon the results of the tests.

As you can imagine that puts quite a bit of pressure on everyone involved. 

It is going to be a BIG week, but it is going to be a good week.  It will be an even better week when it is over!

BIG: Shhh, It's Quiet

Sometimes the best days at the mil10 house are not the busiest.  Sometimes they are the slowest and quietest. 

Sundays are very routine for us.  Pick up breakfast at the local doughnut shop on the way to church.  After church we stop by the best (even if it's not the most authentic) local Mexican food restaurant.  It may be a nap, it may be reading a book, or playing on the computer; we all do our own thing.  Regardless of the activity, it's time to be still and quiet.

There is no doubt that we have a great time when we are going to new places and doing new things.  However, there is something about the stillness and the quietness that does a body good!  That is one reason why Sundays are a BIG thing at the mil10 house.

BIG: Sell It, Show It, Swing It

This morning our neighborhood was conducting a neighborhood garage sale.  It is a great time to get rid of all that stuff that you don't want around the house any more.  However, we didn't participate.  We just walked around looking at several homes and all the stuff they had to sell.  We may be twenty-five cents poorer, but now EK has a BIG green wig!  What a great model he makes!

EK's baseball team had their first game today.  In addition to the excitement of the first game of the season, they also had to contend with BIG wind.  Gusts blew up to 20 miles an hour.  We may not have won, but we do have good sports.  Congrats to EK for hitting a double.  Keep up the BIG hits!

EK mans third base.

Ready to swing.

Standing on second, but ready to run.

Post game huddle.

BIG: Personality

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.  I think that is the case here.  EK decided to wear his two hats Sherlock Holmes style.  What a guy!

BIG: Power Songs

Tomorrow we are having a pep rally for next week's BIG event.  Tonight I thought I would do something a little different. 

Here are some power songs to get you charged, motivated, and ready to do something BIG of your own.

I don't get the X-Men conncection. Oh well.

Are you pumped?

BIG: A Whole Lot of Water and a Little Sign

Earlier this week when we were leaving baseball practice, EK and I found this orange wet floor pyramid in the middle of a parking lot.  It just sat there on the edge of the big pool of water.  As you can tell in the picture, one might not have noticed the standing water and slipped on the concrete.

I don't know if it was intentional or if someone did it for a laugh, but EK and I thought it was funny. 

As you travel through Hometown, watch out for BIG pools of water. Someone might not be so courteous as to leave a wet floor sign!

BIG: Finding BIG At Walt Disney World

When it comes to vacations, there is not doubt that Walt Disney World is a home away from home for the mil10s.  If you are looking for something BIG, you will find it there.

You can shop at BIG Al's in Frontierland, or stop and see a performance by BIG Al at the Country Bear Jamboree.  If you are looking to appease your appetite, you could stop by BIG River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.  If you are looking for more thrilling adventures take a ride on BIG Thunder Mountain Railroad (shown above).

But more than all of that, Walt Disney World is known for its BIG fun.  Below are pictures from 2009 that feature something BIG.

A BIG display: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights includes 5 million lights, 32 miles of extension cables, 66 snow machines, 100 gallons of snow fluid a night, and 43 hidden Mickeys.

EK prepares to open wide to eat the BIG lollipop.

 

Our newest favorite ride - Toy Story Mania!  Look at those BIG toys in the background.

EK is standing amidst a BIG family sculpture made of Legos.

Look how BIG Goofy looks next to us!

BIG: Spell Check Checked Out

Come on Blogger.  Help me out! 

I have never been what I call a confident speller.  When I am writing, for example, if I am unsure about the proper spelling of a word, I will just rephrase the sentence in order to use a word that I am sure I will spell correctly.  I always get a little nervous when I am sitting in a meeting and the presenter asks, "Who would like to take notes for us on the board at the front of the room while we all stare at you?"  I work with educators.  Who wants to be the one that looks like a bad speller?  Then of course when typing I have fallen victim to the correctly spelled word used in the incorrect place more than my fair share.  Late night blogging to meet a midnight deadline doesn't help matters either.  I know, undoubtedly, that I could be a better proofreader, but it seems that it is always most difficult to find errors in one's own work.  After all, I know what I am trying to say.  But when I am typing, the problem should be made better with a spell check button.

Why, oh why can't there be a spell check feature?  During the previous eighteen days of blogging this has been a repeated hassle:  Type in Blogger.  Highlight text.  Copy text.  Paste in Word.  Look for misspelled words.  Change them on Blogger page.  Post blog entry.  It is a BIG bother.  Once I tried typing in Word then pasting the body of text in Blogger, but the formatting was a wreck. 

I may be alone on this issue, but I can say that I would benefit from spell check on Blogger!  It would make blogging so much easier!

BIG: Playoff Spirit

Tonight mrs. mil10's favorite basketball team, the one and only Dallas Mavericks, start their playoff season.  We may not be there in person, but we are there in spirit.  Edie moves between her chair and standing in front of the TV to cheer for the Mavs while holding her green, plastic clapping hands.  In case someone wants to join in or if she tires of the green clapper the spirit drum, the blue and white Mavs logo clapper, and the "thunder sticks" are sitting in arm's reach on the fireplace hearth.

