Snowy Christmas...

We got to babysit baby niece/cousin on Christmas eve, because the day care was closed. What a hard life!! tee, hee Janae loves to hold and help with Kylie. (and actually this pic was taken the day after T-giving when we had her, but we did have her yesterday too!!) John went out to shovel the sidewalk this afternoon and "un-bury" his car, and ended up getting roped into building a snowman. This thing will be in my yard for at least a week I'm sure. It's huge!

Look how deep this snow is! I never officially heard how much we got, but I'm betting it was about 5" at our house, and then the wind was blowing 150mph, so we had some really deep drifts.

The kids were absolutely delighted at the snow of course. My cold bones can tolerate it when I'm not forced to be out in it. Although, I went to the grocery store and Sams yesterday. I was afraid that it would be awful out yesterday, on Christmas Eve, but surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all. Saturday's generally are alot worse. Merry Christmas to all!!

Meet George Washington

Yes, I am still alive and kicking. Just extremely busy, although none of that "busy"ness is blog worthy. Hunter had his school program the other night and got to meet the ferocious tiger afterward. Grrr...... And this is George Washington, according to Hunter. He came up with it all by himself. He glued a couple of cotton balls on a rock, and said it looks like George. Okay! Thought it was cute!!

Testing day......

Well, today was the big day. Thank goodness it's over!! I'm happy to say that I did great on the English and reading portions, and the essay was fine as well. I made a 102 on the English. Don't know quite how that happened, but I won't argue about it!! The algebra, however, is another story. Forty-two. Yes, 42! I don't think I've ever made a 42 before. But, it has been years and years and years since I actually had algebra. Sweet Angie gave me 2 1/2 hours of her day on Monday to try to get as much info into my brain as possible, but man, there are so many rules to try and remember, that I think it was pretty much hopeless. It's just been too long. It made perfect sense as I was doing problems with her sitting beside me, and I did fine, but I knew I wasn't going to remember how to do all the steps for all the problems. But, honestly, I'm really fine with it, I'll have to take a remedial math class to get ready for the math class that will count toward the degree. And after thinking about it, I'm afraid that if I would have passed this test by the skin of my teeth, that I would have a really hard time with a more advanced class without taking something to prepare me. I actually may have to take two additional classes, but I'm really okay with it. I do think that it will help me build on top of each other, so that I can actually handle something harder. I would have been upset if I wouldn't have passed the reading or English, so all in all, I'm quite happy with the results!

Wish me Luck......

Well, I have enrolled in school for the spring semester and scheduled to take a placement test next week on Thursday. "What the heck?", every one of you is thinking!! I've been wanting to actually see if I can do it and get a degree for quite awhile now, and I finally just jumped in and did it before I could talk myself out of it again. Angie, Lorie, I will warn you now, that you may not want to answer your phones if I have to take a math class. Ack!! You know, being home schooled did nothing for my high school career, the only math I have had is accounting, and that was 15 years ago. Algebra in jr. high, but nothing after that. The placement test has 20 reading comprehension questions, (not a problem), 20 sentence structure questions, (for sure not a problem, right up my alley), an essay, and 12 elementary algebra questions. Send in the math teachers! I'm a bit nervous, but I already paid for it, so I can't back out. Good plan, huh?! I'm enrolling for paralegal studies at SPC, I can get an associate in 2 years, for me it will probably be 4, because I'll still have to work, and won't be able to take the recommended 18 hours/semester. I'll be at 6-9. But then, I also thought about majoring in History. Could teach with that and stay on the kid's schedule. But, by the time I finished a 4 year degree, Janae would be out of school, (because it would take me 8 years!!), and Hunter in high school, so what is the point of that, really? So, wish me luck on the test. If I do well, I'll post about it! tee, hee

10 years

Friday is our ten year anniversary. This is now...... This is 10 years ago. Engagement picture. My printer doesn't have a scanner, so I had to take a picture and then upload it. So, sorry for the bad quality! We are off to Dallas around noon tomorrow, so I'm putting these on tonight.

Do we look any different??

Family pics

We went and got our "bi-annual" Christmas pics done today after church. I thought they turned out good. Individual kids.....Emily

Janae....

Hunter...

