GOING FOR A SPIN!

(TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THIS TRIP - CHECK OUT MY "PHOTO ALBUM" (through Yahoo) ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
Becky, Ted's sister, has a golf cart to ride around her property on. It is a HUGE hit both last year and this year when we visited! Avery said it was her favorite part of the trip! Becky lost 15 fruit trees during Hurricane Rita. A few did survive and so the kids got to pick fresh lemons and grapefruit (which tastes INCREDIBLE!). They had such a great time... don't worry... Addie didn't drive them around, an adult always did.

You would not believe the damage that still surrounds those on the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Rita. Ted and I grew up in the Port Arthur area and we were blown away by the destruction. It is no where close to being back to "normal". We saw so many roofs covered with tarps, we saw businesses that had still not opened... in fact, the mall that Ted and I met in is still closed... just 2 stores have opened out of dozens. It's really mind blowing because we don't see on the news here what they continue to go through.

POPSICLES AT PAW PAWS

We just got back from a weekend WHIRL WIND to Louisiana and Texas for Ted's dad's 75th birthday! The kids had such a great time visiting their "Maw-maw and Paw-paw". After spending a day and night in Crowley, Louisiana, we loaded up the car and headed to Port Arthur, Tx. We had lunch with Ted's sisters... which was a great time. We got to eat at JASON'S DELI!!! OUR FAVORITE! We don't have one here in Knoxville. We spent several hours at Ted's sister Becky's house. She has a lot of acres and the kids got to ride in the golf cart and pick fruit off of the fruit trees. They had a blast! We also visited Tracie's Aunt & Uncle in Port Neches. We got to spend time with her cousin as well and her two daughters. Saturday we went to Ted's Dad's party and then got in the car and headed home - 14 hours!! We were in the car for a total of 28 hours and we spent like 60 hours there... WOW - a lot of car time! The ride there was HARD but the way home went smooth! We had a nice time...

VICTORY!

We were at a friend the other night and Aidan had the best time with this race track. He was so cute! He would throw his arms up in the air each time he got a car to go round and round... it was adorable. Thanks Mickey Bruce for letting us play! 

PROJECT LAUNDRY

We bought a few pop up laundry baskets today at Wal-mart... of course, the first place they go... on the heads of our children! They are for their clothes but not while they are on their bodies!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTY RANDALL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIEND CHRISTY!

We celebrated Christy's birthday this morning at the Applecake Tea Room. It was a really good time. She is 31... Happy Birthday Christy!

DID YOU WATCH IT?

Did you watch American Idol? It was good... there were times that I cringed, laughed... wanted to cry because it was so painful to watch but seriously, I think this is going to be a GREAT SEASON!

It's on again tonight... not sure if it's one hour or two! YIPPPEEE

WHEN DID THEY GET SO BIG???

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I am just looking at my kids today and I'm thinking... when did they get so big?? I can not believe it. I know this is what every parent says but I thought I wasn't suppose to say it until they were like in middle school.... I wish I could keep them this size. Yet, I know when they are all going to the potty by themselves I will be thankful!

AMERICAN IDOL STARTS TONIGHT

YES! It is finally here! American Idol starts tonight and I am so excited. Tonight is when they show all the audtions.. good and bad.. I CAN NOT WAIT. It's American Idol day here at the Ancelet household!

FINGER PAINTING TUESDAY!

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You can tell a lot about a child by the way they finger paint! Aidan didn't want a single bit of the paint on his fingers. He cleaned them with every touch of paint. Avery would finish an entire picture... then go wash her hands and start a new one. Addie.... she was ALL PAINT ALL THE TIME. They had fun. Avery is making cards for everyone she knows. Aidan and Addie gave up on it after a while. It was fun!

Avery.... our fashion consultant

Layering is in! Avery loves to layer her PJ's. Every night we are amazed by what she comes out with. She mixes and matches but her favorite thing lately is to layer!!! She has an eye for fashion! She wanted me to take two pictures here - so you could see both her care bear and her strawberry shortcake night gown...

Strawberry Shortcake spotted in Knoxville, TN

Our Addie loves Strawberry Shortcake

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ATARI FLASH BACK!

The craze at our house right now is Atari Flash back. Even the kids love it! I'm a little attached to Centipede. Everyone that comes over I challenge to a game... This was my 2nd highest score. haha.... what a geek!

Going for a Spin (Part 2)

Here's Aidan going for a drive. He hasn't figured out how to turn the steering wheel yet so we leave it in the "turning position" and he just goes round and round in circles. Addie loves to ride with him.... she is strapped in OF COURSE!
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GOING FOR A SPIN

The kids have this motorized car that they love. It is a beautiful day here today in Knoxville. It feels like a cool Spring day. The kids are having a blast riding out in our drive way. I love Aidan's thumbs up in this picture.... Avery can really drive this thing. She is great at it. Only 11 more years and she'll be on the road... she'll be ready!
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Wednesday Nights

Wednesday nights has become one of my favorite nights. It's "youth group" night over at our house. Ted has the teens in our basement for Bible study and I hang out with our kids. I always cook a big dinner before youth starts so I can feed whoever wants to eat. Last night our neighbors joined us as well. Gayle (the mom) and Peyton (the daughter) hung out with me and Mack (the son) hung out with the Ancelet kids. They made this little set up and wanted us to come see. I thought it was so cute I had to take a picture... what fun! I want to freeze my kids at this age... I love how the smallest things in life are so fun to them! I wish I saw the world through their eyes.

