Hope...The Butterfly Circus

So last night marked the beginning of our mid-winter break from school. My family came home, all feeling a little under the weather. KJ has been sick and was home two days, and Aspen needed to skip basketball practice last night because of feeling icky. Nate and I are exhausted and were looking forward to a little dinner, a movie with the kids, and just plain relaxing.

After heading out to pick up some take out, we headed home to pick a Netflix movie, since it seems that all of our video stores around us are closing!!

The movie Nate had in mind wasn't available on Netflix or Zune, so we tried finding another movie that everyone could watch. Even though our family loves a good 'ol Disney flick, having a teenager and a tween has taken us to a new level of entertainment...needless to say we all have our favorite genre so it takes forever to find something we all want to watch. All this to say, we started some B movie that looked like it might be a sports glory flick, which we all like. About 20 minutes into it, we turned it off due to VERY cheesy acting, attempts at inappropriate fillers of sexual nature, and a plot that was lost after the title...Definitely not "Blind Side"!

We attempted one more time to find somthing that we all could watch before Mom fell asleep! We decided on a comedy with Adam Sandler in it...should have known better, I know! One minute into it, even my teenager knew that I would start sighing heavily, as she glanced over and gave me her dubious grin...we gave it a little while longer and after WAY inappropriate content and the plain simple fact that we were losing brain cells, we turned it off and all said good night to each other!

Needless to say, I was really disappointed with the fact that although there are many well made, wholesome, heartwarming movies these days, there are just as many or more ridiculous movies! You all know what I'm talking about. Why would I or anyone want to sit and view something that makes me feel embarassed, uncomfortable, and just plain dumb. I was reminded of the Sunday School song, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see...for the Lord up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see"....the things I take in through my senses truly affect my heart and conscience.

Waking this morning to the alarming scent of wonderful, hot coffee, (Nate rocks) I sat down to check my Facebook and also one of my favorite bloggers, Doni Brinkman. She had the greatest post that renewed my 'hope' in filmakers that strive to create character building movies with meaning. I just had to share, too. Find a minute today...actually about 20, to sit and be inspired! I totally was! After viewing "The Butterfly Circus", watch the 'behind the scenes, too...I just totally loved it! Yahoo for 'The Doorpost Film Project'! This is a winner!

Click to Watch "The Butterfly Circus

Directed by: Joshua Weigel

Plot Summary: “At the height of the Great Depression, the showman of a renowned circus leads his troupe through the devastated American landscape, lifting the spirits of audiences along the way. During their travels they discover a man without limbs at a carnival sideshow, but after an intriguing encounter with the showman he becomes driven to hope against everything he has ever believed. Starring Eduardo Verástegui (Bella), Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, Fantastic Four) and featuring the debut performance of Nick Vujicic.” - http://www.thedougjonesexperience.com/butterfly.htm

Rockin' and Rollin' Her Heavy Metal!

Tell us how you really feel! ;) I agree, that your sophmore year is not the most favorable time to get full braces, but time does fly...kids don't usually get that, so I'm sure there are lots of Emerald City Peanut Passion smoothies in Aspen's future to make the time go by faster! ;)

Yes, Aspen's teeth look very straight already...her treatment is for her 65% overbite and it will widen certain areas that will align her bottom teeth, as well as prevent jaw issues later in life... She is NOT happy about her new accessories, but I have encouraged her to em"BRACE" the experience and before you know it, she will be all done!

Guilt Trick

Our family is hooked on the series "Lost" as of about 3 weeks ago. Nate and I rented the first 4 episodes of the first season because there was absolutely NO good movies rent! Anyway, we have been renting "Lost" every weekend and we all camp out in the fam room together for these 'edge of the couch' adventures. The kids love the mystery as much as we do!

Well, last night KJ blurts out, "Hey, he is giving him a guilt trick!" while watching some part of the beginning of season 2...Charlie was giving Hugo a guilt trip about the peanut butter.

We all laughed and corrected KJ, who by nature argued that it was not guilt trip, but guilt trick.

So this morning the following conversation occured between KJ and I:

Mom: "KJ, please feed the kitties...it's snowing outside and they're hungry."

KJ: "I already fed the dogs."

Mom: "No you didn't, I fed them."

KJ (giggle) "Oops, Oh...well, I always have to feed the cats."

Mom: "Please feed the cats, and I will feed you chocolate chip pancakes!" (KJ's fave)

KJ: "Oh, okay...Mom, you shouldn't give me a guilt triP!" (emphasis on the word trip since his vocab lesson last night)

Mom: Hey, you got it right!

KJ: "It SHOULD be guilt TRICK, since you trick me into doing something you want!"

Cute boy...he so takes after his mommy!

Hmmm...

They say when you scrapbook, you should start at the here and now...I think the same thing goes for blogging! Pretty insightful anyway...so this year started off great, but we are already 1/4 into 2009! It's already been an eventful year. Nate took a trip to San Francisco, finished coaching KJ's bball team, and is starting the off season coaching for Liberty varsity bball. Aspen finished up her first year playing varsity basketball and made the Liberty golf team! KJ is playing the sax, finished up his basketball season, is starting rehearsals for Annie where he was cast as Drake the butler, and he is in the middle of the soccer season. I finished up helping coach the 7th and 8th grade girls bball team, severely sprained my left ankle in my indoor soccer game, started coaching gymnastics, and joined a women's basketball team. I started physical therapy today and I hope that my ankle will continue to heal quickly so I can get back to playing!
That's all I'll say right now since American Idol is on...