This tiki man sits in our entryway.  He is now wearing his playoff apparel.  I call it playoff apparel, because this afternoon he was still wearing his regular-season apparel.  Don't worry, we don't just dress him for the basketball games.  We are not crazy like that.  During the Christmas season he wears a Santa hat and a scarf.  He likes it!  You dress decorative statues in your home for important events or holidays, right?

Here's to BIG spirit for a (hopefully) long playoff season.  Let's go Mavs!

BIG: Too Good Not to Share

Today we had linner or lupper (that meal too late to call lunch but too early to call dinner or supper) at Cheesecake Factory.  The choices are always overwhelming so I usually stick to the same entree each time.  As good as it is, you can't go to the Cheesecake Factory without ordering dessert. 

Today we had one slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple.  It consists of "creamy cheesecake swirled with caramel, peanut butter, Butterfingers® and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups®."*  Mmmmm!

Since I didn't stop long enough to snap a picture of the delicious dessert, I had to depend on Google for this picture.  I quickly found someone's blog entry that referenced a now defunct quiz on the Cheesecake Factory's website that matched your choice of cheesecake flavor to your personality.  This is what it said about those that liked the Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple:

The incredible mix of qualities that makes you so appreciated is nothing short of miraculous, much like this cheesecake. A lot goes into this flavor, all delicious. This mouth-watering mosaic is comprised of our Original cheesecake swirled with caramel and real chunks of Butterfinger candy bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Just like you it's an awe-inspiring combination of ingredients not soon forgotten.

Ok, it's a little hokey, but I can live with that!
 
This cheesecake is so good and it has such a BIG flavor that it is just too good not to share.  Cheesecake for everyone!

BIG: Roadshow Highlights in Pictures and Words

Would you think that hanging this BIG sign is a one man job?  Apparently it is!  Go Mavs.

Waiting to enter.

Inside.  Ready and waiting.

Two lanyards, one t-shirt, and glow teeth!

Sidewalk Prophets' set included Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." Unexpected, yet enjoyable!

It was hard to photograph the lead singer from Remedy Drive.  The group is made up of four brothers from Nebraska.  David Zach, the lead singer, made it a point to tell us that they are from Nebraska.  They are from Nebraska.  They are from Nebraska.  After hearing it at least three times I am pretty sure that I for sure won't forget that they are from Nebraska.  I should point out the reflector strips on his shirt.  Way cool.  He also did a lot of jumping and flipping over the piano.  Again, way cool.

Stage lighting effects are too hard to photograph.  This was taken when Fee was performing.

A closer view of Fee's front man Steve Fee.  mr. and mrs. mil10 now know that they like Fee music much more than before the concert.  We will need to get more of that.

Francesca Battistelli was next to take the stage.  Since mrs. mil10 was looking forward to hearing her the most, I wasn't surprised that she went home with a "Free to be me" t-shirt.

Two of the members of Family Force 5.  I can't say that I am familiar with their music.  Now I can say that I am, but don't want to be made familiar with it again.  It's ok.  To each their own.  It just wasn't for me.

They were hard to photograph, but if you look closely you can see the Hulk hands that lead singer Solomon Olds (a.k.a. Soul Glow Activator, well that's what Wikipedia says anyway) wore while he sang, dance, jumped, and ran across the stage.  Would coworkers think me strange if I wore a pair of those to work?  I am starting to think I could pull it off!

If I ever get to join a rock band I hope I get to play the tambourine!  It is probably the only instrument they would trust me with.

These guys were really hard to photograph.  At one point in FF5's set these hooded men came out waving white towels.  I am sure it had some true connection to the lyrical content, but I jokingly said they were coming to help clean up all of the blood coming out of my ears.  The music was REALLY loud!  Again, it's ok. To each their own. It just wasn't for me.

EK liked it though.  He was fist pumpin'.

David Crowder*Band!

We don't have to know why the gnome was here!  It just was.

Now playing a green mini keyboard thing under the glow of stage lighting.

I noticed this drum set earlier in the night and wondered why it was sitting up so high.  Would a drummer climb so high to play?  Now I see it playing by itself!  Then we find out that it is Steve-3PO!

One of the many times during the evening that the entire audience was singing along.

MercyMe's Bart Millard.  Let's get things going with a little Beatles' music. 

Notice the nice silhouette against the electronic display. Cool huh. During the song "Move" the generous Mr. Lovewell himself came onstage to dance carrying his heart-shaped balloon and wearing his bowler hat.  Apparently I enjoyed to too much to stop and take a picture.  Here is a picture of the upcoming cd cover so you can get the idea.

Modie really liked the "dressed up" look that the MercyMe guys carried off.  I couldn't help but think how hot they must be in those suits!

Confetti!  EK tried to collect as many pieces as he could.

"You Reign"

The evening ended in a familiar way.  The audience was asked to sing and we did.  There is nothing like the voices of several thousand people joining together to sing praises to the Lord!

Thanks for the great night, Rock and Worship Roadshow.  See you in 2011!