And mom with Janae. I've been thinking for the last two years that I was going to have this picture made, and send it in to the newspaper for Mother's day when they do their look a like contest. I have so many people say she looks just like me, and I'd really like to just see if it could win something, or at least get a mention!! People have stopped me in the grocery store and commented on it. I don't see it, but you judge......do we have a chance??

Janae says, "no we don't". Give us some feedback, and I'll share it with her!

There!

There!! A close up of Janae....(with the glasses, for anybody who might not be sure! lots of blonde girls here!)

I'm actually posting!

Hunt had a fun birthday last week. We had his party at Chuck E. Cheese. I had the brilliant idea a couple of weeks ago to hang out, wait for a weather report, and if it was going to be good, invite a kazillion kids and go to Legacy. Hot dogs and play. CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP!!!!! Dad didn't like that idea, it got shot down. (On a side note, Saturday the weather was beautiful and it was a perfect plan.) So, onto Chuck E. Hunt had a really fun time, he had his b-day there two years ago, so we kinda knew what was going on. They had changed things up a bit though, for the better. Like his crown? See all the tokens in it? They come out! Doesn't he look thrilled to be with mom and dad?? What is it with pictures at this age?? I see it in more blogs than just mine (Angie) so I know it's not just my child, but gosh, I'm ready for this to be over!! Anyway, I do have a story to tell with this, so bear with me. One of the kids from his class showed up, by himself, nobody brought him inside. I was close to the door, so they "re-stamped" me and gave this kid the same number as mine. I was assured that he couldn't leave w/o me knowing about it. Good idea, huh? Good idea only if it works!! I spent 30 minutes hunting for this kid toward the end of the party, the "door" guy has seen so many kids come through that he doesn't remember this particular one. He did tell me that a kid left with a guy, the kid had told door guy that it was his dad, so he let kid go. I find the mom's phone number, another mom who actually (gasp) stayed with her kid, had it. So I call mom. Mom and Dad are divorced. I asked if she had kid and she said kid was supposed to be picked up by dad. So I told her that I'd been looking for him all this time, and just need to know he's okay. So she called dad and dad had him. It was making me a nervous wreck. I just knew that kid was somewhere, I was going to leave, then his parents would show up and be furious. These kids are only 7!! What are the parents thinking to drop them off and pick them up without telling another adult? Don't they want someone to keep an eye on their kids?? Okay, I'm done with that. It seems like the last time I was at Chuck's I had a story......hmmmm....forgot about that until just now.

Janae was in a Veteran's Day Program at school yesterday. It was all the 3rd and 4th graders. The music teacher and the kids worked so hard on it, and did a superb job! First program at the new school, and the place was packed! I got there about 25 minutes early, and thankfully found a seat with 2 of my friends. Kind of hard to tell in this picture, but there were a bunch of kids up there!! And like a dork, I didn't put a close up of Janae on here. For what it's worth, she's on the extreme left, in front of lady with a ponytail. You can't see her here.

We had a power point of family members who are verterans. It was really moving, to see who all has family in the military. This is my cousin, he was (is) a marine, out now, but was in for 8-10 years, served in Iraq twice and made Captain. (Yes, I'm a bit proud!!)

And again, a pic of Janae and her adorable little best friend. They have actually had teachers ask them if they are sisters. They get along way too well for that!

Happy early birthday, Hunt

Hunter's 7th birthday is this coming Friday. I think I've said before that what he wanted more than anything was a guinea pig. (Thank you "G-Force". ) So, we went out and got him one for his birthday. He was so incredibly excited. So am I. Yet another cage to clean out.

I just can't tell you how happy he is. That's about all he's getting for his birthday, a couple more small things on the actual day, but we told him that ahead of time, and he didn't care. He really, really, really wanted one, and so his wish was granted!

Got a couple dents in my fender.......