Ahhh...Vacation

The Winegar Fam!
Al and Wendy in front of his job site at The Landing

Nate and I...I'm kinda camera happy right now and so snapping pics any and everywhere.

We have had such a great winter break! It got started early with 3 snow days prior to our actual break! The kids have had a great time and I am absolutely relaxed and rested...the snow days we've had this year were so fun, peaceful, and beautiful.

Aspen is getting out each day for basketball practice. We were bummed when the tournament that was scheduled this week was cancelled...they cancelled it too early in my opinion...the weather is fine now and we could have watched some really good bball. She is playing in a scrimmage tomorrow, so we are looking forward to that!

I feel like a very bad mom, as I have let my little video maniac, KJ have way too much screen time. He has taken a few breaks to shower, eat, and of course he had fun playing in the snow! He has gotten some exercise doing Wii!! He is so fun these days and has lots of reasons why it's okay to just veg in front of the tv! I guess I've spent just as much time in front of my laptop...I am way too addicted to facebook! It's been so fun to connect with friends from yesteryear and I love seeing what people are doing each day! People probably don't care what I'm doing each day, but I tell them anyway! :)

Nate and I went on a date last night and had a great time! We saw "Marley and Me". Golly Molly, I cried so much and I couldn't wait to get home and hug my dogs! Nate even loved it, too...He anticipated a stupid, poorly made, regergitated animal story, but he was quite pleasantly surprised and I'm pretty sure he shed a few tears...I was balling my head off and I sure wasn't the only one...there was some serious sobbing, too! We had a very nice time with our friends, Al and Wendy. After the movie, Al took us into a salon under construction that he is doing the cabinets in. Our area has a new shopping town center and the salon is a new spa that will be opening this week. Al is a talented and detailed worker and it was neat to see his work.

It's very fun to be able to go out spontaneously. Aspen, her friend Corinna, and KJ were home playing with Rock Band! We are really enjoying our new family gift from Grampa and Grama Winegar! :) We had a great Christmas celebration on Saturday with the Winegar side. Dad, Patti, and his brothers and sister, cousins, and spouses all got together here at our house for a fun time.



Today was a bit sad, as taking down Christmas is always a bummer...we are housing our annual New Year's Eve party and so it was important to pack it all up, clean, and get ready for our house to be turned into a big parking lot! Our theme this year is "Tailgate Party"...everyone is wearing their favorite sports team attire, and our friends Steve and Laverne will fashion up an incredible set for pics and ambiance! I definitely will post pics after, after!

Church was amazing yesterday. Our message was all about being a "Supporting Role". I truly want to make every effort to grow in my relationship with Christ by helping someone else see and meet Christ! You can't have Best Actors and Actresses without the Best Supporting Actors...anyway, some good stuff.

As a family, we are trying to read a Proverb a day...good grief, we are already slacking, but we will pick it up where we can by reading the chapter that corresponds with the date, as there are 31 chapters in Proverbs...one a day!

Snow Day Fun!

Cinnamon tolerating frivolous holiday accessories..

Beckham in the Christmas spirit!

Winegar kids, too poe foe some real sleds! Creative geniuses to make the best of it...they didn't work, but worth the effort!

Aspen and KJ enjoyed going out and building, not a snowman, (they are over that) but a snow fort. The snow was more like ice, so it is a work in progress and needs some powder snow. They went out and tried to sled using a garbage can lid and a lid to one of our Christmas storage bins. Needless to say, neither worked very well on our big hill in the neighborhood. Guess we'll have to see if we can purchase some sleds on sale for the next time we have a snow week!

Church was cancelled this morning, so you know that it is bad out there. We were worried that we would lose our power, but we didn't! Yahoo! After some snow fun, we watched the Seahawks game. Today was Mike Holmgren's last game of his career. Seahawks won!

Our day has been pretty low key. It was filled with snow, naps, football, pizza, home movies, facebook, and blogging. I'm also reading the third book in the Twilight series, but I keep falling asleep everytime I start to read...not because it's boring, but because I'm so warm, cozy, and comfortable, I just can't help but doze off!

My favorite part of the day was watching some home video of the kids when they were tiny kiddos! What great times and memories!

Tonight I need to wrap more Christmas presents! Yay for Christmas!

December Freeze

Aspen just before MORP-Backwards PROM-She went with a big group of friends!!

Our handsome little guy!

Our varsity freshman pulling up for a shot!

gina and gini-sister's weekend! We had a BLAST shopping together

Wow...it's been too long since I've posted and hmmm...not sure why. I've been keeping up with facebook in my spare time, and have thought many times I should go to my little blog world...In a nutshell here are some highlights of October, November, and December!

*NUTSHELL*Love teaching middle school, great staff at work-making great friends, Aspen played JV volleyball and was called up to play on varsity a few times, Aspen made varsity basketball, KJ played the clarinet for a couple months and now he's taken up the bari sax, KJ ran cross country, KJ hurt his knee, KJ's ACL was just bruised, phew, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, Nate is working and coaching, KJ is playing basketball, I'm assist coaching for 7/8th grade girls basketball at Maywood,Aspen's team is 2-0-League, Aspen went to homecoming and MORP, finished fall indoor season last place :( my mom started chemo, my sister came to visit for her birthday weekend, we got a week of snow, winter break started early:) our rec room flooded from a bursting cuplink above the garage, Christmas is coming and it's Happy Birthday, Jesus!