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Busy days, lots of planning, and loads of mixed emotions. It all makes for interesting days in our household. I'm still trying to figure out how one can look forward to an event with so much excitement, wonder, love, and at the same time, so much sadness. Last week began the time of "the lasts."

Even as I write this, I'm living the last day that we'll all be together...together and alone. It's just us...we've been 10 for so long, and pretty soon, "they" will be 9 and "we" will be two, and yet one. These days are precious, difficult, and yes, I do admit, often teary. I am so blessed to be surrounded by a loving family, and beyond that, a loving church family. I found myself suddenly overcome by sobs this last Sunday, and before I knew it, I was surrounded and embraced by four amazing, wonderful and close friends...sisters, and yet the best of friends.

A time for lasts...that will lead to so many firsts. I stand in the doorway of a room with a new view, and while I am sad to leave so many wonders behind, I'm also ecstatic to be the one who gets to stand beside my best friend and live this great adventure with him.

But until that day, we keep busy with many different events, and this post features a surprise birthday party for an amazing friend, and then a talent show at church.

Cruisin' down the interstate.

How sneaky of them!! Who could they be trying to scare?

Why Grace, of course!!! Happy Birthday, m'dear!

When one eats at the Bandy household, one will never lack for food!

My wonderful father showing off his plate.

Mmmmmm...I love fresh flowers.

The birthday girl, a true servant, helpingthe little people get food for .

My plate!

A Bandy-McDonald tradition....LOVE Y'ALL!

Dad playing with the kiddos.

17 candles for somebody special!

Two different cakes and homemade ice cream! Life doesn't get much better!

Moving along to the Arts Alive! show...
Here we have Josiah singing...a song. Can't quite remember the name...something about a star, but it was lovely!

Little Miss Evans reciting a poem.

The Sanford girls in a play the centered around the importance of guarding your heart.

Peter played the dashing Prince Charming.

"And they lived happily ever after!"

Hurrah! Wonderful job!

"Blessed Be Your Name" in sign language.

Marie Michelle singing in Italian. Not sure what the name of her song was, either, but it was amazing!
This one and the rest in this post were taken by: Caleb

We normally call ourselves the "R&B Sisters". This time we were "Four from the International Club."

Phew!! We're done! It was fun, and so special since it was our last performance...good memories!

The Providence String Quartet.

Close friends...now and forever.

Check back for the video!

A feature that came with my new computer (which I absolutely love, if you haven't figured that out yet, the computer, that is... :)), is the web cam, which I like too. Now, with a web cam, one can video chat and Skype. I thought that was just about it...then we discovered something else! It also takes pictures! You know, like one of those silly photo booths in the mall! When one is surrounded by their amazing family and very fun friends, it doesn't take much to get carried away with a web cam. These selected pictures are up for your viewing....just don't laugh too hard, okay? :)

This was just the beginning....

Hey, even my wonderful Dad came down to join in the fun! :)
Love you, Dad!

Very good friends...I'm gonna miss y'all so much!

*cough* Does this fall under the category of making a joyful noise?

No? Well, moving on...

Yeah, so we even got into the silly cartoon fists.

The little man wanted to be photographed too.

A somewhat normal looking group of girls.

We didn't do it...honestly! It was Sarah...

Do you have the Force?

WOW!

Caleb meets his twin.

132 pictures later, and we're ready to hit the sack!
Until next time!

William and I made cookies today.

We felt like chocolate.

Chocolate cookies + Raw milk + Kisses from the helper = Very good time.

Enjoy the pictures.

Mixing the ingredients is always a good place to start.

Step two: Look as cute as possible while putting dough onto the cookie sheets.

Eat the leftover dough and get chocolate on your face.

Watch the cookies bake...we want them to come out just right, don't we?

Patiently wait for cookies to cool and give chocolate kisses.

Carefully remove cookies from pan.

It's very important to burn the hand, because that means an ice pack, more kisses and....

...A COOKIE! :)

Other random news...

There is nothing quite like feeling the urge to blog, and yet trying to come up with something to blog about! While we've been busy, we haven't been busy with one major thing, like our Twelfth Night Party....it's just been random little things that have occupied our time.

But, it's the little random activities in life that make up the big picture. No matter how big, or how small something may be, there will always be little things in life to keep up going. Over the last few years, the little things are what I've come to appreciate as truly big things. A birthday, a snow ball fight, hot cocoa time with the little ones, celebrating Valentine's Day with friends and sisters one last time, and working on projects with some of my dearest friends. These moments are when the greatest memories are made...when we all enjoy life and treasure the day we find ourselves in. So, the pictures below are not from one event, but many special ones...

Me and my gang at the Life Rally.
Y'all were amazing! Thanks for making this event so memorable!
Love y'all!

Working.

Game time!! Guess how many families are in this photo!

We endured a week (or was it longer?) of fog.

Providence take over the ice skating rink!
The short guys in the back wanted to be seen, so they jumped. :)

Two days were spent building hunting.

After weeks of putting this huge task off, the 20 yards of blue taffeta were cut and divided.

Somebody special had a birthday! It's funny...when somebody in our house is given a gift (birthdays, Christmas, or just because!), all of the little people have to be involved in opening it! Getting a photo is almost impossible... :)

Scaffolding was put up at church to install a projector.

I think the guys were having fun.

Dancing with the stars...

Awwww....Josiah and Aaron are twins!! :)

Somebody walking in front of the camera...but in the background you can see Mrs. Sanford practicing.

Moving forward...or I guess it was later in the day! It just seems like it happened ages ago...
Jess and I moments before we began celebrating Valentine's Day...

Yes, you see all of that good food....mmmmm, we ate it. :)

Okay...here's an official advertisement for Trefzger's Bakery!
These delicate, soft Thumbprint cookies are completed with a swirl of butter cream frosting...and just happen to be some of my favorite cookies. Located in Peoria Heights, this store has been serving Peoria for...a long time. Since the 1860's, I think....

Don't we look wrapped up in the story?

Yup, that's what I thought!

Hearts.

More hearts...so we like paper decorations, especially in the winter! Makes things cheery around the house!

Sneak peek!!!!

Scrumptious pleats....

Caleb and Dad have been working on this snow fort for a few days. We've had some heat waves come through (highs of 31...yay!! :P), so I figured I should snap a few pictures before it melted along with Frosty.

Yesterday's sunset. We haven't seen one like that in a while, and it was more stunning in person.

These were delivered yesterday, too. Beautiful, aren't they?

Okay, and one more sunset picture. I honestly couldn't decide which one I liked better (those who know me, know how very indecisive I am! :)), so you get to see two of the four that were taken!

Until next time!