Week Rundown! (12/05/10 - 12/11/10)

Sunday:

My van route was very low today, and I'm gonna blame it on the cold weather!

Lunch was steak and noodle salad. And we visited with our friends Doug and Mary. Choir practice was intense, we were gearing up for next week's Christmas Cantata!


Monday:

It was cold when we got up and out! We had to scrape the frost off of the vehicles, but both kids were disappointed that there was no snow. They have it in their minds that if it's this cold outside, there ought to be snow. You know what? I agree! Otherwise, the cold just ain't worth it! lol!

Abigail picked Mysia up from school and took her to "Granny's house". I came directly home from work and started supper. Lydia and Malachi came home shortly afterwards. Malachi got his shower before supper, and played. After supper, MeeMaw and Moses stopped by for a few. When they left, I headed out as well for quartet practice. Mysia was dropped off by my parents a few minutes after that. She'd had her bath and homework completed at Granny's.


Tuesday:

Today was a bit odd. Mysia got out of school early, which threw our schedule off a bit... especially for Lydia! She had also had a meeting with her school honors society. Lydia had biolife that evening, and after working on homework with Mysia, we watched the Christmas cartoons on tv before bed.


Wednesday:

We rushed home, ate supper, and then headed off to church. It was pretty busy helping with the children's services... we ran over some of the Christmas songs that they are helping perform for Sunday's Christmas Cantata. It threw off the class schedule a bit, but all ended well!


Thursday:

A busy day for all of us, but not out of the ordinary. Lydia had BioLife, and the kids and I watched a Christmas movie! Lydia was happy that she didn't have much homework, but I actually had several projects to work on! So she waited up for me!


Friday:

After work, it was rushing around for me! I had quickly rush off to choir practice! Lydia stayed home with the kids as I was gone for several hours singing with the choir!

Saturday:

Today was a bit lazy, but busy. We slept in a bit, and the kids watched cartoons. We ate a late breakfast and then headed out the door. We picked up Abigail and headed downtown for the Christmas Parade!!!

We parked a ways off, due to there being limited parking, and walked in the cold to the same spot we had last year. We set up the folding chairs, put a blanket on the kids, and watched the parade. M&M did not get up at all during the parade. They stayed nice and warm while we fetched the candy for them! Ahhh, the responsibility of a parent! lol!

After the parade, we headed to Christian Publisher's Outlet (bookstore) to pick up the free gifts the kids had vouchers for. Then off to get a new fish-tank before dropping Abigail back off at her house. Our fish tank needed replaced, the glass was stained and it looked bad. Although I didn't want to really buy a new big one, Lydia had a discount. Now, our fish are happy, and we can actually see them.

We spent the evening at home and watched more Christmas movies, including the "Nativity Story". Mysia watched intensely, and had questions during the film. Malachi watched, but was distracted from time to time with toys. After putting them to bed, I worked on several projects and Lydia did some studying. "It's A Wonderful Life" came on tv, and we watched it as well before going to bed!


~Matt

Friday Fun: O Holy Night (12/10/10)

Want to hear a touching song? Here's O HOLY NIGHT!

15 days until Christmas! So, to bring in the cheer and have some fun.... here it is again... the version that will definitely make you cry, and you'll never be able to forget this version for the rest of your life ! !

I post this every year since I first made this song digital from a cassette back in 2003! Now for the story:


Steve Mauldin is known for orchestrating the music for Gold City's "Midnight Cry", and countless other songs for popular artists in both Southern Gospel and Country. In 1990 he was in the producing a Christmas album for a church in Nashville. He was challenged to sing the song, and decided to "demonstrate everything he had ever heard bad singers do in his career". He put it on cassette and does not know how it got out or anything.

I had gotten this song from my youth pastor on a cassette. He wanted to put this file on cd, and asked me to convert it. He told me that this song has been passed along from Baptist pastor to pastor in the Heartland Baptist Bible College circuit. The plan was to give it to our pastor as a prank, saying this is a professional from Tennessee (that's where our pastor was born and raised). I even went so far as coming up with artwork for the cd and case (I'm a graphic designer).

So I put it on using Adobe Audition, and cleaned it up a bit (the quality wasn't the best). I emailed it everywhere and even posted it online several times on several websites, one being The Singing News Forums. It was too good not to pass along! If you compare the file to any of the other ones found on the internet, you see that this matches up perfectly!

Anyway, this thing has gone viral and shared so much online it's unbelievable! Oh... because of all the popularity, Steve admitted to being the singer and even did a youtube version to prove it!

Enjoy!!!!


~Matt

Hooray! The Original Cashew Chicken!!! (Tuesday, 12/07/10)

I'm so happy!

Many of my friends and family know how much I love eating cashew chicken. In fact, most like it just as much! The dish is often a topic of conversation, and many will argue about the best place that serves it in town.

And why not..? Cashew chicken was invented here in Springfield. There are so many restaurants that sell it locally too. I was honestly surprised, yet pleased, to find that you can buy the sauce in powder form at the local grocery stores!

Well, if you haven't heard the news... the family of the David Leong, who invented the dish, has now opened up a restaurant in town after it's been 13-years since the old one closed! HOORAY! Talk about some big news! It looks like I'll have to take Lydia out on a date night here soon.... ;)

BTW, their grand opening was yesterday and you can follow them on facebook!


~Matt

Week Rundown! (11/28/10 - 12/04/10)

Sunday:

Today was a little busy. There was men's prayer breakfast at church before vans. Then morning services! During the evening services, we heard from Russian missionary, Vladimri Lukyanov.  


