I am excited to share a fun opportunity with you!

To celebrate the release of Hearts at Home’s newest book: Living With Less So Your Family Has More, by Jill and Mark Savage, the Hearts at Home blog is launching the Living with Less Contest.

Email Hearts at Home a story or money-saving tip that gives a peek into your daily experiences representing the humor, richness, or spiritual aspects of what it’s like to live with less.

Better yet, blog readers will benefit as many of the money-saving entries will be posted on the Heart’s blog throughout the month of February!

For contest details go here!

We've got spirit, yes we do!

Last year Angel tried out for cheerleading & didn't make the squad. We encouraged her to not let it discourage her from future tryouts. We were beyond thrilled when she remained positive and supportive of those that did make the squad last year. Her hard work & good attitude paid off & she made the squad this year. She's been practicing for months, but her season just started as she helps cheer on the girl's basketball squad. You know I was there snapping a thousand pictures! I got some video too, but will add that some other time. For now, here is our little cheerleader girl!

Churchill vs. Lombard

There are 2 middle school/jr. high schools in Galesburg. There are strict residential boundaries which determine which of these schools you must attend. The boundaries can be a little weird. There are some streets that if you live on one side you go to Churchill and the other side is Lombard. I'd hate to live on that street! We live in the Churchill district. We live exactly 1 mile from the school.

Each year there is a big basketball game between the two schools. They move the games to the high school gymnasium to accommodate the larger crowd. The have the two school bands combine for a pep band format and they play several light hearted songs, plus the national anthem. Some of the kids go all out to show their support for their school. Angel was one of them. She had fun dressing up, playing in the band and rooting on her school (which won both the 7th & 8th grade games!).

Snow day

I snapped a few shots of the kids enjoying their first snow day of the school year. Galesburg is very tough on cancelling school so you know it's bad when they actually do tell us all to stay home. Although I would say it wasn't that bad, we just had 7 inches of freshly fallen snow on the groud when we woke up in the morning. The kids didn't mind & neither did I. We enjoyed our day.

(We have friends that have a 4 wheel drive SUV so getting around in the snow is no problem. They came over for the day to hang out. So that explains the non Peterson kid in the picture)

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY BRIANNA!

Brianna's laugh has always been one of my favorite things about her. She has always had such a beautiful laugh and her face just glows. You get to see plenty of that in her video. Now that Brianna is 10 it means that half of our children are now into the double digits. That just blows my mind!! Enjoy the video.