Sister Sympathy

SISTER SYMPATHY

Aidan bonked his head this morning and Addie started crying. She had no injury... As Aidan asked for his "pappy" (passie) and lovie, Addie did too. The funny thing is she doesn't use a pacifier and she doesn't use a lovie. She just wanted to enter into Aidan's world.... I've been calling her sister sympathy today. When he cries, she does too... Maybe I need to call her sister attention!

Morning Time!

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Good Morning! My kids were having breakfast bars this morning and I wanted to take a picture of Addie's bed head but she was so cheerful when I took her picture that you notice that big smile instead of her hair... then Aidan said, take my picture or "ME!" as he told me. So he was all smiles too. So, I turned the camera to Avery and this is what I got. She is in a good mood but she was probably thinking "why are you taking pictures at 8am?" haha! Hope you have a good day all day!

Ballet Time!

BALLET TIME

Avery and her friends gathered for ballet this morning. We have been having classes since September. We have 6 little girls that come to our class (Maddie Grace and Machenzie not in picture). It has been a lot of fun. I (Tracie) start the class warming them up and then teach them some fun, fast routines. Becky comes in after I am done and teaches them ballet. The girls really enjoy it. We have our class out in the garage (we use a space heater when it's freezing). The moms and other kids play in our basement while we are having class. It's been a great success and we are hoping to have a recital at the end of the spring.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEANNA!

My buddy in Flower Mound, Tx - Deanna Burks is turning 32 today. WOW.... what wisdom there must be as a 32 year old... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET FRIEND DEANNA! May the Lord bless your day with joy and celebration!

I love you,
Tracie!

BIG BOY AIDAN

TOO FUN - had to share! Today we were just having normal Ancelet family time around the house. Addie was napping, I was down stairs in the basement, Ted was doodling around the house, Avery was watching a movie and Aidan was in between watching a movie with Avery and playing in his room.
Ted told me he was going to wash the car and he went upstairs to find Avery in the living room. Aidan goes in his room and plays a lot of times. So Ted left... I went upstairs to be with the kids. I asked Avery, "where is Aidan?" She said "I don't know". So I went to his room and his door was shut so I thought "Oh, I guess Ted put him down for nap before he left to wash the car". Ted came home 20 min later and said "Where is Aidan?" - I said "Didn't you put him down for nap?" Ted said "No". So we went in his room and he had put himself down for a nap. He was sounds asleep, tucked in his bed... sweet boy. This is the first time that one of our kids have voluntarily put themselves down for a nap!

SATURDAY - 1-7-06

What a great anniversary we had last night! Ted put much thought into the night. He gave me my first scroll (clue) at 2:30pm and I read it. From the clue I could tell I was suppose to go to Spa Visage. There I had a pedicure and manicure. After I finished my next clue was there waiting for me. I opened that scroll and the next clue led me to Old Navy (my favorite store). Ted picked out an outfit for me (very brave!) and it was purchased and ready for me to pick up. I picked it up and went to the dressing room and put it on (striped button down 3/4 length shirt, with a white extra long tank under shirt and blue jeans... he got the right cut of jeans and everything! - GOOD JOB TED!), I put the outfit on and was given my next clue - I must say I felt silly at Old Navy when the lady asked how many items I was trying on and I walked out with them on - it was funny though. The next clue which was in the old navy bag had me solve a puzzle (I wish I could show you all the clues, it was so cool!)... the puzzle answer was PF Changs. He said to meet him in between the two white horses. At our Knoxville PF Changs there are these HUGE statue horses in front.... so I drove there and there he was. We had a great dinner. He had me put all my clues together to find my final gift. When I put them together I could see a message in the background - it said the WHITE STONE INN (http://www.whitestoneinn.com ) It's a bed and breakfast that we will be going to in February. YEA! I am so excited. We had a great dinner and then picked up our kids and headed home. What a great evening! Thanks for letting me share!

The Ancelet Family Christmas Photo

10 Years of Wedded Bliss! 1/6/06

Today is mine and Ted's 10 year wedding anniversary! In just 10 years we have .... graduated from college (Tracie did after we married... Ted did before), traveled (favorite trip was to Israel), we have made many friends, we have worked with youth at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Irving Bible Church and Fellowship Bible Church Knoxville. We have started a college ministry called Common Ground at Irving Bible Church. Ted went from engineering to full time ministry (after he heard God's call at the Passion Conference in 99 - he said God would open a door when it was time and 2 years later he was asked to go on staff full time at IBC), we have had 3 babies (Avery (who is 5), Aidan (who is 3) and Addie (who is a spunky 22 mo old)), we have witnessed both of Tracie's parents illness, gone through their treatments, made many decisions, seen both of them come to faith, and seen both of them go home to be with Jesus as our hearts broke here on earth. We have seen the Lord provide in many ways for our family. We have seen prayers answered from the smallest of request to the biggest of requests! All these things ordained for our days before one of them came to be.... and here we are 10 years later. WHAT A PLEASURE TO BE MARRIED TO THE MAN I LOVE!!!! I love you Ted! Love, Tracie