Ashton and Cade in C-Town

Can you tell there were 2 excited kids in Conway last night? ( and their parents, too!) It was so awesome to catch up with our favorite newlyweds. Thanks A and C for a great evening!

We, as a family, are so very blessed to have such well-rounded, grounded, mature, loving, Christian role models in our kids' lives. God has really placed Gray and Jack in some good hands. Ashton, Rose, Moriah, and Ashley - you girls are THE best, and some day when you all have kids of your own, you will understand just how important it is to know that your children are being taken care of.

This week has some big surprises in store, so stay tuned. Pete will be in Chicago Wednesday and Thursday.

Proud of Team USA...D

Jealous of Pete

So, while Pete is away on the west coast, enjoying 83 degree San Diego weather (business, not pleasure), the three of us are holding down the fort, enjoying the Olympics. Jack and Gray have created the Bob Costas sports desk in our living room next to the TV. Jack is the reporter and Gracie holds the video camera and yells cut! live in 5-4-3-2-1, and so on. They go to commercial when NBC does. It is pretty funny. We like to think we are becoming experts on all things figure skating, and Gracie has decided that her favorite winter O sport is the moguls. I love that they love it as much as I do....Gracie says I am addicted, and I can barely make it through the National Anthem at medals ceremony without tearing up. (thanks Mom). Can't wait to see Shaun White on the half-pipe.

We reached 51 degrees here today...D

Happy Valentine's Day to All!

Some how this picture made it to the top of this post! Rose and Jonathan stopped by on their way to the movies to surprise Gracie and watch her race. We have the most awesome caregivers in our lives!

We greet you today with Valentine wishes from our snowman, Paulie!

And...our lovely backyard, aka The Pit of Mud. Cure for cabin fever, however.

On to the state swim meet. Gracie, with her fake smile that says "Mom, leave me alone, I am focusing. "

Gray and her girl, McKenzie (Mack) after warmups. Notice Jack in the upper corner with his Capri Sun. His warmup was pretty intense and he needed refreshment.

Gray, Mack and Hannah, Swim BFFs.

Three of the four - where is Kelly? Emma, in the orange cap, was our butterfly, Gray was breast, Meredith, in the black cap, was our backstroke, Kelly is free.

Let's go find Kelly.

Next race is ours. Gracie is standing in the orange cap, next to the official with the blue clipboard.

The start of the 12 under girls 200 yard medley relay. Meredith, black cap, is in the water - first leg is backstroke, they start off the wall. Gracie is the second leg, on deck.

Little Gray, making sure her googles are on tight. Check out the height difference on some of the girls in the other lanes.

On the block, waiting for Meredith.

None of our action shots of her actual swim turned out good, but here she is exiting the pool after she finished her leg. She looked smooth and strong! They did not place, but they all swam a great race! Proud of you, GrayGray!

And here was a happy surprise! Pete and I watched the movie "Julie and Julia" the other night, so he got me "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" for VD. It looks a little intimidating, but we will have fun trying! Pete got "Braveheart" on DVD (finally), and a bottle of Maker's Mark. Gracie got a sweatshirt from Abercrombie. And Jack got Mr. Squiggles, a zhu zhu pet. And no, I did not buy it from eBay for $50.00. They are back in stock in retail stores for under $15.00. Great torture for Daisy...

Have a great day, everyone, and shower your sweeties with hugs and kisses EVERY day...D

Snow is Melting...

Our snow is melting, we got 2 days of school in this week, no school on Monday for President's Day, no WORK on Monday for President's Day (a new addition to the Acxiom calendar), Jack's Valentine party today was a great success, leftover treat bags went in the neighbors' mailboxes, looking foward to watching the Olympic opening tonight, Pete is heading to Kroger to get the ingredients to make Julia Child's mushroom soup from my new cookbook (my Valentine present from Pete), successfully purchased 4 tickets to "Shrek the Musical" on July 23 in Chicago (Jack's birthday present - anyone want to meet us there for the weekend?), Gracie is currently continuing her short-track 4 wheeler extravaganza in our backyard, she swims her relay event tomorrow evening (will post pics tomorrow), special thanks to both sets of Gparents for the sweet Valentine treats!!!!

D

Redneck Sled...as promised

Half of a Rubbermaid Christmas wreath container comes in handy!

No school again tomorrow...D

Weather Station White

Still snowing, we might get up to 8 inches today.

UCA, Valentine Box, and the Road to Little Rock

A BIG thanks to the wonderful Rose for taking these two hooligans to the UCA basketball game Saturday afternoon!

This weekend's project was the kindergarten Valentine box, which became a Karl family affair. Shoebox by Rose, vision by Jack, supplies by Denise, execution by Jack, Gracie and Denise. I think the Shrek-themed box turned out awesome!

Jack drew the characters - here we have Donkey, Shrek, the king and queen, and Fairy Godmother.

And here we have another shot of Fairy Godmother, the carriage, Fiona, and Puss in Boots (my favorite).

And Gracie was the creator of Gingy hanging over the Far Far Away (Hollywood) sign. A little over-the-top for a Valentine box? That's how we roll!

The road to LR begins tomorrow - two hour practices on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and a 6:00 am practice on Wednesday morning. This week will probably fly by!

Thanks for checking in on us - love to you all!

D

State Team Short Course 2010

She did it again! Gracie 'the fish' Karl made the short course state team with her medley relay team. She will be swimming the breast stroke leg of the relay! Hooray for Gracie! Meet is next weekend in Little Rock!

Strike up the band!

So, "choose your band instrument day for 6th grade" has come and gone. And the winning choice was...

CLARINET

Starts in the fall...D

100 DAY!

So yes, the stomach bug bit our family last week. Jack only got 1 day of school in last week, and I finally saw the light of day yesterday morning from being sick since Thursday night. I was able to rally 'cuz we had a project to do! Luckily, I had already bought our supplies for the 100th day of kindergarten Tshirt, so all we had to do was execute our plan. Jack and I painted a very hungry catepillar with 100 body segments - pretty cute, I think.

And I missed all of the fun in the snow. Talk about rednecks...we do not own a sled, saucer, toboggan, anything. Here was the report I received: we had an empty plastic wreath container, one of those Rubbermaid ones that opens up like a clam shell. The kids opened it up, Gracie sat in one circle, Jack sat in the other circle, and Pete tied a rope to the front and pulled them down the street with his four wheeler. And I was so sick, NONE of this was captured on film.

Take your vitamin C...D