Monday:

Mysia was picked up by Abigail and I met them at home when I got off work. Lydia picked up Malachi. While making supper, pork chops & rice, I got Malachi his shower. By doing so, it made the evening easier!

I then went off to quartet practice while Lydia got Mysia her shower, and then let the kids play for a bit before sending them to bed. Lydia then worked on homework.


Tuesday:

After getting home and eating, I got the kids their showers while Lydia headed out for BioLife. I then let the the kids watch the Christmas specials that were on tv. We watched the Grinch and then the holiday version of Shrek. I enjoyed the Grinch like always, but wasn't to thrilled over the Shrek cartoon... to me, it just doesn't fit.

Mysia and I worked on her homework. She's doing pretty good! I then got the kids to bed and worked on a few things. Lydia came home and worked on some homework before we went to bed.


Wednesday:

Mysia was picked up from school by Abigail and went home with her. Lydia picked up Malachi after work, and I met them at home. We ate real quick and headed off to church. It was 'fun night' for the children's services. So we had a lesson, played board games, and enjoyed snacks. We also worked with the children on their Christmas song for the program coming up in a few weeks!


Thursday:

This evening was supposed to be a little more relaxed... but I stayed busy. Lydia had an appointment with BioLife, so after she left I got the kids their showers. Mysia accidentally tore the toilet paper holder off the wall (it had been loose anyways). I then helped her with her homework. Malachi tried to help as well...

After putting them to bed, I got some things done around the house and Lydia worked on homework after arriving back home.


Friday:

My parents picked up the kids from daycare and school. They took them to Silver Dollar City. That gave Lydia and I the evening off to go to her work's Christmas party!

Her work rented out the Pythian Castle, a place I've been wanting to visit for years! It was decorated, and Christmas music played while we sat waiting for other to show up since we had arrived early. Lydia introduced me several of her coworkers, and we set with a few that were in charge of the who event!

We had a good meal, and were entertained by two characters... Old Saint Nicolas and Santa Clause! They were hired to sing and interact with the crowd. They were funny, and definitely not a perfect act, which actually added to the humor of it all. Each of the different stores did little acts to songs in competition. Lydia took part in her act, and it was quite comical!

After the party, we headed over to my folks' house. It was late, and Mysia fell asleep on the couch. We visited anyway. BJ, Ana, and Elijah were there, so the boys played while we talked. Like usual, technology (and in particular, cell phones) was the main topic. We didn't leave for home until after 12:30!


Saturday:

My body wanted to sleep in, but there was just too much to do! So we got up around 8:30. We got breakfast in the oven (Cinnamon rolls) and turned on the tv for cartoons. Lydia immediately started into her homework, and I pulled out the outdoor Christmas lights. As I figured, all four big strands of lights that I put on the house had sections that were out. I spent a couple hours going through and getting them working again! I wasn't to keen on spending money again on buying more lights.

The kids got dressed and came outside to play while I put up the lights. I was hoping for some warmer weather like they predicted, but I guess I was two early. It was overcast and windy! I didn't have too much problems until I came to the last set... Mysia ran over the strand with her little scooter, which meant that I had to replace at least ten bulbs throughout!

I finished in time to pack up the kids and head downtown for the event "Candyland at the Footbridge" (the longest footbridge in the nation)! They had candy, donuts, and gifts for the kids. They had to stand in line for an hour in the bitter wind to see Santa, get a hat or gloves, a ticket for a nice toy of their choice, and a book. I wasn't too happy with the waiting in line in the cold, but it was memorable!

Back at home, the kids took naps, and we worked on getting the house cleaned up. After a week of neglect on the most part, it needed it! I also ran to the store to grab a few things needed for the evening. Around 5ish, leaving the kids with a babysitter for several hours, we headed to our Sunday School Christmas Party! There were around 12 couples that showed up. We ate, snacked, visited, played games, and even did a gift exchange! Needless to say, we had a blast! What a way to end the week!

~Matt

Mysia: An Update (Thursday, 12/02/10)

Well, it's a time to do a quick update on Mysia.

She's growing up so fast... In fact, it's hard to believe that she'll be 6 next month! Yikes! I actually gave Lydia a shock the other day when I told her of a thought that struck my mind. In ten years, Mysia will be old enough to get her drivers permit!!!! Lydia didn't care for that idea at all.... ;)

Mysia has been doing good in school. She likes it a lot, and always has something to share in the evening about what happened during the day. They keep her active, and she misses taking that 'afternoon nap'. She will often nap when arriving home after school.

She has new friends at school as well. There is one she keeps talking about, that is her dearest friend. She says that they do things together and like the same stuff. When Mysia would describe her, it was like she was describing herself. Well, one morning when I was dropping Mysia off, she got out and squealed her friend's name. There was this other little girl who was getting out of the vehicle in front of us, almost another Mysia! If Mysia had a sister, this girl would be her! Same hair style and color, same height... It was weird!

Mysia's homework has been interesting. She's learning how to read, and recognize words. She can count to a hundred and write down the numbers. She's very good at it for a kindergartner, but sometimes gets frustrated if she doesn't get it right. She's a funny little girl at times though... she is very creative when it comes to the drawing and coloring. She even likes dotting her 'i' with a heart when writing her name.

On Mondays, she gets to bring something into school for "Show & Tell". It's always interesting to see what she thinks about to bring, and she's not too happy when we forget to remind her. When that happens, she'll tell us that evening in a serious voice that she was 'supposed' to bring something, and we forgot to remind her.

~Matt