Okay, so last night was a concert with one of Janae's favorite singers. Franschesca Batastelli. As soon as she heard on the radio that she was going to be here in town, she started asking if we could go. How can you refuse that? It was at 1st Baptist, the doors opened at 6, and we got there about 10 minutes later. We got great seats, it was in the balcony, right above the sound board, so no one was right in front us, and you all know that if you have a 9 and 6 year old, that is huge. So here she is........ Now, this was my view for the first half of the night. One of the two little girls that was sitting on the same "pew" as we were didn't seem to know the meaning of "personal space". Well maybe she did, and thought she needed to be in mine. She touched me more than my own children. I was jostled by this child the entire night. ARGH! Mom was too busy recording on her camera to pay attention to the child. I have to tell first how it started as soon as we sat down. Brought both kids something to do, because Hunt didn't want to come in the first place, and secondly, we were going to be sitting there an hour waiting for it to start, and mama has done this before. Makes my life much easier when my cutie pies aren't bored. We sat down, (other kids were already there), and I pull out Hunt's DS. Kid #1 immediately asks if she can have it to play with. Uh, NO!!!! Janae starts her drawing. Kid #1 asks if she can draw on Janae's pad. Uh, NO! I didn't bring them stuff to do for the kids next to us to take away. And mom is just sitting there letting her do it. Then, during intermission, she (kid) asks me "Um, excuse me, is your daughter all right?" To which I reply, yes, she's fine. "Then why does she have to wear those things for her eyes?" This kid was at least 8 years old. What??? I just told her, "she's fine". Kid #2 is the one who was practically on top of me the entire night. I do hate to complain too loudly, because at least my kids could see, and that's what really counts. My nerves were just about shot by the end of the night, though.

Leeland=loud, as Janae would say! They were really good, but I hadn't been to a concert in a very long time, and it was very loud. I'm so getting old.

Brandon Heath.

So, by ten o'clock the show is finally over. It was pretty long to have the kids out. Janae wanted a pic with Franchesca soooooo bad. I heard someone say that it was going to be another 30 minutes before they came out, and told her we were going to have to leave. It's a school night for heaven's sake. A Sunday at that, so they have all week to go. Her eyes just started filling with tears, so I gave in and we stayed. By the time we left it was 11:00, but we got the picture. She has the rest of her life to recover from the late night, but this may be the only chance she had to get this picture. I can't help but be thankful that she wants to go hear someone who loves the Lord and isn't begging to see Britney or Madonna or someone like that.

Okay, I'm trying to post a video, never done that before, but it's been trying to post for 20 minutes, and it's time for me to go to bed. If it's here great, if not I may try again tomorrow.

With age comes wisdom.....or at least wisdom teeth!!

So, yesterday, was my semi-annual dental appointment. Not a big deal, never have had any problems with my teeth, not even a cavity. A fact that I am quite proud of. As she was finishing up, the hygenist said, "oops, I almost missed that wisdom tooth!" WHAT???? My wisdom teeth are supposed to be waaaaay up there. NO where near to cutting. So, as I am saying "WHAT???" with her hands in my mouth, I start to worry a bit. Anyone who knows me at all, knows I FREAK OUT at the thought of a needle getting close to me. I DON'T do needles. At all. To the equivalent of having natural childbirth because an epidural involves a needle. Anyway, the dentist comes in and says all looks good, not a word about the horrid tooth that is making it's unwanted way into my mouth. I'll start praying now, hopefully it will come in just fine and not bother me. My dad and brother have both had to have their's cut out, so that doesn't bode well for me. Although I told hubs, that would probably account for all the headaches I've been having recently! Ugh! I'm too old to be cutting teeth.....on another note, we had parent/teacher conferences today, and Hunt's teacher wants to test him for gifted/talented. I'm sorry to say that she really surprised me with that. He's an adorable kid, and he's always thought "outside the box", but I never even thought about it. That's just him. He tested really well in the TPRI's earlier this year, on some levels way above the average, but she said it's the way he thinks that is making her think he might make it into GT. Anyone who's ever had him, even in PDO has come up and told me some of the funny/crazy things he's said, he just pulls stuff out of the air, and sounds like a hilarious kid that's twice his age. She did say that the testing takes all year, and if he makes it, he wouldn't start it until 2nd grade, so I'll keep you posted! Bye for now....

Isn't he just the cutest thing?

See you at the pole

Today, of course, was See You At The Pole. Oak Ridge had their very first day for it. We went and picked up Cassidy then headed for the school. We had a decent crowd, I guess. With over 500 students, there were probably about 30 there. Hopefully it will grow in the years to come.

PTA served donuts afterward. That was a big hit!

