My Baby Brother...

Isn't he a cutie! Zach and his twin sister Katie will be turning 21 in just over a month. I can't believe it!!

Zach is in his 3rd year at the University of Central Oklahoma studying Criminal Justice. As long as I can remember Zach has wanted to be a cop and it looks like he is well on his way. Cara is his beautiful girlfriend who was runner up in the Miss UCO pageant last year.

He is working for a security company and as a part time bank teller at Citizens Bank in Edmond.



Katie has returned to the University of Oklahoma this spring and is in her second year there. Last I heard she was studying sociology but for those of you who know Kate she could have changed by now. She is playing in a band with some friends. Gotta catch up with her but she is hard to catch up with!!


So there is the update for all of you who keep asking me how they are. I think they are good!!

The Shining!!

The Shining SUN that is!

What a gorgeous day today!!! Thank you Lord!!

After a week of gray skies and rain (my yard is thankful) today was just perfect.

Paige didn't go to school today due to an earache and after I taught my class we met Mindy and the Schoeb kids for lunch and then a fun play time at Imagination Station in Brighton. I just couldn't let an earache keep us from the beautiful day.

Life just doesn't get any better because then...about 4:00 a really cool thunderstorm (almost like an Oklahoma one!) came through. It was awesome!!

It might be spring if...

Back in my neck of the woods we would say, "you might be a REDNECK if...," but I prefer my own version.

Spending spring in Michigan the last three years I have learned some things that I think might benefit others...

It might be spring in Michigan if...

...you can let your cold-blooded animals outside for the first time in 7 months!!
...your cold-blooded animals enjoy eating the dandelions in your yard.










...you begin seeing birds make nests in the birdhouse your son made over the winter




















...the two favorite men in your life enjoy time together

















...your flowers aren't frozen solid in a late April snowstorm















...the hammock is back out

A HAM (I mean STAR!) is Born!!

One of my favorite memories as a child is when I was about 9 and was in our church's Easter Musical. One night on the way home from practice my mom and I were recapping our shining moments in the musical. She was giving me last minute stage direction and I remember saying to her, "Thanks mom, but I am just going to stay close to Jesus because everyone is watching him!" Although there is probably a deep theological message there, I think back on what a ham I was at 9 (and 34 really!)

Last night, these thoughts came back in my mind as Paige participated in her school's Spring Concert.

In the finale the entire school sang "We Are the People". It was a magical moment as the kids surrounded the auditorium to sing their song. But of course the only one I was interested in was Paige. I found her class and a very eager 7 year old attempting to get the attention of the rest of the audience.

One of the teachers kept moving her back a little but that little head kept coming around her classmates trying to steal the spotlight.

Click play to see what I mean. Notice the little head poking through at the end.

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Kurtis participates during the audience participation part.

Animal Farm

Everyone knows my kids love animals. Anytime we go to PetSmart just to buy crickets for one of our reptiles we end up in the store for an hour petting all the dogs we see. But only animals in aquariums are allowed in the Minney household and that is why we volunteer weekly at the Livingston County Humane Society.

Each of the kids have a cat that they play with everyweek. We go every Tuesday and play with the cats and perform other duties that may be needed that day like folding laundry, cleaning cages, etc.
Grant's buddy is Bugaboo. Bugaboo is a black long-haired cat with a great personality. He has been at the shelter almost two years and we are hoping he will find a good home soon.

Abi has a pal named Neo. Neo is a short haired cat who has been at the shelter several months. Neo is still a young cat and is very playful. Of course, Abi really loves the dogs and right now a St. Bernard named Sasha has her heart. Maybe Mom's too! Sasha is a sweet heart and there is no doubt if we lived on lots of land Sasha would come home with the Minneys!!

Paige will be back volunteering as soon as school is out but she is no stranger to animals!! Last week we attended a sheep shearing demonstration at Maybury Farm in Northville, MI. She went right to the horses!! Paige also made friends with this little goat. (It is right in front of her hand.)

You just never know what kind of a furry (or scaly) friend my kids will make next!

Oops, I did it again!

Remember the post from a couple of days ago about kite flying? Well, it was on that kite flying adventure that Abi hurt her ankle. We gave it a couple of days and then went to urgent care on Tuesday to have things checked out since her foot was swollen significantly. They x-rayed it and said it was severely sprained. Two days later, we followed up with our PCP to learn that since it was an injury to the same foot that was broken back in November (yes, seriously, just 5 months ago) we should follow up with a specialist which we did this morning. So, now we are wearing a cast for 4 weeks to heal injured growth plates once again.

So, here is Ab sporting her all too familiar footwear!!!

Let's go fly a kite...

Don't you love that song from Mary Poppins? Abi said she thought of that song while we were flying kites yesterday after an Easter egg hunt and lunch. It was very windy (the wind was sweepin down the plain in Michigan yesterday too, Okies!) and we had a great time. Paige would like to share her kite flying strategy with you...

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The new addition to our family!

It should come as no surprise to those who know us well, that I am talking about an animal. Our collection has grown thanks to Easter money provided by Nana.

Please welcome Wave to the Minney family. Wave is an African Giant Millipede.

HE is Risen Indeed!

What a great Easter! After a great worship service at church we spent a great Easter with friends. The kids had an Easter egg hunt and flew kites. It just doesn't get any better. Not to mention I had TOO much to eat thanks to the professional chef friend that prepared some of the meal.


The night before, "Easter Eve" we enjoyed dying eggs and making Resurrection Cookies.

Four-eyed Girl

Paige screamed her head off today as we got the call that her glasses were ready. She was so excited. The best part though was that God answered the simple prayer of a 7-year old.

We chatted as usual when I picked her up from school today. I got the daily run down as to who went to the principal's office and she asked me if I had heard from the eye glasses place about whether or not her glasses were ready. She was disappointed when I told her they hadn't called as of 10:00 a.m. when I had left the house that morning. She said, "Well, I prayed that I would get my glasses today. So I hope I do."

When we pulled into the driveway, Paige promptly opened her door, got out of the car, ran into the house and pushed the "play" button the answering machine. The only message was from the eye glass store saying her glasses were ready.

It made me thankful that Paige is learning that God does answer prayers. Even simple ones like this.

Ribbit!! Ribbit!!!

I will never look at my daughter's pet frog "Flippy" the same way. Nope, not after today.

For it was today that I went to a friends house to dissect a one-time sweet innocent frog. The frog probably had a family. Wife, kids, a mortgage. And today...we sliced it open.

Not only did we slice it. We pulled its vital organs from the body that it once used to hop and play among friends. Things like, "My heart is bigger than your's" and "Oops! I dropped my liver on the floor!." Were actually spoken. My favorite was, "Look! Mine has parts of a praying mantis in its stomach!" Well, actually maybe my favorite was, "Don't slice the place where it goes poop!"

Anyway, I don't think I will be eating frog legs soon. Not that I would anyway. Although I heard they taste just like chicken. Maybe a chicken will be next on the list....

New at this BLOG thing.

Ok, I really didn't intend for my picture to be so honkin big down there but I am still learning how to do this. I think I am going to have to take remedial blogging lessons somewhere.

This pic is of the kiddos at Paige's school program on Friday. She recited a book entitled "Scary Spiders" and was about her Nana being frightened of spiders!! It was very cute and she is still loving school and has actually completed her first full week!!!

The major question we are being asked right now is "Does Kurtis still have a job?" Yes. He does for now. Rumor has it that more jobs will be cut in the next 6 weeks. But for now we are safe. Thanks for your prayers!