Then, time for class!

Silly girl!

I was just looking at these last few pics that I posted, and after reading Lori's comment about how Janae didn't look very happy in the first one, is funny. She didn't look happy in any of them except the last one. She's been on my case, says I never take her picture, only take Hunter's. (because you know, I'm so unfair, and of course Hunter is my favorite!!) I did ask her when I was taking all of these pictures why she won't smile, but wants me to take her picture. And of course, when I wanted to take pics of her, she didn't want them. I can't win. I probably won't win for the next few years, I'm afraid that we're on the edge of that! She still likes me more than not, but the scale is starting to tilt just a wee bit! I'm not ready, I want my adoring little girl to stay forever!

Ruidoso Weekend!

We got to go back to Ruidoso this past weekend. John had loads to do for school, so Janae, Hunter and I packed up and went. My brother, sis-in-law, and sweet niece went at the same time we did, Friday night, then my parents came on Saturday morning. It was so incredibly relaxing, up on top of a mountain, feels like you are in the middle of nowhere, with nothing that just has to be done right now. Ahhhh, this is the life! The only downside of the weekend, was that there was a big motorcycle rally going on. And let me tell you, there were motorcycles there. Loads of them. Didn't know so many could be in one little town. Hmmm, at least they had pulled extra police in to "beef up" security. The main problem was the noise factor. When we were in the village, it was so annoying, but up on the mountain, we didn't hear a thing. Some day I'm going to get me a bear. I love these bears. This was back behind our cabin, and Hunter wanted a pic with it.

Same little buggy that we took his picture on last year, he wanted a "repeat"!

And last year, we took all of our picture from here, it overlooks the Inn of the Mountain God's lake. It was forcasted to be in the low to mid 50's but ended up being in the upper 60s on Saturday afternoon. It was just beautiful. No wind, no sound......

Like I said, I need a bear.....

At the pool, with Megan and baby Kylie. No swimming for them, so of course I stayed out to keep them company. Janae and Hunt played with Grandpa and Uncle J in the pool. So fun! Hope we get to do it again next year! I could have stayed a lot longer, but alas, we had to get up at 6:30 to make it back to Lubbock today for Hunter's first football game this afternoon. Until next year!

Haircut!

Ugh! I really hesitate to put these pictures on here, because they look terrible! Got that cute haircut today and really like it, but Janae took the pics for me after all my make-up has worn off through the day, and I sat through football for an hour and 1/2. I look awful!!

But, since I shared "the chair" with Lori E., she's going to harass me if I don't post and post quickly! tee, hee Now, maybe I should harass her to post on her new "do". Thanks for sharing Amy with me Lori, today was the only day all week I could go, and I sure didn't want to wait until next week!

Ballooning

This morning was the South Plains Balloon Festival out in Wolfforth. Although it was waaay to early to get up on a Saturday morning, we decided to go. We decided last night, not at 6 this morning! We were up and gone by 6:30, because they said to be there before sunrise. Well, we were, we sat in the car and waited about 30 minutes for them to get out there and get started. It was quite chilly this morning, fall is certainly in the air!! I took pics of them getting the balloon ready step by step. It was really fun, and we all enjoyed it!

One of the balloons was taking people up into the air about 20 feet. Hunter decided that he wanted to try it, and since I have no intention of ever really going for a ride in a hot air balloon, I went up with him. I like the security of the ropes and the people down on the ground who will pull us right back down. He was a bit nervous about it, but it was fun, smoother than an elevator.

Unfortunately, because rain was in the area, they only got the first 2 balloons up and then had to pull them back down. None of them actually took off and flew away. So, no pics of that, but even though it was cold and early, I would do it again, a fun, free morning!!

Labor day means work for momma.....

This is how my children were entertaining themselves in the backyard tonight. They were fully supervised by a "horse" and a dog, so I didn't worry that they were out there for an hour and 1/2 without running in and out of the house!! tee, hee Hunter has a new form of "hair gel".

I was actually enjoying the peace and quiet so much that I have to admit I didn't really care what they were doing. Janae didn't look quite as bad, thankfully she didn't put it in her hair. (It's only mud, by the way) By the time I got the camera out, she was already in the shower.

What a mess!!